Grumble, grumble, grumble … the future of music … grumble, grumble … the future of technology … grumble, grumble, grumble … the future of society …
Sit Down I Think I Love You
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1. New Pornographers ~ In the Morse Code of Brake Lights: Still kicking out the glam. I feel like AC Newman has kind of become my age-set inner voice (well, at least in my head). I’m not always sure what he’s on about, but it somehow always feels right (just like in my head). A very guilty pleasure.
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2. Alaskalaska ~ the Dots: One of the more intriguing debut albums I’ve heard in awhile. On the surface it sounds like a throwback to classic ‘80’s synth pop, with a slightly contemporary twist. If you sit with it for a while though and listen closely, you hear a lot more. This band has real skill, though they never show off. Every sound is nuanced and subtle; a slight shift into an offbeat rhythm, a quirky guitar break that’s there for just a moment, or a sax line that’s bubbling under the surface. Definitely on the artier end of the pop spectrum, with hints of Peter Gabriel, Genesis, and Japan coming through. Lyrically, singer and songwriter Lucinda Duarte-Holman pulls off the neat trick of sounding irreverent and playful while sticking the knife into some rather serious issues.
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3. The Comet is Coming ~ Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery/the Afterlife: Cool future wave/jazz, as imagined by King Shabaka (otherwise known as Shabaka Hutchings). I can hear them as Bowie’s band on an alternate version of Blackstar. I like the Afterlife EP a bit more than the LP.
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4. Philip B. Price ~ Bone Almanac: A beautiful-sounding album built around the acoustic guitar. It sounds like a cathedral embodied in the strings. Obviously, Price has a deep love of his instrument and has studied the masters. A slew of British folkies (Jansch, Martyn, Thompson), Dylan, and Neil Young are evident touchstones. Whisky Bells reminds me of a lost Marty Balin ballad … gorgeous.
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5. Balthazar ~ Fever: Rhythm-centered, bass forward album inspired by the r’n’b and soul styles of the late ‘60’s/’70’s, with a heavily reverbed sound that is a little more ‘70’s. Some of the lyrics are a bit suspect (in a funny kind of way), but it sounds so good you can forgive it. Plus, they’re Belgian!
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6. Fionn Regan ~ Cala: Slight but beautiful gems from this Irish troubadour. He seems to be hitting a stride with the last two albums he’s produced. Pristine acoustic guitar over splintered keyscapes.
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7. Gnoomes ~ MU!: Entrancing Russian shoegaze in a motorik vein. I like getting lost in the tsunami of guitar noise and pulses this band emits into the universe. Sine waves are good to your health.
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8. Wand ~ Laughing Matter: Moody, drawn-out textures with more than a nod to Radiohead . A keener sense of brevity would have improved the album overall. Great guitar interplay, though.
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9. Modern Nature ~ How To Live: English alt-folk, in the Tunng vein, with a bit of skronky sax.
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10. Hampshire & Foat ~ Saint Lawrence: More intimate and cinematic folk/jazz from this English combo with the ability to transport me to some ancient and secluded forest glen in mythical Albion.
11. Marconi Union ~ Dead Air: To me, the title is a misnomer, as the music gives a sense of storm clouds; propulsive and foreboding, anchored by deep bass drones. A few rays of isolated sunshine break through to underscore the tempest. I feel movement, life, and turbulence, not dead air.
12. Charles Rumback & Ryley Walker ~ Little Common Twist: Meandering guitar/drum settings.
13. Helado Negro ~ This is How You Smile: A laid-back Latin groove that always makes me smile.
14. Futureheads ~ Powers: Picking up where they left off (way back in 2010) … angular post-punk, but with a new sense of mid-life contemplation (still with a bit of absurd British humor, though).
15. Wilco ~ Ode to Joy: Never had much time for these guys, but this is real low-key (which I like). I seem to be able to put this on anytime and it sounds good, which is a rare quality these days.
What I Like About You
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Penguin Cafe ~ Handfuls of Night: Very close to new age, but I still love it. Hypnotic.
Komodo Kolektif ~ Sundada: Gamelan-inspired trance from Scotland.
Jonsi & Alex ~ Lost and Found: A surprise release of long-form ambient pieces.
Thurston Moore ~ Spirit Counsel: Three intense and epic guitar compositions.
Nivhek ~ After Its Own Death/Walking In A Spiral: Ethereal contrasts of dark and light.
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma ~ Tracing Back the Radiance: A much more meditative and extended work from this ambient/noise composer. A broader palette heightens the intricacy of the compositions.
Khruangbin ~ Hasta el Cielo: Dubbed version of their last album … inspired by Scientist.
Common Holly ~ When I Say to You Black Lightning: Interesting lo-fi pop from Canada.
Toy ~ Happy in the Hollow: post-punk goths sound like they’re almost having fun.
Possible Humans ~ Everybody Split: Wiry Aussies with a sound like early REM, Feelies & the Clean.
Hash Redactor ~ Drecksound: The first song I heard sounded a lot like MES. I was hooked.
Battles ~ Juice B Crypts: Technicolor hyper-pop from NYC prog nerds.
Flaming Lips ~ King’s Mouth: Bizarre story-time from Wayne & Co.
Ultramarine ~ Signals into Space: Vacuum-packed future lounge music.
Joshua Abrams ~ Simultonality: Interesting minimalist chamber-jazz.
Thom Yorke ~ Anima: Not my favorite Thom Yorke album, but still Thom Yorke.
Alasdair Roberts ~ The Fiery Margin: More traditional-styled tunes from this Scottish master.
Anna Meredith ~ Fibs: I don’t love all of her tunes, but the good ones are very good (and weird).
Steve Gunn ~ the Unseen in Between: A little too tame this time around.
Clinic ~ Wheeltappers and Shunters: Still sounds like Clinic. Still strange.
Truth Club ~ This is Not an Exit: The ‘90’s revival continues.
Pottery ~ No. 1 EP: Interesting debut EP, one for the future.
Russian Circles ~ Blood Year: Claustrophobic guitar-centric post rock.
Bon Iver ~ I, I: While I’ve loved almost all of Vernon’s work up to this point, this falls very short, in my opinion. It just sounds too damned happy. I’m still on the fence with this one.
Have You Ever Been Disappointed?
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Twilight Sad ~ It Won’t Be Like This All the Time: Too hyper, with no room to breathe.
Vampire Weekend ~ Father of the Bride: Tried to like it, but it’s sooo cheesy.
John Vanderslice ~ The Cedars: One of my former favorites, adrift.
Steve Mason ~ About the Light: It just doesn’t move me.