10 Things For 2012

I was originally going to call this 12 things for 2012, but then I worried I might be starting a trend and would have to call next year's 13 things for 2013 and so on and so on and that would get way too long.

I'm not going to call these resolutions. If I call them resolutions, then they are automatic failures if I don't succeed. These are just things I want to accomplish/try for the next year.

1. Finish the new album

I'm about a third of the way through the new album. It's going to have 13 or 14 songs (still deciding on that). We've got instrumentals done for close to 5 of those and all together 9 songs have at least been started. I am beyond excited for this album. It sounds so different from the first, yet still carries a lot of the same qualities. I want to release it right. I really want people to hear this one. The rest of this winter is all about finishing this album.

2. Get a new acoustic & electric guitar & amp

I need all of these things. Desperately. But last night while listening to Walker Fields fill the room and kill it at the Amsterdam, I realized that a really good amp is what I need more than anything. Walker Fields is two people. One on acoustic and one on drums. The drummer was pounding on those drums and the guitar was as loud and clear as can be. I need my guitar to sound that way. I also don't think I need a new acoustic (well, I do), but I at least need to get some of my other ones fixed.

3. Lose weight

Blah. Typical beginning of the year bullshit. But it has to be done. These last few months I have been eating so terribly. It has nothing to do with the holidays and everything to do with being sad and stressed. I need to get in control of my diet. This is not to say I want to diet. I just can't do that. I cannot eat salads every day. I just need to cut it back a bit. And be more active. Less sitting here on the computer (gasp!).

4. Go out to a nice dinner once a month

The problem with #3 is that I like food. And I don't go out to nice restaurants enough to really enjoy it. So I want to try to get out at least once a month to a nice place and have a really good meal. It doesn't have to be super expensive. Just nice. Not Applebees.

5. Learn to play the banjo

I've had my banjo for 2 years now and I always swear I'm going to learn how to play it. But it's hard. I need to set up time each week to sit down with it and really study.

6. Make the basement a nice place to hang out.

I hate our basement. I almost have an anxiety attack every time I'm down there. It's not that it's a bad basement. It's just that it seems that everything that can go wrong with a house starts in the basement, so when I'm down there, I'm constantly looking around for the thing that looks out of place. And the times when I do see something, it usually sends my world crashing down. I've had to train myself to just look straight ahead when I'm down there. Like when I'm doing laundry, just keep my eyes on the clothes and don't look at anything else. And considering I have band practice down there, it just needs to be a more welcoming place. This one only stands if we don't end up selling the house this year...

7. Decide where I want to call home and make it happen

There's been talk in the house about trying to tell the house. Now that we don't have Murray and we don't plan on getting another dog anytime soon, we don't need this big yard to stress over ever summer. And though where we are is just outside the city, we want to be back in the city. We also don't want to have this big mortgage sitting on our shoulders so that we can have more freedom with what we want to do in our work lives. It's a tough decision and houses aren't exactly flying off the market right now and we have a lot of work to do around here before we can put that sign in the yard...but it's something I need to either start doing or just forget about.

8. Work towards doing what I want to do, not what I have to do

Everyone wants their dream job. The job that makes work not seem like work anymore. Well, I've decided that I can have that. Anyone can have that. You just have to make it happen. So I am going to do that.

9. Travel!

I need to leave the country again. I don't care where I go, I just want to go somewhere again. Well, really I want to go back to London for a time and then make a stop somewhere else - like Dublin or Amsterdam. That would be ideal. First step: getting money for plane tickets. Because, really, once you have the tickets and you're over there, everything else will fall into place. That's something I need to remember when I think about travelling: Yes, it's expensive. But if you save and buy the tickets 6 months in advance, that gives you another 6 months to squirrel away enough money for a hotel. Then once you are there, you spend what you have. There's no reason you have to break the bank on entertainment when you're there. You're in another country! That's entertainment enough. Fancy dinners are good, though.

10. Be a better person

I'm a grump. An awful grump. I complain about children and sick people in the grocery store. Truthfully, I don't plan to stop doing that (I really don't like sick people. I'm sick right now and I kind of hate myself even). But I want to start being a better friend to my friends. I want to volunteer somewhere - like the Humane Society. I want to live a happier life - stop being so pessimistic.

To quote Conan O'Brien on his last night as host of The Tonight Show: "Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

Here's to 2012. May it be a good year for all of us.

2011 In Pictures, Part 2

Part 1 can be found here.

Handome(est) Dog. I miss you, babydog.

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles concert dance circle happiness, Hoolie Fest.

Murray feet on lazy days...and the picture for my From the Den album cover art.

4 on the Floor kickdrums at the Memory Lanes Block Party.

Kimi making doggie friends at the Memory Lanes Block Party.

Hallway show poster art...and Murray. I think he liked it.

On the Mississippi Megalops, Northern Sparks festival.

Under the third avenue bridge. Stone Arch Festival.

The Nomad patio shark.

Eddie Vedder glee. He had everyone on their feet.

Hallway Murray. He would stand there often just begging us to go hang out in the room where all of his toys were.

Kimi, at the New Kids on the Block concert back in July.

This guy (or gal) was hanging out our back window. I love the squirrels in our yard.

The studio where my albums are made.

Christmas partied.

That was my year. In random pictures.

Honey, Honey

Obligatory post-show post here. But, oh my it was a good night.

First of all, I got to play with Gabriel Douglas, known around these parts as bd1 - or - the lead singer of 4 on the Floor. I really enjoy that band and was so happy he agreed to come play a solo set. So that got the night off to a good start.

Then I played for about an hour. I got to play some songs that I haven't played in a while. I even brought the ukulele out to play. I had a lot of friends there, including a mini family reunion between me and a my cousins. The sound was good. All in all, it was a really good night.

I did/do have a little cold and I did have my concerns about singing, but I made it through. My voice kicked in and all was well. Maybe now I can finally stop freaking out about getting sick all of the time before a show now that I've been sick for a show and the world did not end.

Setlist for Honey 12/28/11

-Good

-Easy to Blame

-The Paul Simon Song

-Can't Even Tell

-Cast a Spell

-Thursday

-Ramble Song

-Anywhere I Lay My Head (Tom Waits cover)

-Float

-Here

-The Woods

-Cohabitate

-Old Fashioned Hat (Anais Mitchell cover)

-Minnesota

2011 In Pictures, Part 1

Below is Part 1 of a collection of pictures that I took over this past year. They aren't necessarily of big moments, but I like them.

The first picture I took of Murray in 2011. I didn't know that we would end the year without him, but I think I also did.

Pink Mink "Seekin' Scott Seekins" video shoot at Honey.

The view from the stage at the Fitzgerald Theater.

Looking outside from the Ship & Shovell pub in London. The white building houses the best burritos ever.

Entrance to Trafalgar Square. I don't think we're in Minnesota anymore.

Original entrance to Abbey Road Studios.

Inside the Dublin Castle pub in Camden Town. Madness got their start there.

At this moment we were both feeling pure happiness - taking the tube back to our hotel after an excellent evening in Camden Town. I like to look at this picture and remember that feeling.

Under the bridge near the Northumberland Avenue tube stop.

Paris.

My favorite face. This is what I got to see when we all got home from our European vacation and Murray's vacation at grandma's.

First day of 2011 where I didn't have to wear socks.

Blurry Murray.

My guitar case and the Keweenawesomefest stage in Houghton, MI.

Rank Stranger's feet. Turf Club.

More to come...

Favorite Songs Ever, Part 4: "Long, Long, Long" - The Beatles

The Beatles and I have had a rough going as of late. Basically, I can't stand them anymore. Every time one of their songs come on, my shoulders hunch up, my fists clench, and I just want it to stop so bad.

This is strange as I used to love The Beatles back in the day. Of course, I'm certain everyone on the planet has gone through a Beatles' phase. But did everyone also begin to hate them later in life? (Actually, I think this does happen to everyone)

I can still listen to their solo stuff...occasionally. John Lennon's "God" is a brilliant song and I don't think that feeling will ever wane. Paul has some good stuff out there.

This is why I think out of all of The Beatles' songs, the one song that I truly love and would be up there in my Favorite Songs Ever list is the George Harrison penned "Long, Long, Long". Lately I just can't get enough of it.

It may be labeled as a Beatles track, but come on, this is a George Harrison solo song through and through. As with most of the songs on The White Album, hardly any should really be considered Beatles' songs. Sure, Paul played bass and Ringo drums and John howled along in the background, but they were really just backing players on this song. I mean, is "Blackbird" really a Beatles's song or a solo McCartney song? "Julia" is certainly a John Lennon solo song.

But I digress.

"Long, Long, Long" feels ahead of its time...and not in a technical way. Just in overall feel. Honestly, it feels like a Bon Iver song. It feels like it could be the inspiration for every Bon Iver song ever. The quiet guitar intro, the big drum fills that come in and then the layered vocals. It's a beautiful, interestingly structured song. And I just love to sit and listen to it.

Limbo

Okay. So Christmas is over. Yet, I still feel like I'm just biding my time until the new year begins. Just waiting for...something. I have a slew of post ideas ready to go, but I don't feel like it's the right time to post them. I don't know why. I feel like I have to wait until this year is over.

I woke up this morning with a bit of a cold. 2011 just couldn't resist one more jab. Blech. At least I don't have to work tomorrow or the next day or the next day or the next day or the next day....

I do have a show at Honey on Wednesday. It's going to be another solo set so expect a lot of songs that I don't normally get to perform.

I'm currently listening to Zoo Animal's new album, which is being previewed on their website. It's really good. Pretty different from their old stuff. Hence the name Departure. It just really makes me want to get my new stuff out there, but I'm not getting back into the studio until January 21st! That's so far from now and there is still so much to do.

I got a $25 gift card to iTunes. Since I vowed to not buy music digitally anymore, I thought I would just wait and use it to download episodes of The Walking Dead when it returns. But I really want that My Morning Jacket album....

Wow. This post is a lot of nothing. I'm sorry.

To apologize, here's a video of Gorillaz doing a cover of The XX's song "Crystalised"

Christmas Day, or The Day I Sit And Wait For The World To Return

There really isn't much to do during Christmas. Especially if you and your family all live in close proximity to each other. There is no travel required. Just a quick drive down the road for dinner and presents and maybe a game and then back home where you sit and wait for something to open, for people to return back to life. For store hours to be regular. For the internet to get back to its snarky self.

Last night The Husband and I broke out Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (otherwise known as the greatest game ever) and played that for many hours. Because what else is there to do? And it was fun. And I can't wait to get home tonight after family gathering #2 and play some more. And while playing, I discovered this crazy site that has every last detail about every single Zelda game all laid out in an easy-to-use website. It turns out people have a lot of time on their hands. And I thank them for that. It's what makes the internet great.

Now, all I want for Christmas is a tuna salad bagel from Brueggers. But, of course, Brueggers is not open on Christmas day. So I'll have to wait until tomorrow. #firstworldproblems

I uploaded a free track to my bandcamp page. It's a live version of an unreleased song called "Easy to Blame", recorded at the Fine Line Music Cafe on November 30th. It's a part of that live set that I was considering releasing but wasn't sure about the legality of it. But one song can't hurt, right? So here it is:

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Eve Ramblings, Part 2

I did one of these posts a couple of Christmas's ago. So now, as I sit here overly stuffed from a lunch of Potbelly sandwich, chips, and a strawberry shake, it seemed like a good time to do it again.

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Last night was the Christmas celebration with my family. As you read in yesterday's post, I was not feeling all that festive, but I'm happy to report that spending time with my family was just what I needed to knock the bah-humbug out of me. I'm still not singing Christmas carols and decking the halls, but at least I'm feeling somewhat, kind of okay about the whole holiday.

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Also last night, my 10 year old niece played music for me on the piano and blew me away. She also plays the violin. She's probably going to be really famous someday. So, you know, I can live vicariously through her. When I was talking to her about playing guitar, she said "Oh, that's right. You're like a celebrity." To which I started to correct her but then thought well, I do have a blog with like, seven followers. So, you know.

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We have an iPod in our living room hooked up to the stereo. This is how we listen to music at our house. That thing runs constantly while we are home. I have a playlist that I created that I put all of the music I'm okay with other people hearing and that is what we listen to (so, you know, the New Kids on the Block and NWA is for times when I'm alone). The playlist has over a thousand songs on it. Yet the iPod plays the same 50 songs over and over and over again. It has been running almost non-stop since Friday morning without being reshuffled, yet it still plays the same songs. Frustrating. #firstworldproblems

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Speaking of music, I'm so happy the new Ani Difranco album is not a let down. I really like it. Though, I got to say, I've heard all of these songs for years now and I know them all, and sure, it's nice to hear them all dressed up and sans audience background noise, but I kind of miss the surprise of a new Ani album filled with unheard songs. But that's just not going to happen anymore. Not in the day and age of YouTube videos. But, I suppose that's my fault. I don't have to seek out the new songs on YouTube. But what can I say? I'm obsessed.

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After the rock through the windshield of our car, glass is still everywhere. The Husband vacuumed it out, but the dashboard still sparkles at night from all the teeny tiny shards. Every time I sit in the passenger seat, I feel like I'm sitting on glass. I am so terrified of getting glass stuck in me somewhere. A few years ago, I got a piece of glass embedded in the palm of my hand. The skin grew over it and it lived there for a year. Occasionally if I put a lot of pressure on it for a long time, like if I was riding my bike or doing yoga, it would start to poke through and bleed. It was awful. Then one day, it just came out. And it was huge! I could not believe that thing was stuck in my hand for a year. So, anyway, I live in fear of that happening again.

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I had to type "vacuumed" multiple times in the above section before I got it right.

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I have no pants. Okay, so I have a pair of dress pants and another pair of pants that I can only wear with a certain pair of shoes. But that's it. I've discovered that this accounts for the majority of my laziness on weekends. It makes it difficult to want to get up and do something on a Saturday morning when I can't just throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and head out the door. Instead I have to find a pair of leggings, then I have to find a skirt or dress to wear with them. If it's a skirt, then I have to find a shirt. Then socks, then boots, and suddenly I'm in a whole fancy outfit when all I wanted to do was run to Starbucks and then come home and drink my coffee whilst sitting at the computer. I really need some pants.

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The internet really sucks during the holidays. Bloggers stop writing. People are too busy to properly social network. Even the celebrity gossip ceases. There's nothing to read. And I am at a complete loss without my internet. So, I will continue to blog through the holiday. Because I care about the internet.

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Happy Holidays, Everyone...

And So It Begins

The Christmas weekend is here. I should probably get my shopping done. Then when the next person asks me if I have my Christmas shopping done I can finally say yes. I've lost count on how many times I've been asked that question these last few weeks. Well, ever since Thanksgiving, really. I can't wait until it goes away. I suppose I should consider myself fortunate to not have 50 people to shop for. Some people who ask me this question then rattle off how much they have left and I just want to find a hole and crawl into on their behalf. Why do we do this to ourselves? My family and my husband's family have both decided to simplify things. I have to buy 3 gifts this year. All with a dollar limit. A very low dollar limit. I can't imagine having to shop for a whole herd of folks who I barely know. I know this makes me sound scroogy, but why give people more junk they don't want/need? I say it every year, but either I can go out and spend $20 on something that I really want or need or I can spend $20 on some kitchen towels or picture frames for some relative that I only see one day a year that they probably won't like/won't use and will just sit in a closet somewhere. Then, in return, I get a Christmas tree ornament for a tree I don't have and we all call it a day and go back to our homes where we won't see each other for another year.

Bah-humbug, right? I know.

I'm just not feeling very festive this year. My holiday festiveness has been waning for the last few years and this year I think it finally fully disappeared. I like to see my family, but it's always so chaotic that I never really get to talk to anyone anyway. I'm not a religious person, so it has no significance for me there. I don't eat meat so I usually get no food out of the deal. And the whole gift exchange is lost on me. I find it pointless, as I've said.

Murray really liked the gift exchange part, though.

But, it's what we do as people, right? We do this. These traditions. And we smile and sometimes we even have fun. I just wish I could convince my family to forgo most of these traditions and let's just all get together and bring some fancy cheese and crackers and some wine, or apple cider for the non-drinkers, and sit and visit. No big meal with all of those dishes (god, that just gives me so much anxiety). No gift exchange. No games. Let's just all hang out. Together.

But that will never fly.

So instead we'll get together and bring all this food and exchange gifts and it will be loud and chaotic and I will come super close to having an anxiety attack and then I will go home, exhausted and hungry and that will be it for the year. 2011 will finally be over.

So happy holidays, everyone. At the very least, we get videos like this and this makes me smile at the same time as making me really really miss my dog. But that's just par for the course around these parts these days.

All The Movies I Didn't See In 2011

I didn't see any of the movies of 2011. I did not step into a theater once. I like going to the movies...sometimes. It's just nothing caught my eye this year. In fact, I was hard pressed to think of the name of a single movie that came out this year. So I had to turn to the internet. And when I did, I discovered why I made no effort to shell out $10 for admission and another $10 on popcorn.

Let's start with the sequels....

You can't see a sequel if you haven't see the early movies, right? And this year was full of mostly unnecessary sequels to movies I never cared to see in the first place or movies that just did not under any circumstances require a sequel. Like:

Hangover 2

Why? Why ruin a good thing by doing this? I really enjoyed the first Hangover and it's really ridiculous that now I have to clarify that by saying it's the "first" Hangover. When I saw the trailer and noticed the movie is set up exactly the same way as the first one with the exact same jokes in the exact same spot...well, that little piece of tissue inside of me that holds the laughter died a little.

Scream 4

Really? I know Neve Campbell doesn't have much going on these days. But who in Hollywood owed her a favor to make another sequel to this long dead franchise?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2

A sequel to a sequel. Now that's a first. How could I possibly watch this one when I've never even seen Part 1, which is already a sequel of something like 7 other movies.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

See Harry Potter.

And the rest of the unnecessary sequels

Pirates of the Caribbean 4

Kung Fu Panda 2

X-Men First Class (I think this might actually be a prequel)

Cars 2

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (also should be considered a prequel, either way lame)

Final Destination 5: Not So Final

Paranormal Activity 3 (I swear the first one just came out this past summer)

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Sherlock Holmes 2

New Year's Eve

Moving on from the sequels/prequels...obviously if I haven't seen the earlier movies I'm not going to go out and see the sequels. There were movies that came out that did somewhat slightly grab my attention, but for one reason or another, I refused to go see them. Like:

Water for Elephants

I loved this book. As I was reading it, I could picture the movie happening, and well, Hollywood really screwed it up. I mean, Robert Pattinson??? Way to completely ignore the story and try to cash in on some tween dollars. As soon as I saw he was cast, I knew I would never see this movie. And then they put Reese Witherspoon in as the lead actress and I just had to sigh and pretend it never existed.

Bridesmaids

Everyone says this movie is hilarious. Everyone. And I bet it is. I bet I would really like it. But, I hate Kristin Wiig. That woman makes my skin crawl. So there was no way I was going to be able to sit through a whole movie starring her and her overexaggerated facial expressions.

The Beaver

A Jodie Foster movie starring Mel Gibson as a man who carries around a Beaver puppet as some sort of coping mechanism. Oh, goodness. So very intriguing. Yet, I was never really going to buy a ticket to go see a movie called The Beaver. Starring Mel Gibson. Directed by Jodie Foster.

Moneyball

Brad Pitt annoys me.

Tree of Life

See Moneyball

The Worst of the Rest....

Then there are the movies that just looked so bad and who would ever ever ever pay money to go see this stupid stupid shit? Like:

The Dilemma

Kevin James and Vince Vaughn making gay jokes.

No Strings Attached/Friends With Benefits

Aren't they the same movie? And people paid to go see both of them?

Just Go With It

Oh, Jennifer Aniston. I actually like you. Why are you in this?

Hall Pass

Wives give their husbands a pass to go and screw around on them for the weekend. Umm...yeah. Okay. This one actually could use a sequel where the men do the same for the women. Let's see how that turns out.

Limitless

Bradley Cooper running.

Bad Teacher

Cameron Diaz flirting with Justin Timberlake for 90 minutes. No....thanks.

Zookeeper

More Kevin James. This time he is in a zoo. This guy made two movies this year. Two. I don't even...

Jack and Jill

Go to hell, Sandler.

11-11-11

They did this? Really? And it came out on November 11th? Can you imagine the squeals of excitement coming out of the big movie decision room when someone came up with this?

In Time

And even more Timberlake. That's three movies for Justin.

We also were given a lot of remakes this year. Once again, not one that was necessary. But remakes hardly ever are. Like:

The Roommate

Remake of Single White Female for the teenager set.

Arthur

Russel Brand. 'Nuf said.

Conan

Yeah, no.

Footloose

Stop it, Hollywood. Just stop it.

Three Musketeers

I know this has been made and remade and will continue to be revamped for the rest of eternity. But the Keifer Sutherland/Tim Curry version is the one for me.

But, looking back, there were some movies that I probably would have seen if I just would have found the time to spend at the theater. Going to the movies is a bit of a time suck and I have a hard time wanting to spend an afternoon/evening stuck in a theater seat surrounded by people talking over the movie I paid too much money to see. But if I would have, I probably would have gone to see these:

Paul

I heard bad things, but I do love these Simon Pegg/Nick Frost collaborations.

Hesher

I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt is adorable, not hot, adorable. Like he's my nephew and, oh look at him up there on the screen acting. How cute. And this looked like it might be a good movie.

Super 8

I have no idea what this movie is about. But the hard core interneters all liked it. And I trust them.

Horrible Bosses

Like I said above, I like Jennifer Aniston. I find her pleasant. Her movies usually aren't terrible. They are good Sunday afternoon movies. And she only had a small part in this and it also starred Charlie Day and Jason Bateman. So, really, how bad could it be?

Contagion

Spoiler Alert: Gwyneth Paltrow dies really early on and is responsible for spreading a horrible virus. That alone is awesome. And I usually like movies about the possible end of the world.

Drive

Ryan Gosling. Driving fast. Wearing a cool jacket and sunglasses. Okay. Sure.

50-50

More Joseph Gorden-Levitt. And it's a comedy about cancer. And it has Seth Rogan bumbling around. And it's based on a true story about Seth Rogan's friend who got cancer at a young age. I'm curious.

Ides of March

More Gosling. This time with Bonus Clooney. It has to be at least okay.

J. Edgar

I like Leonardo DiCaprio. I always enjoy his movies. But, not sure if I can get past that awful make-up job they gave him so he could portray old J. Edgar. He kind of looks like the aliens from Mar's Attacks.

Muppets

Okay, I might still see this one. I love the Muppets.

So that's it. That's my year in movies that I didn't see.

Oh, and We Bought a Zoo. Maybe that should be the only movie I see this year.

Amendment

I've changed my mind. My Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Year needs an update. I knew this would happen.

The Elected's album Bury Me in My Rings is just too much fun not to be included in the official* top 10. So it's being bumped up from Honorable Mention land. I swear, I need to just listen to music in the car while driving before it really starts to sink it. I put this album on in the car the other day and it occurred to me just how many excellent songs are on it. Each one as fun as the one before and after it. That Blake Sennett is a fine songwriter, that's for sure.

Top 3 Tracks: "Go For the Throat", "This Will Be Worth It", "Time is Coming"

Consider it a tie with Bon Iver.

And, I'll say it again, just play The Elected on the radio already.

*There is nothing official going on here.

Late To Bed, Early To Rise

Sleep has sorely been missing in my life lately. I have never been as tired as I have been these past seven days.

But what are you gonna do?

I get an extended holiday vacation starting on Thursday. 2 weeks off. Yes, I know I just came off 4 weeks of unemployment, but I think these 2 weeks will be good. I will have a beginning and definitive end to my "vacation". I think I might get some things done. What those things are, I don't know.

My first week back at work wiped me out. I was up late last Thursday for my show at the Turf Club, up late Friday night at a holiday party and then dealing with broken car windows early the next morning, up late on Saturday night out and about, and up late last night performing atAcadia. And now it's Monday night. I wanted to go out, but I think I better stay in.

And, it just so happens that the new Ani Difranco album, Which Side Are You On?, arrived in my mailbox today...one month early. Hooray for pre-orders! I'm listening now and I am highly enjoying it, though I'm only three songs in. New Ani albums are a bit of an event for me. My goodness, I hope my new album sounds at least half as good as this. I'll write up a review after I give it a few more listens.

So, yeah, I had a show at Acadia last night. Good times. I played with Rudy Pavich (who I just had a show with at the Fine Line) and Business Man. Shawn and I tried out a set with him only playing electric guitar. It worked really well. It was fun. Different. It'll be good to have that option for venues that aren't as drum friendly.

Setlist for Acadia 12/18/11

-Good

-Easy to Blame

-Can't Even Tell

-The Party

-Beg, Borrow, or Steal

-Here

-Adore

-Salt

-Minnesota

Lyric Of The Day

"don't forget where you come from

and don't let it get in your way"

-from "Anyway, Rattlesnake" by Haley Bonar

Pyramids

I went to a holiday party Friday night. A fantastic, wonderful party. I had a blast. I was having serious Ziggy euphoric moments of glee. Laughing until my face hurts.

Then the husband and I left the party, walked to our car, and there was this:

And then you feel terrible because you have to go back to the party because you're not quite sure what to do in that situation. I mean, you have to call the police, right? And the husband's hand is bleeding because we are apparently not very perceptive and did not notice the gaping hole in the windshield and when we got in the car, we thought it was glitter (we had been dealing with holiday gift bags) and tried to wipe it off the seat and then felt pain and glitter is not supposed to bring pain.

So you go back to the party and have to be the Debbie Downers who come moping in: "hey guys, our car was broken into and his hand is bleeding and can someone help us?"

But then your friend helps you and while helping you deal with calling the police and all of that, the friend also makes you laugh and you realize how ridiculous it all is and is really nothing to get worked up about. No one was hurt (well, somebody did get hurt that night and that is a whole other story and not mine to tell). Insurance will cover the replacement window and those auto glass people are everywhere all the time just waiting for someone to need a window replaced so the whole problem will be fixed by tomorrow afternoon. You get to go home to your cozy house and big bed with the person you love and all is well.

And that's all I have to say about that.

It's Been A Long, Long, Long Time

Okay. So it hasn't been that long. But I feel so removed from the internet world and this blog and just life in general. Being out of work really threw my life for a loop. And now being back working, kind of - temporarily, has made things feel all the more...awkward. It's like, I have a job...but not really. I mean, this was my first week and I asked to take today off because of my show at the Turf Club last night and I wasn't concerned about any repercussions or anything because, hey, I'm just the temp, right? Of course, this job could lead to a permanent position so I guess I should be concerned.

I just don't know what to do.

I do know that I have been exhausted this week. More tired for a really long period of time than I can even remember. I cannot get my head back on right. And these holidays keep coming up and messing up my schedule even more. Next week I'm working Monday, half a day Tuesday, half a day Wednesday, then I'm off again until January 3rd! It's just all so weird.

I've been doing things, though. I went to a lovely holiday party at a friend's house last weekend where I was given this excellent coffee mug - which I am using right now!

And this beautiful, handmade, cowel scarf made by my lovely friend, Deanna. I love this thing. I instantly feel fashionable when I put it on.

I attended a Celebrate Women in Music event at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall and wrote a review of it for Mpls Music website.

I attended the Prairie Fire Lady Choir's final show of the season at Honey and, last minute, decided to join them on stage. I used to be in this choir. I guess I still am. I just never make it to practices. I want to, though. I want to become more involved with them again.

I wrote a few new songs. Well, the lyrics are actually old. Some quite old. But I dug them up and reworked them a bit, put some music to them and, hey! Songs! I'm almost thinking I might go right from finishing up this next album and begin working on a follow up EP for the end of 2012. If the songs are coming out, why not?

I had a playdate with the cutest little puppy. Well, not as cute as my babydog was, but she's pretty adorable. This was my first "job" as a doggy daycare/dog walker. I got paid to hang out with this adorable little thing for 30 minutes. And, I'm not gonna lie. I stayed longer than 30 minutes. She was just too cute to leave.

Would you leave?

Well, I guess that's about it.

Oh, I did play at the Turf Club last night.

I always love playing at the Turf. This was my 3rd time playing there and, I think, one of my best performances. I don't think I've ever felt more confident on stage. Shawn was back playing with me and that helps so much. It's so nice to have someone else up there with you. Unfortunately, I had one too many songs on my set and when I announced "this is my last song, thanks for listening", the sound guy told me I was out of time. Awkward. Of course, that is now all I'm focusing on from the gig. Oh, well.

Setlist for the Turf Club 12/15/11

-The Party

-Good

-Float

-The Paul Simon Song

-Can't Even Tell

-Salt

-Cohabitate

-Here

(once again "Adore" got cut off. Next time....)

My Favorite Music of 2011

Alright. Here we go.

I've been holding off on posting this because it's been an excellent year for music and trying to sort it all out is an incredibly daunting task. But, I start a new (temporary) job tomorrow (yay!) and that will really eat up my blogging time. So best to do it now.

Also, it seems that every year I do this a little differently. This year is no different. Let's get started.

Top 10 Albums of 2011

1. Eddie Vedder: Ukulele Songs

My number one album of the year was a no brainer. Mixing Eddie Vedder's baritone voice with the little ukulele just had my name written all over it. I loved Eddie Vedder for years and this year just took it to a whole other level. His show back in June kind of changed my life. Okay, not really. But I don't think any other live show I attend will compare. As for the album, it's delightfully sweet in an unobnoxious way. It's earnest. It's 16 little tracks that cut you right to your heart. It's true. It's what he wanted to do. It does not feel gimicky or trendy. It feels like it comes right from the heart. The songs crush me in a very good way and they helped me through a very painful year. I love the ukulele and I love Eddie Vedder. Thanks for making this album, Eddie.

Top 3 Tracks: "Goodbye", "Without You", "Broken Heart"

2. Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes

Oh, Lykke. How you are not a pop star on the level of Katy Perry I'll never understand. You are miles above them all. But, honestly, I like you just where you are. Wounded Rhymes is fierce. That term is lame, but it is what it is. Every single song on this album either makes me want to dance or sing and never do I want to press the skip button. The chorus's are big, the beats are bigger. Her voice is heartbreaking and ferocious. And the lyrics...don't let the drums and dancing overshadow those lyrics. She has a way with words and ideas and thoughts that I think get overlooked by all the production. She is awesome. Wounded Rhymes is awesome.

Top 3 Tracks: "I Know Places", "Sadness is a Blessing", "Love Out of Lust"

3. Haley Bonar: Golder

Haley Bonar just keeps getting better and better. With each album I just think, how? You can hear her growth as an artist with each album. Golder kicks off with the big sound of "Candy Machine Gun" and closes with the sweet lullaby "Wendybird" and everything in between nestles in perfectly. Her voice has never sounded more confident. Her band is killer. And the songs are near pop perfection. As a songwriter, I am insanely jealous.

Top 3 Tracks: "Candy Machine Gun", "A Piano", "Sad Baby"

4. Tristen: Charlatans at the Garden Gate

I stumbled unto Tristen. She opened for The Elected back in July. I thought I'd buy an album because, why not? And I'm so glad I did. She is so good. This time next year everyone will be talking about her. She's like Jenny Lewis meets the Beach Boys. She's big on harmonies and sounds that swirl around your head. She also occasionally plays the ukulele, so bonus. Her songs are stories. She is a storyteller. And a good one. Don't be late to the Tristen party.

Top 3 Tracks: "Tadpole", "Baby Drugs", "Eager For Your Love"

5. PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

As I look over all of the top albums of the year lists I am shocked that this album seems to be forgotten. This is high end quality stuff here. It won the mercury prize. How is it suddenly dismissed? It just goes to show what a great year for music it's been. Let England Shake is a concept album of sorts. An homage to her homeland - all the good, bad, and ugly of it. Polly Jean has transformed her sound again. Seriously, do any of her albums sound anything like the one before it? This album just sounds cool. It feels important - but not in a pretentious way. Okay, so maybe it is slightly pretentious, but so what. It's really good.

Top 3 Tracks: "The Last Living Rose", "England", "Written on the Forehead"

6. Wye Oak: Civilian

I fell in love with the song "Civilian" immediately - I'll get more into that later. I didn't get the full album for a while. It's dark. It's brooding. It's rocking. And the band consists of two people and I have no idea how they make all of those sounds.

Top 3 Tracks: "Civilian", "Doubt", "Fish"

7. Agnes Obel: Philharmonics

Quiet. Elegant. That's what this album is. It makes you want to light candles and drink wine while sitting in a big fancy chair in your best clothing. I feel very fancy when I listen to it.

Top 3 Tracks: "Just So", "Beast", "Close Watch"

8. Radiohead: The King of Limbs

I can say that this wasn't going to make my list. I never really sit and listen to it as an album. But when each song individually shuffles onto the iPod, I really enjoy them. I mean, it's Radiohead. Do they ever do anything wrong? And "Codex" is a true masterpiece. I can't tell you how many times that song would come on and I would stop what I was doing to go check the iPod to see who it was and everytime I would say, Radiohead? Really? Good stuff to just put on.

Top 3 Tracks: "Codex", "Morning Mr Magpie", "Feral"

9. Pink Mink: Pink Mink

This album is fun. It is super super fun. Spunky ladies singing about the end of the world, Scott Seekins, and hidden beaches. Fun....Fun. Fun. Fun.

Top 3 Tracks: "End of the World Delight", "Earthquake on the Loose", "Hidden Beach"

10. Bon Iver: Bon Iver

Sigh. Why does it make me mad that this made my list? I fucking loved For Emma Forever Ago. LOVE IT. This album was a bit of a let down...at first. It definitely sounds way over produced. For Emma had such an ease about it. Such an intimate vibe. This one sounds like: "Hey! I've got a bunch of money now! Let's go into a super fancy studio and use EVERYTHING!" Which, I guess, hey who wouldn't do that. But, I can't deny the beauty of some of these songs. True, true beauty. People really don't write beautiful songs anymore. At least, its not what you hear in the popular music world anymore. You can tell a lot of thought went into each arrangement. It really is something to marvel at. And, honestly, the only reason it's at the end of the list is because of the last track "Beth/Rest". That is the most god awful thing I have ever heard. It sounds like it should be on the Top Gun soundtrack. Maybe it's a joke. Maybe that's what he was going for. Either way, it bumped the album all the way down to number 10.

Top 3 Tracks: "Perth", "Holocene", "Michicant"

Album that would probably have made the list if I ever would have got around to buying it:

My Morning Jacket: Circuital.

I really want this album. I almost bought a couple of months ago on my last major CD shopping trip, but put it back. I listen to the snippets online and the songs they play on the radio and they sound so good. Why don't I own it yet? Probably because I only go on big CD shopping trips every few months now and this one just keeps falling behind. And I no longer buy albums online digitally, so it's not just a download away for me anymore.

Honorable Mentions:

Adam Svec: Weak in the Waves - Local songwriter who can really write songs.

Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps: Little Wind - This is a great album that just fell short of making the Top 10 because I haven't fully immersed myself into it yet. Really good stuff, though.

The Elected: Bury Me in My Rings - It makes me sad that Blake Sennet, formerly of Rilo Kiley, does not get the accolades his female counterpart, Jenny Lewis, does. He writes really fun, catchy pop songs. This album is loaded with them.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - This has the same problem that Caroline Smith has in that it just came out too late that I haven't been able to fully explore it yet. I love Noel, though. And I love everything he does - even the stuff most people would consider mediocre. I really dig this album, though.

Songs of the Year (in no particular order)

"Civilian" - Wye Oak.

This song kicks my ass. It's one of those songs that every time it comes on I am certain that this will be the time that I am finally sick of it, but nope. I just turn it up louder. The guitar on this track is something else. And I can never not love a pounding kick drum.

"I Know Places" - Lykke Li

After we returned from our trip to London and Paris and after Murray died and things just started to get icky, I would listen to this song and drift off and think about those places and truly think of just running away. "I know places we can go, babe. The high won't fade here, babe". It just feels so personal. It feels like she's saying it to you. Like you're listening in on a very personal moment between her and someone who matters to her. This song brings me hope.

"In My Mind" - Amanda Palmer

Amanda is my new idol. I just think she really has everything figured out. And this song is kind of about that and just makes me swell up every time I listen to it. Just beautiful.

"Tanktop" - Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps

I know this song came out in the summer, but I ignored it at first. Now I just want it to be summer again. Like really hot summer so I can listen to this song while sitting outside in my tanktop with my friends.

"Weaks in the Waves" - Adam Svec

I'm a sucker for these kind of songs. Just listen to and you'll see what I mean. It's kind of impossible not to like a song like this. Once again, another beauty.

"Go For the Throat" - The Elected

Big, fun, pop song. How is this not a big hit on all the indie rock stations? Play The Elected already for cryin' out loud.

"Codex" - Radiohead

Like I said above, this song surprises me everytime. It's gorgeous. It makes me stop what I'm doing and listen. It takes over a room.

"The Last Living Rose" - PJ Harvey

"Goddam, Europeans, take me back to beautiful England" is the first line from this song and goddam it. Yes. Please take me back.

"Goodbye" - Eddie Vedder

After Murray died, I could not listen to this song. But now...well, who am I kidding. I'm listening to it now and I just started crying. I miss my dog.

I could not find a good YouTube video for this song. Probably for the best. I have my own imagery.

So, that's that. That's the music I've enjoyed in 2011. Until next year...there seems to be a lot of really great music due to come out.