On the books I read in 2013

So, I aimed to read 65 books in 2013.
According to GoodReads, I more than exceeded my expectations, with 17 766 pages (half of which is A Game of Thrones) and 88 books (as I’m writing this I still have 25.5 hours left of 2013 so I’m aiming for 90 to be honest, as I’m halfway through both Lords and Ladies, and Allegiant). The Animorphs-series are a big part of the reason why I’m over the limit though, I must admit, being 54 of the actual books I have read (this is not a lie and I am not embarrassed). Here’s a list of some of my favourite book(s) (series) this year (in no particular order). This has been a YA year, if you were wondering.

(Two posts in short succession, whooo)

1. Animorphs (obvs)
   The best book series about kids turning into animals and fighting snail aliens ever. I am madly in love with Tobias now and forever, which is why I am not actually finishing the last couple of books but leaving them ignored in my iBooks folder, giving him and his mother their happy ending. Because they’re worth it. (And I can’t kill of Rachel, for the love of God!)
2. The Brokeback Mountain short story
   Because I cried.
3. Divergent
   I enjoyed this series, especially when I was told that Four was based on my Tobias. Fast read, to a certain extent engaging but not better than
4. The Hunger Games series
   I didn’t really have a favourable opinion of these books the first time I read them, but after the second read through and the films (and my new-found love for Peeta) I find myself quite fond of them. These are also easy to read without focussing too much, which is a plus when you know you should be doing school related reading (reading whilst guilt tripping is sort of meditative, actually).
5. Little Birds
   I never thought I’d read erotica by Anaïs Nin and much less admit to it, but there I was and here I am. Sweet and saucy short stories. I’ll move on.
6. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
   Gah, I love me some dystopian science fiction, and this is a good one.
7. Into The Wild
   I have tried starting this for at least a couple of years and finally finished it – and it is très good. Still haven’t watched the film (I know, I know).
8. The Stepford Wives
   Creeeeeeepy.

On 2013’s taste in music

Here we are again.

It’s been a while, and I’m sorry to say I’m not sorry. I must admit it feels good to blog in English though so, who knows, I might end up being more active here after this (I feel) obligatory post.

Here I will list the top ten artists/albums/songs I have listened to the most in 2013 (taken from last.fm) with some links, just like last year, the year before and the year before before. I like to think the lists are slightly different from previous years but it is, if anything, a regression. Anyway, here goes:

Top ten artists in 2013:

1. Bright Eyes
   
2. Keaton Henson
3. A Fine Frenzy
4. Angus and Julia Stone
5. Azure Ray
6. The Mynabirds
7. Rilo Kiley
8. My Chemical Romance
9. Marina & The Diamonds
10. Brand New

Top ten albums in 2013:

1. Digital Ash in a Digital Urn (Bright Eyes)
2. Birthdays (Keaton Henson)
3. Dear… (Keaton Henson)
4. Generals (The Mynabirds)
5. One Cell in the Sea (A Fine Frenzy)
6. Pines (A Fine Frenzy)
7. Down the Way (Angus and Julia Stone)
8. A Book Like This (Angus and Julia Stone)
9. Cassadaga (Bright Eyes)
10. Noise Floor (Bright Eyes)

Top ten songs in 2013:

1. Keaton Henson – Small Hands
2. A Fine Frenzy – Ashes And Wine
3. Rilo Kiley – Let Me Back In
4. Brand New – Jesus Christ
5. A Fine Frenzy – Swan Song
6. Keaton Henson – Sweetheart, What Have You Done To Us
7. A Fine Frenzy – What I Wouldn’t Do
8. Bright Eyes – Untitled (Lovers Turn Into Monsters)
9. Keaton Henson – You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are
10. Marina & the Diamonds – Radioactive

On The Thermals’ Saddle Creek playlist

I don’t know why I feel the need to
start the title with ‘On…’ when I’m not actually going to say anything much on the topic. Anyway…

I just wanted to share the Saddle Creek playlist made by Hutch Harris for Baeble music, cause people (should) enjoy listening to good new music, and there might be some tracks here you haven’t heard before.

First of all, I don’t know how to get a PodSnack mixtape onto WordPress, so here’s a link to it.

Secondly, here’s a song by the Thermals:

(I love how you can follow the music and the … graph thing. I don’t know, it’s slightly satisfying.)

Okay, and then here and down is from the article, talking about the songs:

I’ve been a fan of Saddle Creek for about as long as they’ve been around. Here are my top ten tracks from my favorite Saddle Creek bands.

1. Bright Eyes – “Pull My Hair”

Conor Oberst may be known for doom and gloom, but he’s a sexy motherfucker as well, and one of the few songwriters of my generation who can actually write about sex without being crass. This song is a perfect example of that. Kathy (Foster, Thermals bassist) and I organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland, and we’ve been bros ever since. 

2. Cursive – “Big Bang”

The Thermals and Cursive toured together back in 2006. We had just released The Body, The Blood, The Machine, they were promoting Happy Hollow. It was very appropriate, considering both records were gigantic slabs of blasphemy. We got along great with these guys, and yes we’ve been bros ever since.

3. The Faint – “Sex Is Personal”

One of many awesome bands Conor Oberst turned me on to. The Faint were not only far ahead of the dance rock revolution of the ’00s, they were much darker and way more punk than most of their contemporaries. 

4. Azure Ray – “Sleep”

Before this list turns into a total sausage fest, let’s get Azure Ray in here. From their gorgeous self-titled LP, “Sleep” is the perfect breather from all the male angst surrounding it. Orenda and Maria create some of the most beautiful, soothing lullabies these ears have ever heard.

5. Commander Venus – “Lock N’ Chase”

Whoa, who the hell are these guys? This is a sweet track by a band that never really got the credit they deserved. I don’t know what ever happened to these guys. Wherever they are, I hope they’re doing well and still making great music.

6. Now It’s Overhead – “Blackout Curtain”

Andy Lemaster is the great unsung hero of Saddle Creek. Intricate songwriting, impeccable production, and have you seen the guy? He’s a doll! If at this point you’re thinking I only signed with Saddle Creek so I could try and sleep with most of their bands, you’re right.

7.Ladyfinger (ne) – “Over and Over”

These fucking guys were on the Cursive/Thermals tour as well, good for them! They stood next to giants and lived to tell the tale. Great band, great bros, GREAT drinkers. God bless their souls.

8. The Good Life – “October Leaves”

Do I have to say it again? I do. BROS. Bros for life. If I got to marry one Saddle Creek band, it would be The Good Life.

9. Big Harp – “Some People Are Born Strange”

Oh, it looks like Stef from The Good Life is ALREADY MARRIED. Well good thing her husband is not only quite handsome but also a really good singer. This band is fantastic! I guess I’m only marrying the dudes in The Good Life.

10. Desaparecidos – “Greater Omaha”

Yeah, this mix begins and ends with Conor Oberst, why shouldn’t it? When Saddle Creek bleeds, it tastes like Conor. With Bright Eyes, Oberst proves how easily he can break your heart. With Desaparecidos, he shows how eager he is to smash your face in as well.

On the Team Love library

Just wanted to tip y’all off to Team Love’s library
which basically is a place online where you can get free music.

When Team Love started we had the simple and possibly self-defeating notion that posting all our albums on the website as free downloads would be a good detour around the wreckage of the music industry and a way to avoid getting bogged down in the number one topic of discussion and distraction: piracy, illegal downloads, P2P networks and so on.

Five years later and the debate still drones in the background, and while some bands have adopted a mutated version of the “free download” (pay what you wish, etc), we’ve decided to reshape our policy in a different direction and introduce the Team Love Library. Each month (or so) we’ll be rotating the Library’s selections, featuring different Team Love albums as well as exclusive content such as unreleased songs, live or remixed versions of TL favorites.

The library will be open to the public 24/7, and as we have an endless abundance of MP3’s (we fucked up and made too many of them), anything you take from the library is yours to keep. You will not be notified if you fail to return something on time, and you will not lose your library privileges if you share selections with friends.

I’m not sure if it’s updated often, but there’s still so much great music to check out, so take a trip over, make an account and enjoy. You can find stuff from David Dondero, Nik Freitas, Simon Joyner, Tilly & The Wall, Willy Mason, Refried Ice Cream, The Berg Sans Nipple…

Whatcha waitin’ for?

(And as always, feel free to also pay a visit to their shop, where there’s even more good music to be found. And t-shirts, if you’re into that kind of thing.)

On Chris (Simpsons artist)

You know the world is a weird place
when (possibly actually, likely humorist) autistic (or otherwise engaged?) Facebook page user Chris (Simpsons artist) speaks more truth than most others, and makes more sense than almost everyone else. He is pretty brilliant.

it is oscar pistorius and he had the whole world at his feet but he didnt even care so he just took off his legs and through it all away. i think that it is really sad that he killed his wife and i think that he will be feeling really down just now but i dont think that he will be feeling as down as his wifes mum and dad because they will never be able to hold their daughters hand ever again while she is alive and i think that being able to have guns for yourself is just not right because i think that only weak people need to have guns and it is the people who cant sort out their problems with their voices and their words who need to have some guns for themself to just shoot anything they cant be bothered with and i remember having a watch of oscar pistorius on my television when it was the olympics and i remember shouting come on just run for gods sake at my television because he was being a inspiration for people who have had some struggle in their life and he made a lot of people with no legs feel good about themselfs because they were fashionable but now he has just made everyone feel depressed and unfashionable and i think that if he had just stepped back on his stilts and actually thought about what he was doing then he wouldnt be where he is now and his beautiful wife would still be able to hold her mum and dads hands but now the only place that he will be jogging to is jail and it is all his own fault. Chris (Simpsons artist) xox