Best Songs of 2011

I think in lists. What are my top five beers of all time? What are the ten best bands names ever? I can't help it. It's how I'm wired.

So every year, I compile a list of my favorite songs and favorite albums. The following are my favorite songs from 2011.

1. Circuital - My Morning Jacket
   Listen, what is this? A slow jam? An ELO song? Then, out of nowhere come guitars that sound like a cross between Won't Get Fooled Again and Jack and Diane. Then we're right back in the slow jam, then the guitars, and then it just builds and builds. It's like everything that is great about MMJ jammed into one song.
   
   
2. Time Spent in Los Angeles - Dawes
   If radio still mattered (or even existed) this would be the breakout hit of the year. It's like everything great about Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, and even Bon Jovi filtered through the sound of The Band. At the start of the year, the only thing I knew about Dawes was that it was the full-time band of the "third dude" in Middle Brother. Then I buy this album and can't stop listening. This song is probably the catchiest track on the album, but it's not even the best. Every track is amazing. Buy this album now.
   
   
3. Lost in My Mind - The Head and the Heart
   Who are these kids? Where did they come from? How did they write such a compelling batch of songs on their first try? I don't know. But I love that a band whose album I bought on a whim (because they were on SubPop) and championed tirelessly ended up one of the breakouts of the year. I only hope they continue to put out music this good for years to come!
   
   
4. Tree by the River - Iron & Wine
   This song comes from what was probably my most highly anticipated album of the year. I love everything that Sam Beam does. This song stands up there with his best. His former life as a screenwriter comes through with how vivid of a picture this song paints.
   
   
5. Dawned on Me - Wilco
   I didn't have high hopes for the new Wilco. The last few albums have been hit and miss for me. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. The album plays almost like a greatest hits. And this song has the pop of Summerteeth combined with the noise of YHF and A Ghost is Born. Can't go wrong with that.
   
   
6. Calamity Song - The Decemberists
   Just like with Wilco, the last few Decemberists albums haven't hit me the way the first few did. And like Wilco, this song was a pleasant surprise. It seems odd that I didn't select one of the songs with Gillian Welch on background vocals. But this song just kills. And the REM guitar part doesn't hurt...
   
   
7. California Wildfire - The Henry Clay People
   Sorry if this scared you when it jumped out of the speakers. Mrs. P90 said that this transition was jarring and that maybe this song didn't belong on this mix. No can do. I love me some Henry Clay People. These kids are the future of rock and roll!
   
   
8. Losers - The Belle Brigade
   Nothing original here folks. The harmonies are straight out of the Simon & Garfunkel play book. I heard this song when the Mrs. and I were playing *the game. Later, I saw that they were opening on the Dawes/Blitzen Trapper co-headling tour. Sadly, they didn't open the show we saw.
   
   
9. Love the Way You Walk Away - Blitzen Trapper
   
   
10. Miranda - Surfer Blood
    The Pixies called. They want their sound back. It's ok, this is slightly better than getting your sound and image from the movie Cocktail (see Vampire Weekend).
    
    
11. Miss K. - Deer Tick
    
    
12. Out in Nature - Band of Horses
    Yeah, so what if this is from a kids tv show. Yo Gabba Gabba is responsible for some pretty awesome songs - see the best Weezer song since the Green Album. We saw this on an episode early in 2011 and couldn't wait for the album to come out.
    
    
13. Life of a Bear - Johnny Corndawg
    Corndawg is one weird dude. He's called the running cowboy. He makes amazing guitar straps (if anyone loves me, they'll get me one), and he writes great songs. Check out Chevy Beretta and Fools and Sages as well. Chevy Beretta might rate higher for me, but since we compile this mix for friends with kids, the three very obvious F-bombs knocked it out of contention.
    
    
14. So Long - She & Him
    Another "kids song!" Clearly I'm old. Whatevs - this song is catchy and I love me some M. Ward. Contrary to popular belief, I've cooled on Zooey. I liked her much more back in the Elf days.
    
    
15. Blue Eyes - Middle Brother
    With a line like "She's a southern girl without a drawl, She's a good girl who can wear a black bra," I don't think I need to say anything else.
    
    
16. Lucky Now - Ryan Adams
    Oh Ryan Adams, I hate to love you and love to hate you. Not sure how the same person who wrote Heartbreaker and Gold could create albums like Easy Tiger and Cardinolgy (Shark Sandwich? More like Shit Sandwich). I was really excited when critics were calling this a return to form and one of Ryan's best albums. I'm not sure what album they were listening to. The one I got was the same old Ryan we've been seeing most since Gold. A few classic songs tossed in a sea of throwaways. Sure most of the throwaways would be great songs if written by someone else. But I think Ryan Adams can do better. This song is really good. And the background vocals by Norah Jones are great.
    
    
17. Stay Young, Go Dancing - Death Cab for Cutie
    Mrs. P90 thought I should replace this with another song from Codes & Keys. She says that it's obvious that it's written about Zooey Deschanel and that in light of her and Ben splitting up, the song is just sad. I disagree, a song should be able to live outside of the circumstances which inspired it.
    
    
18. A Little Bit of Everything - Dawes
    Pay special attention to the third verse of this song, the one that begins "Somewhere a pretty girl is writing invitations." If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you don't have a soul. And yes, it sounds like a long lost Jackson Browne song. But it's amazing. This is the perfect song to close my best of cd.
    
    
19. Beth/Rest - Bon Iver
    Close your eyes. Picture Ralph Macchio doing a crane kick on the shore in Okinawa. This is the sound of that scene. Listening to the first Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago, I never would have guessed that he would write and record what is essentially a Peter Cetera pop ballad. And if I wasn't already in to Bon Iver, I would likely run screaming the other direction. But holy crap, this song is amazing!

*The Game - “The Game” consists of my wife flipping through the digital music stations on the TV and then me naming the song, artist, year, and album. I have a savant like ability at this endeavor. I’m unstoppable on 80’s new wave and 90’s altrock. The game doesn’t end until you hear two songs by either Grand Funk Railroad or REO Speedwagon. This is not a hard and fast rule, but was pretty easy to follow on the old Music Choice Network that comes with our cable service, the 70’s Rock station played a boatload of these two artists.

A Cookie within a Cookie

Years ago, I was a frozen dessert specialist (I worked in an ice cream store). We served cookies along with ice cream. One day, we received a shipment of dough that consisted of chocolate chip cookie dough with crushed up Oreos in place of the chocolate chips. I’ve never liked Oreos, but these cookies were amazing. It started my lifelong interest of cramming as much stuff as possible into a cookie. I’ve made cookies bursting at the crumb with coconut, rice krispies, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. I’ve taken a variety bag of leftover Halloween candy, chopped it roughly, and baked it into cookies.

But the cookie that people react most excitedly to, is when I crush Trader Joe’s Mint JoJos and bake them into a chocolate chip cookie. It’s easy and it’s delicious. Just use your favorite recipe and substitute 12 oz. of crushed Jojos in place of the chocolate chips. Yum.

Here's the recipe I use:
    3/4 cup granulated sugar
    1 cup brown sugar (or 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons molasses)
    1 cup butter, softened
    2 eggs
    2 teaspoons vanilla
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 teaspoon salt
    3 cups all-purpose flour
    12 ounces crushed Mint JoJos

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1.  Place sugars, butter, eggs, and vanilla in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer.
2. Turn to Speed 2 and mix for 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Turn to Speed 4 and beat another 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl.
3. Sift together baking soda, salt, and flour.
4. Turn to Stir Speed. Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture over about 2 minutes.
5. Turn to Speed 2 and mix 30 seconds.
6. Turn to Stir Speed and add chocolate chips, mixing for 15 seconds.
7. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, longer if you prefer crunchy cookies.
8. Eat.

Wintry Mix

I like CDs. I prefer my iPod, but I love a good mix cd. As the weather changes, I always enjoy throwing together a mix of songs that feel and sound like the season. Tonight, I threw together a Wintry Mix.

Here it is:

1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire
2. Fly - Nick Drake
3. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
4. Beautiful Girl - Pete Droge
5. Houses on the Hill - Ryan Adams
6. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
7. Dead of Winter - Eels
8. Grey Ice Water - Sun Kil Moon
9. Mushaboom - Feist
10. Pictures of You - The Cure
11. These Days - Nico
12. A Long December - Counting Crows
13. Calling and Not Calling My Ex - Okkervil River
14. Girl From the North Country - Bob Dylan (w. Johnny Cash)
15. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
16. Mandolin Wind - Rod Stewart
17. Sodom, South Georgia - Iron & Wine
18. Dreams - The Cranberries
19. Sleep the Clock Around - Belle & Sebastian

Warm Fuzz(ies)

Sometimes things just fall into place. This week, out of the blue, I somehow managed to score two fuzz pedals that I have been dreaming of for months/years. In one case, I responded to a guy with a Fulltone ’70 for trade and I happened to have the pedal he was looking for.

In another case, someone contacted me re: a pedal I had listed for sale or trade. And what am I getting? An Analog Man Peppermint Fuzz. Don’t ask what pedal I’m swapping it for. It’s such a deal that you will want to cry.

And to think that most of my pedal board has been assembled thanks to stumbling across a mic preamp being given a way for free on a side street in Pacifica, CA and by purchasing a new-old-stock Mu-Tron Phasor II in 1993 for $125 (and selling it a few years ago for $350)!

By my math, my pedal board would cost just over $1,000 to assemble from scratch. Thanks to a lot of well timed trades, I’ve assembled it for less than $300 out of pocket.

Can’t wait to try the Peppermint and the ’70. And if they don’t work for me, I’ll just trade up for something better. This seems to be the one area in life where I have the midas touch! If only I had the same touch for real estate or stocks…

Kids Music that Doesn't Suck

Belle

Sebastian

Once upon a time, Belle & Sebastian meant something different to me. Pre-kids, they were a kick-ass little indie rock band from Scotland. Post-kids, Belle is the princess from Beauty and the Beast, and Sebastian is the crab from The Little Mermaid. Holy crap - how my life has changed. But luckily, I have found a way for them to peacefully co-exist! And yes, I agree that this is an odd post for 11/11/11 - Nigel Tufnel day...

At first, my oldest daughter had great taste in music. In her first few weeks of life, the only thing that could keep her from crying in the car was listening to Turn on Me by the Shins. As soon as the Phil Specter drum beat played, she’d settle right down. Later, the sure fire way to get her to sleep in the car was to play Sky Blue Sky by Wilco (insert joke about Wilco being boring dad rock here, I won’t take offense). She’d always fall asleep mid-way through the noisy guitar solo in Impossible Germany. She had really great taste. And then it ended.

Belle & Sebastian

Shortly after her first birthday, and during a particularly miserable car trip to Hilton Head, we broke down and bought our first “kids music” cd. It was a Backyardigans cd. And as far as kids music goes, it’s pretty good. And it did make for a much more pleasant drive back to Maryland. But then came the “silly songs,” the princesses, the Disney this and the Disney that, we were awash in a sea of aural crap and forever hearing “I don’t want to listen to adults music, I want kids music.”  Side note - Suffering through numerous repeats of Part of Your World has given me much appreciation for my father’s tolerance of Nine Inch Nails and Jesus & Mary Chain that he suffered through for 8th and 9th grade me…

So, imagine my delight last year when my four year-old asked “Daddy, who sings this song?” and I responded by saying “it’s Belle & Sebastian, like the princess and the crab!” She went for it, and said “I love this song!” And it’s not that I dislike the Backyardigans or the Imagination Movers, but I was thrilled when listening to Write About Love became our morning ritual for many a month.

So now, we walk a fine line between kids music and adult music. And thanks to Yo Gabba Gabba and a few compilations we have some kids music songs that are awesome. Case in point, from the Gabba soundtrack, All My Friends Are Insects by Weezer is without a doubt the best Weezer song since the green album, maybe since Pinkerton.

So if you’re up to your ears in kids music, here’s a playlist that can save you. Enjoy. Don't be surprised if the Band of Horses and She & Him tracks end up on my Best of 2011. And the Mark Kozelek track is nothing short of amazing.

All My Friends Are Insects - Weezer



Bunny Hop - The Hollow Trees

Out in Nature - Band of Horses



If You Ever See An Owl - The Terrible Twos

It's Okay, Try Again - The Shins

The Ninjas - Barenaked Ladies

So Long - She & Him




Jump Up! - Imagination Movers


Bedtime Lullaby - Mark Kozelek

The Straight Truth on Mayan Palace - The Restaurants

Dessert at Tramonto

The Straight Truth on Mayan Palace - The Restaurants
The restaurants and wait staff at Mayan Palace are great.

Gong - Gong is Asian Fusion and has a good mix of Japanese noodle dishes, sushi, and other “Asian” food. We ate a light dinner there on our first night and it was delicious. We had steamed edamame and some various maki rolls. The Tabasco roll is simply amazing. I would never have thought to wrap a roll in grilled plantain, but it was nothing short of amazing. There is a sommelier who serves both Gong and Tramonto and he did an outstanding job of recommending a red wine that would overpower the sushi (I wasn’t in the mood for sake and didn’t want to splurge for champagne on our first night). We ended the meal with a dessert of grilled bananas and gingered dark chocolate. YUM.

Creperia – Inside the market/gift shop, downstairs from Gong and Tramonto is a creperia. Most of the crepes are good. The Mexicana (salsa verde, roasted poblano peppers, pumpkin blossoms, etc) and the banana y nutella are out of this world! Don’t miss them.

Balche and Frida’s Mexican Grill – The outdoor café by the pool is called Balche by day and Frida’s Mexican Grill by night. Our beach waiter served us everyday and the food is fine. It’s not amazing, but it’s not bad. The grilled fish sandwich is great. At night, when it turns into Fridas, that’s another story. At that point, they begin serving some of the best Mexican food you have ever had (and yes, I have had great authentic Mexican in Mexico and the US, including going to all of the Rick Bayless restaurants).  The Cochinita pibil is out of this world. It’s basically little chunks of pork shoulder, seasoned with achiote, wrapped in banana leaves, and roasted until it almost melts. The green chile sauce at Fridas is some of the best I have ever had as is the mole. My wife and I joked that the chef should offer a cooking class just to teach those two sauces. Other items not to miss are the tamale appetizer (four different types of tamales) and the tacos al pastor. If you get the The Cochinita pibil, consider pairing it with a Mexican red wine. We had a nebbiolo from the Guadalupe Valley that was really good. Fridas is closed on Thursday – I’m guessing to encourage people to do the “Mexican Feast” at Del Lago.

Tramonto – The Italian restaurant is also great. It was our favorite last time, and we saved it for our last night. Our biggest complaint of our trip is that we couldn’t go to every restaurant twice. We saved Tramonto for our actual anniversary and we had a great meal. Everything on the menu sounds amazing and it’s hard to narrow things down. The bruschetta is great. One thing we noticed all week long is that any time we had peppers (red, green, poblano, fresh, roasted, whatever) they had so much more flavor than the peppers we get at home (even more so than the fancy Whole Foods peppers). I don’t think words can really describe the meal we had. Our server was amazing, our wine (a Mexican Merlot) was amazing. Everything was perfect.

Coconut Curry Shrimp at Havana Moon

Havana Moon – They call Havana Moon a Cuban restaurant, but there isn’t a whole lot of Cuban food on the menu. We felt that Havana Moon was the weakest of the restaurants. My wife ordered the pad thai and it was just ok. I ordered the coconut curry shrimp and they were amazing – coconut fried shrimp with a great curry dipping sauce and an asian slaw on the side. Our dessert that night was also a let down. It was called the Coco Cubico (Coconut Cube). You’d think with a name like that you couldn’t lose, but it was bland and boring. Also, the tables and chair at Havana Moon are not very comfortable, the tables are low and the supports cut into your legs forcing you to sit at odd angles. However, the show was amazing – mostly just because it was crazy and we didn’t know there would be a show. Without much warning, a group of dancers busted in doing what could best be described as a seen from Eyes Wide Shut – scantily clad dancers with animal head costumes. Surreal!

Something Fish – The name of this one is escaping me, but tucked in the pool area in the Grand Mayan is a little cevicheria. We ate lunch there one day and had the fish tacos and the smoked marlin burrito. The fish tacos were pretty good. The marlin burrito would have been good if it didn’t have cheese. Then again, we might have blown our appetites on pina coladas and chips…

The Burger Custom Made – hidden in Luxe is a “hip burger joint” that’s all L.A. and South Beach inspired. We never ate there, but some of the burgers sounded pretty good. Next time…

Coconut - Freshly Cut from the Tree

None of the restaurants are “Mexico cheap.” The maki rolls at Gong are in the $8-15 range and entrees are probably $15-40. Crepes are $8-10 (but 3 for the price of 2 from 3:00-9:00). At Tramonto, Fridas, and Havana Moon entrees are $12-50. But that $50 at Tramonto will get you a Chateaubriand. I threatened all week to get it. But something about eating a pound of beef didn’t seem like what I wanted to do on my ten year wedding anniversary. I settled for a lighter dinner, the first cognac of my life, and a great evening.

So all of these things are great, but what really holds it altogether is the staff. The staff at Mayan Palace is friendly and professional. You couldn’t ask for better folks. From the housekeeping staff, to the bartenders, to the beach waiters, to the waiters in the restaurant everyone was friendly and welcoming.

The Straight Truth on Mayan Palace - The Pools

The pools at Mayan Palace are great. There is plenty of room to spread out, the temperature is great. From around 12:00-3:00 at the main pool they play dreadful music. Seriously, who wants to listen to bad techno and dance music in a tropical paradise. I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. During this time, I stay on the beach, plug in the ear buds and listen to Jack Johnson, Iron & Wine, Calexico, and so on.

The pools at the Grand Mayan are also great. We had no trouble using the Grand Mayan facilities with our “lowly Mayan Palace wrist bands.” Maybe because it was the low-season. I don’t know – maybe because it was the low-season? Either way, there are lots of nice, quiet, secluded spots to relax and take it easy.