January 2nd, 2007
1. Crane Wife - The Decemberists
The Decemberists’ major label debut. The band is tighter and Colin’s vocals are more mature on this nod to some of the prog rock of the 70’s, with guitar rifs that would feel at home on a Led Zep album and keyboards that hearken back to Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. And it wouldn’t be the Decemberists without lyrics steeped in folklore, including the title song-cycle that comes from a Japanese folk tale.
2. Permafrost - Bill Mallonee/The Victory Garden
Bill Mallonee at his most confessional. See my full review here.
3. The Life Pursuit - Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian albums get better with each outing. The Life Pursuit is their most fun yet, paying homage to some of the great 70’s pop music (I’m surprised to find a trend of 70’s influenced CD’s in my list this year). Yes, I confess to having been drawn in to the ‘cult of Belle & Sebastian’ since Tigermilk, but I also confess that I was starting to get a little bored. “Dear Catastrophe Waitress” was the wake up call they needed and also the springboard to “The Life Pursuit”.
4. Fox confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case
Alt-country, jazz, blues…whatever label you want to give or whatever style she is singing, Neko’s voice draws you in to listen to the stories she tells. It took her a couple years to make this album (while also splitting time with the New Pornographers), it was worth the wait.
5. Ta Dah! - Scissor Sisters
WOW! Fun! On their second album, the Scissor Sisters have continued what they started…much of the same, but better, more mature. They didn’t go ‘over the top’ as much on this album as on their debut and the energy behind that restraint makes for some excellent tracks. And tell me, how can you not dance to “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”? Another 70’s influenced band on my list.
6. Snow Angels - Over The Rhine
Over the Rhine is one of my all-time favorites. Karin and Linford continue to put out music that tells some of the best stories. This is a ‘holiday’ album, but it refuses to show the sappiness of many artists’ ‘requisite’ Christmas album. This is the kind of album you want to listen to even after the holidays.
7. The Information - Beck
The best of “Sea Change” meets the best of “Guero” with a theme of technology…and how it messes with human interaction. But Beck wants you to make this your own. Make this what you want it to be…including the mostly blank CD cover and the sheet of stickers so you can make the cover look any way you want.
8. St. Elsewhere - Gnarles Barkley
I know, everyone is tired of hearing “Crazy”…but even so, I notice that still, after all the overplay it gets, the dance floor still fills up whenever that song is played. Danger Mouse is the current ‘it man’ in the music scene and he joins here with Cee-Lo, re-defining the ‘rules’ for hip-hop with this unique psychedelic blend of pop, hip-hop, soul, and rock.
9. Talk to la Bomb - Brazilian Girls
On their first album, the Brazilian Girls got our attention with their playful seduction. This album, after seducing you with their beats and hooks, they turn on you with a darker, sometimes angry message. But in the current wartime world, it can be hard to find a playfulness all the time.
10. Love - Beatles
George Martin brought his son, Giles, into the studio to rework many of the Beatles’ greatest tracks to create a continuous mix for the backdrop to Cirque du Soleil’s latest Las Vegas production. Very psychedelic, very cirque, very updated. Bringing the ‘Summer of Love’ to a new generation.
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It has been a while since Iââ¬â¢ve added a new review here and that is mostly due to the huge transitions Iââ¬â¢ve made in my personal life in the last few months. Well, Iââ¬â¢ve finally come to a resolution to nearly everything after three long years of turmoil and stress.
I picked up this great novel/movie/grand tale called