Year-End List, Paul Thompson Edition

In an insomnia-inspired fit of journalistically egotistical curiosity, I went a-googling tonight and found my name mentioned all across the interwebs. It's kind of creepy in some ways, but also kind of flattering. Sort of like having six billion distanced stalkers--all have the capability to hang on my every written word, yet only a few take advantage of the opportunity. But since you're reading my blog, I'll assume you're one of the few who do, and therefore you're utterly enraptured by my self-centered nature.

SO...getting on with things, here...I found my name mentioned on Paul Thompson's blog, which until tonight I was not aware existed. You learn something new every day. I could take this opportunity to gush about Paul Thompson and his wonderful contributions to the Daily Collegian over the past...oh, eight or so years, is it? But then, I'm assuming you've already moved your mouses as quickly as you can to the address bar in your browser to search the Collegian archives and do just that already. In which case you're no longer reading this blog entry, which is sort of paradoxical, in a way.

And there I go again. I'm in a wordy mood tonight. The point is that Paul's most recent entry offers a guide to writing your year-end top ten albums list in typical hip rock critic fashion. You can find a link to Mr. Thompson's blog to the right (from my blogger site, you lazy Facebookers are gonna have to go to grafsmanship.blogspot.com to check out my bland Blogger template before doing so, since I'm too lazy to simply insert a hyperlink--which I'm not certain would transfer to Facebook, anyway).

Therefore, a disclaimer--this is not my actual year-end top ten. You can see my top five in this week's Venues (that's called a teaser) and I'll likely write an extended addendum by the end of the year in this here space. This is, rather, my version of Paul's skeleton (sans blurbs--sorry, I'm not in the blurbing mood right now), and a fabulous one it is. My actual top ten will only ever-so-slightly resemble this. But if I'm gonna be a rock critic someday, I suppose I have to learn to make lists like one.

10. The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun
9. Ali Farka Toure - Savane
8. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
7. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
6. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
5. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
4. Destroyer - Rubies
3. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
2. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
1. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain


And there you have it: my 75% of a true story (if that) Best of 2006 list. And dastard (that's not a typo, look it up) though I am, as I typed out that list I realized that my top 5 that will appear in this week's Venues is NOT, in fact, my honest-to-goodness top 5. I played politics; I'll be honest. I didn't want to go super-indie on State College. But, as I think about what I cut and what I kept, I'm realizing that I placed one minority above another. Being a music reporter is a lot harder than you guys think; I swear. Okay, that's a lie. But if you make it needlessly, frivolously stressful like I do, it can be!

So naturally, if you want to see what the hell I may be talking about, you can 1) Check out Paul Thompson's blog; 2) Pick up a Venues/browse the Collegian site on Thursday; and 3) Look for my Super-Official Best of 2006 List in the coming weeks. But until then, I'm gonna see you again next time for another great legend of the hidden temple!