It's business time

I can't believe I forgot to mention this!

A while back, Amy and I got on a kick of creating a resume/cover letter writing business and selling our services to the greater Anchorage area for a nominal fee. This business (2 Hermanos and Better Letter were our two most frequently used names) ended up not making us much of anything. Actually, due to our intense coffee addictions and the fact that we solely worked at Kaladi Bros., I'd say it cost us money. After all, our only customers were friends and family members in need, and we did not charge them.

However, we did have one client who would pay us if his son got a job using our letter, and while we can't prove that our letter was used we were paid no less. Amy and I are $40 richer! Big money! Not a huge amount of cash but pretty awesome if I do say so myself. Now we just need a steady stream of customers and we'll be on our way to being a real business. I'm very happy for the one customer we successfully helped - helping you ended paying for my coffee for a little over a week.

As you may know, coffee is serious business.

Favorite albums of 2008 (so far)

For our next big list, Sheri and I are churning out a mixtape version of our favorite songs of all time, with a 20 song tracklisting encompassing our musical tastes for all time. However, because that is such an arduous affair and neither of us really had time to work on it, we're taking a break from our list comparison event. Instead, this week I'll do another list I'd been intending to get to: my mid-year favorite albums of 2008.

Once again, these are favorite albums of the year, not necessarily best...whatever exactly that would entail anyways. I also only included seven albums, as these are the only albums that have been released so far that I think can legitimately make my end of year list.

Also, check out my muxtape of my favorites along with assorted other tracks I enjoy here, all for your listening pleasure.

1. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Self Titled

Favorite track: Birds (On a Day Like Today)

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground is the brainchild of soon-to-be indie rock god Kirk Huffman (former bassist of my favorite band Gatsby's American Dream) and Kyle O'Quin (keyboardist from Gatsby's self titled album), and for a child of the 90's, this album gives me a little piece of what it was like to live in the 60's.

It's psychedelic rock at its finest, at times jammy, dreamy, and grandiose as all get out, it was my most anticipated album of the year coming in and blew me away even after I got my hands on it. Lyrically bizarre but told through gloriously sweet vocals brought to you by Huffman, the true star of the album is the dense soundscapes the band creates with a massive amount of instruments. To say they are original doesn't cut it, they make music like no one else does today.

To seal the deal, I saw them at Sasquatch and they played half the album in stellar fashion, both perfecting and reinventing the sound brought on the album within the same performance.

This band should be in every music aficionados regular musical rotation, and I can't wait for more of the world to bask in their glory. Blow minds baby, indeed.

2. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell

Favorite track: Tesselate

This is an album I've already raved about within my blog here, but I'd like to emphasize once again how superb this debut is. I was a fan of their A Lesson in Crime EP and I saw them at Bumbershoot last year, but I felt as if they had a chaotic energy that would be better suited if focused in a more structured sound.

With Elephant Shell, they did that to a stunning degree, channeling all of the talent that poured out of them into eleven tracks of sheer rock gold. My most listened to album this year so far.

3. Vampire Weekend - Self Titled

Favorite track: M79

I'm unsure as to whether or not anyone who reads blogs has heard of this band. They've received absolutely no hype whatsoever.

Oh wait, nevermind...they are the most hyped band so far this year by far. I get confused sometimes.

However for once, the hype is worth it as this band's debut is a breath of fresh air. It recalls one of my favorite albums that my mom had me listen to quite often when I was younger (Paul Simon's Graceland) but at the same time, it is its own animal altogether.

It's brilliantly orchestrated and wonderfully simple, and frankly if we had one new artist (alternately forward thinking and respective of the past) like this band ever year the world of music would be a very better place right now.

See what I said about this album before here.

4. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Favorite track: You Can Do Better than Me

I know, I know, as recently as this blog post, I said that this was my favorite album of the year. But that was over a month ago. I mean come on, how can you expect me to maintain my opinion for that long?

Truth be told, I still say it's Death Cab's best album yet. Its a very well put together album that reaches new heights for the band while taking them in directions they had yet to go before, while still providing the same thing we'd expect from a Death Cab album. However, it is a very tough year and the three above this album could not be denied.

5. Jamie Lidell - Jim

Favorite track: Wait for Me

This album I'd say is the most unexpected of any on my list. I'd never had any experience with Jamie Lidell, his type of music isn't really my thing, and really, there wasn't a lot of hype behind this album.

But this is the most joyous of any album I've heard so far this year. Lidell brings back the fun and impassioned singing that I love Motown for and layers it upon incredibly catchy piano and drum based beats. This album is designed to get your toes tapping and to get you singing while you drive.

This is the feel good hit of the summer, except it is just me that is treating it like that. Not only that, but it gets better with every spin.

See my original write up about this album here.

6. Styrofoam - A Thousand Words

Favorite track: Bright Red Helmet

I just picked up this album recently after hearing "Bright Red Helmet" on UAA's college radio station KRUA (88.1 = best station in Anchorage), and before then I hadn't even realized this high quality electronic outfit was releasing a new album. I'd been a big fan of their previous album, but I must admit, this one may be even better.

This album has less well known guest stars than 2004's Nothing's Lost (come on, that album featured Ben Gibbard and Andrew Kenny), but makes up for it with songs that are more well put together and instantly catchy. While Styrofoam never reaches the same high they did with Nothing's Lost's standout track "Make It Mine," the new album is more consistently engrossing and the overall performance of vocalists are superior.

For fans of the Postal Service and glitchy electronic indie pop, this one is highly recommended.

7. Islands - Arm's Way

Favorite track: In the Rushes

I went on and on about this album in this post, but I just want to say once again that this band really took a big step in my eyes with this album. Islands were another band that I thought were too chaotic to ever really become a favorite of mine, but they tightened up their sound and really released an exceptional album.

Plus, there is a partial cover of one of my favorite tracks off the Rushmore soundtrack on the album, which earns them major kudos.

There you have it. My favorites to date, and listed below I have albums that need more spins but could get on there, honorable mentions, and releases I'm very interested in that I haven't had a chance to explore yet.

Need more spins: M83 – Saturdays = Youth, Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Honorable mentions: My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges, The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely, Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords, The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath

Haven't listened to yet: The Hold Steady – Stay Positive, Portishead – Third, Ghostland Observatory – Robotique Majestique, No Age – Nouns, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin – Pershing, Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer, Fleet Foxes – Self Titled

The Weekend Edition

Another great Alaskan weekend has flown by, with this one being a bit more diverse than other ones I've went through so far. What went down this weekend?

• A random dude wading in Westchester Lagoon finding my beloved driver and giving it back
• Driving to Ninilchik Friday night on 3 hours of sleep, powered by americano and the best summer mix ever
• Staying there with parents in an awesome motorhome
• Going halibut fishing and being ridiculously successful (or prolific at least)
• Getting back to Anchorage from Ninilchik in 2 hours and 45 minutes - booyah
• Partying downtown with a mish mash of the Crewnit
• Finishing off season 3 of How I Met Your Mother with Amy
• Seeing 21 at Bear Tooth
• Bstar Glac proving that it still stands head and shoulders above the rest of TV

A somewhat lighter weekend than usual due to the fishing trip, but a good one no less. The primary focus this week will be on the trip itself.

View from campground we were staying at in Ninilchik

The trip was the big event from the weekend, and it was really nice having a change of pace in there. As much fun as it is to do the same thing every weekend, every once in a while doing something like this fishing trip is a very good. Considering it was Father's Day weekend (Happy Father's Day Dad!), it felt as if I absolutely had to go on this trip and I'm really glad I did. Especially because I had my first motorhoming experience, and I have to admit, it's awesome.

Me pulling in a ridiculously large Skate (fish)

The trip was alternately really relaxing and really tiring, as it was nice being out on the boat (despite my first foray into feeling seasick) but good god, pulling up 20 fish or so is TIRING! I can't even imagine how tough it would have been if I had actually gotten a single one worth writing home about, as we likely did not get anything bigger than 30 pounds. Still, it wasn't a trip for food - it was a trip to have fun and spend time with family.

My parents and I in front of our haul - light day, but fun

I really like fishing, I must admit, but I never get to do it anymore. I'm very glad I went, as even though the day started out pretty much dreadful (huge swells, rain, cold!) it ended up getting very nice out and I put my sea legs on fairly well after an initial inauspicious beginning. It was kind of tough making the whole thing work with my current vegan diet (although the concept of a vegan going fishing may boggle the mind), but I made it happen (thank you PB&J and Soy Crisps! You are life savers!).

Now that I've done it, I'm looking forward to making more outdoors events happen, from more fishing to BBQing to camping to hikes, gotta make it happen. We only have a short time of summer in AK, so I have to make the most of it while I have it.

Revelations

Wow.

I'm not going to go in to details, but the mid season finale for Battlestar Galactica was absolutely insane. So much happened in the walls of its single hour that it would encompass four or five episodes of a normal series. The final panning shot of the main characters was absolutely incredible, and one of the better shots I've ever seen (movies included).

I am stunned.

I have one overwhelming question from all the happened: what's next? So much happened, I have no idea what they'll do for the next 11 episodes, but god I can't wait to find out.

Of course I have to, because it's looking like it won't come back until 2009. *cry*

Avengers Assemble

Last night I caught the 12:01 AM showing of the new Incredible Hulk with Alex, Colver, and Nick, and it was a very entertaining flick and a far better rendition than Ang Lee's bizarre attempt from a few years back. Edward Norton was very good as Bruce Banner, the story was top notch, and they did a great job with Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth was exceptional as the villain). Not only that, but they set up the Leader very, very well as the future villain. So all in all, good job team Hulk. Now we just need to get our hands on the special edition Edward Norton cut (he had a 2.5 hour version that he wanted to release but was overruled by the studio).

Anyways, the main point of this post isn't to talk about the Hulk. As much as I liked it, I strangely haven't been that excited by Iron Man or the new Hulk film. Very good movies both, but they just haven't gotten my juices flowing like when I first saw X-Men or Batman Begins. However, one part of the Hulk did - the "Thunderbolt" Ross/Tony Stark meeting. Good god, I want the Avengers movie now!

What Marvel is doing in creating their comic universe on the silver screen is absolutely incredible, and it really gets my fanboy self up in a tizzy. Now, if they don't screw up the whole thing by casting Matthew McConaughey as Captain America and by ditching Jon Favreau as the guiding light behind Iron Man, we'll be A-OK. With that said, there's only one way to end this: make mine Marvel!

Neuronoia

Today I ran into someone I hadn't seen in quite sometime. We both had double takes, I said "hey, how's it going?" She responded with the standard "good, and yourself?" The average person would strike up a normal conversation given this situation, but of course I'm not normal. I immediately respond with "do you remember who I am?"

She did, but that's not the important part of the story - I do that a lot. I always think people I haven't seen for some time have no clue who I am, and 99 times out of 100 they think I'm an idiot for even bringing that up as a possibility. And I am an idiot, because I can never just choose the option that would take me to "fun conversation" instead of "awkward conversation."

I swear, given any situation and the infinite amount of possibilities laid out for my selection, I almost always choose the most ineffective or most strangely offensive option (this really explains why I don't have a girlfriend). Some would call it a gift, others would call it a curse. My good friend Amanda would call it my shocking lack of tact.

I call it me being me. I'm ridiculous, but I guess that's part of my charm.