tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38690201283270104792024-03-13T04:36:07.992-07:00A Slick GimmickKylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-32022803572938268892016-02-16T13:06:00.000-07:002016-02-16T13:06:28.468-07:00The Last 17 Days - 5 Years LaterOver the years, 217 (or just 17) and I have been inseparable. It's ridiculous how much I love it, but I'm cool with that because it's also ridiculous how much it actually shows up in my life. Exactly five years ago, I was counting down the few hours I had left as a 17-year-old. I wanted desperately to capture who I was at that point in my life. Each of the 17 days leading up to my 18th birthday, I made a list: my 17 favorite movies, the 17 most influential places in my life, the 17 most memorable moments from my 17 years. It's all here on my blog. On the final night, I left myself some encouraging words along with a video talking about the whole thing. The entire experience was incredibly rewarding because of the intensity with which I reflected on my entire life up to that point.<div>
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Now, on my last day of 22, I regret not having repeated the whole thing. I want to remake the lists to see what's changed, record another message, and more. Truth be told, I didn't realize I was in the five-year anniversary of the 17-day countdown until it was already halfway over. I haven't had the time to put anything together since, and I although I'll probably get around to it in the months ahead, I want to write briefly about these five years while I'm in the moment.</div>
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What, exactly, has happened in those five years? Two of them, the first and the last, were spent at the University. Two more were in Germany, where I served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints. The remainder of the time was scattered. I had a metal bar inserted into my chest and removed 3 1/2 years later. I contracted Lyme Disease from a tick in Hof, Germany. I developed and then defeated skin cancer. I had two implants to finally complete my smile. I began working full time. I started channels on Twitch and YouTube. I'm currently building up a personal radio station. I made a few short films, composing a song for one. I went to dozens of concerts, watched and played hundreds of movies and games. I took my song collection from 4,700 to nearly 12,000.</div>
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And 217? Holy wow. The CVC code on my credit card was 217. My extension at work is 217. God welcomed me to me mission with 17, the station at which I happened to be dropped off at when I got to the MTC. There were, of course, dozens of less significant instances and probably a few I can't remember at the moment, but enough of what happened in that time. What about who I am? What's changed there?</div>
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The shear amount of information I poured out on all of those blog posts five years ago was overwhelming, even to me as I look back. On the final day, however, I centered the entire endeavor on the two most valuable parts, both of which I will replicate today. First was a list of the 217 most influential songs in my life, which do more to describe me than anything else could. I'll remake that list according to 22-year-old Kyle and stream it on my web radio station all day tomorrow. The second was a simple summary of who I was at that time. Here it is, exactly as I wrote it at 17:</div>
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<li>I am passionate, but extremely hesitant to show it.</li>
<li>I am driven by music. It's in my mind, in my heart, in my dreams, in my future. It is everything right now.</li>
<li>I am full of imagination and creativity. I love exploring others' ideas and I'm extremely passionate about my own ideas.</li>
<li>I am thrilled to live righteously. I've sorted things out in my life and I'm ready to let my spirit take me where it wants me to go.</li>
<li>I honestly don't want to go to college; music and writing are where I belong. They are what I truly aspire to.</li>
<li>The thing I want the most right now: to fall in love. There, I said it. I cannot wait until that day...</li>
<li>I am thankful for every little thing that has put me where I am today. I realize that I have great potential. I know that I am fortunate. I am ready to take advantage of it.</li>
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And now, as a 22-year-old:</div>
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<li>I consider creativity paramount to my happiness, with storytelling above all. I'm proud of what I've done with it so far, but I'll always hunger for more. I'm also intent on finding more people who care for what I create.</li>
<li>I am thoroughly obsessed with music. I am convinced there is no limit to my love for it because every year, it's somehow stronger than the year before. As long as it is there, I cannot be broken.</li>
<li>I wish I had more time to do all that I want to. I think that one day, I'll pick something to focus on, but for now, I'm spread thin between numerous aspirations, unsure of where I belong.</li>
<li>I'm continually astounded at just how active my mind is. It keeps me awake for hours every night. It is endlessly imaginative and thoughtful. It continually berates me with school-induced stress and insecurities. It is both my greatest friend and my worst enemy.</li>
<li>I love my God. I haven't been the most diligent in seeking out those things I know He wants for me, but my faith in Him is unwavering and I find much comfort in that.</li>
<li>I'm deeply saddened that I have not yet found love. I am lonelier than I've ever been before and I'm desperate for that to change. I feel like I have much to offer, but no one who wants it.</li>
<li>I am anxious to build my empire, but it would pain me to do so alone. The right time is coming soon, I think, and I can hardly wait for that day.</li>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-72502544189091326842016-01-04T22:16:00.000-07:002017-03-24T13:46:15.762-07:00Best of 2015 - SongsNearly 1,000 songs make up the music portion of my year, equal parts returning favorites and newcomers. It is, without a doubt, the single strongest list of songs I have ever presented to anyone.<br />
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Let me give you an idea of how much this list means to me. I spent about ten minutes deciding my favorite movies of the year. About another ten went to the games. Twenty or so were devoted to the albums. And the songs? 4 1/2 hours. I started with all 960 and eliminated them one by one. No joke. I wanted to get this right.<br />
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It wouldn't be hard to find out that some of these songs were first performed in previous years (one of these even showed up in 2012), but because I've always been an album kind of guy, I am tying them to the year in which they are released on an album: 2015.<br />
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This list was not dictated by a critical eye on musicality or any research into the artistry hidden beneath. My heart alone decided and even though I'm giving you an extra set of 17 on top of the normal 51, it was broken a few times by cuts I did not want to make. I urge you to spend some time with these. They have been so good to me.<br />
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68.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21_0VJmAy2I"> In This Love - Stick Figure</a><br />
67. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nikoDHqyqN4">City of Stone - The Hope Arsenal</a><br />
66. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwW4TmRBzLE">Temptation - Active Child</a><br />
65. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DGIRJcTO88">David - Passenger</a> (***language warning)<br />
64. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ngqXZ22Cds">Phoenix - Kaskade ft. Sasha Sloan</a><br />
63. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac4eM99BUHI">Stillness In Woe - Purity Ring</a><br />
62. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKjgvEla7gE">Too Late To Die Young - Beach Slang</a> (***language warning)<br />
61. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4BUbIEtLdA">New York - Boy</a><br />
60. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXeojh_QuWU">New Bohemia - Transviolet</a><br />
59. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHHLHGNpCSA">Waiting For Love - Avicii</a><br />
58. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao9US2Z1X5Q">Pieces - Ms Mr</a><br />
57. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5v4Sr0Gaxw">17 New Years - Polyenso</a><br />
56. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILK0RcnKp3M">Disarm You - Kaskade ft. Ilsey</a><br />
55. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbtbZUmljDI">Sticky Fingers - Above & Beyond ft. Alex Vargas</a><br />
54. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIdS8FtIWz4">Monument - Mutemath</a><br />
53. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1a7o44WxNo">Beautiful Now - Zedd ft. Jon Bellion</a><br />
52. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Jsl-lGfkU">Broken into Better Shape - Good Old War</a><br />
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51. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLAhRiUeJ8E">Without You - Oh Wonder</a><br />
50. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHnwNUr1UQ">The Gates - Young Empires</a><br />
49. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLg4ltuJd2Y">Dawning - The Hope Arsenal</a><br />
48. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrcVS3s5D34">Making Plans - Above & Beyond</a><br />
47. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FErZarSz8jE">Past Life - Lydia</a> (***language warning)<br />
46. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXBR1wR-mo">Above The Clouds Of Pompeii - Bear's Den</a><br />
45. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DelQpfSWL8">Dazzle - Oh Wonder</a><br />
44. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgA80qGzlsQ">Waiting Room - Ace Enders</a><br />
43. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bGva6Y3jRY">Too Late - The Paper Kites</a><br />
42. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeccAtqd5K8">Run Away With Me - Carly Rae Jepsen</a><br />
41. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3pfZ22Wcp8">Uncover Your Eyes - Young Empires</a><br />
40. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzdIoghbFzg">Pure Grinding - Avicii</a><br />
39. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtRDeg60DQo">Tell Me What You Want From Me - Good Old War</a><br />
38. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rihk7_2BVw">Downtown - Majical Cloudz</a><br />
37. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNh49WmPCAI">No Trouble - The Weepies</a><br />
36. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io9ivuo4r6Q">Little Wanderer - Death Cab For Cutie</a><br />
35. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5fHxa7Xzc4">We Were Here - Boy</a><br />
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34. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYCURBSSyXw">Verge - Owl City ft. Aloe Blacc</a><br />
33. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB3rSkiGZiE">The Lovers Side - Shake Shake Go</a><br />
32. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TqQlDMMa4g">Paint My Mind - Lydia</a><br />
31. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyxrmGs_Ckg">Daughter - Sleeping At Last</a><br />
30. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZ492gIU88">Where Snowbirds Have Flown - A Silent Film</a><br />
29. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCZjWd_iecU">Us For Them - Gungor</a><br />
28. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYtpKN8TgM">White Blood - Oh Wonder</a><br />
27. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-PgPZ3F9P4">Crystals - Of Monsters and Men</a><br />
26. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCGFh0Cmkuo">Message in the Sand - A Silent Film</a><br />
25. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcgmVRmgeHg">Words - Passenger</a><br />
24. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JZaxqEuxXU">Hit My Heart - Boy</a><br />
23. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z8zZBBkIRw">Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos</a><br />
22. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MrwLLxyPGc">Heart Hope - Oh Wonder</a><br />
21. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iets6iLm3QY">Our Own House - MisterWives</a><br />
20. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qge9mS3umFk">5AM - Amber Run</a><br />
19. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCly9mdxe3I">Cast Away - Etherwood</a><br />
18. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol4Dko3rw28">Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance) - Silversun Pickups</a><br />
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17. Lone Digger - Caravan Palace</div>
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<i>"They don't know what they're missing."</i></div>
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One of the stranger songs you'll find here, "Lone Digger" intrigued me in the beginning. I returned to it several times, trying to decide if I liked it or not. It's obvious what came of that. Rap, strings, jazz, electronica... it has a little of everything and I wish I had more of it.<u><br /></u><br />
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16. Georgia - Lydia </div>
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<i>"...back when we were trying to find somewhere to rest our bones."</i></div>
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Ever since 2007, when I found Lydia, I'm been able to count on them to release a real gem every time they drop an album. This year, there were actually a few of them, but "Georgia" stands at the forefront. For me, its the perfect mix of their discography up to this point... dialogue from an old school movie like in their first album, a soft piano intro reminiscent of the middle years, and the vocal style of their recent work. A superb track.</div>
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15. The Shade - Metric</div>
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<i>"The embers of a fire, still burning as they die, stay bright to keep us side by side."</i></div>
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Song of the Summer 2015. I remember the same day my dad told me about it, I promptly bought it and listened to it 20 years in a row and then multiple times on every boating trip this summer. I still haven't tired of it. Great summer-themed lyrics, awesome instrumentation, and oh so catchy.</div>
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14. Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis</div>
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<i>"Visualize it."</i></div>
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I was secret hoping this song wouldn't make it so high on the list, but I couldn't resist the truth of just how much I enjoy it. The music video's sketchy at points, but hilarious, as is the song itself. It's infectious, though, and so much fun.</div>
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13. Dancin' To The Sound Of A Broken Heart - Galantis</div>
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<i>"Bear with the madness... us against the world."</i></div>
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Galantis twice in a row! Shortly after Christmas, my sister came into my room asking for suggestions for a song to choreograph a dance to. Although I hadn't heard it yet, my eyes went straight to this song and I thought it was perfect. Its crescendos are stupendous! This was ultimately my pick for the song I listened to at the moment 2015 turned to 2016, which is kind of a big deal.</div>
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12. Mountain At My Gates - Foals</div>
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<i>"Dark clouds gather 'round. Will I run or stand my ground?"</i></div>
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My dad kept recommending the new Foals album to me, but it wasn't until I found out they were opening for my favorite band this year that I gave it a shot. Their live performance of "Mountain At My Gates" was one of the most captivating I've ever experience and I've been addicted to this song ever since. Guitar solo of the year, first off, and then that hard-hitting segment that follows... outstanding.</div>
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11. Livewire - Oh Wonder</div>
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<i>"Your love will take me higher and higher."</i></div>
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Play counts are a bit jumbled now that I use iTunes at home and Google music on my phone everywhere else, but I'm nearly certain that "Livewire" is my most played song of the year. Somewhere in the process of becoming increasingly enamored by it, it picked up the identity "the song I'm definitely going to play at my wedding reception". I find the verses very easy to relate to, and can't wait for the chorus's 'livewire' part in my own life. This song will not soon be forgotten.</div>
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10. Ragamuffin - Silversun Pickups</div>
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<i>"Fighting fires with water guns, this ragamuffin has swallowed enough."</i></div>
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I love the album as a whole, but this is as far as my favorite band makes it in the song list. "Ragamuffin" is the sort of song I consider epic. A solid six-minute length complete with multiple strong sections and a dynamic progression. The gradual crescendo in the first half is awesome. It belongs in some big scene in an action film, but for now I'm satisfied with it blasting as I cruise down the highway.</div>
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9. Clearest Blue - CHVRCHES</div>
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<i>"Will you meet me more than halfway?"</i></div>
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Another crescendo-based song, <i>Clearest Blue</i> has what is probably my favorite musical climax of the year. "Will you meet me more than halfway!?!?" and then bam... I LOVE that moment. Best when heard at an above-reasonable volume in downtown Salt Lake in my experience. Doesn't last long enough.</div>
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8. Dust - Trevor Hall</div>
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<i>"...hoping one day you will see that what's inside of you is what's inside of me."</i></div>
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Each year, there's some definitive point at which we hit a new level of songs, a group that's somehow clearly more sacred to me than the others. This time, we begin with that extra meaningful set a bit earlier than usual because of the high quality of music present. I can't express how much I love this song's lyrics. It's sad, really sad, but sincere. To be honest myself, I think 2015 was the loneliest year of my life, which is largely why I fell so deep into the music of the year, but songs like "Dust" lifted me higher than I would have been without them.</div>
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7. Burning Your Eyes In The Sun - Ace Enders</div>
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<i>"Looking for the worst? Well, the worst is gonna grab you."</i></div>
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The highlight from my favorite songwriter, "Burning Your Eyes In The Sun" made me appreciate him even more. I've heard others speak of creative kindred spirits, of finding an artist that speaks to you more than any other. Ace Enders is that person for me. To think of all of the tears of joy over the years and then remember that I actually met him this year adds a cherished weight to this song and those to come.</div>
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6. I Found - Amber Run</div>
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<i>"I'll use you as a focal point so I don't lose sight of what I want."</i></div>
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"I Found" is solemn, but precious. I love the music video. I love the vocals. I love the composition. It's another sad one, but I'm not saddened by it, if that makes sense. I find it relieving to connect with its message, to empathize with its story simply because it is so heartfelt and well-thought out. Songs like these are the ones that bare a musician's soul and I cherish that part of music.</div>
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5. Kill V. Maim - Grimes</div>
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<i>"I'm only a man and I do what I can."</i></div>
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I'm laughing out loud at this one. Sometimes, a bizarre track manages to get pretty far up on the list. This is the most bizarre of them all and I am obsessed without reservation. "Kill V. Maim", as Grimes' rage song, won me over straight away and will not let me go. You may cringe or roll you eyes. I just headbang the whole dang song long.</div>
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4. Through Houston - Anadel</div>
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<i>"I close my eyes and I see his hand tightly clasped inside your arm and I wish to God that it was min</i><i>e."</i></div>
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We have a lot of this sort of song on the list this year, one of desperate hope only barely surviving the maw of encroaching despair. It begins "I watch the coast for signs of life. Was this storm just in my troubled mind?" and carries on from there as my favorite song of the years in terms of lyrics. For the first half of the year, it flew high above the rest of the playing field, but alas, it was not to be #1.</div>
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3. Agape - Bear's Den</div>
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<i>"I don't wanna know who I am without you."</i></div>
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It's a difficult toss-up between these top three songs. I'd be happy with any of them as #1, but I feel I've got them in the right order nonetheless. First off, kudos to Bear's Den for teaching me a fantastic new word. Agape (aah-guh-pay) is a word for love in its purest form, completely free of all sexual implication, as in the love a soldier has for his brother in battle or the love God has for each one of us. It can, of course, still be applied in a romantic sense, which the song does in a touching way. I found this one in the last week of the year and I'm incredibly grateful for that.</div>
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2. Waves - The Dear Hunter</div>
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<i>"In the breaths between the ones we meant to breathe, I had my head under my feet."</i></div>
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I knew I'd found something special the first time I watched this music video and heard its song. (Best music video of the year, by the way). The drums are perfect. The strings are perfect. The backing vocals are perfect. Each element adds so much to the song and in the end, the piece is quite complex and I can't help but envy the talent behind it. It flows so nicely. It sounds amazing.</div>
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1. All We Do - Oh Wonder</div>
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<i>"All we do is chase the day."</i></div>
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This turnout gives me slight deja vu from 2012, where it was neck-in-neck between song #2, an ode to love with a fantastic music video, and #1, a much more mellow, sober song. 2012's #1, however, spoke of undying love. "All We Do" is much less hopeful, drawing attention to the sad shortcomings of human nature. "All we do is hide away... all we do is lie in wait...all we do is play it safe." But the song doesn't strike me as one entirely depressed by these truths, but rather as one that has come to terms with them. Some dreams die. Some days are failures. Some endings don't seem right. C'est la vie. It's a profound message, but, musically speaking, simplicity wins another year.</div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-23416537186057807622016-01-04T20:39:00.001-07:002016-01-04T20:39:17.452-07:00Best of 2015 - Albums<div style="text-align: center;">
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My annual best songs list is certainly a stronger showcase of any particular year's best music, but I'll always listen to music by albums, the books to their songs' chapters. My favorite songwriter, my favorite band from my high school years, and my current favorite band all brought something to the table. How did they fare against 2015's newcomers? Here are the strongest musical narratives of the year. The numbers in parentheses represent how many songs from each album made it into my best song countdown.</div>
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10. We Are All We Need - Above & Beyond (2)</div>
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Above & Beyond has been working on music continually since I first found them seven years ago, but <i>We Are All We Need</i> is their first record in a long time. As a sizable collection of years of work, this album offers many excellent tracks that, although originally unveiled alone, mesh very well with one another. In a year where I invested more time and money into electronic albums than ever before, this 15-song set is the best I heard.</div>
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9. Blue Leaves - Etherwood (1)</div>
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Etherwood is also a DJ, but his unique sound seems more at home in the R&B genre. Defined largely by its rapid drumming and simple piano lines, his music is some of the most refreshing I've stumbled upon in recent years. The album as a whole can feel monotonous at times, but enough variety is applied to the prevailing pattern throughout its run time that I found it a very strong project in the end.</div>
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8. Islands - Bear's Den (2)</div>
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<i>Islands</i> is another album that spans years of work, but it's the band's debut. I was firmly impressed by at least half of its ten tracks, which was exciting because I found quite a few similar-sounding bands this year that simply did not live up to my initial impression while Bear's Den went well beyond. I applaud the band for the emotional power that so effortlessly flows through their compositions. As an aspiring songwriter who struggles to do the same, I find it truly extraordinary.</div>
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7. Broken Into Better Shape - Good Old War (2)</div>
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<i>Broken Into Better Shape</i> is loads of fun. It's not particularly bold musically speaking, and some may even call it generic, but I find joy in every song. This feel-good set of songs won over more of my time than any other as the year came to an end. I think its messages are both heart-felt and eye-opening and its general optimism was a great transition into a new year.</div>
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6. #HIRAETH (2)</div>
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One of my favorite moments of the year was meeting my favorite songwriter, Ace Enders. He's worked in a few different bands over the years (including I Can Make a Mess, winner of my 2010 and 2013 albums of year), but never before has he released a full-blown solo album. Its release came as a total surprise in the middle of October and I quickly fell in love. It would rank higher if not so short, but it actually provides a good amount of extremely catchy songs in its short span. I couldn't have expected anything less from Ace.</div>
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5. We Were Here - Boy (3)</div>
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<i>We Were Here</i> is another fairly short album, which nearly discouraged me from picking it up at all. One third of its songs made it into my songs list so I'm glad I did. Boy's songwriting is simple, but almost immediately latched onto my heart in a way I can't explain. Its honest words are a major part of it, but I'm not so sure what it is about the music itself that I just can't get enough of. More likely than with the other albums on this list, this is one I think most everyone can enjoy.</div>
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4. Cathedrals - The Hope Arsenal (2)</div>
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<i>Cathedrals </i>is so obscure that I couldn't find the version of the cover that isn't an advertisement online, which is a real shame because I was shocked by its overwhelming beauty. This is the year's best kept secret. Massive orchestral pieces and folksy acoustic guitar tracks combine to construct an original journey for which the gorgeous album cover is a good.</div>
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3. Run Wild - Lydia (3)</div>
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Lydia, once my favorite band, has had hit-and-miss records for the last several years. There are always a song or two I really enjoy, but their last three albums weren't my favorite. This year, however, they won me back in a big way with <i>Run Wild</i>, so much so that I attended two of their concerts this year and snagged the chance to meet the whole band. I love this album from beginning to end.</div>
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2. Better Nature - Silversun Pickups (2)</div>
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The Silversun Pickups!!! With The Dangerous Summer recently disbanded, my "favorite band" position became a void that needed to be filled. The Silversun Pickups rose to the occasion by reminding me how much I've loved them over the years and throwing another excellent album into the collection. I was honestly disappointed after the first playthrough, but after a few months of listening, along with their thrilling SLC concert, I was sold.</div>
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1. Oh Wonder - Oh Wonder (6)<br />
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That's right. Six songs from one CD. Never before has an album had such a strong presence among my favorites. A brand new couple, Oh Wonder set out last September to write and release one song every month for a year. The result (and then some) is this self-titled album, 15 songs strong, which I've decided is one of the best albums I've heard in my entire life, nearly perfect according to my personal taste. No matter who you are, I highly recommend at least one full playthrough. It's the very best I have to offer this time around.</div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-72798047688461617912016-01-03T19:14:00.001-07:002016-01-03T19:14:08.642-07:00Best of 2015 - Video Games<div style="text-align: justify;">
Society keeps trying to tell me that gaming is a childish waste of time. Countless times this year, I asked myself if that was true, which was an internal debate of particular gravity for me personally because I'm devoting my extremely demanding college career to game development. Each time I questioned myself, I was reminded that my strongest passion is storytelling. It's the reason I want to be an author. It's the reason I look so closely at song lyrics. I was also reminded that this passion began with video games. Gaming is, in my opinion, the very best medium for stories because you don't just watch or read game narratives. You write them. You live them. It can be a deceptive waste of time when mishandled, yes, but I don't regret these games' strong presence in my 2015.</div>
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10. Mad Max</div>
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Even more beautiful and stylistically impressive than its film counterpart is <i>Mad Max, </i>the game, which breaks the traditional video game tie-in mold by being completely separate from the movie in terms of narrative and characters. This Max certainly isn't Tom Hardy's Max, and the world surrounding him is much more massive and diverse, feeling more at home in the game format. As the very last choice I allowed myself to purchase this year, this title turned out to be well worth my time.</div>
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9. Resident Evil: Revelations 2</div>
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Horror was a strong genre this year, and one of its highlights is <i>Resident Evil: Revelations 2</i>. I played the game through cooperatively with my sister in what were definitely the most memorable hours of gaming in the past twelve months. The Resident Evil series is notorious for making you feel weak, heightening suspense in intense moments and quiet ones alike. I enjoyed every bit of the tension.</div>
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8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt</div>
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The Game Awards named <i>Witcher 3</i> the best game of the year. I'm almost certain I'd rank it higher if I'd had more time with it, but here it stands for now. The overriding story isn't one I'm particularly fascinated with, but the writing that backs it is impeccable. The interactions feel real. The fantasy language is a joy. The character building is superb. Even minor characters are given more essence than some of the shallow protagonists the film industry throws at us. I can't wait to dive deeper.</div>
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7. Dying Light</div>
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Mix zombies and parkour and you have <i>Dying Light</i>. I thought it somewhat mundane at first glance, but then found myself somewhat addicted to the thrills it provides with its occasional parkouring zombies and exhilarating night chases. </div>
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6. Ori and the Blind Forest</div>
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If someone were to ask me to prove the worth of gaming as a storytelling medium, I'd first point them to <i>Ori and the Blind Forest. </i>Its first ten minutes are some of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching in the history of gaming. I don't usually spend much time with platformers, especially those as difficult as Ori, but I couldn't miss this talked-up adventure.</div>
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5. Batman: Arkham Knight</div>
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As a character, Batman isn't my favorite, but as far as superheroes go, he always seems to get the best movies and games. In fact, with so many, the word "overdone" threatens to put a damper on each new project, which is why I put this game aside until the last week of the year. Sure enough, it is a blast. The addition of the Batmobile gameplay is simply awesome. I was hooked from the first minute.</div>
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4. Life is Strange</div>
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A few years ago, Telltale Games got a good thing going with its widely acclaimed "interactive film" games starting with its rendition of <i>The Walking Dead. </i>Five games later, a few other developers have joined in on the episodic format. Some were disappointing, and then there's <i>Life is Stange</i>, which, for many, breathed new life into the concept. The dialogue is much too vulgar and hideously teenager-ish for me to give the title my full support (I swear Max, if you say "hella" one more time...). Still, the time manipulation and natural phenomena elements made this a refreshingly interesting experience.</div>
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3. White Night</div>
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<i>White Night</i>, our horror star of the year, is nothing like anything else I've played. The haunted mansion you explore is presented in a clean-cut black and white, and I mean only black and only white. The ghosts roaming around are distorted, blurry forms, which, although hard to describe here, come across as incredibly disturbing. All your character can do it is avoid them with the help of his severely limited stash of matches. Excellent, noir-style writing join with fantastic gameplay to make <i>White Night</i> one of a kind.</div>
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2. Tales from the Borderlands</div>
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Tales from the Borderlands, my new favorite series from Telltale Games, takes spot 2 on a merit few games even try for: humor. The Borderlands series itself has always been one of the funniest, but this version is funny like no other and each of the game's 7+ major characters are a joy to watch and even better when placed side by side. I love it for so many reasons: the over-the-top story, the awesome music sequences, the inclusion of Chris Hardwick and Patrick Warburton (Kronk from the Emperor's New Groove). A fun story, if there ever was one.</div>
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1. The Rise of the Tomb Raider</div>
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For the two years I spent on my mission, I patiently anticipated the new <i>Tomb Raider</i> more than any other game I missed. It's the first game I played when I got home and it turned out to be good. Just good. Turns out the game I should have been excited for was its sequel: <i>The Rise of the Tomb Raider</i>. This is, hands-down, the most beautiful game I have ever played. Breathtaking vistas wait at every turn. Lara's movement feels real with every step. The survival and puzzle elements are equally rewarding. And high praise goes to the genre's new developers for steering clear of the highly sexualized Lara Croft of years past. The new Lara is crafty, courageous, and endlessly persevering. I adore her and I adore this game.</div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-14753559383423401662016-01-02T22:26:00.000-07:002016-01-03T17:36:29.120-07:00Best of 2015 - MoviesEveryone knows 2015 was a year of huge releases, ending with the biggest of them all (perhaps the biggest of all time here soon). I rolled my eyes at some, but fell right into the general admiration surrounding others. My 2015 list consists of the widely acclaimed and scarcely watched alike. Although sequels ultimately came out on top, you'll see some much-appreciated original ideas as well.<br />
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10. Ant-Man</div>
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Moviegoers may well be getting tired of the rehashed superhero film formula, and I'm losing interest myself, but <i>Ant-Man</i> was just different enough to make me care. The plot wasn't anything special, and the characters, although somewhat unique in the Marvel movie universe, weren't my favorite end. I liked the movie a lot, however, because Ant-Man's ability, which was extremely well-executed visually, is a lot of fun to watch. I also adore that the hero's incentive is the wellness of his daughter because it's... well, adorable.</div>
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9. Unfriended</div>
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When I saw the trailer for <i>Unfriended</i>, I thought the concept was laughable and didn't take it seriously for one second. Then I had a strong craving for some horror and gave it a go, finding it genuinely unsettling and satisfyingly original. The entire movie is the desktop of a teenager engaged in a video chat with friends. One of their peers, who recently committed suicide, shows up online and all of the clever social media elements that take off from there are a treat, especially the creepy video-buffering distortions as seen above. Best horror film of the year if you ask me.</div>
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8. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials</div>
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Yes, the <i>Scorch Trials</i> has terribly underwhelming writing. I winced at every cliché "what the hell was that!?" and "keep moving!". Still, I enjoyed the overriding plot, minus its cringeworthy moments, and I like the characters as well, cheesy lines aside. The real strength here, however, is the stunning visuals. The ruined city looked amazing and the portrayal of zombies was riveting in comparison with other recent interpretations. Far superior to the prequel for me.</div>
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7. Mad Max</div>
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<i>Mad Max</i> is crazy. Not a sort of crazy that I was entirely crazy about, but I appreciate its unique visual style all the same. I applaud it first and foremost for the excellent characters, both heroes and villains, that make this movie so entertaining, if not somewhat over-the-top. <i>Mad Max</i> stands out as a perfect example of an action film that doesn't bow down to any formula or expectation.</div>
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6. The Martian</div>
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<i>The Martian</i>'s cast was my favorite part, and it was a huge one. The film did a great job of creating a sweet-sounding harmony between the stories of the lone Martian and his intelligent ramblings, his heartbroken crew floating in space, and the characters back on Earth with all of their politics and debate. The genius behind the film owes itself to the book from which it's derived. Still, the film was just about flawless in execution.</div>
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5. Love and Mercy</div>
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<i>Love and Mercy</i>, the heart-touching retelling of the life of Brian Wilson, leader of The Beach Boys, is a movie I can intimately relate to. It centers on two periods of Brian's life: the band's peak years where Brian begins to be overwhelmed by the obligations of being a popular creative genius, and decades later when he finds himself again after meeting his wife. The acting is fantastic. The story is endearing. The conflicts are real.</div>
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4. Inside Out</div>
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Critical acclaim and mega bucks aside, Pixar's recent films haven't intrigued me. <i>Inside Out</i>, on the other hand, is genius. It's story, centered on the enigma that is the human psyche, is one that's extremely hard to tell, but one that needed to be, and Pixar blew me away with how well they did it. It's packed to the brim with the sort of clever jokes I just devoured. Dreaming, imagination, memories, interests, emotions... cohesive, comprehensive, and brilliant.</div>
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3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</div>
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Here's the hidden gem of 2015, the film I was afraid I wouldn't find: <i>Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</i>. It's endlessly quirky and even somewhat nonsensical, but the climax moment was perhaps the single most emotionally-packed moment of my life this year. Moreover, the concluding message left me in silent contemplation for a good thirty minutes after the movie was over. Go watch this movie if you're looking for a fresh take on something that matters.</div>
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2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron</div>
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Yeah, I know...all that talk of the mediocrity of superhero movies. The Avengers, though... The Avengers are different. My favorite part of storytelling has always been the characters. Put a team of them together and I am there. And <i>Age of Ultron</i> does it so well. Every character has his or her shortcomings and vital moments, throwing away the typical 'I can take on the entire world single handedly' vibe and turning toward a desperate need for cooperation, which is the type of story I crave. That and the two new characters are my favorite.</div>
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1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens</div>
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No surprises here. I'm a fan of both the originals and the prequels and I think our introduction to the third trilogy is a fine union of the former's narrative strength and the latter's visual strength. It has a lot of things I would have asked for: great new characters I can cling to (pictured above), exciting sequences, an expanded look at the Star Wars universe, and even a female lead. Still no massive Jedi battles like I've always wanted, but I'm happy with what we got and I hope it goes on to break all of the records in the weeks ahead.</div>
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And your favorites?</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-68674920653973116002016-01-01T16:48:00.002-07:002016-01-04T22:17:47.459-07:00Best of 2015 - IntroductionHoly wow, what a year. 2015 doesn't find value in terms of major life moments for me, but rather in its immensity in terms of art and storytelling. With this very moment in mind (the unveiling of the Best of 2015) from the very first day of the year, I intended to keep creative exploration at the center of my life. With my drawing class in the spring semester, I suddenly became a decent visual artist. With my film production class in the fall, I proved myself as a brand new filmmaker. I purchased three new instruments this year: an electronic drumset, an acoustic guitar, and a keyboard. I bought a microphone and other equipment to begin streaming games on Twitch, where I spent a lot of time this year. I also started my YouTube account, which has since been wiped in preparation for a few 2016 ideas. My passion for creation soared higher than ever, and so did my desire to discover what others create. I broke all of my personal records.<br />
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<li>9 concerts this year (Echosmith, Lord Huron w/ Leon Bridges, Best Bands of Utah 2015, Purity Ring, The MisterWives, Silversun Pickups w/ Foals, Lydia, The Early November w/ Lydia, and Mae)</li>
<li>20 movies seen from 2015</li>
<li>40 games played</li>
<li>17 EPs</li>
<li>71 albums</li>
<li>962 songs, beating 2012's count of 888</li>
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I've been anxious for this reveal since January 1st. These are the games that saved me from the most demanding semester of my life, the movies that kept me company in the late hours of lonely nights, the music that made the bad days good and the great days even better. These are the stories that fed my deep love of storytelling, that satiated my craving for original ideas and powerful moments, that elicited the feelings of love, joy, and vim that I had hoped to feel. In my eyes, the best 2015 had to offer.</div>
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Enjoy.</div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-of-2015-movies.html">Best Movies of 2015</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-of-2015-video-games.html">Best Games of 2015</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-of-2015-albums.html">Best Albums of 2015</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-of-2015-songs.html">Best Songs of 2015</a></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-74694554742854268012015-01-19T18:30:00.000-07:002017-03-24T13:51:21.103-07:00Best of 2014 - SongsThis list is much different from last year's. A bit more mature, perhaps. More electronic in general, for sure. The biggest difference, though, is the number of new artists. With my two favorite bands and others splitting this year, I knew I had to take a different direction in my search for good music and try out some new groups. Where 2013 was a battle of many returning favorites, 2014 is a new chapter made of up-and-comers with good timing. 36 of these 51 songs, including the top 3, are from artists you've never seen on my blog before. They've grown on me quickly and I hope you enjoy them as well.<br />
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Love and the struggle for it are clear themes among the group, often accompanied with a bittersweet sincerity and not-so-happy endings. Through the length of the list, a battle between high energy and relaxing composition persists. That's often the case among my favorites, but this time I feel emphasized extremes. It all comes down to a final dual where, ultimately, high energy seized the top spot. This list is still somewhat of a novelty to me, but I foresee many of these new finds becoming old favorites.<br />
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Here they are, the best 2014 had to offer for someone deeply in love with music:<br />
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51. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaNOqkDVxF8">In Harmony - Ásgeir</a><br />
50. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqKRjYxpkqY">I Want You - Tina Dico</a><br />
49. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu2mVP6xee0">Tremors - Sohn</a><br />
48. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcuhbdPiifA">Insel - Juli</a><br />
47. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Zadmfk9pA">Wild and Wasted - Blondfire</a><br />
46. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKlbCjNCDn4">Don't Leave - Seven Lions ft. Ellie Goulding</a><br />
45. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2SYDIzrePY">Green and Gold - Lanterns On The Lake </a><br />
44. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrkF8rWFvQU">The Wild Life - Vacationer</a><br />
43. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0E5aWv0YdA">You Haunt Me - Sir Sly</a><br />
42. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYjunrxUyAc">Cannibal - Silversun Pickups</a><br />
41.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQeMxWjpr-Y"> Midnight - Coldplay</a><br />
40. This Love - Taylor Swift (copyright block)<br />
39. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVnr8ue_qSI">Hold Me Tight - Berlinist</a><br />
38. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8JhkiWR114">Sordid Affair - Röyksopp ft. Man Without Country</a><br />
37. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFqFaYOYdUg">Muscle Memory - Lights</a><br />
36. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVq9qfPTrYs">Eyes Off You - Bombay Bicycle Club</a><br />
35. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-5XG-DbAA">Stay With Me - Sam Smith</a><br />
34. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkeDBwsIaZw">Wasting My Young Years - London Grammar</a><br />
33. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK6ARWG7uBs">Going Down - The Cinema</a><br />
32. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwlgC-jSPTk">Luna - Bombay Bicycle Club</a><br />
31. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs_El8raCAY">Running With The Boys - Lights</a><br />
30. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDuYFONO4QU">Body - Niia</a><br />
29. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPRjCeoBqrI">A Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay</a><br />
28. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ZlADL1TqM">Whispers - Passenger</a><br />
27. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WZh49lA9ns">Warm Foothills - Alt-J</a><br />
26. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE_TKkNi9E8">Discoloration - Dawn Golden</a><br />
25. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnmzqnJtNb4">Perfect World - Broken Bells</a><br />
24. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD7NZTQ3QxY">Ten Tonne Skeleton - Royal Blood</a><br />
23. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5A0jzfu8Y">Atonement - Anberlin</a><br />
22. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVqqAxDughw">We Are Giants - Lindsey Stirling ft. Dia Frampton</a><br />
21. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5yRKJ-gU48&list=RDK5yRKJ-gU48">Long Long Way - Damien Rice</a><br />
20. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2C3v1a7OY">Wasteland - Needtobreathe</a><br />
19. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD183JiWYGM">Background - Barcelona</a><br />
18. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFl7DhdGGzo">Up We Go - Lights</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">17. Say Something - A Great Big World</span></div>
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<i>"Anywhere, I would've followed you"</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">16. Fellow Feeling - Porter Robinson</span></div>
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<i>"And now, I cry for all that is beautiful."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">15. Always In My Head - Coldplay</span></div>
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<i>"This, I guess, is to tell you you're chosen out from the rest."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">14. The Brink - The Jezabels</span></div>
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<i>"We all wanted something real."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">13. Sad Machine - Porter Robinson</span></div>
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<i>"We depend on you."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">12. No Country - The Jezabels</span></div>
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<i>"Gotta get made of make-believe."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">11. Fire Escape - Foster the People</span></div>
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<i>"All the young faces come and replace the dying ones."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Fall in Love - Barcelona</span></div>
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<i>"If forever's gonna last then we'd better find the same direction."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. All This Love - Angus & Julia Stone</span></div>
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<i>"All of me is all for you."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Break the Cycle - You+Me</span></div>
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<i>"Love is louder than all your pain."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Say My Name - Odesza</span></div>
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<i>"I always fall for confidence and your compliments look good on me."</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdzI-191xhU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Love Don't Go - The Family Crest</span></div>
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<i>"We went off with a spark, but you were left out in the dark."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Back To Life - Wolf Gang</span></div>
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<i>"I wouldn't be the man I am without your love."</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MFebOGaHrkM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Beat To Beat - The Jezabels</span></div>
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<i>"Want a medal? Start a war."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Last Train - Dawn Golden</span></div>
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(*Language Warning*)</div>
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<i>"I'll be right here when you call my name, waiting."</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/a221WbLL2RM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. When the Lights Go Out - The Family Crest</span></div>
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<i>"Know that I am with you here."</i></div>
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Something worth mentioning here... this is my sixth year doing this.</div>
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Best song of 2009 was solo piano</div>
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2010 was bass-led soft rock</div>
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2011 was pure-energy from a DJ </div>
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2012 was solo piano</div>
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2013 was bass-led soft rock</div>
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2014? </div>
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Yeah, you guessed it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Divinity - Porter Robinson ft. Amy Millan</span></div>
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<i>"We will wait for this."</i></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-22458625864336676152015-01-19T14:50:00.000-07:002015-12-21T12:55:27.781-07:00Best of 2014 - Albums<div style="text-align: center;">
10. <i>Love Me/Love You/Know Love</i> - Barcelona</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ0zmBzwL4U/VZt6m0mFSwI/AAAAAAAACrQ/HB47Ftm-IKE/s1600/Love%2BMe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ0zmBzwL4U/VZt6m0mFSwI/AAAAAAAACrQ/HB47Ftm-IKE/s320/Love%2BMe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_mOXtLawmk/VZt6og8XEeI/AAAAAAAACrg/prlxCmc9o9g/s1600/Love%2BYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_mOXtLawmk/VZt6og8XEeI/AAAAAAAACrg/prlxCmc9o9g/s320/Love%2BYou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ezIrG_QlCHU/VZt6lsz5cJI/AAAAAAAACrI/BQSlVNXcs54/s1600/Know%2BLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ezIrG_QlCHU/VZt6lsz5cJI/AAAAAAAACrI/BQSlVNXcs54/s320/Know%2BLove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. <i>Insel </i>- Juli</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Wb_oVywzs/VZt6iBV0EbI/AAAAAAAACq8/5JTJtsYOtJM/s1600/Insel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F7Wb_oVywzs/VZt6iBV0EbI/AAAAAAAACq8/5JTJtsYOtJM/s320/Insel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. <i>If You Wait </i>- London Grammar</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N67k08dnvM4/VZt6g6gNssI/AAAAAAAACqw/TBKOSNOMyFU/s1600/If%2BYou%2BWait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N67k08dnvM4/VZt6g6gNssI/AAAAAAAACqw/TBKOSNOMyFU/s320/If%2BYou%2BWait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. <i>Still Life </i>- Dawn Golden</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWlB3JF-UBs/VZt6noN1r0I/AAAAAAAACrU/zoo09UgWy90/s1600/Still%2BLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWlB3JF-UBs/VZt6noN1r0I/AAAAAAAACrU/zoo09UgWy90/s320/Still%2BLife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. <i>Alveron</i> - Wolf Gang</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djgOoCkCuOg/VZt6eWjfM2I/AAAAAAAACqg/sZMVjyhp7vE/s1600/Alveron.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djgOoCkCuOg/VZt6eWjfM2I/AAAAAAAACqg/sZMVjyhp7vE/s320/Alveron.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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5. <i>Ghost Stories</i> - Coldplay</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZR_AbilF5U/VZt6g-01CGI/AAAAAAAACqo/ZynnBWv0nX4/s1600/Ghost%2BStories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZR_AbilF5U/VZt6g-01CGI/AAAAAAAACqo/ZynnBWv0nX4/s320/Ghost%2BStories.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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4. <i>Whispers</i> - Passenger</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VdUK5khouQ/VZt6qKp-ONI/AAAAAAAACrs/otetgQ_0B7E/s1600/Whispers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VdUK5khouQ/VZt6qKp-ONI/AAAAAAAACrs/otetgQ_0B7E/s320/Whispers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. <i>Beneath the Brine </i>- The Family Crest</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PSrO3mxGc/VZt6g4EkPzI/AAAAAAAACqs/6vswfkA28tI/s1600/Beneath%2Bthe%2BBrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PSrO3mxGc/VZt6g4EkPzI/AAAAAAAACqs/6vswfkA28tI/s320/Beneath%2Bthe%2BBrine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. <i>Worlds</i> - Porter Robinson</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYt2sG1UI94/VZt6qyTqSSI/AAAAAAAACr4/TUD79z6enmk/s1600/Worlds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vYt2sG1UI94/VZt6qyTqSSI/AAAAAAAACr4/TUD79z6enmk/s320/Worlds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1. <i>The Brink</i> - The Jezabels</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xu9wywa15o/VZt6p3EIDAI/AAAAAAAACrk/mhowqm5Z-3k/s1600/The%2BBrink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xu9wywa15o/VZt6p3EIDAI/AAAAAAAACrk/mhowqm5Z-3k/s320/The%2BBrink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-26208158157763091522015-01-19T14:49:00.001-07:002015-12-21T12:52:54.013-07:00Best of 2014 - Video GamesLucky me got a hold of a cheap Xbox One from a cousin just before the year ended, which is where I played eight of my top ten games from the year. I still have dozens of hours left to go before I've completed them all, but here's where they stand based on what I've seen.<br />
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10. The Wolf Among Us</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEHLg6hc9lo/VRTSGu17PMI/AAAAAAAABpc/fdFYXe5_3xQ/s1600/Wolf%2BAmong%2BUs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEHLg6hc9lo/VRTSGu17PMI/AAAAAAAABpc/fdFYXe5_3xQ/s1600/Wolf%2BAmong%2BUs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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9. The Walking Dead: Season 2</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OF22bNzawOg/VRTSKcwQu2I/AAAAAAAABpg/_TLy-5CYuMk/s1600/The%2BWalking%2BDead%2BSeason%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OF22bNzawOg/VRTSKcwQu2I/AAAAAAAABpg/_TLy-5CYuMk/s1600/The%2BWalking%2BDead%2BSeason%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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8. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2w5Zru26RE/VRTSMxrJZVI/AAAAAAAABps/JKyrD4Iz6RM/s1600/Shadow%2Bof%2BMordor%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2w5Zru26RE/VRTSMxrJZVI/AAAAAAAABps/JKyrD4Iz6RM/s1600/Shadow%2Bof%2BMordor%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Child of Light</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwMppHzy3tY/VRTSRKX4wOI/AAAAAAAABqA/WNYSxiuUi0c/s1600/Child%2Bof%2BLight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwMppHzy3tY/VRTSRKX4wOI/AAAAAAAABqA/WNYSxiuUi0c/s1600/Child%2Bof%2BLight.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqYgyTF1JEQ/VRTSRhgwOWI/AAAAAAAABp8/8vrpxIsfktk/s1600/Borderlands%2B-%2BThe%2BPresequel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqYgyTF1JEQ/VRTSRhgwOWI/AAAAAAAABp8/8vrpxIsfktk/s1600/Borderlands%2B-%2BThe%2BPresequel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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5. Titanfall</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFpg4Iqoc4w/VRTSR2ZdohI/AAAAAAAABp0/3GRLqTI91v4/s1600/Titanfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFpg4Iqoc4w/VRTSR2ZdohI/AAAAAAAABp0/3GRLqTI91v4/s1600/Titanfall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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4. Sunset Overdrive</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcIp21IUkWQ/VRTSTMucf4I/AAAAAAAABqI/ukcKU4yjDE4/s1600/Sunset%2BOverdrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcIp21IUkWQ/VRTSTMucf4I/AAAAAAAABqI/ukcKU4yjDE4/s1600/Sunset%2BOverdrive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. Destiny</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A--OOHwdmbc/VRTSTugpJcI/AAAAAAAABqE/u6oKb7zW6qc/s1600/Destiny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A--OOHwdmbc/VRTSTugpJcI/AAAAAAAABqE/u6oKb7zW6qc/s1600/Destiny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. Dragon Age: Inquisition</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGF6jv_5oOE/VRTTSl-AkgI/AAAAAAAABqc/pv6u75VVWao/s1600/Dragon%2BAge%2B-%2BInquisition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGF6jv_5oOE/VRTTSl-AkgI/AAAAAAAABqc/pv6u75VVWao/s1600/Dragon%2BAge%2B-%2BInquisition.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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1. Alien: Isolation</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOF97N9f4ek/VRTTT7slYNI/AAAAAAAABqk/by36aOHuKdY/s1600/Alien%2B-%2BIsolation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOF97N9f4ek/VRTTT7slYNI/AAAAAAAABqk/by36aOHuKdY/s1600/Alien%2B-%2BIsolation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-5570600182432036102015-01-19T14:49:00.000-07:002015-12-21T12:54:10.662-07:00Best of 2014 - Movies<div style="text-align: left;">
Regretfully, I didn't have the time to really explore the myriad of 2014 movies, but there were plenty of big releases that I got around to. Here are my favorite movies from the year.</div>
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10. I Origins</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-47NJa6wPM/VRTQBn7y3ZI/AAAAAAAABn8/SWMXSgFZ1Ro/s1600/I%2BOrigins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-47NJa6wPM/VRTQBn7y3ZI/AAAAAAAABn8/SWMXSgFZ1Ro/s1600/I%2BOrigins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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9. Unbroken</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWYRj0066HE/VRTQKvpb9VI/AAAAAAAABoI/RQ9pCvMAmBc/s1600/Unbroken.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWYRj0066HE/VRTQKvpb9VI/AAAAAAAABoI/RQ9pCvMAmBc/s1600/Unbroken.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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8. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7-e02FkkMQ/VRTQKm73H8I/AAAAAAAABoE/teLRl9xKGUw/s1600/The%2BHobbit%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7-e02FkkMQ/VRTQKm73H8I/AAAAAAAABoE/teLRl9xKGUw/s1600/The%2BHobbit%2B3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Imitation Game</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXudsbgC4wg/VRTQbtd061I/AAAAAAAABoU/4cicP80fUTg/s1600/Imitation%2BGame.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXudsbgC4wg/VRTQbtd061I/AAAAAAAABoU/4cicP80fUTg/s1600/Imitation%2BGame.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. Big Hero 6</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqzUqeA-Ms/VRTQj1eVSiI/AAAAAAAABok/xWGnAcXNeCs/s1600/Big%2BHero%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFqzUqeA-Ms/VRTQj1eVSiI/AAAAAAAABok/xWGnAcXNeCs/s1600/Big%2BHero%2B6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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5. Guardians of the Galaxy</div>
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4. Interstellar</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IlwgdpHfpw/VRTQkPnq94I/AAAAAAAABo0/dR9F00i9fGM/s1600/Interstellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4IlwgdpHfpw/VRTQkPnq94I/AAAAAAAABo0/dR9F00i9fGM/s1600/Interstellar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. The LEGO Movie</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpSho9gjOjg/VRTQki_A_FI/AAAAAAAABoo/ClobJwtDOfE/s1600/The%2BLEGO%2BMovie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpSho9gjOjg/VRTQki_A_FI/AAAAAAAABoo/ClobJwtDOfE/s1600/The%2BLEGO%2BMovie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. X-Men: Days of Future Past</div>
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1. Edge of Tomorrow</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqWtHIRllwQ/VRTQ0p-11bI/AAAAAAAABpM/O5h_tpKAMfE/s1600/Edge%2Bof%2BTomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqWtHIRllwQ/VRTQ0p-11bI/AAAAAAAABpM/O5h_tpKAMfE/s1600/Edge%2Bof%2BTomorrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-69793761583805180152015-01-16T23:16:00.004-07:002015-03-26T20:31:23.142-07:00Best of 2014 Intro2014 was a trial of patience for me. I spent the first ten months serving my mission in Germany without the luxury of enjoying the games, movies, and music upon its arrival. Then I spent the last two months wishing there was more time to experience it all. I fit in what I could and still managed a few excellent lists to spotlight my favorites from the year.<br />
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2014 a little more in-depth:<br />
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My first week of the year was in my favorite German city, Kassel. Sadly, I had to move on from there to a place called Leer near the Dutch border. I remained until May, when I moved to Hof in the northern tip of Bavaria. In September, I moved to Berlin, which is where I would live out the grand finale of my two years in Germany.<br />
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I got back home on October 29th. I missed Germany a whole lot, especially when the holidays hit, and I always will. On the plus side, I was incredibly anxious to dive into the wealth of new entertainment, much of which I hadn't even heard of. I was slow in getting to the movies, but my trusty dad had a set of games and albums ready for me, which made me high on life for the entirety of those two months home.<br />
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Enjoy.Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-44201724865882885232014-12-31T03:41:00.001-07:002017-03-24T13:56:13.383-07:00Best of 2013 - SongsHere it is, the crowning glory of my Best Of 2013, as always. Songs are what I spend the most time with and they have a way of occupying my mind that leads me to powerful passions for the best of them. 2013, more than anything, was a return to excellence for some of my favorite artists. Many of my past years' winners of best album and song have shown up for an 'all-stars'-esque showdown. For my two favorite bands, The Dangerous Summer and Moving Mountains, it was the final fight. Both said their goodbyes with this year's efforts. As you can imagine, this group of tunes means a lot to me.<br />
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Hands down, this is THE BEST list of music I have ever presented on this site. Breaking the top 51 has never been as difficult as this. There aren't as many love songs here as in years before. Instead, we have a union of intense struggles and inspiring crescendos, a battle of light melodies and dark harmonies, a tug of war between staying grounded - Anchor, Steady, Safe and Sound - and flying high - Saturn, Atmosphere, Wings... sensational music making at it's finest. Even got some German stuff in there thanks to the mission. I hope you enjoy.<br />
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Champions from before:<br />
2009 Runner-Up: Where I Want to Be - The Dangerous Summer (RIP)<br />
2009 Winner: Changed By You - Between the Trees (RIP)<br />
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2010 Runner-Up: Conversations With Stars (Acoustic) - Brightwood (RIP)<br />
2010 Winner: Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz (RIP)<br />
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2011 Runner-Up: If I've Been Unkind - Lanterns on the Lake<br />
2011 Winner: Eyes - Kaskade<br />
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2012 Runner-Up: Close - Sun Airway<br />
2012 Winner: Hymn For Her - Anchor & Braille<br />
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(Comments to come)<br />
Click on any title to take a listen.<br />
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51. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEfLFhWqTLA">Brim - Ólafur Arnalds</a><br />
50. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTV259Iyr4w">Feather On The Clyde - Passenger</a><br />
49. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR5a3En5Vyk">The War Within - Churchill</a><br />
48. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSfpDlN8Fyg">Applaus, Applaus - Sportfreunde Stiller</a><br />
47. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMJ-aox55fs">Anchor - The Dangerous Summer</a><br />
46. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIicC365p9k">Lions - I Can Make A Mess</a><br />
45. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOcQXmI2Ubc">Hurry Back Tonight - Lydia</a><br />
44. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxX62EpXGVk">Songs of Summer - Gossling ft. Alexander Burnett</a><br />
43. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFEmTsfFL5A">Ain't It Fun - Paramore</a><br />
42. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrmjxjyiDJg">A Stillness - The Naked and Famous</a><br />
41. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA201Qx7yDc">Grenzenlos - Glasperlenspiel</a><br />
40. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT_nvWreIhg">Counting Stars - OneRepublic</a><br />
39. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8sLcvWG1M4">The Raven That Refused To Sing - Steven Wilson</a><br />
38. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBsRvthVhdw">Entertainment - Phoenix</a><br />
37. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78eeMearRPQ">The Night Comes - Eisley</a><br />
36. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSce2_Te6Dc">Human - Daughter</a><br />
35. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFnA-8H-5lo">Don't Swallow the Cap - The National</a><br />
34. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH77Y7HnS38">The Next Ones To Come - Claire</a><br />
33. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQu8FOjJXdI">I Love You - Woodkid</a><br />
32. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwFY-vHu5fQ">Steady - Hey Ocean!</a><br />
31. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_uEHPVUA8">Eastern Leaves - Moving Mountains</a><br />
30. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tloEHS55UxM">Panic - The Sounds</a><br />
29. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euxXBvdrzxQ">Daydreaming - Paramore</a><br />
28. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdwsiBL_2Lc">Feeling the Night - Kaskade ft. Becky Jean Williams</a><br />
27. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmLzlWwk_o">Words As Weapons - Birdy</a><br />
26. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1VH17MDgfQ">Miles Apart - The Dangerous Summer</a><br />
25. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNydjuetsHA">Adaptation Cell - I Can Make A Mess</a><br />
24. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YhD0E2ilxw">Chords - Moving Mountains</a><br />
23. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzovEHVavrE">Swing Set - Moving Mountains</a><br />
22. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0HU3Epuzqg">Give a Little - Tim Bendzko ft. Rea Garvey</a><br />
21. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTXDCh2YiA">Wings - Birdy</a><br />
20. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dtFZ8CFo8">Safe and Sound - Capital Cities</a><br />
19. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAdqgmk2Fbs">Au Revoir - OneRepublic</a><br />
18. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkEvNBILTYA">The Exit - Lydia</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">17. Of The Night - Bastille</span><br />
<i>"Rhythm is a ... soul's companion."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">16. New Love - Hey Ocean!</span><br />
<i>"Thought you said it was true love... now you won't repeat it."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">15. In Two Minds - Claire</span><br />
<i>"Though I claim a streak of your shine, I stick to my guns."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">14. No One Knows Who We Are - Kaskade ft. Lights</span><br />
<i>"We're not searching for a name or looking back the way we came."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">13. Cool Kids - Echosmith</span><br />
<i>"They're driving fast cars, but they don't know where they're going."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">12. Last Chance - Kaskade ft. Project 46</span><br />
<i>"Please don't let me fall."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">11. Ancient Crows - I Can Make A Mess</span><br />
<i>"A fool's take is a blind faith."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Burn It All Down - I Can Make A Mess</span><br />
<i>"Magna Cum Laude would never define me."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Help - Hurts</span><br />
<i>"There's hope in this admission."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Last Hope - Paramore</span><br />
<i>"It's not that I don't feel the pain, it's just I'm not afraid of hurting anymore."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Atmosphere - Kaskade</span><br />
<i>"The lights in the sky weren't that far away."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Bright - Echosmith</span><br />
<i>"You make what doesn't matter fade to gray."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Banner (Acoustic) - Lights</span><br />
<i>"Nobody mapped oblivion."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Tidal Wave - I Can Make A Mess</span><br />
<i>"Painted my mind with an image I can't let go."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Last Mistake - Hey Ocean!</span><br />
<i>"Anything that was left was left behind."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Saturn - Sleeping At Last</span><br />
<i>"With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite."</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Hands - Moving Mountains</span><br />
<i>"I was fighting before I could understand."</i><br />
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<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-83789914797101672182014-12-31T02:51:00.000-07:002015-12-21T12:51:15.072-07:00Best of 2013 - AlbumsThis year in music blew my mind, largely because each of my four favorite artists had new CDs, two of which were farewells. The Dangerous Summer and Moving Mountains, my two favorite bands, both said goodbye to the world after this year, which makes this a especially sentimental "Best Of" round for me. All four of those artists (including Lydia and I Can Make A Mess) held true to my fandom by making it onto this list of the best albums of the year.<br />
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Albums are my favorite. First off, I love collecting the physical copies, scouring through whatever art and lyrics are in there, and then proudly displaying them on my shelf. More so, I love the concept of a well built album. It's like the full story to each song's single chapter. Some chapters are better than others, sure, but a creative, sincere, high-quality album is, for me, the best thing music has to offer. Please, always look into the album when you find an artist or song you enjoy. No wise gold digger mines the surface alone.<br />
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Picking a quantity here usually comes relative to how many I've heard throughout the year. I'll give you the top twelve.<br />
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And what's landed in top spots before?<br />
2009 Runner-Up: Yeah Ghost - Zero 7 (RIP)<br />
2009 Winner: Spain - Between the Trees (RIP)<br />
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2010 Runner-Up: The Way I Fell In - The Morning Of (RIP)<br />
2010 Winner: The World We Know - I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business<br />
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2011 Runner-Up: War Paint - The Dangerous Summer (RIP)<br />
2011 Winner: Waves - Moving Mountains (RIP)<br />
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2012 Runner-Up: Soft Fall - Sun Airway<br />
2012 Winner: Departure Songs - Hammock<br />
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(Comments to come)<br />
(Number in parentheses shows how many songs from the album made it into my best of 2013)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">12. Weekend - The Sounds (1)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">11. Golden Record - The Dangerous Summer (2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Paramore - Paramore (3)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Fire Within - Birdy (2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Talking Dreams - Echosmith (2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. The Great Escape - Claire (2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Devil - Lydia (2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Moving Mountains - Moving Mountains (4)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Enola - I Can Make a Mess (5)</span></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-47733831850338312382014-12-31T02:50:00.004-07:002015-12-21T12:48:38.886-07:00Best of 2013 - Video GamesFor the last birthday I had in my mission, I asked my parents for little else than to have a few video games waiting for me when I got home. I knew beforehand that some great titles were set for release in 2013, I knew I was missing out while everyone else was enjoying them, and now here, at the end, I'm sure that 2013 was a fantastic year for gamers. Furthermore, this top ten list is the strongest I have ever presented here.<br />
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The gaming industry flared up toward the end of the year thanks to the release of the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. For me, however, the greatest experiences of the year came before the update in graphics, and an impressive array it was. More and more, I see video games turning toward lasting storytelling, impressive moments, and clever ideas. Video gaming as a whole isn't the same hack-and-slash, point-hoarding hobby it used to be. Fantastic stories are being told through gaming in ways no other medium could do it. Let's take a look at some examples in my top ten.<br />
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But first, what's dominated in years past?<br />
2009 Runner-Up: Lego Rock Band<br />
2009 Winner: Assassin's Creed 2<br />
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2010 Runner-Up: Mass Effect 2<br />
2010 Winner: Rock Band 3<br />
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2011 Runner-Up: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim<br />
2011 Winner: Deus Ex: Human Revolution<br />
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2012 Runner-Up: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning<br />
2012 Winner: Mass Effect 3<br />
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(Comments to come)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Gone Home</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Dead Rising 3</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7 Saints Row IV</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Bioshock: Infinite</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Beyond: Two Souls</span></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-2137603514046797202014-12-31T02:50:00.003-07:002015-12-21T12:49:43.862-07:00Best of 2013 - MoviesMaking my Best of 2013 work was a challenge. The journey was pressured by limited time and it existed in the shadow of my presiding efforts to experience 2014 to the best of my ability. Fortunately, this list is really my only weak one in the endeavor. Movies were low on the priority list, simply put. I've cut it down to half the normal size for the time being, but I think you'll still find at least one you haven't seen before amongst my picks.<br />
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A brief history of spotlights in this category from years behind us:<br />
2009 Runner-Up: Knowing<br />
2009 Winner: <b>9</b><br />
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2010 Runner-Up: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time<br />
2010 Winner: <b>Inception</b><br />
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2011 Runner-Up: Super 8<br />
2011 Winner: <b>Life in a Day</b><br />
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2012 Runner-Up: Seeking a Friend For the End of the World<br />
2012 Winner: <b>The Hunger Games</b><br />
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(Comments to come)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5 - Coherence</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. World War Z</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Hunger Games: Catching Fire</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Oblivion</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</span></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-58321293964927214862014-12-27T00:54:00.000-07:002014-12-31T18:44:08.290-07:00Best of 2013 IntroTwo years later, here we are again. As many of you know, I spent the past 24 months of my life as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in northern Germany. It was incredible experience altogether, largely because of the many different cities I lived in during that time and the variety of people I met along the way.<br />
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Of course, there are some sacrifices that needed to be made. The one most significant here is the restrictions on media for missionaries. 2 hours a week for e-mailing was all I could expect to have on a computer. Fortunately, I decided to use that time to write to family, friends, and everyone else (to you! ...if you're interested) in my weekly e-mails, which built a separate blog that now has a greater history than this one here. <a href="http://elderkossin.blogspot.com/?zx=ffbf231d73f1a56b">Heilige Erlebnisse</a> (Sacred Experiences):</div>
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If you want an idea of just what those two years were like, that's the place.</div>
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You may have noticed that the last thing I posted here was my 'Best of 2012' collection, which I had to finish up two months before the year had ended. Now I know I'm a lot further from the ideal deadline on this one, but I have to pay respects to 2013 by doing the same. This one's different, of course, because I wasn't able to experience most of these picks until two months ago. What should have been a comfortable year with lots of breathing space and time to ponder became a compact two month-period a full year later. <br />
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Still, I couldn't leave 2013 out, not when it's my 5th year of 'Best Of's.</div>
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First, a quick overview of my 2013:</div>
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January: When the clock struck 2013, I was at the Missionary Training Center trying and failing to get to sleep before an early flight. Starting at about 8:00 in the morning, I was in the air with Germany as my destination. I began in a marvelous western city called Braunschweig (Brunswick in English), where I learned the basics of living in a foreign country and practiced conversing in German.</div>
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February: Celebrated my 20th birthday with many good wishes from those at home and some of the Germans I came to love. I was also able to see the place where my grandma grew up in neighboring Hannover. Feeling surprisingly comfortable under somewhat difficult circumstances, I gained more and more excitement for what was to come.</div>
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March: In what was a big surprise, I left Braunschweig much sooner than anticipated and hoped. I went to Bautzen, deep in the German East. I wasn't thrilled about the turn of events at first, but a commitment to the challenge and a willingness to make it a good thing changed everything. One of my best friends from those two years started here.</div>
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April: German Easter, a two-day event, was memorable, partially because the second of those days doubled as April Fools' Day.</div>
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May: Here, I got my start as a non-profit street musician, advertising our missionary efforts with some viola playing in the busier parts of Bautzen, Goerlitz, and Cottbus. Visited Saxon Switzerland, one of the coolest places I've ever seen.</div>
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June: Friendships grew stronger and stronger, as did the sunlight. In what was possibly the hottest summer I've experienced, I staggered in the heat of each day.</div>
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July: Struggles turned to successes. I saw a baptism in Bautzen and overcame powerful frustrations.</div>
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August: The days became much less eventful, sad to say. I grew tired, ready for change.</div>
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September: I moved to Kassel, which was to become my favorite of my home cities in Germany with one of my favorite groups of people.</div>
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October: Much of the month was centered on my one-year mark as I reflected on the year behind and wondered at the year to come.</div>
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November: Thanksgiving in a country that doesn't have Thanksgiving. At this point, I became a leader in the mission and found the new responsibility both internally empowering and incredibly stressful.</div>
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December: The best Christmas I have ever had, filled with happy miracles and minor heartache.</div>
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And now for the usual lists, misplaced on my personal timeline, but part of this excellent year all the same. We'll take a look at winners from the past 4 years as we go along. I hope you enjoy<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best of 2013</span></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2014/12/best-of-2013-movies.html">Movies</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2014/12/best-of-2013-video-games.html">Video Games</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2014/12/best-of-2013-albums.html">Albums</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2014/12/best-of-2013-songs.html">Songs</a></div>
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Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-13402941877448601142012-10-29T16:44:00.003-07:002017-03-24T14:00:03.173-07:00Best of 2012 - Songs<div style="text-align: left;">
This list is always my favorite because more than anything, songs are what preserve my memories of each moment and, therefore, of each year. Despite my lack of Christmas, I beat my song count from last year with a total of 888 songs. And that's just 2012 songs. All songs included, I increased my collection by 1,600 songs, taking me to nearly 7,800 songs. Obviously, I'm a bit of a music enthusiast, and 2012 was a great year to be one.<br />
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New music from Memoryhouse and Beach House, Moon Taxi and Walk the Moon, The Big Pink and Turning Violet Violet. New CDs 'Pacifica' and 'Synthetica', 'Push and Shove' and 'Sand and Snow', 'First Fruits' and 'The 2nd Law'. New songs "Amanaemonesia" and "Amenamy", , "Looking Hot" and "Cold Conscience", "Nightfall" and "Morning Star Rise". Commendable representation from the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, France, all of which are seen here. I took all 888 of my songs and deleted them one by one, giving each a fair chance at this group of my 51 champions. Click on the title of any song for a listen.<br />
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It's easy for one song to become lost in a group of this size... please know that each and every one of them is extraordinary in its own right, and they are all close to my heart and continually on my mind. Keep in mind that I own the entire album for everyone of these songs and I can confirm that these artists are spectacular through and through.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtPQTED_NUg"><b>51. Nightfall - Amethystium</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6vAn25I4h4"><b>50. Yellow Light - Of Monsters And Men</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs3xVfCG0Hg"><b>49. The Kids Were Wrong - Memoryhouse</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-zB6AwYuf8"><b>48. Anastasia - A Silent Film</b></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5liE2jPPF0g">47. Clarity - Zedd ft. Foxes</a></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdjXKwW_h1w"><b>46. Vater - Soap and Skin</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfL1UlohGz8"><b>45. Skyline (Rmonik Remix) - You and What Army</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnaGs-r0zzU"><b>44. Lost Kitten - Metric</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnxE-mX7EwI"><b>43. Thank You & Goodnight - Tonight Alive ft. Mark Hoppus</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuorM2gu4Ps"><b>42. Berlin - Snow Patrol</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4sh8y3cNyI"><b>41. Reaching the Potential - A Silent Film</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wvC87_zixI"><b>40. Spitting Image - Freelance Whales</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BRdY0NR08g"><b>39. I Know You Care - Ellie Goulding</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqDUSdLruZQ"><b>38. Close to Nowhere - Band of Skulls</b></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLLY0j-lU8s">37. Bonfire - Memoryhouse</a></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgvAx2Bdt-o"><b>36. Xizi She Knows - Imogen Heap</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIlNguMTPXI"><b>35. New York - Snow Patrol</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tMOKSl2VYc"><b>34. Aerials - Kyte</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap-A0RKhi2s"><b>32. Hanging On - Ellie Goulding (Active Child cover)</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmc21V-zBq0"><b>31. Run Boy Run - Woodkid</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TSEpH5NHSo"><b>30. Animal Life - Shearwater</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I"><b>29. Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqeOGrxZJnM"><b>28. Someone Anyone - Anberlin</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsuVMdnF8A0"><b>27. Spectrum - Zedd ft. Matthew Koma</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBcpavTXbUM"><b>26. Burn Up In The Atmosphere - Until June</b></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDVW81bXo0s">24. Anna Sun - Walk The Moon</a> </b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dZswDC2gbo"><b>22. Slow And Steady - Of Monsters And Men</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTie5iTBPOs"><b>21. New Movements - Sun Airway</b></a></div>
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<b>20. Eject, Eject, Eject! / Breaking and Entering - Tonight Alive</b></div>
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<i>"There was a time when the sky held the answers for the things I couldn't find, but what happens when you're blind?"</i></div>
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An intro/first song combination, Tonight Alive's album opener makes you question if you're ready for what's to come. This sort of music making made Australian rock band Tonight Alive one of my best finds of the year and this song combination will never cease to empower me with every listen.<br />
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<b><b>19. Joy - Ellie Goulding</b></b></div>
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<i>"I've got joy to take my side."</i><b><b> </b></b></div>
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The first time I heard Joy was during Ellie Goulding's iTunes Festival performance and it's one of those songs I latched onto immediately. It feels huge and ends much too quickly. </div>
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<b>18. Ungirthed - Purity Ring</b></div>
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<i>"The culminated piles of bones that ... call these men up to their thrones."</i></div>
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Canadian group Purity Ring is out of this world - almost literally. I think this is the sort of thing we'll be listening to in our space clothes on Mars and the like decades down the road. That quirky deep bass/high-pitched note juxtaposition is crazy awesome and the chorus just might be my favorite of the year. This is the sort of weird I like.<br />
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<b>17. Kinds of Light - Memoryhouse</b></div>
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<i>"The more I look, the more you fade."</i></div>
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My favorite song from my favorite 2012 addition, Kinds of Light accompanied me in many a late night drive. The ebb and flow is enchanting and that big moment near the middle of the song ("I can see you...") is drop-dead gorgeous.<br />
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<b>16. Tonight I'm Getting Over You - Carly Rae Jepsen</b></div>
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<i>"Put a flame to every single word you said."</i></div>
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I don't base my organization of this list on anything but the way each song makes me feel and I assure you: my feels don't lie. I've been a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen for a few years now and her rising fame doesn't change that because I'm not a picky hipster like some people. You can't deny it...this is a dang infectious song. <br />
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<b>15. Tape Recorder - Hammock</b></div>
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As the only entry from my #1 album of this year, Tape Recorder epitomizes all that Hammock is. It takes patience to enjoy the near-2-hour album and even this six-minute song can test your attention span, but if you can take time to sink into this prolonged beauty, you experience something without equal.</div>
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<b>14. The 2nd Law : Unsustainable/Isolated System - Muse</b></div>
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<i>"A species set on endless growth is unsustainable."</i><b> </b></div>
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I may be cheating by counting part 1 and 2 of The 2nd Law as one song because of how stellar they each are on their own, but I don't care. I'm sad that I have to miss out on my sister choreographing a dance to it as Dance Company Co-President at Woods Cross High. At least I'll know that I had some part in bringing this dubstep/orchestral hybrid into the lives of her viewers.<br />
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<b>13. Motion Sickness - Hot Chip</b></div>
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<b> </b><i>"Everything locks to my grave."</i></div>
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Is that my foot tapping against my will? Why yes, it is. This song does that to you. I lost track of how many consecutive repeats of this tune I allowed during my last solo dance party. It was a lot of 'em. Do you dare listen? You should.<br />
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<b>12. More Than a Memory - Carly Rae Jepsen</b></div>
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<i>"That night I almost said I love you and you almost said it back."</i></div>
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Yep...Carly Rae Jepsen yet again! I can't come up with a good reason for its place here other than it has a fantastic vibe. Isn't that what makes any song great?<br />
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<b>11. Rue's Farewell - James Newton Howard</b></div>
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I think it's great a song from the soundtrack of my favorite 2012 movie made it this far. I'm not particularly fond of the character Rue, nor was I devastated by her death in the book, but this composition and the way they fit it into the film with the rebellion and what not created a strong moment for me.<br />
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<b>10. The Afterman - Coheed and Cambria</b></div>
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<b> </b><i>"She gave her heart to a falling star."</i></div>
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I usually commend Coheed and Cambria for their catchy rock songs, but they brought something new to the table this year. This song alone convinced me to buy the album of the same title. We're getting to the point in this list where words don't do these songs justice. You'll just have to sacrifice some time and listen.<br />
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<b>9. My Blood - Ellie Goulding</b></div>
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<b> </b><i>"I'm thrown in the gunfire of empty bullets."</i></div>
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Ellie Goulding has more songs in this list than any other artist and this here's the best of them. There are songs that are powerful and songs that are beautiful, then there are songs like this one that take it all to another level: Epic. To top it all off, it was premiered worldwide in Berlin, which just may be my new home two months from now.<br />
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<b>8. Goes Without Saying - Anchor and Braille</b></div>
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<b> </b><i>"So much left to say, but I've got nothing."</i></div>
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Goes Without Saying is a little simpler than the surrounding songs from the list, but that doesn't mean it can't have as powerful an effect. This song, for lack of a better description, makes me feel content with my life.<br />
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<b>7. Sing Out Your Love - Churchill</b></div>
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<i>"But the silence gets louder and louder now and I got no way to turn it down."</i><b></b><br />
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<b>(Note: This video is NOT the song, but instead another great one from the same band because I couldn't find it.)</b></div>
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Churchill is like a ninja. I found their EP, my #1 of this year, on offer for free in a chance encounter and it then took my life by storm for a few weeks. Sing Out Your Love is the most mellow from the set and at $5, it's a group of songs you should just go ahead and buy right now. The male/female vocal duet shouldn't be missed.<br />
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<b>6. Comeback Kid - Sleigh Bells</b></div>
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<i>"You've gone away, but you'll come back some day."</i><b> </b></div>
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Comeback Kid is out of place at this point in my list, that's for sure, but I love the heck out of it. If I weren't such a softy, it would be #1.<br />
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<b>5. Love Is Love - Stereo Alchemy</b></div>
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<i>"The firmest faith is found in fewest words."</i><b> </b></div>
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Christopher Tin, who recently won video game music it's first Grammy, joined with an old DJ friend to create a new project Stereo Alchemy this year. This unique blend of classical and electronic influences takes one classic poem for each song and builds a mood around the words. This song, based on Sir Edward Dyer's 16th century "A Modest Love", Love is Love is a song I'd consider sacred in nature. It's stunning, to say the least.<br />
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<b>4. Blood Anger - Kyte</b></div>
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<i>"Talk is cheap."</i><b> </b></div>
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I've got a cool story with this song. I found this video with it on YouTube and asked Kyte fans via Facebook if it was the official music video. Instead of hearing from a fellow fan like I expected, I was personally thanked by the musicians of Kyte themselves for introducing them to this fan-edited video in front of their entire fanbase. Too cool. The emotions in this song cannot be described.<br />
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<b>3. Think Of Me When They Sound - Circa Survive</b></div>
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<i>"How long will you wait for me?"</i><b> </b></div>
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The "They" in the title refers to church bells, which makes this song fittingly symbolic in my own life at this time. Circa Survive's Anthony Green, probably my current favorite male singer, helped this song touch me at first listen and this arrangement of sounds will continue to do so always.<br />
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<b>2. Close - Sun Airway</b></div>
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"<i>I tried to get close to you..."</i><b><br /></b></div>
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It was a toss-up between my #2 and #1 song because they're so different that it's almost not worth comparing them. Still, this is how it's turned out. Close makes 2012 the third year in a row with Sun Airway making an appearance in this list. This song has so many great sounds I could try to describe, so many moments that elicit strong feelings within me. It's a dynamic four minutes, to be sure. Don't miss out.<br />
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<b>1. Hymn for Her - Anchor and Braille</b></div>
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<i>"I'm not looking for someone I can live with; I'm just looking for someone that I can't live without."</i><b> </b></div>
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This song is perfect at this time in my life. I'll be honest in saying that - and be warned, I'm getting a bit mushy here - there is nothing I want more at this point in my life than to love someone. I always dreamed of having someone try and wait two years for me, to test someone in that regard. But no, I won't have the chance to see if I'm worth waiting two years for and thankfully, I'm okay with it. This song has helped me reach that point. Just because I don't have someone to love at present doesn't mean I can't devote my present thoughts to her. I'm blessed to have encountered this song and see it claim this position as the best of the best of my 2012.<br />
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Well there it is. Hundreds of hours listening, watching, playing, dozen deciding and six more writing. My Best of 2012 is at an end and although my remaining hours are now fewer than the songs in this list, I'm glad I spent some of this time bringing it all to you. I hope you've enjoyed it.</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-50261053492697633982012-10-29T15:26:00.001-07:002015-12-21T12:47:36.983-07:00Best of 2012 - AlbumsMy family and I always get more albums than anything else (this year about 55 total) so I like to have a bigger list in this section based on my lucky number, 17. CDs will always be important to me. I see them as stories, with the songs as chapters. You can't understand the story if you don't understand each song. This is why I avoid singles and iTunes in general, I don't want to be anything but fully engaged in what an artist has to offer with each release. Muse, the Silversun Pickups, and the Killers were a few of the more disappointing projects, but most albums were big winners. These ones told the best stories.<br />
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<b>17. Remembering You - Poema</b></div>
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I didn't like Remembering You at first; it felt a little too Taylor Swifty and that's not a bad thing, but it's completely different from their first songs. In time, it grew on me and I realized that Poema knew what they were doing when putting together this, their first full-length release. This is excellent road trip music. It's mellow, catchy, and everything else I could have expected from this talented duo.</div>
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<b>16. Strength to Survive - SOJA</b></div>
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As my first reggae purchase aside from Matisyahu, Strength To Survive brought me everything I imagined the genre would. Inspiration messages concerning social issues lie in every song and listening to SOJA will always make me feel great.</div>
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<b>15. Kiss - Carly Rae Jepsen</b></div>
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Yeah, yeah... quit your eye-rolling. I've been a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen for a few years now and if there's one thing I want the world to know about her, it's that she took 3rd place in Canadian Idol (American Idol's partner). She wasn't handpicked by some greedy corporate big cheese; she's fought for and deserves the success she's found and I respect her for it. Kiss, her second album, is thoroughly infectious and I have no shame in admitting I love it.</div>
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<b>14. Violent Waves - Circa Survive</b></div>
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This album bears a striking resemblance to my #1 from last year, in title, album artwork, and musical mood. It's a shame I had to miss their SLC visit this year, because Circa Survive's perception of music is refreshing and this beauty of CD is more a cohesive piece of art than most stuff out there.</div>
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<b>13. Young and Foolish - Until June</b></div>
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Until June is one of my most-played bands of all-time, and Young and Foolish added more than enough catchy ballads to keep it that way. I've always thought Until June is the perfect name for the group because they have some of the best summer music I've ever known. Songs like "Summer Lover" help this album continue the trend.</div>
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<b>12. Synthetica - Metric</b></div>
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My first Canadian buddies Metric returned with an exciting new sound this summer in the form of Synthetica. This music is perfect for blasting in the car thanks to its simple beats and catchy choruses. While many of my other favorite older bands came short, Metric came through with a major pleaser this year.</div>
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<b>11. Clarity - Zedd</b></div>
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It seems appropriate that Germany finds its way into this list, and that's in the form of German mixmaster Zedd. Zedd treats electronic music much differently than other DJs I'm familiar with. I think most others tend to depend on heavy beats and masses of different sounds to build the power in their music, but Zedd treats it more delicately, frequently dipping into slower, more mellow bits. The result is an album that feels more like a journey than simply a compilation of good dancing songs.</div>
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<b>10. What Are You So Scared Of? - Tonight Alive</b></div>
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As Australia's first entry in this list, What Are You So Scared Of? kinda sneaked it's way into this list. I didn't realize how much I loved it until comparing it with all of these other CDs. I like to call Tonight Alive a slightly better version of Paramore and, in my opinion, they come across as more honest in their music. You can certainly bang your head to these tunes, but there are many other emotions residing in them.</div>
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<b>9. The Quiet Life - Anchor & Braille</b></div>
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You know Anberlin? Well Anchor and Braille is Anberlin's frontman's (Stephen Christian) softer side project. Focused more on beauty than liveliness, The Quiet Life feels a lot like its album cover looks. Simple, at a glance, but impressively detailed upon further examination, as well as clean and majestic. I can't wait till I have a winter where I can listen to this because that's where I think it belongs.</div>
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<b>8. Pacifica - The Presets</b></div>
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Australian electronic duo The Presets is a new addition to my library this year, and Pacifica is one of the more addicting CDs of the year. I think I listened to it four times in a row one day. Bringing a variety of moods and styles together, Pacifica demonstrates a unique take on what artificial sounds are capable of.</div>
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<b>7. Fallen Empires - Snow Patrol</b></div>
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With it's US release in January, Fallen Empires brought Snow Patrol back to the forefront in my mind after a few disappointing years from the old favorite. I feel like this album was intended for me. It has a song called New York and another called Berlin; I found this album one week after traveling to New York for the first time and two weeks after being called to the Germany, Berlin mission. The composition here makes this album a true marvel.</div>
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<b>6 - My Head Is An Animal - Of Monsters And Men</b></div>
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Last year, I considered my top three albums my A-team. This year, it's all of the top six, which were all incredibly difficult to order. The first is from Icelandic (Iceland!!!) band Of Monsters And Men. Now if you know me well, you know I love anything Icelandic, especially their music. Led by a male/female vocal duo, debut release My Head Is An Animal makes you feel amazing through and through. This style of music is one that everyone can love.</div>
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<b>5. The Slideshow Effect - Memoryhouse</b></div>
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I consider Memoryhouse my greatest find of the year and their first full CD The Slideshow Effect is astounding. The group pulls off a superb mellow vibe that's one of a kind. It'll make you sway, smile, and hold that special someone close.</div>
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<b>4. Halcyon - Ellie Goulding</b></div>
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I caught Ellie Goulding's performance at the iTunes festival where she performed much of Halcyon before it was released and after the first song, I knew it would be amazing. Ellie Goulding stands far above other pop artists in my mind and treats her music more respectably than most of those on this side of the Atlantic. Halcyon delivers every pop vibe you could want.</div>
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<b>3. Love To Be Lost - Kyte</b></div>
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When I decided to pick up all of Kyte's old music for my birthday this year, they skyrocketed into my group of favorite bands. Their new CD Love To Be Lost makes them a serious contender for the top of that group and it certainly helps that their name is one tiny mark away from my own. Kyte epitomizes the type of band I would want to create if I decided to do so. They're nothing like anyone else and hope they can build their fanbase with this album.</div>
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<b>2. Soft Fall - Sun Airway</b></div>
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Sun Airway is my winter band and in these upcoming months, I'll be wishing they could be with me. Their alternative/electronic/orchestral hybrid of a style is hard to describe. Built on drums, a keyboard, and strings, Soft Fall feels a little bit like just that: a soft fall. If you need some outstanding music to keep you company when it's cold outside, please buy this album.</div>
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<b>1. Departure Songs - Hammock</b></div>
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As my last effort to enjoy 2012, I carefully selected six albums to accompany me in my last weeks before departing. Five of those arrived on October 16th, and another, for seemingly no reason, showed up one day later on the 17th. It's strange how it worked out...the very last album I received came on my lucky number with a title like "Departure Songs" ends up as the best one I've found all year. Hammock, an instrumental rock group, uses a 2-disc, 19-song album with impressive composition with awesome titles like "(Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die" and "We Could Die Chasing This Feeling" to create something that's nothing short of a masterpiece.<br />
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I urge you to support CDs. Don't buy just 'that one on the radio' or 'the most popular one on iTunes'. I can assure you that if you like a bit of it, you'll like it all. Don't cut yourself short. One benefit of getting this list done in October is that Christmas is still waiting. Please go search for some fantastic CDs and stick them at the top of your wish list.</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-64644429734096691742012-10-28T20:24:00.001-07:002015-12-21T12:44:38.732-07:00Best of 2012 - Video GamesWhen I say I aspire to be a novelist, people assume that means I'm an avid reader. Admittedly, I'm not. In fact, I only read one book this year. My inspiration for writing is mostly based on my experience with video games. Society berates video games as mindless wastes of time and that will always frustrate me. The best of video games are constructed by artists, the people who sketch the first ideas of the animations, the people who write what is said in the game, the people who compose the music who accompany it all, and, more recently, the people who play the main characters. That's right, real actors. As a slight diversion, let's take a look at some.<br />
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Yvonne Strahovski in Mass Effect 2</div>
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Martin Sheen in Mass Effect 2 </div>
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Kristen Bell in Assassin's Creed </div>
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Ilkka Villi in Alan Wake </div>
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Ellen Page in Beyond: Two Souls</div>
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Pretty cool, right? And that's just a few. Liam Neeson, Emma Stone, and Patrick Stewart are just a few of the others who can count themselves as video game voice actors. As a gamer, I find this promising.</div>
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Now back to the topic at hand, the best games of 2012. I've had a lot of time for them all with this long break of mine and will never regret the hundreds of hours I spend with them. Let's do it.</div>
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<b>10. Wreckateer</b></div>
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Angry Birds + physical exercise? Blasphemy! Or is it? In Wreckateer, you use the Xbox Kinect and your own body to fire all sorts of fun flying things in an effort to decimate enemy castles. It's simple, but man...firing giant slingshots sure is satisfying.</div>
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<b>9. Happy Wars</b></div>
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Happy Wars is a blast and XBOX gamers are eating it up because, well, it's free! Forcing a bunch of hardcore gamers to battle each other as cutesy midget warriors is so much more fun than it sounds.<b> </b></div>
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<b>8. Dear Esther</b></div>
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Dear Esther was released as a stand-alone game this year and I quickly snatched it up. Dear Esther is more like an interactive movie than a game really. It's about the same length too. For about two hours, you venture between beautiful vistas and enchanting scenes as a narrator gradually details a complex, obscure story. The imagery is powerful and the experience is one that anyone should enjoy.</div>
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<b>7. Alan Wake: American Nightmare</b></div>
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When considering all-time favorite games, Alan Wake always comes to mind. In this year's spin-off, the story's taken a bit further. The atmosphere is exciting and the writing (with the main character being a professional writer) is great. The metaphor of light vs. shadow is treated well in this emotion-filled journey.</div>
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<b>6. Rock Band Blitz </b></div>
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The story of Harmonix in short form is as follows: tapping music games, Guitar Hero 1 + 2, Rock Band 1-3, Dance Central 1-3, and now this, a return to the tapping music game. This game is easy to explain, it's everything Tap Tap Revolution wants to be. Hours and hours of fun here.</div>
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<b>5. The Walking Dead</b></div>
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In the shadow of the incredibly popular Walking Dead TV series based on the comic of the same name, a superb video game arose. Unfortunately this is the only game on the list I haven't finished and that's because the game, much like the TV show, is released in episodes with the last of five coming in December when I'm the MTC. With comic book-like visuals and the most heart-wrenching story I've encountered in a game, The Walking Dead is one of the things I'll be missing most.</div>
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<b>4. Diablo III</b></div>
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The sequel to Diablo 2, released 12 years prior, Diablo 3 had a lot of hype that it didn't live up to, at least for most. For me, it was excellent and playing through it with my dad reminded me of old times. This game series is the reason I became interested in fantasy novels, which kick-started my imagination and desire to be a novelist. Diablo 3 isn't just a good game, it's honestly an important factor in who I am today.</div>
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<b>3. Borderlands 2</b></div>
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Co-operative games are often my favorites and Borderlands 2 is designed to be played with friends. With its countless pop culture referrences (Lion King, Star Wars, double rainbow, to name a few), this<b> </b>game made me laugh too many times to mention. This sequel improved on the original in every way any fan could want.</div>
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<b>2. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</b></div>
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If you've ever wanted your favorite author to be the lead writer for a video game, well...this is probably your only chance. Lucky for me, that's exactly how things turned out. R.A. Salvatore's talent helps bring the world his books are based in to gamers with his rich writing and superior dialogue. Much like Dante's Inferno and the Sherlock Holmes games, Kingdoms of Amalur is bringing literature to gaming in a skillful way. This game is so well-crafted and complex that it took me over 100 hours to complete. Outstanding.</div>
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<b>1. Mass Effect 3 </b></div>
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Just like any good trilogy ender, Mass Effect 3 was epic. With a team of characters to rival the Fellowship of the Ring and a universe of alien societies complex enough to do battle with the Star Wars universe, this trilogy just might be the very best I've ever seen. With the home planets of the universe, including Earth, assaulted by an unspeakably force, you must eradicate the bitterness between races in order to save them all. It honestly made me sad to see it end. Although the ending left much to be desired because of how large and intriguing the Mass Effect world is, it had to end and it ended extremely well.</div>
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I'll miss being a couch potato with all these virtual adventures. With the new Wii coming out in November and the new Playstation and XBOX soon to follow, the gaming industry is going to be a separate world when I return. You best be interested in it because it's going places.</div>
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<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-71956575573144655952012-10-28T19:01:00.000-07:002012-10-28T19:01:36.828-07:00Best of 2012 - EPsI'll explain once again for those who don't know - EP means 'extended play', meaning a single with additional songs. My usual EP list may seem pointless, considering I have another list of the best CDs from the year. EPs commonly represent a new band's very first shot at winning our hearts or a famous musician's endeavor to share a little something they've some up with, but they simply cannot compete with CDs twice as long. Silversun Pickups, Coldplay, and many of the other bands that have become my favorites started with EPs and still more release EPs along the way and so I want to give these small packages of musical excellence a place of their own. This year, I picked from a total of 17.<br />
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<b>10. Apparitions - Labyrinth Ear</b></div>
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Labyrinth Ear's electronic vibe takes some getting used to. It isn't particularly catchy or beautiful, but I find it's quirk enthralling and I couldn't give you any artist to relate them to. Their sound is eccentric and I hope to see more.<br />
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<b>9. Awkward - San Cisco</b> </div>
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Australia kicked butt in my life this year... The Jezabels, The Presets, Tonight Alive, and indie band San Cisco. If you're looking for something catchy, don't skip these guys. This is feel-good music right here.<br />
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<b>8. Deep Space - Eisley</b> </div>
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From one of my favorite 2011 albums to a entirely different feel in their 2012 EP, Eisley variety in sound is respectable, to say the least. Unfortunately, it leads to a little inconsistency for me. Though not nearly as great as last year's album, Deep Space provides touching, yet simple melodies in each of its songs.<br />
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<b>7. Dead Letters - Stromkern</b> </div>
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Electronic rap at its finest, Stromkern is a project I've kept an eye on for some time, but never invested in. The new EP gave me a great reason to enter an area of music I'm new to, but it immediately fit right into my collection with Dead Letter's first song, "Intuit", becoming one of my most played songs of the year. If you're feeling adventurous, you should definitely investigate.<br />
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<b>6. Continued Silence - Imagine Dragons</b> </div>
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Imagine Dragons' "It's Time" was my most played song of the year, too bad it isn't technically a 2012 song, like some of the rest of their newly popular songs. Continued Silence's collection, as the band's overdue claim to fame, needs a place here. I may not be as much of a fan as you Dragons hipsters out there and the following album disappointed me, but I sure did get a lot of enjoyment out of this batch.<br />
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<b>5. Aurorae - Amethystium </b></div>
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Straight from Norway, Amethystium is from the genre of music I consider my favorite: new era. For lack of a better description, new era is a brilliant hybrid of electronic sounds and classical orchestration and Amethystium displays this extremely well. Unlike many of the artists fond here, Amethystium has a wide collection of music already and I fully intend to explore it more upon my return.</div>
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<b>4. Elenowen - Elenowen</b> </div>
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Elenowen reminds me of The Civil Wars, but a little softer with a little less guitar and more piano and strings. As followers of my blog may have read before, I'm a sucker for male/female vocal duets and this pair is especially excellent.<br />
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<b>3. New Light - Moving Mountains</b></div>
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Here they are again, the creators of my #1 2011 album with an acoustic EP of some of their best tunes. Moving Mountains already has a unique sound, but I was surprised how unique they remain in acoustic mode. At the same time, the mood is both reminiscent of my time with their old music and surprisingly fresh even though the songs aren't. Spectacular.</div>
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<b>2. The Ludlow Thieves - The Ludlow Thieves</b> </div>
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Ever been on noisetrade.com? It's a place where low-name or overly generous artists can put up their music for free to get their fame ball rolling; it's one of my favorite things ever and, believe it or not, I got all four of these top EPs for free on the site. The Ludlow Thieves is something I wouldn't have considered buying and may have even avoided initially, but oh how it's grown on me. Their style of folk has a strange beauty about it that's best kept away from explanation. You simply must try it out.<br />
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<b>1. The Change - Churchill</b></div>
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Churchill! Each year has its spotlight new bands, and Churchill is one of them this time around. Another male/female duet champion, this band's talent in composition is to be envied. Each one of it's five excellent stand-alone songs makes The Change a comprehensive look at what the group can pull off. Something a little jazzy here, a little lovey-dovey there; some heavy stuff and some downright gorgeous stuff...Churchill has made one of the greatest marks on my 2012.</div>
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EPs are easy to overlook, but they're a valuable part of any artist's growth and experimentation. Please, if you find any of this music remotely interesting, do some YouTube searching. At no more than $5 a piece, these are all smart purchases.Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-78218283705515183312012-10-28T17:41:00.003-07:002012-10-28T17:41:42.971-07:00Best of 2012 - Movies<div style="text-align: left;">
Cash was flowing into movie theaters this year, that's for certain. Even I spent more time in theaters than ever before. We all know there were some big hits this year, but did they live up to the hype? I think they did.</div>
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<b>10. Men in Black 3</b></div>
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When I first heard about this delayed sequel, I wasn't interested at all. I didn't enjoy the first two much, but Men in Black 3 went in a much different direction with a lot of focus on causation, the underestimated effect of what we do today on what happens tomorrow. Griffin, one of my very favorite new movie characters, has the ability to perceive all possible realities at once and continually hopes the one our world follows is not as disastrous as some of the others. These concepts combine for some fantastic story telling.</div>
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<b>9. The Woman in Black</b></div>
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Because of my experience with horror video games, horror movies have never really been able to genuinely scare me; it's so much more terrifying to be a contender rather than a witness. When it comes to jump-scares, the Woman in Black is the most successful horror movie I've seen and I found its creepy premise thrilling. Scariest movie of its type I've seen so far, kudos to it.</div>
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<b>8. John Carter</b></div>
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At first glance, John Carter seems like a decent sci-fi film, but then you consider that the movie was made on the 100th birthday of the book it's based on. The man who built this world is Edgar Rice Bulloughs, who, if you didn't know, also created Tarzan. To see his stunning imagination portrayed on the silver screen in a time so distant from his own is like nothing we've seen before in the film industry. Much respect and admiration to Burroughs.<br />
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<b>7. Bourne Legacy</b> </div>
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If you asked me for me three favorite actors, I'd pick Edward Norton, Jeremy Renner, and Rachel Weisz, and that's before they joined together as my movie dream team for Bourne Legacy. As you can imagine, I was pumped to see what this, the best cast I could hope for, could pull off. Although I think it would have been a better movie if it didn't try so hard to be connected to Bourne's completely separate story, this crew of actors had me smiling the whole way through.</div>
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6. The Dark Knight Rises </div>
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I think Batman's latest installment will claim spot #1 for many movie-goers this year, but anyway you slice it, it's still about a man dressed like a bat. That said, The Dark Knight Rises, felt surprisingly epic and while Christopher Nolan's Inception is much more my style, he really did an extraordinary job with this character throughout the trilogy and provided a stellar example of how super hero movies should play out. Can't wait to see what Nolan has in store.</div>
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<b>5. Chronicle</b></div>
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Chronicle's premise had the potential to be one of my all-time favorites. Shot entirely in realistic-camera style (much like Cloverfield), it delivers some outstanding moments. Unfortunately, the story wasn't quite to my taste and all of the unrealistic high-school boy antics dimmed the overall experience. Still, this movie is exactly the sort of thing I want to see more of: original.</div>
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<b>4. Prometheus</b></div>
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Speaking of big, epic movies, Prometheus takes the cake for me this year. The vast majority of story ideas take comfort in being set in the real world. As many of my favorite stories do, Prometheus dares to venture beyond what is familiar, to challenge what is commonplace, and to create a reality in which humanity is only a small piece of the universe. It's too bad the movie, because of the extremity of what it tries to express, feels like it was cut short. I surely look forward to any sequels that may be in store.<br />
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<b>3. The Avengers</b></div>
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Like I've said before, a story about a team or a group beats one with a main character any day. I liking being able to pick a favorite, considering the web of relations, and seeing the power of unity in these stories. The Avengers involves one of the greatest teams we've ever seen (and can you guess who's my favorite?) so of course I love it. In my mind, comic-based movies really struggle to be serious and, dare I say it, touching, but The Avengers was a big success.</div>
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<b>2. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World</b></div>
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Think apocalypse and movies like 2012, War of the Worlds, and just about any super hero flick likely comes to mind. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World makes it seem real. After one final failed attempt at destroying an incoming meteor, the world resigns to the fact that there are 21 days left to live. The movie does an amazing job at depicting how I think people would actually choose to spend that time. NFL players continue playing games, even though random people walk freely on the field. People hire assassins to kill them so they don't have to face the notoriety of suicide. And of course, crazy parties are found on every corner. The directions the movie's story takes create an inspiring, eye-opening look on what life means to us all.<br />
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<b>1. The Hunger Games</b></div>
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Before this year, the most I'd ever seen a single movie in theaters was<b> </b>twice. I saw The Hunger Games four times and, to be honest, I'd never thought it would happen that way. I wasn't crazy about the book and I wasn't one of the fanatics there at the premiere. I was, however, still very excited for the movie because its structure is very similar to a story I might construct myself. I will always have a special attachment to this tale because of its resonance with my own imagination. The desperate battle for superiority, the organization and portrayal of the fighters and their districts, the arguable ties to video gaming and virtual reality... it's a perfect concoction to me. Sad to say, I found this book far better than its sequels so I can't say I care much for the following movies. At least I know The Hunger Games will always be dear to me.</div>
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Winter break is usually my movie-watching crackdown time, but I'm fortunate enough to have had time to get to all the big ones earlier this year. Sure, the list may not be comprehensive of 2012, but I'm happy with my 2012 movie experience.</div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-21752784449480978502012-10-27T23:27:00.000-07:002012-10-29T16:45:15.297-07:00Best of 2012 IntroThere are still two months remaining in the year, but I won't be here for them. My game playing, movie watching, and free music listening is over for a while, but I can't ask for much better than the last bit of it I'm enjoying before I depart. And so, while others in my position might use the last few days to take some deep breaths and buckle down for upcoming challenges, I'm here to make sure I bring you the things that have most impressed and comforted me in recent months. When I return, I'll be nearly 22 years old. That means this is my last chance to write to you as a teenager in normalcy and there isn't much I'd rather talk about than the things I love so dearly.<br />
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First, let's take a look at the things that have constructed my personal 2012.<br />
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<b>January</b><br />
Returning to college for my second semester was easier than I anticipated. Although I knew I had some GPA fighting to do thanks to a couple challenging 1st semester classes, I took the experience I'd gathered, turned it into confidence and buckled down for another rough group of classes. In the middle of the month, I finally finished churning through the mass of excellent items from the previous year and presented them in my Best of 2011 here on Slick Gimmick.<br />
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<b>February</b><br />
When I turned 19 in February, I found out that a college birthday is much different than a high school birthday. Fortunately, I also found out that I had gained the new college friends that I had been lacking the semester before and while no serious birthday plans were made, the loving acknowledgment I received from these people was enough to make my day. That, to me, was critical as I continued to build upon my college success and sociality. <br />
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<b>March</b><br />
March saw one of the most momentous video game releases of all-time. As the epic conclusion to an engaging trilogy, one might equate Mass Effect 3 with The Return of the King of Lord of the Rings or Return of the Jedi of Star Wars. As silly as it may seem for you non-gamers, the story and visuals of that game inspired me to a new level of imagination. It's not to hard to create characters, to create a story, but to create an entire world with complex interactions and causation...in March, I was reminded of my greatest desire: to be creative, to create.<br />
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<b>April</b><br />
The days in April went quick with my focus on study. With my youngest sister turning 13, I was in a house of teenagers. I began to crackdown on mission papers, hoping that my timing would result in an August departure so there would be no conflicts with school. Turns out, it wouldn't all go as hoped.<br />
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<b>May</b><br />
I finished up college butt-kicking with my last final on May 1st. My summer has basically been from that day until now. That's right, a full six months with no school, no job, not much of any stress at all ... well except for my physical exam papers getting lost in the mail, setting me back three, arguably four weeks in the mission process. Thanks to that break, however, I feel satisfied now; I feel ready. I know that if there's anything I missed out on, it was my own fault. I've had plenty of time to enjoy myself and the time for activity and dedication is overdue. <br />
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<b>June</b><br />
At the beginning of June, I played with the Young Single Adult Stake of Salt Lake City at the Conference Center in what I consider my favorite viola-related performance. A week later, my dad and I beat Diablo 3 (yeah, my dad's awesome), making it the first game we've completed together. On June 20th, I finally received my mission call and found it to be the perfect one for me. Traveling to my grandparents' birthplace for the third time elicits more excitement, faith, and confidence in me than any other result could have. I began brainstorming the things I wanted to get done in the 4 month wait ahead of me.<br />
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<b>July</b><br />
At the end of June and into July, I went to New York City for the first time for my sisters' dance competition, which is the biggest of its kind in the world. I marveled at the 9/11 memorial site and the rising Freedom Tower, saw some places I knew from television and films, found myself starstruck when encountering several internet personalities I like, and had a special moment with a particular song beside the Statue of Liberty. On top of all that, in what was probably the most memorable moment of the year, I cheered for my sister when her dance won the overall highest prize in the competition against nearly 200 others. Still gives me chills. All the while, I considered the bar in my chest as we passed our anniversary and I finally became able to transition from sleeping every night on the couch to my bed.<br />
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<b>August</b><br />
August 1st, I went to a live concert of my favorite band, the Dangerous Summer. Their noise quality at the venue was a downer, but I enjoyed seeing them again all the same. I also enjoyed watching many amazing bands perform at Lollapalooza via YouTube. Aside from that, the month was mostly filled with the departures of my two best friends and with Olympics-related events; I cheered for the US, Germany, and Iceland as always.<br />
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<b>September</b><br />
In September, I received my endowments at the Bountiful Temple. On that day, more than ever before, I was motivated in this endeavor to serve a mission. To be honest, at the beginning of the year, I didn't think it was something I wanted to do. Even now, I'd rather stay home, but I've been blessed enough to realize that these two years aren't time taken from me as much as they are time given to others. Unity is the single most inspiring thing to me, so working to unite the people of Germany in the greatest of unions will be unmatchably rewarding in my mind.<br />
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<b>October</b><br />
In October, I saw my sister dance as a Co-President of the Woods Cross High Dance Company. I heard some incredible news from President Monson at General Conference. I did all of the German-studying, music listening, and people visiting as I felt the need to. I saw The Jezabels perform with my two good friends in what was one of the best nights of the year. I was there when we got rid of our loveable dog, the saddest moment of the year. More relative to this post, I gathered the most desirable things from the year in a makeshift, self-bought Christmas. I had my mission farewell, and now this: the summary of it all. I leave on Halloween, the very last day of the month. With my four last days, my desire is to say all that I want to say, which includes everything you find here. <br />
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November and December remain unwritten and, in truth, I consider these next few days the end of the year and November 1st as the beginning of a separate time. With that, let's get to what this is really all about. I haven't had as much time to ponder these things as in previous years, nor have I been able to acquire all of it that I wanted to experience. Nevertheless, I loved every second of it and I'm ready for you to experience it now.<br />
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<b> Here it is.</b></div>
After ten months of searching, feasting, and constantly wondering how this year's best memories would line up, I present to you my 4th annual personal award show, my champions of emotion and artistry, my very favorite things in this, the most definitive year of my life:<br />
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<b>The Best of 2012</b></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-of-2012-movies.html">Movies</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-of-2012-eps.html">EPs</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-of-2012-video-games.html">Video Games</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-of-2012-albums.html">Albums</a></div>
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<a href="http://aslickgimmick.blogspot.com/2012/10/best-of-2012-songs.html">Songs</a></div>
Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-21755947125640377952012-06-28T00:59:00.001-07:002012-07-27T14:00:00.315-07:00Songs of the Moment 6/28/11 - Summer 2012I guess you can now call my summer ballads posting a tradition here on Slick Gimmick because even though I'm busy having lots of fun every summer and despite my occasional frustration with adjusting to new Blogger layouts (a la right now), I always make sure I bring the year's most fitting summertime songs to the site. This year's batch marks my fourth year of doing so.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, these songs are excellent any time of the year, but all of them, whether it's because of their lyrics, timing, or musical mood, are particularly excellent during these summer months. You can never have too many, so I've put together an offering of 16 songs through which I encourage you to browse and I hope you recruit some into your own collection. Of course, there are many more songs I could put here, but I'm favoring the most recent songs I have to assist you all in your fight for hipness and such.<br />
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This year I'm bringing these songs to you in a different fashion than before. Our first 8 songs are for when the sun is out. Perfect for your listening pleasure during boating trips, poolside romps, and all manners of daytime driving, these tunes accompany the more exciting of memories and bring some excitement to the more boring parts. The second 8 songs are more suitable in the nighttime - watching sunsets, stargazing, and just about anything else that's even a touch romantic or mellow. <br />
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I hope you enjoy the songs I've been enjoying most this time of year.<br />
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<strong><u><em>Summer Days</em></u></strong></div>
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1. It's Time - Imagine Dragons<br />
<em>"I'm never changing who I am."</em><br />
We'll start things off right with It's Time by Imagine Dragons, a Provo/Las Vegas band I stumbled into at the first of the year. I'm glad to see this band taking off like it recently has because it deserves the hype. This particular song is my most-played of the year so far; I've learned it on the viola, memorized the lyrics, mastered the clap/stomp percussion... join in. Also, make sure you fullscreen these fellas. We've got some great music videos here.<br />
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2. Anna Sun - Walk the Moon<br />
<em>"Live my life without coming up for air. Now it's all awash."</em><br />
Walk The Moon is brand-spanking new. First EP came out this year. First album came out this month. iTunes featured this song as a free single of the week and just like that they're stars. Catchiness, summer-themed lyrics, it's own bit of choreography - all the right ingredients for a summer great.<br />
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3. Come Back Down - Greg Laswell ft. Sara Bareilles<br />
<em>"All of your wallowing is unbecoming."</em><br />
Here's the first of several vocal duets I've included here. Two superb solo artists joined up for this one, Come Back Down. Being a longtime fan of both Greg and Sara, I was thrilled to see their voices come together in such an unexpected, yet memorable composition. They should join forces more often.<br />
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4. Amanaemonesia - Chairlift<br />
<em>"Spacing out in a nook and cranny. It's officially uncanny."</em><br />
Chairlift is a strange bunch, that's for sure, but they know good music. Another vocal duo piece, Amanaemonesia has a tongue twister of a chorus/title and a dance choreographed by its own frontwoman that kinda makes me embarassed for her, but also makes me think she is in a separate league of awesome altogether. Stick to the audio if you can't keep yourself from laughing.<br />
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5. Good Time - Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen<br />
<em>"Hands up if you're down to get down tonight."</em><br />
Owl City is the president of Summer Songs Inc., or so it seems, but Adam Young's bringing something new to the table this year: a collaboration. Now my close friends know well that I'm generally opposed to mega popstars, but I admittedly love Carly Rae Jepsen and have ever since she sang with my top Canadian band The Midway State a couple years back. This song's release this week tickled my fancy, to say the least. Preteens across the globe will embrace this as their summer anthem of 2012. For the first time, I'll be singing along with them.<br />
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6. Comeback Kid - Sleigh Bells<br />
<em>"I know it's hard, but you've gotta deal with it."</em><br />
It may surprise you to hear about this type song from me. It may surprise you even more to know that this is currently reigning as my #1 song of 2012. This is a headbang song if I've ever known one. We'll see if anything can top it in the coming months. In the meantime, lose control.<br />
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7. Carry On - fun.<br />
<em>"If you're lost and alone or sinking like a stone, carry on."</em><br />
I've had a love/hate relationship with Fun this year. First, they release a single (We Are Young) that I disliked from the first listen. Then they throw about 5 f-words at me in their latest album. Meanwhile, the songs from the CD that are clean and excellent have seemed to go unnoticed. Like this one. Because of it and others, I'm inclined to forgive them.<br />
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8. Animal Life - Shearwater<br />
<em>"Chasing down an anodyne and half-reflected radiance."</em><br />
We're going to start our shift to the nighttime with Animal Life, a perfect sunset song. Shearwater is a band I treasure more than most because of its unique vocals and fascinating lyrics. I've had more success sharing this group than any other here because they're just so dang amazing.<br />
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<strong><u><em>Summer Nights</em></u></strong><br />
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1. Jump Music - The Big Pink<br />
<em>"We'll stick together and we'll make it."</em><br />
We kick off the vespertine tracks with some party music, or jump music, to be more specific. I consider songs this infectious as musical gems. This song, for lack of a better explanation, makes you feel like you're awesome, whether or not you actually are. I'll stick it on the soundtrack of my life for those less-than-cool times.<br />
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2. Endless Summer - The Jezabels<br />
<em>"In my mind, you're the ephemeral night."</em><br />
The Jezabels, an Australian crew, just established themselves as one of my favorite bands thanks to their latest masterpiece of an album. And here is the most fitting song and most stellar music video of the post: Endless Summer. This is one of those songs I actively restrain myself from listening to too often. I'd hate ever being desensitized to this brilliance.<br />
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3. Nightfall - Amethystium<br />
New era is a genre of music that I'd wager most people have never heard of. Believe it or not, it is my favorite genre of music and not even my closest friends know that. I'm usually hesitant to share it because, well, it's strange, but it's incredibly beautiful. So here I am, taking a chance with Amethystium, which will likely sound totally new to you, but might just enchant you.<br />
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4. Boundaries - Kyte<br />
<em>"Listen to the world."</em><br />
Kyte's another of my favorite bands, and not just because their name is one line away from my own. This song here is fairly old, but I picked it up recently and found it's suitability here too significant to discount. The atmosphere Kyte creates is my style of music. If I were to start a band on my own, I couldn't help but take a bit from these guys.<br />
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5. I Am Yours - Churchill<br />
<em>"I am yours if you want me."</em><br />
Churchill is one of the youngest bands here. They released an EP in March and they put it up for free on NoiseTrade three months later. They are my heroes because I'd have paid a ton of money for those songs had I known how amazing and diverse they were. In reality, I stumbled into them with no prior knowledge and abruptly fell in love. Head to noisetrade.com to get all five songs for free. That set is my best find of the year, no doubt.<br />
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6. Don't Worry - SOJA<br />
<em>"Why do we learn the right way by doing the wrong?"</em><br />
We're switching gears here to some reggae, which always seems to have thoughtful, feel-good lyrics. SOJA, a new band for me, is a certainly a frontrunner in the inspiration department with this song on its top notch. SOJA has a way of making your little problems disappear by reminding you of the stuff that matters most. Their music also gets you thinking, which I'm a fan of.<br />
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7. Kinds of Light - Memoryhouse<br />
<em>"The more I look, the more you fade."</em><br />
As things stand now, Memoryhouse's new CD is set up to be my #1 album of the year. This song will give you a good idea why. Aside from having a slight crush on the singer, I'm addicted to the group's perspective on music. I'm saving songs like this for those late-night drives with the sweetheart...you know, when she shows up. Until then, I'll sink into these sultry notes solo.<br />
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8. Connected - I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business<br />
<em>"On a bright summer day, a big blue sky was calling out my name. What a beautiful surprise."</em><br />
...And of course we have to bring back some old favorites. Winner of my 2010 album of the year, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business (code name for Ace Enders) never disappoints. I found this song to be the perfect end to this list. A little bit of summer (the sixth on the list to call it out by name, I believe), a little bit of love (the best part of summer, right?), and a whole bunch of musical passion. I'll leave you with this.<br />
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<br />Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-5241917047417906632012-03-24T14:29:00.006-07:002012-03-24T20:50:15.670-07:00The Art of IntensitySo I watched The Hunger Games this morning and haven't done anything but ponder it for the 7 hours since. I'm not going to try to describe the power it had on me because I don't dare risk encapsulating its immensity. I'm enraptured not because I'm a fanboy (I wouldn't have waited until Saturday if I was). It isn't because I thought the movie was astounding (though this is a vital part of it). It's because of how I felt - not just at certain, critical points in the movie, but at every instant due to the dramatic nature of the story. The boy from District 3 being slaughtered,, the riots in District 11, Thresh being killed by the game itself, Foxface, my favorite character, mistakenly killing herself so close to the end...<br /><br />Now this is not a post about Hunger Games; it's a post that's inspired by Hunger Games. The feeling I have now, the one that drives me to write this, is the culmination of many touching stories and other entities, especially those I've experienced most recently, including the close of the Mass Effect series, the Season 2 Finale of The Walking Dead, dozens of touching songs, one of my own stories, and many things more.<br /><br />So what is the purpose of this post? I could be wrong, but I think most people are like me. We crave these moments, we cherish their emotions, we're ticked off at how often and how quickly it all eludes us, but at the same time, we fight to keep these instances in a special place in our minds so that we don't become desensitized to their might and severity. We save sweet music for sunsets and weddings. We're careful about who we sit with when watching our favorite films. We devote hours to researching the cast members, authors, and musicians, to re-watching the key scenes, re-reading the same chapters, and repeating the same songs...anything to get more out of it, anything to make the feelings last. Eventually - and we all dread this moment - it all fades away. At this point, we resort to seeking out other obsessions, different scenarios, and new favorites as a means of eliminating this sort of emotional void inside us. Finding something that's good enough can be extremely difficult.<br /><br />This is why I write. I want to help. I realize that we all have different interests, different things we idolize, but my range of interests is wide enough that I think I may have something you haven't found yet, something to pique your interest, something you can reap more intensity from. With this hope, I'll share with you some of the most gratifying entities I know of, the most personal passions I have when it comes to art and storytelling. Maybe there's something here that you can cling to, and if not, I encourage you to reveal a bit about those moments of deepest meaning in your life. Sometimes getting it out there is all we need, and even I'm in search of more indescribable moments.<br /><br />***Be wary of spoilers; I'll try to keep them at a minimum, but some might be necessary for me to express myself effectively.<br /><br />We'll start with Mass Effect 3, which is not just another video game; it's the end of a trilogy. Think Mockingjay or Return of the King for story-driven gamers. The first two games have relatively little emotion - you're a spacer fighting the bad guys. The 3rd game, however, gets very serious. Right at the beginning of the game, Earth is invaded and you must leave it to recruit aid from friendly alien races. Trouble is, all of their homeworlds are being invaded as well. The entire series boils down to a finale stand on planet Earth: the galaxy vs. it's destruction. Like with Hunger Games, the intensity here is never-ending; millions of people are dying on Earth with every desperate step you take toward (hopefully) saving it. The ending is little more an ending. There's no happily ever after, no "We did it!", not even a real denouement. So many people were so displeased with it that the game's creators are currently working on a new ending, but I thought it was perfect. It was real. It was, in many ways, the most intense it could be. This song from the soundtrack provides a good taste of what it's all about.<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/30gdUX6ZLx8" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />In my opinion, the most enthralling of intense moments involve sadness, shock, and hope. Hunger Games sure does. Mass Effect too. Now here's another good example, one I can actually show you on my blog and in a reasonable amount of time. It comes from another video game: Heavy Rain. Video games are unique in that they make you a part of the moment rather than just a witness. You live the power of the instance and in the best of cases, you're the cause of it as well. In Heavy Rain, the main character's son is kidnapped by an infamous serial killer. The kidnapper sets up challenges for the protagonist, which he must complete to discover the location of his son. These aren't any ordinary challenges. See for yourself. (This scene is not for the faint of heart, but everyone should at least watch the first minute or two)<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7li4Iy5b0Vo" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />This game is special because of the freedom. You can refuse the challenge and let your son die. You can't make those decisions in any other form of story.<br /><br />We'll switch gears to music. Music is unique in that it has much less time than a book, movie, or game, but manages to be just as powerful. It builds on reality, not fictional stories (usually) to pull us in and to make itself last. At the time of posting this article, my playlist is/was filled with a few great musical masterpieces I've been lucky enough to claim as part of my collection. Take a listen. Let's dive deeper into a particular song, one that is aided in its endeavor by a superb music video. There's a different type of intensity here, it isn't one of tragedy or hope, but one of unity - unity of people, events, dreams. This piece, a brand new song from Imogen Heap, is the epitome of the people of China.<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jgvAx2Bdt-o" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Let's turn away from Hunger Games to another movie, which is one of my favorites: The Fountain. It tells the story of three men, who are split by time but tied together in spirit. The first is a Spanish conquistador searching for the Tree of Life to help his queen. The second is a modern-day doctor working to cure cancer to save his dying wife. The third is a future cosmonaut, supposedly the last human alive, who is trying to save the dying Tree of Life. The conclusion to this movie is one of the best I've ever seen. Get a feel for it here and check out this movie if you've got the time.<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O5Vm62a2G34" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Like I said before, it's no fun to keep the passion to yourself, that's why I aspire to be a fiction novelist. That's why I'm studying to be a video game designer. That's why I'm still playing viola. One day, I hope I'll be making the stories people cling to and constructing the intensity no one forgets. That's my dream: to help build a more exciting reality. One day, I hope to join Suzanne Collins, Imogen Heap, BioWare, and all of the other genius creators of our time in bringing power to an otherwise fairly tame existence. I already have several promising ideas so keep an eye out.<br /><br />I'm thinking I might make this "Art of Intensity" a continuing series, including new moments I've found and old ones I remember. Let me know what you think. For now, I'll leave you with some additional sources of intensity, all of which are rewarding investments of time.<br /><br />Movies: Super 8, Take Shelter, Soul Surfer, The Mist<br />Musicians: Moby, Enigma, Sleeping At Last<br />Music videos: For Those Who Wait by Fireflight, Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars<br />Games: Alan Wake, Unreal Tournament, Dragon Age: Origins, Half-Life 2<br /><br />If you made it this far, I can't thank you enough.Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869020128327010479.post-62135793884132059842012-02-25T14:08:00.006-07:002012-02-25T14:46:40.856-07:00Hymn for The Missing<div>Here's the first of several 'song poems' I've written. Every line here (including the title) is a single, unaltered song title. It's a writing endeavor I'm really excited about, but I want to know what readers' think. I'm experimenting with how to construct and present this type of poem so I'm trying something that will only work online: every line of text will link you to its song. Read the poem completely first and then sample the tunes as much or as little as you'd like. I think you'll find that the poem also makes for an enjoyable, diverse playlist as well. It would be stellar to get some responses from you guys! Also, should I post more? (PS: starred songs contain some profanity and some songs will just link to the artist's website if I can't find the song online)<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsyPe21jOro">Hymn For The Missing</a><br /></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvFJk869Naw">So I Finally Decided To Give Myself A Reason<br /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvFJk869Naw">A Good Reason</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEifJni_NBs">Before</a><br /><a href="http://music.yahoo.com/crosstide/albums/life-as-a-spectator--184874577">There's Hell</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PtzJs3eIAY">...That I May Not Cause Pain</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN-uo02mxoQ">I Swear This Time I Mean It</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdJLlmZxsBY">Silence Must Be Heard</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QBwtHzdSFM">On Melancholy Hill</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQxB3_1srzk">Runners Of The Sun</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw4p18Xmf9I">We Owe This To Ourselves</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJsv_xkJ5Hg">Now We've Made Our Ascent</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Mrpydonro">Through The Light Darkly</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdhWRnjv_kk">Through The Static***</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGpSf_m85dw">Across The Rainbow Bridge</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmvYbJTrsJc">To The Ends Of The Earth</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFjFKy3HexY&ob=av3n">Dusting Down The Stars</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1pu4O9vzLY">Don't Get Lost In Heaven</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4-RAP8FWk&feature=related">Easier Said Than Done</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF16vB3GfGM">At Least We Tried</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU4_-sPC9EU"><br />Peace Love And Understanding</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_x0Hel7eoY">Different Names For The Same Thing</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7qwHCgkw1Y">You're Almost There</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TYX1X0SFw0">Now The One You Once Loved Is Leaving</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84fLwWKJab8">An Almighty Thud</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8t1kCjUGQg">A Hundred Times In Every Direction</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszU65P8eTU">Here We Are After Dark</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rKC7ElkTUQ&ob=av3n">We Will Become Silhouettes</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qalu4qn0qZ4">Swallowed By The Night</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYoMn7n9ug">Once Rendering</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDDfVAF1D-Q">Well Thought Out Twinkles</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdRljCA_aE">Conversations With Stars</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOFvMHEQLEA">Arriving Somewhere But Not Here</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMIIjqrVZ8Q">Ghost Symbol</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsiwtBbGC1M">What Do You Go Home To?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iSTvjUiuUE">Each Life Critical</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKygDoeIJBc">To Whom It May Concern</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Shi0kJgBt4">Don't Let Them See You</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRMNiZtj5s&ob=av3e">For Those Who Wait</a><br /><a href="http://music.yahoo.com/heights/albums/toys-kings--51002408">Help Is On Its Way</a><br /></div>Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07096079116592737225noreply@blogger.com0