#40ThingsAboutMe Part 1

One of the trending topics on Twitter right now is #40ThingsAboutMe. Twitter limits your posts to 140 characters, however, so it's pretty much impossible to fit 40 facts into a single tweet and tweeting 40 times in a row makes you a real asshole so I've decided to share my 40 facts in blog form. This provides the double benefit of allowing everyone to come back and read it whenever they want. So go ahead, memorize away!

Actually, please don't memorize because that's a little creepy.

Also, due to laziness and lack of ideas for blogs, I'm going to break this into four parts. So here are 10 facts for now. Read and enjoy.

1. I have an irrational fear of getting diabetes. When I was younger, I used to be terrified of sugar because I was completely convinced it would make me diabetic. Obviously I still ate it, I just at it in terror.

2. One time I sang backing vocals on stage with a small group of other people for Jenny Lewis.

3. The band I've seen live the most times is Motion City Soundtrack, followed by Paramore.

4. I have a lot of social anxiety. I have a hard time starting a conversation with someone I don't know well.

5. I'm especially bad at talking to guys, even if I'm not interested in them in a romantic way. I will, without failure, read into everything as a sign that they hate me.

6. If I am interested in you, I show it in weird ways and I become highly terrified of you. More than anything, I probably will become really awkward and subdued when I talk to you.

7. Mushrooms are the bane of my existence. How anyone can actually enjoy them is beyond me.

8. Online shopping will be my downfall. There's something really exciting about clicking purchase and then the anticipation of it coming in the mail... Ohhhhhh yeah!

9. I LOVE science and I share a lot of articles about it on my various social networking accounts. I feel like it annoys a lot of people but I really don't care. Science rules, man.

10. I take lots of naps. Not just 20 minute naps but more like 3 hour naps. If it were for the need to eat, exercise, and go to the bathroom, I'd probably sleep all day.

The Best of 2010

Last year, for the first time, I made my list of the top 10 albums of the year and it was a really great way for me to reflect on all the great music that came out that year. I decided that this year I'm going to try something different and see which I like better... Instead of doing a list of albums, I'm going to pick a best album, best song, best live act, best new artist, and best flashback album (an album that came out a previous year but I didn't discover until this year). I figure this way I get to mix things up a bit and talk about a variety of different works that deserve credit for their awesomeness. I'm also going to include a short section on what I look forward to most in 2011. So, without further adieu, here's my picks for the best of 2010!

Album of the Year
This year had a lot of strong releases from some of my old favorites including Broken Social Scene, Stars, and Motion City Soundtrack as well some newly discovered artists like Basia Bulat and Woodpigeon. My pick for album of the year is (surprisingly) not from any of these artists, however. It's from an artist that I've listened to in the past and enjoyed but was blown away by the work they put out this year, Land of Talk.

Their release, Cloak and Cipher, is haunting and beautiful and a rocking good time all packaged into one album. Lizzie's distinct vocals are what really carry the album. Her voice is soft but doesn't get too breathy or weak like some female singers' voices can. Also, it's what her voice actually sounds like; I saw them live in September and there's no editing needed to create her unique sound (unlike many artists these days, it seems). If you're going to download just one song, make it Quarry Hymns. It's a truly beautiful song.

Song of the Year
This one gave me more trouble than picking album of the year. I toyed back and forth with a bunch of ideas. For a while I was going to choose "Sentimental X's" by BSS or "Changes" by Stars. "To Die For" by Tonight Alive was a strong contender and, more recently, "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" by Arcade Fire was almost going to be chosen. While these songs are great and I strongly recommend all of them, there was one song that blew them all away...

"Black Sheep" by Metric. Yes, this song has existed in some form or another or other for a while but it was this year that the final studio version was released on the soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and let me just say, this song is SICK. It starts out with a lot of sexy, "Awww, yeahs!" and brings on the rock. The real great thing about this song is the guitar solo during the outro. I've always known that Jimmy Shaw was a great guitarist but this solidified his status as a guitar god. Seriously, give it a listen. If you're not mindfucked there's something wrong.

Best Live Act
I go to a lot of shows and 2010 was no exception. This year, I got to see Motion City Soundtrack (twice!), Meg & Dia, Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars, Land of Talk, and many more artists that I love. They were all fantastic show but none of them compared to the two hour dance-mindfuck-empowerment-sing-along fest that was the Monster Ball put on by Lady Gaga.

This lady proved she's not just another pop star and truly put on a SHOW. As mentioned before, it was almost two hours long. Usually, having a short attention span and all, I'd get bored but Gaga kept it coming and even as she closed with "Bad Romance" I was left wanting more and even considering going to see her again the next night (which didn't happen for monetary reasons). Tickets to see her are expensive but she makes it worth every penny and then some with lights and dancers and a fountain of blood. Probably my favorite moment of the concert was when she was doing Speechless on the flaming piano. How cool is that?!


Best New Artist
I've said this for every category but again, this one was a toughie. There were a lot of great new artists this year but probably my favorite was Tonight Alive.

They're a really awesome band from Australia and have a nice, clean alternative rock sound. They get compared to compared to Paramore a lot and I guess I see the comparison to some extent but Jenna doesn't have the same snarl that Hayley does and I honestly think that the comparison is just made because both bands have female fronts (an unfair comparison if you ask me; just because two bands have female fronts does NOT mean they sound the same). They released their first album, All Shapes and Disguises, in June and it features a cover of "In My Eyes" by Rufio that I actually prefer to the original (which is not a common occurrence for me- I generally don't like covers). I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what this band has in store for us in the future!


Blast From the Past Album
I don't know how I didn't hear about this band earlier but early in 2010 I discovered the Rural Alberta Advantage and their 2008 release, Hometimes. This album is fantastic and one of the rare albums that I actually like all the songs on it. If you want a sample of it, download "Drain the Blood" or "Edmonton."

2011 Excitement
I'm not even gonna lie: 2011 is going to be a great musical year. No Doubt will (more than likely) be coming out with a new album and I have been waiting for this album FOREVER. In addition, the Sounds are apparently done with their new album that should be released sometime this year and the Ting Tings are releasing a new album as well. Metric is headed back to the studio so maybe we'll be getting a new album from them as well. Lady Gaga's new album is due out beginning of the year and I've heard rumors that she'll be releasing her new single soon. Of course, there will also be a ton of other releases that I haven't heard about yet... 2011 should be an exciting year in music!

Grammy Picks 2011!

The Grammy nominations were announced for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards last and, like always, I largely don't care about most of them. However, I do make a point to try to pick for most of the major categories even if I'm not all that into whoever it is. Here are my initial picks for the upcoming award show:

Record of the Year
Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z is one of the few rappers I like and I love Alicia Keys. My second pick would probably be the Bruno Mars song... or Fuck You haha.

Album of the Year
The Fame Monster- I... love Lady Gaga. And I love this album, more than The Fame in fact. I'd REALLY like to see Arcade Fire take it but I honestly don't see that happening... but how awesome would that be?

Song of the Year
Fuck You- This song makes me giggle. I also like Need You Now and think it's extremely well written and pleasant, especially for a country song.

Best New Artist
Justi... No, totally kidding. =) Florence and the Machine. I haven't listened to her much BUT what I have listened to I have enjoyed AND, unlike Beaver, she actually sings live. I'd be okay with Drake too. Mainly, I don't want J. Beaver winning. Not singing live is an unforgivable musical sin as far as I'm concerned.

Best Female Pop Vocal
One category that got everything right as far as I'm concerned. I actually really like all of these songs/artists. My pick would be Gaga and I def think her or Beyonce are the best vocalists but I'll be happy for whoever gets it.

Best Male Pop Vocal
Ehhhh... Haven't really listened to any of these so I don't care.

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
The Only Exception. Loves me some Paramore!


Best Pop Collaboration
This one is a tough one for me. I really like Telephone and Airplanes like a LOT. I guess I prefer Telephone (and it didn't get overplayed like Airplanes did).


Best Pop Vocal Album
The Fame Monster. Susan Boyle or Katy Perry are okay with me. Beaver, on the other hand, is not. Not at all.


Best Dance Recording
Dance In the Dark. I also like Rocket and In For the Kill. Rhianna... not so much.

Best Soundtrack for Movie, TV, etc.
Twilight... ONLY because Metric is part of this nom and they totally deserve a trillion Grammy's haha.

Day 20: A song that you listen to when you're angry

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE SO MUCH RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!

No, totally kidding. I'm only mildly pissed off that my dad murdered my morning glories. But anger is the theme of the day so angry I shall be... GRRRRRRR!!!!

Today's song is "Emergency" by Paramore. Paramore and I go way back. I'm proud to say that I've been a fan long before any of this Twilight non-sense. They came into my life when I needed a particularly strong, angry teenage girl to relate to because my inner angry teenage girl (we all have one, don't deny it) was becoming a bit too rampant.

"Emergency" is the perfect angry at your lover (or in my case, crush) song. Sometimes they just act like an idiot and do stupid things and treat you less than how you should be treated and you're just like... RAWWWWWWWWWWWWR!!!!!!!! It really does feel like an emergency, like your relationship is a dog who was hit by a car... Horrible metaphor, I know. Either way, it's really easy to relate to and it's real. Kudos, Hayley, kudos!