Isn't It Pretty To Think So?

2005 made friends, but not many great ones

My favorite albums from 2005 (as of January 23, 2005)* because you care so dearly.

BAND                       ALBUM

                                     

Antony   and the Johnsons	I Am A Bird Now
Sufjan   Stevens	Illinois
david thomas broughton	Complete Guide to Insufficiency
Akron/Family	Akron/Family
Vitalic	OK Cowboy
Animal   Collective	Feels
Hella	Church Gone Wild (/Chirpin'   Hard)
Lightning   Bolt	Hypermagic Mountain
Okkervil   River	Black Sheep Boy
M.I.A.	Arular

Note: If I could separate the second disc (4) from OCS's double album 3 & 4, then this collection of John Dwyer's sonic-drenched acoustic oddities would probably knock out Arular.

*While I had completed the top 10 a month ago, I altered their order just before posting.
**Since Hella's double LP makes it distinct that each part of the duo recorded their own half, I allowed myself to separate Seim's half from Hill's (I paranthesized Seim's disc).

**** Sorry, but I had to indulge myself with this post. This site is STILL DOWN (forever)

This Site is DOWN

Sorry to those who accessed this site, likely searching for Hemingway quotes, but finding only dead space. I was under the impression that this blog was inaccessible, as I stopped updating a year ago in favor of my other site: Minor Gourmandry.

I don't want to totally delete the site for several reasons, chief among them being I do not know how to do it properly.

Although it kills me not to have a venue to participate in the dialogue surrounding my other, uncomestible hobbies, I think it's best to focus on one site alone. If you ever want a lively chat about contemporary film, music, or whatever, you can always drop me a line at [email protected]

Just for kicks, here's my definitely-going-to-change top 10 albums of 2005...

                                                                               

	Antony and the Johnsons	I Am A Bird Now	Secretely Canadian
	M.I.A.	Arular	XL
	Okkervil River	Black Sheep Boy	Jagjaguwar
	Vitalic	OK Cowboy	Pias
	LCD Soundsystem	s/t	DFA
	Clap Hands Say Yeah	s/t	self-released
	Edan	Beauty and the Beat	Lewis
	Sufjan Stevens	Illinois*	Asthmatic Kitty
	Quasimoto	Further Adventures of Lord Quas	Stones Throw
	James Lidell	Multiply	Warp Records

Linvilla Orchards

My family and I decided the best way to commemorate fall's beginning was to visit a family mainstay, Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA. According to the website the Orchards "is one of the last working farms in the Delaware Valley." The property has 300 acres of land "devoted to farming, entertainment, education, and recreation." All-in-all it's a pretty unique place.

   Although it used to be an annual trip, I have not been there in four years, so the journey was even more exciting. It's funny how all of the sudden I appreciate these traditional family outings so much more, despite the fact that I am only a few years removed from them. It's hard to believe I have inculcated a sense of appreciation for nostalgia at all, still a high school senior. I suppose it happens sooner or later, and it must be the most wonderful thing in the world for parent. Despite their children's petulance and nagging, the little traditions are the ones they will learn to love.
Enough of that anyway, it's too much to bear.

Off to L.A.?

I just came across this interesting inset in the LA Weekly. Instead of the traditional "Best of", they added a creative twist to their 2004 celebration by calling their feature The Seven Deadly Sins. Embracing LA's licentious image openly, each of the sins (which are Greed, Sloth, Envy, Anger, Pride, Gluttony, and Lust - in case you were wondering) exemplifies a set of Bests.
Some entries: Best Place To Pee Sitting Down (Lust), Best Place for Compulsive Gamblers (Greed), and Best Chocolate Fantasy (Gluttony - which opens, "A recent poll in Britain revealed that 50 percent of women prefer chocolate to sex...").
Check it out if you live in California or if you are a openly hedonistic.