2004 List Dealie

I hope to make this premeire Failure's Art "List Dealie" the first of many to come over the next 14 years until my contract with Blogspot has ended. On the first Friday in February in the following years I will publish my very own Best Of list for the previous year. Why February you ask? The answer is simple, I'm ginormous amounts of lazy. It's a fact that hopefully you've grown to accept over the course of my reign of terror, and in fact, 2005's list probably won't be out until October of 2008. Get used to it suckas. You're all lucky I even do this at all.

Politics:

I'm starting of this list with two lists that aren't even mine. If the links still work you'll really enjoy this one and this one.

Gay Ex-New Jersey Governor of the Year: Christie Todd Whitman

Television:

Reality show of the year: (tie) Average Joe 2/WB Suoerstar USA (these are the only two reality shows I would ever watch again or buy on DVD)

Show I wish was on 24 hours a day: Arrested Development

Worst cancelled news of the year: Playmakers (I will never forgive ESPN and the NFL for this)

Television Event of 2004: Man vs. Beast 2

Thank you, ABC: Lost

Film:

While it's true that I didn't see nearly as many movies that I wanted to, I couldn't imagine that there were any movies better than:

3.) Napoleon Dynamite

2.) Eternal Sunshine

1.) Million Dollar Baby

Movie Superstar that 2004 lacked: DJ Qualls



Sports:

Top Six Philadelphia Let Downs

6.) The Flyers losing to the Lightning - only because it's the last hockey I'll ever see

5.) That little Asian woman beating El Wingador in the Wing Bowl - This just in, El Wingador took back the crown today when he beat her by one wing. Amazing.

4.) Saint Joseph's - They should've made it into the Final Four, and they would have if Jameer took a 3 at the buzzer instead of some lame long 2 pointer.

3.) The Philadelphia Phillies - The solution to all their problems? You guessed it, John Lieber.

2.) Eagles 3rd straight loss in the NFC Championship - I seriously can't remember anything about this game right now.

1.) Smarty Jones losing at Belmont - The Eagles would've been number one, but I was there in person to see this hopefully last championship loss until sometime after Sunday.

Music (top 15):

I know pretty much every blog or whatever on the internets likes to put up their top albums list so they can show everybody how cool they think they are. So aren't I doing the same with my music list? Nope, it's February. People don't even care by now. I'm so nonconformist that I'm doing mine over a month after all those nonconformist-conformists (pictured below).



15.) Grandaddy (Artist's Choice) - Below The Radio
Grandaddy's Jason Lytle put together a mix CD of his favorite songs and sold it to a few people out there which I think was a great idea. Just the very thought alone puts this into my Top 15, and I hope that other bands would do the same thing because it's nice to get a feel of what the guys you listen to, listen to on their time. Artists included are Beck, Earlimart, Snow Patrol, Fruit Bats, Pavement and others. My pick though is Grandaddy's very own Nature Anthem, which is a simple song and would make a mmix put out by Failure's Art from these 15 albums.

14.) K-Os - Joyful Rebellion
Codor himself first introduced me to this Canadian rapper when he played me the song, Dirty Water, from this album that features Canadian rock god Sam Roberts. I only got to tlisten to this CD once through, but it made a good enough impression to make the list. My mix cd pick - Crabbuckit.

13.) Keane - Hopes and Fears
I first heard of Keane in August while in Ireland. Though they can be a tad gay at times, this guitarless English band intrigued me enough to buy at Best Buy after I had returned home. Plus, the fact that it was $6.99 didn't hurt. Interesting fact - the album cover in the US is white, while overseas it is green. Mix pick - This Is The Last Time.

12.) Cake - Pressure Chief
This latest Cake album made it's Failure's Art debut when this site did. In fact, the whole process of going to buy it really motivated me to write stuff for you people to read and later forget about. I just love Cake to begin with and this album delivered again for me like their previous releases. Another funktastic effort from Sacto's finest. Mix pick - Dime.

11.) Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets
I saw these guys on Conan over a year ago and I always considered them a fringe band of mine (meaning that I can see them being good enough for me to buy at some point, but not yet good enough to land softly on the green) that I always wanted to know more about but couldn't commit to. When I saw that they had a new CD I finally decided to get it and when I finally did I realized that they were good enough for the green, as well as heavy rotation in my car. Mix pick - Me & Mia.

10.) The Thrills - Let's Bottle Up Bohemia
Codor and I saw these guys with Adam Green and Phantom Planet in April, I guess right before they went to record their latest realease. Their first album was very California-ey, especially for Dubliners and was an obvious Duffy favorite. Bohemia, while probably not as good as their first album in the eyes of real critics is my more favorite of the two, and still California-ey enough for Josh Schwartz to use on The OC when he feels like it. Mix pick - Faded Beauty Queens.

9.) Simple Kid - 1
Simple Kid is a dude from Ireland who Conan also introduced to me this summer. While some might say Simple Kid's apparent lankiness rivals only that of Brian Hughes, his performance had me running out the next day to buy this alternative, country, funk and sometimes rap mix of a masterpiece. You can listen to this CD no matter what kind of mood you're in. He's a great grab-bag of music that exceeds anything a going-out-of-business baseball card store owner can put together. Mix pick - Drugs.

8.) Earlimart - Treble & Tremble
Earlimart's contribution to this list is a tribute to their friend, Elliott Smith that isn't quite on his level, but right below it. The soft and sad melodies are there, as well as a voice that does its best to channel their departed friend, with a sound that also includes Grandaddy. I really enjoyed this the first time I heard it, but it all made sense when I found out what was behind it which made me like it even more. Mix pick - Heaven Adores You.

7.) Ambulance LTD - self titled
It took me a couple of listens to dispose of my poser thoughts (I'm looking at you, the Killers) about this band (their scruffy looking and wear their fathers' blazers, what did you want me to think?) and I'm really very pleased that it happened. If I was to make a list of coolest albums of the past year this would almost definitely be my number one choice. Unfortunatley, I lost my copy a little while ago and haven't been able to find it though I bet it's somewhere in the car, probably under Al's sweatshirt. Mix pick - Sugar Pill.

6.) Ben Kweller - On My Way
Ben Kweller is 23 years old and was born on the same day that gave the world yours truly. He's got two classic albums (at least in my mind), is happily married, and gets paid to play music that he writes. Up to this point, all I've got on him is height. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Mix pick - Hospital Bed.

5.) Phantom Planet - self titled
This third effort from the bad that used to feature Max Fischer on the drums is probably the most forgotten album from the past year. It was realeased last January and has stayed as fresh in my mind as anything has recently. Thanks to a popular Fox show mentioned above, everyone on the planet knows about these guys, and would probably be a little shocked after hearing this album for the first time. This is a straight up rock your socks off garage band type album that was unfairly compared to the Strokes who are now probably to wasted and dirty to realize that they should try mixing things up once in a while. Like the other two PP albums, it's my favorite while listening to it, which I can't say about many bands out there. Mix pick - Knowitall.

4.) Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
We here at Failure's Art would like to officially thank T-Brizzy for introducing us to this band in the fall of 2003. Driving on various turnpikes would not be nearly as fun had I not known about this brilliance. Rilo Kiley has also helped me realize that it's hard to sing along when the lead singer's voice leaves you breathless and not at all embarrassed to sing the line "your husband will never leave you for me." Mix pick - Portions For Foxes.

3.) Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
As 76ers play-by-play man Marc Zumoff would say, "hold on Steve, we're coming in for a landing." We're getting into the big boys on this list, and Wilco leads it off with yet another work of art, and we would be wrong to accept anything less. After having the great honor of seeing these guys along with The Flaming Lips on New Year's at MSG with the Great Codor, I was especially turned on to these guys like I have been with only one or two others in the past. Obviously, I recomend every album on this list, but I'm for serious when I say that this is a must get for even my deaf readers, because what eveybody say about these guys is true. Mix pick - while my favorite is Spiders (Kidsmoke) I'm going to go with Theologians because it might be a little too much to have two ten minute tracks on a mix, which leads me to...

2.) Green Day - American Idiot
Green Day is a band that I grew up with, that has in turn grown themselves more than anybody probably ever thought they would. I don't like to throw the word masterpiece around (though this very list might prove otherwise) but American Idiot is one in every sense of the word, musically. I waited for this to come out for a long time and was skeptical when I got it because it's a rock opera/concept album which means one of two things - it crashes and burns, or becomes an instant classic that would make Chris Fowler "salvivate." Not too much out there can floor me, esocecially something from a punk/pop band that's been around for 15 years, but this did and more. If you want to have any idea what I mean just relax 10 minutes and listen to my mix pick - Jesus Of Suburbia.

1.) Elliott Smith - from a basement on the hill
Earlier in the history of this blog I drunkenly wrote that this was the album of the millennium, and I'll stick by that as long as humanly possible. It took me until after his death to really get into him like I have which is as bittersweet to me as this as of now final release of his was to the rest of the music world. For me Elliott Smith is right up there with the Beatles, up so high above everyone else. I don't think it's possible for me to recommend any artist more than this one and if you're still missing out it's never too late to appreciate his brilliance. Mix pick/song I'm not worthy of - King's Crossing.

Best U2 Album of the Year: The Devins - Waves

Worst U2 Album of the Year: U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Finally:

Best Moment of 2004: When I found my Mattel hand-held Classic Football game that I thought was lost forever.



Best Possible Moment of 2005: No comment, I'll leave that for...

Codor's Jinx-tastic List (copied and pasted from email form because I'm lazy and my fingers are tired)

Best Album

1.) A Ghost Is Born-Wilco, who else would I pick- believe that!

The others in no particular order
Ambulance Ltd., Sonic Youth Sonic Nurse, K-Os Joyful Rebellion - proving that Canadians are better than most of us even in the rap game, Simple Kid 1, Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous, Earlimart Treble&Tremble, Elliot Smith FABOTH, Gomez Split the Difference, Green Day American Idiot, Jon Brion- everything he did that came out this year, The Thrills Let's Bottle Bohemia, Pavement- the reissues, Ted Leo& The Pharmacists Shake the Sheets,and all the stuff i took of mytunes but have not listened to yet.

Best Moment of 2004- Red Sox
Best Upcoming Moment of 2005-Eagles winning on Sunday

Back to me for one last thing I don't want to forget.

Picture of the Year:

Could it really be anything else?