I'm afraid of the man
that I'll become
when I stop soaring in the clouds,
chasing after dreams,
and reaching for the stars
to live a life
with my feet firmly
on the ground. 


I wrote this at work the other day.  I kind of like it how it is, but I'll probably expand on it later. 

Dear Soulja Boy,

Could you please "Super Man Dat Hoe" off of a cliff?  Seriously, just do the whole world a favor and "crank dat soulja boy" right off a bridge into oblivion.  If I had a dollar for every time I've heard "Crank Dat" as a ringtone or seen kids and teenagers reenacting the dances moves from the video, I could afford to have you taken out in your sleep by a ninja assassin. 

Have fun sleeping with one eye open,
Da Snob


Dear T-Pain,

I just wanted to thank you for forging new ground in the "I can't sing for crap but with the help of my computer program I can now sound like an adolescent robot with perfect pitch" genre of pop music.  Now everybody and their tone-deaf brother can be recording hit songs in no time. 

Thanks for helping move everybody's singing career from the shower to the radio,
Da Snob

Top 10 Albums and Eps:

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows (plus bonus disc)
After recording sessions that seemed like they would never end, and the initial shock of "I can download it for free?", the world is now able enjoy the new Radiohead album.  It's a perfect blend of the older full band rock sound of the earlier Radiohead albums and the "let's see how many sounds we can make with a synthesizer" era of Kid A and Amnesiac. 
Key Songs: All I Need, 15 Step, Reckoner, Bangers & Mash (bonus disc)

2. Menomena - Friend and Foe.
This 3-piece on Barsuk knows how to properly bring the indie rock to the masses.  With in-your-face percussion, smooth bass lines, and mulit-instrumentalist who use everything but the kitchen sink, these dudes should not be missed. 
Key Songs: Muscle'n'Flo, Wet and Rusting, The Pelican, Ghostship

3. Aaron Robinson - We Are Racing Ghosts
This Nashvillian singer/songwriter is stepping out on his own after the breakups of his bands Imaginary Baseball League/The Young Professionals.  This album is a little more intimate than his past endeavours are, but it still has an overall rockin' feel.  Aaron's lyrics grab you by the heart and and the melodies leave you humming for days.  With a few remakes of older IBL/YP songs that Aaron just felt had never been done right, and plenty of new material as well, this is one album that if you haven't heard it, you are surely missing out.
Key Songs: The Road, Dreamers Dream, Broken Heart Empty Room, Painful Fee

4. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Many people dogged this album and said that they've mellowed out and they don't got it anymore.  WHATEVER.  Yes, it is mellower in some parts, but it still picks up and cranks it to 11 enough for me.  It's bluesier then what people expect Wilco to be.  Jeff Tweady still writes killer lyrics, new guitarist Nels Cline can play circles around all those critical naysayers, and then the rest of the band ain't half bad either. 
Key songs:  You Are My Face, Impossible Germany, Sky Blue Sky, Shake It Off, Walken

5. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
A return to form that reminds everybody that, in fact, Jack White does still know how to rock it on the guitar.  With stylings ranging from bluesy rock to metal to folky bagpipe tunes, you never know what you'll get with the White Stripes, but you know it'll be good.
Key Songs:  Icky Thump, Conquest, Little Cream Soda

6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is
This ep was recorded during the transition period between their two full-lengths.  It's a more polished version of the drunken swagger off their first album. 
Key Songs: Down Boy, 10x10

7. Pop Levi - The Return To Form Black Magick Party
Take 4 parts dance rock, add 2 parts r&b, stir in a pinch of soul, pour into a folk mixer, shake violently, enjoy.
Key songs: Sugar Assault Me Now, Pick Me Up Uppercut, Dollar Bill Rock

8. Rilo Kiley - Under the Blackight
Their major label debut maybe not have been what was expected of these folk/rock darlings, but it doesn't disappoint either.  With its underlying hip-hop feel and it's more produced sound, Under the Blacklight may leave many hardcore Rilo Kiley fans wandering who this band is and what did they do with the real guys and gals.  Jenny Lewis is still singing with her smooth, sultry voice, and really that's all that matters.
Key songs: Silver Lining, The Moneymaker, Under the Blacklight

9. Tim Fite - Over the Counterculture
Don't let his Pee-Wee Hermanesque looks fool you, Tim Fite is one of the new lyrical geniuses of the 21st century.  His songwriting skills are laced over influences including everything from country, reggae, hip-hop, and rock.  He "raps" about everything from consumerism in music to silly trends in hip-hop such as getting shot, "everynow and then I have somebody graze me, just shoot me a little bit and make it look good, well not every rapper does it, but every rapper should."
Key Songs: It' All Right Here, I Got Shot, Over the Counterculture, In Your Hair

10. Bear Colony - We Came Here To Die
A "who's who" of Arkansas bands and other national acts, this music collective features members from bands such as Amerian Tourists, Unwed Sailor, Chase Pagan, Lovedrug, and Snailhuntr.  With a sound somewhat reminiscent of The Postal Service, but with a full-band rockin' sound.
Key Songs: Hymnal (a declaration of loss), Hospital Rooms Aren't For Lovers, Blips/Beeps, The Boy With Broken Arms


Honorable Mentions -
Kate Nash - Made of Bricks.  Key Songs: Foundations, Mariella
!!! - Myth Takes. KS: All My Heroes Are Weirdos
Eisley - Combinations. KS: Many Funerals, Taking Control
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. KS: Don't Make Me a Target, Don't You Evah
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible. KS: Keep The Car Running, No Cars Go
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times. KS: Charmer, On Call, McFearless
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob. KS: Ruby, Learnt My Lesson Well
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga. KS: Four Winds
Rob Crow - Living Well. KS: Over Your Heart
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away. KS: Phantom Limb, Turn On Me

Top Songs of 2007 -
Radiohead - All I Need
Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
Aaron Robinson - Broken Heart Empty Room
Pop Levi - Sugar Assault Me Now
Kate Nash - Foundations
Tim Fite - It's All Right Here
Spoon - Don't Make Me A Target
CSS - Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos
Menomena - Muscle'n'Flo
Modest Mouse - Dashboard
Bear Colony - Hospital Rooms Aren't For Lovers
Bat For Lashes - What's a Girl To Do
Kings of Leon - Charmer
Wilco - Impossible Germany
The White Stripes - Little Cream Soda
Rob Crow - Over Your Heart
Ben Lee - Is This How Love's Supposed To Feel
Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight
Foo Fighters - Pretender
Tegan and Sara - The Con
I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse
Jimmy Eat World - Big Casino
Silverchair - All Across the World
Iron and Wine - Boys and His Coin
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 10x10
Smashing Pumpkins - Doomsday Clock
Dashboard Confessional - Fever Dreams

Top Albums I Missed the Boat On (Cds that have made many "best of" lists and I have never listened to them, or cds I've downloaded and I just haven't really listened to, or cds I wanted to get but didn't have money to buy and since they were a local artist I couldn't download them):

Okkervil River - Stage Names
The Thrills - Teenager
The National - Boxer
Pinback - Autumn of Seraphs
Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
Chase Pagan - Oh Musica
Hot Hot Heat - Happiness Ltd.
Kanye West - Graduation
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

Best Live Shows:
1. Mute Math @ House of Blues in Dallas - They put on the most energetic show.  They are super talented.  Besides the music being amazing live with percussive jams, the guitar playing "playing" his effects pedal, and can I say keytar, you never know if the night you see them play might actually be the night they hurt themselves doing back flips over the Fender Rhoades.

2. Wilco @ Robinson Auditorium - Jeff Tweedy's witty banter and Nels Cline's mind-blowing guitar skills combined with the rest of the band's awesomess made for a beautifully awesome show. 

3. David Bazan @ Sticky Fingerz - DB played his greatest hits from all his different musical projects - what gets better than that?