With all the holiday joy that fills the month of December, comes the spreadsheet madness of end of year "Best of" list tabulations.  I must admit I've been distracted by sparkly things and holiday party excitement the last couple weeks, so I really need to step up my subjective calculations by next Wednesday because...

On Wednesday, December 14th, I'll humbly join Seattle's very own Larry Mizell Jr. of The Stranger / KEXP's Streetsounds / a number of amazing Seattle bands, Josh Powell, Vera Project Program Director, and KUOW's Steve Scher in an end of the year look at our favorite releases of the year at the lovely KUOW, 94.9 FM studios from 9am-10am.

I have a few ideas of what is going to be at the top (and bottom) of my list... but I'm sure I've missed something. What does your Favorites of 2011 list look like?

more...

{Head and the Heart photo by Victoria VanBruinnisse from the Imaginary Flickr Photo Pool}

I love this time of year. Besides the {sometimes forced} joyous disposition of folks and my annual fancy birthday breakfast {on December 24 for those keeping track}, we all get to ruminate on the best albums and songs of the year for hours on end.

more...

{Fantastic photo from the Imaginary Flickr Photo Pool by Explosion 5000}

Summertime brings with it all kinds of lovely things: lazy all day BBQs, iced drinks aplenty, and songs that mark {and in most cases fuel} all the sun-filled good times.

On Friday {July 23} from 9am-10am, I get to talk about *my* most notable summer songs of the moment on KOUW's Weekday show from 9am-10am with host Steve Scher and fellow guests Josh Powell {Vera Project Programming Co-Director} and Larry Mizell Jr. {wordsmith at The Stranger, Raindrop Hustla, KEXP DJ, and Commissioner, Seattle Music Commission}. Even though I've met all those dudes a few times already, I'm still in awe that I get to talk tunes with them.

I've gathered a list of seven songs to take, and by 8.45am on Friday I have to whittle them down to three selections. It's proving to be a difficult task. What are your slam dunk favorite summer songs... either by bands who are from Seattle or are coming to town? Tell the class all about them!

If you're near a radio or computer Friday morning, tune into KUOW, 94.9 FM from 9a-10a! For those outside of Seattle, you can listen online.

And if you want, email the station (weekday@kuow.org) or call in and let us know your thoughts on what you're going to go see and what your summer soundtrack song is. The phone number is 206.543.KUOW (800.289.KUOW).

more...

I guessing that you, like those of us at imaginary headquarters, have spent the last few weeks calculating your favorites of the year... and possibly the decade.  It's fun, it's grueling, and it all ends with a really good mix tape.

This morning I am honored to to join Seattle's very own Larry Mizell Jr. of The Stranger, Josh Powell, Vera Project Programming Co-Director, and KUOW's Steve Scher in an end of the year look at our favorite releases to come out of Seattle at the lovely KUOW, 94.9 FM studios from 9a-10a.

Call in and let us know your thoughts on what were the best albums to come out of Seattle in 2009! The phone number is 206.543.KUOW (800.289.KUOW). For those outside of Seattle, you can listen online.

more...

If you're near a radio or computer this morning, tune into KUOW, 94.9 FM from 9a-10a!

I'm slightly nervous but really excited to join Seattle tastemakers Larry Mizell Jr. of The Stranger and Josh Powell, Vera Project Programming Co-Director in the sure-to-be-lively discussion about the songs and festivals of summer 2009.  To prepare, I've gathered a couple of my favorite summer 2009 songs to add to the mix (if there's time) and I've got two huge mugs of tea brewing.

more...

It's the DIY movement, which has so lowered the barriers to entry for music creation, distribution, and even criticism, that has differentiated the Seattle sound of today by propagating a sense of independence and individuality.

more...

Jim Anderson, beloved and amazing sound guy from the Crocodile Cafe (RIP), will be on Sound Focus today (Thursday, 4/24) on KUOW.

more...