This summer I remember watching a television special on MSNBC or something of that nature about this place called Second Life. I decided to check it out finally over the holidays since I was fresh out of college and had little to do. Now, I’ve always tried to keep the mentality that I am not too cool for anything, and say what you will, point me to Onion articles all day, but I found a rich musical community blooming as we speak in Second Life.

Now I’m a Second Lifer and I can’t apologize for it. I listened to the new Animal Collective record for the first time in Second Life, I discovered new noise, met a girl who hosted a Thurston Moore house show, a guy formerly of the band TwoThirtyEight, and I myself have become a DJ at several “clubs,” which is mainly why I’m here to blog in the first place. I’ll be posting my set lists from each night in Second Life here on this blog. Also, you don’t even need to have a Second Life account to listen to the stream. I’m at the Rooftop every Tuesday from 9-11pm (U.S. Pacific Time – Official Second Life Time) and you can tune in through this URL http://rooftop.venues.sl:8010/ - just click LISTEN (Note: If my DJ information is not listed on the page when you login that means another DJ is currently streaming and not myself).

I DJ a few other places in SL which I’ll provide streaming links to after my next set in each venue. If you think you’d like to join Second Life, simply ignore those critics because most likely you’ll be quite surprised. As the great Red Hunter of Peter and the Wolf (who inspired my Second Life name) once said to me, “you gotta stomp that [fear of ridicule] bug before you meet any f**kin critics.” To find me on Second Life simply search for Red Verwood, I’ll be happy to help.

This set I did last night, on what we’re calling a historic day, ran with a patriotic theme. Check out the set list after the jump:

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I figured this list to be quite thin this year because I didn’t feel that I had paid the same attention to the music world that I have in the past. When I finally looked back, I guess even a slow year for me still garners a lot of new music. All these were released in 2008 and I had some nice titles to choose from starting with:

*list made at the beginning of December 2008

1. Samamidon – All Is Well

This collection of ancient (western) folk songs are surprisingly transcendent. I knew halfway through listening to the album for the first time that I wouldn’t likely find anything I enjoyed more this year if not for some time to come.

2. Beach House – Devotion

This record took so long for me to enjoy. It literally took until about three weeks ago for me to accidentally run across it during an arbitrary shuffle session on my iTunes and realize my personal devotion for it and it’s place on this list. Thank God for chance!

3. The Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Graves

The next next next next Bob Dylan. Although I hear about every modern influence in this Scandinavian singer songwriter, I can’t help but wholly enjoy this record.

4. Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane

One of the most refreshing songwriters today. He’s Canadian that’s probably why. But in reality, “Molten Light,” is hauntingly beautiful. Plus, he references TMNT in this record (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

5. The Dodos – Visiter

These guys left a lasting impression on me at SXSW this year. I’m looking forward to hearing more from this San Fransisco duo. [read full story]