It's back! And from now on only new albums from week to week will get a description, though I may change the best songs.
1. "Swoon" by Silversun Pickups
The soundtrack to the San Diego portion of my vacation, a revisit thanks to lots of time in Danielle's car. I thought it sounded like Kill Hannah, and thought Silversun was a more folky band. A new favorite of mine for sure, with just the right amount of angst. But why do they have to play in Des Moines the same day Bon Iver plays in Omaha? Best Songs: "Panic Switch" and "The Royal We"
2. "Masterpiece Theatre" by Marianas Trench
The soundtrack to the Los Angeles portion of my vacation, I really love the staccato and rhythm of their singer. Plus they are Canadian and we know I love that. Best Songs: "Celebrity Status" and "Perfect"
3. "The Gleam" by The Avett Brothers
The soundtrack to the Colorado portion of my vacation, due in large part to the harmonica...and their being in Iowa City in Ocotober. Plus, I just love their respective voices. This would be a near perfect album if "Sanguine" was replaced by "Murder in the City" from The Second Gleam. Best Songs: "When I Drink", "Yardsale", and "Backwards With Time"
4. "Killed or Cured"by The New Amsterdams
The best album from the frontman of The Get Up Kids. Even though I have the reworked "Cured" disc, it is still among my favorites and dare I say rivals the work of Mr. Oberst even if it sometimes sounds more forced like a Dashboard Confessional bit (I blame them both being on Vagrant Records) Best Songs: "Wears So Thin" and "Watch the World Cave In"
5. "Here, Here, and Here" by Meg and Dia
This makes the list because of the wedding I think. A dark, melodic indie pop album. No sophomore slump here, even the choice of the singer from Plain White T's on "Bored of Your Love" works. Best Songs: "Bored of Your Love", "Hug Me", and "Black Wedding"
6. "Kiss/Kick" by Broken Spindles
Did I mention this is an amazing album from a dude in the Faint? That alone should make you listen to it. It features all the droning and melodrama of some of those faint songs on which joel sings. Best Songs: "Introvert" and "I've Never Been This Afraid"
7. "Take It To The Floor" by Cash Cash
Something about summer just makes me want to listen to electronica and power pop. And this is a powerpop band with mad synth skills. Need I say more? OKay, they are damn catchy too. Best Songs: "Radio" is heads and shoulders above anything else, among the best I've heard all year.
8. "Fantasies" by Metric
Yada Yada, they are super great. And so is this album. I love it. Best Songs: "Sick Muse", "Gold Guns Girls", and of course "Help, I'm Alive"
9. "Under A Killer Blue Sky" by Jupiter Sunrise
Another one I've been listening to all summer. A revisit that had a lot of break up pain associated with it that only recently has gone. And like the Jealous Sound they need to release a second album!!!! WTF? Best Songs: "Josie's House" and "Kaye"
10. "Heart" by Stars
Been moving "backwards with time" through their albums as to which is my favorite. This is the current leader. Like all of Stars LPs every song is a winner. Best of the best songs: "Elevator Love Letter", "Time Can Never Kill the True Heart", and "Don't Be Afraid To Sing"
Dishonorable Mention: "Smarmymob" by Neonhunk
Awful, Awful, AWFUL!!!! I got this on a whim at a thrift store in California for 2 dollars and sounds like everything you would expect from that. Most of the noise rock songs have cat references and is even dedicated to cats, as cats must be the only creatures that even tolerate this non-tonal shit. Only one song is even tolerable "My Unicorn: My Ride"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Polaris Prize Update/Other Music Stuff
The shortlist was released last week and with all the vacation/moving stuff I haven't reflected on such events. I guessed 7 of the 10 correctly, and did not hear the other 3. As stated previously I think this year should mark diversity in genre (so Fucked Up's hardcore and K'Naan's hip-hop have the edge). So some quick thoughts on each:
* Elliott Brood Mountain Meadows Haven't heard
* Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life A little too hardcore for my tastes, but still my odds on favorite to win, and maybe get an album of the year Grammy. It is amazingly raw and edgy, plus these guys are in a league of their own in entertainment. They performed on MTV Canada in the men's restroom, and DESTROYED IT!
* Great Lake Swimmers Lost Channels Good, but some of the songs are a little weak, though "Pulling on a Line" is magnificent.
* Hey Rosetta! Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) A really solid album, but like GLS above, just not strong enough in "artistic merit" the main criteria.
* K'naan Troubadour Maybe the best hip-hop album this decade, even if it is a tad over produced and falls back on some major guest spots.
* Malajube Labyrinthes A solid album, though a bit too in the electronic vein to win, plus I can only stand hearing "Quand tu regardes" so many times. Though its critique of Catholicism in Quebec is an interesting subject for a concept album.
* Metric Fantasies Call this my dark horse. It has been getting lots of good press all of the world, and I gave it a listen again. This one definitely grows on you, and may benefit from the drawn out process. "Help, I'm Alive" "Sick Muse" and "Gold Guns Girls" alone put in it competition (though the rhyme structure of "Stadium Love" overshadows its power). It may be to radio-friendly/mainstream to win however. If "Waves" wasn't a B-side this would easily win.
* Joel Plaskett Three Haven't heard
* Chad VanGaalen Soft Airplane Haven't heard
* Patrick Watson Wooden Arms Good, but not great. Not better than "Close to Paradise" which won him the prize in 2007. He set his own personal bar quite high. Plus I don't think an award in its fourth is ready for a repeat, even if they did just shortlist artists for the second time this year (6 of them too)
In other news, I have been spending a lot of time with the Silence Destroyer, my 6-string devil, I'll post my list of songs I learned. I'll also get around to captioning those 80/35 pics and writing a note about it...probably during airport downtime. And maybe putting some of the 150 videos from other concerts this year on my youtube. I passed 300K views recently!
* Elliott Brood Mountain Meadows Haven't heard
* Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life A little too hardcore for my tastes, but still my odds on favorite to win, and maybe get an album of the year Grammy. It is amazingly raw and edgy, plus these guys are in a league of their own in entertainment. They performed on MTV Canada in the men's restroom, and DESTROYED IT!
* Great Lake Swimmers Lost Channels Good, but some of the songs are a little weak, though "Pulling on a Line" is magnificent.
* Hey Rosetta! Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) A really solid album, but like GLS above, just not strong enough in "artistic merit" the main criteria.
* K'naan Troubadour Maybe the best hip-hop album this decade, even if it is a tad over produced and falls back on some major guest spots.
* Malajube Labyrinthes A solid album, though a bit too in the electronic vein to win, plus I can only stand hearing "Quand tu regardes" so many times. Though its critique of Catholicism in Quebec is an interesting subject for a concept album.
* Metric Fantasies Call this my dark horse. It has been getting lots of good press all of the world, and I gave it a listen again. This one definitely grows on you, and may benefit from the drawn out process. "Help, I'm Alive" "Sick Muse" and "Gold Guns Girls" alone put in it competition (though the rhyme structure of "Stadium Love" overshadows its power). It may be to radio-friendly/mainstream to win however. If "Waves" wasn't a B-side this would easily win.
* Joel Plaskett Three Haven't heard
* Chad VanGaalen Soft Airplane Haven't heard
* Patrick Watson Wooden Arms Good, but not great. Not better than "Close to Paradise" which won him the prize in 2007. He set his own personal bar quite high. Plus I don't think an award in its fourth is ready for a repeat, even if they did just shortlist artists for the second time this year (6 of them too)
In other news, I have been spending a lot of time with the Silence Destroyer, my 6-string devil, I'll post my list of songs I learned. I'll also get around to captioning those 80/35 pics and writing a note about it...probably during airport downtime. And maybe putting some of the 150 videos from other concerts this year on my youtube. I passed 300K views recently!
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