What I've been Listening to...

It's been a busy year for album releases, well at least if you like the same exact music that I do. In the last month alone there have been 5 releases that I keep in constant rotation, on top of some awesome gems from earlier in the year that I can't quite shake off.

So I thought I would share some of the highlights.

Paulson- All at Once

These guys came out of nowhere, and to tell you the truth I still can't say how I found out they even existed. What I do know is that this album so far is my album of the year. It was released back in March, and it's some of the catchiest, freshiest (yes freshiest) music I have heard in quite some time. It'll make you want to get up and move, or roll the windows down in the car and rock out. Paulson also puts on a fantastic live show, which gives credibility to any group if you ask me.

Key Tracks:
Calling on You
Just Shy
Ultra-High

Motion City Soundtrack- Even If It Kills Me

This album dropped just last week and it has been hard to take off the trusty Ipod. Motion City is one of my favorite bands of the decade, and I was worried this album would be a rehash of their last two (which wouldn't have been a bad thing). Instead was some of the old, mixed with some new, very grown up, well put together tracks. Right now I would call it their best album to date. It's that good.

Key Tracks:
Hello Helicopter
Can't Finish What I started
Last Night

Talib Kweli- Eardrum

From one of my favorite bands, to one of my favorite MC's. This was the first serious release by Kweli since the Beautiful Struggle (mix tapes don't count). Eardrum easily surpasses that album, and is right up their with Quality. Nothing Kweli does will ever touch the greatness that was/is Reflection Eternal, but Eardrum comes close. The writing is tight, the beats are unique, and on top of all that there are 20 tracks, 0 interludes. It's how all rap albums should be.

Key Tracks:
The Perfect Beat
Say Something
Soon the New Day

Minus the Bear- Planet of Ice

Menos el Oso was one of my favorite albums of 05', and while this one comes up a bit short compared to it, it still delivers. Minus the Bear make such a unique sound of music that it never gets old. Planet of Ice starts and finishes really strong, but there are a few tracks in the middle that hold the album back from being something really great. However, the closing track, Lotus, is one of the best Minus the Bear songs ever.

Key Tracks:
Lotus
When We Escape
Double Vision Quest

Kanye West- Graduation

I know so many people who think this album is the second coming. I've been a big Kanye fan since I first heard him on Quality, and I think this is the worst thing he has ever made. It feels to me like he just phones this one in. The beats feel like cheap retreads from Late Registration, to many horns, and to many uninspired lyrics. If I'm missing something here, then I have yet to discover it what it is.

Key Tracks:
Stronger
Homecoming

Mae- Singularity

This album bored the crap out of me the first time I listened to it, but when I gave it another shot a week later it was like I was hearing an entirely different album. I still can't explain how that happened. Singularity feels more focused than either of Mae's previous efforts, and while there are still a couple of the trademark sappy Mae songs, they've toned it down quite a bit, with the result being what I consider their best album.

Key Tracks:
Crazy 8's
On Top

Tokyo Rose- The Promise in Compromise

I'm surprised that Tokyo Rose isn't bigger than they are (which isn't big at all). They make very catchy pop-punk and they do it well. I would compare them to Fall Out Boy, with the exception that Tokyo Rose can actually play their music live. The bad has three albums out so far, and not to sound like a broken record, but this one is without a doubt their most complete. It flows nicely, and was a perfect end of summer album.

Key Tracks:
611 Life Session
A Pound of Silver is Worth its Weight in Blood

Sara Bareilles- Little Voice

This is my most unexpected album of all time. I normally have a hard time getting into female artists (mainly because most of the "famous" ones don't write their own music), but with this album I was hooked from the outset. I discovered her because she was one of itunes featured new artists one random week of the summer, and out of curiosity I gave it a listen. She sounds like a happier version of Fiona Apple if I had to compare it to anything. She also writes her own music, which is a big plus.

Key Tracks:
Morningside
Love on the Rocks
Vegas

Maroon 5- It Won't be Soon Before Long

I still have yet to hear Songs About Jane. Which is weird considering I love this album so much, and Songs About Jane has been out since the depression. I probably wouldn't have even heard this album if one of my friends hadn't of given it to me. I'm glad I did hear it, because this is one of the better albums of the year. It's well written, it's funky, and it is one of those that you can press play and listen all the way through. Also, ladies love Maroon 5.

Key Tracks:
Little of your time
Can't Stop
Infatuation

Dr. Dre- The Chronic 2001

How I missed the boat on this album I have no idea, and after getting into over the summer, I'm ashamed of my tardiness. This album is amazing, and will forever remind me of sitting by the freakishly small swimming pool at my apartment complex. That's right. I was gangster.

Key Tracks:
The Watcher
What's the Difference
The Next Episode


So that's what I've been listening to for basically the last 6 months. I highly recommend all of the above. You won't be disappointed.

Superbad is hi-larious

Judd Aptow is awesome. Know this, right it down, memorize that fact. Although he didn't write or direct this movie, he did produce it, and all of the talent that was involved with Superbad go all the way back to the Aptow Freaks and Geeks days. Seth Rogen (the cop in Superbad, and the guy from Knocked Up) wrote this gem, and if he writes this well all the time, then keep it coming.

There is no need for me to go to into the story details. It's about two best friends who are trying to get alcohol for the big end of high school party. Since they were all under age they have to turn to their friend with the worst fake ID in history, from there hilarity ensues.

Like Knocked Up, Superbad earns every bit of its R rating, and it should. Unlike other "teen comedies", this movie doesn't stray away from the fact that High School kids aren't PG-13. They cuss, they drink, they hook up. Superbad keeps it real however, and just doesn't go solely for the gross out laughs like American Pie and other unrealistic, lame teen comedies. There is a real story underneath about two friends who have never known a life apart and how they will deal with that. I'm sure it's a tale many people can relate to.

To sum it up in one sentence. It's like Knocked Up had a love child with Dazed and Confused.

Go see it.

8.5/10

Welcome back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!

The Football season couldn't have returned at a more perfect time, as all hopes for my Braves to make the playoffs seem to be slipping away faster than Michael Vick at a Peta rally.(Sorry,I couldn't resist a Vick joke,and don't think for a second it will be my last)Thankfully before my pillow could become too soaked with tears, Chris Berman rode into my bedroom on the back of Sean Merriman to wash the pain away. For now...

So without further ado, my Second Annual NFL Prediction Post.

Drum roll....

NFC WEST:
1. Rams
2. Seahawks
3. 49ers
4. Cardinals

NFC EAST
1. Eagles
2. Cowboys*
3. Redskins
4. Giants

NFC SOUTH
1. Saints
2. Panthers*
3. Buccaneers
4. Falcons

NFC NORTH
1. Bears
2. Packers
3. Lions
4. Vikings

*= Wildcard Teams

1st round bye: Eagles,Bears

Wild card Round: Panthers over Cowboys; Rams over Saints
Divisional Round: Bears over Saints; Eagles over Panthers
NFC Championship: Eagles over Bears

AFC EAST
1. Patriots
2. Jets
3. Dolphins
4. Bills

AFC WEST
1. Chargers
2. Broncos
3. Raiders
4. Chiefs

AFC SOUTH
1. Colts
2. Jaguars*
3. Titans
4. Texans

AFC NORTH
1. Ravens
2. Bengals*
3. Steelers
4. Browns

1st round bye: Patriots, Chargers
Wild Card round: Colts over Bengals; Ravens over Jaguars
Divisional Round: Ravens over Patriots; Chargers over Colts
AFC Championship: Chargers over Ravens

Super Bowl: Chargers over Eagles.

There you go, my picks for the 2007 NFL season. I decided not to be a homer this year and stray away from my Panthers (although I still didn't have the heart to keep them out of the playoffs). The Chargers to me are an easy pick, great offense, great defense. Especially their defense, which from what I hear, wins championships. We'll see, but if my picks are anything like last year, then I'm 100% wrong.

BCS Death confirmed (I wish)

Less than an hour ago, Appalachian State, back to back division 1-AA National Champions, beat Michigain 34-32. This is a big deal in the world of college football, and despite the fact that I'm no big fan of Appalachian State, I was pretty damn excited to see this game go down the way it did. The main reason for this is the hatred, and many others hatred for the BCS playoff system, and what App's win means to that.

College Football as a sport, or at least 1-A college football, is based more so on the money that the big schools bring in, instead of soley on the play of the teams on the field. Small schools get crapped on regularly, simply because they don't have the drawing power/ratings power of schools such as Michigain, USC, Notre Dame, Texas, Florida and so on. Boise State even barely made a BCS bowl last year depite going undefeated, and arguably playing the most exciting Bowl game in years. Yet they still had no shot at the National Championship. Why? Because they were Boise State.

With App's win today, I feel that the proverbial nail in the BCS coffin might have been laid, or at least picked out at the hardware store. Appalachian State built there football program through their abilty to compete in a postseason playoff format. They started the season ranked No.1, and they played through the season, then the playoffs and proved that they were number 1. Why can't the big 1-A schools do that? Two reasons. One, the atheletic directors and the boosters at the large BCS schools make more money off of the current Bowl system, and these same people control it. Networks make more money off of the current bowls system as well, so they aren't going to encourage change. The NCAA closes there eyes to this, unless god forbid some of that money actually trickles down to the players.

The flwaed logic here is when you look at the College Basketball pllayoff system. March Madness brings in plenty of money for all schools and networks involved, and the 1-AA playoff system in football has been fair and effective for years. Upsets like what happened today wouldn't be such a shocker if the 1-A football powerhouse weren't so scared to face smaller unproven schools.

So what I hope happens in the wake of this game, is that more College footbal fans take a stand against the current system, because we are being robbed of some quality football. I'm tired of seeing the same bowl games every year, with the same teams, and the same played out boring commentary that surrounds them. It's not like it would be that much of a sacrifice for the big football schools. Most of the time the bg schools would win these games anyway, but simply assuming that will happen robs the fans of exciting football, and smaller schools the oportunity to show what they are worth.

What really will happen I'm afraid, is that people (and by people I mean ESPN, and the main players in sports media) will more than likely play up how bad Michigain is, how Lloyd Carr needs to be fired, and despite it being the biggest upset in College Football history, it will be said that Michigain lost this game more than App won it. Big schools aren't supposed to lose these games, especially endowement games (Michigain paid App to come and play them for the sole purpose of blowing them out, oh the irony).

Regardless of what happens, today's win for App was the biggest in the school's history, and they'll will surely enjoy it. I just hope this is game doesn't turn into simply a trivia question. I hope the induviduals that are in positions to make the necessary changes in College Football take notice.

A playoff is the only way.