Post Mid-Term Election Reactions

To quote a line from one of my favorite bands U2.... it's a beautiful day.

Yes, I'm a Democrat. So needless to say I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face. And not because my party had an historic swing to its side in both the House and what looks like the Senate, but because finally... I feel geniune hope for the future of this country. Bush and his policies were failing miserably across the board, and not only that, Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld are so far up their own asses they wouldn't admit it. Cheney said only two weeks ago, regarding the war in Iraq, that the impending election "didn't matter", and he vowed to move "full speed ahead." So basically, Cheney is giving the middle finger to the American people and the democratic process when he says crap like that.

I could say that with yesterday's vote, the American voters turned the tables and flipped off the Bush administration. It sure seems like it... I mean... the House, the Governorships, the Senate (possibly) are basically a Democratic majority now. But I won't say that. What I will say is that the American voters definitely wagged their finger at the current adminstration, seemingly saying with attitude, "Nuh-uh boys... not so fast." And that my friends, is exactly what needed to happen.

The only disappointing part of last night was the election of Republican Bob Corker in my own state of Tennessee. In my mind, the voters of Tennessee made a huge mistake by not electing Harold Ford Jr., an extraordinary man. For that, I am sad. Looks like the racist ad against Ford worked.

But make no mistake, yesterday was a great day for our country. Because of Ford's defeat, I'm not really proud to be a Tennessean today. But you can be damned sure I'm proud to be an American.

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!

Baseball has really outdone itself the last three years, at least during the postseason. I consider myself a casual baseball follower, which basically means that throughout the regular season I have to look up or ask someone which teams are in the division and wild card hunts. I just don't follow along that much, and don't have a clear cut 'favorite team' so to speak. I tend to root for the underdog or 'feel good' team of that year... whomever that might be.

I used to be a huge Atlanta Braves fan. My family moved to Atlanta from Syracuse, NY in 1979 or 1980, I can't remember which.... consequently, we adopted the Braves as our team. Ah, those were the good ol' days..... when Joe Torre was the head coach, and the Braves roster consisted of such greats like Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, Glenn Hubbard, Bruce Benedict, Rafael Ramirez, Phil Niekro, and the one and only, Dale Murphy. Oh yeah, and those sexy powder blue away uniforms the team used to wear? Classic.

My older sisters, Jen and Missy, actually concocted a catchy little tune to honor our beloved Braves way back when. They remember it going a little something like this:

The Braves are super
The Braves are great
They've got Dale Murphy
Who is our kind of date

They've got the World Series
In their hands
You can see all the Braves
In the hearts of their fans.

So if you're a Braves fan
And even if you're not
You must know what the
Braves have got.

Talented Torre, Bruce the Brave
Neikro's Knucklers are only part of the Braves

And that's all they remember of the song.

Anyway, my love for the Braves has dwindled throughout the years. After they finally won the Series back in 1995 against the Cleveland Indians, I stopped following them. Sorry, I just can't get excited about their current roster. I mean, Chipper Jones? Blah. He's no Dale Murphy.

Back to my main point, which is the wonderfulness of baseball's postseason the last three years. I remember being disenchanted about the end of the 2003 season. The final four teams were the Boston Red Sox vs. the NY Yankees in the ALCS and the Chicago Cubs vs. the Florida Marlins in the NLCS. I was so excited because baseball's two lowly franchises, the Red Sox and the Cubs, potentially could have met in the Series. The Sox hadn't won the whole shebang since 1918... the Cubs..... since 1908! Wow... how exciting! But what happened? Yankees vs. Marlins. How boring. So I sorta gave up on baseball.

And then the 2004 postseason occurred with those incomparable Red Sox. I found myself excited about baseball again. When the Sox overcame a 0-3 series deficit in the ALCS to defeat the evil Yankees to earn a spot in the Series, why, it was the greatest thing ever. And then their sweep of the St. Pooey Cardinals in the Series? Even better! At the end of the 2004 season, I was waving down the baseball love train because I was hopping right back on.

And then there was 2005. It didn't quite match up with the awesomeness of the Red Sox's accomplishments of the previous year, but it was still quite entertaining. I mean, the Chicago White Sox winning it all? Where the heck did that come from? Is this stuff rigged? The White Sox hadn't won it all since 1917! Wow. I was still on the baseball love train....

And now it's time for the 2006 World Series, and lo' and behold, the DETROIT TIGERS are there. I mean, last year, the Tigers' record was like 3-159. And this year they are in the World Series? Who is coming up with this stuff? How can I not root for this team? I'm loving baseball right now! I predict a Detroit Sweep of the Cards! Woohoo! The baseball love train keeps on rolling!

So here's my prediction for next year. A-Rod leaves the Yankees to join Lou Pinella's Chicago Cubs next year. He leads them to the World Series, where in Game Seven, series tied 3-3, he hits a game winning homer in the 10th-inning to lift the Chicago Cubbies over the evil Yankees to conquer their first championship since 1908! Oh how sweet it would be! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! I love baseball!

I'm BACK (with the Longest Post Ever!)

Okay, so it's been awhile. I've probably lost the two or three people who were actually reading this blog because of my nonblogginess self, but hey, what can I do? I think the reason for my absence is a combination of long work hours and not feeling too creative lately. Anyway, I've decided to try this blog thing out one more time. So to make up for lost time, I've decided to update with what might be the longest post ever. Way to reel them back in Pammer.

Back in early 2004, I decided to listen to and then review, in alphabetical order, every CD that I owned. My reasoning for this project was based on the fact that I owned so many CDs, but hardly listened to probably 25% of them. To make my project even more dorky and embarrassing, I proceeded to email said reviews to my friends every other week or so. I'd listen to the albums in installments of ten, alphabetically (reiterating this fact to solidy the dork in me), and then, I would email the tiny review snippets about each album to my lucky friends Emily, Greg, Jeanine, Tony, and Steve. And yes, let me apologize in advance to the five of you for putting you through this hell again. I know it was hard enough the first time. The project was spaced out over the span of a year, but sadly I didn't finish. I made it half way through "W" and then inexplicably, I stopped with my project in August of 2005. Since then, I've probably purchased about 100 CDs. Maybe in the near future I'll create an addendum to this list with reviews of the latest CDs that I've bought (some of my favorite artists have come out with new albums since then), and also wrap up the first list, by making my way to the last CD in my collection, Pete Yorn's "musicforthemorningafter." I must finish. Finish I must.

Before I proceed with the list (it's really, really long folks), a quick shout out to my pal, Mandy. Dude, do you smell that updawg?

Oh, by the way, I called this project "Music..... makes the people.... come together!", a line from Madonna's song "Music." I'm digging myself deeper and deeper into the abyss of embarrassment, aren't I? Umm... so yeah... here's the list. The snippets are just as I emailed them to my friends way back when. Yes, I saved them all:

* 10,000 Maniacs - "MTV Unplugged" - Natalie Merchant and company had some fine songs. This is a good live album, although I could hear the guitar player's pick plucking against the strings way too much. It irked me.
* American Idol - "Greatest Moments - Season One" - FUN!
* Amos, Tori - "Under the Pink" - Note to self: Buy more Amos albums.
* Aparo, Angie - "The American" - Adequate singer songwriter my brother introduced to me. A bit cheesy, but there are some nice tracks on the album.
* Apple, Fiona - "Tidal" - Good, but depressing.
* Apple, Fiona - "When the Pawn..." - Better, but depressing.
* Audioslave - "Audioslave" - Good golly what an album. Dynamite.
* Batman Forever - "Original Music from the Motion Picture" - First two songs are great... (U2, PJ Harvey). The rest of the album sucks except for an interesting Michael Hutchence track towards the end.
* Beach Boys, The - "Pet Sounds" - Reminds me of Tony and Jeff's Harmonious Tones stuff.
* Beatles, The - "1" - They wrote some great tunes... too bad no one has heard of 'em.
* Beck - "Mutations" - Hard to get through. I like Beck, but not morbid acoustic Beck.
* Belly - "King" - Need to dig this one out more often.
* Better Than Ezra - "Deluxe" – I bought this CD from Tony for 5 bucks. Why?
* Bjork - "Debut" – Awesome.
* Black Crowes, The - "Shake Your Money Maker" – Too bad they broke up.
* Blondie - "The Best of Blondie" – Good party CD, but I won’t be listening to it to often.
* Blues Traveler - "Live from the Fall - Disc One" – Ugh. I received this cd on accident. Columbia House sent it to me when I didn’t send my membership card back in time.
* Blue Traveler - "Live from the Fall - Disc Two" – Double ugh.
* Boston - "Greatest Hits" – Felt kind of cheesy listening to seventies guitar rock, but More than a Feeling is one of the best songs EVER.
* Boys on the Side - "Original Soundtrack Album" – Good album. Great Sheryl Crow song on here.
* Buckingham, Lindsey - "Law and Order" – Lindsey is crazy. This wacky CD proves it, but I love it.
* Buckingham, Lindsey - "Go Insane" – Wackiness ensues again on Lindsey’s second solo effort, but darnit if he doesn’t write some catchy tunes.
* Buckingham, Lindsey - "Out of the Cradle" – Lindsey’s best album. SO good.
* Buckley, Jeff - "Grace" – Currently second on my favorite albums of all time.
* Buckley, Jeff – “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk – Disc One and Two” This double album features unfinished tracks and demos that Buckley never got to release on an official full length album (cause you know, he drowned and stuff). I like to think he was sitting in his house in Midtown with his eight or sixteen track player making music and that some of the stuff is featured here.
* Buckley, Jeff – “Mystery White Boy” – A compilation live album taken from concerts during Buckley’s “Grace” tour. Simply unbelievable.
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “The Album” – One of the more frequently listened to soundtracks in my collection. It has the BtVS theme song and the Buffy/Angel love theme. Sigh. Some pretty catchy songs are featured as well.
* Bush – “6teen Stone” – Took me back to my college years while working at Baskin Robbins and hearing Bush over and over again on 96X. Gavin Rossdale’s lyrics are incredibly stupid, but overall the music rocks.
* Carlton, Vanessa – “Be Not Nobody” – She’s kinda pretentious and cheesy, but her song “A Thousand Miles” is what got me to purchase her CD. The rest of the CD doesn’t match the quality of that song, but I’ll keep an eye out for upcoming stuff from her.
* Carpenter, Mary Chapin – “Stones in the Road” – Hey Emily… want to buy a cd? Not to discredit Carpenter, who I think is very talented, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
* Chicago – "Music from the Miramax Motion Picture" - Reminds me of why I stinkin' love that movie so much.
* City of Angels – “Music from the Motion Picture” – Another good soundtrack. Alanis Morrisette’s “Uninvited” is one of my top 25 songs of all time.
* Coldplay – “Parachutes” – Debut album from an incredible band.
* Coldplay – “A Rush of Blood to the Head” – Roll your eyes if you want, but this cd will one day be a classic.
* Coldplay – “Live 2003” – I MUST see this band live…. And soon! (ed. note - I eventually DID see them live in concert - St. Louis - September 17, 2005)
* Collective Soul – “Collective Soul” – Pretty good, not great.
* Collective Soul – “Dosage” – Just like the other album I have of theirs…. forgettable.
* Counting Crows – “August and Everything After” – Nice melodic album with lots and lots of ballads. Good on a rainy day, which ironically, it was when I got to it.
* Cowboy Junkies – “The Best of the Cowboy Junkies” – Emily, I think you would like them. I’ll burn it for you, kay?
* Cranberries, The – “Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?” – Sweet Deloris O’Riordan, where have you gone?
* Cranberries, The – “No Need to Argue” - Sweet Deloris O’Riordan, your voice is starting to get on my nerves. Thank God I don’t have any more albums of yours.
* Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Chronicle” – Wow, what a band. So many genius songs. John Fogerty rocks my world.
* Crow, Sheryl – “Tuesday Night Music Club” – The world is introduced to one of the greatest.
* Crow, Sheryl – “Sheryl Crow” – Crow’s big “screw you” to those who thought she was just a talentless flash in the pan. Her best album.
* Crow, Sheryl – “The Globe Sessions” – My next favorite album of hers. Very personal, sometimes dark, but always delightful.
* Crow, Sheryl – “Pickin’ on Sheryl Crow – A Bluegrass Tribute” – It’s cool to hear such talented musicians’ interpretations of Sheryl’s music.
* Crow, Sheryl – “Sheryl Crow and Friends – Live from Central Park” – Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, Sarah McLaughlin, Chrissie Hynde, the Dixie Chicks and Eric Clapton join Sheryl in this awesome live CD. Demonstrates how well Sheryl can rock in concert.
* Crow, Sheryl - "The Very Best of Sheryl Crow - That gal writes some catchy songs.
* Crow, Sheryl – “C’mon, C’mon” – My least favorite Crow album. Consists of two of my favorite songs by her, but still an uneven group of tracks. I hope she rebounds with her next studio effort. (ed. note - She did.)
* Dave Matthews Band - "Under the Table and Dreaming" – Very good cd… familiar with every track on the album.
* Dave Matthews Band - "Crash" – Not as good as their debut album… and Dave’s voice tends to grate on me after a while.
* Dead Man Walking - "Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture" – Some good stuff on this one, including Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle… hear that Emmo?
* Del Amitri - "Twisted" – Surprisingly good. Won’t hesitate listening to this one later on.
* Dido - "No Angel" – I listened to Dido’s debut album right when I bought it and wasn’t enthralled. That was several months ago. Upon this listen, I’m looking forward to delving into again. It’s good.
* Doors, The - "The Best of the Doors - Disc One" – What can you say? Classic stuff.
* Doors, The - "The Best of the Doors - Disc Two" – Quite impressed with their variety of sounds and styles. Love Ray Manzarek’s keyboards. However, Jim Morrison the lyricist?.... overrated.
* Elliot, Missy "Misdemeanor" - "Under Construction" – Ah yeah… I was bumpin’ to this one. Fun, fun, phun CD.
* Etheridge, Melissa - "Yes I Am" – Bought this one cause it was one of those albums that caught on in the early nineties. It’s really, really, really good though. My opinion of Etheridge has changed.
* Extreme - "Pornograffiti" – I bought this cd because of the songs “More Than Words” and “Hole-Hearted.” The rest of this cd is so stupid. Late 80s/early 90s metal at its worst.
* Flack, Roberta - "The Best of Roberta Flack" – One of the classic voices of R & B.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Fleetwood Mac” - The first album of the Buckingham/Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac. A gem.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Rumours” – One of the classic albums of the Seventies. Every song is remarkable. I actually have this one on vinyl (thank you Riena Reyes wherever you are!)
* Fleetwood Mac – “Tusk” – My favorite Fleetwood Mac album. 20 solid tracks. Lindsey gets experimental on this one, and some of Stevie’s best songs are featured here.
* Fleetwood Mac - “Fleetwood Mac Live – Tusk Tour ’79 – Disc One” - Good stuff. Lindsey’s always been a powerhouse live.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Fleetwood Mac Live – Tusk Tour ’79 – Disc Two” - Ditto.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Mirage” - One of their weaker efforts, but it does include Nicks’ “Gypsy” and Christine McVie’s “Hold Me”…. two groovy songs.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Tango in the Night” – Lindsey took over production of this 1987 album because the rest of the band (excluding Christine McVie) were doped up on drugs. Good, but not up to par with their older stuff.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Greatest Hits” - You can’t go wrong with this CD in your collection. It reflects how many hits Fleetwood Mac had.
* Fleetwood Mac – “The Dance” –The reunion concert from ’99. I have listened to this one 8,039,674 times. It’s what got me so infatuated with the band, and propelled me to buy all of their earlier works (as noted above.)
* Fleetwood Mac – “Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours” – Who wouldn’t want to hear Jewel’s rendition of “You Make Loving Fun”, Sister Hazel’s “Gold Dust Woman” or the Cranberries’ “Go Your Own Way?” Okay, just me I guess. However, Tonic’s version of “Second Hands News” is quite excellent.
* Fleetwood Mac – “Say You Will” - The Mac’s latest effort (sans Christine McVie) is quite good. Although McVie’s vocals and songwriting contributions are sorely missed.
* Foo Fighters – “Foo Fighters” – Note to self. Buy more Foo.
* Forrest Gump – “The Soundtrack – Disc One” - Good stuff from the 50s and 60s. I relistened to the Mamas and the Papas "California Dreamin" about eight times. Just a fun song to sing along too.
* Forrest Gump – “The Soundtrack – Disc Two” - Equally good stuff from the 70s. That "Volunteers" song from Jefferson Airplane is powerhouse stuff.
* Friends – “The Soundtrack” - Probably bought this back in '94 or '95 when everybody was cutting their hair to look like Jennifer Aniston's. It's got some surprisingly good songs on it, but otherwise the dust will probably settle a bit on this CD.
* Gabriel, Peter – “So” - One of my favorite songs of all time is on this album, "In Your Eyes." Overall, a very impressive CD.
* Gordon, Nina – “Tonight and the Rest of My Life” - Ms. Gordon is the former lead singer of Veruca Salt. She's changed her style to a more poppish approach. When I listened to this right after I bought it, I wasn't too thrilled. But after a few more listens, I kinda dig it. A bit lame, but damn catchy.
* Gray, David – “Sell, Sell, Sell” - I'm a huge fan of David Gray. This was his cd before his breakthrough "White Ladder." Not as good, but definitely a keeper.
* Gray, David – “White Ladder” - One of my favorite CDs in my collection. A perfect CD for a wet, cold, rainy day... sitting in a rocker watching the rain pour while drinking a mug of hot tea. Now I would never do this, but I always imagine myself doing it during this CD.
* Green Day – “Dookie” - God I was crazy about this one when it first came out. I guess time has diminished its appeal somewhat, but it's still fun to listen to.
* Green Day – “Insomniac” - Bought this one because I was so crazy about "Dookie." Good, but not great.
* Harvey, PJ – “Dry” - How can someone rock so hard but be so vulnerable at the same time? If I had bought this cd at age 15 or 16 when it originally came out in 92, I would be a profoundly different person. I truly believe that.
* Harvey, PJ – “Rid of Me” - Rawer than her debut album, it's a tough listen at first. PJ lays it all out there. But if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded.
* Harvey, PJ – “4-Track Demos” - Harvey released this CD after fans were disappointed in the production quality of her second album "Rid of Me." Here we have PJ performing most of her songs from that album on a four track. Stripped of everything but the power of her voice and guitar.
* Harvey, PJ - "To Bring You My Love" - This album carries Harvey's biggest hit "Down by the Water." The entire thing is just an explosion of seductive, tour de force sound. A big change from her first two.
* Harvey, PJ - "Is This Desire?" - Considered Harvey's weakest effort by many, this album is atmospheric and quieter than anything else she's done.
* Harvey, PJ - "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" - A masterpiece. My favorite album ever. EVER.
* Harvey, PJ - "Uh Huh Her" - PJ's latest was released just a few months ago. I'm still wrapping my ears around it, but there's still no doubt she can do no wrong.
* Heart - "Greatest Hits" - How can a band go from great tracks like "Barracuda" and "Crazy for You" to "All I Want to Do is Make Love to You," perhaps the stupidest song ever recorded? Ann and Nancy Wilson can.
* Hedwig and the Angry Inch - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - What a wonderful movie. What a wonderful soundtrack. Catchy, hilarious, yet heartbreaking at the same time.
* Hill, Lauryn - "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" - Man oh man, what an album. One of my top ten CDs ever. Hill is chill.
* Hole - "Celebrity Skin" - You can hear the influence of Billy Corgan all over this CD. It's good, not great.
* Hootie & the Blowfish - "Cracked Rear View" - I think every kid who went to college circa 1994-96 has this album. I listen to it rarely, but I'm glad I have it.
* Immortal Beloved - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - Bought this one cause I absolutely ADORE this movie. Who knew listening to classical music while driving can be so relaxing?
* Indigo Girls - "Indigo Girls" - Note to self - buy more CDs from these gals.
* Jones, Norah - "Come Away With Me" - You gotta love this album. Great on a rainy day. She's just got that smoky, quiet tone to her voice that gets me every time.
* I Am Sam - "Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture" - Bad movie. Good soundtrack. Greg would hate it. It's basically consists of Beatles covers from various artists, including a band named Chocalate Genius. Now that's a great band name.
* Joplin, Janis - "Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits" - That lady could sing.
* Kids - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - I bought this CD because of the song "Natural One" by Folk Implosion, which is one of my faves of all time. The soundtrack features more stuff from Folk Implosion and some other bands I've never heard of. Interesting stuff.
* King, Carole - "Tapestry" - A neat CD to have in any collection. King wrote alot of classics. I hadn't realized how many.
* Leaving Las Vegas - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - I loved this movie so much that I bought the soundtrack. It has Sting and Don Henley on it... both of them are "blah" in my book. But the orchestral stuff is really good.
* Live - "Mental Jewelry" - As a band, Live exudes pretentiousness, but their first album is actually very good. Some great songs on here, like Pain On the Riverside and Mirror Song.
* Live - "Throwing Copper" - An incredibly popular album, and its popularity isn't unjustified. Again, the pretentiousness is tiresome, but I'll never get tired of the songs on the CD.
* Live - "Secret Samadhi" - A horrible follow up from the great Throwing Copper. My apologies to Greg for recommending it to him. Lakini's Juice is a great song, but that's about it.
* Luscious Jackson - "Fever In, Fever Out" - What a discovery! I've had this for years but never really listened to it. Groovy stuff here. Too bad they broke up.
* Madonna - "The Immaculate Collection" - How can you not love Madonna?
* Madonna - "Ray of Light" - She grew up with this album. Frozen may be her best song yet.
* Magnolia - "Music from the Motion Picture" - Aimee Mann is amazing. Her lyrics are incredible. The whole soundtrack is awesome, with nine out of the thirteen tracks being Mann's.
* Mayer, John - "Room for Squares" - I don't doubt his guitar plucking abilities; he's quite the guitar player. His songs are catchy, but I don't like the fact that he sounds like a cross between Sting and Dave Matthews. My brother bought me this CD for Christmas a couple years back, before anyone knew who John Mayer was.
* McKay, Nellie - "Get Away from Me - Disc One" - It's hard to describe this chicks music. On one track she sounds like a girl version of Eminem, and the next she sounds like a jazz lounge singer. It's all over the place. Interesting stuff indeed. A Borders cashier recommended it to me, and I'm glad I have it. I think she'll be a big star one day.
* McKay, Nellie - "Get Away from Me - Disc Two" - Read above.
* McLachlan, Sarah - "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" - I used to think McLachlan was wimpy, but I'm beginning to like her more and more. Sometimes I'm just in the mood to listen to her stuff. The title track on this album is a contender for my top twenty songs of all time. I LOVE it.
* McLachlan, Sarah - "Surfacing" - Again, solid stuff. The song Full of Grace is featured in Season 2 of Buffy after she kills Angel and flees to Los Angeles. Sigh.
* McLachlan, Sarah - "Mirrorball" - This is a live CD, but unfortunately, Sarah's live stuff sounds exactly like her studio albums. I don't like that. She needs to shake things up a little, but I'd still like to see her in concert one day.
* Metallica - "Load" - I used to LOVE Metallica. But I think I'm over them. I was just waiting for this CD to end. I do, however, need to get the Black album on CD. I can't believe that's not in my collection.
* Morissette, Alanis - "Jagged Little Pill" - This came out in my early college years, and I would literally listen to it over and over again. Twenty times a day. I'm not as big a fan as I once was, but this album is still great.
* Morissette, Alanis - "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" - A big disappointment from her first album. The lyrics just ramble on and on and on. There are a couple of good tracks, but nothing too spectacular.
* New Kids on the Block - "Greatest Hits" - Yes I own it, and no I'm not ashamed. It was good fun. Some of my teeny bopper memories came roaring back (like memorizing the New Kids' dance moves with my sister and her best friend Jody, and then performing in front of my other sister and her oh so cool boyfriend). I did make sure my car windows were up while listening to it. Did I mention the not ashamed part?
* Nicks, Stevie - "Timespace - The Best of Stevie Nicks" - Some of Stevie's stuff is really, really good. Brilliant even. But some of her stuff is really, really bad. She's still one of my favorites though.
* Nicks, Stevie - "Trouble in Shangri-La" Released a couple of years ago, Nicks brought in Sheryl Crow to help with the production on the album. Crow's influence is definitely heard throughout. This is a really good album. However, nothing can top Stevie's Fleetwood Mac stuff.
* Nirvana - "Nevermind" - Kurt Cobain is dead. And that is tragic. I can't believe how great this album is. Hadn't listened to it in a LOOONG time.
* Nirvana - "In Utero" - Not as good as its predecessor, but still epic.
* No Doubt - "Tragic Kingdom" - I've always meant to buy more No Doubt stuff, but haven't. This is a pretty good album. Laugh if you want, but I think "Don't Speak" is a classic.
* O'Brother, Where Art Thou? - "Music from a Film by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen" - Reminded me that I need to buy more Allison Krauss stuff. Love her.
* Orton, Beth - "Central Reservation" - I can't believe she's not well known. Great stuff here. Discovered a song called "Sweetest Decline" that I absolutely cherish.
* Osborne, Joan - "Relish" - A top ten CD of my collection. Osborne, in my humble opinion, has THE greatest voice of any current female singer. Every track on this album is superb. Her voice has such soul.
* Osborne, Joan - "Righteous Love" - Her first album made her a star, however her second was released without so much as a peep. It just doesn't make sense. So good. So dang good.
* Osborne, Joan - "How Sweet It Is" - An album of covers. Joan's take on classics like "War", "How Sweet It Is" and "I'll Be Around." It's great (with a voice like hers, she can't go wrong), but I prefer her original stuff instead.
* Outkast - "Stankonia" - I felt cool listening to this. I was a bass bumping freak. Big Boi and Andre 3000 are geniuses. Now I need to get "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."
* Pavement - "Terror Twilight" - I have no idea why I have this album. I think my Blockbuster Video friend/co-worker Doug recommended it to me. I wasn't impressed.
* Pearl Jam - "Ten" - Roll your eyes if you must, but this album changed my life. I was a sophomore in high school and had no idea the effect music could have on me. I made my best friend Lesley take me to Pop Tunes after high school one day (maybe sophomore year?), and I purchased it. From that point on, music became a vital part of my life. Thank you Eddie Vedder and co.
* Pearl Jam - "Vs." - The sophomore effort from my fave Seattle band. A bit edgier and more raw than their first.
* Pearl Jam - "Vitalogy" - Greg still can't believe it, but this is my favorite Pearl Jam album. Eddie Vedder was really freaking out about being famous, and this album reflects his paranoia. Some might say its an experimental album, but I believe it is their finest. A fantastic collection of tracks. A top ten album of mine.
* Pearl Jam - "No Code" - A bit more mellow than their other three albums, but still packs a wallop. Eddie's lyrics reflect a tranquility not heard in previous albums.
* Pearl Jam - "Yield" - Yet again, the Jam can do no wrong. Just good solid rock n' roll.
* Pearl Jam - "Binaural" - Probably my least favorite album of the bunch, but each time I listen to it, I appreciate it more and more.
* Pearl Jam - "Riot Act" - My third favorite album. A couple of tracks are so good, they almost make me cry. Really.
* Phair, Liz - "Exile in Guyville" - Many critics claim this album to be one of the best of the nineties, and I can see why. It took a couple of listens for me to "get" it, but Phair's songwriting is tremendously clever and catchy. Good stuff.
* Phair, Liz - "Whip-smart" - Not nearly as good as her first album, but I'm still glad its in my collection.
* Pink - "Can't Take Me Home" - Ah yeah... love me some Pink baby! Her debut album is more R & B, but it's still fun. Pump up that bass.
* Pink - "Missundaztood" - Who would of thought that Pink and that 4 Non Blondes chick could churn out good stuff like this? Pink discards her R & B ways, thank goodness, and produces some great pop music.
* Pink - "Try This" - Her latest effort, and a recent purchase of mine, so I haven't listened to it much... but I can tell I'm going to LOVE it. LOVE it I tell you!
* Pleasantville - "Music from the Motion Picture" - I bought this because I wanted Fiona Apple's version of "Across the Universe," but it's got some good oldies on it, especially Etta James' "At Last." God I love that song.
* Police, The - "Every Breath You Take - The Classics" - Wow. I didn't realize how great the Police were. Hate Sting. Love The Police.
* Pretenders, The - "The Singles" - Chrissie Hynde has one of the most distinctive voices in all of rock. "Brass in Pocket" is a classic pop song. There's some other good stuff on here too, but the cd ends on a bad note... Hynde and the lead singer of UB40 in a duet of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe." Horrific.
* Pulp Fiction - "Music from the Motion Picture" - Any album with "Son of a Preacher Man" is okay in my book. Note to self: Buy more Dusty Springfield. There's some other notable stuff on here too, but I enjoyed the sound clips from the movie the most.
* Queens of the Stone Age - "Songs for the Deaf" - This cd is bitchin'. I LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE it. It kicks your teeth in, but it's also an example of exemplary musicianship. Bitchin' dude.
* Radiohead - "Pablo Honey" - The first album of possibly my favorite band in the whole wide world. It's good, but nothing compared to their subsequent albums. I mean, there is no way anyone could have predicted the greatness of this band from this debut CD.
* Radiohead - "The Bends" - Holy mackarel... the GREATNESS begins. Every song is fantastic. What a difference from "Pablo Honey." It's amazing. Really.
* Radiohead - "OK Computer" - I listen to this album and I think... how can there actually be people out there as talented as this? It's bleepin' genius. I can only shake my head in amazement. Contains a top five song of mine, "Let Down".
* Radiohead - "Kid A" - And the GREATNESS continues. The cd opens with the first notes of "Everything in Its Right Place," and you know you are in for a treat. Simply amazing.
* Radiohead - "Amnesiac" - Some critics call this album a disappointment. I call those critics IDIOTS. Probably ranks near the bottom of my favorite Radiohead albums, but it's still genius. If I turn up "Like Spinning Plates" really loud in my car, it makes entire car shake. Cool.
* Radiohead - "Anyone Can Play Radiohead - A Tribute to Radiohead" - A mediocre tribute album to Radiohead. It's fun to listen to though. I haven't heard of any of the bands on it. Two of the bands are "Miranda Sex Garden" and "Dragon Style". He he.
* Radiohead - "Strung Out on OK Computer - The String Quartet Tribute to Radiohead" - Now this is a cool album. A bunch of violinists interpretation of "OK Computer." It's great.
* Radiohead - "Hail to the Thief" - Radiohead's latest effort. It's slowly creeping up as one of my favorite Radiohead albums. Probably #2 behind "OK Computer."
* Reality Bites - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - Cool soundtrack. Except that stupid song with Ethan Hawke on vocals.
* R.E.M. - "Document" - Bought this because it contains one of the greatest songs ever, "Finest Worksong." Other good stuff too ("One I Love" is a classic), although I prefer 90s R.E.M. to 80s R.E.M.
* R.E.M. - "Green" - Again, good stuff, but my favorite R.E.M. stuff is from the 1990s.
* R.E.M. - "Automatic for the People" - A perfect album. Solemn, beautiful... every song is wonderful. One of my favorites.
* R.E.M. - "Monster" - An even better album than "Automatic for the People." It's sexy, trashy, and a bit cold, but SO great. Another top 15 album in my collection.
* Semisonic - "Great Divide" - I've had this CD in my collection for awhile now, but never really listened to it. What a discovery! This album has turned me into Semisonic maniac, so I've bought everything they've done now. Can't wait to go back and listen to them.
* Simon and Garfunkel - "Greatest Hits" - What can you say? Beautiful stuff. It's fun to sing along and harmonize with Art and Paul.
* Singles - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - Just a classic soundtrack. I LOOOVE Ann and Nancy Wilson's version of "Battle of Evermore." Listened to that track about 15 times in a row.
* Smashing Pumpkins, The - "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" - Disc One (Dawn to Dusk) - Just incredible. Billy Corgan goes off on Disc One. Love, love, love the guitars.
* Smashing Pumpkins, The - "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" - Disc Two (Twilight to Starlight) - Not as good as Disc One, but still awesome. Some of the tracks are a bit long for my taste.
* Smiths, The - "Singles" - "How Soon Is Now?" is a classic. Morrissey's lyrics are interesting. The songs are crisp and lovely. Will have to come back to this one.
* Soul Asylum - "Grave Dancers Union" - Man, I was all about me some Soul Asylum in college. I haven't listened to this CD in years, but I knew all the words. I was totally bonkers for this album, but now I find it laughable. Dave Pinter's lyrics are cringeworthy. What was wrong with me?
* Soul Asylum - "Let Your Dim Light Shine" - Better than Grave Dancer's Union, but still not very good.
* Soundgarden - "Superunknown" - An album where I shake my head and say "How is it possible for an album to be this good..... How?... HOW?"
* The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration - "John Williams Conducts His Classic Scores for the Films of Steven Spielberg" - John William's ET is the best theme for a movie. EVER.
* Springsteen, Bruce - "Greatest Hits" - Good cd for any collection.
* Springsteen, Bruce - "The Rising" - Refer above.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Star Wars - A New Hope (Disc One)" - The second best movie theme ever. The cool thing about the Star Wars soundtrack is that each character has his or her own theme. There's Luke Skywalker's theme, Princess Leia's, Yoda, the Imperial March (Vader's theme), etc. It's brilliant. I'm quite partial to Leia's theme... quite beautiful.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Star Wars - A New Hope (Disc Two)" - The end of disc two has hidden tracks of earlier takes of the main theme. It's cool to hear earlier versions which sound so different from the original.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Empire Strikes Back (Disc One)" - Some more of the same, which honestly, I can't remember. Although I know I quite enjoyed it.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Empire Strikes Back (Disc Two)" - Yada yada yada.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Return of the Jedi (Disc One)" - You know the Ewoks are in this film because the music is all cutesy in parts.
* Star Wars Trilogy - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Return of the Jedi (Disc Two)" - THE END. Thank you Lord!
* Star Wars - The Phantom Menace - "Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" - There's a young Anakin theme in this one. It's an innocent version of the Imperial March, quite impressive. And "Duel of the Fates" rules. Makes me want to fight someone with a light saber, or a broom handle.
* Stone Temple Pilots - "Core" - Nothing subtle about this album. Pure unadulterated rock. A bit too much in parts, but still a good CD. However, it's definitely my least favorite of the STP stuff I have.
* Stone Temple Pilots - "Purple" - Man, I played the heck outta this CD when it first came out. It doesn't hold up as well now, but it's still decent. Interstate Love Song is a classic.
* Stone Temple Pilots - "No. 4" - Holy cow. What a discovery. Turns out this STP album might be my favorite, and I had never really listened to it before. Shame on me. Every song on here is great. Catchy, but still rockin'.
* Strokes, The - "Is This It" - Another discovery! This may turn out to be a top ten album of mine. So great, I just HAD to listen to it several times in a row. (This is why my project is taking so long. Multiple listens.) I couldn't seem to eject it from my CD player. I call this "punchy" rock. The Strokes throw little jabs at you, but still knock you out with their brilliance. And no, I don't have any idea what I'm talking about.
* Strokes, The - "Room on Fire" - Since I cheated and listened to their first album about five times in a row, wasting valuable project time, I forced myself to listen to this one only once. I know it's good, I'm just not as familiar with it. Love me some Strokes though. Love em.
* Third Eye Blind - "Third Eye Blind" - They had about a million hits from this CD. Turns out the hits are the only good songs on this album. Go figure.
* Travis - "Good Feeling" - I don't know how I got into Travis. I think Tony had a song of theirs that I really liked so I bought one of their albums (The Invisible Band - see below) and then went crazy and bought their previous two. This is their debut album. It's alot harder than their subsequent stuff. Somehow they morphed from this into sweet, pop Brit rock. I'll tell you though, Travis writes some catchy tunes.
* Travis - "The Man Who" - Probably my favorite album of theirs. Very different from their first album. "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" is a wonderful song (featured on Panqueque!)
* Travis - "The Invisible Band" - Alot like "The Man Who." Catchy ditties with a sweet voiced lead singer. Fran Healy, the lead singer, writes some corny lyrics though. He likes to rhyme a bit too much.
* Travis - "12 Memories" - A bit darker than their previous albums. I think they tried to make a statement about 9/11 and the Iraq War with this album, but I'd rather them sticking to songs about love, flowers, and birds.
* Twister - "Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack" - Why did I buy this album? I think I was in my obsessive Fleetwood Mac stage and there's a duet with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks on here. Silly I know. Anyway, the soundtrack isn't bad. I wasn't bored or anything. It features Belly, Tori Amos, Rusted Root and a really, really cool song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, there's an instrumental song on here by Eddie and Alex Van Halen called "Respect the Wind." Eddie and Alex, you don't think Helen Hunt respects the wind? How dare you!
* U2 - "Boy" - Okay, NOW we're getting somewhere. The debut album from THE greatest rock band ever. Top three U2 album for sure. Not a dud to be found. Highlights include Out of Control and Electric Co. (could two songs get me riled up more?). An unheralded gem is A Day Without Me. Just a wonderful CD. I LOVE listening to it.
* U2 - "October" - If this album was released today, it could be filed under "contemporary Christian." The Edge, Larry Mullen, and Bono have always been forthright about their Christianity (not bass player Adam), and this second album was recorded when the band was intent on displaying their faith. Songs such as "Gloria," "Rejoice," and "Scarlet" are testaments to this. A bit of a letdown after the genius of Boy, October still packs a powerful punch with great songs such as the aforementioned classic "Gloria" and the unheralded "I Fall Down" and "I Threw a Brick Through A Window." Definitely towards the bottom of my "Favorite U2 Albums" list, but still good.
* U2 - "War" - After the awkwardness of October, U2 picked up where Boy left off and created War, the album that catapulted them to stardom. This album qualified U2 as an "important" band with the meaningful tracks "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day." My favorite track is the beautiful "Surrender", a candidate for entry into my top ten greatest U2 songs list.
* U2 - "Live - Under a Blood Red Sky" - I have this Red Rocks concert on video AND cd. How great of a U2 fan am I? Anyway, my favorite part of this concert is when Bono climbs up into the rafters during "Electric Co." I also enjoyed how Edge hits a couple of blatant wrong notes during his guitar solo in Party Girl. Not only did they leave it on the cd when they easily could have edited it out, but Bono yells "It's our hero, The Edge!" after the solo. Such good sports these guys are.
* U2 - "The Unforgettable Fire" - I remember in high school when Tony and Greg tried to convince me that "Pride (In the Name of Love)" was about a lion and not about Martin Luther King. Anyway, The Unforgettable Fire was quite a change from the rawness of War. The only word I can use to describe the album is expansive. The Edge really utilizes his special skills on guitar here. "Bad" is in a tight battle with another for Pam's Number One U2 Song Forever and Ever. Please refer to "Rattle and Hum" for other song. Highlights from this album include the aforementioned "Pride", "Bad", and "Wire".
* U2 - "The Joshua Tree" - Everyone just LOVES this album. And they should, cause its great. But it ain't my favorite U2 album. Nope. Probably not even in the top five. I do love me some "With or Without You" though. Probably one of the sexiest songs U2 has done.
* U2 - "Rattle and Hum" - Probably my least favorite album from the Irish lads. However, it does contain "All I Want Is You", which is one of those songs that makes me weep. AIWIY and Bad are my favorite U2 songs. I just don't know which one I like more. Anyway, Rattle and Hum is okay. I get what they were trying to do with it, the whole exploring of American music and stuff, but it just doesn't work, and I think U2 knew that too, which brings us to.....
* U2 - "Achtung Baby" - Probably the greatest reinvention of a band ever. Bono went from Mr. Ponytail Wanna-Be-Bluesman and turned into The Fly, with slicked back hair, huge sunglasses, leather suit, and a smug smile. And he and the band backed up the snarkiness with a bold, in-your-face, sexy, experimental and gorgeous album in Achtung Baby. It doesn't get any better than this folks. Every song is almost perfect, but my faves include "Mysterious Ways," "Acrobat", and "Even Better than the Real Thing."
* U2 - "Zooropa" - A logical follow-up to Achtung Baby, but to me, Zooropa doesn't quite flow. There's some unbelievable stuff on here, including the self titled track and "Lemon," but overall disappointing. On the bottom of my "Favorite U2 Albums" list.
* U2 - "Pop (Versions A & B)" - Let me explain what Versions A & B are. I believe that Pop was made in a rush, and that U2 wasn't really satisfied with the finished product when it was finally released to the public. So when they released their "Best of 1990-2000" album (to be reviewed in the next batch), they went back and redid some tracks from Pop. And frankly, I LOVE the changes. So I decided to create a "new" Pop, inserting the reworked songs in place of the originals. Now, in doing this, Pop has become one of my favorites, certainly a top five contender. I wasn't even planning on listening to the old version, but then got reamed by Greg when I told him this. So I forced myself to listen to the old Pop, and I like my version eighty thousand times better. The new versions of "Discotheque", "Staring at the Sun", "Gone", "Last Night on Earth" and "Please" are exemplary. I'm glad U2 went back and fixed things.
* U2 - "Pride - The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays U2" - Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy. But fun to listen to.
* U2 - "The Best of 1980-1990" - Only a huge fan of U2 could listen to all their albums for two weeks in a row and still be excited to listen to their greatest hits. I am a huge U2 fan.
* U2 - "The Best of 1980-1990 (The B-Sides)" - U2 had some quirky stuff in the eighties. Love the song "The Three Sunrises."
* U2 - "All That You Can't Leave Behind" - Okay I'll say it. This is my favorite U2 album. Mark it down folks. I was listening to it, singing along, loving the sound coming out of my car speakers and my brain couldn't find a reason to deny this album its rightful place atop my "favorite U2 album" list. "Achtung Baby" is its nearest rival, but this one takes the cake.
* U2 - "The Best of 1990-2000" - This includes all those reworked "POP" tracks that I adore. They're simply superior to the original album versions (couldn't resist one last jab, Greg.... sorry). Love the new track made specifically for this album "Electrical Storm." It's good, and Samantha Morton makes out with Larry Mullen, Jr. in the video. Can't beat that!
* U2 - "The Best of 1990-2000 (The B-Sides)" - Holy cow do I love me some "Lady with the Spinning Head." I believe it's one of the best things U2 has ever done. Also, there's a track on here called "North and South of the River" that I had never heard before. I instantly fell in love with it. And all the remixes are great.
* U2 - "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" - I haven't listened to this one nearly enough to make a concise decision, but I can't hide my disappointment in U2's first studio album since the exemplary "All That You Can't Leave Behind." Maybe Bono's worried too much about Africa, in turn causing the music to slide. Don't get me wrong, there's some good stuff on here... particularly "City of Blinding Lights" and "Crumbs From Your Table," but.... alas, it doesn't grab me like other U2 creations, and yes I'll say it, Bono's lyrics are SERIOUSLY lacking. For such an intelligent guy, he writes some stupid lyrics. It's a contender for my least favorite U2 album (in a battle with "Rattle and Hum.")
* Usher - "Confessions" - Okay... first off, there are WAY too many songs on this CD. 21 tracks. Too long Usher, TOOOO long. BUT... I will say I enjoyed a vast majority of them. I mean, if you can't groove to "Yeah!" and "Caught Up", then something is seriously wrong with you. Seriously. Also, the impressive ballad "Burn" is one of my favorite R&B songs ever. Regarding the CD packaging, there are tons of pictures showing this young man's abs. He is very impressed with his own abdominals.
* Velvet Revolver - "Contraband" - I was excited when I came to this CD. Loved the song "Fall to Pieces" enough to download it from ITunes. But after finishing this CD featuring a smorgasborg of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses, I shrugged in apathy. I wish Scott Weiland had stayed with STP, because I loved their fourth album. Alas, STP is no more. Velvet Revolver gets a big thumbs down from me.
* Vines, The - "Highly Evolved" - I bought this one at a discount price. Thank goodness. It's not bad, it's just nothing special. The lead singer of this band screams more than any other artist I've heard. Incredibly annoying.
* Wainwright, Martha - "Martha Wainwright" - The younger sister of one of my favorite artists, Rufus Wainwright (see below), I recently purchased this (it's her debut album and only been out a few months). She frequently sings back-up for Rufus on his albums and I've always enjoyed the quality of her voice. Thankfully, the quality of her songwriting is equal to her vocal ability. I listened to this several times in a row, and fell in love with it. Very different from her brother since Martha uses a more country based style. I can't wait to settle on my couch at some point and follow along with the lyrics. And again, her voice is nothing I've heard before.
* Wainwright, Rufus - "Rufus Wainwright" - Shout out to my brother, Danny, for introducing me to this artist, who is by far, one of the most talented singer/songwriters out there. This is the debut album that I quickly purchased after Danny introduced me to his second album "Poses."
* Wainwright, Rufus - "Poses" - I remember hearing the self-titled track, "Poses" for the first time as a passenger in my brother's car. I couldn't believe my ears. "Who the heck is this guy, and why have I not heard of him?" It was one of those moments you don't forget. My favorite album of his, "Poses" is an elegant, melodic set of songs that will startle you with its brilliance. Certainly one of my favorite CDs.
* Wainwright, Rufus - "Want One" - Theatrical and lush, Rufus pulls out all the stops on "Want One", which was originally a double album, but ultimately released one year apart as two separate works. I'm certain every musical instrument is utilized on this album. However, there are some quiet moments too, with just Rufus on piano. The last track, "Dinner at Eight" makes me cry.
* Wainwright, Rufus - "Want Two" - Not as familiar with this CD only because its so recent. But my initial reaction (I cheated and listened to it several times) makes me giddy. I can't wait to come back to this one and, memorize the whole dang thing like I've done with his other three albums.

Addendum coming soon..... ?

Pammer's Top Ten Movies of 2005 (I know it's late, but give me a break.... )

10. A History of Violence - Everyone has something to hide.
Great low-key thriller/human drama starring Viggo Mortensen and William Hurt.
Special shout-out to: Maria Bello, for a wonderful supporting performance.

9. Capote - Capote.... between the lines....
Entralled every moment while watching this film. Virtuoso performance by Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Special shout out to: Dan Futterman, for a superb screenplay.

8. The Girl in the Cafe - Love can't change what's wrong in the world. But it's a start.
Okay, this film technically wasn't a theatrical release since it was made for HBO. But it's a film and it was made in 2005.... so it qualifies in my book. It's a tender romance set in the confines of the G8 Summit. Sounds weird, but I promise it's good. It's overall "message" might be overbloated for some, but I found it inspiring.
Special shout-out to: Kelly MacDonald, for another incredible performance. I heart her.

7. Batman Begins - Every legend has a beginning.
What can I say?... Just a cool ass movie.
Special shout-out to: Christian Bale, for his "Batman" voice. Grrrr.....

6. Junebug - (couldn't find a tagline for this film)
A little treasure of a movie that everyone should see. I wish more quality films like this were made.
Special shout-out to: Amy Adams, for one of my favorite performances of the year. Really, it's a revelation.

5. Match Point - There are no little secrets.
Woody Allen's latest is a twisted little ditty, but a clever one through and through. Great character study with performances to match.
Special shout-out to: Woody Allen, for a welcome comeback.

4. Hustle & Flow - Everybody gotta have a dream.
Memphis representin'!!!!! I never thought a film about a pimp would pull at my heartstrings.... but gosh darnit, this one did.
Special shout-out to: Taraji P. Henson, for an underrated performance as Shug.

3. Brokeback Mountain - Love is a force of nature.
A groundbreaking film. I was afraid all the hype about the film would cause me to be underwhelmed, but so not the case. Heath Ledger is amazing. Still irked it didn't win Best Picture. Ugh, don't even get me started.
Special shout-out to: Gustavo Santaolalla, for a heartbreaking soundtrack. It's beautiful.

2. King Kong - The eighth wonder of the world.
A masterpiece. I cried like a baby over a stupid ape.
Special shout-out to: Andy Serkis, for bringing Kong to life.

1. Pride & Prejudice - A romance ahead of its time.
This was a hard list to concoct, simply because there were so many good films this year. But I debated with myself too long, and finally just boiled it down to this prime question... what film did I enjoy the most this year? After hours of thought, Pride & Prejudice is honored as my top film of 2005. There's something to be said for a filmmaker who dares to compete with what many consider THE definitive version of P & P... that would be the 1995 6-hour BBC version. And I like that one, don't get me wrong. But the characters seemed more alive in this one. I enjoyed Matthew Macfadyen's Darcy more than Colin Firth's... only for the vulnerablity Macfadyen brings to the role. And the film is just gorgeous to look at.
Special shout out to: Joe Wright, for an outstanding directorial debut. Good goin', Joe!

(For a completely different, detailed, and more entertaining view on this film, please go to my pal Greg's blog, where he explains why P & P is his #82 Least Favorite Movie of All time. It's an enjoyable read, but it made me oh so sad. I'm still pulling the dagger out of my heart, Greg. )

Thoughts on the American Idol Top Ten Finalists

My Tigers lost. It was a valiant effort.... well, not really, since I believe they shot like 9% from the field against UCLA. It's unfortunate, because they WERE a great team, it just didn't show itself Saturday night. But... it was a great season, and I'm not going to complain about an Elite Eight finish, and next year, we should be just as good, if not better. Go Tigers!

So now that March Madness is over for me (although I'll be rooting for those miraculous George Mason Patriots), I can concentrate on an even more important event..... AMERICAN IDOL.

The contestants have been dwindled down to ten. Ten is an important number folks, since only ten are allowed to tour. For those who don't know, and may need even more ammunition to make fun of me with, I've been to one American Idol concert for each of the four seasons. Yes, I'm a dork..... but I'm telling you, nothing beats going to an American Idol concert and then trying to sneak backstage to meet them. It's crazy ass fun.

Do you want my thoughts on this year's finalists? Well too bad, I'm going to give them to you anyway. I'll utilize the judging techniques of Simon (for his constructive, but blatant criticism), Paula (for her positiveness and the annoying use of the phrase "Having said that..."), and Randy (for his use of the word "dog" and "yo") and also, I will rank them from 10th place all the way to the person I think should be this year's American Idol! I know, I know... it's very early on in the competition, but I truly believe my opinion won't change.

So, let's say I've been given 200 free text messages that I can use to vote. However, I MUST use at least one vote for each finalist. I'll tell you how many votes I'd give to each one, so it'll give you a barometer in which to measure my opinion of each one. Let's do this dog!

10th Place: 1 out of 200 text message votes - Lisa Tucker
PammerSimon: Lisa, you are boring. I turn the channel when you are on. Compared to the other dynamic personalities in this competition, you just don't cut it.
PammerPaula: Having said that Lisa, you seem like a lovely girl. You have a lovely smile. And you have a lovely voice.
PammerRandy: Yo dog! Where's my dog pound? Yo dog yo yo dog yo!
199 votes remain.....

9th Place: 2 out of 200 text message votes - Ace Young
PammerSimon: I'm not falling for your routine Ace. That falsetto of yours is like fingernails against a blackboard.
PammerPaula: Having said that Ace, you are very attractive.
PammerRandy: How ya doing man? Yo dude here it is. Yo, you my dog yo!
197 votes remain.....

8th Place: 5 out of 200 text message votes - Bucky Covington
PammerSimon: You really don't have a good voice, Bucky... and your hair is atrocious.
PammerPaula: Having said that Bucky, you have a charm about you that's quite endearing. Unlike Kellie Pickler, your Southern good ol' boy routine seems geniune.
PammerRandy: Yo dog yo yo yo dog! What up dog? Dog!
192 votes remain.....

7th Place: 10 out of 200 text message votes: Paris Bennett
PammerSimon: Paris, you were my favorite for a while, but several folks have overtaken you. You're vibrant and energetic, and I love your personality... but frankly, there are others in this competition that should go farther.
PammerPaula: Having said that Paris, you are vibrant and energetic.
PammerRandy: Paris Posse!! Yo, dog yo! You my dog yo?
....182 votes remain

6th Place: 11 out of 200 text message votes: Kellie Pickler
PammerSimon: You nudge Paris by a hair, but only because you make me laugh. Your Southern belle personality is probably a big con job, and that makes me particularly weary of you. Better knock off the blatantly idiotic comments, or people will figure your little act out. You're voice isn't even that great, and I hate country music.
PammerPaula: Having said that, I find myself rooting for you anyway.
PammerRandy: Pickler in da house! You my dog! Where's my dog pound? Yo.
171 votes remain.....

5th Place: 20 out of 200 text message votes - Chris Daughtry
PammerSimon: Yeah, Chris... I know you're the favorite to win. But you know what? I don't want another generic rock singer hitting the airwaves. The band Fuel wants to hire you as their lead singer, but frankly, that doesn't impress me. I don't know the difference between Fuel, Nickelback, Staind, or even Limp Bizkit for that matter.... but what I do know is that I dislike them all. So for that reason I don't want you to get a record contract.
PammerPaula: Having said that Chris, you are a powerful singer and I don't turn the channel when you're on.... so that's a good thing.
PammerRandy: Yo dog you rock dog yo yo yo yo yo! Dog pound yo!
151 votes remain...

4th Place: 26 out of 200 text message votes - Taylor Hicks
PammerSimon: You're quirky dance moves get on my last nerve, and sometimes I worry about you when you "get in the moment." Also, you remind me of singer Michael McDonald, and I'm not a fan of his, to say the least.
PammerPaula: Having said that Taylor, you are entertaining, and you can play harmonica. You're a far cry from the traditional American Idol contestant, and that's what I like about you.
PammerRandy: Hicks in da house! You my dog! Yo, harmonica, yo! I like that dog!
125 votes remain.....

3rd Place: 30 out of 200 text message votes - Mandisa
PammerSimon: I haven't gotten swept up in the "Mandisa Mania" that's sweeping the country.
PammerPaula: Having said that Mandisa... you are a star and deserve to be in the top three. You're gentle and forgiving reaction to Simon's wisecracks about your weight was heartbreaking. As far as performances go, you haven't given a bad one yet. Consistent, kind, and a voice that can move mountains.... you are Mandisa!
PammerRandy: Yo Mandisa! Exclamation point dog! Mandisa!
95 votes remain......

2nd Place: 35 out of 200 votes - Elliot Yamin
PammerSimon: Your voice is such a revelation Elliot, that I think it could be used against you. You're so good, and such a technically proficient singer, that it's like watching a machine when you sing. And because of this, I feel like I don't know you. Who is Elliot Yamin? I need to see some heart, some guts, some emotion!
PammerPaula: Having said that Elliot, I would buy an album of yours in a second. I heart your voice, and think you're the best male vocalist in American Idol's five year history. I can't wait to see you in concert.
PammerRandy: That voice dog! Yo dog you rock. You didya thang man! Yo dog yo yo!
60 votes remain.....

1st Place and my 2006 American Idol - 60 out of 200 votes - Katharine McPhee
PammerSimon: Stop looking into the camera when you sing Katharine. The smoldering looks are getting tiresome. And for whatever reason, Katharine, I think you might be lacking in the humility department.
PammerPaula: Having said that Katharine, I remember your obvious heartbreak when a talented fellow contestant didn't make it into the top 24. You seemed geniune then, so maybe my humility suspicions are unfounded. I hope so. However.... talentwise my dear, you are a superstar. You're a knockout, but not in a fake boob, slutty kind of way. You've got that All-American, girl-next-door vibe, and that'll work to your advantage (the fact you're from L.A. might hurt you though). You've got a spectacular voice.... it's not too flashy, but it's one that can fit to any genre. You're my favorite finalist since Fantasia from Season Three. I hope you win.
PammerRandy: You my American Idol dog! Yo yo yo yo yo dog... YO! McPheva in da house! Where's my dog pound? Woof woof! Yo.
0 votes remain.....

So there it is. Please comment with any disagreements you might have. I'd love to read them!

The McCarthy Sisters' Adventures in the Big "D"

I traveled to Dallas last weekend with my two sisters, Missy and Jen, to catch our #1 seeded Memphis Tigers first and second round games in the NCAA tourney. Here's some highlights of the McCarthy sisters adventures in and at The Big "D" (meaning Dallas itself and THE BIG DANCE baby!):

The shoe polish and Memphis Tigers graffiti on our car don't impress you, Officer?
We got a late start on the way down Thursday night, so as driver, I convinced myself to go really, really fast. But come on, I couldn't help it. Along the way, fellow Memphis fans pulled up beside us, honked their horns, and waved to us like the kindred spirits we all were! So exciting! One particular kindred spirit impressed me with his driving skills (nothing is better than finding a compenent driver to stay behind during a long road trip), so I sped up to match him and just tagged along. Unfortunately, we were both going 15 miles over the speed limit. The cop got both us, pulling up along side me with sirens glaring, bellowing on his loud speaker, "When I pull over, you pull over!" and then sped off to do just that to my kindred spirit. So here we were on the side of the road, 1:00 in the morning, two Memphis Tigers cars with one hard-nosed cop car in between. We both got busted. $130.00 for speeding. I hope the butthead cop was an Oral Roberts fan.

One Tiger in the middle of Hog Heaven... er, I mean Hell.
So my sisters and I get to the American Airlines Center just before Memphis' first round game against Oral Roberts. We make it in time to catch the final minutes of 8th-seeded Arkansas versus 9th-seeded Bucknell. I had decided to take this trip at the last minute, so purchased one ticket a day after my sisters. Therefore, I was two sections away from them... by myself. I bought a delicious soft pretzel and made my way to my seat. Horrified, I noticed a sea of maroon around me. I was surrounded by Razorback fans. Mad, angry Razorback fans. (See, cause their team was losing and eventually lost). The Arkansas lady next to me (who was actually quite nice) cursed at the Memphis fans who were cheering after Bucknell upset her Hogs. I just smiled and sat back in my seat, relieved Memphis wouldn't have to face the Hogs in the next round.

Close Encounters with the Joey Dorsey and Darius Washington Kind
The Saturday before our second round game, the Alumni Association held a reception for Tiger fans at the team hotel. The reception itself was pretty boring... no pep band, cheerleaders, or team showed up, but what happened afterwards was exciting indeed. Walking along the HUGE lobby of the hotel, I happened to glance in the hotel's business center, a ward sectioned off behind glass doors which was equipped with computers stationed at several cubicles. I noticed a rather tall black guy seated at one of the terminals. One look and I knew... "Ya'll, that's Joey Dorsey in there." Joey Dorsey is the Tigers starting power forward. "Where?" my sisters inquired. "In there!" I pointed. Somehow, Joey must have heard us (or maybe the female tutor with him tipped him off), because he turned around and noticed us through the glass. And what do my sisters and I do? Start jumping around and dancing. Like idiots. Joey smiled and laughed. To top it off, Darius Washington, our starting point guard, leans back in his chair from his previously hidden spot around the corner, and looks at us. We start jumping around and dancing again. Like idiots. Darius smiled and laughed. Good times, good times indeed. (And these moments have been captured on videotape too, so we can always treasure them forever.)

Jarvis Greer, We Love You!
Outside the arena after our first round victory over Oral Roberts, we noticed our beloved local sportscaster for Channel 5, Jarvis Greer, toting around a microphone and video camera. Since Jarvis was obviously trying to capture Memphis fans reveling in the win, the McCarthy sisters considered it an obligation to get his attention. However, in her excitement over seeing a local celebrity like Jarvis Greer, my sister Missy neglected to cheer for the Tigers to the camera, but instead kept yelling at Jarvis. Despite Missy's faux pas, we somehow still ended up on the local news.... two of us cheering for the Tigers, the other cheering for Jarvis.

You Only Live Once
After our first round victory, we traded our tickets to a scalper (and dished out more money) for lower level seats to the next game versus Bucknell. We second-guessed our transaction afterwards, but once we arrived at the arena for Sunday's game and saw our seats and their close proximity to the court, all we could do was jump around in excitement. Behind the basket, about ten rows back.... dang, it was awesome. A once in a lifetime opportunity and we grabbed it. Good times, good times. (Especially since the team played incredible and we're back in the Sweet Sixteen after a long absence!)

Oakland's Just Too Dang Far
My sisters and I will be watching tomorrow night's game versus Bradley at home via the television. Oakland, CA was a little too far for another trip to watch our Tigers in person. But the memories of Dallas remain. What a great trip and what an awesome team. Go Tigers.... all the way to the Final Four baby!

Go Memphis Tigers - All the Way to Indy!

Sorry for the non-blogginess everyone. Been a busy, busy little bee at work, and that's the only time I try to steal some time to blog (don't tell my boss please).

March Madness is always a favorite time of year for me. But this year is super special, because the Memphis Tigers are a #1 seed for the first time ever. I love this team with all my heart. I've followed them all year long, attended every home game except for two, and cheered them on to a 30-3 record.
My family moved to Memphis from Syracuse (by way of Atanta for one year) in 1981 and soon after, we quickly adopted the Tigers as our hometown team. Although I'll always have a fond place in my heart for the 'Cuse (whose National Championship three years ago was a top five sports moment for me), I have a deep, deep love for anything University of Memphis. I bleed blue and gray.
Anyway, my sisters and I are driving to Dallas this weekend to watch the Tigers play their first (and hopefully second) rounds. Stunningly, my boss let me off work on Friday to take this journey. Kudos to him. It should be an exciting, but nerve wracking couple of days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The national media is giving us zero love, but that's okay... I like it that way.
No pressure to Coach Cal or his players. I love them... (love them!), and always will for the special season they've given Tiger fans everywhere.
So in conclusion, GO MEMPHIS TIGERS! Let's take this all the way to INDY!