Colander List?

We are now firmly into Winter, and many of us are not only looking forward to warmer months on the horizon, but also to the possibilities they bring for travel. Some people have no doubt already begun booking hotels and transportation for outings near and far throughout the remainder of the year. I too have begun discussions with my family about what weeks would be good travel options and where we may like to go.

Most people have a handful of places they have been to time and again, and have dream vacations in mind for a “someday”, which may or may not ever come. A quick Google search will certainly bring up multiple blogs featuring “Bucket List Destinations” for both serious travelers and daydreamers alike.

This got me thinking about my travel goals. Not only about the places I’d love to see someday, but also the places I have no desire to go. I mean, there are thousands of destinations all across the world that may be interesting from a historical or architectural perspective, or filled with beauty, art, and fine dining that call to me-and others that just plain don’t. It’s not that they’re bad places to go to necessarily, they just don’t have any pull for yours truly. They represent almost an anti-bucket list. A colander list, if you will.

So let’s dive into that. Wait, can you dive into a colander? There’d be nothing to dive into. Never mind. I’ll start again.

So let’s explore this idea (much better!) of places I don’t wish to visit. Now, I don’t want to be too negative, or to dump on any specific location. I’m not out to insult the good people of the world, nor poop on the parade of anyone who does want to visit these destinations. Besides, me typing out a specific list would virtually guarantee that I’d wind up visiting at least a few of them just because I called them out because that’s how karma works. Instead of listing individual locations, I’m going to list the types of places I’d care not to go, and give a few examples just to prove the point. Got that? Me neither, but let’s roll.

-The Frozen Tundra
Okay, I’m not talking about Lambeau Field here (although I could take or leave it, honestly) but destinations known for cold and snow. You don’t have to know me for more than one winter season to know that I can’t stand to be cold, not even for a few minutes. This automatically rules out places like Antarctica, all of Norway, and Greenland. Actually Greenland would be out anyway just because it’s named like a beautiful, lush, green paradise but is full of ice and snow. Conversely, Iceland is green and pretty. I’m not going to either one, just on principal.
Look, I know a lot of people enjoy destinations like these. Some people love downhill skiing, or cross country skiing. People enjoy taking trips to see the Northern Lights, or snow capped mountains and frozen lakes. Admittedly, there is some beautiful scenery out there in the colder climates. It’s just the cold part I don’t like. Hey, I try not to go out of my own house in the Winter months, much less on a trip.
Now, having said all this, I would consider a trip to some of the Northern states in the US, like Minnesota, North Dakota, what have you. I’ve even been to Alaska and Victoria, Canada. Well, I visited in Summer, which is when I’d go up north in the USA. As far as the countries where cold is your thing 24/7- I love y’all, and much respect to you, but I’m not coming to see you anytime soon.

-Volcano Land
I am seriously afraid of volcanoes. Particularly active ones, but inactive ones too. What if they wake back up?
My fear of volcanoes began in grade school. During the volcano unit in Science class, we read up on the eruption of Mount St. Helens. One of the books we had access to began with a scientist who was studying the volcanic activity, and recorded his last words as he spoke them over the radio to, um, whoever he was broadcasting to. Some university or something. Anyway, reading a guy’s last words (without knowing it in advance) really got to me as a child and kinda messed me up. So yeah, I’m afraid of a volcanic eruption happening. It seems like a horrible death.
I know someone who climbed a volcano once. It wrecked her shoes. I have mad respect for this person, and in many ways, and I have been inspired by her, but I’m not going up Death Mountain. Some stories are best heard and not lived.
So I guess what I’m trying to say here is that Hawaii is out. So is Yellowstone National Park, because it’s basically one big volcano that’s gonna blow one day and wipe out just, like, a lot of stuff. I will not be there when it happens. Pity, it looks awesome otherwise, but I am not taking that chance.

-The Middle East
Okay, I know that visiting The Holy Land is supposed to be a moving experience, and that there is much beauty to be seen. I know there are some interesting and lovely people throughout the many countries, and that immersing myself in another culture would make me not only a more experienced person, but also perhaps more empathetic.
But, I mean, there’s been war waging over there since forever, and I am a pacifist after all. I am also a coward. Self preservation keeps me far away from these shores. By the way, please don’t read any of this as a political statement. The reasons for conflict in the Middle East are many. They are varied and complex. I would never make light of anything happening over there- I just don’t like war. Any war. Nor do I want to be caught in the middle of one.
Also, there’s lots of sand. Which brings me to…

-Anywhere With Too Much Sand
Sand sucks. I hate sand. I am not a beach person, and it’s roughly 90% due to my dislike of sand. So beaches are out, unless there’s a full fledged city I can explore with the beach in the background for scenery. That’d be okay. But like, small resort towns are out. Along with a good chunk of Arizona I suppose. New Mexico. Mexico. Parts of Texas. There’s a lot, now that I think of it.
Also, the Sahara desert is out. ‘Cause it’s a desert. I know I said I hated cold a little earlier, but just because I like warm weather doesn’t mean I’d like to melt to death.

-Creepy Crawly Country
Mostly Australia. They have lots of snakes, and what can only be described as big-ass spiders the size of your head. Nope. No thank you. I’ve met some Aussies in my day and they have all been really cool people. Australia seems like an amazing country to visit. I just need y’all to fumigate it before I come over is all. Thanks.
Ooh, and let’s not forget the Amazon Rain Forest. There are as yet undiscovered species of critters waiting to kill me there, along with all the animals that we know of which also want to kill me. Besides the creatures, going to the Rainforest and coming out alive just seems like a lot. I mean, I’m mostly basing this information on movies I saw on cable back in the 80’s and 90’s, but I think the premise is sound.

-Las Vegas
I’m sure it’s fine, and I’d have fun. It’s just that I don’t gamble, and being diabetic I try not to go to buffets since I would surely overindulge. From what I hear, the buffets are legendary, and that’s too much temptation for this guy.
Having said that, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that I may travel there for the right musician’s residency, or a festival of some kind. So Vegas isn’t totally out I guess, but it’s not real high on the list, even if Travis Kelce did make an impassioned endorsement at the Super Bowl.

Well, that’s a general idea of the type of travel destination that I would tend to avoid. Fortunately for me, there are literally thousands of places to explore in this great big world of ours, so there’ll be plenty of trips to be had and memories to be made.

Happy travels, and I’ll see you next time.

Horseshoes And Salsa

Well, here we are. Another Monday is upon us, and with it comes yet another one of these messages from my brain-box sure to delight, amaze, and enlighten. Okay, probably not, but at the least it should give you a nice distraction for a few minutes.

I’ve got a few topics simmering away waiting to be presented soon but I checked on them a little while ago and they’re not quite ready yet. Still, a deadline’s a deadline, right? A commitment’s a commitment, a promise is a promise, and I promised you faithful MonDAVEs readers that I’d be back this week. So I needed a topic but quick. I have decided to turn to outside help.

This week I am using a “Blog Ideas Generator” from hubspot.com. The directions were quite simple. I was to enter up to five unique nouns and the generator would shoot me back a week of blog ideas. I knew all those hours of playing Mad Libs would pay off someday!!! Anyway, this process went about as well as you’d expect, with fairly predictable results. Still, it’s a fun experiment, so I’ll walk you through this experience by letting you know which nouns I entered, what the results were, and give a brief analysis of the same.

Five Random Nouns:
-Dogs
-Horseshoe
-Ballerina
-Salsa
-Flower

The results:

This week’s Top Stories About Flower
Well, it’s Winter here, so there probably aren’t many flower stories, but let me check. (Googles “Flower News”) Oh, well, yeah, okay, it’s almost Valentine’s day so there are a few articles about how people will spend stupid money on flowers next week (almost $26 billion all told) and how Miley Cyrus won a Grammy for her song called “Flowers”. Not bad for a slow news cycle I guess. Maybe we’ll check back in Spring.
Horseshoe Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
Oh, well, yeah, okay, um… here goes: “A horseshoe is a shoe for horses which we somehow turned into a game played at picnics which nobody understands except that one guy who’s really into it.” How’d I do?
Will horseshoe Ever Rule The World?
In what context? Like, do I think horseshoe will ever become the biggest game in the world? Nah, there’s not enough flash to the game, and corporate sponsorships would ruin the purity of the whole thing. But then, I do live within driving distance of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall Of Fame And Museum (true) so it must be a fairly popular game. I mean, bowling is televised and up for Olympic consideration, so who knows?
Or, wait, did I read this wrong? Is the question implying that there may be a horseshoe that becomes sentient and will lead a successful campaign for world domination? You know, there was a point when I would have said no, but nothing has surprised me since like 2019, so sure.
The Next Big Thing In Horseshoe
Why the hell is this generator so obsessed with horseshoe? Is this the best AI can do? Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Unless it knows something we don’t…which would lend support for the world domination thing…hmmm. Now I’m kinda freaked out. You know, horseshoes are supposed to be good luck. Well, for us humans anyway. I’m not sure how the horses feel about it. Look, can we move on to a different topic, please?
Salsa: Expectations Vs. Reality
Ooh, here we go. There are few better snacks than chips and salsa, and few worse things than getting a less than satisfactory salsa dip. I’m not sure about you, but I always expect the salsa to be nice and thick, with the onions and pepper and whatnot clearly identifiable on my chip. I can’t stand a thin salsa. I mean, I’ll eat it, obviously, but I won’t get a second bowl. Also, what’s up with the smooth, pulverized salsa you get at low end restaurants? It’s not thick or thin, but there are no recognizable bits, and there is always a little runny stuff left over. It’s weird.
Then there’s the heat factor. When I dip my chips into a salsa I expect lots of flavor, but not too much kick. A little is fine on the back end, but don’t burn my tongue unless you warn me first that it’s going to be a hot one. Then I can prepare with the right drink and some extra chips at the ready.
Plus, what’s the deal with all the fire roasted salsas I am encountering now? I don’t care for that. It tastes like somebody burned the salsa somehow. Again, warn me before I dig in. My favorite salsa variety is Peach Salsa (particularly Mrs. Renfro’s), but the fire roasted versions some brands use do it no favors.
Oh, I should emphasize that this section pertains only to the standard red salsa varieties. I never touch that green stuff. Y’all are on your own with that.

All right, there you have it, five blogs in one! Sort of. More like two with subsections. Anyway, that’s what I get for trusting a random generator I guess. Interesting that it completely ignored both “dogs” and “ballerina” as topics, since they would actually make pretty decent ideas. Still, I am a pet owner, and my daughter is very much into dance, so chances are these topics will come up at some point anyway.

Take care of yourselves. Back soon with more stuff.

P.S.-The horseshoe sandwich is also a delicacy (?) originating in Springfield, Illinois involving toasted bread, beef patties, french fries, and cheese sauce served open faced mostly to college students and people who are out way later than their normal bedtime.

P.P.S. Also…a horseshoe crab is a thing. Make your own joke, I don’t know. Just figured it belonged here somewhere.

Under Construction

Gonna get real here for a minute. You have been warned.

Over the weekend someone I knew back in the old days passed away. This wasn’t somebody I knew well. We weren’t friends, more like acquaintances. His name was Tom Johnson.

I knew Tom back during my stand up comedy days. He was an established comic on the local scene, and I was just starting out as an open mic-er. I always thought he was next level funny. He had a sense of the absurd that was dark and irreverent, and his jokes could surprise and shock just as much as they could delight. These were qualities I looked up to in a comic back then, and to a degree I still do today.

Not only was he hysterical, but he was a decent guy. He never made me feel “less than” like some other established comics did, and accepted me and my comedy pals into the fold. I mean, he didn’t go out of his way to help us get a leg up (you have to earn your place in that world!), but he didn’t make fun either, which to my impressionable self was just as good. I remember getting a few small pointers form him as well after a set one night at the now defunct Comedy Etc. in Collinsville, IL.

I only knew Tom for a short while before he moved away to seek his fortune, which he did. He wound up as one of the writers on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” back in it’s 1990s heyday (which always made me proud that I knew that guy) and I believe he was still writing for that show when he passed.

Like I said, I wasn’t at all close to him, and he probably wouldn’t remember me in the slightest, but his death really hit me. Hard. Way harder than it should have. I mean, I don’t think I’d even thought about him for years. Still, when I was scrolling through the entertainment news on my phone and read the article in “Variety” I let out an audible gasp and a “nooo….”, and was shocked speechless for a while.

Part of this reaction was, of course, nostalgia for the old days, and part the loss of someone I respected. Yet, it’s bigger than that. I think I was also reacting to me.

This unfortunate news really got me thinking. I started thinking about some of the old gang of comics I used to pal around with and what they are doing now. I am still in touch with some, but others I lost contact with years ago. A little googling (not in a creepy way) showed me that some are still active in the comedy game, and others have moved on. I know a few who are still performing in other ways such as being in bands, local television, writing books, etc. One old friend works seasonally in haunted houses and making appearances as Santa. Good for all of them, they have found a way to keep things going! I admire that.

I also miss that. It’s been a number of years since I have done anything creative, outside of this blog that is. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy doing it and I’m glad you all read it, but it’s not quite the same thing as what I’d done before. I have been a comic, an actor in small theater productions, and a musician over the years. The last project of note I did was in 2016. For someone who considers themselves a creative type, that’s a long dry spell. Okay, so the pandemic didn’t exactly help matters, but still.

Somewhere along the way during that time I lost my spark. I lost that part of my personality. I think it happened slowly, to where I didn’t really notice, as I just busied myself with life and what was around me. I have a good life, to be sure, and I can’t complain. Still, I can’t help but feel that loss.

Without a steady creative outlet, I don’t feel quite as complete, and I am just now realizing it has been affecting me in ways that I hadn’t been aware of. I am not as jovial as I used to be. I’m not as sharp either. As I’ve fallen into the same old routines, I’ve become slower, duller, and more, well, boring. Some of that can be attributed to age, sure, but not all of it. I haven’t really felt like myself for quite some time, in fact my self confidence and self esteem have both dropped to lower levels than I would like to admit. I’ve grown complacent and ambivalent about a lot of things. Not completely, mind you, but it’s there all the ame. Again, it happened so gradually I didn’t really notice. Now I have. I’ve lost a part of myself, and I miss me.

So, I need to figure some things out. I need to find my fire again. My passion. I need to take a long look in the mirror and work on that guy who’s staring back at me. He’s not a bad guy, I don’t hate him or anything, but he could use some work in a lot of different areas. This loss of sense of self has affected my day to day just as much as my overall state of being. That’s not good, y’all. It’s time to do a little self re-evaluation. It’s time to go to work.

Now, please don’t misunderstand, this is all internal stuff that needs to happen, not external. I’m not about to have a mid-life crisis and leave my family or anything like that. I love them deeply and wouldn’t swap them for all the riches in the world. So don’t hear what I didn’t say. I just need to find my way back to me. It’s going to take a little time, a little work, and some intentionality, but I’m betting on a big payoff down the road.

Okay, there we are. Thanks for sticking with me guys, I really needed to get that out. I’ll be back to the usual stuff next week.

One more thing. To Tom: you inspired me as a young comedian, and in a way, you have inspired me again. Thank you. Oh, and say hi to Bernie. His song still haunts my dreams, and I am better for it! Rest in peace.

What’s Dave Watching?

With all of the holidays, snow days, and “I’m not leaving this house in single digit temperatures” days, I have been able to catch up on some of my recent blu ray purchases (and gifts) that I’ve been meaning to get to, but haven’t had the chance. Most of this stuff is probably available to stream somewhere or other, but you know me, I like physical media, and I have the “collector gene”, so these have been in the “to be watched” pile for a little while now.

Most of these movies fall into two categories, “music movies” and “comedies”. Atnd one of them is kinda both. So I thought I’d share my finds with you all in case you’re looking for something a little bit different to view while we wait out the long winter months. Here we go, in alphabetical order.

Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)
-This is an all time classic that still plays just as well today as it ever has. For those who may not be aware, this is a dark comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, with a small though vital role played by Peter Lorre. The story sees Grant’s character newly married coming home to visit his dear, sweet, aunts to tell them the good news before heading off to his honeymoon. It turns out these two sweet little old ladies have a habit of offing little old men. Add in one brother who is convinced he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another who returns home a violent criminal and things get a little weird.

Grisly subject matter, sure, but it’s all handled with class, and the laughs are piled on thick throughout the first act of the film, with some real tension and danger mixed in until the manic conclusion. The reason this film works so well, apart from the cast who are all spot on, is that we are really seeing multiple stories unfold, involving well defined characters in a movie that goes off the rails about ten minutes in and doesn’t let up.

I know there are many people my age and younger won’t watch films made in black and white. This is a shame. The arguments are along the lines of the films being out of touch with modern thinking, the actors speaking in ways that sound peculiar to our ears, the inclusion of cultural references that modern audiences just won’t get, and that it’s just flat out hard to relate to the black and white imagery. While each of these arguments may have some truth to them, seldom will they all come into play in the same picture, and many viewers who drop their guard long enough to get into older movies are often pleasantly surprised. Give the old black and whites a shot. Trust me, you’re missing out. Especially so with a movie as great as Arsenic And Old Lace.

Elvis (2022)
-This movie biopic came out to mixed reviews, mostly stating that the film is a case of style over substance. While that isn’t entirely untrue, I don’t think it hurts the film any. Besides, it did win several non-Oscar awards so I think quite a few people would agree.

I enjoyed this film quite a lot. It’s interesting that our window into the Elvis story is through that of his infamous manager, Col. Tom Parker. Not only does the movie pull back the curtain a little bit on both men, but also examines their level of dependency on one another. It doesn’t really judge either man, but lets the viewer make up their own mind about the events within. Neither one is completely innocent or completely guilty when it comes to their own role in how Elvis’s story unfolded. Music biopics are quite popular these days, and I believe this one goes after the facts just a tiny, little bit more than most, which is nice. More on that later.

My only real complaint, and I hate to make it, is with the casting of Tom Hanks as Col. Parker. I love Hanks, but as with any actor, there are certain roles where the actor melts into the part to the point that you almost forget you are watching them act, and some where that doesn’t happen. Hanks did it brilliantly in movies such as Forrest Gump and The Green Mile among others. Not so here. I never forgot that I was watching Hanks in a fat suit, using a dialect that he never quite mastered. Don’t get me wrong, he gave a valiant effort, but came up short this time out.

All in all though, I thought it was a really good film, and an interesting view for Elvis fans and non fans alike.

It Happened One Night (1934)
Remember a few moments ago when I said that the supposed negatives of black and white films seldom come together in the same picture? Well, a lot of them do come into play here, but I still think it is an important cultural film.

Briefly, the story is as follows: a spoiled runaway socialite is joined on a cross country trip by a newspaper man who is determined to get the story of her disappearance. Hijinks ensue.

To the modern sensibilities, this plot is about as far fetched as you can get. The jokes are hackneyed and predictable, and there are a few unfortunate, cringe inducing lines about women that don’t play well at all these days. It would be easy to dismiss this film because of these qualities.

But also, it was 1939. Things were different. That doesn’t make bad ideas or actions any less wrong, or more acceptable, but that’s how things were, and a certain amount of understanding must be used. Even if it is done while shaking your head.

Remember, many of these gags were not old hat yet. There are more than a few scenes where the set ups and delivery of the jokes are very well done. Also, even though the attitudes displayed in the film are quite patriarchal, and wrong, our socialite heroine is still a fairly well written character for the time. The movie stars Claudette Colbert and Clark gable, both of whom are excellently cast. Gable clearly had a lot of fun making this movie, and it shows, which makes his performance a treat to watch.

It Happened One Night swept all five top categories at the Oscars (beat picture, actor, actress, director, and screenplay), and was a massive hit, breaking box office records across the country. It is an important movie in the history of comedy (often being called the first screwball comedy-though the jury is out on that one), and a fine example of early editing and cinematography. So, if you’re a film buff, it’s worth a view if you’ve not already seen it. For the rest, it may be worth a watch just to get a glimpse into the tastes of American movie goers in the 1930’s. Also, who doesn’t want to watch a five time Oscar winner?

Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)
-Not a biopic, but a full fledged documentary about “The Architect” of Rock And Roll. I am a fan of Little Richard’s music. His stuff roared out of the speakers back in the day-and it still does. The entire runtime of the film could be spent just on his contributions to popular music. Not only did he redefine popular music for an entire generation, but the after effects of what Little Richard did are still being felt today. Yet there’s so much more to this film than that.

This documentary is just as much about the man as it is the music. It explores his conservative upbringing, his sexuality, and his spirituality. Little Richard was a complex man who was never able to get all of the pieces of his personality to fit together. He was a walking contradiction, often condemning the very music he helped create, and his own lifestyle with one breath, only to proclaim it and celebrate it the next. Some of the interviews can be hard to watch, and some stories hard to hear, but any worthwhile documentary should be this way.

Little Richard’s story is inspiring, frustrating, sad, joyful, engrossing, and extremely relevant to our times. Just like the man himself was, and continues to be.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
-And we’re back into the biopics. Sort of. It’s also a comedy, but what else would you expect from the National treasure that is Weird Al Yankovic?

Okay, so I can’t really talk about this movie without discussing the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, or BoRap for short. BoRap was overseen by the surviving members of Queen during production. They had input on the script, the look, the music, everything. It’s a good movie, but it’s filled with erroneous details and historical inaccuracies-that the band okayed because they thought it made for a better movie that way. Many fans were not happy about these changes, but it still went on to be a highly successful film.

Now, back to National treasure Weird Al. He had been toying with the idea of an exaggerated biopic for some time (even doing a smaller scale version of this idea in the 1980’s home video release “The Compleat Al“). Well, when he saw the Bohemian Rhapsody movie and recognized the errors within, it gave him complete (compleat?) confidence to go forward with the idea and make it as big and crazy as possible.

That he did. As with any biopic there just enough glimpses of the truth to ground the movie a bit, but the comedy takes over quick and goes into directions that no one could possibly see coming. It’s almost like the Airplane! of biopics. There are a lot of snickers and a few flat out belly laughs to be had here, and the poolside party scene with its plethora of cameos is worth the watch on its own.

Seen as a straight up comedy, this movie is very good. Viewed as a parody of the entire biopic movie genre, it’s genius.

Alright, well, that’s been my viewing experience over the past few weeks. Check these movies out if you haven’t seen them, there may be a new favorite waiting for you. Until next time, happy viewing.

Top 20 Albums Of 2023 (Better Late Than Never)

Each year I do a roundup of my top ten favorite new albums list. In 2023 there were way more. In fact, there have been some years that I have struggled to get to ten, but this was such an incredibly good year for music that I not only reached that goal, but obliterated it.

If you listen to the “Fab 15” episodes of my brother’s “Empty Checking” podcast (and if not, why not?) then you have probably heard us both talk about our individual lists. A lot. This version will not go into as much detail, but should still prove informative and interesting. Since the podcast is the “Fab 15” of the year, I had to relegate some albums to the “honorable mentions” category. Since this is my blog and my list however, it’s going to be one big list.

As always, there will be some variance in genre here. While I’m not a hip hop guy, there is still a pretty wide range of stuff, which will hopefully have something for almost everybody. So, if you’re unfamiliar with a record that seems interesting to you, by all means go online and give it a listen. Then, please consider purchasing the album in physical or digital versions, preferably from the artist direct, or a legitimate online merchant. Streaming is a wonderful tool, but unless you’re Taylor Swift or somebody like that, it isn’t going to put food on the table. Support your favorite artists. They’d thank you for it.

Without any further ado I now present the MonDAVES top 20 of 2023.

20. Dropkick Murphys-Okemah Rising
-This is the second album consisting of songs with lyrics by the legendary Woody Guthrie, and music by DKM. The songs are mostly acoustic folk rock with a little Irish flavor, and the prerequisite Boston punk attitude. A fun, worthwhile listen, though not as essential as its predecessor, last year’s This Machine Still Kills Fascists.

19. Haunt-Golden Arm
-Old school thrash metal done by a new generation. Haunt is a one man band in the studio, withj Trevor Church writing, playing, and singing everything. Haunt has multiple albums out and they all deliver. The vibe is early ’80s thrash with lyrics that not only borrow from classic tropes of the genre, but also mix in a Hammer Horror goes to outer space vibe. This is also reflected in their cool retro artwork. Good stuff.

18. Baroness-Stone
-More metal. This time it’s prog-metal mixed with folk rock and groove metal, which makes for an interesting listen. The first half is a connected suite of pure excellence. Baroness is a thinking man’s metal band who are not afraid to take chances. When those chances work, the pay off is well worth the risk, as it is here.

17. Margo Cilker-Valley Of Heart’s Delight
-Americana artist Margo Cilker delivers what is probably the closest to a straight up country record in my list this year. These songs are filled with lines about longing, nostalgia, redemption and movement. The arrangements are somewhat minimalistic, but gorgeous. There’s some fun to be had between the reflective moments, and plenty to read between the lines. Highly recommended.

16. The Alarm-Forwards
-Though main man Mike Peters may be the only band member left from The Alarm’s heyday, his recent output has more than lived up to the legacy. This is another Alarm record full of anthemic songs that are all about staring down the troubles in life, getting through them and moving on with purpose. Research his life story to further understand the context and this record will certainly make an impact. It is immediate, intimate rock and roll.

15. Extreme-Six
-One of the many bands who got unfairly burned by the 1980’s glam metal explosion, Extreme is back in fine form. As per usual this record blends scorching hard rock with sensitive ballads, and a little bit of experimentation as well. Extreme have always been a much more diverse band than they have been given credit for, with top notch musicianship to boot. Good to have them back.

14. Lucero-Should’ve Learned By Now
-Plain and simple, this is whiskey-soaked alternative country done as it should be. The best Lucero records sound like an put of control Saturday night and a hazy, regret filled Sunday morning. Often in the same song. This record is one of their best. Great from start to finish.

13. Black Pumas-Chronicles OF A Diamond
-This genre-bending rock/soul/jazz two man combo are back and, in my opinion, better than before. Gritty yet polished, honest yet aloof, playful yet serious as a heart attack. This record may require a few listens to truly absorb, but the rewards are great for those who take the time. So dive in!

12. Foo Fighters-But Here We Are
-This is Dave Grohl and the band dealing with the loss of their friend and drummer the only way they can, by making a record. Loss, acceptance, and moving on are all represented here both lyrically and musically. This is one that took me a while to get into. upon first listen it sounded like just another Foos record, but the more time I spent with it the more it got its hooks into me and I now appreciate it for the statement it is.

11. Iggy Pop-Every Loser
-I am so happy to have another great Iggy record. This one has everything you want in an Iggy release. You’ve got your pissed off swear-filled rants, Iggy’s poetic side, a few experiments, and a whole lotta tough as nails rock and roll. It’s just so good, and so fun. Long live Iggy Pop!!!

10. Metallica-72 Seasons
-New Metallica records sometimes get a little resistance, and dismissed by a fair section of the fan base, and sometimes they deserve it. Not here, though. This is everything I want in my Metallica records. It may not be as catchy as some would like, but it’s heavy, riff-y, fairly complex, and all kinds of awesome.

9. White Reaper-Asking For A Ride
-I’m new to this band, so I’m not sure how to classify White Reaper. This record has everything from garage punk to emo-ish alternative to acoustic sing-alongs, and I love every bit of it. It’s short and sweet and it totally rips. One of the most fun records I’ve heard in a long time. Any record that makes you want to turn the volume up every time you hear it is a good one in my book-and this is one of them.

8. boygenius-The Record
-An indie supergroup consisting of three female songwriters who ell the absolute truth about what it means to be a woman in today’s society. The fact that two of the members are queer and one bisexual only adds to the weight of the material. These ladies can go from hauntingly beautiful, sleepy yet soulful sounds to fun alternative rock and back again. Most of the material is a little quieter than I prefer, which is the only reason this disc isn’t higher on my list. I have to be in a certain mood to listen and enjoy. I will tell you this though, when these ladies contemplate their lives in song, it makes the listener do the exact same thing. I, as a straight, middle aged male found myself relating to many of these songs-and realizing that I needed to listen and also to learn. That is the genius of this record-whether it’s your type of music or not-it has something to say to us all.

7. The Struts-Pretty Viscous
-The Struts are mostly known as a good time party band, and that is accurate. On this record, though, a little bit of self reflection is creeping in among the big riffs, choruses, and larger than life sing along sounds. This is a welcome addition. The Struts are somehow able to mix the very best of ’70s and ’80s British glam and hard rock with fresh sounds and a style that is of today. Let’s face it, when your singer is a mix between Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, and Tim Curry, you’re halfway there, but the music has to back it all up. Thankfully, it does.

6. The Damned-Darkadelic
-Punk/Goth/Whatever legends are back with an album that is every bit as good as it should be, and better. This is The Damned doing everything they do well all in one place. Often the punk/goth sides have been at war with one another from a musical perspective. The listener isn’t always sure which style they are going to get. This record blends them all together perfectly and is sure to satisfy pretty much any Damned fan. Love this one to bits. Also, great album title!

5. Blondshell-Blondshell
-This is the debut album by Blondshell (aka Sabrina Titlebaum) and it is most impressive. It uses a ’90s alternative sound as its jumping off point, and then arranges those sounds and styles into an album that is absolutely of the moment. The lyrics are highly confessional, yet clever, and there’s not a wasted moment on this record. I’m looking forward to hearing more in the future, but this one should stay in the rotation for a good long while.

4. Rolling Stones-Hackney Diamonds
-I was not prepared for this. I picked this up figuring it very likely to be the Stones last record, so I figured I’d grab it up for the history involved. I had no idea it was going to be one of their best records. Yes, Bill Wyman plays on a track. Yes, this includes some of the last recorded drumming of Charlie Watts. Sure, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga all guest on it. Even without all of that, it’s still great. This is the sound of The Stones embracing every era of the band and doing so with gusto. The songs are loud and proud, all with the groove and swagger of a band who sound like they are in their twenties. There are straight-up blues songs, ballads, dance-y numbers, and classic Stones riffs aplenty, and they are all great. If this is indeed the cap on their career, it couldn’t be a better one.

3. Jason Isbell-Weathervanes
-This is the album I’ve been waiting for Jason to make since 2007, when he left (?) the Drive-By Truckers. His brand of Americana is lyrical and sophisticated, yet able to raise the roof when the time is right. Isbell’s albums have always been hit-and-miss for me in the past. I liked them well enough, but none of them really knocked my socks off. This time he nailed it all the way through-there is truly not a misstep on this record. It’s his best by a mile, and I’m happy to proclaim it one of my favorites the year.

2. Mammoth WVH-II
-I could go into a lot of detail here about this being Eddie Van Halen’s son and how he used to avoid playing like his father but now he does a little bit, but it doesn’t sound like Van Halen, and blah-blah-blah. Who cares? That’s all BS, man. What matters is the music, and this is quite simply the best hard rock record released in 2023.

1. Paramore-This Is Why
-Paramore released a record that perfectly encapsulated what we’ve all been through since 2020, from the social to the political, the personal, and beyond. It’s jittery, it’s got some big grooves, quiet moments, and a few emo tinged rockers for good measure. This record doesn’t quite sound like anything else I’ve heard recently, and it is all the better for it. Quality all the way through.

Well, there’s the list. 2023 was a really good year for music. I’m looking forward to what this coming year brings, but I’m going to be cranking these selections up for a good long while. I hope you all found some music that spoke to you this past year as well.

That’s it for now. Keep your earbuds in and a song in your head and on your heart, and I’ll see you next week.