Dan Wilmer Poop 04
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1. Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Like Bad News
How much do I love this album? A lot.
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2. Wilco – A Ghost is Born
I was a tittle put off by endless media barrage around this album and its universal coronation as a “quiet masterpiece.” But after listening to this over and over, I have to admit it’s one of my favorites this year. I like to start on “The Muzzle of Bees” and go straight through to “Theologians”, my favorite track. “Theologians, they don’t know nothing. About my soul.”Amen, brother.
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3. Green Day – American Idiot
Billy Joe rants against “President Gasman.” And Green Day makes its best album since Dookie. I can’t believe how good and fun this is.
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4. Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now
More Anti-Bush rants to rile you up pre-November 2nd. And like American Idiot, a little bit depressing to listen to post-election. For me, it’s his best album since El Corazon, which I LOVE. “Condi, Condi” his love song to Ms. Rice is whimsical fun, but the best tracks are really powerful stuff: “Home to Houston”, “Rich Man’s War”, “The Gringo’s Tale” and “The Seeker”. They all chronicle the human cost and on-the-ground reality of those who fight the wars we choose to wage.
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5. Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
In a less-than-inspiring year, a delightful breath of fresh air. Because “it’s always better on holiday.” Great guitar anthems and sexy lyrics from the Scottish progeny of Duran Duran. A good reminder that the 80′s gave us a more than a few great guitarists like the Smith’s Johnny Marr.
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6. Ambulance Ltd. – LP
My friend Owen says this album “summarizes the last fifteen years of alternative rock.” Yes, Owen works for a record label. In fairness, at times this band sounds like Spoon, others the Stone Roses, and there’s even a touch of Squeeze – all artists that I can take in large doses. Tracks 1-6 may be my favorite straight listen of the year.
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7. Bobby Bare Jr. and the Young Criminals’ Starvation League – From the End of Your Leash
Bobby has always had some rather large shoes to fill. His dad is country legend Bobby Bare, and his childhood was filled with the likes of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and the Cash family. No pressure, huh? With From the End of your Leash, Bobby continues to assert himself and puts out his best album yet. Like his forbears, Bobby rebels against the formulaic country that permeates Nashville. The album opens with Morphine-like “Strange Bird”, has great pop alt-country songs like “Valentine” and your “Favorite Hat”, fun allegories in “Visit Me in Music City” and “Adorable Beast” and one of the best anti-cocaine diatribes in recent memory with “Terrible Sunrise.” The breadth of style, arrangements and musicianship here is just amazing.
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8. Metric – Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?
With songs like “Combat Baby” and “Succexy” (as in “invasion is so succexy, so succexy”), this is my third protest album in the top ten. Ifs a New Wave album with synths and cool dance beats matched to guitars and a punk sentiment that’s very reminiscent of Blondie. Emily Haine is the most striking and talented female lead I’ve seen all year.
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9. Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days
This is a very, very quiet album in the tradition of Nick Drake. Fans argue whether his first LP album, The Creek Drank the Cradle, is better. But this is a fine introduction, and the production is much improved over Creek. There are some haunting, beautiful songs here. Particularly, “Naked As We Came” and “Each Coming Night” – two of my favorites this year.
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10. Walking Concert – Run to Be Born
I’m a big fan of J. Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. Walking Concert’s Walter Schreifels, a punk rock prodigy who founded the band Gorilla Biscuits when he was Just 16, is capable of both the fun guitar noodling and great – songwriting of Js best stuff. Run To Be Borneven gets a little poppy with songs like “Audrey” and “Calypso Slide”. Well, poppy in a weird, indie kinda way.
Best of the Rest: The Libertines, The Hives, Rogue Wave, Neko Case, The Killers.
Best Single: “What Became of the Likely Lads”, The Libertines.
Best Name for a Band: Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Best Name for an Album: Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs to – Spacemen 3 (an old album, but I love the title…)
Best Rockumentary: Dig! Which chronicles the misadventures of the two indie bands, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols. The unintended irony is almost Spinaltapsien. End of the Century about the Ramones is a must see, as well.
