Best of 2011

No gimmicks, no intellectual pitchfork verbiage, no 4 out of 5 stars. Simply a list of the 9(radiohead would be a token 10) best albums from the year that has passed:

9. SBTRKT-SBTRKT
8. M83-Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
7. Nicolas Jaar-Space is Only Noise
6. Wye Oak-Civilian
5. Wilco-The Whole Love
4. Bill Callahan-Apocalypse
3. Iron & Wine-Kiss Each Other Clean
2. Destroyer-Kaputt
1. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks-Mirror Traffic

I couldn't help but identify some 2011 observations:

If The Graduate were remade, this would be the new soundtrack: Alexander-Alexander
And this would be the new Mrs. Robinson-Truth

The Bon Iver impersonation award: James Vincent McMorrow-Early in the Morning

Best Album Cover: Ty Segull-Goodbye Bread

Most Listened to album in 2011-James-Laid

After further review, this album deserved more accolades in 2010: Crystal Castles-II

Bike Porn

After 2 years of planning, Superb has completed their first prototype and it's a beauty. These folks from Boston Mass are here to stay.

40 year old mongolian virgin

This is the best reason to turn 40, buy a new bike and visit a foreign country. The goal is simple, complete the Mongolian Mountain Bike challenge before 2019

Stocking Stuffer

If you ever wondered what to get me for Christmas. I'm practicing my fist pumps now!

This Bud's for you

Ouch!

Guess Who's Back

Cinelli does it again. The same seamless steel we remember from the early 80's. The track bike has been resurrected with the rebirth of the Laser. For $9,900 you could have one too.

Viva Las Vegas

I'll save you the expenses, this is the best thing going on at interbike. See more from Livery Design Gruppe

Bike Porn

Now that's a MASH I would actually ride. The Bolt edition of the popular series offers dimensions preferred by commuters.

Adios Grooveshark

It's been years since Lala was bought by Apple and thus swept under the rug by the evil empire. In the years since, the almighty quest was on to find a site that equaled Lala's success. Grooveshark held the void until recently when technical difficulties disabled the player. Then there was Soundcloud. However, one can only 'watch' so many conversations while listening to 'choppy' versions of our favorites.

With the news of the Spotify landing in the US, the search for Lala's successor could be over. Sign up(it's free) and enjoy.

Mash SF Cinelli

Fixed Cyclocross from Flwrider TV on Vimeo.

The circuit course looks painfully boring, the video is bland, the music is awful but the Cinelli Mash with impractically large tires is so gorgeous. Guilty pleasures are so much more fun than pleasures.

Youtube Head

this is truly an amazing feat of editing.

Faggin Fast

These Faggin Pursuit bikes don't come around too often, so if you have the coin and are looking for an investment check out more photos and make an offer here

Stitch and Trim

Pedaler clothing released their new Fall '11 Line of urban cycling specific gear. The mountains stay cool year 'round so I won't have to wait till October to be comfortable in my new hoodie. I wish my Singer could put out clothing like this...

Memorial Day Weekend

"Wolf Parade's bombastic performance on day two of the 2011 Sasquatch Music Festival was a bittersweet one: After finishing a tour last year in support of its third album, Expo 86, the band announced that it would be going on indefinite hiatus after a small number of shows in 2011. Its set at Sasquatch was its penultimate performance, and it played with the force of a band that knows it will soon be playing its ragged, world-weary songs for the last time."

Listen to the set at NPR.org

Magna Noir

This blog would lose all credibility if I didn't at least touch on the Giro. Yes, these bikes do have gears but I almost feel sorry for what the organizers are putting these cyclist through. Contador called it the 'hardest day on a bike'. You ask these guys to race 229km over 4 mountain passes in one day and expect them not to be doping.

Hoosier!

Ready The Track from Ryan Dorgan on Vimeo.

I'm completely disappointed that I didn't post this sooner. The best college celebration this side of heaven. God bless Bloomington!

Junior Boys of Summer

Junior Boys - Banana Ripple by DominoRecordCo

As one blogger put it "I think Summer has officially started". I would agree. At 9 minutes long, this odyssey could be the perfect soundtrack to the Derby Post this Saturday. Banana Ripple is the first single from the Junior Boys forthcoming fourth LP-It's All True

Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes put a new album on the shelves today: Helplessness Blues. Nothing out of the ordinary-as with everything else they've produce. However, you can save some coin and take a peek at a couple of new songs from the album on the Sub Pop Website

San Fran weekend

Ride+Style Teaser: Kozo Backflip from iMiNUSD on Vimeo.

Appears the Red Bull event in downtown San Francisco was a bit ridiculous. The large crowd was treated to sunny weather and a huge fixed gear backflip from San Jose's iMiNUSD pro rider Kozo. A series of photos posted on cogmag portrays a great afternoon in the city

Red Bull Party

If your name is Eric and you're not in San Francisco for the Red Bull Ride+Style tomorrow, I would like to know what you are doing that could be more fun.....

dig a tunnel from my window to yours

Arcade Fire teamed up with Chrome to produce a very cool(eerie) interactive on-line music video. Provide your address in the field, the program then pulls from google Earth so more populated areas have better success. The video file is large, so don't expect to be making progress on that business spreadsheets at the same time.

The way to my heart

Bless Wheelmen & Co. for setting a new standard and bringing a little class to the beer Koozie. Crafted with top grain leather and 3mm neoprene lining, then completed with hand tapped rivets. It's tough to make a post-ride PBR taste any better, but it's nice to see someone try. Wheelmen & Co. also create some fine t-shirts and messenger bags, but this koozie is their flagship.

White Fence

At first listen it could be an old Velvet Underground album just dusted off. This is a good thing. White Fence is the project of Darker My Love's Tim Presley, I would suggest he quit his day job and put his efforts to the White Fence tour this summer, which includes the Woodsist Fest in Big Sur and a date with Woods(makers of a wonderful rendition of Graham Nash's 'Military Madness') this weekend at the Cake Shop in NYC.

Long Distance Dedication

This video has been circulating for a few months now, but I finally had time to enjoy the full body of work and it won't be the last time I do so. Spend 7 good minutes viewing for yourself.

Happy Earth Day

Bicycles every where rejoice the annual dust removal. Get out and ride!

Infantree

If you missed Conan last night, check out the video and live music from the band Infantree. One of the better performances on Conan in some time, this band was very impressive. A dark Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, you'll probably hear more from these guys...

SxSW Live Feeds

Between NCAA games or during half-time, check out live feeds from SxSW!

South by Southwest

SxSW began earlier this month, but the important stuff-important to this blog-began yesterday. Stay in touch with the festival news, interactive media and the daily chord through this link. Rec n' fx will post some of the better photos and video found on the web so check back often...

Jon Voight's Car

Ah Neko, so clever. Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to drive Neko Case's Nineteen Sixty-Seven Mercury Cougar? If you like the idea of driving around a vehicle owned by a celebrity, enter to win the Cougar here.

And the winner is....

For those attending Oscar parties you may have missed that The North American Handmade Bike Show wrapped up over the weekend. Steel is my kryptonite so congratulations to Bishop for taking home that Oscar. You can find the rest of the winners here

Big Wheels

Having trouble embedding this video, but follow this link and enjoy. I'm running to Wal-Mart at lunch to get my new 'bike'....

Pandora's Box

Record Store Day is April 16 and the indie folks have some impressive product to drop in your hands. The list is yummy and includes a 7" vinyl reissue of Pearl Jam's Immortality/Rearviewmirror. However,I'll be heading to Twist and Shout for my 12" Franz Ferdninand 'Covers EP' feat. LCD Soundsystem, Debbie Harry and Peaches among others...

a dream come true

Bikes. A race. Music. Austin. A bike race, in Austin, WITH Music. Could there be anything better to do in October? Genius! Little to no details so far, keep this link on your favorites for updates.

BM(fi)X?

Something about these new Breakbrakes are silly at first, but I'm in love with the 700c rims with the larg rubber. Brings out the inner GT Mach 1 in me.

The King of Shenanigans

Remember the days of the ole corner music shop and the long Tuesday spent aimlessly looking for something...anything to play in the walkman. It sure has gotten complicated. If you have to have the new Radiohead album, hope you have a crisp $50, a digital media player and a love for 625 tiny pieces of art.

ride like the wind Tony

The road won't feel the same buddy.

Bike Porn

Rumor has it this gem should be popping up on eBay. Seller is a photographer looking for cash. Dust off your old lenses and make an offer....

Let your freak flag ride

The 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show is Feb 25-27 in Austin Texas. For all things NAHBS; exhibitors, seminars, registration, follow the link.

Detour

Mike Skinner, AKA The Streets, is calling it quits. I appreciate those who end it before it all goes to hell(see NFL's Brett Favre). Now hopefully, he'll stay with his decision. Read it all here