With just 1 day left in the year, I ask you – Is there a better time to spotlight some great music that came out of 2008?  I think not!  So, I’m just going to run down a list of music that I thought really stood out in 2008.

Now, I know I can’t sit here and say that this list is as valid as a list from Rolling Stone or your “Precious Cream Magazines” (cryptic Kids in the Hall reference there), but I think you might be pleasantly surprised by some of this stuff I’m going to recommend.  Also note that this post will focus more on Rock – Indy, Alternative, and Hard Rock.  I’m not knocking on Country, R&B, Hip Hop or Pop, but I don’t really listen to much from those genres, and they certainly don’t need any more exposure from me.

So without further ado, here it goes…

Great New Artists of 2008 (in no particular order)

• Duffy, Rockferry - Is it me, or does Duffy do a wonderful job of taking a classic sound and moving it forward?  Her voice has a hint of Ronnie Spector, and all the soul and emotion to match.  I really enjoyed Duffy’s first effort, and this is as close to Top 40 as my list gets.  She was also excellent live.
• King Khan and the Shrines, What is?! – A great German based band producing straight forward garage rock that is inspired by bands like the Troggs, MC5 and the Stooges.
• A Fine Frenzy, One Cell in the Sea – Very Sarah McLachlan inspired set complete with nice piano arrangements and soothing vocals.  Don’t be looking for a fun night out after listening to this one.
• De Novo Sahl, Move Every Muscle, Make Every Sound – Take punk, mix in some pop rock influences Like Marshall Crenshaw, new wave influences from Elvis Costello, and retro psychedelic styles ala Supergrass, Kula Shaker and Oasis. Though this is not their first album, “Move Every…” is pretty much their first recognized effort.
• TOBACCO, Fucked Up Friends – This just might be my favorite album of the year.  This is a trippy, synth soaked dance record that is just amazing.  The gratuitous use of synth reminds me of the Art of Noise.  A lot of fun to listen to.

Great 2008 Albums from Established Artists (in no particular order)

• M83, Saturdays = Youth – While writing this up, I really thought this was a new band, but it turns out they have 5 Albums and have been around for awhile.  M83′s sound is straight out of the 80′s, using heavy synth that will remind you of bands like the Flock of Seagulls, Missing Persons, Modern English and til Tuesday.
• Beck, Modern Guilt – Beck once again delivers a solid record.  On this effort, Beck follows the same path as “the Information” by taking elements from previous albums and applying those elements in each song.  A really nice compilation of sounds and grooves.
• Radiohead, In Rainbows – Just a good all around album from Radiohead.  If I have just one criticism, it might be a little over use of electronics, but still, they do a great job of staying current, and made a great album.  Especially since it was FREE.
• Nine Inch Nails, The Slip – A great, angry album, pretty much summing up the disasters of the past 8 years in music.  If your sick and tired of it, and your not going to be taking it anymore, this is the record playing in the background as you throw shit out your window, or storm the halls of a government building!  By the way, this album was FREE, too.
• Eric Avery, Help Wanted – Founding Bassist for Jane’s Addiction puts out the best solo effort of any Jane’s Member.  After disappointing deliveries from Perry Farrell’s “Satellite Party” and Dave Navarro’s “Panic Channel”, Eric steps in to show other band mates why they cannot call it a comeback without him.  An awesome set, heavily influenced by Joy Division/New Order, with some “help given” by Flea (on trumpet) and Shirley Manson from Garbage.  Great stuff here.
• The Duke Spirit, Neptune – Neptune is the Duke’s sophomore effort, but delivers just as well as their 1st album “Cuts Across the Land“.  You can’t help notice lead singer Leila Moss’s similarities to Grace Slick’s sound in early Jefferson Airplane, and you won’t be disappointed by that especially with the tremendous dark and grungy sound of the band itself.  The Duke Spirit are threatening to be my new favorite band, because I just can’t believe how good they are.
• The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely – I once said to a friend that if the Beatles were still around today, this is what they would sound like.  The Raconteurs, thanks to the combination of both Brendan Benson and Jack White, deliver a pop rock sound that has never been successfully harnessed since the digital age began.  And while this decade saw some great (and not so great) homages to the synth sounds of the 80′s, straight forward late 60′s bred garage rock never got it’s due until this band formed.  Amen.
• TV on the Radio, Dear Science, – Apparently, no “Best of ’08″ list is complete without it, but honestly, it is a great record.  Hints of Prince, hints of U2, and hints of Beck.  Just fun stuff.
• Rodrigo y Gabriella, (Self Titled) – I first heard Rodrigo y Gabriella at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival, and I was hooked.  Beautiful Iberian/Latin based acoustic guitar tracks that includes a cover of Metallica’s Instrumental “Orion” off of their “Master of Puppets” Album.
• Kings of Leon, Only by the Night – Well, I have to say this record is very different than what they’ve released in the past, and that’s a good thing.  I remember everyone saying when this band first came out that they were a southern rock version of The Strokes, and their first record pretty much illustrated that.  This 3rd album really leaves that perception in the dust.  It’s a good rock album, daring to go in some different directions electronically, but nothing like the 80′s synth tributes we’ve seen this past decade.
• Deer Hoof, Offend Maggie – Really good art rock, reminding me of early Flaming Lips and Violent Femmes.
• Kaiser Chiefs, Off with their Heads – I know this band really digs their feet into that 80′s sound, but boy do they do it really well and balanced.  While you can certainly hear the 80′s influences in their music, they play it really tight.  Just a good sounding band that takes a cacophony of sounds and brings order to them.
• Blind Melon, For My Friends - No this is not a mistake, and yes, this is a great album.  Unfortunately, it looks like they might already be losing their new lead singer, Travis Warren (it seems Travis is having very similar problems handling the road as his predecessor), but we will see what happens.  I hope Travis can shape up and realize he’s blowing a huge opportunity. Anyway, check out this record.  Blind Melon was and is a great band, and should not vanish from this Earth.

So this is SA’s list of great music from 2008.  I know I hesitate in putting these in order, but if you said, “Hey SA, give me at least 3 records from above to check out”, I’d say Beck, The Duke Spirit, and TOBACCO.  3 very good and very different sounding records.

I hope my recommendations help you spend some quality time on eMusic, iTunes, Amazon or even a record store (if you still do that kind of thing).  Of course, I’ll go look at my iPod tomorrow and realize I left some great band/record off this ’08 list and kick myself for it.

Happy New Year, and Happy Listening!

With a new year on the horizon, most folks are beginning to map out their resolutions in hopes of making 2009 one of the best and most rewarding years yet.  Establishing a weight management program is normally a staple in the list, especially since we’ve all learned that life as a Thirty something can severely impact your free time and your metabolism.

Don’t give up though, with a few changes in your diet and exercise routine, we can all make some great steps in the right direction this year.  

1) Learn more about HIIT training.  High Intensity Interval training can blast through calories in a shorter time.  It’s been said to be the most efficient form of cardio exercise.  Of course, everyone has their opinion, but a lot of folks have found tremendous success.

2) Understand the difference between good carbs and bad ones.  Overly processed grains like white bread, pasta, white rice, etc have been stripped of fiber.  Once eaten, they quickly spike your blood sugar triggering a chain of events that quickly have you storing it as fat.  To slow the spike in glucose, choose grains that are high in fiber.  These are the whole grain counterparts like brown rice, 100% stone ground wheat breads (be careful not to be fooled by wheat breads that are still bad for you), whole grain pasta, etc.

3) Eat more raw foods – We’re starting to lose touch with foods as they appear in nature.  Everything we eat has been overprepared and stripped of vital nutrients.  Get back to basics in your eating habits.  Eat more vegetables and salads and go easy on the dressings. Stick to low fat or fat free oil based dressings. 

4) Adopt a strength training regimen.  Building lean muscle will help you burn more calories at rest, help prevent Osteoperosis, slow down muscle decay, and, not too mention, make you look better.

5) Give sugar and its substitutes the boot.  A lot of us are still under the impression that sugar doesn’t really harm our bodies (except our teeth).  This couldn’t be farther from the truth, sugar will actually make you fatter that eating fat.  Since it’s purely a taste thing, just give it up.  I guarantee that over time you won’t miss it from your coffee or soft drinks.  In fact, after a while you’ll find sugar to be rather objectionable.

The best thing you can do for yourself is get edcuated.  Once you properly understand how to eat and exersice you’ll find it easy to make the necessary changes in your life that will allow you to live longer, happier, and healthier.

Lastly, be sure to set some specific and measurable goals, both in the very short term and the long term.

2009 promises a lot of “change” and while we’re hopeful change will happen for the better, sometimes change sucks – like losing your job.  All of us here at genxls.com have had to deal with being laid off at least once.  It’s one of life’s “inevitabilities”.

Hopefully this article by John Rosevear over at Motley Fool will help with next steps if you’re already in this situation. And if your not, you might want to read this just in case.  Better to be prepared for change before it comes up on you bites you square in the arse.

We hope this helps, and we sincerely wish you all the best for 2009 and beyond.

Prepare to Be Laid Off

By John Rosevear
December 16, 2008 |

Take a deep breath. You’re far from alone. And really, being laid off isn’t so bad — you won’t starve, you won’t end up living in the streets, your family and friends won’t stop speaking to you, and unless your job was at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, the sun will rise the next morning. I promise.

I can say that because I’ve been through it, as have many of my friends. It seemed like it should have been awful at the time, but it wasn’t as awful as I’d feared. And it would have been even less awful if I’d known a few things beforehand.

‘Tis the season to be … job hunting
The list of companies that weren’t able to wait until the new year before announcing significant layoffs is getting longer by the day. Here are just a few from recent headlines:

Lots of folks, maybe including people you know, have recently had the difficult experience of leaving work for the last time. Chances are good that many more will join them in the coming months, unfortunately.

If cuts are looming at your employer and you’re worried that you’re not going to survive, there are a few things you can do in advance to manage the actual experience of getting laid off, both logistically and emotionally:

• Locate your copy of the employee manual and read up on severance policies, insurance coverage, and anything else you can find that might be useful to know if you get let go.
• Find out how to apply for unemployment payments in your state. No, it won’t jinx you, do it now! Here’s why: Getting signed up for unemployment is often a cumbersome, obnoxious, condescending, and completely maddening process. Knowing that in advance, and resolving — again, in advance — to endure it with good humor if it should become necessary is far better than getting hit with The Bureaucratic Stupid Stick out of the blue, while you’re still emotionally reeling from the job loss.
• Talk to anyone you know who has been laid off — if you’re sitting on a knot of unfocused dread at the possibility of losing your job, hearing what their day-to-day experiences are like may ease your anxieties somewhat. At least you’ll have some idea of what you’re dealing with, and some kindred souls to meet for coffee and commiseration if the worst happens. If they can deal with it, you can. (And if they’re dealing with it badly, learn from their experience and think about what you’d do differently.)
• Run the numbers. What would it really mean if you lost your income? How much would you get from unemployment insurance? How long would your severance run? How would you pay the mortgage and feed the kids? Again, this is about understanding the reality of what awaits, and understanding that no matter what, you can deal with it. If you’re married, absolutely do this with your spouse — the more information you both have, the better you’ll do at working together to find solutions.

Last and not least, if and when the big moment comes and you get called into the scary office, stay cool. Resist the urge to lash out at the person delivering the news — trust me, they aren’t happy about it either. Remember that you’re in good company, and don’t take it personally. It’s not your fault, and like I said, you have lots of company.

That said, if they ask you to sign anything, don’t — ask to take the paperwork with you, so that you can review it with a clear head in the morning. (This article explains why.) If they try to insist you sign on the spot, stay calm and don’t feel intimidated. They can’t stop you from leaving the building if you don’t sign, and they can’t deny you severance just because you ask for a little time to read the paperwork first.

To read more on avoiding and dealing with layoffs:

• What to Do When Layoffs Loom
• 4 Ways to Survive a Layoff
• Not Just Another Layoff Survival Guide

So it looks like GM and Chrysler received their $17 Billion Bail out.  Hey GM, Chrysler, you’re welcome!  And I’m sure there’s more to come!

I mean, I understand how much the economy relies on these companies, and I realize how many people would be affected by not receiving a bail out – from the assembly line worker to the guy who details the cars in dealerships just before they role off the lot (and depreciate 40% at that very moment).  I’d rather see these car makers who employ Joe Six Packs and Hockey Mom Husbands get bail outs before those scumbag investment firms and banks on Wall Street.

This being said, U.S. car makers have got a lot to change.  I know the current economic conditions are impacting all car makers, but U.S. car makers really need to do a better job keeping up with their Asian competitors in design, technology and quality.  It’s probably safe to say that the way these companies have been managed is also big reason why they are in trouble, and I’m sure both the unions and management have contributed to these conditions.

But their still is one thing that bothers me.  There’s still one “entity” that has greatly benefited from U.S. built gas guzzling SUV’s and V8 Sedans – Yep, you guessed it.  The Oil Companies.

With several consecutive years of record making profits, why can’t the profits from Big Oil go towards bailing out U.S. car makers?  After all, U.S. car companies help generate a good portion of their largest revenue stream, so why not? I know this will NEVER happen, but it sure makes a lot of sense to me.   Think of the positive spin the oil companies could put on this.  It might actually help improve their horrible reputation.

Anyway, I’m sure the $17 Billion for both GM and Chrysler is just the beginning.  I’m sure the next administration will be more sympathetic to their plight, but I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.  But at the same time, I couldn’t imagine a world without a Chevy Corvette, a Jeep Wrangler, a Dodge Charger or a Ford Mustang in it.

With New Year’s day is right around the corner, I’m sure most of us are going through a mental list of things we want to resolve to do for 2009.  Normally, weight management is near the top for most people, but staying motivated and doing the right things can be tough for most people.  This is the reason most gyms are cleared out by mid February.

With this in mind, here’s my motivational assistance for your plans.

5 reasons you should adopt a weight management program

1) Exercising is enormously important to your overall heatlh and weight management goals.  Regular exercise will strengthen your heart, strenghten your bones, improve your balance and coordination, strengthen your spirit and increase your overall quality of life.

2) Eating clean also has tremendous benefits.  Imagine getting sick MUCH less, imagine lowering your risk of America’s top deadly diseases, potentially extending your life expectancy, having more energy, have less body fat.  These two alone should be enough motivation to adopt a real lifestyle change.

3) Having less body fat will make it easier to do everyday tasks, make you look and feel better, and help you avoid injury. 

4) As we get older, our metabolism slow and our bone density weakens.  These effects can be greatly reduced with proper diet and exercise.

5) Improve your mood – Exercise releases endorphins which are known to produce feelings of euphoria and general well-being.  I personally start each day with exercise, you’d be surprised how much better you feel all day when you start off like that.

I’m plagiarizing my own work on this one – I posted this response on a fitness forum earlier, I thought other folks might have the same question.  Basically, the original poster was having trouble bringing out his six pack no matter what he did as far as training or dieting: 

I’ve read some really good advice [from other members of the forum] - I just want to make sure you’re digesting it correctly. The term ‘starve myself’ is scaring me a little, if you’re trying to lose body fat to show off the abs, starvation mode is the last thing you want. Your metabolism will slow to a crawl.

What you need is to turn your body into a fat burning machine. As mentioned, eat frequently – this will keep your energy levels and blood sugar levels even and keep your metabolism running all day.
Also, and obviously, what you eat is extremely important. But i think you have that covered.

This is an exact science, you need to really grab a hold on what your target calorie intake should be and nail that daily. The deficit mentioned simply means you’re expending x amount of calories more than your taking in. It shouldn’t be an abstract notion as in ‘i’ll just eat less’, it should be an exact mathematical formula. For example, when I’m in fat burning mode, I target 2200 calories per day – If I stay that course I’ll normally lose 1.5 to 2 lbs a week. I eat 5 meals a day, each about 440 calories. I try to get a protein and complex carb in each of those, I don’t ever fear carbs (assuming you’re eating the right ones) but everyone responds to them differently.

You would be a rare case if you couldn’t absolutely drop down to single digit body fat with the right education and focus.

With the heated presidential race behind us and the hopes, dreams, and optimism of the new Administration ahead of us, I had a moment this morning to reflect on recent events.  There were countless arguments about Sarah Palin’s negative affect on Senator John McCain’s campaign, however, there is one very important upside to McCain’s choice of running mates:

Tina Fey’s impersonation!  Am I alone in thinking she looks really HOT ‘in character’ or have I finally matured into a full-on Dirty old man?