Mid-Year Top 10

I did this last year and the trolls showed up in full force. Hopefully this year's list won't be so controversial. It's already late, so that takes away some of the impact. Also, this list could change drastically over the next six months or so, but I will garuntee that all of this top ten will be around when '09 is over.

10. Outer South - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Honestly, I wasn't even going to include this on the list until I started giving the record another listen or two in preparation for this past Monday's show at the Note. The performance did the final convincing.

9. The Crying Light - Antony and the Johnsons
This is an absolutely beautiful record that is sequenced masterfully. This is why albums are always better than singles.

8. Grand - Matt & Kim
They're my default ringtone right now. This record is so poppy and upbeat that I had to include it on the list. It may rise by year's end, depending on my mood.

7. Hold Time - M Ward
Ward follows up his great work on She and Him with this gem.

6. Enemy Mine - Swan Lake
Big, weird, Vancouver, super-group, etc.

5. It's Frightening - White Rabbits
This is a great follow up for the one-time COMO-ians. While Britt Daniel's fingerprints are all over it, the album is certainly proof of this band's worth. I look forward to #3.

4. Face Control - Handsome Furs
Here's another great duo who are also a couple on the side. (Matt & Kim being the other.) Few bands have been able to combine synth beats and rock guitar so effectively...at least with only two members.

3. Dark Was the Night - Various
This sprawling collection of songs from the Red Hot Organization is one of the best compilations I've heard. Many of the tracks are among the best for each artist. The biggest and most pleasant surprise was José González's Nick Drake cover. Why don't more people cover Nick Drake?

2. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
This is on everyone's short list. It will be near the top at the end of the year as well. It's so nice to hear a record that lives up to its hype. This is the next Radiohead/Wilco/TV on the Radio.

1. Post-Nothing - Japandroids
I am a sucker for minimalist anthems. Guided By Voices did it better than anyone, but this band does it with less and rocks more.

Just missed the cut: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Wavvves, Beirut, Iron and Wine, Sunset Rubdown

Need more listens: Clem Snide, Cursive, Sonic Youth, The Thermals, Bill Callahan, Camera Obscura

Still on my list to get: The Eels, Dinosaur Jr, Stuart Murdoch

Things I may have missed: Andrew Bird, Robert Pollard (in my neighborhood, we call him Bob), Ben Kweller, The Decemberists...Let me know if there are more in the comments.

Also, what else is still yet to be released? Leave me some insight in the comments.

Want to see for yourself? Go to Insound and buy some records.

Reason #5 Why I Live in Misery: Red lights have no meaning.

I used to get annoyed when cars in COMO would sit at a green light before finally inching forward. I can't tell you the number of times I've missed a light due to the driver in front of me taking his sweet time.

It happened again today at Stadium and Providence. We were maybe the third or fourth car back and could have easily made the light. However, it changed and the cars in front failed to move. I looked up to see three cars cross in front of us, obviously running the red light.

I knew this was a problem. I mean, besides seeing cars run numerous red lights before, the city put up those cameras all over town to deter red light runners. It hasn't worked.

Red lights mean nothing in this town. It's as if they see pink and that doesn't mean stop. I often heard the term "fresh red" when the light has just turned red, meaning there's still time to cross.

No, there isn't. If it's red, you stop. If it's yellow, you better be practically through the intersection or you should stop.

The odd thing about this trend is that it isn't that dangerous because no one goes when the light is green. It changes, they look both ways as two more cars enter and exit the intersection. Then they move. They go so late in the light that the car two spots behind has to decide whether to go on "orange" or stop for red. I'm sure you can guess which choice they make.

All I ask is that you all stop on red, go on green, and at least err on the side of caution when it's yellow. I want to see my daughter grow up.