i am cautious but hopeful of this coming year, and excited about stepping into the destiny i’ve been promised.

that’s really all.

it’s time for my top 10 albums of 2010!   In this year where we saw oil spills and miners stuck in..

.mines…..there were some pretty dope albums, and these are the ones i think are the tippity top, so join me, won’t you?

10.  Bruce Springsteen – The Promise

While not technically a new album, The Promise is new to most of us.  Proving once again that his music is timeless and just as fresh today as it was 30 years ago, the Boss continues to shine as an almost flawless songwriter.  When your outtakes sound this good, you know you’re a step away from being a god.

9. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

How does a band like the Arcade Fire continue to blow my butt off, year after year?   Sure they all have terrible haircuts, and sure, it’s not as great as Neon Bible (yes I said that), but this album is incredibly …incredible.    Modern Man might be one of my favorite songs of the year.  I mean that.  I do.

8.   Jonsi – Go Do

Would Sigur Ros be better if we could understand what he was saying?  Probably.  Would it be better if it were short concise dreamy beautiful dance pop songs?  Absolutely.  Oh hey Jonsi, what’s that?  oh you’re the singer from Sigur Ros?  Oh,  and you put out an album this year of pop POP POPPPPPP dance POPP songs?  Sweet dude,  is it amazing?  yes, it is actually.  it’s incredible.  My pants just fell off because of how amazing this is.

7. The Black Keys –  Brothers

Bros before hos dude.   Well, that really has nothing to do with this album except for the fact that it’s called brothers.   Gone are the days where the Black Keys just annoyed me (because believe me, before this album…they kinda did) and instead usher in the days of fuzzed out gorgeous songs by the duet from Akron, Ohio.  An album that’s sure to be on the mass populace ear buds well past this year, Brothers is possibly the best rock and roll album of the year.   Also, Tighten Up seems to be in every commercial or plug for a show right now.   House was using it the other day, and you know HOUSE knows his rock and roll.  He’s a flippin’ pill popper dude.

6.  The Soil and the Sun – There is No Death ep

While not technically a full album,  these dudes have more talent in their left pinkies then most people out there (I’m looking at you, Eminem)   if you don’t believe me, check out their INCREDIBLE cover of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman on their website http://thesoilthesun.bandcamp.com .  seriously stop reading right now and do it.  ok, done?  Good, now go download their ep.  It’s moody it’s atmospheric, its beauty personified.  Incredible.

5.  Sufjan Stevens – the Age of Adz

Sufjan, you’ve literally gone off your rocker.  No one knows what the heck is going on with your anymore man.  WE just want a follow-up to Illinoise bud.  For real.                                                          Ok, now…having said that, the age of adz is light years better than the mess that was the BQE (what a terrible mess), and actually, I see no reason to complain,  yes, Sufjan is insane, but these songs are so good, who gives a damn?    I Walked is so good, you might poop your pants.   The synth line in it is so increds, monsters are born from Muspelheim just by hearing it.  Carry on dude.  Carry on indeed.

4. Efterklang – Magic Chairs

I’m pretty sure that when you get to Valhalla, all you will here is this album.   It is astounding what these crazy Danes are capable of.   If you’ve never seen them live, you’re doing yourself and your brain a disservice.   Oh man,  this album is just so good.  So so good.  So so so so good.    I’m just going to go listen to this album right now.   I’ll see you later.

3.  Damien Jurado – Saint Bartlett

David Bazan did not have a new album this year, so naturally Damien Jurado did.  Haha, that’s the dumbest logic ever, but any who,  one of them was going to end up on this list for sure,  and Damien does, my god does he.   Saint Bartlett easily is one of Jurado’s best in his long career as my second favorite songwriter (of this generation).    Do yourself a favor and go listen to it right now.

2.  Daft Punk – Tron Legacy Soundtrack

Holy eff Balls dude.  This is everything I love.   Everything.   Soundtracks, synths,  soaring instrumentals,  SYNTHS, and a jeff bridges intro.    the soundtrack for this movie is 30 times more better than the movie.

1. Kanye West – My Dark Twisted Fantasy

Hands Down my favorite album this year,  or at least this month, either way that equates to the best album of the year in my opinion.   Kanye went back to what he does best, being a douche bag, but also being really heartfelt, not to mention pretty hilarious.    This album is so amazing,  I’m pretty sure i explode every time i listen to it.    Peace out America.

thanks for reading! Later Tomato!

so for all my selfishness, i am laying awake worried about you.   i hope you’re ok, and safe.  and really, i count down the minutes you’re not with me.

also, no drunken phone calls,  that’s just lame.

today i was reminded on how much i also love Cake.  what a good band, right?  you know it.

that’s really all.

things are going good.    sara is good. i am good. my dad is good, my mom is good.

and my car is fine.  i had an oil leak last week and that kinda sucked. but i got it back today.  hurrah.

that’s…all. i guess.

BYE

ravs in broth being one of them. whenever i eat something in broth, i feel as though i’m stuck in the early 1900′s in mother russia. i’m sure you feel the same way.

also, i saw a man with a umbrella hat.

do people realize just how silly they look in these things???

oh well.

sometimes, like now, i really miss morningstar, i miss the community and comradary of it all. at any given time there was someone there to pray with you about things, or to share a word from God. mostly i miss the worship though.

i miss giving myself in full abandonment to God. i miss being in His arms. i mean, sure i can get that here, but it was just so much easier there. there wasn’t a struggle at all. we would just be able to drift into the presense of God, and here, it’s like banging my head against a wall, i don’t feel like i’m making hedgeway.

and i miss Him, i miss His presense, i miss soaking in Him, and just releshing in My god and who He is.

i miss having a knowledge so deep of who He is, and His love for me.

I guess, it is what i make it. i mean, instead of writing all of this, i could be running to him right now.

but i’m not.

i’m just here, complaining about not being with him.

let’s do something about that.

anyways,  i have been reading quite alot lately.  the bible, for one, and blue like jazz, and the last harry potter book.

reading blue like jazz, i feel as if my eyes have been opened for the very first time.  there are so many things i thought i knew about myself, and how i operated,  and these things, i don’t know,  i thought they were just my own strange way of looking at things, i thought i was selfish (and yes indeed i was), but now there is another who understands..

who knows, this is long, and i havn’t gotten to anything good yet.  but i guess the jist is,  i feel as though a renewal is happening inside of me. and this is a good thing.

i know this sounded very depressed, but i’m really not, i’m just contemplative, and deciding things.

who knows.

but i wish the rain would stop pouring on my brain.

so why, after 16 odd years am i still trying to make her happy? i don’t really know.

i think,  sometime very soon, i will either punch her, or never talk to her again. 

these really seem to be the only two options.

JK.

…..maybe.

i am retreating to the bottom of this ocean.  your hand is diving into it after me, and i am hiding still, i’ve done it all wrong, i’ve ruined what you’ve given me.

but your hand is there.  and i step into it.

your love is enough, your love triumphs 

everything that has fallen doesn’t matter. we will rebuild, on your love. 

we will raise up our hopes and dreams built upon your love.