sluggobear

This might possibly be my favorite album of 2008: Flight of the Conchords (by Flight of the Conchords).

Track highlights:

• Foux du Fafa
  
• Inner City Pressure
  
• Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros (feat. Rhymenoceros and the Hiphopopotamus)
  
• Mutha'uckas
  
• Robots
  
• The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)

Check it out on Rhapsody or iTunes.

(I meant to post this last week.)

Thought I'd continue my tradition of a retrospective "favorites of the year" post.

Some great things happened in 2006. The American people finally seemed to grasp what a quagmire this country is in... and voted the bums out of office.  After seeing the Democrats beat the Republicans, it was icing on the cake to learn that "Ronald Dumsfeld" would resign, too.  It was like Christmas!

2006 was a year of making some new friends. This was the year I would get to know Chip, Rob (rrumm), Henry (bearringsd), FrankY (cubatlanta) and David (bearvw), as well as spend quality time with the LA peeps: aairplane, cubbcake, djmrswhite, e_ticket, fidgetcub, garycotti, mattycub, moroccomole, zombietruckstop, spilly_bear, Scott, nicetattoocub (as well as honorary Los Angeleno bearlesque).  I really enjoyed all the times we hit PopStarz, Trannycakes, the Faultline, Irv's Burgers, Disneyland, Magic Mountain, book readings, or stayed with you (or you stayed with me).  It seems like I've known y'all for longer, but 2006 was really the year when I got to know ya.

It was also the year for getting some new stuff... a new computer, new bed (which rocks), a new bike, and a new CPAP (with a mask that actually fits). I also got two parking tickets this year. (Yes, I've learned my lesson now.)

Mah fellow Americans,

I thought I'd close-out 2005 with some highlights of the year.

Mikey's Favorites of 2005

Music - These were my favorite albums of the year (even though some of them were technically released in 2004):

• The Killers - Hot Fuss.  My favorite album this year, and I've been playing it over and over.  I've always been crazy for 80's Alternative, so it's no wonder I fell in love with this one.
• Green Day - American Idiot.  Epic in its own way.
• Beck - Guero.  What can I say, Beck is the Master!  ("Andale, joto, your popsicle's melting" with "Magic markers runnin' outta their ink!")
• Keane - Hopes and Fears.  This album knocked me off my feet.  I hope this band goes far.
• Black-eyed Peas - Monkey Business.  Just plain fun.

Music - Retro (Mikey's late to the party... what a surprise)... these are things I've been listening to, even though they aren't new:

• Radiohead.  I don't know why it took me so long to get into these guys.  Getting a hefty MP3 catalog from Brian certainly helped me explore their stuff in greater depth.  Amazing.
• Muse.  (Not to be confused with Throwing Muses, and not for everyone.)  The Origin of Symmetry simply kicks my ass.

Concerts - Three distinctly different (and definitely awesome) live shows:

• Keane, at the House of Blues (San Diego).  One of the finest vocal performances I've ever seen, in just about the best concert venue you could ever ask for.  Kudos to Brian for turning me on to these guys.  The audience was SO into it, and the band was SO appreciative, I thought it would erupt into a love-fest!  An awesome show.
• Depeche Mode, at the Sports Arena (San Diego).  My favorite band ever, they were at the top of their game, and I got to enjoy it with a modest-sized crew of good friends and my sister JoAnne (with man-friend Darrin.)
• Scissor Sisters, at the Wiltern (Los Angeles).  The energy, the mixed crowd, the eclectic music, the drag queens, the theatrics, the feathers, the disco ball, ahh the spectacle!!  Need I say more?

Movies - This one was my favorite film of the year, hands-down:

• Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit.  I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe at certain points!

TV - I don't watch much TV, but two shows stand-out in particular:

• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Some of the best comedy writing and political wit the world has ever seen.
• Real Time with Bill Maher - He dishes it out, it's mean, it's biting, and he's right-on.  Few people speak the truth like Bill Maher... and he's not afraid to bash stupidity, no matter what political party you subscribe to.
• Mythbusters - A great show that can actually hold my interest for a whole episode.

Gizmos - I'm a gadget geek.  These are the coolest techie toys that I bought this year (which actually work as advertised!)

• Roomba - I admit I was skeptical, but this little robot vacuum really works!
• TomTom Go - The best GPS out there, in my opinion... a simple user interface, and fun to use.

Trips - I saw some incredible places this year.  The best:

• China - It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and it was absolutely breathtaking.
• London/UK - I'd dreamed of visiting the UK ever since I was a little kid, and at last it happened in 2005.  An amazing trip in every aspect.  I need to get back and see more.
• Disneyland - Possibly the best trip I've ever had to the Magic Kingdom.  Brian took me for my birthday; a handful of friends spent it with me, and it couldn't have been a more perfect day.  Making it even more special: my sister Suzanne and her man-friend Chris joined us (it was Suzanne's birthday too)... and I received a surprise visit from Jamie (anti-Disney).

Well, there ya go.  2005 has been good to me.

Wishing everyone has great 2006.