10 posts tagged “death cab for cutie”
I originally posted this to Facebook, but not everyone sees my Facebook. Also, as an added bonus, on Vox you can listen to songs from some of the albums I picked by going to my library:
http://dingle.vox.com/library/audio/
Anyway, this was not easy. Generally, I buy an album for two reasons:
a) I love the artist
b) I love a song (or a few) I've heard
There were a lot of artists who I love deeply that didn't make the Top 20 this year. The albums were good, but there were a surprising number of fantastic albums from bands I had never heard of before this year. Also, some of my lesser favourite bands put out solid albums this year. So Death Cab For Cutie, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Beck, Counting Crows, Conor Oberst, Hayden, Mercury Rev: try harder next time.
Then I had to decide my criteria. A greatest hits will never be included, because that's cheating... they're usually all the best bits of a band's career crammed into one and that's often hard to compete against. I was also unsure about letting the Au Revoir Simone album in as it's remixes, and the Flight Of The Conchords CD because it's a TV show soundtrack essentially. However, both were great little discs - and the Au Revoir Simone album opened me up to The Teenagers and James Yiull.
So this is my Top 20 Albums Of 2008 Assuming Nothing Else Comes Out That's As Good Between Now And Christmas. I do not apologise for any of them, but I do think you should buy them all at your earliest convenience.
1. Elephant Shell by Tokyo Police Club
From the second I heard 'Nursery, Academy' in the basement of a nearby
Borders, I was hooked. Even if the Last.fm software is total arse and
couldn't manage to scrobble every time I played this album, it spent a
lot of time on rotation on my iPhone. 'Tessellate' is the sort of song
I would dance to, if I could dance, and wasn't permanently embarrassed
by myself.
2. The Hollow Of Morning by Gemma Hayes
The album came out in October, and has gotten a lot of plays since. It
soundtracked both directions of a transatlantic flight and lots of
journeys to work. That Gemma still isn't huge after three excellent
albums is a huge disappointment, especially when this album stretches
her sound to include more interesting arrangements, like the almost
electro opening to 'At Constant Speed' - a song that somehow builds up
to a Prince-esque synth riff. She's certainly my favourite female
artist right now.
3. Oceans Will Rise by The Stills
While other members of the extended Broken Social Scene family came out
to play this year (Brendan Canning, The Dears, Jason Collett), The
Stills had them all beat with an album that straddled their first two
while still veering off in its own direction - from the stately
'Everything I Build' to the hypnotic, driving 'Snakecharming The
Masses'.
4. Volume One by She & Him
It's one thing for any band to produce an album that so perfectly
captures the spirit of the past without being a tacky parody, but the
fact it was a quirky young actress and a well-regarded but obscure
indie troubadour made it seem even more out of left field. Zooey
Deschanel's voice, as you may expect from brief singing bits in films
like Elf and The Assassination Of Jesse James, is the star of the show
- on both her own songs, such as the fantastic 'This Is Not A Test', to
covers including 'I Should've Known Better' by The Beatles.
5. Turning Down Water For Air by James Yiull
Somehow performing the miraculous task of melding acoustic indie
singer-songwriter material to thumping dance beats and fascinating
electronic arrangements without it all going horribly wrong, this CD is
the total meeting point of everything I am listening to at the moment,
with some utterly gorgeous songs like 'This Sweet Love' - which does a
lot with a very simple acoustic guitar motif and drum beat.
6. Field Manual by Chris Walla
His day job, Death Cab For Cutie, also put out an album, but it was
Walla's solo CD that really got my love this year. 'Our Plans,
Collapsing' is the highlight of the album, but it was great to hear how
he sounds when he's not twiddling the knobs or plucking the strings on
someone else's songs.
7. Some Racing, Some Stopping by Headlights
It took a while to sink its claws in, 'Market Girl' aside, but it
slowly melted my heart... and I also managed to get some great remixes
of some of the songs on an ultra-limited edition remix disc they put
out, so there's now more of the songs to love. 'Cherry Tulips' is the
sound of a beautiful daydream.
8. Reverse Migration by Au Revoir Simone
The remixes on this album are by and large among the best remixes I've
heard. The robotic voice singing the chorus on 'Stars', the crazy
campfire romp of one of two new versions of 'The Lucky One' (the other
was provided by James Yiull and was so gorgeous, I bought his album),
the fun electroclash-ish tweaking of 'Fallen Snow'... it's a great
disc, and certainly worth inclusion here.
9. Devotion by Beach House
One of the most haunting and relaxing albums on this list, Devotion is
the perfect soundtrack to cold winter evenings by the fire, breezy
summer nights watching the sun set, and everything in between. It's an
utterly bewitching album, with the sparse instruments drenched in so
much reverb it sounds more like the memories of songs than songs
themselves.
10. Hideaway by The Weepies
This was one of many albums that came out of nowhere but then spent a
lot of time in my MP3 playing devices. Vocal duties are split between
both members of this husband and wife duo. Steve Tannen sounds like
Elliott Smith (without the penchant for stabbing himself in the
gizzard) while Deb Talan has a very quirky, clearly Joni
Mitchell-inspired delivery. Slightly folky, very catchy, with one song
('Antarctica') that you'd swear was a Fleetwood Mac out-take. A lovely
album, and a great respite from some of my mopier choices.
11. In Ear Park by Department Of Eagles
It's hard to pin down everything I hear when I listen to Department Of
Eagles. There's Nick Drake, later period Beatles, Tom Waits, Sufjan
Stevens, Arcade Fire (at least, the odd yelp that reminds me of Win
Butler) and a ton more. It's a wonderful, eclectic, vintage-sounding
album. 'Waves Of Rye', 'Phantom Other' and 'Floating On The Lehigh' are
all contenders for my song of the year, too.
12. Keeper’s by Deastro
Deastro is basically just this kid in Michigan who is fucking insanely
productive. As well as Deastro, he has at least three other projects
that I know of, all putting out fantastic synth-based pop that sounds
like a less polished splice of The Killers and Death Cab For Cutie.
There are also some bizarre instrumental pieces to break things up.
It's certain to put a spring in your step.
13. Lucky by Nada Surf
Don't get me wrong, my love for the Surf isn't waning; and this is
still a great record (it grows on me more with every listen), but it's
not their best. Still, it was great enough to make my top twenty,
thanks in no small part to catchy, hummable songs such as 'I Like What
You Say' and darker, more political tracks like 'The Fox'. And let me
tell you, if you can get through 'Weightless' and not get your sappy
gland well and truly done over, you are an impenetrable fortress.
14. Starfucker by Starfucker
This was recommended to me by Leslie (hi Leslie!). Sometimes I am so
swamped at work, I can't listen to music at all, but for some reason I
gave this one a chance and I'm very happy I did. It's insanely catchy
indie with a liberal helping of synths. 'Pop Song' in particular
delivers on its name with a nice, fat chorus and a runaway keyboard
solo that makes me all giddy.
15. Saturdays = Youth by M83
It looks like France didn't get the memo that the '80s are over and
there will be no more John Hughes movies starring a young Molly
Ringwald. Really, that is exactly what every song on this album will
make you think of... it's extremely retro, but like She & Him, it's
an authentic tribute rather than a piss-take.
16. Chinese Democracy by Guns N’ Roses
My first ever CD was Use Your Illusion II. My second ever CD was Use
Your Illusion I. I have been waiting for this album since I got those
two. I don't care that it's basically an Axl Rose side project with
Guns N' Roses being little more than an appropriated brand name, it's
still a surprisingly decent collection of songs with some fantastic
guitar work from Buckethead. 'Better' would be awesome no matter what
the name on the box said.
17. Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright by Ashes Divide
This is the only CD put out by a bald dude called Billy who basically
plays everything bar the drums on his CDs that I have been able to
endorse for several years. The Billy is Howerdel, formerly of A Perfect
Circle, and this really does sound like his former band without Maynard
and, strangely, less upbeat... and considering how mopey APC could get,
that's saying something.
18. Crystal Castles by Crystal Castles
They sound like a brain aneurysm run through the sound chip of a
Commodore 64. In case you're confused, in this case, that's actually a
positive comment, as I loved the Commodore 64, and I love electroclash
and electronica with the odd manipulated, screamy vocal and obscure
song titles.
19. Accelerate by REM
While it could be argued that the album (and its Automatic For The
People-through-New Adventures In Hi-Fi-esque sound) was an intentional,
calculated response to previous album Around The Sun bombing, that
familiarity makes the songs on this album very easy to swallow. There
was no growth period with me. And when we saw them live, there wasn't
that jolt between old and new that you get at a lot of gigs (with the
awkward crowd vs. band stand-off).
20. Flight Of The Conchords by Flight Of The Conchords
While this collection of parodies of everyone from Prince to the Pet
Shop Boys will have you giggling, thanks in no small part to lyrics
that talk about hermaphrodites, David Bowie's nipples and try
desperately to make the routine, mundane sex life of a married couple
sound like Barry White fodder, it's so well put together that you spend
a lot of time just appreciating the songs. Yes, really. 'Ladies Of The
World' (with serious lyrics) would provide the backing music to lots of
late afternoon quickies.
It's a scary good year.
Here is everything Jess and I have acquired between us (obviously, I did most of the acquiring as Jess hates democracy).
- ¿Como Te Llama? by Albert Hammond, Jr.
- Agony & Irony by Alkaline Trio
- Magic Monsters by April March & Steve Hanft
- Keep Telling Myself It's Alright by Ashes Divide
- Reverse Migration by Au Revoir Simone***
- Devotion by Beach House
- Modern Guilt by Beck
- Blackblack by Blackblack**
- Intimacy by Bloc Party**
- Something For All Of Us... by Brendan Canning**
- Wilderness by Brett Anderson*
- You Cross My Path by The Charlatans
- Field Manual by Chris Walla
- Conor Oberst by Conor Oberst*
- Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings by Counting Crows
- Crystal Castles by Crystal Castles
- Donkey by CSS
- 4:13 Dream by The Cure***
- Keeper's by Deastro
- Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie
- In Ear Park by Department Of Eagles***
- SooL by Ellen Allien
- Flight Of The Conchords by Flight Of The Conchords
- Shade Side Sunny Side by For Against
- The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
- The Hollow Of Morning by Gemma Hayes**
- Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses***
- In Field & Town by Hayden
- Some Racing, Some Stopping by Headlights
- Turning Down Water For Air by James Yuill***
- Here's To Being Here by Jason Collett
- The Jealous Girlfriends by The Jealous Girlfriends
- Acid Tongue by Jenny Lewis**
- The Silver City by Jeremy Messersmith**
- Boo! Human by Joan Of Arc
- Youth Novels by Lykke Li**
- Saturdays = Youth by M83
- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too by Martha Wainwright
- Snowflake Midnight by Mercury Rev**
- Strange Attractor by Mercury Rev**
- Lucky by Nada Surf
- Ghosts I-IV by Nine Inch Nails
- The Slip by Nine Inch Nails
- Skeletal Lamping by Of Montreal***
- Mercy by Ours
- Third by Portishead
- Accelerate by REM
- Volume One by She & Him
- Starf**ker by Starf**ker***
- Oceans Will Rise by The Stills**
- Walk It Off by Tapes N' Tapes
- Reality Check by The Teenagers***
- Elephant Shell by Tokyo Police Club
- Forth by The Verve***
- Hideaway by The Weepies
- At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade
List originally compiled in June.
* August update.
** October update.
*** November update.
Of all my better purchasing decisions, I would say my eMusic subscription ranks highly in terms of the wisest. I've upgraded my plan several times and now pay $25/month to download 100 MP3s. What first attracted me to the site was the list of bands I like on indie labels. Now it's bands I meant to check out, or have never heard of. Bands like Deastro.
I downloaded the album Keeper's on the strength of a front page review that mentioned Death Cab For Cutie, M83 and LCD Soundsystem. Downloading it, they also should have mentioned The Killers and Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard's side project, The Postal Service.
These are three of my favourite songs - chosen because I love them, and because they show the range of the album.
A thread was posted on a message board I visit asking for summer playlists. I am so proud of mine, I thought I would share it. These are the songs you should all be listening to, to be just. like. me.
'Analog Synths' by The Fitness
'Graveyard Girl' by M83
'Throwin' Shapes' by Minus The Bear
'The Magic Position' by Patrick Wolf
'I Will Possess Your Heart' by Death Cab For Cutie
'Crazy For You' by Slowdive
'Antarctica' by The Weepies
'George Michael' by Tapes N' Tapes
'This Is Not A Test' by She & Him
'Guilty' by Assassins
'Supernatural Superserious' by REM
'Electric Feel' by MGMT
'The Rip' by Portishead
'Market Girl' by Headlights
... plus...
'Oh Shoplifter' by The Stills
... because it's great.
Oh white rabbit.
I've not updated properly in a few days. To be honest, I've been lazy. There's a lot going on this month so it's been nice to just do nothing at all.
I suppose you want the good news first. Well, on the immigration front, we have our interview appointment. While it's not good news that we even need an interview, and I am concerned about one of the items I have to take to it, it does mean I am closer to getting my green card.
I also have a biometrics appointment for my renewal EAD in between, so I should get that not long before my green card, rendering it almost completely useless.
Oh well.
The weather in Chicago is being a little schizophrenic right now, but the general warmth has allowed us to do more than just sit in front of the TV. We were out and about over the weekend, and tonight we went to watch my co-workers play their first softball game in a local league. That's right, I didn't play. I wanted to gauge the general skill level before making a tit of myself.
As well as softball season, crazy season has started. Over the next few weeks, we...
- See Death Cab For Cutie with Rogue Wave
- See REM with The National and Modest Mouse
- Go to Butterfest, a festival in Jess' hometown, with the in-laws
- Get to spend time with my parents, who are over for a week
- See Dethklok with some real metal bands
And now it's time for bed, if I can prise Jess off of Dr Mario: Online Rx, a Nintendo Wii sequel to the classic puzzle game. It's awesome.
Music is pretty much awesome. This week, Jess bought...
- Boo! Human by Joan Of Arc
- Plague Park by Handsome Furs
... and I bought...
- The Magic Position by Patrick Wolf
- Planet Of Ice by Minus The Bear
- Maplewood by Maplewood (they feature the drummer from Nada Surf)
... and have the following on their way from Amazon at some point...
- Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie
- I Know You're Married But I Have Feelings Too by Martha Wainwright
- At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade
- The Imagination Stage by Eric Matthews
- Saturdays = Youth by M83
Not all of these were released this year. I was in GAP when I heard 'Throwin' Shapes' by Minus The Bear (identified thanks to the awesome Patrick) and 'The Magic Position' by Patrick Wolf, a man I am already a huge fan of. I picked up Maplewood because it was $3 in the place I bought Minus The Bear From. And I think the M83 is from last year, I ordered it because our friend Tim likes them and sometimes raves over bands I also love. We're going to see a band called Assassins with him tonight.
On a related note, right now, I am continuing to rip all of Jess' music. We just picked up an Apple Time Capsule - a wireless hard drive on which I can put all of our music for both of us to access without needing to plug in to anything.
Jess bought two albums by Tegan & Sara the other day - So Jealous (2004) and The Con (2007). They were on the list of bands I wanted to check out, but you know me, I am obsessed with a different band every week, it's hard to remember every CD I want to buy. Fortunately, Jess only buys CDs she really wants and that I haven't already.
So I started listening to them, starting with The Con. The Con starts with this song, and if you know me, you know this is like How To Hook Dale 101:
The rest of the album is fantastic. According to the liner notes, it was produced by Chris Walla (win) and features Chris, his Death Cab bandmate Jason McGerr, Matt Sharp (Weezer/The Rentals) and guitar whizz Kaki King.
My first CD of 2008 is Field Manual by Chris Walla.
To cool kids, the name is familiar. As well as playing guitar and contributing vocals to the wonderful Death Cab For Cutie, he has produced albums by Nada Surf, The Decemberists, Hot Hot Heat and The Long Winters.
As I pre-ordered the album from his record label's web site, I got three bonus songs, including two pretty acoustic demos of songs on the album. Here is the acoustic version of my favourite song, 'Our Plans, Collapsing', for your listening pleasure.
Show us something handmade that you love.
Ben Gibbard from the American indie band Death Cab For Cutie doing a cover of 'Thriller' by Wacko Jacko Placko Surgeracko.
I created a new MySpace profile, found here:
http://www.myspace.com/radioplaymyfavouritesong
I am adding all the bands, artists and record labels I dig that also happen to have MySpace profiles to create both a living, breathing wall of great music and to keep me up to date on new album release and tour dates because not a single one of the music sites out there is good enough at that job.
Bands are slowly accepting my adds, but already I have discovered that people I like are touring and releasing albums, so it is serving its purpose admirably.
If you're in Chicago, fancy going to see PEDRO THE LION with support from Death Cab For Cutie's BEN GIBBARD and JOHNATHAN RICE (Mr Jenny Lewis/Roy Orbison from Walk The Line) on 4 May? It's at the Metro.
