The Year That Wuz.....Music

Ah, the end of the year…..time for indulgent eating, reflection, family and corresponding schadenfruede. Also, for stupid lists of why the year didn't suck. The bb5 staff has chronicled the year’s best and worst in a feature we like to call “The Year That Wuz” and have started with our third favorite topic, music.

One thing I always hate about ‘best of’ lists is whatever is done/released/issued near the end of the year tends to be, much like the Dallas Cowboys, ‘overrated’. I have tried, through heavy drinking and barbiturates, to forget the past couple of months in an effort to avoid this phenomenon. Also, I have not spent a fair amount of time listening to some albums that should probably be on this list (Santogold, Beck, etc). Here we go.....

BB5’s Top 5 Albums of 2008
1) Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours. The 80s are back! And in full effect! Extremely fun, makes you want to shake your maker with money in it.
2) Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes. Great harmonies, makes you want to move to the Northwest, grow a beard and start chopping wood. This year’s Midlake.
3) The Teenagers – Reality Check. They’re French, they eat baguettes, they like Jerry Lewis and the ‘C’ word is in the chorus of their first single. It’s about time…..
4) MGMT – Oracular Spectacular. Some people will shutter, but this other flash back to the Reagan years was just too catchy to not say ‘howdy’ to…over and over and over….
5) Lykke Li – Youth Novels. You either love or hate Lykke Li’s voice, but everyone agrees that she is pretty hot.

BB5’s Top 10 Songs of 2008
1) Portishead – The Rip. Not a huge fan of Portishead, but this song is epic. EPIC. Best song of the year.

2) The Definite Articles – Sea Things. SF band that put out an impressive EP called Boy Wonder. Watch for a major label release in 2009 – this is the year the DefArts will explode.
3) Cut Copy – Feel the Love. Classic, catchy pop hit.
4) David Byrne & Brian Eno – Strange Overtones. First project together in 20 years – love this song for quirky lyrics and catchy hooks.
5) Alphabeat – Fascination. Danish, delightful and delicious. Velocity Girl meets Rick Astley meets Sesame Street. Velveeta City.

6) Karl Blau – Make Love That Lasts. Sounds like it was recorded in 1965. Great message.
7) The Dutchess and The Duke – Reservoir Park. I think I love the name of the album more than anything else: She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke. Just say it outloud. It's fun.
8) The Teenagers - Homecoming. Tried not to populate the best of song list with selections from the top albums, but as mentioned above....this song was ground breaking. Listener Caution Advised.

9) Hercules and Love Affair - Blind. Saw them in concert, although without Antony (of Antony & the Johnsons), this song sounded a little, um, different. And my shirt got ruined thanks to poor painting. Come to think of it, I hate this song.
10) Tie: Blind Pilot – The Story I Heard; Plants and Animals - Feedback In the Field. Couldn't pick just 10 - frankly there are about 15 others that could make the list.

Congrats to all winners, your commemorative bloggity blogs 5 wife beater is in the mail. Up next.... The Year That Wuz.....Du Sport.

America in Recession

Earlier this week, economic analysts stated that the country has officially been in a recession since December 2007. While most people are TOTALLY IGNORNING the true source of the economic turmoil, I think all BB5 readers would agree that the primary cause is EXTREMELY OBVIOUS...............................two words: global warming. I can't wait for the next ice age because then my stocks will go back up.

In other news, the clips from the 2008 Bay to Breakers news footage are rolling in at a feverish pace now. Apparently 55 total clips were salvaged from the 3+ hours of footage we took at the 2008 Bay to Breakers. Muchas gracias to our Director/Cameraman/Editor, Brianna "James" Taylor, for putting these clips together (albeit 185 days after the event actually took place). I am not going to subject the bb5 fans to all of the clips, but you have to check out these three:

Exclusive interview with naked guy who has to pee:


Time honored tradition: The Chieftain. "Wa nah nah wuh!"


Canadians: A-holes and speechless


For all of the other clips, head to Youtube here. Happy watching folks.