The Semirural: December 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Dear CD Recipients,

So, as you have already realized, I have moved this massive yet enjoyable waste of time onto the worldwide web. The Summer CD nearly killed me with all the new software, formatting, folding, and whatnot. I’m busy and I suck at cutting. No go.

Before the onslaught begins, I suppose you all need some background on the New Year’s Eve CD since until this year Zoe was the only person to ever receive one. First of all, the New Year’s Eve mix tape is the single most important one I make all year since it’s my favorite holiday. What can I say? I stick to my strengths. Any holiday that involves staying up late, watching tv, and eating crap is a winner in my book.

This grand production comes in 5 parts.

1. This very letter.

2. The actual CD including the song of 2010.

3. The usual comments on every song.

4. List of top* 10 tracks and the top* 5 albums of the decade.

5. List of the top* 10 tracks and the top* 5 albums of 2009.

*In this case, top means my personal favorite. See, I’m only a little bit of a music elitist.

I quite like this cd. The flow isn't perfect towards the end(I’M BUSY!), but the content is as good if not better than it has ever been. I added far more new and exciting music that all the cool kids are talking about. Normally, there are several throwbacks like New Order or Talking Heads, but since I skipped the Back to School Playlist I don’t need any old school fillers. Except for Lou Reed, but come on. The man is a legend. He gets me a free pass. Apologies on the length. I know it’s a bit longer than usual, but only by like three minutes.

All things considered, 2009 was a pretty decent year. I don’t particularly feel like reminiscing, so I’ll make this quick. Sam is the greatest person known to man. (Does this fulfill your ego boosting quota for the year?) Last.fm became the love of my life and I discovered KEXP, the greatest radio station of all time. Seriously, go listen to it. I gave up all hope on Brad Pitt becoming gorgeous again. The beard braids were the last straw. I went to high school for a full year. Still yet to have a John Hughes-esque high school experience, but I did learn that I can get by on four hours of sleep every night for three months! After that, the meltdowns get out of control. Oh, and I grew. A solid inch. 5’3. Victory.

My Resolutions for 2010 are as follows:

1. GROW, goddamnit. I’m still gunning for 5‘5.

2. STOP WATCHING ONE TREE HILL. There’s no way I can do this one, but at least I’m acknowledging that there is something deeply wrong with me. The truth is that I love Nathan Scott even if the quizzes I took say I shouldn’t.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Tamar

Monday, December 28, 2009

Comments on the New Year's Eve 2009 Playlist

1. What Would I Want? Sky: Perfection. Dance break at 3:09.

2. Ambivalence Ambulance: Surprising with a capital S. I’ve never been a big Bibio fan, but this album is completely different from the rest of their work. They aren’t trying as hard to be new and interesting and in turn have become so. KEXP find.

3. Deadbeat Summer: THE SONG OF THE SUMMER. Beyond catchy with a vintage 80’s feel. This song should be played on cassette in a boom box while you dance wildly. Pitchfork find.

4. Walkabout (feat. Noah Lennox): What do you get when you take Bradford Cox, frontman of the amazing Deerhunter, and add Noah Lennox, musical genius behind Animal Collective and his solo album Person Pitch? One of the best songs of 2009. No surprise.

5. Remade Horizon: Yeah, I want to remake the horizon! Enough said.

6. Actor Out of Work: Annie Clark is just way too cute. Love this song so much.

7. Islands: This song fulfills everyone of my musical requirements. Girl-guy tag team vocals? Check. Awesome bass line? Check. Check. Accents? Check. Catchy? Check. Intrigue? They have a drum machine instead of a drummer

for chrissake.

8. Lust for Life: Tradition stipulates that I have to pick one song for the upcoming year, so thus with the power vested in me I dub Lust for Life (not the Iggy Pop song of the same name) THE SONG OF 2010. I went back and forth between this and Hellhole Ratrace, which is also featured, but this is it. I picked the epic 7 minute song, All My Friends for 2009, which albeit is one of the best songs of the decade, but I just really want a pithy, sweet, catchy, unpretentious pop song during a study break at 3 in the morning. And Lust for Life is that and damn good to boot.

9. Hellhole Ratrace: I am breaking so many of my rules by including two songs by the same artist in one playlist, but that is just the way it goes. Hellhole Ratrace is the best song I’ve ever seen performed live, and whenever I listen to it I’m convinced that after this whole high school debacle I’ll have something to feel nostalgic for. Hence, I’m not leaving it out. Period.

10. I’m A Pilot: This album is promising, but I have a feeling Fanfarlo will be better in time when they find their own sound. I like this song a lot, but I keep waiting for them to stop sounding like a British Sufjan Stevens/Beirut/ Arcade Fire. Seriously, how close to Rebellion (Lies) can one track be?

11. Walk On the Wild Side: My ultimate late night relaxing song. Doo do doo do doo do do doo...

12. Thirteen: Great cover. Perhaps not as good as the original Big Star version, but I’m quite fond of it.

13. I Can See Your Tracks: Okay, it actually took me a week to figure out this isn’t Neko Case singing. It’s that good. KEXP find.

14. When I Grow Up: Subtlety be damned. There is no casual way to drop this bomb of a song, and I’m tired of trying to ease my way into it. Here it is. I love it. Now, go google this music video because it is the single greatest thing of all time.