Lists And Mixes

A Retrospective Top 25: Best Albums of 2005

Andy Fenstermaker
December 4, 2009May 13, 2023

2005 opened my eyes to a world of new music. I joined the crew at KZUU over the summer, my first summer back in Pullman working toward my Masters in Business. I’d spend my two-hour show pouring over thousands of obscure albums, looking for anything that might spark my interest. While music had always been a borderline obsession, until now it was just that – borderline. In the days that passed, it became a full-fledged consumption of everything me. There are turning points in all of our lives, and DJing at KZUU was absolutely one of mine.

Andy Fenstermaker
November 25, 2009May 12, 2023

What a decade it’s been. 2004 was my first year in the so-called Real World; jobs, car payments, instability everywhere. Things weren’t all happy and seemingly upbeat like the mid 90s. After eight months in Seattle, I found myself unemployed and decided it was time for more education. I moved to the greater Portland area and began prep to enter a Masters in Business Administration program, taking night classes at WSU Vancouver and making a frequent trip out to Pullman, where I’d soon attend graduate school. The overall instability and open-your-eyes wake-up calls of 2004 seemed to extend beyond me. Two of the most honest and disturbing albums I’ve ever heard were released this year – another strong one in music overall.

A Retrospective Top 20: Best Albums Of 2003

Andy Fenstermaker
November 20, 2009May 13, 2023

The summer of 2003 was a hot one in eastern Washington, and my concrete bunker of an apartment contained the heat like no other. Granted, the image below wasn’t shot by yours truly until 2004, but it sure seemed hot enough to ignite even the least combustible of items. I wrapped up my undergraduate that December, which was cold as Antarctica, and upon that milestone I moved to Seattle. It was a good year for the Northwest; many of my favorite albums came from Seattle labels like Sub Pop and Barsuk. As for the list, I’ve expanded it to 20. Couldn’t help it.

A Retrospective Top 15: Best Albums Of 2002

Andy Fenstermaker
November 13, 2009May 16, 2023

The third installment of A Retrospective, this time the focus is on 2002. The year of rebuilding, so to speak. It was the year I discovered Cider Jack (and did so plentifully) at the local Pullman bar Rico’s, and we all would rehearse Bill Brasky skits (from the SNL spots, and made up on the spot) as twenty feet away the university jazz combo performed excellent renditions of Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and various Motown favorites. As we see every year, 2002 saw several real great releases. Here are my favorites.

A Retrospective Top 15: Best Albums Of 2001

Andy Fenstermaker
November 6, 2009May 19, 2023

The second installment of A Retrospective, in which I recap my favorite albums released from 2000 to 2008, this time: 2001. Wrought with turmoil and watching a life fall apart as so many others were having similar experiences but in a different manner; that was 2001 for you. The year I turned 21. A year that lives in infamy. Young or old, we all seemed to grow up that year. Music, too seemed to progress in ways unthought, even before that fateful day.

A Retrospective Top 15: Best Albums Of 2000

Andy Fenstermaker
October 30, 2009May 13, 2023

I’ve decided to create an installment in which I do a recap of my favorite albums of the past ten years now that we’re coming up on the turn-of-decade – yes, 2010 is upon us.

The key: I do them one at a time.

I figure contemplating the weight of albums that have been instituted in my library for the better part (or even just half) of a decade would warrant a skewed opinion when comparing them to those released just this month. And, as these things are all truly opinion-based, well I just couldn’t have that.

Andy Fenstermaker
July 3, 2009November 6, 2009

We’re now half way through 2009, so I figured it was about time to collect a few favorites from the year thus far. I’ve put together 10 must-hear albums from the first half of 2009. To alleviate any bias, and because I’m totally obsessed with this style of categorization, I’m putting them alphabetically. Read More »10 Must-Hear Albums From The First Half Of 2009

The Cumulus Music Festival [In A List]

Andy Fenstermaker
January 22, 2009December 18, 2009

Written by Fense

My love, how I miss thee. Were I capable of poetry, words would stream onto the page like none other. They would cover it front to back, emphasizing how I hate being away from your side each and every week, away from your scent and away from you arms. It is a curse. A travesty! And I am stricken. Love will make you do crazy things, like miss the Cumulus Music Festival, which debuts on the streets of Seattle tomorrow and features Beast, Please Be Still (MySpace), among other phenomenal artists. Read More »The Cumulus Music Festival [In A List]

Top 33 and 1/3 of 2008, The Edits

Andy Fenstermaker
January 3, 2009

Written by Fense

So my end of year list was part hit, part miss. I nailed it, for the most part, but flubbed by including two ’07 albums. To be a pal, I left up the two (Beirut and Stars) and simply ~~crossed them out~~. So, that left my 33 and 1/3 off by two. I’ve taken it upon myself to add new numbers 32 and 33. Proceed… Read More »Top 33 and 1/3 of 2008, The Edits

Best of 2008: Fense’s Top 33 & 1/3 Albums of the Year

Andy Fenstermaker
December 23, 2008May 18, 2023

The year is over. We have a new president about to take office, a failing economy, and out of control weather. The good news is that last year saw some amazing albums hit and, thanks to the rampant oppression of hard times, next year should prove just as fruitful music-wise. After all, difficult times, depression, etc. can often breed above average achievements in the arts… right?

So here it is, my top 33 and 1/3 albums of the year and the last post of 2008. The 33 is for the top 33 albums (with a few EPs included) of the year, while the 1/3 is an honorable mention 7″ single. We’ll begin with the latter…

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