while the scores are still being tallied up for the reader’s top ten album choice of 2006
(send your votes in, send them in)
Here is what we figured:
DC music had a pretty exciting time around 2006.
We certainly enjoyed it,
and attended the shows from the cat to wonderland to galaxy hut to velvet lounge to dc9 and all up and down H street.
So, in a stroke of rare Brilliance (with a capital B) and cross-over charm and appeal
we decided to ask them
“What mattered to you music wise in 2006?”
(for you to read, enjoy, learn and also have something to talk to them about when you run into them at the Cat, and
not just gaze into their eyes, all uninformed groupie style like-and also because we love you. and them)
On the roster we have:
Bellman Barker (previously the Run-IN), Middle Distance Runner, These United States,
Hard Tomorrows, Carol Bui, Soft Complex, Telograph, Len Bias, GreenLand, Paul Michel, Death by Sexy,
Army of Me and….
the lists that follow include:
albums, EPs, CDs, some older stuff, lots of local music love
(which when mentioned we cross linked to their webpages so you know where to look and find)
and camaraderie and and few other things on top.

read. up. and listen. up.

with BYT USER NOTES attached.

(and keep your eyes peeled for the DJ wrap up coming this way any second now)

Bellman Barker (www.myspace.com/bellmanbarker)

Members of Bellman Barker were contacted separately by carrier pigeons -
here is what they scrawled, in various media…

Mike:

-bob dylan – modern times – face it, you really cant get the ipod commercial song out of your head…
-wolfmother
-the raconteurs
-arctic monkeys
-wolf mother (self titled LP)

John:

The Decemberists – “The Crane Wife”
The increasingly better DC bands:
(
Len Bias),
Middle Distance Runner, etc.)
Dragonforce – “Inhuman Rampage”
Feist – “Les Black Sessions” (even though it was recorded in 2004)
Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) – “Sunken Treasures” DVD
Peter Bjorn and John – “Writer’s Block”
Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down Quartet - “Duper Sessions”

Thomas:

The Rapture - Gonna Get Myself Into It [for boogie]
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion [power trio I keep in my heart]
Belle & Sebastian – Sukie in the Graveyard [great organ part (and pop melodies)]
CSS – Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above [song from a band new to me about getting down to a band I loved]
Malajube – Montreal -40 C [I found this video somehow, and it's really great - I really dig the way the vocals are layered too, and the waltz tempo outro is strong-to-quite-strong]
Peter, Bjorn And John – Young Folks [melodies-in-this-song=!!!!?! Also, I never knew impossibly ridiculous reverb could make so much sense in the end]
Kashmere Stage Band – Headwiggle [this is probably cheating, since it's a re-release of a high school band originally recorded in the late '60s/early '70s, but it really cooks - you can tell that skill levels are all over the place, but the rhythm section particularly had some bad-ass 15 yr olds]

Aaron:

The truest thing I can say is that, in 2006, Peter Bjorn and John’s ‘Writer’s Block’ is the only record that has positively affected me. There may have been others; but I just don’t remember anymore.
[Posdata:] Oh yeah, and Band of Horses. But I can’t listen to it anymore.
I also got into Jamiroquai for the first time, which, when all was said and done, was an amazing experience.

(BYT NOTE: Bellman Barker has been in a recording studio slowly but surely finishing up their debut LP. They may be in need of some clapping volunteers. Especially for their next show which will be at Galaxy Hut on January 13th.)

Middle Distance Runner (www.myspace.com/middledistancerunner)

1.
The Hard Tomorrows – Lights Out
Kicks ass.

2. Brazilian Girls – Talk to La Bomb
Sexy in all the best ways. Including sex-sexy. Excluding gross-sexy.

3.
Death by Sexy)- Big Hit
Sexy in all the worst way. Sweat, hair and cussing. So good it’s bad. To the bone. Er. Badd. (with 2 d’s and a capital boner.)

4. Thao Nguyen – Like the Linen
Great voice, great guitarism, great lyrics, and great rhythmic horseplay. Great.

5. Ladytron – Witching Hour
Dark Synthpop hasn’t been done this well for a decade. It’s about time.

6. Sufjan Stevens – Songs for Christmas
5 discs of beautiful Christmas music for only 20 bucks. Packaging includes: poster, lyrics, CHORDS, stories, comic strip, and stickers. A generous gesture from a truly inspirational musician.

7. Soundpool – On High
A refreshing take on Dreampop. Complex walls of sound with the innocent European pop sensibilities of Ivy and April March.

8. Brazilian Girls – Talk to La Bomb
im happy, i need to dance

9. Ray LaMontagne – Til the Sun Turns Black
im sad, i need to lay down

10. Wes Breasts and the All-Madden All Stars – Goin’ Down Mexico Way
Really hard to find, but it rules!

(BYT note: Middle Distance Runner had a prolific 2006. They released their (insanely catchy) album “Plane on Flames” as well as a “Xmas Song” single and played all over DC including opening for Forward Russia! and Snowden last week at the Black Cat’s Mainstage. DC can see them next on January 20th on Black Cat’s mainstage with Exit Clov)

Soft Complex (www.myspace.com/softcomplex)

Top 10 songs of 2006:

We share our mother’s health – The Knife
Reena – Sonic Youth
Dead Meat – Sean Lennon
Marble House – The Knife
Map of the Problematique – Muse
Phenomena – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Right Place , Wrong Time – Fiasco
Dimension – Wolfmother
White Zin on Ice – Two If by Sea (ok, yes, I did play on this song, but I love it to death, along with the whole album!)
Welcome to the Million Colour Revolution – The Pinker Tones

Top 3 albums of ’06:

Silent Shout – The Knife
This album blew me away. I hadn’t heard the Swedish duo The Knife before this, their 3rd album, and it opened a new sonic world for me. While it brings memories of electronic/dance music of the past, it goes so many new places. The bizarre, stark, alien, yet familiar landscape that the Knife creates in this album is surprising and addictive.

Rather Ripped – Sonic Youth
I love Sonic Youth, so it’s hard for them to do wrong by me. This album is so good for me because it takes a lot of its sound from the time that made me love them- the early 90s Dirty/100% era, yet it’s fresh and new. Seeing them live on this tour just refreshed my undying love for this band and solidified my excitement over the album.

Friendly Fire – Sean Lennon
I first saw Sean Lennon eons ago (maybe 1998) at the 930 club supporting his first album, Into the Sun. I was hooked from that point on. His sophomore album Friendly Fire displays a maturity and focus exceeding that of his impressive first effort. Where Into the Sun felt like a meandering journey, an exploration, Friendly Fire seems to have arrived at a beautiful if melancholic destination. Soft, lush, orchestral, sad- these are a few of my favorite things.

(BYT NOTE: Soft Complex released their EP “Barcelona” this year, and kept dc tapping their new wavey feet with a
very busy show schedule this fall both in the city and all over north east. DC can see then next on January 27th at the Rock’n'Roll hotel)

Telograph (www.myspace.com/telograph)

Top Ten Albums of 2006 (in no particular order)

Secret Machines – Ten Silver Drops
TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
Grizzly Bear – Yellow House
The Stills – Without Feathers
Mogwai – Mr. Beast
Band of Horses – Everything All the Time
We Are Scientists – With Love And Squalor
Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther
Kasabian – Empire

Middle Distance Runner – Plane in Flames

– Ten Silver Drops – Return To Cookie Mountain – Yellow House – Without Feathers – Mr. Beast – Everything All the Time – With Love And Squalor – The Trials of Van Occupanther – Empire – Plane in Flames(BYT note: Telograph is releasing “Little bits of Plastic” in 2007 and are gearing up for a very busy winter ahead. DC can see them make their Patriot Center debut with O.A.R. and Gomez on January 26th and also, at their CD release at the Black Cat on February 3rd (with Two if by Sea). Listen to “Beneath your feet” and chances are, you will want to attend)

Olympia (www.myspace.com/olympiaband)

top 10 albums of 06:

1. Teddybears “Soft Machine”

“Soft Machine”2. Under The Influence Of Giants “S/T”

3. Justin Timberlake “FutureSexLoveSounds”

4. Ghostface Killah “Fishscale”

5. Fear Before The March Of Flames “The Always Open Mouth”

6. Rick Ross “Port Of Miami”

7. Islands “Return To The Sea”

8. Maritime “We, the Vehicles”

9. Underoath “Define The Great Line”

10. Rattler “Panty Incinerator E.P.”

(BYT NOTE: Olympia recorded their debut album of face melting rock “Emergencies” in 2006 and you can expect to be able to buy it next year. Chances are you probably caught one of their shows either while they were on tour or here at DC9 or the r’n'r hotel, but if you missed it, then you have one more chance before 2006 is up:
they take the Black Cat mainstage on December 30th with The Whips and Dance Party. rock.)

Carol Bui (www.myspace.com/carolbui)

top 20 favorite albums of 2006, in no particular order (although the Aloha records definitely deserve the top spots).
Some are older releases, but were on heavy rotation this year.

1. Aloha – “Some Echoes” (2006)
2. Aloha – “Here Comes Everyone” (2004)
3. Aloha – “Sugar” (2002)
4. Shearwater – “Palo Santo” (2006)
5. The Evens – “Get Evens” (2006)
6. My Brightest Diamond – “Bring Me The Workhorse” (2006)
7. The Gossip – “Standing in the Way of Control” (2006)
8. Beyonce – “B’ Day” (2006)
9. Joanna Newson – “Ys” (2006)
10. Ambulette – “The Lottery” (2006)
11. Nelly Furtado – “Loose” (2006)
12. Gnarls Barkley – “St. Elsewhere” (2006)
13. Feist – “Open Season (Remixes and Collabs)” (2006)
14. Pagoda – “Seven Nights EP” (2006)
15. Alina Simone – “Placelessness” (unreleased)
16. Georgie James – “Demos at Dance Place” (2005)
17. Kate Bush – “Hounds of Love” + 6 bonus tracks (2003)
18. Can – “Tago Mago” (1971)
19. Big Black – “Songs about Fucking” (1987)
20. Q and Not U – “Power” (2004)

(BYT NOTE: Carol Bui is about to go on tour. All over. All the time. Check her website for details and don’t miss the jangly guitar pop rock she does so well. Wherever you are. Because she will be playing there.)

Hard Tomorrows (www.myspace.com/thehardtomorrows)

Jesus Crisis says:

Georgie James:
We were slated to play with Georgie James at Fort Reno this summer,
before a rainstorm came washed away all the freaks sitting on the hill there.
Anyway, I walked over the hill and heard this awesome sound coming from the stage and assumed it was
a Georgie James CD being blasted on the PA. To my astonishment it was four live humans,
in all their glory, rocking the shit out of the place. I sort of stood there and said,
“Wait a minute…how are they doing this? Is it drugs? I don’t think so, I think they’re really good.”
Then the rain came and the rest of the day sucked, but Georgie James was the highlight.

Greenland:
I like their songs a lot, and they’re very nice guys. Almost too nice…
Listen to ‘Salome’, it’s like something is slightly-off, kind of mad, but with discipline.
Like if Syd Barrett had been forced into musical boot camp and then wrote a bunch of
awesome songs and forced to play them at a consistent tempo. Their full-length should be incredible.

Bellman Barker (formerly the Run IN):
Aaron and I and a bunch of other idiots somehow got sucked into helping a friend move an old piano this summer.
It was on that day that I realized what a bunch of pussies we musicians are. But Aaron immediately took charge,
and lept around the moving van like a jungle cat. We were all impressed.
That’s why I call him Legolas—he can jump real good.
I don’t really know his music, I assume it’s a lot like elf music.

Rishi Says:

Justin Jones
I saw Justin at Rock Hotel with our very own Jesus Crisis sitting in on keyboards.
Jesus was so messed up before the show that he passed out on the floor with a cigarette in his mouth.
Justin had to wake him up and get him out on stage. The show was a disaster.
Jesus had all the chords to the songs written on pieces of paper in front of him, but he was so drunk he could
barely keep his eyes open to look at them. He missed a bunch of cues, played some
guitar solos in inappropriate places and generally looked like he was going to nod off at any minute.
I don’t know how, but Justin managed to pull it off and sound good anyway. He survived Jesus Crisis.

Addendum:
THe following day Jesus was incapacitated crumpled up on his bed
when a text message came from justin reading, “So, how do you feel about
your performance last night?” Jesus’s response was “Point taken.” “I hope
Justin doesn’t hate me, but I assume he thinks I’m a wanker, which I kinda
was that night. At least I didn’t get thrown out again.”

The Starlingtons:
These guys are great because they just play covers and have fun without ego or pretension.
Their shows feel like you’re at a house party watching a bunch of friends jam to songs they’ve
known forever. The two singers have this great chemistry and they’re always blaming each other for
missed harmonies with their eyes.

Publicist:
I caught what was Publicist’s second show at the Rock Hotel recently. He sat there with his drums
on the floor of the room, a strobe light behind him and a spelunking lamp on his forehead. He
played for 40 minutes along to pre-recorded dance tracks from his iPod, pausing only for the occasional
sip of beer in between giant Miami Sound Machine style roto-tom fills. With the lighting so
trippy, he looked like a faceless, hairy, drumming beast – all muscles and precision.
I imagine Publicist playing on a 30-foot spinning pedestal in the middle of a huge rave
filled with candy-flipping kids.
That would be awesome.

(BYT NOTE: The Hard Tomorrows released their “Lights Out” LP (”Patterns” we loved on first listen, and on the 100th as well) and have played literally every venue this city has to offer in 2006, including opening for Jeremy Enigk at the r’n'r hotel in December. DC can see them next (and for free! natch) on January 11th at the Wonderland Ballroom. And we have been to one or two of those before and we suggest: get there early. It gets busy. (which is an understatement if we ever wrote one)).

Greenland (www.myspace.com/greenland)

a note from Jamie:

…..anyway, our favorite albums of the year have to be:
Arab Strap “Last Romance” — we listened to this quite a bit and we’re always talking about incorporating electric business (ie mpc1000 we use as little more than a practice metronome) and we love the way a. strap does it. I don’t know though everytime I show someone this album they appear not to get it. Anyway it’s a shame they called it quits I guess they ran out of subject matter (their livers or their willies got tired?)
Unfortunately Tony’s gone back to Switzerland for the holidays. And there is no way I can get him down from the slopes for this. Athough I hear they’re running a bit late this year, because of the apocolypse and all that. So maybe he’s just crawled into a bottle of extremely expensive wine. He usually listens to new releases more than i do — I can’t speak for him but he’s got a penchant for swedish pop (esp that singer Annie) and dub-ish bass lines. And Tupac. How many albums did Tupac release this year?
As for Mike, I don’t know. I asked him and he didn’t know. I do know that lately he’s been listening to the Wilco live in Chicago stuff (with Nills Kline); I don’t know when that was recorded but it sure sounds like their last tour.
The Bee’s stuff is pretty fantastic. Was that this year? I mean there’s a sound right there.
And Sonic Youth’s new cd. And the new Neil Young totally gets a nod because it was hilarious. I mean I’m not disagreeing with the man but that record was a hoot. Also good for a laugh — interviews with the singer of the killers. I started to actually seek them out.
Also, for a period of time, “lights out” was my heroin.
- jamie / grnld

(BYT NOTE:Greenland has no album, but what it does have is a loyal DC following that goes wherever they are (and last year it was everywhere from Galaxy Hut to DC9 to Polly’s for Jamie’s acoustic shows. Listen to “Salome” and you will know why DC can see them next at Velvet Lounge on February 3rd 2007 with Bellman Barker and Len Bias ).

Len Bias (www.myspace.com/lenbiasband)

top 5 albums of 06:

1. MAPS AND ATLASES: Trees, Swallows, Houses.
Slendid first EP from these Chicago lads. Dynamic rhythm changes and vocals you can sing along to.
This album is temporarily out of print, but they are pressing more.

2. CHAVEZ: Better Days Will Haunt You.
A two cd and dvd set from this remarkable band. Mostly previously released material that you want
to hear again with some new tracks. Did I mention Bob Weston recorded a lot of these songs.

3. CHANNELS: Waiting For The Next End Of The World.
Anything from J Robbins is sure to please, with this being no exception. Great male/female vocal stylings
with the restrained power of Darren Zentek on the drums. Great follow up from thier EP.

4. PIT ER PAT: Pyramids.
Great stylings in the vein of Stereolab. Soothing keyboards and vocals with smart rhythms. Put
this on while giving your dog a bath.

5. JUST A FIRE: Spanish Time.
Being a local DC resident, I am always interested in what Fred Erskine(Hoover, June of 44, The Boom)
has his hands in. Thier sophmore album is even better than thier first. Not intended for use while
thinking. Did I mention J Robbins recorded this.

(BYT NOTE: Len Bias is keeping busy. A merging of friends from now defnct bands LB played several shows last year, which really was just a warm up for 2007: catch their beaty rock at the Cat on January 7th (with High Fives and Happy Endings)
and on February 3rd at the Velvet Lounge (with Bellman Barker and Greenland))

Lets French (www.myspace.com/letsfrenchdc)

I guess we choose soundgarden’s superunknown for all ten spots, oh wait this year, this
year the top 5 albums we can all agree on (….)

1. architecture in helsinki “in case we die”
2. blood brothers “young machetes”
3. sonic youth “rather ripped”
4. the spinto band “nice and nicely done”
5. madonna “confessions on a dance floor”

( BYT NOTE: Let’s french play fun rock. And they play a lot of it. Catch them next on Dec 30th at Iota or at Black Cat’s Mainstage for and all ages show with Washington Social Club on January 26th 2007.)

army of me (www.myspace.com/armyofme)

top 5 songs of 06

“Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley
“Welcome to the Black Parade” -My Chemical Romance
“Ask Me Anything” – The Strokes
“Steady As She Goes” – The Raconteurs
“Hyperbaric” – Deleted Scenes

(BYT NOTE: Army of Me realeased “Rise” in 2006 and played the main stage at the Cat several times.
They are currently embarking on a mini northeast tour, so keep yourself posted).

Paul Michel (www.myspace.com/paulmichel)

top 10 most listened albums in 06. no release dates, some of which are years and years behind us.

1. Barbaro “Nolte”
2. Thom Yorke “Eraser”
3. Autolux “Future Perfect”
4. Refused “Shape of Punk to Come”
5. Jeremy Enigk “Return of the Frog Queen”
6. Spoon “Gimme Fiction”
7. Muse “Black Holes & Revelations”
8. Iron & Wine “Our Endless Numbered Days”
9. El-P “Fantastic Damage”
10. Black Mountain “Black Mountain”

(BYT NOTE: Paul Michel just came back from tour and greeted the DC that missed his at his show on Dec. 19th at the Black Cat. Only to leave again and not come back till February 13th when he will make you cry at DC9. Start counting the days).

These United Steate (www.myspace.com/theseunited)

a message from Jesse re: well, dc music:

Next year, I venture out further, and
report back on jazz and hip-hop, I promise. For the moment, my
personal picks for 10 of the 1,000 greatest local music tracks of the
year. In no particular order, then…

1 of a thousand: “Lady Faire,” by The Cassettes.
The Cassettes may be the only band I know that can describe their own sound better than
anyone else can. If “Lady Faire” doesn’t sound like “setting your trunk on the deck of a flying spanish galleon
heading for the outer reaches of space and time. You look back at the fading Oreth and shed
a tear that drifts into the void of space and becomes a star”…then I don’t know what does.

1 of a thousand: “Lose Control,” by Let’s French.
When Randy Chugh croons
“You bring the prom dress and I’ll bring the booze / I’ll be the progress and you be the news”
it makes me want to be in high school again – and gay, for the first time. I mean, you know what I
mean. What all the Let’s French comparisons to Interpolblahblahblah miss lies therein: the most wicked
one-to-two-liners this side of Dylan’s “Thunder on the Mountain.” Damn, but that Randy man’s on the
razor’s edge.

1 of a thousand: “Good Time,” by The LoveHandles.
When Tommy Yasuhara takes me for a trip on his old relation ship, it makes me want to be
in high school for a third time – and gay for a second. I mean, for more than a second.
But, like, lovingly.
This song makes everyone want to fall in and out of love with everyone – what else were we put
here for? Tommy’s live show is Prince meets Bonnie Prince Billy. I’m serious.
He is more sensitive than The Jackson Five, and pumps the microphone twice as fast.

1 of a thousand: “Anniversary,” by Revival.
Josh Read drives slow, with one headlight, down a back alley, out of his way, middle of deep
black night, to say hello to a friend. That’s not a metaphor. He does that. That’s just the real deal,
whatever it means. Something about the scene nails Revival’s music, though. Maybe not this song,
though. Wait til you see what he completes this tale with. The man is heavy.

1 of a thousand: “I Fill Up the Time,” by Rose.
I think I might have secretly cried the first time I ever heard Rose play this track live.
I know that I cried very openly the second, third, fourth, and fifth times I did. Some lyrics come across in print;
hers are so intertwined with the character of her booming, breaking, crawling,
begging, beautifully aching voice that I wouldn’t dare to pin them down all butterfly-like here.
Just find it.

1 of a thousand: “My Darling, My Dear,” by John Bustine
Who knows whether this track actually has a name. Bustine is pure. Each note he picks is made of pure pure.
This song’s dirty, too, so it’s like a double scoop of, you know, like pure ice cream on one side of your
dish and dirty ice cream on the other side. Lord, but the boy makes ‘em hurt so good.

1 of a thousand: “Marianne, You’ve Done It Now,” by Vandaveer
Mark Charles Heidinger makes people bob/p their heads to songs about hookers getting their throats slashed.
That is the first thing that everyone notices about him. The second is his beautiful wife. The
third is his songs, again. He can turn a phrase with the best of ‘em this kid.
Completes the all-out Gypsy Eyes Records assault that’s about to be unleashed on the world, too.
Those kids’re comin out
Swingin!

1 of a thousand: “The Jealous Type,” by Olivia & the Housemates.
Like most people, I’ve only seen this band once, and yet am still totally and completely enamored of them.
These kids WILL push your buttons all night…if you can ever track ‘em down. Olivia also plays
bass in Washington Social Club, which was the first band I ever saw when I came to DC.
Her energy is early Rolling Stones, but her voice is downright operatic.

1 of a thousand: “House on Fire,” by ShortStack
It sounds like Shortstack is going to kill you, but in a good way. A pleasant death, but a really horrible one.
But pleasant in the way that it teaches you something really profound about the universe, like how horrible
the universe really is. That’s why I think Shortstack is secretly made up of Ghost-Men, men who know
something about another side of his universe that you and I have never see. Is that not horribly
awesome, in the truer sense of the word “awesome”?

1 of a thousand: “Monsoon Season,” by Kitty Hawk.
Chris Walker doesn’t write songs; he writes mood. He and his band ooze it. They embody a sort of pure sad bliss
the likes of which ain’t been seen since the loneliest most brilliant Velvet Underground B-sides. Like
some monsoon season, I imagine. I don’t know it. But I imagine it. That’s what Kitty Hawk makes me do.
Imagine things I’ve never seen. Spooky, like Shortstack’s younger and more sensitive brother who pulls
the legs off grasshoppers but instantly feels bad about it and writes a song to atone.

(BYT NOTE: “These united states” are part of the Federal Reserve Collective and play the kind of folk rock you don’t hear often, but you should. Luckily for you they plan on having a busy next few months. Catch them Dec. 28th at the rock’n'roll hotel (with The Rousevelt, and yes, it is this Thursday) at IOTA on the 30th or wait for January 26th 2007 and see them on Black Cat’s Mainstage).

Death by sexy (www.myspace.com/deathbysexy)

closing this trip down 2006 out with Jason, who cares about all sorts of things.
and not all of them ARE music:

Dearest BYT,

When first asked by the illustrious Svetlana from BYT to come up with a “Best of 2006” list, I began to plumb the depths of my whiskey-soaked brain for new music that I liked that came out over the past year. After realizing that I haven’t actually bought a CD this year(file-sharing anyone?), I decided to make a list of stuff I liked, some of which I discovered while on tour this year in the Midwest, others I discovered while on tour of the hallway between my television and the bathroom. So here goes:

1. Witch’s Hat – The Mastery of the Steel(album)
This is an incredible band from Columbia, Missouri. Imagine a powerpop band fronted by a skinnier version of Jack Black playing songs about World War 6, climbing mountains, knights battling dragons, and robotic dance machines that sing in binary code. On top of that the music is the perfect soundtrack to play the original version of Legend of Zelda to.

2. Schaffer the Darklord – Nerd Lust(song)
I can’t say enough about our tourmate and BFF STD, but I will say this. Nerd Lust is the best dorky white hip hop ode to geeky chicks that came out this year. How can you miss with myspace referencing lines like: “I left a dozen comments, all of them flattering, like when we kiss, baby, its like Magic…the gathering.” Let me see you shake it…shake your inhaler, baby, indeed.

3. VH1 Classic (tv channel)
With the recent addition of digital cable to my life, I find myself watching more TV than usual lately. Considering how much TV I watch, this is a pretty impressive feat. But how can you go wrong with a channel that plays 1980s Tom Petty concerts from German television, old Cinderella videos, the Rutles movie, and docudramas about Def Leppard? Really, you can’t.

4. Taco Pizza (food)
This was discovered in Iowa city. Pizza with Doritos on top. The ultimate drunkard munchies. Enough said.

5. Guitar Hero (video game)
Part of me is glad that I don’t own this video game because my hands would become so cramped and twisted I wouldn’t be able to play the real guitar. Ultimate Fantasy: A Death By Sexy song in Guitar Hero 3. Mark my words, it will happen.

6. Project Runway(TV show)
Oh, Alison, gone too fast, I hardly knew you.

7. Mel Gibson (auteur)
What people don’t seem to realize is that he was trying out to be Sascha Baron Cohen’s understudy in the Borat movie. SUGARTITS!

8. Republicans (powerhungry mongoloids)
Any group with the audacity to NOT ONLY look the other way when one of their own is molesting young boys but put him in charge of the House Missing and Exploited Children group is A-O-K with me. Cause that takes giant brass balls. And I’m a fan of giant brass balls. I have some in a jar on my dresser.

9. George Bush(our fearless leader)
He’s doin’ a great job, dontcha think?

10. Bill O’Reilly (windbag, culture warrior)
I like loufa sponges, too.

And because I’m feeling snarky –
a short “Worst of 2006” list, or as I like to call it “Things that Chap My Ass 2006″: /b>1. Panic! At the disco:
Please just stop playing. Please. I know you don’t have enough original material yet to fill out a 45 minute set, but that doesn’t mean you get the right to butcher Killer Queen AND Eleanor Rigby. In addition, I’m highly anticipating the inevitable collab-abortion with Fall Out Boy on a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. I’d rather listen to the death rattle of my only child.

Please just stop playing. Please. I know you don’t have enough original material yet to fill out a 45 minute set, but that doesn’t mean you get the right to butcher Killer Queen AND Eleanor Rigby. In addition, I’m highly anticipating the inevitable collab-abortion with Fall Out Boy on a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. I’d rather listen to the death rattle of my only child.2. The Killers
OK. I get it. You guys are sincere now. You mention The Boss in all your interviews. You sing about burning down the highway skyline on the back of a hurricane. Unfortunately your attempts at sounding like “Born To Run” era-Springsteen come off sounding like “I’d do anything for love(but I won’t do that)” era Meatloaf. And while you’re at it change out of the flannel and shave off that awful looking facial hair.

3. Larry the Cable Guy
First off, you’re from Nebraska, not the south, brah. Second, I don’t know what’s worse, your homophobic, misogynist, xenophobic jokes or the waterheads who laugh at them. Git-R-Dun. Moron.
4. Bands who take their fans with them
This happened to us in NYC. About 40-50 people in the room. Then the band who played right before said this when they were done: “We’re goin’ down the street to drink! Who’s coming with us?” Everybody left. Assholes.

So thanks BYT for letting me rant for awhile. Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year to all y’all.
Yours in Christ,
Jason Death By Sexy

( BYT NOTE: Death By Sexy released “Big Hit” in 2006 and well, it was a hit. They played everywhere from Velvet Lounge (for a memorable show with Porsches and the Autobahn) to Black Cat’s mainstage and The R’N'R hotel with The Whips. They also toured, all over, and survived.They are doing a NYE blowout show at the Blagden Alley on the 31st and can be seen on Black Cat’s Mainstage on January 6th 2006).

did you all get that?
marked up in calendars, purchasing lists etc….?
good.
better.
excellent.