www.deadspin.com has a running series called "Stories that Don't Suck" where they link to well written articles (often having to do with sports) which can be found in their entirety somewhere on the web.  It is by far the best thing about their website (even better than Drew's Funbags, which kick a sizeable amount of ass themselves) and has never failed to provide at least one piece per posting that has furthered my appreciation for the written word more than anything since turning on the subtitles during The Lord of the Rings in blu-ray.  I think it's high time we here at www.thebaltimorons.com (tell your friends) stole the idea and occasionally put up links to writing that challenges you in a way our mindless drivel could only dream of.

Feel free to put up any links to pieces you've read in the comments section, it doesn't have to be sports related.  I promise you I will read every single one of them, so long as they aren't links to purchasing a full book somewhere.  Don't feel rushed though, any of the three of us will probably post one of these whenever we stumble across something particularly inspiring.

The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved by Hunter S. Thompson

  A take on the most decorated horse race in the world by one of the craziest sons of bitches the universe has ever known.  Much more of a commentary on the pagentry surrounding the derby than the derby itself.  Seriously, there are over 7,000 words and only ten of them are "horse".  Also, Hunter S. Thompson may have had a drug problem. 

Gareth Thomas... The Only Openly Gay Male Athlete by Gary Smith

  This is a great piece of writing because it focuses on what we can't learn ourselves (the incredible story of Thomas), less on what we should be thinking about ourselves (what this means for sports in general) and no time on trying to force morality down our throats.  To keep something incredibly complex simple enough to feel; that's why writing can be gooder than television.

Number One!  After being a month and a half past deadline, our Ten Best Albums of 2009 concludes.  In case you missed them, here are Nos. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.

I'm posting three songs from the Dirty Projector's Bitte Orca instead of the usual two because there's absolutely no way for me to encapsulate the sound of the album in two songs, so I'm taking three.  Here's the first:

Man, that's just so freakin' cool!  It's hard to get super excited about music these days just because there's so much of it.  It's the disappointing con of an Internet music age full of pros.  We have free access to virtually all the new music (and all the reviews) that's released nowadays, which is great if you're a consumer.  You hear (and read about) a lot of stuff.  But it sort of numbs you; a lot of stuff isn't that interesting, so if you keep listening (and reading), you have a natural tendency to criticize an album rather than laud it.  The arena is oversaturated, and you can't help but be cynical towards newer stuff.

And then that happens.  You hear Bitte Orca, your hair gets blown back, you snap out of it, and you fall madly in love.  Man, that's just awesome, awesome stuff.  (You're liking this analysis, aren't you?)  The nonlinearity of the melodies, the angelic backing harmonies, the cracked falsettos, the calculated disorder.  It's successfully avant garde without sounding pretentious, and it is hypnotic.  It's why you keep seeking out new things; it's different, and carefully sculpted, and just awesome cool fun.  Yes, awesome cool fun.  I'll leave you with one more.  To those of you still reading this list, thanks very much.  I hope you've enjoyed it.  Hopefully we can keep a little music pumping through these pages in the future.

The Best Album of 2009:  Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca

Top two!  Our Ten Best Albums of 2009 continues.  Yes, it's almost time to unveil the best albums of 2010, but we're still plowing ahead with the '09s.  (Too soon to use the word "plowing," considering we're approaching seven feet of snow this winter here in Baltimore?  Probably.  I apologize.)  In case you missed them, here are Nos. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3.

Last March, during the Spring Break of my senior year of college, I took a cross country road trip.  I went by myself, driving 3,500 miles in an eight-day span, visiting friends and family along the southeastern portion of the great U.S. of A.  The majority of the 50+ hours of driving was spent in cruise control, windows rolled down, with the music blaring.  Without question it was the greatest vacation of my life -- solitude, open countryside, wonderful friends, and this opening song to start each day's worth of driving:

I can't think of anything more perfect.  Maybe it's the train track beat.  Maybe it's the raw power of Neko Case's voice.  Whatever it is, it's perfect.  And the rest of Middle Cyclone is just as perfect.  It's a bit of Americana, and it matches up with the countryside I was exploring.  Some true country music for people who don't like the stuff played on country music radio.  It's catchy and thoughtful and full of energy.  And Case's voice is awesome.  It's a trumpet, truly an instrument unto itself.

Look, I'm clearly having a hard time separating my personal experiences from this album.  I am my father's son -- female singer-songwriters will always fundamentally be most compelling to me.  Especially red-haired angels carrying swords perched atop muscle cars.  Especially when I've got 50+ hours and 3,500 miles to myself.

Second Best Album of 2009:  Neko Case, Middle Cyclone