BEST OF MPF 2013

BEST DAY: July 14. On my last day in Rome, I spent the entire day walking around, with Tina and by myself, seeing the sights and churches I hadn't visited yet. Runner-up: March 7. I was in New York City for the first time since leaving in 2007. I went to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, walked the streets, saw my old boss Zach, and flew home to Chicago.

WEIRDEST WEEK: Boston Marathon. There was a race, a bomb, a whodunit, a manhunt, a game of hide and seek, a capture and a cathartic Red Sox game. (April 15-20)

BEST WEEK: Rome. We spent five days in the Eternal City, seeing churches, ruins and great restaurants. It is an amazing and incredible city. (July 9-14)

This is my favorite of the pictures I took in Rome.

BEST SONG: "Royals" by Lorde (you can watch the video clip here). Runners-up: "Sirens" by Pearl Jam, "Supersoaker" by the Kings of Leon.

BEST ALBUM: Would you believe I didn't buy that much music, and almost nothing released this year. I haven't even listened to two new records I got for Christmas. So based on the two songs I've heard, I'll say "Lightning Bolt" by Pearl Jam.

BEST TV SHOW: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (Fox). Runner-up: "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" (PBS).

BEST MOVIE: I didn't see any movies made in 2013.

BEST PICTURE: It's usually me and one other person, but of all the great photos of my kid, I loved this one.

BEST WATCHING OF OKLAHOMA: The musical at the Lyric Opera (May 11).

WORST WATCHING OF OKLAHOMA: The Sooner beating the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium (October 28).

BEST BEER: Gumballhead by Three Floyds. Runner-up: Celebration by Sierra Nevada.

BEST CAT STORY: The cat sanctuary in Rome. Feral cats are taken in, fixed, and adopted out. They also have an awesome URL: romancats.com. Runner-up: The cat who got lost 200 miles from home and made it back safely.

BEST PRESS: My involvement in a high school band competition got written up in the Knights of Columbus magazine.

BEST COMMERCIAL: Bill Hader and his crappy smartphone (T Mobile, I think). A very close second: Mr. Met and the Phillie Fanatic (MasterCard).



BEST CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field. The band played for an hour, then we sat through a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay. The band started again around midnight and played until 2am. (July 19)

BEST NEW SPORT: After being fascinated for the last few Olympics, I finally had the chance to play curling. It was as much fun as I thought, possibly more (Feb. 18).

WORST SIGN OF THE DECLINE OF PUBLISHING: The Onion stopped printing its newspaper in the last few remaining cities, including Chicago.

Peace and best wishes in 2014! --MPF004.

BEST OF MPF 2012

BEST DAY: Feb. 28. It started with an early afternoon doctor's appointment and ended with our first child being born, around 11:30pm. Any other year the winner would be Aug. 24: I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time, then to a Cleveland Indians game.

BEST PICTURE: All year I figured it would be this one, taken minutes after her birth:

But I just love this one too:

BEST AD: (tie) AT&T aired this Olympics ad several hours after the event in the commercial actually happened live in London. Amazing use of technology to capture the viewer's attention. Co-winner: This ad that makes fun of people who stand in line to buy a portable telephone. Hilariously dead-on.

BEST NEWS STORY INVOLVING A CAT: This cat is mayor of a small Alaska town.

BEST AMATEUR ATHLETE: Manti Te'o, linebacker, University of Notre Dame. Runner-up: Missy Franklin, swimmer/lip-syncher, America.

Manti Te'o, after beating Michigan.

BEST MOVIE: Argo (dir. Ben Affleck).

WORST MOVIE: The Dictator (dir. Larry Charles). Not that it was awful, but I only saw two movies in 2012.

BEST TV SHOW: "Louie" (FX).

BEST NOTRE DAME GAME: We saw the 17-14 win over BYU on Oct. 20.

BEST BASEBALL GAME: The Indians game I guess. We did not go to any Cubs games.

BEST WEEK: Chicago week on Conan O'Brien's show. (June 11-14).

BEST CAREER MOVE: Accepting a new position, then getting laid off (with severance) from my old job before I could turn in my notice. Yes, this really happened. (Aug. 22)

BEST ALBUM:

BEST SONG: "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce.

WORST/CATCHIEST SONG: The "red, yellow, blue" song on the baby's exersaucer. Runner-up: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.

BEST ROAD TRIP: To Cleveland and Buffalo (Aug. 23-27).

BEST CONCERT (OUTDOORS): Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Wrigley Field (Sept. 7).

BEST CONCERT (INDOORS): Ray LaMontagne at the Chicago Theatre (Dec. 1). Runner-up: Alejandro Escovedo at the Prairie Center for the Arts (Apr. 21).

Thanks for reading my year-end review. I hope 2013 finds you happy and healthy and at peace.

Best of MPF 2011: Bonus Tracks

Every year after I finish the "Best Of" list, I always think of something I meant to add, or want to mention a couple of the items that just missed the cut. This scatterbrained year is no exception, especially since I didn't have the chance to do my usual "nominees" writeups.

In fact, this year is even worse, because it's almost March and other things are going on that have taken my attention. But the year deserves documentation, right? Here are (were) the nominees in the most important categories:

SHOWS
The slowdown of attending shows was inevitable, moving to suburbia and all. But in 2011 we had a nice mix of city and suburb musical action:

Les Miserables, Feb 25, Cadillac Palace Theatre
Robert Plant, June 16, Ravinia
Gin Blossoms, July 1, Arlington Heights (Frontier Days Festival)
The Jayhawks, July 2, Grant Park (Taste of Chicago)
Dave Matthews Band Caravan, July 10, Lakeshore (the old US Steel plant on the South Side)
Old 97's, July 20, Lincoln Hall
Hold Steady, Aug. 26, Metro
John Hiatt/Big Head Todd and Monsters, Sept. 11, Ravinia
Scott Miller, Nov. 9, Schubas
Paul Simon, Nov. 13, Rosemont Theatre
Wilco, Dec. 22, Civic Opera House

Les Miz was a bit of a disappointment: it's still an epic musical experience of course, but the revamped version lost the turntable and a little magic or wonder along with it. Plant had so many amazing musicians on stage with him, bringing to life his solo work and re-imagining old Zep tunes so well you sometimes didn't recognize them until the first or second lyric.

The Gins sleptwalked through a sorta-greatest hits set, and if that lead singer asked me to put my hands together one more time I was about ready to charge the stage and ask him and his band to actually put some effort into the show. We saw the Jayhawks twice in about a month, and as much as I wanted to like the reformed Louris-Olson lineup ... the new songs just put me to sleep.

The Caravan was a great musical experience, but the festival planners have some learning to do if they put the show on next summer. Too few restrooms and water stations, and wood chips do not replace grass for a festival space.

The 97's were fine; what I'll remember most is seeing that venue for the first time, and stepping out at 10pm to take an urgent work call while kinda buzzed. (This is why I don't say where I work or what I do.) Similarly, The Steady was a nice show, but they still miss Franz. Hiatt was reliable, but Todd Park Mohr stole the show with a stunning version of "America the Beautiful." Miller was great of course, looking clean-cut and rejuvenated. Paul Simon looked great for being 70, and delivered a wonderful night of his bouncy, African-tinged pop.

The Wilco show was a bit of a downer. First of all, the Civic Operat House is an amazing venue, but not for a rock show. The sightlines were blocked if anyone leaned forward, which of course rock fans are going to do. And the band was trying so hard to show off their new tricks in the first half, it nearly spoiled an otherwise good second half. And of course it's hard to complain about the encore: "Cruel to Be Kind," with opener Nick Lowe; "You Are Not Alone," with Tweedy friend and gospel legend Mavis Staples); "The Weight" with Staples and Lowe.

RECORDS
The Muppets, Green Album
Jayhawks, Mockingbird Time
R.E.M., Collapse Into Now
Baseball Project, Broadside Ballads
XRT, Live From the Archives, Vol. 13
Various, The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition
Adele, 21
Old 97's, Grand Theatre Vol. 2
Wilco, The Whole Love
Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
She and Him, A Very She and Him Christmas
Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues

If I would have paid closer attention, "Helplessness Blues" might have won Best Album. It is a deep, warm, engaging record you can put on while sipping hot tea or curled up under a blanket. It is funny that my first experience with Fleet Foxes, not only was I not impressed but I called them "Fiery Foxes" since the Fiery Furnaces were also on the bill.

Adele had an awesome single, of course, but the rest of the album was C+. I hope the songwriting improves on the next record to match the quality of her voice. The Civil Wars had a nice debut that placed them firmly in that folky, alt-country groove.Wilco didn't impress me ... it is such a cliche, but I really do prefer their earlier work.

SPORTS
Cubs-don't care (Second Game Of The Year), April 2
Toledo Mud Hens rainout, May 28
Cubs-Sox, July 3
Kane County Cougars-Cedar Rapids, July 29
Notre Dame vs. Michigan State, Sept. 17
Notre Dame vs. Air Force Academy, Oct. 8
Ohio vs. Ball State (Homecoming), Oct. 13

It was great to see the Irish win two home games. On the flip side, I have yet to see the Bobcats win in person. Including our homecoming road trip, I've now seen four Ohio losses in four states in four tries.

TRAVELS
Caribbean Cruise, Jan. 23-30
Washington DC, March 25-27
Frrr Wedding in Des Moines, May 20-22
Ohio U., Oct. 13-16
Boston, Oct. 28-30
Phoenix, Thanksgiving
Ohio, Christmas
Los Angeles, Dec. 6-7

We were lucky to take several neat trips this (last) year. It's safe to say the cruise was the highlight. We had each been on a cruise before, but not with each other.

OTHER COOL DATES
Easter Vigil, April 23.
Chicago River Cleanup with Leinenkugels, May 14
Mort visit, June 9-12
Arlington Park, July 9

I can't believe that Easter is coming up. We have so many good memories of the RCIA journey last year. We had a great visit from the Morts, and I suspect we'll have many more visitors in 2012!

BEST OF MPF 2011

BEST DAY: July 1, the day we got medical confirmation that we are pregnant with our first child (due late February). Runner-up: Six days earlier, on June 25, we adopted a kitten named Franklin.

BEST ALBUM: The two-disc compilation “The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition.”

BEST SONG: “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. Runner-up: “Discoverer” by R.E.M.

WORST TITLE FOR AN OTHERWISE DECENT SONG: “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” by Coldplay.

BEST CONCERT: Robert Plant at Ravinia (June 16). Runners-up: The Hold Steady at the Metro (Aug. 25), Scott Miller at Schubas (Nov. 9).

NOT BEST DAY OR BEST CONCERT SO I GUESS IT GETS ITS OWN CATEGORY: The Dave Matthews Band Caravan (July 10), a daylong music festival at the old US Steel site on the South Side’s lakeshore. We saw Emmylou Harris, the Jayhawks, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, David Gray, Flaming Lips and DMB.

BEST PICTURE: Keeping with the theme of new additions, I think I’ll go with these two:

The 20-week ultrasound.

Franklin's first day home.

BEST OPENING ACT: Nick Lowe (for Wilco, Dec. 12 at the Civic Opera House). Runner-up: Big Head Todd and the Monsters (for John Hiatt at Ravinia).

BEST COVER: I saw many cool versions this year, but the winner is the Flaming Lips doing Pink Floyd's “Dark Side of the Moon” at DMB Caravan. Runners-up include “Secret Agent Man” by the Gin Blossoms (Frontier Days in Arlington Heights, July 1) and Big Head Todd and the Monsters’ "America the Beautiful" (Ravinia, on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11).

The magical weirdness of the Flaming Lips. (click to see detail)

BEST NEW VENUE: We finally saw a show at Lincoln Hall (Old 97’s, July 20) and enjoyed the intimate space with great sightlines.

BEST VACATION/BEST WAY TO WATCH A BEARS GAME: Our Caribbean cruise/the big screen by the pool deck, wearing shorts in winter (Jan. 23-30).

BEST AD: I don't always watch commercials. But when I do, I prefer the Most Interesting Man in the World (Dos Equis).

I actually saw this one before it was released, as part of focus group testing. The cat on the table was my favorite part.

WORST AD: I covered my ears when I heard the incessant earworms of State Farm’s “get to a better state” radio jingles. I also hated AT&T’s “that’s so 12 seconds ago” ads.

BEST MOVIE: True Grit, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (released in late 2010, saw in the theatre early 2011).

BEST TV SHOW: Louie (FX). I didn’t watch a lot of TV beyond sports and news, but this was incredibly funny and honest.

MOST FUN DURING THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: The Pick Six game I managed. Last year we had about 12 people, this year we had more than 50.

BEST CUBS GAME: My first ever Cubs-Sox game was in the midst of a Cubbie losing streak, but the North Siders got the win (July 3).

BEST NOTRE DAME GAME: After an 0-2 start, the Irish steamrolled Michigan State 31-13 (Sept. 17).

BEST ROAD TRIP: Many good nominees here, but I’ll go with my first trip to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio (Oct. 14-16). The football team lost the Homecoming game, but I really enjoyed seeing the campus.

Franklin's original ad from the adoption agency.

WORST THING ABOUT THERE NOT BEING A DOUBLE-A BASEBALL TEAM AROUND HERE: We could have completed the grand slam, as we went to major league (Cubs, twice), Class AAA (Toledo, May 28, although it turned into a rainout) and Class A games (Kane County Cougars, July 29).

BEST T-SHIRT: The one that said "National Sarcasm Society" and below in smaller letters "Yeah, like we really need your support." (spotted on Randolph Street near Wells)

BEST PLAY: The Les Miserables revival we saw (Cadillac Palace, Feb. 25) was neat and all, but did match lofty expecations, so I’m giving it to a small play we saw in Boston called “Or,” (Lyric Stage Company, Oct. 29).

WE’LL MISS: Rock band R.E.M., who called it quits after a 31-year career on Sept. 23.

We are looking forward to an exciting new adventure in the new year. May God’s blessings be on you and your family in 2012.

The Second Annual Pick Six Game

My eyes are watching the Bears preseason game tonight, but my head and heart are 10 days in the future when the college football season kicks off. And two days in the past, because the Associated Press on Saturday released their first poll of the year. And the AP Top 25 means it's time for Pick Six!

For an audio-visual representation of my excitement level, click right here. (Turn it up loud. It opens in a new window so you can keep reading here.)

Last year I organized the Pick Six game, modeled on the original by Notre Dame blog The Blue-Gray Sky. It was such fun we're doing it again, and we want you to play.

The rules: so simple. Here's the preseason Top 25:

A: Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Boise
B: Florida State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Nebraska
C: Wisconsin, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, TCU, Arkansas
D: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgia, Mississippi State
E: Missouri, Florida, Auburn, West Virginia, Southern Cal

Pick one team from each grouping. Then pick one unranked team. That's your six. The goal is to have the highest ranked teams at the end of the season. The No. 1 team gets 25 points, No. 2 gets 24, down to No. 25 gets one point. The standings will be posted online so you can follow along. (I will update the standings each week, but only the final poll matters.)

How easy is it? Last year a cat won. That's part of the joy (and frustration) of the game. Not only are your cats, dogs and children invited to play, they have a good chance of winning! So get your newspaper...


...or your magazine...


...or just run to a bowl of food symbolizing one of the five teams in a grouping.


One request: let us know how your non-adult participant made his/her/its picks. Based on last year, it will be tremendously fun to read.

Send your picks and your pickset name (if you do not choose a name, a name will be appointed to you by me...keep that in mind) to tmmpf.blog at gmail dot com (to ensure your picks aren't seen early). The deadline is Thursday, September 1, at 4:55 pm Central (five minutes before the first game).

The Prize: last year I acquired a prize in keeping with Blue-Gray Sky's theme of football-themed kitsch. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of it, and the cat won it anyway. So this year, if we can meet or exceed last year's number of entries, I will award this official, government-issued and previously driven State of Tennessee license plate.


Here is last year's winner with the prize he has no use for:


Think you can beat that cat? Get your picks in, and good luck!

BEST OF MPF 2010

BEST DAY: May 12. We closed on our new house. (We moved in a week later.)


WORST DAY: Hundreds of bandwagon jumping fans crowded the trains and downtown to attend a rally for a minor sports team (sometime in June I think).

BEST NEWS STORY INVOLVING A CAT: Scientists gave a cat named Oscar new back feet after they were severed in a farming accident (June 24).

BEST SHOW: David Gray and Ray LaMontagne at Pritzker Pavilion (Aug. 25). Runner up: Elvis Costello at the Chicago Theatre (Dec. 20).

BEST SONG: "The Fixer" by Pearl Jam. Runners-up: "Beg Steal or Borrow" by Ray LaMontagne.

BEST VIDEO: "This Too Shall Pass" by OK Go. Most people would pick the Rube Goldberg video, but I preferred the version with the Notre Dame marching band.

NEITHER BEST SONG NOR BEST VIDEO BUT BEST COMBINATION OF THE TWO: "Tighten Up" by Black Keys.



BEST RECORD: "Band of Joy" by Robert Plant.

BEST PICTURE: Our morning DJ, Lin Brehmer of XRT, finally got to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley (Sept. 3). Later he posted this:


BEST BOWLING GAME: We joined a bowling league this year. On the first night of league play, I rolled a 200 game (Jan. 21).

BEST MOVIE: I didn't go to the movies in 2010.

BEST TV SHOW (AND EPISODE): "Lost" and the series finale (May 23).

WORST SUPREME COURT DECISION: Citizens United, which allows corporations to make unlimited donations in elections (Jan. 21).

BEST TIME IN WRIGLEY: Not a game but Residents Appreciation Day, where we got to walk around on the field, run the bases and sit in the dugout (Oct. 2).

BEST CUBS GAME: A 7-6 win over the Brewers, on the second home game, before the season went to hell.

BEST FOOTBALL GAME: Notre Dame beat Purdue (Sept. 4). This wins by default becuse every other game I went to, my team lost.

BEST STREET FEST: St. Nectarios Greek Fest in Palatine. Great food, good music, neat culture. Overall a lot of fun.

WORST AD CAMPAIGN: Anheuser-Busch went monosyllabic--It's What We Do, Here We Go, Grab Some Buds--with predictably stupid results.

BEST/WORST ROAD TRIP: Going to Tucson, Arizona, for the Iowa-Arizona football game was memorable for mostly the wrong reasons, but I'm still glad I went. (Sept. 17-19).

BEST DINING EXPERIENCE: Lowrys Prime Rib, celebrating my parents' 40th anniversary (Aug. 21).

WE'LL MISS YOU: Musician Alex Chilton, 59, on March 17; all-time Cub Ron Santo, 70, on Dec. 2. Read Paul Westerberg's remembrance; watch Pat Hughes' eulogy.


As most of you know, this is my annual year-end "Christmas letter." May this find you in good spirits and hopeful for a happy and peaceful 2011. God bless you and your family.

BEST OF MPF 2009

BEST DAY: The Hold Steady show at Taste of Randolph was pretty damn cool (June 21).

WORST DAY: (tie) The 165 days I spent unemployed and looking for work (Jan 1 – June 14).

BEST STORY INVOLVING A CAT: Our friend Sarah adopted a cat. I facilitated as sounding board and driver (June 6).

A LOLCat of Sarah's Booni.

BEST SHOW: The Hold Steady at Taste of Randolph.

BEST SONG: For its relentless optimism and joy in a dire year, the winner is “Say Hey I Love You” by Michael Franti and Spearhead. Runner-ups: “Wilco (the song)” by Wilco (the band); “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon.

BEST RECORD: “Wilco (the album)” by Wilco (the band).

BEST ARTIST: In a quiet year musically, I'll give it to Wilco, for continuing to make challenging, exciting music.

BEST PICTURE: This one (taken July 31). It’s so good it’s on a mousepad somewhere in New Hampshire.

This is a good runner-up, from the same night:


BEST MOVIE: "State of Play."

FUNNIEST MOVIE: "The Hangover."

BEST USE OF HALL AND OATES IN A MOVIE: The high-five scene in “500 Days of Summer."

WORST MOVIE SPELLING: "Inglorious Bastards."

BEST CULT FILM: "The Room" (2003), the “Rocky Horror” for its decade, which I saw at the Music Box (July 25).

BEST, WEIRDEST, MOST FASCINATING AND FRUSTRATING TV SHOW: Lost.

BEST ATTEMPT TO HELP PEOPLE DURING UNEMPLOYMENT: I started a group for out of work people to attend Mass at St. Alphonsus on Thursday mornings, then meet afterwards for coffee, donuts and conversation.

MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY: Did Michael Jackson like, die or something this summer? Shouldn’t the news media have, you know, done a story or something about it?

BEST EXAMPLE OF BEING WHERE THE NEWS IS: I was in Boston this summer when the nation’s two biggest stories were Manny Ramirez linked to steroids and the “beer summit” between the Cambridge cop, Harvard professor, and President Obama (July 30-August 1).

BEST TWO-DOLLAR GUITAR: The fake Fender Stratocaster I won playing the ring toss game at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio (June 26).

BIGGEST IRONY: A plastic, image-conscious country band (Rascal Flats) covering the Beatles’ "Revolution" in a major-league baseball park (Wrigley Field) on a tour sponsored by a national department store (JCPenney's).

BEST STREET FEST: Wicker Park Fest (July 25). Awesome swag and a great set by Scott Miller, which a conversation afterwards led to …

BEST ROAD TRIP: We went to Knoxville, Tenn., to see TM’s alma mater Ohio play the Volunteers at Neyland Stadium, where Miller was our host and tour guide (Sept. 25-27).

WORST TREND: Adults voluntarily sacrificing their privacy on Internet websites like the Facebook and the Twitter.

BEST TEAM: Iowa football. They started 9-0 and finished 11-2 with an Orange Bowl win and #7 in the country.

BEST GAME: Notre Dame edged Michigan State, 33-30, with victory being secured by an interception as MSU was driving in the final minute (Sept. 19).

BEST DINING EXPERIENCE: Spring restaurant (Oct. 30). Runner-up: Chelsea Grill in Lincoln Square.

BEST AD: The Sarah McLachlan PSA for adopting animals was devastatingly effective. Runner-ups: Wendell the Miller High Life guy meets the High Life Light guy; Notre Dame’s “Fighting” campaign including Fighting Disease.

The ASPCA ad is too sad. Enjoy this one instead.

WORST AD: Subway’s 12-inch sandwiches for five bucks. Repetitive and annoying. I set foot in Subway once in 2009, and that was to get soup.

WORST ADVERTISING TREND: Words printed on the screen while being read. Are Americans that stupid that we now have to read our TV commercials?

BEST PC TECH: Jeff at PC Solutions. I had to go there three times in 2009, and each time he solved my problem perfectly.

WE’LL MISS YOU: Walter Cronkite, 92, newsman extraordinaire (on July 17); Jay Bennett, 45, musician extraordinaire (on May 24).


Most of you know this is my annual summation of the year passed, my own spin on the traditional Christmas letter. Let's hope 2010 treats you better than 2009, if the letters we received are any indication. God bless you and your family in the coming year.

Best of MPF 2009: The Nominees

Dudes and dudettes:

It's that time of the year, when the people who actually give a shit (this time around: Husker Larry, Erik, Igoe and Clam) ask when they are going to see the Best of MPF list.

Just as a general reminder: The Best of MPF list is released in mid-January, not early December like most year-end lists in magazines, because I feel you cannot evaluate something while in the midst of it. Time is necessary to separate yourself from that which you are trying to assess, so I take a couple weeks in the new year to evaluate the passed year.

Luckily, you dear reader, are close to the release of the Best Of list (just give me a day or two). As a reward for being a loyal reader (or a Buckeye fan who googled "Terrelle Pryor") you'll have the chance to read the list before it is released to the general public. Think of it as a midnight record release party.

As is tradition (all one years of it), I'll pre-announce the candidates for the major categories: Best Show and Best Record. Now, I haven't had the chance to look at which records in the collection were 2009 and which were 2008, so I'm gonna have to leave that one as a mystery for my loyal fans. To make it up to you, I'll show you the nominees for a different category for the first time: Best Chicago Street Festival.

And the dudes nominated are.

For Best Show:

• Franz Nicolay (of the Hold Steady), Empty Bottle, 1/17
• Old 97s with Brighton MA, Cubby Bear, 5/2
• Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, Metronome Festival, 6/7
• Ramsey Lewis, Ravinia, 6/12
• Sarah Borges, Fitzgeralds, 6/13
• OAR and Robert Randolph Band, Charter One Pavilion, 6/18
• The Hold Steady, Taste of Randolph, 6/21
• Barenaked Ladies, Taste of Chicago, 6/30
• Buddy Guy, Taste of Chicago, 7/4
• Headbangers Ball, Rock Around the Block, 7/11
• Scott Miller, Wicker Park Fest, 7/25
• Baseball Project, Martyrs, 9/11
• Alejandro Escovedo and the Flatlanders, Country Music Fest, 10/6
• Wilco, UIC Pavilion, 10/18
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, 12/3
• Andrew Bird, Fourth Presbyterian Church, 12/17

For Best Sports Game:

• Cubs/Rockies, 4/15
• Cubs @ Detroit, 6/25
• Cubs/Braves, 7/7
• Cubs/Mets, 8/28
• Cubs (vs Milw?) in the bleachers, 9/17
• ND/Michigan State, 9/19
• Ohio/Tennessee, 9/26
• ND/Boston College, 10/24
• Pizza Pizza Bowl (Ohio/Marshall), 12/26

For Best Fest:

• Mayfest, 5/30 (it was surprisingly hot as hell that day)
• Metronome Chicago, 6/7
• Old Town Art Fair, 6/13 (caught the end of Dolly Varden’s set)
• Northcenter Ribfest, 6/14
• Taste of Chicago, multiple days
• Rock Around the Block, 6/11
• Sheffield Garden Walk, 6/18
• Wicker Park Fest, 7/25
• Palatine Fest, 8/30
• Chicago Country Music Fest, 10/4

Start the guessing! The full list to be released as soon as I get it done, I promise.

GOT MY STEELE

WOOOOOOOOOO!

Thanks to the lovely TM (who stopped by the Clark/Diversey Borders today) it is, to quote Orson Swindle, "in hand, motherfuckers," two days before the official onsale date.

I've always loved this photo. Spencer's caption is: "Phil Steele’s College Football 2006 Preview, shortly after floating into Orson’s hand from on high."

It's even the Midwest regional cover, with Clausen, Pryor and a Michigan running back.

Here's the quick overview: ND at #7, and #9 in the Power Poll. Iowa at #20, and #16 in the Power Poll. So Steele thinks ND will end the season slightly better than their talent would predict, based on an easy slate, and Iowa will be hurt by their four tough road games (PSU, OSU, Wisky, MSU). He's got Penn St. first in the conference, then OSU and Illinois (WTF?!?!) tied at second, then Iowa.

And, because I haven't used the "MAC Attack" tag in a while: Phil likes the Bobcats to win the MAC East, saying they were "much better than (their) final '08 record and this season will fly under the radar" as his No. 2 Most Improved Team.

Full report Tuesday.

Phil gives his own magazine a thumbs up.

Best of MPF 2008: Bonus Tracks

Every year I put out a "best of" list. And every year, starting a day or two after the release, I remember things I wished I'd put in there, or categories from previous years I left out. With this new blog technology, I can now create an addendum, instead of sending out five followup emails to say "Ooh! One more I forgot!"

Worst song (pop): Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl." Metallic, droning, uninteresting, unmusical, and far inferior to the 1994 Jill Sobule song she ripped off.

Best no-hitter watched: Big Z. We started watching in the 2nd inning, and midway through the game TM commented, hey, Z hasn't given up a hit yet. So often you catch the final out or two of a no-hitter, when a national sports network cuts in. Rarely do you see a game like that essentially from the beginning. (Sept. 14)


Best opening act: Alejandro Escovedo, opening for Old 97's at the XRT Free Fourth of July concert. Technically, the 97's were an opener too, for Gomez. But everybody left after their set. I'm sorry, but to celebrate American independence from Britain, you simply DO NOT book a British band for the holiday concert.

Technology I think is stupid and unnecessary and thus I'll probably be using in three years: Facebook. In five years: Twitter. (If this category existed three years ago the winner would have been "blogging.")

Most humane moment: Marketa Irglova, with Glen Hansard, won the Oscar for their fantastic song "Falling Slowly." But as she approached the microphone, she was cut off by outro music. After a commercial break, host Jon Stewart invited her back on stage to finish her thank-yous. According to this article, it was the EP and not Stewart who made the decision to bring her back. No matter. Stewart handled the situation with class and grace. (Feb. 24)

This was nice.

Best taunt of a rival: In August, UCLA's athletic department bought this full-page ad in the LA Times. Keep in mind, Neuheisel's UCLA record at the time was 0-0.


Someone in the USC Internet world created this:


Oh, and how about Best T-shirt, seen at the Notre Dame-Michigan game:


OK, fine, so I didn't technically see that shirt at the game. But I did see this one:


And who would wear such a thing? This fine gentleman.

BEST OF MPF 2008

BEST DAY: Feb. 23. It may sound hokey, but Tina and I were at a waterpark in Wisconsin Dells. We played on the water rides, enjoyed an outdoor hot tub, had a couple nice meals, and warmed ourselves by the fireplace in our hotel room.

WORST DAY: June 12, helplessly watching KCRG’s coverage of the CR floods, via the Internet. Runner-up: Dec. 3, when I lost my job.

BEST SHOW: Wilco at the Riviera, part of a five-night stand where they played everything from their catalog (Feb. 18).

Totally awesome.

BEST RECORD: "Asking for Flowers" by Kathleen Edwards knocked me out. I kept coming back to it, and like a well-made movie, you find new things every time you revisit it: new colors, new flavors, tones and meaning. It ranges from her pissed-off defiance to humor to the achingly sad (see next item). (And the listeners of WFUV agreed.) Honorable mention: Alejandro Escovedo “Real Animal”; The Hold Steady “Stay Positive.”

BEST SONG: Maybe it was the way everything fell apart this year, or all the goodbye emails I read from laid-off Tribune employees, but the song that defined the year was the regretful, bittersweet “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay. However, the Best Song of 2008 is “Alicia Ross” by Kathleen Edwards.

When you hear the song, you want to know more. Once you know the story, you can never forget it.

BEST ARTIST: Best Album, Best Song, you guessed it … Kathleen Edwards.

BEST COVER: Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' for You" by the Hold Steady with Patterson Hood of Drive By Truckers on lead vocal, Nov. 14, the Riviera. (You can get a taste of it here. )

WORST COVER: Patterson Hood again, with bassist Shonna Tucker, absolutely ruined the Hold Steady’s rarely played “Chill Out Tent.”

BEST COVER OF GENIUS BY GENIUS: Neil Young’s encore performance of Lennon/McCartney’s “A Day in the Life” (Dec. 7).

BEST BLOG: Tell Zell chronicled the idiocy and mismanagement of the Sam Zell takeover, including his outright disrespect of quality journalism, until its sudden end in October. (I contributed this item here.)

BEST SPORTS BLOG: The guys at Black Heart Gold Pants did an excellent job of chronicling the year in Hawkeye sports, from the struggling hoops to off-field scandal to the resurgent football team, all with a mix of juvenile humor, JoePa spoofs and biting analysis.

BEST SINGLE PODCAST: NPR produced "The Giant Pool of Money," an hourlong explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis, told in plain English with very little jargon.

WEIRDEST CATHEDRAL: Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

BEST NEWS STORY ABOUT A CAT: It’s hard to top a wild cougar on the loose in Roscoe Village, a neighborhood about a mile away from us, in the middle of Chicago (April 15).

BEST MOVIE: I didn’t see any movies made in 2008.

BEST TV SHOW: I don’t think I watched any TV program (excludes news and sports) more than once. Maybe “Grey’s Anatomy” back in spring.

BEST ROAD TRIP: To Wisconsin, for Kelly and Josh’s wedding and the Leinenkugel’s brewery tour (July 11-13).

BEST AD: No single ad, but I liked the continuing campaigns of the Miller High Life truck driver and “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC.”

WORST AD: Perennial nominee Illinois Lottery wins again, for the “REE-play for RRR-attch-ESS!” (summer) and “C’mon Let It Snow” (winter) campaigns.

BEST PICTURE: How about me, throwing out the first pitch at a minor-league baseball game. Check out the form:

BEST CANDIDATE ON A MAJOR PARTY TICKET: Barack Obama (Senator of Illinois).

WORST CANDIDATE ON A MAJOR PARTY TICKET: Sarah Palin.

BEST FOOTBALL GAME: (tie) Notre Dame took an early lead on Michigan then cruised to a 35-17 win in the rain (Sept. 13). Shonn Greene put on a show as Iowa throttled Wisconsin 38-16 (Oct. 18).

BEST/WORST BASEBALL GAMES: Cubs playoffs games, both losses. (Oct. 1-2)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ALMA MATER'S SPORTS TEAM: Easily, the winner is the Drake men’s basketball team, who came out of nowhere to win the Missouri Valley conference regular season and title, earning a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. (Jan-March)


There it is. Let's hope and pray 2009 is a good year for you and your family. Your thoughts and comments welcome below.

--MPF004.

Best Of 2008 Nominees: The Shows

Dennis Miller hit his creative peak, in my opinion, with his HBO show "Dennis Miller Live." Several things made this venue better than his previous stint on the Weekend Update desk at "Saturday Night Live" or his future stints as football snarker-in-chief or talk radio agitator.

For starters, Miller had a commercial-free hour to himself, rather than 8-10 minutes punctuated by A. Whitney Brown giving the Big Picture, Dana Carvey commenting on today's society as Grumpy Old Man, or Adam Sandler singing/giggling something on an acoustic guitar. (67% of those interruptions, by the way, were totally enjoyable.) With the extra time, he could go into an extended monologue (the "rant"), chat with a single guest on a single topic, and then shoot off the one-liner captions to photos that were a hallmark of his Weekend Update gig.

This essay is not about Dennis Miller or "Dennis Miller Live."

Since the show was in fact live, it retained the energy that SNL had, and it allowed him to react with a live audience. Also, he had basically come straight off network TV, so being on HBO allowed him to say "fuck" as often as he wanted, and other dirty words.

One of the most memorable episodes was in March 1998, when he previewed the upcoming Academy Awards with brief descriptions of Best Picture nominees "The Full Monty," "LA Confidential" and "Good Will Hunting." He said a sentence or two about each one and why it might win. And then he starting talking about the sprawling "Titanic," the epic that dwarfed all others. It led into his rant* and summarized why no other movie had (let's phrase it this way in honor of his curse-laden show) no fucking chance of winning in the face of such a montrous, obvious frontrunner.

Anybody remember this movie? Came out about 10 years ago?

One of these 2008 shows is Titanic. The others, no matter how good they were ... are the others. Links included for shows that got reviewed, previewed or otherwise mentioned on the blog during the year.

• Feb. 14: Sarah Borges @ Fitzgerald's
• Feb. 18: Wilco @ the Riv (part of their five-night stand)
• Mar. 28: Gary Louris @ Metro
• Apr. 5: Kathleen Edwards @ Metro
• May 21: Avenue Q @ Cadillac Palace Theatre (musical, not a show, but still music)
• June 5: Old 97's @ Metro
• June 18: Robert Plant/Alison Krauss @ Ravinia
• July 2: Sarah Borges @ Fitzgerald's
• July 4: Alejandro Escovedo and Old 97's @ Grant Park (XRT Free Fourth of July Concert)
• July 5: Bonnie Raitt @ Taste of Chicago
• July 19: The Hold Steady (and others) at Pitchfork Music Festival
• Aug. 5: She and Him @ Park West
• Aug. 22: Soul Asylum @ Lincoln Park Zoo
• Sept. 1: Aimee Mann and Squeeze @ Ravinia
• Oct. 11: Tift Merritt @ Americana Music Festival (outside Soldier Field)
• Oct. 25: Gary Louris @ Old Town School of Folk Music
• Nov. 14: The Hold Steady @ the Riv
• Dec. 9: Neil Young @ Allstate Arena (the Rosemont Horizon)
• Dec. 14: Shawn Colvin @ Park West

* Not technically the exact order according to a version I found online, but it's how I remember it.

Best of 2008 Nominees: Best Record

People are starting to ask about the Best Of 2008 list (at least five so far: Leigh, Joe, Kelly, TM, Igoe). So I'm going to get that rolling here. But I'm going to introduce a couple categories to whet your appetite today.

Much like how there is a Grammy category for Best Classical Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra), the Best Of list has a bunch of categories only purists care about. But most people pay attention to the biggies: Day, Album, Show, etc. So here's a rundown of nominees for Best Album (listed in an order only TM will probably get):

• Baseball Project, Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails
• Dolly Varden, 13
• Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal
• Gary Louris, Vagabonds
• Scott Miller, Appalachian Refugee
• Scott Miller, For Crying Out Loud
• Old 97's, Blame It On Gravity
• Kasey Chambers/Shane Nicholson, Rattlin' Bones
• Sheryl Crow, Detours
• Kathleen Edwards, Asking for Flowers
• Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue
• Tift Merritt, Another Country
• She and Him, Volume One
• Bob Dylan, Tell Tale Signs: Bootleg Series, Vol. 8
• Paul Westerberg, 49:00
• Counting Crows, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings
• The Hold Steady, Stay Positive
• R.E.M, Accelerate
• Vetiver, To Find Me Gone
• Various, FUV Live Volume 11
• Various, XRT Live from the Archives: Volume 11

A quick explanation/review of the nominees:

Baseball Project is a side effort of Scott McCaughey (Minus Five) and friends like Peter Buck (R.E.M.). A must have for diehard baseball fans, they wrote a dozen or so songs about the nation's pastime. A sample of names covered: Ted Williams, Oscar Gamble's huge afro, all the guys who have thrown a perfect game, Willie Mays, Fernando Valenzuela, Curt Flood.

Dolly Varden is a great local band who have been together for 13 years. To celebrate, they released a double-disc set of greatest hits and rarities. Included is a great, lovely version of Alex Chilton's "13."

Escovedo's latest was a bit of a disappointment, only because he turned away from his distinctive Americana sound he's perfected over the years to revisit his punk-rock roots. While this record grew on me for its own merits, I missed the strings and the Texas plaintiveness. Instead, this is more of an homage to the late 70's punk scene. (Of course he's so versatile it's hard to fault him.)

Louris released his first post-Jayhawks record, and it was pretty good. It doesn't overreach its grasp, just adds to the Louris canon with songs like "Omaha Nights" and the title track.

Appalachian is a set of demos Miller put out that was available only in limited release through his website. (TM jumped on it, of course.) The demos show him getting back to a more homey, authentic sound, as opposed to the Citation record that we felt was a little too polished for him. Appalachian also has the funniest legal disclaimer about not sharing/selling/trading the music, spoken by the artist himself. Many of the demos (with the notable exception of "People Who Rule") ended up on the official record....

...The end result of Miller's demos was this full length record, released in limited edition right before the end of the year. This sounds more like his first two records, which is a good thing.


The 97's came back from hiatus and got back to their roots, too. Gravity was more fun, more loose, more natural than Drag It Up and celebrated the band's longevity with songs like "The One."

I got the Chambers/Nicholson free from the good people at Sugar Hill Records. I've seen Chambers live in concert, and this record is a nice set of duets, a folky bluegrass sound.

TM got the Sheryl Crow record, and accurately described it as scattered and schizophrenic. The first song is a Dylanesque protest song, and it bounces around genres and feels from there.

Edwards' third release builds on Failer Back to Me (got my Edwards out of order --ed.) with more mature songwriting. Features the song that identifies her as a Canadian.

Jenny Lewis was another TM pickup. I liked what little I listened to, but I think I prefer Rabbit Fur Coat.

I stumbled across Tift Merritt somehow, and decided to try Another Country. Good pick by me: this record has warm vocals, catchy melodies and shows more range than her prior record, Tambourine. (Trivial fact: the titular country is France.)

Tift, as seen through the Barbara Walters "soft focus" lens.

The grammatically incorrect She and Him could be passed off as a vanity project from a movie star (Zooey Deschanel of Almost Famous) except for five things: she wrote most of the songs, the songs are good, the covers are impeccable (Smokey Robinson, the Beatles, "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"), the presence of indie god M. Ward keeps it musically interesting and finally, there are no pictures of her anywhere on the packaging.

Dylan: I must admit I've only started listening to this. So far, it's fascinating. Completely different versions of songs released on his last few albums.

Easily the weirdest record of the year was 49:00, which Westerberg released via Amazon download only, for 49 cents. It's a single track, almost 44 minutes long, that contains smatterings of songs that start and stop, random covers, noise, and other loose ends. Then one day the download was no longer available, anywhere.

I haven't listened much to the new Crows, but I like the concept: the first half is songs about all the crazy sinful things you do on Saturday nights, and the second half is about the regret and redemption of the following morning.

Steady. I could spill a thousand words on the Steady. (Of course, I already have.) I absolutely loved Boys and Girls in America and was so excited for the new record. I struggled with the fact that no record would ever be as good as that one. But beyond that, I'm still trying to like Stay Positive. It's growing on me, but it's not there yet.

I think I put my figure on why I didn't like the Steady record: not enough Franz. His keys and accordion are practically invisible.

Josh promised us the new R.E.M. record was good, and it was pretty darn good: a return to the aggressive rock sound they had on Monster and then lost on later records. However, I haven't listened to this record in months, so what does that say for its staying power?

Vetiver opened for Louris at the Metro. This record is slow and moody. Like many bands, it's better live than on record.

The FUV compilation is still in the shrinkwrap. But the lineup looks great: Spektor, Aimee Mann, the Steady, Louris, Bell X1.

Ditto for the XRT comp: Counting Crows, Liz Phair, the Dead, Bob Mould, Mellencamp.

Finally, special mention to Eddie Vedder for his contribution to music in 2008. Vedder met Ernie Banks (I think at Cubs Convention) and Ernie asked him to write a song about the Cubs. As Vedder said at one of his Chicago Theater shows: "If Ernie Banks asks you to write a song, you better write a fucking good song." And so he did: the earnest, hopeful "All the Way." It became an anthem of the late season and (short) playoff run. Maybe we didn't in '08, but someday we'll go all the way.

Best of MPF 2007: Bonus Tracks

I am a Luddite. I remember and appreciate the good ol' analog days when a movie or a record came out, and that was that. But now, every DVD that is released has to come with special features. Many reissues of those old records come with bonus tracks, as if the original release wasn't good enough for today's demanding consumers.

I'd like to think they got it right the first time, and you don't need to see the scenes that were cut from the movie. There's usually a good reason they were cut in the first place: Can you think of any deleted scene where you thought, 'oh yeah, that should have been in the final cut' ? Probably not. It's a deleted scene for a reason.

Well, sometimes you can make a case for bonus tracks: it's additional music from an artist you like, and it may have merit even though it didn't make the album. Maybe there was a reason, like it just didn't fit the mood, or it would've made the record too long.

At any rate, here are the "bonus tracks" for the Best of MPF 2007:

Best Picture: Usually when this category exists, it's a picture of me and one other person. And although I didn't want to make every single category wedding related, it certainly was an oversight to not include this: (click to see it bigger)

Now like I said, Best Picture has traditionally featured me. However, serendipity struck on an afternoon in June, on the streets of Cambridge, Mass., near snobby Harvard. I couldn't believe such a book existed and that we found it while we were out with GregClam...

Clam, he is.

Best Sacrament: This, like Best Day, is a slam dunk: Matrimony. Like 2006's award winner, this sacrament took place at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. It gets my recommendation if you're looking for somewhere to participate in a sacrament.

Best Mode of Transportation: (use your "Price is Right" announcer voice) A NEW CAR!!!!!!!!!


Best Road Trip: This is a category that makes a lot more sense if you have a car. And we didn't have a car for 75% of the year. And so, ah, let's move on to the next category that I have neatly re-named as:

Best Trip (Regardless of How You Did It): Boston, to see the Morts and the Sox.

The view from the right field bleachers at Fenway Pahk.

BEST OF MPF 2007

BEST DAY: This one is a slam dunk: Feb. 10. Got married to Tina.

WORST DAY: April 16, watching the Virginia Tech shooting unfold.

BEST/WORST DAYS: Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, moving from New York City to Chicago.

BEST NEWS STORY INVOLVING A CAT: Oscar the Cat lives in the hospice unit of a nursing home in Providence, R.I. Oscar has the uncanny ability to tell when a patient is about to die, and sits on the bed with the person until the moment of death.

Read the original essay from the New England Journal of Medicine here, and a nice article from the Boston Globe here.

BEST SONG: The one I’ll remember is “Golden State” by John Doe, with its echoing refrain of “walk away, walk away.”

BEST ALBUM: Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky” is a meaningful, challenging record. Runners-up: Neil Young’s “Live at Massey Hall” (recorded in 1971) and Dolly Varden’s “The Panic Bell.”

BEST SHOW (THEATRE): Patty Griffin at the Beacon Theatre (April 19).

Bonus video: Patty Griffin playing "No Bad News" off the new record.

BEST SHOW (OTHER): The Hold Steady at the Prospect Park Bandshell (Aug. 6).

BEST ARTIST: Patty Griffin amazed me, with a warm and career-advancing record (“Children Running Through”), two magical shows (the Beacon and Sept. 20 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park) and a jukebox musical of her songs (“10 Million Miles,” Atlantic Theater Co.).

It was Patty's year.

BEST AD: Miller High Life’s truck driver who enforces the High Life.

"Eleven-fifty for a hamburger? Y'all must be crazy." Watch him in action here.

WORST AD: (tie) I don’t hate kids, but kids were responsible for these awful ads: the “it’s the meers” girl and the “Verizon Fios tech” boy.

SADDEST ADVERTISING DEVELOPMENT: Dunkin’ Donuts inexplicably used two malevolent forces in their ads this year: Rachael Ray and the New York Yankees.

BEST INSURANCE SPOKESTHING WORTHY OF ITS OWN ABC SITCOM: The Aflac duck. Runner up: the scruffy Allstate football fans.

Sorry ABC, this was a horrible idea.

BEST CAREER MOVE: Leaving ABC News in New York for Tribune Interactive in Chicago.

BEST MOVIE: “Knocked Up”

BEST MUSICAL: “Spring Awakening” (Feb. 14 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre)

BEST OPENING ACT: Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles (July 28, for Kelly Willis)

BEST RADIO STATION: WFUV-FM: it’s XRT without commercials.

BEST VENUE: Beacon Theatre, New York.

BEST DINING EXPERIENCE: Boma, an African restaurant at Walt Disney World (March 24).

PHRASE THAT EVERYONE MUST STOP USING NOW: “Blank is the new blank.” Black is still black, and everything else is still whatever it was before. (I'm not the only who noticed this: http://www.lssu.edu/whats_new/articles.php?articleid=1431)

BEST ND GAME: Only saw one, so by default it was the Air Force game (Nov. 10).

BEST BASEBALL GAME: In a matchup of conflicting rooting interests, the Cubs and Mets were tied in the ninth inning, when a Jose Reyes single and THREE STRAIGHT WALKS gave the home team a 5-4 victory (May 14 at Shea Stadium).

BEST NEWSPAPER WRITEUP OF OUR IMPENDING NUPTIALS: the New York Observer (Feb. 4).

BEST BUMPER STICKER SENTIMENT: “I never thought I’d miss Nixon.” Seen on a T-shirt of a older woman outside the Fareway (Upper West Side, Manhattan).

BEST QUOTE: "We always remember where we came from and that's made us earnest and honest. So many people move here (New York City) from Ohio or Iowa and immediately become Yankee fans, and that just sucks." –Tad Kubler, guitarist for the Hold Steady, Aug. 6 in amNY.

An excuse to run another Hold Steady picture. Kubler is on the far left.

BEST TV SHOW: “Grey’s Anatomy” has gotten whinier and less compelling, but it’s still better than 99% of the crap on TV.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (SPORTS): Notre Dame football. Runners–up: the Mets collapse in the regular season, the Bears in the regular season, the Cubs in the postseason.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT (MUSIC): Son Volt live. The new lineup was flat, out of sync, and even less inspiring than regular Volt. Let’s hope Jay Farrar rediscovers the joy soon.


2007 was a year of change: new job, new apartment, new marital status, and old/new city. Best wishes and God Bless for a happy, healthy 2008!

--MPF004.