The Hip2besquare 2008 Year End List Part IV
Passion Pit - “Chunk of Change”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
Listen and download “Sleepyhead”: (Download courtesy of RCRDLBL)
Over the past few years we’ve seen various bands go from zeros to heros in a matter of minutes. Success in the music business varies depending on who you’re talking to. Some want it all and some are happy if just one of their songs, albums or jingles gets recognition. For the sake of this post, lets just say success is when you decide to record some songs for your girlfriend for Valentines Day and having those songs turn into a six song EP which eventually gets passed around, has you land some gigs at Pianos in Manhattan, play some showcases at CMJ and then get signed by a major (Columbia Records, UK), all in less then a year.
Passion Pit are Michael Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Ayad al Adhamy, Jeff Apruzzese and Nate Donmoyer. They all knew each other from Emerson College in downtown Boston and are slowly but surely becoming top players in the electronic pop world along side LCD Soundsystem and the 2008 newbies, MGMT.
She and Him - “Volume One”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sheandhim
Listen and download “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”: (Download courtesy of Welikeit.indie)
Watch weird and sadistic video for above song: Pitchfork.tv
Back in 2007 I was introduced to M. Ward with Post-War. And just like last year, I’m late to the party of another M. Ward creation. Only difference, this year his creation was helped by an unlikely songstress, the actress Zooey Deschanel, the actress most famously known for her role along side Will Ferrell in the Christmas classic, Elf (and now most famously known for getting engaged to Ben Gibbard if your an indie kid).
I knew of She & Him for sometime but failed to connect the M.Ward dot. How I missed this major detail is beyond me. I remember Aquarium Drunkard posting their live recordings from their “wet and wild” set at this year’s Newport Folk Festival. However, I didn’t pick up the album till about a month ago.
While it’s a late addition to my listening cycle, it’s definitely showing promise of a trusty stand by. Besides M. Ward’s ingenious arrangement of classic songs, Zooey’s vocals are a comfort during every listen. Her ability to change her vocal style is impressive as well. She’ll throw in some country, lounge, jazz and has a very distinct Peggy Lee sound.
The stand out song of the album is their cover of the Beatles tune, “I Should Have Known Better”. They completely changed up the tempo, creating a slow waltz with Hawaiian style slide guitar playing out the melody. Not since the Grey Album when Danger Mouse successfully combined the Beatles White Album with Jay-Z’s Black Album, has a Beatles song sounded so good outside it’s original format.
Jason Collett - “Here’s to Being Here”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jasoncollettofficial
Listen and download “Out of Time”: (Download courtesy of Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream)
The boys and girls in Broken Social Scene may be some of the hardest working musicians in the business. Even when they’re not officially pumping out their own albums, each band member is in some way creating new sounds. This year it was Jason Collett and Brendan Canning (who we’ll talk about soon) that lead the pack in 2008.
Jason’s music has a distinct similarity to Tom Petty. He’s got that slight nasal tone and a rocking guitar to boot. Any fan of Petty would be hard pressed not to go out and give this one a shot.
Broken Social Scene Presents - “Brendan Canning - Something for All of Us…”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brendancanning
Listen and Download “Hit The Wall”: (Download courtesy of Pitchfork)
Unlike Jason, Brendan’s sound rings true to the BSS method - loud, sprawling riffs with soaring vocal lines. I would also throw in cinematic to describe Brendan’s work here with hints of classic rock brewing in the background, as is the case with most BSS albums. The odd man out on this album is “Love Is New”. Here Brendan conjures up Talking Heads and produces one of the albums more straightforward grooves and helps to add some depth to the sound of the album as a whole.
AA Bondy - “American Hearts”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/aabondy
Listen and Download to “Witness Blues”: (Download)
Some of you may know Scott Bondy from his previous work in Verbena, a late 90’s indie rock band that some critics had herald as the next Nirvana and Scott as the next Cobain. Unfortunately I was not an “in-the-know” music man back then but what I know now is Scott has dropped the grundge icons appeal and now applies a different icon to his sound, Bob Dylan.
While us critics can always stand back and make comparisons, in the end, a good musician will differentiate themselves through creative lyrics and melodies and in my opinion, AA is one of those musicians. Lets face it, it was clearly the year for modern day America folk music or as some critics like to call it, the nu-folk movement. AA Bondy’s solo debut, while nothing spectacular, helps make this case even stronger.
Hot Chip - “Made In The Dark”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hotchip
Listen and Download “Read For The Floor”: (Download courtesy of Cafe Eclectica Music)
Those who know me know that I’m a Hot Chip freak. I’ve been trying to convert both friends and family for a few years now. So I was especially excited this past year when I got the chance to interview one of the founding members, Joe Goddard, before their amazing show at the Paradise Rock Club. This may or may not have been a good idea given how much of a fan and nerd I am about their music. But by the looks of both Joe and the other founding member, Alexis Taylor, they have some nerd in them as well.
What struck me the most about Hot Chip this past year was their refined live sound. During my interview with Joe, he talked about how the band has been practicing alot and perfecting their live performance. There’s a good and bad side to this. The good of course is all the transitions, song extensions and changes are flawless. The bad is the room for improvisation goes away. The argument you can make is that with a band like Hot Chip, where you have several members and lots of intstruments and sounds to manage, having an improvisation session on stage can get confusing. While it’s enjoyable to the player, the listener may get lost. Unless you’re hopped up on a slew of drugs where it doesn’t matter what you’re playing as long as it’s got a beat.
“Made In the Dark” brought about some of the best produced songs Hot Chip has done to date. “Ready For the Floor”, “One Pure Thought”, and “Touch Too Much” were three of my favorites. Yet it’s not the album I turn to the most. You could make a strong argument that “The Warning” is their best studio work but for me, “Coming On Strong” is my trusty stand by.
You can say what you want about one hit wonders or songs that conjure up special moments from the past but to me, albums are like your best friends. They’re there to calm you down, pick you back up or help celebrate life accomplishments. But most importantly, they help keep you moving in the right direction.
Bob Dylan - “Bootleg Series: Vol. 8″
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bobdylan
Listen and Download “Mississippi”: (Download)
Besides Tom Waits, Dylan is one of the greatest inspirations not only to artists who strive to play music as long as he (good music that is), but also for the listener. The fact that he can continue expressing his emotions in such a pure way to the world is a testament to humanity.
This is not the Dylan your mom and dad grew up with on the eightth volume of Columbia Records “Bootleg Series”. Or is it? Besides the raspy, smoke damaged vocal chords that modern day Dylan has to deal with, the same passion and genius is there in his lyrics. All songs you here are from 1988 and onward. Pretty impressive considering this kid was making heads turn (including the Man in Black, God rest is soul) back in the late 50’s.
I think this is a good place to end the list.
Worthy Albums of 2008
There are plenty of albums I didn’t mention in my lists that I would have liked to but this here blogger just doesn’t have the time. Here is a list of albums worth your time:
Ra Ra Riot - “The Rhumb Line”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rarariot
Notes: Gained cred during last years CMJ and released their debut without any disappointments to discuss.
The Black Keys - “Attack and Release”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theblackkeys
Notes: Best blues rock duo alive right now and plop in one of the best djs/producers in Danger Mouse and you’ve got a winning combination.
Black Mountain - “In The Future”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain
Notes: Yeah, acid folk rock at it’s best.
The Walkmen -”You & Me”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thewalkmen
Notes: This is how SoCal should sound only these guys are from NYC.
Dr. Dog - “Fate”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/drdog
Notes: A great album and they’re from Philly. Enough said.
The Watson Twins - “Fire Songs”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thewatsontwins
Notes: Great cover of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven”
Girl Talk - “Fee the Animals”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/girltalkmusic
Notes: There’s genius in his precision to tie both old and new pop songs together.
The Felice Brothers - “The Felice Brothers”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thefelicebrothers
Notes: Think party Bob Dylan part The Band. Great energy in their live performance.
Atlas Sound - “Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bradfordcox
Notes: Deerhunter’s lead man, Bradford Cox, stones the listener even if you’re not one to inhale.
Quite Village - “Silent Movie”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/quietvillage
Notes: One word, Chill.
Fuck Buttons - “Street Horrrsing”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fuckbuttons
Notes: One phrase, fucked up noise rock.
The Dodos - “Visiter”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thedodos
Notes: Another power duo from Cali except unlike Two Gallants who hail from the north, these two bring us that SoCal flavor. Some good yelling going on here.
Stephen Malkums & The Jicks - “Real Emotional Trash”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stephenmalkmus
Notes: It’s hard not to love this album if you’re a guitar player.
Delta Spirit - “Ode To Sunshine”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deltaspirit
Notes: Blew us away opening for Dr. Dog. We were also trashed upon entering the venue so who knows. But seriously, keep an eye on these guys. Not going to say too much cause I don’t want another Cold War Kids on our hands and since they’re already from SoCal, the ingredients are in place for such a thing to happen.
Discovered Albums of 2008
There are always a few albums that I pick up that are from past years. This does not include very old recordings such as the Cocteau Twins album I picked up or the Jimmy Smith recording I got. Those are by default most likely classics.
Great Lake Swimmers - “Onigara”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/greatlakeswimmers
Notes: Highly underrated album and artist. New album out in 2008.
Phosphorescent - “Pride”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/phosphorescent
Notes: Think bon fire style sing alongs and add in some Native American chanting and you’ve got this album. Perfect for popping on during plane rides. Little glass of wine and this album, you’ll be sleeping sweet dreams.
The Ruby Suns - “The Ruby Suns”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/therubysuns
Notes: I was unable to get Sea Lions, which was their 2008 album. So instead, I got this prior release. Plenty good from this New Zealand outfit.
The Glands - “The Glands”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theglands123
Notes: Yet another great rock group from Atlanta. A mix between Tom Petty and Yo La Tengo if you can belive it. No joke, the guy definitely sounds like Ira from time to time on this album.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE’LL SEE YOU IN 2009!
The Hip2besquare 2008 Year End List Part III
Crystal Stilts - “Alight of Night”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/crystalstilts
Listen and Download “Crystal Stilts” - (Download)
This was a late edition to my listening rotation and it’s been up high in the order ever since I picked it up a month or so ago. I love the lazy, hazy, fuzz and psychedelic tone of this album. There’s a poppyness that evokes the likes of Jesus and Mary Chain. This mix of post-punk and a psychedelic 60’s sound, a sound found from groups like the Velvet Underground, make this album a must have for those avant garde or as Slumberland, their label puts it, “avant-garage” enthusiasts.
Deerhunter - “Microcastle / Weird Era Cont”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deerhunter
Listen and Download “Nothing Ever Happened”: (Download)
I don’t say this enough but Deerhunter are slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite bands. Period. It all started back when they played here in Boston at the new Insitution for Contemporary Art. If you’ve never seen a show there or if you don’t know what the new building looks like, then you need to get your butt down there fast. If you don’t live in Boston, click here for slideshow of pics. Here is what the room likes like that I saw Bradford Cox and his Deerhunter cohorts play in:
The show started with the glass covered by a big red curtain. After the first fuzzed filled song was drifting to it’s death, the curtains slowly rised and the Boston harbor appeared. The show started around 7:30 and being the summer, the sun was just about setting. It was a blue sky day and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Mixed in with their heavy guitar fuzz riffs and their well crafted pop hooks, this is one of my favorites shows. Period.
This is when my love for this band definitely started to take form. “Microcastle / Weird Era Cont” has now made this love affair official.
The lead singer, Bradford Cox, is definitely different. And I’m not talking about his unfortunate disease (Marfan Syndrome). More so in how he behaves in the public eye and his sick sense of humor. If you’ve ever kept up wih his blog (http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/), you know what I mean. He’s definitely got a chip on his shoulder and isn’t afraid to let that chip shine. He loves to mess with people and finds humor in creating discomfort. This is most likely due to the fact that people have been looking at him differently all his life because of something he can’t control. So his humor is a form of therapy and so is his music. This aspect of the band and their lead man reminds me of the late great Kurt Cobain.
Watch Brad and the gang working in studio over at P-Fork TV:
Department of Eagles - “In Ear Park”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deptofeagles
Listen and Download “No One Does It Like You”: (Download)
The eerie, creepy, dark freak-folk melodies that Grizzly Bear is so good at producing come storming out on this release from Grizzly Bear member, Dan Rossen and his partner, Fred Nicolaus. If you’re a fan of the Grizzly then you either already no about these guys or if you don’t, you should.
I didn’t start to really get into GB until after I saw them live. However, with Department of Eagles I was won over immediately. Perhaps it’s because I’ve already warmed up to GB and DoE sounds very similar but this album also has more of a pop feel with sneaky hooks that seem to appear out of thin air.
Dan and Fred have been playing music together even before Dan joined Grizzly Bear. They put out a bunch of collages back in 2003 under the DoE name called “The Cold Nose”. Now that they’ve resurrected the project, two of Dan’s bandmates from GB, Chris Bear and Chris Taylor, have joined the duo.
If the album grabbed my attention, then I can only imagine what their live show will do. And lucky for us Cantabridgians, they’re making an appearance at the Brattle Theatre on January 18th.
Apollo Sunshine - “Shall Noise Upon”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/apollosunshine
Listen and download “The Coming of the New World Government”: (Download)
Apollo Sunshine has been making noise up here in Boston since 2001. They put out a couple albums since then (2003 and 2005). It took them three years to come out with their third, “Shall Noise Upon”, but it was worth the wait.
During those three years the band did a lot of touring. They have a strong root in the jam scene as their live shows take their sound to the next level. The threesome (Sam Cohen, Jesse Gallagher and Jeremy Black), enjoy swapping instruments while up on stage and creating enourmous amounts of sound that engulfs their audience.
Unlike some jam bands, Apollo have successfully combined their live performance to a studio release. If you’re a fan of live music, pick this one up today and keep an eye on their touring schedule, which you can do here:
http://www.apollosunshine.com/tour.html
To Be Continue (It’s not 2009 yet)…
The Hip2besquare 2008 Year End List Part II
MGMT - “Oracular Spectacular”
“Electric Feel” blew up and becoame the stand out track that folks like Justice would take and remix till you couldn’t remix no more. But for me, it’s “Kids” that makes this album a must have. This song makes you feel like getting up out of your seat, getting in your car, driving into the city with the windows down while going only five miles an hour and causing a riot to form in the middle of Boylston Street as the “Kids” start an impromptu dance party.
M83 - “Saturdays = Youth”
M83 is a master at electronic music who uses a lot of dark and heavy sounds with many of his influences coming from the shoegazer scene made famous by bands such as My Bloody Valentine.
But on this year’s “Saturdays = Youth”, Anthony Gonzalez, the main dude behind M83, decided to take his childhood influences he experienced in the 80’s and turn it into an album. If you know the French culture, especially within the younger generation, you know that a good portion comes from American pop culture. He was watching some of the same movies we were watching by guys like John Hughes (Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club).
This was timely released by Anthony in the summer since this time of year brings about those teenage memories. I had it on heavy rotation during the summer and wasn’t sure how long it would last but I’m happy to say that the sound is not confined to dreamy summertime moments. “Kim & Jessie” as well as “Couleurs”, a rousing 8 minute long 80’s jam, still can be heard kicking through my headphones on the way to work in the morning.
Cut Copy - “In Ghost Colours”
This Aussie duo definitely put out one of the best dance albums this year. They love revving up the crowd with their climatic sound. They’ll get your feet cruising for the first minute or two of the song then they’ll pull back, let the bass and keys do a little vamping back and forth. They hold on to this vamp till the pressure in the room can’t get any higher and then boom, the drums kick in and we’re off dancing the night away.
Sigur Ros - “Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust”
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sigurros Download songs from their website: http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/media/ Stream the whole album: http://widget.nabbr.com/sigur_ros.html I think this release by the Icelandic genius’s, Sigur Ros, didn’t sit well with some folks. A lot of their albums do have a very dark presence to them. Just like their native country of Iceland, who’s winters don’t see much sunlight and the overall landscape is very rough, dark and is mostly inhabitaed by uncomfortable walls of ice. Yet there’s a strong beauty. I’ve never been but Amanda and I hope to visit one of her best friends from college who’s from Iceland. He just had an adorable little baby girl.
While I’d hear about the beauty of this country, I obviously had no personal experience having not visited. Watching Heima, Sigur Ros’s documentary, this passed year helped get us a little closer to understanding the beauty of not only the land but the people. The documentary followed the band around the countryside where they played very intimate, private shows, to all the towns people within various provinces. In one case, they played in a village that had only one official resident.
So it makes sense to me that the follow up album to this DVD/Album, was one that was overwhelming joyful and happy. For the first time, a Sigur Ros album played as a perfect background to the summertime occasions of sipping lemonade and bbq’ing in the backyard.
To Be Continued…
Looking forward to these albums in 2009
Another favorite year end lists is the list of anticipated albums for the following year. Here are some that I’ve heard about that get me pumped.
P.S. More Best of Albums to come just need that two or three hours of alone time to put more down on ‘computer screen’
1/20: Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavillion” (Domino Records)
1/20: Antony and the Johnsons, “The Crying Light” (Secretly Canadian)
1/20: Bon Iver, “Blood Bank EP” (Jagjaguwar)
1/27: Andrew Bird, “Noble Beast” (Fat Possum)
1/27: Franz Ferdinand, “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand” (Domino Records)
1/27: Warren G, “The G-File”
1/27: Loney Dear, “Dear John”
2/3: Mos Def, “The Ecstatic”
2/10: Dan Auerbach (Black Keys singer), “Keep It Hid”
2/17: M. Ward, “Hold Time” (Merge Records)
2/24: Black Lips, “200 Million Thousand” (Vice Records)
3/3: Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone” (Anti-)
3/17: Bonnie “Prince” Billy, “Beware” (Drag City)
3/17: MSTRKRFT, “Fist of God” (Dim Mak/Downtown Records)
Early 2009: Phoenix [Title TBA]
Spring 2009: Wilco [Title TBA]
?: Doves [Title TBA]
?: Blur [Title TBA]
?: Naughty by Nature [Title TBA]
?: New Pornographers [Title TBA]
If you know of any others, let us know by posting it in the comments.
Updated by me:
1/20: A.C. Newman, “Get Guilty” [Matador] - Listen to “Submarines of Stockholm” (Download song at Stereogum)
Early 2009: Akron/Family, TBD [Secretly Canadian / Dead Oceans] - They have a show at TT the Bears on 12/28 and will be showcasing some of the new songs off this album. Listen to their music: http://www.akronfamily.com/?id=av
3/31/09: Great Lake Swimmers, “Lost Channels” [Nettwerk] - Their 2007 release, Onigara, was definitely a favorite album of mine this year. In fact, since I discovered it in 2008, it may even end up on my year end list. Listen and download “Your Rocky Spine” from Onigara: (Download)
