I’m One

Ah, the number of possible meanings implied in that phrase. Practically speaking, it refers to the fact that I’ve been doing this blogging thing for a full year, which kind of makes me wonder what else I could have accomplished with that extra time. It could imply that I’ve “become one” with the wider world through my virtual existence at this here URL, the sort of utopian blather that has no place anywhere. It could also imply that I’m “but one of many” out here, which is what I like more. Not only one of the many bloggers doing this kind of thing, but one of many rabid music fans overeager to express his opinion to anyone willing to listen. It implies a certain nothing-special-ness that’s both true and a good way to express a false modesty that I have in spades. Well, on to the self-thrown birthday party and self-aggrandizement:
First, when I say I’m one, it’s true, but only kind of. You see, my first post, a review of a Black Mountain show that went on much longer than I intended, went up on March 29 of last year. Then, April had one big fat post, a rambler that doesn’t really make much sense about the US version of The Office, and then, well, um, nothing until June 26, when I transcribed Eric Schlosser’s commencement speech delivered at DePauw University. I pretty much got going after that, working my way into something of a rhythm. The best idea from here on out is probably to present my favorite posts from the past year (wink), divided thusly (and interspersed with pictures I done took with my phone or real-cam, like above and below):Best tracks (they’re all reupped at their original locations):

Fanuelle “Dirty Loverstuff”, primarily because it’s the first track I ever YouSendIt’ed.
Junior Senior “No No No’s”, because it came from one of the 20 best records from last year, and yet still hasn’t seen a proper US release.
Novillero “The Hypothesist”, because it’s totally indie and totally never got covered anywhere else, which by default makes me impressive.
The Sugarplastic “The Runaround”, because, see Novillero.
The Rosebuds “The Lovers’ Rights”, because I realize now that I wasn’t aware at the time how much I’d eventually fall for that record.
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas “Foreløpig Bit”, because it’s one of a paltry number of electro/dance tracks to be featured here, due mostly to the fact that I can’t write about it.
The Dancing Cigarettes “Pop Doormat”, because they’re a long-since gone Bloomington band, and it’s one of my all-time favorite songs, ever.
Field Music “Tell Me Keep Me”, because see yesterday’s post.
Dalek “Ever Somber”, because, see Lindstrom & Prins Thomas.
Sons and Daughters “Dance Me In”, because the posts are getting to a point now where they can speak for themselves.
Mazarin “For Energy Infinite”
Spoon-fluences, because I done made it myself. Now I’ll shut up again.
The Shortwave Set “Is It Any Wonder?”
Morane “Living on a Traffic Island”
Lucknow Pact “The Critics, the Band, the In-Between”
The Narrator “This Party’s Over”

…the rest (from December on) are too recent to be effectively revisionist.Blabs, lists, etc:

This Arcade Fire/Rosebuds thing, which could use a revision or two.
Installments one two three four and five of that 90s list that betrayed to hundreds my affection for 90s hardcore and backpack hip-hop.
That pretentious Coldplay deal that needs a fresh coat of paint.
That Wal-Mart documentary review/soapbox that I’m still solid with.
That ought-five top fiddy that should have been better.
But I’m sticking with the top 20.
There’s that Morningwood/W.A.S. thing, which probably made me look like a dick.
And then there’s that Love Monkey thing, which now seems quaint post-cancellation.Two things I couldn’t have predicted:

Ryan from Muzzle of Bees thought I was worthy of this.
This is what happened to my site traffic when Stereogum linked to my early leak of the Strokes’ crappy “Juicebox” video:That’s what a fifteen-fold visitor increase in one day looks like. Which was fine at first, but I was also stupid enough to host the 20MB file on a server I pay for. Thankfully, the good folks at Media Temple understood my plight and didn’t charge me the overages they easily could have. I’ve only occasionally been that stupid since.

And, finally…well, you know, thanks and what-not for reading, and occasionally commenting. I’m incredibly flattered that the number of people that stop by here or link here is what it is. I really am. So, yeah. Thanks and what-not. But before I split, there’s the obligatory shout to my fellow blogging peeps, holdin’ it down over there in the sidebar. We all know who the usual suspects are, and we like them very much. But I’d like to draw attention to a few that would like your visitation, if only conjugal in nature:

Irving Longface, who doesn’t post as much as he should, but when he does, it’s weird.
The group of stalwart news junkies over at Pandas…(I’m not going to type the whole name).
The two erudite and esoteric gentlemen at Chemistry Class.
The gang over at Slang Editorial, including my good friend Hannah, who should post more.
Gil at Ruidoestatica, who’s Mexican, which is cool. Use this to get an idea, if you’re an ugly American like myself.
Incredibly prolific creative-type Editor B, who maintains a magnificent blog while rebuilding post-Katrina.
The old indie dude at Mars Needs Guitars. A great guy with impeccable taste in music.

And my beautiful/wonderful girlfriend Forrest, who somehow puts up with me spending so much time doing something like this, while creating works of art like this:And then there’s this:

Altered Images “Happy Birthday” (mp3)

Filed under: autobiography  birthday  meta-shit