5 Albums You Probably Don't Own, But Should... (Vol. 1)

1. Fleetwood Mac - "Tusk" (1979)



Easily the most underrated album to ever go double-platinum. Fleetwood Mac were only two years removed from the mega-million selling hit machine of an album "Rumours" when they released this follow up. Lindsey Buckingham tackled the production of the album, which was one of the first albums to be digitally mixed. I was 20 years old the first time I dove into "Tusk" and from the opening notes to the closing sounds...I have been hooked ever since.

Favorite Tracks:

"Sara"
"Beautiful Child"

2. New Order - "Power, Corruption & Lies" (1983)



The greatest sophomore release of all time in my opinion. New Order created the synth-pop genre and the seeds were planted here. Ranked #94 in Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 greatest albums of the 1980's, this 8 track LP is just as stunning now as it probably was in 1983. I love the song "Age of Consent" so much that I named this very blog after it.

Favorite Tracks:

"Age of Consent"
"Leave Me Alone"

3. Brian Eno - "Discreet Music" (1975)



On "Discreet Music", Brian Eno created an ambient masterpiece. The song 'Discreet Music' is a 30 minute piece of "furniture music". This means music that is intended to blend into the ambient atmosphere of the room rather than directly focused upon. If you ever want to feel like you are floating in space in the very place you sit, put this album on. A true listening experience.

Favorite Tracks:

"Discreet Music"
"Variation on the Canon in D major: (ii) French catalogues"

4. The Anniversary - "Designing a Nervous Breakdown" (2000)



If the Ramones, New York Dolls and others created punk in CBGB's, then The Anniversary helped to create emo pop/punk in the late 90's. The Anniversary brought MOOG keyboards to the guitar party that was emo rock and happened upon the genesis of the next phase of modern indie music.

Favorite Tracks:

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
"Perfectly"

5. The Black Heart Procession - "Three" (2000)



It's dark, it's brooding, it's depressing...and it's downright amazing. For a group of guys from San Diego, CA one would think they would create a style of music inspired by the sun of the west coast. This is not the case with BHP. I was obsessed with this album in the winter of 2000 and I have very fond memories of the soundtrack quality it brought to my life at that time. A brilliant album filled with heavy on the heart songs.

Favorite Tracks:

"On Ships of Gold"
"Never From This Heart"

The Top 40 "Top 40" Songs I Never Want to Hear Again...Ever

(in some sort of order)

1. B52's - "Love Shack"
2. Alannah Myles - "Black Velvet"
3. The Knack - "My Sharona"
4. AC/DC - "Shook Me All Night Long"
5. Usher (Feat. Ludacris & Lil' Jon) - "Yeah"
6. Santana & Rob Thomas - "Smooth"
7. Uncle Kracker - "Follow Me"
8. Staind - "It's Been Awhile"
9. Toby Keith - "Beer for My Horses"
10. 3 Doors Down - "Kryptonite"
11. Baha Men - "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
12. Avril Lavigne - "Sk8er Boi"
13. Darryl Worley - "Have You Forgotten?"
14. Def Leppard - "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
15. Fleetwood Mac - "Don't Stop"
16. Uncle Kracker - "Drift Away"
17. Lenny Kravitz - "Fly Away"
18. Jimmy Buffet - "Margaritaville"
19. Creed - (any song they ever created)
20. Will Smith - (any song he ever had anything to do with)
21. Jimmy Buffett - "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
22. Eiffel 65 - "Blue"
23. EnVogue - "Free Your Mind"
24. Stray Cats - "Stray Cat Strut"
25. C & C Music Factory - "Gonna Make You Sweat"
26. Kenny Chesney - "She Think's My Tractor's Sexy"
27. Crazy Town - "Butterfly"
28. Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow - "Picture"
29. Lonestar - "Amazed"
30. Sisqo - "The Thong Song"
31. Nickelback - "How You Remind Me"
32. 50 Cent - "Candy Shop"
33. Londonbeat - "I've Been Thinking About You"
34. Prince - "Pussy Control"
35. Montell Jordan - "This is How We Do It"
36. Aerosmith - "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
37. Charlie Daniels Band - "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"
38. Sheryl Crow - "Soak Up the Sun"
39. Ace of Base - "The Sign"
40. Los Del Rio - "Macarena"

Matt Cassel: "A Life of Possibilities"

By now we all know the background on Matt Cassel: always a bridesmaid, never bride...or, in his case, always a backup and never a starter. That was the case until week 1 of the 2008-2009 NFL season. The golden boy quaterback Tom Brady went down with a season ending knee injury and Matt Cassel's life changed forever. Sports analysts and fans alike had little to no hope that the New England Patriots would win more than 4-5 games the rest of the season in the absence of Brady. Cassel stepped in and lead the Patriots to an 11-5 record...all without missing a beat.

On paper, Cassel is set to become an unrestricted free-agent this February but several reports point to Cassel getting the franchise tag by the Patriots organization. This essientally means that New England shall retain Matt Cassell for the 2009-2010 season for around $14 million dollars. In February of 2010, Cassel will become an unrestricted free agent without the ability to be franchised again... his possibilities will be wide open.

Scenario #1: Patriots sign Cassel, release/trade Tom Brady



In my opinion, this is the most likely scenario. The Patriots do not have a history of retaining players considered expendable (see: kicker Adam Vinatieri). Tom Brady suffered a serious knee injury and his recovery has been severely set back due to complications resulting from multiple infections. Brady's contract will be up in...you guessed, 2010. With no guarantee that Tom Brady will ever fully recover, the Patriots will cut him just as they cut Drew Bledsoe when he went down with injury and unknowingly enabled the genesis of the Tom Brady era in New England. Irony folks.

Scenario #2: Remain the backup QB for the Patriots



So let's say that Tom Brady has a miraculous recovery and is set to return in 2010 after a full season off. Brady signs a two year deal and Cassel once again finds himself backing up Tom Brady. This scenario is actually quite feasible: let's say Cassel has a below average season in 2009-2010...and all those big free-agent offers we all expect him to receive are simply not there anymore due to lack of performance. What then? Remain in the system and wait his turn. Like all quaterbacks, Tom Brady has an expiration date. Matt Cassel could remain the heir apparent to the franchise and the system in which he has been a part of since 2005.

Scenario #3: Sign with the San Francisco 49ers



I really like the idea and possibility of Cassel signing with the 49ers. A) Cassel is a California native B) The 49ers desperately need a seasoned QB who is not Alex Smith C) The 49ers have the type of big money to offer Cassel. I think Cassel is smart enough to know that if he betrays Bill Belichick...he better get far, far away from him and what better place than the opposite coast in the opposite conference. The NFC West has been the punching bag of the National Football Conference for the last couple of seasons. If the Arizona Cardinals easily won the division on a 9-7 record, this should say something about the overall quality of said division. Cassel could step in and create a blaze with the sparks put off by the 49ers in the second half of the 2008-2009 season. I also think Cassel would relish in battling Matt Leinart of the Cardinals twice a year, considering that Leinart beat out Cassel for the starting QB job at USC. Revenge is a dish best serve cold.

Scenario # 4: Sign with the St. Louis Rams



This is certainly the dark horse scenario, however it is still quite plausible. The Rams offer Cassel the same perks that the 49ers do: big money and to play in the NFC West. Cassel would play in a weak division, all while playing 8 home games a year in a dome. Also, the Rams are publicly up for sale and the city of Los Angeles is eager to bring them back to town. Anyone would have a hard time convincing me that Matt Cassel would not jump at the chance to return to Los Angeles where he was once relegated as the seemingly eternal backup quaterback for the USC Trojans. With running back Steven Jackson waiting to have another breakout season and Chris Long showing signs of becoming the defensive force of the team, the Rams could very easily be poised to make a serious playoff run under Matt Cassel.

My Top 50 Favorite Films

1-20 are in order, 21-50 are in no particular order

Top 50:

1. Dances with Wolves
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Boogie Nights
4. Magnolia
5. Vanilla Sky
6. The Royal Tenenbaums
7. Donnie Darko
8. The Outsiders
9. Forrest Gump
10. American Movie
11. The Shawshank Redemption
12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
13. Rushmore
14. Blade Runner
15. The Shining
16. Casino
17. Jackie Brown
18. Raising Arizona
19. Kill Bill Vol. 1/Kill Bill Vol. 2
20. Adaptation
21. This Boy's Life
22. Easy Rider
23. The Squid and the Whale
24. The Virgin Suicides
25. She's Having a Baby
26. Taxi Driver
27. Jack the Bear
28. Sling Blade
29. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
30. The Good Girl
31. Edward Scissorhands
32. The Godfather Pt. II
33. Goodfellas
34. Pulp Fiction
35. Annie Hall
36. A Perfect World
37. Urban Cowboy
38. Fight Club
39. Career Opportunities
40. Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
41. True Romance
42. Apocalypse Now
43. The Big Lebowski
44. Reservoir Dogs
45. There Will Be Blood
46. No Country For Old Men
47. Lost in Translation
48. Fargo
49. A Scanner Darkly
50. Contact

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Abe Vigoda - "Wild Heart"
2. Genesis - "Throwing It All Away"
3. Animal Collective - "Street Flash"
4. Bloc Party - "Flux"
5. Fever Ray - "Keep the Streets Empty For Me"

My Top 5 Favorite NBA Alley-oop Combos

(in order)

1. Jason Kidd to Kenyon Martin



Jason Kidd is the all-time best at tossing the perfect alley-oop. In their days with the New Jersey Nets, Kidd and Martin hooked up hundreds of times for the best alley-oops I've ever seen. Jason Kidd basically made Kenyon Martin into an NBA All-Star in 2004 with their oops.

2. Gary Payton to Shawn Kemp



The original alley-oop combo: "the glove" and the "reign man". Payton and Kemp revolutionized the alley-oop in the NBA. No one was more consistent with scoring 2 points off the oop than these two. Gary Payton gets extra credit for creating the "look-away" alley-oop.

3. Chris Paul to Tyson Chandler



Chris Paul is the best PG in the NBA. Tyson Chandler is 7' 0" and knows how to run a pick and roll. End of story. CP3 throws the second most beautiful lob pass I've ever seen next to Jason Kidd. I can only hope that this combo sticks together about as long as Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp did.

4. Stephon Marbury to Kevin Garnett



These two had a beautiful thing going until Steph got homesick/greedy and bolted for New Jersey. Given that Steph and KG had already played together on the AAU circuit, they were two steps ahead of their opponents before they even stepped onto the court. Marbury knew exactly where Garnett wanted the ball placed and he put it there every single time.

5. Steve Nash to Amare Stoudemire



This pick and roll combo baffled many a defense more than once. Nash quickly dribbled into the paint, waited for defense to foolishly leave Amare...and simply threw the ball over top and out of their reach. Whether it was when he was wearing #32 or # 1, Amare was there to receive the gift 100% of the time.

Honorable Mention:

Jason Kidd to Vince Carter
Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson to Michael Cooper
Spud Webb to Dominique Wilkins
Mike Bibby to Chris Webber
Baron Davis to Jason Richardson
Penny Hardaway to Shaquille O'Neal
Derek Fisher to Kobe Bryant

New Music: Animal Collective - "My Girls"

The first video/single from Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavilion" LP

Phenomenal!

My Top 25 Favorite T.V. Shows

This is the updated 2009 edition of my favorite shows:

(in order)

1. The Wonder Years
2. Pardon the Interruption
3. Tale Lights
4. Sportscenter
5. Twilight Zone
6. Cops
7. Family Guy
8. The Simpsons
9. The State
10. In Search of...with Leonard Nimoy
11. Nova
12. Frontline
13. Saturday Night Live
14. Real World (Seasons 1-3 only)
15. Intervention
16. American Experience
17. SK8TV
18. My So-Called Life
19. Unsolved Mysteries
20. Freaks & Geeks
21. Inside the Actors Studio
22. Aqua Teen Hunger Force
23. Good Eats
24. Who's # 1
25. Quantum Leap

Honorable Mention:

Seinfeld
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World
Austin City Limits
60 Minutes
Beyond the Glory
Gilligan's Island
Eerie, Indiana
Night Court
Northern Exposure
Scare Tactics
You Can't Do That on Television
True Life
The Andy Griffith Show
Sightings
The Adventures of Pete & Pete

The Island: Where Has Been/Never Were Basketball Players End Up...

Throughout the history of the NBA, new talent has been harvested from the collegiate ranks to the blacktop playgrounds of the nation. Thousands of players have played in the NBA over the years...however, the ones that have always interested me the most:

A) The ones who never made it in despite their immense talent and promising future.

B) The ones who made it in but never displayed that immense talent again and simply faded away.

So where do they all end up? Car dealerships, factories, college coaching staffs, small business owners, etc., but speculating about those are not as much fun as daydreaming about 'the Island'.

I came up with my theory of the 'the Island' nearly ten years ago. This was my attempt to put to rest all the questions I would ask myself or others regarding the whereabouts of lost or forgotten basketball players. It was fascinating for me to think of all of this broken talent landing in one place for one common goal: a triumphant return to glory and to rewrite their own destiny.

I theorized that a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific ocean would be home to these very players and their common goal to return to the NBA and become a star player either A) once again or B) for the first time. The constant rumor on the island is that an NBA talent scout is supposed to arrive "any day now". The court may be ragged, but, it is the epicenter for daily battles of 5-on-5 pickup basketball. The players stay up into the darkest hours of the night, studying game tapes from a decade ago...trying to figure out where it all went wrong. A comradery of despair is what unites the motivation to get out of bed with each rising sun. Their daily fight, struggle and competition is all for one seemingly unattainable thing: a 10-day NBA contract. The NBA scout never shows up, a contract is never offered but the hope never dissapates and it goes on like this forever.



The 'Island' Roster:

All-Time Captains:

Ed O'Bannon
Charles O'Bannon

The Players:

Craig Hodges
Miles Simon
Damon Bailey
Khalid El-Amin
Dontonio Wingfield
Kerry Kittles
Todd Fuller
J.R. Reid
Terrell Brandon
Darvin Ham
Kendall Gill
God Shammgod
Rumeal Robinson
Cedric Ceballos
Kenny Anderson
LaPhonso Ellis
Tom Gugliotta
Harold Miner
Sean Rooks
Calbert Cheaney
Lindsey Hunter
Corie Blount
Glenn Robinson
Sharone Wright
Lamond Murray
Eric Montross
Carlos Rogers
Khalid Reeves
Yinka Dare
Charlie Ward
Voshon Lenard
Bryant "Big Country" Reeves
Shawn Respert
Cherokee Parks
Alan Henderson
Bob Sura
Randolph Childress
Travis Best
Cory Alexander
Jimmy King
Ray Jackson
Tyus Edney
Chris Carr
Samaki Walker
Erick Dampier
Tony Delk
John Wallace
Walter McCarty
Dontae' Jones
Roy Rogers
Brian Evans
Priest Lauderdale
Travis Knight
Moochie Norris
Erick Strickland
Tony Battie
Ron Mercer
Jacque Vaughn
Keith Booth
Michael Olowokandi
Raef LaFrentz
Robert Traylor
Keon Clark
Bryce Drew
Roshown McLeod
Felipe Lopez
Corey Benjamin
Jahidi White
Jonathan Bender
Trajan Langdon
Vonteego Cummings
Laron Profit
Eddie Robinson
Marcus Fizer
Courtney Alexander
Mateen Cleaves
Speedy Claxton
DeShawn Stevenson
A.J. Guyton
Joseph Forte
Jay Williams
Dajuan Wagner
Qyntel Woods
Vincent Yarbrough
Ndudi Ebi

Obama: First Black President in U.S. History

About four hours from now, Barack Hussein Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. Though he is the 44th president, he shall be the first African-American elected to the Oval Office. The past eight years under the Bush administration have been the worst eight years this nation has ever endured. Conspiracy, greed, sheer disregard for civil liberties and an unprecedented abuse of power will come to an end today when Obama assumes the responsibility of the presidency.

Several years ago, Tupac Shakur delivered the now infamous line "we ain't ready for a black president". At the time of its release, I was a realistic 18 year old and the idea that we would ever elect a black man seemed like something that may have only been possible in the extremely distant future. That future, as it turned out... was only 10 years away. As I listen to the Nas song "Black President" (which samples the aforementioned Tupac lyric), it all comes full circle. I am now 28 years old and I am proud to embrace this monumental moment in the history of our nation and more importantly, our lives.

Nas - "Black President"

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Passion Pit - "Smile Upon Me"
2. Fever Ray - "If I Had a Heart"
3. Fever Ray - "Keep the Streets Empty for Me"
4. Devendra Banhart - "Bad Girl"
5. Gui Boratto - "Acrostico"

New Music: Fever Ray

Fever Ray - "If I Had a Heart"



Karin Dreijer Andersson is one half of the Swedish Electro-Pop group 'The Knife'. Andersson has released her new solo album under the name 'Fever Ray'. "If I Had a Heart" is the first single off of the self-titled album, which was digitally released today. It brings to mind the soundtrack to an A.I. apocalypse that is yet to happen...yet, it's actually really good somehow.

Fever Ray website:

http://feverray.com/

Rickey Henderson Heading to Cooperstown

Rickey Henderson was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot today and I want to be the first to say congratulations to the man. Henderson was my favorite baseball player growing up and he is the reason I am still an Oakland A's fan to this day. I skipped school to see him break the all-time stolen base record. I travelled over 250 miles to see him play against the Detroit Tigers. I collected all of his cards I could get my hands on. Simply put, Rickey Henderson was the one and only baseball idol in my life. I wanted his speed but more than anything, I wanted his neon green Mizuno batting gloves (I eventually settled for an all black pair). I know he was cocky, I know he was an illeist but those things cannot take away from what he accomplished in his very long career.



Career Stats and Milestones

Career Stats:

Stolen bases: 1,406 (all-time leader by 468 bases)

Runs scored: 2,295

Hits: 3,055

Games led off with a home run: 81

Single Season Record Stats:

Stolen bases: 130 (1982)

Stolen bases in a single postseason series: 8 (1989 ALCS)

Highlights and Awards:

American League stolen bases leader: 12 times

Major league stolen base leader: 6 times

Major league runs scored leader: 5 times

American League walks leader: 4 times

World Series Champion: 2 times (1989 Oakland A's, 1993 Toronto Blue Jays)

American League MVP 1990

ALCS MVP 1989

All-Star 10 Times: 1980, 1982–88, 1990–91

Glove Glove Winner 1981

The Problem with 'American Idol'

If you know me, you are probably already aware that I hate 'American Idol'. If you do not know me, well... I hate 'American Idol'. I do not hate the show in and of itself, but I do hate the show for what it represents and also for what is has spawned in the world since its inception. The eighth season of 'American Idol' will premiere tomorrow nite and I for one can only hope that it does not get any worse than it already is.

'American Idol' began as an afterthought in the summer of 2002 and has grown to be the #1 show in the United States. That is a problem. 'American Idol' is simply a hidden agenda to manipulate the buying audience. Case in point: In an interview on '60 Minutes' on March 17, 2007 judge Simon Cowell openly admitted that the underlying primary purpose of the 'Idol' franchise (including American Idol) was for 19 Entertainment (the parent corporation that produces the Idol TV shows) to discover new singing talent that can be signed to recording agreements that the corporation maintains with a major record company (Sony/BMG), and benefit from the record sales of contestants and winners who are exposed to the worldwide marketplace through the TV shows. Cowell indicated that revenue from recordings by performers associated with the Idol franchise has already exceeded $100 million.

Simply put, the purpose of the show is to make money while acting as if they are sincerely searching out the new rags-to-riches story. 'American Idol' spoon feeds their audience what they want them to hear, not what the audience wants to hear. This would not be so bad had the ripple effect not reached so far. How far? 31 million households in the United States. 31 million households being spoon fed what they will like, how much they will like it and how much of it they will buy. A true mass manipulation/brainwashing of the buying audience.

98% of modern pop music is pure trash. It is produced in hopes of creating a financial gain, not to create emotions within the human heart and mind. 'American Idol' has become a formula for that financial gain. Naturally, when that much money is being made...others are going to want in on it. Thus the ripple effect of 'American Idol' financial gain through cookie cutting pop music in the modern era has spread: product placement. AT&T has paid an estimated $30-$50 million to have their products advertised within the show. Coca-Cola and Ford Motor Company have also helped to transform the show into a 60 minute commercial with commercials.

Another factor in my hatred of 'American Idol' is the technique of using old songs to create new emotions within their audience. This has become a staple of the 'American Idol' scam. Case in point: I was at the bank one day when I heard a 30-something female in the back signing a Bon Jovi song that was on the radio. I thought "that's great that she still feels that passionately about a song from 20 years ago". I later found out that Bon Jovi songs were the showcase on 'American Idol' the previous nite. Now here is the thing, all of those Bon Jovi songs have been available for the past two decades, yet 'American Idol' reintroduces them and they become pop hits all over again. 'American Idol' is simply giving people what they already had and it makes me sick.

The worst ripple that 'American Idol' has created is the "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" video game craze that has swept the nation over the last 2-3 years. Both games provide you with pre-selected songs for you to pretend to play on plastic instruments. I will never forget the first time I heard a Nirvana song being played on "Guitar Hero" and cringing for the late Kurt Cobain. The very thing that Cobain did not want his music to become...it had become: a musical footnote used as a pop song in a bloated commercial product. Is nothing sacred?

I see modern pop music as a small, dirty and disease ridden pond. I see the world of music outside of 'American Idol' and Top 40 radio as vast as the Pacific ocean, deep and filled with many things to discover. My suggestion, turn off 'American Idol' and never turn it back on. You are merely a dollar sign in their eyes. Put down the plastic instruments and put on YOUR favorite song that YOU choose to listen to, turn it up real loud and rock the fuck out! There has never been a better or easier time to look for new and exciting music that will move you. Become one of the millions that do not rely on a popular television show to tell them what to like or buy.

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Passion Pit - "I've Got Your Number"
2. Thieves Like Us - "An Easy Tonight"
3. Abe Vigoda - "Wild Heart"
4. Passion Pit - "Smile Upon Me"
5. Thieves Like Us - "Program of the First Part"

My BCS National Championship Predicition

Florida 45 Oklahoma 31 F

Auto Bailout: 29 Years Ago Today...

President Jimmy Carter authorizes legislation giving $1.5 billion in loans to bail out the Chrysler Corporation. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Background:

In 1979 and 1980, the economy was in recession and the price of oil had unexpectedly increased dramatically. However, at that time there was no financial liquidity crisis, as is the case today. Most of the arguments for and against the proposed Chrysler loan guarantee program are relevant to current proposals for credit assistance to the Big Three. For example, in the 1979 debate, proponents argued that the Chrysler loan guarantee would save many jobs. But opponents contended that the financial capital obtained for Chrysler by the proposed loan guarantee would have been used by other firms to expand their productive facilities, output, and employment. Thus, any Chrysler job losses could be offset by gains at other firms. Provisions in the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act of 1979 included the establishment of a Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board, extensive federal oversight of Chrysler operations, detailed reporting requirements by Chrysler's management, shared sacrifice of parties benefiting from the loan guarantee, and protection of the federal government's interest.

Chrysler used federal loan guarantees to borrow $1.2 billion of the $1.5 billion available and redeemed its guaranteed loans in 1982. Some critics argued that Chrysler was only able to return to profitability because of the imposition by the U.S. government of voluntary import quotas on Japanese vehicles. In 1980, the Chrysler loan guarantee was treated as a contingent liability with no initial cost at the time the guarantee was provided. Because Chrysler repaid all of its guaranteed loans, the U.S. government incurred no budgetary cost. Furthermore, the U.S. government received warrants to buy Chrysler stock, which it subsequently sold at auction to Chrysler for $311 million. Thus, it can be argued that the U.S. government made a profit from the loan guarantee program.

Late Night Tales: The Broken Parade

Background:

'Late Night Tales' and its predecessor 'Another Late Night' are the names of two related series of DJ mix albums released on Azuli Records independent record label. The tracks on the albums are selected and mixed by a diverse selection of DJs, recording artists, and bands, asked "to compile an album of their favorite music that inspired them to make music their profession - their favorite of the favorites".

My Favorite 'Late Night Tales' Edition: Air

http://www.latenight-tales.co.uk/product/air/

'Late Night Tales' Website:

http://www.latenight-tales.co.uk/

After a year or more of constantly taking this project off the shelf and putting it back on the shelf, I have completed my own "Late Night Tales" compilation. The following is my ideal soundtrack for 1:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., when the weight of the world seems heavier than normal.



Tracklist:

Brian Eno - "Sparrowfall (1)"
Jefferson Airplane - "Today"
Elliott Smith - "Twilight"
Black Sabbath - "Changes"
Roxy Music - "Jealous Guy"
Moby - "At Least We Tried"
Linda Ronstadt - "Long, Long Time"
The Rolling Stones - "Coming Down Again"
Phil Collins - "One More Night"
Bruce Springsteen - "I'm on Fire"
Peter, Paul & Mary - "500 Miles"
Roy Orbison - "Crying"
Fleetwood Mac - "Beautiful Child"
Leonard Cohen - "Chelsea Hotel No. 2"
Cat Power - "Names"
Kate Bush - "This Woman's Work"
Devendra Banhart - "Rejoicing in Hands"
Al Green - "Belle"
Van Morrison - "Slim Slow Slider"
Mazzy Star - "Look On Down from the Bridge"
Stars of the Lid - "Hiberner Toujours"
M83 - "Coloring the Void"

Listen/Download:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/53765871a0d05121/

*this is my first production/release under the name 'The Broken Parade'

My 2009 NBA All-Star Ballot

The annual NBA All-Star game will be held on February 19th in Phoenix, AZ. Here are my picks for East/West starters.

Eastern Conference:

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics PG



Rondo is the real deal. Serious PG skills on a veteran squad.

Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks G



Joe Johnson has made the Atlanta Hawks a contender. Enough said.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic C



If I started a franchise today and I had to pick my center, this guy is a no-brainer.

Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics F



My favorite NBA player is still living his rebirth in the league. He is playing the best basketball of his career right now.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers F



The future star of 41 games a year at Madison Square Garden is simply put playing the best basketball of his short career/best basketball on the planet, let alone the league.

Western Conference:

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets PG



Sorry Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, you have officially been dethroned.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers G



The second best player in the league right now next to LBJ23.

Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix Suns C



A) I do NOT want to see Yao Ming start (or even play for that matter)
B) Kobe and Shaq reunite for what could be the last time ever.

Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns F



Amare is quietly averaging 21.8 pts and 8.5 rebs a game on a team that is about to be blown up.

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers F



Nearly forgotten in the city of Memphis, Pau is producing in his first full season as a Laker.

Who I Hope to See Live in 2009...

(in no particular order)

Arcade Fire
Animal Collective
Sufjan Stevens
Hot Chip
Damien Jurado
Magnolia Electric Co.
Handsome Furs
Kanye West
Fleetwood Mac
The Killers
M83
Kleerup
Junior Boys
Yeah Yeah Yeah's
Okkervil River
Modest Mouse*
Radiohead*
Thursday*
Built to Spill*
Wolf Parade*
Girl Talk*

*denotes that I have already seen the artist/band at least once before

2009 Album Releases That I Am Looking Forward To...

Animal Collective - "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (Jan. 20th)
Antony & The Johnsons - "The Crying Light" (Jan. 20th)
Bon Iver - "Blood Bank EP" (Jan. 20th)
Andrew Bird - "Noble Beast" (Jan. 20th)
Squarepusher - "Numbers Lucent EP" (Jan. 20th)
Thursday - "Common Existence" (Feb. 17th)
Beirut - "March of the Zapotec" (Feb. 17th)
N.A.S.A. - "The Spirit of Apollo" (Feb. 17th)
M. Ward - "Hold Time" (Feb. 17th)
Abe Vigoda - "Reviver EP" (Feb. 17th)
Jay-Z - " The Blueprint 3" (February)
Junior Boys - "Begone Dull Care" (March 3rd)
Handsome Furs - "Face Control" (March 10th)
Swan Lake - "Enemy Mine" (March 10th)
Boy Least Likely To - "Law of the Playground" (March 10th)
Lotus Plaza - "The Floodlight Collective" (March 23rd)
Dan Deacon - "Bromst" (March 24th)
The Thermals - "Now We Can See" (April 7th)
Modest Mouse - (Untitled EP) (TBA)
Eminem - "Relapse" (TBA)
Magnolia Electric Co. - "A Map of the Falling Stars" (TBA)
Big Boi - "Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty" (TBA)
Devendra Bandhart - "Nila, Nila/Why the Kids..." (TBA)
Atlas Sound - "Logos" (TBA)
Lil' Wayne - "Tha Carter 3 Pt. II" (TBA)
Kid Cudi - "Man on the Moon" (TBA)
The Radio Dept. - "Clinging to a Scheme" (TBA)
The Cool Kids - "When Fish Ride Bicycles" (TBA)
Bill Callahan - "Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle" (TBA)
HEALTH - "Get Color" (TBA)
Midlake - "The Courage of Others" (TBA)
Elvis Perkins - "Elvis Perkins in Dearland" (TBA)
Dr. Dre - "Detox" (TBA)
Native Korean Rock & The Fishnets - TBA
Radiohead - TBA
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - TBA
Arcade Fire - TBA
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - TBA
Built to Spill - TBA
Kanye West - TBA
Bright Eyes - TBA
Wilco - TBA
LCD Soundsystem - TBA
Sufjan Stevens - TBA
Justin Timberlake - TBA
Grizzly Bear - TBA
André 3000 - TBA
Outkast - TBA
Justice - TBA
Vampire Weekend - TBA