A review. Jay-Z's book. Decoded.

Thanks to Lacey I left Nashville and headed to the beach with Jay-Z's new book: DECODED, in tow. I've been a big Hov fan for years although in retrospect don't have all of his albums (will have to work on that). The book reads very easily (finished in 4 days) and is a compilation of his life stories and a diagnosis of his lyrics.

The book is filled with cool pictures, art, and other eye-catching pages that help the flow of the book and enhance it's feel of a really nice professional book with the credibility of the streets- I bet Random House can't say that about too many of it's titles.

In the first few chapters I felt that Jay was dumbing down the explanation of his lyrics a little too much as it started to feel like the book was written for middle-class white people that make up a large portion of his fan base. But as the book progresses the lyrical diagnosis gets a little more in depth and seems less patronizing.

I have always respected Jay and his music and DECODED just pulled it all together for me and gave me additional insight into a hard-working, pretty damn smart man.

Curried shrimp pasta

My dad started making one of the best dishes I've ever had about 20 years ago and I have made a few tweaks to it through the years and crafted another nice version this evening on St. George Island. Here's how it goes...

In a saute pan combine:

- Juice of 1/2 lemon

- Salt & Pepper

- Pinch of Crushed red pepper

- 1 clove of fresh garlic chopped

- large pinch of French Thyme

- 2-4 teaspoons of curry powder (to taste)

- 1/2 cup of white wine

- tablespoon of butter

peel 20-25 medium size fresh shrimp (raw, not frozen) and place in pan on low/medium heat.

add 1/2 cup of water once shrimp have started cooking to loosen and dilute the sauce.

Boil pasta to al dente (I prefer fettuccine for this recipe)

Time your dish so shrimp and pasta are done at same time (about 7 minutes cooking for both). Drain the pasta and put in saute pan with shrimp and sauce. Combine so the pasta soaks up the sauce. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and fresh Parmesan cheese and voila.

This is the easiest recipe but the trick is the fresh seafood.

Pair with a lovely glass of white wine (or whatever you like). I prefer a Chardonnay to stand up to the heat that the Crushed Red Pepper adds.

Also best when paired with beach :).

Check this out. Seriously.

I'm not sure how old this is, but I came across this pretty amazing website this morning. It's a visual interpretation of Arcade Fire's song We Used to Wait. The site which is an interactive interpretation of the song is titled "The Wilderness Downtown". Here's the link: http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/. The site allows you to become personally involved with the video by entering your childhood address and let the journey begin. I recommend closing all other open windows and programs.

Super cool stuff.

Best songs of 2010...in my opinion.

Let's set a few records straight. (Pun intended).
1. I started this blog thinking people cared what I thought about life, randomness, and stuff in general.
2. I'm now aware know that's not the case.
3.Today it lives as a tool to continuously help me with my writing.

Now that we done got that outta the way.

Below you will find my favorite songs from 2010. For the most part they were released this year or in some cases I found them this year...enjoy.

In the order I would place them on an album:

1. Love Everybody by: Shelly Fairchild, er, Shelly and the People, er, Ruby's Money....Shelly has gone through a couple of identities this year but is now safely, or it seems, grounded as Ruby's Money. I was introduced to her by a good friend about a year ago and am in love. What a great singer, songwriter, performer-- all in one. She sings soul with the energy of a twelve year old and the heart of a southern lady. Keep an eye out for her first album (as Ruby's Money) sooner than later.

2. Wild and Young by: American Bang, er Bang Bang Bang, er, Bang...you see a trend h

ere? I had the privilege to attend high school with 3 out of the 4 of these kids and they've been making music for as long as I can remember. Front man Jaren Johnston and I were in music class for years together-- when he played the drums and was a punk. Now he's the lead singer, and a punk. In a good way. This song embodies everything that a fun summer love song should. Roll the windows down, crank the stereo on full blast and drive and sing.

3. If I Die Young by: The Band Perry. I would be lying to myself if this song didn't ma

ke the list. The playcount on my Ipod would be a tell tale sign. This southern bred family group wrote a song that has the melody of a whippoorwill and the lyrics of a Keats poem. For some reason every time I hear it I think the group is from Scotland but I digress..."f

unny when you're dead how people start listening" (sure wish that was true).

4. Sail by: AWOLNATION. This song has been getting nice play in my head for a couple of

months but I was treated to a private show by the Red Bull Records recording artist acouple of weeks ago in Atlanta and must say it's even better live. Talk about a dark, catchy, vocally strong, electronically grounded little ditty. Blame it on my ADD Baby.

5. Kiss Me Again by: Jessica Lea Mayfield. Ok, I know this song didn't come out in 2010 but it's new to me and turns out this is my blog so there you go. I was introduced to Miss Mayfield when she came out and played with her brother and his band Cadillac Sky in their opening set for Mumford & Sons...she was one of the bright spots of their enjoyable set and her voice drew me in. Kiss Me Again is no different. It starts out just about right....You got me where you want me but I ain't all there.....isn't that the truth?

6. Opposite of Adults by: Chiddy Bang. Hip Hop made a valiant effort at a comeback this year thanks to some great new artists popping up, Chiddy Bang being one of them. I heard this track on a blog back in March and was like "um, why isn't this all over the radio?". Next I checked out the super dope video and I was a fan. I got my hands on their mixtape and it was OVER. Their most recent release includes a track with Q-TIP....and that's a rap fol

ks. Oh...and have a I mentioned the beyond sick MGMT sample on Opposite? Oh...and they were sampling La Roux before anyone knew who La Roux was. I'm done here.

7. Tighten Up by: The Black Keys. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, it's kool to like the Keys but I just can't help myself. I managed to get on stage with this duo at Wakarusa in June and was sold after then-- they make a HUGE sound for two and have really brought rock music back to just that. ROCK. And I'm appreciative. Big time.

8. If the Creek Don't Rise by: Dylan LeBlanc. I have this sensei of sorts that provides me with music insight-- I won't out him publicly as to keep my sources private, but he turned me on to Dylan in August (ish) and from that point I've been a fan. He played a packed show at the Basement as part of Next Big Nashville and I dragged my friend Susan and she was also sold. Other than this song sort of making you want to off yourself...I think it's real purty.

9. Runaway (the 9:00 version) by: Kanye West. Oh, Kanye. Thanks for coming back around. Thanks for making shit interesting and making interesting shit. Thanks for saying stuff no one else will (not even Gaga). Thanks for stealing the mic from Taylor Swift. Thanks for having one of the most visually interesting performances ever on the VMA's. I don't always like what he does but I like that someones is doing something. I'm all for anarchy but only if it's lead by Kanye. (she holds her head low and wallows in her own lack of revolution)

10. Wild as a Turkey by: Hayes Carll. In retrospect this is the one song I question on the list but I'll leave it on there. It's fun. It's quirky. And it's country as fuck. : "You say you'll never love me but the night ain't over yet...."

11. Colourless Colour by: La Roux. Oooh...what an album. So glad I was gifted a copy of this by my buddies at the Recording Academy in Memphis. This specific record jumps out at me for being the most complete song on the album-- serious yet dancey... pretty much my view on life.

12. Awake my Soul by: Mumford & Sons. I contemplated this list being their entire Sign No More album but that would have been boring and too easy. My music sensei also turned me on to Mumford after he saw them at Bonnaroo. I believe his email said: "I don't care what you're doing but drop EVERYTHING and go buy this album". At the time I was hungover in the Knoxville airport suffering from the drinking runs-- if I could have dropped everything I

certainly would have. I digress. Have you listened to this song? Have you danced around in circles with your arms flailing by your side looking up to the sky wondering if there's a God? If you haven't I strongly suggest it. Right now.

13. Uncharted by Sara Bareilles. I couldn't leave off a classically-poppy, bubble-gummy song by one of my favorite songstresses. Maybe it's that we have the same range, tempo,

and that I can just sing my little heart out to her music. Or maybe that we sound so much alike that when I hear her music it gives me hope of a music career? Or maybe I have a soft spot for pop? One thing I've learned throughout the years is that I don't have to apologize for my likes and dislikes.

Merry Christmas folks and Happy New Year.