Game of the Year 2009

Holy shit, a sports post!  Thought the old b.eester had gone all soft and "hipster" on you, huh?  'Fraid not my, friends.  Hipster, sure.  But only because I'm cooler than you are.  Soft?  Just check out this gun show we got ready for you right here; it is the top 10 games, matches, and competitions of 2009 as voted on our by our illustrious panel of cell phone contacts that responded to a fateful text message sent out about a month back!  Drink it in, folks, but just not too much.  For we get real drinking to do later on tonight.

10. NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic
05/22/2009
In what is rapidly becoming a trend for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bron Bron and company once again came up well short of an NBA title even when standing on the doorstep.  But, at least they got to to be apart of a game that featured the most stunning buzzer beater of the entire season, right?  Shooting over both Hedo Turkoglu, and a late to the party, Rashard Lewis, Lebron James drilled a three-pointer to even this nacent series at a game a piece.  After sweeping their first two opponents, the Cavaliers were not quite used to the idea of losing a playoff game (You know, even though they've done it the last 2 year prior) so it was an impressive bounce back game, as well as must-win playing in front of the home crowd.  Unfortunately, this brilliant shot only counted in one of these 6 games.

Go on...

Rock CriDick: Best Songs of 2009; Part 2

All "End of Year" lists are, as a rule, self-indulgent, and well, when have we here at FSD ever shied away from such endeavors?  After all, why do you think this blog exists?  And continuing along with our Points(s) of Attack, we just went ahead and created a 50 item selection of the best "soft spots" of the year.  Whether or not pursuing these artists any further is of worth, well proceed at your own risk.

And so, with any further delay, our top 50 singles (finishing up with 25-1), are as follows...

25. Rivertown
The Greencards
While Fascination was primarily in exercise in Carol Young's poppier songwriting and delicate vocals, The Greencards had to return to their roots at some point, delivering an explosion of high-wire, foot-stomping bluegrass.  Loaded with virtuosic mandolin and fiddle-playing, check your pulse if this one doesn't put you in motion.

Rivertown - The Greencards

Go on...

Rock Cridick: Best Shows of 2009

Now, as objective as the other lists have been, this post comes from a more personal place.  Mainly because I was personally at these shows.   Passion Pit and White Rabbits at the Fillmore may have very well been a great show... But I wasn't there.  So, you get the idea and here it goes.


10. Bowerbirds and Elvis Perkins in Dearland
@ The Paradise 11/30/2009
I was forced to fly solo to this event as the Patriots and Saints were doing battle on Monday Night Football.  It was supposed to be a captivating matchup, but fortunately for me, the only captivating event that took place that night was on Comm. Ave.  During the opening set, the Bowerbirds held the audience in the palm of their hand.  No one made a sound and there was hardly any movement.  Eyes were transfixed upon an invading presence that gained entry not by force but through hypnosis.  And once the crowd was sufficiently softened, Dearland descended from on high, literally taking the stage from the balcony via jazz procession.  In time, Elvis would join the band on stage for a super tight set of cuts off their self-titled (and top 25!) album.

Go on...

Le Ginge's Top 10 Albums of 2009

Le Ginge was certainly dissastisfied with our blog's previous musical prognostications, and therefore, decided to go nomad on us, designing his own "Best of" list for 2009.  Let's see what he's got in store for us all, shall we?



10. Backspacer
Pearl Jam
Dude...

Go on...

Rock Cridick: Best Songs of 2009; Part 1

All "End of Year" lists are, as a rule, self-indulgent, and well, when have we here at FSD ever shied away from such endeavors?  After all, why do you think this blog exists?  And continuing along with our Points(s) of Attack, we just went ahead and created a 50 item selection of the best "soft spots" of the year.  Whether or not pursuing these artists any further is of worth, well proceed at your own risk.

And so, with any further delay, our top 50 singles (starting with 50-26), are as follows...

50. The Rake's Song
The Decemberists
On a "more than the sum of its parts" album, The Rake's Song stands out in its color and humor.  Color because it is more Tarantino than it is "A Series of Unfortunate Events", giving it a hue brighter than black.  And because how can one not laugh at the narrator's absurdly callous disregard?

The Rake's Song - The December...

Apologies, we can now begin with the actual list...

Go on...

Rock Cridick: Best Albums of 2009

All "End of Year" lists are, as a rule, self-indulgent, and well, when have we here at FSD ever shied away from such endeavors?  After all, why do you think this blog exists?  And while we do not necessarily subscribe to the notion that "anyone can like anything", considering that some music just sucks, we do believe a first impression is a good impression.  Therefore, through our Point(s) of Attack approach, we hope to provide you with a few soft spots to target before tackling the entire album.

And so, without any further delay, our top 25 albums of the year are as follows...


25.  Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Already an accomplished, albeit morose, songwriter, Elvis Perkins' decided to employ the help of Dearland to assist his old-fashioned, idiosyncratic lyrical delivery.  Through the employ of the versatile Dearland, Elvis was able to craft one of the most dynamic and atmospheric folk albums of the year.  Amplified by assorted brass instruments, heavy organ, and even a marching bass drum, Elvis' vocal arrangements combine to make for one of the most unique, yet familiar feeling albums in recent memory.

Point(s) of Attack: Track #8 (Doomsday)

Go on...

How Willie Shakes Out

We believe in two things and two things only here at FSD:

Sound advice & Accountability.

With that being said, we know this is your one-stop shop for all things fantasy sports.  Whether it is coming up with a name for your team, knowing to grab off the waiver wire, or planning your draft strategy, it is all here.  And prior to the start of the fantasy football season, we employed the services of high-borw fantasy laureate Willie Shakes in order to provide even better advice than we four (read: one) primates here at The Delay ever could.  So should Willie be employed in the future, or should we send him off to join the starving masses at the soup kitchen for the holidays? 

Let us allow his prognostications to make the decision for us:

Go on...