Halftime! Chris's Midyear Top Ten

Well, SOMEONE has to bring some loud guitars to this group, and once again, I guess it's going to be me.  I have a primitive ranking done, but instead, I'm just going to throw out a bunch of records that have grabbed me so far these past six months and let the chips where they fall by the time it's all said and done in December.

I will say, though, that the album that's on top of my list so far this year is the latest opus from Ginger Wildheart.  The Wildhearts are a band that I don't think get enough press stateside (they're British); Ginger marries loud guitars and melody like nobody else.  Ginger ran his latest recording through PledgeMusic, and when he quickly raised 555% of his goal, he named his record after that number.  (It kept creeping up, and is at 588% now.)  It's... amazing.  My favorite song changes weekly, but for now it's the incredibly NSFW "Another Spinning Fucking Rainbow":

The full recording session includes 31 tracks, but he released a single disc, twelve-track version called "100%" a few weeks ago for the unwashed masses, with the tracks voted on by the fans.  We got most of the big tunes on there, but it's really worth downloading the full thing.

Note: Ginger has two records (a "disc two" of his "best of" record from a few years back, and the live and acoustic "Potatoes And You," which was one of my Top 10 from 2011) available for free download here.

I was pleasantly surprised to see new stuff from Blues Traveler making the rounds; "Suzie Cracks The Whip" was released early last month, and is excellent.  Very impressed by Slash's new one, "Apocalyptic Love."  Myles Kennedy channels Axl a lot here, but in a really good way.  Also enjoying the new tunes from John Mayer, Of Monsters and Men, Chris Robinson, the live Mike Doughty two-disc question and answer set, the country record from Lionel Richie (yes, seriously), and the new Japandroids, which I see has popped up on a couple of lists here.

It isn't a Chris List without old-time rock too; Trixter got back together and released "New Audio Machine" this spring.  It evokes 1991 without being overly kitschy; really just a solid rock record. "Rock N Roll Ride" from Jack Blades (Night Ranger/Damn Yankees), the new Van Halen, Gotthard's first post-Steve Lee record, and the Broadway record from Dee Snider are all enjoyable as well (yes, seriously again).

On the "bands you've never heard of" list, Venrez has spent the last few weeks opening for Alice Cooper; their debut "Sell The Lie" is a stonker.  So is Halestorm's "The Strange Case Of...", which took some time to grow on me. The best tunes there come at the end: "American Boys" and "Here's To Us" both find their way into my heavy rotation.  Dr. Dog's "Be The Void" is a solid listen as well.

Big thumbs up to Flying Colors also.  A "supergroup" from Steve Morse of the Dixie Dregs/Deep Purple and former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, is proggy and poppy and metally all at once.

The big non-rock record to grab me this year is the original cast recording from Once, which won approximately a half-million Tony awards this spring.  I'm admittedly biased because I've got two friends from college in the cast, but the record's stunning... and the show is even more stunning.  The Oscar-winning "Falling Slowly" is on there, of course, but the gem here is "Gold." It doesn't even pop on the record the way it does in the show; it gave me chills live.  Brilliant, brilliant show.  Deserved all the awards it got and all the ones it didn't get too.

Note: My two friends, Mike and Lucas, are front and center (plaid shirt, guitar) and rear stage left (tank top, green pants), respectively.

On my list are the Gotye and fun. discs, which I haven't fully listened to yet, and I've heard good things about Jukebox The Ghost, Everclear, Neil Young, Lit, and the Smashing Pumpkins.  Also have the new Ugly Kid Joe EP on my list to check out soon.

And in the "coming soon" section are Aerosmith, The Darkness, Alanis Morissette, Beck, Green Day (a three-CD run that will fall into 2013 also), DMB, the Killers, Zac Brown Band, and the Ben Folds Five, which I've already supported on PledgeMusic as well.  (Really, really hope The Darkness kicks my ass all over the place.  Miss those guys, and I like what I've heard so far.)

Georgy's Triumphant Return to Musical Relevance (and Top 10 of 2012 So Far)

Hi. Remember me? I’m the person who used to obsessively write about music, and contributed a couple of roundups here in the past.

But then, I got the bright idea to start my own business. And my life since then, while it has been amazing in many respects, quickly became too full of work and travel to leave room for one of my favorite pastimes -- discovering and enjoying music.

Excuses, excuses -- I know.

So, as I write this on Independence Day, I find myself reflecting on something I’ve actually been thinking about quite a bit over the past week or two. I started my own business, in part, to have more control over my own life and priorities. But as it has turned out, in the crush to get that business off the ground (and figure out what the hell I’m doing), many of my personal priorities ended up taking a backseat. A relatively common conundrum for entrepreneurs, I understand. But life is so much more than just work. Work should support the life we want to live, not the other way around.

Thus, at this halfway point of 2012, I’m recommitting to my own independence (in all respects of the word) and reclaiming time for the things I love that make my life worth living, no matter my professional context. And one of those things is music.

As I step back into the Higher Ed Music Critics arena, I clutch hat in hand and sheepishly acknowledge just how much music has passed me by or only grazed me this year. But one of the lessons I’ve learned as an independent consultant is how to look at a problem as an opportunity -- and the sheer volume of undiscovered new music before me is a grand opportunity, indeed. I am grateful to have the recommendations of this group of smart and savvy folks to tide my ears over in the coming weeks.

That said, I haven’t been completely out of the loop, and I’ve been lucky enough to have some sweet tunes thumping on the stereo or in the earbuds as I’ve cranked on said work over the past few months. So here’s a look at my favorites so far, as well as some albums I’m sure will crack that list as soon as I give them their due.


Air Traffic Controller - Nordo

I first heard the single, “Hurry, Hurry,” randomly via Facebook, and from that instant I was hooked. I went to the Soundcoud page for the song multiple times daily, and when the video came out, I watched that a ton, as well. Perhaps it had something to do with how I’ve felt so far this year, but the song would not let me go. When the full album finally came out, the grip only intensified. One of the most refreshing, catchy and compelling pop albums I’ve heard in a while.

 

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

I’ve long been enamored with this Canadian import, and her latest album does not disappoint. Another rich tapestry of love and longing, woven with a wry frankness and hemmed by gorgeous melodies and Edwards’ stirring voice.




Stephie Coplan and the Pedestrians - s/t

Here’s my Stephie Coplan story - I interviewed her for a story at Tufts back in the day, when she was just posting YouTube videos of her dorm room keyboard compositions and organizing a music education program at a local school. Now she’s an incredibly talented, sharp songwriter who rivals Ben Folds for prowess at the keyboard and far surpasses him in the biting and intelligent lyrics department.
 



Best Coast - The Only Place

No, in response to everyone who asks, I don’t only love this album because the cover features a bear hugging the state of California. It’s also a gorgeous, sun-kissed pop gem, with some classic touches that hearken all the way back to the 1950s and 1960s. A delight.




Metric - Synthetica

You have to love an album that begins with the lyric, “I’m just as fucked up as they say.” That’s Emily Haines and Metric for you, just putting it out there like they’ve always done. The Metric brand of rock (again, Canadian!) is wreathed in a swirl of synthy melodies, but never lost in it. And Haines’ deceptively sweet vocals always pack a lyrical punch.

 


Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal

I’m echoing many of my colleagues when I profess my love for this album, but enough good things really can’t be said about it. This Icleandic band’s folk-tinged pop is uplifting, lush, thoughtful and thoroughly enjoyable. Must be the geothermic heat - just the right level of warmth.




The Lumineers - s/t

More folk fun. “Ho Hey” took over the airwaves much as Edward Sharpe did a couple years back with a simple but universally appreciated and delightfully expressed refrain - “I belong with you / You belong with me / You’re my sweetheart.” The rest of the album lives up the promise of that song.

 


Beach House - Bloom

Here’s a Moment I had the other day, which pretty much sums up my feelings about “Bloom”: I was driving home up I-93 North, and just as the Boston skyline came into view, the opening notes of “Myth” filled the car. My eyes welled, and as I descended into the tunnel I had to blink away tears as my eyes adjusted from the light to the dark. Awash in vulnerable beauty - that’s how Beach House makes me feel, in a nutshell.

 


Hospitality - Hospitality

What we have here is just a little bit of Brooklyn indiepop fun. Nothing here will change the world, but it will make it a little more tolerable -- it sure has for me. I can also smell the mid-90s in songs like “Eighth Avenue” and “Betty Wang,” and that always makes me happy.




Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror

When Sleigh Bells first came on the scene a couple of years ago, I recoiled. Then, I felt helplessly intrigued. Soon, I was captivated. Thus, I eagerly awaited the release of “Reign of Terror,” which may be less noisy, but is no less engaging and fun.



Hon. Mention - The Hunger Games soundtrack I know, soundtracks don’t really count. And maybe it’s just because I caught the Panem Flu bad earlier this year. But I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack -- it was an excellent musical companion to the film as well as the books, and it introduced me to acts such as the Carolina Chocolate Drops and even Taylor Swift. (Seriously, her songs on this are quite good!)

   


Albums I Own and Have Either Listened to Insufficiently (and Enjoy but Not Enough to Comment On Them Intelligently) or Not At All (but I Am Sure I Will Enjoy Upon Further Listens)

Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
The Shins - Port of Morrow
Girlyman - Supernova
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes - Here
Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls
M Ward - A Wasteland Companion
Fun. - Some Nights
Brendan Benson - What Kind of World
School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

Need to Get (And Can’t Believe I Haven’t Already)
Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
Tanlines - Mixed Emotions
Tennis - Young & Old

 What else am I missing? (I'm sure it's a lot.) Let me know!

Alaina's Mid-2012 Review

At the close of 2011 when I was asked to contribute to the top albums list for this blog, I had to do some serious homework. I hadn't listened to more than 10 new albums throughout the year. Imagine! Then came Spotify and my life changed forever (or at least until some other music streaming service steals me away).

Below are the albums I've liked the most so far this year. I had a really hard time putting them in order, so take the ranking below with a grain of salt.

8. The Lumineers - "The Lumineers"
I am just really enjoying this album. Easily a contender for my Beard Folk playlist.



7. Tanlines - "Mixed Emotions"
This album is different than the other music I've been listening to lately, but it's intriguing. Nothing brings you back to the '80s like a good synthesizer, but this feels like more than a throwback. It's new and interesting.



6. JayMay - "10under2"
"10under2" is short, sweet, and fun—and will require no more than 20 minutes of your life to review.



5. Vacationer - "Gone"
Upon my first consideration of Vacationer, I told Ron Bronson that it was like Foster the People and Vampire Weekend had made a music baby. I challenge you to listen to this album and then disagree. Or, just listen to this album and enjoy it for being really great and dynamic.



4. Now, Now - "Threads"
Moody-broody goodness. I listened to this album on repeat for a few weeks. It's a little addictive.



3. Of Monsters and Men - "My Head is an Animal"
I've seen Of Monsters and Men classified as folk, indie, alternative. I feel like this album is bigger than just folk or whatever it is "indie" is these days. There are haunting melodies, harmonies, and layers.



2 or 1. Kimbra - "Vows"
When an album is released outside of the U.S. in 2011, but then released here in 2012, can it be listed in a 2012 review? I say yes. And so I give you Kimbra. You may know her as the female vocalist featured in Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know." Spotify describes her music as "jazzy R&B and indie-rock influenced dance music." Umm, that about covers it.



1 or 2. Fun. - "Some Nights"
My husband has been listening to Fun. for a few years. Like I do, I resisted listening to their music at length because I like making my own musical decisions. I'm super open-minded like that. This spring, though, we saw Fun. live, and I was hooked. The live show was so energetic and captivating. I even bought a t-shirt.

2012 At The Half

As we hit the halftime point in the year, we all head into the locker room that is the July 4 vacation week and take stock of what's happened so far. For me, it's been a brutal year personally, so the whistle can't come soon enough. As for music, the year has brought us some surprises (Gotye's breakout, the ubiquity of "Call Me Maybe") and the continued new world of sorry record sales (if you take out Adele's 21 sales are down from last year).

What follows is a list of ten albums I've been listening to a lot this year. This isn't ranked -- I won't do that until December comes -- but you can expect to see them somewhere on my final ballot in December.

Celebration Rock, Japandroids. 
A symphony of anthemic punk noise. "The House That Heaven Built" is the best turn-it-up-to-11-and-rip-the-knob-off banger in a long, long time. And the whole album is like that. 

Bloom, Beach House.

The chief critique of Bloom is that Beach House really isn't evolving their sound much from previous works. And that's a reasonable criticism, but there's a lot to be said for a band essentially doing the same thing but doing it better every time out. And Bloom, with its dream-pop melodies and shoegazer-lite sound, is pretty close to perfection.




Hospitality, Hospitality.
I freely admit I'm a sucker for Belle And Sebastian/C86 soundalike bands. I am, after all, every stereotype of a Belle And Sebastian fan: A natural introvert who'd rather read in a coffeehouse than rock out at parties (but still has the Teenage Fanclub back catalog cued up and ready to go). So now comes Hospitality, who wear their K Records credentials on their sleeves (even though they signed with Merge) and produce some of the best American chamber pop ever.

Tramp, Sharon Van Etten.

Van Etten has been an up-and-comer for a while, but this year she's really broken through, thanks to a tight set of songs held together by her emotional singing.




Young & Old, Tennis.

A husband-and-wife team out of Denver serving up yet another serving of pretty indie pop.




The Lumineers, The Lumineers.

The Lion's Roar, First Aid Kit.

Fear Fun, Father John Misty.

And here we talk about Year Three of this Folk Revival we've been in. The good news is it's not all Mumford And Sons and Fleet Foxes anymore. The Lumineers have their own take on the sound, turning it more bluegrass and folk (and away from the Anglophile sentiments of the Mumfords and Foxes). Meanwhile, two Swedish sisters calling themselves First Aid Kit have made arguably the best country album of the year (or maybe just the best alt-country album). And then there's Father John Misty, the moniker of former Fleet Foxes drummer Joshua Tillman, who starts with the folk of the Foxes (and Damien Jurado, whom he used to back on tour) and takes it off in strange, psychedelic directions.







Homage, Portland Cello Project.
The Portland Cello Project has been doing... interesting covers for a couple years now. For example, here's their cello arrangement of "N****s In Paris." Their new album collects a few of them along with some originals. This isn't some novelty band we're talking about here -- they're deathly serious about transmogrifying metal and hip-hop into chamber string arrangements.



Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends, Flaming Lips et. al.

The Flaming Lips are always a hard band to listen to because you don't know if you're listening to music that's strangely great or greatly strange. Here they seemed to have managed both at the same time, thanks to a list of guest artists that reads like a third-rate game show's celebrity guests. I mean, Ke$ha. Ke$ha! And yet, that might be the best song on the album.

Here's another six albums I've been ruminating over this year:

Attack On Memory, Cloud Nothings.
La Grande, Laura Gibson.
Oblivion, Grimes.
Young Man In America, Anais Mitchell.

My Head Is An Animal, Of Monsters And Men.

Blunderbuss, Jack White.


And here's my running list of favorite songs of 2012 that's very, um, eclectic. Enjoy.

2012: The first six months

by @andrewcareaga

"Used to Rule the World" is the opening track from Bonnie Raitt's latest album, Slipstream. Yes, you read that right. Bonnie freakin' Raitt has a new album, right now, in 2012.

It's a decent album, on a par with Nick of Time. But Nick of Time, Raitt's most popular offering, came out in 1989 -- the same year as Field of Dreams and Tiananmen Square. The year Raitt ruled the world. And light years before the Internet, like some giant asteroid, busted the music business to smithereens. For a dinosaur like Raitt to launch a comeback now seems as unlikely as it would be for Mikhail Gorbachev, Time's Man of the Year for 1989, to try to unseat Vladimir Putin.

Yet here she is, performing the unlikely. And she's not alone. Willie Nelson. Bruce Springsteen. Joe Walsh. Neil Young. All of these geezer rockers from the Dark Ages have released new albums this year. Even the Beach Boys have gotten into the act, for cryin' out loud.

Maybe these old-timers bought into that Mayan-calendar-end-of-the-world meme. Maybe they decided 2012 would be their last chance to make the charts. I'm not sure. But what I am sure of is that a lot of this new stuff from the old artists is good.

As one of the two elder statesmen on this blog (Mark Greenfield being the other), I supposed I'm expected to defend the old ways, to tell you how the old wine is always better than the new. But that doesn't mean I'm not open to some new stuff every once in a while. Below is my top 10 list of favorite albums for the first half of 2012, and therein you'll find a mix of old and new artists. As you read (and perhaps snicker at a couple of my selections), bear in mind that no matter your age, scientific research confirms that "musical tastes formed in the teen years become part of the brain's internal wiring, as that is the time when some neural pathways are solidifying and others are being pruned away. That's why the music adults tend to be nostalgic for is the music from their teenage years." Which makes me feel sorry for today's kids. Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen? Almost as bad as my day, when disco ruled.

On to the list:

10. The Shins - Port of Morrow
This made my top 5 list for the first quarter of 2012, but it's slipped a few notches since March. Still a solid effort from a band that makes consistently good poppy music.

9. Allo Darlin' - Europe
Given everything that's been going on with the eurozone this past several weeks, I'm not sure naming your sophomore album after the troubled continent was a wise move, marketing-wise. But the sweet twee of Allo Darlin', led by ukelele-playing Elizabeth Morris, is uplifting. If only it could uplift the troubled economies of Greece, Spain, et. al.




8. Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Another top 5 pick from spring that has been pushed back by newer offerings, the Boss's latest work is a return to his idealistic, anthemic style of big albums like The Rising, Nebraska and Born to Run. I really thought I'd be tired of this album by now. But no.

7. Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts
This is not the Norah I remember from years past. No more dinner party background music, Norah's latest borrows from the likes of Neko Case to produce a new, rootsier, stripped-down sound on songs that deal with heartbreak and life's struggles. It is surprisingly great.



6. Jack White - Blunderbuss
Is Jack White really a solo artist now? Or is this just another side project for the man behind the Dead Weather and Raconteurs, the producer/collaborator of Wanda Jackson's great 2011 comeback album (The Party Ain't Over), etc.?  Blunderbuss meanders beautifully from guitar-saturated rock to ballads to a fun cover of the '50s R&B classic "Shakin'." In other words, it's a lot like a White Stripes album. Only somehow freer and more daring.





5. The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
Seriously? What were Brian Wilson, Mike Love and company thinking that they could go back into the studio and create an album 45 years after their last one? But listen to the title track and you'll swear it's 1966 all over again. The vocals and harmonies are just that good. Pure nostalgia -- I'll admit it.



4. Patti Smith - Banga
Another comeback kid, the high priestess of the '70s New York punk rock scene has created an amazing, moving, poetic album.




3. Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite
Another from the top 5 post. It's still on steady play. I love this album so much. I just can't get tired of it.



2. Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal
The latest sensation out of Iceland is, well, just sensational.



1. Best Coast - The Only Place
I suspect most proud Californians, and that state's convention and tourism bureau, love this album, since it so unabashedly promotes that state. As if the band's name itself weren't enough, the album title, cover art (a bear lovingly holding the entire state) and lyrics to the title song ("why would you live anywhere else?") also seems to exclude the rest of the world from loving this album. But don't take it personally. Instead, soak up this perfect, shimmery summertime listen. No matter where you live, The Only Place will take your brain to the beach if you let it.

Mid-Year Checkup: The Musical Edition

Photo by avem via Flickr

By @ronbronson

Judging from the thermometer today, it's summer if I hadn't noticed it before. With a bevy of new releases, I've been trying to keep up while entertaining the usual summer shenanigans of road trips, work and visiting family. So what's been playing in the Casa de Ronaldo? Let's take a gander, shall we?

Disclaimer: I'm the one in the group who has the most disparate and wide ranging tastes. So this is probably isn't going to be full of fun summer music, because I don't even know what mine would be if I had to decide. Probably something dour. But I'm sure the other members of the crew will come up clutch in that respect.

In any case, let's get going.

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do


The first time I heard this album,, I just wasn't sure what to make of it. It's not summer music, to be honest. At least in that upbeat, dance around the house in the whee hours with your friends kind of way. It's far more introspective, but it's a Fiona Apple album, so you expected that if you knew anything about her previous catalog. The Idler Wheel is challenging. It's acquired taste music that I suspect most people are going to avoid. But if you're willing to play it a few times and sit with it over your favorite drink, you'll probably discover (and enjoy) the complexities and dare I say it, maturity -- throughout this release.

It's grown-up music of the first order, but still decidedly Fiona. I'm glad she's back.

Zulu Winter - Language




I know I said I wasn't going to be posting any "summer music" but this fits that category well. Zulu Winter is a cross being Coldplay and Foster The People. I read that somewhere and it seemed to be about right to me; when I first heard it I thought of Chris Martin immediately. It's a fun album to play in the background and works whether you're driving the car, cleaning the house or sitting in the office.

Princeton - Remembrance Of Things To Come




I stumbled upon this album a few months ago. I like it. I don't really know what else to say about it. Press play and decide for yourself. It's indie-pop that works really well, even if you've never heard of the group.

The Walkmen - Heaven


Here's the title track from this Walkmen's new release. It'll remind you of bygone rock and roll.

In closing, I've just thrown together a playlist of some summer tunes from 2012 new releases I've been tuning into. You can play it here or subscribe to it via Spotify.


Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

2012: The first three months

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.