The Top 5
1. Gui Boratto: “Take My Breath Away” from Take My Breath Away (Kompakt, 2009)
http://www.kompakt.fm/releases/take_my_breath_away
As I mentioned in my year-end music list , I’m not a big fan of straight-ahead dance music (see the entry for Deadmau5: Random Album Title) . But sometimes, I hear something that grabs my ear, and this track is one of those occasions. The lead sound is lovely, just slightly dirty and drifting in and out of tune; the whole track rises and falls in a very human way. You can listen to this album on Kompakt’s website (linked above), in the player on the right hand side.
2. The Limits of Control trailer (Jim Jarmusch, Focus Features 2009)
http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/thelimitsofcontrol/
I have heard absolutely nothing about this film, but just ran across the trailer, and I think it’s my most anticipated movie of the year. Nothing Jim Jarmusch does s straight-forward, and this assassination thriller looks like no exception. This looks like it will be just as languid, deliberate, and perplexing as his other work, and I can’t help but see the parallels between the protagonist and the filmmaker, both exploring the limits of (self?) control and restraint.
3. Wasabi Grilled Cheese at Bleu Bistro: 202 Broadway E, Seattle WA
I don’t think I can even count the number of times I’ve been told I should experience this. The reputation of the Wasabi Grilled Cheese sandwich is legendary, and yet, even though I’d been to the semi-secret offshoot of Bleu known as Chez Gaudy, I had never tried this until Tuesday. This sandwich certainly lives up to expectations. I paired mine with a Kentucky Handjob (Bourbon, Amaretto, and Sprite).
4. Volcano Coffee (Trader Joe’s)
This is what’s getting me out of bed in the morning. A Super Dark roast coffee from Trader Joe’s, grown on a mountain in Nicaragua. It comes as whole beans in a can, and when you open the foil seal, you can see the oil glistening on the beans. This stuff is rocket fuel coffee, but it’s also not overly bitter. My favorite!
5. Wil Wheaton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil_Wheaton
I saw him read for the second time this year at Emerald City ComiCon, and I have to say, I have a lot of respect for him. I don’t read his blog, or follow him on Twitter. I haven’t read any of his books, and I’m not a Star Trek obsessive. But every time I’ve seen him speak, he’s riveting, and totally engages his audience. He’s absolutely adored by his fans, but he never lets it seem like he’s above them. It’s a rare thing for a celebrity (even a relatively minor celebrity) to connect with their fans on their level, without condescending or pandering, and he pulls it off with aplomb. He’s smart and funny, and totally not a dick, which is good since his number one rule is, apparently, Don’t Be A Dick.
