Top Albums of 2009

I told you I`d only return at the end of the year.



I haven`t been very impressed with the music of 2009. It was so hard for me to find albums that I could consider worthy of being on any list, but these six stood tall above the rest.



6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amedeus Phoenix.

This album is fun to listen to but would replace it in a second if I had something else to replace it with. None of the lyrics make sense but they still manage to have everyone singing along. ``Lasso`` is my prefered song. I feel like a hipster just having this on my list. Man i`m embarrassed.



5. John Mayer - Battle Studies.



I never thought I would live to see the day that John Mayer made it on any of my list, (besides most cocky human being) but here he sits. Maybe it`s the lack of talent this year, or maybe it the fact that some of these songs really impressed me, whatever the case this is my number 5 for the year.



4. GlasVegas - A Snowflake Fell (and it Felt Like a Kiss)



I found this album on December 30th (talk about last minute.) I heard the title track because of my brother Gabe and instintly fell in love with this album. I downloaded it, and conclude that this is indeed one of the best albums of this year! I adore his thick Scottish accent, and think he could be saying absolutely nothing and it sound poetic.



3. Joshua James - Build Me This


Joshua James makes a reappearance on my list for the second straight year. He`s the only artist to make it into my top three twice. When I bought his first album I didn`t expect a successful followup album, and not so soon. So, I was surprised to see his album come out in 2009. I think he`s still struggling to find his voice in music, but he`s only been writing since 2007 so I can cut him some slack. ``Daniel`` and ``Benediction`` are the best song off this album.



2. Bell X1 - Blue Lights On the Runway.

When Damien Rice left Bell X1 and was extremely successful with his first albums he must have thought he was had come out on the good side of the breakup. Bell X1 proves in this album that they don`t need their old frontman and can do just fine on their own. The album opens to the upbeat ``Ribs of a Broken Umbrella`` but slows down the pace down a bit in ``Blow Ins.`` My favorite song off of this album is ``Light Catches Your Face.``



1. Bob Dylan - Together Through Life.



When I bought this album in May I decided it was going to be number one. This album is fantastic. It has this strange, mistical sound. It has french influences, old jazz influences, and all the while still remaining uniquelly Bob Dylan. He had a co-writer from The Greatful Dead so the lyrics seemed to be a little weaker but he still struck chords in my heart and imagination with songs like ``My Wifes Hometown`` and ``Forgetful Heart.`` My favorite tune on the album is ``Beyond Here Lies Nothing.``

That`s my list. Just because 2009 is over doesn`t mean these albums won`t remain fantastic. Go out and get yourself a copy of any of these. Here`s to a good 2010!

Freewilling It

I wrote this about my Philosophy subject.

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I hope to find there is no freewill.

It's just something made up in movie reels.

I never had a choice in breaking your heart.

It was predestined right from the start.

I hope to find we have no choices.

No guiding lights, no help voices.

I broke all engagements, and as you've probably guessed,

I just couldn't help it.

Wouldn't it be a love to have freewill?

To know I chose you right from the start.

Yeah, wouldn't it be a life to have freewill?

To know I was the one to forget you, and break your heart.

Dear Frank

I think my blog is a graduated diary. I never liked diaries, though I had a neon-colored one with a unicorn on it in my youth. Every journal I own is blank, or filled with scribbles of good intentioned thoughts that disappear by the stroke of my marker after a few minutes.

If I did own a diary it would probably sound more grown up. I would discuss the economy and the rising gas prices. I would have to name it of course, that way instead of saying "Dear Diary" I could write "Dear Frank".

Dear Frank,

My co-worker's party invitation for me must have gotten lost in the mail again.

xoxo,

Deb

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I've returned to Kroger. I like it so much more this time around. I still work in Seafood but I have a new happiness this time. Perhaps I'm just a gluten for steamed-shrimp punishment. It's not likely that all my co-workers feel the same way, but I love each one of them.

I find that I even like the customers a little more now. A few weeks ago I was stocking the shelves with crab meat when a lady came up to me asking for advice on cocktail sauce. After I gave her my opinion on the best buy, she looked up at me and asked if I was a Christian. When I answered her that I am, she tearfully looked up at me and asked if I would please pray for her daughter who was dying of cancer. Her daughters name is Mary. Please pray too.

Grocery stores seem to be breeding grounds for the lonesome. They're often the only stores open past ten. I remember when I would walk around the local Food Lion or Wal-Mart because I was too lonely stop my racing mind and sleep. I wonder at times how many others are there because they have no other place to go.

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I'm pulling an Alex Skidmore blogging style with all these lines between my random thoughts.

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Upcoming Events: July 13th Bob Dylan in concert. July 16-21 NC (Bojangles here I come.)

xoxo,

Deb

Ch-ch-ch-changes.

New "favorite" things coming soon! Full with new photos and explanations. And by soon I mean later tonight if I feel up to it.

Albums That Changed My Life (A Little Late)

Bob Dylan - "Bringing it All Back Home" My last year in Haiti I discovered this little gem and "Never Looked Back" (Dylan fans will get that.) This album made me fall in love with the art of songwriting, and it was the first time I picked up the guitar. It's my favorite album, and it changed my life the most.

Death Cab for Cutie - "Photo Album" It seems like I listened to this album on every drive back from the beach. Whenever I hear beach sounds, or have a sunburn I also hear songs from Photo Album playing in my head.

Bob Dylan - "Modern Times" My Bob Dylan obsession suddenly stopped with this album. Not that this album wasn't good, it was great. I just finally saw him as a normal artist again. I remember cruising in Wilmington, N.C. with this blasting in my Saab. Right before it would die.

Hopefully a new artist will impress me soon, but for now I'm happy with the "life changing" albums I have.

Justice in New Life

Fresh eyes, and a new life.

I know I would choose you again.

New souls, and new bodies.

Please let me be apart of your plans.

I was born to love of you.

New friends, and new families.

New loves, and new heartaches.

You are my best friend,

You'll love me no matter what it takes.

I was born to run to you.

I swam across lake Geneva.

Cold wind on my back.

If I should grow weary

I think of you on the shoreline.

One look, in your eyes

And I know you're same in death as in life.

I was born to die with you.

Just Like I Said

Lord let me die in my tracks.

Slay me where I stand.

Do not give me the time to look back.

And reflect on what a waste this life has been.

You can put me any where you want to.

I cannot move.

Lord, let me die in my tracks.

A weary son, who was once a man.

Update

Yesss. I finally have an excuse to update .. oh never? So, Christmas day or so my loving cat Franklin, dumped a glass of water all over my computer. I can't use it anymore. That being said, I'm at the library. I could update from my iphone, but a that's just rediculas.

Here is what's new in my life.

New Job! Woo. I work for Tolle Lege Press (reformationbookstore.com) & Pack and Ship. .. Actually I don't know the name. That's sad. They have like 20 million different names though. I just know I do a lot of paper work. Also, I help spread Good Republican Cheer all around the Nation (partiotdepot.com) So, go ahead, order a few hundred "Palin 2012/Keep the Change" stickers and I'll pack them right up for you. Well, I'll probably just do the paperwork.

School! Yeah, I'm finally in school at Fairmont University. I love my World History II teacher. He has to have some sort of voice disorder, because he talks very loudly. (And a little bit softer now, and a little bit softer now.) He's a Vietnam veteran and has already told us he expects 15 papers out of us by the end of this term in addition the the other papers, quizzes, test, exams, and volunteer work he has planned for us.

Well, I think that's about all that's changed in my life. See you next year, when I determine the best albums of 2009!