2013 Favorite Album

“The Bones of What You Believe” is such a fantastic album. I love this record so much! It’s crazy awesome 80’s synthpop! What a fine tribute to the MTV new wave generation. Remember groups like Depeche Mode and Human League? You can hear the influence all over the record. So, they are two guys and a girl from Scotland. Each of them have enormous talent and musicianship. Synthesizers, samplers, guitars and gorgeous vocals coming from an awesome girl named Lauren. Did you know she has a Law Degree and was a Journalism major? Her voice is rather pretty and makes you wanna dance or go for a long drive and absorb this grand life. It’s organic because it flows through you like “tickle fits!”

Chvrches is pronounced like Churches, by the way.

The two dudes, Ian and Martin, are quite focused on their musical instruments and occasionally provide some cool masculine vocals as well. Every song gives me chills. What an addictive sound! It draws you in. It’s got this gigantic POP ENERGY that rushes through you like sugar on a sunny day. You’re gonna want to drink a gallon of this ocean wave of pure poppy, bubble gum and highly accessible delightful hurricane buzz juice.

Enjoy

2010-2012 were very good years!

 

In 2010, I started listening to more podcasts. NPR’s All Songs Considered was my favorite. In the Spring that year they played a song called “Everlasting Light” by The Black Keys. It was so catchy that we had that song playing at our Wedding later that year. The whole album, “Brothers” is pretty amazing. Just like 2010 was amazing! Wedding bells, college courses and brain surgery took place that year but The Black Keys got me through it all.

 

In 2011, I went through a depression period. I had a relapse from my surgery and had a grand mal seizure, suffered post par-tam depression after the wedding and dropped out of college. We moved to a new apartment as well. But PJ Harvey’s record, “Let England Shake” was my cd of choice. I played it all the time. It was such an addictive sound. I wish she appeared more on my list of favorite albums. But this one definitely was worthy of the list.

 

In 2012, I began a new journey of my life. I started running again. My favorite record of the year 2012 was by a band called Japandroids. I don’t care what anyone says about this but it friggin rules! 2 guys only. A drummer and a guitarist. They just kill it! Drinking anthems mixed with the Husker Du type of melodies and patterns. The album begins and ends with the sound of fireworks. I listened to them when I would go for a jog in the morning, while training for 5k’s and triathlons. It makes me feel alive. It’s a garage band that sounds BIG and proof that 2 twenty something guys from Canada can perform shock therapy on your mood!

 

That’s all for now!!!

Let’s try 3 albums today

In 2007, Radiohead released the album “In Rainbows.” It was a surprise release on the internet where you could pay any amount for. It was listener’s choice. I think I paid five bucks. I listened to it quite often. In the car, mowing the lawn and grocery shopping. It was also my first year with an MP3 player. These guys never seize to amaze me!

In 2008, my friend Heidi let me borrow a record by a band called Vampire Weekend. It was a self-titled album. This music has such a catchy, jammy, tribal and party sound to it. I was surprised how amazing this one was. I still play it a lot. Good stuff.

The Flaming Lips released an album entitled “Embryonic” in 2009. A friend once said of this release: “Finally they’re WEIRD again!” It’s complex, silly and definitely has Syd Barrett moments of atmospheric sounds. Not to mention, Karen O (The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) is heard making animal sounds. A must own!

That’s all for now. See you later!

2005 and 2006 Album Choices

In 2005, Beck released an album entitled “Guero.” Beck switches up his sound all the time, but this is probably one of my favorite of his artistic personalities. There’s a distinct electronic element throughout the album, but it’s peppered with touches of rock, folk, and dare I say hip-hop! E-Pro is a monster, and Hell Yes gets stuck in my head every time I listen to it

In 2006, Tool released their last album “10,000 days.”This is less mathematic than Lateralus (I love math rock), but this album is a true piece of art, especially “Right In Two.” Also I found Rosetta Stoned one of the most difficult songs Tool ever released. There is a bit of Folk on 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2). Vicarious is also a key track. 🙂
PS: loved the stereoscopic glasses and the 3D artwork.

 

Brian Wilson can smile #2004 #music #album

Back in the late 60s Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was in friendly competition with the Beatles and at one point he tried to release an album entitled “Smile” but there were complications with the other bandmembers and the record companies. Also he was having a nervous breakdown and it was related to massive drug use. So the album was shelved and essentially never really saw the light of day. It was supposed to surpass the genius music of “Pet Sounds.” It was referred to it as a “teenage symphony to God.” 
Then suddenly after 35 years or so it was dug back out and Brian re-recorded the whole album as he intended with new musicians helping him out. The music is daring and is constantly changing shifts essentially every 30 seconds yet it is quite complex in composition. Smile is the most infamous recording in music history because it was never officially released when it was supposed to be. Then in 2004, it finally got released, albeit re-recorded but it’s probably the most accurate composition and as good as it’s going to get. 
The whole thing is whimsical and pays tribute to Americana themes such as heroes and villains. Eating your vegetables and brushing your teeth and with talks about the infamous Chicago fire and even throws in the pocket symphony known as “good vibrations” so it’s all over the place yet it really is a masterpiece. 

#Postal #Service #2003 #Music

 

To start off, frankly, this is probably the best thing Ben Gibbard has ever done. Death Cab for Cutie’s a pretty good band, but I think that the Postal Service blows them clear out of the water. Ben Gibbard’s sensitive and sweet voice sounds much more natural and convincing alongside the ambient electronic music created by Jimmy Tambarello (of Dntel fame) than conventional indie pop/rock. The chemistry that these two share makes Give Up one of the best and most beautiful albums of 2003.

The album’s sound is the perfect mix of EDM and indie pop songwriting. The music and beats are subtle and soothing, and Ben Gibbard’s emotive, almost understated vocals compliment the music perfectly. This is undoubtedly a headphones album, and a great headphones album at that.

Give Up starts off incredibly strong, with its best song, “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” leading the way. Strong melodies, strong lyrics, relaxing atmosphere, and ethereal backing vocals make this track infinitely memorable. Following it are the album’s other stronger tracks, especially “Such Great Heights,” “Clark Gable,” and my second favorite on Give Up, “This Place is a Prison.”

This is music that makes me smile. Beautifully crafted electro-pop with heartfelt lyrics. Ben’s vocal stylings that uncannily resemble Ben Folds’ fill in the bleeps and clicks with his sincere delivery. The ladies singing background, Jen Wood and Jenny Lewis, almost steal the show. The simply sweet and charming harmony their voices offer are the perfect complement to Mr. Gibbard’s.

#Flaming #Lips #2002 #Yoshimi #Music

 

“Do You Realize?” is one of the greatest songs written in modern music. It’s a precious song about life and how fragile it is. The song deals with taking advantage of the positivity that surrounds you while you’re here on earth. It’s about embracing what is beautiful and not feeling so morbid about death. 

Now this album by the flaming lips is certainly a great album but what makes it my number one album from the year 2002 is that very song “do you realize.” That’s how powerful the song is. It’s the glue that holds the whole record together. 

Certainly the whole album is an enjoyable listen and follows the soft bulletin quite nicely. But I can’t emphasize how awesome that song is. I will include the lyrics here as well as an audio file of the song because I want to let the song and the words speak loud and clear. 

It seems rather poignant now in my life because I just recently lost not one but two grandmothers one week apart. R.I.P. to two wonderful ladies…

Do you realize by the Flaming Lips:

Do you realize?, that you have the most beautiful face

Do you realize?, we’re floating in space,

Do you realize?, that happiness makes you cry

Do you realize?, that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know

You realize that life goes fast

It’s hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn’t go down

It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do you realize?, oh, oh, oh

Do you realize?, that everyone you know

Someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know

You realize that life goes fast

It’s hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn’t go down

It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

http://youtu.be/5zYOKFjpm9s

 

#Tool #Lateralus #2001 #Music

 

So I have a guy named Matt Duve to thank for getting me into the band Tool. In high school he would periodically loan me tapes to listen to. When I first heard the album Undertow, my life changed. Flash forward to the year 2001. The album Lateralus is released during a time when our country was invaded by terrorists. However, I was personally moved and deeply touched by Maynard and the gang in a very positive way.

Everything about Tool’s fourth album is an experience, starting with the packaging, which consists of liner credits printed on a translucent plastic sleeve over the CD and a booklet that layers anatomical representations atop one another. The first page pictures musculature and blood vessels; the next, bones; the third, internal organs; and so on. It’s worth describing the packaging of Lateralus because it says much about the astonishing music within.

While it remains in the Tool tradition of trance-inducing progressive metal, Lateralus is tighter, clearer, crisper, and all around a notch above their admirable previous releases. Aenima was flawed by muddy production and a certain predictability. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed that album. Undertow had a cleaner sound but wasn’t as confident or adventurous. It was an adventure in high school that catapulted me into the world to begin my Tool adventure but I have moved on since then.

With Lateralus, Tool have raised an already lofty bar still higher by coming up with a collection that kicks major ass. Lateralus, like I said was released in 2001, it has got to be one of the more groundbreaking musical releases since the mid-80’s and early 90’s. Lateralus is a long, well thought out musical masterpiece that draws parallels to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” This whole record is just full of amazing progressive rock and it is nearly impossible to fathom that human beings actually wrote and then performed this type of music. Every song has layers and sub-layers and sub-sub-layers.

You do not listen to this album…you surrender yourself to it. The experience of Lateralus penetrates deeper than the brain — it is deeply spiritual and uplifting. Nothing comes close to obsessing my world of the first decade of the 2000’s like this one. TOOL ROCKS!

#Radiohead #KidA #2000 #Music

This is my favorite album released in the year 2000

Welcome to the next Millennium!

Is it possible to fall in love with “Kid A”?  Maybe. It’s a love it or hate it album. But I can unconditionally recommend giving it at least one try, especially if you’re a fan of “OK Computer” or “Bends”.

Why? Because “Kid A” is Radiohead’s true masterpiece, that’s right, even more so than “OK Computer”. It takes the rule book and rips it apart in two, managing to be so many different things in so many ways that it’s almost indescribable. Thus, this “review” will really wind up being a short guide to listening to “Kid A”, to give the reader some concept of what experiencing the album feels like.

How do you listen to “Kid A”?   Since it’s not for everyone.

Expect the unexpected. As many shocked listeners discovered when “Kid A” was released, it is NOT like their first 3 albums at all!! ” It is a Radiohead album, make no mistake, but it sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard before. In a good way. Do yourself a favor and leave any concept of what you might hear at the door. Form your own experience of what you hear, and allow yourself to be startled by it. It’s OK, the water’s fine. Dip your toes in for a bit.

Listen to the Entire Album. At least once. “Kid A” flows more than any previous Radiohead work – it’s supposed to be experienced as a single, cohesive whole, the only possible break being “Treefingers”, which acts as an intermission of sorts. It’s not a terribly long album – you can do it, set aside 49 minutes and do the album justice.

Finally, Give it Time….to percolate.  “Kid A” is an album that absolutely refuses to give everything up on first listen. Nothing will be obvious immediately. You’ll need to engage it actively if you want to enjoy it completely. Does music always have to be work? No, but in this case it’s well worth the trouble.

If you still don’t like, well then that’s OK too. 🙂

 

 

 

My top 90’s Ten Albums (90-99)

Find out more by reading my previous blogs……