Built to Spill Albums in order from Least Best to Super Best

8. Ancient Melodies of the Future (2001)

7. Untethered Moon (2015)

6. Ultimate Alternative Waivers (1993)

5. There Is No Enemy (2009)

4. You In Reverse (2006)

3. Keep It Like a Secret (1999)

2. There's Nothing Wrong With Love (1994)

1. Perfect From Now On (1997)

Modest Mouse Albums in order from Least Best to Super Best

6. Strangers to Ourselves (2015)

5. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (2007)

4. The Moon and Antarctica (2000)

3. Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)

2. This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About (1996)

1. The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)

Belle and Sebastian Albums in Order from Least Best to Super Best

8. Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant (2000)

7. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance (2015)

 6. Write About Love (2010)

5. The Life Pursuit (2006)

4. Tigermilk (1996)

3. Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)

2. The Boy With the Arab Strap (1998)

1. If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)

Gallery Jukebox. Andrew Wyeth and the Cowboy Junkies

"Wind from the Sea," Andrew Wyeth. 1947.

In November I was fortunate to find myself in Washington DC for a few days. Amidst a hectic day of walking to every historical landmark deemed essential by myself to see in person (because I had never been to DC before) in the 30 degree weather that is just violent to my Southern California trained skin, I devoted a few hours to strolling through the National Gallery. The featured exhibition, Andrew Wyeth's Looking Out, Looking In, tugged me into its corridors.

The collection featured many paintings of an old New England home, from within gazing out, or from out peering in. Windows here are the star of the show. Standing in front of each painting is standing in front of a window, staring into the minute moment Wyeth preserved forever. 

The highlight for me was the painting, “Wind from the Sea.” A weather touched window is open, facing the sea that lies just visible outside the window, out in the world that the artist has separated viewer from. No figure is present in the painting, but still the painting breathes. The frigid sea wind has just exhaled into the room, through the window, freezing the lace curtains in permanence. Out in the field, tire tracks are seen tailing off towards the sea, but no vehicle is visible. This adds to the ghost quality presented to the viewer with the transparent curtains that drift out, reaching towards you.

“Wind from the Sea” captures with perfection that moment when you are standing alone. The world appears empty, and yet is so full. So full of thick loneliness. Your mind drifts out towards the horizon and suddenly you feel as if there is someone else beside you. Only there isn't.

My Ten Favorite Tracks of 2014

10. "Moving to the Left," Woods

9. "Alexandra," Hamilton Leithauser

8. "Coffee," Sylvan Esso

7. "Howling at the Moon," Phantogram

6. "Every Time the Sun Comes Up I'm in Trouble," Sharon Van Etten

5. "Hotel," Antlers

4. "I'm Not Part of Me," Cloud Nothings

3. "Red Eyes," The War on Drugs

2. "Habit," Ought

1. "Goshen '97," Strand of Oaks

My Ten Favorite Albums of 2014

Not a great year for music.

10. "Familiars," The Antlers

9. "Everyday Robots," Damon Albarn

8. "Morning Phase, "Beck

7. "Lost on the River," The New Basement Tapes

6. "Underneath the Rainbow," The Black Lips

5. "Dean Wareham," Dean Wareham 

4. "Now Here In," Cloud Nothings

3. "Lost in the Dream," The War on Drugs

2. "Heal," Strand of Oaks

1. "Benji," Sun Kil Moon

ELO "Telephone Line"

I declare this to be the greatest song for tonight and tonight only. July 17, 2014.

There is absolutely no reason other than it has a magical chorus.

Also, it reminds me of Billy Madison.