My life in music...

I saw this on another website and thought it was a pretty good idea...

My mission was to choose my favorite album from each year of my silly little existence, so being born in 1979 meant picking 29 albums that I've either fallen in love with or, after doing some research, consider the best from that year. Turns out it was quite the challenge, took multiple visits to Wikipedia's Years in Music pages and much more time than I anticipated.

To make things even more difficult, I told myself an artist could not appear twice on my list. For example, Coldplay's "X&Y" could've easily been my favorite in 2005, but since I already used "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" -- the better of the two -- for 2002, I had to choose another for 2005.*

Get it? Good.

So if you have some time to kill, an internet connection and a love for music, feel free to comment with your choices (or to tell me part of my list sucks). Not that I should expect anyone to, but a boy can dream.

Without further ado, my life in music...

1979: Led Zeppelin’s “In Through The Out Door”
1980: Bob Marley & The Wailer’s “Uprising”
1981: The Police’s “Ghost In The Machine”
1982: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
1983: U2’s “War”
1984: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.”
1985: Phil Collins’s “No Jacket Required”
1986: The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead”
1987: Guns N' Roses' "Appetite For Destruction"
1988: R.E.M.’s “Green”
1989: Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique”
1990: The Grateful Dead’s “Without A Net”
1991: Pearl Jam's "Ten"
1992: Sublime’s “40 Oz. To Freedom”
1993: 311’s “Music”
1994: The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ready To Die”
1995: Oasis’ “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?”
1996: The Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash”
1997: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “Let’s Face It”
1998: Outkast’s “Aquemini”
1999: Incubus’ “Make Yourself”
2000: Lifehouse’s “No Name Face”
2001: Remy Zero’s “The Golden Hum”
2002: Coldplay’s “A Rush Of Blood To The Head”
2003: Jack Johnson's "On And On"
2004: Keane's "Hopes And Fears"
2005: Death Cab For Cutie's "Plans"
2006: State Radio's "Us Against The Crown"
2007: The Shins' "Wincing The Night Away"
2008 (so far): Vampire Weekend's "Vampire Weekend"

* This also explains why "The Joshua Tree" was not chosen for 1987. It's obviously the best album from that year, but since I already used "War" for 1982 -- a much tougher year for me -- I had to nix it.

Semi-quick hits.

01. Former roommate / friend (not former) / fellow blogger Nowak introduced me to a site the other day called "The Big Picture," a photoblog run by Boston.com. If you can dig really great photojournalism, do yourself a favor and bookmark it. I've only looked through the first few sets, but the pictures on there are simply amazing.

02. Living in downtown DC -- while I've only been there for about a week and a half -- is awesome. It definitely helps that the weather for the past 10 days has been pretty nice (i.e. very little swamp-ass-inducing humidity), but regardless, it's great. I took my bike out the other night for about an hour just to soak it all in, which I can already tell will be something I do quite frequently.

03. Near the Verizon Center, especially on nights when there is an event, a guy sets up various buckets, trash cans, shopping carts, etc. and plays his make-shift drums for the passersby, garnering much attention. Every once in a while, he'll bring his sons (presumably) out to get down with him, which they did the other night. After watching / listening for a few minutes, I threw a couple of dollars in one of the buckets and asked if I could take some pictures. One of the kids said "yeah, that's cool" and began essentially posing for me. See below...

04. As if I didn't already have enough going on, I constantly think of new ways to entertain myself and keep my creative juices flowing. My next project will take a few weeks, but I think the final product will be really cool. I don't want to give anything away, so just stay tuned. And yes, I am aware that I've said this on numerous occassions, but this one is most definitely feasible.

05. I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that my review of Coldplay's album didn't get any legitimate comments. It was also posted on Brightest Young Things (the site that I take pictures of occassionally) and nobody commented on it there, either. What's up with that? Do people not like Coldplay? Do people think it was poorly written or completely off the mark?

I don't get it. Not only are comments appreciated, but they are also very encouraging. Help me help you, for fuck sake.

Review: Coldplay's Viva La Vida

As if Coldplay wasn’t already big enough. Millions upon millions of their albums have been snatched up by adoring fans since their 2000 debut, they have performed in sold-out arenas in countries most people have never considered visiting and, to top it all off, now star in a ubiquitous (and oh-so-trippy) iTunes commercial.

With three critically-acclaimed records under their collective belt, Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland didn’t have to do much tweaking to ensure themselves another multi-platinum-selling release. The lazy, everyday musician would’ve surely kept cooking with the same winning recipe, catapulted back to the top of the charts and -- voila! -- continued raking in the cash.

Thankfully for their fans, and surely their sanity, these guys are better than that.

The quartet from the UK, perhaps driven by a “we don’t want to keep churning out the same old stuff” attitude, summoned the aid of successful producer Brian Eno, the man behind nearly half of U2’s catalogue (including Achtung Baby and Zooropa, albums that “re-defined” the Irish rockers between the end of the 80s and the beginning of the over-the-top 90s).

What exactly Eno brought to the table in terms of overall influence -- and decision-making clout -- is hard to say. It’s quite obvious, however, that Viva La Vida -- Coldplay’s fourth studio release -- will undoubtedly re-affirm the band’s position as one of the most popular on the planet.

With their long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s X&Y, Martin & Co. do not hesitate to think outside the box on more than a few tracks, which is at times both refreshing and thought-provoking. At the risk of abandoning their previously-successful formula -- which, for the record, they most definitely did not do here -- they seem to reach within themselves (and surely Eno) in an attempt to channel a deeper, more intense sound.

Tribal-like percussion was added on “Lost,” Asian-influenced strings on “Yes” and a strong, almost choir-like vocal presence on “Death And All His Friends.” With these additions come a more inspired collection, and while these and others could’ve overshadowed the band’s core sound, the tracks that they accompany could’ve easily been featured on previous releases.

It’s pretty cliché to say that a band has “matured,” but unfortunately, most of the time it’s rather appropriate. Coldplay continue to do what they’ve done best since they gave the world Parachutes, but to fulfill their need to develop as artists, they’ve stepped it up a notch. The final result in Viva La Vida is pure, unadulterated alternative rock from start to finish, even at its most mellow... which, let’s be honest, is when Coldplay is at its finest.


Below are thoughts on each track:

“Life In Technicolor” -- Take an increasingly-audible piano and organ melody to start things off in the key of Sigur Ros, introduce a Robert Smith-inspired guitar track, throw in an anthemic drum beat and you’ve got a pretty impressive intro track.

“Cemeteries of London” -- The title itself invokes a dark image, and with Chris Martin’s haunting voice over a very subtle piano and bass, the first lyrics of the record are introduced:

At night they would go walking
Til the breaking of the day
The morning is for sleeping
Through the dark streets they go searching
To see God in their own way
Save the nighttime for your weeping

In typical Coldplay fashion, a seemingly-melancholy song turns quickly with the introduction of a strong drum track after the aforementioned vocals. The rest of the song, while still lyrically darker than most of their previous work, does well to set the tone for the rest of the album with its brisk pace and unexpected exit.

“Lost” -- Every once in a while, a band will surprise you with something a bit different. A strong, percussion-based track with straight-forward (yet powerful) lyrics and great four-part harmonies, “Lost” is perhaps the second-best track on Viva La Vida and one that has grown on me with each listen. As Martin begins the second verse, you can’t help but wonder what he may be hinting at:

You might be a big fish in a little pond
Doesn’t mean you’ve won
Cause there’ll only come a bigger one
And you’ll be lost

It’s quite obvious that being the “big fish” is metaphoric for something, but what? Is it the band’s place in the current world of music, knowing that perhaps they are taking over where U2 will eventually leave off, only to be surpassed by another up-and-coming group 10 or 15 years from now? Or is it about something entirely different, perhaps speaking generally to those who think they are better than everyone else? I would assume it’s the latter, but I will also assume that the band knows just how big they actually are (and seriously, isn’t the former a much more interesting -- although very unrealistic -- interpretation?).

“42” -- The simplest song on the album lyrically, “42” makes up for its lack of complexity in vocals with a healthy dose of solid instrumental choreography. Right before the halfway point, it drops the repetitious, hypnotic sound of the first two minutes and reveals a Radiohead-inspired, almost jam-like quality, only to come back down and finish on a softer note for the final 20 seconds.

“Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love” -- In my opinion, the strongest track on the album and arguably the most complete song the band has ever produced. The first half, “Lovers in Japan,” begins with an infectious guitar progression, rolling drum track and steady bassline. Quality lyrics and impressive overall composition make it an instant classic, one that rivals “Shiver” as the band’s most pure effort and one you might’ve heard during “Lunch at the Archives” on WHFS if it still existed.

The second half, “Reign of Love,” is a short-and-sweet ballad that may remind fans of “See You Soon,” a studio b-side that also made its way onto the band’s Live 2003 CD. While “See You Soon” was a rather simple guitar- and vocals-driven track, “Reign of Love” relies heavily on Martin’s piano and Berryman’s bass, creating a deeper sound, both literally and figuratively.

“Yes” -- In another departure from the band’s past, “Yes” dives into something more experimental than the typical Coldplay fare. The aforementioned strings are dominant from the start -- and especially so just before each chorus -- but they stop just short of being too much. Strong, deep vocals carry the tune, and its inclusion on the record does well considering its place (sandwiched between what I think is the strongest track and the album’s first single).

“Viva La Vida” -- If you haven’t heard parts or all of this track yet, you either a) never listen to the radio, b) never watch TV or c) live under a rock, in which case you probably aren’t reading this. And since we’ve established that you’ve most likely heard it, you’d be foolish to argue the band’s ability to market themselves well.

Like “Speed of Sound,” the title track of Coldplay’s latest release has a chorus so damn catchy and crank-able that you can’t help but appreciate it for what it is. Enjoy it while it lasts, however, as you can all but guarantee that, if there’s a candidate for mainstream overplaying, it’s this. In other words, you’ll be sick of it come September.

“Violet Hill” -- Available as an official free download about 6 weeks ago, this was the first track I heard from Viva La Vida. As a fan of the band since 2001 and someone who anticipates each new release with very high expectations, I tend to be overly critical and rely strongly on the first impression. Fortunately, “Violet Hill” sat very well after that first listen and continues to do so in the context of the rest of the album. With its distortion-filled electric guitar, it continues along the same theme, ratcheting up the complexity of what could be an otherwise standard Coldplay track.

“Strawberry Swing” -- One thing that continuously pops up throughout Viva La Vida is a more stripped-down drum track, which is never more evident than on “Strawberry Swing.” Much like Larry Mullen Jr.’s pounding of a single bass drum during the latest live version of “Desire,” Champion provides a steady, pulsating beat to an otherwise heartfelt, almost happy-go-lucky song. Only when Martin’s acoustic guitar kicks in for the final third, however, does the song seem complete, finishing with a perfect balance of vocals and instrumentation.

“Death And All His Friends” -- If life has taught me anything, it’s that you always have to finish strong. When the final track of Viva La Vida begins, you get the notion that the album will slowly fizzle out and fade away into the distance. After a not-so-brief introduction of soft vocals and an even softer piano track, “Death And All His Friends” kicks into high gear, culminating in a fully-orchestrated exit accompanied by choir-like vocals, a fitting end to the band’s most complete effort.

I'm thinking...

... that the whole “Spygate” thing, regardless of what a bunch of sportswriters are saying, is far from over. The fact that Bill Belichick went on the CBS Evening News and completely dismissed everything Matt Walsh brought to the table is yet another chapter in his rapidly-expanding book of deceit. First he “misinterpreted” the rules, then he “apologized” for his wrongdoing, and now he is essentially saying “you know what? It never happened in the first place, and whatever Walsh tells you is nonsense.” I don’t know Matt Walsh from some random shmuck on the street, but I’ll tell you this: I would believe his words a thousand times before I’d believe Belichick’s once.

... that I’m excited for Coldplay’s new album, which hits stores in less than a month. I’ve been a big fan of theirs since Parachutes, and if the rest of the album is as good as the first single, it will be in heavy rotation throughout the summertime.

... that I’m even more excited for the slight possibility that I’ll be getting a photo pass for Coldplay’s DC show in July. It’s probably a 50/50 shot at this point, but I can’t really think of any bad I’d rather shoot than Chris Martin & Co. While the term “big break” is rather cliché, getting some good shots of an extremely popular, internationally-acclaimed band would be huge for my portfolio.

... that I love blogging (and writing in general), but I just don’t have enough time to really focus. I think that’s my problem. I’ve got so many “hobbies” that it’s damn near impossible to devote any significant amount of time to any of them. I want to be a photographer, a writer, a better architect, a graphic designer and a film editor all at the same time. I constantly look on Craigslist and on jobs.com and whatever other sites are out there for something to grab me by the balls and say “c’mon, MWP, let’s get you a new career!”, but it just ain’t happenin’. It kind of sucks, to be honest. I need a change of pace.

... that planning a wedding is a lot of work. After ironing out some major details in the first couple of months, I thought the spring / summer would be smooth sailing. Little things here and there, however, continue to occupy my nights and weekends... and while I am absolutely stoked for the finished product -- if you can call it that -- I’m also growing quite tired. There just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week.

... that moving into DC on June 15th is going to be absolutely glorious. The fiancé and I signed a lease a couple of weeks ago on an apartment in Chinatown, arguably the hottest spot in our nation’s capital. It’s going to take some getting used to -- my car will be kept in the ‘burbs, for one -- but ultimately it’s going to be amazing. We’ll be a block from the Verizon Center and about 50 restaurants and bars (and about a 5-minute walk from the National Mall). As the always-eloquent Flava Flav once said, “YEEEEEEEEEEEAH, BOEEEEEEEEEEY!”

... that not going to Bonnaroo this year really blows. Last year’s festival was awesome, don’t get me wrong, but I think I’m a bigger fan of the bands in this year’s lineup. I still have yet to see Pearl Jam live, and it’s no secret that I’m a big O.A.R. fan. Throw in Jack Johnson, My Morning Jacket, State Radio, Sigur Ros, Metallica -- imagine hearing “One” along with 70,000 other people in the middle of a Tennessee field! -- and a slew of other awesome acts and I’m a pig in shit (almost literally).

... that aside from Pearl Jam, there are very few bands I haven’t seen yet but want to. One of them is the Red Hot Chili Peppers and another is the Beastie Boys. I had a ticket to see Ad Rock, Mike D. and MCA with Rage Against the Machine in 1998 (I think), but Mike D. took a digger on his bike a few weeks before the show and the rest of the tour was cancelled. Talk about disappointing.

... that I’m pretty excited for the warmer weather that’s surely headed our way, but at the same time, I know the 95-degree, 100% humidity days are not far behind. Summers in DC are absolutely brutal.

... that it’s almost time for lunch.

... that if you’ve read this entire post, you should leave a comment.

... that I can’t think of anything else to wri

More pictures...

No time for much of anything today, so I thought I'd share some pictures that I've taken over the last few weeks. I hope you enjoy them, and as always, comments are more than welcome.

Also as always, the rest of my pictures can be found on my Flickr page.

O.A.R.

O.A.R.

O.A.R.

The one and only Chevy Chase.

Umphrey's McGee

Umphrey's McGee

Oatlands Point-to-point races.

Oatlands Point-to-point races.

Oatlands Point-to-point races.

Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach.

Likes / dislikes

LIKE: Waking up in the middle of the night and having to go to the bathroom.

I’m not talking about having to relieve myself more than once -- or having to rock a Numero Dos -- but waking up, knowing it’s only about 4:30 and then falling right back asleep is awesome. Strange that I think it’s awesome, yes, but it is.

DISLIKE: Cab drivers in DC. Not while I am in the cab, necessarily, but when I am driving my own car and have to deal with their shenanigans.

First of all, if someone isn’t hailing a cab, they don’t need one. Too often I am behind a cabbie as he drives down the street, slowing whenever he sees someone standing on the sidewalk. If they need you, they will let you know -- especially during the morning and evening commutes, as they are in a hurry just like everyone else.

Second of all, driving a cab does not mean you are exempt from the rules of the road. Stay in one lane, ass.

LIKE: The following 4 songs.*

Eddie Vedder – Long Nights
Paolo Nutini – These Streets
Ryan Adams – Two
Virginia Coalition – Sing Along

DISLIKE: My parents’ timeshare company not having any availabilities in Costa Rica during the week of December 27 – January 3. Seriously, what kind of shit is that?

LIKE: The Capitals making the playoffs after a 5-season hiatus. Tonight’s game 1 kicks off a series against Philadelphia that should be insanely entertaining. Let’s go Caps!

DISLIKE: The fact that I still live with my parents. I realize that I’m getting married in 7 months and it’ll all be over soon, but I just want a place to call my own. Is that so much to ask?

LIKE: Hitting the snooze button.

DISLIKE: The fact that I’ve been so busy lately.

* Sorry, but these 4 will have to suffice for right now. I realize that they aren't necessarily "summertime" songs, but they are ones I thought you might enjoy. See my final dislike for the reasoning behind not posting an entire TWS.

It's Tuesday, rainy and I can't think of a title... deal with it.

Alright -- first things first. As promised, a few pictures taken last weekend with my new Holga are below.

Also as promised -- basically the story of this blog... a slew of mostly empty promises -- I plan on working on TWS in the next couple of days in between taking care of some wedding-related tasks.

Stay tuned for that, and also stay tuned for some more writing, as I feel like getting back into the swing of things. I’ve had a few ideas floating around that I’d like to get out there, so if all goes according to plan, they’ll grace the pages of walkingparty.com sooner rather than later.

One final thing, which I’ve said before but I’ll say again -- I don’t think many people read this site much anymore, but if you do, throw a comment or two out there. It’s always nice to get a bit of feedback, as it motivates me to keep putting some effort -- even if it’s minimal -- into writing. I also think comments have the ability to spark new topics and create conversation, so if you want me to keep writing, start letting me know how you feel.

That is all.

A couple of things...

01. I just got back from meeting someone who attended the opening of DCist Exposed and who thought my photograph was good enough to hang on her wall.

I am now a money-making artiste, so get in line to snatch up the beauty that is my work. Surely it will be worth millions some day, so you should probably capitalize while its still relatively cheap.

Besides, if you purchase anything, you can be one of the proud to say "I knew him when..."

02. Via an anonymous comment, someone suggested I create a summertime TWS post in the near future, which I think is a damn good idea. I will do some searching through my files and try and come up with something for next week.*

For those unfamiliar, TWS stands for "The Weekly Shuffle." Every week (or every other week, inevitably) while this blog was a young buck, I would post 10 songs that tickled my fancy at that particular moment. They were available for download -- which is probably crazy illegal -- but I thought they were worth sharing.

So look for that in the near future, as it will be glorious.

03. If you aren't sick of all my photography posts recently, you will be soon. I just picked up a Holga Lomography camera last night at Urban Outfitters, so in the next couple of weeks, I will be doing some serious experimenting with 120mm film. The results should be interesting, but don't worry... I will definitely post them here.

That's it for now. Stay strong, little roots.**


* I am heading down to Myrtle Beach next Thursday morning, so it may have to wait... but I promise it'll happen.

** What movie is that from? You tell me.

VACO at The Hard Rock Cafe

Virginia Coalition played a CD release show at The Hard Rock Cafe in DC on Friday night, and yours truly was there to photograph it. For a place that does not host shows on a regular basis, I was quite impressed. The lighting was the best I've had for a show so far, and the sound wasn't shabby, by any means.

Some of my favorite shots are below. The rest of the set can be found here, and the show can be streamed by using the player below the pictures.

Have a great Tuesday, knuckleheads.

Let the 'madness' begin...

Generally speaking, I don't know jack-squat about college basketball. Every bracket that I've filled out for the past few years has been done so with very little knowledge, if any (which may explain why I never win).

There's something about the tournament, however fun is to watch, that is lacking for me. It doesn't hold a candle to the NFL playoffs and can't compare to the World Cup (although let's be honest... very few things do).

I enjoy the Cinderella stories, the mid-major triumphs and the big dogs strutting their stuff, I really do. I like watching the opening games, the Round of 32, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four for their unbridaled school spirit, but there's a connection missing for me on an emotional level.

Maybe it's the fact that I went to a tiny Division III school. Even though my alma mater won the National Championship in 2001, I can count on one hand the number of games I actually attended. Sure, I had other things going on, but the draw just wasn't there.

Anyway, I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. Originally I was going to say something about Ashley Judd and the fact that the media absolutely eats up the fact that she's a Kentucky fan -- did you know that? Seriously, it's true -- but I didn't think that was interesting enough.

Go (insert small school that has absolutely no chance here)!