Norm's Top 10 for 2005

Hey Soul Mates,
it's Christmas Eve and perhaps you've got to make one last run out to a Loss-Leader to pick up a gift for someone. Well, here's my year-end run down of the best of 2005 in music. I'm going to be a little lazy this year and not write a whole lot about the choices. Why? Well, many of these LPs got the full treatment earlier in the year when they arrived. But I do recommend all of them and hope that you may enjoy them, too.

In order of finish:
1. Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes. Simply the most interesting LP of the year.
2. The Emancipation Of Mimi - Mariah Carey. Call it a comeback. This is a contender for best pop album of the young millennium with Timberlake's Justified.
3. Late Registration - Kanye West. A tad long, but Gold Digger is the best single this side of A Talent For Loving.
4. You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand. Just a fun album of glammy Scots stomping.
5. A Bigger Bang - Rolling Stones. Their best in nearly 30 years. It really does have great songs.
6. Demon Dayz - Gorillaz. Like an 80's throwback jersey for the ears.
7. Don't Believe The Truth - Oasis. A nice return to form.
8. Bright Idea - Orson. Locals who are now opening for Duran Duran. Bravo, gang.
9. Chaos & Creation In The Backyard - Paul McCartney. Not so good as the Stones new LP, but solid for Macca. His best since Flowers in the Dirt.
10. Get Lifted - John Legend. I tired of this by year's end, but it was smoove while it lasted.
Honorable mention: A Time For Love - Stevie Wonder.

As we get closer to the Grammy's I'll have more to say about these choices as many of them got nominations. I also got to see five of the above artists perform this year. They all put on wonderful shows, with the White Stripes being the most mind-bending. Note: Concert of the year was ABC at the House of Blues.

My favorite (non-RHS) songs of the year:
Gold Digger - Kanye West (feat. Jamie Foxx)
My Doorbell - White Stripes. Although, Blue Orchid, got me to buy it in the first place.
Do You Want To? - Franz Ferdinand
Say Somethin' - Mariah Carey w. Snoop Dogg. Frankly every single from this album ranks.
Dirty Harry - Gorillaz
Rough Justice - Rolling Stones
Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
Ordinary People - John Legend
Behind These Hazel Eyes - Kelly Clarkson
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Paul McCartney with U2 (Live at Live8)

Happy Christmas and Happy Hannukah!
Love, Power, Peace on Earth

RHS Up For Best of 2005

Hey Soul Mates,
our song A Talent For Loving is up for Best Song of the Year on Next Big Hit. Just visit the forum and vote for us. Let's see what we can have to show for 2005.

I hope that everyone is having a good week in the run-up to Christmas. All my shopping is done. There wasn't much to do. Ha Ha.
Love, Power, Peace

Beatles On The Brain

Hey Soul Mates,
Happy Christmas Week.

When I was in college, my dormmates used to tell me that all the time: You've got Beatles on the brain. Not a day went by in school that I didn't listen to a Beatles record or three. Well, it had been a while since I inundated my mind with Fabness. But the month of December has been a real throwback. It started slowly with the McCartney concert and the anniversary of Lennon's death. Then I got sick. And being home in bed, I got to watch a lot of TV. I thought I would catch up on some things lent to me including Let It Be. Over the course of a long weekend, I watched:
The Beatles First US Visit and all the bonus materials
Anthology discs 2-4
A Hard Day's Night, disc 2 supplements and interviews
The Beatles promotional videos
Let It Be
How I Won The War
Imagine

Now, I'm working my way through the music. I hadn't listened to Beatles For Sale in years. All of my Beatles discs were just gathering dust. Having completed my collection long ago. It's been a blast revisiting their music in semi-chronological order. I also have a soft spot for Beatle Muzak and have been listening to those discs as well.

The Fab Four is where my musical education began. In fact, I'm certain I learned to read by following the lyrics on the back of the Sgt. Pepper LP. It's impossible to really describe what impact their music has had on my life. So, I'm not gonna try. I'm just going to throw With The Beatles and Past Masters Vol. 2 in the backpack and head to work.
Love, Power, Peace