My Top 10 CDs of 2008 (and a few 2007)

#10 - SINGH IS KING - SOUNDTRACK

Bollywood is where it's at. Great mix of old, new and exotic. Singh is King may not be the best all around Bollywood soundtrack but the addition of Snoop Dogg gives it some global cache and there are just enough good beats and grooves to keep everyone on the floor in the Rupee Room until they drop!

#9 BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY - LIE DOWN IN THE LIGHT

I really liked "Prince" Billy's 2006 CD so I thought I'd give the new one a try. This singer/songwriter has a quaking anguished voice and his lyrics really have bite. I like that this one is a little more upbeat but still has the sound of a troubled guy with more issues then newspaper. Earthy and dark but pleasantly uplifting too.

#8 - SUBMARINES - HONEYSUCKLE WEEKS

Bouncy, breezy fun tunes form this nice couple are hard to resist. They lyrics are cute and the singer, Blake Hazard, has that waify voice I like. I particularly like the track Swimming Pool.

#7 KD LANG - WATERSHED

Kd Lang has been around for a long time. She has made some great CDs over the years and while her style changes with each different album her lyrics and voice are a constant. I wouldn't say this is her best but it does find her in top form. It is very mellow and dreamy. Songs like Sunday and Close Your Eyes are great to kick back to with the newspaper or a latte. Nice stuff from KD, her first album of new tunes since 2004.

#6 SIA - SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS

I have loved SIA's voice and phrasing style since I first heard her sing the song Destiny with Zero 7. She still contributes to that great chillout lounge band but now has a couple of albums of her own out. She found a bit of success as one of her songs was used in the final episode of Six Feet Under, but luckily she didn't hit it too big and sell out. Some People Have Real Problems is SIA at her quirky yet very listenable best. Bouncy tunes like Little Black Sandals and Playground mix nicely with more serious stuff like the beautiful, You Have Been Loved and Beautiful Calm Driving. This is really a nice one to listen to over and over and over....

#5 MO' HORIZONS - TEN YEARS OF REMIXES

Wow do I love this! Every song is so loaded with percussion, bass, flutes, vocals and grooves that it is really hard to sit still and listen. the songs can all be found on other Mo' Horizons albums but these mixes are all really terrific. It's kind of retro and futuristic all at the same time. I really like Sunshine Today, My Bombombomb and Tu Fiesta Personal. Put this on and dance or at least move around in your airplane seat like I do when listening on my iPod.

#4 Karsh Kale/ Anouska Shankar - BREATHING UNDER WATER (2007)

This is not new but it is new to me. I really love Karsh Kale's CD Broken English (2006) and thought it might be nice to hear this DJ, mix master guy teasm up with one (and at least for one song two) daughter of the legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar. This fine mix of old and new is really great. Not that I am an expert, but Anoushka is a very respected sitar player herself. On this album there is a cameo by her half sister, Norah Jones, and another by Sting. I'm not a big Sting fan but I love the track he sings on. Sea Dreamer. There are also a few tracks where old Ravi strums in as well. Nice stuff to chill to.

#3 GROOVE ARMADA - SOUNDBOY ROCK (2007)

I rank this #3, not because every song is great but rather because some of the songs are really great and the others aren't bad. Groove Armada always gets great guests and puts out an eclectic mix of funk, hip hop, reggae, R&B and whatever else pops up. GREAT SONGS - What's Your Version, Song For Mutya (Out Of Control), Love Sweet Sound, Lightsonic and Save My Soul. The rest ain't bad either.

#2 LAMBCHOP - Oh (OHIO)

Let's start by saying I think Lambchop is the absolute best band there is. The musicians are amazing and leader Kurt Wagner's lyrics are quirky and deep. That said, many people don't get it (Sophia for one) and can't get past the fact that Kurt isn't going to win the American Idol contest anytime soon. He probably wouldn't even stand a chance on Singapore Idol (which is so lame it's laughable). My number 1 album of all time if Lambchop's 2004 Is A Woman. This new offering is up with their best. Great sound of country, jazz, rick, folk and the kitchen sing mixed with great lyrics full of mystery. Songs like Sharing a Gibson With Martin Luther King, I'm Thinking of a Number and Slipped, Dissolved and Loosed top the list but it's all good here in Lambchop land.

#1 SKYE - LIVE ATR KCRW

Skye, the former singer with ultra chill Morcheeba is in great form on this short live set. She mixes some old Morcheeba stuff with a few from her own really solid album, Mind How You Go and even a few new gems. Every song is really a knockout. She even does a nice version of the Gorillaz - Feel Good, Inc. This is my top little gem of 2008.

Like I said, you may not like all of any of this but it is what is getting most play on my pod as I traveled Asia in 2008. I'm looking forward to more great stuff in 2009, might need a few more gigs on the pod though....

A few more.....

I just got a few shots in from our friend Carla. Here is a good portrait of the entire Xmas Eve crowd (except for whoever was actually taking the picture).

Me with the Jimenez sisters - Carla and Ivy

Presents!

Before we open stuff we need to eat. Myrna whipped up a very nice French Toast souffle, bacon, fresh fruit and Teh Tarik from our favorite Tea Stall.

Sophia is out of order! We haven't even eaten. OK, I just posted out of order..not her fault.

She sits at the table but her mind and eyes wander over the the big stack of gifts.

From the tech savvy Wii Fit to the Chinese traditional Lion Dance mask, I hit the jackpot!

Myrna, wearing her new dress over her clothes, sniffs her nice Aveda lotion compliments of the Milwaukee Gimbels.

Jhoey overjoyed with his new basketball. Ready to hit the courts.

Myrna gets a cat shirt. I guess it's because we now have those rascally cats and Myrna gets to feed them.

Getting my Dragon on. I need to perfect my act before Chinese New Year.

Holiday's Tropical Style

The season kicked off with Puffy the Penguin (direct from Benny's Outlet in Plymouth, MA) hanging out in front of the house. We get a lot of foot traffic on our street and for a week or two no one really stopped to see him. As they warmed up to his presence we got several gawkers and picture takers. Each night we unplugged little Puffy and he fell in a heap onto his chair. I think he was not quite cut out for the heat here!

The house was very festive with garlands and lights up the stairs and little snow ghost ornaments made by our friend Xin for her shop Mai Squarepatch http://www.makisquarepatch.com/

As usual the table was set with festive flair and we even had spray on frost for the windows.

Sophia found these giant ornaments at Ikea and they were in fine proportion to hang in the living room.

I carefully sprayed on these beautiful snowflakes.....ok, me and the stencil.

On Christmas Eve Myrna we had a feast. Jhoey and I went to Teka market and got mutton bryani for 14, Myrna made wings, veggies, prawns and more for her friends to chow down on. I made a very interesting Ginger punch. Even the Absolute 100 vodka I added couldn't get anyone, other then me, to like it.

It was pouring rain all night the 23rd and all day the 24th. If this had been Milwaukee we would have had 3 feet of snow. Luckily it isn't so it was just hot and damp.

Amy and Mohamed arrived on Mohamed's motorbike. They were set for the weather and/or for directing traffic.

They did look fine after removing their rain gear.

Jhoey, Myrna and Grace pose for a shot before dinner.

Finally united after Jhoey's escape from Saudi Arabia a few months back, Myrna hugs her young fiancee. He is a great guy and Myrna finds him very handy around our house.

The Princess of the kitchen with the Queen of the house slaving over the dishes.

Myrna's late arriving friends, still in time to have a laugh.

Ivy, Grace, Nelia, Beth and Isa with their gifts before opening them.

The dinner is served. Everyone was so polite and sober.

After we ate there was a fluke snowstorm. It had never snowed in Singapore since time began but once we went out group shots with Puffy a chilly wind blew in and flakes started to fall. The true spirit of Christmas made it to the tropics!

Ok, no one believes I am the King until I put on my crown. At least Puffy is happy to pose with me!

Merry Xmas 2008!

Go Fly a Kite!

UFOs?

A Squadron of Planes?

The Singapore Air force on maneuvers?

Just a strong man on the pier flying his kite.

Perfect beach day!

This couple is chilling.

Pretty colors, pretty day.

The loop.

Going up!

Beach parking only

As winter set in in the US, it's always summer here. The sticky, sweaty walk to the beach feels sweet when I know my friends and family back in Milwaukee, Chicago, Virginia and Plymouth are pulling on layer after layer of clothes to stay warm. I have my 365 days per year routine of coming home from work, slipping out of the slacks and shirt and pulling on a pair or shorts, a tee shirt and, when I step out of the house, a pair of flip flops.

A few weeks ago ( yes I am a poor blogger of late), we were walking in East Coast park and stopped to watch a guy flying a kite. The sky was particularly blue that day and there was a rare breeze. This guy was working hard to make his fancy kite fly and do tricks. I captured a few shots and thought I'd share them.

Fish!

Go Fish.
Myrna and her catch

Myrna makes great steamed fish. Looks like we will be having some tonight!

Mmmmmmmmmmm!

Bollywood King! In Singapore! OOPS

The new Bollywood King meats the real King - Big B

Little did we know we were seeing one of the hottest Bollywood stars.
Sharukh Khan croons and dances.
"Hare Ram Hare Ram, Hare Krishna, Hare Ram"
More cameras then people.
The big finish.

I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THIS POST IS IN ERROR - AS A FOOLISH BOLLYWOOD POSEUR I HAVE MISTAKEN SINGER AND TV HOST ADITYA NARYAN FOR SHAHRUKH KHAN.

WHAT TO DO!

MY APOLOGIES TO BOTH AND TO ALL FANS!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditya_Narayan

Sophia and I were having Sunday breakfast at the Food Republic in Suntec City. She had her usual egg and onion prata along with a banana prata and some Teh Tarik and I opted for the Korean Hot Stone Bibimbap.

While she was in line she heard a few guys saying there was going to be a big Bollywood star at an event in the convention center (the same building we were in). After breakfast we wandered up to see what was happening. It was the Channel Zee Carnival. Channel Zee is a popular television network specializing in Indian programing. http://www.zeetelevision.com/ We decided to kick in the $10 bucks and go in. While it wasn't much there was a pretty good selection of booths with some very nice Indian and Pakistani clothes and jewelry, some food and a couple of palm readers. there was also a big stage, a cooking stage and an autograph stage.

Moments after we got in the MC loudly proclaimed that the show was about to begin. We didn't catch the name of the guy who was to perform. It was only about Noon so we didn't think it could be the big Bollywood guy advertised as the top draw. A rather short, handsome guy in a gray suit came out onto the stage singing. He had a really good voice and the song was nice. The crowd gathered around the stage with as many cameras as there were people. The second song was a bit more up beat and by the third he had some dancers on the stage and was singing the Hare Ram song I had heard many times before (maybe even that Friday night at the rupee Room). Anyway, great set and fun to see it up close. I later realized it was the big guy, Sharukh Khan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahrukh_Khan

http://www.shahrukh.com/

Khan is HUGE in Bollywood. His recent films "Om Shanti, Om" and "Chak De! India". I always thought that the big stars don't actually sing their songs but this guy was singing and very nicely, I might add. We hung with the fans and enjoyed the show.

Afterwards we walked around the carnival and Sophia scored big by getting a really beautiful new salwar chemise and another more casual Indian inspired ensemble.

Looking forward to next year, maybe my man, the Big B will attend!