2009 in 2 Hours

Give me two hours and I'll give you the best songs of 2009.

Alphabetically by Artist

1. Band of Skulls – I Know What I Am
A bluesy/rock lesson in rhyme. Album – Baby Doll Face Honey.

2. The Big Pink – Dominoes
So freaking catchy. This is my favorite track off their self-produced debut album A Brief History of Love.

3. Billy Boy on Poison – On My Way
Lo-fi wonderfulness with some great chunka-chunka guitar. This was one free iTunes Single of the Week that did not disappoint. I just heard it used on a Dayquil/Nyquil commercial, too.

4. Cage the Elephant – Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Just good garage-rock storytelling from the self-titled debut released this spring. Loving the slide guitar. Also check out Back Against the Wall.

5. Cascada – Evacuate the Dancefloor
Guilty Pleasure Pop Song of the Year.

6. Dirty Projectors – No Intention
Good lord, the first time I heard this song. The harmonies blew my mind. And the classical guitar? Forget it. Check out this live performance on Sirius XMU : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXjtDwJGeDI. Other gems from Bitte Orca? Cannibal Resource, Stillness is the Move, and Two Doves.

7. Doves – Kingdom of Rust
This melancholy tune has cello and violin for an orchestral melody that makes me want to break and run. I also like the 10:03. Album – Kingdom of Rust.

8. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
On Letterman : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9jY8yAxgs. I love the talky part in the middle, “Jade … Alexander …”. This one makes my heart hurt for home. Serious times.

9. Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls
Freaking LOVE this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-5L5McaBAY. Also check out Ulysses and Lucid Dreams. Album – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.

10. The Gaslight Anthem – Old White Lincoln
New to Me Song of the Year. Their album The ’59 Sound dropped August 2008. Where the hell was I? Reminds me a lot of Springsteen, and I’m ok with that. Also check out Great Expectations. Roll the top back, pull your baby close, and settle in for a long highway drive.

11. The Harlem Shakes – Strictly Game
Sing along with me now, “Make a little money. Take a lot of shit. Feel real bad and get over it. This will be a better year.” Album – Technicolor Health.

12. The Heavy - Sixteen
From the album The House That Dirt Built. All the advice your older brother and friends tried to give you about that douche-bag you were sooo in love with in middle school but you were too much of a know-it-all punk teenager to listen. Also try How You Like Me Now. And if you haven’t already, go back to their 2008 album Great Vengeance and Furious Fire and get Colleen and That Kind of Man. You won’t be disappointed.

13. Imogen Heap – First Train Home
Another song that got me longing for home. Such beautifully rich and textured electro. The other must have is Aha! Album – Ellipse.

14. Islands – Switched On
Quirky and totally fun. Great harmonies and lyrics. Album – Vapours.

15. Karen O. and The Kids – All is Love
From the Where the Wild Things Are OST. She’s up for a Grammy for this song.

16. The Limousines – Very Busy People (Single)
There is a time and place for everything. It’s called college.

17. Matisyahu – One Day
Poignant. Positive. Policitcal without beating you over the head with it. I was so stoked when I heard this on a commercial for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver the other day. Album – Light (Deluxe Version).

18. Matt & Kim – Daylight
Such a creative video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBeu3FVi60. Just. Plain. Fun. Get Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare, too. Album – Grand.

19. Muse – Uprising
Rock Opera Anthem of the Year. “If you could flick a switch and open your third eye, you’d see that we should never be afraid to die.” The last minute of this song makes me feel like I could conquer the world. Album – The Resistance.

20. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Young Adult Friction
This is my favorite song off their self-titled debut album. A total throw back to the indie-pop of the 80s.

21. Passion Pit – The Reeling
Indie-rock meets disco. And I love disco. Album – Manners.

22. Phoenix – Lisztomania
I’m pretty sure the YouTube Brat-Pack Mashup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtRQsCgYmtc) sealed the deal on this song for me. Now, I can’t listen to it without dancing like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club. Album – Wolfgang Amedeus Phoenix. My other faves off this album are 1901 and Love Like a Sunset Pt. I.

23. The Raveonettes – Last Dance
I don’t really like much of their stuff (Too much reverb on the vocals and distortion on the guitars …), but this one really stuck with me. Album – In and Out of Control.

24. Regina Spektor – Folding Chair
Total summer awesomeness. I admit that her dolphin noises are a bit weird, but I’ll live. Album – Far.

25. She Wants Revenge – All Wound Up
I love this sound. It is so very different from any of their other stuff. Off their Up and Down EP.

26. Shiny Toy Guns – Major Tom
Cover Song of the Year. Used in the 2010 Lincoln MKZ commercial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvDX5qGN1J0.

27. Vampire Weekend – Cousins
Killer video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0u11rgd9Q. This single (as well as Horchata) was released early in anticipation of the new album, Contra. It drops in the states January 12, 2010.

28. The Very Best (feat. Ezra Koenig) – Warm Heart of Africa
World pop alternative indie-rock awesomeness. Is there anything Ezra Koenig can’t do?

29. White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
How much do I love the drums in this song? 11. Album – It’s Frightening.

30. Wolf Mother – New Moon Rising
I have one question. Do you wanna ROCK?! Album – Cosmic Egg.

31. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
This one builds and builds until the drums, guitar, vocals are all mixed up together and screaming at the end. “Was it the cure?” Other must-haves include Heads Will Roll and Dull Life. Album – It’s Blitz!

32. Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
I remember hearing about how this was *the band to watch in 2009. I do love the full eletro sound and his crystal clear vocals in this song. Off the Abling Alp EP. The new album Odd Blood drops February 9, 2010.

The Yay! New Floors! Party Menu

Alex and I recently hosted a party in which several of our friends made some spectacular dishes. The recipes follow.

***
Samuel Adams Sharp Cheddar Fondue

24 oz (6 c) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2.5 tbs cornstarch
½ tsp spicy mustard
1 oz shallot
1 tsp olive oil
2.5 cups Samuel Adams Boston Lager beer
3-5 Fuji or Granny Smith apples, diced and tossed with 2 tbs lemon juice

1. Place cheese in mixing bowl. Toss with cornstarch.
2. Heat oil on setting 5.5. Cook shallot until golden, about 1 minute.
3. Add beer and bring to boil.
4. Reduce setting to 3.5. Stir in cheese mix one handful at a time while stirring.
5. Serve at setting 3.

***
Erin's Cranberry Goat Cheese Log

¼ oz package of gelatin
¼ cup water
12 oz package fresh cranberries, pureed
½ tsp cinnamon
½ cup sugar
¼ cup cranberry juice
¼ cup Chambord Liqueur
16 oz goat cheese log
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. In a small glass combine gelatin and water. Set aside.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine pureed cranberries through liqueur. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Add gelatin and stir until very thick.
3. Remove from heat and place saucepan in a large ice bath to cool.
4. Once cranberry mixture has cooled, lay an 18 inch sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. Spoon ½ cup onto plastic wrap. Lay goat cheese on top and cover with remaining mixture and walnuts.
5. Gently wrap-up log in plastic. Twist ends. Freeze about 30 minutes to allow cranberry mixture to set.
6. Remove from freezer and serve with toasted pita or soft crackers.

***
Michael's Giant Ginger Cookies

COOKIES
4 ½ cups all purpose flour
4 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
½ cup molasses
¾ cup sugar

1. Mix together in same bowl: flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the 2 cups of sugar. Beat until combined. Beat in eggs and molasses. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour mixture by hand. (NOTE: I use a heavy duty Kitchen Aid mixer and it can handle everything without stirring anything by hand.)

2. Shape dough into 2-inch balls, or the same amount that fits in a 1/4 cup measure.
3. Roll balls in the 3/4 cup sugar until coated. Place 2 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. (NOTE: I use a Silpat silicone cookie sheet liner and there is almost no mess to clean up. Find one at Williams-Sonoma or most specialty cooking stores, if you like.)
4. Flatten balls *slightly* once on cookie sheet.

HEAT: oven, 350 degrees.
TIME: 11-13 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned and tops are puffed. DO NOT OVERBAKE!!! It is better to be a little under-done than over done. Cool on cookie sheet for approximately 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

LEMON GLAZE
Juice 1-2 lemons
Confectioner's sugar

1. In a bowl whisk together lemon juice and confectioner's sugar until consistency is thick enough to drip slowly (like molasses or heavy syrup) off of the whisk. (NOTE: this can take a lot of confectioner's sugar, nearly the whole box depending on how much lemon juice. Also, if less sugar and more lemon flavor is desired, mix 1/2 tsp of cornstarch (per lemon used) with a small amount of the lemon juice until pasty. Incorporate that mixture to sugar and lemon juice until thicker.)
2. Lightly glaze each cookie with a brush or spoonful after the cookies have cooled.

***
Great-Grandma Vivian’s Oyster Soup

2 bunches green onions, chopped
½ bunch celery, chopped
½ cup parsley, chopped
1 ½ cup seafood broth
2 cloves garlic
32 oz oysters with juice
2 tbs butter
¼ cup flour
3 qrt + 1 cup water
15 shakes of Italian seasoning
¾ cup cooking sherry
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat 5 qt pot over medium. Melt butter. Add flour and 1 cup water. Stir until blended.
2. Blender onions through garlic until smooth. Add to pot.
3. Add remaining water, Italian seasoning, and sherry. Stir. Bring to boil. Simmer for 1 hour.
4. Add oysters with juice. Simmer 1 hour.

***
Debbie’s Greek Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbs capers, drained and chopped
2 tbs fresh dill, chopped
1 tbs fresh oregano, chopped
2 tsp finely grated lemon peel
1 tsp salt
½ tsp fresh ground pepper
1 ½ lb large shrimp (16-20 count), shelled and deveined
1 14 oz can artichoke heart, drained and halved
8 cherry tomatoes
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
4-6 skewers

1. In a large bowl, stir together ingredients oil through lemon peel. Toss in shrimp and coat. Cover and refrigerate 2-4 hours.
2. Heat grill.
3. Equally divide chilled shrimp mixture onto skewers. Brush remaining marinade over skewers. Place on grill (Messy! Use aluminum foil over grill!). Cook 3 minutes, turn.
4. Place feta over shrimp. Cook another 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and cheese is melty.

***
Cortney’s Mom’s Cajun Sausage & Chicken Gumbo

4 qrts water
½ jar (8 oz) Savoie’s Old Fashioned Roux
Chicken parts – breasts, thighs, legs
1 lb Savoie’s hot Andouille sausage
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, diced
½ cup green onions, chopped
½ cup parsley, chopped
Tony Chachere’s & Tabasco to taste
6-8 cups rice, cooked

1. In a large gumbo pot, brown sausage and vegetables. Remove and set aside.
2. Add chicken to pot and brown. Remove and set aside.
3. Over medium heat, slowly dissolve roux in water 1 spoonful at a time.
4. Add chicken, sausage, and vegetables back to pot. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 hours.
5. Add scallions and parsley 15 minutes prior to serving. Season to taste. Serve over rice.

Eggplant Parmesan Casserole

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
1 cup unbleached white or wheat flour
2 large eggs (use a higher omega-3 brand, if available)
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup finely grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
2 medium eggplants, tops and bottoms trimmed off & sliced widthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices
Olive oil cooking spray (or canola cooking spray)
26-ounce can or jar spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella, packed

Directions
• Preheat oven broiler. Line two baking sheets with foil and generously coat the foil with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Add breadcrumbs to medium bowl. Add flour to another medium bowl. Add eggs, egg substitute and 1/2 cup of the Romano cheese to a third medium bowl and whisk together to blend well. Arrange the bowls on your kitchen counter in this order: flour, egg mixture, breadcrumbs, then prepared baking sheets.
• Dip each eggplant slice into the flour, then dip into the egg mixture to coat both sides. Then dip it into the breadcrumb mixture to lightly coat both sides. Place on prepared baking sheets, and repeat the process with the remaining eggplant slices. When all the eggplant has been dipped, generously coat their top sides with cooking spray.
• Broil eggplant slices about 6-inches from the heat, watching carefully, until the tops are golden brown (about 3 minutes). Flip slices over, coat with cooking spray, and broil until second side is golden brown (about 2 minutes more). After all the eggplant slices are golden brown, take them out of the oven and turn it down to 375 degrees while you assemble the casserole.
• In a 9 x 9-inch or 2-quart baking dish, spread 1/2 cup marinara over the bottom. Layer one-fourth of the browned eggplant slices to cover the sauce. Top with 2/3 cup of marinara, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, and 1/3 cup mozzarella. Repeat these layers three more times. (If you only have enough eggplant for two more layers, that's perfectly fine).
• Spray one side of a sheet of foil with cooking spray, and cover the casserole with the spray-coated side touching the food (this keeps the cheese from sticking to the foil). Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool a few minutes. Serve hot.

Yield: 6 servings.
Per serving: 345 calories, 19 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 13 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 93 mg cholesterol, 5 g fiber, 1022 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 35%.

Out of the Blue :: Julian Casablancas

"... And the ones that I made pay were never the ones who deserved it. And the ones who deserved it, they'll never understand it ..."

Out of the Blue
Julian Casablancas
Phrazes for the Young