Favorite Albums (part 1)

I've had this idea floating around in my head for about six months to list my top one hundred albums. But I keep putting it off and coming up with excuses not to write it up. Well no more. This is the fist part of (at least) a Top 50 Favorite Albums list. Yeah!!!! 

I decided to set a few ground rules before writing: 
1.) only use one album per artist
2.) greatest hits, compilations, or box set could not be included
3.) neither could live albums
4.) all albums must have been released before 2013

The list was a hard to narrow down. Some artists I like their collection as a whole but not one specific album (such artist as  Faith No More, Johnny Cash, Danzig, Beasstie Boys, Shins, Rollins Band, My Morning Jacket, Tool, and others all into this category). 
Here are the fist ten on the list and in no particular order.



Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975)

** Those who know me well realize I am a huge Zep fan. And of all their great albums, Graffiti is by far my favorite. Everything on the album clicks as flows seamlessly from one track to the next. You can rock out hard with "Kashmir" or simply hit a mellow vibe with "Ten Years Gone". Bonham, Page, Jones, and Plant had never been better.
Favorite Song: "Down By The Seaside"



Soundgarden - Down on the Upside (1996)

** While many of my generation really got into Nirvana (and dubbed them the kings of grunge), I always preferred Soundgarden. Maybe it's the way Cornell belts out a tune. The man has one of the best vocal ranges in rock history. Period. Or maybe it's the heavy guitar strumming of the highly underated Kim Thayill. Regardless they are one my favorite bands of all time. And Upside is their signature effort. You can get lost in the melodies of "Blow Up the Outside World', "Overfloater", and "Tighter and Tighter".
Favorite Album: "Zero Chance"



Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)

** As an AV event technician I am often asked to supply walk in music for meetings or background dinner music at the last moment. When the situation occurs, nearly 75% of the time Bitches Brew is my go to album. Miles blows his horn with a fury never heard before. The result is amazing on your eardrums. Crack it loud and fill it's passion.
Favorite Song: "Spanish Key"

 
Jimmy Eat World - Invented (2010)

** J.E.W. is a band I got into a little late. I didn't care for the band when they first came out while attedning college. Years later I started hearing all this awesome songs on the alternative radio station in town. When I found out who the artist was, quite frankly I was shocked. So I gave them another chance and now the band is right up with all my favs. Invented is their crowning achievement.The second half of this album from "Stop" to "Mixtape" is as good as anything produced in the last decade. Honestly, it's that good and the lyrics are pure poetry. 
Favorite Song: "Invented"


Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me (2006)

** I bought this album after hearing one song that instantly resonated with me, "Jesus". It's an act which rarely occurs for me with a new to me band. I popped the CD and one song after another hit the right mark. I probably listened to it for two weeks straight, non-stop, without ever getting tired of it. Whether it's "Millstone", "Handcuffs", "Degausser", or "You Dont Know" this album never misses.
Favorite Song: "Jesus"


Toadies - Rubberneck (1994)

** Rubberneck is one of the best, lesser known albums of the 90's. The huge hit off the album was "Possum Kingdom", a fine song indeed. But the rest of the album continues with a southern punk hybrid style rarely heard and extremely dark lyrics. Songs like "I Burn" and "Tyler" make this one stand out which is why it makes my list.
Favorite Song: "I Burn"


Jack White - Blunderbuss (2012)

** As far as I'm concerned anything Jack White touches is gold. So it's no surprise his fist solo album is on my list. He combines rock, country, and blues guitar riffs with lyrics that tell compelling stories. The album just makes me happy. It's musical bliss.
Favorite Song: "Love Interruption"


Fleetwood Mac - Rumors (1977)

** Simply put. Rumors is one great album. Like many of the group's effort it's the vocal stylings of Nicks, McVie, and Buckingham which drives the songs. And almost every one on the album is a hit including "Second Hand News", "Go Your Own Way", "Dont Stop", and "Gold Dust Woman". Pure 70's soft, pop rock goodness.
Favorite Song: "The Chain"


N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (1988)

** As a middle class white kid from Northeast Indiana obviously this album about living life in an LA gang connected with me. It was different from the normal with songs like "8 Ball", "Staight Outta Compton", "Dope Man", and "Gangsta Gangsta" containing sensationalized lyrics about death, drugs, and women. It was frowned upon by the adults for the content. It was listened by me and friends over and over again in act of rebellion. To this day I can recite a good share of the lyrics on the album.  
Favorite Song: "Fuck Tha Police"


ACDC - Back In Black (1980)

** Quite honestly a near perfect rock album containing songs everyone knows like "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Rock and Roll Aint Noise Pollution", and "Hells Bells". It is the second biggest selling album of all time. Angus Young guitar riffs sink into your skull while Brian Johnson's gravely voice pumps you up. Many beers have been slung to this tunes in my day.
Favorite Song: "Back In Black"



More to be revealed in the weeks to come



Observations of an Illogical Mind by www.seankimmel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Peace and Sadness

I was on vacation when I got the phone call. My Grandmother Kimmel had passed away. She had turned 86 last month. Now she was finally at peace.

I've been preparing since January for the day. It's still not easy. Vacation was cut a tad short as I had to get back home to make funeral arrangements. I am the oldest heir and the executor of her estate. And now, the eldest in my family tree.

The road to her end was rather rapid. Not even two years since she was diagnosed with dementia, her time has ended. We went from seeing her struggle on her own to my sister moving in to help out to getting at home care worker coming in every day to assisted living to full care at the nursing home. The disease is cruel. It is heartless.

At least she still remembered most people who visited her. She couldn't recall much else in the final months. She stopped eating, she had no interests, and all she wanted to do was sleep. But at least her face would momentarily light up when you walked in the room.

I am gonna miss that stubborn, independent, opinionate gal. Tears stream down my face as I type. Memories flood my brain.

Alice Mae Kimmel

In my sadness there is also great relief. The whole situation has been extremely stressful and exhausting, both mentally and physically. Not to mention costly. The only left is all the paperwork.

For the first time in many, many years I feel like there's no responsibilites for me. Nothing keeping me in the area. I can go anywhere if I choose. Hell, maybe worldly adventures are too far off. Becasue now, I need to get back to taking care of me.



Side Note:
On the day of my Grandma Kimmel's funeral, my last grandmother passed away while in the hospital. Two funerals, five days apart. It was a rough couple of weeks.

Goodbye Grandma Donna. You were one of a kind.

Donna Siegel

Observations of an Illogical Mind by www.seankimmel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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The Kimmel Blogging Network

Once again, I've been silent on my main blog for too long. I do have a few posts waiting in the wings though. Just need to find time to write them. It's coming in the next few days.

In the meantime, I've decided to link all my other blogs to the main site. Tabs are located at the top. A person can find links for my horror review blog, Fringes of Horror; a wrestling blog by myself and a few others, 7 Strong Style Assholes; and my latest adventure a blog about craft beer happenings in Northeast Indiana called Fort Wayne Beer News.

I've got my own little network and now I need to come up with content since Fringes is the only one which gets regularly. Come along for the ride and expects changes and updates soon.





Observations of an Illogical Mind by www.seankimmel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Please feel free to share the link but contact me for any other uses or publication. Thanks.

Colts: Playoffs and Beyond

Playoffs: 
at Baltimore, Lost 24-9

What Happened: The game basically came down to the defense giving up big plays which led to touchdowns and the offense not being able to put the ball in the end zone. There were lots of dropped passes and a constant rush from Baltimore defense. 


Final Thoughts on 2012
When I first scripted out the Colts' season, it most certainly did not come out this way. I said nine wins would be obtainable with a few breaks and a possibility of the playoffs. Well, they certainly shatter that claim by riding the arm of a fantastic rookie and the #Chuckstrong movement.

The season could not have been any more enjoyable. It was an thrill ride. The draft class more than lived up to expectations and with the amount of revolving bodies in and out of the locker room it is really hard to believe the team performed as well as they did. Sure this team has needs to address. But for many young players who will have a future role on the team gained valuable experience.


Looking to 2013
Bruce Arians deserves a head coaching job in the NFL after this season. But I hope he turns them all down to remain the OC in Indy. He was a big reason for the team's success. 

Indy has a lot of cap space. I look for Gigson to make maybe one big signing in free agency, grab a few solid guys to fill some holes,  and continue with picking up players that are low risk and high reward guys. An obvious upgrade to the offensive line and secondary is needed. Defensive line, linebacker, and receiver depth would help too. 

I dont see a lot of the guys from the old regime sticking around such as Dwight Freeney, Donald Brown, and Jerrod Powers. I could even see Grigson trading away some other guys who aren't good fits for the 3-4 defense such as Angerer. Of current guys on the roster who will be free agents, Pat McAfee is a must sign. We need "The Boomstick" on the roster.

One thing is for certain...
The future looks good.

Observations of an Illogical Mind by www.seankimmel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Indianapolis Colts (2nd Half Recap)

For the first half of the season recap go to this post:

Week 10 (11/8): at Jacksonville Jaguars

Won 27-10

What Happened: I thought they might split with Jacksonville but I had the games flipped. The Colts came to Florida and simply dominated. The team needed a nice win on the road.

Predicted: Loss (6-3)
Actual Record: (6-3)

Week 11 (11/18): at New England Patriots

Loss 59-24

What Happened: The Colts looked bad. Very bad. Luck throws to interceptions for TD's and the special teams gives up another. Plus Brady threw at will. No a good game.
Predicted: Loss (6-4)

Actual Record: (6-4)

Week 12 (11/25): vs. Buffalo Bills

Won 20-13

What Happened: The Colts get a big day from rookie T.Y. Hilton as he becomes the first player in franchise history to get a punt return TD and a reception TD in the same game. Bills keep it interesting but in the end Indy wins another close game.
Predicted: Loss (6-5)

Actual Record: (7-4)

Week 13 (12/2): at Detroit Lions

Won 35-33

What Happened: I had damn near everything right in my prediction. Except the Colts pulling out a literal last second victory. Luck didn't look great but had big numbers. Calvin Johnson was nearly unstoppable. Indy falls behind and makes up the deficit in the last four minutes. This isn't the best team in the league but the find ways to win close games. They are in the driver's seat for the first wild card position. Dont count this team out. Ever. This is a special season with the team taking on Pagano's fearless, never quit approach.

Predicted: Loss (6-6)
Actual Record: (8-4)

Week 14 (12/9): vs. Tennessee Titans 
Won 27-23

What Happened: The Titans played a tough game as Locker threw the ball consistent against the secondary and Luck tosses up another pick six, albeit questionable. The Colts did what needed to be done and grinded out another close win on the season. The victory guarantees a winning season and puts them in the driver's seat for a wild card playoff birth.

Predicted: Win (7-6)
Actual Record: (9-4)

Week 15 (12/16): at Houston Texans
Lost 29-17

What Happened: Mental mistakes cost Indy the game with timely penalties. A fumble lost on the 1 yard line and a blocked punt for a TD didn't help much and neither did not being able to keep the Texans defensive line out of Luck's face. They were within nine points early in the 4th quarter but just couldn't make the big play. Houston wins the division.

Predicted: Loss (7-7)
Actual Record: 9-5

Week 16 (12/23): at Kansas City Chiefs 
Won 20-13

 

What Happened:
The Colts find a way to survive on the road. KC ran the ball all over the place for over 350 yards but come up with an important interception when it was needed. The offense had trouble all day, until when it counted. That equals another come from behind win and a guaranteed playoff spot for these young, cardiac Colts. And 9 wins by interm coach Bruce Arians. Well done sir.

Predicted: (7-8)
Actual Record: 10-5
 

Week 17 (12/30): vs. Houston Texans
Won 28-16

 

What Happened:
Coach Pagano returned to the sidelines this week. Emotions were high. And this team fought like it was still trying to secure a winning season. They ended up playing there most complete game of the year, in my opinion. Nothing fancy or great here, except an awesome 70 yard bomb to T.Y. Hilton. Indy simply went out and took care of business against a Houston team fighting for home field advantage in the playoffs.

Predicted: (7-9)
Actual Record: (11-5)




The Season
Even me, the man who claims at the beginning of the year the Colts will be 16-0 until proven otherwise, could not have predicted or asked for a better season. This team is far from perfect but there is something special about them. Plus with the Pagano leukemia situation, it makes for a great story and gives people a reason to cheer. Seriously, after replacing one of the all time great QB's in NFL history did anyone ever think this franchise would be in the playoffs this soon? Not many.
I predicted seven wins and thought they could get to nine with an outside shot at the playoffs. Well as the old ball coach once said "This is why we play the games". Anything can happen.
And it isn't quite over yet. 

Playoff Prediction

at Baltimore: 
I like this match up. These Colts team plays hard, plays to the end, and find ways to win close games. This is a hostile environment. Ray Lewis is returning for what could be his last game. Baltimore still hates Indianapolis for taking their team. This game has got me excited. The Colts win another squeaker 24-20 and add another positive to this amazing season.


at Denver or at New England:
Unfortunately, I dont see the Colts making past this round. I think they show up and put on a good game against either of these teams. But the season comes to an end with a lot to build upon for the future.





Observations of an Illogical Mind by www.seankimmel.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Please feel free to share the link but contact me for any other uses or publication. Thanks.