THE LIST

it truly is a privilege for you, dear readers, to get, as your second ever post at DLEPANOY, THE LIST. after much soul-searching, here is my top 10, with a few honorable mentions.

10. Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild soundtrack. the last few years have seen me definitely move toward a pretty strong singer-songwriter bent. with recording and distribution becoming easier for independent musicians, you can get good quality, full band sounds from a few guys in a basement studio. while Vedder is not independent, he is striking out somewhat, away from the day job Pearl Jam, and the results here are solid. folkier music, mostly acoustic, and that voice. songs like "daughter", "elderly woman...," and other PJ songs hinted at this, but this is the full revelation of the sound.

9. Andrew Osenga-Letters to the Editor, vol. 1. a follow up EP to last year's #1, this was an exercise in the power of community in music. writing songs inspired by fan submissions, and then offering the EP for free download (you could pay what you wanted), it has to be the ultimate in community effort. the songs are simple, but well recorded and arranged, and have a guy-playing-you-his-new-songs-on-a-porch quality to them. a lot of fun.

8. Jimmy Eat World-Chase This Light. finally, a band. proof that the old me is still in there somewhere. this album hearkens back to Bleed American more than Futures or Clarity. and i think i like it better that way. JEW are at their best when they are filling up the air with sing-along anthems. they have such a way with melody. incredibly catchy, but also grown-up enough to not be a miley cyrus album. the way pop should be.

7. Andy Gullahorn-Reinventing the Wheel. here i go again. another simple acoustic album. equally funny and profound, these songs play out more like stories, and to listen correctly you hang on every word. just recently heard this guys stuff, but i definitely like it a lot. also one of the best guitarists i know of.

6. Caedmon's Call-Overdressed. a surprise. but derek webb recorded with them, so not too much of one. i know a lot of this band's stuff, and each album plays out with some songs that are really good, and some songs that are way too mainstreamy. and this album is no different. somewhat schizophrenic as 4 (!) people share lead vocals, 2 of them being folks elsehere on this list (Osenga and Webb). the songs sung by those two are great, mostly channeling underground folk and U2. the songs by the other two range from good to adequate. this one is so high based on the strength, really, of 3 or 4 songs.

5. Rocky Votolato-The Brag & Cuss. i fell in love with this guy's stuff last year, and he cranked out an even better one this year. full band arrangements of songs that would sound best in a smoke filled bar. flavored with simple rock and country (if country was good), this album was easily one of my favorites.

4. Lovedrug-Everything Starts Where it Ends. it is hard to describe this band. this album, and their first one too, runs a pretty wide gamut. softer songs butt right up against sinister sounding heavy rock songs, which are followed by catchy pop songs. and they manage to pull off every bit of it flawlessly. great songs, perfectly executed.

3. Jeremy Casella-RCVRY. perhaps the perfect example of what one guy and a few friends can do to make a huge sounding record. a somewhat odd mix of folk rock with orchestral elements and a little bit of electronica thrown in. sounds unnerving, but the result is amazing. the first half of the cd is as catchy as anything i've heard in a while, and while the second half slows down, it is still amazing. very, very good.

2. Wilco-Sky Blue Sky. it is funny that this and my #1 both have a vintage vibe to them. i absolutely love how this record sounds. wilco took the experimentation of their last 2 records and focused it on just playing good songs. and the results are terrific. i really, truly enjoyed this album, almost as much as...

1. Derek Webb-The Ringing Bell. it is almost too easy for me to pick this. i just can't shake how big of a fan i am. every album has been unique, from bluesy americana-folk to wilco-esque experimental to stark, stripped down acoustic-ness. and this album pulls out a killer rock and roll sound. very much influenced by the beatles, this record moves along with riff-centered, jangly power-pop gems. lyrically he rants on politics and songs for his wife. i got to see him perform most of this record at zydeco with a full band this year, and it was incredible. the man who moves me the most lyrically now moves my butt musically. go get this now.

honorable mention:
White Stripes-Icky Thump
Anberlin-Cities
Dustin Kensrue-Please Come Home
Thrice-The Alchemy Index, Vol 1 & 2: Fire and Water
Bright Eyes-Cassadaga

from the north pole to your living room (why santa matters)

last night one of my friends came by the house to be "santa" for my kids. he is the official "food giant in pinson"santa, so he has a good suit and is well-versed in santa-hood. so he gave the kids a gift and talked to them and let my wife take multiple pictures when kate's eyes were closed. and i have to admit, it was special. kate (2) was absolutely beside herself with joy and was overly hospitable to the Jolly One, offering (and following through) to let santa see every stuffed animal in the house. drew (6) was genuinely happy and impressed that santa knew he liked baseball and video games, and he knew his cousins. and drew refrained from asking for a dirt bike, which would have put me on the hook for one, or made santa out to be a lying cheapskate. and even abbey (8) was right there, believing (?) that santa had made the trip to see her and her brother and sister. i wonder how long she will believe, but for last night, i think she did.

i know many people do not do the whole santa thing, opting instead to teach their kids about the real st nicholas and his generosity. and that is cool. we have chosen to perpetuate the myth, and for now, i am glad. even if there is no obese toy-maker living at the top of the world, the spirit lives on in the imaginations of my kids. and in the kindness of a Kiker. not many guys would do that for kids. dress up in an itchy suit and make house calls. but i am grateful to my friend that would.

all year long, it seems, i was confronted with circumstances that reminded me that some friends will betray you. but many more won't. they will stick by you and buy you ribs and be santa for you and leave their churches for you and give you a spot on their basketball team. and i am so glad to have those friends. the heart of st nick, and indeed the heart of Christ, is alive in them. and i have needed to see tangible, real workings-out of who Christ is. something that got him out of the manger, or sky, or whatever, into the real mess of my life. and through that i have been reminded how good my friends are, and how good my God is.

as i think back on 2007, i will surely think of the upheaval we experienced in march, and how the dust is still settling. i will think of how hard it was, and how wrong too. but i also will think of many good things. my sweet, sweet family. my dear friends. a red sox world championship. and a grocery store santa who also makes the best burgers in the world.

merry christmas, all.