Night Time Skiing

Stefan's Top 10 from 2013

We are getting close to the time of year when the blog actually looks like a blog and people write posts.  That’s right! We are close to the time of year when we each write our top 10 albums of the year.  Before I post mine I thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at my list from last year and see how it has held up.

1.  The National - Trouble Will Fine Me:  I have listened to this album a bunch over the last year.  This has definitely held up.

2.  Jason Isbell - Southeastern:  I like this album a lot, a whole lot. Great songs.

3.  Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse:  I haven’t listened to this album in a while but it definitely holds up and I still really like it.

4.  Sol - Eyes Open EP:  For some reason this year I haven’t listened to much hip-hop.  I can’t remember the last time I heard this.  I would love for Sol to come out with another album, he makes great stuff, maybe a new album would get me back into the genre.

5.  St. Lucia - When the Night:  This is one of my wife’s favorite albums and because of that I have listened to this album quite a lot.  Still holds up and I am not sick of it.

6.  The Physics - Digital Wildlife:  Look at number 4, same thing.

7.  Haim - Days are Gone:  I could definitely take this one off of my list.  I am sick of Haim.

8.  John Legend - Love in the Future:  This is another one I haven’t listened to in quite a while.  Good stuff but I would say it hasn’t held up.

9.  Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go?:  I have continued to enjoy this album.  I could have put this one higher on my list.

10.  Rhye - Woman:  I haven’t listened to this in a while but every time I do I wonder why it took me so long.  This is good stuff.

Ok so overall my list has held up pretty well and I am still happy with it.  Could of made some changes but enough looking back, gotta look forward! 

Top 10 lists will be coming.

Music and Science

Some neat visuals

Helluva Block

Things kind of change pace at the 1 minute mark.

Really Cool Zombie Short

The Opulence of Us

Amazon Echo Is Amazing!

Well this is kind of crazy...

and crazy violent.

T-Pain + NPR = Awesomesauce

Ok Go do make some crazy videos

Hope your Thursday is better than this

RKO

Music Teachers

Columbus Day

And This is How I Now Walk...

Chet Faker - Gold

Another sweet roller skating video

Jungle has the best music videos

I like this speech

Funny and good points.

Gatorade

If Michael Bay Had Directed Up

The Germans Come to America

who doesn't like family videos?

Balboa

This Friday, grab a Balboa.

Tim Howard

A Few World Cup Thoughts

Some random tidbits about the World Cup.

Apparently Puma doesn't make soccer jerseys in any size larger than extra small.

Adidas has some of the ugliest soccer boots out there.

Is this Spanish collapse the biggest let down ever by a World Cup team?  People keep saying they are old and tired but just a few weeks ago a number of them won the Champions League.  Just a horrible time for every player to suddenly play awful?  Coaching?  Tough to know besides the results.

Germany looks good.  Like really, really good.  They made Portugal look silly.

The Netherlands looked really, really good.  Then they played Australia and while they still look like one of the teams to beat giving up 2 goals to the Roos is surprising.

Argentina and Brazil need to step it up.  We have only seen one game by Argentina so maybe it was just first game jitters but they didn't win that convincingly in game one.  Brazil looked a bit shaky against Croatia and they didn't look that much better against Mexico.  Speaking of which...Mexico seems to be growing in confidence and could actually do something.  I wish there was a camera at all times on Mexico's coach.  He is so animated and he has that awful haircut and huge chin.  Love it.  Big game against Croatia coming up.  Speaking of Croatia, wow they just demolished Cameroon.  Speaking of Cameroon, wow they just lost their heads and looked like idiots.  Getting a red card is one thing, but so obviously elbowing a guy in the back? Stupid.  Head butting your own teammate? Stupid.

Well that USA game was stressful.  One minute of awesome followed by 80 minutes of 'we are about to get scored on' followed by 'saw that one coming' followed by 5 minutes of 'holy shit! we scored! now hang on!'  The game ain't always beautiful but the three points are.  Michael Bradley is going to need to play better against Portugal, he is too important to be able to have another bad game.

There have been so many goals! This is the most exciting World Cup in a long time.  If someone were to watch pretty much any of these games and still decided that soccer is boring they are a bad person, and that's a fact.

I love all of the African player's haircuts.  There are some awesome styles out there.

Speaking of hair, I like that on Korea and Japan their best player is the only guy with bleached hair.  Guess they got dibs.

Costa Rica! What an awesome surprise!

It's nice to see that many of the MLS players playing in this World Cup and competing and really doing quite well.  Good for the league.

France looks good.  Switzerland looks boring, no creativity whatsoever.

Colombia and Chile look good.  Fun soccer that scores goals.

I don't know why I'm rooting for England but I hope they can pull it together.  I don't think they will though.

I still don't like Italy but I do love Pirlo.  Guy is only 35 but looks like he is about to turn 43.  He also kicks amazing free kicks.  This would have been so sweet if it had gone in.



So far these are my votes for the two best goals of the Cup.





Oh and if Joe Hart wants the ball...give him the ball.

Tanner's Bracket

Tanner’s Easy to Follow World Cup/NFL Preview for Football (and Football) Fans

The World Cup is awesome. It’s way better than the Olympics. For one, sports only count when points are scored; anything judged or timed or measured is just a contest. For another, soccer conjures the kind of atmosphere, excitement, vitriol, and passion that is rarely reached in an Olympic event. Spectators watch the Olympics for human interest stories, pushing the human body to its limits, and vague bragging rights between countries. Spectators watch the World Cup because they desperately want their teams to win by almost any means necessary. The World Cup is almost the perfect global athletic event, and it probably would be if FIFA wasn’t a bunch of corrupt assholes.

I try to follow European professional soccer but it’s something I am intimidated by because I don’t have a sound knowledge base for any of the history or the transactional rules. I know the names and faces and skills of a lot of the top players but admittedly I have a lot of work to do. In order to help me make comparisons and predictions, I have broken the World Cup down by group and compared the 32 teams to the NFL (something I have an almost unhealthy amount of knowledge on). I know these comparisons aren’t perfect, but they help me maintain a rooting interest in all 32 teams. I thought I could share these comparisons with you lovely readers.

*NOTE: To make the comparisons fit just a little better, I put Oakland in the NFC West and St. Louis in the AFC West.

GROUP A / AFC EAST

The Favorite:

Brazil / New England Patriots

Brazil and New England are perennial powers with high fan expectations and a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. They are well coached and attack relentlessly on offense while fielding an underrated defense. Brazil is younger and less experienced than New England, but also more talented.

Comparisons: Neymer = Rob Gronkowski; Luis Felipe Scolari = Bill Belichick

Contenders to Advance:

Mexico / New York Jets

Both teams are recent contenders that have kind of fallen apart due to a combination of age and front office turmoil. The teams have gone through major reconstruction in the last year. There is still a lot of talent there, so they are kind of wild cards. It wouldn’t be surprising to see either team advance to the playoffs or completely fall apart. Plus Mark Sanchez is Mexican-American so there’s a nice bit of symmetry there.

Comparisons: Hector Herrera = Muhammad Wilkerson, Oribe Peralta = Chris Johnson

Croatia / Miami Dolphins

Two teams that are solid if unspectacular, Croatia and Miami have a lot of promise but also a lot of holes. While Miami struggles at offensive line and skill players, they excel at pass defense. Croatia is very strong in the midfield, but has mediocre talent on defense and on the outside.

Comparisons: Luka Modric = Dannell Ellerbe; Ivan Rakitic = Ryan Tannehill

Long Shot:

Cameroon / Buffalo Bills

Two teams with a pretty good history but are small markets and have recently been under achieving. They still have a lot of talent but will likely be too inexperienced to compete. Strong on defense but lack firepower on offense.

Comparisons: Samuel Eto’o = CJ Spiller; Nicolas NKoulou = Kiko Alonso

GROUP B / NFC WEST

The Favorites:

Spain / Seattle Seahawks

These are two teams that have revolutionized their respective sports in recent years by giving multiple looks and utilizing insane depth to keep their opponents guessing. Both Spain and Seattle have been extremely successful by implementing systems that get the most out of their well-rounded talent. They are smart and savvy with a good mixture of veterans and young talent. Very stout defensively. The defending champs.

Comparisons: Sergio Ramos = Earl Thomas; Xavi = Marshawn Lynch; Diego Costa = Russell Wilson

The Netherlands / San Francisco 49ers

The Dutch and the Niners are both teams that have had a lot of recent success but are starting to show some question marks. While the Dutch have been an offensive juggernaut theynow are looking to rely more on the defense; similarly, the Niners look like they are going to put more emphasis on their offense this season due to some age and injury concerns on D. The Kevin Strootman/Navarro Bowman injuries are underrated and could be devastating.

Comparisons: Arjen Robben = Colin Kaepernick; Kevin Strootman = Navarro Bowman

The Sleeper:

Chile / Arizona Cardinals

Two teams that play with a lot of confidence and surprising effectiveness despite relatively  unremarkable histories, I see the Cardinals and Chile as teams that are going to make some noise this season. New coaches have instilled energy and dare I say, swagger, into these clubs.

Comparisons: Jorge Sampaoli = Bruce Arians; Alexis Sanchez = Andre Ellington; Arturo Vidal = Larry Fitzgerald; Jorge Valdivia = Darnell Dockett

The Doormat:

Australia / *Oakland Raiders

Most likely, these are the two worst teams in the field. There’s just not a lot of talent at either place.

Comparison: Mile Jedinak = Khalil Mack

GROUP C / NFC NORTH

The Muddled Middle:

Colombia / Green Bay Packers

Colombia and Green Bay seem to struggle with injuries but are always fun to watch with aggressive, attacking offenses. Colombia relies on distribution from James Rodriguez while Green Bay relies on the same from Aaron Rodgers. Both squads enjoy rapid fan bases, with solid home advantage.

Comparisons: James Rodriguez = Aaron Rodgers; Falcao = Randall Cobb; Juan Cuadrado = Eddie Lacy

Ivory Coast / Detroit Lions

The Ivorians and Lions both share an “underachiever” tag, mostly because of their exciting ability to score but propensity to give up scores on mental errors. The talent is there for both squads, but for whatever reason (coaching?) they don’t seem to win games.

Comparisons: Didier Drogba = Ndamukong Suh; Yaya Toure = Calvin Johnson

Greece / Chicago Bears

These two teams are relatively average because they have some very significant strengths but also some glaring weaknesses. Their offenses hinge on inconsistent leaders and their defenses have to overachieve to be competitive. However, the Greeks as well as the Bears are well coached and get a lot out of their talent.

Comparisons: Kostas Mitroglou = Jay Cutler; Fernando Santos = Mark Trestman

Japan / Minnesota Vikings

Because of a lack of offensive firepower, the Samurai and Vikings have to manufacture scoring (from the midfield and running game respectively). There are things to like on both squads, but they probably don’t have enough talent to compete past the group stage, even if they overachieve.

Comparison: Keisuke Honda = Adrian Peterson

GROUP D / AFC NORTH

The Underrated Contender:

Uruguay / Cincinnati Bengals

Both teams can win with offense or defense, but are somewhat inconsistent. They are loaded talent-wise, however, and don’t really have glaring weaknesses. They pride themselves on toughness. Luis Suarez and Vontaze Burfict are intense intimidators who will likely lead all players in penalties but are the keys to their respective teams. These teams have the talent to compete with anyone but haven’t proven that they are smart and strategic enough yet.

Comparisons: Luis Suarez = Vontaze Burfict; Edinson Cavani = AJ Green

Battle to Advance:

Italy / Baltimore Ravens

Well coached teams that always seem to advance/make the playoffs despite age and talent concerns, the Italians and Ravens are solid if unheralded. Strong history and organization make them dangerous squads that you can’t count out.

Comparison: Andrea Pirlo = Terrell Suggs; Mario Balotelli = Torrey Smith

England / Pittsburgh Steelers

Two storied franchises that are perennially overrated, but annually have a good shot to get past the group stage. Expectations are down for this season which will likely help their chances. Their most important offensive players (Rooney/Roethlisberger) are kind of assholes but blue collar fans love their toughness.

Comparisons: Wayne Rooney = Ben Roethlisberger; Daniel Sturridge = Antonio Brown

Not Ready Yet:

Costa Rica / Cleveland Browns

Talented squads that are up and coming, Costa Rica and Cleveland are going to have a tough time overcoming some adversity (C.R. with injuries, the Browns with a pending suspension) in order to topple the other teams in their groups. Still, they may surprise.

Comparison: Yeltsin Tejada = Joe Haden; Alavaro Saborio (injured) = Josh Gordon (suspended?)

GROUP E / NFC EAST

Best of a Mediocre Lot:

Switzerland / Philadelphia Eagles

The Swiss and Eagles have fun to watch offensive systems that emphasize timing and controlled passes. They are always attacking opposing defenses. The system tends to cover up for a lack of talent, though there are some good playmakers for both squads. Their up-tempo styles tend to put hefty strain on their defenses, giving the opponents lots of opportunities to score.

Comparisons: Xherdan Shaqiri = Nick Foles; JosipDrmic = LeSean McCoy

Semi-contenders by Default:

France / Dallas Cowboys

Heavily criticized by the media for being poorly run franchises with strong recent histories, France and Dallas could win zero games despite some intriguing talent. There is a lot of discord among the players and management. Likely to implode but it will be fun to watch the flames.

Comparisons: Paul Pogba = Dez Bryant; Franck Ribery (injured) = Tony Romo (injury prone)

Ecuador / Washington D.C. Professional Football Team

Both teams will attack the outside relentlessly but are soft on defense. Their hopes hinge on an inconsistent young player that has as much talent as anyone but is still learning the game.

Comparison: Jefferson Montero = Robert Griffin III

Honduras / New York Giants

Teams that are better when conservative because they avoid costly mistakes, their respective playing styles can be frustrating. Honduras and the Giants just don’t have enough to compete in the playoffs, but they can get their due to a weak group/division.

Comparison: Jerry Bengston = Eli Manning

GROUP F / AFC SOUTH

Cakewalking through Stage One:

Argentina / Indianapolis Colts

The beneficiaries of a poor group/division, the blue teams are best when chaos ensues and their best players (Messi and Luck) are allowed to create independently. Frustrating at times but almost always entertaining, they have the capability of scoring in bunches. Rather poor defenses. They should be well set-up for the playoffs after dominating their respective groups.

Comparisons: Lionel Messi = Andrew Luck; Sergio Aguero = TY Hilton

Poop, Fart, and Throw up:

Bosnia-Herzegovina / Houston Texans

Unbalanced teams but with elite skills (BIH = goal scoring, HOU = pass rush) that will help them stay competitive at times but get blown out at others.

Comparison: Miralem Pjanic = JJ Watt

Iran / Jacksonville Jaguars

Perhaps the least talented of all qualifying teams, Iran and Jacksonville nonetheless play hard and may win a defensive struggle or two. The owner of the Jaguars, Shad Khan, is also from a Muslim country in Southwest Asia.

Comparison: Javad Nekounam = Paul Posluszny

Nigeria / Tennessee Titans

The Super Eagles and Titans always seem to be shifting identities and aren’t noted for any particular strength. However, they could surprise and reach the playoff round with some elevated play from their young talent.

Comparison: Victor Moses = Jake Locker

GROUP G / AFC WEST

Another Favorite:

Germany / Denver Broncos

Two teams with incredible firepower, a plethora of weapons, and possibly weak defenses, Germany and Denver will likely smash a lot of teams but might not be strong enough to win the title. It is going to be very hard for teams to keep up with their scoring pace, but they are prone to easing off once they get big leads, allowing teams to come back against them.

Comparisons: Mesut Ozil = Peyton Manning; Bastian Schweinsteiger = Demaryius Thomas; Lukas Podolski = Julius Thomas; Thomas Muller = Wes Welker; Phillip Lahm = Vonn Miller

Some More Contenders:

Portugal / San Diego Chargers

The teams’ success relies on unlikeable superstars (Cristiano Ronaldo & Philip Rivers) to generate almost all of the scoring, but more often than not, they come through.

Comparisons: Cristiano Ronaldo = Philip Rivers; Pepe = Eric Weddle

United States / Kansas City Chiefs

After some underachieving seasons, both teams brought in heralded coaches to turn the culture around and it looks like it’s working. There is a lot of talent, but lack of depth and continuity is a concern.

Comparisons: Clint Dempsey = Jamaal Charles; Jozy Altidore = Dwayne Bowe; Michael Bradley = Eric Berry; Graham Zusi = Dontari Poe; Jurgen Klinsmann = Andy Reid

Surprisingly Frisky:

Ghana / *St. Louis Rams

The Black Stars and Rams are stuck in tough groups, but they could make some noise due to intriguing mixes of veteran and young talent. Not title contenders but sort of scary.

Comparisons: Michael Essein = Robert Quinn; Kwadwo Asamoah = Chris Long; Asamoah Gyan = Tavon Austin

GROUP H / NFC SOUTH

Under the Radar:

Belgium / New Orleans Saints

The Belgians and Saints have quietly built really solid clubs that emphasize spreading the football around and ball control to help their defenses. By spreading the field, they give multiple players opportunities to score but sometimes are susceptible to giving the opposition scoring opportunities.

Comparisons: Eden Hazard = Jimmy Graham; Dries Mertens = Marques Colston; Kevin Mirallas = Kenny Stills

Former Whipping Boys:

South Korea / Carolina Panthers

The Taeguk and Panthers have quietly developed decent programs and have some nice young talent in place. There are glaring weaknesses for both squads, but they are using a well set up system to cover their weaknesses and are consistent playoff contenders.

Comparisons: Son Heung Min = Cam Newton; Kim Young-Gwon = Luke Keuchley

Aging and Overrated:

Russia / Atlanta Falcons

Dependant on aging stars and seriously lacking depth, the Ruskies’ and Falcons’ reputations are probably greater than their talent. Will look to be up-tempo but are ironically susceptible to up tempo attacks on the defensive end.

Comparisons: Sergei Ignashevich = Roddy White; Alexander Kokorin = Julio Jones

Young and Underrated:

Algeria / Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Green Stars have used some nationality loopholes to amp up their talent, while the Bucs have used free agency to do the same. Both teams’ futures are looking much brighter after regime changes in the coaching staff.

Comparisons: Sofiane Feghouli = Doug Martin; Yacine Brahimi = Lavonte David

I hope this helps some of NFL Fans make some connections to the World Cup. Enjoy the next few weeks!

Stefan's Bracket

Group H

Belgium (FIFA #11) The Red Devils are the sexy dark horse pick for this World Cup.  This squad is the culmination of a many year plan.  There is a reason this team is being picked by so many people to make a serious run.  They have lots and lots of young talent that play some really exciting soccer.  This golden generation team will win the group stage easily and could go far.

Players to watch: Eden Hazard - This 23 year old winger currently plays for Chelsea and is an important part of their attack.  He is extremely fast and has great ball control.  Currently one of the best young players in the world.  Romelu Lukaku - A big striker who scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for Everton this year.  Marouane Fellaini - This 6'4" midfield looks even taller with his crazy afro style hair.  He is a force in the air and talented with the ball, mostly though, it's his crazy hair.

Algeria (22) The Desert Warriors were lucky to end up in this group as this gives them a chance to make it out.  Unfortunately they have a serious lack of attacking players and will struggle to score goals.  This a scrappy team, however, so they could pull out a surprise but I think they will end this group in third place.

Player to watch: Madjid Bougherra - A center back who controls the defense, he will probably see a lot of action as Algeria will struggle to maintain possession.

Russia (18) Russia was starting to look like a real soccer threat around 2008 but then they failed to qualify for South Africa in 2010.  Russia was an exciting team to watch in 2008 as they hardly played any defense and were constantly trying to score.  Times have changed for Russia, while their defense is still a bit suspect they are a more balanced team.  The loss of their captain, Roman Shirakov, is a big one and if they were in any other group I would say they would not make it out, but their competition is weak, besides Belgium, and they will get second place.

Player to watch: Aleksandr Kerzhakov - One of the greatest goal scorers ever for Russia, he will have to perform to help his team.

Korea (55) The Taegeuk Warriors will struggle to perform in this group.  They are a young team and throughout qualifying games were constantly changing their lineup making it hard to predict who will even play.  Their lack of experience could hurt them.  I predict they will end up in fourth place.

Player to watch: Son Heung-Min - Currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen, this forward has shown that he can score goals.  He can play well with his left or right foot making him hard to defend.

Yup, I love World Cup ads

Group G

Deutschland (FIFA #2) Die Mannschaft is coming into this World Cup with a lot of pressure on them.  Germans have come to expect greatness from their teams and with the amount of talent they have that is not an unreasonable expectation.  Unfortunately they have faced a few recent injuries (Marco Reus in particular) but they should be able to overcome that and go deep in the tournament.  When Joachim Low took over the team in 2006 he changed the way they play soccer.  No longer was it all long passes and hard shots from outside the box but he incorporated a more Spanish style with players making multiple runs and shorter passes.  This has led to a much more enjoyable style of play for viewers.  Low has called up a number of young players who don't have as much experience.  Could this lead to a collapse under the pressure?  I don't think so, these young players have been playing under immense pressure for a number of years.  They will win this group.

Players to watch: Manuel Neuer - Neuer is probably one of the top 3 keepers in the world and he could get tested a bit against Portugal.  I don't see him getting much action in the next two games.  Mesut Ozil - Germans in general don't like Turks but they have fallen in love with this half Turk half Deutsch creative midfielder.  The Arsenal player has great vision and foot skills.

Portugal (4) Team Ronaldo! I kid, kind of.  They do have some other good players but unfortunately they have also been dealing with some injuries and that could disrupt the chemistry.  Currently recovering from injury, striker Ronaldo, center midfielder Raul Meireles and center back Pepe.  That is the spine of your team, not good.  They have a friendly against Ireland tonight and that will be the first time they could possibly have their starting lineup playing together.  Ronaldo has been dealing with tendinitis in his left knee which has prevented him from practicing at full strength until yesterday.  I think that Portugal will struggle in their first game against the mighty Germans.  Will they be able to rebound in game two against USA? Hmm.  Due to my completely biased opinion I think they will get third place behind the USA.

Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo - Duh.  One of the best looking dudes players in the world.  Dude has impeccable eye brows.  He always manages to put on a show and his physical capabilities are pretty freakish.  This team needs him.  Pepe - This dude is ugly and mean.  He is an extremely physical center back who likes to beat you up all game.  He also isn't afraid of a cheap shot or two.  Pepe is also coming off an injury and his country needs him.

Ghana (38) USA's nemesis.  The Black Stars have knocked out the USA in the last two World Cups.  In terms of Ronaldo's injury we can thank Ghana as a witchdoctor there has claimed to cause his injury.  Back to soccer, Ghana has a great midfield and they play a very attacking style of soccer.  Unfortunately their defense is a bit suspect and they will be prone to counter attacks.  I believe they will end in 4th place.

Player to watch: Michael Essien - Not afraid of contact this energetic midfielder can cause havoc on the pitch.  Having played for Chelsea, Real Madrid and now Milan, he knows that it is like to play under pressure.

United States of America (13) This is a brutal group for the Yanks.  Their only semi break of a game is against Ghana who they have not played well against.  Their best hope for getting out of the group stage is to beat Ghana in game one, tie Portugal in game two and lose respectfully against Germany thus putting them through by goal differential.  Maybe by game three Germany will have already locked up the group and the USA can catch them by surprise or against a B lineup.  I doubt that though.  Jurgen Klinsmann took over the team in 2011 and has been working on changing the whole culture of American soccer.  The first training sessions were almost nothing but running and weights with little ball work.  He wants this team to impose their will on other teams with overlapping runs and physical domination.  Jurgen also instantly started recruiting international players who had an American parent and could become US players.  This current roster has five German-Americans and one Icelandic-American.  I believe that this USA team can get second place in the group.  I am encouraged by the way they recently beat Nigeria, who plays a similar style to Ghana.  I am also encouraged that Jozy Altidore scored two goals in that game after being unable to score for the last 6 months.  This is a great time for him to get hot.  Jurgen has set himself up however, by not bringing on Landon Donovan.  Many believe that he would have to make the team due to his experience and leadership.  I am in the camp where I think it is ok that he isn't on the team.  While he is 32 years old he has been playing professionally since he was 17.  That is a lot of playing time.  He has even mentioned that he physically is not at the same level as he used to be.  The Yanks travel the most of any team this World Cup and play at some pretty bad times.  They will need to be as physically able as possible each game.  I understand that the World Cup is only every 4 years so you don't built a team while thinking about the next World Cup but I think it is important for a young player to take his spot.  If the USA loses three games though, oh man is Jurgen going to hear it.

Players to watch: Jozy Altidor - After leading the Dutch league in scoring in 2013 Altidore was signed by Sunderland with high hopes.  Oh man did he just have a crappy season.  He only managed 2 goals in 38 games.  He also went on a long scoring drought with the USA team leaving many to think that he had completely lost all confidence.  It looks like things have changed for Jozy as he just scored two goals in the USA's last friendly against Nigeria.  No better time to start getting hot.  Clint Dempsey - Probably be greatest striker the USA has ever created, Clint, can do some amazing things with the ball.  Michael Bradley - Bradley is probably the most important player on the USA squad.  All things go through him and he controls the center midfield.  It is crucial that he plays well, and he has the talent to do so.  

John Oliver on FIFA

This is all so true...

Group F

Argentina (FIFA #5) This is La Albiceleste's group to lose.  They are amazingly creative with the ball and play a very entertaining style of soccer.  Argentina has not progressed past the quarter finals since 1990 and I can see them making it that far again.

Players to watch: Lionel Messi - He is maybe THE player to watch in the whole tournament.  Surprisingly he did not score a single goal last World Cup but I certainly expect that to change this time around.  The guy can do amazing things with the ball.  Carlos Tevez - He is a bit older now but he is still extremely talented with the ball.  Also, he looks like a caveman.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (25) This will be their first appearance in a World Cup and they have the talent to get second place in Group F.  This is a very attacking team that looks to score a lot of goals.  In qualifying they performed quite well and could surprise some people.

Player to watch: Edin Dzeko - At 6'4" this striker uses his body and scores lots of goals.  He is known as the Bosnian Diamond.  Dzeko currently plays for Manchester City so he will be used to the high pressure of the World Cup.

Iran (43) While Iran is the number 1 ranked team in Asia they tend to struggle when playing competition from other continents.  I think they will end their World Cup experience with three losses.  Iran has made three World Cups and have only ever won 1 game.

Player to watch: Javad Nekounam - A central midfielder known for his passing, creativity and long range shots.  His long range shooting will be necessary because I do not see them getting too close to scoring.

Nigeria (45) The Super Eagles lucked out quite a bit during the qualifying rounds for the World Cup as they were in Africa's easiest group.  Even with this large advantage they struggled a bit at times and didn't dominate the way they were expected to.  I think they will end in third place.

Player to watch: Luckily Nigeria didn't call up Obafemi Martins so he will continue to play for the Sounders and help preserve first place in the West.  John Obi Mikel - This Chelsea midfielder is what holds the team together.  While he doesn't score goals, he keeps the team in the formation and controls the pace.

Group E

Switzerland (FIFA#8) While they have been to the World Cup tournament numerous times they have never really done much.  Last World Cup they did beat the eventual champion, Spain, in their first game but then failed to make it out of the group stage.  With their competition in this group I think they will make it out of the group stage in second place behind France.  While their FIFA rank is quite high I wouldn't put too much weight in it.

Player to watch: Xherdan Shaqiri - A speedy left footed winger who currently plays for Bayern Munich.

Ecuador (28) This will be the third World Cup appearance by La Tri.  In 2006 they made it out of the group stage but I do not seeing it happen this time.  In qualifying they were undefeated at home but struggled on the road.  While they will be used to climate I think the big stage will rattle them.

Player to watch: Antonio Valencia - This winger has played for Man U since 2009.  While his career peaked a few years ago, he is still a threat and can cause problems for defenders.

France (16) Les Bleus have been a dominant force in international soccer for many years.  Unfortunately the last 4 or so have not been too kind to them.  Last World Cup one player was kicked off the team and the players boycotted training before their third game.  They did not make it out of the group stage and were ripped by the media and fans.  This is a chance for redemption as they are in a weaker group.  I think France will win this group decisively.

Players to watch: Franck Ribery - I really, really dislike this guy but I can't deny that he has massive amounts of talent.  He is fast and extremely talented with the ball.  Ribery is often considered one of the best players in the world.  Oliver Giroud - This Arsenal striker is known for his goal scoring and great passes in the box.

Honduras (30) After a somewhat disappointing appearance in the 2010 World Cup, Honduras went through a youth movement and started bringing up many players.  This resulted in Honduras ending up in third place in CONCACAF and qualifying for another World Cup.  While they were able to beat Mexico in Azteca stadium in 2013 I do not seem them producing any more surprising victories.  I think they will end with two loses and maybe a tie to Ecuador.

Player to watch: Emilio Izaguirre - Currently playing for Celtic, this left back is known for known for also being an offensive weapon and giving great crosses.

Group D

Uruguay (FIFA #5) When the World Cup started until the 70s Uruguay was one of the world soccer super powers.  They then suffered a very long drought where they rarely played well or even qualified for a World Cup.  That all changed four years ago when they finished in fourth place in the tournament. This team is extremely talented and should definitely win this group.

Players to watch: Luis Suarez - This striker is currently one of the best players in the world having just won the Premier League Golden Boot with 31 goals in 33 games and being nominated the PFA Player of the Year.  He is a fiesty guy having been caught biting opposing players twice.   Dude also dives a lot.  I mean a lot.  Suarez is coming off of an injury but hopefully will be up to full speed in June.  Edinson Cavani - A striker with seemingly unlimited amounts of energy, this guys doesn't ever stop.  He also looks a lot better now that he got rid of the braces.

Costa Rica (34) Los Ticos is a decent team with a solid defense but unfortunately I don't see them playing very well away from home.  They will be up against too good of competition and I see them finishing 4th in this group.

Player to watch: Bryan Ruiz - This midfielder will be the focal point of the Costa Rican attack. Unfortunately he won't have much to work with.

England (11)  Being a member of the Three Lions is tough.  Due to the dominance of the English Premier League people expect England to always be one of the best teams.  People fail to remember that the EPL doesn't actually have a large percentage of English born players.  Just this year the EPL set a record low for English born players at 34.1%.  Now, that is still a pretty decent number of English born players in the league (75) but it doesn't mean they should automatically be considered one of the best nations out there.  Historically they have shown that they are not quite an elite team.  They are good, but not elite and open to collapsing on the big stage.  I think they will play hard and finish the group stage in second place.  England has a large number of young players who are starting to show off some serious abilities.

Players to watch: Wayne Rooney - I keep forgetting that he is only 28 years old.  While he has an older looking face he has also been on the national team since he was 17.  That's crazy.  He has great speed and a great knack for scoring goals.  Rooney is tough.  A couple of the young guys...Daniel Sturridge - In the last few years Sturridge has emerged as a very promising striker for England.  Jack Wilshere - A 22 year old central midfielder who plays for Arsenal.  Can play the whole field.

Italy (9) Historically Gli Azzuri have played some of the most boring soccer ever.  Score a goal and then just park the bus for the rest of the game.  Sooooo lame.  That has recently changed, however, as The Blues have committed to a more attacking style of soccer.  This is a team that is in transition and while they always seem to show up for the World Cup I think they will just miss the cut and end in third place.

Players to watch: Mario Balotelli - Maybe the biggest hot head in the tournament, this dude is mean but also extremely talented and scores some great goals.  Not many people have an ego like him either. Andrea Pirlo - At age 35 he is definitely a wily veteran.  Awesome on the free kicks.  Stephan El Shaarawy - Unfortunately The Pharaoh didn't get called to the team but keep an eye on him (His dad is Egyptian, hence the nickname).  Lots of talent and only 21 years old.  Also, crazy hair.  I'm really surprised he didn't get the call up.

Group C

Colombia (FIFA #5) Historically these guys have only made it out of the group stage once (Italy 1990).   I see them getting their second visit to the top 16.  While not as flashy as some of the other teams on their continent this team gets it done.  They have a solid defense and they know how to score goals.  I see them winning this group.

Player to watch: Falcao (El Tigre) - This guy scores goals.  In his two years at Atletico Madrid he scored 52 goals in 68 appearances.  A true striker this guy is often known as a poacher.  No defense from El Tigre to be seen.  Unfortunately he is coming off a knee injury and hasn't played competitively since the end of January.

Greece (10) The highlight of Greek soccer was when they amazingly won the Euro cup in 2004.  I do not see that happening here.  They are a solid team that does not concede goals.  Their usual score line is a win of 1-0.  I think they will end up in third place in their group after losing to Colombia and Ivory Coast.

Players to watch: Giorgos Karagounis - I'm really just picking him because he is 37 years old.  Dang old man, do your thing.  Dimitris Salpingidis - A small and very quick winger, he will lead their counter attacks.

Ivory Coast (21) These guys have made it to the World Cup two times but have never made it out of the group stage.  This will be their first time not being in a group of death so I believe they will get second place.  Of all the African teams these guys have the most talent.

Players to watch: Didier Drogba - This guy is a god there.  While he is a bit past his prime at the age of 36 he still scores amazing goals.  In this prime he was definitely one of the top players in the world.  He is big and strong and knows how to get it done.  I find him a bit frustrating at times because he will take the occasional dive when you know he could have just fought the defender off.  Yaya Toure - At 6'3" this guy is a big sized player who knows how to use his body.  Having played for Barcelona and now Manchester City he knows what it's like to be on the big stage.

Japan (47) The Samurai Blue will have a tough time with this group.  They have some talent but not enough to do much.  I see them losing two games and tying Greece.  In South Africa they surprisingly made it out of the group stage over Denmark, but again, I don't see that happening this time.

Player to watch: Keisuke Honda - This attacking midfielder takes some really good free-kicks.  He also had blond hair so that makes him stand out a bit for Japan.

Group B

Spain (FIFA #1)  The defending champions are stacked.  Other teams wish they had the players that Spain left off the team.  The Spanish midfield is one of the best ever.  Seriously, so much fun to watch.  Their first game should be a great one as it will be a repeat of the last World Cup final against the Netherlands.  This teams should win this group and go real deep in the tournament.

Players to watch: I could really name anyone on their team.  To pick a few though...Xavi and Iniesta.  These two make incredible passes all the time.  Their style of play is so good that your forget that what they can do is extremely hard.  Sergio Ramos - A very good and very aggressive defender who has a knack for scoring header goals on corners and free kicks.

Netherlands (15)  It is really too bad that they lost in the finals in the last World Cup.  I believe that was their prime year for it.  This team is still really good and shouldn't have any trouble beating Chile or Australia but I don't see them making it as far as they did four years ago.  Now that is not to say that they are any kind of pushover.  They have some world class players who are at the top of their game.

Players to watch: Robin Van Persie (RVP) - He has become one of the top strikers in the world.  The dickhead left Arsenal and went to Manchester United where he played extremely well until getting hurt.  He will be fine for the tournament and should score a number of goals.  Arjen Robben - Although he looks like he is 42 he is only 30.  Extremely talented and very creative.

Chile (13) This is the first time that Chile has qualified for two World Cups in a row.  In the qualifiers they started off hot, lost a few games, fired their coach, hired a new one, and got hot again.  They are a purely attacking team.  They score lots of goals but they also get scored on a lot.  I don't see that playing out well for them against the two teams mentioned above.

Player to watch: Alexis Sanchez - This forward plays for Barcelona and knows how to score.  Since 2011 he has scored 39 goals while appearing in 88 games.  That is pretty darn good.

Australia (59)  The Socceroos are going to have a rough World Cup.  They struggled to qualify against some pretty bad teams and this not much for a reward.  Play three games, then fly home.

Player to watch: Tim Cahill - A 34 year old forward who plays in the MLS.  Yup, that's all they got.

Group A

After each group was drawn, back in December 2013, I did a quick little write up on how I thought each team would fair.  Much more soccer has been played since then with different players getting hurt and some players rising to great form.  I figured it was time to look at the groups again and give my predictions.

Group A

Brazil...Croatia...Mexico...Cameroon

Brazil (FIFA #4)  There probably hasn't ever been a host team with as much pressure on them to perform as the Brazilians.  Since winning the Confederations Cup people seem to think that they are the clear favorite.  I am not so sure.  This is a Brazilian team that is still growing and developing.  I definitely think they will win the group stage though.

Players to watch: Neymar - kid has crazy skill and can do amazing things with the ball.  He also is an amazing diver.  David Luiz aka Sideshow Bob will probably score a header goal at some point.

Croatia (#20)  In qualifying for the World Cup these guys started off cruising...and then the wheels fell off for some reason.  After barely qualifying their manager resigned and they are now under new leadership.  Can they regroup and get second place in Group A? Unfortunately I don't think they can and will barely miss the cut to Mexico.

Players to watch: Luka Modric - a great playmaker who makes some amazing passes.  Mario Mandzukic - a big forward who currently plays for Bayern Munich.  Unfortunately, due to a red card he will miss the first game.

Mexico (#19) Their last group game should be a great one against Croatia.  I can see both teams playing for the second position in this one.  Mexico always makes it out of the group stage and then lose.  Seriously, they have done that the last 5 times.  I think that will happen again.  Mexico has been struggling the last year and only qualified because of some help from the USA.  I think they will be able to get it together with their new coach to just squeak by and then lose.

Players to watch: Chicharito - while he struggles to get playing time for Man U he is still really talented.  Giovani dos Santos - little man is crazy fast and usually plays on the wing but as of late he has been wanting to play more attacker for Villareal.

Cameroon (#50) These guys struggled a bit to qualify against some lesser African teams.  Historically however, they seem to show up and play decently in the World Cup.  They could pull out a surprise here but I think in the end they will up in 4th.

Player to watch: Samuel Eto'o - the 33 yr old was off in Russia playing out the end of his career when he took a massive pay cut to play for Chelsea.  He then proceeded to score 9 goals in 21 appearances proving that he is still a force.  There were rumors he was going to come to MLS but after this last season I don't see that happening.

World Cup!

USA in the World Cup

This is going to start turning into a soccer blog this summer...

Delivery

JohnnyExpress from AlfredImageworks on Vimeo.

Mentos

Obama Tells Jokes

Vines Compilation 2014

Enjoy...and relax

I want one of these

GoT Lip Reading

I don't like how much I laughed at this...

If you are going to do something...fully jump in.

AT&T True Detective

Game of Thrones

Need to catch up on Game of Thrones?  This will help.

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

Bane Cat

Two Different Opinions

Cadillac:




Ford:

That's Hustle

GoPro Superman

Crush It!

)

Kona Kitchen!

)

True Detective

One second a day

This is an interesting way to get your point across.

EDEKA Supergeil

One of my cousins sent this to me, she is a cashier at an EDEKA grocery store.  This is definitely one way to advertise.  Real quick, geil is a slang word that started probably about 10 years ago.  Originally it meant that something was sexy or horny but has since just become a general word for awesome or sweet.

This would make the Olympics awesome

I want to see this in 4 years.

AC/DC and Cellos

Parks and Rec meets Guardians of the Galaxy

In case you want to see the actual trailer

Nathan's Top 10

2013 Top Ten Albums

1. The Weeknd – Kissland – I seriously love this dude.  This has nothing to do with how I listen to him but he is the greatest example of a dude looking NOTHING like what he sounds.  He looks like black Kool-Aid Man but then sings like a dark Michael Jackson (mood not a skin tone joke…).  His brooding lush but hunting feel draws me into such a mood where I feel almost wolfish.  Like I am confined to wandering dark alleys but then feel as if I am constantly dodging raindrops.  I love it.  “The Professional” and “Wanderlust” are incredible examples of this sound.  There are some misses here too but considering the expectations I went into, I am extremely happy with this album.  

2. Polica – Shulamith – Back in 2011 Polica’s debut album, “Give You the Ghost,” carried me through a very sad period.  Their sound felt very ethereal and disconnected almost tragic.  I still listen to that album but it, happily, doesn’t feel the same to me anymore.  My concern was that whatever they did next was going to sound like that and I wouldn’t find myself as connected to or loving it.  “Shulamtih” is a wonderful next step in Polica’s sound.  This album possesses the same layered rhythms and space age vocals as before but now has some fire and aggressiveness to it in places.  Perfect match to my mood and feel for 2013.  Love “Very Cruel” and  “Vegas” show that off perfectly.  Also love “Tiff,” “I Need $,” and “Smug.”

3. Pusha T – My Name is My Name – I have never been a huge fan of the Clipse.  Their albums, while critically adored, would always lose my interest as their beats seemed really boring.  Like DJ Premier the Clipse would take maybe three or four seconds of a sample and then just play it over and over for a whole song with no other hooks or beats or mixing anything up.  Drove me crazy.  So when I saw that Pusha T , one half of the Clipse, was dropping his own album I didn’t even check it out.  It was not until I read the 10^th review of the album singing its praises that I decided to give it a listen – so glad I did!  While the album is filled with guest spots, which when done wrong can be a little distracting, it is rock solid.  Pharell, Rick Ross, The Dream, Future and Chris Brown to name a few. Songs I like: “Numbers on the Board,” “Pain,” and “Sweet Surrender.”

4. The National – Trouble Will Find Me – I have been a fan of The National for a long time.  Matt Berniger’s voice kicks my a**.  I say this over and over again but the deep melancholy sound reverberates through my conscious and then lays over my thoughts like the morning frost.  In my silly fantastical moments I envision myself sounding just like him if I was ever a singer.  Hundreds of car rides throughout 2013 involved me singing lines from “I Need My Girl” and “This Is the Last Time.”  Other big ones for me are “Humiliation” and “Fireproof.”  While not my favorite of theirs it was a considerable step up from their last album.  Sh*t, who am I kidding, they could put out an album of Berniger singing a Taco Bell menu and I’d still put it in my top ten (“Seven laaaayer burrrritttttto…”).

5. Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels – Might be one of my favorite hip-hop albums ever.  Killer Mike’s delivery and flow remind me of a smarter young Ice Cube (his “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” is still an all time favorite).  He has force, flow and grit.  And then you add El-P’s beats and occasional lyrics?  Reeeeeediculous.  Beautiful big loud bold collaboration.  Big hits for me, “DDFH,” “Sea Legs,” “Banana Clip,” and “Job Well Done.”  On top of all of this – the album was a free download.  Number one in my book.

6. Jason Isbell – Southeastern – Haunting and lovely.  While not nearly that huge of a fan of the Drive By Truckers, I do absolutely love the solo endeavors of their two lead singers.  Patterson Hood’s effort from 2012 made it onto my top ten list and Jason Isbell does here.  “Cover Me Up” and “Live Oak” stand out to me – but the whole album is made for a long drive alone in Eastern Washington or the high prairie of central Oregon.

7. J Cole – Born Sinner – Like Kendrick Lamar we have another fresh strong young mc.  Love J Cole’s flow, bounce, lyrics and humor.  Insightful, fun, poignant.  Favorites are “Trouble,” “Runaway,” “Chaining Day,” and “Rich Niggaz.”  I’m excited to see what this kid does going forward.

8. Foals – Holy Fire –  To be honest, even if the rest of the album was complete garbage it would still land on the top ten list because of one song: “Late Night.”  It is a flawless song.  There are essentially three parts to it, 1) the quiet fragile opening, 2) then the beat drops as “I’m the last cowboy in this town” is sung and the song gets driving along with urgency, power and haunting regret, then 3) the song dips and twists again to an incredibly funky almost 70’s style guitar picking.  There are two videos associated with the song.  The original one is a bizarre story of love, sex, birth and death – sit tight as you watch it.  A second version was filmed in the wee hours of night at a closed Paris library – very very cool.  The rest of the album has some other gems like “Everytime” and “Milk & Black Spiders” but I wouldn’t blame you if you get stuck listening to just “Late Night.”  It’s worth it.

9. Kanye West – Yeezus – I say this all the time about Kanye.  Can’t stand the dude but dig his music and how he goes about it.  I get that this sounds really hokey but I appreciate that Kanye continually tries to push his music and advance the art of hip hop.  It doesn’t always succeed but I give him a lot of credit for the work he puts into it.  Here, he takes big bold stabs with Yeezus.  For me, “Blood on the Leaves” is genius.  His meshing of his angst (“We coulda been somebody!”), hurt, anger, resentment all to Nina Simone’s sample kicked my ass all year.  I might have listened to that song more than all other songs this past year (except for “Late Night” by Foals).  “I am a God,” “Black Skinhead” and “Bound 2” are also good.

10. Drake – Nothing Was the Same – I tend to like Drake more than most of my friends.  He has been accused of being too wimpy or a whiner but I appreciate that element.  This album is thus the same as his past stuff.  Some songs bounce, some are more subdued, some good, some bad.  Nothing too great but consistent. Songs I like: “Own It,” “Pound Cake” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home.”

11. Rhye – Woman – Ass kicking album.  Haunting and beautiful and fragile and sexy.  Ridiculously seductive songs like “Open,” “The Fall” and “Shed Some Blood.”  Great mood music.  Dig it.

Canadian Bobsled Offseason

What do these athletes do in the summer?

 

Ryan Berry via Google+

2 months ago

 

Only in Canada can Bobsledding be this COOL.

Never Forget

Go Hawks!

Cloudline

Here is the music video from Portland-based The Band Joseph of the song they performed at a wedding ceremony my wife and I went to on NYE.  Part of the ceremony even made it to the video.  It you look reeeeeally hard you can see me in the background when they are walking down the aisle.

Lego Bloopers

GoPro at 650 Meters

Double Luge POV

Apparently 2014 is quickly turning into the year of GoPro videos.

GoPro: From Airplane to Pig Farm

This GoPro fell out of an airplane and landed in a pig farm.  It was found eight months later.  Supposedly.

Olympic Super G POV

The Big Lipinksi

Unititled

bigpoppacreamy

3 months ago

I have never been more aroused in my life

Guest Post: Danny's Younger Brother Has Better Taste In Music Than You And A Flippant Disregard For When "Best Of" Lists Should Be Posted

BEST ALBUMS OF 2013

10. Little Green Cars “Absolute Zero”

These kids are so fucking young. Like, scary young. I saw them live and was like “Yo, it is very dangerous to have babies near this much electrical equipment. For reals, this is irresponsible, guys.”

9. The Growlers “Hung At Heart”

I thought that on the song “Naked Kids” Brooks Nielsen was saying he had an “epiphany beaver.” Which makes sense cause this album makes me want to waste my days doing hallucinogens and then have dirty, salty sex on some beach in California.

8. Tame Impala “Lonerism”

There is a strong argument to be made here about how rock and roll isn’t dead. And it has absolutely nothing to do with The Black Keys. The drums alone on this album are unreal. Just go through every song and listen to Jay Watson lay down some tasty organic, free-range beats.

7. Local Natives “Hummingbird”

This album is better than Gorilla Manor. That may be controversial to some. But hey, fuck you.

6. Vampire Weekend “Modern Vampires of the City”

YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO YOLO #SpringBreak4ever

(this video is the best) 

5. Phoenix “Bankrupt!”

Phoenix seems like a band we can all enjoy.

(just watch the whole thing)

4. Earl Sweatshirt “Doris”

The long awaited sophomore album from Odd Future prodigal son Earl Sweatshirt did not disappoint. Which is probably its biggest triumph. The amount of hype surrounding the most lyrically gifted disappearing act of the collective set up the return to the public eye to be a let down. The stakes had never been higher. With conspiracy theories abound about Tyler, The Creator’s "Wolf" and many people finally growing wise the shock value violence of OFWGKTA’s style of rap, this album had to be something different. And it delivered. With dark beats that vary and a technically proficient flow, and a lyrical style that seems to roll out of Earl’s mouth in a way all his own, "Doris" was unlike any previous OF albums. It also showed a significant amount of character growth for the young rapper. No longer are there quips about anal raping nuns. Instead we are delivered personal struggle, strife, and dreams. The best guest appearance on the album is also the most unexpected as the soulful Frank Ocean drops his crooning veneer to spit what appears to be the second half of what was started on his own “Super Rich Kids” from the critically successful “Channel Orange.” The album was solid start to finish, ending on a particularly high watermark with the gorgeous “Knight.” Tripped out slowing vocals over a Christian Rich beat (which is distinctly reminiscent of Flying Lotus), Earl ends wandering off both lyrically and literally with the send off: “Young, black and jaded/ Vision hazy, strolling through the night.”

3. DARKSIDE “Psychic”

I started smoking weed this year.

(This is a picture of a kitten in a sweater.  I didn't post music here because you really have to listen to this album all the way through from start to finish with headphones on. Look at the picture while you do. I dunno. Weed is legal now in Washington, so do what you want.)

2. ASAP Rocky “Long. Live. ASAP.”

Did you forget that this album came out in 2013? I didn’t. It was fantastic.

1. Portugal. The Man “Evil Friends”

As heard featured in this TacoBell commercial. Art is dead. Long live art.