2016 Best Sounds

If you know me, you know that I am driven by new music and discovering and referencing albums by all kinds of bands. This year had a very common theme for me and my top ten list is very one-sided. Washed out sad bastard pop won out every time I listened to it. No hip-hop, soul music, reggae, top 40, mainstream whatever. Just indie bands. It wasn't for lack of trying. The new Tribe Called Quest record is good, real good. It just didn't hold my attention. This year I need my music to take me away and let me wander through my head. I needed an escape most of the time and my go to is introspective wall of sound/newgaze dream pop/acoustic simplistic woe is me melodies. I gotta stay true to my self. Below I have my top ten and some honorable mentions. Take a trip down my 2016 best sounds.

1. The Amazing - Ambulance (Song: Through City Lights)

SIERRAS DREAMING

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Leaving Elwood

This past October, My family and I moved out of our house of 14 years. It took about a month to really clear it out and clean it up. We still ended up leaving things in the basement and an eaves closet. At any rate, if you've ever been to the house, seeing the empty rooms and raw nature of the place can be strange. It was an emotional day for us for sure. Check out the photos.

THE 31st

These were the days.

Hard to let a good guy go. Spent a great weekend with everyone's favorite gentleman.

THROUGH A LENS

FALL IS AROUND THE CORNER

The days are getting shorter and the leaves are starting to change. Evening riders are making up for neglecting the summer weather. But making up for lost time can be glorious all the same.

Summer Sunshine

EVERY DAMN MILE

It started with an idea sparked by Bob's trips in the mountains of NC. Travel light, ride hard, rest easy. I'd been thinking about it for a couple months. Slowly piecing it together in my head. One morning at work, probably around 6am, I mentioned it to Joe. He thought it a good plan, wanted to know when it would come together… then asked if we could do it right away. The Sierras are indescribably beautiful. And there's no way to experience them like being on a bike. The roads feel remote enough, the riding tough enough, and the skies expressive enough.
DAY ONE: Oakland to Sacramento by train. 59 miles to Pioneer, CA. Climbed 4600 feet.
DAY TWO: Pioneer, CA to Markleeville. 63 miles, 7,500 feet of climbing.
DAY THREE: Markleeville, CA to Bridgeport. 63 miles, 5,850 feet of climbing.
DAY FOUR: Bridgeport, CA to Lee Vining. 26 miles, 2,200 feet of climbing.
DAY FIVE: Lee Vining, CA to Yosemite Valley. 78 miles, 5,900 feet of climbing.

HARD MAN

What happens when an unsuspecting professional cyclist is interviewed about his sexual prowess?

I AM NOT DRIVING I AM FLYING SLOWLY

You gotta get with this blog: Beautiful Corolla

The only cars in the whole country of Afghanistan are Toyota corollas. One of the reasons I love it here so much. 

Everyone puts the most whacked out decals on them, it's crazy.

Beautiful Corolla gets em all in one place. 

THIS DUDE IS STOKED

 Man, I feel this way every time I find some cheez doodles and a cadbury bar in the bottom of my bag too.

What have you been listening too?

I am still ruled by music. I seek new shit daily. Recently I feel that I've come to a place where I need to share to the masses. I just can't contain all this good stuff, I need you to know it exists. Kudos to you if you can make it through all of these videos. For the record, I know most of you will hate 90% of these, but give it shot, you never know.

Beach Fossils - Careless

Young Man - In a Sense

Robert Ellis - Friends Like Those (shitty video)

Laura Mvula - Like the Morning Dew & NPR music tiny desk concert

Wild Nothing - Nocturne

Mark Kozelek and Jimmy Lavelle (Tristeza, An Album Leaf) - Some How The Wonder of Life Prevails (An awesome song with no video, so just listen)

Clan of Xymox - Home Sweet Home (I know what you are thinking, but this band has not strayed from it's sound ever and that's gotta account for something. This song is from 2009. So good)

Miike Snow - Animal (Mark Ronson Remix) [This is little Op's favorite song]

Parquet Courts - Master of My Craft

S.F.

Love to capture these icons with the crutches mostly for oblivioussuroundings.

#skateboarding

Seems like the last post was a photo bomb and everyone quit posting.  I don't want to look at these on instagram or facebook.  I like the idea of the blog.  Break the technological silence

The circle mall...RIP

                                             

Brandon East Bay Hang

One time we took a trip to Modesto.  Zach killed it after an invite to a backyard ramp

Brandon C would come to visit and want some hill action.  Jones??

Alameda with Vic used to be ritual. 

Brandon had a ramp in his yard and I did sweepers

Jamie took us to San Pablo to skate this pool.  Photo below is Sam Twerkin it

Berkeley Banks... Need I say more

City Boneless

When we skated Berkley Banks, we didn't have jobs WD

Bandits

Oblivious surroundings last seen here!  Early Times and Hot Springs don't mix 

 Bread Face... livin in car

 squirrel trying to get a nut

 got my nut

Fuck throwback thursdays.  what is in his pocket?

 This guy used to skate for Anti-hero. We found him in Modesto at a backyard ramp and Live Wire tattooed on his arm.

This guy just has tattoos