By @andrewcareaga
That quintessential tastemaker @ronbronson beat my to the punch, posting his five favorites from early 2012 before the first quarter was even over. So of course, once again I am Following Ron's lead. Here are my favorite five albums from the first three months of 2012:
Sinead O'Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)
As controversial and interesting as ever, Sinead O'Connor, on her first album since 2007's Theology, continues to address spiritual themes. Much of the original material on this album beams with optimism and a hopeful tone, which is a change of pace for O'Connor.
Ben Kweller - Go Fly A Kite
This is the finest effort to date for singer-songwriter Kweller, who hasn't seen much commercial success. Full of catchy guitar hooks and a rockabilly/country vibe, Go Fly A Kite is a fun album to listen to.
Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
Say what you want about The Boss, he still continues to produce music that matters. Nearly 40 years since Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., Springsteen continues to examine the gap between American reality and the American dream. With Wrecking Ball, Springsteen has released his biggest, most relevant album since The Rising.
The Shins - Port of Morrow
Following Shins front man James Mercer's solo experiment with Broken Bells, I was afraid we might have seen the last of this band. Glad to see they're back. This isn't necessarily a great album, but it is pure Shins. Nothing unexpected, just a well-produced album. Which is just fine by me.
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden
The Drops had a hard act to follow after Grammy-winning Genuine Negro Jig, but this band's traditional string music style continues to win people over. Rhiannon Giddens is one of the best singers around today.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
2012 So Far: Five LPs You Should Be Consuming
By @ronbronson
The downside to "best of" lists is the fact that if you blog at the end of the year, it's hard to remember what you really enjoyed earlier in the year. Given our diverse tastes over here, I'm sure everyone who did this would have a different opinion of what qualifies as best-of material for this part of the year, but I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few albums to put on your radar whether you want to list now or wait until December when I bring them up again.
The downside to "best of" lists is the fact that if you blog at the end of the year, it's hard to remember what you really enjoyed earlier in the year. Given our diverse tastes over here, I'm sure everyone who did this would have a different opinion of what qualifies as best-of material for this part of the year, but I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few albums to put on your radar whether you want to list now or wait until December when I bring them up again.
Tennis - Young & Old
A husband/wife duo from Denver, who released an album less than two years ago are back with another lo-fi pop ball of wax. It's engaging from start to finish. Energetic and almost bubbly, it's certainly acquired taste music. If you don't like sweet throwback jams that might harken to a time when cell phones were the size of bricks, Young & Old might not be to your taste. But give it a try anyway.
Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
Sometimes, you just want to rock out. Cloud Nothings are a band that I knew nothing about prior to stumbling upon this album. But it didn't take me long to be glad I found it. With a twinge of grunge, pop-punk styling and hard rock veneer; Attack On Memory is straight-forward in its approach. The sell is the lyricism and the instrumentals melded together. It's a cohesive album, which seems to be a theme this year.
Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit
Music dorks, listen to the Delta Spirit new LP.
— Ron Bronson (@ronbronson) March 13, 2012
This explains my feelings on said album. Basically, it's good. If you find yourself a more traditional rock and roll fan with less fills, this album will please you above the others. Delta Spirit don't remind me immediately of any kind of mainstream act. Arcade Fire with less pomp and less French-Canadian? I dunno. Just listen to it.
Sharon Van Etten - Tramp
The song I've embedded for you below is called "Magic Chords" and if there's a better song that's been released this year, I've yet to hear it. It's haunting, sparse and resonating. It's a duet with Zach Condon of Beirut. Van Etten is a powerful singer, but not in the vein of an Amy Winehouse or Adele. She's far more understated, but no less gripping. Tramp is decidedly mood music, but it's absolutely the kind of music you want to have available should you need it.
Now, Now - Threads
Hailing from Minnesota, the band used to be called Now Now, Every Children is just Now, Now. Which makes searching for them sort of annoying if you don't know where to look. Another band that I can thank streaming services for helping me discover, this album conjures all sorts of comparisons. I think the most apt is Tegan and Sara meets First Aid Kit meets Silversun Pickups. (Yeah, try making sense of that in your head.) Of the albums I've listed, it's the most "indie" of the five. It just has all of the elements necessary which make this album the most pleasing, least offensive or mood-necessary to cue up. It might seem sleepy at first, but it grows on you.
Friday, March 9, 2012
My International Top 5, with apologies to Antarctica & South America
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to introduce to you the newest member of our higher ed music critics collective, Aaron M. Hill (nom de tweet: @aaronmhill). For his introductory post, Aaron gives us a whirlwind tour of his favorite musicians from around the globe. Welcome, Aaron, to our merry band. I look forward to more of your posts. - AC
Generally speaking, I dislike superlatives because I find that “favorites” come and go, so for this post, I thought I would put a little spin on it: what follows is a favorite artist from each continent, excluding Antarctica (the Amundsen-Scott Jug Band is still working on their debut album), and South America which I have yet to find a favorite on, and don't want to be all "Oh yeah, I've been following Pasa el Paseo forEVER, and by forever I mean 5 minutes ago", because I'm not a jerk. And I like cookies. and pizza.
...
penguins.
So, in alphabetical order by continent...
Africa: Hossam Ramzy
While his music seems to always be classified as “bellydance music”, a mundane label for the cultural music of the Bedouin. Ramzy possess a talented mastery for the darbuka and tabla, and “collaborations with jazz musicians earned him the nickname ‘the Sultan of Swing’”[1]. I actually discovered Ramzy, an Egyptian performer, and Sarit Hadad, an Azerbaijani / Israeli vocalist that’s also a skilled darbukist, at the same time on a peer--... um... the... Internet (coincidentally, that was also how I discovered the artists from Asia and Europe mentioned below).
Chances are, you’ve heard him before though you may not have realized it: Ramzy performed alongside Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on their Unledded reunion album; he was also featured on the soundtracks of the recent Conan the Barbarian and Prince of Persia movies. If you like the genre but prefer to have singing, check out Sarit Hadad and Karen Nawali.
If the phrase “Final Fantasy” calls to mind exciting storylines, swordplay, giant birds, and lush landscapes rather than porn and/or snuff films, then this band’s for you.
The Blackmages are a progressive rock band fronted by Nobuou Uematsu, the composer for most (all? everything up to XIII I think) of the music from the Final Fantasy video game series. The band was active from 2002 to 2010 and released three full-length albums, all covering the highlight themes from the Final Fantasy series, over a dozen published games in the series, at this point. Uematsu later formed a new bound, the Earthbound Papas with two members of the former Black Mages; this was largely due to licensing issues with Square-Enix, which imposed some creative restrictions on the material they were permitted to play.
As a longtime fan of arrangements of video game themes, especially the Final Fantasy series, this band has a special place in my heart; but I could also see someone who knew nothing of the game music, but enjoyed progressive Rock (think Dreamtheater, or a modern-day Rush without the vocals) could also get into this band.
A breakout from the early 00s rave scene, Pendulum has found a way to transmute their Drum & Bass roots into a full on live performance. Originally formed in Perth, Australia and now living in London, Pendulum was first known for their fast-moving drum & bass tracks, featuring scowling, distorted, darkstep basslines and a syncopated hi-hat groove that was a staple on many of their early works (Another Planet, Vault, Masochist; heard that last one for the first time live in Atlanta at the Planet of the Drums tour and it about floored me. "Silence got blown apart" indeed!).
With their first full-length album, Hold Your Colour (2005), Pendulum explored the drum & bass genre more fully, casting aside the darkstep elements for high-energy anthems such as Blood Sugar and the title track, as well as the more liquid / intelligent drum & bass flavors of Sounds of Life and Streamline.
In 2008, Pendulum released In Silico, and began their transformation into a live performance act. Trading in a few BPMs for some guitar riffs and vocals, Pendulum suddenly became capable of a wider appeal. While a solid release, this album is more stylistically similar to Hold Your Colour than it is to their earliest works, which were released only on 12” singles, though it still packs similar energy.
Guano Apes is rock band from Germany that never quite took hold in the states. IMHO they are an underrated alt-rock powerhouse from the late 90s / early 00s, fronted by the beautiful and powerfully-voiced Sandra Nasic. If you are a fan of the Metallica-covering cellists Apocalyptica you might remember her as a featured guest on their song Path, Vol. 2, where the strength of her voice explodes in force on the chorus.
The band broke up nearly 10 years ago, and Nasic pursued a solo career for a while, though her solo stuff was largely more pop-sensible. Since the band reunited in 2009, they have released one additional album, and Nasic seems to have brought some of her new-found pop sensibilities back in from the wilds. (Think Morningview by Incubus versus S.C.I.E.N.C.E., by the same).
Over the past ten years, I've met 2 other Americans that had already heard (and enjoy), the Apes, and it's always a really cool experience to find out that other people know about them. (SO zOMG IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD OF THEM WE CAN TOTALLY BE BFFFFFFF!)
While my hopes for a similar followup to their solid Walking on a Thin Line 2003 release have yet to manifest, their first three albums have more than enough material to sustain in the meantime. Some of my favorites include:
Short for Brian Transeau, BT is an electronic music producer whose career stretches back to the early 1990s, in the infant years of the American Rave scene. While his name became well known among party kids for his contributions to the Trance genre, he has since become more mainstream, fathering both the soundtrack for the academy-award winning movie Monster (2004) and finally a Grammy nomination in 2010 for his These Hopeful Machines album.
Stylistically, it’s difficult to pigeonhole BT’s work into a single branch of electronic music; ie. he is not just a “trance producer”, despite what his last name suggests. His work ranges from genres including: hip-hop with a digital edge, synthetic rock, drum & bass, ambient, and a whole slew of other subgenres. The common thread is that it is typically produced electronically, although he will often play real instruments during his live performances. He is probably best known for characteristically using (overusing?) an audio processing technique known as the “stutter edit”. You’ll know it when you hear it. He may or may not have officially invented this editing technique, but he does own the patent for the live performance audio plug-in.
His early trance works drew me in, particularly his Forbidden Fruit collaboration with German trance DJ/producer Paul Van Dyk and Mercury & Solace from the album Movement in Still Life (1999), or pretty much the entire ESCM album, but I stayed for the artfully crafted soundscapes of his other works. As a formally-trained musician, his work shows a clear mastery of the craft. I suggest whetting your appetite with:
What's your continental 7...or 5...or 3? 1? Who am I missing out on from South America or Antarctica?
Generally speaking, I dislike superlatives because I find that “favorites” come and go, so for this post, I thought I would put a little spin on it: what follows is a favorite artist from each continent, excluding Antarctica (the Amundsen-Scott Jug Band is still working on their debut album), and South America which I have yet to find a favorite on, and don't want to be all "Oh yeah, I've been following Pasa el Paseo forEVER, and by forever I mean 5 minutes ago", because I'm not a jerk. And I like cookies. and pizza.
...
penguins.
So, in alphabetical order by continent...
Africa: Hossam Ramzy
While his music seems to always be classified as “bellydance music”, a mundane label for the cultural music of the Bedouin. Ramzy possess a talented mastery for the darbuka and tabla, and “collaborations with jazz musicians earned him the nickname ‘the Sultan of Swing’”[1]. I actually discovered Ramzy, an Egyptian performer, and Sarit Hadad, an Azerbaijani / Israeli vocalist that’s also a skilled darbukist, at the same time on a peer--... um... the... Internet (coincidentally, that was also how I discovered the artists from Asia and Europe mentioned below).
Chances are, you’ve heard him before though you may not have realized it: Ramzy performed alongside Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on their Unledded reunion album; he was also featured on the soundtracks of the recent Conan the Barbarian and Prince of Persia movies. If you like the genre but prefer to have singing, check out Sarit Hadad and Karen Nawali.
- Inta Omri (Middle Eastern folk song, I believe?)
- Live solo performance - watch his hands go!
- Khusara Khusara (Ramzy’s rendition of this song was sampled by Jay-Z in Big Pimpin’)
If the phrase “Final Fantasy” calls to mind exciting storylines, swordplay, giant birds, and lush landscapes rather than porn and/or snuff films, then this band’s for you.
The Blackmages are a progressive rock band fronted by Nobuou Uematsu, the composer for most (all? everything up to XIII I think) of the music from the Final Fantasy video game series. The band was active from 2002 to 2010 and released three full-length albums, all covering the highlight themes from the Final Fantasy series, over a dozen published games in the series, at this point. Uematsu later formed a new bound, the Earthbound Papas with two members of the former Black Mages; this was largely due to licensing issues with Square-Enix, which imposed some creative restrictions on the material they were permitted to play.
As a longtime fan of arrangements of video game themes, especially the Final Fantasy series, this band has a special place in my heart; but I could also see someone who knew nothing of the game music, but enjoyed progressive Rock (think Dreamtheater, or a modern-day Rush without the vocals) could also get into this band.
- Matoya’s Cave (from The Skies Above, adapted from a theme originally in FFI; bluesy)
- The Decisive Battle (from the eponymous first album, adapted from FFVIII; power metal; I'm no musicologist, but I'm pretty sure this is using a non-standard meter, I am guessing 6/8 time?)
- Premonition (from Darkness and Starlight, adapted from FFVIII; prog. metal)
- Cloud’s Theme (from Final Fantasy S Generation, Uematsu arranged; orchestral)
A breakout from the early 00s rave scene, Pendulum has found a way to transmute their Drum & Bass roots into a full on live performance. Originally formed in Perth, Australia and now living in London, Pendulum was first known for their fast-moving drum & bass tracks, featuring scowling, distorted, darkstep basslines and a syncopated hi-hat groove that was a staple on many of their early works (Another Planet, Vault, Masochist; heard that last one for the first time live in Atlanta at the Planet of the Drums tour and it about floored me. "Silence got blown apart" indeed!).
With their first full-length album, Hold Your Colour (2005), Pendulum explored the drum & bass genre more fully, casting aside the darkstep elements for high-energy anthems such as Blood Sugar and the title track, as well as the more liquid / intelligent drum & bass flavors of Sounds of Life and Streamline.
In 2008, Pendulum released In Silico, and began their transformation into a live performance act. Trading in a few BPMs for some guitar riffs and vocals, Pendulum suddenly became capable of a wider appeal. While a solid release, this album is more stylistically similar to Hold Your Colour than it is to their earliest works, which were released only on 12” singles, though it still packs similar energy.
- Vault (A-side from 2003, the darkstep basslines kick in at 1:49; syncopated hi-hats at 2:03)
- Hold Your Colour (from Hold Your Colour, 2005 - track explodes at 1:08)
- The Tempest (from In Silico, 2008, but performed live at Brixton Academy - an absolutely epic song incorporating both metal and drum & bass elements)
- Streamline (from Hold Your Colour, 2005 - a nice liquid drum & bass groove)
Guano Apes is rock band from Germany that never quite took hold in the states. IMHO they are an underrated alt-rock powerhouse from the late 90s / early 00s, fronted by the beautiful and powerfully-voiced Sandra Nasic. If you are a fan of the Metallica-covering cellists Apocalyptica you might remember her as a featured guest on their song Path, Vol. 2, where the strength of her voice explodes in force on the chorus.
The band broke up nearly 10 years ago, and Nasic pursued a solo career for a while, though her solo stuff was largely more pop-sensible. Since the band reunited in 2009, they have released one additional album, and Nasic seems to have brought some of her new-found pop sensibilities back in from the wilds. (Think Morningview by Incubus versus S.C.I.E.N.C.E., by the same).
Over the past ten years, I've met 2 other Americans that had already heard (and enjoy), the Apes, and it's always a really cool experience to find out that other people know about them. (SO zOMG IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD OF THEM WE CAN TOTALLY BE BFFFFFFF!)
While my hopes for a similar followup to their solid Walking on a Thin Line 2003 release have yet to manifest, their first three albums have more than enough material to sustain in the meantime. Some of my favorites include:
- Quietly (from Walking on a Thin Line, the video takes an awesome turn around 1:10)
- Break the Line (featured on MTV2, which I believe is the limit to their American exposure)
- Open Your Eyes (from their debut album Proud like a God)
- Pretty in Scarlet (a softer, more acoustic, side for the band, though the subtext of the video shows a pretty hilarious edge of macabre humor)
Short for Brian Transeau, BT is an electronic music producer whose career stretches back to the early 1990s, in the infant years of the American Rave scene. While his name became well known among party kids for his contributions to the Trance genre, he has since become more mainstream, fathering both the soundtrack for the academy-award winning movie Monster (2004) and finally a Grammy nomination in 2010 for his These Hopeful Machines album.
Stylistically, it’s difficult to pigeonhole BT’s work into a single branch of electronic music; ie. he is not just a “trance producer”, despite what his last name suggests. His work ranges from genres including: hip-hop with a digital edge, synthetic rock, drum & bass, ambient, and a whole slew of other subgenres. The common thread is that it is typically produced electronically, although he will often play real instruments during his live performances. He is probably best known for characteristically using (overusing?) an audio processing technique known as the “stutter edit”. You’ll know it when you hear it. He may or may not have officially invented this editing technique, but he does own the patent for the live performance audio plug-in.
His early trance works drew me in, particularly his Forbidden Fruit collaboration with German trance DJ/producer Paul Van Dyk and Mercury & Solace from the album Movement in Still Life (1999), or pretty much the entire ESCM album, but I stayed for the artfully crafted soundscapes of his other works. As a formally-trained musician, his work shows a clear mastery of the craft. I suggest whetting your appetite with:
- Never Gonna Come Back Down (ft. Mike Doughty, formerly of Soul Coughing; a drum & bass infused single from Movement in Still Life, 1999)
- Firewater (trip-hop with natural elements; think Enigma but a touch more aggressive, from ESCM, 1997)
- Forbidden Fruit (Food of Love mix) (collab with Paul Van Dyk, 1997 - an all-time favorite, definitive of the late 90s trance genre)
- Knowledge of Self (a progressive house track with a hip-hop groove from Emotional Technology, 2003)
What's your continental 7...or 5...or 3? 1? Who am I missing out on from South America or Antarctica?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Band names: What the what?
So I was driving to work the other day when this catchy, Weezer-meets-grunge song by Cage the Elephant came on the satellite radio. The tune is "Aberdeen," and I like it.
Fast forward to the end of the day. I'm driving home, listening to the same satellite station, and hear another catchy tune, more redolent of Coldplay than Weezer. The announcer comes on and tells me the song is "Apartment," by a band named Young the Giant.
Is 2012 the year of band names with "the" in the middle of them? Or am I just now noticing the trend?
Cage the Elephant and Young the Giant (which sounds more like a pro wrestler name than a band's) are just the tip of the "_________ the _________" band name iceberg. There's also Foster the People, Jeff the Brotherhood, Portugal. The Man (with a nice bit of odd punctuation thrown in for good measure) and of course the band that set originate the concept: Mott the Hoople.
Now, the "the" has been used in the middle of many band names since the beginning of time. But usually it is preceded by an individual's name and the word "and," followed by the name of the band -- i.e., Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Hootie and the Blowfish.
What's up with these names? Could blank the blank be the latest band trend? Have we used up all the place names for bands (Of Montreal, We're from Barcelona) and animal references (Fleet Foxes, Antlers, Mountain Goats, Band of Horses)?
Just wondering.
Here's a little What the what? playlist for you. Can you think of other bands that fit this category?
Fast forward to the end of the day. I'm driving home, listening to the same satellite station, and hear another catchy tune, more redolent of Coldplay than Weezer. The announcer comes on and tells me the song is "Apartment," by a band named Young the Giant.
Is 2012 the year of band names with "the" in the middle of them? Or am I just now noticing the trend?
Cage the Elephant and Young the Giant (which sounds more like a pro wrestler name than a band's) are just the tip of the "_________ the _________" band name iceberg. There's also Foster the People, Jeff the Brotherhood, Portugal. The Man (with a nice bit of odd punctuation thrown in for good measure) and of course the band that set originate the concept: Mott the Hoople.
Now, the "the" has been used in the middle of many band names since the beginning of time. But usually it is preceded by an individual's name and the word "and," followed by the name of the band -- i.e., Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Hootie and the Blowfish.
What's up with these names? Could blank the blank be the latest band trend? Have we used up all the place names for bands (Of Montreal, We're from Barcelona) and animal references (Fleet Foxes, Antlers, Mountain Goats, Band of Horses)?
Just wondering.
Here's a little What the what? playlist for you. Can you think of other bands that fit this category?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Best Albums I Never Heard in 2011
It's nearly February and likely the time for lamenting 2011's missed opportunities is behind us. Still, I've never been one to move on quickly. And there were so many great albums I missed in 2011.
Below, in no particular order, are the albums I'm saddest that I missed before compiling my "Best of 2011" list.
The Naked and Famous - "Passive Me, Aggressive You"
Blind Pilot - "We Are the Tide"
Augustana - "Augustana"
Thank you, Joel Goodman. Seriously. I am in love with this album.
The Joy Formidable - "The Big Roar"
Everyone told me. Why didn't I listen?
Alaina
Below, in no particular order, are the albums I'm saddest that I missed before compiling my "Best of 2011" list.
The Naked and Famous - "Passive Me, Aggressive You"
Blind Pilot - "We Are the Tide"
Augustana - "Augustana"
Thank you, Joel Goodman. Seriously. I am in love with this album.
The Joy Formidable - "The Big Roar"
Everyone told me. Why didn't I listen?
Alaina
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Chris's Top 15 Albums of 2011
If there's one thing I've learned from this year's tally, it's that I am SERIOUSLY the outlier in this apparently hippy-dippy bunch of mopey music lovers. Where's the rock, people? Where is it? I'll tell you... it's right fricking here.
1. Butch Walker – The Spade
Full disclosure: I'm as big of a BW nutswinger as you'll find. But you know what? This is a great album. Ten songs, tight as all get out, recorded live and raw in the studio, channeling everyone from Dexy's Midnight Runners to the Dixie Chicks to Bruce Springsteen. Standouts are... well, pretty much everything.
2. Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events
Long Island's homegrown prog-rockers went through a very public divorce with their drummer Mike Portnoy, replacing him with Mike Mangini -- and not only didn't miss a beat, they got tighter. Gone are Portnoy's Cookie Monster growls that became too prevalent over the last few records, and this is a gorgeous album, top to bottom.
3. Ginger – Potatoes & You
The Wildhearts are one of the Best Bands You've Never Heard Of. They've developed a pretty solid cult following as they've merged everything that's wonderful about hard rock with a deep melodic undertone. Ginger, the group's frontman, recorded this live acoustic record and slapped it up on his Web site for free; it includes tunes from across the Wildhearts spectrum and his solo career.
4. Ben Folds – Best Imitation of Myself (3 disc version)
Gotta buy the big version, because there's a TON of value here. Unreleased versions, extended versions, new tunes, B-sides, and all the "hits." Lovely.
5. Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Coop got the old band together from the 70s, sat down the studio, and ripped out an extension of his legendary "Nightmare" album.
6. Mike Doughty – Yes and Also Yes
I dare you to get "Na Na Nothing" out of your head. DARE YOU.
7. Meat Puppets – Lollipop
Kurt Cobain's favorite band, the Pups and I crossed paths when we had them open for Blind Melon on campus in 1994; they've been one of my favorite bands ever since, and although they don't have the prettiest sound, this record is chock-full of catchy tunes.
8. The Union – Siren’s Song
Built from the ashes of Thunder, guitarist Luke Morley handed the reins to young upstart Peter Shoulder; the result is a solid slab of rock that never seems to get old.
9. David Lowery – The Palace Guards
Remember Cracker? "What the world needs now/Is another folk singer/Like I need a hole in my head?" That guy. Sounds, well, Crackery.
10. Mr. Big – What If…
Back from the dead! You have no idea how huge these guys still are in Japan.
11. Jonathan Coulton – Artificial Heart
Stunned that this didn't make the master list. Where are you, Georgy? JoCo needed you!
12. Soundtrack – Book of Mormon
I firmly believe that Trey Parker and Matt Stone can do no wrong. Brilliant, although in retrospect, I probably put this too high.
13. Warrant – Rockaholic
In the news this year for the wrong reason -- the death of former frontman Jani Lane -- but Warrant soldiered on, and whereas this isn't the greatest record, there are enough really bright spots ("Home," "Life's A Song," the scathing "Last Straw") that keep this in heavy rotation.
14. Michael Monroe – Sensory Overdrive
Most of the tunes here were written by Ginger Wildheart; kinda sounds like a Wildhearts record, for all the right reasons.
15. Gotthard – Alive In Lugano
I didn't discover Gotthard until after the untimely death of lead singer Steve Lee last year, and it's too bad, because the dude had serious pipes. This is a live recording from their hometown in Switzerland, and includes Lee's last studio vocals on one new tune as well.
1. Butch Walker – The Spade
Full disclosure: I'm as big of a BW nutswinger as you'll find. But you know what? This is a great album. Ten songs, tight as all get out, recorded live and raw in the studio, channeling everyone from Dexy's Midnight Runners to the Dixie Chicks to Bruce Springsteen. Standouts are... well, pretty much everything.
2. Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events
Long Island's homegrown prog-rockers went through a very public divorce with their drummer Mike Portnoy, replacing him with Mike Mangini -- and not only didn't miss a beat, they got tighter. Gone are Portnoy's Cookie Monster growls that became too prevalent over the last few records, and this is a gorgeous album, top to bottom.
3. Ginger – Potatoes & You
The Wildhearts are one of the Best Bands You've Never Heard Of. They've developed a pretty solid cult following as they've merged everything that's wonderful about hard rock with a deep melodic undertone. Ginger, the group's frontman, recorded this live acoustic record and slapped it up on his Web site for free; it includes tunes from across the Wildhearts spectrum and his solo career.
4. Ben Folds – Best Imitation of Myself (3 disc version)
Gotta buy the big version, because there's a TON of value here. Unreleased versions, extended versions, new tunes, B-sides, and all the "hits." Lovely.
5. Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Coop got the old band together from the 70s, sat down the studio, and ripped out an extension of his legendary "Nightmare" album.
6. Mike Doughty – Yes and Also Yes
I dare you to get "Na Na Nothing" out of your head. DARE YOU.
7. Meat Puppets – Lollipop
Kurt Cobain's favorite band, the Pups and I crossed paths when we had them open for Blind Melon on campus in 1994; they've been one of my favorite bands ever since, and although they don't have the prettiest sound, this record is chock-full of catchy tunes.
8. The Union – Siren’s Song
Built from the ashes of Thunder, guitarist Luke Morley handed the reins to young upstart Peter Shoulder; the result is a solid slab of rock that never seems to get old.
9. David Lowery – The Palace Guards
Remember Cracker? "What the world needs now/Is another folk singer/Like I need a hole in my head?" That guy. Sounds, well, Crackery.
10. Mr. Big – What If…
Back from the dead! You have no idea how huge these guys still are in Japan.
11. Jonathan Coulton – Artificial Heart
Stunned that this didn't make the master list. Where are you, Georgy? JoCo needed you!
12. Soundtrack – Book of Mormon
I firmly believe that Trey Parker and Matt Stone can do no wrong. Brilliant, although in retrospect, I probably put this too high.
13. Warrant – Rockaholic
In the news this year for the wrong reason -- the death of former frontman Jani Lane -- but Warrant soldiered on, and whereas this isn't the greatest record, there are enough really bright spots ("Home," "Life's A Song," the scathing "Last Straw") that keep this in heavy rotation.
14. Michael Monroe – Sensory Overdrive
Most of the tunes here were written by Ginger Wildheart; kinda sounds like a Wildhearts record, for all the right reasons.
15. Gotthard – Alive In Lugano
I didn't discover Gotthard until after the untimely death of lead singer Steve Lee last year, and it's too bad, because the dude had serious pipes. This is a live recording from their hometown in Switzerland, and includes Lee's last studio vocals on one new tune as well.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Best Albums of 2011 (Part Two)
Earlier this week I wrote about albums #6 - #25. Now allow me to introduce my top 5 albums of 2011.
5. Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl
I love the blues, specifically guitar driven blues rock. Joe Bonamassa, who happens to hail from upstate New York, is the best blues guitarist of this generation. He was a child prodigy and has lived up to the high expectations. While "Dust Bowl" has plenty of Joe’s amazing guitar work, it also showcases his talents as a songwriter. While some of my friends didn’t like the songs that leaned towards country, it all works for me. Highlights include “Slow Train”, “The Meaning of the Blues”, and “The Whale That Swallowed Jonah.”
4. Wilco - The Whole Love
Music can be very personal for me. There is a soundtrack to my life. My father passed away this fall and as fate would have it, the first time I heard "The Whole Love" was during a long, lonely ride to make final arrangement for his memorial service. When “One Sunday Morning” came on, I had to pull off the road to compose myself. And while the relationship I had with my father was completely different than the one depicted in the song, I will always remember that drive. The rest of the album is fantastic, with Wilco returning to form. If I was making a list of the best songs of the year, "One Sunday Morning" and the "Art of Almost" would both be on that list.
3. The Who - Quadrophenia - The Director's Cut
The Who were the best live band ever, end of discussion. Their studio albums never captured the energy and power of their live performances. This was especially true of my favorite Who album "Quadrophenia" which took on new life when performed live. I still have a vivid memory of The Who playing Folsom Field in ‘82 and John Entwistle’s bass thundering through the Front Range while they played “5:15”. This reissue sounds magnificent and goes a step closer to capturing the dynamics of their live shows.
There has been considerable debate in the Who community about the sound and production on this CD. For me, everything does sound cleaner. The real star here is the late, great Keith Moon, the Tasmanian Devil of the drum kit. This comes as close to capturing what Moon sounded like in concert as anything I’ve heard, even more so than “Live at Leeds”. The inclusion of several of the demo tapes is an added bonus. Hearing how Townsend first envisioned these songs and how they were finally recorded is fascinating. All in all, this reissue breaths new life into a timeless classic.
2. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Grace for Drowning is magnificent. To quote the review from our local paper - “If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to the heady commingling of serious musicianship with the might and majesty of rock, here’s your answer.” Wilson is joined by several legendary musicians including Steve Hackett, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Theo Travis. This is progressive rock at it’s finest. The influences from Genesis, ELP, Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd and King Crimson can be heard throughout this masterpiece. And while much of progressive rock is pretentious and collapses under its own weight, the songs here are very listenable.
And then there is the sound. The 5.1 mix will take your breath away. Unlike the classic albums from the 70’s and 80’s that have been remastered for surround sound, "Grace for Drowning" was conceived and created for 5.1. It is the best example of a three-dimensional sound stage I’ve ever heard. Pro tip - if you have a 5.1 setup for movies, buy it on blu-ray. The difference between the stereo version and the 5.1 version is incredible. Wilson is hoping to bring the wonders of surround sound to the masses by using the blu-ray format. I hope blu-ray can succeed where DVD-audio and SACD failed.
This is now the album I will use to demonstrate my surround sound system. I’m considering hosting a listening party at my house as part of #heweb13. Expect "Grace for Drowning" to be prominently featured.
1. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now
Almost 30 years ago I received a phone call from a friend of mine insisting we leave that night on a road trip to Athens to catch a club show of a relatively obscure band. Given that skipping work was involved I was hesitant, but I respected her musical tastes so off we went. Thus began my love affair with R.E.M., a band I have always strongly identified with. (There's a reason that "It's the end of the Web as We Know It" is the title I chose for my most popular presentation.) Unlike some of my other favorite artists, I am the same age as the members of R.E.M. and IMHO, they have been the spokesmen for my generation.
Most bands who survive for 30 years experience a sharp decline in creativity during the tail end of their careers. Not so with R.E.M. I thoroughly enjoyed “Accelerate”, though it was very one-dimensional. “Collapse Into Now” captures all that made R.E.M. great, showcasing both their hard and soft sides. So is this a nostalgic pick? Absolutely. 2011 will be the last time that R.E.M. will ever be included in any yearly best of lists and it’s only fitting that the best American rock band of all time goes out on top.
5. Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl
I love the blues, specifically guitar driven blues rock. Joe Bonamassa, who happens to hail from upstate New York, is the best blues guitarist of this generation. He was a child prodigy and has lived up to the high expectations. While "Dust Bowl" has plenty of Joe’s amazing guitar work, it also showcases his talents as a songwriter. While some of my friends didn’t like the songs that leaned towards country, it all works for me. Highlights include “Slow Train”, “The Meaning of the Blues”, and “The Whale That Swallowed Jonah.”
4. Wilco - The Whole Love
Music can be very personal for me. There is a soundtrack to my life. My father passed away this fall and as fate would have it, the first time I heard "The Whole Love" was during a long, lonely ride to make final arrangement for his memorial service. When “One Sunday Morning” came on, I had to pull off the road to compose myself. And while the relationship I had with my father was completely different than the one depicted in the song, I will always remember that drive. The rest of the album is fantastic, with Wilco returning to form. If I was making a list of the best songs of the year, "One Sunday Morning" and the "Art of Almost" would both be on that list.
3. The Who - Quadrophenia - The Director's Cut
The Who were the best live band ever, end of discussion. Their studio albums never captured the energy and power of their live performances. This was especially true of my favorite Who album "Quadrophenia" which took on new life when performed live. I still have a vivid memory of The Who playing Folsom Field in ‘82 and John Entwistle’s bass thundering through the Front Range while they played “5:15”. This reissue sounds magnificent and goes a step closer to capturing the dynamics of their live shows.
There has been considerable debate in the Who community about the sound and production on this CD. For me, everything does sound cleaner. The real star here is the late, great Keith Moon, the Tasmanian Devil of the drum kit. This comes as close to capturing what Moon sounded like in concert as anything I’ve heard, even more so than “Live at Leeds”. The inclusion of several of the demo tapes is an added bonus. Hearing how Townsend first envisioned these songs and how they were finally recorded is fascinating. All in all, this reissue breaths new life into a timeless classic.
2. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Grace for Drowning is magnificent. To quote the review from our local paper - “If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to the heady commingling of serious musicianship with the might and majesty of rock, here’s your answer.” Wilson is joined by several legendary musicians including Steve Hackett, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Theo Travis. This is progressive rock at it’s finest. The influences from Genesis, ELP, Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd and King Crimson can be heard throughout this masterpiece. And while much of progressive rock is pretentious and collapses under its own weight, the songs here are very listenable.
And then there is the sound. The 5.1 mix will take your breath away. Unlike the classic albums from the 70’s and 80’s that have been remastered for surround sound, "Grace for Drowning" was conceived and created for 5.1. It is the best example of a three-dimensional sound stage I’ve ever heard. Pro tip - if you have a 5.1 setup for movies, buy it on blu-ray. The difference between the stereo version and the 5.1 version is incredible. Wilson is hoping to bring the wonders of surround sound to the masses by using the blu-ray format. I hope blu-ray can succeed where DVD-audio and SACD failed.
This is now the album I will use to demonstrate my surround sound system. I’m considering hosting a listening party at my house as part of #heweb13. Expect "Grace for Drowning" to be prominently featured.
1. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now
Almost 30 years ago I received a phone call from a friend of mine insisting we leave that night on a road trip to Athens to catch a club show of a relatively obscure band. Given that skipping work was involved I was hesitant, but I respected her musical tastes so off we went. Thus began my love affair with R.E.M., a band I have always strongly identified with. (There's a reason that "It's the end of the Web as We Know It" is the title I chose for my most popular presentation.) Unlike some of my other favorite artists, I am the same age as the members of R.E.M. and IMHO, they have been the spokesmen for my generation.
Most bands who survive for 30 years experience a sharp decline in creativity during the tail end of their careers. Not so with R.E.M. I thoroughly enjoyed “Accelerate”, though it was very one-dimensional. “Collapse Into Now” captures all that made R.E.M. great, showcasing both their hard and soft sides. So is this a nostalgic pick? Absolutely. 2011 will be the last time that R.E.M. will ever be included in any yearly best of lists and it’s only fitting that the best American rock band of all time goes out on top.
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