In 2006, I barely updated. I feel crappy about that. I am really, really going to try harder to be a better blogger this year. It was a very busy year, and I frequently found myself prioritizing work over updating this site. I mean, honestly. What was I thinking? So, no more of that. As we speak, I have two classes to teach tomorrow I haven't planned yet here I am.
I thought I'd start 2007 by mentioning some things that I dug in 2006. Some are 2006-specific, but not all. Deal with it. I'll start with music.
Music: I basically listened to two albums on repeat all summer. Taking the Long Way by the Dixie Chicks and How to Save a Life by The Fray. I'm embarrassed by how pedestrian these are, but, hey, whatever. I'm getting old. Also, the Dixie Chicks are now all rebellious and blue state, and that should help me out a little bit.
I realized recently that the Dixie Chicks have one over-arching theme in their music (as an English teacher, I'm always looking for themes). Their theme is get the hell out of your hometown. As someone who's done that, I find them refreshing. For all of you who think Dixie Chicks and think country, well, that's your loss. This most recent album is eclectic and fun, poignant and pissed off. Rick Rubin even produced some of it. Same dude who produced Jay Z's "99 Problems."
The Fray album is derivative, but I loved it anyway. Not earth-shattering, but catchy, and I'm a sucker for anyone who recalls mid-90s college pop, and that they do. I think "Over My Head (Cable Car)" is a really great song. It just grabs you. Plus, the lead singer is cute in a tiny way.
Another album I really enjoyed this year is the self-titled debut by Brandi Carlile. She looks nothing like she sounds. She's got kind of a Lucinda Williams thing happening, but is actually really young and attractive, in spite of her wisened sound. It's a weird album--came out on a major label but sounds like someone who should be starting out on the second stage at Lilith Fair (for me, this is a good thing).
Josh Ritter's album The Animal Years was Stephen King's best album of the year (dude, I really am old), but it's amazing. I think Ritter is probably the best lyricist I have heard in a very long time. The epic "Thin Blue Flame" is amazing--I brought the lyrics to AP English and taught it like a poem. It has everything: motifs, symbolism, similes, allegory. Fantastic.
I thought Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" were both great summer songs for driving and frolicking.