tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76511535685007327912024-03-13T22:40:50.377-07:00Top Ten AlbumsMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16808208958457597669noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-64665476661941489682012-12-31T08:02:00.002-08:002012-12-31T08:50:56.809-08:00Matt Brusky's 2012 Top Albums & Songs <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Top Albums</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivSY5WeuQws/UOGtEcmcIWI/AAAAAAAACWM/_HeVKjWVVsI/s1600/Woods-Bend-Beyond.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivSY5WeuQws/UOGtEcmcIWI/AAAAAAAACWM/_HeVKjWVVsI/s200/Woods-Bend-Beyond.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>10. Woods - <i>Bend Beyond</i></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5VppVDPrBI/UOGtCL82Y5I/AAAAAAAACV0/7wfxqT7MR6M/s1600/Kendrick-Lamar-Good-Kid-Maad-City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5VppVDPrBI/UOGtCL82Y5I/AAAAAAAACV0/7wfxqT7MR6M/s200/Kendrick-Lamar-Good-Kid-Maad-City.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 9. Kendrick Lamar - <i>good
kid, m.A.A.d city</i></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>8. Burial - <i>Kindred</i></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp9TFGbEaNU/UOGtKWvI8wI/AAAAAAAACWk/ZBIjoZ1PuXY/s1600/foxygen-take-the-kids-off-broadway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp9TFGbEaNU/UOGtKWvI8wI/AAAAAAAACWk/ZBIjoZ1PuXY/s200/foxygen-take-the-kids-off-broadway.jpg" width="198" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></b></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">7</span>. </span>Foxygen - <i>Take the Kids Off Broadway</i></span></span></b> </i></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_nM3Nwo0JXM/UOGtJtVGsMI/AAAAAAAACWc/5vnN5pZEV_A/s1600/firs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_nM3Nwo0JXM/UOGtJtVGsMI/AAAAAAAACWc/5vnN5pZEV_A/s200/firs.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. Noma<span style="font-size: small;">dic Firs - <i>Nomadic Firs</i> </span> </span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1p4tqwxoRbY/UOGtCocORYI/AAAAAAAACV8/lFDcojO7tWw/s1600/Perfume+Genius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1p4tqwxoRbY/UOGtCocORYI/AAAAAAAACV8/lFDcojO7tWw/s1600/Perfume+Genius.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Perfume Genius - <i>Put Your Back In 2 It</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ16XhjheTI/UOGtM0KW-JI/AAAAAAAACW8/jTK9sUdQe1Q/s1600/thee-oh-sees-putrifiers-ii-608x536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ16XhjheTI/UOGtM0KW-JI/AAAAAAAACW8/jTK9sUdQe1Q/s200/thee-oh-sees-putrifiers-ii-608x536.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> 4. Thee Oh Sees - <i>Putrifiers II</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amnAOZleXJY/UOGtMLcQCHI/AAAAAAAACW0/7AQUH6tza7Q/s1600/homepage_large.3922871b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amnAOZleXJY/UOGtMLcQCHI/AAAAAAAACW0/7AQUH6tza7Q/s200/homepage_large.3922871b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3</span>. Japandroids - <i>Celebration Roc<span style="font-size: small;">k</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8qeea3rwrk/UOHAOuy5nBI/AAAAAAAACYE/xZzIswtjrvM/s1600/ty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8qeea3rwrk/UOHAOuy5nBI/AAAAAAAACYE/xZzIswtjrvM/s320/ty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2. Ty Segall Band - <i>Slaughterhouse</i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">&</span></i> Ty Segall <i>- Twins</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tnuE7l68bI/UOG9cEa28VI/AAAAAAAACXk/hNfMMqOEOTQ/s1600/grimes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tnuE7l68bI/UOG9cEa28VI/AAAAAAAACXk/hNfMMqOEOTQ/s200/grimes.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1. Grimes - <i>Visions</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">20. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyxzjF8IjE8&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">Brains</a> – Lower Dens</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />19. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/woods-cali-in-a-cup" target="_blank">Cali In A Cup</a> – Woods</span></span></span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />18. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tA_2qCGnmE" target="_blank">In My Bed</a> – The Orwells</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">17. <a href="https://vimeo.com/49330356#" target="_blank">Ivory Coast</a> –
Pure Bathing Culture</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">16. <a href="https://vimeo.com/29942571" target="_blank">She Lit a Fire</a> – Lord
Huron</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />15. <a href="http://audiovole.com/Music/perfume-genius-rusty-chains.mp3" target="_blank">Rusty Chain</a> – Perfume
Genius</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />14. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/nomadic-firs/cover-bombs" target="_blank">Cover Bombs</a> – Nomadic
F<span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>i</b></u></span></span>rs</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">13. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEgeGHFZUCE" target="_blank">Generator</a> – Gap Dream</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />12. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRVCtbfuDqw" target="_blank">The House that Heaven Built</a> – Japandroids</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">11. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/majorlazer/get-free-feat-amber-of-dirty-1" target="_blank">Get Free</a> - Mazor Lazer
(featuring Amber of Dirty Projectors)</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10. <a href="https://vimeo.com/47257945" target="_blank">You Kill</a> – Eternal
Summers</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYOkaOU1T0U" target="_blank">Loner</a> – Burial</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw" target="_blank">Hold On</a> – Alabama Shakes</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. <a href="https://vimeo.com/34823087" target="_blank">In Decay</a> – Phedre</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/mp3/Foxygen%20-%20Waitin%204%20U.mp3" target="_blank">Waitin’ 4 U</a> – Foxygen</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH-q0I1fJY" target="_blank">Genesis</a> – Grimes</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.<a href="https://vimeo.com/38987284" target="_blank"> Oblivion</a> – Grimes</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/alltomorrowmusic/thee-oh-sees-lupine-dominus" target="_blank">Lupine Dominus</a> – Thee Oh
Sees</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/thenewdivision/kids" target="_blank">Kids</a> – New Division</span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. <a href="https://soundcloud.com/guardsmusic/guards-coming-true-1" target="_blank">Coming True</a> - Guards</span></span></span></b>
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-86478879454098756032012-12-31T07:11:00.001-08:002012-12-31T07:11:06.773-08:00Shannon Trew's Top 10 of '12<br />
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Very bummed to hear of the lack of music listening party, but still very happy we've built a great community based on this site and the Music Sharing group on Facebook...The music that got me through this year..<br />
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10) Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellean<br />
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9) Crocodiles - Endless Flowers<br />
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8) Wild Nothing - Nocturne<br />
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7) The xx - Coexist<br />
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6) Best Coast - The Only Place<br />
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5) The Shins - Port of Morrow<br />
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4) Beach House - Bloom<br />
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3) Divine Fits - A Thing Called the Divine Fits<br />
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2) Tame Impala - Lonerism<br />
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1) Passion Pit - Gossamer<br />
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Bonus:<br />
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Deftones - Koi No Yokan ---came out to late in the year/didn't hear about it til my list was pretty much decided, but a great effort if you are a fan of early Deftones ( Around the Fur, White Pony) very reminiscent of that.<br />
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Best Live Album :<br />
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Blur - Parklive<br />
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Bring it on, 2013..Happy New Year everyone!<br />
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-Shannon<br />
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-82696787079078837772012-12-15T10:27:00.000-08:002012-12-15T10:27:42.654-08:00Jeff Tyree's Top 10 Albums of 2012 : The Year When Rap Finally Got Good Again. 10. Daniel Rossen - Silent Hour / Golden Mile E.P.<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F40514229&color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true"></iframe><br />
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I actually enjoy this better then the new Grizzly Bear Album. Grizzly Bear as a band is played out. The next phase is clearly their solo work and side projects. <br />
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9. Mac DeMarco - 2 <br />
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This is what I would respect former PHISH fans listening too. Unfortunately that is not the case. Anyway, He's @ the Empty Bottle March 21st, 2013 and that is cool. <br />
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8. How to Dress Well - Total Loss <br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F58778535"></iframe><br />
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This groups name says it all. <br />
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7. Joey Bada$$ - 1999 <br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F38251622"></iframe><br />
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This 17 year old Brooklyn Rapper has the whole world ahead of him. I am rooting for you kid. Don't make me look bad. <br />
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6. Matthew Dear - Beams <br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F59772959"></iframe><br />
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Not his best work, However his shows in Chicago @ Lincoln Hall and in San Diego @ the Casbah were amazing. Earned him a nice spot on this list. <br />
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5. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D City <br />
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"Money Tree's is the perfect place for shade and that's just how I feel..."<br />
Dr. Dre, thank you. <br />
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4. DIIV - Oshin<br />
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Amazing Debut Album, great live show @ Empty Bottle this year...which leads into my next selection...<br />
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3. Wild Nothing - Nocturne <br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F64908074"></iframe><br />
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Also great at that same Empty Bottle show. If you like 80's music the likes of; Tears for Fears, The Cure and other darker more sophisticated 80's stuff, you will like this. <br />
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2. John Talabot -<i> fin</i><br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F38349544"></iframe><br />
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The culmination of dance music from every electronic sub-genre. This album is completely intoxicating. <br />
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1. Liars - WIXIW<br />
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Liars completely abandoned any signs of their previous sound and pull it off amazingly. They have come a long way from their humble beginnings as a dance/punk band from NY. They reinvent themselves on almost every album. This has been a long time coming since they have made my list with every album they have ever released. Cheers to one of my favorite bands of all time. <br />
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Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-62849370554216070902012-11-25T06:57:00.000-08:002012-11-25T07:00:54.271-08:00Top 10 2012<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Howdy All- some changes on Top 10 albums this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">moved BACK over to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lettershomefromcamp.blogspot.com/">lettershomefromcamp.blogspot.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sorry about the runaround! </span></div>
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16808208958457597669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-70245806348533032322012-01-08T16:31:00.000-08:002012-01-08T16:31:31.218-08:00<a href="http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35o47m/">Dan Meddaugh decides to post his Top 10 List</a><br />
<br />
Well, so much for 2011, another year down, another large amounts of new albums listened to - and a bunch of new artists (new for me at least) crack my top 10... a Top ten that I would like to describe as "who needs a title for the album anyways". Without further ado (and no matter what I say won't make up for the fact that today is January 8th) - but to my argument, last night my family celebrated our Christmas - so it still feels 2011.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amoeba.com/dynamic-images/instore_images_SF/PortugalTheManCD-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://www.amoeba.com/dynamic-images/instore_images_SF/PortugalTheManCD-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
10. Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain In the Cloud<br />
<br />
This band starts my top ten as the band that received the best response from a student of mine in class. Everyday, my Spotify is playing tunes in my classroom during passing periods / my prep time (and usually tunes that my students have no clue on the band) - and some time in December I was playing this album, and a student who was entering my class frankly asked "Mr. Meddaugh, what in the world are you listening to?" ... sorry to report that student more than likely didn't acquire the album. <br />
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9. Cut Copy - Zonoscope<br />
<br />
I still have a hard time forgiving this band for being severely late to Pitchfork in '08 - since me and my friends decided that the last show we would see that night was Cut Copy... only to get a mashed up trio of musicians that played earlier in the day. Zonoscope brings me back to why I like this band so much - poppy, psychedelic music that forces my head to bob up and down when I listen to it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2011/08/watch-the-throne-cd-a-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2011/08/watch-the-throne-cd-a-p.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
8. Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne<br />
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The album to prove to my students that I am hip - this collaboration between the two give me wh7.at I like in hip-hop. Kanye West's popped up hip-hop, along with Jay-Z's flow, and although some of the songs on the CD I need to skip, altogether it is an album I listened to a lot in 2011.<br />
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<a href="http://images.hhv.de/catalog/detail_big/00232/232651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.hhv.de/catalog/detail_big/00232/232651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
7. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow<br />
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A new band for me in 2011, the two together have perfect voices for each other. It makes me appreciate an album full of slow love songs, with the title track thrown in the mix, which was a song I use to hate, but this album stayed on play in my car for a full two weeks straight.<br />
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<a href="http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/news/43644/header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://pitchfork-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/news/43644/header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
6. James Blake - James Blake & Enough Thunder<br />
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I think I am cheating when I mash his two albums together, but I don't think Top Ten Albums have too many rules, and so if this is a rule, I'm breaking it. James Blake's style and made-in-the-home sound is exactly what others (example: Owl City) sucked at. To me, his cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" shows his ability as an artist, and is so depressingly good, it was placed in my Top 10.<br />
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<a href="http://www.buzzinemusic.com/sites/all/libraries/kcfinder/upload/images/cults%20album%20artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.buzzinemusic.com/sites/all/libraries/kcfinder/upload/images/cults%20album%20artwork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
5. Cults - Cults<br />
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Although I was late to the Cults party (not fully giving this album a chance until Thanksgiving Break) - it has been on regular rotation since then, and I am beginning to understand the hype behind the album. Although I don't know how much staying power the band has... as of right now, and in 2011, this album worked very well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.weallwantsomeone.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Beirut-The-Riptide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.weallwantsomeone.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Beirut-The-Riptide.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
4. Beirut - The Rip Tide<br />
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Zach Condon rarely disappoints, and the Rip Tide was a great album. Apparently I enjoy Balkan Folk Music, if only I could go back in time and see the reaction of my 14 year old self when I told him this... would be priceless.<br />
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<a href="http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/m83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/m83.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
3. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming<br />
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As my brother said to my grandma when I received this vinyl for Christmas "It's what the kids are listening to these days". And yes, it is. Another band that I would love to inform my 14 year old self I would be listening to an electronic French Band when I am older, reaction would be priceless. A band that I took a liking too in 2009, and Hurry Up, We're Dreaming does a fine job replacing Saturdays=Youth in my playlist. With that being said, M83's hit song "Midnight City" is being just tossed around the marketing world these days.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.legrandcru.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Screen-shot-2010-07-28-at-9.29.52-AM-510x510.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://blog.legrandcru.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Screen-shot-2010-07-28-at-9.29.52-AM-510x510.png" width="320" /></a></div>
2. The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart<br />
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When I first heard them at Turner Hall opening for Iron & Wine, I knew this band's album was going to make my list. This is one album that Pitchfork got wrong with their 2.1 rating, Head and the Heart's album is hit after hit. Seeing them again in the Fall at Turner Hall, it was weird seeing them 3 months later, and everyone now knew their songs. Listening to them on Austin City Limits last night, this band has character. This album is what I like in music, and with songs "Rivers and Roads" and "Down in the Valley"... along with "Lost in My Mind" this album is about as addicting as it gets.<br />
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<a href="http://www.americansongwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jag135full2_20110420_93903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.americansongwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jag135full2_20110420_93903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver<br />
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Justin Vernon did it again, and re-created himself in the process. Their concert in July was my show of the year (followed closely by Arcade Fire in Chicago) - this album is a work of art. Each song has its moment, and no matter where the sound goes, I am intrigued. Call me a Wisconsin Homer... but this band topped the charts for me in 2011.<br />
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Well there it is - onto 2012! (...we are 8 days in already).. and Go Packers.Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-25156669266358895912012-01-01T10:24:00.000-08:002012-01-01T10:24:34.174-08:00Eric D's Top 10 of 201110. Brent Hinds Presents - "Fiend Without a Face/ West End Motel"<br />
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I happened to catch a review of this two disc set on Pitchfork and decided to give it a try, since I'm a huge fan of Hinds' day job Mastodon. I have to say I didn't know what to expect, but this turned out to be a very enjoyable listen. The first disc - "Fiend Without a Face" - is full of awesome surf guitar freakouts, with vocals, but not a lot of intelligible words. The second disc can be described as somewhat demented pop. It veers seamlessly between country, acoustic folk, and piano ballads, but all the songs feel just somewhat off. If nothing else, this album is an extremely entertaining listen and nice respite from the sometimes heavy-handedness of Mastodon.<br />
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9. Portugal The Man - "In the Mountain, In the Cloud"<br />
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Every year, almost I can count on Portugal, the Man to provide a quality album of dreamy, psychedelic pop songs, and this album is no different. Portugal, the Man is probably the closest thing we have to early Oasis now. Their Lolla set was a highlight of the weekend.<br />
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8. TV on the Radio - "Nine Types of Light"<br />
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Earlier in the year, I would have said this album would have made my top three. After repeated listens, however, only about three-fourths of the album really sticks with me. The band dials back the funk just a little too much on this one. While some of the slower songs like "Second Song" and "Killer Crane" are still stunning, the pace is disrupted too much. Thankfully, songs like "Repetition" and "No Future Shock" provide that patented TV on the Radio future funk.<br />
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7. Washed Out - "Within and Without"<br />
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I have to admit that I'm not as with the electronic music explosion of the last couple years as everyone else is, but the few albums that I like, I like a lot. Washed Out is different from the rest in that they're not afraid to let the songs breathe and have a little space in the music. This is a great, chill album for the morning ride into work, but it shouldn't be dismissed as pure background music.<br />
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6. The War on Drugs - "Slave Ambient"<br />
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If Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Pink Floyd all collaborated on an album, this would probably be the result. The songs on this album manage to sound both epic and subdued all at once. Great driving album.<br />
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5. M83 - "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming"<br />
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I had a weird relationship with this album this year. When I first heard it, I didn't think I liked it that much - but I also found myself wanting to listen to it all the time. Much like Washed Out, M83 isn't afraid to let songs breathe instead of packing as many hyper-compressed sounds as possible onto a track, diminishing their effects and boring the listener. Even at two discs long, "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming" sounds fresh and vital the whole way through<br />
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4. Mastodon - "The Hunter"<br />
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I always feel I have to qualify my love of Mastodon with saying that I don't really like metal, per se. Somehow, Mastodon avoid most of the self-indulgence that make most metal unlistenable. This is a band that clearly has chops to burn, but the ridiculously technical nature of a lot of the songs doesn't feel forced. Everything part serves a purpose, it just happens to be played by someone insanely talented. "The Hunter" sheds a lot of the seriousness of their last few albums and makes for a really enjoyable listen.<br />
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3. Handsome Furs - "Sound Kapital"<br />
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Full disclosure, I'm a huge dan Boeckner fan, including the Handsome Furs and Wold Parade. Handsome Furs' latest does not disappoint. Full of paranoid, urgent vocals, spare production, stark beats and slashing guitars, this is how I wish most electronic rock was done<br />
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2. Girls - "Father, Son, Holy Ghost"<br />
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Originally, I wrote off Girls as the latest indie flavor of the month. Once I gave them a chance, however, I ended up being glad I did. Their latest is a great album that veers effortlessly from jangly pop, to Sabbath-esque riffs, to soulful ballads. This band should have a bright future.<br />
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1. Arctic Monkeys - "Suck it and See"<br />
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I was really late on the Arctic Monkeys' bandwagon, but they've grown into one of my favorite bands. Suck it and See combines the youthful punk exuberance of their earlier albums with the prog-lite of their last album, "Humbug" and throws in some perfect brit pop for good measure. Great, effortless collection of solid rock and roll songs.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TlYJKfunfC0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-91946741522450326802011-12-29T18:14:00.001-08:002011-12-29T18:14:44.024-08:00Here we go, in no particular order.<br /><br />Tom Waits: Bad As Me. Initially I was disappointed this wasn't stronger, this being his first new material in seven years. But I found myself enjoying it anyway. What more matters?<br /><br />The Pack A.D.: Unpersons. Two-girl garage-punk band kickass album of the year.<br /><br />Limes: Tarantula! Sort of a slacker Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, which makes for a fun listen.<br /><br />Silos: Florizona. Walter S. and friends back with a mighty fine collection that doesn't break much new ground but jumps out of the speakers.<br /><br />Lydia Loveless: Indestructible Machine. Kickass drunk-young-female-alt country album of the year. Great voice.<br /><br />Art Brut: Brilliant! Tragic! Critics didn't like this much but I truly enjoyed the Black Francis production (Pixies sound) mixed with the witty/ wacky lyrics and singing<br /><br />Felice Brothers: Celebration, Florida These guys totally surprised by advancing their material beyond alt country roots, into some mighty fine, deep tunes.<br /><br />TV On the Radio: Nine Types of Light I played this one the loudest and longest on my car stereo. One of the best concerts I ever experienced when they came to the Pabst.<br /><br />The Kills: Blood Pressures Like the Tom Waits CD, it took me a while to warm up to this, but it's a solid album with the exception of one track where the guy sings.<br /><br />PJ Harvey: Let England Shake Every PJ album is an event and in this case it's haunting, heartfelt and, as always, in a class of its own.Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-36809688056504989952011-12-27T17:54:00.001-08:002011-12-27T17:54:36.617-08:00<b>Brandor's Late Ten</b><br />
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Put me in the anti-sax camp. Here are my picks for the
albums that have been sticking in my brain this year. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Agesandages, </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alright You Restless</i></div>
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Agesandages sticks out as one of the better family bands to
come out of late. Sing-a-longs and hand-claps are a plenty. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Black Keys</b>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">El Camino</i></div>
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Black Keys frustrate me. I almost wish they would just get
it over with and let me down. Instead I will suck it up and dance around my
living room to this album. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blessed Feathers,</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Songs from the Mouths of the Middle Class</i></div>
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Not just a pick for local release. I waited much of the year
in anticipation of this first official release on Milwaukee’s own Listening Party label. They
delivered a great album and left me excited to see what develops for this young
band. Their music is Wisconsin youth and I’m
not ashamed to say that I’m a total sucker for it.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bon Iver</b>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bon Iver</i></div>
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Perhaps you’ve heard. It’s good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Megafaun,</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Megafaun</i></div>
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A new addition to my rotation but it’s grown on me fast. It
looks like it is going to be my wintertime jam. The kind of album you wake up, brush
your teeth to. </div>
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<b>Peaking Lights, </b><i>936</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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Pleasantly surprised by the chill dub induced songs produced
by this couple; but even more surprised that they hailed (up till recently)
from Madison, WI. Once again leading me to wonder what
other beautiful sounds floating around our backyard am I missing?</div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/20580559">http://vimeo.com/20580559</a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tyler</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> The Creator</b>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Goblin</i></div>
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While I can’t say this album as a whole was great, I felt
compelled to put it on my list. The online phenomenon that is Odd Future
managed to grasp the attention of many people. Even more interesting to me than
the guerrilla online war to get people’s attention was how quickly they lost
that attention. To say that Tyler
the Creator’s flash rise to infamy caused him to implode would seem to credit
more bang than I feel existed. It was more of a subtle deflation. Curious to
see what’s next… or maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b>The War On Drugs, </b><i>Slave Ambient</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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This album was a creeper for me. While there are a couple
songs on it that were big stand outs, the album as a whole grew on me with
every play. tWoD was also one of the best live shows I had a chance to see/hear
this year which helped solidify the album as a top ten for me.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Weeknd, </b><i>House of Balloons </i>& <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thursday</i></div>
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Silky vocals and tight production. New and exciting r&b that
easily wanders out of the genre. Oh, and the lyrics are kind of dirty. Play on
your first date only with the purest of confidence and the most indecent of
intentions.</div>
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<b>Yuck, </b><i>Yuck</i></div>
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By far the album to get the most play from me. While all the
albums I’ve listed I like as a whole, this may be the only one I love song for song; beginning to end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-27257752285051791902011-12-27T15:11:00.000-08:002011-12-27T15:11:08.406-08:00Alex B's Top Ten 2k11<style>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b><span style="color: black;">Alex B's Top Ten 2k11 </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times;">10.) Wilco, <i>The Whole Love</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Wilco returns to form with a record that
brings back the exhilarating tension between experimental pop and alt-country
that made records like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Being There </i>and
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yankee Hotel Foxtrot </i>such enduring
pieces.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">9.) Mayer Hawthorne, <i>How Do You Do</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Hawthorne’s infuses pseudo-sexist humor
into his revival of the guiltiest pleasures of 70s soul. In doing so, he’s made
a record that keeps listeners off balance in the best possible way.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">8.) Tune-yards, <i>WHOKILL</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Quirky, experimental pop that thrives on
the pings of toy pianos and trashcans set against Merril Garbus’ dynamo-through-a-tin-horn
vocals.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">7.) The Decemberists, <i>The King is Dead</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I’ve heard it said that this is the best
R.e.m. album since <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Automatic for the
People</i>. I’m inclined to agree.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">6.) The Antlers, <i>Burst Apart</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Tightly crafted and elaborately textured indie-rock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>5.) Jens Lekman, </b><i><b>An Argument With Myself
</b></i><b>(E.P.)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Swedish crooner’s witty and eclectic
mix of Cole Porter, calypso, dance beats, and tragicomedy makes for an inviting
, e.p. I can’t wait for the full album to come out.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">4.) Fleet Foxes, <i>Helplessness Blues</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Fleet Foxes take a step forward trading
some of the elaborate CSNY-style vocal harmonies for a sparer, occasionally
rock-driven sound.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">3.) St. Vincent, <i>Strange Mercy</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I was ready to jump on the “I’m so over St.
Vincent” bandwagon until I heard the new album. Annie Clark weaves some very
catchy hooks into her usual avant-industrial-opera.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">2.) The Head and the Heart, <i>The Head and
the Heart</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A buoyant and melodic record of nearly
flawless, folk-pop love songs.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">1.) Wye Oak, <i>Civilian</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Marker Felt"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Like a lot of people, I found Jenn Wasner’s
haunting vocals and Andy Stack’s minimalist burn on the drum kit compelling
stuff. I think that what strikes me most about the Wye Oak record is the way
it’s able to capture a sense of drama and even sublime terror without feeling
overbearing or dour. This is a highly listenable and yet striking album.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-39525045020895093262011-12-27T14:59:00.000-08:002011-12-27T14:59:48.553-08:00Tom T's Top 10 of '111. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde<br />
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2. Neon Indian - Era Extraña<br />
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3. Real Estate - Days<br />
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4. Wild Flag - Wild Flag<br />
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5. Cults - Cults<br />
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6. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See<br />
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7. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes<br />
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8. Yuck - Yuck<br />
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9. The Kills - Blood Pressures<br />
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10. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!<br />
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Honorable Mentions:<br />
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Starfucker - Reptilians<br />
Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings<br />
The Chain Gang of 1974 - Wayward Fire<br />
M83 - Hurry Up, We're DreamingTop Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-37815465513949006352011-12-27T14:18:00.000-08:002011-12-27T14:18:53.391-08:00Maureen's Top Ten in ten words or less1.) Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost! <br />
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Perfect jams. Perfect beats. Perfect Upper West Side boys. <br />
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2.) The Smith Westerns - Dye it Blonde<br />
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Glam ala Bowie. How are they so good, so young? <br />
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3.) Jay-Z & Kayne West - Watch the Throne <br />
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One of the illest motherf**cking albums of 2011.<br />
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4.) Frank Ocean - nostalgia/ultra <br />
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Novacane makes me want to do and be on drugs. <br />
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5.) Shabazz Palaces - Black Up<br />
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Beats so sick they make my hair raise up.<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31927472?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/31927472">Shabazz Palaces - "Black Up"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/whatmattersmost">WHAT MATTERS MOST</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
6.) Neon Indian - Era Extrana<br />
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Stupid band name yet great album.<br />
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7.) Cut Copy - Zonoscope<br />
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Should have been higher but nothing tops their last release.<br />
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8.) M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming<br />
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A little long winded yet even angels agree it soars.<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31133188?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/31133188">M83 - Raconte-Moi Une Histoire</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7493551">Jw</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />
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9.) Junior Boys - It's All True<br />
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I'll forgive them for being Canadian. Chill as shit. <br />
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10.) Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years<br />
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Live show convert. Has a hardcore edge others lack.<br />
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<iframe width="459" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/686K_X9C5qU?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-70837126939706243702011-12-27T13:19:00.000-08:002011-12-27T13:19:59.412-08:00Marshall B's Top 10 of 2011<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I've opted to just include my 10 most enjoyed albums without regard for any 1-10 rankings. What can I say, I've grown lazy in my old age. The albums are in alphabetical order to ensure I don't show any favoritism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Army Navy - <i>The Last Place</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A pop album for the US Weekly crowd about a supposed affair with a supposedly married and famous Hollywood actress (supposedly). This is the first time I have seen the music video<b><i> </i></b>but now I can no longer unsee it.</span><br />
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<b><i> </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beastie Boys - <i>Hot Sauce Committee Part 2</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Their best album since my all-time favorite <i>Hello Nasty</i> (yes it is even better than <i>Hot Sauce Committee Part One</i>, there I said it) keeps it fun and even rips off Splinaz with the "Cellular Destruction"-esque "Ok". Imitation is the highest form of flattery, they say.<b><i> </i></b> </span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Black Keys - <i>El Camino</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This selection might be suffering from recency bias but all their love seems to have disappeared. I think this album is pretty front-loaded but when the front half is as strong as this one is well then who cares? "Little Black Submarines" makes me miss the White Stripes :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Decemberists -<i> The King is Dead</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Finally Colin Meloy figured out a way to stop writing masturbatory concept albums and write some good old fashioned generic country-pop songs. Now if only he could figure out a way to stop working the words "dirigible" and "sinew" into every fourth song.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fountains of Wayne - <i>Sky Full of Holes</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">What? I'm the only person who still listens to Fountains of Wayne you say? Well screw you, this album is their best since the self-titled debut. Yes I know that isn't saying that much. Who invited you anyways? "A Dip in the Ocean" deserves to be twice the infectious Top 40 hit that "Stacy's Mom" was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - <i>Belong</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This album is suffering from the opposite of recency bias (I can't come up with a good made-up term). Their second album might not have the pure hits of the first album but is more consistently good throughout.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - <i>Mirror Traffic</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It sounds like Stephen Malkmus hated touring with Pavement so much that he is starting to enjoy life with the Jicks a bit more. Gone are the painful noodling sessions of the past two albums to be replaced with some great songwriting. Beck produced this album and did a great job making it sound just like every other Stephen Malkmus album.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Surfer Blood - <i>Tarot Classics EP</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Decemberists - <i>Long Live the King EP</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm gonna cheat here and smash these two EPs together into one "album" even though they sound nothing alike and have nothing in common. But they are both worthy of making this list aside from being about 50% too short. Surfer Blood continue to be my favorite new band.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The War on Drugs - <i>Slave Ambient</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you've always wanted to hear a Bob Dylan impersonator sing over some vaguely drone-y music than I can't recommend <i>Slave</i> <i>Ambient</i> strongly enough. For everybody else, it's still a damn good album!</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yuck - <i>Yuck</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is another great album. I don't know, I'm running out of stuff to say.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>BONUS!!!</b> My favorite songs not on the above albums</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Peter Bjorn and John - "May Seem Macabre"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This is a straight-up 80s jam about two corpses (I think). Or maybe one of them is actually a necrophiliac. Either way it's fuckin cool and weird.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Megafaun - "Real Slow"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Real slow indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aOREOcEvuOE?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></span>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-81194279000702440572011-12-27T11:57:00.000-08:002011-12-27T11:57:34.857-08:00Jorna Taylor's Top 10 of '11I'm lucky enough that I can turn my computer on most days - let alone link video or pictures in this list - so here's my "just the facts" Top 10 of 2011. Judge away - I'm doing the same to you!<div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jorna’s Top 10 of '11<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10. Real Estate – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Days</i></b> – I think given more time with
this album, it would find itself higher on the list. But I really like their
happy, upbeat sound, they are like my Jaill of 2011. “Out of Tune” is on heavy rotation
these days, but the whole production is a hidden gem of this year. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. Coldplay – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mylo Xyloto</i></b> – I’m pretty sure they
take away your hipster-cool kid card if you admit to liking Coldplay. That’s
okay, I don’t own skinny jeans anyway. But then again, I’m also the girl who
brought an entire Top 10 list of country albums a few years back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I digress. I thoroughly enjoy listening
to this album. My pick is “Paradise.” The beauty of the interwebs is that you
can download the album from iTunes or order it from Amazon so no one will catch
you actually purchasing the CD. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. Ryan Adams – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ashes & Fire</i> </b>– After the debacle
of Orion in 2010, a split from the Cardinals, and well, the marriage to Mandy
Moore still standing, I was starting to believe Ryan might no longer be capable
of producing something that could restore my faith. <i>Ashes & Fire</i> is a great
reunion of his old sound. “Lucky Now” is a solid first single off the album,
lyrically a cross between “Two” and Come Pick Me Up” and musically one part “La
Cienega Just Smiled.” </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Adele – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">21</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>– It must suck to be so depressed at 23. But it makes for a
terrific release. “Set Fire to the Rain” and of course, “Someone Like You” top
the list. If you are going through a break up do not listen to this album. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Danger Mouse &
Daniel Luppi – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rome</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>– A brilliant collaboration! Although I
feel like there are two camps on this performance – you either love it or think
it is ridiculous. Maybe it is my love of classical. Or perhaps an extension of
my ongoing love affair with Broken Bells. Whatever the reason, I dig the
concept and flow of this album while applauding the effort of producing a
cinematic feature without the accompanying pictures. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Feist – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Metals</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- This Canadian stole my heart (the 2<sup>nd</sup> to do so
in a year). Her smoky-bluesy voice makes me want to sit in a dark club sipping
dirty martinis and smoking cloves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But since I like neither of those things, I’ll stick to the album on
repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest checking out
“Graveyard”.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. jamie xx & Gil
Scott-Heron – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We’re New Here</i></b> –
Dear jamie xx, I love you. You are amazing. Please create/record/remix more
tracks as soon as you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And an
enthusiastic thumbs up for the genius of combining your ethereal electronic
sound with the funky vibe of Gil Scott-Heron. Sincerely, Me. PS – a new record
from the xx would be terrific as well, but I’ll take what I can get. Check out
– “I’ll Take Care of U”</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. The Weeknd – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">House of Balloons</i> </b>– Love. This.
Album. Reminiscent for me of a Mark Farina <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mushroom
Jazz</i> joint only with a fuller, darker, more lush sound mixed with some sort
of neo-soul stylings. Moves along impassively without being boring or caring
about building up to a self-imposed apex. This would have been the perfect
soundtrack to my younger years, just out of college while I was living in
Madison working for the student movement – chillin’ on my friends’ couch any
given night, a pack of busted up Swisher Sweets on the coffee table and Famous
Dave’s on speed dial… <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Wilco – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Whole Love</i> </b>– We were lucky
enough to fall in to last minute tickets to the Vic show in Chicago and I’ll
forever be a fan because of it! I remember the first time I saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Am Trying to Break Your Heart</i> in the
summer of 2003 when my taste in music was much more La Cage and less Turner
Hall. Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate Wilco and in particular, Jeff
Tweedy. His guidance last year on Mavis Staples’ album was beyond reproach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me it was always about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yankee Hotel Foxtrot</i> and I was hopeful
the new album would live up to that fame. “I Might” is catchy and most fans
will tell you that the 7+ minutes of “Art of Almost” is the best part but I’m
going with “Born Again” for the win. Or “Capitol City.” Maybe “Whole Love”…
it’s all pretty great.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Vincent McMorrow – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Early in the Morning</i></b> – Melancholy
and moody and romantic and heartbreaking all that the same time. He is a
phenomenal storyteller taking the listener on a very personal self reflective
journey. McMorrow’s like a more effusive folksy version of The National – dark
and brooding lyrically with sweet guitar and piano chords to accompany his soft
almost-whispery tenor voice. This album gets my top pick of the year because it
drew me in from the first listen and hasn’t let go yet. Highly recommend “We
Don’t Eat” and “If I Had a Boat”. </div>
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Scars on 45 – Give Me Something EP (only bc it’s an EP it
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The Weeknd - Thursday</div>
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Cold War Kids – Mine Is Yours</div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dropkick
Murphys - Summerfest</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-71041958238523506812011-12-27T11:32:00.000-08:002011-12-27T11:34:29.368-08:00Brian Moshe's Top 10 Albums of 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brian Moshe's Top 10 Albums of 2011</b></span></div>
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<b>1. The Weeknd - House of Balloons / Thursday / Echoes of Silence </b><br />
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Most of the time, there is a choice that is made between quality and quantity. So many artists have fallen in the trap of oversaturating the market with substandard songs. Other artists release albums deemed too brief for their fans or take years between releases, leaving fans begging for more. What The Weeknd accomplished over the past 9 months by releasing a trilogy of self-released albums of this high of quality is nothing short of impressive. No record label. No pre-announced release dates. Fans would cling to rumors and each album was unassumingly introduced via a download link on The Weeknd's twitter account. But The Weeknd's mysterious release method is just about the only thing 'unassuming' when it comes to this music project. House of Balloons' opening song, "High For This" sets the tone for the 26 songs that follow it - intoxicating, predatory R&B that details a hedonistic nightlife of sex, drugs and more sex and drugs. Abel Tesfaye sings over fantastically nocturnal production that adds an uneasy atmosphere to these seedy tales of passion and indulgence.<br />
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<b> 2. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde </b><br />
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I didn't take much notice of The Smith Westerns' debut album, but after hearing the lead-off single for Dye It Blonde ("Weekend") and seeing them perform at Club Garibaldi in late 2010, I knew this album was going to be something on my radar for 2011. What I didn't know is how the band would systematically pull at each of my heart strings by recording an album flush with influences from some of my favorite musicians. Early 1970s Glam? Check. Double Fantasy-era John Lennon? Check. 1990s Brit Rock? Check. The Smith Westerns wear these familiar influences on their sleeve, but do not let the influences wear them - a very fine line to walk for a ban, with failure to do so leading to a dated or cliche sound. I think the highest compliment I can pay this album is to say that despite being released in January, Dye It Blonde still is in regular rotation for me, as opposed to other early 2011 albums that I listened to heavily when initially released and have not picked back up (See: Blake, James).<br />
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<b> 3. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See </b><br />
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I've been a big fan of Arctic Monkeys since they hit the scene with "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor" and they consistently fail to disappoint me. A superb Brit rock album with a good combination of ballads and rockers, Suck It and See carries on from where their previous album, Humbug, left off. The psychedelic rock influences may be a bit toned down on this collection of songs, but you can see the increasing influence of The Smiths and David Bowie on the groups songwriting, especially on tracks like "Piledriver Waltz". There's not a band in England doing it better than Arctic Monkeys and hopefully an upcoming tour with The Black Keys will provide them with the stateside success that is long overdue.<br />
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<b> 4. Frank Ocean - nostalgia/Ultra </b><br />
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I cannot remember the last time I was truly excited and impressed by a contemporary R&B artist. The music sounded the same and the singers were interchangeable. Frank Ocean's nostalgia/Ultra changed that for me. Seemingly lost in the antics and controversy surrounding Odd Future, Frank Ocean released this free collection of songs that combines great story telling with some interesting musical choices for an R&B artist, such as re-making songs by MGMT, Coldplay, and The Eagles. The standout track is the "Novacane", which very well be the best song released in 2011 that is not titled "Midnight City". The strength of nostalgia/Ultra has paved the way for Ocean's opportunity to be the only artist featured on Jay Z and Kanye West's Watch The Throne album and has everyone looking to 2012 for his debut album.<br />
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<b>5. Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch The Throne </b><br />
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Watch the Throne is everything you would expect from two hip hop titans collaborating on an album called "Watch the Throne" would sound like - epic production so lush and rich that it sounds like something only artists the stature of these two could get away with rapping over. While there is expected bravado and ultra high-end fashion name checking, these songs see Jay Z and Kanye West rapping with much more substance than critics who label this the "Album For The 1%" would care to admit. Sometimes overshadowed by the huge production are songs about black-on-black crime, fatherhood, depression, and their humble beginnings. Its not to say there aren't any over-the-top, bravado-heavy songs, in fact, highlights like "Otis" and "Ni**as In Paris" have the duo sounding like they're having fun and the excitement is infectious. Collaborations (whether it be a single song or an entire album) can often leave fans disappointed, but Watch The Throne delivers exactly what fans would expect from a Kanye West and Jay Z collaboration, love it or leave it. I, for one, love it.<br />
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...and the rest...<br />
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<b> 6. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
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<b> 7. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
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<b> 8. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
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<b> 9. James Blake - James Blake
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<b> 10. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. <b>The Year of Hibernation - Youth Lagoon </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_g0TpTmIIk" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" target="_blank">Cannons</a></span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/30628265" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Afternoon</span></i></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/July.mp3" target="_blank">July</a> </span> </li>
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<b>2. Goodbye Bread - Ty Segall </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ek55T19hxmQ" target="_blank">Goodbye Bread</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBR2wE8vqBA" target="_blank">You Make the Sun Fry</a> </div>
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<b>3. Carrion Crawler / The Dream - Thee Oh Sees </b></div>
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• <a href="http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Thee_Oh_Sees_-_The_Dream.mp3" target="_blank">The Dream </a></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V61ydWEAJc" target="_blank">Contraption/Soul Desert</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://positivedestruction.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/thee_oh_sees_-_carrion_crawler.mp3">Carrion Crawler</a><a href="http://aquariumdrunkard.info/upload/01%20-%20Carrion%20Crawler.mp3" target="_blank"> </a></div>
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<b>4. </b><b>Ritual Union – Little Dragon </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEI3ygPsKX8&feature=related%20" target="_blank">Little Man</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yeb3q5nqWA" target="_blank">Ritual Union</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itmFLruWpCo" target="_blank">Please Turn</a></div>
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<b>5. Napa Asylum - Sic Alps </b></div>
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<b>6.</b><b> Strange Mercy - St. Vincent </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itt0rALeHE8" target="_blank">Cruel </a></div>
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• <a href="http://youaintnopicasso.com/mp3/St%20Vincent%20-%20Surgeon.mp3%20" target="_blank">Surgeon</a> </div>
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<b>7. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znDsRydk3_w" target="_blank">Swerve... The Reeping of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding) </a></div>
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•<a href="http://cdn03.cdn.gorillavsbear.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Shabazz-Palaces-an-echo-from-the-hosts-that-profess-infinitum.mp3%20" target="_blank"> An Echo from the Hosts the Profess Infinitum</a> </div>
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<b>8. Parallax - Atlas Sound </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAzYPHiZvkI" target="_blank">Amplifiers </a></div>
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<b>9. Yuck – Yuck </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pt2YuvrWYE" target="_blank">Rubber </a></div>
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• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HfHGURWVnU" target="_blank">Georgia</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://www.rollogrady.org/media/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/03-dark-magnet-1.mp3" target="_blank">Dark Magnet</a> </div>
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<b>10. DIYDUI (EP) - Fidlar </b></div>
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• <a href="http://www.rollogrady.org/media/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/04-max-cant-surf-1.mp3" target="_blank">Max Can't Surf</a> </div>
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• <a href="http://fidlar.bandcamp.com/track/wake-bake-skate-2" target="_blank">Wake, Bake, Skate</a></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal;">Top 20 Songs 11’</span></b></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4490928/deadenergy.mp3" target="_blank">Dead Energy</a> – Thee Oh Sees</span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4490928/deadenergy.mp3"></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEI3ygPsKX8&feature=related" target="_blank">Little Man</a> – Little Dragon</span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEI3ygPsKX8&feature=related"></a></span></i></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.rollogrady.org/media/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-world-is-going-up-in-flames-1.mp3" target="_blank">TheWorld (Is Going Up In Flames)</a> - Charles Bradley</span></span> <span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bWmLFaJA-Q&feature=related" target="_blank">Crystal Ball</a> - Grimes</span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bWmLFaJA-Q&feature=related"></a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.mp3ye.eu/1204475_boat-forever-in-armitron-mp3-download.html" target="_blank">Forever In Armitron</a> – BOAT </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://cdn02.cdn.gorillavsbear.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Street-Joy.mp3" target="_blank">Street Joy</a> – White Denim </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://weeklytapedeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Cannons.mp3" target="_blank">Cannons</a> – Youth Lagoon, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.iguessimfloating.net/assets/mp3s/01%20Benny%20And%20The%20Jetts.mp3" target="_blank">Benny and the Jets</a> – TV Girl </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/mp3/Future%20Islands%20-%20Balance.mp3" target="_blank">Balance</a> – Future Island</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">10.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.rollogrady.org/media/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/04-max-cant-surf-1.mp3" target="_blank">Max Can’t Surf</a> – FIDLAR </span></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">11.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.rollogrady.org/media/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/oh-woman.mp3" target="_blank">OhWoman</a> - John Wesley Coleman III </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">12.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.gorillavsbear.net/2011/10/17/mp3-new-grimes-oblivion/" target="_blank">Oblivion</a> – Grimes</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.gorillavsbear.net/2011/10/17/mp3-new-grimes-oblivion/"></a></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">13.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V61ydWEAJc" target="_blank">Contraption/Soul Desert</a> – Thee Oh Sees</span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V61ydWEAJc"></a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">14.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJtMrhb558" target="_blank">Lose it</a> - Austra <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJtMrhb558"></a></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">15.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/weekend-hazel" target="_blank">Hazel</a> – Weekend</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">16.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/mp3/Gross%20Magic%20-%20Sweetest%20Touch.mp3" target="_blank">SweetestTouch</a> – Gross Magic </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">17.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.digitalwell.washington.edu/dw/1/51/2d/2dbe6afb-c68e-4dc4-8f1e-a5fe6e92ac1b.MP3" target="_blank">Ritual Union</a>
– Little Dragon </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"></span></i></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">18.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/30628265" target="_blank">Afternoon</a> – Youth Lagoon</span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover"></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">19.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/crystal-stilts-through-the" target="_blank">Through the Floor</a> – Crystal Stilts</span></i> <i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/crystal-stilts-through-the"></a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">20.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW0-jrDeSgQ" target="_blank">The Other Shoe</a> – Fucked Up <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW0-jrDeSgQ"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Videos I liked</span> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKPT30jOJw" target="_blank">Montana</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> – Youth Lagoon</span></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover" style="font-size: x-small;">2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28416181?autoplay=1" target="_blank">Casino El Camino (Parte 2)</a> -</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-audioywp-link-hover">Guadalupe Plata </span></span></div>
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<span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-videoywp-link-hover" style="font-size: x-small;">3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dKKdJoXF7PI" target="_blank">Original Don</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - <span class="ywp-page-play-pauseywp-page-videoywp-link-hover">Major Lazer</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XSbZidsgMfw" target="_blank">Yonkers</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> – Tyler, the Creator</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=95jQ7VVBdLI" target="_blank">Bug</a> – Wavves </span></div>
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-87842836321616545852011-12-26T19:16:00.000-08:002011-12-26T19:16:12.141-08:00Adam's Top Ten<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1) Song Of Return - Limits</b></span><br />
This
Scottish band was called Union of Knives and changed their name for
whatever reason. This is their first release as Song of Return. I've
found that they are pretty much unknown in the U.S. To me they sound
like Nine Inch Nails mixed with britpop (bigger choruses and melodies).
Bands just don't sound like this anymore.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=4086689573/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400">&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://songofreturn.bandcamp.com/album/limits"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Limits by Song Of Return&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</iframe>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar</span></b><br />
I was blown away the first time I heard this album. A lot about this band
screams out "1990s" - the distorted Smashing Pumpkins style guitars,
the female singer, and the lively performances. They just rock.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MTx3rYj_5FU?rel=0" width="320"></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3) The Get Up Kids - There Are Rules</b></span><br />
I
did not expect anything this good to come from GUK's return, especially
since they've changed their style a couple of times with poor results.
This album features a lot of sounds that we've never heard from the
band before. It's edgier than their past pop-rock stuff, but not as
hyper as their emo stuff.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NvRRiZiUWdQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4) The Cars - Move Like This</span></b><br />
I
was just a kid when The Cars were in their heyday, so I never really
listened to them other than the radio hits. Randomly sampling this
album left me impressed. I can see how bands like Weezer are influenced
by The Cars. This is just an all around fun, well-written album.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xxqxNzlEFM4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5) Golden State - Division</b></span><br />
I've
followed the leader singer, James Grundler, for a while now. He
started with the Din Pedals in the 90s, which was a remarkable band even
if they were trying to sound exactly like Radiohead. He then started
Paloalto, which had the same British influences but more of a pop sound.
Golden State continues that. This is their first album, but they have
been putting out singles and EPs for most of the last decade. From what
I gather, they are more of a "local band" in Los Angeles since they
haven't toured outside of California. If you like older U2, you'll like
this album. There is nothing new here, but it's really good.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6) White Lies - Ritual</b></span><br />
White Lies follows the path of Interpol and Editors, being heavily influenced
by Joy Division. Ritual is a big improvement from their first album.
There are a lot more "singles" on Ritual - songs that you can sing along
to with well-placed synthesizers. These songs are just plain catchy.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JW0yynlDmqQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong</b></span><br />
They
sound like a mix of a variety of 80s and 90s alternative bands. Each
song sounds like a different influence. You'll hear a bit of The Cure,
New Order, and Smashing Pumpkins. And that's a good thing.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8) Low - C'mon</b></span><br />
Low
is a band that I hadn't ever listened to before this album. This is just a solid indie rock album. I'm not sure what else to say.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N_G7PYb3aD8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>9) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds</b></span><br />
As you would expect, this sounds very much like the Oasis songs that Noel
sang on. While there is nothing on here that can match the best of
Oasis, it is a very pleasant listen. The Beady Eye album was also
decent, but Noel's songwriting skills give this album the edge.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1NMUDb3Ewhs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>10) Thursday - No Devolución</b></span><br />
Thursday
were the "next big thing" about ten years ago. Their music went out of
style, but I still followed them. While their recent albums were
nothing special, No Devolución is their most interesting album since
their beginning. The first half of the album very atmospheric, and
makes it a solid swan song for the band.<br />
<iframe width="320" height="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OBT57taFKzs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-38778123814287850602011-12-26T16:25:00.000-08:002011-12-26T16:25:35.209-08:00<div style="text-align: left;">
Doug D's Top 10</div>
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Long time reader/first time poster...Here goes.</div>
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<strong>10. The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://emtheories.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Naked-And-Famous-Passive-Me-Aggressive-You.jpg&sa=X&ei=fAH5TqbmOIXg0QHD14yGAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHXnvki38cfNWTyK8x34eQ4eOlumA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://emtheories.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-Naked-And-Famous-Passive-Me-Aggressive-You.jpg&sa=X&ei=fAH5TqbmOIXg0QHD14yGAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHXnvki38cfNWTyK8x34eQ4eOlumA" width="200" /></a></div>
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What I learned about myself from this album is that I still really enjoy somewhat anthemic pop songs. This albums has it's share. "Punching in a Dream" and "Young Blood" especially. While nothing off the walls groundbreaking, this is a good album. Starting and ending strong with "All of This" and "Girls Like You" respectively.</div>
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<strong>9. The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/the-joy-formidable-the-big-roar-300x300.jpg&sa=X&ei=vwL5TqWkMobk0QGgrOnLDg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEpMSV17ptJoPqJ4ZbJa-Q5YSO8KQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/the-joy-formidable-the-big-roar-300x300.jpg&sa=X&ei=vwL5TqWkMobk0QGgrOnLDg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEpMSV17ptJoPqJ4ZbJa-Q5YSO8KQ" width="200" /></a></div>
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It seems ballsy to start an album with a 7 minute song, but "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie" holds your attention and offers a peak into where the next 11 tracks will take you. This album also offers a good finish from "Craddle" to the end.</div>
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<strong>8. Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31vdma1w3RL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&sa=X&ei=ZwT5TuqDKaTu0gGg9LihAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGiub91RVPwXO-bi_ZGDjQFhmhYZg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31vdma1w3RL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&sa=X&ei=ZwT5TuqDKaTu0gGg9LihAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGiub91RVPwXO-bi_ZGDjQFhmhYZg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Enjoyable album from start to finish. Interesting to see them playing large arenas now as the secondary draw to The Black Keys. I wonder if thats an overestimation of the Black Key's popularity or Arctic Monkey's stateside popularity. I'm digressing. </div>
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<strong>7. My Morning Jacket - Circuital</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2011/04/My-Morning-Jacket-Circuital.jpg&sa=X&ei=IAX5TvuNPPG50AH-_r2vAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFJgt3zCQhlLnpOB7q4aY6R_C7JCg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://cdn.stereogum.com/files/2011/04/My-Morning-Jacket-Circuital.jpg&sa=X&ei=IAX5TvuNPPG50AH-_r2vAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNFJgt3zCQhlLnpOB7q4aY6R_C7JCg" width="200" /></a></div>
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My reaction and subsequent feelings of this album seem to be in line with others who have this on their list. It took more than 3 listens to really get the hang of this album. Once it grows on you though, you can really appreciate what Jim James and co. are doing. "Holding on to Black Metal" is probably my favorite track. MMJ has earned the multiple listens from its past work, and I'm glad I stuck with this one.</div>
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<strong>6. Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites</strong></div>
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<a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqlDGQa59djkvlmf7up-Gv0snezyzHW-7r8QDUpX6Zsdq6s96XTj9NBxHG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqlDGQa59djkvlmf7up-Gv0snezyzHW-7r8QDUpX6Zsdq6s96XTj9NBxHG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I might have needed to get clarification on its eligibility, but it looks like its e-commerce debut was within the rules dictated for 2011. As the large part of my music listening is during the morning and evening commutes, this album has been a steady part of the rotation to get past the lull of driving home. Starting off with "Rock n' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)" this EP takes you on a nice uptempo and interesting journey. Sure, he overuses some drops "like oh my god", but throughout he keeps it moving continuously forward and ends on a nice note with "With Your Friends (Long Drive)". Apparently this has gone gold in Canada and is nominated for a Grammy...</div>
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<strong>5. tUnE-yArDs - </strong><em><strong>w h o k i l l</strong> </em></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61hjESmo94L._SL500_AA300_.jpg&sa=X&ei=xgj5TqDFG4XJ0AGUndn2AQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEa8nJts7L1iZOhdwz8J71jZg-kAw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61hjESmo94L._SL500_AA300_.jpg&sa=X&ei=xgj5TqDFG4XJ0AGUndn2AQ&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEa8nJts7L1iZOhdwz8J71jZg-kAw" width="200" /></a></div>
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I stumbled onto this album in late August when I was perusing "top 10 so far" lists. It was pretty amazing for me to find out this is essentially all done by one person, Merrill Garbus. "Gangsta" is my favorite track.</div>
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<strong>4. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a3/NTOL.jpg/220px-NTOL.jpg&sa=X&ei=WAr5TpT-HcTW0QGIvMi_Ag&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNELOPz-UfpzQjk8gDGDqFD_98vB9g" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a3/NTOL.jpg/220px-NTOL.jpg&sa=X&ei=WAr5TpT-HcTW0QGIvMi_Ag&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNELOPz-UfpzQjk8gDGDqFD_98vB9g" width="200" /></a></div>
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"Second Song", "No Future Shock" and "Killer Crane" are all standouts on a very strong album. If you have a chance, check out the companion program on Palladia which gives videos to a few of these songs. It definitely enhances the appreciation of Nine Types of Light.</div>
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<strong>3. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/M83-Hurry-Up-Were-Dreaming.jpg&sa=X&ei=OQz5TvK8J-bW0QHC6NW6Ag&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGEfY0e3_KoBIkKO7VUoWZxwRtAOw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/M83-Hurry-Up-Were-Dreaming.jpg&sa=X&ei=OQz5TvK8J-bW0QHC6NW6Ag&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGEfY0e3_KoBIkKO7VUoWZxwRtAOw" width="200" /></a></div>
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I dont really have anything unique to add to what has already been said about this album in previous posts. It's phenomenal. I will add that my favorite track is "Claudia Lewis". </div>
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<strong>2. The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/108/eaf2fd74a5704f1483525bb69572fca6/l.jpg&sa=X&ei=DA35Trj_JKHL0QG_kc2pAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNF--yawx_V-1onz-G7wkQnVXq6SLw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/108/eaf2fd74a5704f1483525bb69572fca6/l.jpg&sa=X&ei=DA35Trj_JKHL0QG_kc2pAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNF--yawx_V-1onz-G7wkQnVXq6SLw" width="200" /></a></div>
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This album really grabbed me, and I think it's because it brings me back to early David Gray, which I really love. It is probably the only non-skip album I've found in 2011. "Coeur D'Alene", "Down in the Valley", "Lost in My Mind" and "Honey Come Home" are all standouts. </div>
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<strong>1. Cut Copy - Zonoscope</strong> </div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7f/Zonoscope.jpg/220px-Zonoscope.jpg&sa=X&ei=Jg75Tt3DGeHy0gHBv8CCAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNF4oE0ydrrVNe2HrTpwWry79-zSWw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7f/Zonoscope.jpg/220px-Zonoscope.jpg&sa=X&ei=Jg75Tt3DGeHy0gHBv8CCAg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNF4oE0ydrrVNe2HrTpwWry79-zSWw" width="200" /></a></div>
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This album was the first exposure I've had to this band. I remain the only person I've found who prefers it to "In Ghost Colours". It likely has more to do with the chronology in how I heard them. "Need You Now" is my favorite song in 2011. From the slow build up to the drum fill "1 e + 2 e a 3 e a 4 e + a" leading into the vocals. The song carries with it a comforting familiarity, as if you can picture yourself at a high school dance or watching a Molly Ringwald movie and this song is part of that memory. "Where I'm Going", "Pharaohs & Pyramids" and "Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution" make up my favorite three songs in a row on any album this year. The album finishes strong on "Sun God" which allows you to slowly ease out of the album. </div>
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</table>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-18740292750892159382011-12-26T14:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T15:49:51.617-08:00Tarik aka The Architect's Top 10 Albums of 2011I would say this year has to be the hardest to pick my favorite albums. I spent a quite a bit of time switching albums in and out of my list. After taking a couple of shots, I finalized my list.<br />
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<b>10</b>. <b><a href="http://www.subpop.com/artists/shabazz_palaces" target="_blank">Shabazz Palaces</a></b> <b>- Black Up (Sub Pop)</b>. This former member of Digable Planets, put out one of the most stand out hip hop releases of the year. Released on Sub Pop records, Black Up is full of layers and textures that you would never find in a hip hop album. Check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djFrCb03-OI&feature=relmfu" target="_blank">his performance earlier this year on KEXP</a>.<br />
Highlight track: "Swerve..."<br />
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<b>9. <a href="http://www.liannelahavas.com/" target="_blank">Lianne La Havas</a> - Lost & Found (Warner Bros)</b>. When Bon Iver's Justin Vernon was so blown away by someone's performance on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22100%%22%20height=%22166%22%20class=%22html5player%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%22no%22%20src=%22http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F15922278&show_artwork=true%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">Jools Holland</a> and then ask that artist to open for Bon Iver's tour on the spot, you have to be something special. That something special is Lianne La Havas out of England. I have been checking her music out since the middle of 2011, and featuring her on my show Rhythm Lab Radio. Some say she is where Corrine Bailey Rae left off. However, she is much more than that. Just listen to her EP Lost & Found and you will realize that she is something really special. Check out the standout track and video for "No Room For Doubt" featuring Willy Mason, and you can see why Justin Vernon was blown away.<br />
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<b>8. <a href="http://thundercattheamazing.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Thundercat</a> - The Golden Age Of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder). </b>What do you get when you take the bassist for Suicidal Tendancies, who also worked with Erykah Badu ands Snoop Dogg, and team him up with Flying Lotus? You get my number 8 album of 2011. Stephen Bruner aka Thundercat created a masterpiece with Flying Lotus to produced his debut release The Golden Age of Apocalypse. Thundercat takes hip hop, electronic music and jazz and integrates it seamlessly into one amazing debut release. </div>
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<b>7.</b> <b><a href="http://www.jamiewoon.com/" target="_blank">Jamie Woon</a> - Mirrorwriting (Polydor/Candent)</b>. When it comes to today's R&B, I have to say the Brits are doing it better than the States. The Brits are more willing to break the mold and bring in new influences to R&B such as electronic music, rock, and more. Jamie Woon put one of those groundbreaking albums that could redefine what R&B can be. Woon's voice is soulful and haunting at the same time. Not only a singer/songwriter, Woon is also a producer, which probably what make this album really special. Even <a href="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15309-mirrorwriting/" target="_blank">Pitchfork agrees</a>.<br />
Check out our(88Nine) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUm1pSoVZ2Q" target="_blank">interview with Woon</a> at this past SXSW.<br />
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<b>6. <a href="http://the-weeknd.com/#" target="_blank">The Weeknd</a> - House Of Balloons (Self-Released). </b>All I can say about this Canadian artist is DAMN!!! To be honest, when The Weeknd's first mixtape dropped, I ignored it for a few weeks (probably one of the biggest music related mistakes I made in 2011). The Weeknd, similar to Jamie Woon, took R&B in to places I didn't think was possible. If R&B and urban music had an answer to Bon Iver, it would be The Weeknd. House of Balloons reminds me of early Massive Attack, Portishead, but instead of being made in Bristol, it was made with a street sensilbility that can be only found in North America. Even Florence & The Machine was blown away, that they asked The Weeknd to remix their new single "Shake It Out." What makes this even better, is that the <a href="http://www.the-weeknd.com/TheWeeknd_HouseOfBalloons.zip" target="_blank">album is FREE</a>. The Weeknd have released two other mixtapes, but House of Balloons is an instant classic.</div>
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<b>5. <a href="http://michaelkiwanuka.com/" target="_blank">Michael Kiwanuka</a> - Tell Me A Tale (Communion Records)</b>. Michael Kiwanuka's voice is the best soulful voice since Bill Withers. Kiwanuka doesn't mimick Bill Wither voice, but has his own unique sound that blends the sound of the 60's soul with a subtle influence of the music of Fela Kuti. A true present and future gem. With a full release on the way in 2012, he will definitely be on my best of 2012 list.<br />
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<b>4. <a href="http://boniver.org/" target="_blank">Bon Iver</a> - Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar). </b>This album is when I became a true fan of Justin Vernon. Their sophomore album is simply lush and beautiful. A solid album from the beginning to the end. Even though the album might be considered folk/indie, it has a definite soulful quality. Vernon's voice is versatile and fits well with all the songs. After seeing Bon Iver live this past summer, the album earned a spot in my top 5 of 2011. Now, I'm waiting for Vernon to do a funk album or collaborate with The Weeknd. </div>
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<b>3.<a href="http://little-dragon.net/" target="_blank"> Little Dragon</a> - Ritual Union (Peacefrog). </b><a href="http://soundcloud.com/peacefrog-records/sets/little-dragon-ritual-union/" target="_blank">Ritual Union</a> is Little Dragon's third album and one of their best releases. This group from Sweden made an album that is playful and fun to listen to over and over. Little Dragon is one of those groups who can redefine R&B and urban music and they do it very well on this album. Watching Little Dragon perform these songs live only proves why Ritual Union is number 3. </div>
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<b>2. <a href="http://jamesblakemusic.com/" target="_blank">James Blake</a> - James Blake (Universal Republic)</b>. I knew James Blake initially as an electronic producer, an amazing producer. Blake put out some amazing releases on the label R&S records. He recently put out a new EP entitled Love What Happened Here, which is simply gorgeous. But when he took his style of production and blended with his minimal, but rich voice, Blake create a masterpiece. Blake not only created an amazing piece of sonic art, but he change the perceptions and stereotypes of what electronic music is and can be. The production on his album sounded like nothing in 2011 or even in 2010. His cover of Feist's "Limit To Your Love" blew me away. It still surprises me that people I know who are not fans of electronic music, love this album. </div>
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<b>1. <a href="http://www.sbtrkt.com/" target="_blank">SBTRKT</a> - SBTRKT (Young Turks).</b> England's SBTRKT dominated my playlist all year with their first single "Wildfire" featuring Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano. It is my favorite track of the year, and when I got my hands on the full length, it solidified it's position as my number 1 album of 2011. Blending sounds of hip hop, soul, reggae, electronic into something that put a smile on my face everytime I listened to it. Then I saw SBTRKT live in Chicago. Best live performance of 2011!!! SBTRKT's album is not only filled with dance cuts, but with amazing songs. When you can listen to an album, while chilling at home and at a different time it can make you dance, you have something truly unique and special.</div>
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<b>Honorable Mentions:</b><br />
James Vincent McMorrow - Early in The Morning<br />
TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Lights<br />
Lana Del Rey - Video Games/Blue Jeans<br />
Clams Casino - Instrumentals<br />
Jono McCleery - There Is<br />
Alex Clare - Lateness of the Hour<br />
Jamie xx - Far Nearer<br />
Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam<br />
CREEP - You/Days<br />
Toro Y Moi - Freaking Out/Underneath the Pine<br />
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-35922854165569058162011-12-26T10:19:00.000-08:002011-12-26T11:24:06.963-08:00Kelly Marks' Top Ten of Twenty-Eleven<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Heavy on the folk, blues and Americana, here are my most-played albums of the year:</span><br />
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1. William Elliott Whitmore – Field Songs</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; text-align: left;">From the second I heard the weathered blues voice of William Elliott Whitmore accompanying the solo banjo cradled on his knee at a street festival in Chicago a few years ago, I was captivated. There’s a soul-stirring sadness and strength in his voice that’s truly beautiful and all-together comforting. His latest release, “Field Songs”, is a concept album focused on the pitfalls and the pleasures of traditional, rural farm life. A little less political and a lot less produced than his 2009 album “Animals in the Dark”, “Field Songs” gets back to the simple structure and soulful heart of Whitmore’s delta-river bluesy music. The album begins appropriately with the sounds of a small farm at dawn. Birds chirp and a rooster crows as Whitmore plucks the opening notes to “Bury Your Burdens” on his banjo. From there it builds into a heart-felt blend of optimistic anthems in the face of hard times. Songs like “Everything Gets Gone” and the album’s title track, “Field Songs”, touch on the somewhat cliché message of living while we can, but the simplicity in which Whitmore tells us that “the best of times ain’t happened yet” and reminds us that “we’re just here for a little while” begs a real, no-nonsense, plain-and-simple listen. “Not Feeling Any Pain”, brings the album to a full-circle close, both lyrically (“Well the fields are plowed, my work is through, now the day is done / Nothing left for me to do but toast the setting sun…”), and with its music, carrying out a similar chord progression to that of the album’s opening track. As “Field Songs” ends, fading out to Whitmore humming against a background of chirping crickets, it’s almost impossible not to envision him reflectively gazing out over an open field at twilight from a rocking chair on the porch of a small farmhouse.</span><br />
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2. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest</b><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">This was the first “official” new album Gillian Welch has released since I became a fan of her music. I bought it soon after it hit the shelves this summer, but it took a little while to find heavy rotation on my stereo. There’s something about the harmonies of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings over bluegrass that I felt coincided nicely with the lingering fall and onset of winter. It’s also a bit of a layered album. Full of the duo’s familiar clean-cut and quiet melodies, “The </span><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Harrow</span></st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">…” first seems like simple compilation of songs from another time (mentioning farmers and their mules, and mothers at beauty parlors and siblings at drive-in movies), but grows into a complex, intertwined album that reflects on the present as it draws from the past.</span>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">3. Blessed Feathers – From the Mouths of the Middle Class</b></div>
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Accordion, banjo, acoustic guitar, resonant drums and reverberant, minor-key
vocals fill this sophomore release from local folk group Blessed Feathers. The
group’s dual, melancholy vocals are somewhat reminiscent of the XX, if the XX
gave up electricity, moved to the northwoods, read Throeau, and wrote folk
music. Not to say that this in any way reflects on Blessed Feather’s actual
creative process (to my knowledge). The band, hailing </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">West Bend</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">, rather seems to have
drawn their inspiration from everyday life as young and struggling members of
the middle class (a very relatable position to be certain). As its title would
suggest, “From the Mouths of the Middle Class” is filled with somber yet
inspirational anthems for the restless, working-class person whose hopes have
yet to find fulfillment. Tracks such as “Somebody Else’s” and “Winter Sister”
lament over a looming sense entrapment and stir up an impatient desire for the
onset of better days.<br />
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4. The Rural </b></span><b><st1:state><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Alberta</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> Advantage – Departing<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kteDd3Irgfo/TulKtvhmlmI/AAAAAAAACCQ/0gcVh6xmCEc/s1600/RAA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kteDd3Irgfo/TulKtvhmlmI/AAAAAAAACCQ/0gcVh6xmCEc/s200/RAA.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Helvetica;">Nils Edenloff trades in ballads of vast
northern landscapes and small town Canadian life for songs about despair and general
heartbreak, and it kind of works. After 2009’s passionate and driving
“Hometowns”, RAA fans were left with high expectations for what the band would
do next. The openings of the two albums could not be more different. “Hometowns”
began with the declarative “The Ballad of the RAA”, while “Departing” starts
with the more laid back “Two Lovers”. In a way this sets the tone for the rest
of the album (especially to those who were familiar with their original work).
There are still the fast-paced, fervent songs like “Stamp” and “Tornado ’87”, but
overall, Departing settles from an explosive overture and ventures into more
common ground.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">5. The Builders & The Butchers – Dead Reckoning</b><br />
<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9099156">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9099156" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <a href="http://soundcloud.com/lamusicblog/the-builders-and-the-butchers-lullaby">The Builders and The Butchers - Lullaby</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/lamusicblog">LAMusicBlog</a>
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The Builders and The Butchers are like the Decemberists’ distant cousins from
the south that don’t get invited to many family functions because they scare
the children (in reality both are from Portland and bear no relation). With a
nasal voice and lyrics that could easily be found in the sermon of an old-time
tent revival, frontman Ryan Sollee leads the band in more deep, dark ballads of
southern gothic folk rock.</span><br />
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6. The Black Keys – El Camino</b></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4POAGhP5gdM/TvE-iPbY63I/AAAAAAAACDg/QkRe3ElnIzU/s1600/The+Black+Keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4POAGhP5gdM/TvE-iPbY63I/AAAAAAAACDg/QkRe3ElnIzU/s200/The+Black+Keys.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">The Black Keys don’t seem to know a great deal about cars. But that’s alright,
because what they do know is how to write a catchy, catchy tune. “El Camino” is
instantly likable. I was sold on the album after the first three tracks, and
then the break in “Little Black Submarines” completely sealed the deal.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">7. The Decemberists – The King is Dead</b><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JahLqWgLtVA/TuOoWmYCLrI/AAAAAAAACBs/_EETvokdzoU/s1600/The+Decemberists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JahLqWgLtVA/TuOoWmYCLrI/AAAAAAAACBs/_EETvokdzoU/s200/The+Decemberists.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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I really enjoyed the epic tale Meloy narrated on “The Hazards of Love”. That
being said, I’m glad this isn’t a concept album. The stories are short and
simple, and the songs are light, warm, catchy and up-beat. 10 extra credit
points for involving Gillian Welch.<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><b>8. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4FkZMALgkY/Tvi2LX0_kyI/AAAAAAAACSA/h3wrqtzcNpU/s1600/fleexfoxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4FkZMALgkY/Tvi2LX0_kyI/AAAAAAAACSA/h3wrqtzcNpU/s200/fleexfoxes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><br />I am apparently a sucker for incredibly long, three-part songs. Last year it
was Sufjan Stevens’ twenty-three minute “Impossible Soul” off Age of Adz, and
this year the Fleet Foxes took the cake with “The Shrine / An Argument” (though
it came in somewhat short at just over </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">eight minutes). The harmonies on this album are (as always) incredible, built
into lingering songs that just get stuck in your head.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">9. The Head & The Heart</b><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">My only regret is not listening to their work until after they played </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Milwaukee</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">.</span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">10.
David Bazan – Strange Negotiations</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHFuUQkFizw/Tvi2jneB87I/AAAAAAAACSM/BovQWWVtDzk/s1600/bazan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHFuUQkFizw/Tvi2jneB87I/AAAAAAAACSM/BovQWWVtDzk/s200/bazan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">I didn’t love this album as immediately as 2009’s “Curse Your Branches”, but as
I stood in Cactus Club this past fall and heard Bazan play several of its
tracks intertwined with old favorites, I said to myself, “oh, yeah…I do really like this new album”, which happens more
often than not after I see live shows.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><b>Albums that were hard to cut from the list:</b> </span><br />
<st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Beirut</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> – The Rip Tide</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Mirror Traffic<br />
Wilco – The Whole Love</span></div>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-8666972378009035182011-12-26T10:13:00.001-08:002011-12-26T10:13:40.561-08:002011 Top Ten: Erin Wolf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u4yuL-gokw/TviieaTh2qI/AAAAAAAACQI/5KdibmvnPSo/s1600/catacombz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u4yuL-gokw/TviieaTh2qI/AAAAAAAACQI/5KdibmvnPSo/s320/catacombz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYTXcXsWVTg" target="_blank">Catacombz</a>: <i>Catacombz </i>(Organalog)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vast, spacey wonderfulness from a local band who brings an even heavier attack on their live shows. Innate rhythmically and full of soaring sounds to inspire, this one's super enjoyable for its elements of psych and krautrock that call to mind both CAN and Trans Am. A muscular masterpiece.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_867286729"><br /></a></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_QFucr_vMg" target="_blank">Delaney Davidson</a>: <i>Bad Luck Man </i>(Voodoo Rhythm)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A friend first clued me into Davidson</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">, a New Zealand musician who (with plenty of black humor) wilts together melting and sardonic blues and roots music that sounds if it came straight out of the swamps of the South and not from a native Kiwi. Davidson made an appearance in Milwaukee a couple years ago; here's hoping he comes back so I can meet him and shake his hand for being such a wonderful curmudgeonly and wistful lyricist. This album's one of those 'feels good to feel bad' deals.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKhaxD7NyYU/TvinbYiK9jI/AAAAAAAACQg/zmzzkKH_PwE/s1600/battles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKhaxD7NyYU/TvinbYiK9jI/AAAAAAAACQg/zmzzkKH_PwE/s320/battles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D7RzUtFEps" target="_blank">Battles</a>: <i>Gloss Drop </i>(Warp)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">What happens to a band normally after their main vocalist quits (in this case Tyondai Braxton)? In Battles' case, it totally worked in their favor, for it directed them into new territory. Braxton's vocals almost took the band into true oddball territory, its cartoonish manipulations making it seem like the second coming of <i>Fantasia</i> or some weird, but brilliantly rhythmed, joke listeners weren't meant to get. Still oddball, but somehow more interesting and attainable, the math-rock and prog-rock elements are all present, but added with a bevy of guest vocalists (Gary Numan, Kazu Makino, Matias Aguayo). Each song shines a new light onto emerging sub-genres like tropical disco, trance and stoner rock.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_U7_ZJigWpc/Tvip2ws5PyI/AAAAAAAACQs/vHFVL4jlzNc/s1600/buckner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_U7_ZJigWpc/Tvip2ws5PyI/AAAAAAAACQs/vHFVL4jlzNc/s320/buckner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGueWBVi33o&feature=related" target="_blank">Richard Buckner</a>: <i>Our Blood </i>(Merge)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm gonna be honest. I'd never much listened to Richard Buckner before this album came out, and for whatever reason, I'm mad. But I can catch up, I suppose. Buckner's album was the one that was played probably the most. Not necessarily my favorite, but the most comforting thing to listen to, somehow; the most thought-provoking. His gentle and worn vocals remind me oddly of Willie Nelson (even though the two sound not very much alike) and his manner is that of a wise confidant. Buckner's performance at Linneman's this past summer was one of my absolute favorites that I saw, for he is as much as a storyteller as David Bazan (if you're familiar) in live performance, incredibly composed and compelling, and it was one of those where an hour easily passed as mere minutes.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0EIb4UjQ9Y/TvisFbmfqOI/AAAAAAAACQ4/s4Pf5ikXf0U/s1600/pjharvey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0EIb4UjQ9Y/TvisFbmfqOI/AAAAAAAACQ4/s4Pf5ikXf0U/s320/pjharvey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Qlb0qFLFE" target="_blank">PJ Harvey</a>: <i>Let England Shake </i>(Vagrant)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pretty sure that <i>Let England Shake</i>, to those who heard, spoke to the world as a whole, Harvey sending out an alarm call, pretty and twisted, to waken sleeping senses. This album thoroughly made me feel (and think) uneasy, containing a weird beauty that called desperate times of a storied country to rise and meet current conditions. Such a beautiful and haunting listen -- perhaps Harvey's ultimate masterpiece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Pxh3hXc2A" target="_blank">Colin Stetson:</a> <i>New History Warfare Vol. 2:Judges</i> (Constellation)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This album, alone, pretty much blew my mind this past year. The musician, himself -- armed with a bass saxophone and some mighty, mighty circular breathing aligned with the composition of the entire album, is a stunner. With thoughtful spoken word woven through from the one and only Laurie Anderson and a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying" with My Brightest Diamonds' Shara Worden on vocals, it's an intense, but hopeful work from one of Montreal's brightest in experimental music. Yeah, it's a saxophone, but then again, no it's not. This one might change your attitude if it leans towards dislike of an amazing instrument that is capable of doing so much more than just being in E Street bands and the like.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HRSIsArHJ1w/TvivzwMs8UI/AAAAAAAACRQ/J3-EzOVD2SM/s1600/kurtvile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HRSIsArHJ1w/TvivzwMs8UI/AAAAAAAACRQ/J3-EzOVD2SM/s320/kurtvile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If I hadn't heard Kurt Vile before the album, I would probably gush a whole bunch more, but since I have, I'll just say that this particular album from Vile was as lovely as usual and had plenty of 'dang' moments. He's an introspective lyricist, his face-to-the-window writings not so entirely devastating as much as they're encouraging, and whether he's stubbornly barking about being a "Puppet to the Man" or comforting himself with the rhythmic fingerpicking of "My Baby's Arms", his voice, its gravelly growl to sad dog howl, is amazingly the main contender, even with his fingers pulling heartbreaking notes on the strings of his guitar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The local group that seemed to surface from nowhere made me remember just why I loved New Order and new wave so damn much in high school and was so ready to turn to dreampoppers such as Galaxie 500, right after. Shimmering guitars crown steady synths and percussion and the effect couldn't be much more brilliant and promising, except that the boys manage to add pretty vocals on top of it all. Nice triple-threat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Wye Oak has always managed to floor me. I first saw them play live at the Highbury Pub (maybe three years ago?) and as a duo, they brought so much squalor and pretty anger to their music, that it was impossible to keep jaw from hitting floor. Arrestingly good vocalist/guitarist Jenn Wasner is magic (and very, very talented), and <i>Civilian </i>continues along the path that the band has been quietly/loudly traversing for years, waiting for folks to notice. They finally are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tEnAgKDF34" target="_blank">Bill Callahan</a>: <i>Apocalypse</i> (Drag City) </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">A lovely, lovely album. Even when Callahan's stories are so personal (as they often are) it's nearly impossible to tie anything of one's self to them as a listener. Yet, Callahan manages to be transfixing and all-involving as a writer, still. His albums are novels and if Callahan was an author he might be a running with the likes of Cormac McCarthy, John Steinbeck and J.D. Salinger, if that makes any sense. </span><br />
<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-87366045896484959922011-12-26T06:46:00.000-08:002011-12-26T09:55:07.351-08:00Jeff Bentoff's Top 10 of '11<i>In no particular order, here we go... </i><br />
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<b>Wilco – “The Whole Love”</b><br />
Despite my weakness for all things Wilco, a new Wilco album take some time to grow on me. On first listen, I’m unsure it’s good. Maybe they’ve finally jumped the shark this time, like the critics say after every release?<br />
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This first-listen jinx happens with most records. If I like a new CD a lot the first time, it’s usually doomed in the long run. Sure enough, “The Whole Live” crept up on me slowly. My ultimate capitulation to this CD was aided and abetted by Wilco shows this year at the Riverside Theater and Ovation Center and a Tweedy solo show in Door County, all injecting this great new record and songs into my brain. The Nick Lowe cover, “I Love My Label,” makes the deluxe set even more fun. I love this record.<br />
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<b>Bright Eyes – "The People’s Key"</b><br />
This record is one of Bright Eyes’ most accessible. That’s not a bad thing. It’s full of great songs, sounds, instruments, arrangements, parts. Credit multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis’s producing and engineering craft, which your ears will truly appreciate. He’s become George Martin to the Beatles' Conor Oberst.<br />
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<b>Ryan Adams – “Ashes & Fire”</b><br />
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Another beautiful record of Ryan Adams’ songs and singing. He’s slowed his annual CD output to normal human frequency, which gives us more time to savor each aural gem, like this one.</div>
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<b>Bon Iver – “Bon Iver”</b></div>
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Wisconsin’s favorite bearded wonder earns our admiration again with this beautiful record. His fantastic show at the Riverside Theater really brought this album to life.</div>
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<b>Tom Waits – “Bad As Me”</b></div>
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This guy always makes me laugh. But this is seriously good music. Amazing musicians and great arrangements hit you in the forehead like a broken beer bottle. Spin through time periods and musical styles as Tom drives you across the wrong side of the tracks in his beat up ‘57 Chevy.</div>
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<b>Middle Brother – “Middle Brother”</b></div>
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Middle Brother is a super group that shares the looseness and sense of fun of the Traveling Wilburys instead of the pretentiousness and affected nature of other bands of stars. The record features songs, voices and playing from Deer Tick’s John McCauley, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith and Delta Spirit’s Matthew Vasquez. Goldsmith’s smooth, poised voice is the sweet Paul to the contrasting John, Paul and Ringo voices of McCauley and Vasquez. The mixture of sweet and sour is what makes this record so much better than Dawes’ more uniform and predictable new record, “Nothing Is Wrong,” also out this year. While there are some great songs on “Nothing Is Wrong,” it’s all Jackson Browne'y all the time (with Mr. Browne actually singing on the record). Compare the versions of “Million Dollar Bill,” which is on each record. Middle Brother’s take, faster and with each vocalist singing a verse (ala the Wilburys) wins the prize.</div>
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<b>St. Vincent – “Strange Mercy”</b>
Cinematic orchestration, shredding guitar, disco beats, Chick Corea jazz frenzy and Jenny Lewis-styled coquettish vocals, all thrown into unpredictable, unusual songs and song structures. Annie Clark is a one-woman show here, and her craft and vision have matured on this latest album. It's a record of unique, well played songs that’s fun to listen to and impressive.</div>
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<b>Paul Simon – “So Beautiful or So What”</b></div>
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A late but great entry to my 2011 listens, I picked this one up only recently on the strength of other year-end reviews and Paul’s great Riverside Theater show this year. I’ve bought a few of his post-Graceland efforts, but I was always disappointed. Not this time. Paul’s in great form. Singing like this at 70 years of age is amazing, but even more important are the great songs and players. It sounds like he brought together the spirit and musicians from Graceland for another go.</div>
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<b>Semi-Twang – “Wages of Sin”</b></div>
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John Sieger hates bands that make it on their back stories. He’s right – back stories are a weak reason to like a band. Ironically, “Wages of Sin,” the new release from Sieger’s Semi-Twang, itself includes a dreaded back story. But the sale here is the music. The back story: Milwaukee’s Semi-Twang was born in the 1980s and quickly signed a major deal with Warner Brothers, back when major deals were major deals. After putting out one amazing, now-out-of-print record (“Salty Tears”), Warners dropped the band. They broke up for two decades. Then, a few years ago, they played their first-ever reunion gig, and this year, issued their sophomore record, Wages of Sin, a mere 23 years after their debut. Even without the back story, this record will win you over. John continues to be one of Milwaukee’s greatest songwriters, and his Semi-Twang colleagues are a collection of Milwaukee’s hottest players.</div>
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<b>Mike Fredrickson – “Souvenirs”</b><br />
One of Milwaukee’s overlooked musical geniuses, Mike’s a triple threat – excellent songwriter, singer and guitar (bass). Mike puts out full-band CDs on his own every year or so, selling them at the occasional solo gig, CD Baby or the Paul Cebar merch table (he’s Paul’s bassist). Great tracks include “She,” “Film Noir,” “Montana,” “Listen Venus” and “Housework II.” John Sieger and Cebar’s drummer Reggie Bordeaux also play on the record.<br />
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<b>Other new records I’ve liked this year include those by:</b></div>
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<li>Surgeons In Heat</li>
<li>Radiohead</li>
<li>Tuneyards</li>
<li>White Denim</li>
<li>Smith Westerns</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Real Estate</li>
</ul>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-29593115077135247432011-12-26T06:36:00.000-08:002011-12-26T06:36:57.247-08:00Brian Wooldridge - 2011 picksI know it's boring but I thought I would just present the music here, no images. Music is something you can enjoy with out looking at it...the original "hands free" experience. Happy New Year!
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Teddy Thompson (son of Richard Thompson) released Bella this year. It's an amazing pop album in the vein of Chris Isaak or Crowded House. Straight forward hurt-my-heart songs sang in Teddy's perfect tenor voice. The album was produced by David Kahne who's worked with Greg Garing, Translator, Regina Spector and The Strokes.
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The Silos <a href="http://www.thesilos.net/press.php">Florizona</a> hit my ears a lot this year. If you don't know The Silos or Walter Salas-Humara then you need to do some homework. This Florida/NYC band are among the founding fathers of alt-country (in a good way). Florizona is actually a great pop rock album with infectious singles like White Vinyl and Teenage Prayer. Walter comes to Milwaukee every summer to visit some family he has here. If you're lucky you'll find out what house party he's at get to witness his cook-out-rock-out solo set.
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Tahiti 80 - I'm not sure how I found out about this band. Maybe via Facebook, Paste or someone's suggestion, but I'm glad I did. Perfect indie-pop tunes (from France) somewhere on the ground between Postal Service and Squeeze. The Past, Present & The Possible is one of those albums that will make you look at your iTunes every time one of its songs pop up.
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The Decemberists deliver again with another sharp-pop-story-song album that jumps out at you when it hits the airwaves. Yes The King is Dead has Peter Buck all over it but it's all good in my book.
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Lizzy Grant or Lana Del Rey is this years tragically-beautiful-pop-mystery girl. Who is she and why is she so haunting? Okay so she only released some singles this year, but she put out an album in 2010 (Kill, Kill) that never saw the light of day. I figure we can bend the rules here a little and put her in. For her story and the David Kahne connection <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lana_Del_Rey">follow this link</a>. update - Of course I've had my head in the sand during the Holidays, so just read the she was on SNL on Dec. 19th, missed it. I guess she's very well connected for being such a ghost.
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Adele 21 - I first heard this album when it came up in my NPR New Music email. Before it was released they streamed it on NPR.com for a couple of weeks. I found myself going back and listening while I was at work. I had never really listen to her before, but had a feeling 21 was going to be huge. Later I found out that Dan Wilson (Trip Shakespeare, Semisonic) had a hand with some of the songwriting. She should get Matt Wilson to help her write her next album. I think we're all sick of the hype but you gotta say it's a really great album start to finish.
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The Ettes new splash is named Wicked Will and it's worth checking out. This is another band that I stumbled across via Paste Magazine. This retro-garage-rock outfit pulls at my wanting another Neko Case album desires but this will do for now. Fun stuff.
Other notables for 2001 are Iron & Wine Kiss Each Other Clean, Testa Rosa II & The Black Angel Another Nice Pair.
Thanks for doing all this Matt!
cheers,
Brian W.Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-46796054240629592882011-12-26T03:47:00.000-08:002011-12-26T03:47:36.309-08:00Andy Nelson's Top 10 Albums of 2011<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">10) <b>Daft Punk - "TRON Legacy Soundtrack" </b></span></div>
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"Change the scheme. Alter the mood. Electrify the boys and girls." - Castor to Daft Punk </div>
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"The Grid. A digital frontier. I tried to picture clusters of information as they moved through the computer. What did they look like? Ships? Motorcycles? Were the circuits like freeways? I kept dreaming of a world I thought I’d never see. And then, one day, I got in." - Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) </div>
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<i>TRON: Legacy</i> came out Christmas of last year. Shortly after the first of the year I started to discover the pure heroin I had in my iTunes. I was hooked. I listened to this soundtrack non stop for months. Corny? Dorky? Nerdy? Maybe but I cannot deny how much I enjoy this Daft Punk collection of songs. It finds itself at #10 because it's not smooth flowing or complete album by any means. This is a collection of songs that might not hit as hard if not first seen on the big screen world created by Joseph Kosinski and Steven Lisberger (or Kevin Flynn depending how you look at it). I'm a sucker for that "soundtrack sounding music"... music that when you put on your headphones and start walking around your city you immediately feel part of a greater storyline. (m83 has always been a master at this) </div>
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My love for TRON started as a child. I had the books, action figures and I still have the VHS tape near my bedside. My love for Daft Punk started when I went to Germany for the first time as 17 year old. I was buying CDs in bulk at an HMV (The Strokes, Saves The Day, Lil Kim, etc.). I asked my friend Stephan to recommend one European album for me to purchase. He handed me the 1997 debut album from Daft Punk, "Homework". </div>
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Porn for my ears... </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9) <b>Zola Jesus - "Conatus"</b></span></div>
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VESSEL (Official Video) </div>
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If Gozer the Destructor from the final scene of Ghostbusters made a band it would be Zola Jesus. </div>
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Zola Jesus is my 2011 Beach House. A master at creating a setting. Atmospheric music for when it's bed time but I want epic dreams.</div>
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I recently discovered that Nika Danilova (Zola Jesus) was raised on a 100 acres in Merrill, WI. I knew she was a Wisconsinite but not from Merrill. Merrill is where I spent many weekends with my Grandfather when I was a kid. My family has 40 acres in Merrill. Population of 10,000 but in most areas you feel like you're the only person on earth. It's the first place I saw the Northern Lights as a child. It's the only place on earth where my Grandfather could "appropriately teach me about constellations" he used to say. In the winter Merrill feels like an abandoned, haunting, white forrest. That chilling but familiar feeling is what this album gives me. Now learning of where she grew up, I am now facinated with the connection. </div>
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Because of massive flooding in 2010 I didn't get to see Zola Jesus open up for The Faint at Turner Hall. However, I have my ticket to see her on February 21st at Lincoln Hall. I have a feeling she will throw some fantastic theatrics into her live show. (i.e. i'm really hoping Zuul The Gatekeeper and The Keymaster show up.)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8) <b>tUnE-yArDs - "w h o k i l l"</b></span></div>
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I was writing this on Christmas night and asked my parents to describe Tune Yards. This is what they said...</div>
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<b>My Dad:</b> "Japanese Jumpshots" </div>
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<b>My Mom: </b>"A computer giant from Africa. I like it." </div>
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BIZNESS (Official Video)</div>
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I was lucky enough to stumble upon Merrill Garbus when seeing her open up for Dirty Projectors at the Bottom Lounge in 2009. No one was there to see her. Most people left to get drinks or eat food or turn to each other to talk when she took the stage. Some weird looking girl and one other guy? Bye. About 3 songs in... the place was packed. She had everyone's attention. We all had this look on our faces like, "What the fuck is going on? Do I like this?" </div>
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Unfortunately, like the t-shirt I bought that night I was slightly disappointed with the album "Bird brains". Did not live up to the wild beauty of her live show. To my delight, she found her unique genius on Who Kill.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7) <b>A.A. Bondy - "Believers"</b></span></div>
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TWIST</div>
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To my knowledge this is the only artist on my top ten that has a bio on the Country Music Television website. </div>
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For this record, A.A. Bondy worked with producer, Rob Schnapf, who famously worked closely with Elliot Smith on a number of records. After Elliot Smith's death it was Rob Schnapf that was recruited by Smith's family to complete Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill. Schnapf knows how to work with artists that know how tear your heart apart. </div>
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Little more electricity to this album. A more grandiose build up to this album. Not to say he's not going to be touring with Black Eyed Peas anytime soon... This is more of a whiskey soaked, dark room, boot tapping, weird beard, sweaty plaid shirt kind of build up. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6) <b>Wye Oak - "Civilian"</b></span></div>
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HOLY HOLY live at the Pabst in Milwaukee...</div>
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Can Jenn Wasner hold me and rock me to sleep every night? Dream pop. I love it. Bat For Lashes does this best. But Wye Oak is something different. There's a certain polarity to Wye Oak as this duo sucks you in with it's slow rhythmic beats but before you know it you're slamming your foot on the floor and your neck hurts. As a friend of mine once poetically asked the interwebs, "Wait, there's only 2 of them?" Yes, Jason, there are only two of them. Now you know. <i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Civilian</i> is intoxicating. I'm wasted at this point, totally shit faced. I feel great though. I definitely don't want to throw up. I blame Paul Smaxwill for this strange state, he hipped me to this band when "The Knot" came out so they were on my radar in 2011. </div>
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Wye Oak recently covered Brenda Lee, one of my favorite female voices of all time. Jenn Wasner has her own classic voice. A voice that I think any generation could be captivated by. </div>
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The easy songs to fall in love with on this record are "Holy Holy" and "Civilian." Well deserved but don't overlook the album as a whole. For example, the groggy but emotive "Doubt" to close the album. In which Jenn writes, </div>
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"what i have learned<br />of you<br />does not assure<br />you bow before my will<br />but i believed it then<br />believe it still<br />oh, i believed it then<br />believed in still" </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5) <b>m83 - "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming"</b></span></div>
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Midnight City - Official Video </div>
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LIVE VIDEO from 2011 tour</div>
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"The biggest group of friends this world has ever seen. Jumping and laughing forever. It would be great. Right?"</div>
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As I mentioned before, I get weak in the knees for albums that make you feel like you're part of a bigger storyline. m83 has always been that band for me. It all started with 2005's <i>Before the Dawn Heals Us</i>. I remember a friend of mine asking, "What movie is this from?" It wasn't from any movie it just had an immediate descriptive sound. m83 grabbed my attention again with Saturdays = Youth. "Kim & Jessi" is one of my favorite songs of all time. </div>
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With that said, NOTHING could've prepared me for what Anthony Gonzalez would do next. He took the world by storm. Thanks, in part, to a <i>Victoria Secret</i> commercial but this record would've reached that level of recognition eventually. <i>Hurry Up, We're Dreaming</i> is expansive. This is a double-album that I am still digging into. But also just in sound. I can't think of a bigger sound created this year. </div>
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Finally saw m83 live this year down at Lincoln Hall. I saw part of their opening slot before The Killers at the Rave back in 2008, but that doesn't really count. All that I imagined. I laughed, I cried, I sat silent, I danced. m83 is life to me. A whirlwind of sound and story. What I didn't necessarily anticipate was how much of crowd pleaser Anthony Gonzalez would be. He loves what he does and it shows on stage. A french man filled with life and expressing that love and pain in the most vibrant way possible. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4) <b>Bon Iver - "Bon Iver"</b></span></div>
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At the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee...</div>
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I don't think I would handle fame well. Every word is scrutinized and recorded. People change their minds. People say the wrong thing. People say one thing and mean another. You don't have that luxury with fame. Somehow that gets taken from you. You're the public's slave at some point. In any case, Justin Verson is being judged more harshly these days. But that's okay and I don't want to be overly dramatic. I just hope people don't put up unnecessary fences between themselves and his music because I am big believer in this group of guys. </div>
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Bon Iver has the most disarming music in the business and they're starting to realize the magic they have at their disposal. I thought that might prove to be fatal on this sophomore attempt. The exact opposite. Justin Vernon and his crew have taken this "broken hearted boy in a cabin" schtick and gone somewhere otherworldly. Their cohesiveness, their strong musicianship, and Vernon's soul are gaining steam and I think they'll age gracefully. I am excited for the weird directions this band will most certainly go. We won't like every direction, but in the end we'll all be better off for taking this journey with them. There are better songs on this album, but I was a huge fan of "Beth / Rest". Maybe I listened to too much V100 when I was in middle school but I love the saxophone. Music needs more of it today. Speaking of which... </div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/27871846" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIFE CHANGING VIDEO</a> (Bon Iver's bass saxophonist)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) <b>Bright Eyes - "The Peoples Key"</b></span></div>
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At the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee... </div>
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This is the only album on this Top Ten list that I screamed at the top of my lungs. Track 3 on this album, "Jejune Stars"... "I'll die young at heart." </div>
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"The People’s Key is a return to immediacy after the arguably overlong concept album Cassadaga. It’s been nearly four years, and in that time, Oberst put out a solo album and, along with Mogis, worked with M. Ward and My Morning Jacket’s Yim Yames on the indie all-star project Monsters of Folk. It sounds like Oberst, in particular, needed rejuvenation. His solo and Monsters of Folk tracks were all of high quality, but he failed to surprise, laying out a number of fairly traditional, folky tracks that didn’t embrace his trademark eclecticism." - <i>Paste Magazine</i></div>
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Conor is back. Many seem to disagree (i.e. Pitchfork giving this album a 5.0 and it being left off of most Albums of the Year lists) but this is the familiar spitting angst that I remember and helped me get through the valleys. Yet, Conor has grown up a little. Been through various projects. Bad and good. But this is the voice I want. I haven't fell for a Conor Oberst album like this since 2005's <i>Digital Ash in a Digital Urn</i>. There's elements of that album in <i>The People's Key</i>, especially on "Approximate Sunlight". </div>
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I loved the addition of Denny Brewer on this record. Created a great setting for the album and forces you out of your normal mind set and whether you think what he's saying is just ridiculous or sad or truthful, I think that's a powerful thing. Here's how <i>Rolling Stone </i>described it, "Standout contributions came from El Paso musician Denny Brewer, a sixtysomething biker and New Age shaman Oberst met while recording in Texas — and who adds mind-bending spoken-word passages. Brewer would pop by the studio and spend hours expounding on his ideas about human nature, alchemy and the Federal Reserve, and Oberst found himself rapt. 'A lot of people would write him off as a conspiracy-theory crazy person," he says. "But then he'd turn a corner and hit on a point that was completely truthful.'"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2) <b>Cliff Martinez, Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx, Desire, College, Riz Ortolani, The Cromatics - "DRIVE Soundtrack"</b></span></div>
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A LITTLE MIXTURE FOR YOU TO TASTE...</div>
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First of all, <i>Drive</i> was the best film I saw in 2011, so that obviously played heavily in this position on my list. With that said, the music plays an enormous and integral part in the film. The movie itself is almost one big music video. Everything is to a certain beat and rhythm. The opening track by Kavinsky, featuring vocals from CSS frontman, perfectly embodies the slow burning energy of the film. Desire's "Under Your Spell" and College's "A Real Hero" provide the narrative for the love interest of the anti-hero played by Ryan Gosling. Delicate but strong and an undeniable connection. </div>
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If I ever calculatedly murder someone, it will be to "Oh My Love."</div>
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The rest of majority of the soundtrack is composed by Cliff Martinez. His first job was composing for Pee Wee's Playhouse. He also drummed for Captain Beefheart for a period of time. Enough said. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1) <b>GIRLS - "Father, Son, Holy Ghost"</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">"And we're all gonna die. All gonna die! All gonna die! All gonna die!" </span></b></div>
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Buddy Holly didn't die. He was reincarnated as Christopher Owens. But Christopher Owens grew up in the 90s and has a whole new host of angry and blunt influences. How do GIRLS sound like 58 other old classic artists but yet sound like no one else in 2011? Debut LP and follow up EP were fantastically fresh and exciting to me. Nothing changed between those two releases. Now everything has changed. You can't fuck with GIRLS anymore. Just listen to "Die". They're finally coming together live as well. Back in September, "Die" became a 9 minute jam out session when I saw them perform at the Majestic in Madison. A jam session? Like hair flying and necks bending? Yea. Christopher Owens might still look like Macaulay Culkin but he's moving with an odd confidence of a... well... adult Macaulay Culkin. Owens is the heart of this band. The voice, the lyrics. Those come from him and his strange past and fantastically vibrant present. With that said, you can't mention GIRLS and not mention Chet "JR" White. It's because of Chet that the sound is now more cohesive. It's his production on this album. He brought the horns, keys, guitar, drums, backup vocals into one voice. Owen's storytelling of young love just seems more honest than most. It's also filled with cigarette butts, skinny jeans, unwashed hair, oversized sweaters, girl's underwear, used condoms, jangly guitar, weed, 5am parties, sitting in a field with the love of your life watching the sunrise, etc. </div>
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<b>"Jamie Marie" Straight up. Boring video. Just audio. One of my favorites songs of the year.</b></div>
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Forget for a moment how much Pitchfork loves this band and just listen to this record. This had to be my #1 because more so than any other 2011 album, I somehow know I'll still be listening to this record when I'm 63.</div>Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-13450439584585842402011-12-25T21:28:00.000-08:002011-12-25T21:28:37.033-08:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>GARY WITT'S TOP TEN ALBUMS OF TWOTHOUSANDELEVEN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">sponsored by Goober Law Offices. One Call... He's Tall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>10. Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kate Bush is an artist who was made for these times. How in the hell did she survive without the internet?? Never touring. No radio airplay. And her new album, 50 Words is completely unlike anything she's ever done in her 30-plus-year career. Haunting yet unrelentingly gorgeous, this record balances high-concept storytelling with beautiful songwriting and thus the investment of listening to a FULL ALBUM is rewarded! Kate has spawned some pretty poor imitators (hello, Tori Amos!) with her long absences, as well as given creative freedom to the birth of amazing new artists (ahhh… Joanna Newsom). 50 Words signals her return to releasing new music, but this time with an even greater ability to reach fans old and new, thanks to the internets. Oh, and did I mention that there is a song about Kate making love to a snowman? Yes...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Wye Oak - </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Civilian</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Massive heatseeking guitarscapes that seem almost impossible since they come from just TWO PEOPLE! Jenn Wasner's shredding is like Bruce Lee's Kung Fu. I like to listen and to watch it, but I somehow don't understand it. Just wow! And her voice is like an angry, yet soft pleading. This record came out so early in 2011, that some may have forgotten about it. But I have played this album so many times and it still sounds fresh and alive every time. "Holy Holy" just kills me, from the first off kilter/weird notes to the beautiful harmonies on the final chorus. Oh, and they kill it live. See for yourself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>8. tUnE-yArDs - WHOKILL</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">What? Original post-pop? Original music?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Intimate. Boisterous. Tribal. Commanding vocals. Catchy. Abrasive. Noisy. Synchronised drums, loop pedals. And Merrill Garbus. Merrill Garbus. Merrill Garbus. Experimental yet utterly accessible. A new star in the musical underground has been born with this 2nd album by tUnE-yArDs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>7. Wilco - The Whole Love</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wilco's is the thinking-man's jam band and that's a good thing. Their last two albums Wilco (The Album) and Sky Blue Sky seemed more like an extension of the songwriting of Jeff Tweedy. The Whole Love is jam-packed with instruments, restless creative ideas and a whole love infusion from what has grown to be an incredible band who have all of the weapons, but had been hesitant to use them until they were able to season them through years on the road. And seasoned they are. This is a band growing to becoming a trusting, real band that is even-keeled with a steady pulse. Venturing out on their own label, surrounded by their own world and filled with trust in what they do. And um... TWO more things… NELS CLINE!!! GLENN KOTCHE!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>6. Tom Waits - Bad As Me</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This record is like a love letter to the Waits un-initiated. And "Bad As Me" could not be any better. These days were made for Tom Waits. Here's another artist who benefits from reaching an audience without the help of significant airplay. In response to Jagger's "Satisfaction, Waits screeches: "Roll my vertebrae out like dice/Let my skull be a home for the mice/Let me bleach like the bones on a beach/I'll be hard like a pit from a peach,". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bad As Me is a tour de force of swagger, sweat and spit. Grabbing all types of American music by the balls and dragging it along for the 120 mph ride. David Lynch has got to love this! Waits mugs Tex-Mex, R&B, Mississippi to Chicago blues, garage-rockabilly and yes, a very pissed-off Glenn Miller in my favorite song on the record, "Hell Broke Luce", a song that blows a gaping hole into the reality of the Iraq war and what it has left all who served in it: "I had a good home but I left, right, left/ That big fucking bomb made me deaf, deaf/How is it that the only ones responsible for making this mess/</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Got their sorry asses stapled to a goddamn desk/What the hell was it that the president said?/Give him a beautiful parade instead, Left, right, left./When I was over here I never got to vote./I left my arm in my coat./My mom she died and never wrote!/We sat by the fire and ate a goat./Just before he died he had a toke./Now I’m home and I’m blind./And I’m broke… What is next". The song was w</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">ritten about Iraqi war veteran Jeff Lucey who had PTSD and committed suicide after returning home from Iraq.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Who are they and where did they come from? They are two. They are from Brooklyn. They are a little bit Motown and a little bit Phil Spector. They have created happy, pop music to laugh, dance and groove with while the world around burns into a chaotic mess. Every time that I play this record, I cannot believe how good every song on it is. Yes, there are giant hits that become buzz-like in everyone's ears. But song after song, this is a great record. Equally parts eerie, poppy, fun and creepy.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>4. Kurt Vile - </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Smoke Ring for My Halo</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sacred, strung-out slacker songs that are a soundtrack for the pains of life, instead of being a distraction from them. I like the intimate, lo-fi feel of this record. It has the ability to get better the more that you listen to it. Vile's don’t-give-a-shit, outsider attitude and relaxed vibe is a melancholy accompaniment to the tough times. And we all need that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>3. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The final days of the Cardinals were like those of a heavy metal, jam band. Kind of like Grateful Maiden. Still the songs retained their beauty, the melody and those amazing harmonies, while being realllllly loud! Coming back from his short retirement, Ryan Adams leans on the thing that separates him from almost everyone of his generation, his staggeringly brilliant songwriting. That skill is on display loud and proud on this subtle, quiet recording. I can't believe that I am saying this, but this is the sound of a peaceful mind. And as you have come to expect, the artists who influence Ryan (Bob Dylan & Neil Young), linger around the edges of these songs. But these songs are pure Ryan Adams. And this is another essential album that you should own. Man, is he loaded or what?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Just as the tUnE-yArDs album showed, James Blake is an amazing example of pop music's still fantastic ability to grow, change and evolve. These fragile, beautiful songs float like an alien dream with formless musical structure that give to me the same feeling that I get from a Terrence Malick film. More beauty and poetry than verse, chorus, verse. NOTHING sounded like this album to me, this year. James Blake occupied a very special place and he remained true to that in the touring and live performances of it. I can't wait to watch him grow and of course greedily, I cannot wait for him to perform in Milwaukee.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1. Bon Iver/Bon Iver</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Who else would be so brave by following up such a critically accepted and successful record as For Emma by releasing records and touring with Volcano Choir and Gayngs? What kind of a business decision is that? I'll tell you that it's the kind of decision that the record business of old would not have allowed (and that is just another reason why we celebrate the death of those old guys in suits with big expense accounts who did not listen to or love music). But maybe, just maybe, the freedom and experimentation of Volcano Choir and Gayngs is what gave Justin Vernon the ability to create and release what I feel is the best album of 2011. Majestic and gentle, Bon Iver/Bon Iver is confident and unafraid, taking in all of the influences of the past couple of years and revealing that this guy was bubbling over with creativity. Bon Iver/Bon Iver transcends For Emma. Like it's cover, it is a sound painting. And while it is a much bigger sound, it still contains the same intimacy. It's just as complex as it is accessible. And it establishes this artist. Such risk, beauty and grace from Justin Vernon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>AND THERE WERE THOSE THAT COULD NOT FIT INTO MY TOP 10. AND SINCE I COULD NOT BRING MYSELF TO NOT INCLUDE THEM, THEY ARE HERETOFORE STILL IN THE TOP 10:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">10.4. James Vincent McMorrow</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">10.3. The War on Drugs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">10.2. Laura Marling </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">10.1. Girls</span></div>
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<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651153568500732791.post-77346847415016767512011-12-24T13:04:00.000-08:002011-12-24T16:38:34.943-08:00Cassie Bauman's Top 10 Albums of 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10. </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Tv On The Radio-</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nine Types of Light</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This record is super sexy. "Will do" is a slow dance into a make out session waiting to happen. Wait. What? Oh. It happened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">9. <b>Cut Copy-</b> <i>Zonoscope</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When these guys played at Turner Hall last I probably lost about 5 pounds. It was one of those shows where you block out everything around you and dance the entire time. I danced on the balcony while lights flashed past me. You're not dancing alone when Cut Copy is playing. When I was leaving for the night I asked Dan, the singer, how he liked playing the show. "The energy in the room was awesome! There was this girl dancing on the balcony the whole time, it was great!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8. <b>St. Vincent-</b> <i>Strange Mercy</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is beautiful, talented, and was a tour manager at one point. I have to sing along to "Cruel". I like to close my eyes, turn the volume all the way up, and pretend that the the vibrations I feel coming from my throat are making the sounds that I'm hearing. Not only does she have an amazing voice she shreds on the guitar. We need Annie to move to Milwaukee. I heard that the man of her dreams lives here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7. <b>Maritime-</b> <i>Human Hearts</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maritime will forever remind me of being 16. I would drive to Milwaukee to take some pre-college art classes every Saturday morning. I would listen to Maritime, sing all the words, and stop by Comet Cafe to get a cup of coffee before my class started. The only things that's changed over the years is that I don't go to school. "Paraphernalia" is the highlight of the album. Dan is one of the best drummers I have ever seen. I'm a sucker for a disco beat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. <b>Memory Map-</b> <i>Holiday Band</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High fives and hugs forever to my dear friend, Dixie, for introducing me to this band by opening up for them one night at a local bar. I have a really hard time picking the instrument to air play when listening to this record. The song "Sew it up" is part math rock and part country twang with a couple random bass disco beats. I LOVE IT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. <b>Milagres-</b> <i>Glowing Mouth</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSF0mg40OSA/TvZf1hzA_gI/AAAAAAAACL4/D0HRGcSLcQc/s1600/milagres-tauszik-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSF0mg40OSA/TvZf1hzA_gI/AAAAAAAACL4/D0HRGcSLcQc/s320/milagres-tauszik-1.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been making a point to check out as many live shows as possible on my days off. I had never even heard of this band until I saw a show listing for them at a local club. My friend, Tracee, was in from out of town and I thought I would take her to a show. I had no idea I would end up standing in the front, with my eyes closed, listening to some of the best vocals I have heard, ever. The quiet synth and haunting guitar tones in the song "Gentle Beast" took the money out of my pocket to buy the record. Top 10 best purchases of 2011.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. <b>Charles Bradley-</b> <i>No Time for Dreaming</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Have you ever seen Charles Bradley. You HAVE to check him out. Come on, just watch one song..." This was the tour manager of the Budos Band convincing me to put down the dirty dishes and check out Charles Bradley. On stage he acted out a story through song, sweat, and tears. The emotion that he spilled out was raw and real, there is no doubting that. This "screaming eagle of soul" turned me on....to funk and soul. I look forward to his return.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. <b>Generationals-</b> <i>Actor-Caster</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the kind of guys you want to hang out with. Totally nerdy and super polite. They get on stage and they totally kill it! Lock me in a room and make me listen to this record on repeat for days. Thank you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. <b>Bon Iver-</b> <i>Bon Iver</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had never listened to Bon Iver until they decided to take over the Riverside Theater as their practice spot before their tour. I decided that I would make the theater my office for the week so I could both get work done and have some live entertainment. I went to the second floor, the furthest seat away from the stage, and set up my laptop. As the band set up their equipment and made small inside jokes I caught myself giggling along with them. I was immediately tuned in to every noise that came from the stage at that point. I'll never forget the first time I heard the song "Michicant". I fell in love with everything. Sitting through their practices and having the pleasure of hanging out with them the week while they were here, is something I will never forget. I walked away from their last live performance at The Riverside Theater a calmer person, a person filled with love and joy, a Bon Iver fan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middle Brother-</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middle Brother</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day I walk backstage at Turner Hall I have a series of things I do to prepare myself for my evening. I turn on and dim the lights perfectly. I light all the candles in the dining room. I brew a fresh pot of coffee and have hot water ready for tea. I tidy up and make sure everything looks presentable. I turn on "Blue Eyes" by Middle Brother and stand at the entrance to the backstage, looking in as if it's my first time seeing the space. "Perfect", I tell myself. "Perfect".</span></div>
<br />Top Ten Albumshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598366729285170685noreply@blogger.com0