The Top Ten of 2011

You've seen the other lists. Now prepare yourself for the definitive Top Ten list of albums for 2011.

10. The Weeknd - House of Balloons (mixtape)



This album and artist appeared out of nowhere, putting the "House of Balloons" mixtape out on the internet for free last spring. And know what? It is dope. This is modern music. The follow-up mixtapes, "Thursday" and "Echoes of Silence" are real good too. I may be the only one who really digs this new RnB sound, but I like it.

9. Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis



Seattle love. It took me a couple of listens to warm up to the new beats Sabzi brought, but once I absorbed it, I was sold. The album celebrates Seattle and the Northwest ("Fou Lee," "Slick Watts," "Chief Sealth"), while touching on timely social ("Oskar Barnack ∞ Oscar Grant") and political ("Hussein") topics. The whole albums works well to build on the theme of life and music as cinema.

8. Adele - 21



What can I say. Girl has got pipes. I love the span of emotions covered as well. And getting Rick Rubin to produce the album wasn't a bad call either. I'm really feeling the neo-soul music out right now and this album fits right in with the best the genre has to offer.

7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues



This music sounds like it came from a bygone era. And I mean that in a good way. According to Wikipedia (and Tanner), the band recorded many of vocal harmonies in one take, in the hope that any minor flaws in harmony, or missed guitar chords, or whatever other errors would add a more organic and urgent sound to the record. Whatever they did, they did it right.

6. Frank Ocean - nostalgia, ULTRA. (mixtape)



Who would have thought that the only member of OFWGKTA to make a Top Ten list would be the R'n'B singer of the group? While Golf Wang was the summer love of critics across the Internet, it was Ocean who, along with Tyler, the Creator, created actually memorable work this year. Tyler speaks to the angry thirteen-year-old in all of us, while Ocean's music calls out to a slightly more mature audience. When going in for a second, third, and fourth listen, it's Ocean who gets the play.

5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver



There is a word for this kind of music: brilliant. And I mean that both in terms of genius and in terms of brightly shining light. This album is so wonderfully melodic and warm, it just seems to radiate comfort and beauty, with a just touch of sadness mixed in there. Whether its a bright summer day or a dark, rainy winter night, I can listen to this and feel good.

4. Childish Gambino - Camp



Troy from Community has rap skills?

Yup.

Drawing his MC name from a Wu-Tang Name Generator online, Mr. Childish followed up several impressive mixtapes with a bona fide good debut album. His emotion is raw and at times over the top, but he speaks bluntly on sex, race, and fame in a refreshing way. The album ends with a long soliloquy that explains the actor/comedian/jack of all trades' reasoning for his emotional reveals.

3. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up



More Town music. This is some futuristic Ish. (Ha ha funny pun, get it?) This album is not for everyone (looking at you, Stefan) but if you like crazy beats that mesh electronica synths with African drums, as well as nuevo-gangster lyrics for the thinking grown man, you will like Shabazz Palaces. Who else can summarize rap today so precisely and concisely:

"I brag I boast I kill I coast I toast to cake and crime/Doing the most, a stronger dose of king at leisure time."

2. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80



"My issue isn't televised and you ain't gotta tell the wise/How to stay on beat, because our life’s an instrumental/This is physical and mental, I won't sugar coat it/You'd die from diabetes if these other n*ggas wrote it."

The West Coast killed it this year in quality hip hop. And standing above the crowd is 80s baby and leader of the Black Hippie movement, Compton's own Kendrick Lamar. Building on a couple of stellar mixtapes, Section.80 is a comprehensive album that tells a story from end to end. Plus Kendrick's flow is outrageous. He kills your favorite rapper.

1. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do



Detroit MC Haircut started singing and recording Motown-style music because his struggling rap group, Now On, couldn't afford to clear the samples that they wanted for their album. Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf heard the recordings and thought Haircut had stumbled on some lost gems from the 1970s. When he learned the truth, PBW insisted that Haircut get in the studio. Going by his middle name - Mayer - and the street he was born and raised on - Hawthorne - this Jewish whiteboy from Detroit has revived the soul of Motown. And rumor has it he has been in the studio recently with local legend Jake Uno working on a 1990s-style RnB album due out next year. 2012 is looking good.

Taco before he became Taco

This is what he did before joining "The League"

Liam Neeson: Comedian

Projectors

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Projections from Obscura Digital on Vimeo.

44 projectors with a combined brightness of 840,000 lumens
were used to cover a surface 600ft wide x 351ft high

Tebow!

Dance!

Expendables 2!

WWF Cat Style

Not my Top Ten

My list will be up later this week, after finals. For now, enjoy Ice Cube sharing his architectural prowess...



"That's gangster traffic right there!"

Stefan's Top 10 of 2011 (Updated)

Yeah I’m actually doing 13...deal with it.

13. Dyme Def - Yuk The World

Dyme Def - Yuk The World by Diamond Media 360

For me this is not the year of socially conscious hip-hop. This is the year of swag! or whatever it is the cool kids say now days. I normally don’t like groups like Dyme Def but I think these guys are fun with their hard beats and irrelevant rhymes. This album is heavily influenced by the 90s. Just listen to it and have fun.

12.  State of the Artist - Slopes

State Of The Artist ft. Fidget "Bloint" by MembersOnly206




It is nice to see an album by these Seattle guys where they don’t have a million guest appearances on each song. They went to town on some smooth jazz samples. I am pretty sure they even sampled Kenny G.

11.  Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys



For some reason I don’t like any of their music before their album “Plans” but since then I have loved ‘em. I don’t think their sound has changed that much overall but their newer music clicks with me. I couldn’t find a version of this song with quality audio.

10.  The Roots - Undun



Seriously, what other hip-hop group has consistently made great albums for as long as these guys? The Roots are true musicians and you can see them grow and develop with each album. This is hip-hop with real music...I am pretty confident that this album and the Black Keys’ would be a lot higher on my list if they came out more than a week ago.

9.  The Black Keys - El Camino



The Black Keys fall into the category of “Can’t Do No Wrong.” Their albums are always good. I really have enjoyed them working with Danger Mouse, their music blends well with hip-hop (see Blackroc). Like I said before...this would be higher if it was released earlier.

8.  Wale - Ambition



This album took a couple of listens but it has grown on me. He definitely isn’t rapping about Seinfeld anymore but the talent is still there and Maybach Music and Rick Ross are a guilty pleasure of mine. I am a bigger fan of his mix-tapes but he still has talent and while this is more pop oriented...I like it.

7.  Josh Garrels - Love & War & The Sea In Between



From Portland, Mr.Garrels signs songs as if he were an old sailor or a pioneer...the songs seem to come from another time period. With influences from the past there are definitely influences from the present with sounds of hip-hop, Jose Gonzales and Dispatch. I am pretty sure he is a Christian singer/songwriter but don’t let that turn you off, the music is good. Oh yeah, you can download the album for free at his website...http://www.joshgarrels.com/

6.  TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light



Nine Types of Light could have been part two of their album “Dear Science,” as the sound is so similar but that is fine with me. They have a good thing going. I agree with Tanner about Tunde Adebimpe, his voice is awesome.

5.  Bon Iver - Bon Iver


BON IVER "Holocene" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.



I have listened to this album so many times...this is one of my favorite albums to listen to while reading (total humblebrag, I am one of those that likes to read books!) I mentioned before that I never really know what he is singing about or even the lyrics but his voice blends perfectly with the music. I also am a huge fan of his cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”

4/5  Blue Scholars - Cinemetropolis






I can't believe I didn't have this on my list...I have worked on this list for a couple of days and I forgot that this album came out this year...DAMNIT!  Blue Scholars are the godfathers of modern 206 hip-hop.  They have led the way for people like Macklemore, Fresh Espresso, Mad Rad, etc.  Sabzi's production has continued to grow and his use of samples seems to be less and less.  While Blue Scholars have opened doors for many other local hip-hop artists they are certainly not above being influenced by their peers.  This album has some of the same synthesizer sounds that Mad Rad uses.  Prometheus Brown and Sabzi sound best when working together.  Great music.

4.  Foster the People - Torches



Hipster pop! This album is fun even if it is extremely trendy. I agree with Tanner a bit that I could look back on this album and like it more for sentimental reasons in the future. I have probably listened to this album more than any other though over the year.

3.  Jason Isbell - Here We Rest



A great great album...Jason Isbell is a fantastic songwriter who has really come into his own since leaving the Drive-By Truckers. This is definitely his best album yet (he has made a total of three). He is a great guitarist but has put that aside on this album and put his energies into the writing and the overall song, not just one instrument. Fantastic stuff. His video for Alabama Pines is kind of depressing though...

2.  Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do





Mr. Cohen makes music that is heavily influenced by The Temptations, Hall & Oats and Percy Sledge (to name a few, the list could go on and on). While being influenced by such classic artists one can also hear the modern influences of hip-hop. From start to finish this album is just good music. If there was one song that played everytime I walked into a room it would be “Henny and Gingerale.”

1.  Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire





The peak of 2011! Going back to his beginnings and away from his Love is Hell/Rock n Roll period Mr.Adams hardly uses an electric guitar and keeps the music simple. Ryan Adams is like Jason Isbell, a brilliant songwriter. This album focuses on the songwriting...some songs sound a bit like Bob Dylan (but thank goodness Ryan Adams’ voice doesn’t sound like Dylan) but they are definitely all Ryan Adams. A great album from start to finish and the best of 2011.

If you disagree with me on any of these you are wrong.

Nathan's Top 10

We have a guest writer! My brother, Nathan, has written his top ten.

10a. Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow – A very wintery, stark feeling album (thank you title), this album came to me from a wonderful woman that knows her tunes. I had not listened to Kate Bush in some time but was very pleased to be graced with her sound again. Beautiful voice and fragile piano that comes through on “Snowflake,” “Misty,” “Among Angels” and “50 Words for Snow.”

10. Drake - Take Care - Say whatever you want about him being pop or sell-out or anything else questioning his street cred. The kid's got talent and puts out some good tunes. I have listened to this album a lot since it came out with massive guilty pleasure songs like "Take Care," "Crew Love," "Underground Kings," and "Lord Knows." The guy is a bit moody but I find him to be compelling and fascinating. Great album that covers the spectrum from party anthems to songs of depth and intelligence.

9. Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears – These guys straight do it right. Wonderful soulful bluesy rock. Grab your lady, pour some wine or whiskey, kick off your shoes and work clothes, slide on some jeans and a t-shirt and meet me in the kitchen for some dancing and wriggling ‘cause Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears are making me move…. “Booty City,” “Livin’ In The Jungle,” “She’s So Scandalous” (yeah!) and “Mustang Ranch” get things rolling. There is some R.L. Burnside influence here so if you like that, pard’na give this some album some loving.

8. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 – I have to admit, I’m not the biggest or most hard-core Beastie Boys fan. I’ve always appreciated them but can’t remember ever just looooving them. I do remember Licensed to Ill when it first came out and rocking to it in Middle School – yes, Middle School. That was a great album, same with Paul’s Boutique (underrated even) but after that I would buy the album out of sentimental feelings or worse, wanting to talk myself into liking the albums. Don’t get me wrong, there are some tracks from Check Your Head, Ill Communication, etc. that I still liked but never the complete album until…Hot Sauce Committee Part 2. This album is chalk full of goodies, “Too Many Rappers” (w/ Nas), “Make Some Noise” (great way to start an album with the Let Me Clear My Throat feel to it) and the incredible “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win.” The whole project feels like these guys did what every good artist should do. Don’t make music for what is the trend or what they think someone wants to here – make what you, the artist, would love to kick it to. This is that kind of album and it shows.

7. Lupe Fiasco – Lasers – I have been saying that this guy could become one of the very best hip-hop artists of all time with what he has been putting out. “Lasers” continues that ascent. Exceptional flow and bounce, stellar word play and lyrics and fantastic music/beats. What does that all mean together? A great mother-f*cking album. The only criticism is how many guest spots he allows as he can carry things by himself (although I love it when he pairs up with Matthew Santos like on “Shining Down”). But again the album works with some of my favorites being: “Break the Chain,” “Letting Go,” “Words I Never Said,” “Conflict Diamonds,” and “Coming Up.”

6. Radiohead – King of Limbs – I am a bit of a sucker for these guys, I have to come clean about that. I tend to think that about 50% of their music is good, 30% is very good, 15% being genius level and then 5% being bat-shit out there that I don’t get. This album personifies my ratio for me – particularly if you add the bonus songs of “Supercollider” and “The Butcher.” “Little By Little,” “Lotus Flower” (genius), “Separator” and “Morning Mr Magpie” all hit the right notes for me. They are the type of music that can float in the background as you work or relax or if you want to turn it up and dial in your own focus to the music it brings you in.

5. City and Colour – Little Hell – I discovered Austin Green (he didn’t want to call himself the Austin Green Band so decided on City (Austin) and Colour (Green)) a few years ago (check out “What Makes a Man?” – I listened to that as I was going through my divorce - ugh) and this fella shoots right to your core. “Grand Optimist” – “I fear I’m dying from complications…complications due to things that I’ve left undone…that all my debts will be left unpaid…then there’s my father…he’s always looking on the bright side…saying things like ‘son, life just ain’t that hard’…he is the grand optimist…I am the world’s poor pessimist…I guess I take after my mother…now the wound has begun to turn…another lesson that has gone unlearned…but this is not a cry for pity or for sympathy…” Really beautiful but haunting. My other favorites are “Little Hell,” “O’ Sister,” and “Weightless (Demo)” – pretty incredible poetry.

4. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire – Much like Adele, I believe everything this dude sings. I like him with the Cardinals and all but I much prefer his slowed down and quieter stuff, like this album… “Come Home,” “Do I Wait,” “Save Me” and “Star Sign” work my heart over.

3. Adele – 21 – Man….this girl has one of the most incredible voices of all time. Because of this album, I got into an incredible kick of similar music dusting off Janis, Amy (R.I.P.), Aretha and Sharon King to name a few. With all these artists there is the core ingredient prevalent – truth. You believe what these women sing and it connects on such a guttural level that your soul is moved to tears. Now, that may sound like some corny-ass, Hallmark lines but I distinctly remember a moment driving alone on the Big Island of Hawaii (I made a deep spiritual connection with that place – more on that some other time maybe) this year along a winding mountain road feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders listening to “Turning Tables” and crying uncontrollably as I felt the defiance and strength rising back out of her anguish and frustration. I got it. And then you throw on “Set Fire to the Rain,” “Someone Like You” and “Rumour Has It”? Incredible album. But wait, then you add “Rolling In The Deep” on top of those tracks?? Near perfect album. That song can never get overplayed to me. Perfect song. I get it.

1a. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light – Love, love, love this band. If you don’t get em at first, don’t fret. Just listen again. ‘Cause these Brooklyn based cats are on to something. Incredible soul, incredible rock-ishness, incredible feel. “Every lover on a mission, shift your known position, into the light…” – “Second Song.” Listen intently to “Will Do” (“a heart doesn’t play by rules and love has its own demands…”) and “Troubles” (“despite all the heartache it brings…my love is a sure-fire thing…”) as well as other great songs like “You,” “New Cannonball Blues” (love the edge to it) and “Keep Your Heart.” I think these guys are genius and this album is a gem in their crown.

1. The Black Keys – El Camino – I don’t care how new this album is (three days) – this is a perfect rock-n-roll album. How these two dudes (JUST TWO GUYS) make such an incredibly full and strong sound is mind-boggling (go see them in concert – filthy (aka really good) show). The only complaint you can say about these fellas is that their albums sound pretty similar to one another. That may be true but if their sound is f*cking fabulous bluesy/rock then why change that??? “Lonely Boy,” “Little Black Submarines” (listen to that song explode!), “Money Maker,” “Mind Eraser” and “Hell of a Season” have received instant heavy rotation on this guys playlists! Perfect album to come at a perfect time. All hail the Black Keys!

Tanner's Top Ten Albums of 2011

We're back! In one of our few recurring installments, Danny, Stefan and I will share our top ten albums of the year. I really enjoyed a lot of albums this year (as you will see) but these were my favorites:

10. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes (2/28)

Stefan introduced me to the earlier Lykke Li album, and I really enjoyed it, though it was a little to “cute” for lack of a better word. This album, which I first heard in its entirety on XM radio on a long road trip, is more mature and serious, and even has some hints of darkness. I really enjoy the Icelandic drums and unique rhythmic percussion of Lykke Li, and adding this extra depth to her catchiness made this album especially good for me.

9. Wilco – The Whole Love (9/27)

Wilco had been getting boring to me, (although I never dislike anything they do) but their latest ablum blew me away. They upped the tempo and aimed for more of an alternative (as opposed to their typical Americana) sound, and made it work really well. It’s definitely my favorite album of theirs since 2000’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is one of my all time faves.

8. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light (4/12)

A – I really like the lead singer ‘s (Tunde Adebimpe) voice, either when he’s singing normal or falsetto. B – Sometimes I can get lost in the layers of instruments they use when I’m listening casually, but if I have headphones in or if I make it a point to really pay attention the songs only get better and better. C – The band made videos for all ten songs on the album and the videos run together to make one 60 minute film. It’s pretty awesome, and I suggest you check out at least some of it.

7. Lupe Fiasco – Lasers (3/8)

This is my favorite album of 2011 that you can hear on top-40 stations. I think Lupe is a great pop-rapper and his message always seems more socially conscious and less hypocritical than most of todays’ more popular similar artists (like Kayne, Drake, Lil Wayne, and BoB to name four). Also, this album gets bonus points for being played NON STOP at the Siesta Key chateau in April for a week and not making my stomach turn eight months later.

6. Death Cab for Cutie – Codes and Keys (5/31)

I overplayed this album so I had to take a break from it, but listening to it now there are four A+ songs on it (Codes and Keys, Doors Unlocked and Open, You are a Tourist, and Underneath the Sycamore) and the rest of the album are solid Bs. I like that Death Cab took a step back and mellowed out a bit compared to the last album, but they can still inexplicably create energy on even some of their more laid back songs. I think the rhythm section doesn’t get enough credit for staying in the background while still keeping songs sung by Ben Gibbard from being boring.

5. Iron and Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean (1/25)

It was tough making this album number five on my list because it is SO GOOD. From a straight song-writing aspect, Iron & Wine (I assume the dude is Iron and his sister is Wine) are fantastic, and this album is particularly good because they used the studio to create an entirely different sound than what we are used to out of them. My one quibble is that this album would have been EPIC if they would have included acoustic versions of all the tracks, so the loyal fans could get a little of the classic Iron and Wine sound. Please listen to the studio version of one of the best songs on the album, followed by the acoustic version to see what I mean.

Album:



Acoustic:

4. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (5/3)

When I first listened to this album I was floored, and it is still as good on the thirtieth listen as it is on the first. I really liked how there seemed to be little flaws in some of the harmonies and instrument pitches to make it sound organic, and then I read that they would re-do takes that were too good because they wanted the album to sound like a bunch of guys singing around a camp fire instead of a men’s choir. That creative choice really made the album, because I could definitely see a world where these songs would be too polished out of the studio and ruin the heartiness of Fleet Foxes’ sound. I could see looking back in five years and thinking that this was the best album of 2011, but it doesn’t encapsulate the year for me like the top 3 do.

3. Childish Gambino – Camp (11/15)

I think the main reason I love this album so much is that I was really excited for it and it exceeded my expectations. Donald’s lyrics are amazing, and the production is way better than I thought it would be. It seems like he made a conscious effort to showcase his versatility, with the aggression of “Bonfire,” the melody of “Heartbeat” (he sings his own hooks) and the soul spoken word of the outro. Donald does rap about bitches and pussy too much, but he awknowledges this and his elegantly written spoken word autobiographical story that concludes the album gives us some insight as to why he has this attitude. At any rate, you don’t have to get over analytical to enjoy these lyrics (try to read them while watching the video):

Okay, it's Childish Gambino, homegirl drop it like the NASDAQ
Move white girls like there's coke up my asscrack
Move black girls cause, man, fuck it, I'll do either
I love pussy, I love bitches, dude, I should be runnin' PETA
In Adidas, with some short shorts, B-O-O all over me
My green is where it's supposed to be, your green is in my grocery
This Asian dude, I stole his girl, and now he got that Kogi beef
My dick is like an accent mark, it's all about the over Es
Hot like a parked car
I sound weird like nigga with hard R
Fly like the logo on my cousin's 440
Eatin' Oreos like these white girls that blow me
Vodka for my ladies, whiskey for a grown man
Hangin' in the islands, lookin' for Earl like Toejam
I made the beat retarded, so I'm callin' it a slow jam
Butcher and I know it, man, kill beef, go H.A.M.
These rappers are afraid of him
Cause I'm a beast, bitch, Gir, Invader Zim
Gambino is a call girl, fuck you, pay me
Brand new whip for these niggas like slavery
They told me I was awful man, that shit did not phase me
Tell me how I suck again, my memory is hazy
"You're my favorite rapper, now" Yeah, dude, I better be
Or you can fuckin' kiss my ass, Human Centipede
You wanna see my girl? I ain't that dumb
You wanna see my girl? Check Maxim
"Man, why does every black actor gotta rap some?"
I don't know, all I know is I'm the best one

2. Foster the People – Torches (5/23)

This will be the album I think about when I think of 2011. Admittedly, like everyone else, I downloaded it because “Pumped Up Kicks” was so damn catchy. But then I pleased to find that it is arguably the fourth or fifth best song on the album (I think “Waste” and “Helena Beat” are certainly better, and an argument could be made for “Call It What You Want and “Houdini”). I’m now a big fan, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I look back at this one and like it mostly for sentimental reasons instead of actual quality of songs (similar to how I look at 2003’s Outkast Speakerboxx/Love Below album now).

1. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Here We Rest (4/12)

So good. I never thought that I would like Jason Isbell better after leaving Drive-By Truckers, but this album confirmed it.

And a bonus version of my favorite song ever (not on the album, but still. Amaze-balls.):



SINGLE OF THE YEAR:

Radiohead – Lotus Flower



COVER OF THE YEAR:

Drive-By Truckers - Everybody Needs Love

It was nice to see (hear?) that Radiohead and DBT (my two favorite all time bands) were still able to knock my socks of.

Honorable Mention Albums (in release date order):

Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots (2/14)

Radiohead – The King of Limbs (2/18)

Adele – 21 (2/22)

The Strokes – Angles (3/22)

Arctic Monkeys – Suck it and See (6/6)

City and Colour – Little Hell (6/7)

The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient (8/16)

The Kooks – Junk of the Heart (9/12)

Das Racist – Relax (9/13)

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire (10/11)

Wale – Ambition (11/1)

The Black Keys – El Camino (12/6)

That's it! Stefan and Danny (and James?) will do theirs soon I bet.

Community

Timescaaaaaaaape!

So iiiiiiiiintense! Does look really cool though.

TimeScapes 4K from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.

Beer in Space

From the makers of this film...

On May 27th, 2011 Natty Light officially became The First Beer In Space.
Two of Natty Lights Facebook fans, Danny and Rich, came to us with an epic idea to make Natty the first beer in space. We said go for it, just let us know when ya shoot it off! Natty Light helped make their dream a reality, by offering to support their efforts on Natty's Facebook page. The spacecraft was named the Aluminum Fullcan by Natty's Facebook Fans (submitted by Kel Thomas).

Natty Light First Beer In Space: The Plan (video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2W1EnWQaLg

The spacecraft was launched via weather balloon. The ascent took about 2hrs rising to an altitude of 90,000ft+. The Aluminum Fullcan spacecraft landed 60 miles from the launch site and took Danny and Rich 2hrs to locate by gps (due to the rural area of the landing that offered poor reception). The event was a complete success and Natty Light officially became The First Beer In Space (edge of space)...what we like to call the Nattmosphere!

The spacecraft was composed of a styrofoam cooler carrying the first beer (full beer) in space on board, a gps tracking device, an HD video camera pointed at another (empty) can on the outside of the ship (It's the can you see in frame).

Got an epic idea for Natty? Post it on the wall. If we like it, who knows maybe we'll make your next Natty adventure a reality! http://www.facebook.com/NattyLight

Special Thanks from Natty Nation goes out to Danny B. and Rich T. you dudes are awesome!!

(For Clarification: This event took place on May 27th, with clearance and approval from the FAA. The documented footage was posted on-line November 18th)

Shopping

Such A Better Halftime Show

Pancakes!

It's Ski Season

Nice Catch

Stefan posted a pretty sweet catch. This one might be better.



Chuck Norris woulda caught that with his dick
hvwrestler40 34 minutes ago

Everything Ultimate

A wine tasting weekend in Pasco

Last weekend my wife (Jess), Danny's wife (Heather), Pasco native but now living in Seattle Sarah and I drove to the Tri-Cities to visit Tanner and take part in the local custom of "wine tasting."  Tanner reserved a shuttle to take a group of people out to taste wine for the day as the Tri-Cities has lots of great local wineries and even a few distilleries.  We bought lots of snacks (cheese, salami, bruschetta, etc.) and all prepared for a lovely little getaway weekend.

We all left work early and departed around 3pm to avoid traffic and to allow time in case there was any bad weather on Snoqualmie Pass.  The drive was uneventful other than it now gets dark at 4pm so by 6pm we all felt that it must be midnight.  We crossed the Columbia River twice and if you didn't know it was there you wouldn't have had any idea it was so dark out.

We arrived at Tanner's new house around 6:50 or so and were very warmly greeted.  We unloaded our bags and got settled.  Sarah took our car and drove off to her parent's house where she was staying.  Tanner, Heather, Jess and I ate some delicious cuban style pulled pork sandwiches that Tanner had made.  Well, Heather is a vegetarian but Tanner is a gracious host and purchased some boca burgers for her.  We then casually played some drinking games and took it relatively easy.  The four of us probably played the most mature game of asshole I have ever been a part of.  It was a relatively early night of going to bed at about 12.

The next day I was the first to wake up at about 7:30 (ugh) so I just watched TV and waited for everyone else to wake up.  The shuttle was to pick us up at 11:30 so everyone arrived at Tanner's house around 11.  Side story, Sarah showed up way hungover and looking a bit like death (sorry Sarah).  She had drank way too much wine with her mom the night before.  It was pretty funny hearing Sarah talk about how her mom can totally out drink her.  There were a total of 10 of us including Pat and Steph and their baby Ronan (also from Seattle), the locals (Nolan, his gf Lindsay, and Amber) and the crew.  I realize this is 11 people but I'm not counting the baby.  Our driver, Alex, arrived right on time and picked us up in a large shuttle that could easily handle another 10 people.  It was a nice shuttle even though it smelled like cigarettes and shoe polish.  We had plenty of room for our coolers full of beer (to cleanse the palate) and food.  First beer, 11:30. 

I don't really remember the name of any of the wineries as I wasn't paying that much attention to any of them.  We proceeded to go to 5 wineries and 1 distillery.  Almost all of the wines tasted good and the beer certainly did as well.  As we started drinking relatively early everyone got a little bit tipsy quick (except for Pat and Steph as they are what I like to call 'good parents').  On the shuttle we constantly had Hall and Oats or Billy Joel playing.  Basically it was the whitest situation imaginable.  I knew that I was starting to get drunk when I kept sneaking back on the bus at wineries to shove my face full of brie and crackers.  I don't know if I have every consumed so much cheese and salted meats in my life.  It was a day full of laughs and really an awesome time.  Some interesting things started to come up during the day.  As Nolan's girlfriend had really short bleached blond hair I decided that she looked like Dido and proceeded to call her that (never to her face though, I'm a coward).  Speaking of Dido, she was convinced that our driver, Alex, was from the Ukraine and proceeded to get really (I mean like screaming excited) when Alex confirmed that, yes, he is from the Ukraine originally. 

We visited Blue Flame distillery (so far, every time I have tried to spell distillery I have spelled it wrong, thank you spell check) in between winery 4 and 5 so we were already at a pretty good place at that point.  One of the owners of Blue Flame was there and gave us some samples while proceeding to be really sarcastic and saucey.  He was funny but at times it was a bit annoying.  For example, I asked him why the name Blue Flame and he proceeded to say that we were all too young to know about the Whiskey Rebellion.  I admit that I didn't know about it but in my defense the Whiskey Rebellion took place in the 1790s so unless he was over 300 years old he could also be considered 'too young' to know about it.   Although the guy was saucey the vodka, gin and pepper vodka was really good.

After the wine tasting the shuttle dropped us off at Tanner's house around 6pm where we proceeded to keep drinking and hang out.  Someone called a couple of taxis to take us to Lee's Tahitian Bar in the heart of Richland (don't believe me? click on the link to go to Lee's MySpace page, seriously? those still exist?).  Remember that we started drinking at 11:30 and that it had been dark for a couple of hours at that point.  A lot of us felt that it was really late and were getting tired but we pressed on! 

Oh yeah, Ronan was the coolest baby and was extremely cute.  He never fussed and took a couple of little naps and never had any kind of meltdown (much to the delight of Pat and Steph).  They are the coolest parents.  Before we went to Lee's Tahitian Tanner's dad came and picked up Steph and the baby as they were staying at Tanner's parent's house so that the baby would be away from all of us and get some sleep.  Pat was allowed to hang out with us lesser adults for the night so he said goodbye to his wife and child and continued drinking.  Quick side story, there was a really awkward moment for me when Tanner's dad picked up Steph and Ronan.  I didn't hear Tanner's dad correctly when he asked what was better, the red or the white wine during our tastings.  I thought that he was somehow talking about the baby and was wondering if Ronan was white or red (Pat his half American India and Steph is white).  After they left I asked Tanner if his dad had really said what I thought I had heard.  Of course I was wrong but it was pretty funny (had to be there? sorry if the answer to that question is yes).

Well we all went to Lee's and much to our surprise we were some of the first people there.  Lee's is known for making really strong drinks so everything got fuzzy quickly.  I had one of Lee's Face Punches and that got things moving even more quickly.  Lee's soon turned into a Karaoke bar which made things really interesting.  There was one woman who sat right by the stage and wore headphone while playing World of Warcraft or something like that.  She was the first person to sing and song.  What did she sing?  Well of course Drowning Pool - Bodies and that pretty much set the tone.  There was lots of hard rock and country.  The entertainment was endless and everyone believed that they were a better singer than anyone who went to the stage.  When it finally became our turn?  Oh it was a quick crash back to reality.  I believe it was Tanner who picked Shoop by Salt and Peppa.  We were atrocious, halfway through the song Jess walked off the stage and gave up and left the rest of us looking like douches, good times.  The crazy World of Warcraft lady sang some more scary songs in between playing her game throughout the night.  I really am not sure what happened for a while there but around 12 or so Sarah had left and Pat, Jess, Heather and I were sitting at the bar at the front of the restaurant part of Lee's and called a taxi.  Maybe it was Lee himself but the bartender told us that it would take probably an hour for the taxi to get us so we ordered some different Chinese apps.  I don't really remember what they were but they were delicious and I don't know if I have ever eaten anything so quickly.  We then ordered more when the taxi finally came.  Someone found Tanner and we headed back to his house.  When we got to Tanner's we proceeded to eat the food from Lee's.  I remember we got Chinese BBQ pork slices that come with the hot mustard and I continuously put too much mustard in my mouth with every bite.  Tanner made some frozen pizzas and jalapeno poppers which is maybe the greatest food ever.  They were really hot but nobody was willing to wait for them to cool down so people kept eating the poppers like they were Dr. Steve Brule.  Now this might be the highlight for me...Heather ate pepperoni pizza!  The vegetarian caved in!  She even said it was delicious!  Ok things got blurry quick then and I remember waking up on the living room floor around 3am.  I made it to bed and got a relatively decent night of sleep.

The next morning we all got up and gathered our things and pride and proceeded to drive home.  It was a great weekend filled with fun, wine, Chinese food and jalapeno poppers.  Thanks Tanner!

I know that I am forgetting a lots of other things that took place but there you go...a quick rundown of the weekend. 

Have a great Thanksgiving!  Eat lots of pie!

One Way to Travel

Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.

Mayer Hawthorne - The Walk

The Doors - Reading Rainbow

Jimmy Fallon is pretty good...

Marcell the Shell with Shoes on, Two

Aircraft Carrier

24 Hours on an Aircraft Carrier from The Seventh Movement on Vimeo.

God Bless America

Totally off topic, but I don't remember Snow White being like this...

Sabzi Making Music

Sabzi is the producer for the hip-hop group Blue Scholars and is a pretty talented musician.  Check it out...

It's Monday! - NONONONONO

Im in that section of youtube again

londonirish96 2 days ago 104 

Dubs Up

Bow down.

A lot of birds

have a great Friday!


Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

If you like the song you can download it here.

21 Jump Street

I'm embarrassed that I found this funny...just ignore that this is not going to be like the original

German Speed Bump

That's a Header

Somebody has a new dance to learn

Yup.

Some Music and Such

While writing this I am watching the TV series The Walking Dead.  It's a pretty good show, check it out.  Here is a trailer for it.



Enough about Zombies...Let's talk music!

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto  I will just come out and say it.  I like Coldplay and I like John Mayer, that felt good to get off my chest.  People make fun of them all the time (including me) but I do like their music.  If you are not a fan of Coldplay this album will not change your mind.  It is the same sound and style as their last few LPs.  The album follows the usual formula of U2 inspired guitars and anthem style rock songs.  I am a fan so this doesn't change anything for me.  It is enjoyable and a safe move by the band.  Nothing crazy.

Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds  This is the first effort by the songwriting Gallagher brother since the break up of Oasis (one of my favorite bands of all time).  Noel Gallagher sang a few songs on the last couple of Oasis albums and I always liked those songs so I was pretty excited for this album.  I have listened to this album a couple of times and I keep hoping it will grow on me but unfortunately it sounds like an uninspired version of Oasis.  Noel has written lots of great songs in the past but I don't hear any on this work.

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire  I am a huge fan of Ryan Adams and his latest album is awesome.  Ryan Adams went for a stripped down mellow sound on this album that I really like.  Some people complain that it doesn't sounds like his Love Is Hell and that it isn't dark enough.  Ryan Adams has covered so many different styles of music that I think it is hard to critique any of his work against previous albums.  I prefer to look at it alone.  I like it and my opinion is right.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver  I am a fan of Bon Iver and his music.  I do find it funny that I enjoy his music so much but I never understand what he is singing.  This album is great to listen to while going to sleep.  Im a big fan of this fan made video...Holocene.  I also really like this cover he did of Bonnie Raitt.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest  Jason Isbell is a brilliant song writer who has been making some great music since he left the Drive-By Truckers.  Where DBT seems to be making albums quickly and not taking enough time on them Jason Isbell has gone the other way with work that you can tell took lots of serious effort and thought.  This album is definitely some of his best work yet.  Just this week he came out with a music video for one of my favorite songs on the album, Alabama Pines.  I will be honest, great song, but boring and kind of depressing video. 

Brothers From Another - Quality of Living  Did you think I was going to do a music post without mentioning any hip-hop?  These kids must be no older than 21 but I do like their.  They definitely have some potential and avoid the general story lines of money and success that plague hip hop right now.  While they don't talk about money they do tend to talk about their love of smoking weed and such which can get a little old.  Overall this is a good hip hop album with better than average lyrics and some decent production.

Duck Sauce

Barbra Streissand sequel (NSFW)

I will need psychologist after this ._.

KDragonS16 23 minutes ago

Ryan Adams wishes you a Happy Halloween

In case you are wondering, here is one of the videos Ryan Adams mentions in the video...



I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this on the frontpage. I hope all those tweens listen to this. They probably don't even know that music can sound like this. This is music at its finest. Just pure integrity and musicianship.

ProgHead93 1 day ago 16

Celtic Thunder

one of my favorite things of this is that the youtube channel for these guys is called TheThunderTube...Be inspired!

World Record!

Baby Laughing to Start Your Monday

Hornets

Lyrical/Spiritual/Miracle...

Boom

I want to go to Iceland

Midnight Sun | Iceland from SCIENTIFANTASTIC on Vimeo.

Yeah I like these

Here is an easy way to watch a bunch of good 5 second films...

Let's bring in the weekend on a friendlier note...

So this looks intense...

Have a great weekend!

Dance!

Universal Alchémy from tomson on Vimeo.

These guys like to jump into water

I didn't think I would watch this whole video but I kind of got into it...

Vermont. from Nick Stefani on Vimeo.

Biking in Africa

daaaaaaamn...

Angry Birds...Soccer Style

Pigeons!

Have a great weekend! Hope you don't get attacked by pigeons...

parigot-animated short film from Loïc Bramoullé on Vimeo.

Sour Patch Kids + Method Man =

Awesome! Duh, you bad at math or something?



HOW HIGH 2
koboldmacki 11 hours ago

I wanna travel

Half a World Away from Matt Ferrington on Vimeo.

Biking and Scenery

Lots of cool shots in this one

FRAMED-Andi Wittmann Rider profile from Felix Urbauer on Vimeo.

That is nutso

GoPro HD: Avalanche Cliff Jump with Matthias Giraud from GoPro on Vimeo.

Wolves

what the beep?

Whales

Song Of the Spindle from Drew Christie on Vimeo.

Hope your weekend is better than this...

I don't speak Japanese but this is still funny...

Dung

Way Home from Erick Oh on Vimeo.

Earth from Space

Be Careful in the Club

or you could have Will.I.Am's face on your kid...or something

WOLFGANG ft. Will.i.am [Forever] from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Jump Rope Dogs

Ballsy

Experience Zero Gravity from Betty Wants In on Vimeo.

Ronaldo

This is part 1 of a 4 part series...pretty crazy stuff

Back FOR the Future

Story of earth

Rendezvous - The Murf from Scott Benson on Vimeo.

Never Ending Story

I thought I was done for the day but this was too good.

Jeff Tweedy Sings Some Black Eyed Peas

Who is Jeff Tweedy? He is the lead singer of the band Wilco.



Alright, I think I have posted enough videos today...

Puppies!

Alaskan Malamute - Little Monsters from Jus Medic on Vimeo.

Stunt Poetry

Stunt Poetry from Rishi Kaneria on Vimeo.

Otherside

Bon Iver - Holocene

Lots of cool Icelandic scenery...


BON IVER "Holocene" from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

I want this show on DVD

Or at least a copy of the theme song

So Gangster

Hunter S Thompson

Short animation film

Copia A (3D animated short film by Trexel Animation) from Trexel Animation on Vimeo.

That's a decent hit

Happy Friday!

Unscripted Lines

this is kind of interesting...

Extreme Boogie Boarding!

The Desert 2011 from Matt Pitcher on Vimeo.

Everything looks cooler in slow motion

8 Hours in Brooklyn from Next Level Pictures on Vimeo.

Backwards

A Long Time

A Long Time - Mayer Hawthorne from MayerHawthorne on Vimeo.

Supposedly Mayer Hawthorne and Seattle's own Jake Uno are in the studio down at the OK Hotel working on a "West Coast Boogie" record. Awesome.

Frozen Wave

Frozen Wave from Juan Rayos on Vimeo.

Mariachi and Beluga

Moffitt!

Glad this guy is now a SeaChicken.



Plus, he looks like this guy:



Might be getting a Moffitt jersey to replace my Tatupu jersey, at least until my Tatupu jersey is old enough to be a throwback.

It's Always Sunny

German Trick Shots

Cologne Street Headis 3 from Pangea.Productions on Vimeo.

Manuel de los Santos

Manuel de los Santos from Peter Montgomery on Vimeo.

I had that poster on my wall

RIP Rick Kaminsky

Rick Kaminsky was the "Peanut Guy" at Mariners games (he started in 1977).  Sad to hear of his passing today.

Seattle Times Article.

Going on a trip...

Under the clouds from Gioacchino Petronicce on Vimeo.

Stefan's New Favorite Dance

It will be once he watches this vid...



Pencil mustaches are so in right now!

Ballard Driving

Happy Friday?

This is maybe a viral video for a film being made called 'Elysium' which will be starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley...get depressed and enjoy...if you live.

Planking?

Zombies!

I think I like this commercial so much because I just finished reading 'The Zombie Survival Guide' and am now reading 'World War Z'... both very entertaining reads.  Seriously, if zombies ever do start attacking, stick with me, I know what to do.

Rudy's Barbershop

An interesting piece on the beginning of Rudy's.  These guys seem to try really hard to not try hard and are a bit too "artsy" for me.


RUDY'S BARBERSHOP: RUDY'S SAVES from Rudy's Barbershop on Vimeo.

Snail

40mm underworld from James Miller on Vimeo.

The Golden Rule

about 9.6 million people have seen this before me but I think it's pretty funny...

Running Documentary

Guilty Pleasure #3

It has been a long time since I have written one of these.  In case you would like to see my previous two...Guilty Pleasure #1 and Guilty Pleasure #2.

Guilty Pleasure #3: Ellie Goulding - Lights

Ellie Goulding is a 24 year old British singer song writer.  I would describe her music as electropop. Wikipedia says her music could also be labeled as folktronica (I had no idea that style of music existed).  Last weekend I caught a random episode of SNL and she was the musical guest.  Maybe it was the 4 or 8 beers I had before but I really liked it.  I put a reminder in my phone to check her out the next day and to my surprise I still liked it sober.  You can't say it isn't catchy...



I appreciate her dancing even if it is pretty bad.  She pivots her left leg and then continuously does a right leg side step while moving her hips, yeah, she ain't no Usher.  Also, sweet fingerless gloves.

Here is a great example of her dancing on SNL.  Sidenote: it is really incredible she sounds decent on SNL, no matter who the band is they almost always sounds horrible on that show.  From this video I have also learned that her name is pronounced 'Golding' and not what I have originally thought 'Ghoulding'.  Much more attractive as Golding.

Dog's Mind

Late for Work

VOUGE BITCH

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER '91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

Little League

Little League, End Sequence - HD from Steven Dempsey on Vimeo.

U-S-A! U-S-A!

Stefan asked if there is anything more American than the video he posted below. And while I have to agree that the video he posted is both wonderful and highly American, I would argue that this video is more American. In fact, I don't think it gets more American than this.

Happy birthday America!



....daddy? ...is that you?
jessilynnzee81586 1 month ago

Have a Happy 4th of July Weekend!

I posted this a while ago but seriously, is there anything more American than this video?

Violet

Violet, 7 Weeks Old from Jason Zada on Vimeo.

Super Cute!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving

But what do you do with it after you finish cutting it? This is too damn complicated!

Juthan75 19 minutes ago