Thom's Lazy Eye

christmas time is here: a yuletide mix

2011-12-21T17:34:00.000-06:00

I have always loved just about any music that can be considered Christmas music. Even this song gets me in the spirit. But I especially love some Christmas tunes that aren't the traditional ones. While this mix contains a few standards, it is (at least for me) a new way of experiencing the season.

All that to say, I've been spinning this thing non-stop for a couple of weeks. It's kind of like an Oreo cookie, with black music on the top and bottom and white music squeezed in the middle.

Click here to download the zip file.

Merry Christmas everyone!

1. Holy, Holy, etc. / Sufjan Stevens
2. Swingin' Them Jingle Bells / Fats Waller & His Rhythm
3. Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto / James Brown
4. Ain't No Chimneys / Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
5. Black Christmas / The Harlem Childrens' Chorus
6. White Christmas / The Drifters
7. Happy X-Mas (War Is Over) / John Lennon
8. You're All I Want For Christmas / Jump, Little Children
9. The Man With All The Toys / The Beach Boys
10. Christmas Song / Vince Guaraldi Trio
11. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! / Doris Day
12. Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming / Feist
13. Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel / Joshua James
14. Christmas Must Be Tonight / The Band
15. Christmas Time Is Here / Vince Guaraldi Trio
16. Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis / Tom Waits
17. River / Joni Mitchell
18. I Love NYE / Badly Drawn Boy
19. Christmas In New Orleans / Louis Armstrong
20. White Christmas / Otis Redding
21. Don't Believe In Christmas / The Sonics
22. Funky Funky Christmas / Electric Jungle
23. Soulful Christmas / James Brown
24. Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul / Soul Saints Orchestra
25. Boogaloo Santa Claus / J.D. McDonald
26. Auld Lang Syne / Black On White Affair

Top 11 of '11

2011-12-13T22:43:00.002-06:00

Lists. Lists. Lists. I like lists. Here are my brief thoughts on some of the music from this past year. Long live Thom’s very Lazy Eye!

11. Panda Bear Tomboy

More Panda Bear deliciousness. I don’t own a great pair of headphones, but I listened to this album on my decent pair of headphones this past week and it was like a whole new album to me… if you own a good pair of headphones, do yourself a favor and experience this album anew with a good listen. There’s so much going on in every song.

10. Wilco The Whole Love

“Art of Almost” is awesome… I kind of wish that the rest of the album had as much to offer as this song (though, that may be asking a lot). I’m still really enjoying the remainder of the album (I really am… I think “Black Moon” is very moving, I think “Born Alone” is straight-ahead Wilco fun, I think “Whole Love” is great… and, this album was excellent live… as expected) but I feel like “Art of Almost” was a peek into the type of creativity that so many songs on Being There, Summerteeth and YHF had, which got me excited when I heard it as the opening track but it also left me with a wee bit of longing for something more.

9. Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues

I felt like this album was a really good sophomore effort. I don’t mean that as an insult, it wasn’t a “Sophomore Slump” but it also wasn’t quite as good as their debut… nonetheless, I enjoyed it a lot. I will say that when I saw them at The Ryman this year I was surprised at how good they were live… for some reason I went in with pretty mediocre expectations and they were much better than I expected. Also, this is random, but they were actually really funny… the drummer made a handful of legitimately funny comments… not like, “Oh, you’re on stage, so we’re laughing because we want to be nice and we think you’re cooler than us”, but actually funny. I remember one time some Indie kid yelled, “We’re not worthy!” during the silence in between a couple of the songs (no comment on this kid yelling that). But the drummer just said, “Uhh, security, if you could please exit from the premises the young gentleman sitting in that section over there… he’s not worthy.” I enjoy some level of people not taking themselves too seriously (especially in the whole current Indie scene). I do wonder if Fleet Foxes are going to be able to change their sound up enough to still sound creative a handful of albums from now, I think they have an amazing sound but if they keep making the same type of album over and over again I don’t how long that will work, but I guess we’ll see.

8. My Morning Jacket Circuital

This was certainly a step up from Evil Urges. I’m still not sure about what Jim James (or, Yim Yames) is doing with his voice now… the Kermit the Frog delivery seems to be taking over more and more with each successive album. “Victory Dance” is absurd, and yet it works. “Circuital” is as strong as anything they’ve done (other than, of course, “Golden” which is in an entirely different category). “Outta My System” has that good early-60’s (cars and surfboards) Beach Boys tempo and feel. Good stuff.

7. Dreamers of the Ghetto Enemy/Lovers

People just aren’t making a whole lot of large, arena-ready rock and roll anymore. This album is ready for a 40,000-seat venue and could easily fill up the sound of every seat in the house.

6. Kurt Vile Smoke Ring for My Halo

I was asking Will Farley if he had this album and he said, “Yeah… he’s totally rad. I love the modern, indie Tom Petty thing that’s going on”… well said, Farley.

5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Belong

This album is straight out of the 90’s (I mean that in the good sense of the term), but it’s more of a sound from the 90’s that I was never into during the 90’s. But, I’m loving this whole sound now and definitely digging this album.

4. Real Estate Days

The first three songs of this album are so solid. “Easy” is a great opener… that sweet, smooth guitar is so inviting alongside those vocals. And, “Green Aisles” is so open… not “open” in the sense of vulnerable lyrics or something like that, but the sound of it is so open, there’s room to spare in the song… there’s some air and some space to it where they weren’t overly concerned with jamming every corner of the song with some sound or noise or whatever… they just let the song breathe… it’s open. The chorus to “It’s Real” feels so good. The rest of the album doesn’t exactly fall off after these first three songs (“Municipality” is a very tasty treat), though I do feel that these first few songs are gold and on their own make for this being a really solid album.

3. The War On Drugs Slave Ambient

This is music made for driving across Middle America while there’s snow on the ground… it’s cold right outside the windows but it’s still warm inside the car. I keep loving this album more and more this year. It obviously fits very hand-in-hand with Kirk Vile’s album this year and yet I felt like it had even more to offer then Vile’s really strong album.

2. Smith Westerns Dye it Blonde

This album is sunshine, happy goodness. This was some of the best, sing-able melodies on an album this year. “All Die Young” is so, so good. That’s the happiest way to sing the depressing phrase “All die young”… it sounds like a hook from a 1970’s television sitcom, you just can’t help but sing along.

1. Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost

So many albums the past handful of years (and, even albums that I have enjoyed a lot… like some albums on this list) kind of have one basic sound that carries throughout the whole album, where every song has a similar feel and approach and style to it. This album is not at all like that, this thing is all over the place (bouncy pop songs, rock your face off songs, darker whatever type of songs… just all over the place) and yet it all fits together as a single work (which is the kind of stuff that takes and album from “good” to “great” in my opinion). “Vomit” just washes over you. (Uhh… I should probably reword that last sentence.) But, the song “Vomit” is massive… it goes from this quiet, intimate delivery to this Pink Floyd explosion of sound and gravity and it truly is just pouring over you like a waterfall by the end of the song. At the end, when the lines “Come into my heart / Come into my heart / Come into my heart…” keep repeating it just keeps getting better and better. I’ve still got more layers to peel back on this album as I continue to enjoy it more, but this is the one true standout of the year for me.

And, here are my favorite songs by season from this past year (certain songs stick out during certain times of the year, and these are the songs that I was enjoying the most in each of these seasons)…

Winter: “Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)” by Phosphorescent

Spring: “Oh My Heart / It Happened Today” by R.E.M.

Summer: “Go Outside” by Cults

Fall: “Vomit” by Girls

Thom and Jonny

2011-10-09T02:34:00.006-05:00

43 years ago on Friday, this blog's namesake was born into this world. 4 years ago tomorrow, thousands of people around the world were waking up early to download In Rainbows. And 11 years ago this past weekend, a little album called Kid A was released to the populace much like a grenade is released into a trench full of soldiers.

In light of these coincidences, and the name of the blog, I am going to celebrate by watching this absolutely fantastic set of tunes from Thom and Jonny at Le Resevoir in Paris, France. Taped July 3, 2003, this show came about a month after Hail to the Thief had come out.

Please enjoy by clicking here.

They also did this on Monday:

handsome furs, sound kapital

2011-08-18T12:58:00.007-05:00

if you couldn't tell from the mix i posted a while back, i like the handsome furs. my obsession started some time after face control came out. i needed my wolf parade fix and spencer krug's numerous spin offs just weren't cutting it (i do really like sunset rubdown, but that's another story). but the handsome furs aren't just a wolf parade sound alike. the married couple is about making awesome music. i probably wore out face control several times over, but i kept going back. it was worth it.

atkins told me that their new album was out, and on emusic. no hesitation. i hoped for at least something on par with the previous album, but, ever the pessimist, prepared for something sub-par. what i got was sound kapital, an album inspired and written during the couples' trip abroad in southeast asia, and elsewhere (i believe the title refers to the beijing punk underground, but i'm too lazy to do real research). the album continues along the premise of the handsome furs' bare guitar, synth and drums construction, most of the songs are quick, ragged and immediately dance-able. it's a lot of fun.

[the album cover, edited for all audiences]

but it's album's heart-on-sleeve mentality that pushes it over the top in my mind. the songs are refreshingly forthright (i love the line, "a thousand lonely kids making noise in the basement" on "cheap music"). many artists seem content to exploit a trip abroad to "raise awareness" or fill stadiums to generate support that often seems more about the band than the people in need. this band took a trip and made really, really good music about it. this isn't about guilt, fixing people or romanticizing them. they're telling a story.

but it also serves as the band's statement on what they want/need to believe. one of my favorite songs, "repatriated" ends with a call to arms (or wish?):

I've seen the future
And its comin' in low
I've seen the future
I will never be repatriated

love it. there's something so honest about their entire approach to this album that is fantastic. even their maxims are filled with self-doubt.

typically, pitchfork (now 15) sums it up best:

With new wave confections like "Memories of the Future" and "What About Us", Sound Kapital effectively conjures an alternate 1980s where Bruce Springsteen didn't just tinker around with synths and drum machines on occasion, but actually tried to make a full-on Depeche Mode record.

hope you enjoy.

jason

also, let's give this new spotify thing a try, i believe clicking on this link should open up he album in spotify if you're a member. if you're not, you should be.

Reading the Aeroplane Over the Sea

2011-08-07T22:54:00.005-05:00

I just posted about this book on GoodReads (for those of you who like to get your GoodReads on), but I realized that this post is also about an album (as well as being about a book), so I thought I’d add this post to Thom’s as well.

There is this series of books (which you can see here) and each book in the series is written about a specific album in music history (with one author assigned to each book). The series is called 33 1/3 (because of the speed of an LP album… hopefully that’s obvious). I’ve read a few books in this series, and (in general) I just wanted to mention the series because some of you may be interested in reading some of these books… they’re all pretty short books (somewhere between 120-200 pages each), but I just finished reading one on Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and I thought I’d post my reflections here… this is kind of a mixture of my reflections on the album as well as my reflections on the book about the album.

Before reading Kim Cooper’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea I had previously read a couple of other books in the 33 1/3 series (one on REM’s Murmur and the other on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds). Murmur and Pet Sounds were both albums that I loved before reading the books about them; they were albums that I had already memorized backwards and forwards and I already loved every single note on those albums, and reading a book about each one of them only made me love those albums even more. But, with In the Aeroplane Over the Sea I had a very different experience. This was an album that I had never gotten into. It came out while I was in college, which should have been a time when I would have been ripe for enjoying this album, but I just never got into it… and I had heard pieces of it every now and then over the years since then, but for some reason it just never clicked with me… the only real explanation for why I had never gotten into it was because I just didn’t “get it”. I guess the timing was wrong, but it just never hit me in such a way that I really cared about it. For whatever reason (maybe it’s some of the music I’ve been getting into recently… music, which I now see, was heavily influenced by this monumental album), but (whatever it was) I was finally ready for this album. The timing was finally right (which, in all honesty, is so critical for enjoying so much music… you can’t force that timing, you just have to wait until the time is right to get into some specific bands and when the time is right it just works for some reason and there really is no other way to explain it).

I’ve now had this CD playing in my car non-stop for the past six months (yes, I still listen to CD’s… and it’s been in the six-disc CD-changer in my car for half a year now and I haven’t ejected it once). I’ve previously had the experience with albums where I continue to peel back layer after layer after layer of the beauty of an album and I continue to appreciate the album more and more over time… uncovering new layers of beauty and appreciation that had completely escaped me on all of my previous listening experiences of the album. (Really, all of my favorite albums in music history have given me this experience… that would be a very short list of albums… but I have enjoyed this experience with a decent number of albums, and it’s one of the things that I just plain love about music.) With Aeroplane that experience just kept happening… it kept happening every single time I made another lap through the album (and, over the past six months I feel safe in assuming that I’ve heard this album around a hundred times), and I just keep enjoying it more and more. What is it about this album that does that? I mean, it’s “raw”… to use that over-used music descriptor… but, it’s raw-er than raw, it’s not trying to be “raw” in the sense of heavy-metal or some kind of music that is trying to prove to you that it is raw, like it’s saying, “Hey, look at me, I’m music and I’m loud and I’m raw! Rarrrr!!!”… it’s “raw” in the sense of just jamming right into your chest without any pretense… it’s like jamming a meaty sandwich into your face with no condiments on it. It’s just there and it’s real and you taste it and it’s good and you can’t believe how simple it is but also how excellent it is… and yet, the more you experience it, you realize that’s it’s not simple at all… it’s anything but simple… what at first seemed so simple now has so many complex layers to it.

As far as the book is concerned, I really enjoyed the way Kim Cooper wrote… she took you back into the season that Jeff and the band were making this album and made you feel like you were living with them and riding around in the van with them and just getting to know them. I also appreciated the way she described the In the Aeroplace Over the Sea recording sessions… there have been other times when I have read articles or books where the writer talks about the recording process of an album and unless you have a Masters Degree in Engineering and Production you can’t understand a word they’re saying (that was actually one of the weaknesses to the book on Murmur in this series… the technical jargon was just too technical). But, at the same time, I love hearing how things were recorded and how certain sounds were captured in the studio, and when some bit of technical expertise during the recording process makes for a deeper understanding of the music, I think that’s awesome and I think Cooper was able to explain that really well and not make me feel completely lost. I also appreciated the way she talked through each song… she wasn’t trying to give some sort of word-for-word explanation of the lyrics, and thereby taking away from the individual enjoyment that each listener experiences with this album but at the same time she was able to add a lot of insight to songs that I never would have had a chance to uncover on my own. I have a very odd experience with the lyrics to songs. I memorize words to songs absurdly easy… and I’ll remember word-for-word songs that I haven’t heard in over ten years… but yet, I don’t really pay attention to lyrics very often (I’ll know every word in a song, but I’ll have absolutely no clue what that song is about). So, I have to confess my complete and utter ignorance in not realizing that Anne Frank was the main character (for lack of better term) of this album… how in the world I listened to (and sang along with) “Holland, 1945” and didn’t catch this (I mean the song is called “Holland, 1945!” Hello! World War II!), but nonetheless I was very grateful to read about a lot of the themes and inspirations behind a lot of the writing. I had absolutely no clue how to interpret the lyric “I love you, Jesus Christ” the first time I heard that line… I mean, even I (in all of my I-don’t-pay-attention-to-the-meaning-of-lyrics ignorance) at least caught that line and thought, “Uhh… I wonder why he’s saying that… is that sarcasm, or is this a bold and unapologetic profession of faith, or is this something totally different?” I appreciated her addressing some of the more overt lines like that as well as uncovering some other themes while also not trying to explain everything for the reader at the same time.

As the book progresses, once she gets to the point in the “story” when the album is actually released, the book picks up with a speed that the band must have also experienced once the album began to take off and receive critical acclaim as well as pretty decent sells. This book was really well written and helped me to peel back even more layers of enjoyment on an album that I continue to enjoy more and more. Now, who wants to go pick some Carrot Flowers?

All I Want Is You

2011-07-07T15:13:00.005-05:00

I'm sure most of you have heard about this amazing moment already, but I thought it was worth a post anyway. It is just that awesome.

And an interview with the lucky man himself:

The Sky Above the Port Was the Color of Television, Tuned to a Dead Channel

2011-06-30T12:05:00.004-05:00

I've been loving the mixes being posted, so I've decided to throw one into the lot. Here is a dreampop/shoegaze mix, mainly focused on Cocteau Twins, Wild Nothing, Asobi Seksu, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Other gems are included as well.

The title and picture for the post (first line of Neuromancer and artwork from Akira) are in line with the glossy, technological sheen of the mix while also pointing to some of its melancholy overtones. You can download the mix here, which includes the .m3u playlist. Enjoy.

Tracklist:

Slowdive - Alison
Wild Nothing - Golden Haze
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - The white witch
California Wives - Tokyo
Best Coast - Wish He Was You
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes -
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Contender
Memory Cassette - Asleep At a Party
Cocteau Twins - Cherry-Colored Funk
Wild Nothing - Chinatown
Asobi Seksu - New Years
Sun Airway - Infinity
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong
California Wives - Purple
Lush - Etheriel
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Failure
Cocteau Twins - Bluebeard
The Radio Dept. - Heaven’s on Fire
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking
Asobi Seksu - Transparence
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Wild Nothing - Vultures Like Lovers
Memory Tapes - Swimming Field
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Gentle Sons
Asobi Seksu - Exotic Animal Parade

A Good Man Is Hard To Find

2011-06-05T14:45:00.007-05:00

not to post over bens' latest mix, but i've beed inspired.

for your listening pleasure: a good man is hard to find. it started out with some slower songs that i really liked and morphed into basically a list of a lot of music that shuffles through my most played list.

also, i'm not really good at saying 'no'--consider this a two-disc set.

but again, similar to ben--this mix is probably more for myself. i hope you enjoy.

you can download the tracks here, with cover art and the .m3u list as well.

track list

.....................................................................................................

The Antlers - Kettering
The War On Drugs - Baby Missiles
Tom Waits - A Good Man Is Hard To Find
Okkervil River - Piratess
Bright Eyes - At The Bottom Of Everything (jj edit)
The Arcade Fire - Half Light II (No Celebration)
LCD Soundsystem - All I Want
Roky Erickson With Okkervil River - For You
Destroyer - Savage Night At The Opera
Handsome Furs - All We Want, Baby, Is Everything
Future Islands - An Apology
Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse - Star Eyes / I Can’t Catch It
Local Natives - Airplanes
The Mountain Goats - Never Quite Free
Titus Andronicus - To Old Friends And New
Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You
Okkervil River - No Key, No Plan
Future Islands - Long Flight
The War On Drugs - Brothers
The National - Ada
Beach House - 10 Mile Stereo
Lcd Soundsystem - Someone Great
Handsome Furs - Radio Kalininbrad
Radiohead - Codex
Tom Waits - Hold On
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The War On Drugs - Taking The Farm
TV On The Radio - Killer Crane
The National - Geese Of Beverly Road, The
Dolorean - 33-53.9 Degrees N/118-38.8 Degrees W
The Mountain Goats - High Hawk Season
Tom Waits - Come On Up To The House
Roky Erickson With Okkervil River - True Love Cast Out All Evil
Titus Andronicus - Albert Camus
Beach House - Real Love
Radiohead - Separator
The Antlers - Epilogue
Tom Waits - Picture In A Frame

wild ox moan: a beat-the-heat mix

2011-06-04T07:12:00.001-05:00

I promise, I'm not trying to take over this blog! I make these things for myself anyway, and I'll just keep copying them here as long as you guys don't care. I just hope they are up someone's alley...

Finding a lovely tune in a stack of all-too-easily forgotten old records is something fantastic. It is also overwhelming when you realize that you could probably spend the rest of your life completely ignoring new musical output, and use all of your free time mining the past for hidden gems. Even then, there will always be some out-of-print vinyl tucked away in a thrift store in Milwaukee that you won't ever hear.

And since I don't spend much of my free time scouring record stores for these rarities, I rely on people like Wes Anderson, Andy Cabic, Robin Pecknold, Matt Morelock, Amanda Petrusich, and the wonderfully eclectic Justin Gage over at Aquarium Drunkard to do some of the scouring for me.

For this mix, I stuck with tunes from 1975 or before. Most of them fit the bill of the rare obscurity or obscure rarity - some more than others. And a few just fit that sound of a hot afternoon full of kamikaze cicadas turning into an evening full of fireflies as you daydream of an old European countryside. I can already hear the vinyl crackle... Cheers!
_________________________________

1. Sally Goodin (Long Version) / Heron [1970]
2. Katie Cruel / Karen Dalton [1971]
3. Sunlight Shadow / Linda Rich [1969]
4. The Hills Of Isle Au Haut / Gordon Bok [1970]
5. Iris's Song For Us / Vashti Bunyan [1970]
6. The Tall Tall Grass / John Hartford [1967]
7. Buckeye Jim / Burl Ives [1944]
8. Kings And Queens / Loudon Wainwright III [1975]
9. Take It From A Friend / Janey & Dennis [1970]
10. Cast The First Stone / Tom Fogerty [1972]
11. Play With Fire / The Rolling Stones [1965]
12. Don't Forget Me / Harry Nilsson [1974]
13. So Long, Marianne / Leonard Cohen [1967]
14. The Way I Feel Inside / The Zombies [1965]
15. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire / The Ink Spots [1941]
16. You Always Hurt The One You Love / The Mills Brothers [1944]
17. Love / Nancy Adams [1972]
18. As We Go Along / The Monkees [1968]
19. Wild Ox Moan / Taj Mahal [1969]
20. Houses / Elyse Weinberg [1968]
21. Where Is My Wild Rose? / Chris Thompson [1972]
22. I've Been My Own Worst Friend / Sandy Denny & The Strawbs [1967]
23. Lopin' Along Thru The Cosmos / Judee Sill [1971]
24. The Lady With The Braid / Dory Previn [1971]
25. If I Knew You Were The One / Richard Twice [1970]
26. Lon Chaney / Garland Jeffreys [1973]
27. The Good Book / Melanie [1971]

Download the full mix HERE.

yankee hotel foxtrot demos

2011-06-03T23:49:00.004-05:00

This post is aimed at Wade, but is definitely worth looking at even if your name is something other than Wade!

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is my favorite 52 minutes of sound ever recorded to tape. And after watching I Am Trying To Break Your Heart 1,000 times during my freshman year of college, I began looking for ways to get my hands on some of the demos and other recordings that didn't make the record. A few years ago, these files circulated the interwebs and my itch was scratched. One is a collection called the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos, and the other is called the Engineer Demos.

So, if you haven't heard them and you are a fan of Wilco, then you definitely need to download them by clicking below.
--YHF DEMOS
--ENGINEER DEMOS

I Swear I Can Hear The Sea: a spring/summer mix

2011-05-09T00:14:00.003-05:00

This mix tells a story. Indulge me, if you will, by imagining that this story is true...
________________________

The sun rises out of the void once again. The morning rays slide down over the glass and concrete and land on tar and gasoline. All the people walk out of their homes and climb into cars. They converge on the highways and sit together in traffic. You wonder how it all happens - the fellowship of the commuters, the coffee-fueled consciousness, the voices on the radio, even your final destination - none of it feels like a decision you made.

Suddenly, but subtly, you feel a pull in your stomach. You notice how striking the sun is in the early eastern sky. Images of the distant places where the sun is directly overhead flood your mind. The sound of waves rushing through piles of rocks and sand begin to echo inside your little sedan.

But these images are different from the ones that you have set as your desktop wallpaper on your work computer. Those are just crappy pictures from your last vacation. They are Corona commercials. But this pull in your stomach is something else. It is the feeling that life is passing away and all the things you fill your time with are worthless. The work you do is so that you will have money, but what does money get you? Instead, there are boulders to climb, trails to hike, oceans to swim, food to eat, and roads to drive. Roads that aren't filled with exhaust and screeching tires, but ones that are open and filled with wind.

So you keep driving. Past your exit. Past your office. Out of the city. Toward that ocean that you crave.

You drive for hours and each passing mile brings fleeting feelings of freedom. Your white button-down is thrown in the passenger seat, the starched collar is finally starting to wiggle in the wind. The seat belt is irritating your bare shoulder, but you ignore it. Midday and afternoon pass by as you drink in the freedom. You don't have to answer to anybody. You are your own man.

The white lines whiz by like a constant echo for hours until you reach the end of the road. And there it is. The ocean sits ahead like eternity. You think the blue is the most beautiful color you've ever seen.

Once you've parked the car and taken off your shoes, you make your way toward the tide. You think you must be in a good place now. You dive in the water and feel all the sweat wash off. Surely this is what Tennyson meant when he said he would drink life to the lees. Surely this is what Thoreau had in mind when he commanded you to suck out all the marrow of life.

But just as quickly as the sweat washed off, a hesitation creeps in. You realize that you are alone. You realize the green in her eyes is the most beautiful color, not the blue of the water. You miss your dog. And who will water your tomato plants at home?

So you make your way back to your car. You brush the sand off your feet and turn back toward the rolling hills. You decide to let your dreams be your escape. At least for a while. And you hope that she lets you come home.
________________________

1. Go Outside / Cults
2. Legal Man / Belle & Sebastian
3. Grown Ocean / Fleet Foxes
4. Sweet Thing / Van Morrison
5. Golden / My Morning Jacket
6. Louisiana / The Walkmen
7. Sometimes / James
8. Paint The Silence / South
9. Gentle, Polite / Eric & Magill
10. Victoria's Secret / Quiet Village
11. Feel It All Around / Washed Out
12. Zadie Bobo / Ernesto Djédjé
13. Round And Round / Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
14. Sun Hands / Local Natives
15. Modern Girl / Sleater-Kinney
16. Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig / Jens Lekman
17. The Swimming Song / Loudon Wainwright III
18. California Sunrise / Dirty Gold
19. I Must Be In A Good Place Now / Bobby Charles
20. Let Me Come Home / Wilco

Download the full mix here.

Best Albums of 2009!

2011-01-05T16:10:00.003-06:00

Well, now that 2011 is upon us, and the memories of 2010 are already melting into the ether, I figure it's a good time for me to share my "Best Albums of 2009." Please be aware that I can barely remember one thing that happened to me in 2009. I mean, I can remember lots of things from the past decade of my life, but I couldn't tell you what year they happened in. That's what being over 30 is like, I guess. So this list may be a little off. Here goes. . . .

11. Coldplay - LeftRightLeftRightLeft [live]
This is the free album that they gave out at their concerts, and eventually made available on their web site. I can be picky about the sound of live albums, and this one gets it right. It's a good mix, a good selection of material and performances, and a nice representation of what their live show feels & sounds like. I had a great time seeing them at the Bridgestone (was it Sommet then?), it was the best I'd ever heard them sound (I admit I missed that supposedly legendary show at Starwood back in '05). I'm particularly a fan of "42," Fix You," and "Death And All His Friends" on this live collection.

10. The Dead Weather - Horehound
I have been in love with The Dead Weather ever since being rollicked by Alison Mosshart and wooed by Jack White's drumming at ACL Fest in 2009. I bought the album afterwards and while I don't feel like it's as good as they are on stage, it still captures something deep, dark, swampy, and with a punch that will rattle your gut.

9. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
This is a satisfying amalgamation of Jim James, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and M Ward. As their name describes, it's folksy in song style and instrumentation. James, Oberst, and Ward each bring songs to the table, and while the entire album is nice to listen to, it's Jim James' songs that stand out the most. His lovely "Magic Marker" is the gem of the bunch, but I also give a nod to Ward's "Say Please," which is the albums most energetic moment.

8. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Here is another album that won me over live, before I'd ever heard it on record. Okay okay since you asked, it was 10th row center at the Greek Theater in LA (Jason Schwartzman was in the row behind me) with Metric as the opening act. I cannot brag enough on how good Phoenix is live - I would not have predicted it, based on the composed, precise and mannered style of their studio albums. But their sound comes out and over you with a force that lifts and carries your spirit on a 2 hour high. This is a great summer album, so I am annoyed that I purchased it in late September, but I think I got some mileage out of it all through the following summer months. It glows from start to finish, but standouts are the exuberant "Fences" and the shimmering "Rome."

7. Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
A four album set on vinyl, each song here is wonderful, by artists ranging from David Byrne to Arcade Fire to Cat Power to Grizzly Bear. It was produced and overseen by The National's Dessner brothers. You get a lot of variety but a cohesive atmosphere throughout. My favorite track, and one of my favorite recordings of the entire year, is Sufjan Stevens' "You Are The Blood" - 10+ minutes of whacked out, electronica'd up, folk-tinged, melodic wunder-pop like only Soof can provide. It provided the first clue of what his 2010 output would sound like, and perhaps because it came first, it strikes me as more breathtaking than this past year's records (which I love).

6. The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Now, I have to be in a very specific mood for this album (I guess that would be the mood to go sunbathing off the southern coast of St. Bart's to trip with the spider monkeys). But I am a huge fan of it. I think it was a wonderful directional shift after their last few (great) albums. Like a palette cleanser after several delicious courses of food. I see the Flaming Lips as a band who have taken and honed a free-spirited psychedelic sound, and used those tools and aesthetics to craft, not psychedelic music, but wonderfully constructed pop masterpieces. Now they have taken those psych-pop aesthetics of their own creation, and used them as tools to create a truly psychedelic record. And that's how I see Embryonic. The soundscape is enthralling! If the mood strikes you in the near future, start it spinning from the beginning, buckle up, and enjoy the tasty ride.

5. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
This was probably my biggest surprise of the year. Not that it should have been; apparently Yo La Tengo have been making solidly fantastic albums consistently since the mid-80s. On two vinyl discs, this first disc is filled on both sides with catchy, well-tempered creative pop songs (hence the title) played with the understated tastefulness of veteran indie rockers. There is mellow synth, textured guitar licks, elegant beats both real and electronic, and subdued orchestration adding to the album's rich palette. Disc 2 contains two long shoegazey compositions on side 1, and an even longer Krautrock burner on side 2. Each are full of lush sounds and hypnotic atmospheres. My favorite song is the wistful "When It's Dark," with its warm acoustic guitar and wispy harmonies.

4. Wilco - Wilco (the album)
Biased because they're just about my favorite band? Perhaps. But while it's certainly not my favorite Wilco album, I think this is another beautiful piece in a career of remarkable albums. I know some have fretted that this band, which found its feet in early days with bold experimentalism and genre bending, is making what could be described more and more as "dad rock." I, too, am not a fan of this directional veering, should it continue much further. But as Tweedy said himself of previous album Sky Blue Sky, he wanted to make music that his wife would enjoy listening to - something that people with less adventurous tastes in music could appreciate. That album was a success in its restrained beauty. And I think the band was still operating somewhat in that headspace when making Wilco (the album). Though this is a different album for sure - louder, less somber in tone, and yet safer in some respects. Here you don't find anything like the wild guitar solo explorations of "Impossible Germany" from the last record. To me this album is, more than ever, about how all of Wilco sound as a whole... the meshing of each instrument and part rather than the individuality of its members. Like the album title suggests, this is Wilco, nameless & faceless, more than it is Tweedy, Stirratt, Kotche, Cline, Jorgensen & Sansone. To some, this might sound a little less colorful than previous material, and I might agree. But they can achieve moments of thrilling power with seemingly little effort. Like the sudden crescendo in the final 20 seconds of "One Wing;" or the joyous chorus of "You Never Know," with its "ooohaaah" harmonies and subtle ride cymbal "bell" hits in the gaps (listen close!); or the lead-in to the bridge in "Wilco (the song)" at 1:40 that ever so slightly kicks it up a notch for that part of the song. I am hoping for a turn back towards the daring for their next release. But this still remains one of my favorite albums of 2009. Wilco will love you baby.

3. U2 - No Line On The Horizon
What can I say - I think U2 have made yet another truly great album. Again a slightly different sound than other albums. At first I was not sure about it, but quickly over repeated listens I fell in love. I like the enchanting atmospherics created by Eno & Lanios. I like the way this sounds in some ways like classic 80s U2, and yet in some ways like a U2 we haven't heard yet at all. I think Bono does a fantastic job with melody on this record. (I guess he always does doesn't he?) I like the synth used throughout the album. For me the standout on the album is "Moment of Surrender" with its gospel-like chorus and trance bassline.

2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
I guess everyone had this on their list and I too fell powerless before the fun, creative mix of sounds that pour out of this record from beginning to end. My first favorite moment is the opening track, as it gently teases you with soft washes of vocals and colorful synth strokes before crashing like a wave at 2:30... "if I can just leave my body for the night" -- and the rest of the song hits with an urgency that sets the stage for the rest of the record. My other highlight is the strange and pulsating "Bluish," which channels the ghosts of Cocteau Twins.

1. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
This is my number one, because it surprised & delighted me the most! I am perfectly satisfied by the aesthetic of this album, from the imaginative song structures, the unusual instrumentation, the ear-candy harmonies, the wonderfully clear and open and echoey recording technique, and not least the most infectious song of the year, the sumptuous "Two Weeks." Other songs that stand out to me are - well, none of them. This isn't one of those albums with a bunch of highlights for me. Other than the one already mentioned, I don't know songs by name. I just get lost in one after another perfectly executed chamber-pop gem. Perhaps it's all the more unexpected for me because while I liked their last album, Yellow House, it never really stood out to me. (Maybe I need to go back and listen to that again.) But I love when bands sort of hit a peak, or hit their stride, out of nowhere - like when Genesis lost Peter Gabriel, moved Phil Collins to lead vocals and unleashed Invisible Touch. I guess that's what I'm trying to say: Veckatimest is this generation's Invisible Touch. Happy New Year!

Honorable Mentions:

The Walkmen - Live Session (iTunes exclusive) - Best iTunes Release
Deerhunter - Rainwater Cassette Exchange - Best EP
Thom Yorke - "Hearing Damage" - Best Single Release
Super Furry Animals - "Helium Hearts" - Best Album Track
Radiohead - "15 Step w/ USC Trojan Marching Band @ Grammys" - Best Live TV Musical Moment

Here's looking forward to another great musical year. Stay tuned for my top albums of 2010 - coming in January 2012.

Clay Headden
Bus Salesman

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun: a melt-the-snow mix

2010-12-25T00:09:00.001-06:00

Winter is officially upon us - the snow is dusting my front lawn as I type, and my heart is constantly threatening to cease blood-flow to my toes. I figure there's nothing better than a bit of music to heat up the atmosphere and bring some life back into the frozen corners of our homes and automobiles.

Here is a mix that might aid that effort. Merry Christmas!

1. Ce Matin-La / Air
2. D.A.N.C.E. / Justice
3. Seasun / Delorean
4. New Theory / Washed Out
5. In The Morning (featuring Andi Toma) / Junior Boys
6. As Serious As Your Life / Four Tet
7. Ready 2 Wear / Felix Da Housecat
8. Transformers (Ghosthustler Remix) / Futurecop!
9. All My Friends / LCD Soundsystem
10. Hello Jenn, I'm A Mess / Evangelicals
11. Fragile / God Is An Astronaut
12. No Comply / Studio
13. Baptism / Crystal Castles
14. Up, Up, Down, Down, L, R, L, R / Truckasauras
15. Windowdipper / Jib Kidder
16. A Paw In My Face / The Field
17. Don't Save Us From The Flames / M83
18. Flim / Aphex Twin

Download the full mix here.

Top 10 of '10

2010-12-14T20:42:00.021-06:00

A brief overview of my music-listening experience in 2010...

10. The Morning Benders Big Echo
The opening track “Excuses” is wonderful. It’s very reminiscent of a 1950’s “At Last” Etta James type of chord-progression, yet still bringing something completely new to the table all at the same time. The album continues from there and stays very strong.

9. Sufjan Stevens The Age of Adz
I was actually surprised by this album. Not as much surprised in the obvious shift of sound that Sufjan chose to make, but honestly surprised by how good it is. This guy just knows who to make music and how to achieve the exact sound that he is trying to achieve.

8. Blitzen Trapper Destroyer of the Void
In all fairness, this album is extremely up and down. There are some great high points, but then there are some very mediocre low points. But, the high points are very strong. The opening track, which is the title track, is seriously awesome. The only descriptive which I can think of, in an attempt to describe this song, is to call it “Queen Folk”. And I don’t mean “Queen Folk” in the sense of something that some guy from Montgomery, Alabama (while travelling to New York City for the weekend) would say when he saw a bunch of trendily-dressed men hanging out together and so he yells, “Hey, look at all dem Queen Folk o’er dere!” I mean “Queen Folk” in the sense of somehow combining Queen (the 70’s rock band) and folk music… if Freddy Mercury and John Denver had a child, what kind of music would it make? (Sorry for making you picture what Freddy Denver would look like.) But, this song is serious. And there are other really, really strong points on this album… about a handful of them. And when those strong points shine, this album was on it’s way to being as excellent as anything that was released this year… but, for the remainder of the album there was almost the feeling that they didn’t keep trying… that they kind of did what bands used to do… the kind of bands that used to make their living off of successful singles… the kind of bands that would just record a few good songs (and make those few songs excellent) and then just put some filler around them on the album. Blitzen Trapper was on their way to making the best album of their career, and then it feels like they just got lazy before they were done.

7. The Walkmen Lisbon
My first five to ten listens of this album I really wasn't all that impressed and I felt pretty strongly that You & Me was far superior to Lisbon. And, though I still think that You & Me is the better album between the two, Lisbon has now grown on me a ton and I am actually in the middle of still appreciating this album more and more. At this point I assume that if I were asked about this album a couple of months from now I would have an even higher opinion of it... it just keeps slowly climbing the charts for me. I have no clue how they chose to produce and record this album, but they somehow give you this feel that you are sitting in the center of a large room (almost like a big high school wrestling room... I know that's random, but something that expansive with cold, concrete walls and no windows), you feel like you are sitting in the center of this large room while they are recording this album on all sides of you... there's a lot of near-empty space, and yet even the remotest of spaces are still filled with just enough sound. Great production, great sound, and it keeps getting better the more I listen to it.

6. New Pornographers Together
First of all, I want to say that Challengers was a massive letdown (other than the title track, which was beautiful). Fortunately, Together brought back everything that I love about the New Pornographers. This was certainly no Twin Cinema, and with all of the side-projects that these guys do (or, maybe New Pornographers is now all of their side-project at this point) I don’t think they will every recapture the pop perfection of Twin Cinema. But, nonetheless, I really enjoyed this album.

5. Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Arcade Fire officially recovered from the “sophomore slump” with The Suburbs. (Though some may not feel like Neon Bible was a “sophomore slump”, it was good but certainly not great in my opinion.) The Suburbs was great… and “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” was honestly shockingly good and completely unexpected from these guys. A really strong album.

4. Beach House Teen Dream
Beach House has had a certain and specific sound for a number of years. I remember them opening up for The Clientele a few years ago at The Basement and there was not a person in the entire room speaking (I’m not sure if anyone was even breathing). It was one of those live-music moments that I wish I could go back and re-experience. They have had some amazing tools to work with from the start (Victoria Legrand’s voice is both mature and moving to degrees that hardly anyone else can currently compete with), but it wasn’t until Teen Dream that they finally learned how to really use those tools to the full implementation of all that they could do. I think that their sound finally came together on this album and it turned out to be a beautiful album.

3. Local Natives Gorilla Manor
I know this album came out at the beginning of the year, so I hope you haven’t forgotten already, but please remember how fun this album is. Give it another listen… this a really solid album.

2. Suckers Wild Smile
This is the one band that kicked me in the teeth this year. Please, please, please go and see these guys live. If you take my advice then I will go ahead and preemptively tell you “Your welcome”.

1. The National High Violet
On the surface this is not “my style” of album. It’s honestly not what I usually think of as “my favorite album of the year" type of music… but, as it turns out, “Runaway” was my favorite song of 2010 (by far) and it is definitely not the type of song that is usually my favorite “song of the year” type of song. (Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” was far and away my favorite song of 2009 and, for what I love about music that makes perfect, logical sense… “Runaway” is obviously in an entirely different category from a song like “Two Weeks”.) I love the song structure… which is to say, there really is no traditional structure (what exactly is the chorus and what is the verse, and is there a bridge in there?). I’m listening to it right now… my goodness, do me a favor and play this song right now and close your eyes and turn up the volume and take it all in… wow… so good. This is also the first album I’ve really fallen in love with in awhile where I only “kinda” liked it at first, but kept listening to it, and then a few months later I was mesmerized by it (it honestly took about that long, but for some reason I kept it in my CD changer in my car that whole time because I continued to grow increasingly intrigued… yes, I still listen to music on CD’s). “Conversation 16” is an excellent song, which is followed by “England”, which rocks. This whole album is strong top to bottom. “Terrible Love” is such a perfect album opener… the way it enters (also the way those drums come in… which very much brings you into that The National type of sound, and yet the smooth “oohs” that show up later in the song introduce something more promising). I’m always a huge fan of album bookends, which is to say that I put a lot of weight (probably too much weight) into songs that open and close albums (but, I’m just a huge fan of albums taken as a whole). With that said, in my opinion, which I recall was the opposite of Pitchfork’s review of this album, (I remember them pooh-poohing this song when the album came out, for some stupid reason… I don’t know why) but I think “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” is a gorgeous closing track. It’s one of those songs that carries me along on top of it’s waves (I hope that vaguely makes sense because being carried along on top of the unending, rolling waves of the ocean is the feeling that I get when I listen to this song), it’s one of those songs that I wish was twenty minutes long, I just want him to keep singing “Vanderlyle, cry baby cry/ Oh the waters are rising/ Still no surprising you/ Vanderlyle crybaby cry…” until I fall asleep. And, then I’ll wake up tomorrow and push “Play” again.

Albums from the past and Snowden

2010-11-21T21:57:00.004-06:00

So recently I’ve thought about starting something new on this nearly dead blog. Well, I guess I should say I’ve thought about starting something OLD on this nearly dead blog (if you’re offended that I call TLE nearly dead, then let’s be honest—out of the many possible contributors, about 4 or 5 people are carrying the majority of the weight right now…and that weight is just barely being carried).

Other, bigger blogs do it, but I think we can as well. I was thinking about friends and such, and I realized that there are various albums from the past handful of years that we all secretly (or not so secretly) revisit over and over again. These are the albums that one or two of us loved from 1999, 2005, 2007, 2000, etc. They are often albums that—when released—were received with little-to-no critical acclaim. For some reason, though, we go back to them. It’s like walking into Cheesecake Factory – we both hate it and love it at the same time (the portions are so big!!! – it’s like three meals for the rest of the week!!!). We all have them, and we all listen to them. It’s time for them to come out of the woodwork, and for them to show off all of their dirty glory in the soft, warm glow of Thom’s Lazy Eye.

Because I am the one who introduced this idea, I’ll start.

My dirty laundry album is Snowden’s Anti-Anti from 2006, and I am prepared to defend it.

Snowden knows how to look cool. Their lyrics and appearance project a “we-soooo-don’t-(but do)care-about-everything-you-don’t-(but really do)care-about” attitude. The tone, sound, and feeling of the album position the band as either super cool or super ridiculous. I’m not really sure which one is the truth.

Their lyrics, ranging from the “I don’t care” anthem of “Anti-Anti” to the silly and crafty wordplay of “Innocent Heathen,” speak to the 20 or 30 something’s contrasting feelings of apathy and desire. By this I mean a feeling of apathy toward modern society in general, but a genuine desire for something more, even when that desire is horribly misguided and/or banal. And sometimes—and I’ve come to realize this even more recently—the desire to feel something is important. I don’t necessarily struggle with this very often, but I know others do. Snowden captures this apathetic sentiment, and turns it into something bigger, grander. Does that sound so ridiculous?

I think the most important and defining characteristic of Snowden is that they have a sound. It’s clear and pronounced, and because of that, I am willing to forgive many of their faults. Enjoy.

Anti-Anti by Snowden

More Snowden music on iLike

Black Eyes by Snowden

More Snowden music on iLike

the age of adz

2010-11-02T11:30:00.002-05:00

anyone else loving the new sufjan album? i finally got it off emusic today. great stuff.

that is all.

WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, an autumn mix

2010-10-15T18:13:00.003-05:00

There are plenty of reasons to hate Fall. All the swimming pools are closing, school is beginning, things are dying, and winter is coming. But the general mood and overall spirit of the season make it my favorite time of year. It is a season of remembrance.

So here is a digi-mix for those who enjoy sustaining the color of autumn with some tunes. Enjoy!

1. Been So Long / Vetiver
2. Graceland (Paul Simon cover) / The Tallest Man On Earth
3. Spanish Pipedream (John Prine cover) / The Avett Brothers
4. Ol' Man River (cover of the Show Boat tune) / The Beach Boys
5. Sweet Black Magic / Ryan Adams
6. Jens Lekman's Farewell Song To Rocky Dennis / Jens Lekman
7. 1979 (Smashing Pumpkins cover) / HoneyHoney
8. Salvador Sanchez (Acoustic) / Sun Kil Moon
9. Thirteen (Big Star cover) / Wilco
10. Crayon Angels / Judee Sill
11. Sally Goodin / Heron
12. Saro (Traditional) / Samamidon
13. Dump The Dog / Loudon Wainwright III
14. Toboggan / Breathe Owl Breathe
15. Les Champs-Élysées / Joe Dassin
16. Into The Mystic / Van Morrison
17. Ooh La La / The Faces
18. Roll On Babe (Derrol Adams cover) / Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance
19. Buffalo / Mountain Man
20. Back to Tennessee / Christabel & The Jons
21. Walk Out / Justin Townes Earle
22. Horn / Nick Drake
23. Wild Mountain Thyme (William McPeake cover) / White Antelope
24. Communion Cups and Someone's Coat / Iron and Wine
25. The Beginner / Wheat
26. 1 John 4:16 / The Mountain Goats
27. You Should've Seen The Other Guy / Nathaniel Rateliff

Download the full mix here.

future islands

2010-09-28T08:51:00.007-05:00

future islands: a friend played their latest, "in evening air" on friday night. i pulled it down from emusic saturday morning. the album has been on repeat since.

perhaps it was timing. last week, i downloaded the interpol against my better judgement. the sting of that disappointment was fresh when i heard theirs synthesizers, hollow beats, and garbled tom waits roar on friday night.

future islands are clearly pulling heavily from new wave (more than one review has placed them in the "post-wave" camp). but, what i've found so refreshing is this band is creating original, intense music while referencing older styles. helped by his voice and the synths, the album is very dramatic, almost dance-able.

give it a listen, i'm pretty sure they're way better than my lame description.

"an apology"

"swept inside"

"vireo's eye"

Future Islands - Tin Man from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

i just found this video while tracking down the album cover. it's really cool as well--enjoy!

Suckers!!!

2010-09-05T15:27:00.006-05:00

I went to see the Local Natives at the Basement with a couple of fine chums (Will Mooney and Clay Headden, we also hung with Joe Barnes once we got there) the first weekend in May (the weekend of the flood in Nashville). And, while the Local Natives were great and put on an excellent show… in my opinion the opening band honestly blew them away. Yes, BLEW THEM AWAY… I thought they were that much better. And, that’s not speaking negatively about the Local Natives at all (I seriously loved their show), that’s just speaking positive, and honest, about the opening act. These four guys got up on stage and we didn’t even know the name of their band. At this point, people are still just kind of standing around and talking… the place is packed but no one is even really paying attention to the random opening act that just walked through the crowd and is now tuning their own instruments. And, even as the first song started you could hear the chatter of conversations and the clanging of beer bottles more easily than you could hear the lead vocals. Well… fast-forward about eight minutes later and we’re all trying to sing along (not that we know the words to any of these songs because we still don’t even have a clue who these guys are), but we’re at least trying to “Ohh” and “Ahh” and sing along with every sound they're making. Once we’re a few songs in, the entire place is rocking and these random guys who demanded no attention when they took the stage have now got the whole audience in the palm of their hand. Getting closer to the end of their set (right before one of the final songs) Will, Clay and I are standing stage right and we’re trying to find out these guys’ name. So, I yell at the bass player, “You guys rock!... Who are you?” He replies “Suckers!”. To which I assume he is picking a fight… but, then it hits me that that’s their name (which is a cool name, I might add). The lead singer turns his head and laughs at the odd exchange of “You guys rock… who in the world are you?” He smiles and gives us a “Thanks” and a nod of the head. Anywho, I picked up their E.P. this summer and it’s awesome. Its got this energy to it and yet there’s something loose about it and yet it is just plain rock and roll party fun. I haven’t been able to take this E.P. out of my car for the past few months. They released an L.P. in June, but thus far I have just been eating-up the E.P. All of that to say, I highly recommend that you get some Suckers in your life.

Checkout the song "Beach Queen" below. It's the opening track from the E.P. and it will give you a tasty lick of the Suckers...

Beach Queen by Suckers

A Favorite Summer Song

2010-08-11T17:00:00.004-05:00

Hello friends, this is my first attempt at a post on Thom's Lazy Eye. It's good to be here. It's a simple one, I just want to share what has become a favorite track of the summer. "Solitude Is Bliss" by Tame Impala may be familiar to some of you already, but if not I recommend you download it and let the bliss take you over. It has a kind of updated late-60s psychedelia sound that totally hits the spot. Hope you like it.

Sleigh Bells

2010-05-14T11:31:00.007-05:00

I just picked up Sleigh Bell's album, Treats. It's...weird, fun, catchy, LOUD, and really, really distorted. The best description I can give it is that it's a mix of rock and hip-hop beats with extremely heavy and distorted guitars, all accompanied by sugary-sweet cheerleaderish chants. Or you could say its the lovechild of chillwave, metal, and 80's pop. It's hard to describe. Just give it a listen. Below is a song from the album that's already been out on the internets for a good while (sorry for the huge player - also, if you click the link on there, you can listen to the whole album at npr's site).

Fanfarlo

2010-04-24T11:51:00.004-05:00

I’ve been enjoying this album a lot the past few weeks. I know people want to make the Arcade Fire comparisons here, but I think that’s basically what people do when they listen to the first track of an album and think of the first band that pops into their head… which, there are some similarities (especially on the opening track), but there’s a lot more to this album than simply being a mid-meal appetizer while Arcade Fire fans await their next release. Even if there is something slightly familiar here this honestly is also very much it’s own work (and not just pulling from other people like so many artists are obviously doing right now… if that makes any sense?). Anywho, there are some really great melodies on here. There is also some very pretty texture added by horns and sweeping vocals throughout. This is really good stuff and I’m really digging it right now. If you haven’t done so yet, check it out… give it a taste… see whatcha think...

Lissie

2010-04-01T00:30:00.005-05:00

Wow! I'm loving this little EP right now. Part of me just wants to say "Check it out" without giving the usual comparison to thirty different artists in order to peak your interest. I could say something like, "Imagine Neko Case taking a trip down the Mississippi River on a paddle-bound steamboat. And, also take comfort in the fact that Bill Reynolds (from Band of Horses) is the steamboat captain of the ship (which is to say that he is the producer of the EP)." But, I won't say any of that... I'll just say: Check it out, I hope you enjoy...

Oh, and thanks to 'Lil Trucker for introducing me to Lissie... good stuff.

Pickin' on Modest Mouse

2010-03-18T13:14:00.007-05:00

Being familiar with great crossover-tribute bands such as Hayseed Dixie and The Gourds (though these bands write original music as well), I've learned to expect excellence in the entertainment department. However, my recent discovery of Iron Horse's tribute to Modest Mouse has definitely raised the bar for both entertainment and overall talent in this "genre".

This group of middle-aged bluegrassers have managed to soften-up the beautifully cacophonous sound Modest Mouse is known for as well as lyrically lighten-up their often dark content. Upon close inspection, Iron Horse achieved this simply by rewording the ubiquitous F-bombs, GDs, and various other unholyness. What is impressive is that they pull this off seamlessly. On the other hand, it should be noted that there are common Modest Mouse themes that resonate well with bluegrass music (i.e. "drink away the part of the day that I cannot sleep away" as heard in Polar Opposites).

The fact these songs translate so well is itself an homage to the great talent of Modest Mouse. Making lyrics like "two one-eyed dogs there looking at stereos, Hi-fi gods try so hard to make their cars low to the ground " (again, Polar Opposites) sound so effortless and meaningful in any musical style is impressive.

Pulling songs from three Modest Mouse albums, Iron Horse clearly did their homework. The arrangements make since, both individually and as a compilation. If you fall into the camp that believes the greatest sound a banjo can make is falling into the bottom of a dumpster, then you’ll hate this tribute. However, if you’re open minded, appreciate great talent, whimsy and unique interpretation, you’re sure to enjoy all 10 tracks... though I'm sure tracks 1 and 4 will garner your immediate attention.

Pickin' On Modest Mouse - Iron...

washed out

2010-02-23T15:15:00.007-06:00

I feel I must apologize for subjecting eyes and ears to the Drake music video. My excitement got the best of me! Especially considering I probably won't even go to Rites of Spring...

To make up for it, here is my winter 2010 jam:

Washed Out - New Thoery

If any of you are like me, you skimmed right over Washed Out during last year's "glo-fi" insurgence. Neon Indian, Toro y Moi, Delorean, Washed Out.... blah blah blah.

But then I heard "New Thoery" months later, in my cold, cold car and I was like, "Okay!"

Washed Out is a guy named Ernest from Georgia who sits in his parents' basement (probably) and makes pretty music that I liked while driving in my cold, cold car. Thanks Ernest!

Here's another one:

Washed Out - Feel it All Around

local natives

2010-02-23T09:26:00.003-06:00

gorilla manor by the local natives.

great, more animal-related titles. at this point, i don't care. i just downloaded this album over the weekend. it's been on repeat ever since. the comparisons to fleet foxes, grizzly bear and the arcade fire are inevitable, but for those of you who rolled your eyes when i just listed those three bands, don't call them derivative.

i hope you enjoy the album as much as i have. i think this is one that will play well over time.

Gorilla Manor - Local Natives

rites of spring

2010-02-21T12:33:00.003-06:00

Coming to Vanderbilt April 23rd and 24th: Passion Pit, Phoenix, Drake (my guilty pleasure last year), and more.

NSFW, but totally safe for Rites of Spring!

Been listenin' to and been lovin'...

2010-02-19T17:01:00.003-06:00

If John Denver, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, Rudy Gatlin and all of Elton John's background singers got together and had a child it would be one freak-nasty, five-eyed, foamy-mouthed, forearm growing out of the back of his head monster... but, that monster would make some really sweet music and it would sound something like Bonnie "Prince" Billy's Beware. I've been listening to this album on repeat for the past handful of weeks and loving it. There is certainly that 70's approach to the instrumentation, as well as the backing vocals (which I love)... but, there is also just some really great music on here. If you're not afraid of the folky-er, country-er side of things then definitely check this album out.

Thanks again for the recommendation, Collin.

Indie Asia: on tour with Handsome Furs

2010-02-08T23:40:00.003-06:00

Handsome Furs (Dan of Wolf Parade and his wife Alexei) are touring Asia. And CNN is paying them to document it? And they visited the Forbidden City?

Check out the goods here.

here's an effort...sorta

2010-01-11T12:46:00.005-06:00

Disclaimer – if you have not yet read Wade’s post about the top 25 albums of the decade, then I beg you – please read it. Since I’m writing so shortly after he has posted it, I do not want to take away from his insightful remarks about his top albums of the decade. It’s really good stuff.

Let me just go ahead and get it out in the open:

I’ve been a lazy boy this year. For starters, I didn’t run the half marathon like I promised I would (sorry Tristen). I drank too much beer. I played a lot of video games. I quit my job (before you jump to any conclusions - that was actually a good decision), and, once again, I became a student…to get my M.A. degree in (…wait for it…) English!!! But the most grievous and heinous lack of discipline was my negligence to actively seek out new music. There. I said it. Or wrote it. Whatever.

It’s not that I didn’t listen to music. I enjoyed plenty of good music. But I feel like I really looked for it early on in the year, and then as the moved forward I simply stopped looking for it and began to rely too heavily on my friends (you know who you are, and I thank you for your recommendations – especially the 5 different people who recommended the XX to me) and certain “best new music” lists on certain websites.

For instance, Wade puts me to shame. Not only has he posted his top albums of the year, but he has also posted HIS TOP 25 ALBUMS OF THE DECADE.

This post, however, is not any attempt to reach such lofty heights. It’s not about the top albums of the decade. In fact, it’s not even about the top albums of the year. Well, that’s not entirely true, as I will list my favorite albums of the year, in no particular order:

Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue
Japandroids – Post Nothing
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The XX – XX
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
The Antlers – Hospice

But that’s all I’m going to say about them, especially since I feel like I would be repeating much of what many of you have already said (rather eloquently) about these albums.

Instead, I have decided to simply post my favorite songs of the year. I believe this approach goes along incely with the general lazy vibe I’ve established for this post.

Japandroids – Wet Hair

She had wet hair. Say what you will. I don’t care. I couldn’t resist it. This song is pretty ridiculous, but it also encapsulates much of what I like about Japandroids – simple lyrics, loud, rolling beats, fuzzy guitars, and a straightforward melody. I find myself tapping my feet every time I hear this song.

Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes

If you’ve ever visited or lived in NYC in the summer…this song captures so much of the city’s feel in July and August.

Hideaway – Karen O and the Kids

This is from the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack. I know – it’s a little random. My enjoyment of this song has something to do with how deeply the movie moved me as well. I don’t want to go too deep into this one, but let’s just say I have my reasons for liking it.

Bibio – Lover’s Carvings

Bibio is great – if you have not checked out last year’s release, be sure to grab it. It is perfect for detailed listening with headphones or as background music at a party. This song is especially fun, as it transitions from a quiet offering to something a little more upbeat.

The XX – Shelter

Whoa. This song should belong on some sort of noir detective sci-fi movie soundtrack. I don’t say this about much, but it’s sexy.

The Antlers – Epilogue

An excellent cherry on top of an amazing sundae of an album.

Phoenix – 1901

This one is just a no-brainer for me. I actually got kinda sick of it, but it’s a dang good pop song.

So there are some of my favorite songs from 2009. Let’s hope I’m not as lazy in 2010.

best songs 2009

Best Albums of the Decade

2010-01-10T15:49:00.003-06:00

Top 25 Albums of the Decade

First of all, what do we call this past decade? This is not a Best of the 2000’s list… that would include every album of this millennium (2000-2999)… which, let me just say, if this blog is still kickin’ in the year 3000 I can’t wait to write my Best Albums of the Millennium list whilst floating on a cloud and typing on my harp-shaped heavenly MacBook. Anywho, I think this past decade should really be called the 00’s, but that sounds really stupid… though, I think it is correct.

Furthermore, my sincere apologies to the year 2006 for being excluded from this list. Though, in fact, 2006 is the one that should be apologizing to me because I mean, seriously 2006 my friend, you really brought nothing to the table... I know, I know, I know, TV On The Radio Return to Cookie Mountain, Grizzly Bear Yellow House even Band of Horses Everything All the Time… yes, all good albums. But, seriously 2006, who are you kidding? That’s just not enough. So, 2006, to a year that allowed the Seattle Seahawks to play in the Super Bowl as well as handing Ang Lee a Best Director Academy Award for Brokeback Mountain… when people refer back this decade you will be the year of which we do not speak.

Having said that. I give you the best albums of the 00’s…

25. Panda Bear – Person Pitch (2007)

Only seven tracks long, but this album holds all the weight of a full length LP. On the surface there are the obvious comparisons to the Beach Boys, but there is much more going on here… like eating a layered cake that is composed of a few different flavors yet when eaten all in one bite it works best as a whole. A beautiful album.

24. Beck – Sea Change (2002)
For people who think that the producer of an album is not that significant and more of an afterthought… you’re wrong. Not to give too much credit to Nigel Godrich (which is also a mistake that could easily be made on the other side of the discussion), but nonetheless this album would not have been the sonic experience it was without Godrich’s touch. My favorite Beck album.

23. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)

This is a true, straight-ahead rock album (in all of the best senses of the term). There is a sound that so many bands try to achieve, whether you call it “raw” or “stripped down” or whatever… and so many bands go for that sound and it just sounds empty. When bands try to fake that rock-and-roll swagger and effortlessness it comes across as mediocre and the lack of effort shows all too well. I think one of the keys to the success of Spoon (especially on this album) is Britt Daniel’s voice. It’s not one of those voices where he’s trying to sound like he’s not trying… it’s his voice and I think it sounds better than ever on this album… without his vocal delivery I think a lot of these songs would still be good but they honestly wouldn’t have been as great as these songs turned out. He just naturally is that rock-and-roll essence that so many bands try to fake or manufacture or search for (without ever finding it). This is a very solid rock (and pop, hence “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”) album.

22. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
Woops… I included Coldplay on my list. Party foul! Nonetheless, this really is a solid album from top-to-bottom. “Politik” is a strong album opener. “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” is everything that’s good about Coldplay. The synthesizer on “Daylight” is perfect, there is a certain depth to the way the synth and the guitar work together that makes them very stirring… they kind of pull your chest into the movement and melody of the song. And, from a band that always knows how to close an album well “Amsterdam” is a solid closer. (Oh, and by the way… sorry Coldplay, but U2 still had a better album than you this decade... keep chasin’! Keep dreamin’!)

21. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
Ahh… so good. So tasty. So sweet. Thank you, Fleet Foxes. Let’s be friends.

20. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest (2009)

Hooky, poppy melodies: Check. Warm, soaring harmonies: Check. Music video where band members’ heads reveal a portal to the Light Bright Universe: Check. Album that I love: Check.

19. Bruce Springsteen – Magic (2007)

Springsteen has, of course, always been a storyteller, but there is something about his approach to lyrics on this album that rose to a new level (at least for me). His tone is different than all of his past work… using a much more nostalgic tone. There are songs here that draw you into a certain scene, a certain time and setting and place and you really are feeling what he is feeling (and, even more, seeing and smelling and tasting what he is experiencing). Springsteen has always been willing to bear himself and stand naked and exposed in front of his audience, though often to make a point or some statement. But this time he seems to do it more out of vulnerability for vulnerability’s sake. As for the music, this is the E Street Band at the top of their game. “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” (my favorite track of ‘07) puts you perfectly into this scene of an older teenager or even young guy in his 20’s hanging out during the summer, yet Springsteen is not playing the part of “The Man” (or, “The Boss”) he is seeing all the girls pass him by as he is forced to sit on the sidelines and watch. “Living in the Future” is classic Springsteen without sounding like an imitation of himself (like so many older artists so often do). And, the closer “Terry’s Song” is a perfect rock eulogy (if that’s a term). A truly great rock album.

18. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)

An amazing combination of infectious melodies, electronic rhythms, gorgeous vocals, happy feelings, drawn butter and gravy boats. Seconds, please.

17. Red Hot Chili Peppers – By the Way (2002)

Didn’t expect to see this one on here. Well, I like it a lot. Since John Frusciante returned to the band this was the best of the three albums they made in their California Trilogy. And, now that he has left the band again, they may not ever make another good album… but, we’ll see.

16. Johnny Cash – American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)

Not many artists get to have a true “Swan Song”. Of course, not many artists are Johnny Cash. “Hurt” was the perfect closing single to an amazing six-decade-long career. It was not Johnny singing a Nine Inch Nails cover, that song is now a Johnny Cash song which Nine Inch Nails can feel free to cover, if they so prefer (or, if they so dare). And, the pain (yet hope also found) in “Hurt” was the perfect song for Johnny to end on. And, as much as Chris Martin wanted Johnny to sing “Til Kingdom Come” (another attempt to play the part of U2 that came up just short for Coldplay in missing out on having Johnny sing lead vocals on an album-closing track), “Hurt” was the correct finale from the Man in Black. This a great album. This is Johnny. This is music.

15. U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
First of all, I hate the phrase “return to form”. This album is not a “return to form” that is just a phrase used by people who work for music magazines hoping they can hear the same album they heard that made them love music in 1987 and they don’t know how to move on and move forward. If U2 had never made Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop then there never would have been All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Not that those albums were aiming towards All That You Can’t Leave Behind (Achtung Baby is the finest work of their career and possibly the best album of the 90’s)… the point is that bands who do not progress cannot help but regress and whenever a band does not progress it grows stagnant, irrelevant and uncreative. Certainly U2 returned to a form of being more direct guitar-driven with arena-ready lead vocals, but this album was new. It was new for U2 and it took them to fresh sounds and in a new direction. And, it was (and is) an excellent album.

14. Brian Wilson – Smile (2004)
The phrase “musical genius” gets thrown around too often. And, I don’t mean that people are saying it all the time, but it’s the kind of phrase that should only be said on extremely rare occasions. People to whom I will permit this term being used to describe are: Stevie Wonder, Prince, any non-Ringo Beatle (this includes Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe) and Brian Wilson. If you like harmonies. If you like songs. If you like music. If you like life. Then grab a copy of Smile. Roll down the windows. Turn up the volume. Listen... Smile.

13. The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

It’s easy to only remember this album for the hits that it spawned. Most familiar being “Do You Realize?” which is a great song, but since it has been played so much it can tend to make you only think of that song when you reflect on this album. This album deserves a revisit, not just for the hits but for the hidden gems that are the glue holding this album together. Tracks like “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt. 2” demand to be re-appreciated. Go back in time and re-battle the Pink Robots alongside Yoshimi, she won’t let the robots defeat you and she’ll sing you a lovely tune while holding your hand on the journey. Yoshimi loves you… do you love her?

12. Radiohead – Kid A (2000)
Somehow, ranking this album at Number Twelve is almost an insult in comparison with where it is winding up on most end-of-the-decade lists. But, I love it… it may not be the “Number One Album of the Decade” in my opinion but it is still an amazing album. It is also insane (in retrospect) that this was the follow-up to OK Computer and The Bends… those albums were the sounds this band was capable of making and then they went to Kid A out of nowhere. Who are these guys? I think they’re gonna be big some day. Heard it here first (from me in January 2010)… Radiohead is a good band and will become quite famous. Called it!

11. Sufjan Stevens – Come on Feel the Illinois (2005)

Another album that critics made-out with so there is not a lot new to say. But, this really is a fantastic album. And, in a decade that has been as musically eclectic as this past one has been there is no album that anyone else made that sounds even remotely similar to what Sufjan was doing on this album. People didn’t even attempt to imitate this sound and that says a lot about this work. It’s like in the 80’s when the entire music industry got together and said, “You hear that stuff that Michael Jackson is doing? Don’t even try to imitate it. None of us can do that.” And they all just agreed that no one else could achieve that sound and thus no one even tried. Not that I am comparing Sufjan Stevens to Michael Jackson (Sufjan has much darker skin), but the simple fact is that he composed an entire sound that truly sounds nothing at all like anything else that other people are doing and because of that fact this album will genuinely hold up for many, many years to come.

10. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)
This album makes me wanna put on a costume, paint my face and go trick-or-treating in the middle of April… not in the “Who is that sketch adult male running through the neighborhood dressed like a clown and scaring small children?” sort of way, but more in the, “Wow, let’s all play ‘Dress Up’ and have fun!” And, “Who says you ever have to grow up?” kind of way. I love the melodies. I love the playfulness (a playfulness that is balanced by soul-searching and moments of depression and self-evaluation). I love all the sounds taking place. I love the whole album.

9. Whiskeytown – Pneumonia (2001)
This is the best album with which Ryan Adams has ever been involved. “The Ballad of Carol Lynn” is a perfect album opener. And “Paper Moon” immediately sends you to a Walt Disney World where everyone around you is a cartoon and yet you’re real. There is a bluebird on your shoulder and you’re walking hand-in-hand with Mowgli (your man-cub friend) and Geppetto (your sketchy old-man friend who likes to turn small boys into real people so he can play with them)… nonetheless, it is a gorgeous song that literally does send me to a different place every time I hear it. Adams has sung alongside other female voices over the years but none of them blends with his voice the way Caitlin Cary’s does… they sound perfect on this album.

8. R.E.M. – Reveal (2001)

Since the departure of Billy Berry, R.E.M. has been in somewhat of an identity crisis (to put it kindly). The past two albums have been basically forgettable. But, one album in the post-Berry era has been great and not at all because it tried to imitate the band’s 1980’s excellence, but exactly because it departed sharply from their previous work. Reveal is a gorgeous album that stands separate from the rest of the body of work from the band that did as much to create the whole “Indie Music Scene” as any band can lay claim to. A band that laid it’s foundations on the dark and damp sounds of Murmur, Reckoning and Fables of the Reconstruction comes out in Reveal basking in the sunshine. The opening synth of “The Lifting” truly does lift (for lack of a better word) the album to a whole new level. Stipe’s voice on “I’ve Been High” has never sounded so moving. “Beat a Drum”, “Summer Turns to High”, “Chorus and the Ring”… all the songs on here are great and have a true warmth and gentleness to them. I don’t know if these guys will ever be able to “find themselves” again, but the experiment that became Reveal gives me some hope that they might make great music again.

7. Super Furry Animals – Rings Around the World (2002)

This album makes me happy. Like licking the cake batter off the cake mixer in the kitchen when your mom wasn’t looking. And, somehow, it can shift abruptly from pop melodies to harsh (almost disturbing sounds) and yet the shift does not feel abrupt. The track “Rings Around the World” has hints of Beach Boys, but not in the way that everyone is currently chasing after Pet Sounds, but more the early Beach Boys “I Get Around” type of fun. “Receptacle for the Respectable” is absolutely awesome and, shockingly, features Paul McCartney playing carrots and celery (that’s not a joke). I had no clue that Paul knew how to play vegetables… I knew that he nurtured a vegetable for six years (Ringo) but I just didn’t know that he knew how to play vegetables. The instrumental moments on the album are also completely awesome. I revisited this album this week and it not only still holds up but it truly sounds as strong (and as musically relevant) as it did the day it was released.

6. Radiohead – Hail to the Thief (2003)

I know... shocking that I like Hail to the Thief better than Kid A. I also like ribeye steaks better than filet mignons, Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Batman better than Christian Bale’s and flats better than stilettos. Having established that, everything I love about Radiohead is here… the rhythms, the melodies, Ed’s harmonies, Johnny’s absurdities, Thom’s lazy eyed-ness… it’s all here and I love every ounce of it.

5. My Morning Jacket – Z (2005)

I’ve always been a sucker for wordless choruses (“Belong” by R.E.M., “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson, “Hey Jude” by the Beatles… not considering “Na” to be a word) but then My Morning Jacket had to go and open an album with a song actually called “Wordless Chorus”. Well, that’s one fine “How do ya do?”! This is a great album. It’s large enough to fill up every corner of any size space or setting. Jim James seems capable of doing absolutely anything he so desires with his voice and the entire band also seems capable of going anywhere his voice leads. Great stuff.

4. Elliott Smith – From a Basement on a Hill (2004)

I often hear Elliot Smith fans talk about how they love his earlier work and how they feel that (starting with Either/Or) each album got slightly worse than the previous… not that each album was a letdown, but more that Either/Or and XO were the pinnacle of his work. Nothing against those fans, but I have had the exact opposite experience with Smith. I honestly think that each one of his albums gets progressively better and he ended on his finest work. From a Basement on a Hill is an overwhelmingly amazing album. Big words I know, but I really think it’s that good. Each time I revisit this album I feel like I peel back another layer only to find more beauty and richness to be appreciated. Oh, and “King’s Crossing” is uhhhhMAzing every singe time I hear it… I dare you to write a line any cooler than, “I got a heavy-metal mouth that hurls obscenity. And I get my check from the trash treasury. Because I took my own insides out.” WOW!!!

3. Arcade Fire – Funeral (2004)

Let’s rock! More than any album this past decade that punched me in the face, then kicked me while I was lying on the floor, then stole my lunch money to go and buy arcade tokens (the true meaning behind the name “Arcade Fire”)… this album really did blow me away when it was released. I can still enjoy it to this day, and it also points to something that’s just awesome about music… you can go back and listen to an album and it takes you back to a certain season in your life and you can remember when all of these new sounds were so fresh. This album was a fresh wave of “Deal with me and be rocked by me and then thank me for it.” And I do, I still do… Thank you, Funereal.

2. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema (2005)
Pop perfection. The glossy, clean goodness of Carl Newman alongside the gritty, playful rockiness of Dan Bejar next to the stunning, memorizing sounds of Neko Case all thrown into the blender with perfectly written, guitar-driven, melody-infectious music is a recipe for pop perfection. The New Pornographers have always cooked with this same recipe, but this time the dish came out flawless.

1. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

Music is both corporate and personal. There is an aspect to music where it can be judged and experienced by a group of people because there is genuine and definable artistic merit to that work of music. Though there is also a personal aspect to experiencing music. This takes on lots of different specific forms, but (simply put) different people experience certain albums at certain seasons of their life that (no matter how much later in life they revisit that album) it always sends them back to a certain time and place and season in life. For me, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of the most personally rewarding experiences I have ever had with an album. Being just out of college, and at an age in life where buying lots of CD's and driving to see concerts out of town was a regular part of life, while at the same time falling more and more in love with Wilco. Then, the band gets dropped from their record label and they somehow use that huge disappointment to swell their fan base like nothing previously had done for them. Downloading YHF for free (on Wilco's website) while they had no record label, I immediately loved the whole album. I memorized it word-for-word from top-to-bottom. One of my favorite concert experiences of my life, which was seeing Wilco at The Roxy in Atlanta before YHF was released, standing on the front row center-stage, singing along with every song off the yet-to-be-released album. Jeff Tweedy shaking our hands before the encore (he shook my hand, Clay Headden’s hand and Ryan Doyle’s while skipping over only Collin Brown… poor Collin… always the martyr) and at that moment Ryan Doyle said, “Reprise sucks!” to Jeff Tweedy. (Reprise, the bands' former record label who had just dropped the band from the label, which is pronounced “Reh-preez”, though Ryan pronounced it “Re-prize”.) Tweedy looked to me and said, “What’s he saying?” and I said “Reprise... the record label!” To which Tweedy responded, “Oh good, I thought he was saying ‘You guys suck!’”. Anywho, in recent interviews I still hear Tweedy refer to that season as when he knew something special was happening with the band... going on tour while having no record label and looking at the audience each night and noticing people singing along word-for-word to an album that hadn’t yet been released. This is an album that I personally experienced. I personally was into the moment when (and before) it came out and sucked up every morsel of it. I do think it is a beautiful album. The layers and textures of the sounds are amazing. The concept of miscommunication that takes place in radio signals being compared to the miscommunication that takes place in relationships is a genius foundation upon which to build a concept album. The songs (ALL of them) are excellent. While I don’t call this my “all-time favorite album in music history”, I do call it the one album that I have personally enjoyed experiencing more than any other album in my life. And, I clearly call it the best album of the 00’s.

P.S. Ringo jokes aside… I’m actually a huge fan of Ringo and a defender of the fact that he was a necessity to the Beatles. Ringo, if you are reading this blog (which, I assume you are) and in reference to my disparaging remarks you are at present saying out loud, “Well, that’s just a bunch of bollocks now isn’t it?” You’re right… bullocks. I get by with a little help from you, friend.

the rucker top 10 countdown

2010-01-05T00:45:00.009-06:00

So, 2009. You know, I didn't get "out there" as much this year as I have in the past. From June 25th on, I basically only listened to Michael Jackson. And before that, I was stuck on an island with only a few albums that Audrey had mailed me (one of which made this list). And on top of all that, I lost a bet, which prevented me from listening to any bands from Versailles whose name starts with "Phoeni-." Okay, not really.

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10. the dead weather - horehound

This was a weird pick for me, because I didn't love it. Actually, I didn't really love many releases this year - at least not as many as I usually do. And while I didn't love it, I still loved screaming "M-A-N-I-P-U-LATE!" at the top of my lungs while driving past Third Man Records on my way home from a frustrating day at work this fall. And that was enough for inclusion, I guess. If I wasn't currently involved in a 7-year-long torrid love affair with Ryan Adams, I would say Jack White is the man of the decade, musically speaking.
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9. grizzly bear - veckatimest

All in all, I would say this was a pretty big let down for me. But that says more about how obsessed I was with Yellow House than anything negative about this album. I'm thinking I desperately need to see these songs performed live to gain full appreciation.
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8. neko case - middle cyclone

This was the record that Audrey mailed me in St. Croix. I fell asleep to it almost every night there. It was one of those releases that really gave me a greater appreciation for the artist. I went back and revisited Blacklisted and Fox Confessor so much that I may have actually played them more than this one over the past year.
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7. port o'brien - threadbare

The guy and girl that form Port O'Brien don't actually do music full-time. He spends his summers on a fishing boat off the coast of Alaska. And she spends her summers working in a bakery in a tiny port town in Larsen Bay (very close to Port O'Brien, Alaska). I thought that was a good enough reason to check it out. Listen to the track "My Will is Good."
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6. bill callahan - sometimes i wish we were an eagle

This gets my vote for the most beautiful release of the year. This is another one that I spent a good part of the year falling asleep to. I have always been a sucker for guys with bass-y vocals (think Stephen Merritt, Jens Lekman or Will Oldham). They all lull me in the best way.
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5. devendra banhart - what will we be

This one is definitely still growing on me, and its already at number five. I think this might be his best.
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4. passion pit - manners

I'll follow suit and leave the descriptions up to Wade. His was right on.
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3. the pains of being pure at heart - the pains of being pure at heart

This is what I like to imagine I would have been a fan of if I had been a teenager in the late 80's/early 90's. That shoe-gaze fuzz gets me every time. And when it is coupled with pop perfection - look out. For my heart beating out of my chest. Because I love it.
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2. joshua james - build me this

This came out of nowhere. Well, Utah isn't exactly nowhere. But I had never even heard of this guy until one day when I was browsing in Grimey's and the cover jumped out at me. Apparently enough for me to slap down some cash and take it home. I would have never discovered Joshua James if it weren't for the good old brick & mortar. Internet, you let me down on this one.
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1. dirty projectors - bitte orca

I listened to this on a sunny day in June on a long drive down the Natchez Trace Parkway, and it clicked SO hard. And I haven't stopped playing it since. This was the easiest number one pick for me in a long time.
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2009-12-30T15:26:00.055-06:00

Regi's Top 10

2008 was such a good year for music, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, and Bon Iver emerged and in 2009I found myself searching for that kind of music again. This year I felt began with a good start. Dark was the Night was released and I was amazed how beautiful and diverse that compilation was and how much talent was on that record. Panda Bear and Co. reinvented the Beach Boys harmonic sound in a modern way, Brooklyn seemed to be the place to be for new music except France, and Karen O pleasantly surprised me. However after February, I could not help but feel a lull in music this year. 2008 was such a good year in music, and I think 2009 just took a little slower for me to find what music I liked and what was out there. There were a lot of new notable artists but I kept finding myself rediscovering older music and reaching for those records more often. Of course I did gradually begin, I think in the fall, to find new albums I liked again.

Honorable Mentions:

Iron & Wine: Around The Well

Sam Beam can lull me to sleep anytime. His whisper coo is a little much on his new album. What I liked about his previous records is that there were dynamics between songs. These are good relaxing songs mind you, but a little too much of the same. Also, two songs off this record are from previously released soundtracks.

Volcano Choir: Unmap

Justin Vernon from Bon Iver has a side project! What it's a choir!??? Oh ok, cool. Mark Mothersbaugh would be proud. Ok, It's actually a pretty record, and I have found myself listening to it when I feel my teenage angst coming out or when I'm around my dad. (Bon Iver did release Blood Bank EP which I love, but it's also an EP.)

The Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca

The use of voices on this record is brilliant, not to mention there are some shredding guitars on some these songs. Lead singer Dave Longstreth has found his two muses, Amber and Angel. The entire record is reminiscent of the Talking Heads and in fact, they collaborated with TH front man David Byrne on Dark Was the Night. I really like this record driving and this almost ended up on my top 10.

The XX: XX

This album is stripped down to just the low pulsating notes and rhythms complimented by Londoner vocalists Oliver Sims and Romy Madley-Croft and it works. These kids are barely twenty but they know all about the importance of minimalism. Think Peter Bjorn and John's whistling song "Young Folks" except with a slower version of New Order. They definitely create an atmosphere I want to smoke to and maybe make out with my wife among other things.

Top 10

10. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down: Know Better Learn Faster

Thao Nguyen invites you to the party on "Cool Yourself" and moves your hips to "When We Swam" then takes you down after everybody's left for a some down time before your second wind. The party must go on! Even if your friends have already left. In fact the subject matter of this album is about failed relationships and Thao's lyrics meets more than the surface. She is able to construct catchy pop songs that don't always sound sad but more of a rally cry.

9. Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest

These guys remind me that the idea of the concept album is still alive. The way they use their voices and instruments at different times creates a story weaved together much like jazz or an opera. It's not jazz or an opera but it successfully tells a story and creates a mood that I find myself really enjoying. Some of their subtle guitar playing and singing is gorgeous and reminds me at times of The Blue Danube. Not to mention "Two Weeks" is one of the best and catchy pop songs since A-ha's "Take On Me."

8. Yeah Yeah Yeah's: It's Blitz!

Karen O, Nick Zinner and Mike Chase make a record that starts off with some strong danceable tracks and then get ethereal and and then danceable again but then end up ethereal. This record is the perfect mix of fun rock/ disco beat heavy songs and then Karen O croons to takes center stage and Zinner and Chase step back to create pretty subtle keyboard and guitar parts. The Yeah Yeah Yeah's reinvented themselves with this record and showed they had more depth to them as a band and proved they could write a ballad or three along the way.

7. Wilco: The Album

Wilco looooves me baby! Wilco have been around the block and this record reminds me that they still put out good music. Sky Blue Sky was a real let down for me with very few songs I liked and it's nice to know they're getting back to doing what they do best, rock and roll and poignant songwriting. I can't help but feel that Wilco could rock out a little more on this album and maybe be a little more experimental and mix a little electronic or synthesized sounds. Perhaps I'm longing for the followup to YHF still and the days of Summer Teeth, but I feel Wilco is headed back in the right direction. I just hope they don't get too old to reinvent themselves.

6. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion

This album starts out so bold and majestic and then winds up with some tracks that are reminiscent of the Sung Tongs days. This is no doubt a great album but was not one of my top 5. This was one of the albums I alluded to earlier that I found myself reaching for older music. I did find myself listening to it on repeat and my favorite part is not just the simple modern Brian Wilson song "My Girls", but the first track, "In The Flowers" about 2:33 in when those synthesized keyboard strings come in roaring and blow you away.

5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

I love this album and can listen to it anytime. I even saw these guys in concert this summer at the Capitol Block Party in Seattle and they made every hipster want to shake their Ray Bans. This album encapsulates my spring and summer and reminds me how much I love shoe gaze and distortion and even twee 80's pop music. Belle and Sebastian and The Jesus and Mary Chain fans unite, finally. The Cure, no, it's the pain of ...wtf? You need to own this record if you don't already.

4. The Antlers: Hospice

The concept of this album is death and dying and lead singer and founder Peter Sliberman narrates and his band mixes this album perfectly. This album is your introspective album of the year. It made me think a lot about my grandfather's death this year and just the process of death and maybe some Dylan Thomas poetry. I love how this album is constructed and it is so very haunting and lovely. One of my favorite songs of this year is the last track, "Epilogue" where Silberman just sings his beautiful melody from "Bear" over and over finishing the story.

3. Monsters of Folk: Monsters Of Folk

The Traveling Wilbury's then, now it's the Monster of Folk. Jim James of My Morning Jacket, M. Ward, Conor Oberst and the other guy, Mike Mogis, who actually produces alot of good albums for the record label Saddle Creek get together and make wonderful indie folk rock music together. I even like this record more than M. Ward's Hold Time which wasn't bad but I feel M. Ward is channeling his inner Chinese Translator on this one. Almost every song on this album I love, and the last track "His Master's Voice" is so poignant and gorgeous. Theologians beware and take heed.

2. Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Phoenix was the band in 2009. They were all over the place and for very good reason. They made their album so catchy and bristling with danceable singable pop. "1901", "Liztomania" "Countdown" and "my favorite "Girlfriend" which I can't stop singing. However, it's the instrumental "Love Is Like A Sunset" which turns into a pretty boisterous ballad at the end that gets me every time. I like those songs that surprise me especially when the end is so beautiful. The more I listen to this album the more I pick up on how the lyrics refer to classical musicians displaying conflict and even existential notions into jangly song. Phoenix definitely surprised me this year of how much talent and arena packed potential they have, and now I'm definitely a fan.

1. Girls: Album

What made this my favorite album of the year was how rock and roll it is. From it's opening number "Lust For Life" you get the idea that you are about to listen to rock and roll songs about heartache and misery (to quote Nick Hornby) and how you really want a beach house. Girls front man Christopher Owens channels the geeky soul of Buddy Holly and Elvis Costello with maybe some 60's surf rock. "Hellhole Ratrace" is the sad song that becomes the rally cry that you can't stop humming. This record is about heartache and the simple things, and the lo-fi raw recording of shoegaze and energy only supports it's theme even more. The thunderous punk guitar riff on Summertime" reminds you of why the Velvet Underground were so good because they were so simple yet not afraid to be experimental much like Girls influences of old time radio. On "Big Bad Mean Motherfucker" you get a taste of late 50's rock and later a little Brian Wilson echo on "Lauren Marie." Much Like Pavement and the Ramones, Girls is just another garage band that knows how to write and play good simple songs about pain, misery, and the beach. Perhaps, my tendency to rediscover older music this year made me like Girls even more, because that's just what they do. They draw from the past to make new rock n roll.

I figure most of you had Phoenix, AC, GB, YYY's and TPOBPAH already so here' some music you may of not heard yet....

Sample of the Best of 2009

my musical 2009

2009-12-21T10:49:00.020-06:00

last year, i started my best-of post with the realization that 2008 had a dearth of excellent music. 2009 was almost the exact opposite for me. when i started compiling this list, i probably had a good 20 albums that could have easily gone on the list. for everyone's sake, i trimmed the list down and added a few notables in addition to my top ten (none of this top 15 bs, will).

listen while you read.

2009

deep breath, here we go:

in no particular order, the albums that didn't make the top 10 list:

neko case, middle cyclone

not as good as fox confessor brings the flood, but still an excellent album. her voice alone would be enough to recommend the album, but song writing takes it to a new level. there's an entire novel in the line, "this tornado loves you."

tokyo police club, elephant shell/a lesson in crime/smith ep

we all have guilty pleasures. we can admit our musical ones, but leave them off the "best of" lists. i'm using the runner up section to get tokyo police club in there. the music is fun, rowdy, and yet with a tight delivery. plus there's a song about the future robot take over. what's not to love?

bear in heaven, beast rest forth mouth

this one is hard not to put on the top 10. if i'd had more time to digest the album in it's entirety, it probably would be on there. i had the singles "wholehearted mess" and

"lovesick teenagers" on repeat for a few months.

dirty projectors, bitte orca

the dirty projectors were a slow development for me. i bought the album because of will atkins and then couldn't really get into it. after roughly a dozen times through, the album just clicked for me and i couldn't get enough. listen to it in it's entirety.

top 10, because i'm too

lame too order them and don't have the wherewithal to do it, you choose the rating.

the mountain goats, the life of the world to come

like will said, the is great songwriting pretty much at it's peak. heavy material, excellent music, though if you've never heard them before, the lo-fi style will take getting used to (this album is a step up, production wise). he/they are quickly becoming some of my favorite songwriters. david dark has an excellent article on the mountain goats here.

japandroids, post nothing

i've said most of what i think about this band already. loud and fast garage rock at it's best. just play the first song, "the boys are leaving town" and you're in. i'm really disappointed i missed them live.

camera obscura, my maudlin career

camera obscura continues to define excellent pop music for me--somewhat sentimental, derivative of a classic style in good way, and extremely easy to play.

jj, jj no. 2

i listened to a lot of electronically leaning music this year. while jj doesn't easily fall into the category of electronic, i can't help but think of them that way. at the same time the music is pretty and accessible. check out their rip of lil' wayne's "lollipop" on "ecstacy."

until the avalanches release another album, this is my pseudo tropical, electronic album of the year.

m. ward, hold time

m. ward is an old favorite of mine. hold time does not disappoint. he continues his brand of pleasant folk. it makes me want to learn an instrument to play while i sit on the porch. if it's possible, i mean that in the least sentimental way. this is music to be heard and played in community. which is probably why he has so many collaborators.

bibio, ambivalence avenue

speaking of the avalanches, i think they had a lot of influence on the bands i loved this year. bibio has a unique mix of sampled sounds (if not recognizable samples, they at least sound like they're pulling clips from somewhere), beats, and instruments sound well aged. it's as if they sat down with a portable record player, a drum machine and a guitar and took the best tracks they could churn out in one sitting. sometimes esoteric, not quite dance-able, but still very accessible. right up my alley. check out "sugarette" or the title track.

passion pit, manners

previous contributors have already said what should be about passion pit. it's fun, like a block party. i seriously can't stop listening to this album. against her will, my wife knows all their songs (and grudgingly likes them). the only thing i'll add is that their ep chuck of change is an absolute must, and has a cool remix of "sleepy head."

so i kind of lied, i'll add "top 3" to the following, they are interchangeable.

the antlers, hospice

i posted about this album, so i won't say much more. this is could be the best dramatic/depressing rock album of th decade. i don't really know what that means, but i love this album. you should only listen to this album in it's entirety, but "two," "antophy," "bear," and "wake" are some of my favorites. beautiful and sad art at it's best. check out their takeaway show. amazing (many thanks to ben for the link).

The Antlers - Two / Epilogue - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

the xx, xx

again, so much has already been said, i don't have much to add. i can find almost any occasion to play this album. it surprises me now that it took me a little while to get into it. subtle and almost dance-able (i really need another descriptor). in a word this album is sexy. which is probably appropriate given much of the lyrical content. again, i can't get enough. the spoken/whispered word delivery is beautiful. if you haven't, listen now.

phoenix, wolfgang amadeus phoenix

the pop album of the year, easily. all i'll say is that i was afraid i'd serious overplayed this album, but kept on playing it and never got tired. seriously, this is why pop music exists. well delivered, tight music.

Will A's Top 15

2009-12-17T23:23:00.006-06:00

15. Passion Pit - Manners
Six months ago this album could have been top 5, but it seems to have dropped with the temperatures. It's just harder to enjoy when I'm waiting for the train in in 5 degree weather. With that disadvantage aside, it's one of the catchiest albums of the year. See Wade's review for a much better description than I could give. Highlight: the keyboard riff that starts "Little Secrets"

14. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
I'm not usually big on country stuff, but this year my folky/twangy side seems to be creeping out a bit more. This is an album that makes me wish I was more of a whiskey drinker. Think Wilco circa 1995, or even Uncle Tupelo. Highlight: the tearjerker "Mama's Eyes"

13. Wilco - Wilco (the album)
Speaking of Wilco... I've done a scientific study which shows that ever since the creative peak of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco's age has had an inverse relationship with the level of innovation and edginess in their songs. However, it also has a direct relationship with the number of badass guitar solos so it comes out about even. They've aged better in the 15 years they've been around than most bands do in just a couple albums. Highlight: track 1 chorus, "Wilco will love you, baby". I can count on one hand the number of bands that can get away with that.

12. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
If you asked me at the beginning of the year what albums I was looking forward to most, this one was up there with Animal Collective, so #12 is kind of a disappointment really. Although you just can't resist some of these songs. When it comes to layered arrangements, harmonies, sounds coming from instruments that don't sound like instruments, intricate and complex song structures, they are pros beyond their years. Highlight: the video for "Two Weeks", which is the definition of creepy/cool.

11. Iron & Wine - Around the Well
This one surprised me in a good way. I had started to lose touch with ol' Sam Beam the last album, but this double disc collection goes back to when he was at his best. Simple, acoustic with a focus on the song and lyrics instead of the production and percussion. For a b-sides, rarities, and covers album, this one is remarkably consistent all the way through. Highlight: the cover of The Flaming Lips' "Waitin' For A Superman" might be better than the original.

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
Another "surprising in a good way" album for me. Album 1 will always be a classic for what it symbolizes in NYC indie rock, Album 2 was more of the same, but this one finally shows them maturing a bit. If "Maps" was your favorite song on Fever to Tell then there is more of that on this album. The ballads are just as powerful as the rockers and probably are longer-lived. Highlight: the last 1:30 of "Skeletons" when the whole band has kicked in and swirls around the guitar melody

9. Alela Diane - To Be Still
I only listened to this because Joanna Newsom's name was attached to it. I think they were high school buds or something. (side note: Newsom is getting frighteningly close to the Thom Yorke zone for me, meaning I will listen to or read anything that she or her second cousins were remotely involved in. She's soooooo good.) This album isn't groundbreaking but I just can't stop listening to it. She has such incredible control over her voice that she does things that would sound like a nasty yodel coming from me, but she pulls them off amazingly. Highlight: closer "Lady Divine" is just straight-up beautiful

8. The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World Yet to Come
Every time this guy releases a new album I always give it a try, but very few (of the 573 so far) have actually stuck. This one is up there with The Sunset Tree for me. Some would see the songs written on a Bible verse to be a bit gimmicky, but I think it's really cool. I've even started incorporating the songs in to my quiet times... anyway... concept aside, even without the Bible theme, the songs and lyrics are some of his best. He's one of the best storytellers in indie music. Highlight: "Genesis 30:3" - becoming a dad probably has something to do with that

7. The xx - xx
The first time I heard this I thought, "this is such Grant music." I love albums where it's obvious that anyone can could play and sing what they are doing. There is nothing special about this band's musical talents - it's just exceptional writing and knowing how to not overdo it. Highlight: the first ("Intro") and last ("Stars") songs - warm up with a Euro guitar/drum instrumental, close it down with single chord piano

6. Fever Ray - Fever Ray
Do not listen to this album (or especially) watch any of her music videos if you are prone to nightmares. This crosses the creepy/cool line in to creepy/cool(?) territory. Take the Knife, subtract the guy and about 85% of the sounds and you get Fever Ray. Yet, somehow its biggest strength is the hollowness and emptiness of the songs. Highlight: the video for "When I Grow Up" - has WTF written all over it

5. Japandroids - Post-Nothing
Probably the easiest album to describe: guitar w/ distortion pedal, loud drums, screaming. With that formula it would be really easy to suck, but it doesn't. Highlight: pick one - it's solid from start to finish

4. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
I can see why a lot of people might not like these guys. There aren't many bands where the lead singer is in falsetto nearly every song (R&B genre excluded), so that takes some getting used to. But it definitely keeps the songs more interesting. Great guitar/bass work make this good, and the crazy vocals make it even better. Highlight: the lyric "This is a booty call... my boot, my boot, your asshole!" from track one

3. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
Another guy quickly approaching the Thom York zone, Spencer Krug has yet to disappoint me in any way. But somehow I think his non-Wolf Parade band is one of the most underrated bands today. I went to see them in Madison, WI a few weeks ago and got there right on time at 7pm to make sure I was there if it packed out, and of course, it didn't. The club even kept them from playing an encore so they could clear people out and start karaoke at 9pm (no joke). Why don't they get more recognition? Every album has been on pitchfork's best new music but they never make the top 50 at the end of the year. I don't get it. But anyway, this album, just like all their others, is ridiculously good. 8 songs of completely unstructured, lyrically insane indie rock songs. Highlight: the one at a time build of muted guitar, drums, bass, keyboards, vocals, and then really loud guitar "You Go On Ahead For a While"

2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
So much has been and will be written about this album that I don't know what's left to say about it. All I can say is that I hope this isn't their peak. Each album has been consistently better so I have to think they will continue trending that way. If they do, they really are headed for Radiohead status, not just in my book but mainstream too. If I could buy stock in these guys I would have done it yesterday. Highlight: what else could it possibly be other than "My Girls"?

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
#1 and #2 are really a toss-up for me, but Phoenix wins out because I think I've listened to it more. And I can't stop listening to it. It will probably be the kind of album that I look back at this time next year and think "That was really 2009? But I was just listening to it the other day." These guys have always been catchy, but I didn't see this coming. They are as tight of a band as the Strokes in their prime, but with less chance for egos and addiction to make them fall of the earth. Well done, Frogs. Highlight: The one-two punch of "Lisztomania" and "1901"

That took me way too long to write. I'm going to bed. Merry Christmas.

Best Albums of 2009

2009-12-14T14:13:00.002-06:00

OK, end of the year, time for a Top Seven Albums of 2009. (Why seven and not ten? Because, The Man wouldn’t let me have ten.) For all of you Albums out there who I neglected, or forgot, to mention I hope you can forgive me… you’re all winners in my book (and, the title of that book is Everyone’s a Winner).

Trying to get this list out before Pitchfork and all the other websites start doing their end of the year lists. One, so as not to be perverted by other people’s opinions. And, two, because I am quite certain that this list will change world history. Enjoy…

7. The Flaming Lips – Embryonic
For people who got into the Flaming Lips over the past three albums this is quite a departure. For people have been Lip Lickers for years, this is almost a return to their original weirdness… not that it sounds at all like they’re earlier stuff, it just doesn’t have the pop-ness that the past few albums had and it seems that they feel a real freedom to explore on Embryonic. I mean, I know the last few albums haven’t at all been “safe” but, there is something much broader here.

6. U2 – No Line of the Horizon
Yeah, I’m old and I’m including U2 on my list. And, yes, I’m allowing the fact that I saw this tour, in all of its space ship absurdity, live to sway my opinion. But, I still like it. And, that’s all I have to say about that.

5. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
OK, first of all, let me just say that I’m a sucker for a concept album… Frank Sinatra’s September of My Years is my favorite Sinatra album and it contains no hits but works more as a single storyline, Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger is an album built on a single storyline and it is truly a thing of perfection. But, I digress, just saying that I know that I can get sucked into a concept album more than most people (and, I’m not absurdly claiming that this album is on the same level as those two classics, blah blah blah). Thus, I realize that Hazards of Love is not for everyone, but it really was one of my favorites of 2009. One thing that shocked me is how The (usually un-rocking) Decemberists threw out some nasty and dirty guitar riffs and wailing vocals.

4. Passion Pit – Manners
The song “Little Secrets”, or “The Sunny Day Playground Jump Rope Song” as I like to call it, is a three minute and fifty-eight second summer day party, complete with frozen Jumbo Jet Star Pops from the Ice Cream Man and chalk drawn games of Tic-Tac-Toe displayed on the sidewalk. So, throw on some S.P.F. 45, hop on your bike and call all the kids in the neighborhood… because there’s a party going down and you’re all invited.

3. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
In my opinion Wilco (The Album) is their best album since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (which was certainly one of the best albums of the decade)… I realize that opinion means that I’m saying Wilco (The Album) is better than A Ghost is Born, but that’s what I’m saying. I know it sounds a bit stupid when someone who is a non-engineer or producer starts talking about the “production value” of an album… but, all I’m saying is “tell me any single instrument, (or sound effect) that doesn’t sound perfect on this album”. Great songs. Great melodies. Great band.

2. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimist
Fact: “Two Weeks” was the best track of 2009. Fact: the recent rebirth of Beach Boys based harmonies is the only thing that will end Global Warming and cure leprosy. Fact: unicorns are real and leprechauns are not. Having said that, this album is freaking awesome. The poppy, hooky harmonies are wonderful. There’s something full yet hollow about this album (“hollow” is not the perfect word… but the feeling of listening to this album in a huge wooden-walled room yet the sound is not empty at all, it is full and surrounds you on all sides).

1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Shockingly, 2009’s best album came out so long ago that I had to check the release date just to make sure it was released this year… it was released in January 2009. I had never gotten into Animal Collective until this year and all I can say is “Wow!” This album has it all (that’s a freaking generic statement), but nonetheless, it takes you up, then it takes you down, then it takes you straight to Chinatown. OK, now I really don’t know what I’m saying but what I’m trying to say is this album has a subtle beauty to it as well a bright and obvious warmth to it… it really has so much to offer on both ends and it needs to be appreciated on both ends of that spectrum. The beauty of the overt poppiness cannot be fully appreciated apart from the beauty of the subtle sounds taking place here. Me likey long time.

Big Ears

2009-12-10T21:24:00.002-06:00

When will Vampire Weekend, Joanna Newsom, Bryce Dessner (of The National), St. Vincent, Andrew WK, The Ex, Gang Gang Dance, Clogs, 802 Tour (Nico Muhly / Doveman / Sam Amidon with Nadia Sirota), The xx , Javelin, DJ/Rupture (solo), DJ/Rupture and Andy Moor, My Brightest Diamond, the Calder Quartet, Gyan Riley, and jj all come to Knoxville at the same time?

In March.

miike snow

2009-11-04T13:39:00.002-06:00

So have you heard of these guys?

I'm really digging "Sans Soleil" right now.

build me this by joshua james

2009-10-29T17:59:00.003-05:00

This past weekend, I did something that I don't do nearly as often as I should - I went to Grimey's. And even better, I went there with no specific purchase in mind. I left with this:

Build Me This by Joshua James

Take a listen...

Joshua James - "Coal War"

Joshua James - "Pitchfork"

and a B-side from his debut, The Sun Is Always Brighter
Joshua James - "Lovers Without Love"

the antlers

2009-09-18T16:31:00.002-05:00

i've had this album on repeat for the last month. which is kind of demented because it's one of the most depressing albums this year. with a title like "hospice," you should know you're getting into trouble. the band pretty much covers all the topics: death, depression, inadequacy, abortion, cancer, abuse. not exactly light listening. but it's really, really good. the music is beautiful, almost like a soundtrack to your dreams/nightmares.

so if music has a way of overcoming your emotions, listen with care. but i highly recommend this album.

Hospice - The Antlers

lil record player

2009-09-03T14:00:00.005-05:00

[click on the image to get a good look]

I know this isn't music, but I think my love of industrial design overlaps into TLE territory here. Who collects vinyl? I might start again if I had one of these.

a gift for your wives

2009-08-28T14:02:00.005-05:00

Taken by Trees is the solo project of Victoria Bergsman, better known to me as the girl from PB&J's "Young Folks" (I never listened to The Concretes). This is her cover of the best Tarzan-chest-pound inducing anthem 2009 has ever seen, just from a different perspective. I'm sure all your wives will love it:

I guess I'm the "covers guy" on here or something.

Jill Andrews

2009-08-24T00:07:00.003-05:00

Another WDVX friend (I call her a friend because I am secretly in love with her, but she probably doesn't remember my name -- story of my life, you guys), Jill Andrews is currently journeying into a solo career after the very unfortunate breakup of The Everybodyfields. I saw them perform on the Blue Plate stage during the aforementioned summer of 2007, and they immediately became one of my favorite bands. Then a few months later, they moved from Johnson City to Knoxville, and Jill moved in with my friend Matt Morelock two blocks down the street from my house. I almost needed professional help to suppress my inner stalker (my roommate at the time had the fortunate experience of seeing her in a bathrobe once). Then she had a baby with an acquaintance... and she will forever be just far enough removed from my social life to be out of reach. Kind of like Kevin Bacon.

Anyway, the past few months she has been releasing videos of herself performing acoustic covers in her home. This month's cover is special because my brother (claims he) suggested the song choice to her via Twitter. And also because it's an old My Morning Jacket favorite:

August Update from Jill Andrews on Vimeo.

All Is Well by Samamidon

2009-07-19T13:14:00.003-05:00

The summer of 2007 saw my already growing love for American folk music climbing exponentially. I spent the summer riding my bike through the Old City to WDVX studios on Gay Street, where I attended The Blue Plate Special every single day. I also helped produce Matt Morelock's "Happy Camper" radio show on Monday nights. We played two hours of old American recordings followed by two hours of music from Matt's obscure world music collection. I often wore overalls, I was the new owner of a little hound dog, and my car was smashed. And it rained three times in as many months. Something about that summer seemed very antique. It was very James Agee, if I may use that as an adjective.

Shortly after the summer ended, I was introduced to Samamidon, a musician from New York. A Vermont native, his parents were folk musicians with an affinity for Appalachian traditionals. Samamidon's most recent album, All Is Well, is a collection of covers of some of those very songs. Even though it didn't come out until the following winter, I always think of summer 2007 when I hear it.

All Is Well was recorded in Valgeir Sigurðsson's Greenhouse Studio in Iceland (as was Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's The Letting Go, Mum's Finally We Are No One, and most of Bjork's albums), with arrangements by Nico Muhly (Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest, Antony and the Johnsons' The Crying Light, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's The Letting Go), and it is beautiful and chilly.

A few All Is Well tracks along with the oldest recording of the song I could find (most were written before the recording industry blossomed):
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"Saro"

Doug and Jack Wallin (mp3)

Samamidon (mp3)

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"Wild Bill Jones"

Dock Boggs (mp3)

Samamidon (mp3)

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"Fall On My Knees"

Fred Cockerham, Oscar Jenkins & Tommy Jarrell (mp3)

Samamidon (mp3)

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"Little Satchel"

Fred Cockerham (mp3)

Samamidon (mp3)

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"Sugar Baby"

Dock Boggs (mp3)

Samamidon (mp3)

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true love will find you in the end

2009-07-16T17:20:00.000-05:00

several months ago, i watched the devil and daniel johnston with a few friends. i thought the film was really good. it seemed to capture both the creativity and depression of an artist struggling with serious problems. this may sound like a typical rock documentary, but this film is anything but. i think the description from the film's about page gives a summary that i can't beat:

Director Jeff Feuerzeig exquisitely depicts a perfect example of brilliance and madness going hand in hand with subject Daniel Johnston. As an artist suffering from manic depression with delusions of grandeur, Daniel Johnston's wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites are exposed in this deeply moving documentary.

though you may not have heard of daniel johnston (i hadn't), you certainly have heard of many of the artists who covered his songs or worked with him: kurt cobain, wilco, beck, sonic youth, tv on the radio. curiosity compelled me to look up a few of these covers. i think the song "true love will find you in the end" is one my favorites. jeff tweedy and the late jay bennet recorded an excellent version of this song below (my thanks to ben for the sweet flash player--i stole it from your post).

True Love Will Find You in the End
(Daniel Johnston cover)
Wilco (mp3)

beck also has an excellent cover of the song.

True Love Will Find You in the End
(Daniel Johnston cover)
Beck (mp3)

and the original.

True Love Will Find You in the End

Daniel Johnston (mp3)

if you haven't seen the movie, it is highly recommended. prepare to be happy, sad, and a little uncomfortable.

music in film

2009-07-14T22:56:00.011-05:00

Hey guys, the idea for this blog is neat-o. You should use it more! I know you all don't have much time for it, with all your wives and mortgages and children and everything. BUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT? Just kidding, of course....

Anyway, to the music: I "grew up" loving the the way directors like Cameron Crowe and Wes Anderson used music in their movies (probably because they were both incendiary enough to use Sigur Ros in their soundtracks), but I have since changed a little bit. I still love a soundtrack full of obscure 60's British Invasion songs and German models turned singers, of course, but I'm not necessarily going to love your movie just because the soundtrack includes cool music. Sorry, Zach Braff.

So, I have here, four movies that came out semi-recently, and each use music that is potent and moving. All of these movies were some of the very best I've seen in a while, and the music was a huge part of why they worked so well.

Rachel Getting Married
"Unknown Legend" (Neil Young cover)
by Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio (mp3)
_________________

The Visitor
"Je'nwi Teni (Don't Gag Me)"
by Fela Anikulapo Kuti (mp3)
_________________

The Wrestler
"The Wrestler"
by Bruce Springsteen (mp3)
_________________

Into The Wild
"Hard Sun" (Indio cover)
by Eddie Vedder (mp3)

This is Ben Rucker by the way. Grant invited me here. Thanks Grant!

ratatat

2009-07-08T10:50:00.004-05:00

Found these guys via a playlist on iTunes:

http://www.myspace.com/ratatatmusic

I guess they've been around for a while, but this is the first time I've clued in. They have a chill but upbeat electronic sound. Check out their LP3 album.

japandroids

2009-06-25T14:40:00.002-05:00

the name alone should be enough. these guys pull off excellent, fun rock in one of my favorite ways: simply. at this point in indie rock, a band with only a guitar and drum set is nothing new. the lyrics aren't worth examining and they're not concerned with esoteric musical originality. they are concerned with playing catchy garage rock really fast. that's good enough for me.

the first three songs are pretty awesome, but i'm enjoying the whole album.

Post-Nothing - Japandroids

2009-06-10T11:49:00.003-05:00

As far as I'm concerned, the more Afro-pop influenced music out there, the better. Check out HIGHLIFE and their new mp3 here.

I guess they opened for Animal Collective in the UK. Has anyone else heard anything about these guys?

phoenix

2009-05-28T13:26:00.004-05:00

atkins and i were talking about phoenix's new album wolfgang amadeus phoenix yesterday afternoon. i had just heard the album for the first time and he had just aquired a legal version. i've been listening to it pretty much non-stop since. those french really know about pop muisc. his vocal style reminds me a lot of of montreal. but this album is original, a really good. at least one day in.

you should be able to listen to the entire album below. i don't know why only the first song plays for 30 seconds, but it looks like the rest play all the way through.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Pho...

This is Beirut???

2009-05-24T20:13:00.004-05:00

I am obsessed with this song from the new Beirut album. Although it is not even close to what I expected when I first turned it on.

(i added a lala player instead, it should play the full song-stan)

No Dice - Beirut

currently spinning

2009-05-21T16:36:00.003-05:00

since i'm too lazy to find time for an in-depth post, here's a sampling of what's been on my ipod most recently. it's nothing new, many of you have already posted about these bands here.

the only comment i have is that t"tightrope" is off of the dark was the night collection. i hadn't listened to yeasayer before and it made me download all hour cymbals. check that album out if you haven't, it's excellent.

now playing

Wilco (the album)

2009-05-14T11:15:00.006-05:00

Wilco's new album streaming free...

God Help the Girl

2009-05-11T10:13:00.016-05:00

I'm a huge Belle & Sebastian fan. The lead singer, Stuart Murdoch is probably one of my favorite songwriters. His new sixties pop and rock n' roll are subtle enough to be cool and I think his melodies are hummable and beautiful. Lately old Stu has been fraternizing with some of his female cohorts , and a newbie Catherine Ireton who graced the cover of B&S's White Collar Boy single.

His side project is called God Help the Girl and their album is a product of his searching and soliciting for online talent via imeeem, enter Asya from Smoosh, online finds Brittany Stallings and Dina Bankole, and Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy. However it's Catherine Ireton who steals the show (see for yourself). Their album will be released this June 23rd.

Lazy Line Painter Jane - Belle & Sebastian

oldie but a goodie

The Lonley Island

2009-05-06T12:16:00.009-05:00

I usually don't do musical comedy albums, however, all those digital shorts you see on SNL by Andy Samberg have been made into a full length album called Incredibad. Don't bother buying it, plus the IRAN song isn't even on there. There are only like three good songs that you haven't heard or seen yet. Below are my two favs.

Sax Man (ft. Jack Black) - The Lonely Island

Ryan Bingham

2009-04-27T16:48:00.015-05:00

Sometimes you just want to listen to some good Americana music, especially when those beautiful spring evenings have graced you on your front porch. My other brother in law introduced me to this Texas songwriter on Austin City Limits, and this song has made my slow drunken evenings with my wife rocking in our chairs on our patio pass by even slower and sweeter.

To quote Ted Danson, " It's like heaven, absolutely heaven."

Ryan Bingham - Southside Of Heaven
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup

also check out hard times....

the women in my (musical) life

2009-04-06T00:51:00.011-05:00

So it occurred to me that I have been listening to an unusual volume of female artists recently. I've always had a special place in my heart for Joanna Newsom, but after that my musical world is very male dominated. So I thought I would post a few of the songs/albums I've been loving recently that are fronted by those who are lacking the Y chromosome.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - My obsession with their new album It's Blitz is very recent (it only came out last Tuesday) but uprecedented (I listened to it all the way through about 12 times in three days - no joke). I wouldn't say it's a "great" album in the grand scheme of things, but oh man is it so good and catchy. The dance punk is still sort of there, but less raw and more grown-up than their last two albums, and they have a couple ballads that put "Maps" to shame.

Must hear tracks: I love "Dull Life" for a rocker and "Skeletons" for a ballad.

Alela Diane - She's Joanna Newsom's best friend from high school or something, but she's more accessible than her yelpy compadre. Nothing groundbreaking, but just really good folk music that makes me want to live in a log cabin in the woods (but not Bon Iver's log cabin - this one is warmer and less depressing and not in Wisconsin).

Must hear tracks: "White as Diamonds" and "Lady Divine"

Lisa Hannigan - She is the girl that sings with Damien Rice, so if you like him then you'll definitely like this. On the other hand if you are like me and think Damien Rice is an arrogant douchebag, then you will be skeptical for good reason. But there's no Damien here which means no unnecessary melodrama and profanity for profanity's sake lyrics sung by a drunk Irish guy. She has a beatiful voice and this one song "Lille" is just amazing. (I hope my wife doesn't read this - she looooooves Damien Rice.)

Must hear track: See above.

Crystal Castles - I'm not usually an electronic music guy, but this stuff is just ridiculous. I listened to it almost exclusively for a few weeks straight, and it still is in the regular rotation after about 4 months which is a long time for me. It's so musical, it's not just beats and noise. And I've heard they are insane live. I just picture a Girl Talk concert but with more leather and acid - and it's not like a GT concert is lacking in either of those.

Must hear tracks: I have a new favorite every week but "Untrust Us" and "Air War" seem to get the most play overall.

Marnie Stern - Her album title is really pretentious (just look it up, I'm not typing it out), but it has some solid songs. First of all, she can shred a guitar like few others. Her riffs and the psycho drumming give it an awesome spazzed out rock sound. I'll admit it's not always accessible, but I like it a lot and that makes me cooler because I get it.

Must hear tracks: "The Crippled Jazzer" and "The Package Is Wrapped"

women

Red Light Company

2009-03-30T17:54:00.006-05:00

Hey Folks here is another great band called the Red Light Company. They are a fun indie rock pop band similar but way better than The Killers. Take a listen and see what you think.

p.s. sorry for the inappropriate album art but that is what their record looks like.

Red Light Company

my kind of church

2009-03-18T11:49:00.001-05:00

I want to to go to this church...

here we go magic

2009-03-16T09:49:00.005-05:00

This is what I'm listening to:

I kept hearing about this band around the "blogosphere", so I checked them out today. Depending on the track, they seem to occupy a strange, cool place between Royksopp electronica and DOE indie folk.

Here We Go Magic - Fangela [mp3]

hat tip: G vs B, Indie Surfer

This is what I have been listening to lately....

2009-03-11T09:50:00.003-05:00

So I know this is kind of lame and totally unmusical but basically this is a what have you been listening to lately blog and this is what I have been listening to lately. I have been taking a class with Jerram Barrs called apologetics and outreach and he spent a whole class talking about the Lord of the Rings. It inspired me to read them but since I don't even have time to read what I am supposed to for class I thought I would get the books on audio... I'm on Fellowship.... and it's awesome!

Flavor of the month

2009-03-10T12:26:00.008-05:00

So I'm finally coming out of my Animal Collective coma, and I've been listening to stuff that is a little more...sugary. AnCo's latest album was poppy, but I've recently wanted something that immediately fits in with my musical proclivities.

Enter The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. I'm sure some of you have given them a listen. I don't think any new ground is being broken here, but I really like them. Think shoegaze. Below is the last track on their new album. The drums seem almost exactly like the drums on Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey," but it varies as the song progresses...Actually it pretty much sounds exactly like a J&MC song.

Gentle Sons - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

iphone mgmt cover

2009-03-02T12:44:00.009-06:00

i wonder how long it will be until this becomes an iphone commercial?

it's pretty amazing that they can play an entire song and not completely butcher it, using only music apps on the iphone. impressive. the band performing is the mentalists.

hat tip: pitchfork.

and just in case you want to hear the original. it's one of my favorite songs from the album.

Kids - MGMT
also, i think i figured out our 30 second problem. imeem must secure rights from each artist to allow it to stream on other sites. for all the artists imeem has not gotten the rights to, you have to go imeem.com to hear the full song.

grizzly bear live single

2009-02-25T14:58:00.001-06:00

It's catchy. For those (like me) who didn't watch them on TV:

Grizzly Bear on Letterman [mp3]

via Gorilla Vs. Bear

The Deep Vibration

2009-02-19T17:43:00.003-06:00

The Deep Vibration is a band out of Nashville. The lead singer and creator of the band, Matt Campbell was a student of mine at Belmont. The band is deeply influenced by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, The Band, The Velvet Underground, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Clash, The Ramones, Phil Spector, Stax Records, Townes Van Zandt, Flying Burrito Brothers, & Hank Williams. You can definitely hear the Neil Young in there and they remind me of early angry Ryan Adams. Hope you enjoy!

The Deep Vibration

brothersport

2009-02-16T13:12:00.003-06:00

In the vein of what I'm listening to lately:

I've come around to Animal Collective slowly. I didn't go gaga over Strawberry Jam, but I did like Panda Bear's Person Pitch, so I thought I'd give them another go. Tracks like "My Girls" and "Bluish" got me going, but it was the synth breakdown at the 3:00 mark on the last track "Brothersport" that hooked me. Which is why I've had it on repeat this week:

Brother Sport.mp3 - Animal Collective

Sorry- Imeem is doing the dumb 30 second thing. I'm sure you all have the album anyways.

P.S. This is an interesting take on Hipster Run Off. Entertaining.

Some New, Some Old

2009-02-10T10:14:00.017-06:00

3 songs have been on repeat on my new 120 GB ipod lately(thanks super hero wife), and when you realize that i've had my ipod for only 5 days that's what i call driving your point home. yes, there are other songs on repetition, but you have already talked about them. "so make of that, what you will."

i'm really digging A.C. Newman's album, Get Guilty, this LA band, No Age, and my brother in law reintroduced me to a band that i discarded into the list of bands that i should pretend to like but never really listened too. he even went to go see their final show in a cave in McMinnville, TN. i'm definitely not jealous.

There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve - A.C. Newman

Eraser - No Age

Random Rules - Silver Jews

the last one is from American Water.

mykonos video

2009-02-05T15:30:00.005-06:00

cool video. those tall legs in the forest are kind of creepy. saw it first on pitchfork.

the bird and the bee

2009-02-04T14:13:00.007-06:00

I was bored and looking through Pitchfork's recent reviews and ran across The Bird and The Bee. Maybe because Third has gotten me into the mood for "Trip-Hop 2.0", a female singer and "space-jazz" DJ pop duo hit the right note, so to speak.

MySpace

Pitchfork Review

The Bird and The Bee - Polite Dance Song [mp3]

via quietcolor.com