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the dude with the bears.
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Simple, short and sweet, my top 10 albums of 2011. Kanye comes in at #11. Watch the Throne didn’t make my top 20, just saying (I swear I’m not bitter).
- Wilco – The Whole Love
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Here We Rest
- Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
- Foster the People – Torches
- Drake – Take Care
- Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong
- J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story
- Bon Iver – Bon Iver
- The Horrors – Skying
- Deer Tick – Divine Providence
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I had good intentions when we started shooting this music video – my goal was to stay away from the brownies for the entire evening in anticipation of the many holiday parties that are right around the corner. But as you can see around the 2:45 marker, I failed miserably when a pretty lady forced a brownie on me.
December is my favorite month of the year & my favorite holiday is Christmas…yes, I know that from the 10th to the 24th, driving anywhere after 5pm is like trying to climb Mt Everest in flip-flops (there’s a better analogy somewhere in the world)…and sure, every Starbucks has a line 20-deep to keep the shopping going strong but man, it’s CHRISTMAS. I’m such a sucker for the romance of December in New England – town greens lit up with 20 small Christmas trees, wreaths on every mom & pop store on main street, that awesome pumpkin spice latte that works just as well for apple picking as it does on a train ride to Rockefeller Center.
So with my love for the Christmas season in mind, we shot a music video for “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” complete with a gingerbread house, brownies and a dog dressed in a Santa costume. It was shot and directed by the lovely Josh Adams and he decided that the two lovely ladies in the video won the gingerbread house decorating contest – apparently, their side had “continuity” and “style” while ours had “nothing particularly special or appealing about it.” So there you go.
The video is below, enjoy!
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So this past weekend, we auditioned actresses for my third music video. It was quite a fun day and my 12-year-old cousin very much enjoyed coming along and being surrounded by beautiful women for an entire afternoon (I get a cousin-of-the-year award for that one, just so we’re clear).
In the last video, I didn’t really have to do a lot of acting – I was just being my normal outgoing self on the streets of Atlanta, having a great time. But for THIS video, I will be acting. So the real question is whether or not I’ll be able to become Ryan Reynolds in the next 7 days to pull this off. As you can see from the video below, I was having a good time but wasn’t necessarily doing any ‘acting’…we were more focused on seeing how the ladies and I interacted on-camera in whatever form that presented itself.
We’ve picked the top 3 actresses and I’d love to hear your thoughts on who you think should be in the video. Watch belowwww….
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So my friend Megan Baker posted her Grammy winner guesses and I decided I’d do that as well. I mean, she already went to the 3508 various websites to copy and paste the nominees (thanks Meg). In her words…”Why is it so hard to find a FULL LIST?! I’ve been to like 6 websites now!!!! They’re all ‘full list… JK we’re only going to list some and then link you to the Grammy’s website which is impossible to copy and paste!’”
Haha so here are mine.
Record of the Year
“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele; “Holocene,” Bon Iver; “Grenade,” Bruno Mars; “The Cave,” Mumford & Sons; “Firework,” Katy Perry.
Who I think will win: “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
How certain I am: 100%
Album of the Year
“21,” Adele; “Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters; “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga; “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Bruno Mars; “Loud,” Rihanna.
Who I think will win: ”21,” Adele
How certain I am: 93%
Song of the Year
“All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West, songwriters (performed by Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie);
“The Cave,” Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford and Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons);
“Grenade,” Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars);
“Holocene,” Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver);
“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele).
Who I think will win: ”Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, “All of the Lights” Kanye West
How certain I am: 70% Adele, 30% Kanye
New Artist
The Band Perry, Bon Iver, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex.
Who I think will win: Skrillex.
How certain I am: 30%. Time to recognize that SiriusXM has Electric Area (channel 52) but it’ll probably go to Nicki Minaj because she’s been, you know, everywhere.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Adele – “Someone Like You”, Lady Gaga – “You And I”, Bruno Mars – “Grenade”, Katy Perry – “Firework”, Pink – “[Expletive] Perfect”
Who I think will win: ”Firework” Katy Perry
How certain I am: 100%
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse – “Body And Soul”, The Black Keys – “Dearest”, Coldplay – “Paradise”, Foster The People – “Pumped Up Kicks”, Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera – Moves Like Jagger
Who I think will win: ”Body and Soul” – Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
How certain I am: 100%. “He’s old, and she’s dead.” – Megan Baker
Pop Vocal Album
“21,” Adele; “The Lady Killer,” Cee Lo Green; “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga; “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Bruno Mars; “Loud,” Rihanna.
Who I think will win: ”Doo-Wops & Hooligans” Bruno Mars
How certain I am: 70%. Adele can have album of the year but Bruno kicks pop music right in the teeth with his disc. It’s so great, it’s top-40, it’s something everyone can have a listen to and enjoy. He wins for me.
Rock Album
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul,” Jeff Beck; “Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters; “Come Around Sundown,” Kings of Leon; “I’m With You,” Red Hot Chili Peppers; “The Whole Love,” Wilco.
Who I think will win: ”The Whole Love,” Wilco
How certain I am: 90%. This album is just TOO DARN GOOD not to win a Grammy.
Rap Album
“Watch the Throne,” Jay-Z and Kanye West; “Tha Carter IV,” Lil Wayne; “Lasers,” Lupe Fiasco; “Pink Friday,” Nicki Minaj; “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye West.
Who I think will win: ”My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” Kanye
How certain I am: 80% I also agree with Megan, it should’ve been nominated for Album of the Year in place of Rihanna.
Country Album
“My Kinda Party,” Jason Aldean; “Chief,” Eric Church; “Own the Night,” Lady Antebellum; “Red River Blue,” Blake Shelton; “Here for a Good Time,” George Strait; “Speak Now,” Taylor Swift.
Who I think will win: ”My Kinda Party,” Who DOESN’T like this album? Other than people who don’t like country…
How certain I am: 100%
Best Rock Performance
Coldplay – “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”, The Decemberists – “Down By The Water”, Foo Fighters – “Walk”, Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”, Radiohead – “Lotus Flower”
Who I think will win: “The Cave,” Mumford & Sons
How certain I am: 80%. M&S is cool, they’re in and they’re hip. And they’ll stay that way.
Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver – “Bon Iver”, Death Cab For Cutie – “Codes And Keys”, Foster The People – “Torches”, My Morning Jacket – “Circuital”, Radiohead – “The King Of Limbs”
Who I think will win: ”Torches,” Foster the People
How certain I am: 70%. Forget that they’re all over the radio and in every airport PA system – this record is AMAZING. I’ve had it on repeat since the wonderful power outage in the northeast and it’s so slick and alt-pop-dance-electronica-goodness. It’s like Owl City but for the hipsters. And everyone who listens to top-40.
Best Rap Performance
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look At Me Now”, Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”, Lupe Fiasco – “The Show Goes On”, Nicki Minaj & Drake – “Moment 4 Life”, Wiz Khalifa – “Black And Yellow”
Who I think will win: ”Look At Me Now,” Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
How certain I am: 100%. Because this song made white kids THINK they can say the N word…guess what? YOU CAN’T.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Beyonce & Andre 3000 – “Party”, DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne- “I’m On One”, Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey – “I Need A Doctor”, Rihanna & Drake – “What’s My Name?”, Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne – “Motivation”, Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie – “All Of The Lights”
Who I think will win: ”Motivation,” Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
How certain I am: 50%. This song turns me on.
Best Rap Song
“All Of The Lights” – Written By: Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West. Performed by: Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie.
“Black And Yellow” – Written By: Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Cameron Thomaz. Performed by: Wiz Khalifa
“I Need A Doctor” – Written By: Andre Young, Marshall Mathers III, Alexander Grant & Skylar Grey. Performed by: Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey.
“Look At Me Now” – Written By: Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Trevor Smith, Dwayne Carter, Jr. & Wesley Pentz. Performed by: Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes.
“Otis” – Written By: Shawn Carter & Kanye West. Performed by: Jay-Z & Kanye West.
“The Show Goes On” – Written By: Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane & Wasalu Muhammad Jaco. Performed by: Lupe Fiasco.
Who I think will win: ”The Show Goes On,” Lupe Fiasco
How certain I am: 60% Again, Megan said it best: “I think he deserves it…but probably won’t get it.”
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson – “Don’t You Wanna Stay”, Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter – “You And Tequila”, The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow”, Thompson Square – “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Who I think will win: ”Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” Thompson Square
How certain I am: 80% not just because it’s a sure pick but because I like that song the best out of any of them.
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Nothing beats fall weekends in New England.
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Guest post by Kathryn Wells
Young Love is the fourth album release for singer/songwriter Mat Kearney. The Oregon native’s mix of simple guitar and feel good lyrics makes for songs to lift any listener’s spirits. What makes Kearney special is the way he incorporates his love for God into his music. It’s clear that he really feels the power of God around him and believes in his truth.
The entire album is a good mix of slow soulful songs and faster joyful tunes. “Hey Mama,” the debut single off the album brings smiles with its catchy lyrics and up-beat tune while “Rochester” is a slower sad story about Kearney’s father.
Kearney’s integration of his real life experiences into his music makes the meaning of his music even more powerful. He truly cares about what he is writing and recording. The songs on Young Love are sure to bring pleasure to any listening ears. This album is a must have for any fan of Kearney.
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Yeah, I’m on that baller status.
