Seattle Gay News to announce "Best of Travel 2009" on January 22

Before we close the lid on 2009, we have a few more lists to unveil. And if you're headed soon on vacation or a weekend getaway, our lists of the best hotels, restaurants, bars-lounges, visitor attractions, and spas might help in putting together your itinerary.

From the many miles Seattle Gay News writers traveled last year, we've selected some outstanding places and things to do. So grab a copy of our January 22 issue and find out what we chose as the Best of Travel 2009.

Pictured: Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin (photo by Albert Rodriguez)

Seattle Gay News picks 50 best albums of the past decade

Is This It by The Strokes was chosen as the Best Album released between 2000 and 2009 by Seattle Gay News. The list, published in the January 1 issue, includes Beck, M.I.A. Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, and The Killers to name a few.

Click on this link to see the complete list: http://sgn.org/sgnnews38_01/page22.cfm

Soundgarden reuniting? Quite possibly for 2010

Albert Rodriguez here at Seattle Gay News, wishing everyone a very happy 2010!

Big, make that, HUGE music news out of Seattle right now. Grammy-winning rock group Soundgarden could be reuniting this year, according to lead singer Chris Cornell who recently Tweeted, "The 12 year break is over & school is back in session".

Unless the hot vocalist-guitarist, who's interviewed with me twice in the past three years, is talking about some other band or project we're unfamiliar with, it looks to signal the second coming of Soundgarden.

When I know more, you will too. Check out my weekly news column "The Music Lounge" for fresh music buzz.

Seattle Gay News picks Lady GaGa as Hottest Artist of the Year

Seattle Gay News has selected pop-dance diva Lady GaGa as the Hottest Artist of the Year, 2009.

Three music writers - Albert Rodriguez, Jessica Price and Shaun Knittel - collaborated on choosing the year's biggest chartmakers and buzzworthy stars for the Best of Music 2009 issue on December 18. Click here to view the full list: http://sgn.org/sgnnews37_51/page21.cfm

Seattle Gay News picks 10 Best Albums of 2009

Seattle Gay News is pleased to announce Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by French pop-rock quartet Phoenix as its choice for Album of the Year, 2009. Below is the complete list, numbered from 1 to 10, and a link to an online version announcing our music picks in the December 18 issue.

Best Albums/CDs of the 2009
selected by Albert Rodriguez

http://sgn.org/sgnnews37_51/page24.cfm

1 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
2 Rated R -Rihanna
3 Veckatimist - Grizzly Bear
4 Middle Cyclone - Neko Case
5 Merriweather Post Pavillion - Animal Collective
6 Blood of Man - Mason Jennings
7 Welcome Joy - The Cave Singers
8 Tarot Sport - Fuck Buttons
9 Revolution - Miranda Lambert
10 xx - The xx

Passion Pit interviews for "Best of Music 2009"

Electro-pop quintet Passion Pit, whose song "Sleepyhead' is heard on the new Palm Pixi television commercial, has interviewed with Seattle Gay News.

Band members Nate Donmoyer and Ian Hultquist are featured in a centerpiece interview for our Best of Music 2009 issue, out tomorrow. The pair disclose their favorite music of 2009, their plans for New Year's Eve, and tell us which fellow group member recycles his underwear while on tour (yes, we went there).

Find out tomorrow which Albums, Singles, Live Performances, and Hottest Artists made our Top Ten lists for the past twelve months, as well as our unfortunate Worst roster of shame. And get familiar with up and coming stars Passion Pit.

Celebrate the year that was on December 18, the Best of Music 2009.

Seattle Gay News to reveal Best of Music 2009 picks on December 18

We're making our lists, and checking them twice. Maybe even a third time just to be sure.

Seattle Gay News will announce its choices for the Best of Music 2009 in the upcoming December 18 issue. Included, our picks for the Best Albums, Singles, Live Performances, Hottest Artists, and also the Worst Music of the Year.

Interviewing exclusively for this year-end spread is Passion Pit, already landing on several critics' lists for their album Manners and single "Sleepyhead". Watch the video for "Sleepyhead" by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zherMkcXdo

Grab a copy of this Friday's print edition of Seattle Gay News and find out what we selected as the Best of Music 2009.

Pictured: Phoenix (photo courtesy of Press Here Publicity)