KYLE SIMON: KEEP THE MUSTACHE
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: Baseball, MiLB, Phillies | Tags: Kyle Simon, Reading Phillies not Fightins Leave a commentThanks to the “gentlemen” at @PhoulBallz for the news on Kyle Simon:
I’d like to see this nutty guy in the majors at some point.
DEAR GHOSTFACE, BE MY FRIEND
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: Music | Tags: Ghostface, I'm skipping the rest of the tags because I'm not worried about my brand Leave a comment
Thanks to a certain hip-hop warrior from Staten Island, I’ve been woken from my blogging slumber. Our good friend Ghostface Killah posted his 2nd Annual “Top 10 Softest Rappers in the Game.” And it’s as genius as basically every album he’s ever dropped.
This list is a little old, but it’s spot on. Here are some of the highlights:
10. Lupe Fiasco: “This nigga makin will.i.am. seem like DMX yo.”
8. T.I.: “No Mercy was audio nyquil son. If you listen close you could actually hear snoring in the background through all those songs n shit b.”
7. B.O.B.: “The nigga probably serenades birds n squirrels namsayin.”
6. Puffy: “Thanks for Biggie son…..but please get the fuck outta here. Puff is like the nigga at the party that wont go home.”
5. Swizz Beat: “Aka the McRib of hip hop.”
4. Chris Brown: “…aka Young Ike Turner aka the most emotional nigga alive aka FUCK THIS NIGGAS LIFE.”
3. Mac Miller: “Somebody needs to pour this milk dud midget muthafucka back into his Aveeno bottle n throw that shit into the ocean.”
2. Yung Berg: “If you cant remember the punchline to a joke all you gotta say is ‘Yung Berg’ n you gon get the same laughs anyway nahmean.”
1. Wheelchair Jimmy aka Aubrey aka Drake Snack Cakes: “This niggas moms n pops basically got Rick Rolled when the doctor said ‘Its a boy!'”
NFL DRAFT LIVE BLOG: NIGHT 1!
Posted: April 25, 2013 Filed under: Football Leave a comment9:13 This is boring and I want to shoot myself. Changing the channel.
9:07: Jon Gruden likes someone.
9:06: Smart guy, must have been taking lessons from Ben Revere.
9:04: The entire time watching this draft, all I can think about this what would Adam Aron do?
8:52: The Eagles are fucked
8:51: Brother Mouzone chosen by the Lions. What a story! He came from another country to play in the NFL! No one has ever done that before.
8:46: Building a football team is like a Lego set with many different pieces. Chris Berman is very deep.
8:45: No one likes the Lane Johnson pick, which means he’ll be successful in Philly.
8:43: EAGLES SELECT LANE MEYERS
8:42: OR-A-GON
8:38: EAGLES ON THE CLOCK, EAGLES ON THE CLOCK. ::PULLS HAIR OUT::
8:37: “great competitor” drink
8:35: BREAKING: Jon Gruden likes him.
8:34: The Doplphins jumped into the third spot. They picked Dion Jordan. Chris Berman describes it as a “curveball”
8:33: Oh shit, a trade. High drama.
8:28: This is starting late because I only thought about doing this two minutes ago. I urge you to pause your TVs right now and stare at Mel Kiper’s hair. Closely. Intently.
BEST OF 2012: SUPPLEMENTAL
Posted: February 3, 2013 Filed under: Music, Top Music of 2012 | Tags: Andrew Bynum, Chad Durbin, Demon Young, Jrue Holiday Leave a commentSchool, work, and real life has been a bit of a drag so far in 2013. Not a drag in a bad way or anything, it’s just that things are busy and time for fun is at an extreme minimum. But I did want to clear a bit of dust from the SOP blog and roll out some tunes from last year that I missed highlighting.
And maybe I’ll get to sports some time soon because there’s so much to talk about. Chip Kelly! (??) The Flyers are back…and I think I’m excited. Bynum and his knees may be playing in some games soon, and Jrue Holiday has been going off. And big thumbs down to Delmon Young joining the Phillies, but it’s real cool that Chad Durbin is back.
But here’s the music. And I promise, the next music post will talk about this year.
The second album from Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was never at the top of my list to check out. When I decided to buy it, I saw that Drake was on a track, so I thought it was best to put it back and just forget about it. But I came back to the record (minus the Wheelchair Jimmy spot) and loved it. It’s not often that I dig hip-hop from Los Angeles, but Lamar has made one hell of an album.
Also, KL looked good on SNL, including this bit with the Lonely Island.
When I first heard this track – the first single off the third album from Foals (out on Feb. 11th), I thought it was Filter or some ’90s band. Most of the mathy-tension is gone and it really doesn’t seem like the same band. Is this artistic growth? I guess so. Either way, it’s an awesome song.
Philly rapper Swiper put out this awesome mixtape called Stupid Genius that totally flew under my radar last year. It’s reminds me of some of the fun (yet not too goofy) stuff from the ’90s.
Download the mixtape for free here.
I missed this single when it came out, which is a shame because AlunaGeorge has already established a remarkable reputation for quality. Their debut album is out in June.
Another Philly guy. GrandeMarshall was just signed to Fool’s Gold and released the awesome 800 mixtape last year. Expect an album this year…and if you’re looking to throw him some support, get the new Fool’s Gold sampler off of iTunes (featuring the track “Kelly Green,” which is in honor of @cranekicker’s petition to Jeff Lurie).
TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2012: better late than never
Posted: January 4, 2013 Filed under: Music | Tags: Alt-J, Blood Red Shoes, Django Django, FOE, Jessie Ware, Saint Etienne, The Crookes Leave a commentBeing that it’s already January and I’m about to start another semester at grad school, I had better pump this list out now. It was originally intended as a two-part deal with full reviews for each record…but now it’s going to be a list with some random words thrown in here and there.
Honorable mentions: Jessie Ware, St. Gregory Orange, Tigercats, Clock Opera, Sinkane, Shrag, The Maccabees, Maribel, Exlovers, Egyptian Hip Hop
And the top 20…
20. Lone Wolf / The Lovers
19. The Megaphonic Thrift / The Megaphonic Thrift
18. Django Django / Django Django
17. Cheers Elephant/ Like Wind Blows Fire
16. The Evens / The Odds
Read the rest of this entry »
TOP SONGS OF 2012: THE TOP 10, FINALLY
Posted: December 19, 2012 Filed under: Music, Top Music of 2012 | Tags: Alt-J, Blood Red Shoes, Everything Everything, FOE, Runaround Kids, The Crookes Leave a commentAfter a week+ of putting this list together, I’ve finally reached the end. Not surprisingly, I’ve come across a few songs that should probably be included, but it’s impossible to be 100% thorough with these things. If you want to see the rest:
Next week I’ll work on the albums and my 2013 list, and maybe get around to some of the stuff I missed (but probably not).
Either way, this will be a good way to not think about how bad the Sixers are without Bynum and Jrue.
10. Everything Everything “Cough Cough”
At times when this quartet do the whole “art for art’s sake,” it can hinder the music, but on their debut you heard the potential for something great. Tunes like “MY KZ YR BF” and “Suffragette Suffragette” hinted at this, and with “Cough Cough” – the first single from their sophomore album, that potential has been fully realized. It’s an anthemic, percussion-heavy romp that shows the band at their darkest, but also most triumphant.
9. Runaround Kids “Blush”
There’s nothing minor about my obsession with this band any longer – it’s a full blown love that’s absolutely craving the next album. The smattering of singles and comp appearances from the band this year showed that the massive growth on Linked Arms was no joke – they were still looking above and beyond their current subject matter of “GIRLS DON’T LIKE ME DRINKING DRINKING DRINKING BAND BAND WAKEFIELD WAKEFIELD GIRLS.” With “Blush” – the sole new add-on to the Teeth Blue, Lips Red EP, we’re getting a potential sneak peak of 2013, a year that could very well feature this trio running things in West Yorkshire, London, and beyond.
8. Pulled Apart By Horses “Everything Dipped in Gold”
I gave up on most “heavy” music years ago – it just really wasn’t my thing any longer, but Pulled Apart By Horses are one of those rare, once-in-a-decade bands who are truly next level. What’s most important is that they know how to write songs – catchy as all fuck songs – that rarely leave your head and make their gigs truly memorable events. “Everything Dipped in Gold” is one of those moments that remind you that anyone can write a timeless song.
7. Pins “LuvU4Lyf”
Some bands are downright annoying with their marketing – like WU LYF, but others take a more understated approached, like Pins. And in reality all the band did was remain under the radar, release minimal information, and play utterly brilliant gigs – or at least that’s what I heard from scores of locals. The band’s first single stoked the flames a bit, but the release of their first EP, of which “LuvU4Lyf” is drawn from – lit a massive fire. Clocking in at just 2:30, it’s pulsating bass-led rhythm section and explosive chorus are accented by lead singer Faith Holgate’s proclamation, “I would die for you, and I love you for life.”
This is the type of song that makes a career.
BOBBY HOYING?
Posted: December 17, 2012 Filed under: Eagles, Football, NFL | Tags: Bobby Hoying Leave a commentI really hope this is the real Bobby Hoying on Twitter. But it probably isn’t.
Can’t be…can it?
TOP SONGS OF 2012: 20-11
Posted: December 17, 2012 Filed under: Music Leave a commentAlmost to the end of the songs, and then it’s videos, albums, and the 2013. Quite the rollercoaster ride over here.
If you missed 50-21, here’s a link.
A few initial observations on the lists I’ve put together so far:
1. Bands are making some really cool videos
2. Too many bands are breaking after an album, or even before putting out a debut
3. The sophomore releases this year were generally really good
4. There’s a lot of new bands to be really excited about
But onto the penultimate songs list…
20. My Tiger My Timing “The Gold Rush”
If Saint Etienne were germinating in the blog era, this could very well be them. A sophisticated, electronica that’s good for both the dancefloor and anti-social nights alone.
19. Mi Mye “Lament”
Divorces are awful, awful situations, but Mi Mye’s Jamie channeled much of his negative energy into the brilliant album The Time & The Lonelyness. “Lament” is the lead track, and although it’s no walk in the park, it’s a heartbreakingly honest assessment of the situation.
18. The Crookes “Maybe in the Dark”
“Maybe in the Dark” is a track for folks who enjoy nights of anonymity in northern clubs, an equal mix of soul and indie that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve.
17. Bruce Springsteen “We Take Care of Our Own”
Ever since The Rising, Bruce has enjoyed quite the late career renaissance. Wrecking Ball is another solid album from top to bottom, and while he’s never going to own the radio like in the good old days, tunes like this one make me proud to be an American.
16. This Many Boyfriends “Starling” (single version)
Not that the rerecorded version of this track from the band’s debut is a let down, but the single version has so much more immediacy and fits the band’s lo-fi aesthetic so much better. It’s the perfect track for a chilly autumn night.
15. The ABC Club “White Lies”
When a developing band starts to establish a consistent pattern of quality, and tops it off with a mesmerizing slice of melancholia-pop like “White Lies,” all you can think about is how amazing the album is going to be. It’s a shame that these guys called it quits, because we’ll never get to know that feeling.
14. Eagulls “Coffin”
This band truly, truly owns, and if “Council Flat Blues” was their greeting to the world, then “Coffin” is them drawing their line in the sand like an indie version of Risk. The lo-fi/garage saviors have taken over the north – next it’s the rest of England, and then hopefully the world.
13. Saint Etienne “Tonight”
Songs about growing older have never been so fun, but it’s easy to forget that the band’s new album and this song in particular is quite reflective, and at times, can be a little sad. But children and grey hair doesn’t mean you can enjoy gigs like you used to.
12. Honour Before Glory “Maisonette”
I’m still heartbroken over Forward, Russia’s hiatus, and maybe they’ll be back one day, but for now Honour Before Glory (basically just Whiskas and friends) has done an amazing job filling the void. “The Maisonette” is the band’s most assured moment, one that seems them run down the path of indie-gaze rather than anything remotely post-hardcore related.
11. Bleeding Rainbow “Pink Ruff”
I’m proud to say that these guys are from Philadelphia. The follow-up to their debut album, which was released as Reading Rainbow, is out next month, and this is one of the singles taken from it. Mixing the best parts of Sonic Youth, Dinosaur, Jr., and Husker Du, this fuzzed out jam is ripe for listening to over and over, especially on long drives when no one can see you drumming on your steering wheel.
FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS: KENNEY VS. GREEN
Posted: December 15, 2012 Filed under: Philly Culture | Tags: Bill Green, Jim F. Kenney Leave a comment
TOP SONGS OF 2012: 30-21
Posted: December 14, 2012 Filed under: Music, Top Music of 2012 | Tags: Jessie Ware, Johnny Foreigner, Runaround Kids, Saint Etienne, The Cribs Leave a commentI just got brutalized by the hardest exam I’ve ever taken in my life. Holy shit, it was a terrible, terrible experience.
Here’s the middle of the top 50. The list is starting to get really good.
If you missed the rest check them out here: 50-41 and 40-31.
30. Saint Etienne “Heading for the Fair”
From an album that’s both reflective and melancholy comes a song that’s both, and in classic Saint Etienne style, they’ve buried one of their better songs on the album. While many will say that they had their heyday in the ’90s, I’d argue that they’re in the midst of a late career renaissance. This is easily one of their best songs since Good Humor.
29. Niki & the Dove “The Drummer”
This year’s indie dancefloor filler. If someone did a 20-minute remix of this track, I probably wouldn’t complain all too much.
28. Blood Red Shoes “Lost Kids”
This is the first of three songs from them on this list, and one of their most linear moments. But the thing to remember with this duo – even when ordinary, they’re still miles more interesting than almost any other band on the planet.
27. Lone Wolf “The Swan of Meander”
His new album – and this song in particular – has the influence of Wild Beasts all over it. It’s a brooding, dark, and expansive mess, but it’s also the lead single from Paul Marhsall’s best album yet.
26. Bloc Party “Octopus”
A band that returns from a hiatus, even a short one, is almost always past its due date. Whether it’s money or whatever, their heart is usually not in, but Bloc Party bucked the trend. “Octopus” brought back the guitars, and more importantly, the life to the band. This is one of their best moments since Silent Alarm.
25. Runaround Kids “The Narcissist”
I was a little hesitant to put a cover on this list, but this song is too good not to include. Taken from a split tour EP with Irish group We Are Losers, this redo contains everything I love about these guys – the vocal acrobatics, the guitars that fall somewhere between post-hardcore and pop, and the manic energy.
24. Jessie Ware “Night Light”
Hype can be a huge turnoff. I bought into it with Katy B, but I was sorely disappointed. Many of the same folks were all over this record, but I’m glad I gave it a try. Tracks like “Night Light” are an absolute gem.
23. FOE “Mother May I?”
No exaggeration here, but I’ve probably listened to this record once a day this year since its release. Album track “Mother May I?” is one of the reasons why, a grunge-washed rocker that would have made band frontwoman Hannah Clark a star in ’90s.
22. The Cribs “Anna”
Perhaps the Cribs have seen their moment pass in America, but they remain massive in their home country, and for good reason. Each album is anchored by singles, and filled out with indie/garage rockers that are anything but filler. “Anna” may show a more sensitive side of the band, but it’s anything but restrained.
21. Johnny Foreigner “Maybe Daniel’s All the Push I Need”
Every end of year list I’ve made for the past seven years or whatever has featured these guys. And with good reason. They never stop releasing music – albums and singles and EPs and splits and cassettes. You’d think that they’d run out of ideas soon, but as evidenced by this latest single, they’re still going strong.
