Greatest Hits of 2009

It's the time of year when most of the media does their lists of the best or worst things that happened this year.  One that you're not likely to see reported anywhere else is the top Greatest Hits compilations released in 2009.  In the age of digital media, CDs are now passe but there were still a number of quality Greatest Hits releases this year including a couple that I specifically wished for in a previous post.

Annie Lennox—The Annie Lennox Collection

The lead singer for the Eurythmics released her first solo album in 1992 that included the hits "Why", "Walking on Broken Glass", and "Little Bird".  She really only had one other hit after that, "No More I Love You's", but those are all good songs and the other material on the CD isn't bad.  My Fave... "Walking on Broken Glass"

Fall Out Boy—Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits

If you want to set my brother off on a tirade, just mention this CD to him.  I'm sure he'll argue that you can't have a Greatest Hits if you don't have any hits but the only valid point he may have is that they haven't been around long enough to justify it.  There are some really good songs on this disc:  "Sugar, We're Going Down", "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race", and "America's Suitehearts".  My Fave... "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)"

Foo Fighters—Greatest Hits

This was one of the compilations that I pointed out was long over due a couple years ago.  About the only complaint you can have about this disc is that it has two versions of "Everlong" (studio and acoustic) but doesn't include "I'll Stick Around".  My Fave... "Everlong" ...studio version, of course ;)

George Harrison—Let It Roll

This is the other Greatest Hits that I wished for on this blog.  It is a career encompassing collection that is simply perfect. "My Sweet Lord" and "Got My Mind Set On You" are both here as are good live versions of the Beatles hits he wrote, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes the Sun", and "Something".  My Fave... "Any Road" ... if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there ;)

Janet Jackson—Number Ones

I owned her Design of a Decade CD but this two disc collection included everything from Design plus a bunch of good songs released in the subsequent decade.  It also includes harder to find duets "Diamonds" (with Herb Alpert), "The Best Things in Life are Free" (with Luther Vandross), and "Scream" (with brother Michael).  My Fave... "Again"

The Wallflowers—Collected 1996-2005

Another artist that really only had one hit album but it was a monster featuring "One Headlight", "6th Avenue Heartache", "Three Marlenas", and "The Difference".  They had one more hit with "Sleepwalker" which makes this compilation just a tad better than the original album.  My Fave... "One Headlight"

The Who—Greatest Hits

The Who have probably released more Greatest Hits compilations than any other artist.  I had their My Generation: The Very Best of The Who CD but this one caught my eye because it has "Behind Blue Eyes", "Love, Reign O'er Me", and "Eminence Front".  So basically I traded "Join Together" for those three which is a trade that even Jack Zduriencik would be proud of.  My Fave... "Eminence Front"

Anyone who followed the Pause & Play CD Front would have noted that Madonna and Britney Spears both released new Greatest Hits collections this year.  I already own three Madonna collections and although her Celebration would condense it down to two, I didn't find it compelling enough considering the songs I'd be giving up.  Same goes for Britney; her The Singles Collection isn't significantly different than her Greatest Hits: My Prerogative which I already own.  It has several of her newer hits but I think I like her older (pre-meltdown) stuff better.

In Zduriencik We Trust

If you consider yourself a Mariners fan and you aren't excited right now, I've got bad news for you... you're not a Mariners fan!  This has been a crazy week in Marinerland but I can't help but be giddy with optimism for the first time in years.  Here's why:

• Ken Griffey Jr. was re-signed.  A lot of die hard M's fans didn't like this move but I think it's great.  Griffey had a mediocre season last year but he didn't hurt the team and he gave everyone something special to see when they watched a game.  He will always be the most important player in the team's history and he should finish his Hall of Fame career in Seattle... hopefully with a World Series :)
  
• Chone Figgins was signed and the only thing I don't like about him is the way he pronounces his name ;)  It's going to be very hard for opposing teams to keep both he and Ichiro off base and from running wild when they get there.
  
• Cliff Lee was acquired from the Phillies for three minor league prospects.  Lee is easily the best pitcher the Mariners have ever landed (either by trade or free agency).  He's probably only going to be in Seattle for one season but that's fine.  He and Felix give us the starting pitching we need to not only contend but go deep into the playoffs... right now!  Plus players generally step it up the year before they become free agents and the M's will most likely get two first round draft picks as compensation for his departure.
  
• Milton Bradley was acquired from the Cubs for Carlos Silva.  The only negative to this trade is that Bradley could lose his cool and ruin the team's chemistry.  But it could also payoff big if he keeps his cool because we need his offense.  Silva had no place on the team so just getting rid of him for someone who could benefit us is huge.
  

You've got to give a ton of credit to Jack Zduriencik.  I didn't think it would be possible to turn the team around this fast but I really think he has.  Not only that, he's managed to do it without mortgaging the future, either by decimating the farm system (Woody Woodward, Pat Gillick) or by locking us into questionable multiyear contracts (Bill Bavasi).

Designated Hitter ✔... Third Baseman ✔... #2 Starting Pitcher ✔ ... Left Fielder ✔... The only thing left on my Christmas list is a Russell Branyan re-signing... Go M's!

Cinco Años

5 years ago today I went to work for T-Mobile USA.  A perfect opportunity that came to me by way of a Mexican wedding... or, more accurately, a wedding in Mexico.  I happened to cross paths with the friend responsible for me being at T-Mobile on my way into the office this morning.  It was nice to see him but kind of a strange coincidence considering he no longer works there...

Seems like someone should have a lot to show for 5 years with a company but I can only think of a few really significant or otherwise memorable things.  I was featured on my department's "Big Six" poster back in 2006 and later that year I won the PEAK Achievement Award.  I was part of the sandbagging crew that tried to prevent one of the data centers from being flooded back in 2007.  And just a few months ago I was one of the first people ever to be promoted to the position of Windows System Administrator 5.  I think I've done some good things for T-Mobile.  I've solved a lot of little problems and a few big ones.  And I'm pretty proud of the handful of internal web applications I've developed... my teammates sometimes refer to them as "Treatware" :)

Not sure whether I'll make it another 5 years, but I would have said the same thing if you asked me that 5 years ago.  You never know...