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Jason's Favorite
Love is All - Nine Times the Same Son
This isn't really a review of Love is All's debut album Nine Times the Same Song. I'm still in the getting-to-know-you phase with it and don't feel qualified to comment. However, I thought it would be best to strike while the pitchfork was hot, to butcher a phrase, and talk about Nick Sylvester's review of Nine Times.
There is going to be a lot of talk about Love is All, maybe too much talk. But that's what happens when Pitchfork declares a band is "the first great band of 2006." Perhaps it would be better to say Nine Times is the first great album of 2006. I'm not saying it is; I would have to hear them all to make such a claim. It's also too early to say Love is All is a great band. One album does not a great band make.
So why the rush to proclaim the next king? Are we already done with this year's models? I'm afraid piling accolades of this sort upon the fragile frame of Love is All will crush this band before it's even had a chance to develop. Yes, Nine Times is a great start, but I'm selfish. I want more than one and done. I plead: allow Love is All to cultivate, free of unrealistic, life-changing requirements.
I hope to have more to say about Love is All soon.
Obligatory New Year's Resolution
I've been pondering whether or not to consider perhaps thinking about the formality of maybe drumming up some 2006 resolutions. Or less convolutedly, should I even bother with a trite list of things I will never entertain doing in the next year? Naturally before I begin drafting a formal register, such things as applications for gym memberships or less surliness to small animals are banned.
My biggest problem with resolutions is I find myself coming up with inventories of invectives rather than positive ideas for self-improvement. I want to avoid saying a load of mean things, however the point of resolutions is to admit what went less right in the year just behind and to focus on improving these matters in the year going forward. So with a forgiving spirit and a mind towards lofty goals, here are a few 2006 resolutions:
I resolve to:
Read less and listen more: In 2005 I became overwhelmed by the outrageous amount of music data available. Doing my best to stay informed about the music world, I tried to read and understand all I could. The more time I spent reading, the less I actually listened to music and the less I enjoyed the process. In 2006, I plan to narrow my sources of information (blogs, magazines, newspapers, snooping, etc) and concentrate upon listening to music. The risk is to be out of touch, the reward is to enjoy more music.
Give up caring about being first: This one's a corollary to the first resolution. Attempting to know it all and be first on the bandwagon is nearly pointless. Getting a good scoop on a story may be exhilarating, but the pleasure is a long-lasting as a sugar high. It's easy to become a "me-first" junkie, breaking news about anything without really caring about the subject. In 2006 I plan to find my highs by completely enveloping myself in music. It may be a slow and not very newsworthy process, but the payoff is worth it.
See more concerts, take less photos: Capturing quintessential moments at a show on the digital camera is fun, yet in 2005 I found myself caring more about the good shot and less about what was actually going on around me. In this next year I plan to leave the camera at home.
Some other things I will work on, maybe:
Decide once and for all whether lyrics matter or not
Not chase straights or flushes
Find a cure for my Abba addictions.