alternative rock

And the winner is…

This year is almost over and an evaluation is almost inevitable. I sat and thought about the things I can evaluate and came to a conclusion that there are so many, I just can’t deal with this boredom I could cause you. I just couldn’t sleep at night if I had done the crime of wasting your time with the evaluation of my life. I mean, really, who cares what’s the best food I’ve eaten this year? Or the best daiquiri I’ve drunk? I wouldn’t. So, I’m just going to do what’s best for all of us and skip that awful part. So, followed by a really loud drumroll… Here are the music “yeah’s” and music “no way’s” of this year.

– “Sleep well” album of the year:
Norah Jones – The Fall. I would call it a “no way” if it wasn’t so plain and modest. It didn’t disturb my good night’s sleep at all, because I just didn’t notice it. So – here goes… an inconspicuous “yeah” for all of you insomniacs out there.

– “Two good singles” album of the year:
You won’t believe me on this one probably, but let’s face it – I Gotta Feeling and Boom Boom Pow were the only two good singles from this year’s Black Eyed Peas album The E.N.D. They were good, okay, they got us all moving and jumping up’n’down, but we all know it’s not enough. If I would rate singles, it would be a definite “yeah”, but for the album there’s a big, fat “noooo way”.

John Mayer - Battle Studies (c) Sony Music

– “Quite boring, but decent” album of the year:

John Mayer – The Battle Studies. And I’m really sorry to say this, John. Continuum is still the best thing you’ve created. You’re still gorgeous, I still love you, but I think the routine has hit the relationship. The good news is – you can still get back on the track. Who Says proves it. Anyhow – this is a “yeah”, despite all.

– “Jump-around-shake-your-arse-like-you-just-don’t-care” album of the year:

Jamie T – Kings & Queens. In comparison with Panic Prevention, this is a downhill, obviously, but it still holds the obvious charm of Jamie T and his own style. There were tracks I loved, there were mundane tracks, there were the weird ones as well. Maybe, as time goes by I will love the tracks I hated at first, as it was with Panic Prevention. A single I just can’t fly by and not mention in this case is Sticks’n’Stones – amazing, full of energy and an obvious success. So yeah, I do give it a “yeah”. And I still want to see him perform live. Preferably Sheila and Northern Line, though.

Jamie T - Kings & Queens (c) Virgin Records

– “It was good, but let’s not take this any further” album of the year:

Susan Boyle – I Dreamed A Dream. Well, this is just sad. Okay, it was great how she rocked Simon’s socks off at Britain’s Got Talent last year, but why, and this is a serious WHY, did she have to record an album, for God’s sake? And yeah, I know everyone has a right for their 15 minutes of fame, but didn’t hers tick out when she performed the third time of the song from Les Miserables? Oh well, but what do I know… Everyone, hurry to get your copy of copies!

– ALBUM OF THE YEAR. As simple as that.

Jamie Cullum – The Pursuit. I am convinced that a lot of people will listen to Jamie Cullum, the young boy (well, not so young anymore as he turned 30 this year) from Essex, in the future the way we listen to Frank Sinatra now. With honor, appreciation and admiration. Despite the critics who are on to Jamie about him “making the jazz pop-ish” I think that we are actually experiencing the birth (yes, and I’m sure he’s only in the early stages) of a legend. The first time I heard The Pursuit, I thought “Okay, not a lot of new stuff, but it’s decent at least. He hasn’t made the world’s best album, but he is still not breaking his own levels of mastery”. Then I heard it again, and again, and again… And I fell in love. I’m still listening to The Pursuit every single day and it still gives me goose pumps. So “yeah”, this is a very loud “YEAH” for fabulous Jamie Cullum.

Jamie Cullum - The Pursuit (c) Universal Music

I’ve got some “yeah’s” to give to Dave Matthews Band for Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, Amerie for In Love & War, Mika for The Boy Who Knew Too Much, Arctic Monkeys for Humbug, Ida Maria for – Fortress Round My Heart, Royksopp for Junior and Muse for The Resistance. And some definite “no way’s” for Eminem – Relapse and some of the very unfortunate comeback attempts from The Backstreet Boys and Take That (YES, INDEED!)

Who needs love when they know you at the Mac Store?

Amanda Palmer doing a show | Image © Creative Commons, ProdigyBoy (2008)
Amanda Palmer doing a show | Image © Creative Commons, ProdigyBoy (2008)

I’ve known Amanda Palmer for just a little while now, but she has definitely made an impression. The first surprise about her was one of the styles her performance is characterized – punk cabaret. Intriguing enough, right?

Yes, she will probably disturb the most of you. Yes, you might not be able to tolerate her. But it’s impossible to ignore her, once you’ve seen or heard her.

She’s powerful, she’s beautiful in a disturbing way and, the most important – she is herself. Whether you read anything about her, listen to her music or just look at the pictures – you get the impression that she isn’t faking it. And in the mean time, she represents almost everything that’s wrong with this society. I’m not saying she’s the American Amy Winehouse equivalent, I’m telling you she isn’t afraid to walk around with a clumpy mascara or her eyebrows fixed in a weird way. She isn’t afraid to sing about the lies and hypocrisy.

As always, some information on her:

Amanda MacKinnon Palmer (born April 30, 1976) is a performer most noted for being the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the “Brechtian punk cabaret” duo The Dresden Dolls.
The Dresden Dolls project begun, when Amanda Palmer met drummer Brian Viglione. In an effort to expand the performance experience and interactivity, Palmer began inviting Lexington High School students to perform drama pieces at her live shows. Currently, the Dirty Business Brigade, a troupe of seasoned and new artists, perform at many gigs. The invited costumed characters mingle with the crowd before and during the show, and veteran groups sometimes join in with a choreographed stage act. Life-sized marionettes, coin-operated boys, living statues, and other undergroundlings greet fans while circus and burlesque draw the audience into the Dolls’ music, creating a participatory atmosphere that allows the audience to experience numerous types of art simultaneously.
Concerning her solo carrier… Palmer’s solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, was released on 16 September 2008. The title is a play on an expression used by fans during Twin Peak’s original run, “Who killed Laura Palmer?” A companion book of photos of Amanda looking as if she were murdered will be released in June 2009 featuring photography by Kyle Cassidy and accompanying writing by Neil Gaiman.
Some personal stuff on Amanda? She identifies as bisexual. “I’m bisexual, but it’s not the sort of thing I spent a lot of time thinking about,” Palmer said. “I’ve slept with girls; I’ve slept with guys, so I guess that’s what they call it! I’m not anti trying to use language to simplify our lives.” “I actually tend to like really femmey girls,” Palmer said. “You can deconstruct this with armchair psychology and really nail me, but I like girls about my body type and about my mix of masculine and feminine.”Amanda MacKinnon Palmer (born April 30, 1976) is a performer most noted for being the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the Brechtian punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls.

The Dresden Dolls project begun, when Amanda Palmer met drummer Brian Viglione. In an effort to expand the performance experience and interactivity, Palmer began inviting Lexington High School students to perform drama pieces at her live shows. Currently, the Dirty Business Brigade, a troupe of seasoned and new artists, perform at many gigs. The invited costumed characters mingle with the crowd before and during the show, and veteran groups sometimes join in with a choreographed stage act. Life-sized marionettes, coin-operated boys, living statues, and other undergroundlings greet fans while circus and burlesque draw the audience into the Dolls’ music, creating a participatory atmosphere that allows the audience to experience numerous types of art simultaneously.

Concerning her solo carrier… Palmer’s solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, was released on 16 September 2008 and reached #77 in the United States of America. The title is a play on an expression used by fans during Twin Peak’s original run, Who killed Laura Palmer? A companion book of photos of Amanda looking as if she were murdered will be released in June 2009 featuring photography by Kyle Cassidy and accompanying writing by Neil Gaiman.

Some personal stuff on Amanda? She identifies as bisexual. I’m bisexual, but it’s not the sort of thing I spent a lot of time thinking about, Palmer said. I’ve slept with girls; I’ve slept with guys, so I guess that’s what they call it! I’m not anti trying to use language to simplify our lives. I actually tend to like really femmey girls, Palmer said. You can deconstruct this with armchair psychology and really nail me, but I like girls about my body type and about my mix of masculine and feminine.

I must say, not only she’s capable of composing influential music, but the lyrics are worth a book print. E.g. her single Leeds United and the lyrics in that one are just a perfect reflection on our wonderful society.  Apparently, she just knows-how.

Get the latest Who Killed Amanda Palmer?, read the lyrics, think, dance and enjoy. It’s worth to face it.

Here is her home page for more information on her.

Thanks to the Happiest Bunny of all for sharing this!