This Music Lovers Recap of 2012

This Music Lovers Recap of 2012

Best 10 Albums of Any Sort and the Highlights from them.

10. Perfume Genius – Put Your Back N 2 It
A band in theory is really the subtle masterwork of a young singer/songwriter from Seattle by the name of Mike Hadreas. Strong lush Piano and heartfelt vocals make this album some of the prettiest notes delivered this year. It is way outside of my wheelhouse being this impressed with such soft and low key emotive tunes, but his sense of melody and mood are simply masterful. Depression rock, Study Rock, Chamber Pop, whatever you call it, I will be excited to see what this 31 year old may do next. Album highlights are songs, Dark Parts, Hood, and Take Me Home

9. Animal Collective – Centipede Hz
These guys test the ear with chaotic and challenging delivery that I must admit is not for everyone. Very psychedelic and often scatter brained, these fellows from the Baltimore environs are all under the age of 35 have now been releasing albums since 1999. Experimental song structures and oddly ornamented layers of sound will not be appreciated by traditional rock purists, yet there are many hooks to uncover for the patient and adventurous music observer. Check out tracks called Father Time, Amanita, and Mercury Man

8. Tame Impala – Lonerism
Led by a 26 year old Western Australian by the name of Kevin Parker, this band wears it’s psychedelic roots unapologetically on it’s sleeve. Reverb drenched walls of sound hearken back to the Todd Rundgren, ELP, and other Progressive song merchants of the early seventies when technology was used to transmit more late sixties thoughts in a hazy and audacious manner. They bear resemblance to the Flaming Lips, and other Neo Psychedelic contemporaries, but have great tonality and harmony throughout. Hardly druggy for the sake of being druggy, like some of the 90’s Psych revivalists. It’s remarkable to think what is ahead for these young Aussies who I must say, have a remarkable stage presence and live act despite the massive amounts of production in the recording. Check out songs, Music to Walk Home By, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, and Apocalypse Dreams.

7. Tennis – Young & Old
This Husband and Wife duo from Denver Colorado released a rather charming nautically themed concept album that captivated me last year. While thinking they had flash in the pan written all over them, I grabbed this album produced by the steady hand of the Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney and have kept it rotating at high frequency all year with infectiously pretty singing of Alaina Moore. Piano, guitar and plenty of reverb have been a recurring theme of a lot of my favorite tunes from my few years of emoting on the music that drives this music lover, and this album is no exception. Check out great songs like. Petition, High Road, and a bonus track they did on Amazon MP3 versions of the release called Las Vegas

6. The Fresh & Onlys – Long Slow Dance
This San Francisco Indie Rock band is a Garage Rock revivalist that oozes Paisley Underground California Lo-Fi sound that great under-appreciated acts like Dream Syndicate, Green on Red, and Translator treated the sunshine state to in the eighties. These guys also remind me of awesome underground bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and Aussie college rockers The Go-Betweens. Great hooks and a fundamentally great rhythm section this band twangs away with the best of alt country influences predominating in a very satisfying listen. Surf rock sounds mixed with reverb use reminiscent of the finest dream pop from the North Sea. These guys have it all as far as I’m concerned and am I mystified more has not been made of this great album in at least the circles I frequent to feed my musical curiosity. Check out the great songs, Do What I Came to Do, Dream Girls, and Fire Alarm.

5. Beach House – Bloom
This Baltimore Dream Pop band defies a decidedly sunny moniker to make some of the moodiest shoegazing this side of Mazzy Star. Lead singer Victoria Legrand has a rather hauntingly beautiful voice that shares a lot of soulful nature the tragically wasted talent Amy Winehouse exhibited. Control and Ego are not of a concern with the now effortless songcraft that this mid-atlantic indie mainstay are delivering. Fans of The Velvet Underground, The Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, Portishead, and more recently the XX, and Coldplay I think could all unite in exploring this very consistent ethereal rock band that doesn’t get the notoriety they I believe they truly deserve. Check out some breathtakingly good tunes like, Other People, The Hours, and New Year.

4. King Tuff – King Tuff
A downright fun album of garage rock mastery that came out of nowhere for me. Nasal and a tad whiny on his vocal delivery are completely overwhelmed by the hook laden guitar rockers that permeate this entire LP. There is a leisurely and playful cadence to the entire album that is awful refreshing relative to how overly serious many good acts have become to the image and perception of their art. Not so much an indictment of other artists, this album just has a don’t give a shit swagger that makes it so highly listenable in this ones humble opinion. Check out the hot rockers on this one called Keep on Movin, Alone and Stoned, and Baby Just Break. Anthem, and Swamp of Love are also quite stellar.

3. The Walkmen – Heaven
These guys are amongst a crop of some of greatest contemporary indie rock bands of the 2000 and later and have become in my mind a musical commodity that can be relied on for fantastic tunes. Formed in 2000 in NYC, with members from DC and Philly, these guys nailed their first two Lp’s. I believe that the next couple of albums lacked some of the urgency and cohesion the early work had, so I approached this album with tempered expectations. As I have spun this album more and more through the year, it has just put to rest any notions I had that these guys are going through the motions in releasing great music. Great rhythm guitar, simply amazing piano, and the vocal prowess of Hamilton Leithauser make these guys an extremely approachable listen on every level. I believe this album would resonate heavily with music lovers from all eras because the songs are just so straight forwardly likeable. Check out amazing numbers like Song For Leigh, Heaven, and Love is Luck but don’t be afraid to absorb the entire LP.

2. Yeasayer – Fragrant World
This Electronic Indie Rock band from Brooklyn has been around since 2006 and on their third LP, they continue to push creative boundaries and dole out massive hooks and luscious polyrhythms. Highly syncopated and downright tribal beats blend with an amalgam of pop and Non Western sounds to create some of the most creative song craft of the 2000’s. While Yeasayer wears tons of Post Punk and New Wave influence on their shoulders, yet they are always massively creative and unique. After their second pop heavy album Odd Blood, these guys dropped a little of the harmonic glimmer for more exotic and challenging melodies and time signature. This album grows and grows with repeated listening as little elements reveal themselves like a good psychological thriller for the ears. Many of the indie critics in my mind were way to early in dismissing this album as one of the years finest. The first time I heard many of these tracks, I found myself a tad disappointed until I really sat down and fully absorbed the album in all it’s beauty and uncovered it’s many layers. I tried very hard to overplay this LP to no avail. 20 plus listens later, grooves like “Henrietta” and “Damaged Goods” keep me coming back for more. Another amazing song from this highly ornamented listen is the chaotic “Folk Hero Schtick.” If resistant to the danceable nature of this highly synthesized sound, Yeasayer may not be for you, but if you have ever enjoyed a delivery like New Order, Moby or other Dance Rock icons, I think you will undoubtedly dig this great band. I cannot wait to see what they think of next. Be sure to explore the above mentioned tracks and Fingers Never Bleed, Devil and the Deed, and Reagan’s Skeleton as well.

1. Django Django – Django Django
This Edinburgh Scotland band has captivated me with a breathtaking LP that I just could not stop spinning in 2012. Tribal world beat rhythms, a healthy dose of hypnotic synthesizers, and mammoth vocal harmonies that exude a ton of influence from The Beach Boys, CSN&Y, The Byrds, and other Three part giants from yesteryear. These guys are cosmically psychedelic, but in a much different way from the a band like the before mentioned Tame Impala. These songs are full of great grooves, killer hooks, and a playful nature that again is quite refreshing in the current music scene. Critics of this band are always quick to mention the similarities between this great band and another Scot band, the now defunct Beta Band. It’s not that strange a coincidence, for drummer/Producer David Maclean’s brother was a key member of the Beta Band. I think the breadth and diversity of the songs on this great album set them apart from the pack. The album has multiple personalities with the apocalyptic drone of my favorite song “Hail Bop”, and the quirky upbeat Single “Default” which my 3 year old girl just loves. This has been one of those really cool finds that even my (80’s crazy and not so indie loving) Wife has fully embraced as well. I even sold my (There’s no hope for future of rock) Brother as well on the fruits of The Djangos. Amazing other tracks on the album, such as their very first single as a band, “Storm” and the incredibly light and bouncy tune “Life’s a Beach” are must listens for my fellow music junkies out there. Don’t forget the more pretty down tempo tracks, “Waveforms”, and “Love’s Dart”. “Firewater”, and “Wor” are also infectious enough for your undivided attention if so musically curious like your friendly blogger here. This is by far my favorite new band of the year and I am simply amped to be going to check them out at Philly’s awesome new music venue Union Transfer in March. Look out for their tour of North America this spring. I guarantee it will be the best 20 bucks spent of 2013. See these guys before they outgrow the great intimate venues. Festival goers, make sure to pencil them into your agenda for they will be at a number of the big ones next Summer, I am sure.

Very Honorable Mentions of any genre

Amadou & Mariam - Folila (World Music) : This duo from the war torn Nation of Mali deliver brilliant musicianship with the help of Santigold, and members of TV on the Radio. Check out songs “Dougou Badia”, and “Wily Kataso”

Wild Nothing – Nocturne (Shoegazing, Study Rock) : A band from Blacksburg, Va delivers a dream pop classic that at moments sounds downright Cristopher Cross, or reminiscent of great dreamy UK bands like the Cocteau Twins, and New Order.
Check out the songs “Nocturne” and “This Chain Won’t Break”

Twin Shadow - Confess (Chillwave, Synth Pop) : Born in the Dominican Republic in ’83 and now having set up shop in musically fertile Brooklyn, leader George Lewis Jr was raised on R&B, Punk, and vocally prepared in a choir. A really unique flavor to this album, that fans of Prince, The Police, Seal and many other broad reaching acts of the past could surely enjoy. Check out songs “Run My Heart” and “Golden Light”

Lower Dens – Nootropics (Indie Rock) : Another Baltimore product that has released a rather subdued and experimental sounding album that oozes the influence of unique bands like Can, Durutti Column, and Suicide. Check out songs called “Brains” and “Lion in the Winter Pt 2”


The Next Wave of Great Female Voices (song highlights)
Chairlift – Something (Grown Up Blues, Met Before, Turning)
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp (Serpents, Ask, Warsaw)
Lana Del Ray – Born to Die (Radio, Dark Paradise)
Best Coast – The Only Place (The Only Place, Do You Love Me Like You Used To)
Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror (End of the Line)
POLIÇA – Give You the Ghost (Leading to Death)
Hospitality – Hospitality (The Right Profession, Sleepover)
Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls (Hold On)
Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe (God From the Machine The Keepers)
The Raveonettes – Into the Night (Bad Ghosts, The Enemy, Sinking With the Sun)The Mynabirds – GENERALS (Generals, Wolf Mother)
Melody’s Echo Chamber – S/T (I Follow You)
Metric – Synthetica (Lost Kitten)
Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal (Little Talks)

Great Americana, Folk, and Alt- Country
Calexico – Algiers (Maybe on Monday, Splitter, Fortune Teller)
Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams (She Lit a Fire, I Will Be Back One Day)
Beachwood Sparks – The Tarnished Gold (Sparks Fly Again, Tarnished Gold)
Delta Spirit – Delta Spirit (Tear it Up, Empty House)
Band of Horses – Mirage Rock (How to Live, A Little Biblical)
Mumford and Sons – Babel (Hopeless Wanderer)
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes – Here (Man on Fire)
Lucero – Women & Work (On My Way Downtown)
Great Lake Swimmers – New Wild Everywhere (Easy Come Easy Go)
Dr Dog – Be The Void (That Old Black Hole, Big Girl)

Great Garage Rock and Power Pop Revivalists
Paws - Cokefloat! (Jellyfish, Pony., Sore Tummy)
Donnie & Joe Emerson – Dreamin’ Wild (Good Time, Baby)
The People’s Temple – More For the Masses (Nevermore)
Broken Water – Tempest (Underground, When You Said)
The Vaccines – Come of Age (Change of Heart pt. 2, Teenage Icon All in Vain)
Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet On Sky (Rude,
The Oh Sees - Putrifiers II (Flood’s New Light)
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Aufteben (I Wanna Hold Your Other Hand,
Pujol – United States of Being (Providence, DIY2K)
The Soft Pack – Strapped (They Say,
Redd Kross – Researching the Blues (Stay Away From Downtown)
Crushed Beaks – Grim (Grim)
Kaiser Chiefs – Start the Revolution Without Me (Child of the Jago)

Great Guitar Based Indie Rock
Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits (Would That Not Be Nice, Shivers)
Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory (No Future/No Past, Wasted Days)
Bob Mould – Silver Age (Star Machine, Silver Age)
Nada Surf – The Stars are Indifferent to… (No Snow on the Mountain, Jules & Jim)
Japandroids – Celebration Rock (Evil’s Sway)
The Shins – Port of Morrow (It’s Only Life, Simple Song)
Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful (Vampires)
Brendan Benson – What Kind of World (Come on)
The Temper Trap – S/T (The Sea is Calling)

Reunited/Comeback Post Punk and New Wave Legends
The Wedding Present –Valentina (You Jane, Stop Thief!)
The Verlaines – Untimely Meditations (Born Again Idiot)
Big Dipper – Crashes on the Platinum Planet (Forget the Chef, Princess Warrior)
Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks (That Dangerous Age, When Your Garden’s Overgrown)

Great Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Andrew Bird – Break it Yourself (Fatal Shore, Orpheo Looks Back, Give it Away)
Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again (I’ll Get Along, I’m Getting Ready, Tell Me a Tale)
A.C. Newman – Shut Down the Streets (I’m Not Talking, Encyclopedia of Classic..)
Sun Kil Moon – Among the Leaves (Song for Richard Collopy)
Ben Kweller – Go Fly a Kite (Full Circle)

Great Indie Electronic and Neo Psychedelic
The Amazing - Gentle Stream (Gentle Stream)
Geographer – Myth (The Myth of Youth, Blinders, The Boulder)
Efterklang – Piramida (Apples, The Living Layer)
Passion Pit – Gossamer (Hideaway)
Sinkane – Mars (Warm Spell)
Bronze Radio Return – Shake! Shake! Shake! (Shake, shake, shake, What Good)
Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship (Alone But Moving)

Veterans back with satisfying albums (song highlights)
Aimee Mann - Charmer (Labrador, Soon Enough, Gamma Ray)
Joe Walsh – Analog Man (Wrecking Ball, Hi Roller Baby, One Day at a Time)
Van Halen – A Different Kind of Truth (You and Your Blues, Blood and Fire)
Lionel Richie – Tuskegee (Stuck on You, Sail On)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill (She’s Always Dancing)

Great Post Punk, Dream Pop, and Art Rock Revivalists
Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend (Shapeless and Gone, The Way In)
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions (Real Life,
Alt-J – An Awesome Wave (Something Good, Tessalate)
Oren Ambarchi – Audience of One (Fractured Mirror)
Grizzly Bear – Shields (gun-shy, A Simple Answer)
Field Music – Plumb (Is This the Picture?, Just Like Everyone Else)
White Rabbits – Milk Famous (Everyone Can’t Be Confused, Heavy Metal)
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Mature Themes (Live it Up, Only in my Dreams)
Tindersticks – The Something Rain (Show Me Everything)
The Big Pink – Future This (1313)
Bloc Party – Four (The Healing, Octopus)

Great Reissues
Cotton Mather – Kontiki (She’s Only Cool, Password, Lily Dreams On)
Rodriguez – Searching For Sugar Man (Sugar Man, Can’t Get Away)
Alex Chilton – Free Again The 70’s Sessions (The EMI Song)

2012 - A New Year in Music

Hey all my fellow music lovers out there everywhere. 2011 is behind us and I am here to get you guys up to speed on what should be great tunes (new and old) should be permeating any music lovers’ household.

New albums

Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
Indie Rock – Lo Fi
Rating- 5 out of 6

Cloud Nothings started as a way to pass the time for a Case Western Reserve University student named Dylan Baldi. His early EP’s in a basement tapes style were well enough received by indie critics that he was lured into assembling a formal band and releasing this impressive LP. It starts off with a moody crescendo that could have been pulled from the later Nirvana releases. “No Future/No Past” builds in a slow and gloomy manner to a payoff that will feel like great Noise rock bands like The Pixies, and Fugazi. The murky dirge of this track has almost a Phillip Glass feel to it, as if it could have been the background to a scene from Godfrey Reggio’s brilliant film Koyaanisqatsi. The second track “Wasted Days” is a more up-tempo number that starts with a great little guitar line and some frenetic drumming. Baldi’s vocal delivery would most definitely conjure up some memories of Kurt Cobain’s primal out pouring. Steve Albini’s production and engineering are evident to who are aware of the legendary associations with some of the finer underground bands of the last 2 almost 3 decades now. Clocking in at almost 9 minutes this track is not destined for even satellite radio airwaves, but despite the Mogwai-esque instrumental middle portion, this track still captivates and pays off greatly. “Fall In” has a Green Day nature to it keeps it to a more accessible time frame. Nice tuneful yet urgent plucking abound, as this is a very guitar based album at its core. The next track “Stay Useless” is going to work for fans of The Strokes as it is the perfect little Garage Rock revival piece. It transitions to a sweet little instrumental called “Separation” that could have been plucked right from The Pixies’ Surfer Rosa or one of Frank Black’s fine solo LP’s. “No Sentiment” is back to a darker more urgent feel again as it feels a bit like if Built To Spill crashed into Fugazi. Fans of solid Emo work like Sunny Day Real Estate will be quite pleased with most of this work too. “Our Plans” and “Cut You” close out this solid short and to the point album in a solid manner, as this is a great way to kick off the New Year musically. Really solid listen for anybody who is a fan of any of the bands I mentioned above.

Since 2012 has been a bit light on the new release front so far, I will now provide some small capsules on some of the albums from late 2011 and early ’12 that are worth exploring that I may not have fully absorbed yet.

Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
San Francisco duo heavily influenced by Garage, Punk, and Surf Rock is quite evident on a solid upbeat track called “Honey Bunny.” A more calculated and patient cadence on “Vomit.” “Magic” is also solid one to take away from this little piece of Garage Revival.

WATERS - Out in the Light
A gifted fuzz rocker from San Fran formerly of the more folksy Port O’Brien named Van Pierszalowski teamed up with a number of Norwegian fellows after being inspired by his travels to nautically natured areas of the world. Hence the name WATERS; this album is a bit of a concept album of the fisherman way of life. “For the One”, “Abridge My Love”, and “Take Me Out to the Coast” make this a very compelling listen. This is an Indie Rock album that is not really so Indie sounding.

Phantogram – Nightlife (EP)
An Indie Pop/Electronic outfit from Saratoga Springs, NY has a simply stellar piece of borderline Trip/Hop with their track “Don’t Move” which will without a doubt end up being one of the coolest tracks of 2012. It has an incredibly perfect beat and a lush texture that will make fans of Massive Attack and Portishead giddy with excitement. Make sure to check out this song. “A Dark Tunnel” is my other fave from this short but sweet release.

Chairlift – Something
Brooklyn always being a fertile ground for musical creativity has produced another solid electronically based Indie Pop band called Chairlift. Lead singer and songwriter Caroline Polacheck delivers with an angelic voice like that of Sarah McLachlan. The foundation of the tunes has a bit more Cocteau Twins meets Bjork feel to it, but don’t fret if the Icelandic comparison scares you off, for I am no fan of the ex Sugarcubes weirdo. There are a couple tracks I liken to the feel of Luscious Jackson from the mid nineties. Fans of Feist, MGMT, and Yeasayer might all appreciate what they are laying down. Songs “Met Before” and “Grown Up Blues” are my favorites but the whole album seems solid.

Django Django – Django Django
A must listen for fans of The Beta Band and other Dub heavy neo psychedelic acts like MGMT and Ariel Pink, this UK band has brought in the new year in an impressive manner for sure. Check out their track “Hail Bop” for proof positive. Not afraid of folksy textures as well, explore the song “Firewater.” “Waveforms” has a great flavor and some kicking vocal harmonies. This album is very likely to go from a Spotify exploration to a purchase very soon. Great listen.

Next I want to dig into a couple of old bands of obscurity that the music lovers out there may really dig and I suggest you explore.

The Windbreakers – Power Pop, Jangle Pop, College Rock
For fans of: REM, The Bongos, The Connells, Tom Petty, and The dB’s
If anyone knows this music fan, I am a sucker for some incredible Power Pop. Who thought it could be produced in Mississippi? A duo of fine vocalists and jangly guitar maestros by the name of Tim Lee, and Bobby Sutliff please the ear frequently with a compilation I picked up called Time Machine (1982-2002). The Title track, New Red Shoes, and Changeless are just a few of the five star tracks that litter this collection of nearly perfect Jangle Pop.

Durutti Column – Post Punk, Experimental Rock
For fans of: Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, Cocteau Twins, Felt, Ride
Subtle and melancholic guitar virtuosos are the name of the game with this Factory Records mainstay. Hailing from Manchester there sound is anything but the typical sound of the working class town’s contemporaries. The magical plucking of a supremely underrated guitarist by the name of Vini Reilly is the foundation for this mostly instrumental art rock act. Two of the members of the band would go on to be in Simply Red. Songs “Otis”, “4 Sophia”, and “Somebody’s Party” are some of my favorite examples of this beautiful work.

This Music Lovers favorites from 2011

Year end recap 2011 from a music lover

Favorite albums of any genre for 2011
1. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
2. Vaccines – What Did You Expect from the Vaccines
3. Real Estate – Days
4. Royal Bangs – Flux Outside
5. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
6. M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
7. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for my Halo
8. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
9. Smith Westerns – Dye it Blonde
10. Cults – Cults

Honorable Mentions
1. British Sea Power – Valhalla Dancehall
2. Hooray for Earth – True Loves
3. Generationals – Actor-Caster
4. The Donkeys – Born With Stripes
5. Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing
6. Wire – Red Barked Tree
7. War on Drugs – Slave Ambient
8. Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
9. WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
10. Waters – Out in the Light

Favorite songs

1. Cults – Abducted
2. British Sea Power – Who’s in Control
3. Cut Copy – Take Me Over
4. TV on the Radio – You
5. The Vaccines – Under Your Thumb
6. Blitzen Trapper – Love the Way You Walk Away
7. Real Estate – Green Aisles
8. Royal Bangs – Bad News Strange Luck
9. M83 – Steve McQueen
10. Kurt Vile – Jesus Fever


Great Tracks Highlights – Comeback artists/Veterans

1. Wire – Bad Worn Thing
2 Lindsey Buckingham - When She Comes Down
3. Magazine – Holy Dotage
4. The Mekons – Space in Your Face
5. The Feelies – Here Before


Great Indie Songs – Guitar based/ Traditional

1. Apex Manor – The Party Line
2. Smith Westerns – Smile
3. Kurt Vile- Puppet To the Man
4. Generationals – Ten Twenty Ten
5. Real Estate – Out of Tune

Great Indie Songs – Synth/Electronic Upbeat
1. Cut Copy – Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution
2. M83 – Midnight City
3. Phantogram – Don’t Move
4. Battles – Ice Cream
5. The Go! Team – Buy Nothing Day

Great Indie Songs - Experimental/Ambient
1. Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed
2. Antlers – Don’t Want Love
3. Mogwai – How to be a Werewolf
4. Gang Gang Dance – Chinese High
5. Burial – NYC

Great Songs by New Comers
1. WU LYF – Concrete Gold
2. Tennis – Long Boat Pass
3. Papercuts – Do What You Will
4. The War on Drugs – Baby Missiles
5. Waters – Take Me Out to the Coast

Great Songs by Consistent Indie Veterans
1. My Morning Jacket – Wonderful
2. Stephen Malkmus – Tune Grief
3. Okkervil River – Rider
4. Wilco – Dawned on Me
5. TV on the Radio – Second Song

Great Songs – Folk and Alt Country
1 Iron and Wine – Glad Man Singing
2 Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
3 Civil Wars – I’ve Got This Friend
4 Crooked Fingers – The Counterfeiter
5 Bon Iver – Calgary


Randy’s Hall of Fame inductees 2011 and song example
1. Be Bop Deluxe - Heavenly Homes
2. Tommy Bolin - Dreamer
3. The Chills – Frantic Drift
4. The Damned – Smash it Up (Part 2)
5. The Durutti Column – Otis
6. Felt – My Darkest Light Will Shine
7. The Teardrop Explodes –Second Head
8. The Adverts – New Church
9. The Bats – Courage
10. The Verlaines – Heavy 33

New Music for Late Summer/Early Fall

Late Summer/Early Fall: Best in New Music

Welcome back to the musical journey folks. It’s been awhile since I brought you my take on the albums and tracks that have been moving this music lover. Despite all the so-called doom and gloom of the music industry, the releases are fast and furious from the likes of new bands and some appearances from veteran rockers continuing their craft. Remember with me, I am not here to bash, while you will see a lot of similar scores on albums. 4 Stars are solid albums with that 5th or 6th star being used on really special listens.

Cults- Cults 4 out of 6
This Manhattan Indie Pop outfit like so many other newer bands is full of reverb laden synths and strong melodies as exhibited on a the opening track “Abducted”, which is by far one of my favorite infectious grooves of this year. Madelin Follin the strong lead vocalist takes cues from great girls group singers of yesteryear like Ronny Spector and other Motown legends like Miss Ross. The third track called “You Know What I Mean” is a smooth and spacey tribute to the Motown sound, as I can’t help but notice the borrowing of the tune of the Supreme’s “Where Did Our Love Go” The tune remains quite creative and solid despite the derivative cue of this number. “Walk at Night” and “Oh My God” are sweet little tunes with a kid piano punctuation that permeates the cults sound. The song “Bumper” has a nice little boy girl call and response nature to it, that feels a bit like Jesus and Mary Chain track “Sometimes Always” but again does not feel like theft here, just an influence wearing itself on the Cults Sleeves. The Cults are a very promising band and have produced an extremely enjoyable album.

WU LYF – Go Tell Fire to the Mountain 4.5 out of 6
Manchester England outfit is a heavier brand of Indie Rock, which some would call Post-Rock. To me the closest musical DNA seems to be a primal vocal nature of earlier Modest Mouse with the rich texture of the great band The Walkmen. Songs “LYF” and “Cave Song” start this album off quite well as it oozes anxiousness and urgency. Lead vocalist Ellery Roberts has a very raspy Tom Waits quality to his delivery, but has the tuneful qualities of Modest Mouse front man Isaac Brock. The rich vibrant guitar work as displayed on tracks like “Such a Sad Puppy Dog” have that Walkmen feel to them. The band has received some strong praise in Indie music press, yet have been a bit of a mystery as to who these guys are and what makes them tick. Song “Summas Bliss” is a really strongly performed track and good example of their work. The last 2 tracks are really superb ones called “Concrete Gold” and the aptly titled and Moody closer called “Heavy Pop.” This is a solid album that almost scored 5 for me and could be in many critics’ year-end top ten lists.

Royal Bangs – Flux Outside 5 out of 6
This Knoxville TN 3 piece indie rock band was discovered by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys and signed to his label for this very entertaining release. Emotionally charged vocals paired with bombastic drumming, and abundant synth use creates a quick paced and sometime chaotic delivery that feels like Black Keys on speed. Singer and Multi-instrumentalist Ryan Schaefer has a strong voice that reminds me of emotive Indie leaders such as Tim Kasher from Cursive and Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav. Second track in “Fireball” is the so-called single and a great example of their talent with a strong beat, spiraling progressively styled keyboards and strong hooks. “Back Then it Was Different” is song that would appeal to those Black Keys fans out there as long as they like them a dose of these higher register vocals a-la Modest Mouse. Great piano drive helps punctuate this fine song in the similar vein to the way the Cold War Kids can get additional percussion from the black and white keys. I think my favorite track is one called “Bad News, Strange Luck” which is a creatively delivered and structured song meandering slowly at first in an almost Syd Barrett style then at the 2:30 minute mark it kicks it with a anxious and jerky synth section for a minute and again transitions into a fantastically paced payoff that is in the more classic rock style for it’s final chorus. 3 songs in one here is a great example of what these creative fellows can do. The Cities of Tennessee in recent years have been doing a fine job producing indie bands that are oozing with wonderful influences. This example is no different. “Loosely Truthing” is a short and to the point garage rocker that feels a bit like the prolific Memphis born Jay Reatard who we tragically lost just 2 years ago. “Silver Steps” is downright classic as well as the guitar hooks are there too. This 5 star track is a soulful groove that would be appreciated by the My Morning Jacket and King of Leon fans out there. This album is getting better with repeated listens and could be on my short lists at years end.

The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? 5.5 out of 6
One of the bigger selling Indie rock bands from the UK this year is this Post Punk revival outfit from outside of London. Aptly named for their sound is simply infectious for fans of The Ramones, Jesus & Mary Chain, and newer bands of this ilk like The Strokes, and Artic Monkeys. Short and to the point tracks with a reverb underbelly straight from the Jesus & MC playbook. These songs have a simplicity and drive that the Ramones executed so well. Influences from the 50’s and 60’s a washed throughout these quickly paced tracks. “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” starts off showing exactly what I speak of. “If You Wanna” is another hot rocker that exhibits an interestingly tuneful yet understated vocal approach by lead singer and guitarist Justin Young. Young, who has since the albums release undergone 3 surgeries on his voice, is a cross between Joey Ramone, and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis from a tonality standpoint. “Lack of Understanding” the next track slows it down a bit with influences as diverse as The Righteous Brothers and the prevalent surf guitar sound of Dick Dale. “Blow it Up” is yet another fun track that is a complete throwback to other great times in music. Some may call these sounds derivative and dated but I believe they are very respectful and creative interpretations of so many great influences. I have a hard time not checking these songs all off as five star ones. “Norgaard” and “Post Break-Up Sex” get into the juvenility that has always prevailed in great rock music. “Under Your Thumb” has my favorite vocal hooks and melodies on the album that is downright full of them. “All in White” and “Family Friend” also notch strong scores as this blast of hooks winds down to a close. The album clocking in at just 33 Minutes and change is a great listen for heading into work on a similarly times commute as it has served this music lover quite well.
Lindsey Buckingham - Seeds We Sow 4 out of 6
One of the veterans back for more I speak of sounds refreshed and still chock full of beautifully crafted tracks that exhibit his continued virtuosity on the acoustic guitar. While Fleetwood Mac has a huge a successful following, his solo work remains a bit underground at least from a buzz standpoint, but his solo work is dynamic and emotional and full of more creative and challenging melodies maybe not quite as obvious as those with Fleetwood. The album starts off with a soft and sweet title track “Seeds We Sow” which sets a reflective tempo for this 62 year old that only had his first child in 1998 and more recently added a second and third child in 2000 and 2004 respectively. “In Out Own Time” has him dialing it up a notch with the vibrant choruses he dialed up so well in Tusk era Fleetwood Mac and in his early solo work. His fretwork is still so masterful and profoundly relevant. “That The Way Love Goes” is a sweet song that’s payoff lies in the choruses and the plugged in guitar work that wraps up the song that is so reminiscent of the ‘Mac sound. “When She Comes Down” slithers along at a more subdued pace but is maybe the most gratifying vocal work of his on this solid album. It feels a bit like it would fit nicely on Go Insane for those who are fully entrenched in even his solo works. “End of Time” is another fine example of what a beautiful vocalist Lindsey continues to be as well. Simply put, LB is one of the finest rock musicians of our time and is still got more to give as delivered here.

Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing 4 out of 6
This Portland band has become a real favorite of mine in the last 5 years as they have a brand of country alternative rock that is as tuneful as greats from the genre such as The Jayhawks, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and Ryan Adams. These guys also have some Dead to them. The album starts off really strong with some charming fuzz rockers names “Might Find it Cheap” and the American Beauty-esque “Fletcher.” A campfire and some cheap suds would perfectly accompany these sounds as they so adeptly represent their hometown of Portland. Check out the video for their track “Love the Way You Walk Away.” Sweet melodies, some banjo, piano, and harmonica deliver a really pretty track that is every bit as good as the finest in alt country. For me this is a track that could garner a 6th star, as it is so tuneful. Great road songs abound in this perfectly autumnal offering. The album is a bit top heavy with the greatest hooks in the first few songs or it might have garnered a 5th star. “Take it Easy Too Long” has a Wilco nature about it and would certainly appeal to the Dead crowd out there.

Some other really solid offerings of late include
May review some of these after more absorption
Try ‘em in your Spotify

The Rosebuds- Loud Planes Fly Low
The Feelies- Here Before
Iceage- New Brigade
Handsome Furs- Sound Kapital
The War on Drugs- Slave Ambient
Washed Out- Within and Without
Hooray For Earth- True Loves
Stephen Malkmus- Mirror Traffic
Mates of State- Mountaintops
St Vincent- Strange Mercy
Wilco- The Whole Love
The Mekons- Ancient & Modern
Crooked Fingers- Breaks in the Armor
Real Estate- Days
M83- Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Van Hunt- What Were You Hoping For
Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Ryan Adams- Ashes and Fire
Mutemath- Odd Soul
Feist- Metals
Wild Flag- Wild Flag
Deertick- Divine Providence
Justice- Audio, Video, Disco
Grouplove- Grouplove

Best of 2011 So Far

Best of 2011 at the halfway mark

Greatest albums of 2011
1. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
2. TV on the Radio – 9 Types of Light
3. British Sea Power – Valhalla Dancehall
4. Smith Westerns – Dye it Blonde
5. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for my Halo
6. David Kligour and the Heavy Eights – Left By Soft
7. Tennis – Cape Dory
8. Apex Manor – The Year of Magical Drinking
9. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
10. The Generationals – Actor Caster

Honorable Mention albums
1. The Antlers – Burst Apart
2. Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines
3. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
4. The Donkeys – Born With Stripes
5. Cults – Cults
6. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
7. The Go! Team – Rolling Blackouts
8. Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
9. Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
10. My Morning Jacket – Circuital

Favorite songs of year
1. Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution by Cut Copy
2. You by TV on the Radio
3. Take Me Over by Cut Copy
4. Will Do by TV on the Radio
5. Who’s in Control by British Sea Power
6. All Die Young by Smith Westerns
7. Buy Nothing Day by The Go! Team
8. Observe the Skies by British Sea Power
9. Jesus Fever by Kurt Vile
10. Ten Twenty Ten by The Generationals

More great songs (Upbeat and higher energy)
1. Please Ask for Help by Telekinesis
2. Caffeinated Consciousness by Tv on the Radio
3. The Party Line by Apex Manor
4. Need You Now by Cut Copy
5. Pumped up Kicks by Foster the People
6. Abducted by Cults
7. Austere by Joy Formidable
8. Oxblood by The Donkeys
9. Unkind by Sloan
10. It Happened Today by REM

More favorites songs (Slower and Subdued)
1. I Don’t Want Love by Antlers
2. Smile by Smith Westerns
3. Wonderful (The Way I Feel) My Morning Jacket
4. I Like the Way You Walk by The Donkeys
5. Pop Song by David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights
6. My Father’s Father by Civil Wars
7. Luna by British Sea Power
8. Society is My Friend by Kurt Vile
9. Stutter by Yuck
10. Listen to Me by J Mascis

Quirky and Creative highlights
1. Yo-Yo by Fujiya and Miyagi
2. Ice Cream by Battles
3. I Cannot Love You by Telekinesis
4. Sink/Let it Sway by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
5. No Love by Hooray for Earth
6. Bad Worn Thing by Wire
7. If You’re Gold, I’m Gone by Woven Bones
8. Secretary Song by The Go! Team
9. Rider by Okkervil River
10. A Break in the Weather by David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights

Some beautiful singing
1. Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out by Antlers
2. 20 Years by Civil Wars
3. Nightwatchmen by Bell X1
4. I’ll Be Waiting by Adele
5. Marathon by Tennis
6. Whirring by Joy Formidable
7. Glad Man Singing by Iron and Wine
8. You Know What I Mean by Cults
9. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
10. Elemental Ways of Speaking by Apex Manor

Great Beats and Electronic elements
1. Alisa by Cut Copy
2. Back Like 8 Track by The Go! Team
3. Second Song by Tv on the Radio
4. My Machines by Battles featuring Gary Numan
5. Mongk II by British Sea Power
6. Dead French Dudes by David Garza
7. Internet Warrior by Oh No Ono
8. You by Gold Panda
9. Super Duper Rescue Heads! By Deerhoof
10. Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat

Favorite New Music: Late Spring 2011

Favorite new music: Late Spring

David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights – Left By Soft
Rating 5.5 out of 6
Leader and front man of a legendary band in New Zealand called The Clean exhibits his strong song writing ability and penchants for crafting very melodic guitar hooks. Dreamy yet grungy textures make for modern day Jangle Pop masterpiece. His vocals are sweet and the NZ accent is not as overwhelming as some of his contemporaries. Notice the fuzzed up technique on track 2 “Way Down Here”. Take note of more subtle and spacey guitar of “A Break in the Weather”. Pretty and down tempo “Pop Song” is anything but yet a perfect shimmering example of how smoothly this guy crafts songs. I don’t know if the US has ever seen someone as fully immersed in learning the beauty of New Zealand Rock as yours truly (at least my age anyway), so I can admit my review may be subjective but this is a fella’ I wish more of the music heads were aware of.
Songs “Diamond Mine” and “I’ll Climb Up That Hill” are other highlights on one of my favorite listens of the year.

The Donkeys – Born With Stripes
Rating 4 out of 6
San Diego band has an effortless way about them that sounds a little like Pavement and Modest Mouse, but not as slacker and laconic for those who bristle at the thought of the dissonance. The Country fried freak folkers and maybe some Jam banders may dig this act as well. “I Like the Way You Walk” is a good starting point to see if you will like them as much as I. “Ceiling Tan” is a really cool track that has some Widespread Panic feel to it. “Oxblood” is very approachable track that is short and to the point and a fine barometer for seeing if The Donkeys have any legs for the listener. “Valerie” is a more subdued number that again has me feeling the Widespread influence.

The Antlers – Burst Apart
5 out of 6
The Brooklyn Shoegazers have an autumnal quality about them with a really pretty opening song “I Don’t Want to Love”. The tingling and icy vocals of front man Peter Silberman may be too much falsetto for some, but it is a fantastic study rock album. “French Exit” has great synth textures and subtle cadence that is very low key but quite melodic. “Parentheses” is their Thom Yorke impression as I think Radiohead fans might like or think they are derivative of their favorite blip rockers. I tend to think they are cleverly tipping the cap to an influence and still doing their own thing. “Rolled Together” is hauntingly beautiful and moody as all get out. “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out” is a strong number that shows some dynamic vocal quality of an impressive indie singer. Again the delivery is not for everyone but this album while more down tempo than I normally go, is a very impressive LP for the music lovers of this world.

The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
Rating 4.5 out of 6
Folk fans and the Lady A fans out there should be aware of the unbelievable cohesion of 2 exceedingly talented singer songwriter’s voices providing synergy. Joy Williams and John Paul White apparently met while in Nashville when both were having some trepidation about launching solo careers. While not a couple apparently, you wouldn’t be able to tell as it feels like vocal beauty that can only come from a kinship founded in romanticism. It seems that their work has greatly benefitted from the choice of collaborating. These guys have a very Robert Plant and Allison Krause quality about them. This album is one that should appeal to many generations as it is quite outside of my world of abrasive rock that I normally speak about. Songs like “20 Years”, “I’ve Got This Friend”, and “My Father’s Father” are the starting points to see if this pretty Folk album can wow you as much as it wowed me.

The Generationals – Actor-Caster
Rating 5 out of 6
This New Orleans Indie duo channels the platform stomping of the glam era in an incredible opening song called “Ten-Twenty-Ten” that will firmly be one of my favorite tracks of the year. These guys then break out the organs and jangle it up in a very Vampire Weekend sort of way with “I Promise”. They dial up the synths for “Yours Forever”. Reverb laden Clash-esque guitar lines prevails on the bouncy track “You say it Too”. “Goose & Gander” has that same Paul Simon guitar plucking that Vampire Weekend borrows so pleasantly. The vocal may be bit whinier than some like, but the track “Dirty Mister Dirty” is another fine example of the clever jaunty piano driven indie pop these guys convey. “Tell Me Now” is probably is bit too bubbly for those who despise the drum machine indie poppers of the world but again those who like the genre will be quite satisfied by the playing. Fans of Peter, Bjorn, and John, and other emotive indie pop will be sure to love.

New music reviews for Spring 2011

Here are my takes on some of the better album releases from late Winter early Spring 2011, which to me has proven to be a great year for new releases from new bands and some old favorites.

Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
Style – Indie Rock, Singer/Songwriter
May appeal to fans of… J Mascis/Dino Jr, Elliot Smith, Crooked Fingers, Jeff Buckley
Song highlights – Jesus Fever, Puppet to the Man, In My Time, On Tour
Rating 4 out of 6
This Philly Singer/songwriter is very gifted guitar man with a lovely set of “study rock” classics. Paired back acoustic guitar plucked masterfully with a smoke and bourbon drenched voice that fits his delivery like a glove. This is a relatively low-key album and great pairing for those reflective rainy day weekend mornings.

Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines
Style – Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Power Pop
May appeal to fans of… Death Cab for Cutie, The Caesars, Nada Surf, Foals, Tapes & Tapes
Rating 4 out of 6
Song highlights – I Cannot Love You, Car Crash, Please Ask for Help, Fever Chill
This Seattle band is pretty much actually one guy. A fellow by the name of Michael Benjamin Lerner seems adept at synthy high energy pop tracks. Angular guitar spikes and catchy melodies give this album some legs.

Apex Manor – The Year of Magical Drinking
Style – Indie Rock, Power Pop
May appeal to fans of… Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Fountains of Wayne, Pete Yorn, Jayhawks
Song Highlights – Under the Gun, The Party Line, Elemental Way of Speaking
Rating 5 out of 6
A Pasadena California band that exudes catchy hooks in an effortless manner. Ross Flournoy wrote many of these melodies during an NPR online songwriting contest as it turns out. This is a very tuneful and approachable album that does not have a dud on it.

TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
Style – Indie Rock, Art Rock, Funk, Electronic
May appeal to fans of… David Bowie, Prince, Talking Heads, Primal Scream, Peter Gabriel
Song Highlights - You, Second Song, Will Do, Caffeinated Consciousness, Keep Your Heart
Rating 5.5 out of 6
A Great Brooklyn art rock band is one of most creative music purveyors going. Very creatively syncopated as always these hookmeisters deliver their most catchy and inviting melodies yet. Front man Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone’s vocal shards are poetry in motion and organic beauty. Dave Sitek, the bands producer and ultra talented synth man envelopes the listener in Polyrhythmic bliss. Textures and Moods abound as this album has it all. Tragically their Bassist Gerard Smith passed away April 20th of Lung Cancer at just 36 years of age. With this album just releasing it has got to be a tough time for this amazing and unique band. My heart goes out to them.

Great albums/Songs of recent note in my world New and Old

Tommy Bolin – Teaser (Deluxe edition) Guitar virtuosity in Blues Rock style
Adele – Girl can sing. A cross between Amy Winehouse and Bonnie Raitt