This year was the hardest list I've had to write thus far. But next year already sounds like hearbreak. New albums expected fromJukebox the Ghost, The Avett Brothers and a Ben Folds Five reunion album?! SERIOUSLY, no one could get it done in time for 2011? My three favorite bands shouldn't be allowed to release albums in the same year. And now I bring you 1-30! Except in the reverse order!

30. GIVERS – In Light

Up Up Up with Givers! This band from New Orleans is making a name for itself; this record is a folkier version of Matt…

Goodness. I was able to whittle it down to a top SEVENTY FIVE. Through this process I learned that there is a maximum number of characters allowed on a webpage. So this is coming at you in two parts!

75. NEON INDIAN – Era Extrana

2009’s debut Psychic Chasms came out and put Neon Indian on the map, there is a bit of a worry that Era Extrana is a bit forced. That being said, the record is fun while it lasts. Just needs some more refinement. Album is also a bit bottom heavy, perhaps giving it that rushed feeling,…

Normally I'm far more thoughtful when I do these. After Phoebe died I lost all sense of wanting to even finish listening. I basically went two weeks without listening to music at home (still did in the car to pass the time)…. and yesterday I just decided to finish it. Cause I'd be mad at myself if I hadn't finished/written this by February. So two weeks into the new year, I give you my top 35 of last year.

This year I have no downloads, no pictures, no nothing. Just no motivation (on top of being still sick) to do…

Last.FM Milestones

1st track: (03 Apr 2006)
Ben Folds Five - Mess

1000th track: (07 Jul 2006)
Ben Folds Five - One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces

2000th track: (21 Aug 2006)
Ben Kweller - Family Tree

3000th track: (11 Sep 2006)
Ben Folds - Hiro's Song

4000th track: (02 Oct 2006)
Third Eye Blind - Darkness

5000th track: (31 Oct 2006)
CAKE - Mr. Mastodon Farm

6000th track: (05 Dec 2006)
Radiohead - My Iron Lung

7000th track: (24 Dec 2006)
The Postal Service - Little Girl Blue

8000th track: (11 Jan 2007)
Mute Math - Noticed

9000th…

In alpha order so I don't have to mess with it much when I update.

Commentary: The big winners don't surprise me at all. There are a few surprises that are on the list all together. Some how low they are, and some that are simply just counted. A few days of listening of things from my past are in here. :)

Last Update: December 8, 2009.

Amanda Palmer 4
Andrew Bird 2
Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire 1
Andrew Lloyd Webber 1
Animal Collective 1
Au Revoir Simone 1
Band of Horses 2
Belle and Sebastian 2
Ben Folds…

Brooke and I went all the way out to North Carolina to partake in what will likely be one of the top most musical events of my life (right up there with the Ben Folds Five Reunion last year.) Granted I have a somewhat sick addiction to North Carolina bands (that does stem out of Ben Folds Five). Anyway, SnuzzFest afforded us to see some bands that I never, ever, EVER dreamed of seeing live. Let alone Master Snuzz himself. Brooke, Mel and I did get a special treat December 2007 when Snuzz played us a few songs in his…

Sat 31 Oct – Ben Folds

So after sleeping in the hotel we got up checked out and loaded up the car. THANK GOD right then and there, before we drove out of the parking lot Brooke asks to get the address off the tickets. Tickets were sitting on the floor in the hotel room. Ran back in and got them. PHEW!!! Somewhere during the night I did tweet at Fleur and Ben that the next show would be forty. Anyway.

The drive from Madison to Minneapolis is long. And Boring. And Long. And Boring. And Long. Have I mentioned…

Fri 30 Oct – Ben Folds, Kate Miller-Heidke

The Overture Center is right across the street from The Orpheum, which is where Ben has played every other time I've seen him in Madison. Met up with Aneela and Chris once we got there, saw Lynn and Frank as well. Makkio was also at the show, after some flight issues. Bought Nikko, per his request, a copy of Kate Miller-Heidke's record. Good thing I did it before intermission, they were, once again, all out. Was going to get it signed but KMH never came out. Anyway, the show itself. Kate…

Fri 16 Oct – Andrew Bird, Dosh & Sat 17 Oct – Andrew Bird, St. Vincent Andrew Bird/St. Vincent/Dosh

went back to mom's got ready to go downtown, girled myself up, and met up with natalie to see andrew bird. they scanned our tickets at the door and they made a funny noise. why? beeeeeeeeeeeecaaaaaaaause they upgraded our row 23 seats to row 5! FUCK YES! night one with mr bird was backed by the band. it was phhhhhhhhenomanal. highlights from night one: Opposite Day straight into Nervous Tic - seamless and both songs have developed…

Sun 27 Sep – Ben Folds, Kate Miller-Heidke

So this tour is seemingly completely solo. Cool. I wasn't around back then in the ben and a piano tour, so last night was exciting for me cause it was different. And Ben Folds treated us well with the set list, as well as debuting a brand new Foldsby track. Which I did record, will be on youtube eventually, but the upload page is not loading right now. So, watch this space.

Set list.

1 Free Coffee (no distortion or anything. I feel like it makes the song immensely sadder.)
2 Annie…