Jul 13 2010

My Top 100 Songs of 2009 – 20-11

Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.

20. Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi

We waited a long time for Ultraviolet, and it was worth it.  Sure, most of the tracks had been previously heard (thank you Internet), but having them all in one cohesive package made for a pretty stellar dance mixtape.  Not to mention it began with this banger, an ode to “stackin’ money and drinkin’ all night.” How could you not get that hand up high?



Continue reading


Jul 11 2010

Random Web Findings – A Buncha Stuff

Seriously….there’s a lot:

Continue reading


Jul 9 2010

My Top 300 Songs of the 2000s – 220-211

Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.

220. Eisley – Marvelous Things

The Tyler, Texas quintet has remained active over the years, but it was this song, played late night on MTV2, that made me fall in love with their soft take on indie pop. It’s infectious, laid-back, and a perfect introduction to the band.

Continue reading


Jul 2 2010

My Top 100 Songs of 2009 – 30-21

Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.

30. Magic Kids – Hey Boy

San Francisco has churned out some pretty awesome music as of late, and the 50’s-esque Magic Kids are too fun to pass up.  Mix up a little Beach Boys, add some poodle skirt twists, and throw in the finest moments of Grease, and you’ve got “Hey Boy,” a girl/guy sing-along my sister and I have mastered.



Continue reading


Jul 1 2010

Quarterly Review: April-June 2010

Once every three months I list the best of what I heard in albums/songs/remixes for the quarter. I do this to personally keep up with all the awesome music I hear, as it ultimately helps me at the end of the year when I do my overall listing for the previous twelve months. I also do it to introduce you cool cats to tunes you may have missed independently.
Continue reading


Jun 30 2010

The Twenty Best Hood Internet Tracks

While Austin’s Beauty Bar isn’t exactly my favorite place for a number of reasons, it is the weekend hotspot for high-profile after parties and A-list DJs.  So I find myself there from time to time.

This past Saturday, my favorite mashup duo rocked the house: The Hood Internet.  They’ve been around for three years, and you’ve probably heard their work if you’ve spent time cruising the web.  I would be safe in saying they’re probably the most popular mashup group out there, second only to Girl Talk.  Needless to say, they got the place bumping.  Afterwards, I browsed their site extensively, and I have compiled the finest of their work.  Browse the list and don’t be afraid to sing along and shake your money maker.

Continue reading


Jun 29 2010

My Top 300 Songs of the 2000s – 230-221

Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.

230. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Plinking pianos, soaring background vocals, and an accessible approach to the band’s quiet tendencies brought Grizzly Bear their breakthrough track in 2009.  While Veckatimest still had the trademark off-kilter minor keys and dark lyrics, “Two Weeks” came out of the oven ready for Gossip Girls.  And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

Continue reading


Jun 21 2010

My Top 100 Songs of 2009 – 40-31

Today I continue my ten-part series showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of last year.

40. Phoenix – Lisztomania

It’s been a long time coming, but thanks to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the French quartet are now a festival circuit band and one of the biggest groups in the world.  Their jazz-fused, stream-of-consciousness take on upbeat pop is clearly expressed through this track, featuring an unconventional chorus that, like so many things Phoenix, works perfectly, even if it’s a bit outside the boundaries of what we normally hear on CHR.

Continue reading


Jun 20 2010

Random Web Findings: Comic Books, Pixar, Twitter

Fact: This is my 100th post! Enjoy!

Ten Comic Books That Aren’t For Nerds

The Canadian Music Wiki

Ten Kids Movies to Watch Again As An Adult

Ten Saturday Morning Cartoons That Strayed Far From Their Source Material

Five Fake TV Shows From Movies That Should Be Real

How Different States Execute You

Empire’s 100 Best Films of World Cinema

6 World Cup Coaches Who Look Like James Bond Villains

Paste Magazine

-Best Music of 2010 (So Far): Rachael Maddux, Associate Editor

-Five Reasons Why You Should Go to w00tstock

-Pixar’s Greatest Hits: Ranking its 10 Movies, Worst to First

-9 Cool Things To Do with Your Twitter Account

-Nine Book-to-Film Adaptations that Shouldn’t Have Happened

-A Dozen Crowd-Pleasing Jams for Your Next Karaoke Night

-Five Awesome Musical TV Episodes


Jun 17 2010

My Top 300 Songs of the 2000s – 240-231

Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.

240. Menomena – Wet and Rusting

The finest track from Friend and Foe begins with Menomena’s trademark effects layered across an odd strumming pattern.  By the time we reach the second chorus, the track turns into a cavalcade of rolling drums and scaling piano lines.  And to top it all off, it’s simply beautiful.

Continue reading