It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Mmmm hmmmm. And if you didn't know, those 8 M's and 1 H are expressing my current satisfaction with this time of year. Yeah, it's a bit cliche, but now truly is the most wonderful time of the year (unless you're Jewish, nice try Adam Sandlar). November has come and gone, our midsections somehow managed to get even pudgier, and people are once again ready to pretend to be nice to each other for the next month or so. Mmmm hmmmm. I thought I might write about Christmas songs, but every time I try to put into words what that "Christmas Shoes" song means to me, I begin to weep hysterically like a little girl. And plus, it would be pointless for me to tell you about Christmas music, because you already know everything there is to know about it. You've known since you were 6 years-old that those other douche-bag reindeer wouldn't let Rudolph join them in their bullshit reindeer games. You already know that Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" is timeless, that Sinatra's version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is tender (like a Christmas ham), and that Wham's "Last Christmas" is......whatever adjective appropriately describes the pain one can inflict by regifting George Michaels's heart. Even the title of today's post is straight out of a Christmas song. If music was ever self-explanatory and loved for all the right reasons, it would be Christmas music. And thank God for that.

But, unfortunately, Christmas isn't why I'm writing. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" because I get to do some end-of-the-year reflecting. It must be some kind of phenomenon that at the end of every year humans generate and admire long lists of everything that happened (especially in music) in the past 365. I just think it's strange that at the end of this year, like every other year, we're going to build some gigantic, metaphorical (hopefully not Communist or German) wall behind us and deem everything behind the 2008 and in front of the 2007 wall as just some product of 2008. If it happened on December 21st, 2008, it might have just as well have happened on January 1st, 2008. We did it in 2007 and every year before that. And I'm sure we'll keep doing it. But doesn't anyone else think it's kind of bizarre/sad/maybe part of the reason we all get shitfaced on New Year's. I know in a historical sense we need to slap a label with a date on every possible event that happens, but I can't help feeling 2005 was forever ago - which it wasn't. Is the the New Year about reflecting on what happened so we can appreciate everything that made 2008 so great? Or is it so we can distance it from us to make starting fresh again easier? Either way, I'm quickly learning the New Year is more than just buying that new Hello Kitty calendar.

All that (surprisingly serious spiel) being said, how can I not have a countdown? 2008 had plenty of great things to offer - both from the music world and from the world beyond music. My Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series, Barack Obama won the Presidential nomination, and everyone went out and saw the new Batman. Plus, I never got to share or write about on this blog-thing most of the wonderful music that came out this year. And whatever the purpose, if any, involved in end-of-the-year-reflecting, I want in. So that's why I'm announcing:

The First Annual Rather Be Pogging Countdown of My Favorite Albums and Songs of the Year

Starting today and ending in late December, I'm going to be listing and discussing my 10 favorite albums of the year. And as a tasty little treat, my last post (which will obviously be of my favorite album) will be accompanied by my favorite 25 songs from the year.

So here we go. Numero...whatever ten is in Spanish

10. Vampire Weekend

Coming in at #10 and winner of the "Bud Light Superior Drinkability Award" is Vampire Weekend's Self-Titled debut. Probably one of the year's easiest albums to listen to, the album blends Afro-Pop, Classical, and Punk for a unique, enjoyable sound. And seriously, if these guys were a beer, they probably would be Bud Light. Reliable... fun... something your girlfriend would like... goes down real easy. You see what I mean? And honestly the album doesn't have a bad song on it. The only reason it is coming in at #10 and not #1 is because, like Bud Light, the album lacks any deep emotional impact and tends to get bland after too many listens.

Bud Light may have "Superior Drinkability." But Vampire Weekend has "Superior Listenability." (Suck my left nut Anheuser-Busch. Your commercials fucking suck. And so does Bud Light Lime)

Anyway. Definitely an album worth listening to. My favorite tracks include:
"The Kid's Don't Stand A Chance" "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" "Walcott"


Check their Myspace here
Mediafire that shit here