Favorite albums of 2007 redux

Posted on 31 December 2007 | 2 Comments

Filed Under: Mixes, Year End Lists

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In case you missed my original 5 part Best of 2007 list, here is a brief re-rundown. I’ll see you all y’all next year. Let’s hope 2008 is even better than 2007.

50. Amiina – Kurr (Ever Records)
MP3 | Rugla or read the full post here.

49. Moving Units – Hexes For Exes (Metropolis)
MP3 | Paper Hearts or read the full post here.

48. Lewis & Clarke – Blasts Of Holy Birth (La Societe Expedtionnaire)
MP3 | Comfort Inn read the full post here.

47. Defiance, Ohio – The Fear, The Fear, The Fear (No Idea)
MP3 | The Condition

46. Ben Weasel – These Ones Are Bitter (Mendota Recording Co.)
MP3 | Let Freedom Ring or read the full post here.

45. Shining – Grindstone (Rune Grammofon)
MP3 | In The Kingdom Of Kitsch… or read the full post here.

44. Wynton Marsalis – From The Plantation… (Blue Note)
MP3 | From The Plantation… or read the full post here.

43. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Lovesong Of The Buzzard or read the full post here.

42. Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City (Vice)
MP3 | MP3 not posted

41. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
MP3 | Plasticities or read the full post here.

40. Rocky Votolato – The Brag & Cuss (Barsuk)
MP3 | Postcard From Kentucky or read the full post here.

39. Battles – Mirrored (Warp)
MP3 | Atlas or read the full post here.

38. Sundowner – Four One Five Two (Red Scare)
MP3 | This War Is Noise or read the full post here.

37. Low – Drums And Guns (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Hatchet or read the full post here.

36. Avett Brothers – Emotionalism (Ramseur)
MP3 | Die Die Die or read the full post here.

35. Paul Duncan – Above The Trees (Hometapes)
MP3 | Country Witch

34. Dinosaur Jr – Beyond (Fat Possum)
MP3 | This Is All I Came To Do or read the full post here.

33. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (Polyvinyl)
MP3 | Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse or read the full post here.

32. Every Time I Die – The Big Dirty (Ferret)
MP3 | No Son Of Mine

31. Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs (Touch & Go)
MP3 | Barnes or read the full post here.

30. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (Sony)
MP3 | Missed The Boat or read the full post here.

29. Radiohead – In Rainbows (Self Released)
MP3 | Bodysnatchers

28. Chuck Ragan – Feast Or Famine (Side One Dummy)
MP3 | For Broken Ears or read the full post here.

27. Paramore – Riot! (Fueled By Ramen)
MP3 | That’s What You Get or read the full post here.

26. Tegan And Sara – The Con (Sire)
MP3 | The Con or read the full post here.

25. Bomb The Music Industry! – Get Warmer (Asian Man)
MP3 | Bike Test 1 2 3 or read the full post here.

24. St. Vincent – Marry Me (Beggars Banquet)
MP3 | Now Now or read the full post here.

23. The Jai-Alai Savant – Flight Of The Bass Delegate (Gold Standard Labs)
MP3 | Scarlett Johansson, Why Don’t You Love Me? or read the full post here.

22. !!! – Myth Takes (Warp)
MP3 | A New Name or read the full post here.

21. Latterman – We Are Still Alive (Deep Elm/No Idea)
MP3 | Water Manes At The Block’s End or read the full post here.

20. Feist – The Reminder (Cherry Tree)
MP3 | One, Two, Three, Four or read the full post here.

19. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt)
MP3 | Silent or read the full post here.

18. Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works (Relapse)
MP3 | Milk Lizard or read the full post here.

17. Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Is There A Ghost or read the full post here.

16. Nothington – All In (BYO)
MP3 | The Last Time or read the full post here.

15. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
MP3 | You got Yr Cherry Bomb or read the full post here.

14. Broadway Calls – Broadway Calls (State Of Mind)
MP3 | Suffer The Kids or read the full post here.

13. Minus Story – My Ion Truss (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | The Way Beyond or read the full post here.

12. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver (DFA)
MP3 | Someone Great or read the full post here.

11. Parts And Labor – Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | Fractured Skies or read the full post here.

10. The Eternals – Heavy International (Aesthetics)
MP3 | Astra 3B or read the full post here.

09. Against Me! – New Wave (Sire)
MP3 | Thrash Unreal or read the full post here.

08. Lifetime – Lifetime (Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance)
MP3 | All Night Long or read the full post here.

07. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch Records)
MP3 | Impossible Germany or read the full post here.

06. Maritime – Heresy And The Hotel Choir (Flameshovel)
MP3 | Guns Of Navarone or read the full post here.

05. The National – Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
MP3 | Fake Empire or read the full post here

04. Minus The Bear – Planet Of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)
MP3 | Knights or read the full post here.

03. A Wilhelm Scream – Career Suicide (Nitro)
MP3 | 5 To 9 or read the full post here.

02. Okkervil River – The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe or read the full post here.

01. The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour (Epitaph)
MP3 | Tournament Of Hearts or read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 part five (10-1)

Posted on 20 December 2007 | 21 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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What gives people? 8500 page views in the last 3 days and 2 comments on my best of 2007 list? I thought we were friends. I thought we were getting to know one another. OK. I see how you are. ;)

Anyhow, here is the top ten. My favorite records of the year. Some that grew into favorites and a few that instantly blew me away. Even a few that (even after less than a year) have sentimental value. I’m not sure if you care, but you can check out the rest of the list here; (11-20), (21-30), (31-40), (41-50), and (51-60).

PS: If you are reading this you should leave a comment.

10. The Eternals – Heavy International (Aesthetics)
MP3 | Astra 3B
Mixing dub, funk, electronica, art-noise, and experimental rock this record is a ponderous and eclectic album that can be difficult but ultimately rewarding. It is futuristic indie reggae with rubbery danceable basslines, unconventional vocal textures, and is intentionally confrontational. Read the full post here.

09. Against Me! – New Wave (Sire)
MP3 | Thrash Unreal
Fuck all the naysayers that are longing for the sparse, raw, and ragged bedroom folk punk of their early days. Sure, I love that stuff too, but the songs on New Wave are just impossible to resist. Plus (thanks to Butch Vig) the record sounds amazing. Catchy and anthemic; political without being preachy. Read the full post here.

08. Lifetime – Lifetime (Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance)
MP3 | All Night Long
After a 10 year hiatus, this is Lifetime’s triumphant return. Sure, much of my love for this album might just be fueled by my own nostalgia, but the music is still fast and furious and snotty and romantic. It is familiar but the band has aged (just as we all have) and I think it shows. Even so, I’m selfishly loving every minute of this. Read the full post here.

07. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch Records)
MP3 | Impossible Germany
Even though my initial reaction to this record was a negative one I’ve come to the conclusion that Sky Blue Sky might be the biggest leap forward that Wilco has made yet. It is an subtly adventurous album that eschews much of the sound that made them the band we all love. A bold statement that proves Jeff Tweedy can do no wrong. Read the full post here.

06. Maritime – Heresy And The Hotel Choir (Flameshovel)
MP3 | Guns Of Navarone
The latest from Davey Von Promise Ring and company finds them playing triumphant indie pop with more aplomb than they ever have. Tighter than ever, the band churns out bright, jangly, and energetic guitar rock that harks back a little to the early eighties even. Read the full post here.

05. The National – Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
MP3 | Fake Empire
This one is a grower whose immediacy and power is understated and something that might not be readily apparent on just a cursory listen. Melodically dense and populated by a litany of piano, strings, and horns that are incorporated with such restraint that it makes the instrumentation seem lonely and almost sparse. It punches you in the gut and then offers a hand to help you up. Even more bizarre since I didn’t like Alligator when it was released and still don’t. Read the full post here

04. Minus The Bear – Planet Of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)
MP3 | Knights
This brilliant follow up to Menos El Oso is full of frenetic mathy prog-rock that is perfect for driving home in the wee hours of the morning just before daybreak. Meticulously crafted, the album relies more on moody atmospherics and propulsive grooves rather than brute force. Read the full post here.

03. A Wilhelm Scream – Career Suicide (Nitro)
MP3 | 5 To 9
Anthemic, fast-as-fuck, melodic, pissed off, complex, thought-provoking, and virtually flawless (dare I say) razor-sharp pop punk that is un-fucking-believable. One of the most impassioned and well-executed punk records I’ve heard in some time where every riff and every searing solo is absolutely necessary. Read the full post here.

02. Okkervil River – The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
Frontman Will Sheff is a masterful lyricist with an almost conversational narrative style that makes listening to his songs like reading intimate and soul-baring diary entries with an accompaniment of pop-rock hooks and subtle alt-country instrumentation. Read the full post here.

01. The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour (Epitaph)
MP3 | Tournament Of Hearts
An urgent but reflective mix of punk, folk, and country wrapped around captivating stories told with highly literate and poetic lyrics that sounds like the golden sun peeking out from behind a darkly clouded sky (if only for a moment). A fucking phenomenal album made even more amazing when hearing my two year old daughter sing along. Read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 part four (20-11)

Posted on 19 December 2007 | 5 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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I could try to write something profound that would explain some of the choices on this list, but I’m not going to. Instead, here are albums 20-11 on my 50 favorite albums of 2007 list.

20. Feist – The Reminder (Cherry Tree)
MP3 | One, Two, Three, Four
This is a beautiful and enchanting album of absolutely fantastic warm and airy Parisienne Americana (whatever that means) on which Leslie Feist’s vocals are subtle, fragile, and the focal point of the album. Read the full post here.

19. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt)
MP3 | Silent
Atmospheric minimal techno that is mesmerizing and meditative with bubbling pulses slowly pounding through the quietest din. As the looping ambient rhythms that lay just beneath the surface shift and swell, the bass drum beats life into what might otherwise be an exercise in icy droning minimalism. Read the full post here.

18. Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works (Relapse)
MP3 | Milk Lizard
Incorporating elements of glitchy IDM breakcore, jazz, art-punk, proggy pop rock, and (yes) brutally chaotic mathcore, the band moves from idea to idea like a junkie popping pills and strikes a near-perfect balance of challenging back-bending time changes, sonic experimentation, and head bobbing rhythms with pop hooks glued nicely atop. Read the full post here.

17. Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Is There A Ghost
On Cease To Begin Ben Bridwell’s golden-throated drawl still rings out with an endless reverb that seems to coax gorgeous melodies right out of the moonlight sky and infuses the music with an almost ghostly atmosphere. It is grand, anthemic, and huge at times but is less bombastic than Everything All The Time and focuses on the more sprawling and quieter moments. Read the full post here.

16. Nothington – All In (BYO)
MP3 | The Last Time
Southern-tinged punk rock with gruff vocals, crunchy guitars, melodic basslines, and just enough twang that is comparable to Social Distortion meets Hot Water Music or (perhaps) like Lucero on steroids. The record is ferociously raw, unpretentious, rings out like a hammer smashing on the Liberty bell. Read the full post here.

15. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
MP3 | You got Yr Cherry Bomb
From the word “go” it is as if the indie rock’s untouchable hipster universe was infected with the virus of classic rock guitar riffs and the Motown soul grooves that sound remarkably like vintage post-London Calling Clash melded with the spry pop of (perhaps) Billy Joel. Read the full post here.

14. Broadway Calls – Broadway Calls (State Of Mind)
MP3 | Suffer The Kids
Snotty and stomping pop punk that flirts with political overtones but is bathed in upbeat West Coast cool and hopeful highway skies. Catchy-as-hell with a few rough edges left in tact, Broadway Calls is a valiant attempt at pop-punk perfection that might just turn even the most jaded critic into a believer. Read the full post here.

13. Minus Story – My Ion Truss (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | The Way Beyond
My Ion Truss is filled with moments of ferocious noisemaking in between the quiet din of rural atmospherics and hook-laden indie rock crescendos. A banging wall of sound percolates from beneath delicate vocals are in a Built To Spill meets The Bends era Radiohead sort of way. Read the full post here.

12. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver (DFA)
MP3 | Someone Great
This record seems to be near the top of everyone’s list this year and (obviously) mine is no exception. This album finds Murphy mining the same great electro dance pop territory that he always has, but this time every track is spot on. Simply amazing. Read the full post here.

11. Parts And Labor – Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | Fractured Skies
Frenzied and noisy indie-punk tunes wrapped up in waves of fuzzy distortion and screeching electronics that are somehow remarkably melodic. The band is reminiscent of a wilder and more out-of-control Husker Du, or even a little like Rogue Wave, but then there is the drumming. It is brain-rattling and could probably cause any volcano in the world to erupt within seconds. Read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 part three (30-21)

Posted on 18 December 2007 | 2 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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One of of my resolutions last January was to “return to my roots” and focus a little more on the punk music that sustained my teenage years. I think I did a pretty good job accomplishing that goal. So you don’t like punk music? Tough. Yeah, I like my fair share of indie rock and other such fare, but the Burial record did nothing for me. Neither did the Panda Bear album or Neon Bible. Deal with it.

30. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (Sony)
MP3 | Missed The Boat
How cool is it that Issac Brock and Johnny Marr are in the same band? Read the full post here.

29. Radiohead – In Rainbows (Self Released)
MP3 | Bodysnatchers
Just when was thinking to myself that Radiohead had begun to become less relevant in today’s world of flash-in-the-pan indie darlings and blog overhype they went and did this and made me eat my words. Bastards.

28. Chuck Ragan – Feast Or Famine (Side One Dummy)
MP3 | For Broken Ears
The proper solo debut from Chuck of Hot Water Music is full of gut-wrenching Americana that does not disappoint. Armed with only his acoustic guitar, a harmonica, banjo, fiddle, and a few other rootsy overdubs for cover, you can hear Chuck’s passion in every heartfelt breath. Read the full post here.

27. Paramore – Riot! (Fueled By Ramen)
MP3 | That’s What You Get
Despite their impressive live set at the Warped Tour this past summer I didn’t expect Riot! to be this good. It contains some of the catchiest pop songs I’ve heard in awhile where the focus is on Hayley Williams’ soaring vocals, but it brings some big hardcore-style breakdowns and speedy pop-punk to the table. Read the full post here.

26. Tegan And Sara – The Con (Sire)
MP3 | The Con
On first listen I despised the layered whining vocals but I couldn’t stop playing the album. The songs are great, it is infectious without being catchy, but even now I’m not entirely sure if I actually like them or if its the audio equivalent of a messy car accident that you can’t peel your eyes away from. Maybe a little of both, or maybe I’m just fooling myself. Read the full post here.

25. Bomb The Music Industry! – Get Warmer (Asian Man)
MP3 | Bike Test 1 2 3
This might be the most “fun” album released in 2007. It is overflowing with punk, ska, folk, folk-punk, ska-punk, soul and everything in between where zany synths mingle with traditional ska type horn stabs and gruff, shouted, punk rock vocals dance around a dirt-poor three ring circus. Read the full post here.

24. St. Vincent – Marry Me (Beggars Banquet)
MP3 | Now Now
A timeless record with inventive and darkly quirky arrangements that draw upon influences ranging from jazz standards, space rock, classical, Eastern music, and the skronk of the avant garde. A playful combination of muted brass, strings, samples, programming, piano, etc… or maybe it is just Annie Clark’s enchanting voice. Read the full post here.

23. The Jai-Alai Savant – Flight Of The Bass Delegate (Gold Standard Labs)
MP3 | Scarlett Johansson, Why Don’t You Love Me?
Danceable meandering dub and reggae-influenced proto post-punk jams that are eclectic, adventurous, and refuse to adhere to conventions. Challenging and scorching music that with catchy hooks and moments that rock with the same angular skronk that Fugazi made famous. Read the full post here.

22. !!! – Myth Takes (Warp)
MP3 | A New Name
Myth Takes is overflowing with slinky dance-punk that has mysteriously writhed its way up from the subterranean depths. Guitars whirr and horns stab while the drums pump out dance floor banging beats like a candy factory gone awry. It is organic, glitchy, bouncy, and conjures images of darkly sweaty bodies that are moving hyper-motion. Read the full post here.

21. Latterman – We Are Still Alive (Deep Elm/No Idea)
MP3 | Water Manes At The Block’s End
Catchy but gritty pop-punk anthems that I can imagine bunches of sweaty kids crammed into a VFW singing/screaming along to. Its rough but melodic and would sit nicely in your collection alongside records from Dillinger Four, Hot Water Music, The Lawrence Arms, etc… Read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 part two (40-31)

Posted on 18 December 2007 | No Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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Critically judging albums for their “worth” or “merit” is inherently ridiculous. What one person loves another will undoubtedly hate. Yeah, I really like all the records on this list, but putting them into some sort of order presents a challenge especially when including multiple genres. What do you think? Comments? Questions? Concerns? Ok.

40. Rocky Votolato – The Brag & Cuss (Barsuk)
MP3 | Postcard From Kentucky
Rocky’s whiskey-soaked voice has the ability to tear right through you and his earnest working-class country-tinged acoustic rock is full of sincerity and honesty. With the heart of a punk-rocker it is easy to see how his poetic words can cut straight to the bone. Read the full post here.

39. Battles – Mirrored (Warp)
MP3 | Atlas
For the sake of comparison, this post-rock supergroup sounds something like a cross between the craziest moments that Blur has committed to tape and Black Dice. Experimental, glitched, and complicated but exhibiting a new “pop” side and a technical prowess that most bands can only dream of. Read the full post here.

38. Sundowner – Four One Five Two (Red Scare)
MP3 | This War Is Noise
The first solo album from Chris McCaughan of The Lawrence Arms finds him sounding like a cross between Blake Schwarzenbach and Bob Dylan; something of an urban folk troubadour. The album’s rough-but-charming folk-rock is perfect for late nights with friends and reminiscing about the good old days. Read the full post here.

37. Low – Drums And Guns (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Hatchet
Drums And Guns (like most Low material) is deliberately and unsettlingly slow. It is almost painfully drawn out. On the record Alan and Mimi’s mournful harmonies drift atop sparse instrumentation that includes organ, piano, drums (both electronic and real), and the occasional guitar creating sorrowful almost hymn-like dirges. Read the full post here.

36. Avett Brothers – Emotionalism (Ramseur)
MP3 | Die Die Die
Emotionalism at times sounds like it could have been written 60+ years ago and at other times sounds like it could have been last week. Its slightly bluegrassish and bittersweet rootsy alt-country pop-rock touches references like The Beatles, The Burrito Bros. , and The Soggy Bottom Boys and wears its heart on its sleeve and somewhere deep inside has a little punk in it. Read the full post here.

35. Paul Duncan – Above The Trees (Hometapes)
MP3 | Country Witch
Paul Duncan’s latest is full of dark and meandering pedal steel soaked Americana that wraps around you like a warm blanket on the coldest of winter days.

34. Dinosaur Jr – Beyond (Fat Possum)
MP3 | This Is All I Came To Do
This is the first new Dinosaur Jr. album in 10 years and it sounds as if the classic lineup of J, Lou, and Murph haven’t missed a beat. Sure it sounds remarkably like the Dinosaur Jr. albums we all have grown to love, but since we love ‘em is that such a bad thing? Progress schmogress. Read the full post here.

33. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (Polyvinyl)
MP3 | Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse
I blame this one on my wife. She introduced me to this album full of irresistible indie-disco post-punk-funk jams that blew me away. Forget Prozac and all the other anti-depressant drugs and just listen to Hissing Fauna… instead as you dance away your blues. Read the full post here.

32. Every Time I Die – The Big Dirty (Ferret)
MP3 | No Son Of Mine
According to the Ferret Records website, “Listening to this record will make you awesome. Please avoid direct contact if you are not ready to rule.” Well said.

31. Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs (Touch & Go)
MP3 | Barnes
Autumn Of The Seraphs is bursting with bouncy propulsive and catchy-as-hell indie rock that somehow managed to fly under the radar all year. Energetic but not spastic and driving without truly rocking. Read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 part one (50-41)

Posted on 17 December 2007 | No Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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From my humble perspective, 2007 was a great year for music. Including honorable mentions, my list consists of 60 albums representing 42 different labels. The list has a little bit of everything; jazz, metal, folk, electronica, punk, folk, hip hop, indie rock, pop, alt-country, and everything in-between. Now picking my favorite albums wasn’t a difficult task at all, but finalizing the ultimate running order was. What you see here is my best approximation and might be totally different a year from now even though when I went back and looked at my 2006 lists the top albums are almost exactly as I would have placed them today. Anyhow, I’ll be here all week.

50. Amiina – Kurr (Ever Records)
MP3 | Rugla
Kurr is an affair in dreamy ethereal minimalism that combines loops, electronics, and ambient elements with chimes, rhodes piano, and other modern classical elements to create a sound that twinkles and sparkles with a microscopic beauty. Read the full post here.

49. Moving Units – Hexes For Exes (Metropolis)
MP3 | Paper Hearts
Catchy disco-dance-punk that isn’t terribly jagged and really isn’t breaking any new ground but is solid from start to finish. Perhaps something in between The Rapture, New Order, Hot Hot Heat, Communiqué, and Interpol. Read the full post here.

48. Lewis & Clarke – Blasts Of Holy Birth (La Societe Expedtionnaire)
MP3 | Comfort Inn
Sparse neo-folk arrangements that bubble with folky psychedelia. The songs themselves are drawn out but deceptively simple. While artists like Devendra, Animal Collective can get a little crazy, Lou Rogai shows us that a little restraint can go a long way. Read the full post here.

47. Defiance, Ohio – The Fear, The Fear, The Fear (No Idea)
MP3 | The Condition
Politically charged folk-punk from Bloomington, Indiana. It is heartfelt Americana filtered through DIY punk rock played with acoustic guitars, banjos, violins, and harmonicas. This makes me smile.

46. Ben Weasel – These Ones Are Bitter (Mendota Recording Co.)
MP3 | Let Freedom Ring
Ben Weasel’s first new album in 5 years and there isn’t a dull moment of filler on the entire album. These polished and snappy pop-punk anthems sound best with the windows down and the stereo loud and feature both Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor from the All-American Rejects and Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio. Read the full post here.

45. Shining – Grindstone (Rune Grammofon)
MP3 | In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster
A dense, relentless, and confrontational album that will have your head spinning before the end of the first song. On it an unholy amalgamation of fuzzed-out bass, horns, shredding metal guitar, glitchy electronics, flute, and fractured synths spews forth and sounds like equal parts avant-bop jazz noise, cinematic swells, and Refused-eqse hardcore jams. Read the full post here.

44. Wynton Marsalis – From The Plantation To The Penitentiary (Blue Note)
MP3 | From The Plantation To The Penitentiary
The only true jazz record on my list this year, this is an invigorating listen that touches a myriad of jazz styles including the trumpeter’s New Orleans be-bop sound. It is also a highly political album that is meant to engage both the intellect and the soul. Read the full post here.

43. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Lovesong Of The Buzzard
Loose and lazy swamp folk perfect for the front porch that (at times) has an almost primal and rhythmic feel to it. Sam Beam’s breathy drawl and gentle acoustic guitar strums evoke images of the rural South straight out of a William Faulkner novel and carry the weight of the humid Florida heat. Read the full post here.

42. Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City (Vice)
MP3 | MP3 not posted
Back in January of 2007 I posted a Bloc Party track from this record and was swiftly asked to remove from my blog by someone in the band’s camp. While I was cool with the request, it may have negatively colored my perception of this record that I’ve only recently begun to get into. Their debut was my favorite record of 2005. You can see that list here & here.

41. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
MP3 | Plasticities
Armchair Apocrypha‘s cerebral indie pop is filled with looping violin, otherworldly whistling, and virtuosic violin playing that creates a rich and vividly colored sonic tapestry. Like a 12 hour time machine made of feathers and bubblegum, it almost seems to run backwards in time from pre-dawn back to just before the previous day’s sunset. Read the full post here.

Favorite albums of 2007 (honorable mentions)

Posted on 15 December 2007 | No Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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These records are not “officially” part of my year end list. Rather, it is my list of honorable mentions for 2007. But I did sorta put this in the same format as the rest so f$#k it. Honorable mentions or not, these are some damn good records.

60. Ted Leo – Living With The Living (Touch & Go)
MP3 | La Costa Brava
Shimmering and visceral jangle-punk that sounds like rays of sunshine breaking through a cloudy sky just before a WWII-era fighter plane breaks through and drops a full payload on an unsuspecting city. Read full post here.

59. The Forms – The Forms (The Rebel Group)
MP3 | Knowledge In Hand
Thunderously ethereal and angular post-rock that twists and turns its grooves inside out. Read full post here.

58. May Or May Not – A Kaleidescope Of Egos (Self Released)
MP3 | Do The Disaster
Charming and ultra-catchy indie pop from Chicago that melts in your mouth and not in your hands.

57. The Shins – Wincing The Night Away (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Phantom Limb
More orchestrated than any of The Shins’ previous releases, strings and layers upon layers of melodies cascade into each other during tiny moments of pure brilliance. Read the full post here.

56. Coliseum – No Salvation (Relapse)
MP3 | Defeater
Badass metallic rock/hardcore from Louisville that sounds like Motorhead vs. Black Flag vs. Converge vs. Mastodon. Oh yeah.

55. Devin The Dude – Waitin To Inhale (Rap-A-Lot)
MP3 | What A Job (Ft. Snoop Dogg and Andre 3000)
The only hip-hop or rap album to make my list this year. Maybe that means something to you.

54. The Narrator – All That To The Wall (Flameshovel)
MP3 | Son Of The Son Of The Kiss Of Death
Chicago indie rock that combines the slacker-isms of Pavement with the disjointed post-rock flavors of the Tim Kinsella school of rock. Read the full post here.

53. Matzak – Life Beginnings (Boxer Recordings)
MP3 | Dadaughter
Warm, playful, and slightly glitchy minimal IDM electronica whose simple gliding melodies are invigorating and alive. Read the full post here.

52. The Copyrights – Make Sound (Red Scare)
MP3 | Kids Of The Blackhole
Ultra-catchy Weasel and Teen Idols influenced pop-punk full of buzzsaw guitars, bouncingly melodic bass, and saccharine vocal harmonies. Read the full post here.

51. Caribou – Andorra (Merge)
MP3 | Melody Day
Nebulous 60’s psychedelia densely layered with symphonic soundscapes that are full of a mesmerizing combination of polyrhythmic percussion, fluttering woodwind instruments, swirling synths, crashing cymbals, rock guitars, and falsetto vocals. Read the full post here.

More MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Insound | eMusic

Listmania 2007 is here

Posted on 11 December 2007 | 6 Comments

Filed Under: Blog, Year End Lists

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We are firmly entrenched in December and that means that every single music blog has posted or is prepping their Best of 2007 lists (me included). Our friend Ryan at Muzzle Of Bees posted an excellent best albums list last week while Amy at Shake Your Fist posted her 50 favorite songs of 2007 list. Gonz from Get Over Yourself posted a killer top ten albums list and so did Frank Chromewaves and Moka. Even Dodge from MOKB posted his top 50 albums.

I was going to post mine next week. Should I feel compelled to post it sooner? Nah… In the meantime (however) here is a list of a four records that I was either totally disappointed in or wanted to (but just didn’t) understand.

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgiest
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Grinderman – Grinderman
Matt Pond PA – Last Light

Ok? Okay.

Kurt you see the sunset's top ten of 2006

Posted on 16 December 2006 | 4 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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I was talking to my brother on the phone earlier today and asked him what his favorite ten albums of the year were. He emailed me his list and while our tastes overlap a little, they differ a lot. Even so, I thought it would be fitting to post his year end list.

I thought it fitting because my brother (you can call him Kurt like I do) will shortly be joining in on the writing here at Can You See The Sunset… You will enjoy it. Kurt will be doing long form reviews/posts on stuff that I might not normally post (i.e. hip-hop, metal, etc…) so watch out!

Kurt You See The Sunset’s Top Ten Albums of 2006

Six of ‘em are in my top 35 with three of those also in my top 14. That leaves four that didn’t make my top fifty list (duh). Anyhow, y’all welcome Kurteax to Can You See The Sunset…

Top fifty of 2006 part five (10-01) the top ten

Posted on 16 December 2006 | 11 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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Well, this about wraps it up. Here are my top ten albums of 2006 and I’d like your opinions. Really. Obviously my list isn’t as “indie” as many of the other lists I’ve seen, but (hey) neither am I. I haven’t heard a single note of the newest Cat Power album. I can’t really get into the Joanna Newsom record. The Midlake record is only ok in my book. You get the picture. I have my own opinions which you can read below…

Halving The Compass

Eingya is a dreamy affair in which each track slowly builds as layers of instrumentation ebb and flow forth from the minimalist droning soundscapes beneath. Like the aural equivalent of your faded scrapbook photos and tattered picture albums, it is emotionally engaging and has a certain resonance that makes it so much more than just a collection of Eno-esqe synths and fractured beats.

Are You There Margaret…

“[The band] blends East Bay punk with an intelligent and introspective Midwest sound and adds a heap of bad television, some leftist literature, and exactly three cases of the cheapest most watery piss-beer you can muster…” Imagine Blake Schwartzenbach and Aaron Cometbus drinking Schlitz in a bowling alley. The Lawrence arms are keeping Chicago’s great punk rock tradition alive and well.

Covered Up In Mines

Fort Recovery sounds as Americana as apple pie and shines with that golden twilight glow. It is an album that is instantly familiar, but isn’t a retread or contrived. Will Johnson’s rough-edged and raspy voice holds together what I’m calling emo-twang. There might be a little Replacements, Neil Young, or (perhaps) Joe Pernice hiding in there as well. Great songs that make for a great listen every time.

This Is Absolution

Hear me out on this one. Overshadowed by Mastodon, KSE deserves way more credit than they get. The band revolutionized metalcore and proved that brutally heavy could also be melodic. Daylight… is a refinement of that sound. The breakdowns are huge. The melodies are infectious. If you took the sexy pick and have Mastodon’s Blood Mountain on your year-end list, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Daylight… You won’t be disappointed.

The Great Salt Lake

Cast aside all the My Morning Jacket comparisons. This is a great record. The songs are just wonderful guitar-driven tunes that have hooks without being in-your-face catchy. There are hints of southern rock without being overtly so. The vocals (just like MMJ’s and hinting at both Wayne Coyne and Neil Young) are drenched in reverb/echo and seem to give the songs a spacey and ethereal quality.

New Buildings

This album is full of indie-punk tracks that are smothered with copious amounts of distortion and shrieking feeback noise. Lo-fi pop songs with killer melodies and sucker-punch hooks heard through a gloriously dirty wall of noise. Despite the Husker Du/Bob Mould comparisons the band makes a Boredoms-esqe racket with the melodic edge of a Rogue Wave. Your ears might need a break after this one.

I Can Get Us Out Of Here Tonight

Lu-fuckin-cero makes me wanna drink a lot and kiss my wife. Call it southern-alt-country-redneck-punk-n-roll or whatever you will. Rebels… finds the band’s gritty and melodic sound nicely augmented by piano, organ, and keys. Additionally, I have yet to see a Lucero show without a fight breaking out. My sister and my wife almost got in on the action the last time Lucero was in town. I love this band.

Set Fire To The Face On Fire

On Young Machetes The Blood Bros. sound dangerous. Not like they are going to mug you at gunpoint dangerous, but (rather) dangerous with smirks on their faces as they wait for their next prank to unfold right on cue. It’s the shotgun wedding of Barry Gibb’s Bee Gees disco classics with the grinding spasms of Converge. Maybe it’s like a Black Flag sucker-punch to the face of Charles Mingus. In other words, its dance music.

Sans Revival

Offshore is crushingly beautiful, gorgeously textured, virtually seamless from start to finish. It sucked me into the vast lonesome alternate reality where there is nothing for miles but grey skies and abandoned wheat fields. The music isn’t heavy, but it is weighty. It is awash is shifting atmospheric tones that never allow the droning ambience of the music to lose focus.

Massive Nights

The songs on boys And Girls In America just keep calling me back for listen after listen. The lyrics are sad, poetic, sarcastic, and paint a familiar and true-to-life picture of the sad realities of wayward Midwestern youth. But (even so) this is music that is meant to be played loud. This is a record that simply explodes out of your speakers.

Top fifty of 2006 part four (20-11)

Posted on 14 December 2006 | 6 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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Ahh yes. The top twenty… This starts the real meat and potatoes of the list. These are the albums that I truly could not get enough of this year. Constant rotation. In describing a lot of the albums, I seem to be describing how they make me feel rather than what they actually sound like. Punk rock will do that to ya.

Boys From School

After seeing the band live at Lollapalooza this summer, I started listening to this album a lot. The best electro-pop album of the year.

Weekend

Mixing elements of post-rock and indie-pop, Aloha has crafted a brilliant album where vibes, keys, and guitars collide with furiously restrained drumming merging texture and melody into one. (How’s that for you JT?)

Suture Self

Blistering east coast pop-punk that is about as good as it gets. This (their debut full-length) falls somewhere between the likes of The Bouncing Souls and Kid Dynamite. Cranking this up in the car makes me feel like I’m 17 again.

Postcards From Italy

Beirut creates old-world Eastern European influenced (but totally pop) soundscapes that evoke images of the rise and fall of the Hapsburg Empire. Images of my grandparents in pre-WWII Germany that I’ve only seen in worn, tattered, and faded photographs that have long since seen better days. This is captivating music.

Catastrophe

I didn’t expect to like this album nearly as much as I did. I never actually realized just how good Caithlin’s vocals are. The title track is a perfect example of how I just seem to get lost when I listen to this album. It clocks in at 5:33 but feels like 3:00.

Our Kitten Sees Ghosts

I like Califone frontman Tim Rutili a lot and not just because he is from Chicago and not just because he was in Red Red Meat. Roots And Crowns is full of obtuse lyrics and swampy backwoods roots folk-pop obscured in a digital haze. An imperfect album that is virtually perfect.

The Lazyboy 500

The best worst album of the year. It is both complete shit and total brilliance. They throw ska, cock rock, and hillbilly c&w into a punk rock blender and mix it up with Old Style and cheap whiskey. It is snotty, trashy, and tons of fun.

Incinerate

Rather Ripped is the sound of Sonic Youth chilling out. This is what happens when they make adult contemporary noise rock. Much more overtly melodic and accessible than almost anything they have ever done, but just as good as anything too.

A Pillar Of Salt

The Thermals sound agitated. They play loud punkish-rock that focuses on topics like religion and politics. What could have ended up as a dumbed-down junior high ranting ends up being one of the most affecting and fist-shaking records of 2006.

Calm

When your band is billed as ex-members of The Promise Ring and The Dismemberment Plan, you had better be good. And after a merely mediocre first album that sounded like a band searching for their identity, I think that their search is over.

Top fifty of 2006 part three (30-21)

Posted on 13 December 2006 | 4 Comments

Filed Under: Year End Lists

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“What’s with splitting your list into five posts,” you ask. Well, last year it was two posts, and this just seems more easily digestible. Here are numbers 30 through 21.

The Crane Wife 3

If you read music blogs you know (and probably love) The Decemberists. I mean, do I really need to explain the inclusion of this album? Really? C’mon…

October Language

The album is powerful and emotional in a way that is like looping your thought patterns until the sounds in your head just blur into white noise and static. It is a gorgeous dreamlike record and once you play it, you won’t want to wake up anytime soon.

No Idea)
MP3 | Oh Susquehanna

Politically charged folk-punk from Bloomington, Indiana. It is heartfelt Americana filtered through DIY punk rock played with acoustic guitars, banjos, violins, and harmonicas. It makes me smile.

Hold On

The Town And The City is my favorite album by the band since 1992’s Kiko. It has darker feel and there are less furious rock songs, but the band is in top form here and the guitar playing is oftentimes stunning.

Lisbon (Edit)

“This recording, captured to hard disk on stage at galeria zé dos bois on October 4th 2005, is in my mind the perfect encapsulation of all of these elements into a single lilting piece of static sine-tone harmonics, squared-off electric guitar haze, clangorous room-tone eruptions, and high-end synth freakouts…” – KFW

Crystal Skull

Blood Mountain will be the lone metal album on most lists this year, but not mine. Universally acclaimed, this album picks up right where Leviathan left off and has been a workout favorite of mine for a few months now.

One Day You Won’t Be Here

I think Rocky Votolato is vastly underrated. His folk-esqe songs have a little more edge and a little more grit than most. He distinguishes himself from the myriad of other singer-songwriters out there through the sincerity and honesty of his music.

The Bar In The Back Of The Basement

Another of this year’s Internet buzz bands. They play non-standard Americana-influenced energetic indie rock that reeks of Modest Mouse, Springsteen, beer, and sweat.

Crazy For Leaving

An EP and an album from Chicago’s Catfish Haven. Ragged and raw Americana with punk rock energy and the Motown soul of George Hunter’s smoky vocals. It is like Otis Redding singing Ramones songs (sorta).

Knife

This is good. I like it a lot. It is a huge and ambitious album full of timeless psychedelia and wonderful orchestral melodies. If this is freak folk then you can call me a freak.