2008 in Review

Hey guys, the blog is back. Here is the 2008 year-in-review:

I got engaged! Rachel and I are living together and absolutely loving every bit of it. We are also planning a wedding which is going really well. She is now used to Ames and Iowa State for the most part and progressing towards a degree in community and public health.

As for me, I began 2008 again at Iowa State and am still progressing towards my master’s which should be just months away. I also took on the job of Maintenance Shop director. There were lots of great experiences involved. Seeing and speaking with really great bands and individuals including Jonathan Richman, Oxford Collapse, Bishop Allen, Joe Price, The Dutchess and the Duke, The New Year, The Uglysuit, and HENRY ROLLINS! Lots of work but lots of payoff.

Hey, let’s talk about politics. We have a new president, but we had a lot of other crazy stuff to make it to that point. Remember when Tom Vilsack was running for president? That was fun. Actually, my year started with the Iowa Caucuses. It came down to Sen. Obama as the victor, followed by Sen. Edwards, followed by Sen. Clinton. Remember when Mitt Romney was running for president? That was fun. On the Republican side there was some interesting things that came along as well—remember when Fred Thompson was running for president? That was fun (boring). Either way, the races on both sides continued for quite some time which made the circus of words that much more interesting or tiresome, depending on the viewer’s mood. It came down to Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama, the latter being the victor, for which I am pleased.

We also saw the beginning of two conflicts between Israel and Palestine. Unfortunately only one came to somewhat of a close and the other continues. Another conflict between Russia and Georgia began, but the Olympics were too interesting, even for our own Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice who used some fightin’ words but failed to actually do anything. She did meet Michael Phelps though!

That is enough gloating and/or bashing. Let’s get to the fun stuff (at least for me). The following are my picks for the best music of the year in no particular order:

Top Ten:

Fleet Foxes :: Fleet Foxes

TV on the Radio :: Dear Science

Blitzen Trapper :: Furr

Cut Copy :: In Ghost Colours

Fuck Buttons :: Street Horrrsing

Girl Talk :: Feed the Animals

Frightened Rabbit :: The Midnight Organ Fight

The Dutchess and the Duke :: She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke

The Mae Shi :: Hlllyh

No Age :: Nouns

Next Ten:

Okkervil River :: The Stand Ins

Wolf Parade :: At Mount Zoomer

My Morning Jacket :: Evil Urges

Li’l Wayne :: Tha Carter III

Crystal Castles :: Crystal Castles

Black Moth Super Rainbow :: Dandelion Gum

Portishead :: Third

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks :: Real Emotional Trash

Lykke Li :: Youth Novels

Deerhunter :: Microcastle

2008 Mixtape (as meant to be played):

1. Fleet Foxes :: White Winter Hymnal

2. Bon Iver :: Skinny Love

3. The Helio Sequence :: Lately

4. Vampire Weekend :: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

5. Cut Copy :: Out There on the Ice Hearts

6. Hot Chip :: Read for the Floor

7. Estelle :: American Boy [Featuring Kanye West]

8. Kanye West :: Love Lockdown

9. Lykke Li :: Tonight

10. Blitzen Trapper :: Furr

11. The Dutchess and the Duke :: Reservoir Park

12. Santogold :: You’ll Find a Way

13. Clipse :: S.L.U.

14. Li’l Wayne :: A Milli

15. Portishead :: Machine Gun

16. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks :: Dragonfly Pie

17. TV on the Radio :: Golden Age

18. MGMT :: Time to Pretend

19. My Morning Jacket :: Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 2

20. Frightened Rabbit :: The Modern Leper

You can check out all of these tracks on imeem.com.

I hope you like the list. Let me know your favorites!

Also, make sure to check the M-Shop schedule and justify our existence. Please. Thanks.