en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal The Last.fm journal for zeppyfish. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2012/01/10/5a52eq_new_songs_from_2011_that_i_listened_to_a_lot Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:21:31 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2012/01/10/5a52eq_new_songs_from_2011_that_i_listened_to_a_lot Mountain Goats Never Quite Free (40 plays)
Wilco I Might (34 plays)
TMBG Can't Keep Johnny Down (23 plays)
TMBG Cloisonné (21 plays)
Decemberists January Hymn (20 plays)
Mountain Goats Damn These Vampires (20 plays)
Wilco One Sunday Morning (20 plays)]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2012/01/03/59t9z7_my_top_12_artists_for_2011 Tue, 3 Jan 2012 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2012/01/03/59t9z7_my_top_12_artists_for_2011 Another year, another list.

1. Bob Dylan 1094
2. Wilco 469
3. They Might Be Giants 396
4. The Mountain Goats 374
5. The Decemberists 234
6. Yo La Tengo 216
7. Paul Simon 203
8. Elton John 144
9. Yo-Yo Ma 127
10. Sun Kil Moon 127
11. Built to Spill 113
12. Bon Iver 111

Notable Mention:
Jason Isbell + Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (143)
Kathryn Calder + The New Pornographers + A.C. Newman (279)

Just Missed:
Arcade Fire (109)
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (107)

Shockingly Low:
Elvis Costello (70)
Dirty Projectors (53)
The Beatles (30)]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/12/10/58m7x7_ten_albums_i_loved_from_2011 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:49:53 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/12/10/58m7x7_ten_albums_i_loved_from_2011 They Might Be Giants Join Us
Wilco The Whole Love
The Mountain Goats All Eternals Deck
Kathryn Calder Bright And Vivid
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Here We Rest
Tom Waits Bad As Me
Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor
Appalachia Waltz
Alabama Shakes Alabama Shakes EP
Bon Iver Bon Iver
The Decemberists The King Is Dead]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/02/18/4866jl_solid_show Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:46:55 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/02/18/4866jl_solid_show Thu 17 Feb – Yo La Tengo, Corin Tucker Band
This one lacked the surprise guest element of last year's Showbox Sodo gig, but it was still immensely enjoyable. Corin & Band rocked impressively to open things. The wheel landed on "Name Game," much to everyone's relief (no Sitcom Theater for us). The opening set included a blistering "Tom Courtenay" & some oldies not played for quite some time. The main set felt a bit short, but it had everything you want from a YLT show, plus the slightly rare "Nuclear War" in the closing spot. The encore included one Condo Fucks song, which I sorta requested when I talked to Ira at the merch booth before the show, and a much appreciated "Cherry Chapstick" (thanks to Patricia for the paper airplane request). On the whole, a solid evening.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/01/01/44u2an_top_12_artists_for_2010 Sat, 1 Jan 2011 18:28:12 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2011/01/01/44u2an_top_12_artists_for_2010 Another year, another list.

1. Bob Dylan 958
2. The New Pornographers 462
3. The Mountain Goats 326
4. They Might Be Giants 306
5. Elvis Costello 261
6. Yo La Tengo 248
7. The Books 217
8. Sun Kil Moon 211
9. Paul Simon 172
10. Passion Pit 146
11. Dirty Projectors 144
12. Wilco 142

Some new names, some old names. It occurs to me that I've seen every one of these artists live, and most of them during the past three years. I'm a little surprised not to see Freelance Whales in the list, but I really didn't discover their music until halfway through the year. No sign of Captain Beefheart this time, may he rest in peace. Built to Spill and Andrew Bird both fell below the top 12, as did the once mighty Decemberists, although none of them released new albums in 2010. The biggest move up came from The New Pornographers, whose Together was probably my favorite record of the year. They also put on a splendid show in Seattle.

Anyway, there you go. Happy new year.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/12/21/4442qj_ten_albums_i_loved_from_2010 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:05:37 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/12/21/4442qj_ten_albums_i_loved_from_2010 New Pornographers - Together
Kathryn Calder - Are You My Mother?
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
Dirty Projectors + Björk - Mount Wittenberg Orca
The Books - The Way Out
Kristin Allen-Zito - The Atlas
John Mellencamp - No Better Than This
Elvis Costello - National Ransom
The Temper Trap - Conditions
Los Lobos - Tin Can Trust]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/03/19/3hyoi3_five_years Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:35:50 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/03/19/3hyoi3_five_years It has been five years today since I joined last.fm (which was then known as audioscrobbler) after following a link from wilcoworld. I've scrobbled over 52,000 songs, met some very cool music fans, gotten lots of concert & event info, been introduced to probably hundreds of artists, and wasted countless hours posting on discussion boards.

Thanks for five years, Last.fm. Without you, I'd have no idea how many songs I listen to per day on my computer and/or iPod (29, by the way. I was hoping to get it to 30 by the 5th anniversary, but that's like 54,000 songs almost. A person has to eat, sleep and work sometimes, too).

So, yeah.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/01/01/3ax0kd_my_annual_top_12_artists_list Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:03:17 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2010/01/01/3ax0kd_my_annual_top_12_artists_list Last year around this time, I commented that 2008 had been the year of Elvis (Costello) for me. Well, 2009 was definitely the year of Bob. After seeing Dylan live three times, buying two new albums (Together Through Life and Christmas In The Heart) and gaining access to a treasure trove of live bootlegs spanning his career (via a website not to be named here), it would be surprising if Bob hadn't shot to the top of my yearly charts. The fact that I listened to more than twice as many of his songs as any other artist is a bit stunning, as is former undisputed champ They Might Be Giants dropping all the way to number 4. But, try as I might, I just couldn't get very excited about their latest children's release, Here Comes Science. Not that it isn't a terrific album, but there were just too many other great ones to choose from. In fact, 7 of the remaining artists on my list released outstanding new works this year, plus The Mountain Goats, who were just barely out of the picture at number 13. I also managed to see 6 of my top 12 live in 2009 (plus The Books and Great Big Sea, both former Top 12 artists from previous years), which has to be a record for me.

So, once again with apologies to Ana, from whom I stole this idea, here is my yearly list, plus the previous two years for comparison.

(2009 List)
1. Bob Dylan (1,395)
2. Elvis Costello (692)
3. Wilco (521)
4. They Might Be Giants (474)
5. The Decemberists (364)
6. Yo La Tengo (350)
7. U2 (346)
8. Andrew Bird (341)
9. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (251)
10. Built to Spill (230)
11. Elvis Costello & The Attractions (194)
12. Dirty Projectors (164)

(2008 List)
1 They Might Be Giants (714)
2 Bob Dylan (710)
3 Elvis Costello (556)
4 The Mountain Goats (319)
5 Beck (309)
6 The Decemberists (296)
7 Paul Simon (190)
8 Wilco (162)
9 Elvis Costello & The Attractions (143)
10 Coast To Coast AM - George Noory (140)
11 The Beatles (127)
12 Great Big Sea (125)

(2007 List)
1. They Might Be Giants (1056)
2. Bob Dylan (765)
3. Wilco (333)
4. Andrew Bird (242)
5. Camper Van Beethoven (211)
6. Paul Simon (181)
7. Yo La Tengo (178)
8. The Books (152)
9. The Decemberists (139)
10. The Arcade Fire (129)
11. The Beatles (114)
12. Beck (91)]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2009/10/13/32wyo0_dylan_is_back Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:34:26 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2009/10/13/32wyo0_dylan_is_back Mon 5 Oct – Bob Dylan

If you get a chance to see Bob Dylan on this tour, take it. No matter what you've heard, you need to see the man now. He has not been this good for at least six years. Charlie Sexton, former lead guitarist for Bob's band in the early 2000's, has rejoined Dylan and re-energized his band. The song choices are inspired, Bob's delivery is more precise, he's playing harmonica and dancing at center stage, looking more like the song and dance man he once claimed to be. He's even picked up the guitar again, after a few years of playing keyboards on nearly every song. I was lucky enough to be on the rail, immediately in front of the stage, and the experience was mind blowing. I won't include a song-by-song description, but certain tunes stood out, particularly Forgetful Heart, from this year's Together Through Life album. A whisper-soft arrangement featured Donnie Herron on violin and Tony Garnier on bowed stand-up bass. Bob sang the words clearly and, for Bob, tunefully, emphasizing the song's tender, regretful tone. It felt as if all 7,000 people in the arena were completely silent and completely still for three minutes, as we all felt the power of a living legend, still able to give us all chills after nearly fifty years on the road. The Bob Dylan Show rolls on, and I hope it rolls into your town soon. Don't you dare miss it.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2009/10/10/32nqlp_too_much_of_a_good_thing%3F Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:46:03 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/zeppyfish/journal/2009/10/10/32nqlp_too_much_of_a_good_thing%3F Here Comes Science
Curse Your Branches
Popular Songs
There is No Enemy
the Life of the World to Come
Christmas In The Heart

What do I listen to? There's just too much new goodness!]]>