can we cast our shadows alone in the dark?
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Wednesday, December 31, 2003 should all acquaintance... So here it is, the end of the year already. Just as we say every year, and to be ultra-cliched: “And what a year it’s been!” I tend to believe the whole concept and new theory of accelerated time. If you really stop to think about it, time seems to have taken some speed. Remember way back in the day, say.. 2nd or 3rd grade. Remember how the summer seemed to last forever? Even though it only stretched from mid-May to early-August, it seemed like a whole year would pass before you advanced to the next grade. But as you got older and older, the summer got shorter and shorter... until it became merely a blink of the eye. I look back at the summer of 2003 and all that transpired, and I really wonder where it all went. It was here and gone so very quickly. In fact, that’s how the whole year went. In January, I experienced the first (and hopefully one of very few) break-up. I won’t be overly dramatic and say it was a traumatic, life-altering experience. Ah, how young I was then. In February, I turned 16, and how overrated it is. In May, I finally was released from the unbelievable strongholds that were New Testament Christian School. It’s better for all of us that I no longer attend schooling there. In June, I went to the first concert of my life, and was blown out of the water by The White Stripes and Whirlwind Heat. Best concert I’ve ever been to (muhaha). Also in June, I attended the Summer Journalism Institute at the University of Florida. I still claim that week as the best 6 days of my life. Who knows, maybe in 2 years, that’s where I’ll end up at school. In July, I went to the Vans Warped Tour in St. Petersburg, accompanied by my female cronies Jillian and Amanda and Shaz. ‘Twas a good time, even though I almost got killed in (one of) The Used’s mosh pits. I also was not amused by Bert McCracken’s (lead singer of The Used) opening line of “WHAT’S UP SOUTH VIETNAM!?” In August, I started at my new school. And from there... well... we all know what happened. Which brings us to today. Here’s to hoping 2004 lives up to the hype. And now for the obligatory lists... This was an especially good year music. It’s been incredible in terms of the quality of new albums... in my opinion, anyway. A couple of things I’m looking forward to for next year... the new Elliott Smith (R.I.P.) record, should it be released by his family. Also, the TV on the Radio debut LP is coming out “sometime in the spring” (I hate when release dates say that), and it should be a classic. If the Young Liars EP is any indication of how good the full length record is going to be, it will surely cut top-5 lists for 2004. I love all of these songs and records, and if they’re on this list, they are here for good reason. They earned and most definitely deserve their spot. So here goes.... Albums of the Year: 28. Muse - Absolution 27. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner 26. Pretty Girls Make Graves - The New Romance 25. S.T.U.N. - Evolution of Energy 24. The Polyphonic Spree - The Beginning Stages Of.... 23. The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers 22. Grandaddy - Sumday 21. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 20. Clearlake - Cedars 19. The Strokes - Room on Fire 18. The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? 17. Rilo Kiley - The Execution of All Things 16. The Postal Service - Give Up 15. The Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House 14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell 13. Manitoba - Up In Flames 12. The Darkness - Permission To Land 11. Stars - Heart 10. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People 09. The Wrens - The Meadowlands 08. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief 07. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots 06. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow 05. Metric - Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? 04. The Blood Brothers - Burn, Piano Island, Burn! 03. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium 02. Cursive - The Ugly Organ 01. The White Stripes - Elephant EPs of the Year: 09. The Bens (Ben Kweller/Ben Lee/Ben Folds) - The Bens Rock Over Australia EP 08. Ben Folds - Sunny 16 EP/Speed Graphic EP 07. Eisley - EP 2 06. Iron and Wine - The Sea and Rhythm EP 05. Mindless Self Indulgence - Alienating Our Audience EP/Despierta Los Ninos EP 04. Pinback - Offcell EP 03. Cursive/Eastern Youth - 8 Teeth to Eat You (Split EP) 02. TV on the Radio - Young Liars EP 01. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - The Secret of Elena’s Tomb EP Songs/Singles of the Year: 33. The Libertines - Up the Bracket 32. Manitoba - Jacknuggeted 31. Death Cab for Cutie - Title and Registration 30. Pretty Girls Make Graves - This Is Our Emergency 29. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Crowning of a Heart 28. The Books - Tokyo 27. Manitoba - Hendrix With KO 26. Mindless Self Indulgence - Two Hookers and an 8-Ball 25. Clearlake - Almost the Same 24. Mando Diao - Sweet Ride 23. Iron and Wine - Faded From the Winter 22. Metric - The List 21. The Wrens - Faster Gun 20. M83 - Run Into Flowers 19. S.T.U.N. - The Movement 18. Stars - Elevator Love Letter 17. Muse - Stockholm Syndrome 16. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - 1979 15. The Blood Brothers - The Shame 14. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up Look Sharp 13. Cursive - Bloody Murderer 12. Stephen Malkmus - Dark Wave 11. The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love 10. The Mars Volta - Intertiatic ESP 09. Rilo Kiley - The Execution of All Things 08. Broken Social Scene - Anthem For a Seventeen Year Old Girl 07. The Wrens - Boys You Won’t Remember 06. Cursive - Art is Hard 05. Broken Social Scene - Cause = Time 04. Metric - Combat Baby 03. TV on the Radio - Mister Grieves 02. The Shins - Kissing the Lipless 01. OutKast - Hey Ya Yeah I know my single of the year will create some controversy, but you have gotta admit, it’s a fun song, and definitely has a lot of history involving my school. The lock-in, the parking lot, the dancing... etc... Outback Bowl tomorrow morning... I have to be out of the house before 8 a.m. Not looking forward to that, but oh, the sacrifices I make for my Gators... On a side note: it doesn't feel like New Year's Eve... what good are promises if nobody honors them? overthought at 6:56:52 PM by a hole in the world New Year's is overrated. i had to do away with the traditional candy cane update. Christmas is officially over, and the holidays are nearing their end, so what's the use in having it remain online. my best-of year-end lists are currently being revised... watch out for them, kids! crescents in her eyes as we gazed away... overthought at 3:24:42 AM by a hole in the world |
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