Instead of echoing the thousands of redundant end-of-the-year lists that clog up the internet, television, and shitty magazines, I figured I'd merely pantomime them, and leave the jizzing all over LCD Soundsystem and Panda Bear to the other lists. This list is titled: The Top Great Things Chris Gro Discovered This Year. These things may not have been released in 2007...as a matter of fact, odds are they weren't, but in my tendency toward knee-jerk contrarianism, I tend to miss out on this shit until way after the fact. And with this delay, I am dealt the bittersweet hand of having something that enriches my life in completely new ways, and having no one to talk to about it because everyone's already been into, and then over, whatever it is I just got into. Or you don't give a shit, and have never given a shit, and probably won't. No big deal. I like some irritating stuff.
Top Great Things Chris Gro Discovered This Year
1.Neurosis.
They're one of those bands that gets name-checked by other bands I like, and a band that I've listened to on occasion previous to this year, but with no great attention, or regard. On a whim, I bought their 2007 record Given to the Rising (look, an actual connection to 2007!), and promptly snagged the rest of their recorded output, post-haste (though it turns out I already owned one of their records, so now I have two of that one. Anyone need a copy of The Eye of Every Storm?). Some of this shit is like, the darkest shit ever. It's dense, lengthy, mostly fucking loud, and not the sort of thing you throw on when you're "gettin' ready to party." Unless you're me. Neurosis and Funkadelic are tied for the artist I listened to most this year, and honestly, that really sort of sums up the year I've had.
2. Putting Hot Sauce on Food
My mother, up until a couple of years ago when the Food Network and empty-nest boredom lit a culinary fire under her ass, had always been a pussy when it comes to flavor. I had followed in her footsteps, temperatures low, spices sparse, please. One night during a late night Pho eating session with Dinh, I said fuck it. He was piling on that hot red sauce with the chicken on the bottle, and I felt obliged to follow suit. When In Little Saigon, do as Dinh do. So I did do. And it was fucking delicious. I started putting hot sauce on everything, save for ice cream sandwiches and Diet Coke. I've since dialed back to a more sensible hot sauce regimen, but yeah, I've totally been missing out.
3. Anthony Bourdain
Thought this dude was a total poser. Figured some butthole chef with a penchant for too much wine threw on a leather jacket, pierced his ear, and decided to play culinary bad-ass like Bret Michaels on a Harley. Turns out, dude was a total junkie, and happens to be one of the more fascinating and interesting writers/commentators in the world of food-type stuff. His Kitchen Confidential is a great, fast paced read, and his No Reservations show, while a little goofy and skit-heavy at times, is a great way to both get a different look at a culture, as well as learn that number 1 on most travelers' lists should be skipping the tourist shit. Just watch out for land-mines and knife fights.
4. Beards
Previous to this year, the only "beards" I've had are the girls I've dated to convince the outside world that I'm not a homosexual. Bah dum bump. Seriously folks, I've actively had a beard at several points this year, and while I always eventually grow tired of it and shave, it's nice to know that my face looks pretty alright with a beard (some would argue that it looks more alright, as it hides a good portion of my face. Wah wah). Combining a beard with a completely shaved head (which I also started doing this year) makes for a look that says "I'd kick the shit out of you, if only I weren't so spindly. Hey, relax guy. Want some gum?"
5. Apple shit
Got an iPod and a Macbook this year. They're cool. Don't worry, I've not become a Steve Jobs streetcorner preacher, ready to shove down your throat the virtues of taking an Apple baptism. Truth is, I bought the macbook because it looks rad and is a nice thing. I don't own many nice things, and I wanted to own a nice thing. Pretty ridiculous, but I'll own it. Also, my iPod is neat. I'm not all that technologically advanced (having an Asian best friend really makes me seem like a luddite when it comes to gizmos) and this shit is all really simple to use. Me can download and surf on the web. That's what it's called right? Surfing?
Top Great Things Chris Gro Discovered This Year
1.Neurosis.
They're one of those bands that gets name-checked by other bands I like, and a band that I've listened to on occasion previous to this year, but with no great attention, or regard. On a whim, I bought their 2007 record Given to the Rising (look, an actual connection to 2007!), and promptly snagged the rest of their recorded output, post-haste (though it turns out I already owned one of their records, so now I have two of that one. Anyone need a copy of The Eye of Every Storm?). Some of this shit is like, the darkest shit ever. It's dense, lengthy, mostly fucking loud, and not the sort of thing you throw on when you're "gettin' ready to party." Unless you're me. Neurosis and Funkadelic are tied for the artist I listened to most this year, and honestly, that really sort of sums up the year I've had.
2. Putting Hot Sauce on Food
My mother, up until a couple of years ago when the Food Network and empty-nest boredom lit a culinary fire under her ass, had always been a pussy when it comes to flavor. I had followed in her footsteps, temperatures low, spices sparse, please. One night during a late night Pho eating session with Dinh, I said fuck it. He was piling on that hot red sauce with the chicken on the bottle, and I felt obliged to follow suit. When In Little Saigon, do as Dinh do. So I did do. And it was fucking delicious. I started putting hot sauce on everything, save for ice cream sandwiches and Diet Coke. I've since dialed back to a more sensible hot sauce regimen, but yeah, I've totally been missing out.
3. Anthony Bourdain
Thought this dude was a total poser. Figured some butthole chef with a penchant for too much wine threw on a leather jacket, pierced his ear, and decided to play culinary bad-ass like Bret Michaels on a Harley. Turns out, dude was a total junkie, and happens to be one of the more fascinating and interesting writers/commentators in the world of food-type stuff. His Kitchen Confidential is a great, fast paced read, and his No Reservations show, while a little goofy and skit-heavy at times, is a great way to both get a different look at a culture, as well as learn that number 1 on most travelers' lists should be skipping the tourist shit. Just watch out for land-mines and knife fights.
4. Beards
Previous to this year, the only "beards" I've had are the girls I've dated to convince the outside world that I'm not a homosexual. Bah dum bump. Seriously folks, I've actively had a beard at several points this year, and while I always eventually grow tired of it and shave, it's nice to know that my face looks pretty alright with a beard (some would argue that it looks more alright, as it hides a good portion of my face. Wah wah). Combining a beard with a completely shaved head (which I also started doing this year) makes for a look that says "I'd kick the shit out of you, if only I weren't so spindly. Hey, relax guy. Want some gum?"
5. Apple shit
Got an iPod and a Macbook this year. They're cool. Don't worry, I've not become a Steve Jobs streetcorner preacher, ready to shove down your throat the virtues of taking an Apple baptism. Truth is, I bought the macbook because it looks rad and is a nice thing. I don't own many nice things, and I wanted to own a nice thing. Pretty ridiculous, but I'll own it. Also, my iPod is neat. I'm not all that technologically advanced (having an Asian best friend really makes me seem like a luddite when it comes to gizmos) and this shit is all really simple to use. Me can download and surf on the web. That's what it's called right? Surfing?