Pleas add to these lists. A new CD is just a friend you haven’t made yet!
1) Beirut – Gulag Orkestrar – I am a fool for this type of music. It’s like Nick Cave got into a fight with Neutral Milk Hotel.
2) El Perro del Mar – El Perro del Mar – This is like Nico got into a fight with Neil Young.
3)Girl Talk – Night Ripper – This is like all the pop music since the 60’s getting into a fight with eachother. And rap wins most of the time.
4) Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome – This is like Bruce Springsteen got into a fight with Tom Waits.
5) Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood – This wins my award for best lyrics. It’s not even close. Plus she has a badass voice.
Music from 2005 that for one reason or another I am just now appreciating:
1) Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene – I recommend listening to this backwards from “It’s All Gonna Break” I didn’t like this for the longest. Then I hooked onto that one song. Now it’s so awesome.
2) The Brunette’s – Mars Loves Venus – I saw them open for The Shins and C.Y.H.S.Y, and they were better than both. I finally founds this CD used, but then it was in Chelsey’s car stereo when it got jacked. Too bad we already had a copy on the computer. Take that asshole stereo stealers!
3) Martha Wainwright – Martha Wainwright – She has this song called “Bloody Motherfucking Asshole” on it. (Sorry Marnie) She also has a whale of a voice.
4) CocoRosie – Noah’s Arc – This music is creepy. They have a dying cat sound. Throughout an entire song. What more can one ask for?
5) Andrew Bird – Andrew Bird and The Mysterious Production of Eggs – I had this and barely liked it for half a year or so. Then Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois cd made me appreciate it. It’s like this is the appetizer, and Illinois is the main course.
I agree. Beirut is the best album so far of 2006. Bruce Springsteen takes second. Those two are just incredible.
Some other albums I have been listening to, but haven’t made a decision on yet. I need 4 or five good listens to really put in a final judgment.
TV on the Radio’s Return to Cookie Mountain is pretty good, but I’ve only listened to it twice. I like their sound.
Camera Obscura’s Let’s Get Out of This Country – That first song is really nice.
Tilly & the Wall – Bottoms of Barrels – Fun fun fun. Plus its nice when they mention streets and places in Atlanta.
And not to be outdone, my list of newly appreciated music from last year, or the year before.
Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy. Wow. Wow. Wow.
My Morning Jacket – Z. I dismissed them as too jammy. I was wrong.
M. Ward – Transistor Radio – Currently my most favorite album.
The Boy Least Likely To – The Best Part Ever. Like Belle and Sebastian, fruity, fun, and cute as hell.
The over-rated/disappointment List
Thom Yorke’s The Eraser. Zzzzz. It’s like Radiohead, but missing something. Get the band together, and go record a new album. Make something new.
The Flaming Lips – At War with the Mystics. Maybe I expect too much from the Flaming Lips, but this album is not impressive. I recently watched their documentary, and they spent two-thirds of it talking about their Xmas on Mars movie, which looks absolutely terrible. I’m sure it’s lots of fun building spaceships in your backyard and all, but let’s try and spend a little more time on the music, and a little less time making a low-budget movie about Santa Claus and Martians, ok? You’ve got one more chance, Flaming Lips. Don’t blow it.
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere. Everyone knows Crazy is a kickass song. One of the best of the year. It sticks in your head and won’t go away. Everytime he sings “Ha ha ha, bless your soul,” it makes me so happy. The rest of the album is kind of a let down, though. I’m not willing to write it off just yet, but with the exception of one or two songs, the rest of the album doesn’t carry the same weight that Crazy does. I’m starting to think people are getting caught up in how awesome Crazy is, and giving the rest of the album a free pass.
Oh, and put the Cold War Kids on the new hotness list. I saw them open for Tapes N Tapes, and they blew me away. They only have EPs out so far, which I don’t have. They are playing this Thursday with Sound Team, and I’ll try and pick one up.
I agree with Gnarls Barkley, witht he exception of “Just a Thought”.
Furthermore, My Morning Jacket should have been on my 2005 list. It sounds like the album that the Flaming Lips should have made. I was turned off at first because the first issue of the CD was encrypted against ripping or something like that.
I really want to get a copy of Boy Least Likely and TV on the Radio. Maybe we could do a swap? I have the TV on the Radio before this one…
I haven’t really heard much of Beirut . . . but their/his stuff sounds interesting. I’ve got the Rags and Wallets EPs by the Cold War Kids and think they’re not bad (Kent, if you’re interested, I could send you copies). I imagine they would be much better live. Tapes n Tapes are a bit hot and cold for me to get in to, but Cowbell, Omaha, and Insistor are almost worth buying the album for on their own.
I agree that the Camera Obscura and Neko Case albums are good. Also loved Band of Horses (Everything All the Time) and Bitter:Sweet (Mating Game). Something I also like from 2005 but only recently discovered was matt pond PA (Several Arrows Later).
I love M.Ward. But I like Transifuration of Vincent much much more. It reminds me of warm summery nights.
Jenny Lewis’ Rabbit Fur Coat came out in 2006, too. That’s a fine album.
I also liked Mates of State new one. I think it’s called “Bring It Back.” And Sunset Subdown’s “Shut I, I am Dreaming” has some winners on it too.
I’m a Springsteen fan, but I’ve not got the latest album yet. I heard a few tracks (including the cover of “We Shall Overcome” and I wasn’t that hooked. I’ll probably put it on my Amazon list though and see if I get it for birthday or Christmas. The new Chilis album is on that list too.
I’m really looking forward to the new Iron Maiden album though. The last album, Dance of Death was as good as they’ve recorded. Can’t wait to hear the new one.
I’m still pimping “Has Been” to everyone I know. Fantastic album. Who would have thought that William Shatner could do a genuine album of music? Although Ben Folds had a lot to do with it, I know.
Oh, and “Crazy” drives me nuts. Too much airplay I think.
I wish I had recognized at least one more group than The Boss. No Rod Stewart was mentioned or The Dixie Chicks….sigh….
Rod Stewart and Faces up until about 1977 or so – absolute classic stuff. He started to go downhill with Sailing though.
Oh Greg, please don’t say Rod is going downhill.
Well, to be fair, I guess anything after “Do ya think I’m sexy” has to be up, so there’s hope yet!