Even though it’s Jan. 4, everyone is still winding up ’05 with their “best of” lists, which seem to be going on and on and on. I considered doing a compendium of all these lists, coming up with the most common 10 amongst them. But that’s way too much work. I have, however, read all of them and if I were to have compiled something, the list would probably have included Sleater-Kinney (I’m still not hearing it), MIA, My Morning Jacket (an album that gets better and better), Kanye West (accepted by the indie elite), The Hold Steady (I haven’t heard a lick from this), Beck (which actually made my list), Antony and the Johnsons (Try as I might, I can’t get over the Tiny Tim thing), New Pornographers (more retro pop), The White Stripes (pure novelty)…

And, of course, Bright Eyes. But one of the more talked-about surprises around town was how the Wide Awake not only didn’t make it onto the coveted top-10 from Pitchfork (easily the most important online music ‘zine in the indie universe), but also how no Saddle Creek releases were mentioned on their list, either. Was it an oversight? Unlikely. Pitchfork, along with most of the above-ground press, threw bouquets at Wide Awake when it was released last January along with Digital Ash. Back then it seemed ambitious to the point of bravado for Oberst to release two full-lengths simultaneously — and it was. A year later and Bright Eyes seems to have been pushed off Pitchfork‘s cool-kids’ bus along with the rest of the Creekers, replaced by Wolf Parade (good, but Arcade Fire did it better), LCD Soundsystem (very 2002, guys), Sufjan Stevens (who deserves the coveted back seat with the rest of the rowdies) and the usual clutter of obscurities (Cam’ron, anyone?).

In some ways, it feels like Bright Eyes is being treated (by some) with the same disdain meted out to bands that have bolted to major labels. Death Cab for Cutie comes to mind (though DCFC’s latest album does sound like it was pasteurized for radio play by order of the Suits in Charge). Say what you will about his music, Oberst has never sold out despite the fact that his popularity and visibility continue to be on the rise.

Anyway, tomorrow I’ll be posting the second-to-last “year-end” related piece on my site — this week’s column, which lays down a suggestion for all of us in ’06.

One suggestion that’s sure to please in ’06 is entering the drawing to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2005 Compilation CD. Just lift your weary fingers and type an e-mail to me (tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address and you’ll be dropped into the hat. Tracks include songs by Of Montreal, Eagle*Seagull, Iron & Wine, Mercy Rule, Teenage Fanclub, Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Maria Taylor, Orenda Fink and more. Details and track order are right here. Enter right now! Deadline is January 16.

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Shows are becoming harder and harder to find these days, unless you know where to look. This site is one of those places, but I can’t know everything. For example, yesterday afternoon word leaked out of a free Ladyfinger show at O’Leaver’s last night, apparently a warm-up of sorts before the band heads into the studio to record their next album on Saddle Creek Records’ dime (No, they haven’t been signed to Creek. The label is paying for the recording and will decide if they’re interested after they hear the final product). Last Friday night Simon Joyner played with The Bruces at The Antiquarium — another show that wasn’t listed on the usual online calendars (You would have found out about it had you checked out the Webboard, though). So it pays to be sharp. O’Leaver’s, which lately has hosted a lot of interesting gigs, no longer updates their website or sends out weekly schedules. Unless their shows are One Percent productions (a rarity these days — there are no O’Leaver’s shows currently listed on the One Percent calendar) or Someday Never productions, you’re not likely to find out about them too far in advance (It must be some sort of marketing ploy to get people to come into the bar every night.).

Just glancing at the calendars, January and February are going to be unusually slow months for shows. One Percent only has 14 shows currently scheduled, almost all booked on Fridays and Saturdays at Sokol — quiet a contrast to the huge number they were doing a few months back. While Someday Never only has two shows slated through February. This draught happens every year — last year, One Percent only hosted 16 shows in the first two months. Driving across country in a shitty van is hard enough for bands without ice- and snow-covered roads and below-zero temperatures. Bands prefer to stay home. Fewer tours also reflect fewer releases this time of year, when consumers are licking their wounds after the holiday credit card binges. There is, however, no excuse for local bands to take a holiday. Fewer shows mean a rare opportunity to draw larger crowds to your gigs… because nothing else is going on.

That said, if you hear of a last-minute show, drop me a line. I’ll update Lazy-i on afternoons when new gig info hits my email box. It’s yet another reason to click to lazy-i.com multiple times a day!

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I stayed home last night and watched stroke victim Dick Clark count in the New Year in a warbly voice while a few million tons of munitions exploded in and around my neighborhood. There’s something about New Year’s Eve that prompts people to take up arms and shoot them in the air. I remember watching my big brother do this a hundred years ago, back when I lived with my folks. I stood off to the side, watching flames shoot out the barrel of his handgun, knowing that whatever comes up must comes down. Where were all those bullets landing? Could one return to earth and lodge itself in my tiny little head? And what about those hundreds of other revelers who were taking advantage of this one day a year when they can proudly take out their guns and squeeze off a half-dozen shots? Should I be standing under a tree? So far I’ve managed to avoid all the random bullets. Hopefully, you have, too. So as we enter the new year, let me take this moment to thank all of you for reading Lazy-i. More to come…

If you’re home reading this now, perhaps doctoring a hangover, why not take a moment to enter my drawing to win a copy of the Lazy-i Best of 2005 Compilation CD? Just lift your weary fingers and type an e-mail to me (tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address and you’ll be dropped into the hat. Tracks include songs by Of Montreal, Eagle*Seagull, Iron & Wine, Mercy Rule, Teenage Fanclub, Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Maria Taylor, Orenda Fink and more. Oh my, how can you not enter? Details and track order are right here. Enter right now! Deadline is January 16.

–Got comments? Post ’em here.—