This is how I feel this week. Not chosen for lyrical content, just chosen for the music.
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.
This is how I feel this week. Not chosen for lyrical content, just chosen for the music.
This is a great year for music. We are only a third of the way through, and already we've had...
January
- In Rainbows by Radiohead was released on CD (naturally, I already had the £40 discbox)
- American Gothic EP by Smashing Pumpkins
- In Field & Town by Hayden
- Field Manual by Chris Walla
- The Bedlam In Goliath by The Mars Volta*
January highlight...
February
- Here's To Being Here by Jason Collett
- Lucky by Nada Surf
February highlight...
March
- Ghosts I-IV by Nine Inch Nails
- Volume One by She & Him
- Diamond Hoo Ha by Supergrass*
- Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings by Counting Crows
- Accelerate by REM
- Last Night by Moby*
March highlight...
April
- Keep Telling Myself It's Alright by Ashes Divide (aka Billy Howerdel from A Perfect Circle, I'm listening to it now)
- Mountain Battles by The Breeders*
- Walk It Off by Tapes N' Tapes
- Flight Of The Conchords by Flight Of The Conchords**
- Third by Portishead**
- Mercy by Ours**
April highlight...
* need to buy
** have on pre-order
It's not looking like it's going to slow up, either.
]]>Where did that weekend go?
I left work at a reasonable time on Friday night and met Jess at home. We went to a vaguely Irish pub to grab a bite to eat, then headed to the Metro to see Nada Surf.
The opening act was The Jealous Girlfriends, a four piece featuring a girl on vocals/guitar, a guy on guitar/vocals, a guy on keyboards playing bass lines and synth parts, and a wee chap on drums. First and foremost, the drummer impressed the crap out of me, he was great. I liked the band's music, too. I'm struggling to compare it to anything... when the guy sings, I hear the twat out of Snow Patrol, but the girl reminds me of someone and it's been annoying me for days.
They're kinda shoegazer indie rock, I guess. Whatever that means.
Nada Surf were pretty freaking great - helped in no small way by the addition of Martin Wenk from Calexico on keyboards and trumpet. He added what Jess called a "Debbie Downer" vibe to the gorgeous '80 Windows', and brought some swagger to songs from recent album Lucky.
Matthew was very upbeat and chatty, getting the audience to participate on harmony vocals and talking up a storm. It was a really enjoyable show. As far as I can remember, they played...
From High/Low:
'Stalemate' (which morphed into 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division)
From The Proximity Effect:
'80 Windows'
From Let Go:
'Blizzard Of '77'
'Fruit Fly'
'Blonde On Blonde'
'Inside Of Love'
'Hi-Speed Soul'
'Kilian's Red'
'Happy Kid'
'Paper Boats'
From The Weight Is A Gift:
'Concrete Bed'
'Do It Again'
'Always Love'
'Blankest Year' (with audience participation on the "fuck it!")
From Lucky:
'See These Bones'
'Whose Authority?'
'Beautiful Beat'
'Weightless' (with audience participation on the "ooh aah ooh")
'I Like What You Say'
'The Fox' (for which Matthew donned a creepy looking fox hat)
Some dude kept screaming out "Popular!" but was thoroughly denied. BURN.
Saturday was a nice, sunny day so we went out for brunch, I picked up a game in Best Buy, then we headed down to the zoo. Despite the abundance of Americans, it was entirely pleasant. Having a zoo so close by is highly recommended.
After that, we schlepped home and had a quiet night in, watching The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. It was a really enjoyable film - and not as crazy long as I'd been led to believe.
I had to work on Sunday, preparing the latest project to go into QA. An unrelated emergency sprang up that we managed to contain, but we still got everything we needed to do done by 5pm. I left work and went over to meet Jess and Josie. We did a little shopping, went bowling (oh yes, all three of us are awesome at bowling) then took Josie to the train station.
And that was my weekend.
As well as the Chris Walla album, I also recently pre-ordered the new Nada Surf album, Lucky. Once again, I got extra music for pre-ordering - a bonus CD containing two acoustic versions and two additional songs.
My favourite song on the album, 'I Like What You Say', got the acoustic treatment. If you have sufficiently shit taste in films, you will recognise this from the soundtrack to the teen "comedy" John Tucker Must Die, but don't hold that against it.
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.
I stole this from Wendy, who stole it from Cliff.
Put your iPod/Zune/iRiver/Creative thingy on random and write the first line of each of the first twenty-five songs it plays, then see how relevant those lyrics are to your life. No skipping songs that make you look uncool, or manually selecting songs you like.
1. 'Ice Box' by Nada Surf
"Stay until you're sure that I'm asleep, warm and safe and very still."
This is very insightful. Every night, Jess waits till I'm asleep then goes and plays Wii Sports till the early hours of morning. That's why she's tired.
2. 'Love Affair' by Kylie Minogue
"Here in the moment I belong, in a waking dream."
Today, I am very sleepy and not concentrating as it's Thanksgiving and the office is so dead.
3. 'Steps Into Miles' by Hayden
"Your legs walk through the tide like a smile, turn every step into miles."
All the girls at work are wearing jeans, and they're all shorter than me, so this can't be about ogling legs; and we're nowhere near water. Am I thinking too literally?
4. 'Nothing And Everything' by Smashing Pumpkins
"Hiding behind my hair today, my eyes dance with fire."
I don't even own a hair, let alone many hairs that would necessitate an entire face hide.
5. 'One More Time' by The Cure
"I'd love to touch the sky tonight, I'd love to touch the sky."
I'd love to watch Sky Plus tonight, but alas.
6. 'A Man/Me/Then Jim' by Rilo Kiley
"I had one friend in high school, recently he hung himself with string."
I've not heard of any school friends committing suicide, but people I went to school have been adding me on Facebook recently. Hmm.
7. 'New Lace Sleeves' by Elvis Costello
"Bad lovers face to face in the morning, shy apologies and polite regrets."
Jess and I usually sleep butt to butt... although, we call each other butthead and buttface, so maybe it's a subtle nod.
8. 'Animal' by Pearl Jam
"One, two, three, four, five against one, five, five, against one."
Those sound like good odds. Put me down for $20.
9. 'Unison' by Bjork
"One hand allows the other, so much and me."
Thanks for clearing that up, Bjork. No really.
10. 'Goodnight Sweet Night' by Jason Falkner
"Nobody told me this, I could have just asked how you were, how you were."
Jason Falkner is a walking self-help guide. How ARE you, person reading this?
11. 'Darts' by System Of A Down
"May I please remain in this space, for darts screech by my desires?"
Watching darts or playing darts? Watching darts is more fun because you get to laugh at big fat guys.
12. 'Briefcase Full Of Guts' by Dethklok
"Punch your card 'cause your working day has started and you're pushing hard for employee of the month."
We don't have an employee of the month scheme yet. But I do work hard when I'm awake.
13. 'Once In A Lifetime' by Talking Heads
"And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack, and you may find yourself in another part of the world, and you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile."
I'm in another part of the world! Hurrah!
14. 'Sulk' by Radiohead
"You bite through the big wall, the big wall bites back, you sit there and sulk, you sit there and bawl."
If I tried eating wall, I probably would cry.
15. 'Trunk' by Kings Of Leon
"Well I got what she wants, ah her nose, a tied knot."
If by she you mean the generic woman, then yes, I have money. That's all women want isn't it? That or Mel Gibson reading their minds.
16. 'The Queen Is Dead (Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty)' by The Smiths
"Take me back to dear old Blighty, put me on the train for London town!"
I might be thinking this when winter really kicks in here in Chicago, but right now all I miss about Blighty are people.
17. 'Monkey & Bear' by Joanna Newsom
"Down in the green hay where monkey and bear usually lay, they woke from a stable boy's cry."
I've got nothing.
18. 'Accidents' by The Prize Fighter Inferno
"Oh, come now father dear and turn this blood to choice."
Again, um... yeah?
19. 'Twisted' by Sleeper
"She's seen one and it looks funny, it made her cry said boo to her."
This must be about genitals. Jess is scared of my genitals?
20. 'What You're Doing' by The Beatles
"Look what you're doing, I'm feeling blue and lonely."
Today I am not feeling blue, but it is pretty lonely as everyone left for lunch.
21. 'White Collar Boy' by Belle & Sebastian
"You're a white collar boy and you gave in to the law."
The collar I am wearing is blue with thin white stripes in it. I always give in to the law.
22. 'Walking Higher' by Heather Nova
"I carry you with me like a ghost inside."
This must be about my parasitic twin, Desmond.
23. 'Time After Time Etc' by REM
"Ask the girl of the hour by the water tower's watch, if your friends took a fall, are you obligated to follow?"
I always stick up for my friends, even if they're someone else's HUSband.
24. 'Imaginary Love' by Rufus Wainwright
"Every kind of love, at least my kind of love, must be an imaginary love to start with."
This is true. When I started crushing on Jess, I wished she felt the same.
25. 'Regret' by New Order
"Maybe I've forgotten the name and the address of everyone I've ever known, it's nothing I regret."
I am the most forgetful person in the world. Except Ricci. And my mum.
Which friend or acquaintance most influenced your taste in music?
Submitted by Rev Stan.
My friend Jay. Back in 1999, we started playing music together and we'd trade CDs regularly. Between him and his dad, I discovered a lot of great music - Jeff Buckley, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Eric Matthews, Pixies, and many more.
The copy of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness I spent a lot of time listening to before buying it was his (after seeing the '1979' video, I borrowed it from a friend who borrowed it from him); I first heard of Nada Surf while watching MTV2 at his house; and he was the first person I ever heard rave over Antony & The Johnsons, Fionn Regan and Au Revoir Simone.
You can listen to Jay's own music here:
]]>Audio: Show us five CDs or albums that changed your life.
Submitted by redhotmomma.
I am cheating and listing SIX, not five, because I want to and it's my Vox.
Use Your Illusion II (Guns N' Roses) was the first CD I ever personally owned. I got it for Christmas in, I think, 1991 or 1992. Guns N' Roses were the first band I ever obsessed over and I am not ashamed of that. This and its partner album, Use Your Illusion I, are still freaking great.
New Adventures In Hi-Fi (REM) wasn't my first REM album, nor is it really my favourite (it sounds pretentious, but their first album Murmur is my favourite). However, 'Electrolyte' really made me want to learn how to play piano/keyboards and thus kick-started me playing instruments at all... and I love playing 'Be Mine' on guitar.
It's the one everyone picks - often neglecting the excellent Pablo Honey - but the hype is entirely justified: OK Computer (Radiohead) is the album that marked Radiohead out as peerless in the music industry and helped kill Britpop by transcending it. 'Airbag', 'Let Down' and 'Lucky' still send shivers up my spine.
I lived five minutes away from the school half of Depeche Mode went to. My mum tells me their original songwriter, Vince Clarke (also of Yazoo and Erasure fame) lived in the same street as my nan and rehearsed at a place my dad rehearsed at. Despite home town connections, I never got into Depeche Mode until the late '90s, and Violator remains my favourite album. Nothing is out of place.
I've talked about it before, but this Let Go (Nada Surf) is basically me. Absolutely gorgeous, it should be in everyone's CD collection.
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (Smashing Pumpkins) meant the world to me in my teens and got me through all my teenage bullshit. Across its two CDs, it covers everything - love, hate, joy, despair: the full gamut of human emotion. It's this CD that makes me judge the recent comeback so harshly, it simply cannot compare, no matter how good.
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