Every December for the past 5 years I've made a "Best of 2009" mix cd. I create a list of my top 15 albums of the year, my top tracks of the year, and lastly a list of my top 15 movies of the year. It's something I very much enjoy doing. The act of editing is something more of us should practice in ALL aspects of our lives and this exercise has proven to be the perfect way to end the years so far.
I usually make an edition of somewhere between 10 and 15 and hand them out to friends and family. Each year I create a new cd-holder construction and book style.
If you are interested to know what any of my past years' lists have been (2004-2009), just ask! I'd be happy to share.
Best of 2009 Albums (updated)
1. Washed Out - Life of Leisure
2. Atlas Sound - Logos
3. Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue
4. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - s/t
5. Moderat - Moderat
6. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
7. Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement
8. The Radio Dept. - David Ep
9. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (don't even ask how I forgot about this one)
10. The Dead Sea - s/t
11. Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependance
12. Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care
13. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
14. Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
15. The Drums - The Drums ep
16. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Best of the Year Project: 2009
Monday, June 23, 2008
8-Trck(x2.5) Engineer Ep.08, SummerSundaySleep
I couldn't contain this episode of 8-Trck to 8 tracks. I had to multiple it by 2.5 and I have the number needed for this playlist to be the most enjoyable and also have the most impact.
Wired|Listening Post posted about an article in the Times titled :"Does Music Have the Power to Send Us to Sleep?: A recent experiment in Japan tested the power of music to send us into a deep slumber."
I absolutely love reading about Music and it's neurological power. The experiment took place in Japan where Dr Takuro Endo filled 1,500 people into a theatre. He then seduced them for three hours of carefully chosen music ranging from Chopin and Tchaikovsky to folk singer Mary Hopkins and Japanese tenor Masafumi Akikawa. I would have loved to be in that audience!
I took a Classical appreciation class in college and remember sometimes it was like a battle for my life to stay awake. I would have been an experience to sit among 1500 other people and collectively fall asleep.
After reading both the blog post and the Times article about Dr Takuro Endo and his experiment with music and sleep, I took up Wired's challenge and created my best 8-Trck Engineer episode yet. Except it's 20 tracks of pure mellow bliss for your summertime sunday nap needs! I hope you press play and open a new window and read those articles. It's great stuff. After reading go lay down and take a nap.
8-Trck Engineer Ep. 08, SummerSundaySleep
