2009 Albums of the Year

Ok, here it is, because you demanded it: The list of the top albms of 2009. I was hoping we could do this in a dialogue like last year, or maybe a KulturCast, but that doesn’t seem like it’s happening. So, without further ado, and in no particular order (I’ll let you argue over that), I give you the best albums of 2009:

For My Son On His 16th Birthday

Now that you are sixteen you will have the opportunity to go on dates. Hooray! Right? Well, yeah, but there are some things you need to know. Some provisos, caveats and quid pro quos, as they say.

New Music for the End of the Decade: Stereophonics

Leave it to band of the decade nominee Stereophonics to capture the moment as this unfortunate decade winds to a close. They are making their case for the brass ring with their new album, very appropriately titled, Keep Calm and Carry On. I especially like the second half of this album, with the closing song “Show Me How” winning me over as the album eases to a melancholy but soulful close.

Inspired Leadership and the Priesthood Ban

A recent post over at BCC got me thinking again about the priesthood ban and its origins and the reasons for its continuation in the Church until 1978. Based on my study of the subject I have long ago come to the conclusion that the ban originated with Brigham Young and was never based on revelation nor on any true doctrine of the Church, but only on Brigham Young’s prejudices. None of that means that BY was a bad person or a fallen prophet. He was neither of those things, just fallible, as are all of us, and a product of his time, at least with respect to racial issues.

Jason Segel with The Swell Season

Favorite Conference Talks – Elder Holland

I’ve been thinking about which conference talks really resonated with me this time around, and wanted to hear from you about which ones were your favorites as well.

The Song That’s Stuck In My Head

For better or worse, it ain’t Come, Come Ye Saints.

What’s yours?

It Might Get Loud

It Might Get Loud is a rockumentary about the electric guitar, as seen through the eyes of three iconic artists from three different generations: Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. During the course of the movie we find out how each of these amazing performers approaches the craft of creating music, their philosophies concerning the guitar as an instrument (some of which turn out to be in direct conflict with each other), and their personal histories and attitudes concerning their various bands and landmark careers. In a word, it’s fascinating.

Better Than Ezra – Live

You know, it’s really nice to see a band that is just genuinely having a good time playing music and is just flat great at what they do. That’s Better than Ezra.

Just One Day


Band of Skulls – Live

There are times, just a few as a rule, where a great band gets slated to play in a venue where it really has no business playing.  You know, Nirvana gets contractually obligated to play the Puyallup fair, or U2 ends up playing at Kilby Court because no one in Utah has heard The Unforgettable Fire yet.