Idaho

Thursday, March 4th 4:05 PM, Coeur d'Alene Idaho.

This week Gretchen and I got work off and are visiting her Grandparents in Post Falls, Idaho, which is right between Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington. It's really nice here. Back in Portland I live in the city, and drive through downtown to go to work, and hit rush hour a lot. Being out here makes me want to escape, spend time away by myself, and not live in the city anymore.

The thing is, I am not sure that is such a good idea. A part of me wants to a own a plot of land near a city but not too close. Hide away from people all the time. Enjoy relaxing in the wilderness. Call friends once in awhile when I need them. But I don't think those are necessarily healthy feelings. Sure, they are not totally bad desires. But I think most people (me included) are better of involved in community, being helped by others and helping others... I am not sure that I like this idea, but I guess I think it's right...

going to start blogging again

Top 15 albums of 2009 - cliche time

This includes 7", EPs, or full lengths. And no, I am not cool enough to know EVERY album released, there are 5-20 bands I like that I never got around to really.

15. Owen - New Leaves

14. Modest Mouse - No One's First and Your'e Next EP

13. Ruiner - Hell is Empty

12. Converge - Axe to Fall

11. Such Gold - Stand Tall EP

10. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

9. mewithoutYou - It's All Crazy!...

8. Defeater - Lost Ground

7. Thursday - Common Existence

6. Strike Anywhere - Iron Front

5. United Nations - S/T

4. Bon Iver - Blood Bank

3. Brand New - Daisy

2. Touche Amore - ...To the Beach of a Dead Horse

1. Title Fight - The Last Thing You Forget

Some thoughts on 2009 releases:

Set Your Goals' new full length had a few catchy songs but with melodic hardcore/pop-punk bands like Such Gold and Title Fight around there is no excuse to listen to lesser pop-punk bands like SYG...August Burns Red new release Constellations is the same old Christian metalcore, but fun to listen to on occasion...Two Tongues' (Saves the Day/Say Anything) first release was disappointing but for the first song, but what should I expect without a solid release from Saves the day in 9 years...Paint it Black's 7" was good, but really just more of the same for them...mewithoutYou's release had some catchy songs but overall it was easily their worst release...After hearing the Avett Brothers new album in the mall for the third time it really started to fade on me...Touche Amore is the most exciting west coast hardcore band currently...I enjoyed Bon Iver's slight departure from the over-the-top falsetto on some of the songs...Strike Anywhere cannot release a bad album...Defeater's 7" improved upon their full length Travels... The Converge/Thursday hybrid band United Nations was slightly better than either releases by Converge or Thursday this year.