The Blanton 55
Sorry about the delay, dudes. There were some techincal difficulties that thankfully were tuned up. Now I can post this crap I wrote a week ago today! Let's make a deal... I'll keep up if you keep up. Stay tuned for 50-41 next!
Jeezer, Blanton.
It's finally that time of year. Gush time. Last year, we celebrated the best records of 2005 and honored a great baseball player and great man, Dave Parker. This year, I wanted to supersize it. Trust supersizing something the girth of Dave Parker ain't easy. At first I considered doing The Kiko Calero 50, and though that's got a great ring to it, I've never really believed you could get it a job done with just one pitch, as nasty as his slider is.
Then it hit me like a Big Mac-induced stomach ache. 55. Joe Blant is a Giant. This list is a giant. So here we begin, another gag taken a bit too far. Today we begin with 55-51, the extra baggage as we know one of the reasons we love Blanton is his "extra baggage". So sit down and in Blanton-fashion, pick up a corndog or three, while I just rare back and throw a couple grapefruits right down the middle. Whatever that means.
55. Girl Talk - Night Ripper (Illegal Art)
To cut to the chase, Night Ripper is frenetic. This coming from the biggest of Fiery Furnaces fans. Gregg Gillis' insane mixtape is not so much a joy to listen to, but more tremendous fun to pick out every single famous song you've ever heard.
54. The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)
While this record stands as Hamilton Leithauser and company's most average and perhaps least interesting release in the band's short discography, the swagger and ultra-cool vibe coupled with Ham's Dylan-esque ramblings still makes it a great listen. It's equally good bundled up on a crisp winter walk with your noise cans strapped on or completely wasted at a house party soaked in whiskey.
53. Sparks - Hello Young Lovers (In The Red)
20 albums in and The Brothers Mael haven't even made a dent in their endless stock of weird. Songs like "Dick Around", "Metaphor", and "As I Sit Down to Play the Organ at the Notre Dame Cathedral" should make you thankful that they aren't doing collaborations with Kelly Clarkson or something. A Jane Wiedlin duet is passable though.
52. El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar (Control Group/TGC)
Spector revival... blah blah blah. El Perro Del Mar's bittersweet tunes would strive under any pop costuming. Though the Spector-style vocal harmonies, subtle horns and string arrangments garnishes the songs with a timeless sound, it really is Sarah Assbring's lip-biting coo that drives songs like "Candy" and "God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)".
51. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon (XL)
While "Crazy" was cleary the this year's "Hey Ya", I'd like to deem Tapes 'n Tapes this year's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. A P-Fork fave, indie darling, the Minnepolis quartet took the 'lil world by storm, leaving nary a wounded PBR soldier unfinished and a bespectacled girl's heart unstolen. But underneath the shiny veneer lies hook-laden rock and roll force, solid and blue collar, blazing down a road paved by greats such as The Pixies and Pavement. Worthy of the hype? Perhaps not. Worthy of a steady head nod? Undoubtedly.
Jeezer, Blanton.
It's finally that time of year. Gush time. Last year, we celebrated the best records of 2005 and honored a great baseball player and great man, Dave Parker. This year, I wanted to supersize it. Trust supersizing something the girth of Dave Parker ain't easy. At first I considered doing The Kiko Calero 50, and though that's got a great ring to it, I've never really believed you could get it a job done with just one pitch, as nasty as his slider is.
Then it hit me like a Big Mac-induced stomach ache. 55. Joe Blant is a Giant. This list is a giant. So here we begin, another gag taken a bit too far. Today we begin with 55-51, the extra baggage as we know one of the reasons we love Blanton is his "extra baggage". So sit down and in Blanton-fashion, pick up a corndog or three, while I just rare back and throw a couple grapefruits right down the middle. Whatever that means.
55. Girl Talk - Night Ripper (Illegal Art)To cut to the chase, Night Ripper is frenetic. This coming from the biggest of Fiery Furnaces fans. Gregg Gillis' insane mixtape is not so much a joy to listen to, but more tremendous fun to pick out every single famous song you've ever heard.
54. The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)While this record stands as Hamilton Leithauser and company's most average and perhaps least interesting release in the band's short discography, the swagger and ultra-cool vibe coupled with Ham's Dylan-esque ramblings still makes it a great listen. It's equally good bundled up on a crisp winter walk with your noise cans strapped on or completely wasted at a house party soaked in whiskey.
53. Sparks - Hello Young Lovers (In The Red)20 albums in and The Brothers Mael haven't even made a dent in their endless stock of weird. Songs like "Dick Around", "Metaphor", and "As I Sit Down to Play the Organ at the Notre Dame Cathedral" should make you thankful that they aren't doing collaborations with Kelly Clarkson or something. A Jane Wiedlin duet is passable though.
52. El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar (Control Group/TGC)Spector revival... blah blah blah. El Perro Del Mar's bittersweet tunes would strive under any pop costuming. Though the Spector-style vocal harmonies, subtle horns and string arrangments garnishes the songs with a timeless sound, it really is Sarah Assbring's lip-biting coo that drives songs like "Candy" and "God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)".
51. Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon (XL)While "Crazy" was cleary the this year's "Hey Ya", I'd like to deem Tapes 'n Tapes this year's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. A P-Fork fave, indie darling, the Minnepolis quartet took the 'lil world by storm, leaving nary a wounded PBR soldier unfinished and a bespectacled girl's heart unstolen. But underneath the shiny veneer lies hook-laden rock and roll force, solid and blue collar, blazing down a road paved by greats such as The Pixies and Pavement. Worthy of the hype? Perhaps not. Worthy of a steady head nod? Undoubtedly.
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