I’m sitting in my office blaring A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauders,” trying to figure out how I am going to take all the amazing albums that were released in 2005, and get them down to my favorite 31.

I realize that 31 is a odd number to choose for a year end list, but I decided to feature one album per day until the end of the year. After all, these albums deserve their own day for all the happiness and clarity they brought me over the past 11 months.

Smog – A River Ain’t To Much To Love

What the critics say:

Tiny Mix Tapes – 4/5
Pitchfork – [7.7]
Coke Machine Glow – 77%

Bill Callahan is the man behind Smog. He’s put out 12 albums that I know of, and there are probably more out there. The thing that I love most about “A River Ain’t To Much To Love” is that it takes you on a musical journey. Sometimes introspective, other times humorous, you never really know what you’re going to get from Bill Callahan. What you can expect if you pick this album up is a nice solid listen, especially if you’ve never heard Smog before. This was the album that introduced Bill Callahan’s music to me, and since discovering this album, I have been able to listen to some of his back catalogue that is equally, if not more fascinating.

I missed my chance to see Smog when they played at the High Noon Saloon earlier this year, but I’m hoping they’ll make it back soon.

Drag city is currently hosting a video for Rock Bottom Riser.

Enter coupon code: muzzle05 for a 10% discount!!!

In the second installment of the “Get to know your blogger” feature, we are pleased to offer a wonderful interview with the man behind You Ain’t No Picasso. For me, visiting You Ain’t No Picasso is a daily custom; I usually visit more than once.

Providing people with a first look (and listen) to acts like The Light Footwork and then just today, posting a solo Colin Meloy show containing new material. Dedicated is a word that I think summarizes the work that Matt Jordan puts into his site, and I think it reflects in his writing. For proof you only need to check out his amazing interviews of Sufjan Stevens and Boy Least Likely To.

Thank you Matt for taking the time to answer the questions, and thank you for giving us a great daily read at You Ain’t No Picasso.

Matt (in green) with We Are Scientists

Let’s get some general background on you. You currently are going to college in Kentucky, correct?

Yup. I’m a 19 year-old, second year student at the University of Kentucky. I studied pre-pharmacy for a year until a skiing-incurred concussion gave me the freedom of mind needed to realize that this was a waste of my time. After a summer spent piddling around undecided, I switched to my true calling: journalism.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

Haha. Oh man, this is not the question I need to be answering. In all honesty, the first cds I remember buying were Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Not the most noble beginnings, huh? But after that I went the more traditional route for a 13-year-old and got into Green Day (nimrod. specifically), Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer’s blue album.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

Let’s see here…I think Deerhoof’s ‘The Runners Four’ and Minus Story’s ‘No Rest for Ghosts’ were bought on the same day. Also, this week I placed a preorder for The Light Footwork’s album ‘One State, Two State’ as well as buying some EPs and compilations from the fabulous Asaurus Records.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

Depends. Ideally I like to buy them from bands at their shows, but I’m in the middle of Kentucky, so that doesn’t happen too often. But usually I either purchase from CD Central in Lexington, KY (who have a wonderful reputation of supporting local music and are just great people anyway) or from bands’ websites.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

Yeah, definitely. I think the Smashing Pumpkins saved me from a life of only listening to oldies or classical music when I hit my early teens. From there, the next two big bands that made me take notice to new types of music had to be Radiohead and Bishop Allen. Radiohead because, let’s face it, OK Computer is all kinds of flawless. It raised my musical standards by about a million percent. Bishop Allen is a different story though. I never really listened to any ‘indie’ bands until I randomly downloaded their album from my friend’s computer. After that I realized that unsigned bands have to work a lot harder to gain attention. So I’d say that basically lead me into the type of music I listen to today.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Oh wow. I guess I’ll just list some of the I’ll never get tired of hearing: Radiohead – OK Computer; The Apples in Stereo – Discovery of a World Inside the Moone (got it on vinyl last month. woo!); Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea; The Unicorns – Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?; The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come; The Clash – London Calling; The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (this album got me interested in music. We had it on cassette and I think I literally wore it out); Brian Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy.

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

Couldn’t tell ya. It’s really sad how poorly arranged my cds are right now. I count…17 laying out of their cases on top of my desk right now. I’ve got to start taking care of them before they leave me. But yeah, if I had to guess… I’d say 300 cds, 10 vinyl and about 200 on some form of computer medium.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?
Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips), Ted Leo (TL/RX) and Robert Schneider (Apples in stereo).

I’m sure you’ve seen some great concerts. Can you tell me what the first concert you saw was and when? To follow that up, are there any particular shows that stand out in terms of being favorites?

My first concert was a hastily-organized trip down to Nashville to see Weezer during the Green era. It was pretty sweet as first concerts go, but we could barely see the stage. Since then I’ve had the fortune to attend many, many great shows, but there are a couple that stand out. Seeing the Decemberists three times this summer was nothing short of amazing. Their live show is more like an elaborately staged production than members hitting instruments in unison. Additionally, I got to see The Apples in Stereo play an intimate hometown gig in Lexington this past September that blew my mind.

What are some bands that you haven’t gotten the chance to see live, but would really like to?

Right now I’m really hoping to see The Boy Least Likely To when they come to America. I’m in love with their album ‘The Best Party Ever’ and can only imagine how they’ll translate it to the stage. Also, I have to mention that not having seen Radiohead, the Flaming Lips or The Shins is one of the few failures of my life. I’ve got to remedy these problems.

How did you choose the name “You Ain’t No Picasso?”

Haha. I vividly remember picking it out from my playlist. ‘You Aint No Picasso’ is the name of an unreleased Bishop Allen song that I felt sorta reflected my feelings on life at the time when I started my blog. That and it just sounded kinda cool. But I think I made a good choice with the name selection. Actually, it’s kinda amazing how many emails I get addressed to ‘Picasso.’ One of my friends will sometimes call me that at random to see if I’ll turn around…I always do.

Can you tell me what got you into blogging, and are you surprised by the popularity your blog has attained?

A combination of a bit of heartbreak and the desire to spread musical suggestions to my friends lead to the start of You Aint No Picasso. I’d been reading Stereogum, LHB and Sixeyes and it started out as a way to kill a couple days, but eventually turned into something that has often been my reason for waking up. Haha. Am I surprised that people actually read my site? You bet. I can pretty much assure you that my readers are more musically educated and experienced than I am. Still, I’m glad that they seem to enjoy reading it almost as much as I enjoy doing it.

What are some of your favorite blogs? Music or otherwise.

Oh wow. Well, I’m going to have to go with Gorilla vs. Bear and Said the Gramophone. Both are amazingly on top of what’s going on in the independent music world, and to not read them at least four times a week is to turn your back on some amazing bands. As for non-music blogs, I must confess that I’m addicted to Boing Boing. I get to let my geeky side run wild as I comb through their updates.

Being a blogger you develop a unique relationship with certain artists, who you almost befriend, have you had any experiences like that?

Yeah, I’ve been very fortunate as far as that goes. There are a couple artists who I’ve supported through my blog who I’ve kept in touch with. The vast majority of bands I talk to are amazingly nice people who seem to honestly be doing it for the love of music.

How important do you think music blogs are in general? Do you think they will continue to be as popular as they are today?

I can’t decide if music blogs are given too much or not enough credit sometimes. In some cases (Arcade Fire and CHYSY) people tend to think that blogs are magical entities who have the ability to single-handedly make a band successful. But other times I think lots of people turn a blind eye to the fact that blogs are truly a great form of grassroots support. Will they continue to be this popular? I like to think so. However, I doubt that blogs will stay the same over the next two years. What changes are in store, I really can’t say; but I’d imagine that their ability to change with the times is going to be key to their survival.

Let’s get away from music for a bit. What are some of your favorite movies and television shows?

As far as movies go, I’ve got to say that it doesn’t get any better than Blazing Saddles and Fight Club. I couldn’t begin to estimate how many times I’ve watched either movie. Television shows are tricky, because I barely ever remember to tune in at a certain time. Having said that, let me also point out that I rarely ever miss an episode of the Daily Show, Colbert Report or Family Guy (it’s just not the same since they got cancelled, is it?) Also, I’m re-addicted to Mr. Show and Seinfeld. Typical college kid answers, I know.

Outside of music do you have any other interests or projects?

In a perfect world I would always have time to read. Unfortunately this isn’t a perfect world, so I’m often forced to re-read Chuck Palahniuk books while waiting for class to start.

A lot of people have a favorite t-shirt, do you have one?

I’m going to bend the rules on this just a bit and answer that my one true love in this world is my black high school soccer sweatshirt. I wore it every day through high school, and continue to do so well into college. If we ever bump into each other at a concert, and it isn’t the middle of summer, chances are great that I will be wearing this sweatshirt.

Matt with Robert Schneider and wearing his favorite sweatshirt.

In your opinion, what’s the best place to eat on your college campus?

Ah, finally a question for which I have some level of expertise. Tolly Ho on the corner of S. Limestone and Ave. of Champions in Lexington. It’s conveniently located on the same block as CD Central and barely a hundred feet from our radio station, WRFL. I used to go grab a morning burger after finishing my DJ slot at 6am.

The Flaming Lips
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
The Black Crowes
Wilco
The Disco Biscuits
Brothers Past
Lotus
Umphrey’s McGee
The Meters
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Keller Williams
Burning Spear
G. Love & Special Sauce
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Drive-By Truckers
The Secret Machines
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
MOFRO
Slightly Stoopid
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Brazilian Girls
Kid Koala
Lyrics Born
RJD2

Looks like the perfect combination of good music, good weather (fingers crossed), and spring break!

Two-day passes for the 2006 Langerado Music Festival go on sale
Friday December 9th at 10am EST

GENERAL ADMISSION:

A limited number of 2-day passes will be priced at $99.50 and offered on a first-come first-serve basis.
Once the $99.50 allotment has been sold, the price will climb to $119.50.
Once the $119.50 allotment has been sold, tickets prices will be capped at $129.50.

Jens Lekman first got my attention two days ago when Pitchfork gave his album, “Oh You’re So Silent Jens,” an 8.5. I got my hands on this record and it reminds me of The National, only no lyrics about jumping off a coffee table with “something” in your hand. Actually, it sounds more like Morrissey. I’ve only listened to it once, and while not perfect, I love the following track:

Sweet Summer’s Night On Hammer Hill

This song would fit perfectly into a hazy wine buzz or a late night drive on one of those Wisconsin backroads. Either way, I think you’ll really like it. I’ll put up another link when this one expires.

If you like the track above, head over to Moroccan Role, a new favorite blog of mine to check out a couple more MP3’s.

As the end of the year creeps closer I am going through all my records that I have gotten over the past year. One that I keep coming back to is the new My Morning Jacket album, “Z.” I don’t know where in my top ten it will land, but it will definitely be there.

Anyway, while listening to the album, I also realized I had two b-sides released on the “Off The Record” single. Here they are, I don’t remember seeing them around before.

My Morning Jacket – Chills
My Morning Jacket – How Could I Know

I thought I would share something to make you laugh. It is Tobias’ business card from the now cancelled Arrested Development.

Welcome to a brand new feature on Muzzleofbees.com. In hopes of getting to know the people behind our favorite music blogs, I have decided to sit down/e-mail some of my favorite bloggers in a new feature called “Get to know your blogger.” I was extremely pleased to have Chris from Gorilla Vs. Bear agree to be our first interview. He did an amazing job….

In between posting on his hugely popular music blog, and catching The Rosebuds play a packed show at the Gypsy Tea Room, Chris Cantalini opens up to Muzzle of Bees about some of his favorite albums, blogs, and a even his favorite t-shirt.

Chris and Diplo

If you are a fan of indie rock, Gorilla Vs. Bear is a daily stop for MP3’s, new artists to watch out for, photos and reviews from concerts in the Dallas area. I’ve been a big fan of the site since it first went up earlier this year, and was happy that Chris was kind enough to lend his time to the new “Get to know your blogger” feature on this site.

Let’s get some general background on you. You currently reside in Texas, correct?

Yeah, I’m actually moving into a new house next weekend in Lakewood, an Old neighborhood near downtown Dallas. I was born in Detroit, MI, but I moved to Texas when I was about 7. I went to college in San Diego, and have also lived in Denver and Miami.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

The first CD’s I remember buying with my own money were Nirvana’s Nevermind, Pearl Jam’s Ten, and A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory. I think I got all three on the same day when I got my first CD player when I was like 13 or so. Before that, I remember having tons of crappy tapes of bands that will remain nameless. And as an even younger kid, the first albums I remember being obsessed with were my parents’ Beatles records, particularly Abbey Road.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

Definitely. I think the bands that sort of broadened my musical horizons and really got me into “indie rock” were Sonic Youth and Radiohead, when I was about 15 or so. Me and hundreds of thousands of other kids.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Oh man, too many to list. There are a few I listen to religiously, and they never leave my car: Tripping Daisy’s ‘Jesus Hits like the Atom Bomb‘, which is probably the most underrated album of all time, Digable Planets‘ ‘Blowout Comb‘, A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Midnight Marauders‘, the Beatles’ ‘Revolver’, the Zombies ‘Oddesey and Oracle’, Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’, The Shins’ ‘Oh inverted world’. Currently, I’m obsessed with The Knife’s ‘Deep Cuts’, Jose Gonzalez’s ‘Veneer‘, Tapes ‘n Tapes‘ ‘The Loon’, and The Rosebuds‘ “Birds make good neighbors’. I know I’m leaving a bunch out, but I’ll stop there so I don’t bore your readers to death.

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

Probably about 300 on CD, another 100 or so on vinyl, and like 60 GB on my hard drive.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Tim DeLaughter, Joanna Newsom, and Chan Marshall.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

The majority of my CD’s are purchased at Good Records in Dallas, TX. other than that, I’ll buy stuff online from labels or band websites, or at used record stores.

I’m sure you’ve seen some great concerts. Can you tell me what the first concert you saw was and when? To follow that up, are there any particular shows that stand out in terms of being favorites?

The first concert I went to without my parents was Tripping Daisy, when I was 15 or 16 I think. I was blown away. That still stands out as one of my favorites among the hundreds of shows I’ve seen. Other shows that stand out include Digable Planets my senior year in high school.

And the first time I saw The Polyphonic Spree in 2001. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, I was pretty cynical at the time about music and life in general, so that was a fairly life-altering show. I hadn’t experienced the same feeling I get at a Polyphonic Spree show until I saw Arcade Fire for the first time in January of this year. and recently Broken Social Scene really impressed me, and every time I’ve seen the Black Keys I have been amazed.

I can remember the day you posted on the Arcade Fire message board that you had started a blog. Can you tell me what got you into blogging, and are you surprised by the popularity your blog has attained?

Wow, yeah I remember that. Well I’ve been reading blogs like Stereogum and Fluxblog for the last couple years, but when I found blogs like My Old Kentucky Blog and You Ain’t No Picasso at the beginning of ‘05, I started thinking that blogging would be something fun to do to kill some time at work. I originally started it as a way to share music w/my friends, so yeah; you could say I’m pretty surprised at how many people actually read it now. It’s pretty insane, actually.

What are some of your favorite blogs?

There are so many good ones right now, and I really mean that. I read every single blog on my sidebar at least a couple times a week. That said, I think Music for Robots and Said the Gramophone are particularly essential.

Being a blogger you develop a unique relationship with certain artists, who you almost befriend, have you had any experiences like that?

I’ve had the chance to get to know quite a few artists a little bit over email and at shows. I won’t name drop, but the indie artists I’ve met in general are all very humble and generous and very appreciative of what all bloggers are doing.

How important do you think music blogs are in general? Do you think they will continue to be as popular as they are today?

I think it’s pretty obvious that music blogs have a ton of influence, but I’m not sure how ‘important’ they are. But a band that immediately comes to mind is Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. I mean, they’re a pretty decent band, but come on. The hype surrounding them was generated almost entirely by blogs. And every label/promo company would love to recreate the success of a band like the Arcade Fire, and I think the general perception is that it was bloggers that sort of “broke” them into the mainstream, whether that’s true or not. I don’t think the number of blogs will continue to explode like they did this year, just based on saturation. But I think the handful or so of the best ones will continue to thrive and be influential.

Let’s get away from music for a bit. What are some of your favorite movies and television shows?

I have a few favorite television shows, namely Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Wonder Showzen. I’ve probably watched my copy of ” Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series” on DVD like 18 times. I highly recommend it. My favorite movies are anything Wes Anderson does (especially Rushmore), Donnie Darko, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, City of God, and Disney’s the Fox and the Hound..

I know you are a Detroit Pistons fan, are you a fan of other sports teams? Can you talk a little about your “Detroit Pistons girl?” How you found her, etc?

Yeah I’m also a huge fan of the University of Michigan football. But they suck right now. And any Detroit teams. Sadly the Tigers and the Lions have both seen better days. And I also like the Dallas Mavs again now that they waived that punk Doug Christie. I still credit the Hot Detroit Girl with helping to make my blog popular. I remember the first time I posted a pic of her, some porn site linked to me and my traffic exploded.

A lot of people have a favorite t-shirt, do you have any?

I love my “Happiness is a Dachshund” t-shirt that I got at a vintage store about 5 years ago. I had a little miniature dachshund named Lucy when I found that shirt, so it holds some sentimental value even though it’s got some holes in it and the label is peeling off.

Chris (with aforementioned t-shirt) and “Butterfly” of Digable Planets fame.

I saw on your website that a friend of yours was pimping a Gorilla vs. Bear t-shirt. Any chance of those ever hitting the marketplace?

I don’t think the demand for those would be too high. But I have to admit, that was a pretty sick homemade shirt, we got a lot of compliments on that one.

In your opinion, what animal would win the fight between a Gorilla and a Bear? Please give your reasons why.

It’s funny; it was my friend’s obsession with these theoretical animal fights that was actually the inspiration for the blog’s name. I think a gorilla would clearly win, for obvious reasons. I don’t think it would be as close as most people think. Most people think a bear would win, but they’re all wrong.

Who is the hottest woman on Earth in your opinion?

Wow, that’s a tough one. How about a top 5? in no particular order, Audrey Tautou, Sarah Silverman, Jessica Alba, Chan Marshall, Katrina Kerns.

Make sure you also stop by the Gorilla Vs. Bear Myspace page and sign up to be their friend. Big thanks to Chris for his time in this feature!

Muzzle of Bees loves 4 day weekends. I’ve got some MP3’s for you to check out below, I think you’ll like them.

Morcheeba – In The Hands of Gods (featuring Biz Markie)

Morcheeba released their disc, Get Mashed this year, which was previously only available as a bootleg. If you’re like me, you are probably upset that Morcheeba now boasts a new female singer in their line-up. Either way, the track above features an amazing track laced with Biz Markie’s flow.

Matt Costa – Sunshine

After a successful summer tour opening for Jack Johnson and signing to Jack’s record label, Matt Costa is currently flying under the radar. His music, strongly influenced by early Lennon/McCartney collaborations, is refreshing and nice. The track “Sunshine” posted above is the standout on Matt’s album, “Songs We Sing.”

Jackson Browne – For A Dancer

I used to hate flying. In fact, I took a 3 day train ride from San Diego up to Washington and across to Wisconsin once. Since my job requires I travel a couple times a month, I had to get used to flying pretty quick. I stumbled across this song while my ipod was on shuffle. I only have one Jackson Browne album, and it’s pretty great. The song “For A Dancer” gets played every time I get on a plane. It’s just really calming.

Ray Charles – Do I Ever Cross Your Mind

I finally got “Ray Charles: The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986,” and it was more than I ever imagined it being. Ray Charles music means a lot to me, he’s up there on my favorite artists list. The MP3 above is strong enough to break a heart or heal a broken one in my opinion.

Mike Doughty – St. Louise Is Listening

I saw Mike Doughty a few months ago at the High Noon Saloon here in Madison. It was the first time I had seen him with his new band. I had seen him open for Galactic solo a number of times. I hesitate to say that I was blown away by his performance, but it was definitely very memorable. Towards the end of his set he played, “St Louise Is Listening.” It sounded great then, and so does this MP3, so give it a listen!

My Morning Jacket – I Will Be There When You Die

This version of the song was released on the “Songs From a Brown Hotel EP” soundtrack that was released from the Elizabethtown movie. It also appeared on MMJ’s album, “The Tennessee Fire.” I think this one sound a lot better.

I rarely blog about my personal life, but the combination of boredom and horrible weather we are enjoying in Madison today compels me to do so. I’m from a very small town in Wisconsin, and headed home for the Thanksgiving holiday. The purpose of this post is to give you some idea of what you can find in small town Wisconsin on any given night.

I’m not sure if it’s a Thanksgiving tradition or just an annual outing, but my friends and I make the 15 mile trip into the middle of nowhere to a bar that boasts a wide variety of taxidermied (I know this isn’t a word, but it works) animals and great prices on booze.

On the drive to the aforementioned bar, I was sure that it being the middle of hunting season the place would be packed with crazy hunter patrons drinking until the morning called them back to the hunt, I was wrong. It ended up only being a group of about 10 of us, but we had a great time. See for yourself.

A fawn on display.

My friend Alex displays the 7 beers he bought for $12.

Playing a game of “flip cup”

Doing an audition for the Arcade Fire in the basemet as a deer looks on.

According to the AP, Mr Miyagi has passed away at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes. The Karate Kid movies were huge for me as a kid.