Super Awesome Happy Time: Best Albums of 2012 and Initial Thoughts on 2013

Yes, it’s 2013- wonderful! But before we get too far into whatever gadzooks craziness that this year has in store for us, allow me one more look back at 2012.

The Officially Official Giddy Up, America Best Albums of 2012…complete with mediocre haikus!

1. Dr. Dog Be the Void
Another great album/Philly dudes keep doing it/"Warrior man" rocks

2. The Avett Brothers The Carpenter
Soulful acoustic folk/Each song has a cool new feel/Parents must be proud

3. Japandroids Celebration Rock
Crazy Canucks rock/Just two dudes but that's enough/Long live sing-a-longs

4. Santigold Master of My Make Believe
Four years was too long/Check out her backup dancers/"Disparate Youth" great

5. Band of Horses Mirage Rock
Another great spin/Sounds like the seventies dude/Best possible way

6. Soundgarden King Animal
Big dogs back with rock/No more Cornell side projects/Fierce muddy blues rock songs

7. Frank Ocean Channel Orange
On everyone's list/Good old baby-making jams/Please keep making tunes

8. Rone The First Story
Philly dude nails it/"I Woke Up" among the best/Dice Raw prodigy

9. White Rabbits Milk Famous
Parking lot dance party/Gets better with more listens/Viva the stomp dude

10. G.O.O.D. Music Cruel Summer
Only 'cuz of "Mercy"/Honorable mention "Clique"/No problem with the kilt

Just Close/Good Enough to Mention:
That Mumford & Sons album
Tsunami Rising “A Silent Spring”
Galactic “Carnivale Electricos”
Gaslight Anthem “Handwritten”
Bruce Springsteen “Wrecking Ball”
The Heavy “The Glorious Dead”
Jack White “Blunderbuss”
Zach Jones “Things Were Better”

And now, some questions & initial thoughts about 2013…

Let me ask you something, what kind of world are we living in when a game of beer pong results in violence?

And let me ask you another thing- so what exactly is the Fiscal Cliff?

An orange gentlemen cries a lot and is needlessly withholding billions from numerous states bombarded and ramshackled by Superstorm Sandy is publicly lambasted by a robust gentlemen who looks like a potato. That talking potato’s diatribe & plea for help made for some compelling television and in the end, helped change the orange gentlemen’s mind. It wasn’t quite at the compelling level of Friday Night Lights, more like True Blood- loud noises, heated language…

I’m going to ask you another thing- what’s the point of having elected officials when they don’t work for those who elected them? Now you could counter with the fact that both New Jersey and New York’s elected officials fought valiantly for Congress to pass a relief bill for those affected by Sandy and I would agree without hesitation. But the whole process was gummed up by the orange gentlemen from Ohio, who, while he is directly elected by the good people of Ohio, is elected to not just represent those good people of Ohio, but the good people of America. I’m pretty sure that New York and New Jersey are in America and thus, under the representation of the orange gentlemen from Ohio. So what I’m saying is that our elected officials, whether we voted for them or not, has a responsibility to look out for all Americans. That doesn't seem to be happening. But kudos to Senators & Congressmen from New York and New Jersey for fighting for their citizens and pressuring the orange gentlemen to get his head out of his ass. Even Rep. King from New York, usually a world class fart knocker, who did his part and did it well.

2013 has gotten off to such a confusing start that even though the New York football Giants missed the playoffs with a marvelous collapse down the stretch that was blamed on everything from Superstorm Sandy to a coach that pushes them to hard, none of us would be the least bit surprised if they somehow still ended up in the Super Bowl. But how is that possible? They missed the playoffs. If you’re asking that then you obviously are oblivious to the goblets of miracles Sir Eli Manning somehow pulls out of his posterior. The rest of 2013 can’t be this confusing. I’m not sure I have the stomach for it.

Here’s something- I’ve never taken a photo on Instagram and written “blessed” as a caption. Does this make me a bad person?

And another thing, the ability to not simply “like” a tweet, you know, like you would on Facebook is really inhibiting. I don’t mess around with the word “favorite.” That word carries meaning for me, as in Cookie Monster from Hoffman’s is my favorite kind of ice cream, but I like pumpkin as well.

Think about this- both Friday Night Lights and Madmen operate on two levels. There is the one level, where everything is peaches & cream and super awesome happy time. Then there is a second level, where everything is a complete clusterfudge- partially driven by the need to get the other level not only existing, but functioning. That is why both shows are amazing.

My New Year’s resolutions aren't as comprehensive, encompassing or entertaining as Jose Canseco’s.

Happy New Year.

The President's Podcast Will be Lame & More Predictions for 2013

For me personally, 2012 has been a great year and I find myself miles away from where I was a year ago…and I mean this both literally and figuratively. It is time to look forward, though. What does 2013 have in store for us?

The Officially Official Giddy Up, America List of Predictions for the year 2013…

It’ll be all about salsa, the condiment, not the dance.

The HBO movie about the Fiscal Cliff negotiations will be better than you think.

The series finale of The Office  will make you cry at least once.

Stupid gas prices.

Spotify will use your music preferences in commercials and we will spend a week and a half wondering if that really is a bad thing before being distracted by a new Myspace reboot, this time featuring Justin Beiber.

Game of Thrones will make the leap.

This part of the Celtics’ season will seem like a weird, distant memory come playoff time.

Stupid weather.

Dudes still won’t want to talk on the phone to another dude.

The Patriots will win the Super Bowl by beating the 49ers.

Razor blades won’t get any cheaper.

We’ll all get bigger televisions.

Stupid politicians.

148 Rihanna-induced head shakes of confusion.

The Green Day shows when Billie Joe gets out of rehab will be real ball busters.

There will be a White House petition to save Parks and Recreation.

Phil Jackson to the Nets.

Amar’e to the Nets.

Eric Cantor will make us laugh, but not on purpose.

Tough year to be a Philly sports fan, especially once Chip Kelly turns down the Eagles’ job.

Stupid taxes.

Newspapers still around.

Still no change in gun laws unfortunately.

Kanye will make us laugh but will continue to release music better than almost everyone else.

You’ll run out of milk. Twice.

We’ll wonder, does being a mystery novelist pay well?

Crying Boehner will be a massively unpopular Christmas present.

Tea still won’t be better than coffee.

Don’t expect CD’s to come back.

Taylor Swift still won’t find love and yes, it’ll still be a national bummer.

We all agree that Gaslight Anthem should be more popular than they are.

The President’s podcast will be lame.

There will be a tragedy in England and when it’s time for a benefit concert (like the 12.12.12 concert) we’ll thank them for lending us their rock gods for the 12.12.12 show by sending them some of ours: Dave Matthews Band, Grateful Dead, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Green Day. Playing the female lead will be Adele and playing the role of Kanye will be Jay Z, who for some reason will show up to this one.

The Heat will win the NBA Championship and literally no one will be cool with how it happened.

A frustrated Al Gore agrees to rename Global Warming, but never fully gets on board with the new name- Weather Be Crazy, Yo.

Jon Gruden will stay with ESPN.

The only Oscar Lincoln doesn’t win is Tommy Lee Jones for Best Supporting Actor, but that’s only because everyone thinks he was wearing a wig.

Kim & I will go to Italy. You know, for the sushi.

The Dodgers won’t make it to the World Series.

TV show addiction will become an acknowledged affliction by the American Medical Association, but come on, marijuana should still be legalized.

Andy Reid to the Kansas City Chiefs.

In honor of Uncle Ken’s Celebrity Death Pool, Lindsay Lohan probably won’t make it through the year. However, this won’t surprise anyone.

Here’s to a great 2013!