The year end always causes everyone to review their best lists of the year. I'm no exception. Per my ipod's play count, here are the most played songs / albums from 2008. Obviously the newer stuff is lower on the list, and i'm clearly biased towards REM, but it looks like a great year in music. Some details about each track to follow in the coming days.
1. Supernatural Superserious / Accelerate - R.E.M.
2. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
3. 27 Jennifers - Mike Doughty
4. Stop Drop and Roll - Foxboro Hottubs
5. Cath... - Death Cab For Cutie
6. Vida La Vida - Coldplay
7. Sequestered In Memphis - The Hold Steady
8. Perfect Music - Poi Dog
9. Dancing Choose - TV On The Radio
10. The Shock of the Lightening - Oasis
11. No Hiding Place - Elvis Costello
12. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
13. Inni Mer Syngur Vitlesingur - Sigur Ros
14. Vampires - Thievery Corporation
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance - Black Kids
16. Never Miss A Beat - The Kaiser Chiefs
17. California Soul - Marlena Shaw / Verve Remixed 4
18. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
19. New Soul - Yael Naim
20. The Only One - The Cure
21. Forever - The Explorers Club
22. Everything Is Borrowed - The Streets
23. It's a Long Way to the Top - Lucinda Williams
Honorable Mentions -
Band of Horses, David Cook, TMBG, Mission of Burma, Plain White T's
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Is it trite to blog about yad v'shem?
After visiting Beit Lyn, Jerusalem's cac, I unexpectedly went over to yad vshem. Its completely different than 22 yrs ago. I was one of the first people in (10am Friday is like 10am Saturday in the states).
Struck by the size, scope and silence of yad vshem, I found myself lost in thought. Perhaps this becomes the middle of a unexpected and unanticipated Jewish journey which occured this last week. After seeing Jewish peoplehood at its finest in Ashkelon, I now bear witness to humanity at its worst and our people's ability to rise up and survive (which ultimately led to what I experienced in Ashkelon).
The eeire beauty and serenity over yad vshem this morning, compelled me to sit in warsaw ghetto square to at least compose my thoughts and keep them for myself for future reading.
So, maybe its a bit trite to sit and tap out thoughts, but how else iin today's world.
Holocaust is so ingrained (and maybe taken for granted) in my world, but it recharges one self seeing other tourists take in the scope of this site.
Much has changed, but quiet strength remains. Plazas and squares dedicated to events in the holocaust, a synagogue that contains the last bits of destroyed jewish populations throughout europe - gorgeous arks, torah covers, menorahs all displayed with renewed purpose. A hall of remembrance for the 1.5 million children killed with just darkened mirrored images of candles and names and ages read aloud. Massive sculptures depicting despair and triumph. All perched atop a breathtaking hillside view.
Yes - Jewish peoplehood is alive and well. After having left it professionally, its good to be back personally.
Ps - perhaps the lesson of world jewry's revival in israel may be witnessed by the very eastern european looking mother pushing a very ethiopian looking baby in a stroller at yad vshem. Proof we are one jewish people afterall
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Struck by the size, scope and silence of yad vshem, I found myself lost in thought. Perhaps this becomes the middle of a unexpected and unanticipated Jewish journey which occured this last week. After seeing Jewish peoplehood at its finest in Ashkelon, I now bear witness to humanity at its worst and our people's ability to rise up and survive (which ultimately led to what I experienced in Ashkelon).
The eeire beauty and serenity over yad vshem this morning, compelled me to sit in warsaw ghetto square to at least compose my thoughts and keep them for myself for future reading.
So, maybe its a bit trite to sit and tap out thoughts, but how else iin today's world.
Holocaust is so ingrained (and maybe taken for granted) in my world, but it recharges one self seeing other tourists take in the scope of this site.
Much has changed, but quiet strength remains. Plazas and squares dedicated to events in the holocaust, a synagogue that contains the last bits of destroyed jewish populations throughout europe - gorgeous arks, torah covers, menorahs all displayed with renewed purpose. A hall of remembrance for the 1.5 million children killed with just darkened mirrored images of candles and names and ages read aloud. Massive sculptures depicting despair and triumph. All perched atop a breathtaking hillside view.
Yes - Jewish peoplehood is alive and well. After having left it professionally, its good to be back personally.
Ps - perhaps the lesson of world jewry's revival in israel may be witnessed by the very eastern european looking mother pushing a very ethiopian looking baby in a stroller at yad vshem. Proof we are one jewish people afterall
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
My moment
I just left a pre-school where I got to join 30 four year olds who sang Hatikvah - nothing has quite hit me about being here in a Jewish homeland with "old" israelis as well as new israeli olim from ethiopia, russia, eastern europe, and even a kid from chicago than getting to experience and participate in such a moment.
And then we ate again.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Kindergarten in Ashkelon
Shal chevit kindergartners always share the best story and food. Had sufiganot (donuts) for chanukah. PACT once again provides the program enhancement iin the classroom - 3 olim required literacy and language enhancement taught by a pact instructor, but the whole class benefits because a 4th student - non ethiopian israeli olim - needed it as well and is able to improve her language and literacy due to pact's presence.
Its wonderful to see the partnership and ancillary benefits derived from having a pact partnership with a community.
Being in shal chevit's class was just like being in my own twins' class. Parental involvement was key - today the father of one of the boys was invited to cut the dabbah (bread) and share with the class. He was given the honor (and of course, like our kindergarteners, his little boy was equally embarrassed and clingy in his presence). The father, a proud olim, was very happy to be a part of the activity
Nissim, one of the boys, gave me some art to take home, which will hang proudly in my office next to my kids' art.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Its wonderful to see the partnership and ancillary benefits derived from having a pact partnership with a community.
Being in shal chevit's class was just like being in my own twins' class. Parental involvement was key - today the father of one of the boys was invited to cut the dabbah (bread) and share with the class. He was given the honor (and of course, like our kindergarteners, his little boy was equally embarrassed and clingy in his presence). The father, a proud olim, was very happy to be a part of the activity
Nissim, one of the boys, gave me some art to take home, which will hang proudly in my office next to my kids' art.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Experiences between parents: Ethiopian Olim observations
Sitting in a riveting meeting in Netanya today. An Ethiopian-Jewish olim is sharing with us his experience (his peers) as a parent going thru absorption and PACT.
Most telling aspect is his point to preserve identity as to who they are as Ethiopians.
Most interesting, however, are the same concerns and strategies that we all use in social service delivery.
We shared ideas, saw more adorable children and their parents participating in programs all made possible or augmented by PACT.
The greatest moment of the day came during our reflections at the end of the day. Much of what we were seeing, the ethiopian-jewish experience, shared challenges all clicked. Steve Fink, my rabbi and my friend, summed it all up for our crowd of jewish and non jewish delegates as to why this was all done - because its about Jews helping other Jews. No matter where they live, what color their skin, their level of need, that's what we do, that's what JDC does, and that's why $30mm is raised by Baltimore Jews annually to support world Jewry. And although this isn't a "jewish" mission per se, the reason as to why such a life saving misson was undertaken became evident and then the group understood how and why this would work. I wish we had recorded it. All were extremely moved.
Tomorrow we visit olim in their homes inashkelon.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Most telling aspect is his point to preserve identity as to who they are as Ethiopians.
Most interesting, however, are the same concerns and strategies that we all use in social service delivery.
We shared ideas, saw more adorable children and their parents participating in programs all made possible or augmented by PACT.
The greatest moment of the day came during our reflections at the end of the day. Much of what we were seeing, the ethiopian-jewish experience, shared challenges all clicked. Steve Fink, my rabbi and my friend, summed it all up for our crowd of jewish and non jewish delegates as to why this was all done - because its about Jews helping other Jews. No matter where they live, what color their skin, their level of need, that's what we do, that's what JDC does, and that's why $30mm is raised by Baltimore Jews annually to support world Jewry. And although this isn't a "jewish" mission per se, the reason as to why such a life saving misson was undertaken became evident and then the group understood how and why this would work. I wish we had recorded it. All were extremely moved.
Tomorrow we visit olim in their homes inashkelon.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Jet lag update
Awesome - just found the ravens game. Thank goodness the nfl moved it to 3am.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Jet lag catches up with me and there is nothing on
Jet lag catches up with me at 3am
And I wish I spoke hebrew so I knew what was on tv. Israeli cable is full of international variety which I don't even pretend to understand. Shows from the us, britian, france, germany, russia, china and of course israel fill the menu of my tv
A quick run down -
Got bored of france 24 news - all headlines broadcast from a stark white set;
lots of soccer/football in multiple languages;
israeli tv has a station devoted to what must be action shows its AXN and all the clips are of action movies - the trouble is that the station appears to be just that, all action promos all the time. For the last hour I haven't seen one episode of anything, just israelis declaring their excitement over AXN! 3 other channels are like that.
Rtv1 - russian tv is broadcasting a marriage dating show broadcast from a picnic table in some indoor garden. Contestants are right out of some b level russian dating service and the host of the program looks as if she was on the 76 russian olympic wrestling team. I'm unsure from the theme music if the male contestant wins or loses by finding a mate
The other rtv1 channel has some some 80s looking band performing live and clips of a surreal branson like musical variety show with men in dresses, women dancing barefoot, other women with freakish hairdos. Now there is a borat like program call "the districts of new york". I kid you not.
There may be some israeli comedy program (I can only speculate its comedy) with a bald man squirting his own head with a water gun.
German tv's chart show, before a cheering studio audience, has a band of men and women all in kilts all are drinking some hot tea. The VW commercial with the talking vw beetle suddenly makes more sense.
Another german station has a b&w sinatra movie dubbed into german.
Oh, and there is no gideon bible in any desk drawer here.
I need sleep - we start again in 3 hours.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
And I wish I spoke hebrew so I knew what was on tv. Israeli cable is full of international variety which I don't even pretend to understand. Shows from the us, britian, france, germany, russia, china and of course israel fill the menu of my tv
A quick run down -
Got bored of france 24 news - all headlines broadcast from a stark white set;
lots of soccer/football in multiple languages;
israeli tv has a station devoted to what must be action shows its AXN and all the clips are of action movies - the trouble is that the station appears to be just that, all action promos all the time. For the last hour I haven't seen one episode of anything, just israelis declaring their excitement over AXN! 3 other channels are like that.
Rtv1 - russian tv is broadcasting a marriage dating show broadcast from a picnic table in some indoor garden. Contestants are right out of some b level russian dating service and the host of the program looks as if she was on the 76 russian olympic wrestling team. I'm unsure from the theme music if the male contestant wins or loses by finding a mate
The other rtv1 channel has some some 80s looking band performing live and clips of a surreal branson like musical variety show with men in dresses, women dancing barefoot, other women with freakish hairdos. Now there is a borat like program call "the districts of new york". I kid you not.
There may be some israeli comedy program (I can only speculate its comedy) with a bald man squirting his own head with a water gun.
German tv's chart show, before a cheering studio audience, has a band of men and women all in kilts all are drinking some hot tea. The VW commercial with the talking vw beetle suddenly makes more sense.
Another german station has a b&w sinatra movie dubbed into german.
Oh, and there is no gideon bible in any desk drawer here.
I need sleep - we start again in 3 hours.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Dinner and seinfeld
So I guess I hadn't written in 6 hours or so. Had a 5 course dinner at a fantastic restaurant - cordelia - in old jaffa. Wow, what a feast. Great wine, stimulating discussion (led by maia hoffman's husband avi) and just course after course of great food.
Old jaffa is much like eze france. Small cobblestone streets in an almost medieval village. Beautiful area. Lots of schwarma stands as well - definite eats for tomorrow.
Hotel is on the med - walked out to the patio before we left and its amazing to be here.
Full day tomorrow driving south to beershva. In the meantime, I will try to fall asleep watching israeli tv - and yes, seinfeld is run here as well at 1130 pm. Nothing changes - jews everywhere love their seinfeld.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
In israel
I'm here in Israel! Just landed. The wonders of modern medicine that I fell asleep before Dublin and awoke after Greece. I'm rested and ready to go.
Is it hokey to comment that the music playing on continental's inflight was "home" by daughtry? Haven't been here in 22 yrs and yes it feels like coming home again.
The flight was great - more people davening in the back than waiting for the rest room made for short lines. Even the meal was palatable.
Its sunny and 80 in tel aviv today.
More to come.
Adam
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
That joyous sound
No, i'm not talking about my favorite holiday and xmas music (post to appear soon), but i am talking about a surprising trend i've seen lately - the music that is beginning to appear is less chaotic and forboding and frankly more joyful. maybe its what i like to listen to, but some of those who are known for their brooding droning songs suddenly put out some sounds that have glints of happiness. like they all listend to the polyphonic spree.
take for example, the latest release from iceland's sigur ros - a great band who provided much of the mournful tunes as background on npr or in your own darkest hours, released something absolutely full of bliss. it's upbeat, cheerful, catchy, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. one disclaimer - it's all in icelandic (or whatever they speak) and they could be joyfully singing about the end of days, but it still sounds fun. download "inni mer syngur vitleysingur" which does translate to "within me a lunatic sings." Maybe the lunatic is more fun than his normal presence.
or what about Paul McCartney as The Fireman having a great time with "Sing The Changes" from his latest release; or Coldplay's "Life In Technicolor" or "Lovers In Japan" from Vida La Vida (but avoid the comical duet with Jay-Z on the remix of Lost); or even the master of moping around Robert Smith and The Cure's "The Only One" from 4:13 dream? You can't even put that song in the same play list as the old cure.
want more evidence - try periennally heartbroken Lucinda Williams' Little Honey. The title track along with "Real Love" and a great barroom cover of AC/DC's "Long way to the top if you want to rock and roll" show evidence of this happy streak. Even on the other side of the pond, England's The Streets raps how "Everything is Borrowed" in a world where he is leaves with nothing but love. Unrecognizable optimism from a moody rapper.
complete your happy 2008 playlist with - The Black Kids "I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend to dance with you" and Michael Franti's "Say Hey, I Love You."
and you know what - most of this will be on my 10 best of 2008 because its so much fun. it's good to be happy in your headphones again. enjoy.
i'm not complaining - in fact, i'm enjoying it. it's
take for example, the latest release from iceland's sigur ros - a great band who provided much of the mournful tunes as background on npr or in your own darkest hours, released something absolutely full of bliss. it's upbeat, cheerful, catchy, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. one disclaimer - it's all in icelandic (or whatever they speak) and they could be joyfully singing about the end of days, but it still sounds fun. download "inni mer syngur vitleysingur" which does translate to "within me a lunatic sings." Maybe the lunatic is more fun than his normal presence.
or what about Paul McCartney as The Fireman having a great time with "Sing The Changes" from his latest release; or Coldplay's "Life In Technicolor" or "Lovers In Japan" from Vida La Vida (but avoid the comical duet with Jay-Z on the remix of Lost); or even the master of moping around Robert Smith and The Cure's "The Only One" from 4:13 dream? You can't even put that song in the same play list as the old cure.
want more evidence - try periennally heartbroken Lucinda Williams' Little Honey. The title track along with "Real Love" and a great barroom cover of AC/DC's "Long way to the top if you want to rock and roll" show evidence of this happy streak. Even on the other side of the pond, England's The Streets raps how "Everything is Borrowed" in a world where he is leaves with nothing but love. Unrecognizable optimism from a moody rapper.
complete your happy 2008 playlist with - The Black Kids "I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend to dance with you" and Michael Franti's "Say Hey, I Love You."
and you know what - most of this will be on my 10 best of 2008 because its so much fun. it's good to be happy in your headphones again. enjoy.
i'm not complaining - in fact, i'm enjoying it. it's
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)