A bit more mainstream.
A lot more video.
30) The Decemberists - Picaresque
Picaresque is an epic and theatrical step forward from Her Majesty, yo-yo-ing the listener between the high highs and low lows like a catchy melodrama.
The Decemberists - Engine Driver
29) mewithoutyou - Catch For Us the Foxes
This follow-up to [A -->B] Life surprised its listeners when it was first released. The songs were more angular, more melodic, less distorted, easier to discern, more accessible, and more awesome. There are still moments of severe rocktitude, but on the whole Foxes is a little bit more subdued and lyrically introspective.
28) Damien Jurado - Where Shall You Take Me?
Like all good Jurado albums, this one covers themes of bittersweet nostalgia, America, loves, lost loves, regret, and contains a good folksy song or two in there for good measure.
Damien Jurado - Texas to Ohio
27) Aimee Mann - Lost in Space
Dour but not dark. Aggressive but smoooth. Cold but alluring. This but also that.
Aimee Mann - High on Sunday 51
26) Elliott Smith - From a Basement on a Hill
Incomplete when Smith STABBED HIMSELF TO DEATH IN THE CHEST, this album was pieced together from what was already recorded. It still manages to sound polished and full, maybe a bit more swaggery than what we're used to, and though Smith may have had other ideas regarding the direction of this project, Basement is still an Elliott Smith album through-and-through.
Elliott Smith - Twilight
Elliott Smith - Memory Lane
25) The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
It's hard to take things seriously when pink robots are involved, but these songs are beautifully lush and tinged with mournful undercurrents. Yoshimi is ambitious electro-psychedelic rock goodness. Listen to the album with good speakers/headphones as there's a lot going on here.
24) Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Inspired by the great country music of the past half-century, Fox Confessor features the glorious vocals of Case over music that will make you scoot your boots or fill your beers with tears.
Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On
Neko Case - Star Witness
23) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
I'm not going to try to explain The Crane Wife. I just made an attempt and it just sounded like buckets of pretension and ignorance. So instead I'll mention that there are some stories in those songs, some movements, and a lot of good prog moments (if there is such a thing).
22) Mason Jennings - Birds Flying Away
Jennings' second full-length release is a tremendous piece of American folk-rock. He gets agitated and political, but in the catchiest way possible. And just in case songs about the Black Panthers aren't your thing, the ballads here are some of the loveliest you will ever hear.
Mason Jennings - Stars Shine Quietly
21) Extol - Undeceived
One of the best metal albums ever. Epic, brutal, technical, and surprisingly beautiful (strings!). The Nords do it right. For some reason I take special satisfaction when those of immeasurable musical talent use their superpowers for the sake of metal.
Extol - Undeceived
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
2000-2009:40-31
In this ten:
3 Canadian-based bands
1 Brazilian-based band
2 Japanese front-women
1 pair of Italian twins
1 Swede
The rest are just American leftovers.
40) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Listening to Crystal Castles is like watching a Nintendo have a grand mal seizure at a warehouse rave. I kinda like it. A more direct description, Crystal Castles drops percussion on a bed of 8-bit audio smeared by edgy distorted chick vocals. There are a lot of ways to describe this duo, but none of it will make sense until you let them abuse your eardrums.
Crystal Castles - Untrust Us
39) Blonde Redhead - 23
Released in 2007, this is their latest full-length release (though apparently the band is working on a new one). Poppier than their previous albums (or "more accessible," whatever you want to call it), 23 still delivers Kazu Makino's ghosty vocals and the Pace twins' haunting melodies. But rather than being hypnotized by the music, you will probably find yourself doing some toe-tappin'.
38) Wintersleep - untitled
Everybody likes Welcome to the Night Sky, released in 2007. It's okay, but their 2005 release is where it's at. Not necessarily a self-titled release (they already had one of those in 2003), this album picks out the best elements of dour post-grunge to bring forth excellent and surprisingly explosive moody alt-rock.
Wintersleep - Insomnia
37) Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors
Released in May of 2000, Fevers set the tone for super-sensitive neo-folk. Lots of angsty late-teenage introspection, as Conor Oberst was 19 when he recorded these songs. What sets him apart from the other whiny nonsense is his ability to convey these heavy emotions sincerely without any sense of irony (which makes the mock interview found on the album all the more hilarious).
Bright Eyes - Something Vague
36) Christian Kjellvander - Songs From a Two Room Chapel
There might be something about the northern snowy desolation of Sweden that intrisically causes its musicians to produce bleak and soul-bendingly sorrowful music. This perspective also allows the Swedes to write and perform Americana better than the Americans. Anyway, meet Christian Kjellvander, the Swedish Richard Buckner.
Christian Kjellvander - Allelujah
35) CSS - Cansei de ser Sexy
Slightly snotty, fairly reprehensible, and mostly electro-funky. Like everything that displays youthful exuberance through loud fashion and mild crassness you'll find CSS (both the band and the album) either cool or annoying. As we're so far down the list you can correctly postulate where I stand.
CSS - Alala
34) Hopesfall - No Wings to Speak Of
Under twenty-minutes in length, this four-song EP is completely and wholly glorious, displaying Hopesfall at their musical apex. Epic, melodic, passionate, and, when appropriate, brutal. Line-up changes soon after No Wings was recorded ensured music like this would never be heard again.
Hopesfall - The End of an Era
33) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The highly-anticipated follow-up to Funeral is a little bit more serious yet is just as catchy and even a bit more fun. There's lots of social/political/religious commentary (mostly sarcastic criticisms) but the moderate tempo keeps the album from being too heavy-handed. "Intervention" makes me want to physically explode, spontaneous combustion-like.
Arcade Fire - Intervention
32) Deerhoof - Apple O'
Insane and/or ingenious. Either way, the music is spastically delightful and, in its own special way (and I do mean special), quite beautiful. Fun if you like bursts of atonality, a mashed sense of what rock 'n' roll should be, pandas, and very short Japanese women.
Deerhoof - Sealed With a Kiss
Deerhoof - L' Amour Stories
31) Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlantacism
My favorite Death Cab album. Songs revolve around themes of travel and love and departed loves and weepy things like that. The tracks meld nicely into each other, but naturally stand strongly on their own.
Death Cab For Cutie - The New Year
3 Canadian-based bands
1 Brazilian-based band
2 Japanese front-women
1 pair of Italian twins
1 Swede
The rest are just American leftovers.
40) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Listening to Crystal Castles is like watching a Nintendo have a grand mal seizure at a warehouse rave. I kinda like it. A more direct description, Crystal Castles drops percussion on a bed of 8-bit audio smeared by edgy distorted chick vocals. There are a lot of ways to describe this duo, but none of it will make sense until you let them abuse your eardrums.
Crystal Castles - Untrust Us
39) Blonde Redhead - 23
Released in 2007, this is their latest full-length release (though apparently the band is working on a new one). Poppier than their previous albums (or "more accessible," whatever you want to call it), 23 still delivers Kazu Makino's ghosty vocals and the Pace twins' haunting melodies. But rather than being hypnotized by the music, you will probably find yourself doing some toe-tappin'.
38) Wintersleep - untitled
Everybody likes Welcome to the Night Sky, released in 2007. It's okay, but their 2005 release is where it's at. Not necessarily a self-titled release (they already had one of those in 2003), this album picks out the best elements of dour post-grunge to bring forth excellent and surprisingly explosive moody alt-rock.
Wintersleep - Insomnia
37) Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors
Released in May of 2000, Fevers set the tone for super-sensitive neo-folk. Lots of angsty late-teenage introspection, as Conor Oberst was 19 when he recorded these songs. What sets him apart from the other whiny nonsense is his ability to convey these heavy emotions sincerely without any sense of irony (which makes the mock interview found on the album all the more hilarious).
Bright Eyes - Something Vague
36) Christian Kjellvander - Songs From a Two Room Chapel
There might be something about the northern snowy desolation of Sweden that intrisically causes its musicians to produce bleak and soul-bendingly sorrowful music. This perspective also allows the Swedes to write and perform Americana better than the Americans. Anyway, meet Christian Kjellvander, the Swedish Richard Buckner.
Christian Kjellvander - Allelujah
35) CSS - Cansei de ser Sexy
Slightly snotty, fairly reprehensible, and mostly electro-funky. Like everything that displays youthful exuberance through loud fashion and mild crassness you'll find CSS (both the band and the album) either cool or annoying. As we're so far down the list you can correctly postulate where I stand.
CSS - Alala
34) Hopesfall - No Wings to Speak Of
Under twenty-minutes in length, this four-song EP is completely and wholly glorious, displaying Hopesfall at their musical apex. Epic, melodic, passionate, and, when appropriate, brutal. Line-up changes soon after No Wings was recorded ensured music like this would never be heard again.
Hopesfall - The End of an Era
33) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The highly-anticipated follow-up to Funeral is a little bit more serious yet is just as catchy and even a bit more fun. There's lots of social/political/religious commentary (mostly sarcastic criticisms) but the moderate tempo keeps the album from being too heavy-handed. "Intervention" makes me want to physically explode, spontaneous combustion-like.
Arcade Fire - Intervention
32) Deerhoof - Apple O'
Insane and/or ingenious. Either way, the music is spastically delightful and, in its own special way (and I do mean special), quite beautiful. Fun if you like bursts of atonality, a mashed sense of what rock 'n' roll should be, pandas, and very short Japanese women.
Deerhoof - Sealed With a Kiss
Deerhoof - L' Amour Stories
31) Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlantacism
My favorite Death Cab album. Songs revolve around themes of travel and love and departed loves and weepy things like that. The tracks meld nicely into each other, but naturally stand strongly on their own.
Death Cab For Cutie - The New Year
Thursday, December 10, 2009
2000-2009:50-41
TOP 50, EVERYBODY!
50)Further Seems Forever - The Moon is Down
Pre-DC Chris Carraba on vocals + post-Strongarm band members = passionate rock 'n' roll. The Moon is Down takes me back to a time of musical discovery, late nights, and most excellent camaraderie. It's the soundtrack to life lived, peaks and valleys and all.
Further Seems Forever - Monechetti
49)Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
Any album inspired by the state of Michigan is going to have an underlying undercurrent of depression and lost hope, and Stevens doesn't skim over these things. In fact, Sufjan's most heart-breaking songs are found here. But, as always, there is sweetness amongst the bitter and, utilizing xylophones and banjos and whatnot, he reminds us that there is always cause to rejoice.
Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
Sufjan Stevens - Holland
48)Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm
A concept album about a boxer and his girlfriend and the way they mess up each other's lives, each song stands up on its own even as the unifying story takes its depressing turns.
Aimee Mann - Little Bombs
47)Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
Melodic and woodsy (if things pertaining to forestry are accurate ways to describe a music group). The songs are mellow and full of story-snippets, possibly putting Van Occupanther somewhere in neo-folk territory. Hippies will dig it.
Midlake - Roscoe
46)Feist - Let It Die
Let it Die is the better, lesser-known older sister to The Remainder. It's cool and smokey and a wee bit jazzy. And none of the songs appear on Apple commercials (although "Mushaboom" has appeared... somewhere).
Feist - Gatekeeper
45)The Postal Service - Give Up
Okay, so maybe it sounds a bit dated after six years, but these are still good catchy songs. Looking past the peppy novelty of the boops and beeps we hear songs of remorse and regret countered with songs of love and hope. Synth-pop fan or not, there isn't a bad song here.
The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
44)Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel the Illinoise
Like Michigan, except a little more ornate, a little more celebratory, and a little more... is that a song about John Wayne Gacy? Though not as outright depressing as Stevens' preceding release, Illinois banks on the extremes as it peaks with jubilation and dips into authentically spine-chilling moments.
Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
43)Cat Power - You Are Free
Grittier than The Greatest, You Are Free is just as powerful and more musically diverse. Normally I find guest-vocals distracting, but Eddie Vedder's appearance is perfectly low-key.
Cat Power - He War
Cat Power - Good Woman
42)Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway
Mark Kozelek's songs are gentle and sweeping, yet stripped down and direct. There is nothing extravagant about them, especially the ones found on Ghosts, but they are timed and crafted so perfectly. It's less like listening to music and more like looking at a Flemish painting.
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
41)Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
First of all the album cover features Case on the hood of an old Mercury Cougar wielding a sword. Who cares what the songs sound like. But they are good songs indeed. Taking another step away from her country music roots (steering herself in more folksy, more Alt-country directions), she instead turns her attention to nature and goes so far as to record the album in a barn. Despite the fact that I have heard these songs at work nearly every day for the better part of a year I have yet to become sick of any of them.
Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve
Neko Case - Magpie to the Morning
50)Further Seems Forever - The Moon is Down
Pre-DC Chris Carraba on vocals + post-Strongarm band members = passionate rock 'n' roll. The Moon is Down takes me back to a time of musical discovery, late nights, and most excellent camaraderie. It's the soundtrack to life lived, peaks and valleys and all.
Further Seems Forever - Monechetti
49)Sufjan Stevens - Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
Any album inspired by the state of Michigan is going to have an underlying undercurrent of depression and lost hope, and Stevens doesn't skim over these things. In fact, Sufjan's most heart-breaking songs are found here. But, as always, there is sweetness amongst the bitter and, utilizing xylophones and banjos and whatnot, he reminds us that there is always cause to rejoice.
Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
Sufjan Stevens - Holland
48)Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm
A concept album about a boxer and his girlfriend and the way they mess up each other's lives, each song stands up on its own even as the unifying story takes its depressing turns.
Aimee Mann - Little Bombs
47)Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
Melodic and woodsy (if things pertaining to forestry are accurate ways to describe a music group). The songs are mellow and full of story-snippets, possibly putting Van Occupanther somewhere in neo-folk territory. Hippies will dig it.
Midlake - Roscoe
46)Feist - Let It Die
Let it Die is the better, lesser-known older sister to The Remainder. It's cool and smokey and a wee bit jazzy. And none of the songs appear on Apple commercials (although "Mushaboom" has appeared... somewhere).
Feist - Gatekeeper
45)The Postal Service - Give Up
Okay, so maybe it sounds a bit dated after six years, but these are still good catchy songs. Looking past the peppy novelty of the boops and beeps we hear songs of remorse and regret countered with songs of love and hope. Synth-pop fan or not, there isn't a bad song here.
The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
44)Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel the Illinoise
Like Michigan, except a little more ornate, a little more celebratory, and a little more... is that a song about John Wayne Gacy? Though not as outright depressing as Stevens' preceding release, Illinois banks on the extremes as it peaks with jubilation and dips into authentically spine-chilling moments.
Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
43)Cat Power - You Are Free
Grittier than The Greatest, You Are Free is just as powerful and more musically diverse. Normally I find guest-vocals distracting, but Eddie Vedder's appearance is perfectly low-key.
Cat Power - He War
Cat Power - Good Woman
42)Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway
Mark Kozelek's songs are gentle and sweeping, yet stripped down and direct. There is nothing extravagant about them, especially the ones found on Ghosts, but they are timed and crafted so perfectly. It's less like listening to music and more like looking at a Flemish painting.
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
41)Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
First of all the album cover features Case on the hood of an old Mercury Cougar wielding a sword. Who cares what the songs sound like. But they are good songs indeed. Taking another step away from her country music roots (steering herself in more folksy, more Alt-country directions), she instead turns her attention to nature and goes so far as to record the album in a barn. Despite the fact that I have heard these songs at work nearly every day for the better part of a year I have yet to become sick of any of them.
Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve
Neko Case - Magpie to the Morning
Monday, December 7, 2009
2000-2009:60-51
60)As I Lay Dying - Frail Words Collapse
I remember when I first heard "94 Hours" I nearly soiled myself. Like, literally. The volume was up really loud, and those bass blasts... Anyway, solid crunchy metalcore. So good. So good.
As I Lay Dying - 94 Hours
59)Over the Rhine - Ohio
Reoccurring themes on this list: smokey-voiced female singers. Few croon it better than Karin Berquist in that sultry-on-accident kind of way. Regarding Ohio, double-discs usually end up boring me, but all 21 of these tracks are captivating on their own while contributing to some sort of familiar-but-not bigger picture.
58)Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
Yes, I think Plans is better than We Have the Facts and Photo Album. This is my list, not yours. Though Plans was released on a major label, and though it went Platinum, and though it received several Grammy nods, I still get the feeling it's the red-headed step-child of Death Cab albums. It's soft and tender without being whiny, and the songs are really well-crafted.
Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body
57)Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
Danes! One neat thing about this album (and there are several) is that most of the tracks bleed into each other, forming what could either be a few epic songs or many normal-lengthed ones. Regardless, the music of Mew falls from somewhere beyond the upper atmosphere, a place both heavenly and slightly dangerous. I think it's called Denmark.
56)Richard Buckner - Dents and Shells
Not as generally stripped down as his previous releases (though equally as devastating) Buckner and his posse still utilizes the two most heart-wrenching instruments known to man: the slide guitar, and his own husky voice. There's an underlying sensation of hope, however, that prevents Dents from being such a downer.
Richard Buckner - A Chance Counsel
55)The Dismemberment Plan - Change
Are they being serious? Are they being sarcastic? Joking around? Bored? Somebody tell me how to feel. The songs themselves are unquestionably awesome as they're built around the hookiest hooks and too-clever lyrics. Tragically, this was the Plan's last studio album as they broke up a couple years after its 2001 release.
The Dismemberment Plan - Superpowers
54)Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day
Southern rock with a much-needed conscience. The Truckers exhibit southern pride without ignoring the socioculteral elements and attitudes that have retarded the region since the 1800s. And somehow they do it in a musically ear-pleasing way.
53)Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
Speaking of social consciousness... Morrissey! Despite the natural heaviness of political, social, and religious commentary, many of the tracks are upbeat and seriously catchy -- radio-friendly, even, which is somewhat unusual for Morrissey -- and cleanly put together.
52)Denison Witmer - Of Joy and Sorrow
Introspective songs about old and new relationships, friendships, and bittersweet nostalgia. Witmer's delivery is gentle and hushed, yet he holds your attention by striking familiar emotional chords.
Denison Witmer - Simple Life
51)Pedro the Lion - Control
This is where David Bazan made the move from slo-core to something more musically aggressive (though his lyrical aggressiveness has always remained consistently... aggressive). Less a concept album than Winners Never Quit, themes of death and sex and misinterpreted Christianity still permeate Control. The album is both a commentary and a challenge.
Pedro the Lion - Rapture
Pedro the Lion - Penetration
I remember when I first heard "94 Hours" I nearly soiled myself. Like, literally. The volume was up really loud, and those bass blasts... Anyway, solid crunchy metalcore. So good. So good.
As I Lay Dying - 94 Hours
59)Over the Rhine - Ohio
Reoccurring themes on this list: smokey-voiced female singers. Few croon it better than Karin Berquist in that sultry-on-accident kind of way. Regarding Ohio, double-discs usually end up boring me, but all 21 of these tracks are captivating on their own while contributing to some sort of familiar-but-not bigger picture.
58)Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
Yes, I think Plans is better than We Have the Facts and Photo Album. This is my list, not yours. Though Plans was released on a major label, and though it went Platinum, and though it received several Grammy nods, I still get the feeling it's the red-headed step-child of Death Cab albums. It's soft and tender without being whiny, and the songs are really well-crafted.
Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body
57)Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
Danes! One neat thing about this album (and there are several) is that most of the tracks bleed into each other, forming what could either be a few epic songs or many normal-lengthed ones. Regardless, the music of Mew falls from somewhere beyond the upper atmosphere, a place both heavenly and slightly dangerous. I think it's called Denmark.
56)Richard Buckner - Dents and Shells
Not as generally stripped down as his previous releases (though equally as devastating) Buckner and his posse still utilizes the two most heart-wrenching instruments known to man: the slide guitar, and his own husky voice. There's an underlying sensation of hope, however, that prevents Dents from being such a downer.
Richard Buckner - A Chance Counsel
55)The Dismemberment Plan - Change
Are they being serious? Are they being sarcastic? Joking around? Bored? Somebody tell me how to feel. The songs themselves are unquestionably awesome as they're built around the hookiest hooks and too-clever lyrics. Tragically, this was the Plan's last studio album as they broke up a couple years after its 2001 release.
The Dismemberment Plan - Superpowers
54)Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day
Southern rock with a much-needed conscience. The Truckers exhibit southern pride without ignoring the socioculteral elements and attitudes that have retarded the region since the 1800s. And somehow they do it in a musically ear-pleasing way.
53)Morrissey - You Are the Quarry
Speaking of social consciousness... Morrissey! Despite the natural heaviness of political, social, and religious commentary, many of the tracks are upbeat and seriously catchy -- radio-friendly, even, which is somewhat unusual for Morrissey -- and cleanly put together.
52)Denison Witmer - Of Joy and Sorrow
Introspective songs about old and new relationships, friendships, and bittersweet nostalgia. Witmer's delivery is gentle and hushed, yet he holds your attention by striking familiar emotional chords.
Denison Witmer - Simple Life
51)Pedro the Lion - Control
This is where David Bazan made the move from slo-core to something more musically aggressive (though his lyrical aggressiveness has always remained consistently... aggressive). Less a concept album than Winners Never Quit, themes of death and sex and misinterpreted Christianity still permeate Control. The album is both a commentary and a challenge.
Pedro the Lion - Rapture
Pedro the Lion - Penetration
Friday, December 4, 2009
2000-2009:70-61
70) Junior Boys - So This is Goodbye
More Canadians! Electronic music always seems best when it is composed by duos. While techno, house, and trance have a tendency to lull its listeners into a... trance, Junior Boys music is captivating and groovylicious.
Junior Boys - In the Morning
69) Sigur Ros - Takk...
Sigur Ros's second-best full-length album, Takk... displays more of the magnificent instrumental and vocal arrangements that make the band so wondrous. Always needing to be different, the CD packaging itself is awkwardly sized and sticks out funny on my shelf like an extended middle finger amongst all the other jewel cases.
Sigur Ros - Gong
68) The River Bends - And Flows Into the Sea
A collaboration with One Star Hotel, The River Bends is Denison Witmer backed by (gasp) a full rock band. Though several of the tracks sound more robust than Witmer's solo work, each tune is vintage Denison in its introspection and perfectly placed hooks.
The River Bends - Are You Lonely
The River Bends - 22
67) Ladytron - The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour, when it was released, was a severe departure from the group's cutesy minimal-retro electro-synthpop. The one-dimensional boops and beeps that harmlessly led the listener on were replaced with heavily layered waves of sound crashing rhythmically about. Ladytron, in one album, had turned from a novelty to something positively dangerous. "Destroy Everything You Touch" is a tremendous track.
Ladytron - Beauty*2
66) Mogwai - Rock Action
Murky without being muddled, triumphant without being celebratory, Rock Action is a bipolar musical exploration.
Mogwai - Dial: Revenge
65) Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - Living With the Living
Until The Brutalist Bricks is released in March, Living With the Living is Ted Leo's most recent full-length album. I had previous noted that it wasn't quite as good as his previous releases, but I now see the error of my ways.
Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - A Bottle of Buckie
Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - Bomb. Repeat. Bomb.
64) Envy - All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead
Old pros, Envy does epic the way epicness is supposed to be done. The songs are dense, go soft-to-loud (or loud-to-louder), and the vocals are passionately SCREAMED in Japanese.
Envy - Farewell To Words
63) Desaparecidos - Read Music/Speak Spanish
It's Conor Oberst, and he's mad at suburban America. Raging like a teenagers who just learned about the evils of corporations and consumerism, Oberst plugs in his guitar and plays some serious rock 'n' roll.
Desaparecidos - Man and Wife, The Latter (Damaged Goods)
62) Death Cab For Cutie - The Photo Album
More Death Cab goodness full of smirk-worthy lyrical wit and structure. The music, even when conveying severe agitation, is smooth. The hooks are hooky. The Photo Album is a Death Cab classic.
Death Cab For Cutie - We Laugh Indoors
Death Cab For Cutie - A Movie Script Ending
61) Cat Power - The Greatest
Bluesy, mellow, and solid. Chan Marshall's smokey vocals mesh perfectly with her backing ensemble. I guess you're allowed to name your album The Greatest if it really is the greatest.
Cat Power - The Greatest
More Canadians! Electronic music always seems best when it is composed by duos. While techno, house, and trance have a tendency to lull its listeners into a... trance, Junior Boys music is captivating and groovylicious.
Junior Boys - In the Morning
69) Sigur Ros - Takk...
Sigur Ros's second-best full-length album, Takk... displays more of the magnificent instrumental and vocal arrangements that make the band so wondrous. Always needing to be different, the CD packaging itself is awkwardly sized and sticks out funny on my shelf like an extended middle finger amongst all the other jewel cases.
Sigur Ros - Gong
68) The River Bends - And Flows Into the Sea
A collaboration with One Star Hotel, The River Bends is Denison Witmer backed by (gasp) a full rock band. Though several of the tracks sound more robust than Witmer's solo work, each tune is vintage Denison in its introspection and perfectly placed hooks.
The River Bends - Are You Lonely
The River Bends - 22
67) Ladytron - The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour, when it was released, was a severe departure from the group's cutesy minimal-retro electro-synthpop. The one-dimensional boops and beeps that harmlessly led the listener on were replaced with heavily layered waves of sound crashing rhythmically about. Ladytron, in one album, had turned from a novelty to something positively dangerous. "Destroy Everything You Touch" is a tremendous track.
Ladytron - Beauty*2
66) Mogwai - Rock Action
Murky without being muddled, triumphant without being celebratory, Rock Action is a bipolar musical exploration.
Mogwai - Dial: Revenge
65) Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - Living With the Living
Until The Brutalist Bricks is released in March, Living With the Living is Ted Leo's most recent full-length album. I had previous noted that it wasn't quite as good as his previous releases, but I now see the error of my ways.
Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - A Bottle of Buckie
Ted Leo + the Pharmacists - Bomb. Repeat. Bomb.
64) Envy - All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead
Old pros, Envy does epic the way epicness is supposed to be done. The songs are dense, go soft-to-loud (or loud-to-louder), and the vocals are passionately SCREAMED in Japanese.
Envy - Farewell To Words
63) Desaparecidos - Read Music/Speak Spanish
It's Conor Oberst, and he's mad at suburban America. Raging like a teenagers who just learned about the evils of corporations and consumerism, Oberst plugs in his guitar and plays some serious rock 'n' roll.
Desaparecidos - Man and Wife, The Latter (Damaged Goods)
62) Death Cab For Cutie - The Photo Album
More Death Cab goodness full of smirk-worthy lyrical wit and structure. The music, even when conveying severe agitation, is smooth. The hooks are hooky. The Photo Album is a Death Cab classic.
Death Cab For Cutie - We Laugh Indoors
Death Cab For Cutie - A Movie Script Ending
61) Cat Power - The Greatest
Bluesy, mellow, and solid. Chan Marshall's smokey vocals mesh perfectly with her backing ensemble. I guess you're allowed to name your album The Greatest if it really is the greatest.
Cat Power - The Greatest
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)