Buried in Space

Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me

2010-02-02T16:35:00.001-08:00

So - I'm pretty damned pumped for the new Joanna Newsom record 'Have One on Me'. It's a triple record, due out February 23rd from Drag City and is going to clock in at 2 hours and 3 minutes by my math.

Two song have been officially released from it, both streaming at the Drag City site. And of course, as with any streaming track online they're available as web rips, here for your convenience, I'll provide them:

Good Intentions Paving Company

I really adore this track. It's somewhere between soul and folk. It's pretty; bouncy - shows swagger and a certain grace. It's got a certain something that really has gotten into my ear.

Not quite as dynamic as the previous one, but still a damned good track. Sounds like a cleaned up version of her sound on her first record - somewhat spare and atmospheric.

Just from the sound of those two songs I'm really expecting big things from this record. I mean, in two hours of music there are bound to be some gems but so far we've opened with two very good tracks. I'm hoping we'll get more as we get closer to release because it really looks like Drag City is going to make sure not to leak this one out to the public. It'll be interesting to see what sort of sales result from that, actually. I really wouldn't be surprised if it hit a nice spot on the top 40 in it's first week - I might even say more than that if the triple record price tag wasn't going to be a bit high, I'm sure.

I'm also seeing her on St. Patrick's Day in Cambridge, MA, so I'm going to have about a month to get myself familiar with the record before I see her perform. But I have a feeling I'm not going to have a lot of trouble listening to it over and over, judging from the first two tracks released thus far.

Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

2010-01-30T16:23:00.000-08:00

‘The Monitor’ by Titus Andronicus

9.2

The sophomore slump, in my mind is all hype. The sequel can be better than the original, be it movie, music or, well anything. The Empire Strikes Back. The Dark Knight. Godfather II. But this is a contentious claim. But then, that’s appropriate, because contentiousness is at the heart of this record.

Now, ‘The Airing of Grievances’, Titus Andronicus’ debut record is no Godfather. It was a good record, a strong record - one with a lot of verve and energy. And the decision to go with a concept record on album two is, well… it’s tempting the gods on some level but you know, damned if they don’t pull off a better, more mature, easier to digest record.

The theme here is the American Civil War, but it’s clear that this isn’t some historic document. This is not Doris Kearns Goodwin or Sarah Vowell piecing together the facts into a fun clear narrative. The band uses the idea of North vs. South as a springboard to explore different ideas. As is chanted at the end of ’Four Score and Seven’ the first single off the record, in many ways it is still ’Us against Them’. And heart-wrenchingly, as they proclaim, ‘they’re winning’.

I could go on for a while about the significance of that line and at the end of the day, it’s at the heart of the record. And the interesting thing is, as much as Titus set themselves up as representitive of the North (with several mentions of their home state of New Jersey, not to mention New England and a quick shout out to the Feng Wa train that bridges Boston and New York), the idea of ‘it’s still Us against Them and they’re winning’ sounds like a refrain you could hear from either side of the divide.

On some level ’The Monitor’ feels like a response to an increasingly polarizing political climate. For a record about the Civil War it feels very current. This isn’t to say this is some sort of Bad Religion or Dead Kennedy’s punk rock screed against the right. In many ways it eschews politics and gets farther into the feeling of feeling locked into a side of a fight that’s not going to be won by either side and is wringing up more and more casualties day by day. ‘Four Score’ stays on the idea that new evils seem to emerge for each side to embrace every day and that both sides feel they’re in the right and that when justice is served the other side ‘won’t be laughing so hard’.

Time to time on the record we’re given quotes, delivered by band members or indie rock luminaries like The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, making various points and adding a sense of poetics to what can be a hectic record. It could be a really pretentious move but as with a lot of things in the Titus Andronicus playbook (down to their name), it’s pulled off in a way that feels organic. Also organic, where it could be cloying, are the borrowing of lines and lyrics from more classic songs. For example we’re given the line, early in the record that ‘tramps like us, baby we were born to die’, inverting the Springsteen for effect. And that line is pure melodrama, of course, but they manage to make lines, ideas and concepts that could be cutesy or pretentious done wrong just right. On some level it’s their most laudable quality.

Other highlights here are the duet ‘To Friends New and Old’ with Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner, which manages to radiate a certain romance, conflict and acceptance. She sings that ’we could build a great life together if we don’t kill each other first’ and one doesn’t know if she means the two sides of the divide here or if we’re dealing with a pair of lovers and the penultimate track ‘…And Ever’ which paranoia takes over for 2 minutes, as we’re told ‘the enemy is everywhere’.

By the end of the record we get to the topic of reconciliation. We hear a bit of Lincoln from his first inaugural, speaking of the better angel’s of our natures. But I get the idea (especially after the fourteen minute album closer ’The Battle of the Hamptons’ howls it’s way through much of it’s runtime, with few pauses till bagpipes and guitars close us out) that they aren’t so convinced.

Mini Reviews - The Year So Far

2009-03-22T13:05:00.001-07:00

Hello folks. Been a few weeks, so I figured I'd drop a bunch of mini reviews, so as not to look TOO lazy in my upkeep here. Each review is going to be 3 sentences tops. In some cases, it's just for the sake of adding a rating to each. So, here we go.

We'll start on a high note with

'Merriweather Post Pavilion' by Animal Collective:

Great hooks, great beats, great songs. I'd note what stands out, but honestly? It all stands out.

9.5 of 10

'To Be Still' by Alela Diane:

Lovely singing, well written. The middle drags a bit, but not too terribly. The best of it shines.

8.4 of 10

'Noble Creatures' by Andrew Bird

Good but not good enough to reach expectations and with little the previous few records didn't offer. A few good songs, though and it never bores. Hard to see the positives through the disappointment, though.

6.9

For All I Care by The Bad Plus (featuring guest vocalist Wendy Lewis)

Several of the jazz covers here are worthy but most fall short of the insrumental works they've done in the past. Lithium makes use of it's vocals the best and is probably the highlight. It's all downhill from there, though.

6.4

Come Back to the Five and Dime, Bobby Dee Bobby Dee by Benjee Ferree

White Stripes-y blue rock tells the story of a real life child stars fall from grace. It's entertaining and has worthy hooks and songs. Something might be missing though, as it ultimately doesn't add up to anything particularly astonishing; promising for his future, though.

7.2

Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future by the bird and the bee

Fun pop songs. Not terribly memorable or innovative. But there's something to it, if just for the 3-4 standouts.

7.1

Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen

Not his best. A few good songs, but a lot of it's a bit clunky. Definitely not 5 star material, Rolling Stone!

5.5

Duet by Chick Corea and Himoni

Jazz piano duet record. Probably the best jazz record I've bought this year. Consistently entertaining and interesting.

8.3

Paranoid Cocoon by Cotton Jones

Some lovely moments but it drags overall. Opens and closes strong. Lazy, hazy sound works on some songs, not so much on others.

7.5

Tentacles by Crystal Antlers

Kind of boring. Overhyped. Meh.

3.6

Artificial Fire by Eleni Mandell

Great guitar sound. Good songwriting. Not spectacular but certainly good.

7.7

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand

Bouncy and fun. Not groundbreaking or anything but the band takes a few steps forward. Satisfying.

8.0

Y'know? That's probably enough for right now. Check back in the coming days for more!

Bradley Hathaway - A Mouth Full of Dust

2009-03-01T14:43:00.001-08:00

Hello folks, today I'm going to focus on a new record by a gentleman by the name of Bradley Hathaway, entitled A Mouth Full of Dust. (That up there is the cover of the record)

This is the first spotlight review piece I've done but frankly I've been listening to this a lot the past week and it seems quite under the radar, so I figured it might peak a person or two's interest.

I happened across this record based on a review on the site Sun on the Sand (which is a lovely little review site, for what it's worth) and I decided to add it to my eMusic queue. And then, after downloading 15-20 other records at the time my eMusic account rolled over, I forgot all about why I'd downloaded it in the first place and set about a path of about a weeks worth of going past it on my iPod.

Then, apros of nothing a few days ago I started listening and was taken immediately. I had expected, having forgotten the review I'd bought it because of, another somewhat flaccid if workman like folksy alt-rock record. I remembered vaguely that Bradley was some sort of poet or some such. But instead what I got was an amalgam of all sorts of styles and artists that I have a hard time even after several listens really putting in any given catagory.

The album starts out with Covered in the Blood which is lyrically complex as some of the more story based Okkervil River or Decemberists tracks but done in a style that more suggests The Violent Femmes until suddenly taking a left turn into a big climactic hard rock guitar driven sound to round out the track.

The Violent Femmes, actually, are the most common influence I see on the record, several of the tracks seem to be cut from that cloth. Whether it's just that Hathaway's voice resemblance to Gordan Gano's or something more I can't quite say, but Momma, Not Giving Up and a few other occasions the resemblance is striking from my perspective.

But they aren't the only band I'm reminded of with this record. The third track Samuel is oddly reminicent of 90s post-rock band Slint, with it's near spoken word vocals to the pace and textures of the guitars and bass line. It's not quite on the same level instrumentally, admittedly, but it's more than made up for by the well written lyrics.

The lyrics really are the standout here. A former spoken word poet turned musician Hathaway has a heck of a way with words throughout. The lyrics are always clever and thoughtful, with a free-wheeling sensibility that makes the first listen to each facinating, as it's hard to know where the narative, present in much of the record's songs, will turn next.

Not every song is a winner, a few are passable if not quite on the level of the rest. And a few standout for their incongurity to the rest of the record. Look Up is a bit of twee indie pop number and it works, partially because of it's catchy chorus and partially because it really provides a breather between the much more breathless epic numbers that frequent the rest of the record.

The final thing to be made aware of in regards to the album is that is very much a Christian record, in that much of the subject matter has some hand in faith or Jesus. The way it's done in, however, I find interesting as much of it looking in on the personal journey Hathaway took toward his views and while I don't share them, it does make for interesting songs and allows for him to look into his own views and sometimes, like on the albums second track Can't Get With This walk away with a few doubts.

Overall I enjoyed this record as much as pretty much any this year, thus far, with the possible exception of Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective. It lacks just a bit of cohesiveness that could have made it a truly great record but it does certainly stand as a very good one.

My score for it would be 8.6 of 10 (just aping the Pitchfork rating system here, for no reason other than a bit of laziness, really, but we'll keep with it till I happen upon something I prefer. More ratings to come, I'm betting)

For your MP3 pleasures:

Samuel

To buy the record -

On Emusic

On Amazon.com

A pair you might have missed...

2009-02-22T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Today I figured I might as well drop in and spread the word on two of my favorite records thus far this year...

~First up, we have Leave Ruin by Strand of Oaks.

As with the other record I'm going to speak of in a minute, I found this somewhat randomly on eMusic. It's a lovely alt-country record, well written as anything I've come across thus far this year. Recorded in the aftermath of singer-songwriter Timothy Showalter's house burning down, it has a story behind to rival one of last year's most lauded records, Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago. And it has quality to match to, even if it's less Bon Iver and more (a perhaps more refined) Will Oldham.

Here's one of the stand outs: New Paris

~Next there's Alela Diane's To Be Still

I knew nothing of Alela Diane before seeing a nice review on eMusic. Never heard of her. But my goodness, I do now. This is one of the prettiest records I've heard since The Reminder by Fiest. It lacks, perhaps, some of the pop flair that made that record a big hit but it has charms all it's own to make up for it.

Alela is a former classmate of Joanna Newsom and there are certainly signs of similar asthetics in play here, though they're somewhat subtle. There's more clarity in her vocal stylings and they're perhaps more tilted toward a more traditional audience. I've seen this called 'freak folk' by a few but I don't quite see it, it sounds more to me like a more traditional folk mixed with perhaps a bit of pop vocal. It's quite entrancing, though.

Here's one of the standouts: Age Old Blue

Both are available on eMusic, Amazon.com and iTunes. They both come enthusiastically recomended.

In other news...

2009-02-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

Hello there!

~It appears that a record I've had for about a month now and enjoy quite a bit Dance Mother by Telepathe is only getting it's official release on Tuesday. So it really ought to have been in my previous post.

It's quite good, one of the better dance rock records I've heard in some time. And this record includes production and guest appearances by members of !!! and TV on the Radio, so it has that going for it as well.

Here's the first single: So Fine

~I've been a bit obsessed with the new Decemberists single 'The Rake Song' from the upcoming Hazards of Love.

I thought you might want to give it a listen: The Rake Song

~Finally: I'm going to see of Montreal in a few months. Good times. It's a club show, I'm wondering if they'll bring any of the elaborate stage show from the the last tour. I guess I'll find out.

That's all. Just a quick pop in.

Coming Soon! Featuring M. Ward, Morrissey and an All-Star indie comp

2009-02-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

Hello again!

I'm back, and within the same week. I'm sure you're all so proud...

That being said, I'm here to hype the 2nd big release week of the year thus far, and it's a heck of one. Big releases abound!

~The biggest, in my eyes, is probably Dark was the Night the AIDS Benefit from the charity 'Red Hot' as put together by The National's Aaron and Bryce Dressner.

The tracklist is pretty amazing, we've got not only The National, obviously, but Arcade Fire, Feist (featuring Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and on another track backing Grizzly Bear), Conor Obest (featuring alt-country favorite Gillian Welch), Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, Spoon, My Morning Jacket, Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, The Dirty Projectors (featuring David Byrne), Yo La Tengo and a few others.

I'd post a sample, but c'mon now, buy it. It's for charity! And for Christ sake that's a damned good line-up!

Check it out at MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/DarkWasTheNight

Or at their official site: http://www.darkwasthenight.com/

MySpace has one streaming exclusive song from the comp each day. Today it's Lua by Conor Oberst featuring Gillian Welch)

~Moving on, the next biggest release is the latest from Morrissey, Years of Refusal. It's already gotten the seal of approval from Pitchfork Media as his best album in years, and I for one am pretty excited to hear it.

Here's the lead single: I'm Throwing My Arm's Around Paris

~The next major release for the week is Hold Time by M. Ward. It's his first solo release since he had a decent two-fer of hits with his last record Post-War and then the Zooey Deschanell duets record Volume One (under the nom de plume She & Him)

The whole record is streaming on NPR's website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99084694

-Once one gets past those big three releases there's still a good bit of slightly more under the radar releases to take a look at:

~My favorite of them, or the one I'm looking forward to the most, anyhow, is Sagarmatha by Post-Rock favorites The Appleseed Cast. It's said to be a mostly instrumental record and hopefully it'll be on the level of their excellent double record Low Level Owl.

Their first single leaves me encouraged, check it out: Raise the Sails

~Another record I'm excited for is the new one from Vetiver, Tight Knit

This is the frequent Joanna Newsom and Devandra Banhart collaborators first record from the much-revered Seatle indie label Sub Pop and I hear good things

Check out their website at: www.vetiverse.com

Other notable releases include:

Odawas - The Blue Depths

Asobi Seksu - Hush

Thursday - Common Existence

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - The 7th Mile Island

...And You Will Know Us by The Trail of Dead - The Century of Self

Big week. Looking forward to it. See you later!

In the spirit of music award shows: The Year in Music Thus Far

2009-02-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hey there. It's been a month since I updated this but now I have a lovely header. Thanks to Adam Witt for it! And with a new header comes a new entry. Will I actually keep it up this time? Who knows.

I think, for now I'm going to go with more of a commentary music blog than an mp3 blog, with an mp3 thrown in here or there. Most of the not updating has to do with the annoyingness of playing with Rapidshare and YouSendIt and whatnot. So I'll keep a few in here or there, but I think I'm going to stop relying on it so heavily. OK? OK. I'm glad you concur.

So, with that out of the way, let me take you to the point of today's entry: The Year in Music Thus Far...

I've bought the majority of major alternative/indie records that have come out thus far (and several not so major and non-Alt-indie records) and I'm gonna give thoughts on some, but in a quirky faux award format. Because I'm clever, you see not to mention timely.

...at least I have more credibility than the Grammys! But then, that's not hard.

The Award for 'Lives Up to the Hype' goes to: Merriweather Post Pavillion by Animal Collective

(Available at Amazon and iTunes. Soon to be available at eMusic)

Everyone under the sun seems to be tripping over themselves to give this great reviews (7 major ***** or equivilent reviews and a near unheard of 9.6 from Pitchfork, among other good reviews) and it's well deserved. It's an album of the year candidate and the year isn't even 2 months in.

This a record that I'll admit, the first few listens to weren't as rewarding as one might hope. I could hear it was good, but the repetition in lyric and sound made it sound, on some level shallow and on others a bit boring. But listen by listen it became more and more enchanting and pulled me in more and more. And these days it's unusual to have a day go by that I don't listen to it once, if not 2-3 times.

The odd thing, considering it's hard to break exterior for me, is that it's at it's core a great pop record. It's very much influenced by The Beach Boys, among others and manages to keep the charm of band member Panda Bear's 2007 record Person Pitch while being far more presentable to a mainstream audience.

The Award for 'Five Stars from Rolling Stone Clearly is Earned by One's Catalogue and Not One's New Material' goes to Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen

(Available at iTunes and Amazon)

Rolling Stone has given 3 of the last 4 Bruce Springsteen records 5 stars. And the fourth got 4 1/2. Mick Jagger's mediocre solo record a few years ago? 5 stars. Bob Dylan also has a few times in recent years, but we'll give this a bit of a pass because those records were quite well recieved. But still, apparently Mick, Bruce and Bob can do no wrong in Rolling Stone's eyes.

The only artists to get 5 stars on the basis of something other than their catalogue in this decade are Elephant by The White Stripes and Sea Change by Beck. Both good records but my goodness, *2* non-classic artists in 9 years get 5 stars?

To be fair, a good deal of records get a 'in retrospect' 5 stars in their music guides but my jeez, guys, get it right the first time.

This is, I suppose, not to say 'Working on a Dream' is a bad album. It's a decent, well written, well performed rock record. It's reasonably accomplished. It's in no way's a modern classic, though. 4 stars would be kind, I'd be more likely to say 3 1/2.

Oh, and RS gave Merriweather Post Pavillion, with all it's other critical praise, and nary an under 4 1/2 star (or equivilent) review 3 1/2 stars. Ugh.

The Award for 'Not Quite Disappointed but I was Expecting More' goes to: Noble Beast by Andrew Bird (available from Amazon.com, iTunes and eMusic)

Disappointing sounds like the wrong word for this record. It sounds far too harsh for what is a good record. That being said... it might be the accurate word.

Andrew Bird's previous two records The Mysterious Production of Eggs and Armchair Apocrypha were fine, fine records and I had great hopes for Noble Beast. And it's good. But a notch or two below the previous two. Which should be fine but but... I was hoping for great.

There's always next time, however.

The Award for 'Nothings Changed, it's Still Quite Pretty and Sad' goes to Crying Light by Antony and the Johnsons (available at Amazon.com, iTunes and eMusic)

It was perhaps not simple to get into Antony and the Johnsons. It's agressively odd music on the surface. Depressing, too, at times. And yet this record, like the record before it, I am a Bird Now is enchanting in a way that is hard to quite describe. And so I won't.

But here's an mp3 (see, they haven't gone away entirely): Another World (click the link, follow the instructions...)

The Award for 'Best Under the Radar Album' goes to... Vacilando Territory Blues by J. Tillman

(Runners up, for what it's worth: Leave Ruin by Strands of Oak, Dance Mother by Telepath and Skin of Evil by Blackout Beach and depending on the day any of those three might edge out the winner. And all 4 are avilable on eMusic, as well as iTunes and Amazon)

I didn't expect too much from this, a solo record from the *drummer* from the Fleet Foxes. But I was curious and frankly, I'm glad that the curiosity won out, as this is a great slow burn folk-rock record.

It's not quite the beautiful flowing piece that the Foxes self titled debut or Sun Giant EP 's were, it's in a slightly different catagory. The songs are more in the traditional folk/country tradition and they're well aranged and well written.

Here's the highlight: Barter Blues

And THAT is it for me here today. Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be back soon (I swear! Or, well, I plan to be anyway!)

Coming Soon! Featuring Animal Collective, Bon Iver and more...

2009-01-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

In a few weeks, on January 20th a ridiculous amount of new music comes out. Here's a preview!

Andrew Bird - Noble Beasts

The follow up to 2007's Armchair Apocrypha is darned good. It was streaming at NPR for a while and I took a listen and am endlessly excited to get my hands on it.

Here's a taste: The Privateers (on Mediafire, click the link, it'll take you to the page)

Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

This follow up EP to 2007's 'For Emma, Forever Ago' is going to have to be darned good to keep up with the new expectations they have after that very well reviewed disc.

I'm not sure about the title song, but here's hoping it's good: Blood Bank

A.C. Newman - Get Guilty

The first of two solo CDs by New Pornographers and the follow up to 2004's lovely 'Slow Wonder', A.C. Newman hopefully will deliver with a fun pop rock record.

Here's the first single: There Are Maybe 10 or 12

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Following on the heels of 2007's Strawberry Jam (which was all right) and 2008's Water Curses EP (which was great), is this new one from Animal Collective and having heard it, it's pretty fabulous. Some great songscapes and catchy tunes.

My favorite right now is: Bluish

Hopefully Web Sheriff doesn't jump on me for this, though it appears they're letting songs go now that the disc is near release (and already released and having sold several thousand copies on vinyl)

With that being said, all should be available to download on January 20th. 10 days!

Bon Iver and A.C. Newman should hit eMusic day of, Animal Collective at some point in the future... and Andrew Bird, well I'm not entirely sure. But it'll be available via Amazon and other crappier download services that day.

it ends with a whimper: 41-1; It begins with a trio of classics!

2009-01-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

So, the whole top 50 thing? Too ambitious and things were too hectic between the holidays and a 2 week power outage to really finish the thing. And now that it's 2009... I figure, I shall start fresh.

For what it's worth, the rest of the top 50:

1. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (Vagrant) Released July 14th 2008

2. Damien Jurado - Caught in the Trees (Secretly Canadian) Released September 9th 2008

3. I’m From Barcelona - Who Killed Harry Houdini?

4. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster (Arts & Crafts) Released February 18th 2008

5. Times New Viking - Rip It Off (Matador) Released January 22nd 2008

6. Frida Hyvonen - Silence is Wild (Secretly Canadian) Released November 4th 2008

7. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Perishing (Polyvinyl) April 8th 2008

8. The Kills - Midnight Boom (Domino) Released March 18th 2008

9. Bonnie ‘Prince Billy’ - Lie Down in the Light (Drag City) Released May 12th 2008

10. of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping (Polyvinyl) Released October 21st 2008

11. The Dodos - Visitor (French Kiss) Released March 18th 2008

12. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins (Jagujaguwar) Released September 9th 2008

13. Thao Nguyen - We Brave Bee Stings and All (Kill Rock Stars) Released January 28th 2008

14. Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances (XL Records/ Troubleman Unlimited) Released May 13th 2008, re-released November 18th 2008

15. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Show (Fat Cat) Released April 14th 2008

16. Deerhunter - Microcastle / Weird Era Cont. (Kranky) Released October 28th, 2008

17. Beach House - Devotion (Car Park) Released February 26th 2008

18. Marnie Stern - This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That (Kill Rock Stars) Released October 7th, 2008

19. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop) Released June 3rd 2008

20. Stephen Malkamus and the Jikks - Real Emotional Trash (Matador) Released March 4th 2008

21. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) Released August 19th 2008

22. TV on the Radio - Dear Science (DGC/Interscope) Released September 23rd, 2008

23. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (Mute U.S.) Released April 15th 2008

24. Frank Turner - Love, Ire & Song (Arbor) Released October 13th 2008

25. Drive By Truckers - Brighter than Creation’s Dark (New West Records) Released January 22nd 2008

26. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (Modular Interscope) Released April 8th 2008

27. Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (Arts & Crafts) Released November 5th 2008

28. Pale Young Gentlemen - Black Forest (Tra La La) (Science of Sound) Released October 7th 2008

29. She & Him - Volume One (Merge) Released March 18th, 2008

30. Parts & Labor - Receivers (Jagjaguwar) Released October 21st 2008

31. The Rosebuds - Life Like (Merge)

32. The War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues (Secretly Canadian) Released February 6th 2008

33. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sky

34. Snowman - The Horse, The Rat & The Swan (Dot Dash) Released June 17th 2008

35. Valet - Naked Acid (Kranky) Released March 4th 2008

36. Tallest Man on Earth - shallow grave (Gravitation) Released April 15th 2008

37. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst (Merge) Released August 5th 2008

38. No Age - Nouns (Sub Pop) Released May 6th 2008

39. Fucked Up - Chemistry of the Common Life (Matador) Released October 7th 2008

40. She Keeps Bees - Nests (self-released) Released August 12th 2008

And with that taken care of... let's get into a few things I've been listening to recently.

I've been on a bit of a classic jazz and post-rock kick, so these are all long and instumental stuff, for your listening pleasure:

Let's start with a classic:

Miles Davis - Pharoah's Dance (It's a damned big file for an MP3, be warned. But it's also 20 minutes long and awesome)

The opener to the lovely 'Bitches Brew' record. It's jerky and twisting and lovely stuff.

Buy it at Amazon.com for ridiculous low prices considering the length and awesome-ness therein. (It says it's 16.99, but just click 'buy mp3' for every song and it comes out to $6.93 for around an hour and 20 minutes of music... good deal)

Explosions in the Sky- The Moon is Down

From Jazz to Post-Rock, we have Explosions in the Sky... These guys are really fabulous. I only recently discovered them (late to the party, I know) but 2001's 'Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever' is a spectacular record. This track in particular builds and quiets and builds and quiets and it's just fantastic and dramatic.

Buy it on Amazon.com or even better get it for only a few downloads at eMusic

And finally, from jazz to post-rock to alt-folk? Sure, why not:

Palace Music - New Partner

From instrumentals to a fabulous lyricist, in the person of Will Oldham aka Bonnie 'Prince' Billy aka Palace Music/Brothers. This is generally considered among Oldham's better songs and it's fan-fricking-tastic, so one could see why that is. Equisitely grand, indeed.

Buy it on Amazon.com and find another version on Daytrotter.com for free...

Hopefully that made up for lost time? I can only hope.

IT BEGINS~! Top 50 of 2008 50-41

2008-12-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hey folks!

I finally have come to a decision regarding my top 50 of 2008 and it's time to share em with you.

The rules are:

-It had to come out during the 2008 calender year, before December 1st.

-It had to be an ALBUM, no EPs.

-I had to like it!

That's about it. This is out of the aproximately 150 albums I heard in full in the year, not to mention the dozens I heard a few songs from that I felt no need to hear the rest of.

And I will say, there is a certain amount of biases that goes into this list, for one thing there isn't a trace of hip hop or rap in it, among other musical styles.

With all that out the way, let's get on with things... 50 through 21 will go in 10 album incriments with notes as to why it was picked and once we get into the top 20 we'll go a little more indepth and I'm not sure if we'll get every one having it's own post. I think perhaps 20-11 will be 2 at a time and 10-1 will get their own posts. That'll work.

On to the list!

#50 : Amber Rubarth 'New Green Lines'

Released June 10th by Sounden Recordings

I first ever heard about Amber Rubarth when 'You Will Love This Song' was played on NPR's All Songs Considered Podcast and did as the song told me, and feel for it. At the time this record hadn't quite come out (or at least was unavailable on eMusic) and it was one where I forgot all about it until a few weeks ago I played the song and thought 'wait, did her record come out?' and discovered that yes, it had.

I was pretty concerned though, because I've been burned far too many times by a good song by a singer songwriter leading to me buying a dazzingly mediocre full record. This was, thankfully not the case with this record. Nothing gripped me quite as tight as 'You Will Love This Song' but it's a breezy potential filled and fun debut.

The Highlight: You Will Love This Song

Buy it on eMusic (It is, for whatever reason, not yet available at Amazon.com)

#49. Brad Barr 'The Fall Apartment'

Released September 16th by Tompkins Square

2008 seems to have been a year where my patience for instumental music evolved. Previously I will admit to having, at times, been bored with a 40 second intro to song and just want to get to the lyrics. I've always previously been mostly a lyrics guy, ignoring at times the other elements of songcraft. And I'm glad it's something I seem to have gotten over.

This is one of two records on the list that are solo instrumental records and comes from Brad Barr, whom is the guitar player for a band called 'The Slip' that I will admit to being unfamiliar with. That being said it's a lovely, often inventive and always interest record that works both in the background and when paid close attention to.

And nothing works better than the somewhat Bad Plus-esque take on Heart Shaped Box...

The Highlight: Heart Shaped Box

Check it out on Amazon.com and eMusic

#48: Wolf Parade 'At Mount Zoomer'

Released June 16th by Sub Pop Records

At Mount Zoomer is an odd case for me, in that my initial reaction was overwhelming praise. I loved the record something fierce for a few weeks... then little by little I grew to have a more mild appriciation for it. So, apparently it's an anti-grower.

That being said, it's a fun albiet odd record from a band obviously overflowing with talent with Spencer Frug and Dan Boekner both contributing to the song writing and crafting some lovely songs.

Why it didn't stick with me as well as I'd like, I don't know but it was still good enough to sneak on the list at #48.

The Highlight: Well, since it was sold to be 'an album without singles' that doesn't seem fair, so we'll move on!

Buy it at Amazon.com

#47: the fireman 'Electric Arguments'

Released November 25th by ATO Records

This one was a bit of a shock, all things considered.

The fireman is a collaboration by Youth formerly of the band 'The Killing Joke' and Paul McCartney (formerly of Wings, of course) and it's some of the finest music to come from the latter in years. Just a shockingly well made electro-pop record.

There are just a good deal of catchy, well written songs. I didn't know he still had it in him.

The Highlight: Sing the Changes

Find it on Amazon.com or eMusic

#46 The Mai Shi 'Hlllyh'

Released February 11th by Team Shi

One of several records I discovered half way through the year in a Pitchfork of overlooked records of the year, is this charmingly chaotic electro-rock record.

This is another record where my feelings for it have decreased over time, by a bit, but it's still a fun record. The highlight for me is the 'God gets pissed' story song that is 'Pwnd' but it as a certain momentum that keeps it going all through it's 45 minute plus runtime.

The Highlight: Pwnd

Find it on eMusic or Amazon.com

#45 James Blackshaw 'Litany of Echoes'

Released June 17th by Tompkins Square

The second instrumental record of the year comes from another guitar player, a steel guitarist James Blackshaw with a lovely set. There's a certain rolling aspect to it (an echo, if you will) that creates an interesting mood and feel to the compositions.

It's pretty amazing, also, in that I really thought it was piano until, well not long ago. It's like nothing else in my entire musical collection.

The Highlight: Infinite Circle

Buy it at eMusic or Amazon.com

#44 Portishead 'Third'

Released April 29th by Mercury Records

One of the many records that when initially released I didn't pay much attention to but caught up with in trying to be comprehensive as possible for this list. I was surprised by how pretty and orchestral both the arrangements and songs in general were.

A mild surprise, in that I didn't expect to enjoy it especially for whatever reason. And yet I found myself pretty enraptured in it at points. I'm not sure I think it's the masterpiece a few others think but it's quite good (and to be fair, if I had been waiting 6-7 years for it and gotten something as satisfying as this, I might be enclined to rate it higher as well)

The Highlight: Nylon Smile

Buy it an Amazon.com

#43 Mount Eerie featuring Julie Doiron & Fred Squire - Lost Wisdom

Released October 7th by Eleverum & Sun

Phil Elvrum (we're just going to go with that spelling for now, OK) released 3 projects under the Mount Eerie moniker this year. In addition to this there was also the solo acoustic effort 'Dawn' and the EP 'Black Wooden Ceiling Opening' (which was possibly the best of the three, but as I said, no EPs)

This is a collaboration with former Eric's Trip vocalist Julie Doiron (and her frequent collaborator Fred Squire) where they duet on many of the same songs found on Dawn (and a few otherwise unrecorded tracks and one or two older tracks) and it's continuously pretty and Doiron adds a lot to the previously recorded tracks.

A nice effort that makes me all the more excited for 2009's 'Wind's Poem'

The Highlight: Voice in Headphones

Buy it at eMusic, Amazon.com OR http://www.pwelverumandsun.com/

#42 Love is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night

Released November 11th by What's Your Rapture?

This is a fun messy record with some fun hooks and catchy moments. It's a lot of fun.

There's not much more to say about it though, which I suppose is why in spite of being quite enjoyable it's still only in high 40s.

The Highlight: New Beginnings

Buy it at eMusic or Amazon.com

And finally...

#41 The Week That Was - The Week That Was

Released August 26th by Memphis Industries

Some people might complain that this sounds straight out of the 80s. Somehow, it seems, the decade has gotten tagged with being something less than amazing musically (see All Songs Considered again, with their special 'Were the 80's really so bad?' with it's apparent YES verdict)

I, however, quite enjoy the 80s, at least the part of the 80s that spawned the synth rock that is clearly the framework for this record here. It's a really fun record, one that if it was a little longer than 35 minutes and maybe with a few more standout tracks a bit higher but is enjoyable none the less.

The Highlight: The Story Waits for No One

Buy it at eMusic or Amazon.com

All right... that's all for today... we'll get to 40-31 at some point in the near future...

Till then...

Sorry for the delays! Best of 2008 - the non-eligible edition!

2008-11-25T15:15:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

I've been readying my Best of 2008 list and thus have put all my music related efforts into that, but I figured I'd pop in and highlight a few records that would be in, if not for one reason or another:

First off:

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Why isn't it on the list?

Well, because it was released in 2007. I mean, it was ALSO released in 2008, but despite being listed on many a 2008 list, that just doesn't count.

I'd include an mp3, but my goodness people, it's Radiohead and it sold like a million and a half records and was downloaded by many many millions more. It's not as though it needs the exposure.

Find it, if some reason you don't own it at: eMusic and Amazon.com

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Why isn't it on the list?

Again: released last year, re-released this year. This one is an even more egerigious offender on the 'on everyone's list, despite not being released this year' list. But, that aside it's very very good and would rank nicely, if it qualified.

But here's the title track: For Emma

Find it on: Amazon and eMusic

Will Kindler - Trifles for Queen Jane

Why isn't it on the list?

It was, in fact, released this year, it is in fact good... so why? Well, Will is a friend of mine and that just seemed like it'd make me biased. So I decided it was inelligible. So, there you go. It'll get a nice little spotlight at some point, I'm sure.

Here's a sample, though: Can't, Victoria

Find it on: Amie Street, eMusic or Amazon

(I didn't even realize it was on such sites till I just looked... another reason to be biased - I got it for free)

Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue

Why isn't it on the list?

Remember that last thing about biases? I love some Rilo Kiley but I felt if this one, which I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about, past 2-3 songs made it, it'd be showing some undue bias.

But there are, as I said, 2-3 songs I just love on the record, but all the one's I have are file protected... but here's an even newer Jenny Lewis track, off the 'Bolt' soundtrack: Barking at the Moon

Find the Bolt Soundtrack and Acid Tongue: at Amazon.com

Vijay Iyer - Tragicomic

Why isn't it on the list?

I bought this after it was well reviewed by a friend of mine and I do like it. But it's a jazz CD, and the only new jazz CD I bought this year and it seemed odd to compare it to the other albums on the list.

It is quite good though, here's a track: Maccaca Please

Find it on: Amazon.com

So there's that. I'll be back before the week is through with the close calls and then we'll begin the actual countdown... in about a week? Maybe? I'm still working on it.

Rarities Theatre: Volume One - Rilo Kiley, Radiohead, Okkervil River

2008-11-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

Time for a new feature! Rarities Theatre: where we take a look at 3 hard to find tracks I have floating around my hard drive!

These are likely to be from the same handful of my favorite artists, if I had to guess, but hopefully people will discover some stuff they haven't heard before. Plus it's a quick way to update...

First up is one from Rilo Kiley's hard to find debut EP: Glendora

Next is another early one, this one a B-side from Radiohead's debut Pablo Honey: Pop is Dead

And finally, from Okkervil River, an unreleased slower version of No Key, No Plan

So there we go!

November 10th: Deerhunter, TImes New Viking, Vivian Girls

2008-11-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

So, last night I took in a lovely little alt-rock triple bill at the Paradise in Boston, MA and I figured I'd share my thoughts.

First off, let me say: The Paradise is fantastic. It's a tiny little venue and I was able to get to the front of the stage with literally no effort. And despite the ringing in my ears that persisted all the way home, it was fun to be only a few feet from the bands. My previous expirience with it, seeing Nellie McKay last year was also very pleasant, and thus I've got to say it may be my favorite Bostonian venue.

Starting off the show was a band I was curious about, as their debut record, while short, was fairly promising: Vivian Girls. They began not especially ospisciously (though somewhat charmingly) by having but two members on stage, with the singer informing us they couldn't find the guitar player. And after a cell phone call and a run back stage they begun what I would say is the best sort of opening set: one where I was never bored and yet when they left the stage I was excited to see the next band and not wishing for more.

Here's one of the highlights of their set, from their debut record:

Vivian Girls - Wild Eyes (YouSendIt version)

One reason not to be wishing for more from Vivian Girls is that next up was Times New Viking, they of one of my favorite records of the year 'Rip It Off'. And while I'd love to say it was perfect, I must report it was not quite there. One problem, in my mind, was their focus on their earlier record 'Present the Paisely Reich' and their new 'Stay Awake EP' and also the fact that due to their short songs the set seemed a bit disjointed.

That being said, it was a fun set. Just not quite the blow-away I would have hoped for. I'd gladly see them again and hope for a little better. And really, what I got was more than servicable.

Here's a track from the aforementioned 'Present...', that opened the set:

Times New Viking - Love Your Daughters (YSI)

And then we came to the headliner for the night, Deerhunter. It was a fun set, focused on their two new records (or one new record? I'm still not sure if I should count Weird Era Cont as a seperate record from Microcastle since they're packaged together and all) and live the songs had a very strong Sonic Youth vibe to them, I thought, with a much more rich guitar based sound than on record. I'm not sure I prefered it, but it was a nice change of pace. I'm always glad when bands don't recreate their songs seemlessly live, it gives the live set a life of it's own.

Here's one of the standouts from Microcastle:

Deerhunter - Agraphobia (YSI)

You can find Vivian Girls, Deerhunter and Times New Vikings newest releases at eMusic.

You can get the two disc Microcastle with the bonus 'Weird Era Cont' disc @ Insound

And you can get Rip it Off, Microcastle and Vivian Girls @ Amazon.com as well.

I'll be back in a few days (if that) with a new regular feature: B-Sides and Rarities!

Till then!

I'm seeing Deerhunter! And Times New Viking!

2008-11-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

So, I decided last night that I shall make the trek out to Boston (and the lovely Paradise night club) to see a lovely triple bill of Deerhunter, Times New Viking and The Vivian Girls on November 10th. And as a preview to such an event (which I'm sure I'll post about post-show too) I decided to share my enthusiasm...

First off we have the openers to this show, the much buzzed about Vivian Girls. I'd be lying to say I love their record, but it's entertaining and shows some potential, no doubt.

Here's the first one off their self-titled first record (which, you should be warned runs a whole 20 minutes):

All The Time (find it at eMusic, Amazon.com and Insound)

Then we have Times New Viking and I must say they're 2008 record 'Rip It Off' is one of my favorite records of the year. Just wall to wall energy and enthusiasm. They simply sound like a band who is gleeful at the idea of not just making music but making NOISE. In a lot of ways their sound strikes me as a lot more punk rock than most punk bands I've come across.

Here's a sample from their recently release EP 'Stay Awake':

Call and Respond (find it at Amazon.com but curiously, it's not at eMusic, but here's there artist page where you can find the rest of their discography)

And finally, we come to Deerhunter. I have to say, I never quite got into their previous quite well reviewed record 'Cryptograms' but their new one (or should I say new ones?) Microcastle (and it's bonus disc 'Weird Era Cont.) is a lovely hazy and pretty record. It's definitely turned me around on them (thus why I'm seeing them in about a week and a half)

First one from Microcastle:

Agraphobia (find it at Amazon.com or eMusic)

And then one from Weird Era Cont.:

Operation (find it as a bonus disc @ Insound)

Also: I'm pretty sure you can find tickets still for sale for not only the Boston show, but many others all over the country. Here's a list of the tour dates (dates WITH The Vivian Girls have a *, other openers include Pylon and Disappears)

10-31 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
11-01 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
11-02 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
11-03 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
11-04 Washington, DC - Black Cat
11-05 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
11-06 Princeton, NJ - Terrace F. Club
11-07 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
11-08 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
11-10 Boston, MA - Paradise *
11-11 Montreal, Quebec - Theatre Plaza
11-12 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
11-13 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom
11-14 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
11-15 Chicago, IL - Metro
11-16 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
11-17 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
11-20 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
11-21 Seattle, WA - Neumos
11-22 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
11-24 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11-25 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
11-28 San Diego, CA - Casbah
11-29 Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts
12-01 Dallas, TX - Palladium Loft
12-02 Austin, TX - Emo's Alternative Lounge Outside
12-03 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
12-04 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
12-05 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
12-06 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree

3 Quirky Ladies I Love...

2008-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

So, here we are with my 2nd post! And to help celebrate this wonderous milestone I have decided to share some lovely music starring some of my favorite quirky ladies...

First up, is Marnie Stern...

'This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That', her fantastically titled second record was just released this month, and I cannot get enough of it. She's an astonishingly good (and interesting) guitarist and her songs have an energy probably, to my knowledge matched this year only by Times New Viking's wonderful 'Rip It Off'.

Here's the first track: Prime

(This is It and I Am It and You Are It And So Is That and He is It and She Is It and It is It and That is That' is available at eMusic, Amazon, and should you prefer a physical copy, Insound)

Then we have Nellie McKay...

She has nothing especially new out however, I love the lady dearly and figured I'd add her in. I've been a big fan ever since her debut a few years ago 'Get Away from Me' and I think her albums have gotten progressively better from there (though her second album shouldn't have been a double album).

Here's a timely one from last year's 'Obligitory Villagers': Zombie

'Obligitory Villagers' can be found at eMusic, Amazon and Insound

And finally, we have one Ms. Morgan Kibby.

Who is Morgan Kibby? She's the female vocalist on one of my favorite records of the year: Saturday = Youth by M83 and I've recently discovered also the front lady for The Romanovs, who are seemingly built around her lovely voice.

Here's my favorite track off Saturday = Youth: Skin of the Night

And one off of The Romanavs 2007 '...And the Moon is Hungry...': Olden Times

Saturday = Youth can be found at Amazon and Insound

'And the Moon is Hungry' can be found on Amazon

And that is that!

Welcome!

2008-10-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hello to all who have found themselves here!

My name is Ryan. I have started this here blog because, well, the urge to make my own mp3 blog overcame me this morning. I always love sharing music with people and I find myself doing so a lot... so why not have an online home to do just that?

Will this be some sort of big time, Hype Machine favorite blog at some point? I dunno, probably not. Will I end up updating it regularly? It's entirely possible no. But right at this moment, I plan to do my best with it.

What might hold me up? Well, I really have no earthly idea what I'm doing, with the technical parts of this site. But I'm trying my best to learn, and hopefully you'll bear with me.

The name of this blog is derived from a lyric from the song 'iii. Universe' from the album 'Mount Eerie' by the band 'The Microphones' who in actuality are really a band at all, so much as the nom de plume of one Phil Elvrum (which, despite the fact that he spell it about 6 different ways, is the way I’m going to spell it). He now, in fact, goes by the name Mount Eerie, making the whole thing a whole lot more confusing.

That being said, the man has released some wonderful records, the most famous of them the brilliant ‘The Glow pt. 2’ which was, in the year of it’s release, Pitchfork Media’s album of the year.

This year he’s released 3 different projects: a mini-album with Julie Doiron & Fred Squire titled ‘Lost Wisdom’, an album to be accompanied by a yet to be released book ‘Dawn’ and the EP ‘Black Wooden Ceiling Opening’ (in which he apparently has decided to start a new genre of music, ‘Black Wooden’ which is a ‘more organic’ variation on Black Metal)

I’m going to kick this thing off with a few songs of his…

First off:

iii. Universe - which is the third track off the seamless record ’Mount Eerie’, which is even more brilliant taken as a whole

And:

The Glow pt. 2 - The title track to his lovely 2001 album (which was re-released in expanded form earlier this year by K Records)

And finally:

Flaming House - One of the standouts from this year's Lost Wisdom mini-album with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire

I'd post something from each of his records this year, but I have a feeling many will show up on my forthcoming 'Top 50 Albums of 2008' post. Just a hunch.

For what it's worth, in addition to the above post you can look forward to:

-Spotlights on some my favorite artists, especially the less popular among them (Nellie McKay and Thao Nguyen are two that are jumping to mind)

-Spotlights on a few musicians I know that are pretty fantastic

And past that, who knows?

In the meantime, I hope all is well...

You can purchase 'Lost Wisdom' by Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron & Fred Squire @ Amazon.com or eMusic.com or at P.W. Elverum & Sun

You can purchase 'Universe' and the rest of 'Mount Eerie' by The Microphones @ eMusic.com

You can purchase 'The Glow pt. 2' @ eMusic.com or at Krecs.com

And all are available on iTunes.