The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part VII

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read Parts I, II, III, IV, V, and VI.)

The boys delve into the minds of Hollywood think tanks and come up with the best idea for a film since anything by Nicholas Sparks. Of course, there are even more revelatory confessions . . .


June 30, 2010:
Corban: I might be slow.

??

Corban: There are going to be tryouts for USA Team Handball in Sandy.
Josh: Would making the US team handball team be equivalent to making the North Korean football team?
Corban: Or the Haitian curling team.
Josh: That would make a great movie. I'll call it "Cool Rollings."
"Rollings" is a play on words. Get it? Because of the curling and the earthquakes.
Corban: Zing! You showed Haiti.

July 2, 2010:
Corban: Is someone from Ghana a Ghanarean?
Josh: No, that's someone from the San Fernando Valley.

Things are about to get even more contagious . . .

August 25, 2010:
Corban: Sporcle has a quiz, "Name the 200 characters who are mentioned most often in the Harry Potter series."
Josh: That just seems like a waste of time.
Corban: You're just a muggle.
Josh: You're a nerd now? Who knew.
Corban: But Harry Potter is nerd-lite.
Josh: Nerd-lite? Justify much? But seriously, you're a nerd.
Corban: Takes one to know one.
Josh: I'm fully aware of that, Pee Wee.
Corban: If I hear one more person call healthcare reform "Obamacare" I'm going to reach through the phone and punch them.
Josh: Only a nerd would have access to the necessary technology to punch someone through the phone.

I'd bet you never knew that nerditude (?) was contagious. At least it sometimes pays off with the ability to be anonymously aggressive.

August 26, 2010:
Corban: So is Jono playing? Is he going to be at the draft? Did you ever hear from Courtney? How do I know that this isn't really just all a long dream? How do I know if I really exist? Why is the sky blue?
Josh: Ye, no, yes, because I'm awake, I don't know, refraction.

After a time of addiction and organized crime, it appears that someone has truly found enlightenment.

August 27, 2010:
Corban: I hope to have grandchildren alive in 2160.
Josh: At the rate you're going that's not out of the realm of possibility.
Corban: I'm hoping that Nino fathers a child in his 100s.
Josh: That's really every father's dream, isn't it?
Corban: It really is. You'll understand when your kid is born.

(The End.)

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part VI

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read Parts I, II, III, IV, and V.)

Things are about to get much more subversive. Hide the children (in case you didn't do that as soon as you pulled this page up.)

March 23, 2010:
Josh:  Is sexahol the most addicting substance known to man?
Corban: Nope. Chocohol.
Josh: . . . known to MAN.
Corban: Ah, the qualifier. Then, yes.
Josh: Does one drink it, or shoot it up, or is it some sort of powder?
Corban: All of the above.
Josh: At the same time?
Corban: Only if you're Tiger Woods.
Josh: Oh, so he'd lie on the ground, arms outstretched with mouth agape; then, one of his dealers ("mistresses") would shoot a bazooka of needles, powder, and liquefied sexahol at him from above?
Corban: I see it more like there are many water balloons filled with powder and liquid sexahol. Then they fling it at him with one of those elastic balloon launchers.
Josh: Uh, Corban, those aren't balloons.

What are they then? What?!

April 20, 2010:
Corban:  You know how I was pessimistic about the Jazz's chances? Now I'm optimistic, but I'd look like a huge bandwagoner if I say that publicly. I'm not a bandwagoner. I'm just irrational when it comes to the Jazz.
Josh:  Wasn't the Bandwagoner a 1970's Jeep station wagon?
But seriously, Jazz fans are noted for three things: volume, persecution complexes, and defeatism. So you're not alone.
Corban:  WHAT?! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!! The officials are out to get us! We might as well give up.
Josh: That's what's know as a Jazz-related infarction.
Or a Jazzgasm.
Corban: Careful, this is a family site.
Josh:  I'm just labeling your condition. I'm kind of a scientist.
Corban: English does not count as a science. I'm a "kind of" scientist.
Josh: Well, that's where we differ, I guess.

April 21, 2010:
Corban: Can I bring you some lunch?
Josh: That's okay. You can just owe me a favor.
Corban: You sure? Maybe I don't want to owe you a favor.
Josh: Sorry, them's the breaks.

The transformation into mafioso is almost complete. Never owe a mobster a favor, it's a bad idea.

June 28, 2010:
Corban: I don't need a ride anymore. I rented a helicopter.
Josh: That's one way to avoid traffic I guess.
Corban: I deserve it.

And he's afraid to owe any more favors.

(Part VII: Tomorrow)

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part V

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read Parts I, II, III, and IV.)

Things stay delusional and somewhat homophobic.


March 23, 2010:
Josh:  Why do I have to work at a place that can't function without me?! I want to be dispensable.
Corban:  You should start working for The Differ. Everyone is dispensable there. Of course, there are no benefits, no sick days and no pay.
Josh:  But, there is a feeling of self-satisfaction.
Corban: Don't forget the view. It's great from the high horse.

But, the fall is brutal.

Josh: I'm going to insist people begin calling me "Captain."
Corban:  I think "Colonel" is more impressive. If you're going to make up a rank, you should go big.
Josh: Who said make up? Self-assigned is not the same as made-up.
Corban:  What are you Captain of?
Josh: Industry.
Corban: Which industry? There are lots of them.
Josh: Yes. It's a lot of work.
Corban:  So, you're just undercover at your current job?
Josh: Something like that. I'm just over all the industries. Just not the gay ones.
Corban: Like steel mills?
Josh: And glitter factories.
Corban: I bet you don't know the real reason Geneva Steel closed. It was too gay for Utah County.
Josh: Wasn't "Too Gay for Utah County" Geneva Steel's slogan?
Corban:  It went over as well as a cross dresser at a church prayer.
Josh: So, this has happened to you? Is it hard to have the eyes of the entire church on you at once?
Corban:  You have no idea.
Wait, what just happened?
Josh: That's our family slogan, "Wait, what just happened?"
Corban: We should put it on our family crest.
Josh: Do you know who the Captain of Gay Industry is?
Corban: John Waters?
Josh: You'd think so, but no. It's Herman "Lady" GaGa.

(Part VI: Tomorrow.)

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part IV

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read Parts I, II, and III.)

So you've made it this far. This is where your dedication pays off. Everything kind of goes off the rails here. By the way, what are the symptoms of rabies?


March 23, 2010
Corban: So how do you feel now that we're in a totalitarian country?
Josh:  Sick, just sick.
Corban: Well, you can go to the doctor now.
Josh:  No, that's just what the doctor said to me this morning, "You're sick." I blame my illness and my doctor's inexactness on the Commies.
Corban:  It's a slippery slope from providing health care to children and the poor to Barack Stalin.
Josh:  Who's going to make me pay? The government? What is this, China?
Corban:  China owns most of our roads. So, maybe.
Josh:  Do they own the sidewalks?
Corban: Probably not. Just stay on the sidewalks, you'll be fine. But, I don't think you'll get healthcare on the sidewalks.
Josh:  I don't need healthcare while driving my Peterbilt on the sidewalks. Or, is it called Troybilt?
Corban:  I think it's pronounced "John Deere."
Josh:  Google confirmed that Peterbilt makes big rigs and Troybilt makes lawncare tools. Who would drive their lawnmower on the sidewalk when they've got a big-ass big rig? Lawnmowers are for mowing grass not people.
Corban:  I guess you haven't read all the amendments to the healthcare bill.
Josh:  The only healtcare I need is called The Rapture.
Corban: You've been talking to the fundamentalists again, haven't you?
Josh:  I wouldn't call it talking.
Corban: Being yelled at?
Josh:  Do you know the sound of a steamroller going over a mound of badgers?
Corban: Funny you should ask.
That's it. I thought it was funny you would ask that question.
Josh:  I have another one then. Can licking a store-display iPhone give you rabies? Or did I get it from the soap-eating raccoon?
Corban:  The the display iPhone would do it.
Josh:  I blame Joe Biden.
Corban:  Have you seen those apple-obsessed people? Pretty sure they have rabies.
Josh:  Rabies is a made-up disease, like socialism and throat cancer.
Since I'm nearly a doctor, do you think I could diagnose Glenn Beck with dementia and have him institutionalized?
Corban:  He's got his own doctors. They bleed people like they did in the 18th Century.
Josh:  That's why his face has that "just-leeched" look?
Corban:  It's a trade secret to make you appear more conservative.
Josh:  And what make one look more liberal?
Peyote? Birkenstocks? A Subaru? A "I'm not gay but my boyfriend is" bumper sticker?
Corban: A Massachusetts driver's license, or Norah Jones tickets.
Josh: Organic leeches?
Corban: Organic leeches are in season right now.
Josh: Organic stickers are always in season. Organic Stickers would be a good restaurant name.
Corban: I'm getting hungry.

Is unexplained hunger a symptom?

Josh: Let's not be defined by definitions.
Corban:  Wow, that's deep.
Josh: I'm on a lot of mind-altering Robitussin. And I'm pretty sure "Ricola" is Swiss for "LSD."

At least there's an excuse for the obviously delusional behavior.

(Prepare yourselves for two people knee deep in addiction, organized crime, not-quite-Hollywood delusion, Guru Josh and finally some peace and self-actualization in the coming week. Part V coming Monday.)

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part III

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read Part I and Part II.)

Things get paranoid . . .


March 19, 2010:
Corban:  When do you get home from work?
Josh:  I'm home sick today.
Corban:  Alright, I'll stop by around 5:30. Should I wear a mask?
Josh:  I'm in a bubble.
Corban: Soap or plastic?
Josh: Aluminum foil.
Corban: Ah, smart. That will protect your thoughts from the MLB mind-control satellites.
Josh: It's not MLB-grade foil. I'm not made of money.
Corban:  You really can't afford to stay with non-MLB-grade foil. Next thing you know, you'll be buying Royals season tickets.
Josh: Now, those would make for some cheap bubble material.

(This post was kept short in order to let the craziness soak in. Part IV: Tomorrow.)

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part II

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.

(Read part 1 here.)

As previously seen, our dear contributors may have had somewhat of a gambling problem during their absence from the blog. It may have been worse than previously mentioned . . .

March 8, 2010:
Corban:  Did you see they've found a secret Giotto?
Josh:  No, where?
Corban:  Florence.
Josh:  It makes you wonder what other secret artwork is out there, huh?
Corban:  We're a little gay. Or super manly.
Josh:  It takes a real man to want to understand art. [Spits on the floor.]
Corban:  The article talks about the "restoration" techniques used in the 1840s. Sounds like it was steel wool and turpentine.
Josh:  That's how any restoration work should be done.
By the way, do you want to help me restore this Van Gogh?

Someone seems a little desperate for cash.

Corban:  I wish I was on bed rest.
Josh:  Don't let her hear that.
Corban:  Yeah, it means that I get to do all the cooking and cleaning. And I'm awesome at only one of those things.
Josh:  You're really not as good at cleaning as you think.

As things get even more self-doubty (which is totally a word, since I just made it up) . . .

March 9, 2010:
Corban:  Is Baseball Weekly still published? To have anything published weekly on the internet seems foolish.
Josh:  How about "The Differ Weekly?" Since the internet is largely about knee-jerk responses to up-to-the-second news, and since we aim to be different . . .
Corban:  We could always have The Differ Weekly become an infrequent column on the site. Of course, The Differ is already infrequent. So, adding an infrequent section would be the same as not adding a section at all, right?
Josh:  It could be similar to the weekly feature on The Onion where on the cover of a made-up magazine they feature a ridiculous headline like: "A List of Celebrities Written Down and Numbered."
Corban:
1. Weird Al
2. Ray Stevens
3. Steve Buscemi
Josh:
1. Steve Martin
2. Robert Goulet
3. Zac Efron
Sorry, I forgot to give you the title of that list: "The Top 3 Celebrities Most Likely to Shout Out Their Name During Sexual Congress."
Corban: I can't see Steve Martin as #1. Top ten for sure, but #1? I think you're confusing Steve Martin with Steve-O.
Josh: No, Steve-O is #1 on the list "Top 10 Celebrities Most Likely to Use a Ceiling Mirror to Remember Their Name."
Corban: "Top 3 Women Who Other Women Think Are Hot but Men Don't:"
1. Kate Hudson
2. Keira Knightley
3. Sandra Bullock
Josh: I think Miss Piggy should be #1, since most women find her hot. And don't say fictional characters can't be included, otherwise why did you include "Kate Hudson?"

This was why nothing was posted for a year and a half, I suppose.

(Part III: Tomorrow)

Like Oprah's Favorite Things, but without the Free Stuff

The newly appointed editor-in-chief of this illustrious blog recently posted his top ten albums of 2010. Am I the only one that thinks that these types of lists are too constricting? I mean, come on, my four year old or a poorly trained chimpanzee (I challenge you to take the four year old to the grocery store and tell me there's a difference between the two) could put together a list of ten albums from any given year. I therefore offer up my Top Ten list of best things of all-time.

11. Fantasy football.

10. Neil Diamond. I respect any Jewish person willing to put out a Christmas album.

9. Justin Timberlake. Is there anything he can't do?

8. John Oliver/Andy Zaltzman. Subscribe to "The Bugle" podcast on iTunes. Just do it. You'll thank me.

7. Mexican Coke (that would be Coca-Cola from Mexico, not the other kind).

6. Pizza from Settebello in the SLC.

5. Field of Dreams. If you don't shed a tear when Archie "Moonlight" Graham gives up the game and crosses the line to become Doc Graham and save that little girl's life then I pity you. You are an empty, broken shell of a human being.

4. Dave Matthews Band

3a. Rec league slow pitch softball

3b. The Simpsons, 1992-1998.

2. Sitting at a ballpark with a Coke, a hot dog, and family on a summer night.

1. See #2 but add a baseball game.

The Downfall and Recovery of a Sometimes Blog: Part I

Sometimes things don't work out how you'd like them to. Sometimes life gets in the way of things you enjoy. Sometimes you can't post on a little-read blog because you're stuck between two competing crime syndicates. Sometimes you just make stuff up because the truth is somewhat less interesting. This is my dilemma.


As a way to help our readers understand our nearly 18 month absence from The Differ I wanted to give a brief update on our contributors' whereabouts, without making a long-winded, excuse-laden post. But that's no fun. So I've decided to post a series of columns that tell our missing (read: fabricated) story through out-of-context GMail chat conversations in a series of 10 posts.


What you're about to piece together is the story of two sometimes bloggers and their downfall into lives of addiction, organized crime, and Hollywood idea men. Only to be redeemed through Eastern philosophy, passing the blame, and sarcasm, so much sarcasm. Much of what follows requires you, the reader, to interpret the chats to understand what was happening, but sometimes we will chime in with some helpful commentary.


This is just a story that we felt needed be told. If you take nothing from it, that's your loss; but, if your life is improved from the life lessons you find here, you're welcome.

(While the "story" may or may not have actually happened, all of the chats are 100% real, spur of the moment nuggets of idiocy (with occasional creative editing). We swear.)

August 12, 2009:
Josh: That's the sure sign of giving up.

If you ever felt like ending things after hearing the name "Carlos Boozer," then you'll know how we felt after our last post on July 23, 2009-a date that would live as the end of The Differ Version 1.0.

August 14, 2009:
Corban: Did you hear about the Ute's QB decision?
Josh: Yeah, going without a quarterback could be risky. But I think I like it.
Corban: I don't think you read the article correctly.
Josh: I like not ever understanding what I'm responding to.
Corban: So, gender confusion is no good but sexual confusion is alright?
Josh: Correct.

Someone may just need a little validation.

August 25, 2009:
Corban: I think you need to be psychologically evaluated.
Josh: You think? That's your problem. By thinking you permit the transmissions from the government to invade your thoughts and control your actions. Sucker.

And so the descent into psychosis begins.

August 26, 2009:
Corban: Are you working today?
Josh: Yes.

January 6, 2010:
Corban: Maybe it's time to bring back The Differ.
Josh: Are you going to start it up?
Corban: Sorry, I can't spell.

Evidence that adult illiteracy is still a problem that needs to be addressed in this country. The Differ becomes its latest victim. Thanks a lot Obamacare.

January 27, 2010:
Corban: That's when I knew that Dave loved me.

February 18, 2010:
Corban: I guess it's easy to say "Only $5 million" when it's not your money.
Josh: I know. When I save $5 million it's awesome. (I play in some expensive fantasy leagues.)
Corban: What's the payout on a league like that?
Josh: The Clippers. (It's an expensive league.)
Corban: Yeah, you mentioned that.

A $5 million league is the quickest way to owing some powerful and ruthless people. I'm not saying that Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is involved in organized crime, I'm just saying that his $5 million fantasy league is a scary place as Josh is about to find out.

Josh: My biggest disappointment [with the Jazz trading Ronnie Brewer] is that Boozer will now be forced to change his last name since his supplier's gone.
Corban: I guess he'll just have to switch to Okur©. I think it's a kind of Turkish whiskey.
Josh: Wild Turkish©?
Corban: Maybe, my Turkish is a little rusty.
Josh: Or the Jazz can sign Rusty Moonshine from the D-League.
Corban: I hear Marq Crackdealer is available from Europe.
Josh: That's not true. He's tied to Real High Madrid for the next five years.

A little too much knowledge of obscure Turkish whiskeys? Maybe.

February 26, 2010:
Corban: Sarcasm is difficult to convey online.
Josh: Not really, I always know when I'm being sarcastic.

(Read part II here.)

Top 10 Albums of 2010

So, we're back. No need to keep bombarding my house with letters. Please, my children are trying to sleep.

As a world-renowned, Pulitzer Prize-aware music listener, I felt the best way to ease back into the blog would be a Best Albums of 2010 list. Music is my number one passion (sorry, sports) and I felt this list would come easily (it didn't).

Too many complain about the current state of music, that (insert random decade here) had the best music; that today's music just sucks. Those people are lazy and/or just look for nostalgia in their music. In today's ever more connected world, music discovery is easier than ever. And the tunes produced are among the best ever. This year was no exception. Enough with the blah, blah, blah, on to the list.

10. "Been Listening" by Johnny Flynn
This young British indie folkie continues to surprise me. His music is sneaky. At first listen it doesn't blow the listener away, but with continued listens its depth really starts to come to light. Even more amazingly, Flynn is showing his strength among an already-impressive group of Brit-folkies like Mumford and Sons, Noah and the Whale, and a couple of artists mentioned further up on this list.
The rollicking, footstomper "Barnacled Warship" is definitely the standout on this disc:



9. "White Crosses" by Against Me!
"Sellout" is such and overused and b.s. term. Tom Gabel and his cohorts were tagged as this soon after their signing to Sire records in 2005 by their hardcore devotees. Fine by me, because since then they have been churning out some of the best rockers of the last decade. (Although, I'm still not sure the exclamation point is really necessary.)
"I Was a Teenage Anarchist" is easily the best track on this one. Especially since it is more or less a big middle finger to those who feel they still need to be burning crap up:



8. "Heaven is Whenever" by The Hold Steady
If it weren't for the all-around perfection of their previous three albums (especially 2006's "Boys in Girls in America) "Heaven" would have listed higher here. Which is not to take anything away from this record. I just wonder how long this prolific band (5 LPs in 6 years) can keep this hot streak going.
"Hurricane J" is awesome. What more can I say? Listen to it until you can sing along:



7. "So Runs the World Away" by Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is one of the best live acts out there. It certainly helps that he keeps churning out catchy, yet highly-literate Americana. If you don't like his music, I might have to mention it to Senator McCarthy (that's still a relevant reference, right?).
Although, "Lark" is my favorite song on this album, I had to post the mesmerizing video to the Egyptologist-falls-in-love-with-resurrected-mummy track, "The Curse.



6. "High Violet" by The National
The Springsteen-esque baritone of The National's Matt Berninger takes time to hit you, but once it does it's hard to wonder why anyone would want to sing sweetly. Plus, he's easy on the eyes.
The first single from the album also happens to be my favorite (it's like they planned it that way, weird):



5. "Go" by Jónsi
This one was certainly unexpected. Hailing from the pop music factory that is Iceland (it's pronounced "Los Angeles," I think), the Sigur Rós frontman really brought his A game for this album. It doesn't even really matter what he is singing (some of the album is in English, some in Icelandic), this music is just happiness in a bottle.
My favorite on this one is "Animal Arithmetic," here's why:

animal arithmetic from Jónsi on Vimeo.

4. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West
Next year, if I was to reorganize this same list, Kanye may draw a higher spot; I just haven't had enough time to really let this album sink in. As is, I believe it's his best record yet. I don't care what your opinion of the man is, he's a musical genius. And, I don't use the term genius lightly, I only use it once or twice a day (that, I have to say is pretty genius on my part).
The list my favorite songs on this album is already pretty long, but the best so far is "Runaway" (by the way, it's also the name of his only slightly self-indulgent short film, which maybe worth a watch for some of you). It is excellent and addicting (a lot like the use of the word "genius"):



3. "I Speak because I Can" by Laura Marling
Still a few months away from her 21st birthday, Marling has already put out two phenomenal full-length albums, which only makes me feel like a lazy lump since I'm nearing my 50th birthday and have only produced one full-length album (that's an estimated total). Lyrically, "I Speak" is a poetic powerhouse full of striking imagery and heartfelt narratives. Musically, this album lives up to the not-quite-there-yet promise of her debut, "Alas, I Cannot Swim." Her sweet, yet emotionally striking voice only serves to round out the near-perfection achieved in various moments on this album. Genius.
If you don't fall in love with her music after listening to "Rambling Man," then listen again. If you still don't get it, listen again.



2. "The ArchAndroid" by Janelle Monáe
This is the long-awaited (in some circles) full-length from the diminutive singer, dancer, songwriter (genius?) Monáe. Somehow it outlived its lofty expectations. She manages to excite, confound, intrigue, change styles on a whim and fascinate all in the matter of about an hour. The styles range from get-up-and-dance R&B ("Tightrope), played-in-reverse avant garde ("Neon Gumbo") and bizarro indie ("Make the Bus"). She may fail to keep everything consistent (as if that was ever one of her goals), but she doesn't fail to keep everything thrilling.
"Tightrope" is unquestionably the best single of the year. If it doesn't make you get up and dance then I hope your paralysis is only temporary. You should really see a doctor about that.



1. "The Winter of Mixed Drinks" by Frightened Rabbit
I don't want to sully the brilliance of these Scots' songs with my words, so I'll just lead this with a plea: Listen to Frightened Rabbit. Put them on your iPod, your computer, in your car, on Pandora at work, wherever. Just listen to "The Winter of Mixed Drinks" and listen to it again. Listen to it a lot. You will be better for it.
"Swim until You Can't See Land," is the obvious choice for best song here, although the correct answer to "What's the best song on Frightened Rabbits' new album?" is really, "All of them." This is a perfect lead-in to them:



Don't Forget These Ones:
2010 was an unbelievable year for music. I couldn't include all of the standout music in this rigid list. A few of those that didn't fit still deserve mention.
-"Horse Power EP" by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.- kind of a little Postal Service, a little Beach Boys.
-"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Soundtrack" by Various Artists (the original songs were mainly written by Beck or Brian LeBarton of Broken Social Scene)-the soundtrack to one of this year's biggest box office failures (the world is unjust) is really good (like the film).
-"Everything Under the Sun" by Jukebox the Ghost-these guys are good, they may be great someday.
-"Denim on Denim" by Library Voices-contains the best partying-during-the-apocalypse song I've heard all year.
-"Broken Bells" by Broken Bells-combining the Shins' brainchild James Mercer with Danger Mouse was a good idea.
-"Trans-Continental Hustle" by Gogol Bordello-if for nothing else, because it produced the best live performance video of the year on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert Series (watch until the end).