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3LB
11-23-2011, 11:33 AM
Anyone?

No indepth reviews necessary. I think we're all familiar enough to have an idea what kinda music each other digs, what's left of us anyway.

Finch Platte
11-23-2011, 12:30 PM
Anyone?

No indepth reviews necessary. I think we're all familiar enough to have an idea what kinda music each other digs, what's left of us anyway.

Steven Wilson's Grace Before Drowning, or whatever it's called. Grace Under Pressure? Say Grace Before Playing This Disc? I dunno.

Rae
11-23-2011, 02:25 PM
With an extremely cursory glance through my records/tapes, it looks like I bought 16 releases from 2011...? So I can just list em all, in rough order of how obsessed I was with them from top-left to bottom-right:

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1381/2011xx.jpg

~Rae

BarryL
11-23-2011, 06:23 PM
Anyone?

No indepth reviews necessary. I think we're all familiar enough to have an idea what kinda music each other digs, what's left of us anyway.

Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow
Karmakanic - In a Perfect World (it's like a solid Flower Kings CD!)
Agree with the Steve Wilson - Grace For Drowning

Anyone heard the new Steve Hackett? Should be on this list.

3LB
11-23-2011, 08:57 PM
Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow
Karmakanic - In a Perfect World (it's like a solid Flower Kings CD!)
Agree with the Steve Wilson - Grace For Drowning

Anyone heard the new Steve Hackett? Should be on this list.

got Grace For Drowning, its Wilson's best effort in a while, solo or PT

I dunno if I'm in the mood for Karmakanic

I've never been much of a Steve Hackett fan for some reason. I like a bunch of his songs, but I've found his albums quite uneven

I haven't considered Kate Bush in a while... is it a new direction for her?

ever listen to Phideaux, Barry?

For that matter, have you heard Hasse Frφberg's solo album, speaking of TFK?

jonnyhambone
11-23-2011, 09:28 PM
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lhCm6%2B8TL._SL500_AA300_.jpgworth the wait! http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519INieOT3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51n6rnqKQhL._SL500_AA300_.jpgiceage - new brigade http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b2x2o-wcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg Destroyer - Kaputt http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/616zixA6i-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg Grails - Deep Politics http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hQZaXz-ZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg Helms Alee - Weatherhead http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-KDpsOGVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Gw-J1%2ByJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Slosh
11-24-2011, 05:17 AM
Not a new album per se, but rather a collection of b-sides and such from their tour CDs.

Mike
11-24-2011, 07:37 AM
Apart from all the obvious ones, here's a few worth mentioning...

Noah & the Whale - Last Night on Earth
James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning
Boxer Rebellion - The Cold Still
Vetiver - The Errant Charm
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator

and finally my guilty pleasures
Above & Beyond - Group Therapy
Wailin' Jenny's - Bright Morning Stars

Cheers
Mike

Davey
11-24-2011, 09:32 AM
Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Cool title. By the now defunct Pela, who reformed as We Are Augustines. This one has been kind of addictive lately. Reminds me a little of what I loved about the first Old Canes record, that smell of Jeff Mangum in the room, but it was gone by the second time around. This has some of that, maybe some National, and something else kind of big, more epic rock sounding. A little menacing at times. Some good variety, but that something is still there throughout. Just got it so don't know how long that addictive feel will last. Might just be the weather. The song below isn't exactly representative of the whole, with a sniff of Men at Work, but isn't out of place. Review (http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/07/album-review-we-are-augustines-rise-ye-sunken-ships/)

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8FllkQw8fk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8FllkQw8fk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>


I think the album opener Chapel Song below may have been used in a commercial for REI or something.


<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYXhAmlfNP0?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYXhAmlfNP0?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>




In the meantime, David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights Left by Soft has been playing whenever my car is running. Probably need to do something about that one of these days, but maybe not quite yet.

BarryL
11-24-2011, 10:06 AM
ever listen to Phideaux, Barry?

For that matter, have you heard Hasse Frφberg's solo album, speaking of TFK?

Funny you should ask. I downloaded Snowtorch 2 days ago. I don't find it as appealing or as interesting as Number Seven. I think I gave Number Seven my vote for best prog CD of 2009 or 2010. There's not enough variation in the two long songs. That said, I need to listen to it more. I still think it's a good album. I love the combination of melodies and layered textures.

I'm listening to The Great Leap right now. I like the album, but I Phideaux is an acquired taste. The musicianship is certainly excellent, and there is a lot of creativity. They are like the Talking Heads of prog - just a little bit off kilter and not right, but you want to hear more.

I also have the Froberg album. If you like the FKs, you won't be disappointed. Not as good as the Karmakanic.

BTW, this new Karmakanic is very listener friendly, not like their earlier more experimental stuff. If Stolt was playing and singing, it could easily be an FK album.

The Froberg album is weaker than the Karmakanic, but if you like this kind of music, you should enjoy it. I bought mine for $6 bucks at the last progrock records sale. Check them out. They are having a Black Friday weekend. You might be able to pick it up cheap.

The Kate Bush CD is for the most part a meditative new age record - very minimalist for the most part and repetitive acoustic piano. If ECM had a pop label, this would fit perfectly. Nonetheless, I love Kate's voice although there are some parts where I wish she would have done a retake. The duet with Elton is nice, but they really should have cut out both of their screeching vocals in the last 30 seconds for a much softer ending. Lyrically, it seems to be a song cycle about the mysteries of love and longing for love, with snow/winter as allegory. Overall, very artistic in a good way, and will go down as a classic in the Kate Bush catalogue.

Slosh
11-25-2011, 04:46 AM
Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Cool title. By the now defunct Pela, who reformed as We Are Augustines. This one has been kind of addictive lately. Reminds me a little of what I loved about the first Old Canes record, that smell of Jeff Mangum in the room, but it was gone by the second time around. This has some of that, maybe some National, and something else kind of big, more epic rock sounding. A little menacing at times. Some good variety, but that something is still there throughout. Just got it so don't know how long that addictive feel will last. Might just be the weather. The song below isn't exactly representative of the whole, with a sniff of Men at Work, but isn't out of place.
Good stuff, Dave. Sounds to me like The National mixed with The Dismemberment Plan.

NP:
http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/Slosh_album/AnytownGraffiti.jpg

Jim Clark
11-25-2011, 08:09 AM
Oh my goodness, where to even begin. SUCH a great year for music. to start with, I can assure you that before the day is over I will have We Are Augustines ordered, nice rec Davey, thanks.

some of my faves this year are below and a couple of them have already been noted:

Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Boxer Rebellion – The Cold Still

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Hysterical

Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys

The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams

Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys

The Generationals – Actor Castor

Iceage – New Brigade

The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar

Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming - Do we have this years #1?

Mates Of State – Mountaintop - Local band made good

Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

Stephen Malkmus And the Jicks – Mirror Traffic

VNV Nation – Automatic - I'll be the only one here who like this : )

Washed Out – Within and Without

Wild Flag – Wild Flag

jc

nobody
11-25-2011, 09:02 AM
I recommend a ton of stuff from this year, but I'll just toss out a couple I've been playing a lot over the last few days although I've probably mentioned them both before. Both are pretty straightforward and enjoyable, both pretty laid back:

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517ISGkiHLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>Washed Out: Within and Without</b>

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Eh6oxtemL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>J Mascics: Several Shades of Why</b>

That <b>Dum Dum Girls</b> is really good too on a more rocking note.

3LB
11-25-2011, 09:17 AM
Barry, I actually like have the Hasse Froberg album and like it quite well. Reminds me of Paradox Hotel quite a bit. I have Phideaux's previous two albums and found Seven a tad samey, even with the remix Phideaux gave away on PE. I dunno if you were ever into National Health (I like some of their jazzier stuff), there's a new release by an Italian band Ske called 1000 Autumi that I like quite a bit (its mostly instrumental with some vocalization).

3LB
11-25-2011, 11:08 AM
In the relm of indy-pop, I've been enjoying Yukon Blonde (from last year). I only picked this up a few weeks ago, it being an Amazon rec because I purchased Zeus. Makes sense, since it shares the same sense of variety and pop craft as Zeus, maybe a bit of Morning Benders and The Shins. I've also been enjoying the latest from Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Belong, which is a better written effort than their debut.

ForeverAutumn
11-25-2011, 11:40 AM
I haven't bought a lot of new music this year. But from what I have bought, that I can remember off the top of my head...

I'm really digging that new Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys. It's not nearly as strong as Seldom Seen Kid IMO, but has some real growers on it.

Surprisingly, I really like Iron and Wine's, Kiss Each Other Clean. I've never been a fan of this band but after hearing a few tunes on the radio I decided to take a chance and wasn't disappointed. It's a beautiful album with some well written tunes and really beautiful harmonies.

I'm really looking forward to the new Arena release, Seventh Degree of Separation, but I can't recommend it since I haven't heard it yet.

The new Dream Theater, A Dramatic Turn of Events is very good although a little samey. But worth owning if you're a fan (I can't remember whether you're a fan).

Mars Hollow's, World In Front of Me is a decent listen. Although not the be-all and end-all that a certain Alaskan Stalker-chick would lead you to believe.

Those are all the recs that I can think of right now.

Davey
11-25-2011, 01:34 PM
Sounds to me like The National mixed with The Dismemberment Plan.
Yea, I can kinda get on board with that, but I think the instrumentation and production moves it in a different direction. There are moments when they sound a bit like U2, as mentioned in that review. The Springsteen and U2 comparisons would bring to mind Arcade Fire, but they really sound nothing like AF. How is that Pela? I looked for it when I picked this up, but nothing in sight.

Been liking the Widowspeak debut a lot too. Nothing too original, but nicely done. Speaking of Mazzy Star, I heard they were getting back together for a record. I'd be interested in that, if it really happens.

A little along the same lines, also been liking the latest from Low, C'mon. A lot of this is autumnal music, so no surprise.


M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming - Do we have this years #1?
I did give that a listen, and don't think I've made it to the second CD yet. I tend to lose interest somewhere along the way, though I like some of it, usually when it moves into more ambient backdrops and less of the foreground synth-pop. Gets a bit repetitive, I guess. Where do you listen to this, and do you just do it in bits and pieces? I probably like the style on Washed Out better, kind of gauzy and less pronounced, got some of that mid-90s Moby going on (I guess the first song must actually sample him, though I haven't checked credits).

Davey
11-25-2011, 03:08 PM
Just noticed, but we sure are throwing up lot of "W" releases in this thread. Washed Out, We Are Constantines, Wild Flag, Wooden Shjips, Wilco, Wild Beasts, Steve Wilson, Wailin' Jennys, Widowspeak...did I miss any?

I'll toss out another recent "W" that's been getting some listening time along the same path as Washed Out, but that I probably like better overall...Walls - Coracle. Really a ton of good electronica out now, way way more than anyone could even try to keep up with, kind of hard to separate them from each other at this point. But the Walls is some good stuff. Seems more distinctive than most, though maybe just a style I like more.

Slosh
11-25-2011, 06:05 PM
How is that Pela? I looked for it when I picked this up, but nothing in sight.
It's every bit as good as We Are Augustines, and you'll have it in a few hours ;-)

Actually, they're a bit samey to me from song to song but I still I like their sound and sensibilities. Good production values don't hurt either.

Davey
11-25-2011, 09:23 PM
It's every bit as good as We Are Augustines, and you'll have it in a few hours ;-)

Thanks, got em.

nobody
11-26-2011, 07:33 AM
Yeah, I agree there is just so much electronic stuff coming out these days it's impossible to keep up with it all. And it all goes in so many different directions. I have to keep myself sometimes from just trying to give too much a listen and not giving individual releases enough of a chance. Speaking of..I tried that Walls and remember liking it OK but not being grabbed by it as much as Washed Out. I'll have to go give it another listen, maybe I just wasn't in the mood or paying enough attention or it got lost in the shuffle.

I still think my favorite electronic release this year may well be Nicolas Jaar: Space is Only a Noise. Really great stuff. Here's a track with a Ray Charles vocal that I believe is now in process of being removed from the album for copyright issues.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lBvmTHWVTL0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


I tried with that M83 because I keep wanting to really like them. But for me, after Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts I've just never been able to really get into anything else. I really liked that one so I keep coming back but still haven't gotten involved in anything else they've done.

Davey
11-26-2011, 09:34 AM
..I tried that Walls and remember liking it OK but not being grabbed by it as much as Washed Out. I'll have to go give it another listen, maybe I just wasn't in the mood or paying enough attention or it got lost in the shuffle.

It is a little different. Like most modern electronica, the Washed Out CD is way too loud, I don't know why they do that with this type of music, hardly any dynamic range to start and then they make it all the same volume and give it such a restricted sound, losing a lot of the nuance and color the older stuff has. The Walls isn't quite as bad in that regard, but is still too loud. It is a great mix though, so really expands out into a big soundscape. Still, if I really wanna get lost in something, I'll usually go for something old, like Eno's Ambient 4 (like right now :)).

Stone
11-28-2011, 10:19 AM
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drq100/q126/q12675pvalc.jpg


http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drp700/p705/p70580lg57l.jpg
Sean McCann - The Capital

nobody
11-28-2011, 12:42 PM
Ohh... I like both of those and need to go listen to Jeff the Brotherhood more.

BarryL
11-28-2011, 06:17 PM
I have the last Mystery CD but not the new one, with Benoit David on vocals. I like that a lot. Haven't heard the new one yet. The new Yes is good by recent Yes standards, but not very inventive given the potential talent in that group. Someone ought to slap them. Can't they just do one more grand masterpiece before they wrap it up?

The Spanish prog band RC2 is playing at OhioProg next year, so I pulled their album which I picked up on sale from ProgRock Records last year for another listen. Very much like Italian prog with English vocals. I'm liking some of it a lot. Glad I gave it another listen 'cause I filed it away in a box. Haven't heard Ske, and am unfamiliar with the music of National Health, but not their reputation. I was a big fan of Hatfield and the North in my teenage years, but never really got into Soft Machine.

Mr MidFi
11-29-2011, 06:55 AM
Just noticed, but we sure are throwing up lot of "W" releases in this thread. Washed Out, We Are Constantines, Wild Flag, Wooden Shjips, Wilco, Wild Beasts, Steve Wilson, Wailin' Jennys, Widowspeak...did I miss any?

Wye Oak.

Jim Clark
11-29-2011, 06:59 AM
Here's yet another "W" Wye Oak - Civilian. I"m really, really digging this record a lot. A Baltimore indie band on the Merge label that has a fairly straight forward indie sound but doing it very well. Indie fans should at the very least go to amazon and listen to the clips. I seriously doubt you'd be disappointed.

And Davey, I listen to M83 when I'm driving, when I'm working out, when I'm eating dinner, and I even put it on before I turn in for the night: ) I pretty much play it all the time.

Jim Clark
11-29-2011, 07:01 AM
Wye Oak.

You beat me by a couple of minutes : )

That album is a lot of fun and to be honest, I kind of figured you might like it. It reminds me a bit of the band Now It's Overhead.
jc

Mr MidFi
11-29-2011, 08:38 AM
You beat me by a couple of minutes : )

That album is a lot of fun and to be honest, I kind of figured you might like it. It reminds me a bit of the band Now It's Overhead.
jc

It's actually still on my "to get" list. But I have the title track, and it's good enough to make the first draft of my YEC.

I did see them play a short set in August that started off poorly because of equipment issues. The poor gal was really rattled, but she battled back, settled down and closed the set solidly.

Davey
11-29-2011, 09:38 AM
Just downloaded the new one from Hypatia Lake called Ouroboros yesterday at their bandcamp site (name your price and format; I picked flac, of course - Ouroboros | Hypatia Lake (http://hypatialake.bandcamp.com/album/ouroboros)) and it's some good old heavy psych stoner rock. They used to be tagged as My Bloody Sabbath for mixing shoegaze and heavy stoner sounds, and they did it pretty well. I like the previous one from a few years ago called Angels and Demons, Space and Time. They dropped some of the shoegazer layering on this one, and really embraced their new power trio format. Sounds like more of a mix of Sabbath and Jethro Tull on this one. But then toward the end, on one of my favorites, "Only the Queen (can speak to the nine-eyed rose of infinity)", they totally link the two sounds in one of the heaviest shoegazer walls of noise ever (just uploaded to song of the day). Which then sequences perfectly into "Prophecy II", and then "The End is the Beginning of the End (Ouroboros)", which brings in some of the underlying Pink Floyd and Hendrix influences to close it out in a pretty dramatic fashion. Another pretty fun record for the 11th hour - and speaking of record, they do have it out on orange swirl 180gm vinyl at their site (with glow in the dark silkscreened cover and all the psychedelic trimmings :)).

Introducing… Hypatia Lake « The Soda Shop (http://thesodashop.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/introducing-hypatia-lake/)

Jim Clark
11-29-2011, 10:34 AM
It's actually still on my "to get" list. But I have the title track, and it's good enough to make the first draft of my YEC.

I did see them play a short set in August that started off poorly because of equipment issues. The poor gal was really rattled, but she battled back, settled down and closed the set solidly.

There are several on there that I'd be quite happy having on my YEC so I bequeath Civilian to you.

3LB
11-29-2011, 05:35 PM
I'm really digging that new Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys. It's not nearly as strong as Seldom Seen Kid IMO, but has some real growers on it. I heard some stuff off of it but my first impression was that's its ponderous. The one track I hear on the Sirrus isn't helping their cause.


Surprisingly, I really like Iron and Wine's, Kiss Each Other Clean. I have it and like it, though I liked The Shepard's Dog better



I'm really looking forward to the new Arena release, Seventh Degree of Separation, but I can't recommend it since I haven't heard it yet...The new Dream Theater, A Dramatic Turn of Events is very good although a little samey. But worth owning if you're a fan (I can't remember whether you're a fan).
I've been done with DT since Octavarium, and Arena since Pepper's Ghost


Mars Hollow's, World In Front of Me is a decent listen. Although not the be-all and end-all that a certain Alaskan Stalker-chick would lead you to believe.
There's a reason she's single I'm sure. She do get OCD about the things she likes. I liked Marshollow's first one, though it didn't make any year end list.

World In Front Of Me sounds like leftovers from that first session. Not bad, just nothing to gush over. The person to which you refer isn't alone when it comes to sycophantic behavior. I even started avoiding Marshollow threads because of the nauseating leg-riders there. I like Kerry; he's a genuine music fan. He's not like other people who pop in just to shill something (like the GlassHammer and Izz dudes). He's a daily participant, like Phideaux, like Chalkpie (Frogg Cafe) and Battema (Ephemeral Sun) and a few other struggling musicians over there at PE who've actually put out some great stuff (although Phideaux's new one is kind of a retread). I heard parts of the first album a few years ago when Kerry wasn't all too sure of it and me and a few others encouraged him to go forward. But man, some of those PE'ers just piss their pants for prog.

ForeverAutumn
11-29-2011, 06:00 PM
I heard some stuff off of it but my first impression was that's its ponderous. The one track I hear on the Sirrus isn't helping their cause.
...
I have it and like it, though I liked The Shepard's Dog better
...
I've been done with DT since Octavarium, and Arena since Pepper's Ghost

Yeah, well **** you then! Don't ask for my help next time. :p

(I keed)



There's a reason she's single I'm sure. You don't know the half of it. I actually had to unfriend her on Facebook because she was so unstable I didn't want anything to do with her.


Chalkpie (Frogg Cafe)

I didn't know that Chalkpie was in Frogg Cafe. Interesting.

Mike
11-30-2011, 04:23 AM
Hey FA, here's my personal recommendation for you. I seem to remember you like Ray Lamontagne check out James Vincent McMorrow and his album Early in the Morning , an Irish singer songwriter with the kind of world weary washed out voice I like

James Vincent McMorrow - If I had a Boat - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2XPDP6KkkE)

Cheers
Mike

3LB
11-30-2011, 05:40 AM
Yeah, well **** you then! Don't ask for my help next time. :pyeah, what an ingrate I am! Now that I reread my post... :o






You don't know the half of it. I actually had to unfriend her on Facebook because she was so unstable I didn't want anything to do with her.

Oh lord, Facebook... I have an account that use to stay in touch with family, but what a Pandora's Box that is. I got some cringe inducing relatives I'd love to unfriend if I dared. I'm sure she's entertaining to read (from a distance). I love when people are trainwrecks on FB, as long as I'm not in their photo album. :-D

ForeverAutumn
11-30-2011, 06:34 AM
Hey FA, here's my personal recommendation for you. I seem to remember you like Ray Lamontagne check out James Vincent McMorrow and his album Early in the Morning , an Irish singer songwriter with the kind of world weary washed out voice I like

James Vincent McMorrow - If I had a Boat - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2XPDP6KkkE)

Cheers
Mike

Hey Mike! Great to hear from you. I miss you around these parts. I can always count on you for great recommendations. You are personally responsible for a big chunk of my CD collection. :D

You were right again. This is a nice tune. And as a fan of both animation and Hemingway I loved the video that it was set to. I'll definately check out some more tunes by this guy. Thanks!

It would be nice to see you around here more often. I hope that everything's well for you. :)

kexodusc
11-30-2011, 06:57 AM
I'm really looking forward to the new Arena release, Seventh Degree of Separation, but I can't recommend it since I haven't heard it yet.

Wow, that's good news. Really liked their last few releases.

3LB
11-30-2011, 07:48 PM
Hey Barry, I got a hold of that new Karmakanic - great rec!

After hearing a track or two of this, and after reading reviews both complimentary and not-so, I couldn't help myself, I had to try it. I've found past Karmakanic albums to be too TFK-ish. That shouldn't be a bad thing, except that I find that where TFK related side projects are concerned, that the apple never falls far from the tree and they're rarely equal to TFK's best efforts. Kinda like TFK leftovers. But I was so intrigued by the two tracks I heard, coupled by your rec, I picked up only my second Karmakanic album (the first one was Wheel Of Life).

It seems they decided to break their upper-atmosphere orbit of planet TFK, and venture out to a greater orbit. This album smacks of, 'if it sounds good, play it'. Think of it as Sweden's answer to It Bites or Kino. Other than the opening track, this album eschews overt TFKisms and progma in general for good old fashioned hooks and songcraft. This is overtly catchy music, with less emphasis on time signature and tempo changes. Not suggesting its unfamiliar or not proggy, cuz it is, just saying that this effort isn't slave any aesthetic or any one influence. No meandering, not maudlin and maybe the most memorable choruses you'll hear this year, outside of contemporary music.

Thanks again. Winner.

Davey
12-01-2011, 09:18 AM
The year end magazine lists have started ... below is Uncut followed by the Paste blog .. as usual some odd choices near the top of each, and a ton of stuff I've never heard of, and some major omissions from my view (seems that the group of Paste critics completely ignored PJ Harvey), but I'm much more in tune with Uncut. Love that Josh T. Pearson pick. Still, my top ten wouldn't have much overlap with either list. Kind of odd to see Bon Iver at the top of the Paste list, I think he's even up for a Grammy. A sleepy record to be sure, seems to get a lot of both love and hate, which surprises me. Think I like his first one a lot more, but honestly haven't played the latest enough to really know it.

50. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
49. Arbouretum – The Gathering
48. Cornershop Featuring Bubbley Kaur – Cornershop And The Double-O Groove Of
47. The Caretaker – An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
46. Iceage – New Brigade
45. Mikal Cronin – Mikal Cronin
44. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l
43. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
42. Jenny Hval – Viscera
41. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’
40. Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
39. Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong
38. His Golden Messenger – From Country Hai East Cotton
37. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
36. Jonny – Jonny
35. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
34. Fatoumata Diawara – Fatou
33. Low – C’Mon
32. Gil Scott Heron & Jamie XX – We’re New Here
31. Destroyer – Kaputt
30. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
29. Paul Simon – So Beautiful Or So What
28. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
27. Bjφrk – Biophilia
26. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
25. Bill Callahan – Apocalypse
24. Real Estate – Days
23. Thurston Moore – Demolished Thoughts
22. Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact
21. James Blake – James Blake
20. Ry Cooder – Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down
19. Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
18. Tinariwen – Tassili
17. Feist – Metals
16. Jonathan Wilson – Gentle Spirit
15. Wilco – The Whole Love
14. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
13. Tom Waits – Bad As Me
12. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
11. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know
10. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient
09. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
08. Wild Beasts – Smother
07. Radiohead – The King Of Limbs
06. The Horrors – Skying
05. Josh T. Pearson – Last Of The Country Gentlemen
04. White Denim – D
03. Metronomy – The English Riviera
02. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest
01. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake


50. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
49. Mates of State – Mountaintops
48. Drake – Take Care
47. Real Estate – Days
46. Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost!
45. Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose
44. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
43. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
42. Wild Flag – Wild Flag
41. James Blake – James Blake
40. Portugal. The Man – In The Mountain, In The Cloud
39. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest
38. Over the Rhine – The Long Surrender
37. The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient
36. Mister Heavenly – Out Of Love
35. Childish Gambino – Camp
34. Seryn – This Is Where We Are
33. The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart
32. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
31. Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines
30. Tom Waits – Bad As Me
29. Feist – Metals
28. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
27. Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
26. The Low Anthem – Smart Flesh
25. The Antlers – Burst Apart
24. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
23. The Belle Brigade – The Belle Brigade
22. The Black Keys – El Camino
21. Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming
20. Beirut – The Rip Tide
19. Cults – Cults
18. Wye Oak – Civilian
17. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
16. Yuck – Yuck
15. Deer Tick – Divine Providence
14. Adele – 21
13. Radiohead – The King of Limbs
13 (tie). Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
12. Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
11. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
10. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
09. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
08. Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong
07. Wilco – The Whole Love
06. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World
05. Middle Brother – Middle Brother
04. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l
03. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
02. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
01. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Jim Clark
12-01-2011, 10:25 AM
It's always nice to see a little validation that you're not the only one that thinks really highly of a record. Between the two lists, 4 of my current top ten are represented.

Or maybe I'm just becoming too predictable and mainstream for my own good. Thanks for posting the lists!

jc

3LB
12-01-2011, 03:04 PM
I have the last Mystery CD but not the new one, with Benoit David on vocals. I like that a lot. Haven't heard the new one yet. The new Yes is good by recent Yes standards, but not very inventive given the potential talent in that group. Someone ought to slap them. Can't they just do one more grand masterpiece before they wrap it up?
Given that Downes and Horn was the source for most of the material, I'd say no, there are no unwritten masterpieces whereas Yes is concerned. I like Fly From Here. It does have a certain 1980 flair to it (this and another song are leftovers from Drama). I love the production. The songs are good, just not great. It was a short album by modern standards. I find that funny considering that Howe, Squier and White were supposedly chomping at the bit to record an album for several years and it was Anderson keeping them from doing so, allegedly... then it was Anderson wanting them to go on hiatus from touring while he recovered from a severe asthma attack. He got sick and they replaced him. Sounds sad, but its nice to hear a decent quality effort under the Yes brand (by way of Horn/Downes), w/o Anderson's cod-religious new age pap. I could do without Squier's Alan Parsonesque adult contemporary ballad, and Howe's Hour Of Need is way better in its Japanese release, though it too is somewhat a patch work. I like it better than the last three or four Yes releases, which isn't exactly a high bar. You'll love it when you're 60. ;)

audiobill
12-01-2011, 05:26 PM
Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses - Junky Star

Ralph Stanley - A Mother's Prayer

Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes

Rae
12-01-2011, 06:55 PM
audiobill hi


a ton of stuff I've never heard of

I'm kind of surprised at how much of this stuff I have heard of... I don't feel like I'm that in touch with the state of "indie rock", but I have at least a passing familiarity with 80% of the artists listed.


50. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
35. Childish Gambino – Camp

Uhh

~Rae

jonnyhambone
12-01-2011, 09:49 PM
felt this way about the Grammy nominations a bit...Bon Iver, Civil Wars, couple good Kanye nods, Radiohead, Decemberists, Wilco...many I haven't heard of, at all, but there's a pretty good turn-out of indie-represented artists too...more than usual I thinks...

Rae
12-02-2011, 01:38 AM
Whoa, I just noticed that the Fountains of Wayne record cover that audiobill posted above uses a Lori Nix (http://www.lorinix.net/) image. That's pretty cool.

~Rae

nobody
12-02-2011, 07:08 AM
I'm gonna toss out one more suggestion that should have some pretty broad appeal....

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Eh6oxtemL._SL500_AA300_.jpg">
<b>J. Mascis: Several Shades of Why</b>

First official solo release by the head of Dinosaur Jr. Really nice laid-back, mostly acoustic stuff. Somber yet hopeful. Catchy but not poppy. A bunch of guests all over this one, including Kurt Vile, Sophie Trudeau (A Silver Mount Zion), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Pall Jenkins (Black Heart Procession), Matt Valentine (The Golden Road), and Suzanne Thorpe (Wounded Knees). But none of them at all overwhelm the record and they are mostly quite unobtrusive. I keep liking this one more the more I listen to it.

Mike
12-02-2011, 07:35 AM
Most people could put a top 10 or 20 albums of the year together, but 50 best albums of the year there’s bound to be a few clunkers in there. I like to think I keep in touch with new music as much as the next music freak but a fair number of those had me.

Good to see some of my faves getting some recognition like War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Wye Oak, Civil Wars, Dawes, and Metronomy although as much as I like Metronomy I wouldn’t rate it so highly.

For me I would drop some of those clunkers and add Black Joe Lewis, Jamie Woon, Lanterns on the Lake, James Vincent McMorrow, Zola Jesus. And why no Stephen Malkmus surely a crime, he’s got just as much to say as other established names like Paul Simon, Bjork, Kate Bush or Tom Waites.

Cheers
Mike

audiobill
12-02-2011, 08:49 AM
Yeah, Rae. It's a pretty cool image. I love Lori's work - she certainly takes photography to another level. The photo on FOW's new one is entitled "library". Her "accidentally kansas" grouping is equally fascinating.



Whoa, I just noticed that the Fountains of Wayne record cover that audiobill posted above uses a Lori Nix (http://www.lorinix.net/) image. That's pretty cool.

~Rae

3LB
12-02-2011, 02:43 PM
How is that FoW? The last time I bought a FoW CD (Welcome Interstate Managers) was just before the goofiest song on the album became a big hit (Stacy's Mom). I heard bits and pieces of their next one (Traffic & Weather), but they just never clicked. I should like them more than I do, weird that I don't. Kinda like the bands Bare Naked Ladies, Vetiver or Guster, consistent, competent, maybe even great at what they do, but hard for me to stay engaged for an entire album (I do still have songs from WIM on MP3 rotation).

audiobill
12-02-2011, 03:22 PM
Hey 3LB - What I really enjoy about all of the FOW albums is their lyrics and playfulness. Their sound is infectious for me upon several listens.
Their latest, is quite good. (I'm still getting into it) Some of my favourite tracks are "Action Hero", "Summer Place", and "Radio Bar". To give you a taste of some of the lyrics:

FROM "THE SUMMMER PLACE"
She's been afraid of the Cuisinart
Since 1977
Now when she opens up the house
Well, she won't set foot in the kitchen
At fifteen
Shoplifting
Was the only game she liked to play
At forty
She's so bored she
Thinks about it then decides to pay
And still she can't help feeling
Those good old days don't seem so far away

AND FROM "ACTION HERO"
He's an action hero
And he should be fighting crime
Leaping between the buildings
And racing against time
He's an action hero
He's an action hero
In his mind

He drops by Mount Sinai
Where they're running through some tests
And they've taped things to his chest
And they're all doing their best
To make him feel at ease

The doctor says it's really just
An educated guess
I suggest you get some rest
Try to cut back on the stress
Cause I don't like what I see

But the action hero
Swears he feels just fine
He's got to finish saving
The world for all mankind
He's an action hero
He's an action hero
And he's racing against time

Of course, the music is quite fine, too!

How is that FoW?

Davey
12-06-2011, 07:53 PM
... I just recently downloaded Hypatia Lake Ouroboros at their bandcamp site and it's some good old heavy psych stoner rock.

Just got an email today (or some might say spam :)) from Dave Foley (drummer) that I thought I'd pass along in case anyone is interested...


Thanks for listening to our new album "Ouroboros"! This is our first self-released album and our first vinyl LP and the support we've gotten so far has been amazing.

We'd like to let you know about a couple of opportunities to hear Hypatia Lake live in the next few days.

For Seattle 21+ folks, we are playing TONIGHT (Tuesday) at the Sunset Tavern with the Entrance Band (headlining) and Hot River (opening).
We go on 2nd, around 10PM or so.

This Saturday evening at 8PM (PST), we will be playing live on KEXP's Audioasis (90.3 in Seattle, KEXP 90.3 FM - where the music matters (http://kexp.org) worldwide). Tune in if you get a chance.

If you are enjoying the album and would like more people to hear it, please take a moment to request your favorite song on KEXP (email: dj@kexp.org or phone:206-903-KEXP).

Thanks,

Dave (drums)
Hypatia Lake

Slosh
12-09-2011, 04:36 AM
Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Cool title. By the now defunct Pela, who reformed as We Are Augustines. This one has been kind of addictive lately. Reminds me a little of what I loved about the first Old Canes record, that smell of Jeff Mangum in the room, but it was gone by the second time around. This has some of that, maybe some National, and something else kind of big, more epic rock sounding. A little menacing at times. Some good variety, but that something is still there throughout. Just got it so don't know how long that addictive feel will last. Might just be the weather. The song below isn't exactly representative of the whole, with a sniff of Men at Work, but isn't out of place. Review (http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/07/album-review-we-are-augustines-rise-ye-sunken-ships/)

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8FllkQw8fk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8FllkQw8fk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>


I think the album opener Chapel Song below may have been used in a commercial for REI or something.


<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYXhAmlfNP0?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LYXhAmlfNP0?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>




I told my brother about this album and he asked if I could send him a preview copy to listen on his iPhone (hence, LAME V0 mp3). Click here (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2956428/We%20Are%20Augustines.zip) if you'd like to hear this excellent album in its entirety, but act fast because I'm not leaving it up for long.

3LB
12-15-2011, 12:40 PM
Picked up M83s the other day, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming and imalikenit. Like Davey said, it gets a tad long in the tooth, but nothing grating. You definitely can get lost in it.

Davey
12-17-2011, 09:30 AM
Just noticed, but we sure are throwing up lot of "W" releases in this thread. Washed Out, We Are Constantines, Wild Flag, Wooden Shjips, Wilco, Wild Beasts, Steve Wilson, Wailin' Jennys, Widowspeak...did I miss any?

Looking back through this thread, I guess no one actually mentioned Wild Beasts except in my quote above, but I will now. Smother has been working it's magic on me recently, and belongs on my list. Comes off a bit like a more fun version of Radiohead, but not the guitar-heavy early version, I'm talking the later electronically-enhanced version. Which makes this record a little reminiscent of Augie March too, musically interesting and lyrically poetic, and emotional. Adventurous without being pretentious.

The closing trio of songs really makes the record for me, "Reach a Bit Further", "Burning", and the most amazing "End Comes too Soon". Added all three of them at song of the day since they are inseparable for me now (still loading as I post). Great album all the way through, and one of the best I have heard this year.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0sOTp_En1LA9HXlULXeOtCdhBm3Bg0 0UxAfsCrvxQhhBwlbP2