It's all about self-discipline.

One year without drinking for me.  Not everyone my age does that.  I went to a 3-day music festival and didn't drink for the entire time because I didn't want to break my personal goal, so I stuck with that, and still had a blast.  Who knows, maybe I'll have one or two drinks in 2014 (it's not a crime when you are of legal age), but it is always good to know that you can keep a goal to stay healthy and not over-do it with drinking if you commit to that goal.

My message to my followers:

Find a way that you want to be, commit to that, and stick with it.  

I'm also committed to being single until I find someone who doesn't care about how much money I have/don't have.  That is tough to do these days!

 If I ever make it, I'll still remember the hard times, like when my parents separated.  I needed a job quickly, and I had to take whatever work I could find.  I worked food delivery jobs for people who treated me horribly (like Mike Rice, Ritchie Incognito kind of people), so that I could afford to eat.  Those kind of jobs taught me not to take the good opportunities that I have for granted.

Highly anticipated new stuff from Katy B coming next year.

Forgiving Kanye

"Saying that Jews have lots of money is the same kind of thing as saying that black men have big penises."  

-Kanye West, on his "ignorant compliment."

Well, if he knew anything about Jewish history, he would know that ideas like that are what started the Holocaust.  I don't know if I am supposed to forgive this guy. 

 I hear stuff at my job all the time about Jews being rich or whatever.  I usually don't re-act to it.  

It never helps to fight racist ideology with other racist ideology.  Some people really do say things out of ignorance, I think.  

At least he didn't rape babies, like the singer of Lostprophets.

I have been released upon the world to provide them (I'm not even calling it "selling" because it is more important than that) life insurance.  

I am officially not a hipster. Only ever so slightly so, if at all.

I've been navigating through existential netherworlds lately.  I guess sometimes I wonder why I do the things I do, but I think I just search for awesome things compulsively because there has to be something better than Maroon 5 out there.  I am not special and I am really just searching.  

 I'll tell you how un-hipster I really am.  Today my co-worker starting singing/humming "Moves Like Jagger" and I sort of wanted to smack him but I didn't, when I could have easily reacted negatively to that.   

 I also listened to some Barry Manilow compilation from the Hallmark store and a Marvin Gaye compilation from Kohl's of all places (despite the fact that I own What's Goin' On).  Both of these items are owned by my mom, but she doesn't listen to them.  I listened to both of these items out of laziness, because I didn't feel like getting up, turning on my computer, and listening to something on there.  It really wasn't bad to listen to, but I am usually not someone who just listens to "whatever is lying around."

I think that most people don't seek to better themselves because they are lazy.  I talked to my co-worker about my morning routine and how hard it is to drag myself out of bed, and how much self-talk I have to give myself in order to get up in the morning and not just go back to sleep and miss work after I turn off my alarm just because it is really cold out and I don't feel like getting up.  I remember having a lot of issues in college with getting up for class and not wanting to go because of some combination of laziness and anxiety.  I think I have  resolved these issues, because now I get up extra early, and I go to things even when I am really nervous.  I am never late, and I have a much more positive attitude than I once did.  

Any day now, I shall be released! (to provide families with life insurance coverage.) hence the song selection.  Apparently, it is originally by Bob Dylan, but I first heard it on Music From The Big Pink by the Band. 

 

You wouldn't expect Daft Punk to bring in Julian Casablancas for a track, but it works.

EMA(Erika M. Anderson)'s Past Life Martyred Saints was my favorite album of 2011.  Now she is back.

My best new artist, 2013

I really want to see these ladies in May for my birthday, and not shout at them how I want to start a family with them even though that might be fun because that would be inappropriate.
It is pretty awesome to see some Jewish girl-next-door types become huge stars.  

Haim is my best new artist of the year. 

Keep the Christ in Christmas, keep the "CHHHHHH" in Chanukah (Make that throat-clearing noise!!), and the "ZAAAA" in Kwanzaa.  In my twenty seven years of life, I still haven't met someone who celebrates Kwanzaa.  

Notice that I do not mention the anti-semitic Kanye West in my year-end notes!

New album out next year! 

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of anything balearic pop from Sweden and that the Tough Alliance's A New Chance was one of my favorite albums of the past decade , so I am really anticipating new stuff from CEO in the upcoming year.

I haven't really had the chance to use the adjective "groovy" much this year, but I'll use it right now because that is what I am hearing now.

I am looking for a bit more professionalism from my friends.  I guess if you are in your late 20's and still pre-gaming harder than everyone else parties (go F&M!), then you have some changes that need to be made. 

 I met some guy with Hepatitis C the other day, and not only is he regretting his past, but he is very difficult to insure with that, and might not get the coverage for his family that he needs.

Also, if the first time I met you was when you were drunk or stoned, I am probably not going to like you/remember you/care to speak to you more.  

20 artists who released albums I liked in 2013 (I do this every year).

1. 1. Yo La Tengo
   2. Julia Holter
   3. My Bloody Valentine
   4. Daft Punk
   5. Classixx
   6. Bill Callahan
   7. Dirty Beaches
   8. David Bowie
   9. The National
   10. FKA Twigs
   11. Wire
   12. Blood Orange
   13. Oneohtrix Point Never
   14. Autre Ne Veut
   15. Darkside
   16. Mark Kozelek
   17. Mazzy Star
   18. Courtney Barnett
   19. Sky Ferreira
   20. Nick Cave
   Plenty more I liked, but I decided to just go with twenty.  Could I be any more predictable? I've I've had so little time this year to listen, except during long commutes.

I always have a few albums that creep up on me and impress me that I didn't really pay attention to during the year.  That would have to be the new one from Juana Molina this year.  Also, Chelsea Wolfe released a really good album this year.  Also, I have to say, Cass McCombs' new album just really grew on me, and I'm really getting into Blue Rider by Zachary Cale.

Happy Thanksgivukkah! First time since 1888!

I saw a very sad story in the news the other day.  It was about twin brothers from Belgium who were deaf, and going blind.  The only way they communicated was through sign language, but the thought of not being able to see and communicate with each other any more after becoming blind was too much for them, so they decided to be euthanized together.  That is legal in Belgium.  If that happened to me, I would probably communicate by squeezing someone's hand.  One squeeze means "a."  Two squeezes means "b." Three squeezes means "c." Etc.  

I am really thankful for my health right now!  I hope everyone is as thankful this Thanksgiving as I am.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262630/Brother-deaf-Belgian-twins-killed-euthanasia-describes-final-words-reveals-live-learning-going-blind.html

Also, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving are are at the same time this year (since Jewish Holidays go by a different calendar and fall on different American calendar days each year).  Now it is Thanksgivukkah.  

I just remember Hanukkah was about the presents when I was a kid, because I think my parents wanted to make us feel not jealous of everyone who was getting stuff for Christmas.  I remember I got really upset when I didn't get what I wanted, and now I am kind of looking back at that and saying "ugh, I was such a brat"  But hey, I was just a kid so I didn't know better.  I was really obsessed with Ninja Turtles action figures and I jumped for joy when I got my Ray Fillet action figure.  He was just the best thing ever.  I think we have a video of my reaction to getting Ray Fillet somewhere.

Now, I don't get presents for the holiday, so I guess I am more thoughtful about what the holiday is all about.

Also, I really do have to echo Morrissey's sentiments about how sad of a day it is for all the turkeys.  I'm not exactly sure why Obama's name even came up as an advocate for turkey killings or whatever, because so many people eat meat, but I agree that it is kind of sad to eat animals.  I really am still considering vegetarianism,  but we just always ate meat, and we still have that in the fridge, so it is kind of tough to send mother's cooking back.  In any case, I really like vegan/vegetarian dishes.  My favorite thing on Thanksgiving was always the stuffing, rather than the turkey.

Whenever these guys explain something, it is really funny.

So I finally found something about these crazy DIY videos starring these characters.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/05/132653525/behind-rise-of-xtranormal-a-hilarious-diy-deadpan  

Highly anticipated stuff for me.

Next stages of training for my job start soon.  You'll probably see me blogging less.  Be good to one another and be good to yourself.  

Lily Allen is back.  I'm finding this to be a bit meh.  I get it.  There is sexism in the music industry.  But I get a bit scared when feminism borders on man-hating vitriol.  Not all men are sexist. 

 Also, it is just fantastic to know that Lilly Allen has a "baggy pussy." Never heard of it described that way before.  Thank you to this video for informing me about that.  See, I really am fluent in sarcasm!  So fluent that I am saying that sarcastically!  

I've kind of been posting a lot about this guy for a while.  Yet another video from a track off this album!  

Gorgeous video to go along with new stuff from Cate Le Bon.  Totally love this girl since I heard her on Neon Neon's "I Lust U" back in 2008.  Highly anticipated stuff, for me.  

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/my-bloody-valentine/2013/electric-factory-philadelphia-pa-73c4a2cd.html

I was lucky enough to attend this awesome, sold-out, My Bloody Valentine show.  Their first Philadelphia show in almost 20 years.  I ended up going solo, but I actually kind of like being alone sometimes, so it wasn't bad at all and I sold my other ticket that I won to someone who really wanted it and ended up making a profit.

I guess what I liked most about it was that they weren't really playing to please, but in doing that, they were totally pleasing. 

For the record, I wore earplugs and came out of there not feeling totally pulverized.  Swans were louder.

I am totally seeing My Bloody Valentine tomorrow.  Definitely something blog-worthy.  I always found them to be as soothing.  Obviously, really loud.

The "Meh" List, Dan Style
Not Hot, Not Not.  Just Meh.

1.  "I am fluent in sarcasm"
2.  Quoting song lyrics
3.  Spotify
4.  Daylight savings
5.  Talking about cream pies. 
6.  Jews for Jesus
7.  Keep Calm Posters
8.  Doppelgangers
9.  "You're finding yourself!"
10.  Ned Ryerson



More "Mehs":
"My tooshie just exploded."
The word "tooshie."
The word "selfies."
The expression: "I am looking for a partner in crime."

I had a little dilemma this week.  I won tickets to see Jessie Ware in Philadelphia, then my friend won tickets to see Passion Pit in Atlantic City for the same night.  I decided to let the contest coordinators give the Jessie Ware tickets to someone else.  

It is always tough to choose between two things you like. I absolutely adore Jessie Ware, but I wanted to hang out with my friend, and Passion Pit is good (and not just because of all the positive Pitchforkmedia coverage), so I guess I'll see Jessie Ware another time.  Anyway, Passion Pit sounded really good...especially those synths.  Here's the setlist:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/passion-pit/2013/house-of-blues-atlantic-city-nj-33c740cd.html

Interesting new stuff from Juana Molina.

Another really upsetting rockstar death.  R.I.P. Lou Reed.  My first thoughts were that he seemed immortal, like Yoko Ono.


F*ck mainstream America.  Lou Reed inspired me to say that.  Corporate America I can deal with.  

What I can't deal with is people who love stupidity and are okay with stupidity. 

Ten years since Elliot Smith died.  I was in Physics class when I found out about that.  Yup, I actually took Physics.

This is not Wiki Leaks! I do not have the entire album!

I've been listening to the excellent new album from Delorean, whose last one I sort of overlooked.   Who needs Keep Calm posters and Molly when you can listen to Delorean?

More goodness from Katy B.  She released one of my favorite albums of 2011.  Now she's back.

#YOLO is a self-serving incantation invoked to justify destructive behavior. 

More fun from Charli XCX.

Don't get any ideas from the ending of this video.  

Looking forward to hearing the rest of this album.  New album coming soon.

A recent statement by a music blogger: "Here’s a little insight into the life of a music blogger—and I’m sure this is the most obvious statement you will read all day—it’s an amazing job." 


Yes, it was fun.  Getting into events for free with a +1 was a good perk.  But not getting paid for something you put time into, and not getting re-imbersed for transportation is not fun.  That is the reason why I moved on to another job and now I just write when I feel compelled to write.  

 Wow, Mazzy Star is really back.  First new album since the 90's.  I probably put "Fade Into You" on just about every mix CD that I ever made for every girl I liked.  I don't really like doing mix CD's for people anymore (I suppose I was too generous).  

A new Lady Gaga video? When did this happen?

She lives for the applause-plause.

I've been seeing this message a lot lately, and whole-heartedly agree with it.

No football talk on Yom Kippur!
I hope everyone had a meaningful fast.  I just completed mine.  



A fantastic new video from Blood Orange to end the day.  New album coming soon.

Excellent new video from Franz Ferdinand.  A bit NSFW.

I have to give it to my friend Eric.  This is some funny stuff.  Makes me smile.  Great job, man.

Wow. I had the pleasure of attending part of Made In America Festival in Philadelphia last night.  I saw sets from Miguel, Calvin Harris, Queens of the Stone Age, and Nine Inch Nails.  Totally invigorating. 

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queens-of-the-stone-age/2013/benjamin-franklin-parkway-philadelphia-pa-73c66a19.html


http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nine-inch-nails/2013/benjamin-franklin-parkway-philadelphia-pa-23c668df.html



I'm still loving "Keep Calm."  Also, continued my streak of not consuming any alcohol in 2013.

I am done with blogging for a bit (comes back 10 minutes later). 

I recently saw Frankie Rose do this song at Pitchfork Festival, and I didn't know what it was.  It is a cover of the Damned's "Street of Dreams." I'm absolutely in love. 




Apparently, the girl-band known as Vaginal Discharge must have been embarrassed that I posted their video under worst band names ever, along with Diarrhea Planet.  They took down their video.

I am excited about this new release.

I still have yet to see Depeche Mode.

It's always a good time to listen to gay anthems.

What is a gay anthem?
A gay anthem (or LGBT anthem) is a song that has become widely popular among, or has become identified with, the LGBT Community; usually with gay men. The lyrics of gay anthems are often marked with hope against the odds, pride, unity, or defiance.

Bronski Beat is one of my personal favorites.

It's always a good time to post a Morrissey video.

When I play Morrissey, who has been one of my favorite artists since I got past that bad "high-school emo" phase (no offense to emo fans out there.  You can like what you want to like), but there are always people who have to say "but isn't he gay????!!!" As if you haven't met a gay person before.  Stop being so ignorant.  Also, listening to "sad" music does not cause someone to want to kill themselves.  Music saves my life and I think it saves a lot of people's lives.

I touched Morrissey, as many people aim to do at a Morrissey concert.  Actually, a lot of people try to get onto the stage and hug him, but then get kicked out, but I don't do that because I wanted to see the entire show, so the touch was enough for me.  We didn't make love though :)

Even Kobe Bryant is telling people to stop calling stuff "gay" now:

Just letting you know@PacSmoove @pookeo9 that using "your gay" as a way to put someone down ain't ok! #notcool delete that out ur vocab

7:44 PM - 10 Feb 2013

Even if you think that marriage should not be between people of the same gender, a stance that I will accept, it is still not appropriate to pick on someone based on his or her sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation.

I write strange things on Saturday nights when I don't self-edit.  Self-editing is good.  All writers should self-edit multiple times before they submit something.  Apparently, I like girls who fart a lot...

Morrissey is forever alone because he chooses to be or maybe he just really is really hopeless, hence the juxtaposition of the Forever Alone meme in his face.  

More Keeps Calms!

My Backup Dancers

It's always good news when the Arctic Monkeys are back.
I still have yet to see them in concert.

http://www.theorb.com/history/

The Orb is touring after a long time of not touring, and I probably won't be able to see them.

Really, just end it.

Wow, wouldn't it be cool if this was actually a song about getting rid of violence against women? Apparently, Justin Timberlake didn't know about the organization "Take Back The Night" before he released this song.  Still, a good song from him.

I went to a fantastic New Order show at the Mann Center in Philadelphia.  One of my favorite artists ever.

Also, I went to Pitchfork festival in Chicago, where I witnessed Bjork, Belle and Sebastian, the Breeders, etc.  

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/new-order/2013/the-mann-center-philadelphia-pa-63c68ea7.html

Also, great recap of Pitchfork Festival 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/arts/music/dancing-under-the-sky.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&hp

Belle and Sebastian setlist from Pitchfork Festival
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/belle-and-sebastian/2013/union-park-chicago-il-2bc6a0e6.html


Bjork Setlist from Pitchfork Festival
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bjork/2013/union-park-chicago-il-73c6aea1.html

Yo La Tengo Setlist from Pitchfork Festival
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/yo-la-tengo/2013/union-park-chicago-il-4bc69f16.html

Wire Setlist from Pitchfork Festival
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/wire/2013/union-park-chicago-il-1bc6a544.html

The whole album is just awesome.  Couldn't ask for more from the Flaming Lips.

One of my favorite tracks off of one of my favorite albums of the year so far...  A second video for an awesome track.

Janelle Monae

I am excited for the latest from Janelle Monae!

The Newest Sixer, Nerlens Noel

Welcome to tank-fest and the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes.  

He sort of resembles a pug, in a way.  I kind of want to dress him up like that.

This is some really good stuff.  I expect to see these guys on a lot of best-of lists at the end of the year.

This is shaping up to be a great year for music.  The return of Daft Punk (and an incredible one at that.  I knew they had it in them), and the rise of Disclosure!
 

The soundtrack to a bad case of diarrhea.  When a fire starts to burn....

15 albums I liked from 2013, so far!

1. Yo La Tengo: Fade
2. David Bowie: The Next Day
3. My Bloody Valentine: MBV
4. Autre Ne Veut: Anxiety
5. Flaming Lips: The Terror
6. Devendra Banhart: Mala
7. Milk Music: Cruise Your Illusion
8. Low: The Invisible Way
9. The Haxan Cloak: Excavation 
10. DJ Koze: Amygdala
11. Grouper: The Man Who Died In His Boat
12. Suede: Bloodsports
13. Toro Y Moi: Anything In Return
14. Torres: s/t
15. Steve Mason: Monkey Minds in the Devil’s Time

Neon Neon - 'Hammer & Sickle' from Lex Records on Vimeo.

Wow this is some big news.  First active male professional athlete in a major American team sport to come out while active in his sport.

Wow.  A big loss for country music today.  R.I.P. George Jones.


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/arts/music/george-jones-country-singer-dies-at-81.html?_r=0


Also, the singer of the Divinyls, mostly known for "I Touch Myself," died this week.  The world is a better place because of that song.

New Iron and Wine

American edition of this album, with new track, coming soon.

Rest in Peace Jason Molina.  One of the more talented artists out there.  I am sad I never got to see him in concert.  Terrible news.  He had so much left in him.  I proudly own two of his albums.



http://pitchfork.com/features/afterword/9087-jason-molina/

More of what we like from the Knife.

Can someone just end this debate already? The misery came first, not the music! The music doesn't make us upset.  The misery does.

Jimmy Kimmel was completely wrong when he said, on TV, that Morrissey, who cancelled his appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show because the Duck Hunters who were guests on the show that night conflicted with his vegetarian ideals, has been depressing people for years! Morrissey was right to be offended by Jimmy Kimmel.  

"If More Men Were Homosexual, There Would Be No Wars" -Morrissey

A new David Bowie album is on the way.  Rejoice, world!

Jamie Lidell's latest is way better than advertised!

I always doubt these guys, probably because they are from Los Angeles, but they are actually quite affecting.  They also have the Royce White seal of approval.  If that means anything!

It is going to be a big year for Justin!

There was a time in my life when I would have not listened to these guys just because they are hardcore.  But I changed my mind.  They're actually really good!

Two sad deaths to report.  The guy holding the brush from the video for Perfume Genius' "Hood," and the world's longest cat.

So, suddenly, a new My Bloody Valentine album, the first since 1991, has arrived.  This is a meteoric event.   

Ok, they're just really hot!

New one coming soon...

Calling things "gay" is upsetting to me.  Here's a good PSA, in which this woman lets these boys know what fools they are for saying that.    

I kind of just heard about this new tranny artist!  Seems cool to me!

Yikes! Do not watch this if squeamish!

NSFW

The White Duke is back.  How about a tour this year?

Is this seriously going to be the cover art for the new album?