Out With The Old, In With The New

So apparently it's a new decade, or some nonsense like that. I've been hearing a lot about new year's resolutions and other retardness and I have decided not to partake. I don't need a new year to change my ways. Instead, I'm going to kick of 2010 with a new love!

Before I start, I would like the reader to beware- he is not my cwoffy type. He does have many of the characteristics I look for in a man; glasses, brown hair, blue eyes, tall and nerdy. This may come as a shock, but I am totally enamored with Ed Helms.
I can't really explain it, but I find him just absolutely endearing and I'm in love with him. He likes Civil War reenactments, he plays a mean banjo, he can impersonate Tom Brockaw, he sings really well, he's been on two of my favorite shows ever (The Office and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and he's super hilarious. If those don't win you over, I don't know what will. Anyways, I leave you with some of my favorite Ed Helms moments. Now sit back and swoon with me!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Canadian Fakin'
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Oh... Canada.... Best part of this:
Canadian: I'm a typical Canadian reserve until those principles and morals have been stepped on.
Ed Helms: And then what?
Canadian: And then I, I voice my opinion, or I'll write a letter of concern.
Ed Helms: You're Adorable.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Cooters!
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

"Why do you insist on sexualizing vaginas?"

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Heaven Can't Wait
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Just for this picture alone:
(I also love Colbert!)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
D.C. Halloween
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

OMG He's a pirate with a cape :O

Finally, this little gem- (Which I realize is not for everyone, but I loved it!)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Helms - Battle of the Bulge
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

"I'm having trouble picturing a speedo that is not attractive."
Too true Ed, too true!

My Top 5 Albums of 2009

Following Vanilla Bear's lead I am posting my personal favorite albums of 2009. Pretty self explanatory, so here I go:

5- Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Simply put, this album is crazy good. It is well crafted and full of catchy pop-songs. It reminds me of the summer. This is the fourth album from this band and it is hands down their best.
Favorite Tracks: 1901, Listzomania, Lasso and Girlfriend

4- Sufjan Stevens- The BQE
I am aware that this music isn't officially "new," but it was officially released in 2009, thus qualifying it for this list. This definitely wasn't what I was expecting for a follow-up from Illinois, but it is uniquely Sufjan sounding. It is a collection of wonderful instrumentals and more importantly, it is a departure from Enjoy Your Rabbit, which had a heavy synth-techno sound. This is clearly more orchestral and it's amazing. I never thought an album about an old expressway could make me so happy.
Favorite Tracks: Movement II: Sleeping Invader, Interlude I: Dream Sequence In Subi Circumnavigation and Interlude II: Subi Power Waltz

3- Chris Garneau- El Radio
Chris Garneau is clearly a very sensitive guy because this album is a masterpiece of sensitivity portrayed. It is just a beautiful album with haunting lyrics backed by simple piano arrangements.
Favorite Tracks: Dirty Night Clowns, Fireflies, No More Pirates and Les Lucioles en Re Mineur

2- M. Ward- Hold Time
This album is wonderful for many reasons. On my first listen it seemed as if it was over before it began. I listened again and realized that was because of how magically his songs flow and connect. Every song is a nice introduction into the next phase of the album leaving this as a gigantic masterpiece. It's great because it's pretty retro sounding, and yet you can tell how innovative his guitar work is. I also just love M's graveled voice.
Favorite Tracks: Epistemology, Stars of Leo, Jailbird and Rave On

1- Monsters of Folk- Monsters of Folk
I don't even know how to start to describe how much I love this band and this album. For those who are unaware, it is composed of M. Ward (in my top 5 singer/songwriters), Conor Oberst (the genius behind Bright Eyes and my all-time favorite singer/songwriter), Mike Mogis (produces albums for some of my favorite bands and also an integral part of Bright Eyes) and Jim James (the brains behind My Morning Jacket). This album had a lot of expectations and it lived up to them all. This album is great because it is so diverse that it is very easy to pick out which songs were mostly conceptualized by which musician and yet thanks to the brilliance of Mogis as acting producer, it flows. This album has an intricacy to it that only four minds this great could really make it work. 'Monsters of Folk' is an apt title for this band and this album because it personifies Folk perfection.
Favorite Tracks: Temazcal, Map of the World, Baby Boomer and Ahead of the Curve

Honorable Mention: Death Cab for Cutie- The Open Door EP
This gets an honorable mention because it's not actually a full-length album, but it is amazing for what it is. The lyrics on it are memorably poetic, but that's what exactly what I would expect from a Death Cab album. This album is a great stepping stone between Plans and Narrow Stairs. These songs were not left off of Narrow Stairs because they weren't good, they just simply did not fit into the album as a whole. I think released seperately, however, they work really well together. I also had to include this because it's the only ever EP to inspire me to write an entire blog post about its brilliance.

My Inglorious Return

I am back! I have missed my blog, but I have decided to revamp my relationship with it and show it the love and care that it really deserves. You are probably asking yourself, what could be so important that would make me return after 4 months of inaction and my answer to you is two words: Inglorious Basterds!

I decided to have a movie night last night and I went specifically to rent that movie and yet could not find it anywhere. I was purchasing The Hangover (another amazingly awesome film by the way) and decided to purchase Inglorious Basterds as well.

For those who are unaware- It is a Quentin Tarantino movie which means it is super twisted, uber bloody, extremely violent and out of control amazing. I'm not good at analyzing movies, but this is definitely going to be one of my favorites. It's about two and a half hours long and yet I found myself wanting it to go on.

Anyways, there is also another point to this post, and that is an excuse for me to post the following video:

A message to Esteban Granero

Hai there Esteban Granero. I am perving over you hardcore lately. You aren't my normal cowffy type so knock it off.
Anyways, I love you all. It's true. I will do a blog post though when I feel more so inclined. It shall be good though. I am going to try and complete it on Friday though so that I can do posts on Serie A, La Liga and FF and not have just a flood of footie posts. Don't hold me to this, but I will try.

Until then, I spy a lot of tents and I'm going camping!

127

So, Cannavaro is legend (not that he wasn't before!) He officially broke Paolo Maldini's record of 126 appearances to become the most ever capped Italian player of all time. He just just keeps giving me reasons to love him!