On to the next one...

So, what's going on in my life?

---

I've been listening to Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3" all day. Good stuff.

---

I've got another audition at The Alliance tomorrow. This time for the Kendeda winner, Tennis in Nablus. Devotees may remember that I went in last year for Smart Cookie, last year's Kendeda winner. As always, it is very nice to be thought of and here's hoping this (and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe AND Middle School Musical) is the beginning of the flowering of a lovely friendship between The Alliance and myself.

But, until then, gotta tweak that Irish accent.

---

Still haven't had my Dead Man's Cell Phone audition yet. Swine flu scare. Yes, I'm serious. It's something I've been looking forward to so much, I just might burst when I actually get to do it. Yes, I'm serious.

Truly, I want this show very badly. But you know this.

---

I've got friends coming into town on Friday! Friends that love me unconditionally. It should be a heck of a time. We're going to Dragon*Con.

---

It looks to be a heavy month for driving. I may head home after an audition for Nashville Shakespeare, and then to Orlando a couple of days after that. Busy, busy, busy.

---

And it's on to the next one...

Day 7 - Sunday - It's Alright to Be Little Bitty

This was the one I had the most fun doing and also the longest. In fact, I may start this one a day early. It's sure to get me into a good mood... Also, did YOU do a music detox? Are ya gonna? Anything you got to say about mine? Am I ranting to the darkness? Let me know!

Day 7 - Sunday - It's Alright to Be Little Bitty

1 - Alan Jackson - Gone Country
2 - Alan Jackson - Little Bitty
3 - Big and Rich - Six Foot Town
4 - Big and Rich - Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)
5 - Brooks & Dunn - Boot Scootin Boogie
6 - Brooks & Dunn - My Maria
7 - Charlie Robison - John O'Reilly
8 - Charlie Robison - My Hometown
9 - Garth Brooks - Ain't Goin Down Till the Sun Comes Up
10 - Garth Brooks - Callin Baton Rouge
11 - George Strait - Adelida
12 - Hank Williams Jr - Family Tradition
13 - Hank Williams Jr - A Country Boy Can Survive
14 - Hank Williams Jr - Hog Wild
15 - Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue
16 - Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
17 - Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down (Feat. Uncle Kracker)
18 - Kenny Chesney - I Go Back
19 - Kenny Chesney - Keg in the Closet
20 - The Soggy Bottom Boys - I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow
21 - Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss - I'll Fly Away
22 - Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
23 - Ryan Adams - To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)
24 - Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
25 - Tim McGraw - Indian Outlaw
26 - Tim McGraw - I Like it, I Love it
27 - Toby Keith - Beer For My Horses (Feat. Willie Nelson)
28 - Toby Keith - I Love This Bar

Double JJ, here I come...

Day 6 - Nerdcore Risen

Ah, you thought I had forgotten about you, didn't you? Nope, no such luck. Here's day six! I'll go ahead and post day seven immediately after...

Day 6 - Saturday - Nerdcore Risen

(All songs from video games or inspired by nerd culture. Yes, there is a lot of MC Frontalot.)

1 - Suikoden - Gregminister
2 - Team Genius - Illegal Donkey Kong Remix
3 - Bust a Groove - Happy House (Shorty's Theme Japanese)
4 - Bust a Groove - Let the Music Take Control (Hiro's Theme)
5 - The Advantage - Ducktales, Moon
6 - The Advantage - Megaman II - Stage Select and Metal Man
7 - The Black Mages - Maybe I'm a Lion (Final Fantasy VIII)
8 - The Black Mages - Those Who Fight Further (Final Fantasy VII)
9 - Gitaroo Man - Born to be Bone
10 - Gitaroo Man - Flyin to Your Heart
11 - Roo' Ra - Summer of Love
12 - Banya - Beethoven Virus
13 - Banya - Oh Rosa
14 - Epaksa - Space Fantasy
15 - Portal - Still Alive
16 - Guilty Gear X - Holy Orders
17 - Mos Def & High and Mighty - B-Boy Document (Baddd Spellah Remix)
18 - MC Chris - Tractor Beam
19 - MC Chris - Evergreen
20 - MC Chris - The Tussin
21 - MC Frontalot - Hassle: The Dorkening
22 - MC Frontalot - I Hate Your Blog
23 - MC Frontalot - Bizarro Genius Baby
24 - MC Frontalot - Floating Bridge
25 - MC Frontalot - Gonna Be Your Man
26 - MC Frontalot - Good Old Clyde
27 - MC Frontalot - Mountain Kind
28 - MC Frontalot - My Sister
29 - Turbo - Gigaton Punch
30 - The Protomen - The Will of One

Day 5 - Indie Loves POP

Another day, another playlist... One of the reasons I'm glad I'm doing this is because, now, I'll always have a playlist for a few, very specific moods I get into.

Also, this is the point where I pretty much gave up on order, since I always listen on shuffle anyhow...

Day 5 - Indie Loves POP

1 - Matt And Kim - Daylight
2 - Phoenix - Lisztomania
3 - Passion Pit - Little Secrets
4 - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Everything with You
5 - Architecture In Helsinki - It'5!
6 - Black Kids - Hit The Heartbrakes
7 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
8 - Dartz! - Once, Twice, Again!
9 - The Format - She Doesn't Get It
10 - The Go! Team - The Wrath Of Marcie
11 - The Go! Team - Get It Together
12 - Hal - Play The Hits
13 - Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer's Night On Hammer Hill
14 - Les Savy Fav - The Year Before The Year 2000
15 - MGMT - Kids
16 - The Oranges Band - Ride the Nuclear Wave
17 - Ratatat - Lex
18 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone
19 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Me and Mia Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
20 - Jack Penate - Second, Minute or Hour
21 - Sondre Lerche - the Tape
22 - The Wedding Present - Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

---

Also, speaking of happy music, how have I not heard of Alphabeat yet?

Day 4 - Rock and Roll Friends

Alright, today is totally a cheat day. I found it was too difficult to make an entire CD full of varied comic artists singing. SO, I'm tossing in a bunch of my favorite comedy CDs (Anything Patton Oswalt or Henry Rollins, etc...) along with some songs as well. Some of the particular standout are...

Liam Lynch (Feat. Jack Black) - Rock and Roll Whore
Sifl and Olly - She's a Carrot - Delores - Prostitute Laundry - Performance Art - Rock and Roll Friends
The Lonely Island - A random smattering of their hits.
Flights of the Conchords - Boom - Bowie - Inner City Pressure - Ladies of the World - Mutha'uckas
Tenacious D - Beezleboss

Tomorrow, we'll return with your regularly scheduled and strictly compiled playlist!

Day 3 - Revenge of High School Jacob

Hey folks. Before we get into your regularly scheduled musical post, I do have a short bit of news.

I was so worried I wasn't going to be acting this fall. Looks like I'm going to be singing in Middle School Musical, a Theatre for Young audiences offering from (dramatic pause) The Alliance. I'm ridiculously psyched. This couldn't have worked out better on multiple levels. I'll still get to go to Orlando on my birthday, I'm going to be able to work out my other trips out of town, I get to branch out and get a musical and a new theatre on my resume, I get to work with the amazing Rosemary Newcott, and, on top of it, it's the Alliance. I mean, come on! What isn't to like?

I really lucked out here, guys. I don't know how it happened, but I'm pleased it did.

---

All of this came from a pretty hectic and stressful day yesterday.

8:00 - Wake up. Iron clothes. Shower. Get ready. Drive.
9:30 - Shoot a video for reThink. Wear cowboy boots. Eat one chicken biscuit.
3:00 - Head from reThink straight to The Alliance for my Middle School Musical callback.
5:00 - Head STRAIGHT from the callback to work.
9:00 - Head STRAIGHT from work to my audition for Grease at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. It doesn't shame me to say that I don't consider myself a "singer", but I am always proud of myself when I overcome the fears I have and really commit to it. Thanks to Bethany Irby for being the one playing the piano. She calmed me down quite a bit...

If I have time to prepare, I'm a servicable singer... It's still nerve wracking. But a little pat on the back to me for doing it twice in one day. Watch out, folks. Musical theatre royalty coming through. (/irony)
10:00 - Go home. Collapse. Sleep like a baby.

---

Now, why you really came... You want to know what the next mix is.

Day 3 - Revenge of High School Jacob

1 - House of Pain - Jump Around
2 - Lit - My Own Worst Enemy
3 - Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
4 - Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
5 - Dave Matthews Band - Lie in Our Graves
6 - Fun Lovin' Criminals - Fun Lovin' Criminals
7 - Live - All Over You
8 - Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
9 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul to Squeeze
10 - Sevendust - Black
11 - Spin Doctors - Jimmy Olsen's Blues
12 - Fastball - Out of My Head
13 - Green Day - 2000 Light Years Away
14 - Rufio - Above Me
15 - Rx Bandits - Analog Boy
16 - Goldfinger - Superman
17 - The K.G.B. - I'm a Player
18 - Less Than Jake - Last Hour on the Last Day of Work
19 - Suicide Machines - New Girl
20 - D'Angelo - Send It On
22 - The Fugees - Fu-Gee-La
23 - Wyclef Jean - To All The Girls
24 - Beastie Boys - Sure Shot

Day 2 - Electuesday

Day 1 was a rousing success. Then again, I needed Outkast to get me through all of the auditions I had. Before I pass out, I'm gonna toss up the tracklist for Electuesday. Feel free to play along!

1 - Soulwax - NY Excuse (Justice Remix)
2 - Lo-Fi-Fnk - Steppin' Out
3 - Simian Mobile Disco - Audacity of Huge (Feat. Chris Keating)
4 - Röyksopp - The Girl And The Robot
5 - Cut Copy - Lights And Music
6 - Simian Mobile Disco - Off The Map (Feat. Jamie Lidell)
7 - Hercules & Love Affair - Blind
8 - Emil & Friends - Sleepyhead (Passion Pit Cover)
9 - Midnight Juggernauts - Road To Recovery
10 - Daft Punk - One More Time
11 - Discovery - So Insane
12 - Röyksopp - Happy Up Here
13 - Hot Chip - One Pure Thought
14 - Emil & Friends - Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)
15 - The Avalanches - Two Hearts in 3-4 Time
16 - Daft Punk - Digital Love
17 - Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
18 - Justice - DVNO
19 - Muscles - Jerk
20 - The Toxic Avenger - Superheroes 2007
21 - Justice - Phantom pt. II
22 - United States of Electronica - Emerald City
23 - Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You

My Music Detox - Day 1 - Monday - Stay on the Grind

So, I was listening to the new album by The Antlers today and thought, "MAN, I've been listening to a LOT of Sad Bastard Music lately." For the record, I don't think I need to explain Sad Bastard Music...but if you've ever heard Bon Iver, you know what I'm talking about.

Anyhow, over this week, I'm embarking on a musical journey to crank the joy notch in my life up. Each day will have a theme. Join me, won't you? I'll try to keep it to about the length of a CD, in case you want to burn your very own copy. But, if that's true, you should really just get an mp3 player.

I'll post tracklists for each playlist daily, hopefully.

Yay for blog content!

1 - Jay-Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A.)
2 - Outkast - Bombs Over Baghdad
3 - R. Kelly - Hair Braider
4 - Clipse (Feat. Kanye West) - Kinda Like a Big Deal
5 - TI (Feat. Kanye West, Jay Z & Lil' Wayne) - Swagger Like Us
6 - 50 Cent (Feat. G-Unit)- Hate It Or Love It Remix
7 - Lil' Kim (Feat. Sisqo) - How Many Licks (Ed's Note: I was providing links to all of these songs, until I got to this one...and I just thought, "There's NO way that's a good idea." Look these songs up at your own risk, folks...)
8 - Lil Wayne (Feat. Young Money)- Filet Mignone
9 - T-Pain (Feat. J Lyriq) - 69
10 - Mos Def - Life In Marvelous Times
11 - DMX (Feat. Swizz Beatz) - Get It On The Floor
12 - Joe Budden (Feat. Busta Rhymes) - Fire
13 - Lil Wayne (Feat. Jay-Z) - Mr. Carter
14 - Ol' Dirty Bastard (Feat. Kelis) - Got Your Money
15 - Outkast - So Fresh So Clean
16 - Sean Paul - Like Glue
17 - Lil Wayne - Let The Beat Build
18 - T-Pain - Backseat Action
19 - R. Kelly - Ignition (Remix)

Let Your Love Grow Tall

Yesterday, I had a day off with nothing to do. The last time that happened was February 23rd. Pretty exciting, huh?

I insist that you, by hook or by crook, procure a copy of Passion Pit's new album, Manners, coming out...soon? It's really great. Then, after that, I insist that you come with me to see them at The Drunken Unicorn on June 6th. They perform along with The Harlem Shakes. It should be a show packed with awesome.

I'll be going home for a little over a week next Thursday. I'm pretty excited, but I'm not going to act like it isn't melancholy. It'll be the first time back in town since Ren, my dog, died. It'll be the first time back in town since Clair and I broke up. It'll be the first time back in town since Granny died. All in all, it's just going to be odd.

I went to the Tennessee Shakespeare audition in Memphis on Monday. It was alright, but the best part was seeing Tia Shearer, out of nowhere. I had no clue she would be there. She played my girlfriend in Bookends, the film I shot that will probably never get released. We met each other, literally, five minutes before the camera rolled, so we weren't comfortable yet, but as the scenes go on (The "party" section was filmed chronologically.) we get more and more at ease to the point where, I judge, our scenes toward the end are some of the high points of the film. It was just so much fun working with her. Here's hoping I get to do it again.

Speaking of film, I was just cast in Bane of Matthias, a feature length set to be filmed in the Atlanta area. You can go to the website and see my picture. Ch-Check it out.

I've decided I will have a post once a week detailing my fitness progress. I'm going to condense the week into one, easy to ignore post. It'll probably be called "Jacob's Fitness Diary - Week ___." It may be boring, but at least it'll keep me accountable, which I like.

So...who has announced seasons?
Alliance, Horizon, Stage Door Players, Theatre in the Square, Georgia Shakespeare, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theatrical Outfit... That's it? Anyone I'm missing.

---

Monologue Monday people, I need some help. I'm putting out a call for a couple of contemporary monologues. Here's the back story.

I'm heading up Monday, the 18th to audition at Tennessee Rep's generals. Looking at the lineup, the only thing I know I'd be good for is Hal in Proof. So, basically, I need two monologues that show I can play Hal. I know some people like it if you do a monologue FROM the show, but I just don't swing like that. So, what do you guys think? He's very much a contemporary, laid back guy with a nerdy side...in case you are one of the five people who hasn't read Proof. Nothing absurdist or crazy. Just...charming? I dunno. Think on it and let me know. Remember, I have a short turn around time, so the sooner, the better. Let's make it happen.

Reeling

I am in love with the new Passion Pit song The Reeling. Now, that being said, I think I might just be in love with Passion Pit. They're coming to the Drunken Unicorn in June! Who wants to come with?

We're a week into Hamlet. It's going pretty well. We're getting a lot of good response to it, so what else can you ask for, really?

I've had a couple of odd e-mails the last few days that have knocked me for loops. No true offers yet, but the idea of an offer is throwing my life upside down a bit. One of the e-mails wanted me to audition for something next Thursday in Manhattan. Guys, I would sincerely love to, but I've got two shows that day. So I don't think I'll be able to make it. To New York.

I'm still champing at the bit to find out some seasons... Theatrical Outfit was ON IT, but most other places are still a mystery to me.

I saw Suddenly Last Summer at The Express last night. It was pretty fantastic. Both of the leads were Amazing (Note the capital "A".) and I was pleased as punch to see my former Lost Colony castmate Erin Burnett. She'll be in Zanna, Don't, which is the next show out at AE, so go see it if you get the chance. But, you should ABSOLUTELY go see Suddenly Last Summer. They were pretty great, y'all. No lie.

I'm suddenly feeling a little bit less panicked about my options, post-Hamlet. Let's hope this feeling sticks around.

Show me the sidestreets in your life...

Remember on my old blog where I used to start every entry with a title track? Well, let's get nostalgic.

Title Track: Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare by Matt and Kim. I'm LOVING their new album. Absolutely loving it. It reveals new facets to me during every listen. I dunno what it is with me and sorta twee bands featuring two people, one on drums, one on keyboard. Weird.

My musical rotation the last few days, you ask? Grand by Matt and Kim, The Friday Night Lights OST by Explosions in the Sky, the Slumdog Millionaire OST by A.R.Rahman, and a couple of singles (Rolling Stones, "Gimmie Shelter", Royksopp's "Happy Up Here")

Yeah, you needed to know that.

We open Spreading It Around tonight at Stage Door Players. We had our first preview last night. It was a pleasure to get an audience in there. We're actually sold out tonight, so that's good. Show up tipsy. You'll enjoy it more.

I've had a tumultuous couple of days. Lots of personal stuff bouncing around in my head. It's odd...and it makes me carry tension in my jaw. Crazy!

I really need to make sure my UPTA monologues are honed down to a razor sharp level. I may or may not have said it here, but I'm not sure there's anything for me here in Atlanta between the months of February and May except Hamlet. Scarrrrry.

Let's get down and boogie. If you're coming to the gala at Stage Door tonight, say hi. If you're coming at some other point, still say hi.

Sell your shoes. Go see Slumdog Millionaire.

I hope that someday I'll see without these frames.

I've never had it so well...

What's going on in my life?

- Actin'! I just wrapped the official, final Much Ado last night. It was a weird sort of epilogue. I was acutely aware of our final day at the Tavern and treated it as such. By the time we got to the show at McIntosh, I think a lot of people were sort of done with Much Ado. BUT, that isn't to say we gave a poor show. With all of the impediments in the way, I think we gave the same kind of performance we would have given for anyone, which speaks well of us, considering there was a group in house left for the first act that simply would NOT shut up. If any of them happen to be reading this, thank you for leaving at intermission. If we're not your thing, that's fine, but there were a LOT of people in there who were enjoying what we were doing.

Also, there is Twelfth Night.

- Memorizin'. I'm fairly off book for Benedick and Hotspur, but that's to be expected, now isn't it? Ford and Marcus are coming slower, but I have no doubts that I'll have them under my belt soon. I'm really excited about going up there to audition.

- Kidstufin'. We gave what I'm considering a Kidstuf preview at the announcements at Buckhead Church the other day. It was a trip. Singing Bon Jovi to a packed church house is an interesting experience. Literally, every day I am involved in Kidstuf, I am happier that I was their second choice. I KEED, but I am RIDICULOUSLY happy that I'm involved.

- Reminiscin'. It's my birthday today and I'm listening to United States of Electronica. It always makes me happy, and always makes me think of days gone by. I miss people. I miss my friends. I miss Kentucky and I miss my family. But, like I said about the end of Much Ado last night, it's more sweet than bitter. I've never had it so well...never had it so well...

Aristocrunk

Hey, I went to go see Lord T and Eloise the other night like I said! What a fun time.

I actually purchased their album recently off Amazon music as mp3s. I rarely purchase music, so I think that is a testament to how much that band has taken over my mind frame.

Aristocrunk isn't as good as Chairmen of the Bored, but it's still pretty darn good. It's just worth it to me, though, to have their entire oeuvre.

That shoulder is still giving me problems. I've been threatened with physical violence if I don't get it looked at if problems continue for more than a week. I think that's counterproductive, but whatever.

It's a weekend full of auditions! How fun! The one today was quick and easy. In and out, and didn't even have to pay for parking. Plus, it was a good excuse to try out a brand spanking new monolgue. (King John, "Am I Rome's slave?") The one tomorrow will be interesting, just because so much of the stuff on my resume recently is in a classic vein. I still wonder how people who do primarily contemporary stuff will react when they see my resume.

UPTA and SETC registration is coming up soon. I'm absolutely going to UPTA, and PROBABLY going to SETC. I imagine going to SETC will be ridiculous and liberating, just because of the tension that is related to it in the past. At my school, there was so much importance placed on SETC, for good or for ill. I know that while I was there, it felt like it was made out to be the ONLY option to get a theatre job while in college. It wasn't until I started seeking out my own auditions in the world, that I even began to have any success.

Basically, every year at SETC, I was so nervous because it had the air of finality to it. "This is your only chance, so don't blow it." I'd do the most broad, scatter-shot audition I possibly could, trying to appeal to everyone, not satisfy myself, and end up getting called back by the same places anyway. Obviously, I can't harp on SETC too much, as I do think it's a good option, and it did bring me to The Lost Colony, for which I am grateful for. But, man, SETC and UPTA is just night and day. I, actually, can't wait to go to UPTA again. So well organized and so much more actor friendly. SETC feel very college theatre to me. So many people out there who are going to get their first professional gigs. It's wonderful. But UPTA feels more...grown up? That works.

Anyway, SETC is going to be fun this year, come hell or high water. I'm going to give myself permission to do exactly what I want, because it ISN'T the be all, end all. That's my 1:00 of time, dammit, and I won't apologize for a second of it.

Disappointment

Not in any of you lovely people, of course. In myself. In the last week, I've had two situations dealing with auditions where I've made stupid, rookie mistakes. More than that, they are mistakes that I could have easily corrected.

First, in one audition, I went up on a monologue. That never happens to me, and I can make excuses all day about how I didn't have time to memorize something new on my way back from Kentucky or I was thrown off by this or that. The simple truth is that I could have cobbled together the time to focus on this monologue more and deliver the performance I know I'm capable of giving.

On top of that, I completely missed an audition yesterday because I got lost. I know, right? There's no excuse. But that doesn't change the fact that I was wandering around North Highland all night trying to figure out where I had made a wrong turn.

These are basic slips of the mind that I simply can't afford. Every audition I'm not able to make is a lost opportunity. Every monologue I go up on leaves a mark on a casting director. If anything, these events coming in such quick succession are good for me. If they were spread out over time, I could write them off as aberrations, but so close to one another means something. I'm not going to allow silly stuff like this to keep me out of the running anymore. If someone doesn't want me for a part, that's fine. But I'm not going to allow my unpreparedness be a reason ever, ever again.

---

On a side note, Lord T and Eloise are premium.

Lord T's in the house. All other rappers, pay your rent.

---

Hi Redd.

I'm going to have Mike add a link soon, but until then, I advise everyone go to Redd's blog about finance. I don't know that I can drive any real traffic, since I imagine Redd is my only reader, but it's still got some great common sense advice.

With no regard for form...you're such a brute.

So...daily blog posts. Let's try this.

For instance, I have nothing to really note today. I've been doing the beginning stages of the Bas Rutten MMA workout, and that's been GREAT! I feel awesome after I get done with it.

They just called fifteen minutes...

Oh, I'm backstage before the second to last performance of Much Ado About Nothing. I'm excited to do it today. I'm gonna miss C-Lod when I get done, I think. He's just a super flawed, but basically good man. Young man. Very young.

I just had an incredibly unsatisfying shave. Oh well...I don't have to put a razor to the face until I clean up for a wedding!

The new album by the Black Kids is pretty darn good. When are they going to come to Atlanta again! They just live in Jacksonville!

I spent all day cleaning up my apartment.

They just called ten. I'm going to go get into character and shove some girls around.

I joke. He's hurt. Shut up.

HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT FOURTH, BLOGFRIEND!

A useless and personal first post

So, alright. I'll catch people up on my professional life soon enough. But, for now, I've got important things to do. Like, songs I am fond of.

My buddy Dennis over at Carmi Neighborhood Watch threw down the gauntlet to make me name my ten favorite songs. Well, Dennis, I'm your Huckleberry.

A couple of years ago I made a list of, basically, my top fifteen songs. I'm still pretty proud of that list, but there are some changes I'd make to it. I won't be making those changes today, as it would take forever, but I will repost my top 15 to give you a basic idea of where I'm coming from.

15. Less than Jake - Never Going Back to New Jersey
14. Add - Let It All Burn
13. REM - Strange Currencies
12. Wedding Present - Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
11. Jeff Buckley - Corpus Christi Carol
10. Dave Matthews Band - Crush
9. Hank Williams Jr. - Hog Wild
8. Goldfinger - Superman
7. MC Frontalot - Mountain Kind
6. House of Pain - Jump Around
5. Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
4. Mos Def - Miss Fat Booty
3. Peter Eldridge - That Which Can't Be Explained
2. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Me and Mia
1. 50 Cent - In Da Club

Since it is so time consuming to make a list like this, in the way I want to make it, I am simply going to update my Top Ten singles of 2007 from Facebook. Ready? Here we go.

10 - Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You
I don't know if the whole EP is any damn 8.4, but this track is undeniably catchy. I've been describing it to people as The Go! Team meets Morrisey and I still think that's pretty appropriate. I can't wait to hear a full length album from these guys. Plus, they're from Jacksonville. Come on, Mike. Why didn't you know about them first?
Stream or download the song here.

9 - Little Brother - ExtraHard
I'm not going to act like I wasn't disappointed in "GetBack", the most recent effort from LB. I think going separate ways with 9th Wonder will hurt them more than help them, but Phonte and Big Pooh can ride a beat as well as anyone. Plus, this song has the distinction of having one of my favorite lyrics of the year. It hopped right up and knocked me on my ass. "'It'd be so nice if you wasn't an elitist.' Bullshit, homie, I'm a grown ass man. Just call it as I see it." Everybody say praise the Lord.

8 - The Shins - Australia
What, you thought I would forget about these guys? It might not be very popular to still like this album. After all, when other people know about indie music, it sort of ceases to be indie. But I'm not going to forget having this in my ear during all of SETC. It would probably still be my most played song on the ol' iPod if it wasn't for a reset I had to do before the summer. "We come in doing cartwheels. We all go out by ourselves."
The video is here. Check it.

7 - Okkervil River - Unless It's Kicks
What a great recent discovery! I know, most people would go with "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe", but this treatise about art and the healing that can come from an appreciative audience is too great to ignore. This is one where I have to tell you to just go look at the lyrics. "What gives this mess some grace unless it's kicks, man?" So good.
A live video, with pretty good quality.

6 - Justice - D.A.N.C.E
I was sort of late to the party on Justice. I love Daft Punk, as my Top Albums list will attest, but I just couldn't see any reason to snatch this. I like a lot of the album, but D.A.N.C.E is really enough of a reason to buy this. They took a lot of the best parts of Daft Punk and...well, that's really it, but isn't a great ripoff still pretty fuckin' great?
If you look at one video on this list, make it this one.

5 - Kanye West - Good Life (Feat. T-Pain)
The first song to grab me from Graduation and one of the two songs I listen to every time I return to Atlanta, if for no other reason than that he name drops it. I had some trepidations coming into Graduation after hearing that "blonde dyke" line, and I still attest that Kanye isn't the greatest lyricist in the world. I am saying, though, that he MIGHT be one of the best producers of all time, not to mention he smartly drafts T-Pain's cybernetic assistance.
Ok, maybe you need to watch two. I love this director.

4 - Burial - Archangel
Trying to describe Burial is pretty hard, so I'll just save that for the Albums list (OMGZ - spoilarz! They're on it.) I heard someone refer to this song as the sound of walking on a rainy city street alone at night. That's as good a way to describe it as any.
Stream it here.

3 - R. Kelly - I'm a Flirt [Remix] (Feat. T.I. and T-Pain)
THIS IS MY JAM! There is no greater tribute to stupid pop music than this song. I'm here dumbstruck to defend why I love this song so damn much. There are many reasons to, but I think the main reason is Kelly's unmitigated conceit. To flirt is all it takes. It will have the desired outcome, as far as he's concerned. It doesn't matter who it is, either. Kels is pure guilty pleasure and I just don't care.
I love T-Pain.

2 - Jens Lekman - Your Arms Around Me
I dare say I'll listen to this song more in the successive years than the top song on the list. One of my greatest discoveries of the year is, without a doubt, Jens Lekman. I can thank OiNK for Jens, actually. One of the funniest, one of the most touching, one of the best songs from one of the best albums by one of the best artists of the year. Simple enough.
This is a very, VERY different version of the song. I STRONGLY suggest you seek out the album. STRONGLY.

1 - UGK - Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) (Feat. Outkast)
I haven't really paid much attention to Outkast since "Hey Ya" which, while undeniably catchy, was one of the most overplayed songs of the last decade. For that matter, my only real connection with UGK came on a Dizzee Rascal song. So...why this? From the sample (I Choose You by Willie Hutch), to Andre's energetic, but chill flow ("Hate to see y'all frown, but I'd rather see her smilin'") to the story told (various arcs of relationships) to the lyrics ("We pilin' up the paper on the dining room table / 'cause you able to realize I'm the truth and not a fable."), it is just the best produced, catchiest, not to mention most soulful song of the year.
UGK holds their own on the track, which is a testament to their talent. It's sad that Pimp C isn't here to enjoy the success more, but is there really any better way to go out than with a total masterpiece?
We got yo' back like chiropractic.

That work? Close enough?