The Year in Tunes & Vines

Seeing as how this week is dedicated to ‘tops’ and ‘fives,’ allow me to reflect on two of the more memorable albums & wines I’ve sampled this year.

1
The Woods by Sleater-Kinney - Raw, rockin, passionate powerful music. The track, “what’s mine is yours” is brain rattling on the headphones.  However, it’s not all roar.  The unique song compositions, guitar squeezing and irregular beats make the entire album compelling.  Stream the record here.

Kalin Cellars Livermore Valley Semillon, 1995 ($30) - The muddy, organic, stanky music pounded out by S-K deserves an equally powerful sipping companion.  Kalin Cellars Semillon is about as funky as you’ll ever get from Cali.  Caramel-tomato, chalk, butterscotch and toffee.  What’s not to like?

2
The Mouse and the Mask by Danger Doom - Are you a fan of the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim?  Does the phrase, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” mean anything to you?  Danger Doom is a collaboration between rapper MF Doom and DJ Danger Mouse (of The Grey Album fame).  This is a concept hip-hop album that details a masked mouse’s adventures through Adult Swimville.  Great rhyming:  “since when lyrical skills had to do with killin a cat? What kinda chitlins is that?” And great beats: listen/watch ATHF.

Tasca D’Almerita Rose di Regaleali Rosato IGT, 2002 ($16) - What to pair with the abovementioned, wonderfully weird album?  How about one bizarre rosé.  This magenta-colored wine is made from two Sicilian natives: Nero D’avola and Nerello.  It’s full of fruit, spice and lilac notes.  This pinky also possesses enough body to stand up to almost any main course.  Dig it.