Top o' the year to ya!

Here's my favorite song (or one of them), countdown-style, off each of my top 25 albums of the year.

#25(Track 1)(Duo): Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependance - 24-25

Not a whole lot to say here, just very nice, quiet acoustic music, with some of the best man-man harmonies around.

#24(Track 2)(Solo): Langhorne Slim - Be Set Free - Say Yes

Langhorne is real poppy folk. High Quality.

#23(Track 3)(6-piece): Volcano Choir - Unmap - Seeplymouth

Volcano Choir is a collaboration between the band Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. CCB is kinda math-post-rock, and when that is mixed with Justin's haunting vocals, the result is fantastic.

#22(Track 4)(Duo): Zorch - Demo - Gimme the Axe

I've been going through a bit of a noise pop phase, and this duo are some of the all-stars this year. This is less noise and more electronic-sounding than you might expect.

#21(Track 5)(Duo): Sleigh Bells - Demo - Beach Girls

I have this other duo listed as noise pop, but they're slightly to the hip hop side of center, along with extensive use of electronics, rather than piles of distortion.

#20(Track 6)(Solo): tUnE-YaRdS - BiRd-BrAiNs - LITTLE TIGER

tUnE-YaRdS is Merrill Grubus, a total lo-fi genius. If I remember right, this album was recorded on a four-track, using a drum machine, guitars, ukes, and random things for percussion. Mind = Blown.

#19(Track 7)(Sextet): Passion Pit - Manners - Sleepyhead

It's likely that you've heard this song from the electro-pop band that started as Michael Angelakos' belated Valentine's Day gift for his girlfriend. Best falsetto around. I went (alone) to see them last Wednesday (12/9/09), and they were absolutely fantastic. Most dancing I've done in a long time.

#18(Track 8)(Quartet): Post Post - Meta Meta - Say When

Some nice bright, shine pop out of Philly. I'm definitely a sucker for (slightly stretched) girl vocals, something that can be found here in droves.

#17(Track 9)(Solo): Micachu - Jewllery - Lips

Micachu is another make-music-out-of-whaterver-she-finds artist. She's one of those musicians that music-lovers like myself envy; musician parents, studied violin and viola, offered a scholarship to study composition at a music school. Anyway, she makes some of the coolest, weirdest music I know of.

#16(Track 10)(Duo): A Hawk And A Hacksaw - Déliverance - The Man Who Sold His Beard

A Hawk and a Hacksaw are like a more potent Beirut. They're another duo, the drummer from Neutral Milk Hotel, and a violinist. The go-to band if you're feeling Easter-European.

#15(Track 11)(Sextet): Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains - And the Hazy Sea

One of many great New York bands this year, they're kind of like "New Punk," if that makes any sense. Loud guitars, liberal use of keys, loud-quiet-loud and back and forth.

#14(Track 12)(Sextet): The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love - Margaret In Captivity

Another great album from the great band, The Decemberists. They're one of my absolute favorites; I've seen them five times. This track comes from their ambitious rock opera, which can only mean good things coming from them.

#13(Track 13)(Duo): Slow Club - Yeah So - When I Go

Another duo, this time hailing from Sheffield, England. They've got quality range, from some of the nicest folk you can imagine, to some of the poppiest folk you can imagine. What more could you ask for? (Significant other not included.)

#12(Track 14)(6-piece): Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career - The Sweetest Thing

Glasgow's all-stars. They've been around for quite a while, and always deliver some of the best, slightly twee, pop you could ever want. I struggled to choose between this song and their other song, French Navy, both so incredibly good, that I want you to go YouTube French Navy while you're waiting for this to download.

#11(Track 15)(Solo): M. Ward - Hold Time - Fisher Of Men

Anthony observed one day that music is making more references to God and Christianity lately. Here's an example of that. Hold Time is my favorite of M.'s, and I'm beginning to have trouble coming up with original adjectives and similes worthy of describing this album.

#10(Track 16)(Sextet): Noah & The Whale - The First Days of Spring - My Broken Heart

I first heard some of these songs when I went to see them this last April, and was truly impressed. To compare to their last record, Peaceful The World Lays Me Down, The First Days of Spring is much more subdued overall, very much akin to the song Peaceful The World Lays Me Down. Well, except for the orchestra-filled tracks, which brighten things up considerably when they happen along.

#9(Track 17)(Trio): Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster - Body

Bright, pounding indie-rock. Very sing-along-worthy, again, not much to say about it other than you'll get a good feel for what it's all about from this song.

#8(Track 18)(Trio): The XX - XX - Crystalised

Tied with Edward Sharpe for my favorite artist of the year. They're the next generation of shoegaze. Boy-girl vocals, with some of the simplest melodies and instrumentation around combine to make some of the best music of the year.

#7(Track 19)(Solo): David Bazan - Curse Your Branches - Please, Baby, Please

This is one of the saddest records I've ever heard. It's all about David's loss of faith in God, his alcoholism, and how it's tearing up his family.

He says in the opening track: "Wait just a minute, You expect me to believe that all this misbehaving grew from one enchanted tree?"

He goes on to describe his family: "...My faithful family, some of whom are already fasting to intercede for me."

Things don't get much heavier than that.

#6(Track 20)(Duo): The Dutchess & The Duke - Sunset / Sunrise - Let It Die

A duo from Seattle this time, The Dutchess & The Duke are ranked high on my list again this year. They almost sound like they belong in the '70s, mixing folk with a bit of super-crunchy blues guitar here and there.

#5(Track 21)(10-piece): Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - From Below - 40 Day Dream

My other favorite new band of the year. I can't get enough of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. They are a huge band, TEN members, and they create something of an event with each song. I first heard about them from the All Things Considered SXSW wrap-up podcast, where they were described to as a band that couldn't be recorded and be as good. Well, judging by the quality of album they managed to release, I figure I have to see them, or my life will never be complete.

#4(Track 22)(6-piece): Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Temecula Sunrise

They're a band that has been around for a while, and for good reason. The basis of this album is crazy, spastic-yet-beautiful guitar, combined with cooing-to-wailing guy-girl vocals. That's enough adjectives for one band. A must-have.

#3(Track 23)(Duo): Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Crazy/Forever

The best slamming, driving, turn-it-up-way-past-what-your-speakers-can-handle record for some time. It's just two guys on drums and guitar, making the best garage-pop since De Stijl.

#2(Track 24)(Solo): St. Vincent - Actor - Save Me From What I Want

Alright, so I have a crush on Annie Clark. If you know about her, you probably do to, so leave me alone. She's guitar alumni from The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan's Illinoisemakers. She released one of the best albums of 2007, Marry Me, which, along with the obvious attraction of such a sentiment, is really a quote from Arrested Development. The Perfect Girl? Maebe. Nay, Surely. (Get it?) Anyway, she sends the blistering guitar a bit back in the mix this time around, and replaces it with bodacious beats and glistening guitar. Top it all off with her irresistible croon, and you have the second-best album of this, frankly, amazing year of music.

#1(Track 25)(Trio): The Antlers - Hospice - Wake, Or, Letting People In

This is the most emotion-filled, heart-wrenching album I have EVER heard. It's the product of Peter Silberman hibernating in an apartment in Brooklyn for several years, telling a story about a person losing a loved one to cancer, and having to witness it. The album delves into the relationship, that clearly wasn't anything near easy:

"I wanna bust down the door, if you're willing to forgive. I've got the keys, I'm letting people in."

"But something kept me standing by that hospital bed, I should have quit, but instead I took care of you."

"Please, please calm down. Steady out, I'm terrified. Sorry, I want us to ally, but you swing on little knives. They're only sharp on one side."

"Sylvia, can't you see what you're doing? Can't you see I'm scared to speak, and I hate my voice 'cause it only makes you angry."

"I'd happily take all those bullets inside you and put them inside of myself."

"There's a bear inside your stomach. The cub's been kicking from within. He's loud, though without vocal chords, we'll put an end to him. We'll make all the right appointments, no one ever has to know."

Sylvia - "Pull me out... Pull me out... Can't you stop this all from happening? Close the doors and keep them out."

"In the middle of the night I was sleeping sitting up, when a doctor came to tell me, 'Enough is enough.' ...That there was nothing that I could do to save you, the choir's gonna sing, this thing is gonna kill you."

"I've woken up, I'm in our bed, but there's no breathing body there beside me. Someone must have taken you while I was stuck asleep."

I marvel at this every time I listen to it. It's one of those things you want to listen to over and over and over, as if that would help ease the protagonist's pain. You never can, but it's well worth the try.

...And Now For Something Completely Different:

A man sitting on a Flamingo, dressed as a Crested Grebe. The Flamingo, Emily, didn't like that at all, so she pecked and pecked and pecked at the Grebe. She pecked so vigorously, that she turned straight away into a pincushion. Have you ever seen such a nice, soft, large pincushion as the one you just imagined? Doubt it.

Tomorrow, Ponchie the bear sat on his favorite stump, and considered his small life. He thought that Captain Janeway was a good captain, as StarFleet captains go, but she was never as tough before or after the time that Macrovirus invaded Voyager.

If you had three hands, which is your best?

Enjoy some music. Life's weird, Friends.

D-Ling instructions

So, neither Anth or I gave you instructions on how to download/add to your library correctly.

What you download is a folder, that's zipped. If you use Safari, it will automatically unzip it for you. I think Firefox doesn't, and I don't know about any other browsers. Anyway, if you can't just right-click and select "Unzip," then you need a little program that unzips it, which shouldn't be hard to find.

Now that you have your unzipped folder, you need to make a new playlist in your iTunes. You want to drag the folder right in to the playlist, so that it will import in the correct order. If you just drag it in to your main library, or if you use the import command, the songs will import, but they'll be totally random.

That should be it, Friends!

lone

So let us begin. Well first and foremost I send out my deepest apologies with the tardiness of my first post. But alas here it is.

I should start with a statement of how I prepare my playlists. I often set one according to the mood that I have been in as well as what sort of setting has been encompassing me. As of lately that has been a calm mood with late night readings of 300 B.C. philosophers and early Christian church Theologians. Hot licorice tea has been accompany me as well as I struggle through developing my beliefs. I hope that the playlist will help you contemplate.

Please enjoy.

Track One: Blue Skies: Noah and the Whale
My favorite track off of Noah and the Whale’s new album The First Days of Spring. Recently released on Cherrytree Records (US) and Vertigo Records (UK).

Track Two: Heart Skipped A Beat: The XX
A new band from UK, the XX are a powerful luscious band that found a new beauty in simplicity. They band met while attending London’s Elliott School which also boasts of the grounds in which bands such as Hot Chip, and Four Tet were created.

Track Three: Pale Blue Eyes (Closet Mix): The Velvet Underground
A classic band that I have recently discovered, The Velvet Underground’s Pale Blue Eyes may be one of the prettiest songs I have heard in a long while. The song is featured on the band’s 1969 self-titled album. The Album was produced by the band and featured two different mixes the first by the band engineer, Val Valentin. The second mix by Lou Reed the bands front man. Sterling Morrison thought that Reed’s Mix sounded like the band was playing in a closet, hence the term closet mix.

Track Four: Our Way to Fall: Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo was first started in the the mid 1980’s and was a pioneer in the “lo-fi” sound the band is known for. This track is taken from their 2000 release And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out.

Track Five: Options (Solo Electric): David Bazan
Track five was a late addition to the list. It was originally on the Album Options from Bazan’s original project Pedro The Lion. The track featured in this list is actually taken from David Bazan’s mildly new DVD release Alone at the Mic.

Track Six: Sweedeedee: Cat Power (Cover of Michel Hurley)
The original version of this song is done by a Mr. Michael Hurley a singer songwriter, who first began recording in 1965. Charlyn Marie Marshall (Cat Power) covered this song on her 2000 release The Covers Record.

Track Six: The Book of Love: The Magnetic Fields
The Book of Love hales from the bands epic album 69 love songs. The album was recorded and released in 1999. It was a three volume concept album, primary composed by legendary songwriter Stephin Merritt. His other projects include: Future Bible Heros, The Gothic, and the 6th.

Track Seven:
Anther lovely song off of The Velvet Underground’s 1969 self-titled release. Also the Closet Mix. Please enjoy.

Track Eight: Still: Volcano Choir
Volcano Choir is a new project coming from Justin Vermon, the man behind 2007 break out band Bon Iver, and the band Collection of Colonies of Bees. The group had began collaborating on songs in early 2005 but never recorded anything until 2008. Bon Iver is currently working on the follow up to For Emma, Forever Ago.

Track Nine: We’re Computerizing and We Just Don’t Need You Anymore: American Analog Set.
This is truly one of my favorite bands. Lead by the lusious vocals of Andrew Kenny, this will truly make your heart melt, well maybe. This is taken from the bands 2001 release Know By Heart. If you are a fan of this I recommend the solo EP he did with Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cuttie and The Postal Service), along with his new band The Wooden Birds.

Track Ten: Inside + Out: Feist
Here is a rare track that took me a little while to dig up. Taken from a live recording Feist did at the BBC, it is a cover of the band Apostle of Hustle. Please also see the work that she does with Broken Social Scene and their Self-Titled release.

Track Eleven: Tears Are in Your Eyes (Yo La Tengo): The Antlers
Here is a small cover song of one of the greatest break out bands this year: The Antlers. Coming from Brooklyn New York, The Antlers put out an album Hotspice early this year which all should own. In 2008 they released a small EP titled New York Hospitals featuring covers of The Magnetic Fields, To La Tengo (featured here), and one original.

Track twelve: Nowhere Near: Yo La Tengo
Here we again feature a song by the band Yo La Tengo this time coming from the 1993 release Painful. This album was a great shift in the bands creative forces they now were working on creating a much lighter ambient feel.

Track thirteen: Stars: The XX
Nearing the end of the playlist we come to another song from the band The XX. Featuring wonderful male female vocal harmonies, and creative and simplistic distances that kind of leaves you breathless. Please, please check them out this is easily in my Top Five releases of 2009.

Track Fourteen: My Broken Heart: Noah and the Whale
Another song taken from the New Noah and the Whale album. I like to think of this song as the encore of the playlist. Feeling a little empty with The XX’s Stars here is a song to hopefully fill you up a little bit.

Octobre, vous êtes ici.

Essentially my summer in melodramatic musical form. There may be some who can guess the subject of this post, and if you're correct, good for you! Anyway, The next installment may be more cheerful.

Should I give a little info about the tracks? Well, since I'm waiting for it to upload, I'll say a small bit:

I chose each song for content, not just good sounds or something new and interesting. That said, there are some new and interesting songs on this list. #1 Sufjan Stevens: The second track of his latest work, The BQE, is quite the departure from the Americana-Folk he's known for. That track is a very good appetizer for the rest of the album, representing it nicely. #2 Dirty Projectors: Off one of the best albums of the year. At the end of the year, I'm going to have to remember to make a top-song-from-each-top-album list. #8 Slow Club: Another best of 2009, this is about as upbeat as they get, but the album ebbs and flows very well, with some fantastic slow songs as well. #9 Ödland: A French band, this album is basically the musical output of the art-collective the 4(?) of them have formed. One is primarily a photographer, one a filmmaker, and so on. I don't remember off the top of my head what they all do, but it's all SO good. #13 Yes Please: A girl (or more) from Olympia, who has moved on to other projects, leaving Yes Please in the dust for us to long after from the center of our hearts.

Link's in the title.

Blog #2 - June, here we are!

Well, here's the second installment. Just an "amazing new-ish music" list. Nothing too elaborate, but fantastic none the less.

Track list:

1 I'm Going To Heaven With Or Without You (The Forest Fire) - the pAper chAse

2 Foni Tu Argile - A Hawk And A Hacksaw

3 Anchor Made Of Sand - Jenny Wilson

4 Riddle It - Roxy Rawson

5 Bucephalus Bouncing Ball - Bell Orchestre

6 Illustrations - Red Tag Rummage Sale

7 French Navy - Camera Obscura

8 Dé-programmé - Mansfield Tya

9 Slow Jet - The Dead Sea

10 WEHNYOUTELLTHELIONS - tUnE-YaRdS

11 Living In Danger - Anni Rossi

12 Have I Told You? - Dreamdate

13 Dig In - Tara Jane O'Neil

14 Midnight Sun Dream - Hanne Hukkelberg

15 Floating In A Lake - Teardrop

16 Act Of The Apostle - God Help The Girl

17 See Where Capella And Her Golden Kids - Caroline Weeks

18 Tonight - Lykke Li

19 Rock Yourself Out Chah Body - Hexlove

20 Azar One - Venice Is Sinking

21 Neo Dada - Jono El Grande

22 Talkin' Like You (Two Tall Mountains) - Connie Converse

23 The Sun Is In The North - If These Trees Could Talk

24 C Slash Sold At Ten Percent Discount - Rempis Percussion Quartet

(click title to get playlist)

Mix #1

So, here we are, or, rather, I am, with the first installment of hopefully many mixes. This one evolved from just some random songs into something that eventually seemed to have a theme. So I expanded on that theme, and now you can listen, too.

(click title to get playlist)