SIPPY CUP EVERYTHING

born vermonter recovering bostonian aspiring southerner

[sippycupeverything]

Regional Best of 2018 Lists

Milwaukee Record: 25 Best Milwaukee Albums

KQED: 10 Best Bay Area Albums Nashville Scene: Top Local Albums Seattle Times: Best Seattle Albums of 2018 Hartford Courant: 2018's top 20 albums by Connecticut musicians The Current: 10 Notable Minnesota Albums of 2018 Now Toronto: The 10 best Toronto albums of 2018 Now Toronto: The 101 Best Toronto Songs of 2018 Tennessean: The best Nashville albums of 2018 CultMTL: The Top 30 Montreal Songs of 2018

Creative Loafing Tampa: Check Out Tampa Bay's Best Local Music Releases of 2018 Detroit Times: The Best Local Albums, Singles, and EPs

Columbus Alive: Andy Downing’s Top Five Local Albums of 2018 Columbus Alive: Joel Oliphint’s Top Five Local Albums of 2018

Reno Gazette Journal: Best Local Songs of 2018 Seven Days (Vermont): The Best Local Recordings of 2018 Boise Weekly: Best Local Albums of 2018

San Diego City Beat: The 10 Best Local Albums of 2018

Time Out (Singapore): 6 Best Locals Albums of 2018

Dig Boston: The Best Local Albums of 2018

Charleston Post and Courier: Top 10 Charleston Albums of 2018

Houston Chronicle: The Best Houston Albums of 2018

[sippycupeverything]

KANYE WEST INNOCENT ??????

I’m not understanding why Kanye gets a pass for his tweet two days ago that read, “BILL COSBY INNOCENT !!!!!!!!!!”. I spent the late afternoon watching the majority of music twitter report live from his listening party at MSG or suffer from massive FOMO, and it just seemed to counter all of the recent progress the entertainment industry has made: towards sexual assault, rape, those who commit it, and those who sympathize with those who commit it.

Here are the only scenarios I could see someone coming up with:

Kanye’s tweet was a joke. Well, that’s not funny. Just put yourself in the shoes of someone who was assaulted by Bill and read that tweet again.

Kanye’s didn’t mean what he tweeted. Pretty irresponsible of Kanye. People drink his words like kool-aid. His tweets are literally the news. Until he clarifies, I read that tweet as his #take on Bill.

Bill Cosby is in fact innocent. Actually he’s guilty.

If I’m missing something, feel free to let me know because I’d truly love to listen. But it kind of sounds like everyone is sweeping his tweet under the rug.

[sippycupeverything]

Cool, I was at this panel. The whole hour is great and you should really watch it from front-to-back, but two personal highlights below:

13:44 Britt Daniel of Spoon “Rainy Taxi”

Karen Glauber asks Britt, “When you’re writing a song, do you ever stop and say, ‘that’s too obvious’ and take a left?” It’s a great question, as it’s one of my favorite things about Britt’s songwriting... things never get too comfortable in a Spoon song. 

After answering in the affirmative, They Want My Soul‘s “Rainy Taxi” is performed, which hosts one of the most brilliant bridges I think I’ve ever heard. The song is practically a vehicle for the chords just between 16:17 to 16:49, and every single one is a left turn, unexpected and rewarding.

31:35 Matthew Caws of Nada Surf “Friend Hospital”

During the panel, I somehow missed the fact that Matthew Caws is the fella from Nada Surf. Despite their records affecting me at different points in my life, I had never remembered his name or seen his face, and Caws’ speaking voice isn’t particularly distinctive. But anyone who’s ever heard “Blizzard of ‘77“ or “Fruit Fly” will be able to recognize who’s singing after literally the first syllable.

I can probably partially attribute the sleep deprivation and sensational fuckery that happens at SXSW, but hearing Caws perform this song slightly wrecked me! I think I have a better idea of the lyrical content after a few more listens, but at that moment, something about the lines, “so much better that we’re not together / cause I will not lose you / or be the blues to you” made the room get real dusty. 

[sippycupeverything]

My SXSW experience this year was a complete turnaround from the year prior. Some of this can be attributed to representing a company I’ve worked at for over a year, but other factors worked in my favor: many artists I wanted to see were playing back-to-back at venues near each other, and many people I wanted to hang out with were seeing the artists I wanted to see. I dunno, sometimes these things just work out.

[sippycupeverything]

SOME REGIONAL BEST OF 2014 LISTS

CultMTL's top 30 Montreal songs

Milwaukee Record's 25 best Milwaukee albums

RedEye's top 10 Chicago albums

Baltimore City Paper's top 10 local singles Baltimore City Paper's top 10 local albums

Tone Madison's top 20 Madison records of 2014

Oregonian's 7 essential Portland albums you may have missed in 2014

City Pages' Best Minneapolis Punk Albums of 2014

Orlando Weekly's look back on 2014 in the Orlando music scene

Seattle Weekly's top local albums of 2014

Indy Week: The Triangle's 25 Best Albums of 2014

[sippycupeverything]

Rivers Cuomo "God Only Knows"

First, just acknowledge that Rivers decided to set up a camera, film himself playing a cover and upload it to YouTube. He's one of those people. And while 99% of these videos feature severely butchered, spin-in-your-grave renditions of someone else's music, it does take a certain type of personality to subject themselves the Mordor of comment sections. I can admire that. As expected this version is sparse and amateur, but even with the strained notes, I really enjoy hearing Rivers deliver Brian Wilson's lyrics and melody. And it sure beats the hell out of this.

[sippycupeverything]

2014 COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVERYTHING LEFT AT MY HOUSE BY A MEMBER OF A TOURING BAND

phone charger for car

novel

phone charger

Jaegermeister lighter

quick-dry towel

lighter and “lighter leash”

electric shaver

set o’ keys

brush

toothpaste

bag o’ toiletries

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

[sippycupeverything]

On a road trip beginning next week. Let me know if you have a bed/couch/floor I could sleep on in New Orleans (November 13th) or Asheville (November 15th). Thanks!

[sippycupeverything]

$5 REWARD

Give me the name for the thing when a song begins on an upbeat, making you think it's the 1. Your brain gets all turned around and needs to "reset".

I think "Bring on the Night" by The Police is a good example. I feel "reset" only when the first chorus hits, thanks to Andy Summers' guitar chords. From then on it's smooth sailing.

There must be a name for the thing.

[plebtrash]