Records of 2014 - 41. Real estate - Atlas

41. REAL ESTATE - ATLAS 

Look at the name of this band. Look at the name of the album. If you're from Kazahkstan and don't have critical thinking, don't worry - I'll have a bath with ya! It's about American sprawl. I think Tyson's reach was thick. All the good thing about American that I have learn have been through people who like to sell Real Estate.

One day you'll grow up and get it. You won't get patronized. Any More. My editor right now is called Todde Williams and he's taught me a lot about how to regain voice and I'm thankful for that. There's loads of if. But if Baltimore is famous for the bands Beach House and Wye Oak who also feature prominently on this blog. Real Estate come from New York and they make nice lilty indie. You young duckling.

top 50 records of 2011 - 35. Real Estate - Days

35. REAL ESTATE - DAYS

This week my boss froze me out after I'd worked hard. He told me there were to be no more writing assignments for now as I'd missed the deadline. He's the one who'd fucked up the email with the Powerpoint Slides. His negligence = his bitterness. He's the kind of boss that if you ask him a quick question and he knows the answer, he'll just say "that's not my issue" and won't even refer you to the requisite person. I used to like his straight-talking style but now I think he's a prick and he's going in my novel.

So yesterday I woke up and had the nicest message ever from an old friend who wanted to escape the city and go by the water, take a boat and eat some nice Mediterranean food. The weather in Taipei was sunny and around 28 degrees in the middle of November. Incredible.

When I feel low in the city, it usually takes me a day or so to pick myself up and realize that personal freedom is way more important than any work pressures and shit. An album like this can float around your conscience and the breezy melodies akin to The Shins, The Byrds and of course The Beach Boys are what this band are all about. Nothing more, nothing less.

Even if the weather was ice-creaming it down with snow outside - which of course it's not here- I would still play this out loud to reconfirm that life isn't that frosty at all, it's actually a big blueberry ocean.

LIFE'S A BEACH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3goco5vtogI