I thought I just bemoaned the fact that I wasn't "up" on enough to make any top ten lists! What's up? Well, what I can do is make you a list of the top ten songs that permeated my playlists this past year. Enjoy my insanity:
10.No Surprises - Radiohead. This is a late entry, but I got addicted to it about a month ago, and it hasn't let go. Possibly Radiohead's most beautiful song.
9.Let's Stay Together - Al Green. You know it from Pulp Fiction (or perhaps you don't) but it's a very soulfull song from the preacher himself.
8.Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap. I have to stop myself every time and make a conscious effort to NOT put this on every playlist I make. Haunting.
7.The One I Love - David Gray. Lacey's dad plays this on the guitar, and with good reason: the song is great. David Gray is probably my favorite songwriter out there.
6.Stolen - Dashboard Confessional. One of their songs that Lacey can stomach, but it's a more positive one than Carabba's normal fare. I love all their stuff, but this one gets me for some reason.
5.War Pigs - Black Sabbath/Cake. Cake did a remake, which made me appreciate how incredible the original is. Those guitars, man those guitars.
4.Shoot To Thrill - AC/DC. I'm starting to branch out beyond their normal 5 or 6 radio hits everyone knows, and even though they all sound similar, I love them. Good old rock and roll.
3.Tarantula - The Smashing Pumpkins. Their first single after the "reunion". Has a great hook, and an underrated guitar solo buried in there somewhere.
2.Funky Cold Medina/Wild Thing - Tone Loc. I don't know why, but I love these songs, which are essentially one. They're just, well, funky.
1.Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight - Amos Lee. This guy just grooves. It's great music for any situation: stressed out, tired, party, whatever. Love his voice, and love the acoustic setting/feel.
Honorable Mention: Nude - Radiohead; Love You Madly - Cake; Amber - 311; Bad Dream - Keane; Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
Within the last six days, Lacey and I have finished 2, count 'em TWO, whole movies. One at the theatre, one in the comfort of our home. That must be some kind of record for us, since the birth of the little rugrat we call Noah (who is growing like a weed btw - 18 pounds, 28 inches long, HUGE noggin'). We went to this fancy shmancy theatre which shows artsy movies, and has a regular concession stand, a coffee bar, and a REAL (full) bar where you can get alcholic beverages in a glass and take them into the movie with you. Sweet! Anyway, here is my short synopsis of both:
1.Atonement - Keira Knightley is in this much less than the previews suggest, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Beautifully shot and scored, this has the 2nd greatest one-shot take I've maybe ever seen (next to the scene in Children of Men) which is like 4 minutes, and shows the carnage of Dunkirk after the British "invade". It's extremely sad, but extremely good. I haven't decided exactly what is in the script that I loved and that is decidedly Christian, but I'm working on it.
2.Evan Almighty - funny, but forgettable. I can see why this flopped. It's just way too out there for mass America. It goes so far over the top, it flips over, does 8 somersaults and a backflip for good measure. But it has some good morals, is only PG rated, and hey, you can't go wrong with some Steve Carrell.
If you have extra time, check out my youtube site for videos of Noah. I will post them there periodically. I should have a couple new ones of us sledding up fairly soon:
http://youtube.com/jmmelton777
I have been reading and dialoguing a lot about this subject elsewhere. I don't want to get into it here, but the short version is that I'm not blanketly against birth control, but I don't think birth control pills should be taken by conscientious Christians. Here's the link I was provided some time ago, that changed my mind. I encourage you all to read it and keep an open mind:
http://ccli.org/nfp/contraception/pill.php
This is a time where top 10 lists invariably come out. I am not nearly as "up" on things as I usually am (I blame Noah!) so I am not qualified to do anything this year, as far as lists. But here are the top 5 reasons I never blog any more:
1.No time
2.No motivation/nothing to say
3.Facebook
4.No one reads this stupid thing
5.Who cares?