A Decade in Songs...

The 2000's were a pretty good time for artists and songs that like to burrow into your skull and stay there.

Here's my Top 25 songs of the decade...not just hits mind you, but songs that I just couldn't get enough of;

25. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
It's a Jimmy Page knock off through and through...but it was epic and fun at the same time.

24. Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World
A cover song but it's that rare cover that improves upon the original in it's awesomeness.

23. Guns N' Roses - Better
This Axl Rose solo outing was better than most mainstream rock released this decade...and that's saying something.

22. The Killers - Losing Touch
Every great album needs a great opener...and it doesn't hurt that it quickly became one of the my favorite Killers' songs.

21. Nine Inch Nails - Every Day Is Exactly The Same
Depressing and moody just like other NIN classics, but add drums by Dave Grohl and it gets even better than the rest.

20. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
I certainly give a fuck about an Oxford Comma...Ezra Koenig certainly knows how to write a catchy hook, with the substance to match.

19. Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Sure it was overplayed to death...but it was still good. Possibly Rick Rubin's last great production outing.

18. Coldplay - Violet Hill
This made me like Coldplay again, I'd grown tired of them. Brian Eno...thank you.

17. Blink-182 - Feeling This
The lead single off their last album proved to be one of the most fun. Also, I love the Captain America sample at the start.

16. Beyonce - Halo
Even though I absolutely hate Ryan Tedder...he wrote produced a goodin' here. B's voice has never been stronger either. Great and catchy and moving...all very good things.

15. Kelly Clarkson - Never Again
Like most of her songs, it's a great fuck you to her ex. The My December album is her greatest achievement in a short career...and I hope she returns to that great rock sound.

14. Weezer - Dope Nose
Rivers wrote an undeniable classic with this one. Want your face to be melted with riffs? Then check out Maladroit, the album this single comes from.

13. Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
It's rare that a band can recapture the magic that made you love them in the first place...on the title track to their 2002 album, they did just that.

12. Pixies - Bam Thwok
It's basically a Breeders song with Black Francis backing vocals, but it's also one of the most left field surprises of the 00's. Just try to not sing along to that chorus...I dare you!

11. U2 - Vertigo
This song taught us that Bono can't count...but it also taught us that guys in their early 40's can rock harder and be catchier than most bands half their age.

10. Harvey Danger - Moral Centrailia
A song about adultery (apparently), but oh so beautiful. Never have lyrics like "Searching for a decent cup of coffee" sounded so prophetic.

9. The Raconteurs - Consoler Of The Lonely
From the producer talk of "Let's double track that" to the amazing breakdown...this was (discounting the Stripes), Jack White defining moment on guitar this decade.

8. Britney Spears - Toxic
Her catchiest and best song by far, with a great video to match. When this came out you couldn't escape it...and why would you want to?

7. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
A great epic track from an OK album...the 4 minute intro (with a cool bassline) preps you for 3 more minutes of yearning. Good times all around.

6. Bob Dylan - Thunder on the Mountain
Sounding like a grizzled bartender telling plans of world travel...and dropping Alicia Key's name in the process. Dylan proved one again that he can tell a pretty great story when he wants to.

5. The Strokes - Last Night
I don't even think the Strokes thought that people would still be humming this almost 9 years after it's release...and if they did, I commend their ability to see the future.

4. The Killers - Somebody Told Me
An ode to to an androgynous ex...I think. Who cares? It's awesome and you know it!

3. Smashing Pumpkins - Doomsday Clock
Yes, I know...it's not really the Pumpkins in the truest sense, but it has some of Corgan's coolest guitar work in years. Not to mention that Chamberlain, 42 at the time comes up with some of the best drumming of his career not only on this track, but on the album as a whole.

2. Matt & Kim - Daylight
It's been in commercials and they didn't get naked in the video...but it's such a feel good song that it doesn't matter. This duo from New York has been able to redefine what catchy really is.

1. The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?
It's the official song of Oklahoma and one of the most beautiful songs of the last 20 years. IT has the ability to bring down and uplift all in the span of one verse. This might not be the best song of the decade...but it's certainly my favorite.


So there you have it, questions, comments, just want to yell at me and call me dumb? Go for it.

Top 10 Albums of 2009

So here's my Top 10 for 2009...

But first, a little preface; This was a very good year in music for the most part. Sure there was some truly shitty music on the radio and the charts never really reflected my tastes per se.

Anyways, here's the Top Ten albums from 2009 IMO...some you might have heard of, some you might not have, but they're all pretty awesome in their own ways.

Honorable Mention

Florence + The Machine - Lungs

I'd been avoiding the hype around this woman and her band for most of the year, and I finally gave in about 2 weeks ago. I don't regret giving in to this album...it sounds so much different than most other female fronted records I've heard. Strange instrumentation and off the wall vocals? Count me in.


10. So Many Dynamos - The Loud Wars

So I hadn't heard of these guys until late August when I saw them open for Harvey Danger in Chicago. It turns out they're really cool guys and they make even cooler music. It's a mix of pure Indie hooks and danceable beats...and it's also one of the freshest/new sounding records I've heard in quite some time.


9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

I don't know what kind of music this is...and I don't care, it's fun and catchy and great in all the right ways. I can thank my friend Brandon for first telling me about this band earlier in the year, it's a recommendation I'll always be thankful for. This is one of the most interesting records I've ever heard...plus the cover art is a complete bug-out.



8. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic

So they finally got weird again, huh? I had doubts when I first heard about a double album from Oklahoma's finest...but I was proven wrong. This is one of the trippiest albums in my collection, and that's saying something. From the opening guitar twang of "Convinced of the Hex" to insane giggles of Karen O on "I Can Be A Frog" this album is a tour de force of what the Flaming Lips can do best when they really put their minds to it.


7. Jarvis Cocker - "Further Complications."

I bought this album after reading an interesting write-up on Mr. Cocker in Spin Magazine. I hadn't ever heard his solo work before...I hadn't even heard Pulp, I have since listened to a bunch of both. This is a great album of "live" music thanks to Steve Albini's excellent (as usual) production. Also Cocker's lyrics are top notch with clever and witty puns and come-ons galore.


6. U2 - No Line On The Horizon

The best album from this Irish Foursome since Achtung Baby? Yes. Their strangest and most experimental? Indeed. The first good song co-produced by Will.I.Am.? Again, yes. This is quite simply another all around great outing from one of Earth's top bands.


5. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

Who cares if Pearl Jam "Sold Out" and went with Target for an exclusive release? As long as the album that's exclusive is PJ's best since Yield I'm fine with it. Eddie Vedder defn had a lot of say in this one since a few tracks sound like his Into The Wild soundtrack. Even though that's true, it's their strongest in years...the band sounds reinvigorated and vital again.

4. Matt & Kim - Grand
Fun...Catchy...and Danceable. These two Brooklyn natives have managed to make one of the best pop records in recent years. From the endlessly singable 'Daylight' to the streak-worthy 'Lessons Learned', this album has been in my rotation on a regular basis. Just listen to 'Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare' and try not to get out of your chair. This is one of the best Sophomore albums in recent history.


3. Them Crooked Vultures - Self-Titled Debut

What do you get when you take the best drummer of his generation Dave Grohl...the king of the desert guitar Josh Homme...and the Master Basser himself John Paul Jones, throw them into a studio and make them jam for a few weeks? You get one of the hardest rocking albums of not only 2009 but of the decade. With songs that sound like they could be made entirely of breakdowns and 18 different riffs at once...what's not to like?


2. Dangermouse And Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul
Shame on EMI for not releasing this...and shame on me for not picking up the photo book before it went out of print. I've always been a huge fan of David Lynch, so when you add his crazy mind to the production geniuses of Dangermouse and Sparklehorse and get a slew of guest stars, you get one of the coolest albums of the year. Even though you can't buy it in the store...they leaked it on the web themselves...I urge you to get it, you won't be disapointed.


1. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
The long awaited 4th album from The Strokes didn't come out this year...but we got the next best thing. Mr. Casablancas writes some real cryptic lyrics and comes up with some cool sounds on this, his first solo album. From the opener "Out of the Blue" to the awesomely titled "4 Chords of the Apocalypse" to the immensely danceable single "11th Dimension" this was my favorite album of the year. It's short at only 8 songs but it shows so much promise for future releases that the length didn't bother me at all.

Whoa...It's been a while.

So yeah, I forgot my password and haven't been here in like 15 years. But I'm back and have decided this will be a blog about music I've discovered and such. Tonight I'll be posting my Top Things in music from both this year and the decade as a whole. Stay Tuned Kids!

Rockin' In The Free World!

This past weekend a bunch of people from Carlo's job, Jenkinson's Aquarium, had a going away party for Jen, who is moving to Baltimore. It was at the Mantoloking Road Pub, and I had the opportunity to see one of the best cover bands I've heard in a looong time.

Midnight Run are a fantastic cover band, with a very fun and diverse repertoire of songs. If you want to have a good time, defn check them out. From their kickass version of Lady Madonna by The Beatles, to an amazing Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young & Crazy Horse it was a great night of live music. During their cover of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb, close your eyes and it's like David Gilmour dropped in on your favorite pub.

The band was formed about a year ago and features; Eric Graber on vocals and lead guitar, Alan Graber on rythm guitar and vocals, Andy Shawn on bass and vocals, and Mike Grabowski on drums.

The Graber's are both accomplished guitarists having played local venues for years, while Andy has opened for such legendary acts such as B.B. King and Led Zeppelin, as well as working with Tico of Bon Jovi for 8 years. Mike Grabowski's drumming brings to mind the perfect timing of Weezer's Pat Wilson and at times the heaviness of Dave Grohl.

All in all, an excellent band to rock out to and have a great time. If you're interested in checking them out they'll be playing a show at the Brick VFW on Flag Day, June 14th. Tickets are fifteen dollars and that includes food, soda and lots of beer.

For information on the band, such as tickets and show dates e-mail Mike at mgrabo59@comcast.net

Keep Your Eyes Open!!!

Saturday, I was lucky enough to go to a writer's conference at William Paterson University and meet author Anthony Swofford. It was lots of fun and I learned quite a bit about writing poetry and biography.

The conference's keynote guest was Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead and Exit-A, and he was an extremely engaging and entertaining speaker. He read from an unpublished novel he's currently writing called 'War Memoir', and it sounds like a really awesome book.

It's about a soldier that comes back from the war and through an interesting turn of events decides to publish a false memoir about his time in Iraq. It sounds really good so keep your eye's open when this gets released.

I got the chance to speak to Mr. Swofford numerous times throughout the day and I found him to be a really cool and down to earth guy. He recommended the new album by the Black Keys, which I'm going to pick up soon, if I can find the money.

So yeah, if you ever get the chance to meet an author, you just might be lucky and be able to meet someone as cool and down to earth as Anthony Swofford.

Best Album of All Time?

I recently started going through my music collection again. I came upon an album I hadn't listened to in quite some time, but always enjoyed. The album is Kid A by Radiohead, and after a few listens and comparisons...I can safely say it's one of the best albums of all time. Lush electronic textures and bass lines, lyrics that don't make sense because they don't need too, and first rate production by Nigel Godrich, this is an album not to be missed.

When first released it caused a bit of a stir with the departure of Radiohead's "rock" sound and move into the world of electronic music, but it was all for the better. Every band needs to evolve, but so few get it right on their first try.

I suggest everyone reading this blog check out the album, it's available in stores or on many torrent sites. Or just contact me for a copy. Till next time, this has been another message from The Matt's Realm.

There's tomfoolery about!

A few friends and I are heading to the local pub to meet my Uncle Gill-Bert this evening. Good drink and good conversation will surely be abound. He is quite a classy fellow indeed. I know the posts have been scarce lately...but don't fret, they'll be arriving more frequently I assure you. Good day to you, sirs and madams.