There and Back Again

Year End Music List

2011-12-07T22:44:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Music of the year

1. Bright Eyes- The People’s Key
2. Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues
3. Bon Iver- S/T
4. Iron and Wine- Kiss Each Other Clean
5. The Head and The Heart- S/T
6. Paul McCartney- McCartney (reissue)
7. Feist- Metals 8. Wilco- The Whole Love
9. Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost
10. Ryan Adams- Ashes and Fire
11. The Elected- Bury Me in Rings
12. Death Cab for Cutie- Codes and Keys
13. Manchester Orchestra- Simple Math
14. Blind Pilot- We are the Tide
15. The Decemberists- The King is Dead

Honorable Mention
1. Deer Tick- Divine Providence
2. Middle Brother- S/T
3. Yuck- S/T
4. Explosions in the Sky- take care, take care, take care
5. Gary Clark Jr. – Bar Lights EP
6. City and Color- Little Hell

Favorite Discoveries
1. Caitlin Rose- Own Side(this one came out in 2010 or it would have been on my top albums)
2. Ray LaMontagne (I’ve never listened to him until this year. great stuff)
3. The song Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells (also came out last year. I hate the rest of the album)
4. Peasant- Shady Retreat ( another one that came out last year)

Favorite Songs (in no particular order)
1. Video Games- Lana Del Ray
2. The Mountain Goats- Damn These Vampires
3. Shook Down- Yuck
4. Chair- Big Deal
5. Honey Come Home- The Head and The Heart
6. Jejune Stars & Ladder Song- Bright Eyes
7. Montezuma & Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
8. Glad Man Singing- Iron and Wine
9. Dearest- Black Keys (Buddy Holly cover)
10. Countdown- Beyonce (possibly my favorite song of the year)
11. Blue Eyes- Middle Brother
12. I Might- Wilco
13. Vomit & Alex- Girls
14. Lucky Now- Ryan Adams
15. Codex- Radio Head
16. We Found Each other in the Dark- City and Color
17. The Circle Married the Line- Feist
18. The Strokes- Undercover Darkness
19. Calgary- Bon Iver
20. Main Street- Deer Tick

2011-12-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

I wish I could talk to my grandpa about Tim Tebow and how well the Broncos are doing right now. I miss him.

I'M GONNA LIVE!!

2011-10-01T23:38:00.000-07:00

I've found a way to increase my life by at least 10 more years. Right now on average I have at least two Dr. Peppers a day. If your counting calories that's 500 a day. That's a quarter of my government approved daily intake. Throw in a Snickers bar and BAM! That's right around 800 calories.
Sorry for rambling.
I have found a solution to my over indulgence. Drum role please. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr. Pepper 10.
It taste like Dr. Pepper, it kinda looks like Dr. Pepper, but it only has 10 calories per serving (20 calories if you buy a 20oz.).
It has a slight diet after taste, but its really not too bad. Since yesterday I've had three and I haven't really wanted a regular Dr. Pepper.

I'm not opposed to women drinking it. I think the add stupid.

"I will fight no more forever"

2011-10-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

"I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are all killed. Looking Glass is dead....The old men are all dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no food. No one knows where they are....I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."
-Chief Joseph

"The Indians throughout displayed a courage and skill that elicited universal praise. They abstained from scalping; let captive women go free; did not commit indiscriminate murder of peaceful families, which is usual, and fought with almost scientific skill....Nevertheless, they would not settle down on lands set apart for them...and when commanded by proper authority, they began resistance by murdering persons in no manner connected with their alleged grievances....They should never again be allowed to return to Oregon."
-William Tecumseh Sherman

Then, Joseph and his people were loaded onto the train. They were not going home, they were now told, but far away, into exile in the northeastern corner of Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma -- nearly 2,000 miles from their beloved Wallowa Valley. Once there, they found conditions unsanitary, medicine scarce. Sixty-eight of them perished in the first year alone. Soon, they had a cemetery set aside solely for babies, with 100 graves.

Top 10 Track Ones of All time (my all time)

2011-08-28T19:51:00.001-07:00

Ryan Ward and myself have been throwing out the idea of doing a music podcast for a while. I think we're finally going to start it. It's mostly my fault that we haven't started already. I keep thinking I'm too busy, but I really want to make time to do it.
Today I was thinking of ideas for themes for the podcast. I think a good first show would be our favorite first tracks of albums. So here's a list of my top 10.

1. Like A Rolling Stone- Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited
2. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
3. Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana, Never Mind
4. I am Trying to Break your Heart- Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
5. To be young (is to be sad, is to be high)- Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker
6. Nebraska- Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska
7. At the Bottom of Everything- Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake it's Morning
8. Tired of Sex- Weezer, Pinkerton
9. The Good That Won't Come Out- Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things
10. Sleeping Lessons- The Shins, Wincing the Night Away

Before I Forget

2011-08-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the set list of the best Bright Eyes show I've ever seen.

Encore

Thoughts on Becoming a Man

2011-07-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

After four months of marriage you might think that I've already become a man. That's almost true. The truth is that you don't become a man until you fix a vacuum cleaner. That's right, fixing a vacuum cleaner is the final step that completes the becoming a man cycle.
This afternoon I used a screw driver to open up the bottom of the vacuum cleaner and what did I find a broken belt. From there I proceeded to ACE hardware store. To make a short story even shorter the vacuum was fixed and our carpets are clean.

Also it was a great week. We went to Denver to visit Christina's Aunt Marie. It was really great to spend time with her. My parents met us there on Sunday and on Monday we went to Water World. I'm not talking about Dennis Hopper or Kevin Cosner, but the LARGEST water park in the world (country, state, I'm really not sure). Then we all drove to Rexburg and camped at Rigby Lake for a couple of nights. In between all of that we made a trip to Yellow Stone. My parents can "mark it off of their bucket list now" as they say.

It was such a good week. Meghan, Brady, Jed, and Hannah were all missed. Also, Anna is the funniest little kid I know. We stayed up playing this game called Things and she was cracking us all up.

(I may or may not have called the Bissel Vacuum hotline to get help fixing the vacuum)

The Puffy Chair . . . . .

2011-07-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Was one of the worst movies ever. Don't watch it.

Bon Iver, Bon Iver

2011-06-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

After considerable debate and discussion (mostly in my own mind) I've come to the conclusion that I really love the new self titled Bon Iver album.
I've never been this nervous for an album. For Emma was one of the greatest things I've eve heard in my whole life, and it made me scared to think of a second Bon Iver album. I don't love it as much as For Emma, but I still think its a great album, one of the best of the year for sure. . . . . . So, I highly recommend listening to it (not that my recommendation means anything).

Love,

Zach

My favorite albums 1/2 way through 2011.

2011-06-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

I listened to All Songs Considered: The Year's Best Music (So Far) pod cast earlier this week and it made me want to make my own list. These are the albums I've listened to the most so far this year. There are still some really great albums coming out this year. Bon Iver comes out Tuesday. I pre-ordered it, so hopefully I get on release day. I heard the Avett Brothers are almost done recording their new album too, so I'm sure the list will get bigger by the end of the year.

Bright Eyes- The People's Key
The Elected- Bury Me in Rings
Radio Head- The King of Limbs
Death Cab for Cutie- Codes and Keys
Manchester Orchestra- Simple Math
The Decemberists- The King is Dead
Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues
Iron & Wine- Kiss Each Other Clean
Yuck- S/T

Thirty Day Song Challenge Sucks

2011-06-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I started it. Its ruining my life. I even posted this post in the wrong blog, that's how bad is getting. I quit. I'm bowing out. I'm donezo. Sayonara.

Thirty songs. Day 6

2011-06-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

Thirty Songs. Day 6. A song that reminds you of somewhere. This song reminds me of Sasquatch 2009.

Artist: Bon Iver
Song: The Wolves (Act I and II)
Album: For Emma, Forever Ago

Thirty Songs. Day 5

2011-06-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

Thirty Songs. Day 5. A song that reminds you of someone.
So you would think this song reminds me of Christina (I guess it kind of does), but this song reminds me of my dad. Winter 2010 when I was home for the semester I would come down stairs and my dad would be listening to either this song or the Avett Brothers.

Artist: Rodger Miller
Song Little Green Apples

Thirty Songs. Day 4

2011-06-09T00:10:00.000-07:00

Day 4. A song that makes you sad. Let me rephrase that. . . A song that used to make you really sad.

Artist: Dashboard Confessional
Song: Screaming Infidelities
Album: Swiss Army Romance

Thirty Songs. Day 3

2011-06-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Day 3. A song that makes you happy

Artist: Her Space Holiday
Song: Sleepy Tigers
Album: Sleepy Tigers

Thirty Songs. Day 2

2011-06-06T16:06:00.001-07:00

Your least favorite song. This one is easy.

Artist: Nickleback
Song: Photograph
Album: Who cares what the name of this album is. How anyone could finish a complete Nickleback album is beyond my comprehension. Just listen to the first verse of this song and you'll understand why this song is so bad. My favorite bad line is, "what the hell is on Joey's head." Enjoy or should I say Don't enjoy?

Codes and Keys

2011-06-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

How does Death Cab keep getting better? I was expecting to finally be disapointed with Codes and Keys, but it's great just like the other albums.

Maverick Chips

2011-06-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

I've got four things.
1st: Yesterday was xTina's bday. It was a really great day. We ate blue berry pancakes with fresh squeezed OJ (not the football player/actor/murderer), hiked a mountain, ate fries, bought clothes and finished it with cake and ice cream. I can't believe it was our 3rd June 4th together.

2nd: Maverick has these new chips that are really good. They are only $1 a bag and come in lots of good flavors. Try all the flavors expect one called flavor explosion (I'm not sure that's the name, but its the only one that's not a normal flavor.). It's awful. I made me want to throw up (literally).
But yeah the other ones are good. I usually get the sour cream and cheddar or the sea salt ones.

3rd: Another good value (cha ching!!). Go to the MC market on campus at lunch and get the 79 cent corn dogs. You won't be disappointed (or maybe you will because they are corn dogs after all).

4th: There is a ton of good new music out there just waiting to be listened to. Death Cab, Danger Mouse, Fleet Foxes, The Elected, Iron and Wine, Cass McCombs, Radiohead, Manchester Orchestra, and some others I'm sure I'm forgetting. They all have new albums that are really good.

Thirty Songs. Day 1. Your Favorite Song

2011-06-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

So I saw this 30 song challenge on Facebook, but I really don't want to post it on my wall so I've decided to put it on my blog.
There's a theme for every day.

Day 1: Your favorite song
Artist: Ryan Adams
Song: Come Pick Me Up
Album: Heart Breaker

I Like This Guy

2011-06-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Same Beam from Iron and Wine

Sufjan Stevens

2011-05-28T20:50:00.001-07:00

“That record has really meant a lot to me. It is probably the record I have connected with the most over the last five years or so. Not only because of its emotional content but also musically I feel like I’ve never heard music like that before. It’s one of the most groundbreaking records we’ve ever had as humans. It is weird to me that it hasn’t gotten more acclaim. I mean, it has gotten a lot of critical acclaim but I saw the records making critics’ album of the year lists and I just couldn’t believe that record wasn’t on top of all the lists. Anybody who really loves music and loves the art form should see that it was the most fantastic, most exceptional record made that year.”

Kevin Barnes on The Age of Adz

2011-05-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

My top 10 artists of the week according to my last.fm account.

Fleet Foxes
Cass McCombs
J. Tillman
Fleetwood Mac
Adele
The Low Anthem
Beach House
Patrick Watson
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Other Lives

Helplessness Blues.

2011-04-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm raw
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
And you would wait tables and soon run the store

Gold hair in the sunlight, my light in the dawn
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
If I had an orchard, I'd work till I'm sore
Someday I'll be like the man on the screen

The Elected

2011-04-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bands, The Elected, is releasing an album on May 17! They haven't released an album in 5 years.

Here's an old blog post I wrote about them. http://justchecktheblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-ate-too-much-butter-and-drank-too.html

Also here are a few little preview of the new album

http://stereogum.com/671562/the-elected-go-for-the-throat-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/news/entry/first_impressions_the_elected_bury_me_in_my_rings

If you want to listen to one of their older albums let me know and I'll send you one.

So I Married an Axe Murderer

2011-03-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

We are married, not me and Thome but me and Christina.
It was a very nice little wedding. Then we spent a few days great days in Hawaii. Now we're back in Rexburg.
We're back to making vegan food, listening to music, and playing on the internet.
We're happy.

Thanks to all of our friends that made it California. You guys made a great day even better. To those of you who didn't come, may the wrath of hell follow you for 20 years.(I cracked myself up as I wrote that) I'm just kidding.
Dawgs, can you believe school starts back up in a few weeks? I can't. I'm kind of excited. I'm ready to be done. This is my last year of school. I have 5 classes this semester and 3 more in the fall. In the fall I have to take one extra meaningless class to get my financial aid. I'm thinking archery.

Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City

2011-03-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

"Well now, evrything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe evrything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City"

R.I.P. The Format

2011-03-01T23:41:00.000-08:00

I really miss the Format. For 4 years they were my favorite band. It used to be all I listened to. I wish they would have never broken up.
Tonight I listened to them for the first time in a while and really enjoyed it. It brought back a lot of good memories.
I remember one night me, Meghan, Steven, Brittany drove around in Meghan's car and listened to Dog Problems all the way through. It's one of my favorite nights.
fun is not The Format.

She Liked it So She Put A Ring On It.

2011-02-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

Christina finally got me a ring!!!! It was about damn time.

Just a List.

2011-02-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

In honor of the new Bright Eyes album and because the release date of that album is Feb. 15 I made a list of my 15 favorite Bright Eyes songs.

15. I Woke Up With This Song In My Head This Morning

14. Tourist Trap

13. The Calendar Hung Itself...

12. On My Way To Work

11. Blue Angels Air Show

10. Endless Entertainment

9. Make War

8. We are Nowhere and it's Now

7. Classic Cars

6. June on the West Coast

5. Loose Leaves

4. You Will. You?Will. You? Will. You?Will.

3. Happy Birthday To Me (Feb. 15)

2. Poison Oak

1. I Believe in Symmetry

February

2011-01-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

I have a lot to look forward to this coming month. Christina is coming back (finally). I hope she's okay with how much I've changed. A lot can change a man in 7 weeks.
The Superbowl!!!, and a new Bright Eyes album. How much good can come from one month? Well, March should be pretty big too :)
Also, I've really enjoyed church lately. My new ward is really great. I feel very welcome there and I enjoy all three hours.

Very Funny and Very Literal

2011-01-12T23:17:00.001-08:00

"Why are you so far away from me? I need help and you're way across the sea "

2011-01-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in the laundry mat at 11:43pm. It's where I hang out now. I don't have internet and the laundry mat is less than a block away so I come over at night and steal their WiFi. I'm such a coward. I don't want the laundry mat managers to kick me out for using the internet without doing laundry, so I usually bring a shirt or two and 50 cents and put them in the dryer so it actually looks like I'm doing laundry. It's pathetic I know, but that's who I am.

It's weird being in Rexburg without Christina. I'm not quite sure what to do. I've got good friends who I've been hanging out with, but I still miss her. I can't wait for her to get back.

I'm kinda proud of myself. Since she's been gone (by Kelly Clarkson) I've managed to eat semi healthy and not spend very much money. My goal is less than $5 a day and I'm usually under that. I did buy a $40 vacuum, though. It was necessary. I felt really grown up too.

Also I hate making important life decisions.
Also, listen to the new Beach House album, Teen Dream (and no, it has nothing to due with Katy Perry).

2010-12-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

"All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but with within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived we dream."

-T.K. Whipple

Hell is Coming, Hell is Here.

2010-12-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

This is a post I started in December when I thought my life was coming to and end. I found it(the post not my life)and decided to post it. It's a little incomplete.

If you don't here from me after Friday its because I'm dead. I'm not sure if I'm going to survive through the end of the week. I'm battling two different things right now; finals and bedbugs. If I had to face just one of those I think I could survive, but the two of them at the same time might be too difficult. Bedbugs won't leave me alone and finals have ruined everything decent in my life.

Regurgitation

2010-12-10T23:46:00.000-08:00

"Well, My teachers, they built this retaining wall memory, all those multiple choices I answered so quickly. And got my grades back and forgot just as easily, but at least I got an A. And so I don't have them to blame."

I felt this way yesterday and today.

Zach & Christina's Favorite Music of 2010

2010-12-06T22:57:00.001-08:00

Favorite Music 2010

1. Sufjan Stevens- Age of Adz & All Delighted People E.P.
2. Matt Pond P.A.- The Dark Leaves
3. Girls- Broken Dreams Club E.P.
4. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms
5. Eels- End Times
6. The National- High Violet
7. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
8. The Tallest Man On Earth, The Wild Hunt
9. Vampire Weekend- Contra
10. Circa Survive- Blue Sky Noise
11. Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More
12. Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows(A Tribute to John Pryne)- Various Artist
13. Drew Danburry- Goodnight Dannii
14. Broken Bells- S/T
15. Steel Train- S/T
16. The Avett Brothers- Live Volume III

Favorite songs(in no particular order)

1. The Dreamer- The Tallest Man on Earth
2. Happy Accident- Bright Eyes
3. Laredo- Band of Horses
4. Specks- Matt Pond P.A.
5. One Day- Sharron Van Etten
6. Broken Dreams Club- Girls
7. World Sick- Broken Social Scene
8. Out Go The Lights- Spoon
9. Terrible Love- The National
10. I Think Ur a Contra- Vampire Weekend
11. Turnpike Ghost- Steel Train
12. Stranded- The Walkmen
13. Wedding Day in Funeralville- Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
14. Spanish Pipedream- The Avett Brothers
15. The Cave- Mumford and Sons
16. Airplanes- Local Natives
17. Ready to Start- Arcade Fire
18. ヒーロー見参 (Hero Kensan)- Drew Danburry
19. Vesuvius- Sufjan Stevens
20. The Mall and Misery- Broken Bells

THE BIG CARL!!!!

2010-12-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

I'm in econ right now and all I can think of is this:

THE BIG CARL!!!

2010-11-30T00:02:00.000-08:00

I'm to the point this semester where I don't want to do anything but listen to music, keep track of my fantasy football, and play on my computer.
Who ever invented Thanksgiving break is an idiot.
I've lost all motivation.
I think I'll start eating Snickers bars again.
I wish I played and was good at World of War Craft and made lots of money by sitting at my computer all day.
JUST THREE MORE WEEKS!!!!
IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. . . do dwo do do da dodo do

2010-11-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

This an EP not an album, but it's probably one of my favorites of the year.

R.I.P. Snickers Bars

2010-11-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

I'm trying really hard to quit Snickers bars. It's really hard for me. I love Snickers Bars. I don't care that they'll make me fat, but I do care that they could probably give me type II diabetes and I'll have to wear those funny compression socks, or lose my foot. I want neither of those things.
I've tried to quit Dr. Pepper probably over 100 times. I gave up on that a long time ago. Since I know I'll never be able to quit drinking soda pop I have to eliminate other sources of sugar in my life. With that being said, So long Snickers bars. It was a good run. We had a lot of laughs and good times. We practically saw almost all of America. You kept me awake(thank you Snickers Charged, the Red Bull of candy bars). You kept me company in Portugal. You were there when I needed you and that's why I love you.

R.I.P Snickers Bars
Born: August 1988(approximatively)
Died: Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Age of Adz (pronounced Odz)

2010-10-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

Friday night we bought Age of Adz, the new Sufjan album at Best Buy. We waited until we were done at the mall and then put it in on the drive home. We listened to it the whole way home. We took a small break, got some Dr. Pepper, then drove to the park and finished the album.
It was one of my favorite first listens of an album probably since Dog Problems. I've been waiting for a new Sufjan album for years and it didn't disappoint.

Also, We're going to Salt Lake this weekend(kinda). We're leaving Friday afternoon and coming back earlyish on Saturday. I'm excited to see Meghan and Brady. They're are best friends. I'm also going to get a Big Carl.

Also, call me a party pooper, but I'm not very excited for Halloween. Last year me and Christina did laundry and watched the World Series. It was really great. Who knows maybe we'll dress skanky and crash DJ Matt Hoffman's Halloween dance bash or maybe we'll just bob for apples.

I hate economics.

2010-10-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

I'm getting old. I can't stay up late anymore. Twice this week I've tried to stay up past 2 and I can't do it. The old me would start homework at 1am and go until 3am or so.
Both times I've fell a sleep sitting strait up, typing! I'm turning into my dad(minus the snoring. . . I think).
It's been a crazy week as far as school goes. This weekend is much needed. Christina and myself are going to buy the new Sufjan album tonight. I feel like this album is going to change my life or something. It probably won't, but still, I haven't been this excited for an album in a while.
Also, I'm glad I'm marrying Christina and not someone else. I really liked waiting in the drive through line with her at Jack in the Box for almost twenty minutes last night. I really like the Ben Kweller song 13 too.

Sorry I'm posting an insurance commercial,

2010-10-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

But it's pretty good

My Trip to Oklahoma in Pictures

2010-09-24T17:46:00.001-07:00

"Salina, I'm as no where as I can be. . . "

"I don't shoot innocent animals, only the ones that look guilty"

Unlikely But True

2010-09-22T08:39:00.001-07:00

Elder Gibson or As They Say in AZ, Elder Jed

2010-09-21T23:48:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Jed comes home from his mission in Tempe, Arizona. I really miss him. I'll be in Oklahoma on Friday and I'm staying until Sunday. We'll all be together for the first time in 2 years.

My Dream Car

2010-09-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

This is my dream car. I'm not joking. I really want a PT Cruiser with wood paneling. It would be perfect if it were a convertible. I really want one.

Joshua James

2010-09-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to the Joshua James concert. I really love his shows. The guy might be weird or a jerk or whatever, but the he really puts a lot of heart into his songs and I can really feel that when I listen to his music, especially live.

This is a link to his daytrotter session. It's really good.
http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/joshua-james-concert/20030922-37382044.html

Rambling

2010-09-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

What's up Dawgs. Long time no blog. If you're worried about me(you're probably not), you shouldn't be. School starts tomorrow. The end of this semester will complete year number five. I'm kinda ready to be done with all of this(school that is).
Jedidiah Aaron "AP" Gibson will be home in two weeks. I really miss him. I'm looking forward to at least one night of tennis, cheese burgers, and spooning when he gets back.
I'm getting married in six months. I'm pretty excited about that. She's(Christina) pretty cool :)
I love the Eels and the Avett Brothers, oh and apparently Sufjan. That dude is starting to take over my life.

Good night.

2010-08-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

i suck but christina loves me anyway.
she sucks too.
yay.

I have jobs.

2010-08-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

Today I noticed there are lots of people in Rexburg who can't find work. I feel pretty lucky(blessed) to have not only one but two jobs. If I complain slap me in the face.

Phantom Hat

2010-08-01T11:53:00.001-07:00

The last part of this week I've felt like I've had a hat on my head. I look up to see the bill, or I'll reach up to adjust it and nothing is there. Weird, huh?
Also, I haven't blogged in a really long time. I'm sorry, mostly to myself. It was a very busy semester, very good, but very busy.
I'm in Salt Lake right now. I'm sitting in Meghan and Brady's living room. Brent is on the couch playing his guitar. I came down for Bryce and Nadia's wedding.
Christina is home in San Francisco. I'm taking a train to see her in two weeks. I'm pretty excited about that.
I'll have a scooter for the next 4 weeks. I'm pretty excited about that too.

This is the real me.

2010-07-05T02:02:00.000-07:00

Free Mexico.

2010-06-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

Conor Oberst for The Sound Strike from Producciones Cimarrón on Vimeo.

This is cool.

2010-06-23T00:33:00.001-07:00

"Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try an find Jesus on your own"

2010-06-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

2010-06-05T00:28:00.000-07:00

Today was her birthday (in the picture below). I hope it was really great. I think she's pretty cool. I'm in love with her.

R

2010-05-31T21:20:00.000-07:00

Hiked a mountain today. Tina fell on her butt. Sat around. Went to Red Robin. Sat around some more.

ways to be cool

2010-05-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

I Win

2010-05-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

I've been playing the lottery lately(the scratchers kind, not powerball). I'm mostly good at it. Two weeks ago I won $10. This weekend I won $2 and tonight I won $3. I buy them and Christina plays (unless I buy more than one then I scratch one).
We're probably going to hell.

"you're the spark on the sun"

2010-05-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

Christina Matekel has been my girlfriend (and I've been her boyfriend) for one year today. I think she's pretty neat. She does things like be vegan, read books, write poetry, enjoy doing grammar homework, get scared when she drives, pack to leave weeks in advance, drink DDP, sit on couches with me and make dinner with me (this excludes soup ad frozen dinners). We've seen some cool stuff and too. Sasquatch was my favorite weekend. Big Sur was cool. Outlet shopping not so cool, but still ok. We drove all over Tulsa. We shopped at thrift stores. We ate at vegan restaurants and Red Robin. We read magazines and books at Barnes and Noble. It's been a great year, probably my favorite(it was my favorite).

"You hurt your foot roller-skating down by the bay
You lost your voice singing along to ‘Raspberry Beret’
So I’ll do my part not to break your heart
And baby don’t break mine
Because I adore you and I know for sure
You’re the spark on the sun

In the barrel race you cracked your rib and skinned up your knee
You lost a tooth in the Earthquake of 73
So I’ll do my part not to break your heart
And baby please don’t break mine
Because I want you and I want to just let you know
That I adore you and I know for sure
You’re the spark on the sun"

Cinco de Mayo, I guess. . .

2010-05-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty disappointed in the state of Arizona. I have a handful of friends who are not legal citizens of the United States. I'm really glad they don't live in Arizona. What if one of them got pulled over for speeding and then got shipped back to a country that they've never known. I think its pretty bogus, racists, crappy, etc.

Bon Iver

2010-05-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

Bon Iver has changed my life forever. This is a video from last years Sasquatch Muisc Festival at the Gorge in Washington. This night will always be very special to me.
Watch the video.

2010-05-01T23:58:00.001-07:00

"Hopelessly Devoted To You"

2010-04-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

I love the Format. I always will. I listened to Interventions tonight at work and it brought back a ton of great memories. It used to be the album within our group of friends. I loved it then and I still do.
So here's to you, The Format. I'm sorry you had to break up and become fun (pun intended).

I Like This A Lot

2010-04-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

Wilco - Country Disappeared - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

I love Wilco.

The Second Amendment

2010-04-01T15:01:00.001-07:00

matt pond PA

2010-03-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

If you haven't listened to matt pond PA you should. He has a new album coming out next month. I might already have it. I might have already listened to it on repeat for the past week. I might like it a whole lot.
If you're new to his music listen to the album "Several Arrows Later".
Also. . .
I'm subbing for World History right now. I'm here for the rest of the week. Next week will be my last week subbing. I think I'll miss it. Especially my little homies at the middle school. They're good kids.
I will miss home too.
Also. . .
I'm really excited to see Christina. I'm excited to go back to Big Sur. I'm excited to drive in a car for a long time with Christina.
I'm not excited to start school again.

Dr. Pepper Makes the World a Better Place

2010-03-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

Each June, the town of Dublin, Texas renames itself to Dr Pepper, Texas to celebrate the 1891 opening of its Dr Pepper plant. This June I will rename myself for the month. I will go by Dr. Pepper Gibson.

2010-03-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Just a few more weeks.

I'm With Coco

2010-03-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Conan Obrien is coming to Tulsa. The name of his tour is "The Legally prohibited from being funny on Television Tour". I think that is funny

Happy Birthday, Chuck Norris

2010-03-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

70 years ago today actor and Internet sensation Chuck Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. Happy birthday Chuck. oh! and Amy Doll too.

Art

2010-03-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

I'm no artist . . .

At The Beach

2010-03-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

"Summer, summer, summer time to help us forget, nine to fives
We have got to leave all that behind"

I Hate People That Can Whistle

2010-03-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

I've never been able to whistle. I've tried and tried.
I get tired of people telling me to tighten my lips and blow or suck air in or this or that. I'm never going to learn how to do it people, so give up on telling me how.
It's not that I don't want to learn how, I just don't think I'm meant to do it.

I and Love and You

2010-03-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

I picked up my dad from school at 3:25 p.m. and headed for Oklahoma City to see our favorite band, The Avett Brothers. Not only was I really excited to see the band but I was excited to see them with my dad.
It was such a good show. They played for nearly two hours.They played such a variety of songs too, songs from every album. My dad knew more songs than I did. The whole time my dad really wanted them to play the song "Bella Donna" and finally for their encore they played it and it was beautiful.
I introduced him to The Avett's about 2 years ago and ever since they've become somewhat of a family band. Every road trip, every evening in the living room is filled with the soothing sounds of the Avett Brothers.
I had such a great time.
Thanks, Pops

My Life as a Substitute Teacher: Part III

2010-02-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Today has been a day in substitute teacher heaven. I'm a math teacher today. If I were a real math teacher this would be bad, but being a substitute math teacher is a really, really good thing. The teacher probably knows that most subs can't teach or explain 1/4 of what these kids are learning, so all I have to do is pass out work sheets. And all the kids today are either seniors or honors students which = really well behaved quiet classes.

Today I've:
-Finished a book
-Started another book
-read (almost cover to cover)two magazines
-tried to figure out the new method of registering for classes at BYU-Idaho
-Internet shopped for things I won't buy
-Randomly surfed the WWW

All that and I still have a class and a half to go. Days like today make me happy to do what I do.
Also I was thinking. . . There are very few days that I wake up dreading work. I hope to one day be a teacher so I see this as a good sign.

"I ate too much butter and drank too much rum"

2010-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

If you haven't listened to the Elected I suggest you do so now. When I first started getting into them I was living in Jackson Hole. I would come home at night after work, play Gameboy and listen to The Elected.
The lead singer is Blake Sennet of Rilo Kiley, Boy Meets World and Salute Your Shorts. They have two LP's. The First is "Me First" and the Second, "Sun, Sun, Sun".
I love them both but the second is my favorite.
I'm not a reviewer of music. I can't tell you all of the components that make Sun, Sun, Sun such a great album.
Every time I share this album with someone they really don't seem too impressed, which I guess is okay with me. Maybe it was the was the perfect album for me at the moment I needed it. A lot of the lyrics related to the way I was feeling at the time. I think its great, maybe you will too but probably not.

Ageism is Racism

2010-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

In the last sentence of my last blog I wrote, "I feel really old today". I would just like to confirm that statement.

After my day of substitute teaching my day has gone as follows:
-Checked my email
-Watched PTI
-Watched Sports Center
-Watched the news (I've become quite fond of Diane Sawyer and World News Tonight on ABC. I've kind of had a crush on her since I was a little boy. DTC.
-Thought about what I would make for dinner

The rest of the night will probably go this way:
-Make Dinner (pork chops, cabbage and some kind of frozen vegetable)
-Idol is on tonight!!!!
-Watch Olympics
-Watch the news
-Watch David Letterman
-Listen to music
-Talk to the girlfriend (Christina :)
-Read a little
-Fall asleep watching ESPN, which doesn't take long.

I feel like Seth Cohen on the last episode of season 4 of the O.C. When him and Summer just sit in recliners with TV guides. Only I don't have a Summer (at the moment she's in San Francisco) and I'm no Seth Cohen (I guy can wish, right?)

My Life as a Substitute Teacher: Part II

2010-02-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

My dad's been sick the past two days. This bad and good. Bad because my old man is sick but good because it means I've got work for two days.
My dad teaches the Technology Education class (TECH ED) at the middle school. His class is kinda hard to cover. I can't really teach kids how to make CO-2 cars or build airplanes or balsa wood bridges, so I'm resigned to reading a book/internteting while they play games on the computers. I've got to constantly monitor what the little jerks are looking at too. Today I banned Google Images and Yahoo! Music.
There is however a bright spot. In about 30 minutes I get start to Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. The 6th and 7th graders get to watch a movie instead of having free reign over the computers. I'm all for it!
Its really sad to me that hardly any of these kids have seen any of the old Indiana Jones movies. Bob Dylan was right.
I feel really old today.

My Life as a Substitute Teacher

2010-02-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

I'm really liking this substitute teacher stuff. I'm starting to get to know all the kids in the middle school and the high school. I really like them.
This week I was the substitute chorus teacher in middle school and the high school. What are the odds of that. I've never watched the TV show Glee but I would assume that my life was very similar to the chorus teacher on that show.
Middle school chorus was crazy. I had over 60 kids in a few of my classes. They really behaved, which really surprised me. We sang a 1960's medley that started with Rollin on The River and had some Bob Dylan and Beach Boys in the middle then ended with that Dawning of the Age of Aquarius song. Those kids really love to sing.
The high school wasn't as amusing. We just watched Mamma Mia, which I may or may not have liked.
Last week my baby girl (boo, sugar mama, hot mamma, GF, breezy, home skillet, main squeeze, old lady) came to visit. It was pretty great. We're like in love and stuff so I don't think either one of us felt like we had to go be tourists or anything. We just hung out. We thrift stored, hiked a little, visited the grandma, made amazing food, listened to Vampire Weekend and Dustin Kensrue, went to Whole Foods twice, bowled. It was the best. It couldn't have been better. I can't wait to see her again in San Francisco.
Oh and I really like this song.

2010-02-17T20:35:00.001-08:00

Hey Friends,
I really like this song, a lot. You should listen to it.

Valentines Day, Twenty-Ten

2010-02-14T16:19:00.001-08:00

A facebook status Christina Rose Matekel will never have.

"My man fed me steak, shrimp and lobster tail last night...and then dessert♥ ;)"

For Emma, Forever Ago

2010-02-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in my room listening to Bon Iver. I really love it.

And a Little Battered Radio

2010-02-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'm a substitute teacher. I'm not sure very many of you know that. It's turned out to be a cool job. I've lucky to be able to do it everyday too. I sit in a class room and tell kids to be quiet and read a book or play hearts on the computer.I really like the reading books part. I've been able to read books I've been wanting to read for a while now.
The telling kids to be quite part isn't so bad either. For the most part I've been really lucky. Besides the freshman classes that I've subed for they've been good kids. Was I that squirrely when I was a freshman? I don't remember.
I've perfected my hearts skills too. Love that game.
Today is Thursday. I have the day off Friday (parent teacher conference) and I'm subbing for a math class Monday.
I'm excited for Monday. Why? Christina Rose Matekel will be here! I do miss her a lot. I've been looking forward to next week since Dec. 20th and now its finally (almost) here.
Also, I'll be in Salt Lake for Spring Break 2010. It's gonna be crazy. Maybe as crazy as Spring Break '99. I'm excited to get back to my city. I'm sorry I won't be able to make it up to the Rexburg, but if you wanna come down we'll go clubbing and get crazy in SLC!
Also, I really love Vampire Weekend right now. Especially after I read the article about them in the latest issue of Rolling Stone. They're cool guys, not yuppies like I thought.
Also, I'm excited for the Super Bowl. I think its going to be a helluva game.

Girls

2010-01-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

"Oh I Wish I Had A Sun Tan
I Wish I Had A Pizza And A Bottle Of Wine
I Wish I Had A Beach House
Then We Could Make A Big Fire Every Night
Instead Im Just Crazy Im
Totally Mad"

Yesterday: The Beatles?

2010-01-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day.
Not this past Christmas but the Christmas before I got a book from my aunt. This book is called The Road. It took me almost year to start reading it. I regret not having read it sooner.
I started the book yesterday and finished it today. It was an amazing book. I couldn't wait to turn the next page.
It's about a post apocalyptic earth. Very few people are alive. There is no food. The sky is dark. Ash is every where and makes it hard to breath. A father and his son are trying not to starve and fight off the remaining people who are trying to survive too.
My description doesn't do the book justice. It's a great book. Just read it.
Also. . .
Christina pre-ordered Eels new album, End Times, for me for Christmas. Every Eels album gets better. I've listened to it all day. There's nothing better than hearing great new music from your favorite band/artist. Thank you, girlfriend.

It's really fitting that both the book and the album are about the end of the world

Good Old Mr. Barnslow. He's Silly

2010-01-17T20:01:00.000-08:00

I'll never forget the time I got caught stealing watermelons from old Mr. Barnslow's watermelon patch. I was with my friend Wayne. We were giggling so hard I thought I'd wet my pants! At first we tried to steal two watermelons each, but they were too heavy and we dropped them, and that made us laugh even harder. Finally, we each picked out a good one, and we were just about to sneak back through the fence when we heard a low, deep voice behind us. "Just where do you think you're going with those watermelons?" I gulped and turned around. It was old Mr. Barnslow, pointing his shotgun at us. Wayne dropped his watermelon, then pulled out the .38 revolver he kept in his waist, turned, and fired. But the turning must have thrown off his aim, because the shot only hit Mr. Barnslow in the thigh. Mr. Barnslow immediately fired both barrels at Wayne. One blast of buckshot missed entirely, but the other tore into Wayne's shoulder. He tried to fire back, but his shoulder was so torn up he couldn't raise his arm. Just as he was trying to switch to his left hand, Mr. Barnslow ran up and cracked him across the face with the butt of his shotgun. Wayne fell to the ground in a heap. Mr. Barnslow raised the butt of his gun to finish him off, but just then Wayne pulled out his hunting knife and plunged it into the farmer's big white belly. After that, I don't think I stole watermelons for at least a year.

One for me, One for my hommies

2010-01-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been making little raps. I've become quite good at it. I want to share some with you. They've all been to Christina. I'd like to call them freestyle text raps. Before I share I want to give a special thanks to Eminem, Tyler Wonnacott, Jay-Z and Kanye West.

Rap #1
Name: Fox

Girl, You're not a squirrel,
You're a fox!
Meet me at the box,
jack in the box.
When we get there we'll get some fries
And hope they don't have flies. . .
You wanna know why?
So we don't DIE
WORD. . .

Rap #2
Name: Night On The Town

Yo Gurl! you like the sun.
Lets have some fun
and then we'll run to the store and I'll buy us some more chips and dips
and I'll whips this car around
and go on down to another town
Gurl, don't frown
And I won't drown!
Peace!

Too Cold For School?!

2010-01-07T15:51:00.000-08:00

Today school was cancelled in Miami, OK. Why, you ask? Because it was too cold. How cold was it? Good question. It was only -2. I was really dissappointed in Oklahoma today(The whole state closed schools because of wind chill advisories). The state that brought you Toby Keith and OU Football closed schools today because it was a little chilly outside.
There are two reasons why this is bad for me.
1. I don't get paid. I've been substituting at the high school. If there is no school. I don't get money.
2. I don't get paid.
Although I am pretty upset about the whole not making money thing, I have had a good day. I. . . .
-Slept in till 9
-Listened to some music
-Read my book
-talked to the girlfriend
-took pictures on Photo Booth with Anna and her friend Alexa (see pic above)
-watched PTI
-filled a bird feeder
-drank Dr. Pepper
-went to the store and bought turkey, wheat thins and fig newtons
-ate some banana cake
-cleaned my room very thoroughly
-did some laundry
-prepared myself to watch the big game tonight

I like home. I like being with my family. But I also need money! School starts up on Monday and seriously doubt there will be more cancelations in the near future. That's good.

Pt. II

2010-01-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

She's so silly.

My Moon is Blue Not

2010-01-03T18:14:00.001-08:00

I was more than displeased to find out that a blue moon has nothing to do with the color or tint of the moon. All it means is that there are two full moons in a month. That sucks! Shouldn't they call it a double full moon or something else besides blue.
On New Years Eve Anna and my cousin Bryce asked me what a blue moon was. I told them it was when the moon has a bluish tint and that it's a very rare occurrence.
Later that night I went outside to see if the moon was blue. It wasn't, so I went to my good friend Google and looked it up. That's when I read the sad news/truth about the blue moon. Man! did I look like an ass. In front of little kids too! That's the worst. I should have just kept lying to them.

Over Looked

2009-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

This album should have been on my best of the year list. I'm surprised I haven't seen it in anyone's lists this year. It's an amazing album. It's what I need tonight.
I think it's pretty rockin' too. I hate to say that because I'm kind of a wimp when it come to rock n' roll music.
I saw them live this summer and really enjoyed it. . .

Any who, Manchester Orchestra- Mean Everything To Nothing. It's good.

Happy New Year!

Manchester Orchestra- Mean Everything To Nothing

I'm Through Always Messing Around

2009-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:00

Good Music Is Good Music

2009-12-28T19:23:00.001-08:00

This year I tried not to give in to bloggers and friends by listening to all the cool new hipster bands. By doing this I missed out on some pretty darn cool music. Good music is good music no matter the hype or who is talking/blogging about it.

I'm not one to be bored. I usually can entertain myself fairly easily, but these past few days I've been . . . not bored, but finding myself with more time on my hands than I normally have. With this free time I've found some really good bands. Here they are. If you have some extra time check them out.

Girls-S/T
The XX-S/T
Passion Pit-Manners
Deer Tick- Born on Flag Day
St. Vincent Actor
Cass McCombs- Catacombs
Fan Farlo- Reservoir
K'Naan- Troubador

A few of those, like Deer Tick, I've had for a while I just hadn't got around to listing to.

Music is good. I love it. It's my third or fourth favorite thing in this whole world.

Jesus Was a Capricorn

2009-12-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

Jesus was a Capricorn, he ate organic foods.
He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes.
Long hair, beard and sandals and a funky bunch of friends.
Reckon they'd just nail him up if He come down again.

'Cos everybody's got to have somebody to look down on.
Who they can feel better than at anytime they please.
Someone doin' somethin' dirty, decent folks can frown on.
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me.

Egg Head's cousin Red Neck's cussin' hippies for their hair.
Others laugh at straights who laugh at freaks who laugh at squares.
Some folks hate the whites who hate the blacks who hate the clan.
Most of us hate anything that we don't understand.

'Cos everybody's got to have somebody to look down on.
Who they can feel better than at anytime they please.
Someone doin' somethin' dirty, decent folks can frown on.
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me.

Help yourself, brother.
Help yourself, Gentlemen.
Help yourself Reverend.

By: Kris Kristofferson

Snowed Inn. . .

2009-12-26T12:03:00.000-08:00

This is day number three of being snowed in. The roads are bad. We can't really drive anywhere more than 10 miles away.
As bad as this is, it doesn't compare to the great Rexburg blackout of 09. Those were crazy times. At least I have internet and cold Dr. Pepper.

Hi

2009-12-25T19:22:00.001-08:00

CHRISTINA ROSE MATEKEL

Movies I Think Everyone Should See

2009-12-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

Today I was thinking about my favorite movies. If someone were to ask me I don't think I could give you one. I have lots of favorites. I'll try to condense this into a small list. If you're bored over the break you should rent one or two you haven't seen.

-The Royal Tennanbaums: The best movie I've seen in the last 4 years. Turned me on to other Wes Anderson films.

-Dirty Dancing: Most people think I'm joking about this one. . . I'm not. It has the best line of any movie ever, "Nobody puts baby in the corner".

-Field of Dreams- This one could never get old. It was before Kevin Cosner did movies
like Water World and the Post Man

-The Wedding Singer: It's a bit of a chick flick, nonetheless a great movie. Killer soundtrack too. Most Adam Sandler movies could be on this list. Happy Gilmore changed my life.

-Forest Gump: I saw this with my grandparents in theaters back in 1994, Christina was 5.

-The Natural: The best baseball movie ever, plus Robert Redford is just so dreamy. Major League and The Sandlot fall close behind.

-Vision Quest: It's about wrestling, and LIFE! It's from the 80's. Madonna makes a cameo :)

-Stand By Me: One of the many inspirations for our walk to Winco. The Story of Lard Ass is a significant part of Gibson family history.

-Flight of the Navigator: Probably my favorite move between the ages of 4-7.

-Disney's Robin Hood(You know the fox one): I thought I was Robin Hood for at least 10 years of my life

-Away We Go: I was in need of a good movie when I saw this one. . . It was a good movie.

-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: The best love story ever. I cried and I don't cry

2009/Musics

2009-12-21T20:20:00.001-08:00

Favorite Albums of 2009
Avett Brothers- I and Love and You
Bon Iver- Blood Bank
Eels- Hombre Lobo
M. Ward- Hold Time
Conor Oberst- Outter South
Monsters of Folk- S/T
Neko Case- Middle Cyclone
Coconut Records- Davy
MeWithOutYou- It's All Crazy! Its All False! It's All A Dream It's Alright
Wilco- Wilco (The Album)
Joshua James- Build Me This
The Dodos- Time To Kill

Favorite Songs
Blood Bank- Bon Iver
My Girls- Animal Collective
Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear
From the Hips- Cursive
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To- Weezer
Weeds- Joshua James
That Look You Give That Guy- Eels
Cousins-Vampire Weekend
Boots Boy- Langhorne Slim
Little Bird- Eels
Home- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
Animal- Neko Case
Brand New Sun- Jason Lytle
January Wedding- The Avett Brothers
Blake's View- M. Ward
Solitare- Wilco
Spoiled- Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band
Wires- Coconut Records
One Fast Or I'm Gone- Ben Gibbard (Kerouac's Big Sur)
Say Please- Monsters of Folk
Man Named Truth- Monsters of Folk
Anonamimal- Andrew Bird
Northern Lights- Bower Birds
My Bodies a Zombie for You- Dead Man's Bones
Lalita- The Love Language
Hurtin' You- Ben Kweller
Fools- The Dodos
I was once a Loyal Lover- Death Cab for Cutie

Best old Discoveries
The Strokes- Is This It
Radio Head- OK Computer

. . . and some more that I can't think of