SYP Says

Best Songs of 2007: Week of 12/24-12/31: Imitosis by Andrew Bird

2008 NOTE! Click here for a new year of Best Songs of the Week...2008 style! Now on to the rest of the 2007 show.

"Imitosis" by Andrew Bird 

To end the year on a more cerebral note... Here, Chicago singer/songwriter/guitarist/violinist/whistler extraordinaire Andrew Bird conjures up a mix of eccentric indie pop, folk, zydeco, and jazz. In addition to his solo work, he's collaborated with everyone from the Squirrel Nut Zippers and Bowl of Fire to Neko Case and Ani DiFranco (whose label Righteous Babe Records released a couple of his more recent albums). This song has a swing and easiness to it that I really like, plus how can you go wrong with a tune that has a main character named Professor Pynchon?

He apparently uses two Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler Stompboxes and a Boss OC3 Super Octave Shifter to give his violin a much deeper sound. Will have to check those out for myself.

Here's the "Imitosis" video...nice socks!

Best Music of 2007

These are my picks for the Top 12 Albums of 2007. My criteria was simple--I just had to love the album straight through from start to finish. The ones below made my cut. I'm prepared for you to disagree. Noticeably missing: The White Stripes' Icky Thump and Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight, as well as Arcade Fire's newest because I just cannot understand their appeal. Anyway, on to what I DID like this year...

Album links go to iTunes or equivalent. Click on the "Try" song link to hear a track preview from the CD.

1. "In Rainbows" by Radiohead:  Try "Nude"
2. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" by Arctic Monkeys:  Try "Fluorescent Adolescent"
3. "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" by Spoon:  Try "Don't You Evah"
4. "Sky Blue Sky" by Wilco:  Try "Impossible Germany"
5. "Watina" by Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective:  Try "Watina"
6. "Letters from Sinners & Strangers" by Eilen Jewell:  Try "Too Hot to Sleep"
7. "Our Love to Admire" by Interpol:  Try "Heinrich Maneuver"
8. "Beautiful Sleepyhead and the Laughing Yaks" by Emily Wells:  Try "Mt. Washington"
9. "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" by The Good, The Bad & The Queen:  Try "History Song"
10. "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse:  Try "You Know I'm No Good"
11. "Baby 81" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club:  Try "Berlin"
12. "Wincing the Night Away" by The Shins:  Try "Sea Legs"

Favorite Up & Comer: meiko

Favorite New to Me Artist : Andrew Bird

Here are my picks for the Top 12 Songs of 2007.

Plus, check out my entire archive of Best Songs of the Week for 2007.

Best Songs of 2007

Here are the Top 12 songs I just couldn't get enough of this year, whatever my mood. I kept this list to tracks released in 2007...

Click on the song link below to hear a preview. Artist links go to iTunes or equivalent.

1. "Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs 
2. "Fluorescent Adolescent" by Arctic Monkeys 
3. "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn & John 
4. "Oh My God" by Mark Ronson and Lily Allen 
5. "Heinrich Maneuver" by Interpol 
6. "I Feel It All" by Feist 
7. "Sleep" by meiko 
8. "Lentil" by Sia 
9. "Watina" by Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective 
10. "Imitosis" by Andrew Bird 
11. "I Want to Be Your Driver" by Shivaree
12. "Nude" by Radiohead

Check out my Top 12 Album Picks of 2007.

Plus, check out my entire archive of Best Songs of the Week for 2007 which includes many of the songs I liked this year that just missed being on my Top 12 list.

Xmas Song 2007 by Meiko: Best Songs of 2007: Week of 12/17-12/24

"X-mas Song" by meiko

Happy Holidays! Enjoy this unconventional X-mas Song by up and coming L.A. artist, meiko.  I've been a bit of a bad girl too this year, so I'm taking a tip from her and will try to be better in 2008. :)

Visit her MySpace page to preview "X-mas Song" and other tunes.

Only on YouTube: Someone set a home video at the Santa Barbara Zoo to meiko's X-mas Song!

Kiva & My Birthday

It's my birthday! Some people hate their birthday. I never understood this. I've always *loved* my birthday. I've gotten so many gifts and so much love for my 35th (yikes!) that I decided to share the wealth and give another $50 in microloans at Kiva.org to a couple of very deserving people whose loan needs were posted today.

The first woman above is Reyna Leiva Tafur of Peru who has a mobile business selling umbrellas and other merchandise and the second is Grace Nsamba of Uganda who has a retail store and livestock.

Here's my Kiva lender page. I've given $200 since July to 8 people all over the world and none of my loan recipients have been late or missed a payment. Half of the original group are almost 50% paid back already, so I figure by next summer I'll be able to reinvest the loan money to other entrepreneurs.

Kiva.org partners with existing microloan institutions and allows you to loan money directly to entrepreneurs in developing countries. By sponsoring a business on Kiva, you're helping the world's working poor become more economically independent. Loans are usually paid back within 6-12 months and you get email journal updates from your loan recipients. The system is very transparent and when the loan is repaid, you get your loan money back. Here's more on what Kiva.org is and how it works.

Here's a 2-min clip of President Clinton "On the Record" with FOX News about Kiva.org courtesy of Newshounds whose slogan is "We watch FOX so you don't have to"--LOL.

There's been so much press about Kiva.org lately that traffic to the site is hitting new records and they've had to limit donations to $25 per business. Just this week:

• $710,275 loaned
• 1,103 businesses funded
• 267 businesses finished paying back loans
• 8.6 hours to fully fund a business

Don't wait until your birthday to make a difference!

Best Songs of 2007: Week of 12/10-12/17: Watina by Andy Palacio

"Watina" by Andy Palacio and The Garifuna Collective 

Belizean native, Andy Palacio, is not a household name in the U.S. but with this latest release, I hope many more people hear his music. On the amazingly infectious and enjoyable album, Watina, which blends Caribbean, African and Cuban rhythms, Palacio celebrates Garifuna, a culture and language that is slowly becoming extinct.

In the 1600s, West African slaves were shipwrecked on what is now known as St. Vincent. They were captured by the British and exiled to an island off Honduras. Now there are only a few hundred thousand Garifunas left across Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, and the culture, language and traditions are in danger of dying out. In Belize, there are only a little more than 10,000 Garifunans left and the language is taught in only one village.

This album does the Garifuna justice--I loved every song!--and is the third release from Cumbancha, the new label founded by Jacob Edgar the former head of music research and product development at Putumayo World Music. Here's a making of video introduction to Watina and its inspirations.

The Cow at the Ashland Y

I recently joined the Ashland Y--a very good facility, I must say. There is a cow living across the street from the gym. I thought this was strange, but have been mostly ignoring it. There are so many cows around here, what's one more?

In a random conversation with my boss's wife at the CEO's holiday party, it turns out that her babysitter is the woman who owns this cow. Also an East Coaster, my boss's wife was curious. So she tells us she asked her babysitter,

"Is it friendly?"

"No."

"Is it going to be food?"

"No."

"Do other cows like it?"

"Nope."

"OK...so why do you have the cow if you don't like it, other cows don't like it, it serves no purpose, and the cow isn't friendly to other people or other cows?"

"It's a town landmark!"

Well, I can certainly see how that explains things. IMHO, I'd put this cow on par with the Chrysler Building.

Holiday Gift Ideas

I just finished my holiday shopping. Hallelujah. If you're looking for something a little different, check out the items below. Only 10 days left!

Foldable Cardboard Speakers 

From Japanese design powerhouse MUJI, known for innovative and environmentally friendly products, these lightweight, collapsible speakers are perfect for travelling or using in the office with your favorite iPod (mine is my new iTouch!). I just got these and totally love them.

Only $42 at the MOMA Store.

Original Movie Posters

Posteritati has one of the largest collections  of original movie posters from the silent era to the present. I'm a huge fan of Czech and Polish film posters from the '60s--they're known for being brilliantly designed (such as this $300 one for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner)--and Posteritati has a great collection of them.

They have lots of other film posters from all over the world and for recent movies too, so if your giftee is a film buff, you'll find something just right for him/her here.

Visit their gallery in Manhattan or online at Posteritati.com. 

Japanese Talking Watches

Perfect stocking stuffers for your cutest friends at online boutique FredFlare.com.

These former New Yorkers always have a fun selection of too-cool, kitschy and retro novelties and gifts--from vinyl archivers and guitar pick earrings to LOMO cameras and egg rugs.

Only $20! Available at FredFlare.com.

Queue Lighters

Everyone needs a lighter, smoker or not, and these are so clever and small. Made by Tsubota Pearl Company under the brand T.P.L., these are a bit hard to find in the U.S., but not impossible.

I bought these for $25 each in 6 color combinations from a store in Portland called Moule, a boutique chain from Canada.

If you want one and you don't live in Portland or Vancouver, call Moule and see if they will ship it to you--503 227 8530.

Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar Starter Pack

The perfect guitar pack for someone just starting out (but presumably with high hopes of filling arenas one day). The Epiphone SG Special is made with a bolt-on mahogany neck, basswood body, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, and chrome hardware.
This package also includes an Epiphone amp with 10W power, gig bag, and more.$199.99 (Save 50%) plus free shipping! Available at MusiciansFriend.com.

My Goats

Out here in the middle of nowhere, you've got to take your fun where you can get it, and I've found a little pick-me-up. Nope, it's not what you're thinking. It's goats. Baby ones.

I've found a farmer's market between the office and home that has a little pen of goats that I can feed. They are *so cute*! Every so often, when I am sick and tired of sales, conversion rates, contact strategies, branding, and just people in general, I go see my goats and pretend I'm a farmer's wife for...oh...about, 10 seconds.

The goat symbolizes many different things--from wisdom and fertility to vitality and even the devil itself. In the Mediterranean, I hear it's viewed as a guardian with the power to absorb malevolent influences, and I figure that's what's really happening when I make my regular visits. Is feeding my goats as good as going to Scoop on my lunch hour or stopping by Bryant Park on my way home from the office? You know what--it almost is.

Ashland, Best Town 2007

Every year, Outside Magazine, one of the few magazines I actually subscribe to, puts together a list of the best towns to live in--towns that are perfect for people who want to live where the action is (high quality of life, great adventure sports, good food, etc.).

This year, one main town, plus a premier small town and big city was picked in every region of the country. Ashland with its "great weather and Shakespeare festival" was the Readers' Choice for best small town in the Northwest! (Bend was the main town picked, same as last year.)

It's not a surprise. Ashland's a scenic resort town of 20,000 with a Berkeley vibe where you can indulge in most kinds of adventure and outdoor sports right here--from whitewater rafting and mountain biking to hiking, rock climbing, and skiing--but still be only two hours away from the ocean, the Redwoods, and Crater Lake.

We've got great, sunny weather (nowhere near the rain of Portland and very little humidity), Southern Oregon University, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, and the country's largest Shakespeare Festival (which incidentally has a lot more than just Shakespeare and runs for 3/4 of the year, not just the summer). And if we need a big city, we're 3-4 hours from Portland and 4-5 hours from San Francisco. (Thank god, Medford airport is only 20 mins away!)

Over 400,000 tourists come to Ashland every year and as a result we've got great restaurants and shops. Plus, the fertile soil of Southern Oregon happens to be home to Harry & David and its infamous pear orchards. In general, an amazing array of mostly organic fruit, vegetables and wine are all grown here.   

You can pretty much take the virtues of Bend from Outside's article and apply it to Ashland, only it's in a different part of the mountains, has a third fewer people, and is closer to the beach (and is prettier, if you ask me). Pretty cool. It's been an interesting and fun switch from NYC, that's for sure!

For more about my transition from being a New Yorker to an Oregonian, click here.

I've got a lot of pictures of Ashland and the surrounding area too--check them out.