whatevernevermind

One of the things I discussed with various people this year was the change I have noticed in how I consume music. My iPod and iTunes Library have become my stack of CDs. I don’t shop very often, which I used to do a lot of. I used to come home from a trip to Virgin (because they have lots of imports), sit down with a stack of CDs, listen to them, rip them and then listen some more on my computer. These days, I download (from iTMS or BitTorrent, if I’m feeling impatient) straight into my iPod, seldomly listening to the album straight through. It sucks, but I have a lot less free time in my life these days. Also, being in a relationship means that what small amounts of time I have, I like to spend with my woman. It doesn’t leave a lot of time to hole up in my cave with a stack of CDs. Life goes on though. I miss a few more things than I used to, but that’s what sites like Largehearted Boy are for, right?

My taste has pretty much stayed the same. I’ve been much more open to mainstream stuff I would have turned my nose at two years ago. That’s not to say I don’t turn my nose up at stuff, but I just might not be quite a snooty about it. Some of my favorite albums of the year were released on major labels (!!!) I’ve been listening to more hip-hop than I ever have, which is fun. There’s a lot of good stuff out there, especially in the underground. I still make monthly mixes almost every month, I program our CEO’s iPod, which is cool and people still ask me about the latest albums and I know what they’re talking about most of the time.

Music is still my life. I’m fortunate enough to work in it. I still enjoy listening, watching and falling asleep to it. I try and listen to something new every day and keep the classics in my back pocket.

Top 25 Albums of 2005

Band Of Bees – Free The Bees
Beck – Guero
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
Boards Of Canada – The Campfire Headphase
Bob Mould – Body Of Song
Brendan Benson – Alternative To Love
Common – Be
Damian Marley – Welcome To Jamrock
Feist – Let It Die
Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
Gorillaz – Demon Days
Kanye West – Late Registration
Kings Of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
Ladytron – Witching Hour
Living Things – Ahead Of The Lions
Louis XIV – The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
Low – The Great Destroyer
The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
M.I.A. – Arula
My Morning Jacket – Z
Neil Young – Prairie Wind
New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
Paul McCartney – Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
Shout Out Louds – Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
Spoon – Gimme Fiction

7 Diappointments of 2005

Death Cab For Cutie – Plans
Queens Of The Stone Age – Lullabies To Paralize
Coldplay – X & Y
Foo Fighters – In Your Honor
Dandy Warhols – Odditirium or Warlords Of Mars
OK Go – Oh No
Weezer – Make Believe

7 To Watch In 2006

Silversun Pickups
Rock Kills Kid
Matisyahu
Forward, Russia!
Story One
The Organ
KT Tunstall