Songs and their Photos - my year end list.

About a week ago, I decided to revisit my old tradition of ranking albums and songs of the year. I had barely started before I realized the reason that I stopped - it was really difficult to put things in a specific, justifiable order, especially when I wasn't making any contribution to go along with what can only be labeled as criticism. So, instead, I decided to do this: here are some songs I liked a lot this year, in no particular order. Each one is paired with a photo I took that went along with my interpretation of the song in some way. It's just a thing I'm trying out.

Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra - Smile (pictures or it didn't happen) - I came up with this entire project while listening to this song, so it deserves to start it off. I took the picture out the window while driving around Grosse Ile, for the simple reason that I'd never been on that island before.

John K. Samson - When I write my master's thesis - This entire album is fantastic, but I went with this track to showcase the wonderful fact that I have a new job in this very building, which I love, and it is in part due to the fact that I completed my master's degree this year. 

Beach House - Lazuli - I didn't mean to end up in this spot behind the train station, but when I took this photo freehand and got the leading lines and symmetry nearly perfect, I knew it could only happen in an 8-bit world. So, an 8-bit song off of Bloom, which was wonderful, fit perfectly. Important note -- I'm not a big fan of showcasing ruined pieces of Detroit, but this photo came out too good. Sorry.

Benjamin Gibbard - Shepherd's Bush Lullaby - A picture of rain to go with the frontman of DCFC? Look, I'm not trying to be subtle here, and I'm a sucker for a capella. I was driving home with the camera on the passenger seat, decided to snap quickly, and it worked out okay.

The Gaslight Anthem - National Anthem - While a lot of the songs on Handwritten made me feel younger, this is a track that I can count on enjoying when I am older than my grandfather. I'm not talking staying power, I just feel emotionally connected to the melody.

The Mountain Goats - Amy A.K.A. Spent Gladiator 1 - This is one of the tags I'm used to passing on the way to and from work. I don't know that I understand graffiti, but it seems to fit into the message of this song: "Do every stupid thing that makes you feel alive." Taking pictures of tags in lousy neighborhoods makes me feel that way. Guess I'm lame.

Craig Finn - Balcony - I'm wasn't in a highrise when I took this. But you know what? That doesn't matter, because this song is incredibly non-bitter while being hilarious about the choices people make about who to be with, so downtown Royal Oak could fit the story well. 

Walk the Moon - Anna Sun -  The original plan for this photo was to take the selective focus picture from inside the doorway. That didn't work out because someone (the owner of the boots) was inside using the shower. Wander into abandoned houses for the sake of photography might be a terrible idea.

  

The Tallest Man on Earth - 1904 - this isn't the natural disaster we were looking for, nor is it a disaster at all, but this works. I like this guy/band. This album did not knock me back, but 1904 really stood out. So, you get a photo, tall man.

The Killers - Flesh and Bone - This first track off of Battle Born asks "What are you afraid of, and what are you made of?" This guy is a Detroit Firefighter, and I think his answer is clear. I chase smoke when I see it, but so did a lot of other people, so I think it's okay.

The Lumineers - Ho Hey - this is everywhere, yes, but my wife and I sang it to each other constantly shortly after we bought our house this year. Here's a view of the front door that I liked. The whole place is pretty great, if you haven't seen it.

Anyway, that's my year-end music post, coupled with photography. It's been a great year.