Top 10 and a Half of 2008: Part II

Did you like my little (?) at the end of the last post when I said that Part II would be up at the end of the following week? As the French say, "On n'apprend pas aux vieux singes à faire des grimaces," (or is it, "Il vaut mieux faire que dire"?... I can't remember...I don't speak French).

Not sure how many folks listened to the playlist for Part I, but the songs can still be listened to. Just click on the song titles and hey presto!

So, I guess Radiohead's In Rainbows is being considered a 2008 release. Not in my books- the pay-as-you-may in October 2007 got it listed in my top-10 last year. (Just in case anybody was wondering...).

While I'm at it- I'm not doing an honorable mention list. But I also enjoyed releases by Women, Dr. Dog, and Cut Copy.

(Once again- Spencer's post is up now, but you can still listen to the songs below- click (right click even!.... save as....or don't....) on the hyperlink for the song titles. Word).

#5 Beck: Modern Guilt (Orphans)

Ok, so I'm a little biased when it comes to Beck. From the second I finished listening to Mellow Gold back in the summer of 1994, my fate was sealed. I'm a Mellow Gold/One Foot In The Grave/Mutations Beck man and though there isn't an album I don't like, there are elements of his musical schizophrenia that I'm more partial to. Beck has mostly played it safe (predictable?) since Midnight Vultures, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but maybe the early comparisons with David Bowie aren't that far off (look at Bowie's plateau (decline?) in the 80's/90's). This album reminds me of Radiohead's In Rainbows (except for the part where Nigel Godrich is substituted with Dangermouse). There may not be another Odelay or Mellow Gold (or Ok Computer/Kid A for RH) up his sleeves, but the man is still one heck of a song-smithey. With Dylan-esque cover art, you might think of a return to One Foot in the Grave, or even a little Mutations, but this 'aint no Highway 61 Revisited. I love the reverb-saturation on this album. I love the quick and lean run-time, each song charging into the next- it crackles and drives. The album starts out strong starting out with a quartet of gems, "Orphans", "Gamma Ray", "Chemtrails", and "Modern Guilt". It meanders a bit in the middle, but ends of on a strong note with "Profanity Prayers" and the exquisite "Volcano." Chekkit.

#4 Jeff Hanson: Madam Owl (Night)

I usually try to stay in touch with the latest and greatest coming out of my two favorite hometown record labels, K Records and Kill Rock Stars, but Jeff Hanson had flown under my radar until this year when Jacob highlighted him in September after the release of Madam Owl. (Click on the hotlink for his review). Shortly after that me and Ann went to go see him perform at Chop Suey here in Seattle. (I don't know, but seeing him live before ever hearing one of his recordings minimized the wierd-out factor with his falsetto). Great music- great show, great album.

#3 Islands: Arm's Way (Creeper)

The Unicorns died young. I love Islands, but feel we were cheated out of a 3 or 4 album string before the untimely self-destruction and rebirth (the jettison of Alden Penner and now Jamie Thompson after the first Islands album). I love the shoestring budget feel to Who will cut our hair when we're gone? and was initially turned off by the bigger-production bombast of Island's debut Return to the Sea. I've grown quite fond of that album, but there are still things that don't work for me ("Where there's a will, there's a whalebone" not being one of them, surprisingly). Arm's Way fully realizes the vision of that album and then some. In some ways it reminds me of Built to Spill's Perfect from now on- Doug Martsch and Co. took their newfound major label debut cash and created an utterly brilliant opus, throwing convention and caution to the wind (radio-friendly song lengths be damned). Islands' latest feels equally inspired. I love it so. Songs like "Creeper," "Pieces of You," and "J'aime Vous Voir Quitter" are immediately accessible, jumping to the top of your repeat list, but "In the Rushes" (7 min.) and "Vertigo" (11 min!!) become cooler and cooler with each listen. (Look out for a little Who-lovin).

#2 Fleet Foxes (self titled LP) (White Winter Hymnal)

Jakob did another nice review of this album over the summer. I first read the pitchfork review, then Jake's, then a couple songs into the album (streaming on Rhapsody), I made a quick iTunes purchase.

Holy mackerel.

The music alone could have never convinced me that these guys are from Seattle (Lake Washington High School, represent!), let alone anywhere beneath the often gray skies of the pacific northwest (I could maybe see a little N. Cali...). From the soaring harmonies on the opening track, "Sun it Rises" to the intimate closing, "Oliver James," they could hardly have crafted a more perfect album. Put on some headphones, close your eyes, and say sayonara to the next couple of hours (days, weeks...) Phil Ek (Built to Spill again!!) produced this and their first two releases (both EPs). Exquisitely beautiful. I don't think I have a favorite track- sometimes I'm in the mood for "White Winter Hymnal", sometimes it's "Meadowlark"... sometimes it's "Blue Ridge Mountains (elements of that song remind me a little of the soundtrack for Spirited Away by Miyazaki...). If you haven't heard this album yet, you'll regret every day that you procrastinated. Hop to it.... hop to it.

#1 Department of Eagles: In Ear Park (Balmy Night)

Ok, so Fleet Foxes and DoE duked it out for a couple of weeks in my iPod for the #1 spot. Fleet Foxes kept their edge most of the time because they're local boys (yeah, there's a little conflict of interest...). Don't get me wrong, it's still pretty close- I would even go as far as to call Fleet Foxes co-best album, but nobody likes wishy-washy. When I originally reviewed this back in November, I gushed all over the place about it. I'm not sure how much more I can add besides that it's never grown old. I still sometimes listen to it a couple times a day when I can. Back when Arcade Fire's Funeral came out, it was on repeat so long it practically melded with my CD player. After a month or two, I started to get scared that maybe I'd get sick of it (like I'd once done with Grandaddy's Sophtware Slump). Never happened. I don't see that happening here either.

It's all about Re-Listenability. Not that there's anything wrong with Fleet Foxes instant listenability, but the most rewarding albums are those that continue to unfold and surprise with each spin. "No One Does it Like You" first grabbed my attention, but I quickly fell in love with "Around the Bay" and the title track. Later- "Phantom Other," "Fields of Rye" (!!!). Yeah, I still listen from start to finish, but sometimes when I'm driving around I'll listen over and over again to the last three tracks- "Therapy Car Noise", "Floating on the Lehigh", and "Balmy Night" (the final track on the MixTape). Ach, Balmy Night. If I weren't quickly tiring of writing this entry, I'd bore you all with an ode to each. Seriously, though, don't tempt me.

Definitely one of my favorite albums in years. I'm sure I'll get all giddy and what-not when their next album comes out, but in the meantime I'm more than satisfied with this awesome-tastic LP.


Word to your moms. Thank you, 2008. Here's to 2009!!!

Top 10 and a Half of 2008: Part I

Ahoy! So the sun sets on 2008. Great year for music. Inspired by Dave Troutman I'm doing a post on my top 10 albums of the year. (Dave & Spencer- if you guys want to cut and paste your lists into the comments section... or heck- do separate posts, that would be fantastic. I just barely read yours after assembling mine...). I have a hard time with best-of lists because my musical discovery is rarely chronological. Not only that, but I'll have albums that will sit on my iPod a year or two before they gestate. A disclaimer: these are my favorite albums of 2008 that I actually own/have listened to. There are albums out there that I really wanted to like.... but just haven't listened to yet. Some guys I know talk about the cars they're going to buy when they finally get real jobs..... I'm catching up on loads of music. For serious.

I've split the list in two mainly because of the limitations of my html mp3 player, but you can think of it as a countdown of sorts. Part 2 will post later this week. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my choices as well as lists of your own.

(Part I mp3's can still be listened to- just click on the song title in each section)

#10.5 A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!!! (Soundtrack)

Yeah, the first song you're hearing on the MixTape is from a soundtrack. I love Stephen Colbert and this hour-long special is an instant classic. "The children are dressed up like elves! The dwarves are dressed up like children! It's magical!" It doesn't crack the top 10 (or even the top 20 probably) because most of the songs just don't work as well outside the context of the video. I just couldn't help tacking it on.

Colbert can sing!!! The first track on the countdown, (What's so funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?, is a song originally made famous by Elvis Costello. Joining Stephen on this track (and throughout the show) are Elvis Costello (from the belly of a bear....don't ask...just watch), Leslie Feist, John Legend, Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. Somehow Colbert reigns in the comic insanity and brings the show to a somewhat more serious finale. It's been an insane year, and this show/album/song was a perfect coda to the 12 months of relief (comic and otherwise) that have kept us afloat.

#10 Atlas Sound (Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel)

I first heard River Card back when this album was newly released and it put down roots in my middle ear. Atlas Sound is a side project for Bradford Cox, a fine fellow from Atlanta Georgia. He is also the driving force behind the band Deerhunter, a band I gave a second chance as a result of this disc. Cox makes these introverted dream-sequence soundtracks crackle and hum. Plug in your 'phones on a rainy day.

#9 Shearwater: Rook ("Snow Leopard")

I'm not a big fan of Okkervil River, so I was surprised by Shearwater (a side project of 2 of OR's founding members). Who knows, maybe I'll eventually come around and give OR another chance, but whereas Atlas Sound is basically Deerhunter with slightly varied instruments, Shearwater sounds like a different animal to me. Rook is fantastic. Driving operatic multi-instrumental melodies, experimental arrangements and ballads from a guy crazy about birds. What more could you want?

#8 Deerhunter: Microcastle ("Nothing Ever Happened")

Ok, so I haven't heard Wierd Era Cont. (the bonus album you get if you buy the CD of Microcastle.... Holy cow, what a busy year for Bradford Cox...). It's said to be closer to Cryptograms, so we'll see. Microcastle felt to me like Cox was reigning in his penchant for droning on a bit long on some songs. It's definitely the most listener-friendly of the Cox Canon. He's crafted some excellent noisy dreampop here.

#7 Wolf Parade: At Mount Zoomer ("The Grey Estates")

Apologies to the Queen Mary kicked me in the head repeatedly for months and months and still ranks high among my all-time favorite albums. I had high expectations for Zoomer, and was pretty disappointed when it came out. I left it alone for a while and came back with a fresh set of ears and zero expectations and it keeps getting more awesome with each listen. Spencer Krug and Co. continue to make instantly-rewarding, yet challenging music that will gnaw out a little nook in your brain and take you hostage from time to time.

#6 Mount Eerie (with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire): Lost Wisdom
("You Swan Go On")

Anybody who knew me in the late 90's knew of my infatuation with K Records (Olympia, WA-based record label) and my man-crush on founder and Halo Benders/Dub Narcotic/Beat Happening frontman Calvin Johnson. Somewhere between 2000-2002, I dumped Calvin for Phil Elvrum and haven't looked back. The Microphones will always serve as the soundtrack for a couple years of my life (as well as the soundtrack for the wilderness of the Puget Sound region). I could gush for days about It was Hot, We Stayed in the Water and the Glow pt. II, but Phil's music just hasn't been the same for me since the Microphones died and reincarnated as Mount Eerie..... until now. Elvrum's always very personal lyrics are back but paired with the lovely vocals of Julie Doiron (Eric's Trip) and stripped down to very sparse arrangements. Also released this year- Black Wooden Ceiling Opening and Dawn. Prolific! I don't have Dawn yet (!!!) and didn't really take to BWCO (Phil's been on a bit of a scandanavian Black Metal kick lately). Speaking of which- the title and album art for Lost Wisdom are a reference to Norwegian Black Metal musician, Barzum. This aint metal, y'all. (or "the metal" as Spencer would say).

Tune in later this week (?) for Part II and my top 5 favorite albums of 2008!!!!

(Oh yeah, and if anybody is still reading this and has yet to see the Colbert Christmas special, scroll back to the top and click on the picture of the prancing Stephen).

Tinker Bells, Tinker Bells......

My daughter, Indiana, thinks that Jingle Bells is about her little doll, Tinker Bell. So we Tinker all the way now.

'Tis the season and for the last couple of years I've attempted a 12 days of Christmas. Zac asked me the other day if we were on schedule for 2008 and it's probably not going to happen (at least from my end). I'm leaving town tomorrow for some place warm (likely without internet) and won't be back till the 23rd. So, what a great time to do my Pretendo tutorial! I think it would be great if people would post their favorite Christmas songs over the next week and a half. I'm not sure how many people will dive into this, but try to allow each person at least 24 hours with their songs up before putting yours up, ey? You'll notice that the songs on the Pretendo today are recycled from previous years. Truth is I don't have any new stuff this year and I need to set up an file to keep a running tally of everything I've posted/sent out, etc, but I likey these songs.

PRETENDO STEP I: Host site

Ok, so in order to create an mp3 player for a blog you need a host site for your songs. There are a couple free ones (like www.fileden.com, which I use) and numerous pay sites. If you happen to have your own server and are the kind of person who could say more than a thing or two about Linux, you could be your own host. The key is to find a host site that will not only store your songs but give you an web address for each (make sure the address ends in ".mp3").

The html mp3 players will incorporate those URLs into the code. Fileden is pretty easy to use- so if you have no alternative, I'd go there first. Let me know if you have any problems getting URLs for your songs. Sterling is also a good resource for this.

PRETENDO STEP II: Pretendo time

So, I've found a couple sites where you can make html mp3 players, but the coolest skins (Pretendo!) are over at MyFlashFetish. Set up an account, then go to the red tab at the top titled "mp3 playlist" and pick a skin. On the next screen you have to look for the hyperlink "Upload" next to the "Add Songs" section. Here you can paste your URL s (from fileden, etc.). Once you've added all your songs (click the orange button- "add mp3s"), type in a playlist name and click on the green button "Save/get code," which will take you to a screen which will ask you if you want to embed your player on your facebook page, etc. Don't do this- click on the red text below,


"Click HERE for any other website or blog!"


You'll see a box with logos for different websites and below that will be a text box with a little button that says "Copy." Click on this and you will have the whole code for your mp3 player.

PRETENDO STEP III: Embed in Blogger

Ok, so this step is pretty easy. Make sure you're signed in to Blogger- then click on the tab "Customize" on the top right. If any of you for some reason don't have Administrative privileges, shoot me an email and I'll change that for you. If you haven't seen this before- it's the barebones framework for the page. Look for the bubble at the top that says "HTML/Java script" and click on "Edit". This will bring up a window containing the existing mp3 player's HTML code. Delete this and paste in its place the code you just got from MyFlashFetish. Click on the orange tab, "SAVE," and you're good to go!

Ready, Set, Post!

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Axl Vs Dr. Pepper

Where in the world has this man been for the last 14 years??? We have desperately needed this kind of shinanegans in the world! Thank the Maker he's back!

Department of Eagles

So yeah, it's been a while since I've posted. I've been spending a lot of time and writing a little over at Sterling's blog, Professional Americans (see link in sidebar). WILL THIS ELECTION SEASON EVER END???? Also- I've been in search of a new site to host mp3's for the Pretendo..... and somehow the planets have aligned! I've enjoyed the latest flurry of posts by Jacob and Sterling. Even though I always try to stay on top of all the latest releases, Jake (as long as I've known him) continues to hit me with bands I never saw coming. Thanks, brosef. As a side note- I've been considering doing a mini post on how everyone can post their own Pretendo players. Links are cool, but it's nice to have the music playing while you read.

I've been meaning to do a post on Grizzly Bear for a while but then "In Ear Park", the latest by Department of Eagles came out. Daniel Rossen and Fred Nicolaus, NYU roommates, formed DoE in 2001 a couple years before the former joined up with Ed Droste, Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear as Brooklyn's own Grizzly Bear. (Daniel's involvement in both bands is reminiscent of Spencer Krug's finger-dipping in both Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown).

"In Ear Park" is layered, intricate and atmospheric ear candy. Some have compared it to Sgt. Pepper's or Pet Sounds, but I think that though equally ambtitious and baroque the comparisons stop there. Some songs feel very Grizzly Bear, but there's a warmth and emotional complexity (like in "Floating on the Lehigh") on this album that would feel a little out of place on GB's "Horn of Plenty" or "Yellow House." (This song in particular reminds me a lot of some of Jim O'Rourke's solo work). The cover art is genius. Slip on some headphones, grab a flashlight and head out into the black forest.

Anyway, I'm in love with this album and I can't stop listening to it. It was tough choosing which tracks to feature on the Pretendo, so I put up 4 that showcase the different faces of "In Ear Park." Don't judge a track by its first minute or two, or you'll miss the great whistling and hand claps of "Around the Bay" and the crashing crescendos of "In Ear Park"! Some bands just sound better with some good headphones and DoE definitely fits that category. Hope you all had a great Halloween! Enjoy the tunes.


Below: Video for "Romo Goth" from their last album, The Cold Nose

Department Of Eagles - Romo Goth
Uploaded by epb21