Salutations - There is a new favorite city in the 518 that you should check in for its music,transit,cuisine,scene, and other things. The city scored the highest ratings on the lead cities approval list made up of the most immense cities in five local counties. That's right the state capital of New York one of the most controversial states in the United States can give itself a hand by doing the right thing and it has nothing to do with our favorite governor David Patterson. Instead the music scene came out in a force and "Albany" led the way in scoring the highest ratings ever in the music scene. In 2007 - Albany was handed some of the best ratings ever for an out of town act in NYC's "In Flight Radio" who performed in the Red Square in May 2007 with their self titled album the NYC band scored some of the biggest ratings for a band or artist that has played Albany. It was just a seven song set but "In Flight Radio" outscored the popular local outfit "Sirsy" Adding to the state capital's ratings was the time when I played in Albany based Valentine's in which the sound person said I was the best act out of everyone who performed for the August 2007 gig. It was a set that included a cover of Alycia Ercums "Piece by Piece"  In 2008 - I walked the bike trail along the Hudson River. But Albany brought about its own reunification efforts with the towering performance of September's "Lark Fest" thanks to the outfit "Matt and Kim" the weather was decent. Interesting enough Albany's highest ratings would come a month later with a new band that was generating in the shadows. With a lousy sound system in "Jillian's" it still proved to be a decent night for music as "Travis Gray and the New Frontiers" walked away with his best ratings to date and his most successful song in "So Cruel" Gray ended up getting it right this year for a song that has leaned far away from the dreaded acoustic music that is not in the best of heights with me. With more songs like this Travis and company will go far. New Orleans Mardi Gras could be this artist's calling card of immense festivals in Austin. Look for Gray to score again because he will. It has been almost two and half years since a band rocked "Albany" as hard as "In Flight Radio" did until the mysterious "Lunic" sent a thriller of a set into an audience that have had to endure the lousy sound system. It wasn't until almost the end of October that a new band would vault through the ranks to be certified my favorite before this year ended. There really was something special about the ten song set that "Lunic" played in Jillian's. Sure it was a stupid thing with the sound system but the setlist lit up like pumpkins leading their way to the front door in which trick or treaters would be given a gift and we hope it is a cd that has become one of the best to buy the band's "Lovethief" How does a band with just one single on my chart cause for people to notice that this band freaking rocks and more importantly freaking impacts. How many times have I said for me to like your shit you have to impact. "Impact" Learn what that word means if you are a musician. When "Lunic" has the right setlist mostly one from the fist shoving at society record "Lovethief" they shut everyone down because they kick everyone's perineal into the chilly waters of the Hudson River. I've seen them twice on stage and the first time I saw them at "Jillian's remains my favorite place that I've seen them. The second time I saw them in Savannah's made it clear that "The dark house" would eventually become their second single from "Lovethief" I love this band. I love how they include me and give me credit for riding a bicycle two times to Albany and back. Then recently on 12/9 to ride to Troy and still I have an excellent time despite missing their set coming for the last song "Oh No Yoko" If you haven't seen them do yourself a favor and record your favorite tv series salvage some extra money spend less on eating out. Go out and buy the "Lunic" package deal. You'll see them perform,you'll have their powerhouse effort "Lovethief" you'll also have a wonderful "American made quality shirt" "Lovethief" is ranking up there with albums like Jes Hudak's "Tiny dream" and Joe Nacco's "Requiem for Civilization" the album is my third favorite of all local artists to date. There it is "Albany" best city in my book to close out this year. Glens Falls was forced to subtract a notch second best for a fading downtown. Schenectady with its transit and Jes Hudak's thriller gig in Moon and River Cafe land the "Electric City" in third place.  A less than impressive "Victorian Streetwalk" with less free things handed out to people. Also rude people and crowds for "Final Stretch Festival" didn't assist the city. The best open mic in the city was the "Circus Cafe"  Saratoga Springs has been subtracting in the approval ratings because a lot of people bring their freaking attitude with them into the music scene it wasn't the best year for the city as the suburb of Wilton outscored "Saratoga Springs" with all of the issues the city iof Saratoga Springs will close down the year in position four. At the end of the approval ratings list for lead cities was Troy. Cited for not being bicycle friendly and cars pushing and shoving on US Highway 4 in most of the city as well as Revolution Hall which was a severe disappointment for me considering I thought it was going to be like this really kicking venue I wasn't so impressed and Troy lands in position five of approval ratings for lead cities. I don't care about a county's small towns I care about lead cities the biggest cities of a county or state.

Salutations - This year most people will be getting gift cards or cards there won't be the usual searching store after store for the gifts when most of the shit we are confronted to buy is from China and other countries with slave labor making the shit for Americans who insist on buying this kind of shit for gifts for other people. If someone bought me something from a sweat shit shop I would 1 - Say I don't like the gift someone else can have it. 2 - Fling it into the trashola pile. We as Americans have to stop buying this stuff go through your house and right now throw out everything you can that is "Made in China" that you don't need. This is an immense issue with me and we thought the commercialization of Navidad ruined it that honor goes to all the stuff made in these countries that we need to dump into the trashola pile. As for Navidad expect way less spending as I'm not going to subscribe to the commercialization of it. I remember getting an almost $20.00 video game for someone several years ago those days are long over. This year Navidad spending will be downgraded to about $35.00 -$50.00 I'm really not looking forward to sifting through gifts to look for people when the presents I would select are of shit quality.

 The lousy tv season continues as Cbs continues to watch "Survivor" subtract in entertainment on its Thurday slot. The series starting from the episode that aired on 12/3 was downgraded to selected episodic viewing. Also more instability as the Season 15 ender of "The Amazing Race" has been shoved off the clock for 12/6 a form of downgrading a series. I have no interest in seeing the episode when it airs at its normal time. Instead I will watch the reality card later and not be thrusted with commercials.