Top 25 Songs of 2010: Honorable Mentions

So here we are 2010. We made it. YOU made it. It didn't look look too promising early on, what with that Haitian earthquake and that Tiger words tornado. And then there was that leaky faucet on the gulf coast that took a while to plug. With little to celebrate in the news, music did what it does best; fill the vacuum (however impossible that is scientifically). I listened to thousands of songs this year, liked hundreds, and made a playlist of an absurd number before I pared until I could pare no longer and I was left with 40. As this blog post is entitled Top 25 songs of 2010, I decided to bunch songs 26-40 together into an honorable mention category which I'll be sharing today, and the rest to be counted down over the next few days. I limited myself to one song per artist, so if you don't see your favorite song on hear, I apologize profusely. I'd also love to hear your own favorite songs in the comment section.

Honorable Mentions:

Mean Mug - Soulja Boy ft. 50 Cent
Before The Deandre Way, Soulja Boy's name was mud. Worse than mud actually, because mud wasn't responsible for the 2nd worst song of the decade, but he redeems himself for that turd with Mean Mug. 50 and Soulja's verses slickly dovetail each other, nearly overlapping at times, and coming from all directions.  The threats 50 and Soulja dispense here carry more weight than your standard hip-hop trap talk, 50 literally daring you to challenge him by the end of the song. If I were you, I'd try to avoid eye contact.

DOM- Living in America
I don't remember how I happened upon this song, but I wish I did, because I would go back for more. Coming from Worcester, I wasn't expecting something so sprightly, but that serves me right for judging a band by its hometown. If that were the case, then Bruce Springsteen would smell bad and the Beatles would have bad teeth.

The Love Language - Heart To Tell
I keep waiting for the day when The Love Language blow up and are in car commercials, but until that day I guess I'll have to settle for being their number one fan and seeing them at the tiny TT the Bears whenever they swing through Cambridge. Their debut album was my #1 of last year, and while Libraries isn't as strong, it still had a lot to offer. As a song, Heart to Tell leaves you wanting more. Another verse, another chorus, more of whatever they take to infuse so much energy into 2:26. Anything really, just don't end. No? Well, I guess that's why they have the repeat function.

MIA - XXXO
I'm sure Maya will be celebrating the end of 2010 with a little extra exuberance. Heck, 2011 can't be much worse. There was the scathing NYT article that challenged her authenticity, a string of poor performances that hurt her rep, and a poor received album that hurt her bottom line. Whatever you though of MIA this year, XXXO is a song that can be enjoyed completely independently. Sure she rambles on about downloads and tweets, but if she keeps bundling her social critiques in such easy to swallow packages, I'll follow her anywhere.

Shad - Rose Garden
I wrote about this song a few months ago for an On Repeat post, but it still stands up as one of the best music videos of the year and a fantastic song on its own merits. MIA should take a lesson from Shad on how to deliver a message without being grating, and it should be compulsory listening for hip-hop artists who feel obligated to swear in every song simply for the sake of doing it.

The Dream - Yamaha
The Dream is gross. Let's get that out of the way first. I hope his mother has never listened to an album of his, because she would surely send him to his room without dinner. He does not mince words when it comes to what he intends to do with the young women he beds. Now call me old-fashioned, but such brashness is not how one finds a nice lady to take home to said mother. Yamaha is just about as romantic as he gets, and even then it's the girl who is his "little Yamaha". Hard to like at first, but even harder not to love once it gets going.

Cults - Go Outside
Cults are a mysterious band, but it's clear from the beginning of Go Outside where their name comes from. Jonestown leader Jim Jones talks over the xylophone introduction, before mercifully drowning him out. Maybe their whole album will have different cult figure ramblings opening each song. If that's the case, I can't wait to hear how they dress up the Manson folks. It will be tough to top this.

Kate Nash - Kiss that Grrrl
It wouldn't surprise me if most girls hated Kate Nash. She sings about being a vindictive, jealous girlfriend, effectively showing all of her genders well-guarded relationship cards. As catty as she may be at times, she is also fragile and loyal, and at the end of the day has the same fears and insecurities as everyone does, she just sings about them.

Darwin Deez - Radar Detector
Oh Darwin, what are you doing with those mashed potatoes? Is that clever? Am I missing something? And what's with the curls and headband? You make yourself very easy to hate, but what you lack in accessibility, you make up for in musical charm. If you buy into his shtick, you will be well-rewarded with songs like Radar Detector. If you don't, well, I won't hold it against you.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round
Disregard that album artwork. I said stop looking at it. I know, it's hard to stop looking at, and even harder to unsee. Now with that introduction, you are likely expecting a comedy album or a folk album. Ariel Pink is neither of those. They sound closer to an inspired outtake from one of the Brady Bunch's musical episodes. You know what I mean. The high choruses, the ebullience, the bell bottoms. They're all here. Except for Jan, she's probably reading or something. "Time to Change", eat your heart out.

Freeway and Jake One - One Thing ft Raekwon
Raekwon has had a good year. He was on his way up before Kanye gave him a boost, riding high from the near-universal praise following 2009's Only Built For Cuban Linx II, but he is arguably better here on "One Thing". I love the back-and-forth chorus between the soul sample and the rappers, lamenting the "turncoats" and "snitches" with a combination of paranoia and fury. I can relate to absolutely nothing in this song, but that doesn't make it any less awesome.

Spoon - Written in Reverse
Known for making songs with mathematical precision, Spoon shook things up a little bit on Transference, the fruits of which are best seen on the rollicking "Written in Reverse". The notes sound like they are being pounded into a dusty bar piano, and the electric guitar operates without a leash, playfully interjecting without warning. The trajectory of the song is never compromised, but cracking voices and intersecting solos abound, things that the Spoon of the last decade would have never allowed. I'm not arguing with the results.

Big K.R.I.T. - Country Shit
Big K.R.I.T. is from Mississippi. Things are different there. There are candy yams and collared greens. The water is muddy. But there are still drugs, and people still rap. Big K.R.I.T. is living proof.

Diamond Rings - All Yr Songs
I told myself I wouldn't link any videos in this write-up, but I'm breaking that pact to showcase the video for All Yr Songs. Firstly, All Yr Songs is the best kind of catchy. The words are clear, the voice is simple, there are like 3 chords. You can sing this song as you are listening to it for the first time. But the video. I'm half convinced it was just unearthed from a time capsule, but Youtube tells me otherwise. I owned each of those basketball jerseys, and the laser photo background is icing on the cake.

The Black Keys - Everlasting Light
The Black Keys have been reviving rock and roll for the last 5 years, and I am beyond thrilled that they are starting to get the recognition they deserve. Their songs are on a bajillion commercials, they've been nominated for a Grammy, and they played Madison Square Garden last tour. Things are coming up roses for this duo, and their newest album, while a bit too long, has a bunch of gems. Especially the T. Rex stomper Everlasting Light.

The Trader Joe's Invader Show

Every season, Trader Joe's bestows upon its brethren a slew of new products. They talk them up in the Fearless Flyer, and give them prime shelf space in the store, but for eagle-eyed regulars like myself, these promotional lengths are not necessary. I know the items at Trader Joe's like I know the Radiohead discography or Arrested Development quotes. That is to say, quite well. I know that there will be a mosh pit of elderly folks in the cheese section, and a swarm of housewives near the wine. The produce section will resemble Wario Stadium and I can skip the entire section of frozen seafood. So when a new item pops up in-between the Shredded Beef Tamales and the Paneer Tikka Masala, I take notice. Typically, I greet new products with a wary eye, having been played a fool on more than one occasion (SALTINE GOLDFISH), but that fear is unfounded at TJ's. Nearly everything I have had the pleasure of ingesting from Trader Joe's has been delicious, and this goes for new and old items alike. Their quality control is impeccable, and they don't slap their name on just anything (you hear that "Best Yet"?). To prove this theory correct, I bought several new TJ's items last week, and ate them for the benefit of this blog and its followers.

Item 1: Trader Jacques' Milk Chocolate Salter Caramel Butter Cookies

There is no shortage of holiday-themed goodies at TJ's, but rather than drop $12 on a box of truffles, these caught my eye. Shortbread + Caramel + Chocolate sounds like a pretty indomitable combination, and being imported from France scored it some Ooh Ahh points from the Missus. 

Here they sat in the dim living room light, looking like a chocolate-filled ice cube tray.

This is for size approximation. Good weight, awkward size. Difficult to eat in one bite, but perhaps that is the point. Enjoyed having the cookie portion to grab so as not to get chocolate on my fingers.

A profile view of the innards. I apologize for the poor lighting. The chocolate portion was thicker than I expected (a pleasant surprise), and the caramel was more Caramello than Rolo, if you know what I mean. The shortbread was nothing special, but yielded a satisfying crunch. The chocolate was quality, and there were 16 in the box (two sleeves), which made it a pretty good deal at 2.99 (<20 cents each!). Trader Jacque, merci beaucoup. 

Item 2: Coins of the World

The foil-covered chocolates you know and love have come to Trader Joes! But these aren't your Grandmas coins, these are cultured currency. Coins from all over the world are represented in this golden pouch that AG insisted that I save and give to her.

Oopsies, I'm so clumsy. But look at that shiny Euro! There are pennies and nickels for the US, as well as Canadian, Austrian, Danish, German? coins as well. It was fun to try and figure out exactly where they came from, and catalyzed the realization that US coins are lame, and don't get me started on the bills!

Look at the attention to detail! Ignore the terrifying cuticle! There may very well be a chocolate coin mint next door to the national mint in each of these countries, that's how realistic they looked.

AG and I enjoyed them on ice cream. They were good and much better than your run-of-the-mill sack o' coins that normally turn up this time of year. I was so impressed by them already that them not tasting like dirt was just gravy. I brought the rest into work the next day and played Santa. By the end of the day I had almost mastered the "What's that behind your ear?" trick. There must have been 40-50 coins in the bag, and at 1.99 for the lot, another TJ Bargain.

Item 3: Mac and Cheese Bites

Oh Mama. These were the devilish snacks that inspired this blog post in the first place. I had no business buying these, but by rationalizing it as "research", they somehow found their way into my cart. TGI Fridays and Texas Roadhouse better check themselves, because Trader Joe's has raised the bar on heart-attack appetizers. I suggest they use the name "Trader Bubba" for goods in this class.

Sweet Mary and Joseph just look at that thing. Crispy golden shell. Cheesy, soft inside. 15 minutes in the oven and all my cares melted away.

They were packed with macaroni and even more stuffed with cheese. They wilted a bit in the oven, but I won't hold it against them. Even Flora tried to get in on the action. It is said that there are some things that can only be described in French. Macaroni and Cheese bites are one of those things. $3.49 for 10. Worth triple.

Item 4: Lentil Chips

If Trader Joes has mastered one thing, it is the chip. They have an entire aisle devoted to chips, and are tirelessly reinventing the chip. Their Pita chips? Best in the business. They have 8 kinds of Tortilla chips. There are pretzel chips, plantain chips, bagel chips and green bean chips. Just when you think they have exhausted the possibilities of the chip, they come up with something else. This week's version: Lentil Chips.

Lentil chips are an intriguing prospect. I suppose anything that can be mashed can be chip-ified, but does that mean it should be done? I'll leave that to Congress, but I say more power to them. Currently, Lentil Chips come in only the sea salt and black pepper iteration, an interesting choice, because the black pepper really gives them some kick. Texture-wise, they feel like a glazed pita chip, and I mean that in the best-possible way. Sort of like a rice cracker, if you've tried those before. Very light and super crunchy. Good taste, satisfying flavor. No troubling aftertaste to speak of. I could see myself buying them regularly, especially if they come out with other flavors. All in all, one small step for TJ's, another giant leap for chipkind. 2.49 for the bag. More than pita chips, but something you should try at least once.

This concludes this episode of the Trader Joe's Invader Show. Tune in next time!

EDU: Leftover Turkey Soup

So I made this soup the weekend after Thanksgiving, when everyone was home with their family and I had the pleasure of coming back to Boston for work on Friday. This unfortunate situation was not without its perks. I enjoyed the pity of my entire family and my mom gave me almost all the leftovers, including the turkey carcass. I've heard time and time again that there is nothing like a soup made with from homemade stock. I didn't disagree, but I also didn't have an entire afternoon to simmer and stir watery bones. Well I'm happy to report that it is just as delicious as those pretentious foodies would have you believe. Here are the ingredients:

• 1 leftover turkey carcass
• 3 medium onions, chopped
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 1 cup butter, cubed
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper

This is the turkey carcass I have been speaking of. It was terrifying. I did not have high hopes at this juncture. Add just enough water to submerge the turkey and boil for about an hour.

So I did. In the meantime I cut up the veggies I would be using and did some laundry. Carrots, onions, celery, the usual suspects. Here they are:

After a few minutes, the stock really smelled promising. So promising in fact that I heard my downstairs neighbors talking with each other about how awesome it smelled when I was taking my laundry out of the dryer.

Awesome indeed. I pulled out the bones and poured the rest through a pasta strainer.

Who knew water and muscle fibers could make such wonderful music together? The broth looked amazing, and the turkey was falling off the bone. I was flabbergasted with how much meat there was. I discarded the bones and thanked them for their service.

I cooked the veggies in butter, and they did their thing.

I stirred in a cup of flour to thicken, added the broth slowly and brought things to a boil. Once the flour and broth were playing nicely, I added all the other goodies. Half and half, turkey, chicken bouillon, rice, salt/pepper. Simmered the whole mess for a half hour to cook the rice and ladled it out.

Here's the finished product with oyster crackers.

It was delicious. Thick, creamy, hearty, all those wonderful adjectives. There was a lot going on, but it melded really nicely, and I don't think it would have been half as good if I used canned chicken stock. The fat and connective that dissolved into the broth added flavors that you can't get in a jar, and I'm definitely staking claim on the Christmas turkey when I go home.

On Repeat: Robyn - Hang With Me

You might remember Robyn. In 1997, she sang "Show Me Love", a worldwide smash and a middle-school dance staple. I was in 7th grade and was too obsessed with Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20 to be bothered. Now, I can freely admit how awesome it was/is. Well, little Robyn is all growed up.

On Body Talk, she makes a compelling argument for her name to be mentioned in the same breath as pop stars like Gaga, Beyonce and Rihanna, with song after song of genuinely arresting content disguised as disposable Euro-pop. On "Hang With Me", a drum splash and shiny chirps give Robyn all she needs to unveil a pop masterpiece. A delicious hook builds into an even larger one, and grows into an absolutely mammoth chorus that is instantly hummable. To think that the song started out as an acoustic ballad makes it all the more impressive, showing the versatility and talent that Robyn brings to the table. Why she isn't a megastar is beyond me and a travesty of criminal proportions.

EDU: Banana Cupcakes

I left for Thanksgiving and returned to three overripe bananas.  I could have made banana bread or banana cookies (a family recipe) but instead I turned to my gigantic pile of cupcake recipes and found one for Banana Cupcakes.  I figured the worst that could happen would be cupcakes that taste like banana bread!

What you'll need for the cupcakes:

1 cup sweet butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
4 eggs
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (the blacker the better!)

A photo of the mashed banana:

This is a pretty simple recipe.  Preheat the oven to 350F.  Set out your baking cups, reusable or otherwise.  Combine the butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and nutmeg in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in the mashed bananas until well combined.  Spoon the batter into cups and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the cupcakes from the oven and cool them on a wire rack.

I frosted them with the Cream Cheese Frosting I made for the Chai Cupcakes (see recipe here).

Fresh from the oven they were light and had a lovely banana flavor.  After a day in a Tupperware they were dense, just like my previous cupcakes.  I garnished them with both strawberries and bananas but I would recommend strawberries - they added a really wonderful tang to the sweet cupcakes.

15 Original Christmas Songs That DON'T Suck

It's December 4th, and I've already heard more miserable excuses for Christmas songs than I care to hear for the entire month (thanks MB and MT). What is it about Christmas that makes every Tom/Dick/Harry think they should try their hand at putting out an album? Of course, it's a financial slam dunk (who could contain their morbid curiousity?), but I'm sure a few of them actually believe that they can bring something new to Silent Night. To hammer home this point, take a look at what the music industry has shat out lately:

REGIS? Death Row? That's just unconscionable. Just listen to Patton Oswalt's rant about that abysmal Christmas Shoes song (NSFW). Now that I've gone and dashed your Christmas spirit, let me take off my Scrooge costume and explain that there are alternatives. There are SOME original Christmas songs that can actually co-exist with Holiday staples, and I'd like to share them with you. Here are 15 Pop Christmas Songs that DON'T Suck (not including Bing Crosby, because he could populate this list himself.)

1. Last Christmas - WHAM!

The perfect example of a great pop Christmas song. The benchmark by which all others are measured.

2. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Say what you will about Ms. Carey, but this song ALWAYS brings it. And I will ALWAYS try to hit every note.

3. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Yes, perhaps this is not an ORIGINAL song, but it's Bruce Springsteen, so kindly STFU and listen.

4. John Lennon - Happy XMas (War Is Over)

Awesome Song, Awesome Dude. It's giving me chills right, now but my window is also open.

5. Paul McCartney - Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time

Not to be outdone, Paul offered us this gem. Please no one tell Ringo.

6. Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

If anyone badmouths this song I will hit you in the mouth. I asked my parents for a hula hoop because of this song. Also, Patton Oswalt's joke about it is a riot. Below:


7. Britney Spears - My Only Wish This Year

No comments so as to preserve my street cred.

8. Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run

I can't listen to this song without picturing the McCallister family running through the airport in Home Alone.

9. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Another one from Home Alone. Kevin dancing in the living room while Michael Jordan rides a trainset.

10. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

BOY GEORGE. PHIL COLLINS. GEORGE MICHAEL. STING. BONO. BOWIE. 1984. CHRISTMAS.

11. Elvis - Blue Christmas

Ya'll want to talk some crap about Elvis? I'm all ears.

12. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock

Home Alone 2 Soundtrack. I'm noticing a trend.

13. Elton John - Step Into Christmas

Don't get any ideas Bieber.

14. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad

It means Merry Christmas in Spanish!

15. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby

Santa is Sexy!!

Now you can delete your Glee Christmas Album. Your Welcome.

For Santa's Eyes Only

Dear Santa,

No matter what anyone else says, I've been a good boy this year. I do the dishes, clean my room, and share beer bottles with the nickel-vultures. I only drink Four Loko at special occasions and always pull over for emergency vehicles. Everyone thought 2009 was a banner year, but I done done it again and made those folks at Guinness look like damn fools. I keep telling ya'll to write those records in pencil. Now esteem and adoration are swell, but in the immortal words of Shania Twain, "that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night." So here are the tangible goods I would like in exchange for my good behavior this fiscal year.

1. Paring Knife - A little birdie told me I have a nice 8" Chef's knife coming for X-Mas, but I'll be damned if I'm going to use a Chef's knife to peel an apple. Who do I look like, Beatrix Kiddo? Something like this would be just fine.

Chef Technique Class/Book - Newfangled and mind-bogglingly sharp toys being operated by the same shaky and slippery hands is a recipe for the ER. I need to learn to how handle these knives, or I will be handled by them and be the first person to call out of work for loss of blood. CMM highly recommends the book below by this impish French fellow, and I know there are tons of amateur cooking classes around Boston that I should look up while I still have carpal muscles.

Soup Cookbook - I like using allrecipes a ton, but I don't bother with recipes without pictures or ones with crappy pictures. A good soup cookbook would broaden these horizons a tad.

Roger Ebert Movie Book - Roger Ebert has written a ton of books, and I trust his opinion on just about anything. So much so, that he nearly had me convinced that I needed a rice cooker. I'm still on the fence about that, but his movie reviews are always a fantastic read. Perhaps Your Movie Sucks, Awake In The Dark, or Great Movies (I, II, or III).

Coffee Mug - A coffee mug of my own with some witty image or phrase on it would fit nicely in my stocking. I'm tired of using AG's Bee one for my tea, and all the ones at my apartment are boring. My mug needs to speak for me, as I can't while I'm drinking from it. Something like this:

1. Nano Watchband - These are awesome, and being a lover of timepieces and having recently acquired a Nano, the temptation is too much to bear. The only question is slap bracelet, classy, or rubbery?

Note: This list is a work in progress. The author of this post reserves the right to amend or remove items on this list as well as add additional items without notice. Should confusion occur, always air on the side of caution and purchase the more expensive item. As with all gifts to MPD, a receipt should be retained and wrapping paper should kept to minimum. If you purchase a gift not on this list, you do so at your own risk and are fully liable for all emotional and punitive damages arising therefrom.

EDU: Chai Cupcakes

I've always thought chai and baked goods would go well together.  I once tried baking a chai banana bread (yum, right?) but the bread was way more banana than chai.  After seeing this cupcake recipe I thought I'd see if the chai flavor really popped.

What you'll need for the cupcakes:

2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp chai tea powder
1/4 cup sweet butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 egg whites
2/3 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Set out your reusable silicone baking cups (or paper cups).  In a medium bowl mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and chai powder.  In a separate bowl beat the butter and sugar until smooth.  Add the egg whites slowly, beating well.  Slowly add the flour mixture and finally the buttermilk.  Mix until combined.

Spoon the batter into cups and bake for 20 minutes.  In my experience you need the solid 20 minutes.  Remove cupcakes and cool on a rack.

What you'll need for the frosting:

1 cup cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the cream cheese and confectioners sugar together in a medium bowl and beat until soft and light (I set the Kitchenaid to a pretty high speed and beat the mixture for 5 minutes or so).  Add the lemon and vanilla and beat until smooth.

I liked the frosting but I'd say if you're not too keen on lemon halve the amount.  I adore lemon so a full tablespoon of fresh lemon juice was lovely but I can see how it could be too much.

Once your cupcakes have cooled spoon a dollop of frosting on top and present to the masses.  I gave the guys upstairs a sampling and they thought the cupcakes were delicious.  They did admit to never having tried chai so they didn't really know what they were eating.  I didn't think the chai flavor came through strongly enough.  Perhaps dumping in more chai powder would work.  Still delicious, I'm just searching for the right chai baked good I guess.

Editors Note: These were deceptively dense. Like they were filled with ball bearings or something. But they were still moist and sweet, although I will agree that the Chai flavor wasn't very strong, though I must admit I don't think I know exactly what Chai tastes like. I wasn't a fan of the icing because I cheese doesn't belong in desserts. That includes cheesecake, anything with ricotta, and cream cheese frosting. Cheese just adds a tang and tartness that I can't get over. Sorry. Oreo cupcakes still reign supreme.