To all the men and women, past and present, who put on the uniform to fight for our freedoms: Thank You!!

margaritas, mojitos and BBQ chicken! Oh yea!!

R.I.P. Dennis Hopper http://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=10214007

wishes you a safe, happy, fun-filled weekend!

everything is better with music!

"But am I here? It's kind of hard to tell, I do a good impression of myself, But what's normal now anyhow?" Porcupine Tree - "Normal" [;-)

Music 2009

I apologize for not being a very good blogger lately. Realizing I never posted my annual year end lists of Music and Games (yet Movies were posted in a timely manner!), I am using this as an opportunity to re-crank up the blog posting machine. (Expect games to follow shortly.) You may enjoy, or ignore, as you see fit!


Like movies, my favorite music has little to do with what is popular; Art is subjective and hits everyone differently. Certain things affect me more than others, for various reasons. These are the tunes released in 2009 that I listened to the most.



My top of 2009:



Mastodon - Crack The Sky

Atlanta's metal rockers created a psychedelic experience like no other before it. Brutally hard hitting yet melodic and thought provoking; a challenging and powerful listen and a brave step forward for the band!


Porcupine Tree - The Incident

My favorite band is tied for the top spot on this year's list, releasing a very ambitious song cycle (not concept album) to near universal critical acclaim; it is a haunting masterpiece.


Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition

Prog rock is alive and well in Poland! After finishing their first "trilogy" of albums, Riverside embarked on a new modern direction. The album clocks in at a mere 44:44 but keeps you glued to your speaker the entire time.


Karnivool - Sound Awake

This Australian band recently released this amazing album stateside so you do not have to import it. Their third release is their best, so far!


Porcupine Tree - Ilosaarirock

A fan club only release but worth picking up if you can find it, this live performance captures the band at their most nimble and accomplished.


Katatonia - Night Is The New Day

One of the many bands I discovered through Porcupine Tree, Katatonia has perfected their dark sound on this very listenable (and even catchy) album. Something must be working; they just announced a rare US tour for Fall 2010!


Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

The band stretches a bit on their third album and continues to grow in interesting directions.


3 - Live At The Bearsville Theater

Self released and smokin' live set!


R.E.M. - Live At The Olympia In Dublin 39 Songs

The band strips down and goes back to the beginning; the freshest thing they have done in almost two decades!


The Swell Season - Strict Joy

The couple that met on a movie shoot released their second collection of beautiful songs with a live CD and DVD included! Great music, amazing value!


Other releases in my "heavy rotation" in 2009:

OSI - Blood
Nosound - A Sense Of Loss
JR Richards - A Beautiful End
Long Distance Calling - Avoid The Light
Muse - The Resistance
Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day
Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg (Deluxe Edition)
IQ - Frequency
Flight Of The Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky
Stream Of Passion - The Flame Within
Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist
Redemption - Snowfall On Judgment Day
Lepolair - tears+sun=
The Black Crowes - Before The Frost...
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures



Best comebacks of 2009:

Pearl Jam - Backspacer & Ten Redux
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue
Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe
The Church - Untitled #23
Creed - Full Circle
Spinal Tap - Back From The Dead



Looking forward:

New sophomore albums from personal favorites Demians and The Third Ending were pushed back to sometime soon, Soundgarden just announced they are back together, Porcupine Tree has a live release coming soon and Anathema is now shipping their new disc; 2010 is turning out to be a very good year for music. Strong new albums from Slash, Godsmack, Sevendust, Broken Bells, Barenaked Ladies and Coheed & Cambria seem to support that theory!

sharing a favorite: "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." -Aldous Huxley Have an amazing day!

New on Blu-Ray today: True Blood Season Two, The Road and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog!!!!

OK my Scottish & Canadian friends, we watched Men With Brooms and still do not "get" curling!

Wow, you really know how to make a guy feel special! Thank you for the birthday wishes...you truly rock!

Thanks to Lisa, Christine & Chris for the copious amounts of fun, meat and alcohol last night! (Brazilian Steakhouse...what did you think?)

The world's first synthetic life form has been created, uh oh! http://dvice.com/archives/2010/05/man-creates-wor.php

Have you ever tasted an aged cheese that was so good it was like a drug?

I can see clearly now the rain is gone...

new music from Demians: www.demiansmusic.com

Red Dead Redemption is worth the hype, so far! (PS3 version got some exclusive goodies)

Hey Gamers: Rockstar unleashes Red Dead Redemption today! GTA-style wild west adventure is a must play!

R.I.P. RJD

There is almost nothing as much fun as bathing a 17 year old cat! (Thank you for your patience, Sebastian.)

is a big fan of WEEKENDS!

Mel Brooks' History Of The World -Part1 on Blu-Ray!! It's good to be the king!

hopes your weekend is filled with lots of fun things you WANT to do... and not too many work/chore things you HAVE to do!

shares, "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." -Mark Twain

Happy Friday Eve!

food coma courtesy of Makino Japanese!

Cancer's sweet tooth becomes a target! Sweet!! http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627603.500-cancers-sweet-tooth-becomes-a-target.html?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=mg20627603.500

upgraded the ps3 with a 250gb HDD...let the downloading begin!!

a "sucker" for offbeat vampire movies, I am excited to see what the Spierig Brothers (Undead) do with Daybreakers...which hits Blu-Ray today

R.I.P. Frank Frazetta - http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/frank-frazetta-fantasy-illustrator-dies-at-82/?src=mv

had three generations of Moms over for dinner yesterday, Lisa and I prepared menu to die for...the day was epic! Thanks and love to all!

to my Mom, Lisa and all the Mom's everywhere: Thank you! Have a wonderful Mother's Day!!

Angel Heart is still a wonderfully disturbing little film...looking more beautiful than ever on Blu-Ray!

Fridays rock!

Follow men's eyes as they look to the skies, the shifting shafts of shining weave the fabric of their dreams...

thunderheads are rumbling in a distant overture!

currently 92, feels like 100...Hellooo Summer in South Florida!!

hopes you have an amazing day!

Godsmack "The Oracle" in stores today! Rock On!

Halo Reach multiplayer beta...oh yea!

Monday rocks, if you let it...make it great!

spent the first part of the day by the pool, the rest celebrating Nana's 87th birthday. Life is very good!!

A morning without coffee is like sleep!

To be content with little is true happiness. (our other fortune cookie from last night)