Musically Drunken Achievments of the Decade

I love music. It's always been my support system. A girlfriend for me when I'm single, a shoulder to cry on when I needed one, and an outlet that captures any sort of mood. It is truly the power of music that has affected me, made me feel more emotion than almost any person could. And that's why I've put together a list of the Best 10 Albums of 2000-2009. It won't be my favorites...that would be a laughable list (to some) of pop-punk hooks and little else. These are the best musical achievements. The ones that are so full of emotion they couldn't possibly be ignored. There will be no hip-hop, for that may make you want to dance but it is not achievement. The 10 Best Albums of 2000-2009



10. Relient K-- mmhmm (2004)
Best Songs: "Be My Escape," "High of 75," "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "Live your life for fools that you love" (The One I'm Waiting For)
The Album: Christian rock? Who in God's name cares? Relient K's mmhmm is as sunny as it gets. Every song mixes in soft lyrics about love, happiness, and just trying to be a good person. Their album probably transcends what the band believed the album was about. Relient K has always been a bit on the silly side of music, but with this album, the band put out a perfect album of hope that any age group could identify with. It may be pop-heavy, but sometimes when it's dark and dreary outside and your feeling down, you just want a little sunshine in your headphones.

9. Say Anything - ...Is a Real Boy (2004)
Best Songs: "Alive With the Glory of Love," "Woe," "Admit it!!!"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "That boy, he, that boy's got woe." (Woe)
The Album: Say Anything is clearly not a band for everyone. But Max Bemis' lyrical output on ...Is a Real Boy is something that most songwriters wish they could accomplish. He may not have the best voice in the world, but the album is full of clever lyricism and "We're Gonna Get You Hooked, No Matter How Disturbing You Feel Afterwards." It's really about a boy going through a lot of shit, but it's what he's gone through that drives the album. Because without problems and shortcomings, the great things in life, like this album, might not exist.

8. Taking Back Sunday- Tell All Your Friends (2002)
Best Songs: "You're So Last Summer," "Cute Without the E," "Timberwolves at New Jersey"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "This song was only wishful thinkin'..." (Cute Without the "E")
The Album: The album that, through my teenage years, best described the way it felt to be miserable in love during that period. It's certainly not a happy album--but that's not what gives it feeling. It's a break-up album. A "you never loved me" album. It's angry but it's that catchy anger that made it loveable, even if it was only pumping your stereo because of loss in the first place.

7. Something Corporate- Live at the Ventura Theater (2004)
Best Songs: "I Woke Up in a Car," "Hurricane," "Konstantine," "Walking By"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "And these nights I get high just from breathing, and when I lie here with you, I'm sure that I'm real." (Walking By)
The Album: Perhaps cheating by putting a live album on the list, I really don't care. Something Corporate (more so Andrew McMahon) has been one of my favorite bands for the entire decade. I feel like they were always one or two songs from putting together a really complete album...so I chose one that combines their best. Besides having "Konstantine," a song that is so good it should have it's own planet, the album shows why people have basically started a cult to the band's lead singer, Andrew McMahon. Whatever songs you hear through your headphones are one hundred times better live. It's not the most mature set of songs--but it doesn't make me feel every word any less.

6. Fountains of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)
Best Songs: "Hey Julie," "All Kinds of Time," "Bright Future in Sales"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "I tried to change, but I changed my mind" (Mexican Wine)
The Album- I've always been sad that Fountains of Wayne have never gotten more popular, and this album is a fine example of how awesome some of their lyricism and catchy hooks can be. Besides their big hit "Stacey's Mom," the album is full of indie-pop goodness that begs for you to sing along. Every song, from the ridiculously catchy "Hey Julie" to the slower, but serene "All Kinds of Time," brings something unique and quirky, yet still able to bring out emotion while driving down those empty roads.

5. The Postal Service- Give Up (2003)
Best Songs: "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight," "Such Great Heights," "Sleeping In," "Clark Gable"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "And when you scan the radio, I hope this song will guide you home." (Such Great Heights)
The Album: I never really expected that an album like this could sneak into this list, but this decade has really changed some of my musical tastes. The album is very electronic, more so than I usually enjoy. But as a lover of Ben Gibbard of Death Cab, it really changed my mind and allowed me to see how beautiful this album really can be. The lyrics aren't always top-notch but it's the emotion and reality in Gibbard that makes the album really come alive and become beautiful, depending on how you're listening to it.

4. Lucky Boys Confusion- Throwing the Game (2001)
Best Songs: "Fred Astaire," "Slip," "Do You Miss Me"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "Don't push so hard, nothing is ever easy." (Fred Astaire)
The Album: LBC is a band that will always have a special place in my heart. This album is definitely their best. It brought out their ability to combine their pop-punk sound with reggae and hip-hop, producing an extremely unique blend of rock-out party anthems. They sing about drinking, smoking, and Chicago because that's what they know. From the ultra-fast paced "3 to 10" and "Dumb Pop Song" to the slower, more emotional beats like "Slip" and "Not About Debra," the album come across with a ferocious, commanding presence that has one of the more unique sounds out there.

3. Death Cab for Cutie- Transatlantacism (2001)
Best Songs: "Transatlanticism," "Passenger Seat," "The Sound of Settling"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "To call at 7:03 and on your machine, I slur a plea for you to come home, but it's too late" (A Lack of Color)
The Album: Death Cab has never been afraid to switch up their styles and experiment. But it's on Transatlantacism where they are it's simplest and most serene. On tracks like "Passenger Seat" and "Transatlanticism," you can almost hear the pleas for lost love to return as if they were your own. They resonate so powerful, coming through lead singer Ben Gibbard's delicate voice. Everything comes through so personal. Numerous tracks on the album continue to give me chills, even as I listen to it for umpteenth time straight through. Their follow up's Plans and Narrow Stairs were great as well--but there's no beating this.

2. Radiohead- Kid A (2000)
Best Songs: "How to Disappear Completely," "High and Dry," "The National Anthem"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "I float down the Liffey, I'm not here, this isn't happening" (How to Disappear Completely)
The Album: Radiohead has cemented it's legacy in musical history as being one of the most influential bands of our time. OK Computer, done in the 90's, is simply one of the most brilliant albums ever put together. Kid A is another beautiful album put together from the band. "How to Disappear Completely" might be one of the most beautiful, saddening songs I've ever heard. But it's not the songs by themselves that make the album great...it's the album as a whole where you can really see how great it is. It's like a puzzle, interesting separated, but beautiful when put together.

1. Jack's Mannequin- Everything in Transit (2005)
Best Songs: "The Mixed Tape," "Dark Blue," "La La Lie"
Lyric That Best Describes It: "Fuck yeah, we can live like this" (Holiday from Real)
The Album: I know--it's not your favorite, or even something you'd put on your top 10. But I'm not you. Jack's Mannequin--more so it's lead singer/songwriter Andrew McMahon--has gotten me through so much. My break-ups, my new beginnings, my dreams, and my nightmares. Everything I've ever gone through could be described through this album. It's the happiest album when I want it to be and saddest when I need it to be. But it's there. Everything in Transit has become more than an album to me--it's become a friend. And the man who wrote it has become my role model. The great thing about music is this: this album might pass you by without a thought. But me? It's one of the most important things in my life.

Let the Challaday Begin!

(Note: The Mailbag will be up on Sunday. More Questions: Welcome)

It is Chanukah. Now, I know most of you aren't Jewish. Neither am I! (pounds fist) But that's not what's important. What's important is that Jillie Mayer is Jewish and it is very, very much so in the middle of the challaday of her people. This is one of her gifts. You must be saying "you're writing a blog as a gift, that's pretty lame. It better be pretty good. What would you even write about?" Well, if you said that, that's pretty mean. But it is very, very good. What could I possibly write about to satisfy both this as an acceptable gift AND still keep in tune with my regular schedule blogging? Well, obviously it's Jillie Mayer herself. It'd be almost IMPOSSIBLE to fit all the good things about her in this tiny space. So we'll stick with 10 Great Things About Jillian Lindsay Mayer, Because it's Chanukah and This is How I Do.

(This is not a "best of" list or countdown, just 10 great things about her.)

10. Her Extension of Words

What Do I Mean: I mean simply this: the girl extends words like it ain't a thing. A extra g on excitinggg? Make it 2 extra! Why shouldn't there by 17 extra "y"'s in whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Who am I to say? I had never experienced said phenomenon before Ms. Mayer stepped into the fold but now I have grown so accustomed to it that it might as well be part of my daily speech pattern. Interviewers LOVEEEEE it when they ask me how to make a margarita and it ends with me saying "Tequilaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

9. She's A Tad Bit Ridiculouso

What Do I Mean: Some people might be put off by a girl asking you how many people you've ever slept with the first time you ever meet them--but obviously not with J-May. Or maybe you haven't heard her sweatshirt as pants party? Well, ask and I'll tell you. I think all the homelesspeople in Bloomington know my middle name right now. It's all ridiculous, but in all honesty, it's just one of the things that make her so "Jillie," in a manner of speaking.

8. Her Moods are Pretty Contagious

What Do I Mean: Put simply, her moods spread around the room like Swine Flu. OK, bad analogy (Sorry Emily!), but you get the point. This is so true, sometimes it even works over text messaging. People that can affect the moods of the people around them are rare. But they are oh so good in that, no matter how bad you're down, they are there to pick you right back up.

7. She's Not Sensitive

What Do I Meannnnn: Another epileptic might be offended by jokes like "How do you get a free jacuzzi? Put an epileptic in a bathtub!" Not Lindz here. Oh no. Her epilepsy, height, religion? It's allllll good. And it really is good to laugh at yourself every now and then. That's why I've allowed jokes about my middle name, nerdiness, and, from now on, my dead iPod. Because it's always better when your romances are romantic comedies, right? Who wants to just be in a romance? Living The Notebook would be alot worse than actually watching it.

6. People Actually Read This Thing Now

What Do I Mean: When I started writing this blog, never did I once target sorority girls as my demographic. In fact, I pretty much wrote everything that would turn sorority girls away from here. Best Duels? How to Score Based on What She's Drinking? Jesus, don't even mention the mailbags. I still hear "I didn't buy dinner to get a hug.." But apparently I am Diet Tucker Max. And girls love Diet. It's because of the little munchkin that this here blog gets many views and the fact that I actually feel motivated to write...since there's actually people reading.

5. No Reservations

What Do I Mean: Well, she never remembers to book a table Wildfire even when I ask TWELVE TIMES! Clearly I'm kidding. She has displayed no reservations throughout my short (not a pun, unless you want it to be) time knowing her. Always up for anything, new or old, strange or clearly out of control, it's one of those things that is beyond the realm of my clever wordplay in terms of explaining it. But it's hard to find a girl that wouldn't break up with you for dressing up as Miley Cyrus lyric for Halloween.

4. Her Family

What Do I Mean: I'm sure if you've ever met my brunette ball of sunshine that you've heard at least a few stories about her family. They are ridiculous, out-of-control, and all together awesome. Luckily, I've gotten on their good side throughout the last few months. Some might think I should be overwhelmed. I say HA! Overwhelmed is for cowards and white people in dance contests. Nobody wants to be a honky fool, yo! And I mean, come on: someone needs to write letters to Oprah to make Oprah feel important.

3. Her Friends

What Do I Mean: I got my first glimpse of what Lady Ji's friends were like after our relationship became official--and I woke up with 12 friend requests on that Freindbookster thing. I've already mentioned their blog love. Their outpouring of awesomeness has flattered me very much. You can learn a lot about someone by seeing who their friends are and in this case, I've only learned great things about the The Girl Most Fine that is Four-Nine. (Hush, I'm running out of nicknames)

2. De-Tag

What Do I Mean: You may or may not notice that Sillie Jillie de-tags photos like it's going out of style. But that's not really what I mean in regards to this post. What I really mean is her way of "de-tagging" my consistently annoying compliments. Instead of getting annoyed (or showing that's she annoyed) with my obviously ridiculous attempts at flattery, at least enlightens my artery clogging cheesiness. (Secretly she lovessssss it though.)

1. She Can Fit in a Cage

What Do I Mean: Well, I mean this one is pretty self-explanatory. She can fit in a little dog cage. Yeah, and she's pretty short, I know, but that just makes her that much more unique and awesome. I feel like if you've ever seen Jersey Shore you know Snooki is the coolest. Why? Obviously cause she's so short. Short people are just like little balls of energy, fun, and, let's be honest: extreme attractiveness. There are some that might look down (no pun intended; ok, well kind of) on her height as a flaw. But NO! It just one of those things, that once you embrace it, becomes one their greatest attributes.

I wasn't lying about the cage thing.

HAPPY CHANUKAH!