Back Inaction

Thanks to some heavy lifting on Monday, combined with a six-hour drive with the seat too far up thanks to the stuff that needed to be heavily lifted, I've been dealing with major pain in my back the last two days. Considering what a lot of people have to deal with in the pain arena, this is pretty minor stuff, but screw it, it sucks. Fortunately, there's a bit of improvement today.

While in Louisville over Christmas, we went to the new Muhammad Ali Center. The place, while containing plenty of amazing stuff about Ali, is otherwise a mess. It's not even finished -- seriously, it's maybe 60 percent built -- but they've opened it to the public anyway. I'm hoping it's not because Ali's in declining health. I was disappointed the history-making photo here isn't included in the memorabilia.

Top 10 of 2005 - No Links Edition

Don't have the time or inclination to link any of the below, but I think you'll live. Points are Village Voice-style. They wanted people's lists in early this year, so I got mine together today.

Will link to the official list, as well as past lists, whenever the 2005 Pazz and Jop issue is up online.

TOP 10

Idlewild - Warnings/Promises – 18
Their least-rocking album but their most focused and consistent (which, if you’re familiar with this band at all, is quite a feat). I don’t know what else to say about it other than it’s the only 2005 record where I can’t find a weakness.

Nada Surf - The Weight is a Gift – 14
Can’t quite match Let Go, but the fact that it comes close means it more than earns this spot.

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart – 13
Pretentious as hell at times, but the strong, powerful tunes sway me more than the grandiosity turns me off. Some great social commentary, too, especially on the title track.

Portastatic - Bright Ideas – 13
Always focused and consistent, Mac delivers probably the hardest-rocking Portastatic album. Great record from someone who never disappoints.

The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema – 10
A tad too long and too heavy on Neko for me, but sweet pop doesn’t get much sweeter.

The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday – 10
Docked a point or two for Craig Finn’s acquired-taste vocals, but his lyrics are the funniest and most touching of the year.

John Davis - s/t – 7
Once you get used to the fact that a guy who once sang about his girlfriend not swallowing is now singing about Jesus, the great tunes and fire-and-brimstone faith sans preaching win you over. Bonus points for being probably the nicest guy in rock.

Longwave - There's a Fire – 5
This one has waned for me since I first heard it, but it remains a strong, atmospheric pop record. Still surprised they haven’t had more mainstream success.

Clem Snide – End of Love – 5
Never really been that much of a fan of these guys, but this record is start-to-finish sharp. The title track, "The Sound of German Hip-Hop" and "Made for TV Movie" are genius.

Spoon - Gimme Fiction – 5
Might have moved up with a few more listens. Possibly the year’s most overrated record in terms of hype, but still good enough to crack this list.


Near Misses

• Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago (I’ve had a live album on my list before, but decided not to this year. Amazing version of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” and a few others.)
• My Morning Jacket - Z
• Bob Mould - Body of Song
• Fountains of Wayne - Out-of-State Plates
• Love Tractor - Black Hole
• Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
• Sloan – A Sides Win (never put a compilation on a top 10, but this one almost broke that streak)

Best '04 Records I Didn't Hear Until '05 That Would’ve Made Both This Year’s and Last Year’s List

• Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
• Green Day - American Idiot

Early Candidates for Top 10 '06

• Tommy Keene - Crashing the Ether
• Robert Pollard - From a Compound Eye
• The M's - Future Women
• The Minus 5 - s/t
• Keene Brothers - TBA

Shows
Saw very little live music; unless I think of others, this is the entire list:

• Sloan, Double Door
• Idlewild, Metro
• Portastatic, Empty Bottle
• Jeff Tweedy, Vic
• John Davis, Schubas
• Shout Out Louds, Double Door
• My Morning Jacket, Taste of Randolph Street
• Moviola, Hideout
• Paul Westerberg, Riviera (by far the year's biggest disappointment)

The Title Says it All

More on my fascination with the scourge that is "it is what it is":

• A discussion of "is what it is" vs. "it's all good".
  
• There's a movie with this as its title, starring Jonathan "The Single Guy" Silverman.
  
• Usher and some guy named Tony Yayo have songs about it.
  
• This is my favorite interview where someone uses the phrase; hell, it may be my favorite interview ever. (NOTE: This link is now correct. Thanks to Paul for the heads up.
  
• Here's a blog. And another.
  

I could go on, but...it is what it is.

See What I Mean?

Bulls guard Ben Gordon, on the knee injury that kept him out of last night's game vs. the Lakers:

Gordon regretted that the injury kept him from playing in Friday's game, which included a halftime ceremony to retire Scottie Pippen's No. 33.

"It's tough, especially on a night like tonight,'' he said. "It's going to be jam-packed, and some of the old greats coming back. I wish I didn't have to miss this game, but it is what it is.''

The game sucked, but the ceremony was great. Too bad I didn't get any good photos. I think it was because of the dim lighting during it all, but none of the shots are worth sharing.

It's Also Annoying

The phrase "it is what it is" has replaced "ratchet up" as the latest grammar-related annoyance du jour. Not a day goes by -- particularly when reading about sports online or listening to sports radio -- when I don't see/hear someone use it. Hell, 30 seconds after I complained (again) to my wife about it, the phrase was uttered by some loser on the Martha Stewart version of The Apprentice. (Yes, I could be considered a loser for watching; I understand and appreciate the irony.) If anyone has the power to do so, please make this stop. Thanks.

I'm going to a taping tonight of an NPR show called Wait Wait -- Don't Tell Me. I'm told (get it?) that what it is (get it again?) is funny. We'll see. Panelists tonight include Mo Rocca and P.J. O'Rourke, with special guest Harold Ramis. Sounds promising.

I'm also going to see the Bulls play the Lakers Friday night. Scottie Pippen's jersey retirement is part of the festivities, with MJ scheduled to be in the house. If I bring a camera, I'll share the results.

Speedball Four

Other than magazines, the newspaper and the Internet, I'm not much of a reader. Let me rephrase: My readings skills are top-notch, I just rarely make the time to read books. On the flights to and from Florida for Thanksgiving, I devoured Wrecking Crew by John Albert, the non-fiction story of a bunch of drug/gambling addicts, wannabe rock stars, failed actors and, in one case, a crossdresser that finds various states of redemption and enjoyment by forming a rec-league baseball team in Los Angeles.

I may be writing about it for Magnet, so I won't go into much detail, but it's heartwarming, funny and insightful, particularly Albert's closing lines about just what playing on the team meant to him. The tale's not so much about the team's success, though they do improbably end up winning a title, but rather how most of them took the team so seriously because of how much they got out of the experience.

It probably doesn't mean much for a non-reader to recommened a book, but I can't praise this one enough. I had to be prodded (not physically, pervs) by a publicist to delve into Wrecking Crew, and I'm so glad I finally did.