THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: SeanBateman on 01 Jul 2007, 14:27
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The year, at this point, is half over. 6 Months are gone. 6 are still to come. At this point, it is time, for a mid year best of list. If we already did it, then people are dumb and didn't wait long enough. 10 Albums max. Reasons why you like each. If you wanna be really cool, you'll upload a single song from each one. Ready. Set.
10. Field Music- Tones of Town. I keep listening to this record on public transportation, and I think maybe that is for the best. Really good british electrorockpopstuff that never fails to get me bobbing my head. Really can't get enough of this record.
9. Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian. This album is well outside of the realm of things I normally listen to, but it's incredibly catchy and actually opened me up to a lot more atonality in music. The off rythem really grabbed me, and the vocalist is incredibly commanding. To me it sounds like what the Arcade Fire would be if they freaked out, trimmed the fat from their band, and were just generally 100 times better.
8. Secret Mommy - Plays. I haven't listened to this much recently, but when I first got it I basically glued it into my car stereo. Really glitchy, really spazzed out electronica. The vocals are a little weird on some of the songs, but for the most part it's basically just non stop 100% boners. Sooo Good.
7. Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline. This album is beautiful, it's terrifying, it's haunting, and it managed to get stuck in my head the way no drone album ever has. I can't really pick a favourite track, since it's kind of pointless to listen to this album anything but all the way through.
6. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger. Oh Ryan, you can do no wrong in my heart. I loved your death metal, and I loved your rap, but nothing makes me happier than when you just go all kinds of country. This record is a perfect return to his roots, some of the songs sound straight off Heartbreaker, yet it never feels like he's taken a step backwards. I love his slow country stuff, ala Pearls on a String, but cmon. Halloween Head? It's unfuckwithable.
5. Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons - Little Bird. I know I've told you guys to listen to this record. I am pretty sure none of you have. It's a white guy doing soul music, but jesus christ guys it is so good. The lyrics are sweet, the songs are pretty, and his voice is really really strong. Great summertime music, but I fell in love with it in February.
4. David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band. Another one I keep telling you jerks to listen to. Just good, solid, rock and fucking Roll. If you enjoyed anything about the 70's, you will probably enjoy the music that this man makes. I wouldn't have put him this high if I hadn't seen him live and had it be one of the best shows I have ever been to ever.
3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha. This album falls off for me at the end a little bit, but the first 6 songs are my favourite songs of the year. I could listen to Imitosis on repeat for the next month and never get tired of it. It's music that makes you feel good, but it has a surprising amount of depth for how accessible it is. It was an early favourite of mine, and it's showed no intention of going anywhere.
2. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky. Shit the Haters. Shit the haters SO HARD. This is in the running for my second favourite Wilco album currently, and it'd be there for sure if it was only a little longer. Every. Single. Song. is fucking great. They cover the full range of everything I want Wilco to do as a band, from Nels Cline Freakouts to Tweedy being an almost coherant poet who's voice reeks of desperation. I listened to "Hate it Here" nonstop for about a week due to circumstances, so I will admit that I am slightly biased, but still. Fucking good.
1. Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted. There are not enough good things that I can say about this album. Pure Pop Music and I fucking love it. Not an ounce of pretense, not a drop of anything but making music that sounds like people having a good time. The vocals are incredibly smiley and fun, the lyrics are all about short romance and summer love, and the guitars, drums and the horns oh god the horns are so fucking good. There is not a single thing wrong with this album, and it does more things right than all of your favourite bands combined. Go buy this now.
Your turn dudes! And I'll have a 10 or so song mix for you later, I've got some other stuff uploading atm.
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So far, 2007 has been wonderful:
1. Battles - Mirrored
This is probably the best album out this year. If you haven't listened to it yet then do it.
2. Neurosis - Given to the Rising
What can I say? Neurosis working with Steve Albini. This is everything I was expecting and even more. I guess I'll make this no. 2 on the list if I have to.
3. Grinderman - Grinderman
Nick Cave's new group. Lots of blues and garage references, this would probably go to no. 3 if I did the list thing. This is probably my favorite Nick Cave album now. Apparently, Cave got his first electric guitar for this album, and they recorded it all in sessions in Paris. I love the feeling this album has, but I can't really put my finger on it.
4. Ghost - In Stormy Nights (I've uploaded this album in the Sendspace thread)
This is the first album I've hared from this Japanese psychedelia group and it took me a few listens to get to like it. But after sometime I realised that this is great album, probably one of the best avant grade/psychedelia this year.
5. Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow
This is different then most of Boris' albums, and I feel it should be taken out of that context and considered a stand alone album. Michio Kurihara (of Ghost) does bring a hole new sound to Boris, and although they've worked with this kind of material before this sounds new and fresh. Like I said, different then most Boris albums and definitely brilliant.
6. Psychic TV - Hell Is Invisible Heaven Is Here
Psychic TV taking a dirty rockn'roll approach on this album and doing it amazing. I am really liking this album so far, I probably like it even more then 1982's Force The Hand Of Chance, which is saying a lot.
7. Oxbow - The Narcotic Story
Oxbow sounding a bit more polished then usual, but this album still has that dirty feeling to it from time to time. This is one of the best, full albums Oxbow has put out yet. I don't know, this album sound a bit more mature to me
8. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
New album by Animal Collective's drummer. This is Panda Bear singing over sample loops that can go really hypnotic sometimes. It takes a few listens to get used to it but when you do it really becomes addictive. I read in a Stylus interview that Panda Bear wanted to "bring dance music" in this album.
9. John Wiese - Soft Punk
LOUD. I've only listened to a few times so far and that is the strongest impression it made. I need to give it a few more listened but fans of noise would love this one.
10. Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
Pig Destroyer going for something a bit different then their usual fast grindcore. Some of the song here are over two minutes. Fans of earlier Pig Destroyer might be put off at first but this is none the less a good album.
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Dude it is not a top ten list if you don't put it in order. The challenge is half the fun, quit being lazy and sack up.
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1 Maserati - Inventions For the New Season - There's just something about it that's really fun. We needed more psychedelic influence in post-rock.
2 Liars - s/t - Easily their best album, grows on me with every listen.
3 Jesu - Conquerer - Kinda gets dogged for its production and one-note melancholy but honestly I think it's a beautiful piece of work. Sometimes content > context.
4 Boris w/ Michio Kurihara - Rainbow - Maybe better than Pink.
5 Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust - Vocals make a surprise guest appearance and work really well.
6 Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War - It's kind of like Set Yourself On Fire Part 2 which is totally fine by me.
7 Interpol - Our Love to Admire - At first I was a little iffy on this one, but I like it more with each listen.
8 Trans Am - Sex Change - A return to form and an injection of new energy at the same time.
9 Ghost - In Stormy Nights - Good, but honestly my second least favorite Ghost album, nowhere near the perfection of Hypnotic Underworld or Lama Rabi Rabi. Should have put the 20+ minute song at the end of the album like they did with Turn On Tune In Free Tibet.
10 Grinderman - s/t - Glad Nick wants to rock again but I liked Abbatoir/Lyre better.
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Man, it's really sad that I had a much easier time coming up with 10 really really good electronic records than anything else. List(s) forthcoming.
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Things on Jeph's really good electronic list are likely to include: Justice, Pantha Du Prince, The Field.
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Man, it's really sad that I had a much easier time coming up with 10 really really good electronic records than anything else.
I don't think it's "sad", I think it just means that's what you're into.
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Anything marked with an asterisk is not "technically" out yet, as far as I know, but can be found on the interwebs.
OKAY HERE GOES:
TOP 10 ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF MID-2007:
10. LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver
The only reason this is #10 is because as dance-oriented as LCD Soundsystem are, it's an incredible pop record first and foremost. "All My Friends" is probably Song of the Year for me. It will make another appearance in the "non-electronic" list further down in this thread.
9. Thomas Fehlmann- Honigpumpe
One half of the Orb presents some of the best sound-sculpting techno I've heard all year. "100 Baume" is the track to check out on this one. Mellow mellow mellow.
8. Simian Mobile Disco- Attack Decay Sustain Release*
Obnoxious! Yet hella bangin'. "Sleep Deprivation" is the best track Vitalic hasn't written yet. Of course other than that they sound nothing like Vitalic, so don't let the name drop pop you a big ol' boner yet. This is pounding, midrangey Ed Banger-style techno that you'll either love or hate. I like it!
7. Pantha Du Prince- This Bliss
It's so nice to see minimal techno artists starting to remember that melodies are pleasant to listen to!
6. Gui Boratto- Chromophobia
See above re: minimal techno starting to incorporate melody into its fancy bloops and bleeps again. Everybody all hella yellin' about "Wonderful Life" being the standout track, not even realizin' that "Acrostico" is the real shit on this LP.
5. Matthew Dear- Asa Breed
Matthew Dear aka Audion, master of abrasive fuck-techno, goes mope-pop? WTF? Whatever. "Deserter" is incredible, and the lyrics on "Pom Pom" are hilariously stupid.
4. Justice-
Apparently some techno nerds are upset about this album? "Too midrangey?" "Rips off Daft Punk?" As if NOBODY ELSE IN TECHNO HAS EVER DONE THAT BEFORE. Whatever, it's wicked rad. I will be so fucking pissed if I find out that all the awesome 70's funk bass on this record is sequenced and not real.
3. The Field- From Here We Go Sublime
The Field is a lot like Explosions in the Sky- anybody with a basic understanding of sampling (or noodly guitar melodies, in EItS' case) could concievably make this record, but only this one dude actually NAILS it. Delicious cotton candy after years of bland micro-house pretzels.
2. Gabriel Ananda- Bambusbeats
Why aren't more people raving about this album? It's fuckin' INCREDIBLE! Easily the most danceable thing I've heard all year. Super-tight African polyrhythms and percussion and Ananda's usual sense of hook and melody combine to make my favorite straight-up dancin' record of the year thus far.
1. Apparat- Walls*
There is not a better sound sculptor in the world right now than Apparat. Listening to pretty much anything he's worked on is an aural feast, but this record is easily his finest effort to date. Walls feels like a logical extension of his Silizium EP as well as last year's phenomenal Orchestra of Bubbles with Ellen Allien. I'll be shocked if anything tops this in the second half of '07.
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TOP 10 EVERYTHING ELSE OF MID-2007:
10. Pelican- City of Echoes*
Pelican lean even further towards indie-rock and post-rock with this release. Still they do get their ROKK on something fierce, especially on "Far From Fields," which is maybe my favorite loud guitar track of '07 so far.
9. Rwake- Voices of Omens*
Holy god, this sounds EVIL. The first "real" track on the record is about killing yourself! Southern metal bands have really been bringin' the shit lately. First Mastodon, now these guys. Recommended if you like extremely loud, depressing noises.
8. Liars- Liars*
I actually started laughing the first time I heard this album. It's still as progressive and weird as their last couple records, but now there are HOOKS and RIFFS all over the place. Pitchfork is going to drown in a sea of its own jizz when this comes out "fo realz." Don't let that deter you, P-fork haters. It's still way good.
7. Get Him Eat Him- Arms Down
Our very own OtterErotic put out my favorite straight-up indie-rock album of this year! Matt's improved singing and the harmonized guitar leads are my two favorite parts, but it's a great record all around.
6. Do Make Say Think- You, You're A History In Rust*
This one's a grower, partly because it starts off so low-key. "Bound To Be That Way" sounds like a B-side from & yet & yet, "A With Living" is super-mellow, and "The Universe!" is a stellar track that, I'm sorry, is WRECKED by that horrible guitar tone. But then "A Tender History In Rust" kicks in, and the rest of the album is completely unstoppable.
5. Dan Deacon- Spiderman of the Rings
This album is worth buying/downloading/whatever for "Crystal Cat" and "Wham City" alone. I really really want to see him live now. If only every chunky dude with a beard and a synthesizer made music this good.
4. Battles- Mirrored
I don't think I have anything to say about this that hasn't been said better by other people! Basically if you hear "Atlas" and do not enjoy it, you have no soul, no rhythm, and I think you are a horrible person.
2. LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver
I am tired of using superlatives. LCD Soundsystem deliver the goods. Like I said earlier, "All My Friends" is the best song of 2007.
1. Maserati- Inventions For The New Season
FINALLY SOMEBODY MADE AN INSTRUMENTAL ROCK RECORD THAT DOESN'T RIP OFF EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY OH THANK YOU JESUS THANK YOU MOSES THANK YOU MOHAMMED
(seriously though, Album of the Year so far)
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10: Symphony X - Paradise Lost
I fully acknowledge that Symphony X are a one trick pony. The thing is that on this album, that trick has been executed flawlessly. Russel Allen's voice is so fucking on, on this album and its a fantastic concept album.
9: Tomahawk - Anonymous
I'm always a little weary of Mike Patton projects, and if you tried to explain this albums sound to me I would have written it off as a giant load of shit, but luckily, my housemate dropped his copy of this on my computer and asked me to rip it to the hard-drive for him, and I had a good listen and I love it. Its got a fantastic atmosphere to it and its kind of creepy at times.
8: Professor Fate - The Inferno
It is such a good year for progressive metal concept albums for people who have a fascination with epic Christian literature, and this beats out Symphony X simply because this whole albums invokes such a fantastic vision of the thematic weight of the book, without getting bogged down in how ridiculous it actually was.
7: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - In Glorious Times
I can never listen to this album comfortably, no matter how hard I try, its just one of those things just jolts you out of what you were doing and forces you to listen to it actively, and it just kicks my arse all over the place
6: Justice -
I adore this album. I want this album to come to my parties and sleazily hit on every single woman there.
5: Dalek - Abandoned Language
This is a fantastic idea for a hip hop album. I want to know if there is a lot of other hip hop like this, the noise aspects combined with the way the vocals fuzz in and out at times, and become more powerful and intense as the music reaches its peaks, really just does my head in.
4: Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
I love this album for just being Porcupine Tree not letting me down at what they do. Just fucking fantastic prog rock/metal in my eyes, and fulfilled my every expectation of what this album was going to be.
3: Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
This is an album I just would not have found if it wasn't for Dirk Hopeless, and I owe him a huge thanks for it. The Towering Inferno is without a doubt the track of the year up to this point, and something fucking insanely fantastic is going to have to come along to dislodge it.
2: Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient
Devin Townsend is a ridiculously cheesy man at times, and this ranks as one of my favorite Rock Operas of all time. If I put this on when I leave the house, I basically turn up at work walking through the door singing "I'm Ziltoid, I don't give a shit, I live above earth in a rocket ship!"
1: Charlotte Hatherley - The Deep Blue
At first I really thought this was a weak album, compared to Grey Will Fade, but after I really gave it a few complete listens, I realised that there is not a single song on this album that isn't a pure memorable pop gem.
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Maserati- Inventions For The New Season
FINALLY SOMEBODY MADE AN INSTRUMENTAL ROCK RECORD THAT DOESN'T RIP OFF EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY OH THANK YOU JESUS THANK YOU MOSES THANK YOU MOHAMMED
That's kind of an annoying generalization. It ignores the work of a ton a bands. The new Grails album is great and doesn't even come close to ripping off EitS. You already mentioned the new DMST album in your list. That's unarguably instrumental rock and is obviously nothing like Eits. Tarentel is instrumental rock and their newest release, a 7" on Type Records, is very unlike EitS as well. The new Mono release this year (The Phoenix Tree- Volume 22 of Temporary Residence Limited's Travels in Constants Series) is brilliant like all of Mono's work and also very unlike EitS. Then of course there's the new By the End of Tonight album which is more math rocky and cool. And these are just the albums I can think of off the top of my head from this year. My point is that while there are plenty of bands that do emulate EitS in their style and sound, there are tons of really great bands that don't.
Anywho, here are my top ten (but they're not in order. I don't see the need)
Copia by Eluvium
You, You're a History in Rust by Do Make Say Think
Double Sided Air by Tarentel
Liars by Liars
Burning Off Impurities by Grails
Invention for the New Season by Maserati
The Sun by Fridge
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone by Explosions in the Sky
Friend and Foe by Menomena
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
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I don't think bands are ripping off Explosions in the Sky, I think they're just influenced by the same bands. EitS are hardly original. They're basically a mix between Dirty Three and GY!BE.
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I'm surprised at how hard I had to think about this, mostly because I think it's been a pretty strong year for music so far. There's been about a dozen albums I would call really great, and a handful more I would say are good.
1) Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
Normally I like albums either because they're huge dramatic records that tug at my soul but are too draining for repeat listens OR because they're fun, compulsively listenable albums that don't try to change the world. Neon Bible manages to hit that sweet spot between poignancy and having fantastic songs you keep wanting to listen to. I don't like to throw around terms like 'important' lightly, but I will say that with this album Arcade Fire have truly ascended to the big leagues right up there with some of my favorite bands.
2) Field Music- Tones of Town
I literally cannot stop listening to this album. It's the kind of music that if I even start to think about it or talk about it to other people, I want to go throw it on. Much like the Shins in general and Belle and Sebastian's last two albums, Tones of Town accomplishes the feat of making an addictive pop record that borrows just enough to be familiar but carves out its own unique identity.
3) Panda Bear- Person Pitch
It seems as though this is one of those "love it or hate it" albums which come out at least once a year just to create rifts on message boards everywhere. Obviously I fall on the "love it" side of the debate. Rarely has an album built on repetitive, ostensibly digital elements sounded so natural and in a state of constant evolution. If you're having a hard time getting into it, I recommend getting drunk or stoned on a Saturday afternoon and listening to it on headphones. It's that kind of music.
4) Wilco- Sky Blue Sky
I understand fully the criticisms people have leveled at this album, but in my opinion it's not a bad thing to release a classicist rock album after a three album streak of varying threads of the experimental patchwork (yes, I consider Summerteeth experimental). Frankly I find myself loving every Jeff Tweedy has done since roughly 1994, so there's that, but I think this album is worth coming back to time and again because the songs are every bit as good as before. I can't believe that this album got worse reviews than Modest Mouse's new one, but it just goes to prove my theory that everybody else in the world is insane.
5) Deerhoof- Friend Opportunity
I'd wager that this will be one of those albums that are largely forgotten later in the year, on one hand because it came out in January, on the other hand because it's Deerhoof. It's hard for me to rank Deerhoof albums, but this and The Runners Four are like opposite sides of the same delicious gold-foil wrapped chocolate coin. Friend Opportunity is shorter and less focused, but it's also all over the map and surrendering to its flow is bliss.
6) Do Make Say Think- You, You're A History In Rust
When I first heard this album, I thought to myself "oh boy, another post-rock band." How could I have any more room left in my heart with the likes of Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and Tortoise tugging at my chest?? Yet here I stand, ranking this album 6th on my top 10 list thus far, and leaving Explosions off entirely. Well, the fact is that this is just a hell of a record. I actually went out and bought the damn thing on vinyl I like it so much. I said it in another thread, but if the dude from !!! is the kind of guy who puts a piano in a river as a kind of performance piece or just because he's a dick, then DMST are the kind of guys who fish pianos out of rivers and take pictures of the rusted remains. There is power and delicacy in these songs, snaking under the surface like undertow or exploding over the surface like a wave. In short, everything that's good about post-rock done right.
7) Of Montreal- Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
I wouldn't consider myself the biggest fan of Of Montreal in the world, mostly because I have a weird chip on my shoulder against bands who have extensive back catalogs and only start releasing good albums 4 or 5 years into their career. But the fact remains that Hissing Fauna is really fucking good. It's hard to elucidate just why it's so good, because all I keep coming up with is "more of what you love or don't love about Of Montreal, with a few new tricks." It's certainly the deepest and most emotional Of Montreal album, and any band that can pull off an 11 minute track dead in the middle of their album and not let it ruin the momentum or flow of the music is just dandy in my book.
8) The Shins- Wincing The Night Away
The more time goes by and the more I listen to this, I don't like it nearly as much as I did when it first came out. Still, it's the Shins trying some new things. Unless you've somehow avoided them up til now, that's all the explanation you need.
9) LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver
Assuming I wanted to and actually could dance worth a shit, this would be the 2007 album I would most enjoy getting down to (as the kids say). I don't like it quite to the extent that everybody else in the world seems to, but I've never been so much a fan of dance-punk so much as the possibilities of it.
10) Battles- Mirrored
The highest recommendation I can give this album is that I am not a fan of math rock in the least because I often find it's just a bunch of post-hardcore tossers who don't want to be labeled prog rock but make music that switches time signatures more often than a beginning drum student....anyway, I don't like math rock, but I love this album to death and back. A+++ WOULD LISTEN TO AGAIN
Honorable Mentions:
Besnard Lakes- it's good, but not great
!!!- LCD Soundsystem did this better, though I think !!! is more experimental, whatever that means
Eluvium- I really like this album, I just can't give an ambient album a top ten slot in good conscience because I don't think of them in the same way that I do these others
Menomena- this album is one of those that sounds really amazing and cool, but I have a hard time remembering a single song off of it other than 'Air Aid'
The Twilight Sad- I once had the perfect way of describing this album, but it's completely gone now. Basically, it's Scottish indie rock, so it kind of sounds like Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai, and My Bloody Valentine all smashed together. Except MBV weren't Scottish, but whatever
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stuff
I enjoy employing hyperbole sometimes.
Also I found that Grails record to be quite dull.
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I'm really stuck for number ten..
10. Arcade Fire- Neon Bible.
A somewhat overrated album by a very overrated band, but you'd have to be an idiot to not like at least parts of this. Some of it gets way too preachy and prententious (My Body is a Cage in particular.), but a lot of this is really enjoyable, whether it's ballads like Ocean of Noise (With that title I was really hoping for some drone, but oh well.), or the huge epic ness of tracks like No Cars Go. An entertaining album, and one of the only albums I have that I can play without everyone around me reaching over to turn it off.
9. Snowdrift- Snowdrift.
Dreamy slow motion indie stuff. You could almost describe it as Norah Jones with heaps of extra layers.. and a bit less of a supermarket music vibe. Really layered and drifty, some really nice female vocals. A bit samey, but great music to relax to, or to play when your girlfriend comes over.
8. Neurosis- Given to The Rising.
The usual Neurosis excellence. Humoungous Neurosis riffs, their usual sonic exploration, and a depth and timelessness to the music that only Neurosis can do.
7. Jesu- Conqueror.
Compared to the absolute beast that was Silver, this was a bit disappointing. Still, big riffs, MBV worship, and some really amazing vocals by Broadrick. Some of the songs don't really work (Brighteyes and Old Year come to mind) but when he gets it right it sounds so gorgeous and melancholy... And it's just really enjoyable to listen to.
6. The Field- From Here We Go Sublime.
I thought that I had 'grown up' and lost my interest in what I call 'doof doof'. Turns out I was very much wrong. Really nice builds, heaps of great synth melodies. Super entertaining and melodic.
5. Alcest- Souvenirs d'un autre monde
This is a really good album. Some parts are a little bit enya-ish, but whatever. Some big distorted guitars with only a little bit of black metal left intact, some really nice clean guitar lines, vocals buried in the mix and sung oh-so-poetically in french. The piano line in 'Tir Nan Og' is truly breath taking, even it is only like 4 different notes.
4. Jesu- Sun Down/Sun Rise EP
Better then the new full length. (Which is still good mind you.) The usual Jesu formula but even more melodic then usual, heaps of beautiful, laid back guitars and stuff, some really excellent drum programming by the man, and some really good vocals. Whether it's the relaxing clean guitars of Sun Rise, or the big riffs and 'board of canada w/distortion' beats of Sun Down, just a top album all round.
3. Nadja- Touched.
Not up to the same standard of composition at Thaumogenesis, but still a really excellent album. Sounds a lot like Jesu slowed down a bit, with heaps and heaps of layers added. Everything's stretched out a lot, there's heaps of fuzz, just a total bliss out, but an album that's still really riff orientated and enjoyable.
2. Nadja- Thaumogenesis.
This album makes most drone albums obsolete. 61 minutes long, one song, but never getting remotely boring. Some huge riffs, some massive walls of sound- one of the few hour long songs I've got that don't get boring at all. I wish this album was longer...
1. Angelic Process- Weighing Souls with Sand.
I can't praise this album highly enough. The huge guitars, the amazing buried vocals, the general huge soaring bliss out of it all. Everything I love about music is in this one album. The beautiful female vocals in Burning in the Undertow of God are stunning, as is huuuuuge opening of The Reasonance of Goodbye, and the 'Sigur Ros with distortion pedals' bliss out that's Dying in A Minor is amazing too.
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stuff
I enjoy employing hyperbole sometimes.
Also I found that Grails record to be quite dull.
Hah I understand. Hyperbole is fun. And there are plenty of bands that do sound a lot like EitS out there so I understand your sentiment. I thought the Grails album was quite good. Not all the tracks were that interesting, I'll admit. But tracks like 'Silk Rd' and the last two tracks on the album were three especially good ones. I really like the sitar-like sound that's pervasive in a lot of the tracks as I think it's a very cool sound that isn't often heard. It's not totally amazing but I really enjoyed it all in all. It also translates really well live which makes me think more highly of it.
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10- Syrian - Alien Nation
Slightly less cheesy and synthpoppy than previous efforts, but no less enjoyable for it.
09- Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde
Having heard that 'Le Secret' CD from a couple of years ago and not thought too much of it, this was a really pleasant surprise - the addition of the female vocals really brings out the best in the music as a whole. The really heavy parts fit well with the rest of the songs, and don't overpower them at all.
08- Justice - †
Speaks for itself really. Far too goddamn catchy for words.
07- VNV Nation - Judgement
I pretty much had to include this because they were amongst my favourite electronic acts for years, and I really like the direction they've taken on the last, and now this CD. Much more mature and developed than the first two or three.
06- Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
What Hat said, basically. It doesn't have quite as many memorable 'woah' moments as albums like 'Stupid Dream,' but on the other hand, it's far more interesting than 'Deadwing' - definitely a return to form.
05- SynSUN - Unstoppable
Really innovative psy-trance act from the Ukraine, the first disc is a satisfyingly well-executed collection of stunning trance tunes; while the second goes all prog, bringing in guitar solos, and tribal and classical influences.
04- Reaper - Hell Starts With An H
There's been a slight lull in the number of quality EBM releases recently but the first half of 2007 has fixed that, a lot of bands putting out really interesting new work. None more so than Reaper, the latest project of that guy from namnambulu who's been in a shitload of bands since. This is definitely the best one.
03- Samael - Solar Soul
These guys have been putting out quality metal for awhile but there was always the feeling with the other CDs that they hadn't quite fulfilled their potential. This is definitely their finest work to date, great riffs and an overall awesome sound.
02- Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
These guys were my favourite band for a long while and I kinda feared they'd lost it a bit after Lullabies, but this is a really varied and excellent cd. Nick's missed in places but for a new QOTSA release, this is sublime.
01- The National - Boxer
I've raved at length in a topic I made for it, and the now playing thread, etc, about just how perfect this CD is. There's also comparatively little to say about it, seeing as there's nothing particularly innovative going on. Instead of trying to find some elusive and mysterious 'new sound' which no one had ever tried before, the National just concentrated on writing better songs than everyone else. Awesome vocals too. This is gonna be hard to top this year.
Wanted to include about 50 honourable mentions but I'll restrain myself to saying that it was really annoying not being able to squeeze in Stars Of The Lid, Eluvium, EITS and Manic Street Preachers. And Iron & Wine will definitely be on the version of this list at the end of the year.
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On further reflection I'd like to substitute Neon Bible for the Ghost album.
I honestly forgot it came out this year. Looks like I got the leak in mid-late January. Close enough.
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6. Do Make Say Think- You, You're A History In Rust*
I'm pretty sure this one's out. I was holding it in the record store about a week ago.
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did you whisper it sweet nothings
(you should have)
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I think it came out a few months ago. I saw DMST live two days in a row a while back and they played most of the new album. The second show in a church in Philly had an especially fantastic set list. The encore was Ontario Plates and the really great (and awesome show ender) In Mind. I also have the album on vinyl and not only is the packaging cool but the it sounds frickin fantastic (as do all DMST albums really) on the vinyl recording. They're one band I almost never listen to in a digital format b/c I have all their records and honestly think they sound better.
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I'm a little bewildered by this seemingly sudden love for Do Make Say Think. I guess that tour with Broken Social Scene really did get them more exposure. They've been one of my favorite bands for at least 7 years now and honestly the new one isn't even the best. It's close, but I'd put Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn and Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord is Dead above it.
Also, I never thought to call them post-rock. I always called them "space jazz".
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Is there an increase in love for them? I've not really noticed that to be honest. I too have been a fan for several years (closer to 5 I'd say) and their level of popularity hasn't seemed to increase to me. They still are on Constellation, they still play small venues ect. This new album is definitely not their best. In fact if we disregard the first self titled album (because it's so different from everything they've done since) and the not-really-an-album Besides EP, it may be their worst. Luckily for DMST, their worst is still a really great album. Frankly I think they deserve all the love they get and more. I think that, because of how frickin good they are, it shouldn't be at all bewildering that they're finally becoming more popular if indeed they are.
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10) The White Stripes - Icky Thump
I'm a huge fan of The White Stripes and this new album did not disappoint at all. Jack & Meg brought everything I love about their sound and threw in some freaky stuff too. Catch Hell Blues is up there for my favorite song of the year, and You Don't Know What Love Is(You Do as You're Told) seems to be the one White Stripes song that everyone can love.
9) Battles - Mirrored
This blew me away the first time I heard it, and continues to blow me away every time I put it on. The music is very dizzying and chaotic, especially those "vocals." Also, Battles may have one of the best one word band names still left.
8) The New Pornographers - Challengers
The New Pornos are another one of my favorites releasing a new album this year. Challengers might be their best album yet. It's certainly their most consistent, especially when compared with Twin Cinema. With all of the talk of Bejar not being too involved on this one, he certainly left his mark in a big way.
7) Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Friend Opportunity is just plain awesome. I have yet to find a person who didn't enjoy Believe E.S.P. or The Perfect Me. Great length too at only 36 mins. or so. Incredibly fun to listen to.
6) Parts & Labor - Mapmaker
More people need to listen to this album. It's such a great blend of chaotic noise and punk that actually manages to keep it's song structure intact. My favorite album right now to blast at ridiculous volumes, especially in the car.
5) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
This is making a lot of lists, and for good reason too. Anybody can dance to just about anything on this album. Also, the three song combo of North American Scum, Someone Great, and All My Friends is incredibly hard for any other release this year to measure up to.
4) Menomena - Friend & Foe
I fell in love with this album the first time I heard it streamed from the Barsuk website. Muscle N' Flo is up there for my favorite songs..period, let alone just this year. \
3) Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
I first heard this while hanging out at my college radio station's studio while someone else was doing their show, and I really really didn't like it. For some reason everything just clicked with it when I decided to give it another shot a month or so later. The music is loud and dramatic, and I love all of the clever lyric one liners such as She's a Rejector's "and I know you're not her, cause the girl of my dreams is prolly God..still I want you!"
2) Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner
This album hasn't gotten the attention it deserves either. Shapes and Sizes cram alot of ideas on here, but the album doesn't feel crammed or all over the place. They remind me a lot of some weird blend of Architecture in Helsinki and Broken Social Scene.
1) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
I'm completely head over heels for this album. Spoon just seem to have gotten everything right. Don't You Evah is for lack of better words "friggin amazing." It feels like a natural progression from Gimme Fiction, but much more concise. I cannot WAIT to see them live on the 11th!
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Dammit, I totally forgot Ted Leo.
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As far as DMST go, I've been a fan since & Yet & Yet. My personal favorite of theirs is Winter Hymn.
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A bit hard but
10.- Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
9.- Panda Bear - Person Path
8.- Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
7.- !!! - Myth Takes
6.- Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
5.- Maserati - Inventions for The New Season
4.- Justice -
3.- LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
2.- Andew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
1.- of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
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TOP 10 ELECTRONIC RECORDS OF MID-2007:
Just out of curiosity, why did you separate "electronic" records from "others"?
9. Thomas Fehlmann- Honigpumpe
One half of the Orb presents some of the best sound-sculpting techno I've heard all year. "100 Baume" is the track to check out on this one. Mellow mellow mellow.
I posted this in the Sendspace thread if anyone wants to check it out. He's been making awesome shit for as long as I can remember (I first got into him via Sun Electric in about '93), so I think his "sound-sculpting" credentials are pretty evident from his back catalogue. If you haven't checked out other releases of his I'd strongly recommend it. My favourite is Lowflow, which is in a more downbeat/trip-hop/whatever style.
BTW, friends who like that Pantha Du Prince type sound all rave about some guys called Efdemin. Maybe also check out the Body Language comp I posted in the Sendspace thread.
Most of the things I got excited about this year were released in 2006, but here's my effort:
6. Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Jinx
Jazz meets electronics in a mellow style. Some of it is a bit like Do Make Say Think, actually.
5. Thomas Fehlmann - Honigpumpe
Super-silken techno, fulfills the promise of Monolake's first few albums before they went all shit, good Bladerunner moments and all the rest. Completely unassuming, but I think it's still good.
4. People Press Play - self-titled
Denmark's finest trio, aka System, Future 3, etc. team up with a singer to make a weird shoegaze throwback still totally informed by a good decade's experience of dance culture and grubby dub vibes. Not perfect, but pretty decent. The happy sad of You're Always Wrong really gets me.
3. Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Cendre
Not as good as any of Fennesz's solo albums, too pretty, too nothing much, but still excellent.
2. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Top notch. Didn't give a shit about the first album, but he's really stepped up his game wrt writing decent songs. The dancey-but-sad thing really worked for me in a year of feeling miserable and hating my life. Awesome! Hm. Worth it for that jaded line about the kids being impossibly tanned from All My Friends.
1. Dntel - Dumb Luck
I was pretty underwhelmed by the guy's efforts to sing on last year's Jimmy Figurine album, but the title track to this rules and I like every song on it.
I've listened to well over a hundred new releases this year, but these are the only ones that I think are really good so far.
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I've listened to well over a hundred new releases this year, but these are the only ones that I think are really good so far.
I don't know whether the first part of that statement or the second part confuses me more. :?
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So far, 2007 has been wonderful:
stuff
your channeling pitchfork there... it's quite scary
4. Battles- Mirrored
I don't think I have anything to say about this that hasn't been said better by other people! Basically if you hear "Atlas" and do not enjoy it, you have no soul, no rhythm, and I think you are a horrible person.
um...i have no soul, no rythmn and i'm a horrible person...GO ME!
now that that stuffs over my top ten
1. The Pax Cecelia - Blessed Are The Bonds
2. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are you the destroyer
=3. The Nation Blue - Protest Songs
=3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
5. Ensiferum - Victory Songs
6. Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
7. Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
8. Nine Inch Nails Year Zero
9. Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup
10. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Honourable Mentions
The National - Boxer
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Nauthisuruz - The End of Nauthisuruz
albums i really wasn't a fan of
!!! - myth takes
battles - mirrored
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Pitchfork didn't like Grinderman that much, and never gives much thought to stuff like Psychic TV.
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Apart from two short interviews (one with Battles and one with Thurston Moore), I have never read Pitchfork.
3. Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Cendre
Not as good as any of Fennesz's solo albums, too pretty, too nothing much, but still excellent.
I forgot that this album came out this year. I liked it, although I'm not very familier with the rest of Fennesz's work. Except for one or two songs that I've found a bit dull, I think Cendre is a pretty good album.
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I heard it once and pretty much dismissed it offhand, but then, I only really liked one song from the one before it.
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It is a bit Edges of Twilight to their first album's Splendor Solis.
I don't know if I've even heard ten albums released this year. I'm really digging Art Brut's It's a Bit Complicated, and I am genuinely enjoying Wincing the Night Away more and more each time I listen to it. I've also just this very minute finished listening to Low's Drums and Guns through open air for the first time, as opposed to through earphones, and wow! It's a completely different album. Which isn't that surprising, but you'd kind of expect Low to sound better through the more intimate delivery offered by earphones. In fact, the open-air listen really allowed the songs to open out and breath just that little bit that they needed. If you haven't listened to it this way yet, I really must insist that you do so.
Three more albums I'm really enjoying so far this year: Person Pitch, Dumb Luck, and the Reminder.
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I stand by what I said six months ago, Neon Bible is better than Funeral by a fair margin.
The new Low is damn fine, not one of the ten best but still very good.
I'm a bit surprised, usually I don't hear ten great things by the end of the year, let alone by July, though granted I've been doing more active seeking-out than usual.
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I wholeheartedly agree that Neon Bible is the best thing they're ever done. I can see people liking Funeral more, but I can't really understand Tommy's comment about how it Matrix Trilogied the band. You may not think it's a great record, but there were much worse things released this year.
Do Make Say Think: I actually gave this band a chance because somebody on here (maybe it was a few people) has been talking about them seemingly since I started lurking here about a year ago, so when I was in the record store a few weeks ago and say a few of their albums on vinyl I eeny-meeny-mini-moed until I ended up with You, You're A History In Rust. I love the little insert that comes with the album talking about their back catalog. I knew basically nothing about this band, not even that they're affiliated with Broken Social Scene, so...
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I should probably get that LCD soundsystem record, huh.
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I should probably get that LCD soundsystem record, huh.
I can upload it on the Sendspace thread if you want.
Also, am I the only one who thinks so highly of the new Spoon album?
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Gridgm, you and I have the exact same album in our number one spot. As the band members are all good friends of mine, I'm kind of curious, how did you come to hear them?
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Neon Bible isn't BAD...I think I'm just kind of burned out on them this year. In fact with a few notable exceptions I feel kind of burnt out on indie rock in general.
I made a seperate electronic music top 10 because I felt like it, I guess? Also if I had tried to incorporate all those records in my overall list, a lot of honestly really good non-electronic albums would've been given short shrift because I cannot stop rocking out to Gabriel Ananda
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6 Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War - It's kind of like Set Yourself On Fire Part 2 which is totally fine by me.
This leaked already?
...Can you upload it?
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Gridgm, you and I have the exact same album in our number one spot. As the band members are all good friends of mine, I'm kind of curious, how did you come to hear them?
I like The Pax Cecilia a lot as well. I personally got their release free from their website after hearing about it somewhere or other. I'm not surprised that it hasn't gotten a lot of attention but I think it deserves a lot more than it has. There's a lot of great songs on the album. The chilling sonic rumblings and distant vocals of The Wasteland, the contemplative build to the epic climax of The Water Song (with lots of nice strings to boot), the ferocious guitar and vocals of The Progress and the brilliant acoustic placidity of the final track, The Hymn, are some standouts. The whole album though is really great and has a lot of originality. More people should listen to this album!
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Gridgm, you and I have the exact same album in our number one spot. As the band members are all good friends of mine, I'm kind of curious, how did you come to hear them?
My album of the year is already set; I'm going with "Blessed Are The Bonds" by The Pax Cecilia. (http://www.paxcecilia.com) It's like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pg.99, and Russian Circles all got together in a locked room for a fight to the death, and got their ass handed to them by the new kid in town. Gridgm, if you're a fan of CTTS, you might want to check them out.
that would be you will
on a similar note i'm looking for a copy of there first album Nouveau you wouldn't happen to know where i could find a copy?
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Also, am I the only one who thinks so highly of the new Spoon album?
It's not actually out out yet, so those of us who don't download an album the second it leaks haven't heard it.
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Neon Bible is an album where I can't get around the production. The sheen is coupled with reverb like they're recording in a large underground cavern, possibly the Batcave.
I'll maybe try to come up with this list later. It's tough, plus I haven't heard some records which I can almost guarantee I'll love (see: Okkervil River).
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Neon Bible is an album where I can't get around the production. The sheen is coupled with reverb like they're recording in a large underground cavern, possibly the Batcave.
Godspeed You Black Emperor! should record in the Batcave.
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I have not purchased/aquired 10 albums from this year.
Thus I will describe my number one for now:
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
I was pretty blown away by the time The Dark Eternal Night finished, but that wasn't half of it. By the time Repentance and Prophets Of War were done I was so progged up that my life was moving in 9/8 time. And that's not even the end yet, and this album has arguably the most epic ending, ever. It's shreddy, melodic, well-written, purposeful and conceptual. Well-fucking-done Dream Theater.
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I haven't heard some records which I can almost guarantee I'll love (see: Okkervil River).
The new Animal Collective is like this for me. 6 of the songs have leaked, and they're all amazing, but I don't have the full record yet so I didn't wanna put it on the list.
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Neon Bible is an album where I can't get around the production. The sheen is coupled with reverb like they're recording in a large underground cavern, possibly the Batcave.
Godspeed You Black Emperor! should record in the Batcave.
2nded
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FUCK I LOST MY ENTIRE POST
GGRHYUGHGUHG
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See, when you guys were talking about the Batcave, I thought you meant the legendary goth club (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batcave_%28London_nightclub%29), and I was rather confused. Then I realised you were just being geeks
I've heard like, three new releases this year. I'm still trying to catch up with 2006. Literally just listened to Laibachs 'Volk' and English Heretics '2006 Annual' like, yesterday.
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Ok ok. I am no music nerd so I am not even sure I have 10 favourite albums to put into a top, but let's see if I can do this.
10. Busdriver - Roadkillovercoat
This was an ipod staple on the train for me, but then I somehow lost interest in it. I still play it, but its appeal definitely faded.
09. LCD Soundsystem - The Sound of Silver
I used to put this on on the train and kind of chug along to it. It's definitely some cool traveling music. It kind of trails off at the end couple of songs for me, and I usually skip over "Someone great" unless I am relaxing, but other than that it's a pretty decent album.
08. Ratatat - Remixes vol II
The first remixes album underwhelmed me greatly, so I didn't think this would be any good. After a few listens it hooked me & it's now pretty much my music of choice while cooking.
07. Bonde do Role - Bonde do Role with Lasers
Grabbed this a while ago when my housemate asked me to look for some Brazilian funk. At first we were disappointed, but I listened to it some more and now I can't stop bopping to it when I put it on.
06. SebastiAn - Ross Ross Ross promo EP
This EP (http://xplosif.net/trash/mp3s/index.php?dir=SebastiAn) is up and down for me, but goddamnit if the ups aren't good. Everything by SebastiAn other than Head/Off I enjoy, and of the remixes I really love his Human After All, Walking Machine and Going Nowhere edits. The rest of the album is pretty average, else it'd be rated higher.
05. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
I have only just started to listen to this, but it's incredibly infectious. I had already been hearing a handful of the album's tracks in various anonymous mixes/clubs, so when I heard them on the album it was a nice surprise.
04. Amon Tobin - Foley Room
This is one of those albums I can put on and listen to from start to finish. It has it's low moments (yes, the end of Killer's Vanilla/start of Kitchen Sink, I am looking at you) but overall it's a great album.
03. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
At first I really didn't like this new album all that much. Then I played it for my housemate and he played it on his pc a few times. After a few plays on my pc, then a few plays on his pc, then a few plays on my ipod it grew on me.
02. Kavinksy - 1986 EP
Ok. The year is 1986. A young dude who dresses like Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop is driving a red Ferrari Testarossa. He takes a corner too fast, wrecks his car and winds up in hospital, where he dies. Somehow he comes back to life as a zombie with a telepathic link to his self-repairing ghost car, busts the car out of the police impound and has been driving really really fast ever since. This (http://xplosif.net/trash/mp3s/index.php?dir=Kavinsky) is the (awesome) soundtrack.
01. Justice -
Jesus
I'd already heard a few of these tracks on Bang Gang/New Sound of Trash podcast mixes but not put 2 and 2 together and thought "hey, let's grab some Justice mp3s!" before the album came out. This is another one of those albums I can put on and listen to from start to finish, only this time it's usually accompanied by me dancing around like a madman, much to the amusement of my housemate.
Also, there's been a few mixes I've enjoyed this year so far, but I don't think that's the point of this this top 10, right?
* Note that it's taking a while to upload the stuff I've linked to. It'll get there eventually.
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6 Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War - It's kind of like Set Yourself On Fire Part 2 which is totally fine by me.
This leaked already?
...Can you upload it?
I don't think it has. I have a friend who has connections to the band. I don't think they'd want me to upload it, but I guess I can ask next time I talk to her.
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This year's been completely ridiculous for stuff I am into to come out and be good, so here goes. I warn in advance that I'm not mega-indy, but just some chubby music major in a military town. That being said, here are some ten albums that I like. The top four were REALLY hard to order, though.
10>Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – “In Glorious Times”
I want to like this album. I first saw SGM open for dredg, and it really takes seeing SGM to understand how mind warpingly spectacular and bizarre they are. It seems, though, that they took a creative process similar to The Doors. See, the self titled and Strange Days were all original material, written and rewritten from a whole lot of gigging and refined to perfection. The third album, “People of the Sun”, was the first with new material. When I saw them with dredg, “Of Natural History” wasn’t out yet, so there was a lot of music that I didn’t have access to from that show. When that album came out, though, it was great to hear songs like “Phthisis” and “The Donkey Headed Adversary etc” again. This is an album of what seems like new material, and…well, I am not sure what I think, even after repeated listens. It’s a really difficult listen, mostly because it lacks the really tight jamming that’s made SGM so great in the past.
9>Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – “Living with the Living”
Again, this was a first exposure event, so I was never really sure what to think as the album went on. It’s a very tightly made post-punk album, though, and that says something with how utterly hit and miss post-punk can be.
8>Maximo Park – “Our Earthly Pleasures”
Maximo Park is totally a guilty pleasure for me, and this is totally more Maximo Park. That’s probably enough to turn some people off, but my response was “Hell yes more Maximo Park!” The essential appeal of MP to me is that it’s very straight forward and easy listening, plus the lyrics can lean towards heartwarming more often than not. The highlight is “Our Velocity” which is uncharacteristically arrogant but it’s hysterical at the same time.
7>Devin Townsend – “Ziltoid The Omniscient”
Metal has always been a little ridiculous to me, from the incessant chest beating and the general content of the music. Every now and again, concept and music style unite into one really, REALLY awesome album. Devin Townsend is usually pretty good at making such albums, but this album is completely amazing. A story about a coffee seeking alien overlord and his attempts to destroy earth over a bad cup of Joe is supplanted by the most annoying kind of metal, but Devin is wonderfully self aware of the odd aspects of most metal, and he uses them to make everything completely hysterical. Really unique, and at least worth a listen just to hear the crazy story. “Indeed, phooey.”
6> Clutch – “From Beale St. To Oblivion”
This is a Clutch album.
5> LCD Soundsystem – “Sound of Silver”
It’s hard to think of a good way to describe the album, barring terms like “infectious”, but that’s exactly what it is. It’s really hard to shake after the first listen, and it just gets better with each time through. It’s not exactly deep, world changing music, but sometimes, a man has to dance, and this is great music to dance to. Really tight album.
4>Queens of the Stone Age – “Era Vulgaris”
A middling Queens album is still so much better than so many rock bands could ever hope to put out. Since Oliveri left, the sound has become much more experimental, and Josh learned his lessons from “Lullabies to Paralyze”, and seems to have streamlined a lot for this album. It’s a solid rock album and it’s never really obtuse like the last half of “Lullabies” was. It’s no “R”, but that’s hardly fair.
3>The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
I used to totally not get the Arcade Fire. It was over one magical summer that the entire appeal of the music made sense, and since then I hold “Funeral” to be one of the best rock albums ever created. That being said, “Funeral” is a little inaccessable. The way I’ve been going about telling people I know about the album is that “Neon Bible” is the decoder ring to “Funeral”’s secret message. This album feels to me like a realization of the conceptual part of the Arcade Fire, and on top of that, it’s just great songwriting, even if it is a little morbid and depressing. But that seems to be most music nowadays, so, hey.
2>AIR - Pocket Symphony
This was my first exposure to AIR, and to be perfectly honest, it was because of all of those ads all over allmusic. So I caved and got it and, well, now I know why this album had that kind of advertising drive behind it. It's a really great album, with a really great balance of rock and electronica. It’s a lot of really solid grooves with simple hooks that really stick.
1>Neurosis – “Given to the Rising”
I loved “The Eye of Every Storm.” So much. So when I heard Scott Kelly say this was the heaviest album since “Through Silver in Blood”, a total impossibility, I was skeptical. When the song “Water Is Not Enough” hit, I was depressed. I couldn’t really get into it, because it just was not what I wanted from new Neurosis. All this in mind, though, I still bought the new album, and, well, Kelly wasn’t joking around. This is a Neurosis album, and a damn fine one. It seems like the culmination of everything Neurosis has been up to or involved in, and it’s damn awesome.
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I recommend going out and buying Moon Safari as soon as fucking possible. IMO the rest of their discography is an inferior, slightly different version of it.
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I recommend going out and buying Moon Safari as soon as fucking possible. IMO the rest of their discography is an inferior, slightly different version of it.
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Being an unfortunate user of dial-up it's really hard for me to keep up with new musics very well. This is especially bad this year, when good bands are coming out with albums left and right! It's insane, but I try. I haven't heard tons of stuff that's already been released yet.
10. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
9. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
8. Feist - The Reminder
7. The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder
6. The New Pornographers - Challengers
5. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
4. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
3. Justice -
2. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
1. of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
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That being said, Funeral is a little inaccessable.
wait what
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That being said, “Funeral” is a little inaccessable.
wait what
From personal experience. You'll have to keep in mind that I went from mainstream rock, to being a metal head (albeit a bad one), to finding indie rock. My experience with Arcade Fire, the first time, was very underwhelming, but as I sunk deeper into the genre (if that really applies) as a whole, it made more and more sense, until it finally clicked for me.
Should've specified.
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I'm actually pretty bored with Arcade Fire and don't understand what all the fuss is about.
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That is pretty much my view Mis.
Also that makes much more sense sir!
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I recommend going out and buying the soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides as soon as fucking possible. It's incredible.
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Beaten to the punch
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I had no idea who or what Justice was before I read this thread, and since it gained so many top five positions i decided to check it out.
Figures I've been making myself look silly (read: dancing) to their music for a while.
EDIT: I also really like their video for D.A.N.C.E. I want a shirt that does that.
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6> Clutch From Beale St. To Oblivion
This is a Clutch album.
I love that description.
Also, I'm pissed that I forgot to put this in my top 10. Oh well. It's a very good album.
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EDIT: I also really like their video for D.A.N.C.E. I want a shirt that does that.
I'm pretty sure the t shirts they used are up for sale somewhere.
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Sometimes I can't remember when an album came out. If anything is old, let me know, I'll change it. There are links to hear songs!
10) Jason Falkner - I'm OK You're OK
A friend recommended this because he is in love with Jason Falkner. I like it, it's really catchy and supposedly this is not even his best album.
http://www.box.net/shared/qxcj46ev8z
9) The Alarmists - A Detail of Soldiers
These guys come out of Minnesota, I think. I really like them because the singer's voice reminds me of Jeff Tweedy.
http://www.box.net/shared/ydase2jsqe
8) Irene - Apple Bay
Really great poppy stuff, all sunshine and lemonade!
http://www.box.net/shared/24uy4meug1
7) Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
These guys really confuse me, some songs are country-ish, others are kind of electro-pop. Hmm.
http://www.box.net/shared/49muov5870
6) Lost In The Trees - Time Taunts Me
Dark, moody, instrumental. For some reason I think of Batman when I listen to this album.
http://www.box.net/shared/7b79qmve9e
5) Feist - The Reminder
This album feels a lot more free and inspired than her last album, which just sounded too coffee shop.
http://www.box.net/shared/ft1ixnzo8q
4) Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
I got this album off of here, and it's great! Really poppy stuff...the singer's voice is not the best, but I think it's suited really well for this music.
http://www.box.net/shared/fy4e9aohym
3) The Icicles - Arrivals & Departures
If you couldn't tell yet, I love poppy music, especially if it has a female singer. This band pretty much meets both requirements and then some.
http://www.box.net/shared/vhtchky5hg
2) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
At first, I didn't really this album the first or second listen. However, it just grew on me and now I would rank it maybe even better than Summerteeth (but still below YHF). It's that good. I bet this album would be great to hear live.
http://www.box.net/shared/820z8usirx
1) Arrah And The Ferns
More poppy, female singer stuff! I like this album a lot because for some reason, it feels like a bunch of friends got together and decided to bang out some songs, instead of it seeming like a job, it feels more like a hobby.
http://www.box.net/shared/h1uicgy8xa
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I am kinda behind in terms of keeping up with new releases; up until March, I knew what was what, but then exams started, then I lost the power adapter to my laptop, then my wireless card started misbehaving.....so here are a couple of lists:
7 ALBUMS I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH
7. The Besnard Lakes - Are the Dark Horse
Dark and kinda moody; good for working, good for studying, not so hot for just bumming around in summer, hence my love for this has waned a bit; it will probably resume when it's time to get a little more serious again.
6. Young Galaxy - Young Galaxy
Pitchfork kinda dismissed this one off-handedly (I read a lot of P-fork reviews at work....I have a boring job) but it's dreamy and pretty to me nonetheless. Even though it's shoegazy and introspective it's not a headphones record. Good to wake up to.
5. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Calming in its repetition, but not boring.
4. The Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock
This accompanies me in the car a lot of the time. It has somewhat of a storyline and tries to be a concept album, but it's mostly just anthemic, straightforward pop-rock with atmosphere and heart to spare.
3. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Everyone else talked about this album already....pretty solid. The Past Is A Grotesque Animal is easily my favourite, despite how painful the lyrics clearly are...
2. Menomena - Friend and Foe
I didn't get into this one at first; I liked Muscle'N Flo and Air Aid but otherwise was underwhelmed....and then saw them live on a whim with some friends. After that I gave them the attention they deserved.
1. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
Probably not so cool on this forum, but I love the melodrama of this album. I love the overblown arrangements. I love the sheer theatrics and I've listened this thing to death in the first part of this year; we will see how it lasts through the second half but for now it stands where it is.
Both the Arcade Fire and the Shins were albums I liked upon their release but since I'm not really reaching for them anymore, they're not really cut for my 'tops' list.
My problem with making year-end (or mid-year) lists and such is that I really get absorbed when I find a record I like, and as a result I'm always about 6 months behind the curve. It's pretty hard to tell yourself, "hey, you should listen to that new Battles album that is supposedly really good, even though you are flipping shit over Beirut at the moment, y'know, right after everyone moved on".
2006 ALBUMS I WANT TO CALL MY BEST 2007 ALBUMS:
Animal Collective - Feels
Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
Shout Out Out Out Out - Not Saying/Just Saying
Chad VanGaalen - Skelliconnection
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Am I the only one who noticed that there are only 9 albums in jeph's "Top 10 everything else" list?
Maybe I should head to the newcomers forum...
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Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian[/b]. This album is well outside of the realm of things I normally listen to, but it's incredibly catchy and actually opened me up to a lot more atonality in music. The off rythem really grabbed me, and the vocalist is incredibly commanding. To me it sounds like what the Arcade Fire would be if they freaked out, trimmed the fat from their band, and were just generally 100 times better.
I think this is a really good choice and as I constantly rethink my top ten so far this year this album shows up on the list more and more. It's easily the best FE album and 'Bushels' is probably my number one favorite song of the year so far. These guys are great, spazzy indie rock (the way it should be). People who haven't heard this yet would be doing themselves a favor if they checked it out asap.
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Oh man...uhm...top 7.
7. Whatever the hell the new 3IoB album is. It's gotta be great.
6. Feist - The Reminder
5. Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell
4. Dungen - Tio Bitar
3. New Pornographers - Challengers
2. Space reserved for the forth-coming Sigur Ros EP and acoustic LP
1. The Rosebuds - Night Of The Furies
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1. Times New Viking - Present the Paisley Reich
Lo-fi is a fairly pass้ philosophy in contemporary indie-rock, which is why it's so refreshing to hear a young band accept a lo-fi aesthetic while bypassing the genre's obvious clich้s. While Guided By Voices cleverly exploited their recording conditions to effectively simulate an idealized intimacy with the listener, TNV's songs become all the more brittle and biting. The essential songs here are "Devo & Wine", "Teenage Lust!", and "Love Your Daighters", though the album is best heard in its messy, bloody, summer-lovin' entirety.
2. Liars - Liars
It's hard for me to talk about Liars without talking about other bands, so here goes: Liars are the latest initiates in a distinguished tradition including the likes of Can, Public Image Ltd., and mid-period Radiohead. Right now, among relatively mainstream indie bands, they stand absolutely without peer. Compared to the conceptually novel (dialectical indie-rock?) Drum's Not Dead, Liars is an album explicitly steeped in its tradition. Influences come up left and right, transfiguring one another in fascinating ways. My absolute favourite: "Pure Unevil", where Joy Division's "Atmosphere" meets the Shaggs' "My Pal Foot Foot" and I giggle madly.
3. Rhys Chatham - A Crimson Grail (For 400 Electric Guitars)
It's actually not that loud. Weirdly, it sounds a lot like those slowed down Beethoven symphonies that play over the course of a day, revealing hidden qualities not evident in the regular compositions. But I find it fascinating, like sitting in an old church while ghosts whisper past in my imagination and every echo sounds strangely solemn.
4. John Zorn - Six Litanies for Heliogabalus
This is the third meeting of the Moonchild band, and on this date the bass/drum/Patton trio is complimented by several decidely more delicate additions, including chorus, synths, and alto-sax. The resulting contrast nicely recalls mid-70s King Crimson, albeit with Zorn's very different manner of composition. The best song here is "Litany II", where violent interplay from the noise contingent opens up into a dreamy keyboard passage with some lovely-sounding female vocal accompaniment before Mike Patton/Heliogabalus decides to be a total jerk and murder his houseguests.
5. Louis Sclavis - L'Imparfait des Langues
An album of beautiful, mysterious jazz-fusion with plenty of unexpected side-passages. "Arch้ologie" is my favourite, opening with a catchy post-bop melody before locking into a killer motorik groove.
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Oh man i forgot sundowner and call me lightning. Put em 3 and 9 respectively, and uh..get me another beer. Fuck yer bud light, dad.
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10. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Living with the Living
9. Feist - The Reminder
8. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
7. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
6. Menomena - Friend and Foe
5. Liars - Liars
4. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
3. Justice -
2. Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
1. Marnie mother fuckin' Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm
The remaining album releases I'm most looking forward to are:
8 Diagrams - Wu-Tang Clan
Swift & Changeable - MF DOOM and Ghostface Killah
Heartland - Final Fantasy
And whatever other pieces of tasty are released/leaked this year. Huzzah for great music!
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Man i forgot frank turner, too. Replace bad religion with turner.
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I don't even have a top ten yet. So far, my best of the year list is unordered (except for my top spot) and only goes to eight:
The Pax Cecilia - Blessed Are The Bonds (This is my album of the year, hands down.)
Dalek - Abandoned Language
Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
Sage Francis - Human The Death Dance
Neurosis - Given To The Rising
Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
All of the above are albums that I know will make it all the way to my end-of-the-year list. I have a couple albums that are in the Top 10 by default, but may be displaced before the end of the year:
NORA - Save Yourself
Poison The Well - Versions
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ok so i listened to every album i currently have on my list as well as the new maserati, do make say think, velvet revolver and for some odd reason smashing pumpkins and reordered my list to look like so
1. pax cecelia
2. of montral
=3. nation blue
=3 arcade fire
5. maserati
6. ensiferum
7. explosions in the sky
8. justice
9. NIN
10. Nauthisuruz
it now includes 3 instrumental records...yay
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Words
Wax Mannequin has a new record out. Just so you know.
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I've been listening to a lot more album lately. As such my list has changed. I attempted to put these selections in some sort of order although it's always changing. I also tried to explain my choices a bit more:
10. Okkervil River- The Stage Names
This may not be be their best album but it's damn good anyway. It's certainly shinier and more produced than their earlier work. It has some really great tracks. The rousing and epic ending of the opening track and the rollicking rock stylings of 'Unless it's Kick' are two early standouts from the album and others follow. Of course there's the abysmal 'Savannah Smiles.' OR worst song yet. The album as a whole is really cohesive and has all sorts of infectious rock/folk/pop influences that come together into a really nice, well produced, fun album. The lyrics may not be as strong here on the whole but they're still better than 90% of songs out there.
9. Liars- Liars
A really cool album. 'Sailing to Byzantium' (hooray for Yeats' references) was an initial standout song for me. I've heard people getting all upset that Liars have moved towards the mainstream with this album. While it may be more accessible at times than Drum's Not Dead, I personally don't think this argument holds much water. Liars are a hell of a lot more interesting to listen to than a vast majority of bands in the 'indie-rock' field these days and this album is further proof. Sure it's not as imaginative or as good as Drum's Not Dead but this album has a hell of a lot going for it. It ends on a very pretty note just as DND with wavering organ sounds and floating vocals, Leather Prowler is a noisy, messy, yet very well put together track with it's repetitious waves of drums and hollering, minaret style vocals, and the opening track builds furiously with trilling guitar, pounding drums and wailing vocals. Overall an extremely cool album.
8. The Destruction of Small Ideas- 65daysofstatic
Just plain great post rock. Again their is a reliance on electronics and piano to enhance all the songs but there's some magnificent builds from quiet to loud. 65daysofstatic have their best album here. Strings and piano make for a beautiful accompaniment to the powerful "post rock"ing that's going on here. Enough said.
7. His/Hers- Zelienople
A sultry, sludgy noise album, His/Hers is unique and masterfully put together. Haunting, nigh indecipherable vocals float over wafting guitars and distorted effects which slowly simmer and shift. Percussions clatter in and out and guitars and effects buzz and hiss and sigh over the course of five superb tracks. This album is pensive and seems filled with different emotions. There's the aggressive pounding clatter of noise which brings the second track to a climactic and terrifying close, the slow meticulous wanderings of the opening track, and the pysch-folk feel of the third track's opening with tambourines and plucked guitars. There are so many genres melting and swirlling together here (free jazz, psych and noise rock, drone, blues, even some metal) that it's amazing that Zelienople, in their best album to date, pulled it off. This is one heck of an album and any fan of noise or drone would be doing themselves a disservice in not listening.
6. The Pirate Ship Quintet- The Pirate Ship Quntet
This 3 track (about 30 minute) ep is the debut piece from The Pirate Ship Quintet. If this album is any indication of their ability, I'm really excited for a full length. These guys really know how to craft excellent "post rock". Sure it's not entirely underivative but there is definitely originality and an abundance of skill in these songs. Strings rise and swell with the slowly building guitars. As is typical with the genre the songs build towards dizzying heights. They do this with great aplomb though as simple piano notes drift over soaring guitars and pounding drums. The three songs are lovely examples of why I love this genre of instrumental rock so much. It's a great ep and has me really excited for more.
5. All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone- Explosions in the Sky
Pretty much every "post rock" band these days gets compared to EitS. Often this is not without good reason. EitS are masters of the genre and have perhaps mastered, if not pioneered, the trilling guitar and 'machine gun' like staccato of drums that build from quiet to loud, crescendoing with epic climaxes. Well EitS have done it again with this album, and better than ever before. This is a really excellent album and certainly EitS best to date. It's the most epic and the songs are the best composed out their whole body of work. This album also is closest to the reverent intensity of their live shows. The absolutely mind blowing opening of the first track, the piano based beauty of So Long, Lonesome, the long, epic build of It's Natural to be Afraid, and the beautiful EitS, perhaps better exemplified here in Catastrophe and the Cure, all make this a very worthy album for any instrumental rock fans collection.
4. Ghetto Beats on the Surface of the Sun (1-4)- Tarentel
Tarentel may be my favorite band. They are certainly the band I have spent the most money on. Tarentel releases tons of very limited stuff, a lot of it on vinyl. Most of this stuff disappears and shows up on the internettubes for crazy prices, most of which I succumb to paying. Anyway I got lucky this time. GBonSofS was a four LP compilation released by Tarentel and soon to be reissued in cd format. The album is a continuation of Tarentel's ever growing collection of 'improvised' albums. Basically, noise/drone/improvised awesomeness doesn't get any better than this. Tarentel masterfully creates noisy, clattering, ambient, distorted works. Feedback and distortion ripple through tape noises and often tribal sound drums which clatter about in the background. This album may not be their best work to date but it's highly ambitious and superbly crafted and a perfect example of why Tarentel are so original and so revered.
3. You, You're a History in Rust- Do Make Say Think
I was so excited for this album. DMST have long been one of my all time favorite bands and I was anxious for new material. This didn't disappoint but it did surprise me. There are vocals here, and folksy moments, and all sorts of stuff which I had never heard on a DMST album before. But I loved it. It's definitely not their best album. In fact, disregarding the first, s/t, album and the ep, this may be my least favorite DMST album. Luckily for DMST, their worst album is still brilliant and far better than most album out there. Everything I love about DMST but in an evolved sense. The two drums still pound away behind the French horns and the saxophones and the multiplicity of guitars and basses. Every song on here is great. The vocals were unexpected but they really work. The indie/folk feel of In Mind was unexpected but that really worked. To make it even better, DMST put on the best live show I've had the pleasure of seeing when I saw them for the second night in a row at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. Sitting in the church seeing these guys (and girls) play the entire new album (and a ton of older stuff) live made me appreciate their talent and love this album even more. DMST is one band that is always on my otherwise often changing list of favorite bands and this new album did nothing if not help that.
2. Copia- Eluvium
Ambient composer Matthew Cooper AKA Eluvium is a genius, Plain and simple. This album is a masterpiece of the ambient genre. The heavily distorted solo guitar work of Eluvium's previous albums (aside from the solo piano work) is long gone. In its place are strings and brass instruments. The beauty of Cooper's work has evolved into something wholly new and mesmerizing. Brass instruments and string instruments swell and rise and fall without ever becoming loud or intrusive. Piano keys meld into the background or come out full force on various songs. The signature walls of distortion break through time and again. In all this is one of the finest ambient works I have ever heard. Seeing it performed live, like the DMST album, made me love it even more. Epic and beautiful, this may be my favorite Eluvium album.
1. And Their Refinement of the Decline- Stars of the Lid
Really slow, really quiet, and really beautiful. SofL are one of the best ambient composition projects in the world and the duo makes some of the finest crafted songs I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. This new album is a masterpiece. Brass and strings rise slowly over contemplative effects as the songs create an epic, gorgeous soundscape. The perfect album to plunge into a deep sleep, or drive through a moonlit countryside at midnight too. There is almost nothing wrong with this album and I couldn't have asked for a better follow up to the previous album. SotL really stepped up here. Rathering than repeating the sound they crafted so well previously, they have evolved into a more talented duo than ever before. These songs are slow, yes. Many I've given this album to have accused me of giving them terribly boring music. But you have to let SotL sink in. The music is astoundingly powerful despite its minimal approach. Just listen to this album. It's incredible.
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STOP THE PRESS, GUYS!
I've just found out that British Sea Power are working on a new album.
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Wait wait wait, where did you see this? I love BSP. Like....lots. I miss those guys.
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Awesome. The last Brakes album wasn't as funny and therefore wasn't as good as the first one, so a new BSP album would be phenomenal.
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http://www.britishseapower.co.uk/news.htm
Third story down. Obviously not coming out this year, but still - awesome.
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Something that apparently is coming out this year, though: hell yeah (http://www.devindaviswebsite.com/)!
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'The Battle Of Sealand' by Airiel just shot to the top of my 07 albums list, it's the only album I've heard this year that gives The National a run for its money IMO. Really original stuff, great mix of styles - kinda like a shoegazey version of My Vitriol, with the odd Porcupine Treeish solo/instrumental. I can't do it justice with a description so I'm just gonna upload it to the sendspace thread tomorrow. Awesome stuff.
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Uhm... I Believe is the best Simian Mobile Disco track off that ADSR album.
And thanks for the Gabriel Ananda recommendation. Finding it now...
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wow way to revive a dead thread so this is my current listening for this year unordered the first bit is stuff i liked the second bit is stuff i didn't like as much though i must say i havn't listened to anything i really hated this year so in no particular order *EDIT* included a top 20 in stuff i like...the rest of the stuff still isn't, added Die! Die! Die! split (how could i forget :? :? :?)
1. The Pax Cecelia - Blessed Are The Bonds
2. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are you the destroyer
3. The Nation Blue - Protest Songs
4. Apples in stereo New Magnetic Wonder
5. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. High on Fire Death in this Communion
7. Maserati Inventions for the new Season
8. Ensiferum - Victory Songs
9. Beirut the flying club cup
10. Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
11. justice cross
12. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
13. Nauthisuruz - The End of Nauthisuruz
14. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
15. Shellac Excellent Italian Grey Hound
16. Finntroll - Ur Jordens Djup
17. The National Boxer
18. 65daysofstatic the destruction of small ideas
19. Pelican City of Echoes
20. Airiel The Battle of Sealand
Samael - Solar Soul
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Grave Digger - Liberty or Death
Devin townsend ziltoid the omniscient
Die! Die! Die!/High Dependency Unit Split 7
Black francis - bluefinger
Baroness - The red album
John 5 The Devil Knows My Name
Dead letter circus dead letter circus EP
Get Him Eat Him Arms Down
Eluvium Copia
Wilco sky blue sky
Velvet revolver - Melody and the Tyranny
King Diamond Gimme your Soul
Please?
Jesu Sun Down Sun Rise
Gospel of the horns realm of the damned
Of montreal icons abstract thee
Jesu/Eluvium Split 12
Pig destroyer phantom limb
Pinback autumn of the seraphs
Efterklang - parades
Atreyu lead sails paper anchor
Lost prophets start something
Fiery furnaces widow city
Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow
Jesu conqueror
The Besnard Lakes - the Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse
!!! - myth takes
battles mirrored
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Some Loud Thunder
Dark Tranquility - Fiction
Field Music - Tones of Town
Immaculate machine immaculate machines fables
Graveworm - Collateral Defeat
Grinderman - Grinderman
Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
halo of flies world war zero
Porcupine tree fear of a blank planet
Velvet revolver libertad
the smashing pumpkins Zeitgeist
the comas spells
the dogma a good day to die
do make say think - you youre a history in rust
Lake of Tears - Moons and Mushrooms
Alien vampires nuns are preganant
Rilo kiley under the black light
and finally bit 3 stuff i'm waiting for
time - wintersun (2008)
unknown - the thermals (2008)
blackbird - alter bridge (2007)
unknown - metallica (2008)
unknown - circle takes the square (2007)
nostradamus - judas priest (2007)
night castle - trans-siberian orchestra (2007)
spontaneous combustion - liquid trio experiment (2007)
unknown - queen (2007)
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10. Wax Mannequin - Orchard & Ire
Such a great record. It suffers from some production issues - namely, overpowering drums and occasionally thin guitar - but beyond those it's full of such wonderful self-reference and consistently great hooks, performed with Mannequin's usual gusto.
9. Justice -
This album's doing for me what Girl Talk and Shout Out Out Out Out did for me last year - namely, it sends me into spontaneous fits of grinning and dancing. It's honestly just larger than life - a fact that, on occasion, wears slightly and thus prevents this record from being higher on the list. The production is almost as massive as the hooks are, and what that means is you've got a big sweaty party on your hands.
8. Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Here's an interesting record. Tobin has reached a point where he's a master of enigmatic, mysterious electronic music, blended immeasurably with field recordings and live instrumentation. Foley Room is an apt title; the record is, second by second, an atmospheric and fully-realised soundtrack to a movie which doesn't exist yet is more tangible with every eerie string note, every clattering thud of percussive noise.
7. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
This is a record that gives itself away in layers, rewards listeners with prizes that are unearthed in stages that linger and bleed into the next. At the moment, I'm in the stage where the studio trickery manifests itself on every different listen; pauses and cuts seem magnified, jarring and every bit as the band intended it. Prior to that was the stage where you notice the instrumental flourishes, like the weird drones and the buoyant horns, rubbing up against each other and creating magnificent contrast. Before that, of course, I loved the songs.
6. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock
You know a concept record is good when it actually incorporates recurring musical themes and you don't have the urge to punch whoever was involved. Plaskett and his crew interwove a melancholy tale with their trademark jittery, electric pop and created an absolute winner. "Drunk Teenagers" is easily one of my favourite tracks of the year.
5. Future Of The Left - Curses
Essentially this is everything that's good about Mclusky, honed to a needle point and blasted from speakers which have no setting besides "eleven." Falkous' caustic voice is just as menacing as it was on The Difference Between Me And You... and Egglestone's drumming us as propulsively brutal as ever. The only difference is the inclusion of Kelson Matthias, of whom a Myspace comment declared was in possession of a "real hymen-breaking bass sound." What I'm trying to convey is that this is a catchy, loud, hyperactive sort of record which can, yes, strip women of their virginity simply via direct exposure to the music.
4. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
I have nothing to say about this beyond the fact that it's easily one of the most endearing records I've ever heard. It's idiosyncratic and charming, engaging from the first quiet, gorgeous chords which swiftly move into something that subtly subverts traditional pop in unexpectedly glorious ways.
3. Battles - Mirrored
The Youtube comments under the video for "Atlas" had this notable exchange:
"why does the drummer put the cymbal up so high"
"Because he's a beast."
It's true of the whole band. They're absurdly talented musicians, reaching up high to just try and do shit melodically that nobody's ever tried, not only because they didn't have the ideas first but because they just didn't have the balls. It's a blend of the tribal tendencies present on records like Drum's Not Dead and Sangre Puro and the more primitive works of artists like Stravinsky with remarkable pop instincts. In fact, I've seen people refer to this as a kind of rough blueprint for what pop music could evolve into during our lifetime and, although that sort of statement seems really grandiose, there's more than a grain of truth to it.
2. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
What a phenomenal record. As cohesive thematically and musically as their previous album but ratcheting up the emotional stakes, getting intimately autobiographical and letting loose with their live show's trademark agression more than ever before. I was digging this as soon as I heard "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe" but by the end of "A Hand To Take Hold Of The Scene" I was utterly enthralled. An excellent and engaging pop record.
1. The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
In the same way that "My Favourite Chords" laid out the direction for Reconstruction Site, "(Past-Due)" turned out to set up Reunion Tour superbly. Where that song left off is, thematically, where this record begins. A stuttering synthesizer line (or guitar? I honestly can't tell!) leads into the anthemic "Civil Twilight," a song about a bus driver reflecting on a commuter who no longer travels his route. From there, the album launches into a number of songs centred around loss: of jobs, of love, of goaltender Gump Worsley and of Virtue The Cat (insert your own sad emoticon here). The country leanings of the previous record have been largely abandoned for the more straightforward quiet of Left & Leaving, although the arrangements are more intricate and complex this time around, and it suits the album greatly. Oh, and the music is fantastic - "Night Windows," though more lush than I remember it being, justifies by itself this record's position in the top spot, and the rest of the album hovers consistently around the remarkably high bar set by that tune. This is a record which has been four years in the making, and every measure was entirely worth the wait.
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We're going on records we've bought instead? I guess my list becomes four, tops.
I have to edit that list to include Caribou's record.
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Because someone brought this thread out of obscurity a few days ago, because I'm new, and whatever other reason you might think of ... my 3/4 Year Top 10 a.k.a. 'I'm not as indie as you kids':
10. Blonde Redhead - 23
This album had me from the get-go. It travels through happy and melancholic waves (almost) effortlessly, and tracks like 'The Dress' ... I mean whoa.
9. The Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
The remains of my inner angsty pumpkin-head teen would throw a massive tantrum if I didn't get over myself and put this in here. So, Billy needs to get over his new electronic toys and love of layering more and more and MORE stuff and echoes because a lot of this would be a lot better if stripped down completely (or maybe it would disappear altogether...) and his lyrics have never been so weak. NONETHELESS... it's Pumpkins, and it's Corgan's voice, and there are some clear highlights such as 'Doomsday Clock'. Not to mention they are still momentous live.
8. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
There is nothing new here. It's Trent Reznor doing not-the-best Nine Inch Nails. But it's Trent Reznor doing not-the-best Nine Inch Nails. (I'll admit they also gain points for the possibly best conceptual light show I have ever seen.)
7. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
Squeeee happiness! Nothing will ever be another Wind in the Wires, but this is a gem in its own right, and another demonstration of incredible versatility on Wolfie's part. I can also attest to him bringing all of his charm and flashy lights and musical prowess to live performances. I can say nothing more besides "this kid is a geeeeeneneneeeius."
6. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
It's hard to describe what these guys' majestic soundscapes do to my head, but this is the sort of record that has me taking hourlong walks just so I can listen to it in peace. Topped off with yet another superb live show as well as an interview with Richard Barbieri, the PT-fangirl in me has had a fantastic year.
5. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
So, I used to detest Bright Eyes, and nothing would make me want to plunge the next sharp thing into my ears as much as Conor Oberst's whiny 'I'm about to crack up and cry' voice. Of course, I had it coming and sunk into a 2-month Bright Eyes binge during which I literally listened to nothing else. Then Cassadaga came out, and I devoured that too: I love the not-so-subtle touches of Americana, I love the emo lyrics, I love the whine. 'No One Would Riot For Less' is one of the most beautiful things to ever be recorded.
4. Interpol - Our Love To Admire
This is a masterpiece. The songs on this are so tight it almost hurts, every last sound and note placed to perfection, crisply ironed and folded up into tension-ridden beauty that avoids sounding claustrophobic. Also it's nice to see that Interpol's subtle brand of humour isn't missing ('No I in Threesome'? Genius!). The live delivery of it also isn't lacking, though of course a little bit of the polish goes missing. Of course, those who didn't like Interpol to begin with won't find anything new to their liking here, but this is them at their best.
3. Gliss - Love The Virgins
Shoegaze paradise. Fuzzed out guitars, transcendental vocals, lyrics to fall in one-night-stand-love to... this album is a beauty. It's also always a pleasure to see what the press has jumped all over as 'instrumental musical chairs' during their live shows (they switch instruments after every so many songs). It was released in the UK in 2006 but the US release isn't until August of this year, so that counts right?
2. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta
A punch in the face, a cocktail of unbridled energy and colours, and any other ill-advised metaphor or imagery you could possibly insert here. This is Gogol Bordello faster, more powerful, and more varied than ever before. They move a little more into the 'mainstream' with their influences and there is far less of a gypsy inflection than on Underdog World Strike, but it sounds *good*. Of course, it sounds and feels even better live.
1. 2006's releases that I'm still listening to now: the Dresden Dolls - 'Yes, Virginia' ; The Blood Brothers - 'Young Machetes' ; The Outside - 'Something Urgent' EP ; Dufus - 'The Last Classed Blast' ; ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - 'So Divided' ; Regina Spektor - 'Begin To Hope' .....and so on and so forth..... and then whichever one of these '07 albums I'm still listening to regularly next year: retrospective top-10s tend to make far more sense.
I would put Battles somewhere in there, but I don't actually own the entire thing. Side question: if you had to choose between seeing Battles and Arcade Fire, where would you go? (Stupid festival lineups.... I picked Arcade Fire and still regret it. Their live shows aren't just overrated, but plain boring.)
It is occurring to me that most of these are releases that I've also seen being performed live this year. Coincidence or subconscious reason?