This Fortnight's Shameless Budgeteer Plug!

Hope your holiday were splendid. Here are a couple things I've put together in the last two weeks:

"The Best Albums of 2008, Pts. 1 & 2" :: Locally, it was another banner year for music, and the national and international scenes fared just as well. See if your favorite records "made the cut." (In case you're interested, links to my 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 lists.)

"What the Mayor and Other Northlanders Liked in '08" :: The question was simple: What is your favorite local and non-local album of 2008? See how people like Charlie Parr, Walt Dizzo and Mayor Don Ness answered. (Now with fantastic newness courtesy of Cars & Trucks' Mat Milinkovich and Tony Bennett!)

"The (Mostly) Local Guide to Last-Minute Gifts" :: From art supplies to zoo memberships, our A-to-Z guide will help make this frantic last week of shopping a little more bearable. Compiled with my boss, Budgeteer editor Jana Peterson.

And some random photos that punctuated other people's stories: a potluck "still art," some kids skating at Congdon Park Elementary School and blizzard shots for our '08/'09 winter photography collection of the old Interstate Bridge and snow-covered steps in the DECC parking lot.

p.s. I also co-hosted Walt Dizzo's "Best of 2008" show on KUWS. Read what songs he (we) played on his MySpace blog – or below if you're having trouble accessing it:

1. Cloud Cult – Story of the Grandson of Jesus
2. Tisdales – Like a Horse
3. The Plastic Constellations – Floated Down and Flew Around
4. The War on Drugs – Arms Like Boulders
5. The Sword – Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
6. Wolf Parade – Call it a Ritual
7. Chris Walla – Geometry and C
8. Doomtree – Game Over
9. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – Bag of Hammers
10. Marc Gartband – Back With You
11. The Whigs – Like a Vibration
12. Of Montreal – Triphallus, to Punctuate!
13. Now Now Every Children – Everyone You Know
14. Tiny Moving Parts – Moving to Antarctica
15. Torche – Grenades
16. Retribution Gospel Choir – Kids
17. Harvey Milk – Barnburner
18. Sports! – Magnetic Yellow Ribbons
19. Amanda Palmer – Runs in the Family
20. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
21. Atmosphere – You
22. Haley Bonar – Something Great
23. Vivian Girls – Where Do You Run To
24. Man Man – Top Drawer
25. Riddle of Steel – John Frum
26. Lil Wayne – Mrs. Officer
27. Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
28. Dance Band – Digital
29. Vampire Weekend – M79
30. Department of Eagles – No One Does It Better
31. Human Highway – The Sound
32. TV on the Radio – DLZ
33. Q-Tip – Shaka
34. Dr. Dog – The Old Days
35. Attic Lights – Bring You Down
36. Boris – Laser Beam
37. Jay Reatard – See Saw
38. Little Joy – How to Hang a Warhol
39. Terry Lynn – Kingston Logic (angry mix)
40. She and Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay?
41. The Raveonettes – Black Satin
42. Islands – Creeper
43. Marah – Angel of Destruction
44. Black Mountain – Evil Ways
45. Amplive – Video Tapez
46. Chairlift – Bruises
47. Portishead – Magic Doors
48. Victory Ship – Won’t Let Go
49. Deerhunter – Agoraphobia
50. Santogold – Lights Out
51. Smoking Popes – Welcome to Janesville
52. Horse & Rider – Funeral Piles
53. Barbie Bangkok – All Over Again
54. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
55. Beck – Chemtrails
56. Portraits for Judith – 13 Plagues
57. Fucked Up – Year of the Pig (US 7” Edit)
58. Tanya Morgan – The Bridge
59. The Magnetic Fields – The Nun’s Litany
60. Black Kids – Hit the Heartbrakes
61. Submarines – You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie
    

Thus concludes what will hopefully be the last This Fortnight's Shameless Budgeteer Plug!