In 2010 I ... Reflected on Some Great Music

Diana put together a great list of her favorite songs from the past year, and requested I do the same for comparison's sake. I can't remember a year I was more excited about music than 2009, so I'm happy to oblige. I love all of these tunes for such different reasons I couldn't possibly rank them, so I'm just tossing them out in alphabetical order by artist.

I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
My Love - The Bird and the Bee
Furr - Blitzen Trapper
Blood Bank - Bon Iver
I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria
Special Party Time for Everyone - Lucy Michelle & The Velvet Lapelles
Sick Muse - Metric
Stadium Love - Metric
Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons
24 Hours - Noisettes
This Tornado Loves You - Neko Case
The Reeling - Passion Pit
The Fixer - Pearl Jam
1901 - Phoenix
Girlfriend - Phoenix
Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
Who You Gonna Run To - Solid Gold
Feeling the Pull - The Swell Season
Someday - Tegan & Sara
When We Swam - Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Island, IS - Volcano Choir
You and I - Wilco
Islands - The xx
VCR - The xx
Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

So there they are - 25 of the songs I listened to most last year. I would have listed 7+ songs from Phoenix's "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" but I know everyone is already familiar with my obsession. And while all these songs were actually released in 2009, there were many more I discovered throughout the year (like Broken Social Scene's "Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl" which might be from 2002 ...) that I would have added if not for the year criteria.

Looking forward to what's coming in 2010, and already counting the moments til The xx show in April.

*UPDATE* I was foolish to think I could do this in just 25 songs. This bundle should have also made my original list:

Wild at Heart - Lookbook
Touches You - Mika
Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear
Come Monday Night - God Help the Girl
Heartbeat Radio - Sondre Lerche

In 2010 I ... Warmed My Winter Heart

For quite some time, a lovely group of neighborhood friends and I have been eating and drinking together.


Last year this group was formalized into something now simply referred to as Dinner Club. I think I can speak for everyone that our absolute favorite activity is patio drinking, with patio dining as a close second.

With Minneapolis winter in full effect, we've moved indoors to a new favorite late night happy hour spot - Roat Osha. Quite frankly, it's the perfect spot for a winter warm up with oodles of red wine, vodka tonics and "deep-fried Roat Osha food babies" (maternity clothing optional). Topped off with a nightcap at The Bulldog, it was the best way to make it through a freezing, snowy Wednesday.

Who could ask for anything more?

In 2010 I ... Launched a Website

Yep, an actual website. Now keep in mind I wasn't writing the code or programming the CMS, but I led the development/management, handled copy writing, and even took some images that are (temporarily) on display. I've worked on web projects in the past, but this one really felt like it stayed true to the goal from start to finish. (Not to mention it came in on time and under budget. What a rare treat.)

If you're ever looking for a dedicated freelance web developer, I can't recommend CK Creative Design enough. Chris Klimek is fantastic at what he does, great to work with and an all-around nice guy.

The sad part is I cannot think of a single reason for another work-related web project in '10. Better get brainstorming ...

In 2010 I ... threw a Holiday Recovery party

The Holiday Recovery party has become a bit of a tradition with a great group of college friends. Erin, Nikki, Anne and I have been friends for what will soon scarily be 10 years, and this party marked the 3rd year we've gathered at my 750-square-foot condo for beverages, food, games, more beverages, and a slumber party. And since Anne brings TJ (they are married, after all) and Erin brings Kyle (they live together, after all) it's a tight squeeze that involves more than one air mattress.

To Kyle's dismay we mostly recount stories from time spent at Winona State (he's the only non-WSU grad) but also from recovery parties past - like the year Kyle and TJ ran 5 blocks to Hum's in icy, below-zero temperatures (less than 10 minutes before it closed) for a bottle of Jagermeister. Upon arrival back at my place, they each took one shot. The bottle then sat in my freezer for 2 months before I regifted it at another party.

These moments are the reason for the blog. The weddings and cabin trips and birthday celebrations are photographed and memorable, but these are the things that I don't want to forget - the things that fill the moments in between.

In 2010 I ... saw Solid Gold on NYE

No real introduction here - I'm just diving in. 2010 has started and this year, I'm keeping track. With my (seemingly) rapidly fading memory - and constant reminders that I "never remember anything" - I can and will now that it's getting written down.

The year started off superbly with a fun evening of champagne, beer, whiskey, the CC Club, Solid Gold show and after-party. Jason, Cooper and Dave provided immense amounts of entertainment. Also, I would post some of the 100+ photos Dave took, but after swallowing his memory card, it seems unlikely those will surface. (Believe me, if they do, they will be deserving of a dedicated post for numerous reasons.)



I also think it was the first NYE that I didn't catch even a minute of television. No ball drop, no anchors discussing resolutions, no faux-excitement at 11 pm CST when midnight strikes in New York. And I've decided I much prefer it that way (Sorry, Mr. Clark).

Excited to see what the rest of the year has in store. Cheers to remembering it all.