What's One More Post Anyway?

While I'm at it, I might as well post and mention that we got our new couch, chair and ottoman in this past week. They look really good with the new paint and the entertainment center. I'll try and get some pictures up before Christmas so that any family out there reading this can see and discuss when we make our stop to see you over the holiday weekend.

We've got a wild two days coming up. Sunday lunch is with DeAnne's Mom in Kinston, then it's off to Tallassee that evening for dinner with my Mom and her side of the family. The Christmas lunch we're eating with my Dad and then we're going to have dinner who knows where. Stay tuned for a complete round-up post Christmas.

--Paul

Year-End Hoopla, Part Duex!

So you've read the top 12, here's another "Top" list for you.

Paul's Top 8 Albums That are Decent, Yet Somehow Disappointing

* These aren't in any particular order actually, they're pretty much all equally disappointing

1) Tool - 10,000 Days
2) Incubus - Light Grenades
3) Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer
4) Daughtry - Daughtry
5) Army of Anyone - Army of Anyone
6) Supernova - Rock Star: Supernova
7) Killers - Sam's Town
8) Evanescence - The Open Door

A lot of these I had high hopes for and they just let me down. The albums by established bands (Tool, Incubus, Dashboard Confessional, Killers, Evanescence) all follow extremely good previous albums (except for Incubus who is on a 2 album loosing streak with me). I don't know if the bar was set too high, or if it's just too hard for a band to put out great album after great album, but the established acts on the list just really let me down this year. Their CDs aren't bad, they're just not as good as the last one they put out.

The new acts on the list all had a lot of potential in my book and their debut just didn't live up to what I was hoping for. That's okay, they'll get a second chance, maybe, and the albums they put out certainly aren't painful to listen to or anything. I just wish they had been better.

--Paul

Year-End Hoopla!

In the spirit of all the other year-end top 10 lists that I've been reading, I thought I would throw my hat into the ring with a few lists of my own. Since I of course am a self-proclaimed expert on music (just like everyone else that's ever listened to a single song), I'll be doing a couple based on that.

We'll start with:

"Paul's Top 10 Albums of the Year"

1) Butch Walker - The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonites
2) Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
3) Amos Lee - Supply and Demand
4) The Fray - How to Save a Life
5) Jack's Mannequin - Everything In Transit
6) John Mayer - Continuum
7) Damien Rice - 9
8) Athlete - Tourist
9) Audioslave - Revelations
10) Tom Petty - Highway Companion

Crap...I got two more that deserve to be mentioned. I guess this is a "Top 12" now.

11) Weird Al Yankovic - Straight Outta Lynwood
12) Breaking Benjamin - Phobia

So there you have it. The 12 albums that came out this year that everyone should own a copy of. All according to me. Take it for what it's worth people.

--Paul