Top 20 of 2005 -- Rave Recs

[audiobill]

Two more I forgot to add:

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl

Bedouin Soundclash - Sounding a Mosaic (big props to Mike for introducing me to this fab band)

Cheers,

audiobill

[Davey]

A couple more that I don't think have got a mention yet an that will be very high on my list are Silver Jews Tanglewood Numbers and the Editors The Back Room. The new Silver Jews CD has really grown into an outstanding album over the last few weeks for me. I didn't think it quite rose to the heights that I've elevated American Water to over the last few years, but I may be wrong. In any case, I love it and it will likely be in my top 5. Similarly, I initially remarked how the Editors debut sounded too much like a band trying to sound like Interpol trying to sound like Joy Division. But after a few more listens, I probably love this Editors disc more than any of the Interpol albums. They get closer to the essence of Joy Division at times than Interpol, and actually have the occasional lyric that isn't too embarrassing to say out loud (unlike Interpol, who reads more like Coldplay when you strip away the music ).

EDIT: to be honest about it, the Editors CD can get a little irritating after awhile so it probably won't be high on my list, but I do like it a lot in smaller doses. Interpol and most of the others are the same way. They just don't capture that less aggressive rapture of JD and Echo. And the in-your-face sound doesn't endear them to me either. In fact, that contributes a lot to my irritation when I'm exposed for a prolonged period of time to that "modern sound". My true favorites each year are generally those that I can put on repeat and listen over and over and ....

Turned out to be a pretty good year for that core sound that I live with the most, Andrew Bird, Micah Hinson, Silver Jews, British Sea Power, Spoon, Editors, Bloc Party, the National, etc. Nice, just not too much that really excites me when I get past that stellar top 10. Man, I wish the childish imagery from the Jews "Animal Shapes" was true for me right now ...

From a corner window, I watch the falling snow flakes / God must be carving the clouds into animal shapes.

[Snowbunny]

A couple more that I don't think have got a mention yet an that will be very high on my list are Silver Jews Tanglewood Numbers and the Editors The Back Room. The new Silver Jews CD has really grown into an outstanding album over the last few weeks for me. I didn't think it quite rose to the heights that I've elevated American Water to over the last few years, but I may be wrong. In any case, I love it and it will likely be in my top 5. Similarly, I initially remarked how the Editors debut sounded too much like a band trying to sound like Interpol trying to sound like Joy Division. But after a few more listens, I probably love this Editors disc more than any of the Interpol albums. They get closer to the essence of Joy Division at times than Interpol, and actually have the occasional lyric that isn't too embarrassing to say out loud (unlike Interpol, who reads more like Coldplay when you strip away the music ). Turned out to be a pretty good year for that core sound that I live with the most, Andrew Bird, Micah Hinson, Silver Jews, British Sea Power, Spoon, Editors, Bloc Party, the National, etc. Nice, just not too much that really excites me when I get past that stellar top 10. Man, I wish the childish imagery from the Jews "Animal Shapes" was true for me right now ...

From a corner window, I watch the falling snow flakes / God must be carving the clouds into animal shapes.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the snow is so delightful,
and if you've no place to go,
let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Lotsa snow on the ground here, but just a little too cold for it to snow today. Or to go for a run for that matter.

Hey, Sugarbear, do you think I'd like that Micah Hinson? I've heard her(?) mentioned a lot lately, but I have no idea what he/she is all about. Tell me a story, Davey!

Snowbuns

[Davey]

Hey, Sugarbear, do you think I'd like that Micah Hinson? I've heard her(?) mentioned a lot lately, but I have no idea what he/she is all about. Tell me a story, Davey!

Are you a broken-hearted lover? Cause this is the drug. There's a song called "I Still Remember" in the middle that is just a heart ripper, "And I still remember thinking, I wish I could know you, for an eternity, or at least until we grow old. And I still remember thinking, how lovely it could be, to hold you for eternity, or at least until you fell asleep", with Micah (the man) trading verses with that angelic Sarah Lowes (the woman) from the Earlies (who back him and produce the album). Beautiful. And that 8 1/2 minute epic cosmic country closer, "The Day Texas Sank To The Bottom of The Sea", just knocks me out. And the opening block of three songs is a highlight as well. And then there's "Stand in My Way" that comes along with a sad country waltz, interwoven with a mournful cello and accented with plucked strings and a background accordian and piano, initially reminding me a little of a cross between the moody middle section on the great Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica and something from the Black Heart Procession, but then a brass band comes in and drives it more toward Neutral Milk Hotel territory. Great song. Great album. Yeah, you'd like it. That's my story

[Snowbunny]

Are you a broken-hearted lover? Cause this is the drug. There's a song called "I Still Remember" in the middle that is just a heart ripper, "And I still remember thinking, I wish I could know you, for an eternity, or at least until we grow old. And I still remember thinking, how lovely it could be, to hold you for eternity, or at least until you fell asleep", with Micah (the man) trading verses with that angelic Sarah Lowes (the woman) from the Earlies (who back him and produce the album). Beautiful. And that 8 1/2 minute epic cosmic country closer, "The Day Texas Sank To The Bottom of The Sea", just knocks me out. And the opening block of three songs is a highlight as well. And then there's "Stand in My Way" that comes along with a sad country waltz, interwoven with a mournful cello and accented with plucked strings and a background accordian and piano, initially reminding me a little of a cross between the moody middle section on the great Modest Mouse The Moon & Antarctica and something from the Black Heart Procession, but then a brass band comes in and drives it more toward Neutral Milk Hotel territory. Great song. Great album. Yeah, you'd like it. That's my story

Yes. Wow that does sound good, Davey. I'm in a bit of a musical funk these days. Nothing (but Andrew Bird) appeals to me right now.

I did just get a package from Ms. Patrick, but I haven't gotten the disks out of it yet! I don't know how he manages to slide those CD into the sticky bubblewrap envelopes the way he does. I'll get a pair of scissors and then I think we'll see what I think about Rogue Wave.

[Davey]

I'll get a pair of scissors and then I think we'll see what I think about Rogue Wave.

Put the scissors down before listening! Hehehe, did your mom ever tell you that? Oh wait, no, it was put the scissors down before running out into the busy street to play, yeah, that was it! Anyway, wouldn't want you to poke your ears out if you didn't like the latest Sloshytoons

Musical funk, eh? That Andrew Bird is so inventive that it does make a lot of music seem inconsequential, huh? What have you been listening to while in the funk besides that? Besides that silly American Idiot?

Sounds like you may need a dose of the Silver Jews,
’Happiness won’t leave me alone!’ says the bird in his nest
’Get a load of this fucking view, it’s the best in the West!’
Sometimes a pony, sometimes a pony, sometimes a pony gets depressed!

[Snowbunny]

Put the scissors down before listening! Hehehe, did your mom ever tell you that? Oh wait, no, it was put the scissors down before running out into the busy street to play, yeah, that was it! Anyway, wouldn't want you to poke your ears out if you didn't like the latest Sloshytoons

Musical funk, eh? That Andrew Bird is so inventive that it does make a lot of music seem inconsequential, huh? What have you been listening to while in the funk besides that? Besides that silly American Idiot?

Sounds like you may need a dose of the Silver Jews,
’Happiness won’t leave me alone!’ says the bird in his nest
’Get a load of this fucking view, it’s the best in the West!’
Sometimes a pony, sometimes a pony, sometimes a pony gets depressed!

I'd never get depressed if I had a pony!

I've tried listening to some old stand-bys. Tracker Polk, Tom Waits - Rain Dogs, Sarah Harmer - You Were Here... nuthin. But you're right. I am enjoying that Green Day CD.

Snowie