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New Eisley EP and Stacy Dupree King solo album debut songs today

2012-01-23T15:19:00.002-05:00

Stacy Dupree King has her first solo album due out in April under the name of Sucré, and her band Eisley is releasing it's new EP next month. Songs debuted online today from both, and I doubt I'll be first to notice that her solo work is on a completely different level. The Eisley song is embedded below (be patient, it starts slow), and follow this link to Spinner to hear the Sucré song and read more about the album. (Photo by Elsie Larson)

Get More: Eisley, MTV Shows

Best Album Covers of 2011 displayed in a spectrum..

2012-01-22T14:16:00.002-05:00

Check out the original post by Redefine magazine, in which the covers are larger and link to additional information such as themes, concepts, and collaboration. The visual alone is terrific, but there is tons of thought and time put into what you will find beneath the surface.

2011 Year-End List: Album Cover Art - REDEFINE magazine

Another new Sleigh Bells song...

2012-01-18T13:23:00.001-05:00

Latest tracks by Sleigh Bells

New Rosie Thomas single + old album = free download!

2012-01-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

Rosie Thomas released a song off her new album today:&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rosiethomas.bandcamp.com/track/where-was-i"&amp;amp;gt;Where Was I by Rosie Thomas&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

With Love drops on Valentines Day. You can also download her 2006 album These Friends of Mine bundled with the new single for FREE right now on Noisetrade.

New Shins song...is really good

2012-01-09T15:15:00.002-05:00

And while I have embedded it, it is much more fun to listen to on this page.

More anticipated albums: Tess Wiley & Cush

2012-01-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

After my post a few days ago, I forgot to mention two notable albums on the horizon. The first, by Tess Wiley, has been completed and should release late Spring. Here is video of another new song:
The second album is most definitely a rumor: Cush.

Cush is of course Andy Prickett and Eric Campuzano, originally of the Prayer Chain. They released the only Cush LP almost a decade ago, and there have been mentions of new music off and on ever since. Cush excites me because it is the only song-writing outlet Prickett has. He produces, records, mixes and most notably plays guitar for others, but his song-writing is what I miss the most. I hope to interview him sometime soon.

The last actual release from Cush was in 2004, but it was only a live album. Then in 2010 they put an amazing new song on Bandcamp:<p>&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://cush.bandcamp.com/album/black-heart-white-soul"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Black Heart, White Soul by CUSH&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Then on Facebook in November they announced a new website and that there would be "new music soon." This of course could only mean one new song, or a new EP; but we can all hope for an LP. You can also follow Prickett's blog, as he hints at Cush from time-to-time, but mainly talks about recording, guitars, pedals, etc.

Also Paste Magazine posted "25 albums they are looking forward to" today; I think it is the first time I put up a list before Paste did.

Most anticipated albums of 2012

2012-01-04T13:03:00.001-05:00

Now that 2012 ishere, below are my most anticipated albums of the year. They are listed inchronological order by release date, and I only included albums that areconfirmed. I could probably list rumored albums indefinitely.

Nada Surf- TheStars are Indifferent to Astronomy January 24 on Barsuk Records (Pre-ordered)
Eisley- Deep Space EP February 14 on Equal Vision Records
RosieThomas- With Love February 14 on Sing-a-LongRecords
SleighBells – Reign of Terror February 14th on Mom + Pop
School of Seven Bells – Ghostory February 28th on Vagrant/Ghostly International

The Shins – Port ofMorrowMarch on Aural Apothecary
Sucré - TBA- April 10 (Stacy King of Eisley)
PaperRoute- The Peace of Wild Things Spring

mewithoutYou- 5 (tentative title)Spring

Metric – TBA Spring

SixpenceNone the Richer- Lost inTransition- Spring (Album wasinitially called Strange Conversation,and was completed in the summer of 2010. The original release date was August2010 and then was pushed back to March 2011. Now the name has been changed andhas been given a new release date of Spring 2012. We’ll see.)

Best of 2011

2011-12-26T22:27:00.001-05:00

In a year that my top twobands of the 2000’s (Last.fm stats to prove it) were both releasing new albums, it was easy for me toassume that one of them would grab my top spot for 2011. And while both ofthose albums were terrific, they were not the artists’ best works, and did not gripme with the depth that my number one album did. For most of my life I have apretty good idea of my “album of the year” the first time I hear it. This yearwas no exception; but when that thought first crossed my mind about this album Ithought it to be ridiculous because the album is so chaotic and unlike most ofthe music I listen to. However, despite being chaotic, it is fantastic:terrifying, beautiful, heavy, atmospheric, and perfectly-executed…

Top 20 Albums of 2011:
(Links are to the "best" way to purchase these albums as I discussed in my recent post; both digital and physical options are provided. As always on my blog: *=available on vinyl, **=I own on vinyl. 18 of the 20 albums below have vinyl releases, which is a record for all of my year end lists.)

1. The Spirit That Guides Us- Innocent Blood*
Digital Vinyl
The Spirit That Guides Us was honestly barely on my radar through the mid-point ofthis year. Their debut album, The Sand,The Barrier, was released in 2001 in Europe and I don’t know if it ever gotdistribution in North America. I can’t even remember how I got my copy, andwhile the name of the band and the song titles are in the artwork for the CD,neither the name of the band members nor the name of the album is. I have had ahard time ever learning anything about the band (even if you do a Google searchmost of what little there is will be in Dutch), and most of what I did knowuntil this year I learned during my only trip to Holland in 2003.

The Spirit That Guides Us releasedanother album, North and South, in2004, and it did have U.S. digital distribution. I never got that into itthough; I thought it paled in comparison to the outstanding debut. I then losttrack of the band, and never heard We areUnder Reconstruction (2006) and DoNot Shoot, Let Us Burn (2008) until this year.

During the summer I heardthe first song from Innocent Blood,called Demons and Diamonds (you can buy it for anyprice—including nothing—on Bandcamp).

It blew me away. I was soon trying tofigure out how I was going to purchase the full album, and I wanted a physicalcopy. I was in the middle of a familiar dilemma—trying to figure out how to fitindependent music from Europe into my music budget. As usual, it was going tocost me about $30 including shipping for a CD and $40 including shipping for avinyl record coming from the Netherlands (not to mention postage costs, musiccosts much more in Europe than it does in North America).

I took matters into my ownhands, and found the email address for a member of The Spirit That Guides Us. Iexplained how much I liked their band, only owned one of their now five albums,and how I wanted to buy it all but couldn’t afford it. Well, this resulted infrequent emails with Erik van Winkelhoff, one of only two original members ofthe band. He cut me a ridiculous deal, and sent me the entire The Spirit ThatGuides Us discography; I got half a dozen CD’s, a couple of vinyl records, anda t-shirt.

I never expected to love Innocent Blood so much. Now that I amable to listen to every song The Spirit That Guides Us has ever recorded, youreally never know what you are going to get. Stylistically they are all overthe map, and while I mostly enjoy every style they play—melodic rock, metal,hardcore—the quality also varies. This is due to the fact that the band isreally more of a collective, with rotating members. Based on what I can tell,they have had at least 12 members over the course of the decade. Well, theirline-up has finally meshed, and they have never been more on top of their game.

Without a doubt, this isthe best album The Spirit That Guides Us has ever recorded; however, it is alsoeasily their most inaccessible. I would guess that less than one percent of myreaders would give it a chance. As usual, the genre is unclassifiable. It isrock, but with frequent hardcore breakdowns (yes, screaming). What makes thisalbum different are the shoegaze elements, which seems ridiculous in concept.The My Bloody Valentine influence is strong, which would make one think it isforced. However, it works and seems perfectly organic. And despite how noisyand chaotic this album is, it has beautiful melodies. Some are obvious, andsome take multiple listens to notice.

Most of the rest of thecontent on my year-end list will be quotes from reviews that I have found allover the web, and that is how I am going to end this one. This is a summary ofa 2-star (out of 5) review I found on the Dutch website NU.NL, which I can only read usingGoogle language tools. You would think a 2-star review would be negative, butthey actually describe the album perfectly:

The title is hard to digest… like the music on thisdisc. You cannot say that this group chooses the easy way. Not only because itis rough rock music combined with a spiritual message, but more specificallybecause they are not simple songs to put together. Harsh screams and dissonantguitar work are accompanied by beautiful crystal pieces recalling My BloodyValentine. Original recipe for sure, but it is questionable whether many peoplewill find the result enjoyable. Songs like Rip Out Your Heart and Remember,however, have an undeniable beauty. It is a particularly bizarre sequence ofregularly contrasting passages that makes this album quite tight.

If you live in Europe, Ihighly recommend you buy The Spirit That Guides Us’ CDs and vinyl straight from the band. But if you are like me and live in another part of theworld, now ALL of their albums are on Amazon for less than $9.Here is how I would rank their full lengths:
1. Innocent Blood
2. The Sand, The Barrier
3. We Are Under Reconstruction
4. North and South
5. Don’t Shoot, Let Us Burn

2. Thrice- Major/Minor**
Digital Vinyl (OOP)

Itis well-known that Thrice is my favorite band of the last decade. I listen tothem weekly, almost daily, and no other artist comes close. That said, myexpectations for this, and every Thrice release, are through the roof. And Ihate to say it, but the band let me down a little. Major/Minor is great—terrific songwriting, outstandingmusicianship—but it is missing what I love so much about Thrice:experimentation. Arguably this is the most straight-forward album the band hasever released. It is a great rock record, but nothing about it surprised me.Some of Dustin’s best lyrics, and all the guitars are awesome; it sort ofreminds me of 90’s Pearl Jam. The only reason I mention that comparison isbecause it seems silly to say.

RyanReed for Pop Matters:Gone are the electronic ghosts that pulsed through Alchemy, vanished are the dreamyguitars and ambience that defined their last effort, 2009’s Beggars. Much of Major/Minor finds the bandsquarely in full-on, stripped-down riff-rock territory, downplayingexperimentation in favor of immediate, throat-grabbing structures. Opener“Yellow Belly” wastes no time showing off their newly dusted-off wardrobe,flaunting a raunchy, detuned guitar figure, and Riley Breckenridge’s basspedal-heavy drum kit… For every clunky riff, there’s a well-rounded track thatdemonstrates the power of which these guys are truly capable. As nice as it isto hear them back with much-needed intensity, Thrice almost always sound bestwhen it’s dissecting a track from the inside out: “Cataracts” is downrightphenomenal, utilizing a wicked guitar/bass interplay that perfectly suits theraw production, while “Words in the Water” rides a Modest Mouse-esque guitarlandscape and Breckenridge’s muscular, driving snare rolls, building to alighter-waver chorus with a biting melody.

3. Death Cab for Cutie- Codes and Keys**
Digital Vinyl
Thisis the album I had been hoping would be the follow-up to Transatlanticism. Planswas fine, Narrow Stairs was bad,and Codes and Keys is finallysomething different and optimistic from the band. I can’t write a review aboutit without mentioning Zooey Deschanel, as she is clearly the inspiration formost of these lyrics. When it was announced last month that she and Ben Gibbarddivorced, it definitely took the fun out of songs like “Monday Morning”. Theseare some of the only “happy” songs Gibbard has written, and now it it doubtfulthere will be more anytime soon.

MattMcKechnie for And the Hits Just Keep On Comin’: I’ve read thereviews on Codes and Keys and for the most part, it seemed like the public weresort of ‘enh’ in their response to this record—but I think that’s because it’san album with layers that takes some precise digging and a bit of guesswork. Inthis day and age of spoon-fed multimedia, DCFC has put out a record that trulymakes the listener sick an ear to the speaker for a closer review and get lostin the cavalcade of sound.

4. Mates of State- Mountaintops**
Digital Vinyl
WhenI first heard this album I thought, “People are going to love this.” Unfortunately,I also thought, “Man, I miss the simplicity of the last album.” Re-ArrangeUs is my favorite Mates of State album and was my #1 of 2008. It was quitea departure for the band at the time, dropping the organ and keyboards forsongs built on piano. Mountaintops isa return to form in a way, but they have also greatly expanded their sound;this is by far their most produced work, with endless layers of diverseinstrumentation.

AdamKivel for Consequence of Sound: Way back in 2000(that phrase seems so wrong), the debut disc from Mates of State, My Solo Project, was muchlauded for its gleeful, rough-around-the-edges take on indie pop. The marriedduo of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel propelled themselves forward onrabbit-thump drumming, gleaming keyboards, arching vocal harmonies, and,probably, a pretty decent amount of sugar. Their pop hooks were readilyapparent, but there was a charming messiness about the thing, a sincerity thatshone through in the fact that this wasn’t lo-fi for effect, that these weretwo musicians finding their own place, their own sound, and their ownpotential. Since then, their stock has considerably risen, and with eachsuccessive album, those rough edges have been sanded down, little by little.But rather than losing any authenticity, the duo have kept their strengths, allwhile bolstering their sound with new instrumental flourishes and strongersongwriting to couch those still-powerful hooks.

5. Josh Garrels- Love and War and The Sea In Between
Digital (Free)

The first time I listened, I really didn’tlike the first song on this album. It is fine, but it reminds me of RayLaMontagne, and that is not a good thing. Thankfully, I stuck with it and wasrichly rewarded. Until this year I had never heard of Josh Garrels, although heis a prolific singer-songwriter. Thankfully he decided to give away his newalbum for free, and we are all better off. The only thing stranger than meranking The Spirit That Guides Us #1 is me ranking this album at all. I can’temphasize enough how spectacular this album is. Read the story here.

Josh Hurst for Stereo Subversion: Garrels’is a prophetic voice, then, and he delivers his songs—glad tidings and sad lamentsin equal measure—not as dogma, but as the convictions of one who knows all toowell how lost he is apart from the hand of Love. His latest record is aparticularly weighty thing—but then, of course it is. The name of it is Love & War & The Sea InBetween, and, at 18 songs, Garrels says it's inspired by the sheerscale and thematic complexity of the great Russian novels. He is, obviously,cruising for a major letdown. One could criticize this work for being bloated,overlong, and self-serious, and they wouldn’t be wrong, but I’ll be damned ifit isn’t a mighty whallop of a record, one that transcends its own implicitpomposity to become something truly rousing, deeply human and aching for theHoly… Obviously, it is a very big record, tackling big ideas andpresenting them as a series of interlocking ideas, and musically, the thing isa little all over the place.

6. Sleeping at Last- Yearbook
Digital CD (Box set)

In October of 2010 Sleeping at Last (who isnow only Ryan O’Neal) embarked on a 12-month EP project in which they wouldrelease 3 songs a month. After the first three EP’s, I ranked them as my #1 EPof 2010. Well, after 9 EP’s in 2011, and 36 total songs, it is not an EP; it is3 LPs. I have been with this band since the beginning, and while I preferredthem when they rocked a little more, the songwriting is better than it has everbeen.

Michael Schiele for Stereo Subversion: Theproject has proved fascinating… The music itself is full of sweepingcrescendos, strings and piano. Sleeping At Last has never been afraid of greatswells of emotion or romantic interludes, but the absence of a drummer isnoticeable on these songs. Not to say that these tracks miss out on a sense ofrhythm (tracks like “Next To Me” bristle with a banjo pop), but the EPs holdample amounts of intimacy and experimentation. Sleeping At Last benefit fromthe constraints of the small format, allowing the theatrics and atmosphericssoar without risking overindulgence.

7. Manchester Orchestra- Simple Math**
Digital Vinyl

Despitetwo strong LP’s under their belt, I had pretty much given up on this band afterseeing them play live last year in Atlanta, their hometown. I have been tohundreds (if not thousands) of shows in my life, and it was one of the worst.I’ll save you the details, but it was enough to stop listening to ManchesterOrchestra. Then they released Simple Math.I found the title track single irresistible, and the album as a whole blew meaway. I did not think the band was capable of something this good. The Built toSpill influence is heavy, and that is a very good thing, especially since itwas not evident at all on the first two albums.

ChadGrischow for IGN: At first glance, or at least upon hearing the leadsingle, Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra seems to have completely reinventedthemselves on their latest album. Adding strings to the mix is an initial shockto the system, but the more refined sound feels like a natural evolution ontheir brilliant third album. Rest assured, Andy Hull and crew are still willingand able to kick you in the chest with burly guitar-driven rock and rip yourheart out with soul-baring lyrics… The passionate wailing vocals andsouthern-tinged guitar swagger of thrashing "April Fool" fits wellalongside the velvety layers of beautiful "Pale Black Eye", with aswirling vortex of angst gradually building in the hovering guitars and patientstrings. Anyone that thinks this is a giant departure has not been payingattention to the Ying-Yang approach of fire and beauty that has balanced eachof their previous two albums. Rather, this is the perfection of that balancedapproach, fueled by the most mature songwriting of their career.

8. Eisley- The Valley**
Digital Vinyl

Iam pretty sure I am in the minority among Eisley fans, but Combinations is by far my favorite album of theirs, even after therelease of this one. Combinations isthe most diverse instrumentally, and has the most eclectic songs. The Valley is Eisley rocking at itshardest without giving up the fantastic three-part female vocal harmonies. Thealbum as a whole leaves me unsatisfied; but that is OK because with Eisley thebest is yet to come.

Kiel Hauck for Pop Matters: Asunfortunate as the circumstances were that led to the writing of The Valley, one can only surmise thatthey played a large role in molding this band into a unit that has nowdelivered its best work to date… “The Valley” embodies everything that fans ofEisley’s past work have come to love—amazing and almost angelic like harmoniesfrom the girls, simple yet extremely well placed instrumentation, and a tonethat perfectly captures the heart behind their music… When we hear somethingborn of suffering and adversity, we’re moved because it’s honest. It’s real. Itmeans something. This is a large part of what makes The Valley so special. Noteveryone has felt the pain of a divorce, but each of us have known valleys inour own lives and the pain, struggle and hope that ensued in our climb to theother side. Eisley has captured this experience brilliantly and crafted analbum whose missteps are so few and far between that they simply add to itscharacter as a whole. The Valley isa story that had to be told and now begs to be heard again and again.

9. The Belle Brigade- s/t*
Digital Vinyl
Ionly discovered this album last month. The single “Losers” got myattention, and I was surprised how different the rest of the album is. Soundsvery early-80’s, yet with completely organic instrumentation. The Fleetwood Maccomparison is spot-on. Still digesting it, so don’t have many thoughts yet.

WyndhamWyeth for Paste Magazine:The band, made up of brother/sister duo Ethan andBarbara Gruska, writes simple songs about common themes like being in love,loneliness and feeling like an outcast. But it works. The most ear-pleasingquality of the band is the way their DNA-sharing vocalcords are able to vibrate perfectly together, creating full, textured harmoniesthat seem to rise above the instrumentation while flowing along it… While theband has drawn many comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and other pop-rock bands ofthe ‘70s, it’s the soft poetry of Simon & Garfunkel and the pop sensibilityof The Beatles that seem to have had the biggest influence… The debut LP is a funalbum full of breezy melodies straight from the highways of California.

10. Burlap to Cashmere- s/t*
Digital Vinyl

Itis pretty weird for a band to “take a break” for over a dozen years, but thatis what they did. Impressively, they are better now (yet much different) thanthey were when they started. Probably the most complex folk music out there…

JoshLanghoff for Pop Matters:…Their melodies sound even more naturalfloating over the top of weird roiling meters like 9/8 or 7/8 or whatever. Theyfeel less composed, more like they’re drifting in from whatever ether producedthis eternal music. Alternately, they feel like boats adrift on the irregularpulse of the ocean, which makes some sense—Delopoulos really likes singingabout the ocean. He wants to live on a boat and sail away with his children,maybe to the Greek island of Santorini. Don’t forget to write! Thanks to theband and maybe Mr. Froom, these songs are constant wellsprings of motion andlife, with abrupt dynamic shifts and subtle “diddidit dit dit” backgroundvocals, even some gang shouts. Back on the band’s ‘98 hit “Basic Instructions”,such stuff sounded like it was tacked on to a message song. Now everything isintegral to everything else—these new songs writhe around like organisms.

11. Over the Rhine- The Long Surrender*
Digital Vinyl
Overthe Rhine’s last album, the Trumpet Child,was a huge disappointment. It was honestly the first Over the Rhinealbum since I had discovered them in 1997 that I didn’t like; the jazzovertones are not my style. I saw them in concert on that tour, and when theyplayed nothing from Good Dog Bad Dog,I very much feared for the future of the band (this would be like U2 notplaying any songs from The Joshua Treein concert). Thankfully the band went back to the drawing board, raised a lotof money through their fan-base to record with Joe Henry, and released The Long Surrender in December 2010 (Iactually bought it for my wife for Christmas last year). The official releasedate was in early 2011, and this review echoes my sentiments perfectly…

JoshHurst for The Hurst Review: Certainly, it is the best-sounding Overthe Rhine album, something that should come as a surprise to absolutely no one;the album marks their first collaboration with Joe Henry, a record producer whose work always favors warmth,intimacy, and simplicity… For someone who has no history with this band tospeak of, Henry understands what makes for a great Over the Rhine album withremarkable clarity, and he has aided them in creating just that– not adeparture so much as an album that embraces the band’s essential Over the Rhine-ness andtherefore feels, immediately, like their most essential work… It is a deepeningof the sound of albums like Good Dog Bad Dog and Ohio, albums thatchase the elusive spirit of Americana without seeming to care so very muchabout whether they actually catch it; the fun, it seems, is in the pursuit.Even so, this is their most seamless and integrative album, more graceful thananything they’ve done in its elegant conjuring of country, folk, gospel, andjazz.

12. Mogwai- Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will**
Digital Vinyl
Ittook me almost 10 years to truly appreciate Mogwai; for the longest time rockmusic without vocals really didn’t do a whole lot for me. Thanks to my brother,I actually heard them at their inception. Well, once I “got” them I have fallenin love. This is potentially my favorite Mogwai album.

BriceEzell for Pop Matters: If we judged albums based on titles alone, HardcoreWill Never Die, But You Will wouldwin the prize of 2011 with nary a hint of contest. It’s in equal measuresdarkly hilarious, insightful, and, in a peculiar way, career-defining for thisinfluential Scottish band. After dropping a groundbreaking record in 1997’s YoungTeam, critical mass has generally been of the opinion that the bandhasn’t been able to live up to the high standard they set for themselves. Thisrecord ought to dispel any such notion. Everything that makes Mogwai great arepresent here: the rock (“San Pedro”), the imposing, powerful crescendos(“You’re Lionel Ritchie”), and the incredibly beautiful (“Death Rays”, one ofthe band’s finest tracks to date). If the album title is true, and I’d like tothink it is, we all will die someday. Hopefully though, the hardcore music ofMogwai never will.

13. Blindside- With Shivering Hearts We Wait**
Digital Vinyl
Inthe early 2000’s, Blindside was probably my favorite heavy band. I loved thediversity of 2004’s About a Burning Fire,but then they dropped off the map. The actually released another album thefollowing year, but The Great Depression lackedall the energy of their previous work. 2007 brought an average EP, and then nonews at all for probably 3 years. Blindside returned with a bang, and With Shivering Hearts We Wait picksright up where they were in 2004 but with all kinds of interesting new twists.

Lukefor Kill Your Stereo: The record begins with its strongesttrack, There Must BeSomething In The Water, a grating rock riffthat tussles with frontman ChristianLindskog’s seamlesschanges between clean and dirty vocals. The theme of this track and itsfollower, My Heart Escapes,combines heavy tones with beautiful orchestral arrangements giving the band ahum of epic proportions… The mood shifts for the first single Monster On The Radio, which features a slightly new take on the group’ssound. The band have always progressed and tweaked themselves with everyrelease and with this track, the programmed beat and catchy/dance like chorusnot only makes the song an obvious single, but also gives fans something new… Anotherstand out is the melodic, BloodstainedHollywood Ending, a hook heavy rockerthat sounds like all of the best parts of Blindside over the years combined.This leads brilliantly into the gloomy Our Love Saves Us and one of the heaviest songs on the record, Bring Out Your Dead.

14. Explosions in the Sky- Take Care, Take Care, Take Care** Digital Vinyl
Nothingreally that new from the band, but they are so good at what they do. This isn’ttaking anything away from the music, but the highlight of the album is by farthe artwork and packaging.

JoeTangari for Pitchfork: So whether or not you dive into Take Care will largely depend on your appetitefor loud/soft instrumental post-rock. If your appetite for it is boundless, youwill be very pleased by this album, and probably also its elaborate artwork,which can be folded several ways to make the interior or exterior of abuilding. At its best, Take Care is ruled by drummer Chris Hrasky. Theguitars tend to hang on particular figures or throw up an e-bowed haze, andHrasky is the one who can cut through that… One could argue that the music hereis predictable and even a bit old-hat. We've lived with this sound for wellover a decade now, and we have classics to compare it to, including Explosionsin the Sky's own work. And that argument holds some water. But the simple factis that Explosions in the Sky are very good at this particular thing, and itseems as though no matter how many crescendos and diminuendos they play, thereremains a certain amount of cathartic power to their music.

15. R.E.M.- Collapse Into Now*
Digital Vinyl
I’vebeen an R.E.M. fan for almost 25 years, and I am probably one of the few peopleon the planet that thinks they are actually much better than U2. I would arguethey are the greatest American rock band, EVER. 2008 brought Accelerate, which was a supposedreturn-to-form, with short, fast rock songs. While it was fun, and did sort ofremind us of what R.E.M. sounded like when they started out, it was too forced.Collapse Into Now is much morenatural and much better, and as R.E.M. called it quits this year, it is aperfect ending to an amazing career.

RobSheffield for Rolling Stone:Except instead of scruffy young bohemians hustling to make it, it's aportrait of full-grown artists who reached the top long ago but decided tostick together and ride out the decades. You can hear a lot of shared historyin the music, but you can also hear conflict, confusion, doubt — exactly thekind of recipe that R.E.M. thrive on… Collapse Into Now is the first truly messy album R.E.M.have made in 10 years, since their underrated 2001 gem, Reveal… Buck shines on Collapse, whether he's goingfor psychedelic buzz ("Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I") or power-chordthump ("Mine Smell Like Honey")… It's been 30 years since theseGeorgia boys released their debut indie single, "Radio FreeEurope"/"Sitting Still," which basically invented everythinghalfway interesting that guitar bands have done ever since. They long agopassed the point where they're beloved just for continuing to exist.

16. Fountains of Wayne- Sky Full of Holes*
Digital Vinyl
Iam a BIG Fountains of Wayne fan, and honestly I have not listened to this albumenough. I thought their last album, Trafficand Weather, was far too overproduced, and the more acoustic sounds hereremind me of my favorite Fountains of Wayne album, Welcome Interstate Managers.

Jody Rosen for Rolling Stone: For 15 years, Fountains of Wayne havebeen rock's sharpest storytellers, chronicling the dreams and setbacks ofmiddle-class types with heartbreaking precision and crunchy guitar hooks. Theirfifth LP is rootsier than usual, but the characters are as vivid as ever.There's the boozer looking for love on an Amtrak ("Acela"); the womanreliving teenage nightmares at her parents' country house ("The SummerPlace"); the hapless hipster entrepreneurs in "Richie and Ruben."The songs are filled with jokes - but the punch lines often turn intoepiphanies. And FoW nail the boredom of the touring life: "In between thestops at the Cracker Barrel/And 40 movies with Will Ferrell/I need some way tooccupy my time."

17. Coldplay- Mylo Xyloto**
Digital Vinyl
Coldplay is the most popular rock band in theworld right now, and this is clearly not their best album. However, it is good,and more importantly, it’s fun. Probably the poppiest the band has ever been,and it works. I feel ashamed to admit it, but my favorite song on the album isa duet with Rihanna.

IanCohen for Pitchfork: A new Coldplay album is the sort of thing that's used as a health checkfor the record industry, and the band is very much aware that they could justrelease "a new Coldplay album" that would leave everyone involvedsatisfied-- this is essentially what happened on 2005's X&Y, their fastest seller and also their weakest LPaccording to many… While Coldplay will always be more enjoyable thangroundbreaking and their artistic advances seen as smart troubleshooting thandivine intervention, Mylo Xyloto works because the band once againmanages to sound like Coldplay without sounding like any of their previous LPs,maintaining their stadium-spanning grandeur while subtly challengingpreconceptions… It's all about how they unabashedly flirt with contemporaryR&B production, cranking the drums way up in the mix and the massing thevocals on the chorus to overwhelming, Pavlovian effect. They don't want tocompletely do away with Coldplay qua Coldplay-- they're still fournormal-looking guys who introduced themselves with frail post-The Bends Britrock like "Yellow" and "Trouble". But they continually ask, why limitthemselves to that?

18. Radiohead- The King of Limbs*
Digital Vinyl

It’sRadiohead.

MarkPtylik for Pitchfork: In this more rhythmic first half of the album, electronic percussionfigures in heavily as usual, but also with heightened emphasis on drummer PhilSelway's uneven time signatures. The previously well-rounded band dynamic,meanwhile, feels like it's been reduced to a miniaturized version of itself.This isn't the band that ripped through "Bodysnatchers"; these guysplay with a precise, almost scientific restraint that suits the twitchy anxietyof these songs well… Things open up on the softer, dreamier second side, asrhythms recede and more traditional song structures take over. "Lotus Flower", thelead single presumably for having a chorus and not being a ballad, finds Yorkedelivering a series of slippery hooks in slinky falsetto mode. Album highlights"Codex" and "Give Up the Ghost" follow, the former anarcotized cousin to "Pyramid Song" that features woozily flangedpiano chords, long, plaintive horn trills, and Yorke at his most evocative; thelatter an acoustic, guitar-led call-and-response that finds him pilingfalsettos into a gorgeously ramshackle wall of harmony. Last is "Separator",a clear-eyed, mid-tempo closer that mixes 1990s–era Radiohead with a touch ofNeil Young-inspired guitar work and ends on a sweet and easy note that's milesaway from the complicated clatter it began with.

19. Thursday- No Devolucion**
Digital Vinyl

In2001, Thursday released Full Collapse,an album I loved. I saw them play twice that year, and they were two of thebest and high-energy concerts I have ever attended. The next album bored me,and album after album the band just seemed to go downhill. I had stopped payingattention, and then somehow I heard a track from No Devolucion. It startled me, and it was enough for me to orderthe vinyl. The album is awesome, and has made the band relevant again. Itsounds nothing like Full Collapse, but what it does share with that decade-oldrelease is the originality.

JasonHeller for the Onion’s A.V. Club: Written and recorded in a matter of days with Dave Fridmann, a producerbetter known for sweeping, expansive indie rock, the album boasts murky puddlesof synthesizer, jagged drums, and a sheen of white static that subverts almostevery role each instrument is expected to play. Frontman Geoff Rickly swimmingalong in them; his parables of loss and devotion—from the desolate matrimonialtableau of “Empty Glass” to the aching infatuation of “Magnets Caught In AMetal Heart”—trawl the depths of a heart that’s never been far from the sleeve.As raw yet coldly deliberate as self-surgery, NoDevolución isn’t a return to form for Thursday;it’s a searing, scarring reinvention.

20. Bright Eyes- The People's Key**
Digital Vinyl

I have been aware of Conor Oberst since he startedrecording music, but I have never really been a big fan. I have liked mostevery song I have ever heard of his, but never enough to truly get into hismusic. This is the release I have always wanted him to make; a full-fledge rockalbum.

RyanReed for Paste Magazine:It sounds like Oberst, in particular, neededrejuvenation. His solo and Monsters of Folk tracks were all of high quality,but he failed to surprise, laying out a number of fairly traditional, folkytracks that didn’t embrace his trademark eclecticism. On Key…the instrumentation is raw and electric—guitarsand synths battling it out over Walcott’s always inventive drumming. On earlyhighlight “Jejune Stars,” there’s even a punk-inflected breakdown, completewith minor-chord pummeling and a double-bass pedal onslaught. From a purelysonic standpoint, Bright Eyes sound like they’re actually having fun—which justmight be a first.

Top 5 EPsof 2011:

1. Appleseed Cast- Middle States** Digital Vinyl
2. Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken- Tennessee Digital CD
3. Pinback- Information Retrieved Parts A and B** Vinyl (Vinyl only, two 7" records)
4. Sarah Jaffe- The Way a Sound Leaves a Room Digital CD/DVD
5. The Hawk in Paris- His + Hers Digital

Top 5 albums the dozens of year-end lists I read told me (or reminded me) I need to buy (and probably will soon):
1. The Decemberists- The King Is Dead* Digital Vinyl (bought yesterday, love it after three listens)
2. Bon Iver- s/t* Digital Vinyl
3. Foster the People- Torches* Digital Vinyl
4. Marketa Irglova- Anar Digital CD
5. St. Vincent- Strange Mercy* Digital Vinyl

Most disappointing album of the year:

Swarm of Bats- There is No Tomorrow Digital Brandtson is one of my favorite bands of all time, and this is the exact same line-up minus drummer/vocalist Jared Jolley. It is very obvious that with the break-up of Brandtson the remaining members were trying to do something drastically different. They succeeded, and it is terrible. Instrumentally at times it is mildly interesting, but it seems as if the vocals were recorded in one take and intentionally recorded without thought or melody. I don't even know how to describe it, so go listen to it yourself at Bandcamp (streams for free and you can buy it for any price). The album cover, which I love, is the best part about the album.

Also, my most disappointing album of 2010, which was recorded in early 2010 and had an original release date of August 2010, is STILL NOT OUT. I am one of the few people in the world who has heard it, and now it has been over a year since I last listened (I don't have a copy). It has undergone a name change, and hopefully they added some new tracks to it. The latest rumor is that it will be released in Spring of 2012. See my comments from last year.

mewithoutYou Previews Their New Album

2011-12-22T09:03:00.001-05:00

Key Studio Video Session #5 - Me Without You from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

mewithoutYou's new album releases in 2012; they previewed songs from it and talked about it with The Key in Philadelphia.

Thoughts on making lists, blogging, and buying music...

2011-12-20T15:32:00.001-05:00

I am working on my Best of 2011 this week and next and it will be published, as usual, before the end of the year. This brought many random thoughts to mind that I will share now, instead of in that post.

First of all, as I constantly mention, I don't have time for this blog. I am complaining in a way, but I shouldn't be, because in reality I don't make time for this blog. It is fun, and a hobby, but not a priority. I am a husband, father, and I coach and teach teenagers, and all of those relationships are far more important than this.

And I am not even really writing this blog for you, the reader, I am doing it for myself. Maybe shouldn't admit that, but it is true. It is my personal music journal that I am sharing with the world in the hope that you will enjoy the music I discuss, it will inspire you, maybe even spiritually impact you, and then you will buy it from the artists so that they will continue to write and record it.

Next thought, about the internet and social media. If you are reading this it means I just published this blog entry and linked it to my Twitter and Facebook accounts. I was discussing with my wife recently (who barely touches Facebook and doesn't have a Twitter account) about how people must think I am pretty shallow because all I ever talk about in social media is music and sports. Well, that is why I use social media. Yes, I use it to interact with friends; but to talk to my friends about music and sports. Are music and sports the most important things in my life? Of course not. But the things that are most important to me I don't talk about on social media. For example: my Dad has developed some pretty amazing online Bible study materials. I like them, but I don't use them, because when I spend time with Jesus I have to get away from the computer. I sit somewhere away from all technology, open the Bible, and hopefully have a good view of nature. All that to say is if you only know the online me, you don't really know me. And so when I am spending time with my family or my God I am not tweeting about what is happening.

Finally, about buying music. Just do it. It is SO easy to listen to tons of music and never buy it, or pay the smallest amount possible. Take Spotify for example; it is a very cheap service in which you can listen to just about any music you want legally. I have had many conversations about it recently online and face-to-face. If you are using Spotify to listen to music you already own, or to discover new stuff, fine. But make sure you are still buying music. Derek Webb recently said that he would rather you steal his music than listen to it on Spotify. And many artists are pulling their music off Spotify because they amount of money they make when you use that service is so little it might as well be nothing.

I (and you, if you read this blog) listen to tons of music by artists who are not career musicians. That means if you don't buy their music they won't keep recording. Worst case scenario is that your favorite band will break up before they record their best album because so many people illegally downloaded their last album and they can't afford to continue. I have a pretty tight music budget, but I feel it is extremely important to continue to purchase music because I want the artists I like to continue to make music for as long as possible.

How should you buy it?
1. Go see the band in concert and buy a vinyl record or CD directly from them. Visit the merch table; they make the highest percentage of profit this way.
2. Buy a physical form of music from their website or their label's; they make almost as much as at the concert.
3. Buy it digitally from their website or from BandCamp; that way there is no larger corporation getting a high percentage of the profits.
4. Buy a physical product from Amazon. I mention Amazon specifically because it by far the cheapest way to get music legally. Plus they have fast, free shipping (most of the time).
5. Buy digital music from Amazon (far cheaper than iTunes).

Now, back to my music budget. Unfortunately at my stage in life I only get to one or two concerts a year, so option #1 is rarely possible for me. I use option #2 frequently, but sometimes I can't afford it. For example, when the new Thrice album was released earlier this year they were selling it through the vinyl through own online store for about $38 including shipping. I made the decision to buy it from Amazon for $19 including shipping. Be prepared to spend a few extra bucks for the artist online store, but a 50% mark-up is way too much. If it had been $23 on Thrice's website, I would have paid them and not Amazon. (And now as far as I can tell it is out of print, and is going for $70!).

Lastly, about Amazon. If you are looking for the cheapest prices for digital music, CD's or vinyl records, it is all about when you buy them. For example, digital albums can range on Amazon from anywhere between $2.99 and $11.99 for the same album, just at different times of the year. Over $8.99 is very rare, but just about every single digital album will be $5 or less at some point, you just have to pay attention. As far as vinyl records, to get the cheapest price you must pre-order. If you pre-order at any point you are guaranteed the lowest price, and as I did research for this blog post I noticed that all the vinyl records are now on average $5 more than they were when I bought them. Typically most vinyl records are $16 for a pre-order, and $21 a few months after the album has come out. As the popularity of vinyl has increased, unfortunately so has the cost. I am not sure exactly why this is, except I would say higher-weight vinyl is the norm now and the packaging and artwork are more elaborate (which is worth the price increase).

Sorry for the rant, the next post will be far more interesting.

New Nada Surf Song/Album in January

2011-12-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

Nada Surf's new album, "The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy", drops January 24 on Barsuk Records. You can download the first single for free below...

New Tess Wiley song

2011-11-22T13:15:00.002-05:00

As happens frequently, I haven't blogged in forever. I just found a new Tess Wiley song from a concert four days ago, it will appear on her new album (2012) and in a movie apparently. Now you have a month to anticipate my best of 2011 list...

Thrice in Atlanta

2011-10-10T11:55:00.001-04:00

I saw Thrice in Atlanta last night at the Masquerade. I have lots of thoughtsbut no time to post right now. I have uploaded one video I took, which is actually the last song they played, the 2nd of their encore. Below the video is the setlist. Oh so good! Many more videos to come, I shot 6 full songs and some other clips. I have some photos as well, but my new portable digital camera, while shooting decent videos, is terrible with still pictures.

1. Yellow Belly
2. The Weight
3. Promises
4. All the World is Mad
5. In Exile
6. Silhouette
7. Cold Cash and Colder Hearts
8. Call It In the Air
9. Treading Paper
10. Circles
11. Blur
12. Words in the Water
13. Of Dust and Nations
14. Firebreather
15. The Earth Will Shake
16. Anthology
Encore:
17. Phoenix Ignition
18. To Awake and Avenge the Dead

Edit:
I have added 6 more videos, and here is a set of some photos:

Something in the Way

2011-09-28T09:25:00.002-04:00

NPR has a few blog entries up this month called About a Song. The blog is about Nirvana's "Something in the Way" on the 20th anniversary of "Nevermind". They have great interviews with David Bazan and Damien Jurado, and they mention a specific cover of the song played by Pedro the Lion at Cornerstone in 2000. I was fortunate enough to see PTL play Cornerstone in 2001 and 2002, and while I was not at the 2000 show, I do have a bootleg of it. I don't know how readily available the bootleg is, so I just uploaded it. You can download the whole show, and "Something in the Way" is track 2.

Thrice- Major/Minor: vinyl is out and three songs streaming

2011-09-07T13:50:00.000-04:00

So the vinyl is out and it looks spectacular. In a terrific release plan, which I plan to blog more about tonight, the vinyl preceded the CD and digital release by two full weeks. Thrice today put another new song up on Soundcloud, so you can now hear three songs from the record:

Thrice - Major/Minor (Preview) by Vagrant Records

Turntable.fm

2011-08-19T14:23:00.002-04:00

I just started a room at Turntable.fm. If you don't know what it is, time to check it out! It is called "turn off the radio", no surprise there!

http://turntable.fm/turn_off_the_radio

New Thrice Song with Lyric Video

2011-08-17T15:36:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I have plenty of thoughts, but haven't had time to write them down. Been listening to the new Fountains of Wayne and Mates of State albums A LOT and I can't wait for the new Thrice. Here is a new song, and I haven't even listened or watched this yet!

Thrice - Promises [Lyric Video] from Vagrant Records on Vimeo.

Buy your music, and don't use Spotify or Rhapsody...

2011-07-22T15:33:00.000-04:00

And this is why: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2010/how-much-do-music-artists-earn-online/

Updated: I talk a lot more about this here.

Best of 2011, halfway there...

2011-07-21T14:12:00.000-04:00

Started on this post in May, and it is now two months later, so going to publish it with less comments than I had originally intended.

1. Death Cab For Cutie- Codes and Keys. It's about time! After two albums with some good songs, but mostly boring ones (Plans and Narrow Stairs), Death Cab finally releases another great ALBUM. Key word, album, as this is terrific all the way through. Much more mellow than Narrow Stairs, and much more experimental. Lyrically also very refreshing and positive; which I guess is what happens when you marry Zooey Deschanel!

2. Manchester Orchestra- Simple Math. I have to be honest, I didn't think Manchester Orchestra was capable of this. I became a fan quickly with their debut, I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child, and that progressed with Mean Everything to Nothing (huge step forward musically, step backwards lyrically). After seeing them in concert in 2010 and being bored and disgusted with their performance, I thought I might even stop following them. Then they release this. It is a radical departure, and shows tremendous maturation, both musically and lyrically. Andy Hull's Built to Spill influence is shining through (understandable considering the b-side of the Simple Math 7" is Built to Spill's The Plan), and parts of it even remind me of Pink Floyd. Hopefully their live show has also improved.

3. Mogwai- Hardcore Will Never Die, but You Will. Took me years to really get into this band, now they are by far my favorite post-rock outfit. Yes, the album is as good as it's title.

4. Eisley- The Valley. Most mature album musically by this family band, but I do miss the innocence of their older, mystical lyrics. Pretty depressing stuff, but it rocks.

5. Blindside- With Shivering Hearts We Wait. Incredible return to form 6 years after their previous album. Probably the most melodic Blindside yet, but still with an edge.

6. Over the Rhine- The Long Surrender. Been a huge fan of this band for almost 15 years and was so disappointed with their previous album, The Trumpet Child. Pretend this is the great follow-up to the fantastic Drunkard's Prayer.

7. Sleeping at Last- Yearbook. They have released a 3-song EP a month for the last 10 months, and there are 2 to go. The EPs keep getting better, hard to even pinpoint my favorite.

8. Josh Garrells- Love & War & The Sea In Between. Easily the best album I have ever downloaded from NoiseTrade, and that is saying a lot. Vocally not really my cup of tea, but lyrically outstanding and musically diverse. Oh, and by the way, it is FREE.

9. R.E.M.- Collapse Into Now. My favorite of theirs since 1998's Up.

10. Explosions in the Sky- Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. Pretty much exactly what you would expect, but I have to admit I was hoping for more. However, they are still beautiful post-rock and the packaging of the double vinyl LP is worth the price alone.

EPs:
1. Appleseed Cast- Middle States
2. Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken- Tennessee
3. Pinback- Information Retrieved Pt. A 7"

Most anticipated for the rest of the year:
Thrice- Major/Minor; September 20 on Vagrant. Free MP3
Mates of State- Mountaintops; September 13 on Barsuk. Free MP3
Burlap to Cashmere- s/t; out now but haven't bought it yet. Free MP3
Fountains of Wayne- Sky Full of Holes; August 2 on Yep Roc.
Rosie Thomas (complete but no release date yet)
Nada Surf (complete but no release date yet)
Sixpence None the Richer (complete but no release date yet). Finally released a couple of new songs on their Myspace page. As you probably know this album has been mixed and shelved for over a year.
Sarah Jaffe (EP complete but no release date yet)
Paper Route (complete but no release date yet)

New Thrice song "Yellow Belly" (free mp3)

2011-07-20T09:18:00.000-04:00

Stream or download below!

Thrice - Yellow Belly by VagrantRecords

Megan Rapinoe, midfielder and musician

2011-07-15T20:34:00.001-04:00

Turns out my favorite player on the the USWNT is also sings and plays guitar! Anyway, nothing groundbreaking, but in honor of the Women's World Cup Final coming up Sunday, here you go...

The Spirit That Guides Us

2011-07-14T14:45:00.001-04:00

<p>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://tstgu.bandcamp.com/album/innocent-blood"&amp;amp;gt;INNOCENT BLOOD by the spirit that guides us&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</p>

I plan to write a lot more about this band soon. The Spirit That Guides Us is a hardcore band from the Netherlands that has now been around for a decade. The track above is from their new album that is being released in August. Hard to find much of their music in the United States, but my favorite album of theirs is available digitally on Amazon. Highly recommended!

Poor Old Lu Reunion Show 2011!

2011-07-11T09:05:00.000-04:00

Poor Old Lu & Mates of State mp3

2011-07-08T20:13:00.003-04:00

1. Poor Old Lu is working on a new song! Scott Hunter and Jesse Sprinkle both mentioned it on Facebook. This would be the first activity from Poor Old Lu since playing shows the summer of 2002.

2. Free download of the new single from Mates of State:

New Mates of State video/song debut!

2011-06-27T22:27:00.001-04:00

Mates Of State - "Maracas" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Wow. I have been a fan of Mates of State for a decade and they even surprise me! Sonically sounds like something they could have done years ago; of course the song-writing is much better now. Almost like this song was orchestrated in direct response to all the people that criticized the band's switch from organ to piano on their last album. Can't wait for the full album!

Sarah Jaffe

2011-06-24T17:24:00.000-04:00

I saw Sarah Jaffe in concert last night, the video above I shot along with two others. I embedded Even Born Again because it is the most indicative of the three to what you should expect with most of her music. It is the title track of her 2008 EP, which was recently reissued digitally and on CD. I was thrilled to pick up a vinyl copy of the EP, because (1) I had never heard the EP and had considered buying it on Amazon, (2) had no clue it even existed on vinyl, and can find no mention of the vinyl anywhere online, and (3) it is a limited edition dated 2009 and hand-numbered 251/500. The vinyl itself is a gorgeous earth-tones marble swirl.

I became aware of Sarah Jaffe last spring with the released of her debut LP, Suburban Nature. I ranked it my #10 album of 2010. She blew away my expectations of what her concert would be like, as I assumed she would play solo with an acoustic guitar. Her studio tracks are relatively mellow, but live she rocked, partially due to a full backing band. She had a keyboardist, bassist, and drummer, all of whom also sang background vocals. I was surprised to see Jaffe switch instruments; first for the bass (as you will see in this video I filmed) and then for drums! (as you can see in this video I shot). I found an interview today from about six months ago about how last year she bought a bass and drum set with the intention of incorporating them into her live show.

Not only did the show rock more than I expected, it was much more quirky. The song she played drums on was a Harry Nilsson cover, Me and My Arrow. And then a couple of the newer songs she played were far more up-tempo and experimental than what she has released thus far. A Sucker for Your Marketing will be on an upcoming EP, set to release in August. (...Arrow and ...Marketing are the two other videos I shot.) Jaffe worked her own merch table and I was able to talk to her after the show. She said they are working on the finishing touches of the artwork for the new EP and then will have a release date.

Sarah was gracious, humble, and funny. She was able to perform for about 40 minutes as the opener for Centro-Matic. She played her most well-known song, Clementine, and here is a terrific live video of that song from earlier this year: Paste at SXSW: [Video] Sarah Jaffe :: Featured Videos

Lastly, I had not been the Earl since 1999, when I saw Luxury there. The venue leaves a lot to be desired. Number one, it is almost impossible to identify from the street. Secondly, after you find it, when you walk in, you assume you are in the wrong place because all you see is a restaurant. After you make your way to the back you will find yourself in a small, smoky room with poor lighting and poor sound. The Gum Creek Killers opened. I had never heard of them, they were good musicians but not my style. The crowd was surprisingly small, but did grow a little by the time Jaffe started. It was apparent that most of the people there were huge Centro-Matic fans. I had never even heard of the band until a month ago when I was researching this show. They have been around for over 15 years and have more than one release per year during that time. I was curious but only stayed for the first song as it was already 11:15 p.m.

Watch some other excellent Sarah Jaffe videos on Kirtland Records' Vimeo page.

Paranoid Android

2011-06-20T17:13:00.002-04:00

Wow.

Adam Again & Gene Eugene

2011-06-13T10:58:00.002-04:00

If you were ever a fan of Adam Again or into the Christian underground scene at all in the 80's and 90's, you should watch this short (26 min.) documentary. It reminded me how much I loved the band and Gene Eugune in general. The number of artists he produced, worked with, inspired, etc. is unreal.

WORLDWIDE {film}| ROUGH CUT 2000 from Eden Z Films | Todd Zeller on Vimeo.

Mates of State & Coldplay

2011-06-09T13:56:00.000-04:00

The biggest news first: Mates of State will release a new album, Mountaintops, on 9/13 via Barsuk. Check the tracklist out below. So that means the bands that are currently #1 and #3 in my Last.fm stats are going to release albums a week from one another in September (Thrice- Major/Minor is the other); going to be some auditory overload!

01. Palomino
02. Maracas
03. Sway
04. Unless I'm Led
05. Total Serendipity
06. Basement Money
07. At Least I Have You
08. Desire
09. Change10. Mistakes

Secondly, Coldplay has a new single, and some guy did a mash-up of of it with an old Mates of State song ("Goods"). So you've got three videos below:

1. Mates of State/Coldplay mash-up

2. Mates of State- Goods

3. Coldplay- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

Thrice- Major/Minor

2011-06-03T12:58:00.002-04:00

4th Installment of "In Studio" videos from Official Thrice on Vimeo.

I posted the first installment, skipped the 2nd and 3rd, here is the 4th (but watch the other two if you haven't already). Besides being interesting, it gives some new, important information. The album title is "Major/Minor" and the due date is September 20!

Thrice studio update

2011-05-16T12:15:00.002-04:00

The audio song clips are all old songs, but you get great insight with the interviews. Album due out Fall 2011.

Studio Video #1 from Official Thrice on Vimeo.

Sleigh Bells and Freelance Whales

2011-04-18T15:36:00.000-04:00

Two of my top 6 albums of 2010 are both $3.99 right now on Amazon. Get 'em if you haven't already!

My blog's all-time page views, and Sixpence

2011-04-08T10:27:00.000-04:00

Blogger now provides stats in which one can see which posts have been viewed the most. Here are my top 5:
1. Sixpence None the Richer- Strange Conversation 941 views
2. Best of 2010 512 views
3. Appleseed Cast- Middle States preview 476 views
4. Best of 1997 357 views
5. Chris Simpson interview 357 views

So back to that #1 post. What is interesting is that there is little or no content to it. But people are that desperate for information regarding Sixpence None the Richer's unreleased and delayed album, Strange Conversation. But there is no new information. Original release date was August, 24 2010. Second release date was March 8, 2011. What is the current release date? No idea. It was recorded over one year ago.

Leigh Nash posted this on her Twitter two weeks ago (March 28): Very good news on the Sixpence front today. Should have a release date very soon:). But she has not announced the date. So all that to say, I don't know anything.

New Death Cab and Manchester Orchestra tracks

2011-04-07T09:07:00.000-04:00

The albums aren't out yet, but here are two songs from each band you can stream. I recently commented on my mixed feelings for Death Cab, and I have even more intense mixed feelings for Manchester Orchestra. I saw them in concert about a year ago and honestly it was a horrendous experience. I liked most of the songs, but the antics and stage presence of the band, especially frontman Andy Hull, were practically intolerable. However, their albums are very good and I am impressed by the first two songs released from Simple Math.

DEATH CAB for CUTIE - Home Is A Fire by ATL REC.

DEATH CAB for CUTIE - You Are A Tourist [Album Version] by ATL REC.

April Fool by Manchester Orchestra

Simple Math by Manchester Orchestra

New Blindside single streaming today...

2011-04-01T14:45:00.000-04:00

New David Bazan May 24

2011-03-30T11:41:00.000-04:00

Death Cab for Cutie

2011-03-30T10:39:00.003-04:00

You have probably heard the new Death Cab single by now, but if you haven't, I am embedding the video below. I have mixed feelings about Death Cab, but I think this song is great.

I discovered the band early, when someone put "Scientist Studies" from We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (2000) on a mix for me. I saw them on The Photo Album tour in 2001, and there has been no looking back. When Death Cab is on, they are one of my favorite bands. Transatlanticism is my favorite album by the band, and my #6 album of the decade. Part of that is because of when and where I first heard it (in Zambia as I was falling love). Their two albums since have been minor (Plans) and major (Narrow Stairs) disappointments for me. I think Narrow Stairs is their low point, both musically (boring) and lyrically (jaded).

I have read lots of positive interviews and press about Codes and Keys, and this first song really impressed me and gave me hope they are on the right track. Plus with Ben Gibbard's marriage to Zooey Deschanel hopefully he has some positive experiences to write about!

You can preorder the album on their website, but honestly the options are far too expensive. I will order the vinyl on Amazon whenever it shows up there.

New Appleseed Cast EP out today!

2011-03-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

With an instant digital download, which I have been listening to all day. 4 songs- $3.50 for mp3s, $8 CD or $12 vinyl LP. Buy it here.

Tracks 1 & 3 are 5-6 minute epic rock songs, they sound similar to something off Low Level Owl or Two Conversations. Track 2 is a 3 minute "interlude", very similar to some of the in-between tracks on the LLO albums. Track 4 is a 14 minute instrumental post-rock song, but quite different than anything on Sagarmatha.

Blue Like Jazz the movie update

2011-03-29T08:20:00.002-04:00

If this doesn't get you excited, nothing will. Awesome video with an awesome song...

Video Update 5 - Blue Like Jazz the Movie from Blue Like Jazz The Movie on Vimeo.

Appleseed Cast "Middle States" EP preview

2011-03-16T08:09:00.002-04:00

"Middle States" Tour Teaser from appleseedblast on Vimeo.

Blindside Speaks about new album...

2011-03-15T09:03:00.000-04:00

New Explosions in the Sky up for pre-order & free MP3

2011-03-08T08:08:00.000-05:00

Codes And Keys (Gibbard Solo, Live in SF)

2011-03-03T14:33:00.001-05:00

Here is Ben Gibbard performing a solo piano-based version of the title track from Death Cab for Cutie's upcoming album.Codes And Keys (Gibbard Solo, Live in SF) by TwentyFourBit.com

New Pinback 7" on Record Store Day

2011-03-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

New Blindside album May 6

2011-02-28T21:49:00.001-05:00

wshww from Blindside Sweden on Vimeo.

Blindside announced their new album today via Twitter and Facebook. With Shivering Hearts We Wait is due May 6 ("underground release"; "worldwide release" is on May 7). This is a long time coming, their most recent LP is from 2005 and their most recent EP 2007.

Listen to the full Eisley "The Valley" album now

2011-02-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

If you pre-ordered the album from Equal Vision, you should have received an email yesterday with a download link (I did, and have been listening to it in iTunes and on my iPod non-stop since).

If you have yet to purchase it, the album is streaming for free on Spin.com. I tried to embed the player here, but haven't quite figured that out yet. Anyway, just follow the link and listen to all 11 songs.

Also, Eisley played in Nashville last night and the show could be watched as it occured on LiveStream. The show is now archived and you can watch it anytime. I was at the Exit/In the last time Eisley played there a few years ago when everyone was kicked out because they were violating fire code.

Lastly, the album is terrific. When I discovered (Moss) Eisley in 2002, I said they had a chance to be as good as Sixpence None the Richer (stylistically similar) if they continued to release LPs frequently and matured. Well this, their 3rd LP, is definitely their best and shows tons of growth. Ironically Eisley is currently sounding like I wish Sixpence did in 2011. Beautiful female harmonies from the three sisters, catchy melodies and great guitar licks. Excellent review here.

Pre-order the vinyl here if you haven't already:

Jimmy Eat World at 40 Watt

2011-02-08T14:52:00.004-05:00

As mentioned previously, I attended the Jimmy Eat World and David Bazan show at 40 Watt in Athens last night. First of all, the drive was fairly miserable as it rained most of the time and the 285-85 junction in Atlanta is insane. Thankfully I had plenty of time to get there and my two mix CDs to listen to (detailed on yesterday's blog entry).

I got there a little late due to a great dinner. As we walked in there were "NO PHOTOGRAPHY" signs posted everywhere, which I found to be a little strange. I had my FlipCam in my pocket and my digital SLR camera under my jacket. More on that later, but as you can see I did take photos (on Flickr) and get two videos (on YouTube).

IMG_8630, originally uploaded by drenchedecent.

We missed about half of David Bazan's set. As I walked in he was finishing an unrecognized song. Then he headed right in to "Criticism As Inspiration", which got me excited. Then he played "Foregone Conclusions", a rockin' version of "Big Trucks" and finished with "Bands With Managers." The friend I attended the show with commented, "That is some slow rock." I laughed and agreed. I think "Bands with Managers" was even slower than the tempo on Achilles Heel. Very few musicians can play slow well, because there is much less room for error.

I didn't think about this much beforehand, but Bazan and Jimmy Eat World are a strange pairing. Bazan's music is very simple and laid-back, while Jimmy Eat World's is so high-energy and loud. I assume Zach Lind, Jimmy Eat World's drummer, asked Bazan to come on the tour as he is a big fan. Despite the contrast, I think there is an overlap in the fanbase, and the crowd made up of 100% Jimmy Eat World fans was very attentive and supportive on Bazan's music.

Jimmy Eat World was relentless. As soon as they stepped foot on the stage they plowed through their set effortlessly. They are extraordinarily tight and full of energy. I didn't write down the set-list at the time, but I think I remember all of it. This will be slightly out of order:
Bleed American
My Best Theory
Coffee and Cigarettes
Get It Faster
Work
For Me This is Heaven (video from show, not by me)
Big Casino
Action Needs an Audience
Futures
Hear You Me
Pain
Dizzy
23
Evidence
Blister
Goodbye Sky Harbor

Encore:
Invented
The Middle
Sweetness

IMG_8614, originally uploaded by drenchedecent.

Overall I was very impressed. I had moderate expectations, but the band sounded great. They rocked harder than I would have imagined. I had only seen them once previously, at a live 99X in-studio taping in 2001. I won tickets, and they only allowed 50 people in. Because it was such a controlled environment the band was pretty reserved, and they only played 5 songs. Thanks to Google, I just found all the details of that show including a free download.

Courtney Marie Andrews is a huge addition to the band's live show. Her background (and sometimes lead) vocals add terrific harmonies and her keyboard playing is also nice. The songs from Invented really can't be played without her, as well as "Hear You Me". But then her vocals on other songs like "For Me This Is Heaven" and "Sweetness" also took those songs to another level.

The biggest surprise from the show were the effects on Jim's vocals. Honestly I was shocked by them. His voice has always sounded pretty clear on all the albums, but last night they were run through all kinds of effects. At times I found it a little distracting, and made him sound much more nasal than he really is. My friend thought it was cool and added a lot to the live show. He didn't use them on all the songs, and at times they provided an intense echo. Speaking of effects, they were awesome on "Goodbye Sky Harbor." The original version of this song is of course 16 minutes, the length of an analog tape. I have heard live versions that were only 5 minutes or so, cutting off the elaborate ending. Well, it didn't last 16 minutes last night, but it did last 8 or 9. Jim put down his acoustic guitar after four minutes or so, then spent 2 or 3 minutes layering vocal effects. It was very, very similar to the original sound on Clarity. I at first thought he was using a pedal on stage, but my friend seemed to think the guy in the sound booth was recording the vocal parts to overdub. Either way, it was impressive.

IMG_8622, originally uploaded by drenchedecent.

Lastly, going back to the 40 Watt's photo policy. A decade ago it was fairly common to go to concerts where cameras were not allowed. But it has been years since I have attended a concert where the venue cared. It is impossible to stop in the smart-phone age. While bringing my cameras in, I considered not using them. It became apparent quickly though that half the crowd intended to capture the show in one form another, which is not surprising considering the average phone can take video and photos. I didn't bring my cameras out often, but I did get a few good shots. Most are blurry because of (1) a lack of light (2) my distance from the stage and (3) rushing myself out of fear I might get kicked out of the venue. I got one full-song video and another partial. On the second one I had a bouncer tap me on the shoulder and ask me to put the FlipCam away. I considered following him and asking him why he didn't stop they other countless people filming all the songs on their iPhones, but he was bigger than me. :)

My final thoughts regarding the show have to do with the how the different albums sounded live. Jimmy Eat World has six LPs, and they played multiple songs from five of them. I was most impressed with the Futures songs, they sounded pretty incredible. And I thought the Chase This Light songs were by far the weakest. That said, after the show here is how I would rank each of the albums overall, and in parenthesis how many songs were played from each last night:
1. Clarity (3. Easily my favorite Jimmy Eat World album and that will never change)
2. Futures (4. Sometimes this ranks at #3, but after last night, it got bumped up)
3. Bleed American (5. I assume this is most people's favorite)
4. Invented (5. This album has only been out a few months, it potentially could move as high as #2 long-term)
5. Static Prevails (0. Anyone know the last time they have played a song from this album in concert?)
6. Chase This Light (2. Only really love two songs on this album, and they didn't play either)

Jimmy Eat World & David Bazan best-of CDs

2011-02-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

Tonight I am going to see Jimmy Eat World and David Bazan at the 40 Watt in Athens. I am more than excited; one because I have been a fan of both of these artists since the late 90's, and two because at this stage in my life I rarely am able to attend shows. In college I saw one or two concerts a month, now I am down to one or two a year. I have only seen Jimmy Eat World once, at an in-studio recording for 99X in Atlanta in 2002. I saw Pedro the Lion about 10 times between 1998 and 2002, but not since. And I have not been to the 40 Watt since I saw the Anniversary there in 2001.

In preparation for the show I have made best-of CDs for both artists. I always enjoy doing this, and these were more challenging than others because of the expanse of the artists' catalogs. Both have 5 or more LPs, 3 or more EPs, numerous 7"s and a ridiculous amount of unreleased tracks. For both I started new playlists in iTunes and then whittled them down until I have 1.2 hours of music. (I have 135 Jimmy Eat World Songs and 120 David Bazan songs in my iTunes library.) I tried to represent all eras of each artist, and so some great songs got left out. For example, I like all of the songs on Pedro the Lion's Control better than the best song on Achilles Heel. I also worked to make cohesive albums representative of the artists' varying styles.

Jimmy Eat World 1996-2010
1. Disintegration from Stay on my Side Tonight EP
2. Sweetness from Bleed American
3. Call It In the Air from Static Prevails
4. Coffee and Cigarettes from Invented
5. Here it Goes from Chase This Light
6. The Most Beautiful Things from Jebediah Split EP
7. The World You Love from Futures
8. If You Don't, Don't from Bleed American
9. Believe In What You Want from Clarity
10. Jen bonus track from Futures
11. Lucky Denver Mint from Clarity
12. Gotta Be Somebody's Blues from Chase This Light
13. Be Sensible bonus track from Chase This Light
14. Movielike from Invented
15. Hear You Me from Bleed American
16. For Me This is Heaven from Clarity
17. 23 from Futures

I can't find any source of free MP3s for Jimmy Eat World. This is the downside of being on a major label. I thought about providing uploads of Jen and Be Sensible, as I am not sure they are available to be purchased anywhere.

David Bazan (and Pedro the Lion) 1997-2009
1. Criticism as Inspiration from The Only Reason I Feel Secure EP
2. Magazine from Control
3. Bless This Mess from Curse Your Branches
4. Nothing from the Whole EP
5. Bad Things to Such Good People from Winners Never Quit
6. American Flags from American Flags 7"
7. Start Without Me from Achilles Heel
8. A Mind of Her Own from Winners Never Quit
9. Penetration from Control
10. Hard to Be from Curse Your Branches
11. Of Up and Coming Monarchs from It's Hard to Find a Friend
12. June 18, 1976 from the Progress 7"
13. I Do from Achilles Heel
14. When We Fell from Curse Your Branches
15. Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives from It's Hard to Find a Friend
16. Second Best from Control
17. Almost There from the Whole EP
18. Secret of the Easy Yoke from It's Hard to Find a Friend

More free Pedro the Lion and David Bazan free MP3s here and here.

What is your favorite song from each of these artists? Did I leave it out?

Burlap to Cashmere: Love Reclaims the Atmosphere

2011-01-31T09:40:00.000-05:00

New Burlap to Cashmere song, and it is beautiful.

Eisley vinyl (and CD) pre-order up now

2011-01-25T15:01:00.002-05:00

Transparent red vinyl limited to 1,000.
Side A
The Valley
Smarter
Watch It Die
Sad
Oxygen Mask
Better Love

Side B
I Wish
Kind
Mr. Moon
Please
Ambulance

A link to download the full album will be emailed to you on February 28th.

This pre-order includes an immediate MP3 download of "Smarter".

As much as I want to support the band, the cost is way to high. It is $17 for the record plus $11 shipping, pretty insane. Hopefully Amazon will have the vinyl, if not I'll buy a digital copy from Amazon for the likely cost of $3.99 on release day. Unfortunately though buying from Amazon means the band sees pretty much none of the profits.

So, what would you do- pay a higher price in which the band gets a large cut or the cheapest price you can find even if the band gets nothing? If I was wealthy I would pick option 1, but unfortunately I am on a very tight music budget.

UPDATE:
The Equal Vision Records store has now added $7.35 Priority Mail and $4.38 Media Mail options (previously it was only UPS, $10 and up). That now brings my cheapest option for getting the record from them to $21. If that remains to be my only option for getting the vinyl I will buy it eventually.

New Explosions in the Sky in April

2011-01-25T14:58:00.000-05:00

Explosions In The Sky from Explosions in the Sky on Vimeo.

Explosions in the Sky
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

1. Last Known Surroundings
2. Human Qualities
3. Trembling Hands
4. Be Comfortable, Creature
5. Postcard from 1952
6. Let Me Back In

UK (April 18th)
Europe (April 25th)
US and Canada (April 26th)

1997

2011-01-20T10:43:00.001-05:00

1997 was the first year I published a year-end list. This was before blogs, but I remember writing it up and emailing it to a lot of my friends. I also had a radio show at the time, and I announced it over the air. (Maybe I even posted it on the 7ball message board.) So this is the first 90’s list I am posting on my blog that is actually a re-write; and it is interesting to see how things have changed in 13 years. So to start, here is the original list:

Top 13 albums of 1997 as written in early 1998:
1. Sixpence None the Richer**
2. Stavesacre- Absolutes
3. Model Engine- The Lean Year’s Tradition
4. Velour 100- Of Colour Bright**
5. Luxury- The Latest & The Greatest
6. Rose Blossom Punch- Ephemere
7. Dear Ephesus- The Consolation of Pianissimo
8. Christine Glass- Human
9. Havalina Rail Co.- Russian Lullabies
10. Starflyer 59- Americana*
11. Five Iron Frenzy- Our Newest Album Ever
12. Vigilantes of Love- Slow Dark Train
13. Pedro the Lion- Whole EP*

(I was clearly less aware of music 13 years ago.)

My current top 13 albums of 1997

(doing 13 again for consistency’s sake)

1. Sixpence None the Richer- Sixpence None The Richer**
The album that contains Sixpence’s worldwide hit single, but also 11 other superior tracks. I wrote a detailed review of it back in 1997 that was I think the first album review I ever wrote. (Here is the review on Google Docs.)What I most remember about this album is that in an age of no mp3s and no leaks, I still knew every song on the album prior to its release because I had seen Sixpence in concert six times in concert in 1997. I still have two cassette bootlegs of shows I recorded in February of 1997. These bootlegs include the first ever live performance of “Kiss Me”, an early version of “Easy to Ignore” (called “One Night”) and a song Sixpence never released, called “Breakdown Ready Engine”. 1997 overall is a pretty dead year for vinyl, but to this day this album is the only Sixpence album available on vinyl. The track-listing is much different though, as it drops personal favorites "Easy to Ignore" and "Puedo Escribir" and adds a bonus track "Sad but True." (How amazing would it have been if they had dropped "Kiss Me" from the vinyl version of this album?)

2. Mineral- The Power of Failing*

The debut album from this short-lived yet highly-influential band. For over a decade I thought this album was released in 1996 (all web research shows 1997). I think I even heard it for the first time in 1996, as the CD copy I first listened to was mailed to the radio station I volunteered at. I saw them in a hole-in-the-wall club in Birmingham back in 1997 and heard them play most of the album live; I would give anything for a video of that show. Lyrically possibly my favorite album of all time. I used to have a silly daydream about the Gloria Record re-recording this album in a style similar to their Start Here. In 2010 a Japanese label put out a remastered version of this album packaged with Mineral's second release EndSerenading called the Complete Collection. Most notably this new 2-CD set includes a handful of 7" tracks that had previously been unavailable in any other form besides vinyl. I have been tracking eBay auctions for the last 5 years to buy a vinyl copy of The Power of Failing but have yet to commit.

3. Stavesacre- Absolutes

Probably weird to list this album ahead of the next, but I honestly like it much better. This was Stavesacre on top of their game, my favorite release of theirs. I saw them live numerous times in this era, the most memorable being at Cornerstone 1997 in which they played almost every song off of it. I bought it on Saturday in Birmingham, before I owned a car. I rode my mountain bike a couple miles from Samford’s campus over to the shopping center and picked up this and Soulfood 76’s Velour (Retrospective). I really wish I could find music in 2011 that was similar to this (heavy yet melodic.) Hard to know whether or not to still consider Stavesacre an active band. They put out an EP in 2009 that was their best release in almost a decade, but they could easily never record or play together again.

4. Radiohead- OK Computer*

I don’t remember the first time I heard this album, but it probably wasn’t until 1999. I loved it upon first listen, and many people rank it as the best album of the 1990’s, but what I’ll say here is why it took me so long to discover it. I was of course aware of Radiohead, they had been all over the radio on the X stations of the mid-90’s with their single “Creep”. I hated this song and still do. (As amazing as this band is, their debut is terrible.) Then in 1995 I saw them in concert. Not on purpose, but they were opening for REM. I hated the show. HATED it. I don’t remember exactly why, but I think it was mostly due to Thom Yorke’s on-stage antics and language. Ironically enough, that was The Bends tour, an album I now find to be terrific. I have an OK Computer poster up in my classroom and it gets more comments than any of the other dozens of posters I have on display.

5. Velour 100- Of Colour Bright**
For many fans of the band, this is their least favorite release due to it’s lack of consistency. That is understandable, as the use of three lead vocalists (Tess Wiley, Syndey Rentz and Karin Oliver) makes it a little disjointed. However I personally love the first two of those vocalists and their contributions make up for the weak Karin Oliver songs. The Tess Wiley songs are especially strong, with the highlight being “Dolphin Grey”, which she co-wrote. (Most of the songs were written by instrumentalist and band mastermind Trey Many and then handed over to the vocalists.) One of only two vinyl LPs I own from this year, and one of my favorites all-time as far as artwork goes. The sleeve is bright and colorful as one would expect from the title of the album but then the record itself is white, which has some great symbolism.

6. Rose Blossom Punch- Ephemere

Poor Old Lu’s break-up was pretty tragic for me in 1996 (honestly, it still is). Thankfully Aaron Sprinkle and Nick Barber quickly formed a new band and released this album a year after Poor Old Lu’s A Picture of the 8^th Wonder. Rose Blossom Bunch sounded drastically different than the former band, with Aaron’s pristine vocals and much more traditional, straight-forward song-writing. This band is the precursor of Sprinkle and Barber’s current outfit Fair, and honestly if they played a Rose Blossom Punch song at a Fair concert in 2011 no one would know the difference. (Unfortunately the chances of a Fair concert in 2011 are slim to none.) This would be Rose Blossom Punch's only album and they also released an EP. But Aaron then jumped into a prolific solo career (3 albums) before starting another rock band (Fair).

7. Luxury- The Latest and the Greatest

(Wikipedia lists this album as a 1996 release, but it is most definitely not. I am holding it in my hand and it stamped 1997. Not only that, I followed the band closely at the time, and bought this album the day it was released. I can’t remember the circumstances, but it was in early 1997.) This is probably my least favorite Luxury album, and the band members would probably agree it is their weakest release. That is nothing against this album, it is fantastic; it just proves how extraordinary Luxury’s other three albums are. This album was the first for the band after a car accident in 1995 in which most of the band was almost killed (all survived and are healthy in 2011). It took them a long time to recover and even longer to regain their form as a band. Rumor had it they scrapped their first attempt at their sophomore album, and this was attempt number two.

8. Common Children- Delicate Fade

Most people in 2011 know Marc Byrd as half of the post-rock/drone outfit Hammock. Most people a decade ago knew him as the writer of the popular Christian song “God of Wonders”. (Well, they may not have known he wrote it, but they definitely knew the song.) I have always known him as the lead singer/songwriter of the rock band Common Children. I first saw them open for The Choir in 1996 and they blew away the band they opened for. This is the best of Common Children’s three albums and I am dying for Marc Byrd to record similar music again (as terrific as Hammock is.) I have always thought it to be a perfectly titled album, as it really does describe what you hear. Steve Hindalong produced it, and at the time he claimed it was the best album he had ever worked on. That is blasphemy to me, as he also produced 1995's Mercury (the Prayer Chain).

9. Model Engine- The Lean Year’s Tradition
The swan song from Jeremy Post and company; he would go on to become a commercial airline pilot and hang up his pen and guitar. One of the most clever lyricists of the 90's and incredibly intense during live performances (saw them twice). Band was originally called Black Eyed Sceva but they made the name change due to pronunciation issues and a member switch. Black Eyed Sceva had one LP and one EP prior to this album, which has a far more mature and slick sound. The first three songs are right up there with any 3-song album intro I have ever heard: "Hang You Upside Down", "Scarred But Smarter" and "Reeperbahn". As I have mentioned, this is the dead age of vinyl, but I do have a fun 7" picture disc that is a split between Model Engine and Soul Junk. One of the bands I frequently hope to have an unexpected reunion.

10. Starflyer 59- Americana*

Chances are if Starflyer released an album at anypoint in the last 18 years it will be found in my top-10 for that year. This is probably Starflyer’s hardest and least-experimental album. The rhythm section is ridiculous, as Wayne Everett (drums) and Eric Campuzano (bass) joined after the Prayer Chain disbanded. As good as this is, there is no SF59 album I listen to less in 2011. This was by far Starflyer's best live era. Jason Martin is very open about the fact he does not enjoy playing concerts, but Eric and Wayne clearly did. The rare Plugged EP was recorded with this line-up and captures the energy, noise and loudness of this short Starflyer era.

11. No Knife- Hit Man Dreams*

I have owned this album for a whole two months; I still can’t believe I discovered this band over a decade late. Emusic introduced me to their last two albums, but I had to order this one as a used CD from Amazon. I bought it for a dollar; best deal on a used CD ever possibly. Incredible guitar work and changing tempos Shared the same scene as Mineral and Jimmy Eat World. . In 2009 Jimmy Eat World reissued their best album Clarity on vinyl and then toured performing the album start-to-finish. No Knife opened and I am sick to this day that I missed it. That was probably my last chance to see No Knife but I am seeing Jimmy Eat World in just a couple weeks at 40 Watt in Athens!

12. That Dog- Retreat from the Sun
"Never Say Never" is one my favorite songs of all time. If that song appeared on this album 10 times it would be enough to rank it this highly. The other songs are strong though, and this would be the peak of this band's existence. I only discovered That Dog because the radio station I volunteered at got sent a cassette promotional copy of this album. To this day, it is the only physical copy of Retreat From the Sun I have. I did some research on this band recently (I knew nothing about them) and discovered their three core members have remained very active in music. Lead singer Anna Waronker released a solo album and sisters Petra and Rachel Haden have sung with Weezer and Jimmy Eat World among countless other bands.

13. Mogwai- Young Team* It took me FOREVER to get into Mogwai (and postrock in general). My brother first introduced them to me in the 90's (maybe around the time of this album), but it took me almost a decade to really give them my attention. Emusic was one cause of that, because all of their work was on there. When I had downloads left at the end of the month, Mogwai was where I used them and eventually I had acquired the whole Mogwai catalog. Mr. Beast was the first Mogwai album I listened to on it's release date, and I have followed them ever since. The new Mogwai album is about to drop in a month, and has the best album title I have ever heard: Hardcore Will Never Die, but You Will.

Top 5 EPs of 1997:

1. Pedro the Lion- Whole A perfect example of why artwork matters. I frequently mention this in the graphic design class that I teach: In 1997 I walked into a store and saw this on the shelf. I had never heard of Pedro the Lion but the artwork alone led me to buy it. That decision led me to become aware of David Bazan, who I follow to this day. Unfortunately for the later press runs on this EP they changed the paper color and type (the original had the look and feel of a brown paper bag). If this were a full-length, it would easily be in my top 10 albums for this year. The sounds found here would never really appear again on any Pedro the Lion release and the screaming on "Almost There" is awesome. I saw Damien Jurado play a cover of "Almost There" at Cornerstone one year (2002?) and it was spectacular. (Jurado and Bazan were in a band together a long time ago called Coolidge).

2. V elour 100- Songs from the Rainwater

This was a 1995 demo cassette that the band remastered and/or rerecorded and added some songs to. Contains possibly my favorite Velour100 song, “Ambivalence.”

3. Bloomsday- EP Very short-lived band, although the mastermind behind it, Blake Wescott, has remained active in music, mainly as a producer and studio musician. I just read the Wikipedia article on him, and apparently he has even performed with R.E.M.

4. Phantasmic- I Light Up Your Life Not technically an EP, but I am considering it one here since it is an album of covers. The second of Tess Wiley's band names (the first was Splendora) before she settled on her own name to release her music under. Not sure why Tess did an album of covers at this point in her career, but the song selection and instrumentation is spot-on.

5. Over the Rhine- Besides Also not really an EP, it is an album of b-sides (I love the pun title of this album). Released around the same time as Over the Rhine's best album, Good Dog Bad Dog, and contains outtakes an alternate mixes from those sessions.

Other notable 1997 albums I own and enjoy:

The Autumns- The Angel Pool

Bjork- Homogenic
Blindside- s/t

Caedmon’s Call- s/t
Camber- Beautiful Charade
Christine Glass- Human

Dear Ephesus- The Consolation of Pianissimo

Fold Zandura- Ultraforever LP and Return EP
Foo Fighters- The Colour and the Shape
Havalina Rail Co.- Russian Lullabies
Jars of Clay- Much Afraid

Joe Christmas- North to the Future
Joy Electric- Robot Rock
Morella’s Forest- From Dayton With Love
Natalie Imbruglia- Left of the Middle
Plankeye- Commonwealth
Soulfood 76- Velour (Retrospective)
Toad the Wet Sprocket- Coil

Vigilantes of Love- Slow Dark Train
Waterdeep- Sink or Swim

Flying Tart’s Christmas In Heaven (compilation)

Notable 1997 albums I don’t own but would like to:

Ben Folds Five- Whatever and Ever Amen

Blonde Redhead- Fake Can Be Just as Good

Blur- s/t

Built to Spill- Perfect From Now On

Ben Harper- The Will to Live

Collective Soul- Disciplined Breakdown

Death Cab for Cutie- You Can Play These Songs With Chords

Elliott Smith- Either/Or
The Get Up Kids- Four Minute Mile

Godspeed You Black Emperor- F♯A♯∞
Jill Sobule- Happy Town
Modest Mouse- The Fruit That Ate Itself EP and the Lonesome Crowded West LP

Neko Case- The Virginian

Our Lady Peace- Clumsy
Portishead- s/t

Primus- Brown Album

Rainer Maria- Past Worn Searching
Spoon- Soft Effects EP
The Flaming Lips- Zaireeka
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones- Let’s Face it

The Sundays- Static & Silence

U2- Pop
Veruca Salt- Eight Arms to Hold You
Zao- Splinter Shards the Birth of Separation

Lost Highway Soundtrack

Lastly, 1997 was the first of four Cornerstone Festivals I have attended. I journaled while at Cornerstone that year, and I listed all the bands I saw play and how much I liked them. Here is that list, after scanning and being converted to a Google Doc.
Shows seen at Cornerstone 1997 (BEST To WORST):

1. Over the Rhine (Saturday)

2. Over the Rhine (Wednesday) (First time I had ever seen them; had previously only heard one song)

3. Havalina Rail Co.

4. Adam Again

5. Stavesacre

6. Vigilantes of Love

7. Michael Roe

8. Rose Blossom Punch (Sunday)

9. Sixpence None the Richer

10. Soulfood 76

11. Aleixa

12. Rose Blossom Punch (Friday)

13. The Insyderz (What did I see in them? Must have been the energy and fan participation)

14. Common Children

15. Dime Store Prophets

16. Christine Glass

17. Broomtree

18. Morella’s Forest

19. Send the Beggar

20. Tourniquet

21. Terry Taylor

22. The Waiting

23. Sarah Masen

24. Plumb (It was very sad to see JJ playing bass for them and not Sixpence)

25. Roadside Monument (Wish I could see this show again, it would probably be in this top 5 now)

26. All Star United

27. Dryve

28. Left Out

29. Bride

30. The Electrics

31. Grover Levy

32. Putty

33. Between Thieves

34. Ashley Cleveland

Site redesign

2011-01-19T15:14:00.000-05:00

If you read my blog via RSS or Google Reader, make sure you visit the actual site because as of 5 minutes ago it has been redesigned. I have been wanting a new look for months now, but didn't have the time or knowledge to pull it off. As always, I used a template (this one), but unlike most Blogger templates, this one is uneditable except through HTML. So it took me a few days to reconfigure it and I am proud (but not satisfied) with the results. I also discovered the Google Font API, which is awesome if you have not yet heard of it.

My 'Best Albums of 1997' post is coming soon!

2010 Vinyl haul

2011-01-13T14:54:00.003-05:00

I meant to post this as part of my Best of 2010 but forgot. All of these were released in 2010 and mentioned in my list except for the one on the bottom of the stack: it was a Christmas gift from a student (and an awesome one at that!)

Burlap to Cashmere

2011-01-12T17:11:00.001-05:00

Burlap to Cashmere will be releasing their 2nd album in 2011, a mere 13 years after their debut. Lead singer Steven Delopoulos has put out two solo LPs in the meantime, and while good, they lack the energy and creativity of this Greek band. I will never forget how good they were when I saw them in concert in the late 90's on the riverfront in Nashville. Check out the video for a preview of two new songs (which sound terrific) and comments from the band about their rebirth:

Burlap to Cashmere from electrolite films on Vimeo.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2011

2011-01-06T08:28:00.005-05:00

Let's start with my most highly anticipated of 2010 and see how they stacked up. Light blue text indicates what copied and pasted from my blog a year ago.

1. Fair- Disappearing World. #7 of 2010

2. Sixpence None the Richer. No title or release date. Was not released, see below.

3. Eisley. No title or release date. Was not released, see below.

4. Jimmy Eat World. Invented was #3 of 2010.

5. Fleming & John. Rumor. Unfounded rumor at that; doubtful this couple will ever release another album.

6. Rosie Thomas. No title or release date. Weird that there is no news regarding this one. I am fairly it has been recorded with David Bazan as producer, but still no word on when it will be released.

7. She & Him- Volume 2. To be released on March 23 on Merge Records. #12 of 2010

8. Arcade Fire. No title or release date. May is the rumor. #1 of 2010

9. The New Pornographers. No title or release date, but Spring is the rumor. #4 of 2010

10. Theft- Nothing Gold Will Stay. Album is apparently finished, but no release date has been given. Became a 3-song EP.

Others in random order:

Frontier(s). New band from Chris Higdon of Elliott. #16 of 2010

Mates of State and Nada Surf are both set to release covers albums this year. Nada Surf, as much as I love them, does not play the right style of music to do a covers album; it is pretty bland. Mates of State's on the other hand is possibly the best full album of covers I have ever heard.

GRITS. Title was Quarantine; It is OK, not their best work.

Zookeeper. Was never released; no new information.

Patty Griffin- Downtown Church. Releases Jan. 26. Disappointment. Hoping she will return to form at some point.

Spoon- Transference. Releases Jan. 26. Probably my least favorite album of theirs.

Band of Horses- Night Rainbows. Title changed to Infinite Arms. OK album, I think I am just not that big a fan of this band overall.

L.S.U.- PTSD. Listened to songs online a few times, pretty bland. Mike Knott has lost the touch.

Leeland P.- Tess Wiley singing lead vocals for this German electronic band; album releases in the Spring. Still unreleased, but it is complete and they are searching for a label. A wesome live video of one of the songs here.

Swarm of Bats- 8-song EP supposedly to be released at any point from 4/5 of Brandtson. Unreleased, doubtfully ever will. Hopefully they will nip this band in the bud and reform Brandtson. Brandtson's best album was issued on vinyl for the first time in 2010, you can buy it here.

Now, for my most anticipated of 2011:
1. Sunny Day Real Estate (TBA) May or may not happen, but the recording process was started in mid-2010.
2. Thrice (TBA). Ever since I discovered them in the summer of 2002 I have been in love. I have listened to them almost twice as much as any band in my iTunes (Last.fm stats).They change drastically from album to album and continue to write and record more original hard-edged rock music than any band today. They are at the demo stage with their new album and I expect it in the Fall.
3. The Appleseed Cast (TBA). They mention the recording process from time to time on their Twitter, should be out this year.
4. Mates of State (TBA). Album has been finished- recorded and mixed. They apparently took almost a full year to record it, and according to their Twitter all that lacks is artwork (and they are looking for designers).

5. Eisley- The Valley (March 1) Based on the tracks they have released thus far, you can expect a much harder-edged and darker Eisley than in the past. Sounds great to me.
6. Death Cab for Cutie- Codes and Keys (Spring). While the last two Death Cab albums were mild disappointments for me, I still love the band and expect good things.
7. Mogwai- Hardcore will Never Die, but You Will (February 15)
8. Over the Rhine- The Long Surrender (Official release is 1/11/11 but you can get it now.)
9. Blindside (TBA) I read last week and was surprised to learn they will have a new album out in the Spring. I need more hard music in my life, hard to find much quality in 2011 in this genre.
10. Explosions in the Sky (Spring). Album is complete, expecting a release date any day.
11. Sleeping at Last- Yearbook (monthly EP project) First four months are out, 8 more to go.
12. R.E.M.- Collapse Into Now (March 8)
13. Sixpence None the Richer- Strange Conversation (March 8) Unlucky 13? Much more to come from me about this one.

Not of huge interest to me, but they will be to lots of other people:
Bright Eyes – The People’s Key (February 15)
Fleet Foxes (Spring 2011)
Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (January 25)
My Morning Jacket (TBA)
The Low Anthem– Smart Flesh

Turntable woes

2011-01-01T17:07:00.002-05:00

I need a new turntable, anyone have any recommendations? I bought a Sony entry-level model 5 years ago and as of 6 months ago it will not play at a reliable speed. My budget is $200. Would love comments...

2010

2010-12-28T15:05:00.006-05:00

As usual, I have been working on my "best of" list for a few weeks. And as usual, I am waiting until the year is over before posting it. It seems as if most publications and writers post their top albums at the beginning of December; I originally waited until the end because I wanted to hear as much music as possible. Now the main reason this doesn't get published until the end of the year is because I need the two weeks of no work to find time to write it! Thanks to Google Reader I am able to track and read more blogs than ever. This year I thought I would have some of my favorite writers and critics help me out with my list by quoting their reviews. Be sure to follow the links to read their original blog posts; most of them are better writers than me. I am still obsessed with female vocals, and 11 of my top 20 albums feature female vocals some if not all of the time.

Top 20 Albums of 2010:

1. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs** Believe the hype. It blew me away when I first heard it on my turntable in my office as my wife and I held the artwork and followed along with the lyrics. Blew me away again as we listened to it driving on the interstate from Franklin to Rome this week.

"I keep waiting for the drop in quality, but it hasn’t happened yet. This is arguably better than Neon Bible, the sophomore slump album that didn’t slump. It’s unarguably a more tightly constructed album, with recurring lyrical motifs and a unifying concept that gets poked and prodded in all kinds of different ways. Musically, Arcade Fire still do Sweeping and Epic, aiming for the back row of the arena every time. And lyrically, there is as much poignancy here as finger pointing. Yes, the suburbs are soul deadening. But they were home, even for Win Butler. It’s not surprising that he’s left this world behind. What is surprising is that he convincingly expresses a sense of loss." ~Andy Whitman for Razing the Bar

Best Song: "City With No Children"

2. Stars- The Five Ghosts** As I read on another blog, "I have always liked Stars' songs, but never a full Stars album." If remembered where I read that, I would provide a link; it wraps up my sentiments perfectly. Stars has consistently put out interesting yet far-from-perfect albums over the last decade that have contained some great songs. In the words of co-lead singer Amy Millan, "We have never written an album with this much cohesion of unity." A truer thing has never been spoken, and combine that with terrific song writing and catchy melodies, you have an outstanding album.

"Perfectly fusing pop, rock and a little electronica - the band plays songs that speak about love and heartbreak as they joyously play their instruments. The dueling vocals of Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan are the touchstone for the whole thing and their conversational lyrics are some of the best and most personal you’ll hear." ~Peter C. for Stargazing in Winter

Best song: "Changes" (And my 2-year-old son is obsessed with it!)

3. Jimmy Eat World- Invented** Jimmy Eat World is not groundbreaking, but they have perfected their art. By now, you probably know whether or not you like them. They aren't doing anything new here, but they have added a significant amount of background female vocals, and some of their best songs to date. My current opinion is that this is the best album they have released since their best work, Clarity.

"Cornering the market on achingly beautiful narratives documenting the downfall of love and compassion, the Mesa Arizona quartet expand their horizons with Invented, due out Sept. 28 on Interscope. The twelve-track collection boasts the long-overdue return of producer Mark Trombino, who worked the knobs for 1999’s highwater point Clarity & Bleed American two years later, and a new character-driven lyrical approach inspired by frontman Jim Adkins’ photographic enchantment." ~Johnny Firecloud for Antiquiet

Best song: "Invented"

4. The New Pornographers- Together** Three years ago this band, fronted by Carl Newman and Neko Case, released an album (2007's Challengers) that was lauded with press. Now, in 2010, they release their 5th LP, far better than the 4th, and it hardly goes noticed. This is arguably the band's best work, albeit much more produced than their early albums. The strings, including awesome cello riffs, add a completely new dimension.

"The New Pornographers’ fifth album, Together, strings together another string of unimpeachable pop gems, whether they’re lush Neko Case- and Kathryn Calder-sung ballads (“My Shepherd”), weird Dan Bejar-sung seethers (“Silver Jenny Dollar”) or grandiose A.C. Newman-sung blowouts (“The Moves”). Newman, Case and Bejar all get their due here, with the help of contributors both permanent (Calder, guitarist Todd Fancey, et al) and transient (Okkervil River‘s Will Sheff, St. Vincent‘s Annie Clark, Beirut‘s Zach Condon, the horns of The Dap-Kings)." ~castleqwayr for Heroes of Indie Music

Best song: "Crash Years"

5. Sleigh Bells- Treats* Unlike anything I have ever heard. Instrumentalist Derek Miller of hardcore band Poison the Well and Alexis Krauss of teen pop group Rubyblue combine to form some of the most fun, insane music you have ever heard. Imagine the Spice Girls and Rage Against the Machine in a blender and this is what you get. So high energy it makes me want to dance; and I hate to dance!

"May destroy your speakers, and your ears. You aren't man enough for this, and the singer is a chick with a sweetheart of a voice. It's thick. "Fuzz" isn't adequate. It's the most interesting mix of sounds on any album I've heard this year." ~Steve McCoy for Reformissionary

Best song: "Riot Rhythm"

6. Freelance Whales- Weathervanes** Hard to describe this band, I can thank the now defunct Paste Magazine for turning me on to them. It was the purchase of their LP that made me aware that my turntable was playing too fast after we moved in March. This guy's vocals are "pretty", but not in a bad way, and when sped up just a tad they are somewhat chipmunk-ish. (If any of that sounded negative please don't take it that way.) As much as I hate comparisons, the band sounds like a cross between Illinoise and old Death Cab.

"Whimsical and darkly uplifting,Weathervanes features strangely jubilant reflections on ghosts and lonely houses. Sounds like a combination of the musical talent of Sufjan Stevens mixed with the poppiness of Owl City." ~Joel Mayward

Best song: "Hannah"

7. Fair- Disappearing World Coming in to 2010, this was one of my two most anticipated releases. I have been following Aaron Sprinkle (& Nick Barber) for almost 20 years now, and own and love everything he has released. He was partially responsible for two of my top 20 albums of the last decade (Fair's debut and Poor Old Lu's swan song). My expectations were probably too high. Not that there is anything wrong with this album, it is great. In fact, its flawlessness is probably its biggest weakness. The production is so perfect that there is no room for experimentation. While the songs and instrumentation are great, one could possibly consider it boring. I am being too negative; don't get me wrong this album is great. Number 7 out of the dozens of albums I heard this year is impressive. I am just hoping in the future Sprinkle & co. decide to try some new things instead of sticking to the same formula.

"While it’s been nearly four years since Sprinkle’s last full-band effort with Fair (2006’s The Best Worse-Case Scenario), he certainly hasn’t missed a beat. His ability to take the best of his production skills to fill even the smallest gap is sensational. When combining his sage experience in production with superior songwriting, there is no misstep. The melodies simply convey a creativity not easily found among any other songwriters within this “scene”. While the music isn’t earth-shatteringly complex, it is certainly solid. No overuse of technicality meant to impress impressionable listeners, just to the point like a dart hitting a bulls eye." ~Kyle Lane for ReviewRinseRepeat

Best song: "Walking in my Sleep"

8. People Get Ready- s/t This is the most obscure album on my list, as this band is from the Netherlands. In 2003 I attended Flevo Festival in Holland and discovered the band This Beautiful Mess. When purchasing Temper the Wind to the Shorn Lamb, I was told I was the first American to buy the CD. This Beautiful Mess "broke up" but really all they did was change their name because of a stylistic shift- the core musicians are exactly the same. Chances are I am one of only a handful of Americans to own this album as well. That doesn't make it any less good. High energy bass-heavy melodic rock with thoughtful, clever lyrics.

"Nadat de gitarist en bassist van this beautiful mess waren opgestapt, ontstond als vanzelf een andere sound. De introverte sfeer en de uitgesponnen arrangementen werden overboord gezet, de nieuwe songs zijn fel, puntig en er wordt gerockt. Het debuut van People Get Ready is een combinatie van krachtige teksten en pakkende melodieën. Het tempo is hoog, de drums zijn luid en de longen worden uit het lijf gezongen. Het geluid is een kruisbestuiving van new wave, (post) punk en britpop, met sporen van bands als Bloc Party, At The Drive-In en Radiohead. Maar ook invloeden van Interpol, Mew en The National zijn niet ver weg." ~MusicFromNL (That was in Dutch if you need to use a language tool to translate.)

Best song: "The Ropes"

9. Sufjan Stevens- The Age of Adz** I actually don't have that much to write about this album, all other reviewers probably have many more thoughtful comments. I need to spend much more time with it and give it more complete attention. I am a Sufjan fan and this is a dramatic shift from his last few LPs. Honestly though he had to change styles to keep things interesting for himself and his fans. It is almost entirely electronic, which for me is a moderate turn-off. It is so unlike any other album this year though it keeps me interested. The lyrics are the highlight for me, as Sufjan is actually writing about himself instead of places, other people, events, etc.

"The Age of Adz is a shocking, messy, sprawling album that many have found off-putting. Almost every second of it is coated in electronic noise, oscillating from one speaker to the other and burbling up at odd times. Stevens’ voice is cracked and breaking, far from the plaintive and breathy folk singer he was just five years ago. His songs are now unkempt whirlwinds, building and breaking and meandering and rising into melodic bliss just to crash down into maelstroms of clatter. And if you get through the first 10 head-exploding numbers, there’s “Impossible Soul” waiting at the end – 25 minutes long, a suite that flirts with train-wreck for most of its running time, and includes Stevens’ first foray into the dubious world of Auto-Tune." ~Andre Salles for TM3AM

Best song: Depends. If you only have five minutes, then listen to "I Walked". But if you have 25 minutes to spare, "Impossible Soul" it is.

10. Sarah Jaffe- Suburban Nature* Gorgeous folk music; her unique vocals absolutely define and drive the music. Spent quite a bit of time getting to know this album on road trips, and it was perfect for driving through the hills and mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Terrific instrumentation that starts with an acoustic guitar but builds in all kinds of layers of other instruments.

"Jaffe does well in crafting acoustic intimacy with superb songwriting and a strong voice. Many of her tracks are slow building that rely on billowing vocals and increased layers of instrumentation (i.e. "Clementine" - cue Eternal Sunshine imagery), yet some are short and punchy like "Perfect Plan". Apparently she tore up ACL Fest last year and caught the eyes of Rolling Stone and NPR, with 2010 primed to catch the ears of even more folks (especially when opening for Midlake)." ~Nathaniel for I Guess I'm Floating

Best song: "Summer Begs"

11. The Innocence Mission- My Room in the Trees. Best album from this prolific husband/wife duo in over a decade (since "Birds of My Neighborhood"). The quietest and prettiest folk music you will ever hear.

"As you might expect, the band has seen no reason to change their sound: their pristine folk-pop aesthetic is firmly intact, Don Peris’ guitarwork is still immaculate, and Karen Peris’ voice is as enchanting as ever." ~Jason Morehead for Opus

Best song: "God is Love"

12. She & Him- Volume Two** Not quite as good as volume 1, but very fun and summery; Zooey's voice has never sounded better. It takes you back in time. "The upbeat songs put a spring in your step long after they’ve finished, but the slightly harder sell for She & Him songs are the slower tracks which to lean on the folksier crutch.

“Gonna Get Along Without You Now” is one that sticks out, employing a ‘click-clack’ drum rhythm that over the course of the song does grow over and wears thin. The short of it is that if you enjoyed ‘Volume One’ there is no reason you will not fully enjoy ‘Volume Two’. There is even a chance that if you weren’t a fan previously, songs like “In The Sun” or “Don’t Look Back” may change your mind." ~The Album Project

Best song: "Don't Look Back"

13. The National- High Violet* A few years ago The National was one of the most hyped bands in the world, having the number one album of 2007 according to many publications. While liking Boxer, I never understood the love. Now, in 2010, they have released a much better album and I get it. Strangely the press has not been as impressed as three years ago.

"High Violet, The National's fifth album, roughs up the glimmering beauty of its divine 2007 predecessor, Boxer. But the new record still achieves the balance that's made the band so widely beloved: It locates the sweet spot between majesty and mopery, catharsis and wallowing, soaring grace and wounded confessionals." ~NPR

Best song: "Anyone's Ghost"

14. Colour Revolt- The Cradle* Been following this Mississippi rock band for a few years now, and they keep getting better. Hard to describe: constantly changing tempos and rhythms, led by vocals that go all over the place.

"The first thing that really stuck with me when I heard Colour Revolt's self-titled EP (2006) was the passion in Coppenbarger's vocals. There's an inherent honesty in his delivery, in the fragility of his near-whispered vocals during the quiet sections, and in the way his voice breaks up when he pushes to sing in a higher register. That kind of character and depth can't be feigned. I feel that tenfold in this song, probably because the sparse instrumentation really allows his vocals to shine." ~Riley Breckenridge of Thrice for OC Weekly

Best song: "Everything is the Same"

15. The Like- Release Me* An all-girl band that sounds like they are 50 years late on the music scene; oh so fun.

"Right from the beginning, the candy-coating is what captures you. Opening track “Wishing He Was Dead” pounds down your defenses immediately with its mid-sixties, mod-but-not-Motown backbeat and bouncing bass line. Before you know it, you’re hooked and riding high on syrupy swells of organ long before you even realize that Berg is singing about kicking in the head of the cheating lover she wishes dead... It’s even got some sonic similarities with a Monkees classic on the production side too, in that each distinct sound seems to be trying to leap from the speakers." ~Christel Loar for PopMatters

Best song: "He's Not a Boy"

16. Frontier(s)- There Will Be No Miracles Here* If this was the first I had ever heard from Chris Higdon and company, I would be very impressed. Unfortunately I have been a fan of his band Elliott for more than a decade and his new band does not (yet) come close. It is good, but it sounds more like it should precede Elliott's 1998 debut US Songs rather than come a dozen years after it. In an interview a Frontier(s) member combated critics by saying something about how this album did not stand a chance to be as good as Elliott's False Cathedrals (my #8 album of the decade) because they did not have the time or budget Elliott had. Pretty ridiculous comment; the songs just aren't as good.

"Frontier(s), fronted by former Elliot mainman Chris Higdon, are probably the most straight rock release that No Sleep have put out. Sounding like a glorious combination of the 90’s emo scene with a more modern rock edge, imagine Mineral covering the Foo Fighters. ‘There Will Be No Miracles Here’ is a definite slow burner of a record that while appearing a tad bland at first rewards multiple listens." ~Barney Dufton for Alter the Press

Best song: "Poor Souls"

17. Sandra McCracken- In Feast or Fallow I have known of Sandra McCracken for years, but this is the first of her albums I have owned. It is gorgeous with a terrific combination of songs written by herself and reworked classic hymns.

"McCracken teamed up with her producer husband, Derek Webb, for recording the album and the result in a perfect blend of worshipful music and lyrics. Blending the old and the new, the sound moves from traditional to a nuanced (and greatly subdued) expression of the electronica sound that Derek utilized more obviously in “Stockholm Syndrome“... Finally, it is heartening to see the respect and sobriety with which McCracken approaches her material and the material of Saints long dead, as she adds her own magnificent contributions to the voluminous tome of work that came before. Respecting the Tradition, yet confidently adding to it, McCracken shows great sensitivity and artistry." ~Andrew for Biblical Reformation

Best song: "Petition"

18. Starflyer 59- The Changing of the Guard** Honestly this is probably the most unimpressed I have ever been with a Starflyer album; that's right, EVER. Amazingly enough this is Jason Martin's 12th studio album in 16 years. However, as unimpressed as I may be, it is still so good, the most acoustic Starflyer album to date.

"Just wrapped up the artwork for Starflyer 59’s 12th album, “The Changing Of The Guard.” The music, as always, is incredible… and it’s always refreshing to work with Jason Martin, a guy who truly “gets it.”.” ~Ryan Clark for Invisible Creature

Best song: "Trucker's Son"

19. School of Seven Bells- Disconnect from Desire* One of my final eMusic finds (before I canceled my account when they raised their prices and lowered their selections). They have the dueling female vocals of Aleixa with the guitars and tempos of Curve with the sonic elements of My Bloody Valentine.

"I was saddened to hear that shortly after the release of their 2nd album, this band lost one of its members and become a duo. One of the best things about the music of School of Seven Bells is the amazing interplay between the two female voices (sisters Alejandra and Claudia Dehaza), so with one vocalist gone (Claudia) the sound will take a hit. They are at full strength on this album, however, and the eastern rhythms backing up huge guitars and synths make this band a dreamy joy to listen to." ~Peter C. for Stargazing in Winter

Best song: "Windstorm"

20. The Weepies- Be My Thrill* Another great album from this terrific husband/wife folk duo. One of the few male/female duos in which I don't care if the guy sings; while I do prefer her singing, their voices blend perfectly. Not their best album (2006's Say I Am You is), but everything they write is very good and catchy. While they do have kids and are family-friendly, they need to find a new artist to design their album covers that doesn't communicate "children's music;" because that it is not.

"Departing from the melancholy niche that dominated its previous album, Hideaway, The

Weepies have instead chosen to adopt a happy-go-lucky attitude for Be My Thrill. The pairing together of mellow folk and energetic pop make many tracks off the album remarkably addictive. With upbeat tracks like "How Do You Get High?" and "I Was Made for Sunny Days," it's impossible not to sing along. Driven by acoustic guitars, tambourines and rhythmic drumming, things are kept in sync, without overwhelming vocals." ~Cristal Figeuroa for the Stylus

Best song: "I Was Made for Sunny Days"

EPs:

1. Sleeping at Last- Yearbook- October, November and December. Sleeping at Last is currently working on an ambitious project in which they release a 3-song EP monthly for one year. They are three months and nine songs in, and have recorded perhaps their best work after almost a decade worth of music. I still miss the days where they rocked a little more, but these songs are beautiful, lyrically and musically.

2. Gileah Taylor- A Crooked Line and What Kind of Fool Gileah Taylor released two EPs this year, which combine for form her third album, each under a different moniker (Gileah, then Gileah & the Ghost Train, and now her full name). Fairly eclectic and rocking folk songs with her most diverse instrumentation to date.

3. Sufjan Stevens- All Delighted People. The best part about this EP is that it was unannounced. In this day and age we are usually aware of when artists are either on tour, at home, writing, recording, etc. Release dates are announced six months in advance and we count down to that Tuesday. Well, this one came out of nowhere. Sufjan sent out an email and it was up already to be downloaded for $5 on Bandcamp. Unlike the LP he released a couple months later, this one is stylistically similar to his older work, driven by banjo and guitar.

4. Theft- Breathing Underwater I have been following Matt McCartie for more than 15 years, originally as the drummer for the Throes, then as the lead singer/songwriter of Driver Eight (released their only album in 1996). For the last decade he has released demos online under a variety of names, including National (before The National gained popularity) and then eventually settled on the name Theft. In 2007 or so he began working on a Theft full-length album, originally titled Nothing Gold Will Stay. That somehow disappeared and then finally in 2010 Theft released this 3-song EP. They opened for Creed on a tour this year, and while I am sure it gained them some notoriety, I can't imagine it was worth it. Thankfully they sound nothing like Creed; Theft is melodic indie-rock.

5. Roy Ira- s/t Indie-country that sounds like it is from Nashville (and it is). Humorous lyrics about failed relationships and murder complimented by lots of acoustic instruments. This Roy Ira at their most quiet- with little to no percussion, lots of female vocal harmonies and a good amount of mandolin and banjo. They are best seen live- and expect something more intense and loud.

Worth mentioning:

Brown Feather Sparrow and Friends- How to Throw a Christmas Party (Name your own price on Bandcamp. Awesome original Christmas album.)

Jennifer Knapp- Letting Go

Mates of State- Crushes (The Covers Mixtape)

Band of Horses- Infinite Arms

The Besnard Lakes- ...Are the Roaring Night

Brett Detar- Bird in the Tangle

Broken Bells- s/t

Caedmon's Call- Raising Up the Dead

Demon Hunter- The World is a Thorn

GRITS- Quarantine

Mineral- The Complete Collection

Serena Maneesh- S-M2: Abyss in B Minor

Spoon- Transference

Don't own but might buy soon:

The Mynabirds- What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood

Via Audio- Animalore

Frightened Rabbit- The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Local Natives- Gorilla Manor

Top 5 albums critics say I should love, but I don't think they are very good:

Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More

Beach House- Teen Dream

Titus Andronicus- The Monitor

Vampire Weekend- Contra

Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Vinyl Reissues:

Brandtson- Send Us a Signal (2004, my #23 of the decade)

The Gloria Record- Start Here (2002, my #1 of the decade)

Most Disappointing:

TBA

"To be announced", not because I don't know; "to be announced" because I am not allowed to talk about it. Was one of my most highly anticipated albums of 2010, and then, not surprisingly, didn't get released. That doesn't mean it isn't complete; it was recorded and mixed nine months ago and I have heard it more than two dozen times. Soon I will get to talk about it, the world will get to hear it, and hopefully most fans of the artist won't be as disappointed as I am.

Best concert(s) of the year:

1. Thrice at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. Just like 2009, I was going to make a list, but unfortunately this is the only show I saw last year. Thankfully the one show I did see is my current favorite band. Local Atlanta band O'Brother (surprising) opened and Manchester Orchestra (depressing) closed out the night. If you have never seen Thrice and would like to, I highly recommend this live video from Germany. It is a 7-song set, and I would have only watched it once, but my 2-year-old son is obsessed with it and watches it weekly! (I actually just remembered I did also see Roy Ira in concert this year.)

Merry Christmas! 30 songs

2010-12-25T10:16:00.005-05:00

Top 10 modern hymn arrangements:
Adam Again- Angels We Have Heard on High (Broken Christmas comp., not sure where to find it)
Mindy Smith- Away in a Manger (free on Amazon)
Over the Rhine- The First Noel
Jars of Clay- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Sara Groves- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (free on Amazon)
Sojourn- Joy to the World (free on NoiseTrade)
Rosie Thomas- O Come O Come Emmanuel
Eisley- O Holy Night (free on their website)
Sixpence None the Richer- Silent Night (free on Amazon)
Sleeping at Last- What Child is This (free on NoiseTrade)

Top 10 modern covers:
Fiona Apple- Frosty the Snowman
She & Him- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (free!)
Rosie Thomas- Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song. Drastically different take on the song which takes something silly and makes it serious.)
Jimmy Eat World- Last Christmas
Starflyer 59- I'll Be Home for Christmas
Tess Wiley- Come On Ring Those Bells (free from Tess herself)
Mindy Smith- Silver Bells
Sleeping at Last- White Christmas (free on NoiseTrade)
Thrice- Happy Christmas (War is Over)
Fleming & John- Carol of the Bells (Was free on their website years ago. Look up the background on this song if you don't already know it, also called the Ukrainian Bell Carol.)

Top 10 original Christmas songs from the last 15 years:
Brown Feather Sparrow- Let Us Come Together (free on Bandcamp)
Rosie Thomas- Why Can't It Be Christmas Time All Year
Mindy Smith- Follow the Shepherd Home
Sufjan Stevens- Christmas in the Room (from his unreleased 8th Christmas EP. Search hard enough online and you will find it; don't know a current link off hand)
The Be Good Tanyas- Rudy
Coldplay- Christmas Lights
Low- If You Were Born Today
Over the Rhine- Snow Angel
Derri Daugherty & Steve Hindalong (The Choir)- Babe in the Straw (Noel CD)
The Innocence Mission- Hymn for Christmas Day (was free on their website)

My top two favorite Christmas albums ever are both from the last couple of years:
Mindy Smith- My Holiday
Rosie Thomas- A Very Rosie Christmas
Both of them balance some terrific new original songs and reverent versions of classics while giving them interesting twists.

R.E.M. - Collapse into Now

2010-12-21T15:05:00.004-05:00

Video is live, but clips are all studio versions of songs from the new REM album; they sound great. And here is a lyric video of a full song:

Other albums releasing in the first quarter of 2011:
Eisley- The Valley
Sixpence None the Richer- Strange Conversation
Over the Rhine- The Long Surrender

Brown Feather Sparrow

2010-12-01T10:56:00.000-05:00

I have been mentioning this Dutch band to people for years, and now is the time to take the plunge and buy Brown Feather Sparrow's albums if you have not already. They recently put all four LPs on Bandcamp for download, at 5 Euros each ($6.50), or in the case of their new Christmas album, at "name your own price" (no minimum, so free if you are poor or broke). Their albums have always been extremely hard to get without paying $20+ dollars to import the CDs across the Atlantic.

I hate comparisons, but for fans of the Innocence Mission, Over the Rhine and the Weepies; primarily female vocal-led folk rock.

I downloaded their new Christmas album two days ago, and it excellent and extremely diverse. About half original songs and half traditional, and with a variety of styles and singers. It is actually titled Brown Feather Sparrow and Friends, as lead singer/songwriter Lydia van Maurik turns over creative control and vocal duties on many of the songs. Buy the albums below; listed newest to oldest.

Ben Gibbard + Zooey Deschanel - I'll Never Find Another You

2010-11-04T14:51:00.000-04:00

Video quality is pretty terrible, but the audio sounds nice. Worth 3 minutes of your time.

Sixpence update

2010-11-03T09:22:00.000-04:00

Sixpence None The Richer's new album, which has been complete since Spring 2010, will finally be released on March 8, 2011. I have a lot I want to write about it, but can't just yet.

In unrelated news, all of Poor Old Lu's out-of-print albums are available digitally finally!

The Violet Burning

2010-10-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

I used to be a huge Violet Burning fan, pretty much throughout the 90's. Their self-tiled album released in 1996 was one of my favorites from that decade and 1998's Plastic & Elastic was also very good. Michael Pritzl is a good song-writer and performer, but honestly his albums are only as good as his surrounding cast. When he as Andy Prickett playing guitar with him, they are phenomenal. I saw them live with Prickett many times in the early 2000's and the shows were outstanding. Well, starting with 2003's This is the Moment, the band went on rapid decline and everything they have done since is just boring. Until now; maybe. They sent out an email link yesterday, where I discovered this:

the violet burning from the violet burning on Vimeo.

They have a new 3CD set coming out at the end of this year, all new material, and I am intrigued.

People Get Ready (ex-This Beautiful Mess)

2010-10-12T10:27:00.001-04:00

New album from People Get Ready became available today on Bandcamp. Cost is 7.99 Euro, which is $11.35. If you are unaware, it is almost exactly the same band as This Beautiful Mess (honestly they just changed their name). Sounds very similar, just a little more high-energy. This could easily be the best band in the Netherlands. Their best work is This Beautiful Mess' Temper the Wind to the Shorn Lamb, which is pretty much impossible to find online. I don't even know a single place you can buy it digitally in the US. (check iTunes if you are in Europe).

While you are at it, check out Brown Feather Sparrow and The Spirit That Guides Us, which share members with People Get Ready. It is pretty hard to find any of this music cheap, as the CDs you have to import from Europe. The Spirit That Guides Us has a few albums on emusic, including their best. For Brown Feather Sparrow, the cheapest and easiest route is by far iTunes in the US and elsewhere.

<a href="http://peoplegetready.bandcamp.com/album/people-get-ready">People Get Ready by People Get Ready</a>

Blue Like Jazz and Steve Taylor

2010-10-06T09:13:00.000-04:00

And while you are at it, listen to some Steve Taylor:

I think we need to have a Kickstarter to fund a new Steve Taylor album! Nothing against his directing (which is awesome), but I prefer his music.

Jimmy Eat World- Invented

2010-09-20T13:59:00.002-04:00

Album drops in a week, until then you can stream three songs:

The Suburbs

2010-08-03T09:56:00.001-04:00

Search Amazon.com for the suburbs arcade fire

I am sure you already know, but the Arcade Fire's new and 3rd LP, The Suburbs, is out TODAY. Not only that, but it is Amazon MP3's Daily Deal, for only $3.99. 16 songs for 25 cents each, can't beat that.

I am only half-way through it at this point, so I won't comment on the album itself. The BBC says it is "better than OK Computer."

I got the 2 x LP vinyl version in the mail yesterday, a day early. Thanks Merge Records. I was pretty pumped because this is one of only a handful of albums ever I am listening to for the first time on a turntable, not a CD or MP3s on my computer or on my iPod. I am also proud of myself for ignoring the early album leak that has been all over the internet for the last month. I had only heard two songs which were free instantaneous downloads when I pre-ordered it in June.

Here is excerpts from a dialogue between my wife and I last night around 9:00 p.m., after our two small children went to bed:

Me: So, you want to listen to the new Arcade Fire album?
Wife: (silence)
Me: The release date is tomorrow, but I got the vinyl in the mail today. I have never heard it.
Wife: (silence)
Me: How about just the first record?
Wife: O.K. (unenthusiastically)

Now midway through the first song...
Wife: Do you have the lyrics? (I hand them to her)

After two songs:
Wife: This is the first time in a long time I have sat down and listened to an album for the first time while reading the lyrics.

After three songs:
Wife: I forgot how much I like the Arcade Fire, this is good.

After four songs:
Wife: I hate to admit it, but I am really enjoying this.
Me: :)

Sixpence None the Richer- Strange Conversation

2010-07-23T14:22:00.005-04:00

I just discovered an extremely informative interview with Matt Slocum and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer. You can read it here. It is by javascript:void(0)far the best and most concrete info you are going to find about their new album, Strange Conversation, online. Matt is also more outspoken than he has ever been about their music. There is no mention of a release date, although some places online state August 24. I would say that is doubtful, but you should expect to have it in your hands by the end of 2010.

Starflyer 59 at the Crush Warehouse in 1995

2010-07-23T12:49:00.001-04:00

sf59crush199502, originally uploaded by drenchedecent.

Rare Prayer Chain now on Bandcamp

2010-07-22T20:43:00.000-04:00

<a href="http://theprayerchain.bandcamp.com/album/mercurious">Jeffrey by The Prayer Chain</a>

<a href="http://theprayerchain.bandcamp.com/album/neverland-sessions">Mercy by The Prayer Chain</a>

Jerry's Records, Pittsburgh

2010-07-16T10:58:00.002-04:00

I visited Jerry's Records in Pittsburgh yesterday, apparently one of the famous record stores in the nation (named on of Paste's top 17 last year). Literally millions of vinyl records and no CDs. Jerry himself was present, and the store is practically a warehouse of vinyl. There were numerous magazine and newspaper articles tapes to the walls about the store. Records are stacked floor to ceiling, rows and rows and rows. Some of the records are sorted like you typically see in stores, but there are so many that the majority of the store is organized library style. There are tons of random boxes sitting everywhere, but most of the store is highly organized. To give you a picture of how big the place is, Jerry left at 4:00 and said this to one of his employees: "Make sure you turn off all the furnaces and make sure you don't lock anyone in."

I spent over two hours in there and didn't begin to look at everything. Honestly the first 10-15 minutes I was just trying to get my head around the mazes of shelves and sections. Sections included rock, alternative (not sure how or why this was separate from rock), soul, R&B, country, bluegrass, jazz, techno, gospel, contemporary Christian, etc. I spent most of my time in the CCM section, and it took me over an hour to look at every title in that category. I found some gems- some for me, some for a friend, and some to sell. If you are interested in anything let me know in the comments otherwise you are going to see the LPs on eBay.

For $60 I got 18 records:
Fleetwood Mac- Rumours
The Hester Family- Country Gospel
The Simple Truth- Ain't Jesus Good
Disney's The Jungle Book- Soundtrack
Leslie Phillips- The Turning
Lifesavors- Dreamlife (2 copies, one still sealed. Mike Knott's debut, and yes I did spell it correctly)
Steve Taylor- On the Fritz (2 copies, one still-sealed and one an import)
Steve Taylor- Meltdown (import)
Steve Taylor- I Want to be a Clone
Steve Taylor- I Predict 1990
Youth Choir- Voices in Shadows (still-sealed, if you don't know this is The Choir's debut before they changed their name)
Daniel Amos- Vox Humana
Daniel Amos- The Alarma Chronicles volume 1
Altar Boys- Gut Level Music
Altar Boys- When You're a Rebel (still-sealed)
Altar Boys- Against the Grain