Friends

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST COULD QUALIFY AS THE TYPE OF HEARTFELT BLOGOSPHERE OUTPOURING THAT THE KIDS FROM WHITE CASTLE TO THE NILE ARE CALLING 'EMO'. IF YOU CANNOT READ THE 'EMO' WITHOUT 'TOSSING YOUR COOKIES' OR 'POPPING A CAP IN SOMEBODY'S ASS' (AS THE KIDS ALSO SAY)...PLEASE STOP HERE AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT INANE RAMBLING ABOUT BIG DADDY KANE, THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT TENNIS SHOES, ROBOTS OR WHY NETFLIX CARRIES NONE OF THE COLLECTED WORKS OF ONE MR. RUSS MEYER.

I've got some of the best a guy could ask for. We've never danced w/ umbrellas around a fountain and nobody ever went out and copied our haircuts (which, if you saw us in high school or college even, would make complete sense). I've known them forever (or at least kindergarten) and we can go for days, months, years with out talking to each other and then...when we do get a chance to get together...it's like no time has passed. It's amazing really and I feel blessed.

I'm blessed to have the type of friends that you don't think twice about hopping on a plane to w/ a day's notice to be with them in a time of need...because you know they'd do the same for you. I'm blessed to have the type of friends that can make taking said journey with a cathartic experience that YOU needed on the cusp of life-changing events. I'm blessed to have the type of friends that can make sitting in a nearly deserted bar in Prescott, AZ...on the eve of one of the toughest days one of them will ever experience...the best 2-3 hours you've all had in a long time, using only the three of you, a couple of pints and a Tesla song on the jukebox to make it happen.

Outside of my wife (truly my best friend in the entire universe), i'm lucky to have a small group of truly amazing people I can all call 'best' friends. All of us very different, but the same in just as many ways. Constantly rooting each other on in whatever race the other has decided to enter and helping to pick the other up when they feel like they can't make it to the end. Full of advice or silence, when you really just want somebody to listen. Most importantly, the ability to make the other laugh...even when they feel it's the last thing on earth they want to do.

To two of the best friends...brothers...one could ask for: Kev, Kory...dudes, god bless you both and thanks for ALWAYS being there. Life will place many challenges ahead of us, but we can face them all (or as Mr. Jovi once said: 'ROCK them all') knowing you always have the others to carry you through them. Muchos...MUCHOS...gracias. Peace.

Hummin'... Comin' atcha...

So, every year for x-mas I make my brother a mix CD and (as mentioned in the previous post) i've really been on a major hip-hop binge over the past few months. Thusly, this year's mix turned into a non-stop hip-hop joint and (honestly) is one my most favorite mixes i've ever done. It's a combination of both old school and some new (albeit more undergound/indie) shit i've some into...the results were actually pretty damn fresh. In other words, you could rock a party w/ it for at least an hour if need be. So, for a limited time, you can DL it right here:

MIX TAPE MANIFESTO

TRACKLIST:

INTRO (These R Sounds) - Mista Rogers

This Is A Recording 4 Living In A Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.) - De La Soul

Diggin' In The Tapes - Giant Panda

Flava in Ya Ear - Craig Mack

Make Some Noise - Edo G & Masta Ace

How Ya Like Me Now - Kool Moe Dee

That Sound - OhMega Watts (Featuring Lightheaded, The Procussions & Noelle of the Rebirth)

Treat 'em Right - Chubb Rock

Energy Drink - Ugly Duckling

Freak Out - 9:15 & Jaysonic

Jimmy James - The Beastie Boys

Nitty Gritty - KMD

Deep Down and Dirty - Stereo MC's

Don't Believe The Sensorair - DJ Pantshead vs. Cabaret Voltaire vs. Public Enemy vs. Air vs. Pharcyde

Follow the Leader - Eric B & Rakim

Sum Of Us - Jurassic 5

You Gots to Chill - EPMD

Breakfast Club - Z-TRIP

Ogre - Fingathing

Matter Transporter - Time Machine

Hope you enjoy it and if anything grabs you, please support the artists featured by purchasing their album or single from iTunes or whatever. I'm not looking to take food off of people's tables, but I am looking to turn people on to new sounds. Word.

P.S. As i'm on a roll, keep checking in...'SON OF Mix Tape Manifesto' is already almost complete and is proving to be a worthy follow up. Peace.

THE AMBFAD 'BEST OF 2005'

That's right kids, it's time for the inevitable 'Best of' list...encapsulating the best music that 2005 had to offer (or at least what I heard of it anyways). 2005 was a decent year for music, one that found me fall back in love w/ hip hop upon discovering there is still some great shit out there being put on wax (see #1 and #3). The #2 pick on this year's list saw the return of some badass power pop from one of Canada's finest supergroups and new albums from some indie stalwarts made the list as well. So, without further ado, here's my favorite albums of the past year:

1. 'FLY SCHOOL REUNION' - GIANT PANDA

This one came from out of nowhere to grab the top spot w/in the final couple of weeks of 2005. Some righteous hip hop from the Left Coast, GP delivered an album chock full of great beats, fun rhymes and the best ode to the mix tape i've ever heard. Great stuff.

2. 'TWIN CINEMA' - NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

I gave a shout out to this one earlier in the year. Finely crafted power pop from Canadian indie darling Carl Newman, Dan Bejar, Neko Case and crew. Just as solid of an effort as their previous release, 'Electric Version' and sweet sounding from cover to cover.

3. 'THE FIND' - OHMEGA WATTS

This disc didn't leave my car stereo for almost a month and I gave a full download in a previous post. Positive lyrics that take you back to the Golden Era of hip hop, laid down over fresh beats and instrumentals constructed by the Portland-based producer/DJ/MC. Big ups.

4. 'THE GREAT DESTROYER' - LOW

My first introduction to Minnesota's LOW was a doozy. Contrasting styles ranging from stark melencholy to feedback drenched walls of sound...and that's often just within one song. A completely engaging listen, creepy and beautiful in the same breath.

5. 'DESCENDED LIKE VULTURES' - ROGUE WAVE

As I wasn't a huge fan of their debut or the performance I caught when they opened for A.C. Newman last year, this one was a pleasant surprise. Up-tempo rockers and polished balladry coexist in a wonderfully produced shiney package.

6. 'BEFORE THE DAWN HEALS US' - M83

Much like the previous effort, this album played out as a synth-laden soundtrack to a movie that didn't exist...but if it did, would likely be a cool one. Orchestral and layered, sometimes shining and sometimes frantic/frightening. Whatever the mood of each individual track, a cool listen in it's entirety.

7. 'GUERO' - BECK

A return to the multi-genre stew of 'Odelay' and in complete contrast to the folky 'Sea Change', Beck dropped one hell of a fun album on us in 2005. Sample-based upbeat sonic collages that ran the gambit style-wise, a fine return to form. Check out the remix album, 'Guerolito', as well.

8. 'ILLINOIS' - SUFJAN STEVENS

The second submission in his ambitious project to release a musical companion for all 50 states. 'Illinois' is rife w/ wonderful compostions that may not be too in depth lyrically relative to the state it's covering, but tunes like 'Chicago' have a sound steeped in optimism and make for a pleasant audio experience.

9. 'GIMME FICTION' - SPOON

One of my favortie elder statesmen of indie rock, Britt Daniels and company released a critic's favorite that received a lot of music press. Angular and interesting as ever, they released much better...but relative to other releases, still deserved of an appearance in my list.

10. 'DIOS (MALOS)' - DIOS (MALOS)

The purveyors of a sound that brings to mind the bastard son of Brian Wilson and Grandaddy (raised by the Pixies), the boys from Hawthorne, CA released another fantsatic collection of spacey psychadelic folk rock. More uptempo in spots than their debut, this disc was a great sophmore follow-up.

There you are. It should be noted there is a massive list of 'Hornorable Mentions' that deserve your attention as well (Eels, Pernice Brothers, Time Machine, etc.)...but I don't have a Jan Wenner-sized writing staff to do an organized list of 25 ot 50. Just go back through the archives and see if anything hits you. Anyhow, again, Happy New Year...may 2006 bring us audio goodness worthy of another list come next time. PEACE!