tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87952055067163861942024-03-13T18:32:53.128-04:00The Alphabetic OrderNathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-60100201969126751982011-01-13T01:08:00.002-05:002011-01-13T01:10:17.273-05:00I've got a new site that's pretty cool...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>...it's called Shickadoo. Go to <a href="http://www.shickadoo.com/">www.shickadoo.com</a> to see what it's all about.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shickadoo.com/"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9E_K1b1Ft1Qv-ydCaBUB8vae6AWXAPlwBtU_yC19kJYz0Cbfm-ikaXx8iSuoTG8s_f5mTJNcwrPpJu1R_Lf-sopvmDoSAZ75rqb9jykg-iq54fis0eoFANaL8-lQ-0-sW7drjb51WQk/s320/fb4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-16565324339110307322010-12-27T22:29:00.002-05:002010-12-28T11:00:43.284-05:00The Alphabetic Order's Best 37 Albums of 2010I know, it's weird, I haven't posted since the 2009 "Best Of" list, but this seemed like a good way to recommend some great albums from one of the best years for new music in awhile. Let me know what you think.<br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-large;">37</span> <b>>> Smith Westerns</b> – <i>Smith Westerns</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-large;">36</span> <b>>> Deerhunter</b> – <i>Halcyon Digest</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-large;">35</span> <b>>> Das Racist</b> – <i>Sit Down, Man</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-large;">34</span> <b>>> Gil Scott-Heron</b> – <i>I’m New Here</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-large;">33</span> <b>>> Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – </b><i>Before Today</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">32</span><b> >> Kid Cudi –</b> <i>The Legend of Mr. Rager: The Mixtape</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">31</span> <b>>> The Morning Benders – </b><i>Big Echo</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">30</span> <b>>> Warpaint –</b> <i>Exquisite Corpse</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">29</span> <b>>> Yeasayer –</b> <i>Odd Blood</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">28</span> <b>>> Gorillaz –</b> <i>Plastic Beach</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">27</span> <b>>> Arcade Fire –</b> <i>The Suburbs</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">26</span> <b>>> Bill Callahan –</b> <i>Rough Travel for a Rare Thing</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">25</span> <b>>> Kanye West –</b> <i>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">24</span> <b>>> Sufjan Stevens –</b> <i>All Delighted People EP</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">23</span> <b>>> The Tallest Man on Earth –</b> <i>The Wild Hunt</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">22</span> <b>>> Sharon Van Etten </b></span><b><span style="font-size: small;">–</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Epic</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">21</span> <b>>> Of Montreal –</b> <i>False Priest</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">20</span> <b>>> Sleigh Bells –</b> <i>Treats </i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">19</span> <b>>> MGMT –</b> <i>Congratulations</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">18</span> <b>>> The Walkmen –</b> <i>Lisbon</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">17</span> <b>>> Dirty Projectors + Bjork –</b> <i>Mount Wittenberg Orca</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">16</span><b> >> Girls –</b> <i>Broken Dreams Club EP</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">15</span> <b>>> Foals –</b> <i>Total Life Forever</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">14</span> <b>>> ceo –</b> <i>White Magic</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">13</span> <b>>> The Soft Pack –</b> <i>The Soft Pack</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">12</span><b> >> The Black Keys –</b> <i>Brothers</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">11</span> <b>>> Harlem –</b> <i>Hippies</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;">10</span> <b>>> The Villagers –</b> <i>Becoming a Jackal</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;">9</span> <b>>> Beach House –</b> <i>Teen Dream</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">8</span> <b>>> Joanna Newsom –</b> <i>Have One On Me</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">7</span> <b>>> Vampire Weekend –</b><i> Contra</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span> <b>>> Titus Andronicus –</b><i> The Monitor</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span> <b>>> Avi Buffalo –</b> <i>Avi Buffalo</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">4</span> <b>>> Menomena –</b> <i>Mines</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">3</span> <b>>> Local Natives –</b> <i>Gorilla Manor</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> __________________________________</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span> <b>>> Spoon –</b> <i>Transference</i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">__________________________________</span> </div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span> <b>>> LCD Soundsystem –</b> <i>This is Happening</i></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">omg</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">BONUS STUFF!!!!</span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Best Singles of 2010</u></span>:</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="ii gt" id=":1ki"><div id=":1kh"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Titus Andronicus – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOl8nGbmJ5A">A Pot in Which to Piss</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Spoon – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kPnyWjL6MU">I Saw the Light</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Black Keys – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnSdjIpMVsc">Sinister Kid</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Joanna Newsom – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCCl3nzL5PI">Good Intentions Paving Company</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Beach House – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-rYQRxzaJM">10 Mile Stereo</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Harlem – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu5fXEsVfzQ">Someday Soon</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">LCD Soundsystem – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoA0cTC228M">Dance Yrself Clean</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Local Natives – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QjvgWgHKCY">Wide Eyes</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Menomena – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI8aQVbvTsc">TAOS</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Bad Plus – <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8XWMU9m4lE">Never Stop</a> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><style>
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</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></div>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-72243114569075187402009-12-30T14:51:00.011-05:002009-12-30T15:06:21.856-05:00The Alphabetic Order's Best Albums of 2009<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeINQdNdFy3ctZwGD2tQOKTGBOs0c2TmdcInqJXyBllYmHhE_bqmkuU8PFvbZsYL_SCu3K1ELa995gcsWi73qB-s_mKJz6CHr-4310q8pK74iqIqL7Jo_Bee90_o0s6McxRc53chOFeSk/s1600-h/lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeINQdNdFy3ctZwGD2tQOKTGBOs0c2TmdcInqJXyBllYmHhE_bqmkuU8PFvbZsYL_SCu3K1ELa995gcsWi73qB-s_mKJz6CHr-4310q8pK74iqIqL7Jo_Bee90_o0s6McxRc53chOFeSk/s400/lincoln.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know, I know!...I've been slacking terribly and not posting much as of late, but I'm still listening to music and thought I'd recap the raddest-of-the-rad of the past twelve months. Overall, nothing as sonically ingenious like we <a href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2008/12/alphabetic-orders-best-albums-of-2008.html">heard in 2008</a> (Bon Iver's <i>For Emma</i>, MGMT's <i>Oracular Spectacular, </i>or Fleet Foxes), though certainly plenty remarkable music to keep our spirits alive through 2009.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*I've included a link to my favorite (the <i>best</i>) track from each album with almost every entry.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">20</span>: <span style="font-size: small;"><b>Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros</b> - <i>Up From Below</i></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Though I've heard their live show is<i> the</i> way to experience this 10-piece rag-tag ensemble, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros concocted an entertaining folk/hippie/rock revival debut album. "Home" is up there for song of the year.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id4vnQE0ok4">::"Home"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">19</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>--> <b>...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of the Dead</b> - <i>The Century of Self</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After a string of unfocused mish-mash albums, these indie-prog-rock veterans re-surface with their best full-length since <i>Source Tags & Codes</i> (2002). "Insatiable One" and its corresponding epilogue are powerful, heartfelt and simply stunning.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/trailofdead">::"Halcyon Days"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">18</span>. <b>Modest Mouse</b> - <i>No One's First and You're Next</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Isaac Brooks and company continue to do what they do best with a short collection of re-recorded new/old A- and B-sides dating as far back as 2005. Brooks' crusty, aggressive tone leads the affair, per usual; add a horn section and the band's rockin' backing arrangements and you've got 8 tracks that never cease to stimulate. "King Rat" rules, as does the accompanying <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwXeOtL_NTo">video</a> directed by the late Heath Ledger.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">17</span> - <b>Apostle of Hustle</b> - <span style="font-size: small;"><i>Eats Darkness</i></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An upbeat, quirky mix of indie-rock tracks intermittent with a sufficient dose of weird samples; all pioneered by Broken Social Scene's Andrew Whiteman. "Soul Unwind" makes me want to dance, even though I'm allergic, and I really dig the reggae dub in "Perfect Fit".<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlofVIeTys&feature=related">::"Easy Speaks"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: x-large;">16</span> > <b>Cotton Jones</b> - <i>Paranoid Cocoon</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Warm and cozy, soft and poignant, folky and reverb-ridden. It's Michael Nau's project, but without Whitney McGraw's subtle vocal presence, I probably wouldn't have cared for this album much.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Pf3bsmJkk&feature=related">::"Blood Red Sentimental Blues":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">15</span> / <b>Andrew Bird</b> - <i>Noble Beast</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Big words, catchy melodies, and whistling...I'm all about this.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKkffzm6L7o">::"Oh No":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">14</span> = <b>Beirut</b> - <i>March of the Zapotec/Realpeople Holland</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">TAO already went on a Zach Condon binge earlier this year...check it out <a href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2009/01/realpeople-holland-ep.html">here</a>.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDuDGjw86og">::"My Night With a Prostitute from Marseille":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">13</span> :: <b>Wilco</b> - <i>Wilco (The Album)</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is simply Wilco being Wilco; nothing out of the ordinary for the legends, though there are some real extraordinary tracks on here ("Wilco (The Song)", "Bull Black Nova" and "You and I"), surrounded by some average ones. Not their best (hear: <i>Yankee Hotel Foxtrot</i>), but good enough to earn a high spot on the list.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsNqxTEniNI">::"Wilco (The Song)":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">12</span> -- <b>Elvis Costello</b> - <i>Secret, Profane and Sugarcane</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where did this come from?! Well, I guess I haven't listened to an Elvis Costello album since my dad gave me <i>My Aim is True</i> (amazing) in the 8th grade. And this is way different than that. Good bluegrass is always welcome from a Brit. "Wine and Spirits" makes me want to sit on the front porch and drink wine and spirits, and "Complicated Shadows" is an expert blend of bluegrass and Elvis' old rock sound. He even gives a shout-out to Bloomington, IN on "Sulphur to Sugarcane"!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/elviscostello">::"Complicated Shadows"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #666666;">11</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>... <b>Jay-Z</b> - <i>The Blueprint 3</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jay-Z continues to make powerful, near-perfectly constructed rap albums. Sharp flow and strong beats, in typical Jay-Z form, rarely disappoint. Glad he didn't really retire after <i>The Black Album. </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z13AjI8n4I">::"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">10</span> -> <b>Dirty Projectors</b> - <i>Bitte Orca</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dave Longstreth's most accessible album to date, though he doesn't sacrifice any musical integrity by any means. He's been creating the most unique musical arrangements of any artist in our generation, and, accompanied by some virtuosic friends, does not fall short here.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPF6lpM0XM">::"Stillness is the Move"::</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">9</span> _ <b>Mos Def</b> - <i>The Ecstatic</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Supposedly Mos had been touring around South America when he came across much of the material that influenced <i>The Ecstatic</i>. Mos cleverly blends afrobeat, jazz, Latin and a multitude of other sounds in an album of really, really good hip-hop front-to-back.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmMXZfDkOmI">::"Casa Bey":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">8</span>; <b>White Denim</b> - <i>Fits</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Austin, TX trio hold true to the intricate psychedelic-rock sound that made their <a href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2008/12/white-denim-workout-holiday.html">2008 debut</a> so impressive. They build on that foundation with improved songwriting and studio prowess, creating another gem. I'm excited to see where these guys head in the future.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW26TBF1boo">::"I Start To Run":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">7</span> + <b>Passion Pit</b> - <i>Manners</i> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They're the MGMT of 2009; but, as a whole, better to throw a hipster dance party to.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVstHPhaJ6M">::"The Reeling":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">6</span> * <b>White Rabbits</b> -<i> It's Frightening</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brilliant arrangements, bangin' drums and cool bass lines. Also, it's produced by Britt Daniels of Spoon, so of course I like it.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IClBpch9vmM">::"Percussion Gun":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">5</span> ~ <b>Vetiver</b> - <i>Tight Knit </i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So simple and so soothing. Vetiver's smooth psychedelic-folk sound could keep you calm during the apocalypse.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3fCwnWsoro">::"Rolling Sea":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">4</span> <-> <b>The Dead Weather</b> - <i>Horehound</i> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another Jack White project landing another TAO Annual Best Of top 10 spot, though this time he's on drums and yields the spotlight to The Kills' Alison Mosshart. Her raucous delivery backed by some nefarious blues-laden rock makes for an incredible album, one that may help bring blues-rock back to life in today's popular music scene.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7QSkI6My1g">::"Treat Me Like Your Mother":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3</span>. <b>Girls</b> -<i> Album </i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who would think an album blending shoegaze, 1950s pop and indie-rock would be so intoxicatingly stunning here in the 21st century? "Hellhole Ratrace" is one of the saddest and most compelling songs of the year. Also, you must read the totally insane story of frontman Christopher Owens' upbringing...<a href="http://www.faqmagazine.org/ChristopherGirls.htm">check it out</a>!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcqwfFKagH4">::"Hellhole Ratrace":: </a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span> \ <b>The Antlers</b> - <i>Hospice</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sonically beautiful and at the same time morbidly haunting. Songs about illness and sadness, though also reminders to appreciate the good times. "Kettering" knocks me out.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2XQGJcTgKU">::"Kettering"::</a> <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span><span style="font-size: large;">!</span> <b>Grizzly Bear</b> - <i>Veckatimest</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Four exceptionally talented musicians found their stride at last and composed the most awe-inspiring sounds of the year. Beautifully layered vocals, superb arrangements and not a single dull moment. <i>Veckatimest</i> will forever be remembered among the classics of our generation.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ">::"Two Weeks":: </a><br />
</div>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-62150832911255718652009-09-29T00:45:00.015-04:002009-09-29T01:58:30.732-04:00The Antlers - Hospice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XRwKb8g6ARhAhZWdc6uAKPnidqrdW4dJBzeLsyazIDh7fFX6gxjQDO8BDjWrAEBSmhF9aEmucv5Qx6TU-T9GlXRU7KPJZCuiF_kvAAtGtXj9_QSufICkCjJYkOjIq8fGWGi798tVVLk/s1600-h/hospice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XRwKb8g6ARhAhZWdc6uAKPnidqrdW4dJBzeLsyazIDh7fFX6gxjQDO8BDjWrAEBSmhF9aEmucv5Qx6TU-T9GlXRU7KPJZCuiF_kvAAtGtXj9_QSufICkCjJYkOjIq8fGWGi798tVVLk/s200/hospice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386754488815390930" border="0" /></a>Brooklyn-based Antlers' <span style="font-style: italic;">Hospice </span>is the most haunting and at the same time the most beautiful album I've heard in quite awhile. Frontman Peter Silberman delicately placed each word alongside just the right notes to perfectly convey the emotions that run somberly throughout. Unfortunately, such an incredible album came at a cost: Silberman spent two years in solitude, reflecting through music his relationship with a terminally ill child. His deliberate infusion of personal life and art make <span style="font-style: italic;">Hospice</span> strike fearfully close to the heart, and captivation reaches and tugs gently from each track. A strange feeling, yes, though it somehow comforts, too.<br /><br />"Kettering" stood out to me immediately and will no doubt fall in my favorites for 2009, along with this album as a whole. "Bear" and "Two" I also like a lot. See video and tracks below.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXKa97J6pM">Video: "Two"</a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/BQjvk8Zr/the-antlers-kettering/"><br />Audio: "Kettering"</a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/JTjBXN2u/the-antlers-bear/">Audio: "Bear"</a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-9516869841167575002009-09-21T14:12:00.003-04:002009-09-21T14:25:27.873-04:00Q&A with Merge Records<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToseA1vXrZ7YBWwXmwCxo54JnCZa119BrTM-lwsAbHIyFwgn8jeAz0XbWAhA7GdTM4AA7cdNtT3dZ0ZFhuosetSmmQx9jKE9Rr7ZYVkay-UwMxGdtYfGQ2Hksk-qJzIsuYeGczNu8Gvg/s1600-h/mergerecords-sl070609.jpeg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToseA1vXrZ7YBWwXmwCxo54JnCZa119BrTM-lwsAbHIyFwgn8jeAz0XbWAhA7GdTM4AA7cdNtT3dZ0ZFhuosetSmmQx9jKE9Rr7ZYVkay-UwMxGdtYfGQ2Hksk-qJzIsuYeGczNu8Gvg/s200/mergerecords-sl070609.jpeg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383988378955199698" border="0" /></a>Some real great insight here into the difference between independent record labels and the giants, illegal file sharing, and the survival (and success!) of indie labels today, all from the perspective of <a href="http://www.mergerecords.com/">Merge Records</a> (Spoon, Magnetic Fields, Arcade Fire, M. Ward) founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance.<br /><br />Read interview <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/20/merge-records-a-qanda-looking-back-at-two-decades-in-the-guitar-h/">here</a>.Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-89590765180086214702009-09-15T23:56:00.003-04:002009-09-16T00:05:04.420-04:00The Black Keys/Luda/Q-Tip/Raekwon/Mos Def projectThis is going to be unreal. Full line-up includes: The Black Keys, Ludacris, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Mos Def, Jim Jones, Nikki Wray, Billy Danze, Pharoae Monch and NOE. <br /><br />Official site: <a href="http://www.blakroc.com/index_artists.html">http://www.blakroc.com/index_artists.html</a><br />Article: <a href="http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/185857435/black-keys-unveil-project-w-ludacris-rza-raekwon">http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/185857435/black-keys-unveil-project-w-ludacris-rza-raekwon</a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-87545362277176387472009-09-12T03:39:00.007-04:002009-09-16T15:33:12.275-04:00Volcano ChoirNew(ish) Justin Vernon! If you've read this site I'm sure you know I'm a <a href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2008/12/alphabetic-orders-best-albums-of-2008.html">big Bon Iver fan</a>. Volcano Choir is an assembly of fellow Wisconsinites, including Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Jim Schoenecker, Daniel Spack, Justin Vernon, and Thomas Wincek. I just heard this track on my XM radio (which I'm becoming a big fan of) and really liked it. With Vernon's intimate falsetto and the mention of snow, it sounds not too distant from something you'd find on a <a href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2008/11/winter-is-here-bon-iver-skinny-love.html">Bon Iver album</a>. Material for this group actually pre-dates Bon Iver, though the group is <a href="http://jagjaguwar.com/artist.php?name=volcanochoir">releasing an album</a> titled "Unmap" soon. Hope you like the track, I sure do.<br /><br /><div style="width: 300px;"><object height="110" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/MaeofTuwFW/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/MaeofTuwFW/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="110" width="300"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.imeem.com/"><img src="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/E6E6E6/" border="0" /></a></div><form method="post" action="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><input name="EmbedSearchBox" type="text"><input value="Search" style="font-size: 12px;" type="submit"></form></div></div><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/LlZYxTFb/volcano-choir-island-is/"></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Full album streaming <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112674848">here</a></span>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-32709009508946861522009-09-10T19:26:00.022-04:002009-09-13T14:55:25.513-04:00Girls - Hellhole Ratrace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaAGNRIUGL1o0mxo8aaBiGRxXl7mH4O6jxPL1IH5HIgCioH6V3fSrph8Lch_24d5gsfg3klIOyRPKXo239yFS7hwvt6Gz4D9IWfFQQrYC0i0iy2XSViP2-pQyjuUDnI0hPwFqNxsBgAU/s1600-h/HHRR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaAGNRIUGL1o0mxo8aaBiGRxXl7mH4O6jxPL1IH5HIgCioH6V3fSrph8Lch_24d5gsfg3klIOyRPKXo239yFS7hwvt6Gz4D9IWfFQQrYC0i0iy2XSViP2-pQyjuUDnI0hPwFqNxsBgAU/s200/HHRR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381027539340973650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="width: 300px;"><object height="110" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/vn9izct-mQ/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/vn9izct-mQ/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="110" width="300"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.imeem.com/"><img src="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/E6E6E6/" border="0" /></a></div><form method="post" action="http://www.imeem.com/embedsearch/" style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><input name="EmbedSearchBox" type="text"><input value="Search" style="font-size: 12px;" type="submit"></form></div></div><br />Have you heard this?! Now, I wouldn't consider myself a terribly emotional guy, but this track cuts me deep. Several things about it made me squirm on first listen. The baritone croon, the swarming reverb, and the lyrics, which seem to become more and more profound with each ascending repetition, without at all becoming dull. It's almost as if they repeat incessantly because the struggle he sings about hasn't yet - or won't ever - resolve...or maybe that's just me.<br /><br />It's sharing songs like this that brought me back to TAO (and due to popular demand, of course). Hopefully I can keep it up this time.<br /><br />*Oh, and thanks to a completely unfriendly internet search name, it's really hard to find more music by these guys. If you happen to have more luck than I have, please, help out a friend.<br /><br />Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcqwfFKagH4">Girls - Hellhole Ratrace</a><br /><br />**Thanks Matt Golden for finding this extremely resourceful article about Girls! http://www.faqmagazine.org/ChristopherGirls.htmNathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-39023474915875335592009-02-17T21:52:00.014-05:002009-09-10T23:55:26.063-04:00M. Ward - Hold Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKJ9fYDGPUFfUf-88XgP9TpVUecVEmXYG63zWMBhoFspdBFn012oyrQowS6noJQW4-p4hb7mV3QoV_9RWI0WVtstnsbZb8nVkQorq40WT4LwEzazN_vGxEelm9__k106G6UbqO5tbQHU/s1600-h/m_ward-hold_time-art1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKJ9fYDGPUFfUf-88XgP9TpVUecVEmXYG63zWMBhoFspdBFn012oyrQowS6noJQW4-p4hb7mV3QoV_9RWI0WVtstnsbZb8nVkQorq40WT4LwEzazN_vGxEelm9__k106G6UbqO5tbQHU/s200/m_ward-hold_time-art1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380053458933948738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hold Time, </span>M. Ward's 5th album release on <a href="http://www.mergerecords.com/" target="_blank">Merge Records</a>, is a manifestation of the enduring attributes of music. Blending folk, rock, and country, Ward transports the listener into some indeterminable yet familiar decade in America's past. Perhaps it's this mystical confusion that is so intriguing about <span style="font-style: italic;">Hold Time</span> (and is likely to be intentional given the name of the album).<br /><br />Ward entered the indie folk-rock music scene a decade ago when he released <span style="font-style: italic;">Duet for Guitars #2 </span>in 1999<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> But only lately has he become a mainstream figure. In 2008 he joined forces with actress-turned-musician Zooey Deschanel to form the retro-pop duo <a href="http://www.sheandhim.com/sheandhim.php" target="_blank">She & Him</a> (their album, <span style="font-style: italic;">Volume #1</span>, was deemed the <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/11/she-him-volume-one.html" target="_blank">best album of 2008</a> by Paste magazine). Deschanel accompanies Ward on two tracks on <span style="font-style: italic;">Hold Time</span>, as do other popular names such as folk country star Lucinda Williams and ex-Grandaddy bandmate Jason Lytle.<br /><br />At first listen, highlights include "Never Had Nobody Like You", the glam-rock love song featuring Deschanel, and a relaxed version of Buddy Holly's "Rave On". But after another listen or two, some real gems begin to shine. The title track lingers slowly as strings eloquently back up Ward's reverberating crooning. The crawling pace seems to slow down time, once again messing with the listener's space-time continuum...or, whatever, you know what I mean. The song's layering is so thick with humidity I swear my headphones began to drip condensation.<br /><br />Another hidden favorite is the groovin' "Epistemology", led by a steady bass/snare rhythm, some more well-placed strings, and Ward's humble lyrics about his musical beginnings: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Cause I just rolled and I tumbled / down a long road I stumbled /</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">While shooting in the dark as to what's best / </span><span style="font-style: italic;">And finally, I found you /</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Without ever learning how to</span>." The lyrics in this song are somewhat confusing though, considering Ward's dependence on music of the past.<br /><br />The apparent simplicity of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hold Time </span>tends to overshadow Ward's often-complex songwriting and clever lyrics. His attachment to anything and everything antique is self-evident throughout his discography, and Ward continues to hold true to his love for previous eras of traditional America on this one. To get a better grasp on where he's coming from, I recommend digging deeper into some of his older, and might I say better albums first. There's no question, however, that he has a firm grasp on the roots of American music, and no better troubadour to deliver such fine music than M. Ward.<br /><br />Iggy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148277-video-m-ward-hold-time" target="_blank">Music video for "Hold Time", directed by M. Ward.</a><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/NWHm48mpxt/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/NWHm48mpxt/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border="></a></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/GaQl8UER/m_ward_never_had_nobody_like_you_ft_zooey_deschanel/"></a><br /><div style="width: 300px;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/d-NG7IoycZ/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/d-NG7IoycZ/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border="></a></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/C3niNLgO/m_ward_hold_time/"></a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-51226329837567458522009-02-12T14:08:00.006-05:002009-02-12T17:15:24.211-05:00TAO is "hiring"!If you are deeply fascinated and often turned on by music and would feel comfortable sharing these sentiments on our site, the glorious world of TAO awaits you! Contributions may include new album and concert reviews, concert photography/video, artist interviews, or general music news updates. If any of this sounds appealing to you, please send us an email with your interests at theabcorder@gmail.com.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MYs6uk6XVKuO2RW3YPZixgnusXAMzC_rYj30CXkChGb4T7-vqXH3yczpVwB6O1qMYLmT7rTgQoJEnwilEc86Hx-O-p7U78vPkBvL86Alk1gR-P-LM6iFXQV-jyuN2CMFcgXD2HC3gGE/s1600-h/comic-books-180-help-wanted-718583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MYs6uk6XVKuO2RW3YPZixgnusXAMzC_rYj30CXkChGb4T7-vqXH3yczpVwB6O1qMYLmT7rTgQoJEnwilEc86Hx-O-p7U78vPkBvL86Alk1gR-P-LM6iFXQV-jyuN2CMFcgXD2HC3gGE/s400/comic-books-180-help-wanted-718583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301996271827079346" border="0" /></a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-42029868626967640632009-02-01T14:15:00.012-05:002009-02-10T21:07:54.743-05:00Interview: The Buzzkills<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfUNHbB1UBzBmiIJXMJ1BrTGEmEz8wHGVp5WmP0EJgMsIodpD7eU0slq64zj8jEYD2YiyTWlysXBV7UyToyeB73e7rZxX0u0LtIaV7PWhxsTwU1LOmY1rZZPb08KOr8jYCdMrswh5fCo/s1600-h/Buzzkills+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfUNHbB1UBzBmiIJXMJ1BrTGEmEz8wHGVp5WmP0EJgMsIodpD7eU0slq64zj8jEYD2YiyTWlysXBV7UyToyeB73e7rZxX0u0LtIaV7PWhxsTwU1LOmY1rZZPb08KOr8jYCdMrswh5fCo/s400/Buzzkills+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301054732126980738" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">Interviewed by Nathan Igdaloff</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal" >The evening began slowly, I’ll admit, but there was a subdued buzz in the air.<span style=""> </span>An undersized crowd at the Bluebird for a Thursday night, especially with The Buzzkills performing soon. <span style=""> </span>The band has become a household name in the Bloomington music scene as of late.<span style=""> </span>I attributed the lull to a blizzard that had recently dumped massive amounts of snow which still coated the town.
<br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal" >Then suddenly, as The Buzzkills began to play, the crowd not only grew, they became involved in the music, as if compelled by the powerful spirit of rock n’ roll. Not only were the tunes great, but the band was into it, and they brought the whole place along for the ride. What ensued were four dudes who are not only good at what they do, but love what they do, and it showed…and it was contagious to everyone in the room that night.<span style=""> </span>I was fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with The Buzzkills after the show, chatting about song development, The Beatles, and the Bloomington music scene.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p></o:p>TAO</b>: How does it feel to be playing a legendary venue like The Bluebird?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Kyle Gilpin (vox/guitar): We love The Bluebird. The Bluebird is our home base, it’s our favorite place. It’s awesome.<span style=""> </span>Lots of history.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Matt Schory (percussion): I’ve played a lot of places, by far, the coolest venue in the Midwest. The Vogue’s pretty cool in Indy, but this place is really fuckin’ cool. It’s just got the history, it’s just kind of one of those places. If you’re anybody, you play the Bluebird. You can’t be a real band and skip the Bluebird.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: How does it feel playing this gig weekly, headlining regularly. Is that a big stepping stone in your career?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">KG: We used to open, and that’s all we ever did. So, oh yeah.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: I’ve seen you guys perform several times over the past few years. Covers like “Don’t Let Me Down” were really just spot-on, also covering some Daft Punk which was unexpected, but also very well done.<span style=""> </span>How do you guys cope with getting your original sound out there, like you are tonight, in a college town like Bloomington where the live music scene is very cover-band oriented?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">KG: Well, tonight went great.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">John Weston (vox/guitar): My entire history of playing in bands, I’ve been doing it for years…just for fun or whatever.<span style=""> </span>And I’ve never done the cover thing before. I was always one of those people, ya know “eh, cover bands…” But then like, we started doing it not just because it gets fans and gets people to recognize you and all that shit, but you learn a lot about yourself, and people you’re playing with, and what everybody in the band likes to play, and what they’re good at and what <i style="">we’re</i> good at. And it’s a fuckin’ blast to play great songs! But, nothing beats having a good reaction to your own music. Nothing. Ever.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: I was at your <i style="">Dark Side of the Moon</i> tribute show back a few months ago, how was preparing for such a seemingly difficult task? Was it as easy as you guys made it sound?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: You know we did a Beatles tribute set like a month and a half, two months before that show, and after learning like 26, 27 Beatles songs <i style="">Dark Side</i> seemed easy.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: But you guys had every element! You had the horns, the backing vocals…</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">JW: You know what, honestly, for The Beatles, it was all of us having to nail these fucking parts. And you know <i style="">Dark Side of the Moon</i> is a studio album, and I understand that. But it’s also very like, if you have very good musicians you can do <i style="">Dark Side of the Moon</i>, you know? But with the Beatles you have to nail the sound, you have to try and make it sound as good as <i style="">they </i>sound on the record, and we have to sing all these harmonies, play all these perfect little guitar riffs, and all that shit. Just the four of us. And <i style="">Dark Side of the Moon</i>, you know, we nailed all of our parts, but also there was the keyboardist, he was fuckin’ awesome. He was able to take a lot of that burden.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: Yeah, we owe a lot to that backing band.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: How was the all original set tonight? Was that a first?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">JW: I think it was a first.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: Yeah, I thought people were reacting really positively.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: It’s just hard man, we play the Bluebird usually we’re on nights where people walk in here, we’re filling a whole night and people are expecting covers. It’s the Midwest, and if you want to play any kind of big room, starting out, you gotta play some covers.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">JW: And it’s not even that, it’s like…fortunately tonight we were able to get the permission of the owners to let people in for free if they brought our flyers, and Autovaughn’s playing, they’re gonna bring people in.<span style=""> </span>So we had the leeway to do all original stuff. But normally like, if we were to do all original shit, no one’s gonna stay and we don’t get asked back because it’s all about bar sales and cover.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: So did you have to say beforehand that you were only playing originals?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">JW: They asked us to do it tonight. They know what we want, you know, it’s a two way thing. We gotta understand where they’re coming from; again, they gotta understand where we’re coming from. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: It goes back to the Bluebird being the best venue. The owner here, man, he’s been very good to us.<span style=""> </span>He knows how to build a band.<span style=""> </span>He’s put a lot of faith in us, and it has really helped push us along. We owe a lot, a lot to the guys here. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">JW: We play a lot of places, where – not to name names, I’m not going to – but we played for a lot of club owners, and they just want a fuckin’ quick buck. They want us to bring a bunch of people, sell a bunch of tickets, and buy a bunch of drinks. And that’s all they want!<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: You know, it’s a business, it’s a bar. But the owner has enough foresight to know how to deal with that. A lot of bar owners don’t get that, if you put some backing behind a band, they’re better off long-term because they’re in a band that can pull their bar. And they’ve put a lot of faith in us to try and put us in the right spots to grow. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: On a side note, that seems to be the problem with the big record companies these days.<span style=""> </span>No one is willing to put in the time to harvest a band; they’re after the overnight success hits. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">MS: Well right, it takes time to build a band. And the bar owners who have been very good to us are the ones that understand that. We played Joe’s on Weed St. up in Chicago, same deal man. They’ve been nothing but supportive of us, they really believe in us and want to grow us.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">JW: With a bar like Bluebird, we know that they work for us here. It makes it that much easier to work hard, we’ll do whatever they want us to do. If they say like “we need you guys to play on a Friday night for nobody, just so at least somebody comes in” we would. Going back to what it’s like to play here, it’s just the coolest people, the coolest people work here. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: You’ve got a great presence playing live, any thoughts on releasing a live album? I’d buy it.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: Yeah we have talked about that. We’ve had this experience in the past where on the record you can’t really capture what happens live. I know I’ve wanted to, I have to talk to the guys about it.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">JW: We do have live tracks that are out. We recorded the Beatles show, we recorded the <i style="">Dark Side</i> show, we recorded our record release. But we have a couple live tracks on our free demo.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: When we did our album, we hadn’t demo’d a lot of those songs live. The next time we record, we’re playing all those songs live. Because everything we’ve ever written grows so much the more we play it live. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: Yeah, that’s what we’re doing now. Tonight we played four songs that aren’t on our album.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">JW: And that’s the thing though, not until we’ve played them, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty times do you even know if it’s worthwhile to record. Some of them that we’ve written, we feel good about them now, but when it comes time to record, they’re might be better songs that we have. We didn’t have time to develop them.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: Regarding songwriting, I know both of you (Weston and Gilpin) take the lead on that.<span style=""> </span>How does that process work…is it different on every song? How much does the rest of the band get involved?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: Well somebody has an idea, or a whole song, or anywhere in between, and the whole band arranges it, you know, makes it their own. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: Everybody’s got their strengths.<span style=""> </span>Some people write really good hooks.<span style=""> </span>You know, I’m the drummer, I’m more of an arrangement guy. I think it’s the drummer’s job to pick up on the flow of the song, it’s my job. Everybody’s kinda got their own thing that they’re good at, and it comes together and it works. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: You guys have a strong classic rock foundation to your sound, do you have any intentions on taking that anywhere else, or is it sort of a natural process in terms of style development?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: We step out of those a little bit, you know just to keep things a little fresher. But I think that’s kind of like our – </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: …bread and butter.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: Yeah.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: Every band is a product of their influences. And our influences as a whole, everybody can agree that that’s what they grew up on, that that was their influence. Like, I’m a big metal-head you know? I like everything, I like techno, I like electronica and shit. Everybody kind of has their thing, but classic rock is a fundamental that we all kinda came from. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">TAO</b>: So what are your guys’ plans moving forward?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: Recording a new album. We’re going to try and do a new EP hopefully this Spring, get it out by this Summer. There are plans to focus on five or six really solid songs – as opposed to doing a whole other album – just get an EP out there. It doesn’t cost much to do, doesn’t take too much time. We’re just trying to keep kickin’ out more music, ya know?</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">JW: I think also…trying to warm-up the idea that everywhere we go, you know we talked about covers versus originals, everywhere we go we <i style="">have</i> to play a cover. No one’s going to come out to a band they’ve never heard of if they don’t have a reason. So, if everywhere we go we could do this kind of thing (playing all originals), if we could get to this point everywhere we go, that would be fantastic, you know? If we could get people to come out, hear our original music, know who we are and know that we’re a good band, like us, like our originals…that’s my big thing.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">KG: We do have a lot of work to do to get to that point. </p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">MS: They were enjoying it tonight, man!</p><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >###</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >You can purchase The Buzzkills' new album <span style="font-style: italic;">Which Way is Down</span> on iTunes, their site, or see them live!
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<br />Myspace: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thebuzzkillsmusic" target="_blank">www.myspace.com/thebuzzkillsmusic</a></span> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >
<br />Official site: <a href="http://www.thebuzzkills.com/" target="_blank">www.thebuzzkills.com</a></span>
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<br />Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-56693313382615003132009-01-25T21:46:00.014-05:002009-01-31T21:32:48.810-05:00Realpeople - Holland EP<span style="font-family:georgia;">The first thing you notice is an absence of the exotic flare so prevalent in every previous release by </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.beirutband.com/" target="_blank">Beirut</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">'s Zach Condon (tagged here as Realpeople, one of his pre-Beirut pseudonyms). No horn section or accordion sweeping you away to some foreign European festivity, but rather the image of a dude hunched over his Casio CZ-101 poking the keys meticulously with only his two index fingers. Don't freak out yet, be patient as Condon's melodic crooning enters the scene and makes everything ok.</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://zonuts.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/zcondon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 194px;" src="http://zonuts.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/zcondon.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Althought the backing music may not reveal, the opening track "My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille" revisits Condon's fascination with Europe, as he sings about morals and an encounter with...well, read the title. Only Condon's delicate voice and phrasing could make such a relationship sound so romantic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">More synthesized beats and melodies follow on "My Wife, Lost in the Wild", and once again Condon's vocals bring everything together to enhance the track as a whole. Then, as if he knew we'd be waiting for it, "Venice" incorporates the sounds of Beirut with brief yet perfectly placed horns nestled by a Zero 7-like echoing ambiance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Continuing with what he knows best, more horns and accordion lead the way through "The Concubine", the track most similar to Condon's prior releases. But, not for long, as the final track "No Dice" returns to the synth accompaniment like the opener, this time slightly more upbeat. This instrumental is so far at the other end of the spectrum than what we are used to from Condon; I'm amazed it came from the same mind that wrote "</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-mqhkuOF7s" target="_blank">Elephant Gun</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">As fans of an artist, we rarely appreciate when they deviate from what made you love them in the first place...unless, of course, it's good. In Condon's case, I respect his exploration into the pop/synth genre, and think he made a commendable attempt. His vocal delivery, alluring lyrics and often clever fusion of electronic and acoustic sounds make this an interesting listen to say the least; but I think the multi-cultural sound he has going with Beirut has more intriguing paths to follow other than this one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Iggy</span><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/ygZGDttKim/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/ygZGDttKim/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/Xe6soSn3/realpeople_my_night_with_the_prostitute_from_marseille/"></a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-75482563720332576382009-01-23T16:39:00.010-05:002009-01-23T19:20:28.783-05:00Beirut - March of the Zapotec EP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rh4kkHL_Au5gcs1qzkBMwloc6YrOTPdqbj1V-HY_tXExTZcyGgh7Eey9ZGbj3fhZWGAg67ao4UQG2Dx6gGk_WTijCdkHnRi_MQeT0DerWv7rItffdPQQfe9DmnmQMgs-0lj-Aq9Vok8/s1600-h/PrbyDnKQQj2afebeycuWboC1o1_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rh4kkHL_Au5gcs1qzkBMwloc6YrOTPdqbj1V-HY_tXExTZcyGgh7Eey9ZGbj3fhZWGAg67ao4UQG2Dx6gGk_WTijCdkHnRi_MQeT0DerWv7rItffdPQQfe9DmnmQMgs-0lj-Aq9Vok8/s320/PrbyDnKQQj2afebeycuWboC1o1_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294609391403366770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">We begin with a Mexican parade. This isn’t your “Mexico-day” in Columbus, Ohio parade. This is an authentic Mexican funeral parade, filling the streets and passing by on the way through your village. This is exactly how Beirut’s Zach Condon starts out his newly leaked EP, <span style="font-style: italic;">March of the Zapotec</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">After “El Zocalo’s” prologue, “La Llorona” starts like the Beirut you’ve loved in <span style="font-style: italic;">Flying Club Cup</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Gulag Orkestar</span>. It has the haunting sadness of the Eastern European gypsy aesthetic with the grandeur and bouncing flow of the small town obscure Mexicans he merged with. You still want to wave your hand along with the tubas, interjecting clarinets and accordions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">“My Wife” should feature a gunslinger with the opening horns. I can do nothing but picture a silent cowboy film, the mariachis playing on the side of the screen. Robert Rodriguez could use this entire track for any of his Desperado features.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">“The Akara” is the saddest track on <span style="font-style: italic;">Zapotec</span>, rolling into a ukulele base and waltzing around a grand hall. While most of Condon’s songs never venture into any realm of happiness, this song especially feels like sadness. Listening now, I’m still amazed how well he can switch his sound so flawlessly from gypsy folk to Mexican troubadour. “On a Bayonet” acts as an extension of “Akara”, an Act II in the EP that slightly complicates the plot – still sad, but change is coming.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I’ve been referring to this EP as a story for a reason. Listen to it and you’ll figure it out. Condon conceived the idea for <span style="font-style: italic;">Zapotec</span> in early discussions about recording a movie soundtrack in Mexico. This morphed into his idea of hiring a local Mexican band to help him record some new material. He hired a translator, caught a plane to Oaxaca, and made his way out to the tiny weaver village of Teotitlan del Valle, where he met the nineteen members of The Jimenez Band.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">I’ve included my absolute favorite song of the EP, the epilogue, “The Shrew”. I’d like you to listen to it, form your own opinions, and either leave a comment, or send us an email at theabcorder@gmail.com.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Count</span><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/93GxOREaKj/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="FlashVars" value="backColor=33cc33&primaryColor=003300&secondaryColor=006633&linkColor=006600"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/93GxOREaKj/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="backColor=33cc33&primaryColor=003300&secondaryColor=006633&linkColor=006600" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px;"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border=" 0=""></a></div></div></div><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/xpatiYc/music/FJ22L6Xu/beirut_the_shrew/"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-91306054723151392302009-01-23T12:15:00.019-05:002009-01-23T18:15:20.105-05:00New leaked EPs from Beirut! Free download!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERSnlboVexWllCEMI0kcH97bwEGPx5xPDHObLi6R-pFIPutVQfyBrzVaN87QycX6JdzZUuDJZeojWK_BrrRnkZUHQGhWyPcl2dX4op2b1zSdp10eLgdSg83k2S95UTvYVLao8Pv147Dw/s1600-h/PrbyDnKQQj2afebeycuWboC1o1_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 153px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERSnlboVexWllCEMI0kcH97bwEGPx5xPDHObLi6R-pFIPutVQfyBrzVaN87QycX6JdzZUuDJZeojWK_BrrRnkZUHQGhWyPcl2dX4op2b1zSdp10eLgdSg83k2S95UTvYVLao8Pv147Dw/s320/PrbyDnKQQj2afebeycuWboC1o1_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294539817492297874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">A free download of <a href="http://www.beirutband.com/">Beirut</a>'s new leaked double EP, <span style="font-style: italic;">March of the Zapotec </span><span>and </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Holland</span>. We wanted to post quickly, so we haven't even had a chance to listen yet, this is just for you! Enjoy it as we surely will!</span><br /><br /><p style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://rs388.rapidshare.com/files/188122215/Beirut_-_March_of_the_Zapotec___Realpeople_Holland.rar"><span style="font-size:130%;">Download here</span></a></p><b style="font-family: georgia;">Tracklisting</b><br /><p face="georgia">Disc 1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">March of the Zapotec</span>:</p><p face="georgia"> <span style="font-family: georgia;">1 - El Zocalo</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">2 - La Llorona</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">3 - My Wife</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">4 - The Akara</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">5 - On a Bayonet</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">6 - The Shrew</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Disc 2 - </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Holland</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">:</span><br /></p><p style="font-family: georgia;">1 - My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille<br />2 - My Wife, Lost in the World<br />3 - Venice<br />4 - The Concubine<br />5 - No Dice<br /><br />A TAO review coming soon!<br /></p><div style="font-family: georgia;" id="greasedLightboxMenu"><div id="greasedLightboxButtons"><a title="Next image (right arrow key)" id="greasedLightboxButtonRight"><br /></a><a title="Start/stop slideshow" id="greasedLightboxButtonSlide"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: georgia;" id="greasedLightboxLoading"><img style="border: medium none ;" 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/></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-42363922631432317802009-01-21T12:04:00.005-05:002009-01-21T19:07:55.493-05:00The Village Voice explains the Vampire Weekend phenomenon<span style="font-family:georgia;">Someone finally puts their finger on it. Why they're great, but you simultaneously hate them. Here's the </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-21/pazzandjop/the-people-vs-vampire-weekend/">link</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">and an excerpt - </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">“They’ve merely outed the truth of indie, which was never really The People’s Music for all its affected sloppiness and “beautiful loser” tropes, instead always much more of an upper-middle-class milieu, the kids recoiling from the commercial and mass-produced just like their parents did via artisanal foodstuffs and antiques.”</span><br /><a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-21/pazzandjop/the-people-vs-vampire-weekend/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">— </span></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-21/pazzandjop/the-people-vs-vampire-weekend/">“The People vs. Vampire Weekend”</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Check it out, a fantastic read.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Count</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-22316331162347836322009-01-20T03:18:00.009-05:002009-01-20T12:16:09.241-05:00Fleet Foxes play SNL<span style="font-family:georgia;">I'm somewhat shocked, and at the same time thrilled, that a band like Fleet Foxes landed a spot on SNL last weekend. I'd be interested to know how many independent label artists have appeared on the show in it's 30+ year history. I bet not many.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">They played one of my favorites, "Mykonos", off their debut Sun Giant EP which was released a few months prior to their highly acclaimed </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://thealphabeticorder.blogspot.com/2008/12/fleet-foxes.html">self-titled album</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (which features "Blue Ridge Mountains", also played during the show). Getting bands like Fleet Foxes to appear on SNL just might give us a reason to start watching again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Iggy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">"Mykonos"</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztvWdhfJ3U6zi0WeY0W3BMdQ87r0aq8qR20vQ35Rk-lIN6mJmESESwrEDztKc2jcN0gI3QAtGxD86xxjE_Kg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Blue Ridge Mountains"</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYiQhy5PTC7XRb1mDpzuOirvLXmRCQxohErsVHBO_pxNqkPmTNSY-UnjnlibXHpe-vSDpLdHO9lP6vYUVxHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-51122379630403236512009-01-07T00:48:00.004-05:002009-01-12T11:34:19.045-05:00RIP Ron Asheton<span style="font-family: georgia;">Let's pay homage to The Stooges guitar player Ron Asheton who died today in his Ann Arbor home at the age of 60. No cause of death was given.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">“He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper,” Iggy Pop and the other Stooges said in a statement e-mailed by Virgin. “For all that knew him behind the facade of Mr. Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.” </span><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/pSAV_lAIl2/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/pSAV_lAIl2/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8795205506716386194&postID=5112237963040323651" border="0"></a></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/popmusic11/music/boS0R0Xx/iggy_the_stooges_search_and_destroy/"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-56951078488121983702009-01-06T18:58:00.010-05:002009-01-12T11:32:51.555-05:00Glasvegas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bibabidi.net/images/GLASVEGAS_A.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 141px;" src="http://bibabidi.net/images/GLASVEGAS_A.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> <o:pixelsperinch>72</o:PixelsPerInch> 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mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >I recently took a few of my old Phil Spector LPs (I hope he doesn’t attempt to murder me for this (</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >allegedly</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >)), a VHS copy of “The Commitments”, some haggis, and threw them all in an industrial meat grinder. It made a raucous of call-and-response songs, distortion, an old-timey nostalgic sound, and some Scottish accents thick enough to be characters in "Trainspotting". I called this monster Glasvegas. Of course, I didn’t create Glasvegas, it was just an extended metaphor to get your attention.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Glasvegas’ 2008 self-titled album should be a new sound to your ears. As soon as the album starts, you’re in a different place. I’m listening to it right now and I can safely say I’m in 1962, enjoying a smoke in my car in Glasgow, Scotland. Come. Join me. Have a fag and listen.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >“Daddy’s Gone”, easily my favorite of the album, brings the quintessential sixties girl group sound that I love so much into a concentrated form. If I thought The Pipettes had it down perfectly, Glasvegas blows them away. The Pipettes carry too much of that early 60’s optimism that follows the girl groups around. Even the sad songs of that era were bittersweet. Somehow, someway, Glasvegas took a genre and changed it at face value. Equal parts rough and smooth, beautiful and ugly.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Immediately following “Daddy’s Gone”, “Stabbed” is macabre and slow, immediately changing the pace of the album. Upon first hearing this album, I was intensely confused. There’s another version of this song on a limited edition 2004 LP that injects “Stabbed” with distorted surf guitar and an upbeat feel. I prefer it immensely over the 2008 self-titled album version. Find it if you can, it’s worth it.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Overall, my lobes are pleased. Glavegas is a pleasant sound, a playful sound and we sincerely hope there is much more to come from this band.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >EDITORS NOTE: We’d like you to keep in mind that the purpose of these reviews have nothing to do with us. It’s entirely to get you the reader to listen to music we think you’d like because, hey, we like it too. So take these reviews as suggestions rather than critiques. We do.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >The Count</span>
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<br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/tgqJQzxf5k/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/tgqJQzxf5k/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border="></a></div></div></div>
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<br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/G_DSi8ND3a/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/G_DSi8ND3a/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border="></a></div></div></div>
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<br />Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-60407472761476196702009-01-02T17:38:00.013-05:002009-01-03T20:42:59.430-05:00Spiritualized - Songs in A&E<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/pictures/2008/06/spirit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 169px;" src="http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/pictures/2008/06/spirit.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">It took almost a week of listening to </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Songs in A&E</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> to feel comfortable reviewing it.</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> T</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">here is a </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">presence apparent in Jason Pierce's delivery that made this album feel too meaningful to absorb completely on the first indulged listens. After 6 or 7 spins, I was happy to learn that the name of the group does not mislead the listener whatsoever. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Spiritualized</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> delivers a sound seemingly larger than </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">themselves, transcending deep into a spiritual state that channels you through every end of the emotional spectrum: love and hate, joy and sadness...all channeling Pierce's characters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">After a short, unnecessary intro track straight from "Fantasia", the album continues strongly with "Sweet Talk", a well-done ballad sounding Velvet Underground-esque with a French horn driving home Pierce's ambiguous lyrics about wa</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">r, love and lies. Although it seems a bit out of place as the first full song on the album (it would be fitting much later), "Sweet Talk" adequately foreshadows the profound sentiments present throughout the remaining tracks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The highlight of this album shines on an uplifting folk/pop track, "Soul on Fire" (and I don't care if Pierce didn't want it on the final cut). A resounding choir and strings are brilliantly layered over powerful lyrics and memorable vocal melodies, as Pierce sings "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Baby, ya never should say never / I got a hurricane inside my veins / and I want to stay forever</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">It's surprising that the same artist wrote "Death Take Your Fiddle", as it comes from an entirely different, less uplifting place. The detailed inhaling and exhaling creates a feeling of illness, while Pierce moans "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Morphine, Codeine, whiskey - they won't alter / The way I feel now death is all around</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">", haunting the listener even further. He continues with this down-trodden tone in several other tracks, including "You Lie You Cheat" as well as "I Gotta Fire", where another of Pierce's characters finds himself struggling, but this time with hope: "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >So hard to fight when you're losing / I got a little fire in my soul</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This is Pierce's first album in five years, during which he suffered a near-fatal illness leaving him hospitalized for some time (note the play on words: in the UK, "A&E" popularly refers to the Accidents and Emergencies ward). His honest, croaky voice and delicate songwriting pull from all aspects of life, possibly echoing his former bouts with drugs, alcohol and overall health. Pierce seems to have reigned it all together here and composed an incredible album. That being said, the album could do without the intermittent "Harmony" tracks that should provide smooth transitions, but rather distract more than captivate. His sense of timing also seems to be a bit off, with many tracks being too good to be so short ("Soul on Fire") or not good enough to be so long ("Baby I'm Just a Fool"), but, as a whole, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Songs in A&E </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">is superb.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Put this album on and let your soul relax and then tense up, and then back again, experiencing everything in between; all the while accepting the company of another being who seems to have already experienced it all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Iggy</span><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/cgzh4d2pcv/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/cgzh4d2pcv/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border="></a></div></div></div><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/KRL2cN9-/spiritualized_soul_on_fire/"></a><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/yM_F2Qy03e/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/yM_F2Qy03e/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.do" border="0"></a></div></div></div><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/AUd00Xhg/spiritualized_i_gotta_fire/"></a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-22196080329610542312008-12-29T14:45:00.009-05:002009-01-02T10:57:02.932-05:00Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIZcUyHIyLCx2i02fvkjg0qmHYq9EPaU_wiNToVRoRuGjdxkDI0VPHNjYUTG31Qf2lVyed7TlsDGyj9FQuzp4wntOFvJwYvIVtiSnCQ95MmKLN5-KaCnvI9OP8NwpQ65Gg-a9pGX_t9w/s1600-h/titus_andronicus_the_airing_of_grievances2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIZcUyHIyLCx2i02fvkjg0qmHYq9EPaU_wiNToVRoRuGjdxkDI0VPHNjYUTG31Qf2lVyed7TlsDGyj9FQuzp4wntOFvJwYvIVtiSnCQ95MmKLN5-KaCnvI9OP8NwpQ65Gg-a9pGX_t9w/s200/titus_andronicus_the_airing_of_grievances2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285397958603721394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here we are, almost a decade deep into the new millennium and my favorite album of the year sounds about as muffled and distorted as Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone conversation; well maybe AGB wasn’t screaming like this.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Titus Andronicus’ </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >The Airing of Grievances</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> stands out amongst other albums in these times of advanced technology, obsession over production value, and (curiously) the employment of AutoTune, vocoder, et al on every radio single. This New Jersey quintet of miscreants plays unabashedly loud, distorted rock music while frontman Patrick Stickles assaults your ears with his best top-of-your-lungs, guttural, screaming vocals. The sound is Lo-Fi to a T, but that is not to say that it does not sound good; hell, it’s great. The band has a punk rock sound whose closest cousin is Shoegaze, but this comparison can only be made based on definition alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The album opens with a dirty trick. The first minute or so features gentle guitar and quiet singing, and as soon as you adjust the volume so you can make out the words, a gaggle of angry males scream out “FUCK YOU!” But you aren’t mad; you don’t even turn it down. It’s not going to sound any better at a lower volume. Accept the bombast. Anyway, what's the difference? This apathy resonates throughout the album as Stickles screeches lines that could be ripped from "Sartre for Dummies".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">On “Joset of Nazareth’s Blues”, Stickles shrieks out “</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >From Galilee to Gethsemane to Golgotha, it’s a short walk</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">” in a voice that sounds similar to a teenager getting in the last “AHHHHH, I FUCKING HATE YOU!” before slamming the bedroom door in his parents’ face. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">[I was an unhappy teenager :( ]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Anchored by the duo of “No Future Pt. 1” and “No Future Pt. 2: The Days After No Future”, the latter third of the album outshines the first six tracks. This feat is due in large part to the beautiful symbiotic relationship that exists between the two “No Future” tracks. “Pt. 1” sets the table with an expansive, slow burning breakup song that rewards the listener with not only a distorted, dirty rock riff but the following lyrical gems: “</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >There is not a doctor / That can diagnose me / I am dying slowly / from Patrick Stickles Disease</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">” and “</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Life's been a long, sick game of 'Would You Rather' / so now I'm going to medical school... as a cadaver</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">”. The TWO in the ONE-TWO-punch, “Pt. 2”, starts off knee-bouncing while quoting the guitar work from the previous track and proceeds to ride out the infectious riff. At which point the riff gives way to a haunting recitation of the very last words from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Stranger</span> and then fades out. The two pieces, when listened together, sound like they deserve a spot in the Emergency Angst Survival Kit. Got ostracized at school? Tracks 7 and 8 on </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Airing of Grievances</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">. Had a tough day at the office and a long commute awaits you? 7 and 8, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >Airing of Grievances</span><span style="font-family:georgia;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">My only grief with this album is that there are only nine tracks; but, as a wise woman once said, “Gift horse. Mouth.” So, I’ll take the nine outstanding tracks and 46 minutes and go through them again, all the while pondering: why do I even care at all? I’m just going to die eventually.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cody</span><br /><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/F7IZn9J4qv/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/F7IZn9J4qv/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20border=" 0=""></a></div></div></div><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/FuZbjlNZ/titus_andronicus_no_future/"></a><br /><div style="width: 300px; font-family: georgia;"><object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/G2cif4b2G9/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/G2cif4b2G9/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="300" height="110"></embed></object><div style="padding: 1px; background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div style="padding: 4px 4px 0pt 0pt; float: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22" border="0"></a></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/m6a7QAJE/titus_andronicus_no_future_part_two_the_day_after_no_future/"></a>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-67041324683110685532008-12-27T20:16:00.009-05:002008-12-28T15:15:59.716-05:00Best Tracks of 2008<span style="font-family:georgia;">Here are Iggy and The Count's 10 favorite tracks of 2008 (in no particular order). We encourage you to list your own and discuss in the comments section below.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Iggy:</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/nktjlIZr/blitzen_trapper_black_river_killer/" target="_blank">BLITZEN TRAPPER - Black River Killer</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/8V3HSlUi/fleet_foxes_oliver_james/" target="_blank">FLEET FOXES - Oliver James</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/h4p3Ksyq/does_it_offend_you_yeah_lets_make_out/" target="_blank">DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? - Let's Make Out</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/Y3RK745a/mgmt_electric_feel/" target="_blank">MGMT - Electric Feel</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtUI5MC9tVM" target="_blank">video</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">...amazing)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/URkQmYwK/the_raconteurs_salute_your_solution/" target="_blank">THE RACONTEURS - Salute Your Solution</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.spinner.com/2008/04/03/the-raconteurs-salute-your-solution-video-of-the-day/" target="_blank">video</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/Z9DhEC2w/santogold_shove_it_feat_spank_rock/" target="_blank">SANTOGOLD - Shove It (feat. Spank Rock)</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/FuZbjlNZ/titus_andronicus_no_future/" target="_blank">TITUS ANDRONICUS - No Future</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/1zSSLqxh/white_denim_heart_from_us_all/" target="_blank">WHITE DENIM - Heart From Us All</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/xd4UBOoK/bon_iver_lump_sum/" target="_blank">BON IVER - Lump Sum</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/9vk5P7Ob/the_black_keys_things_aint_like_they_used_to_be/" target="_blank">THE BLACK KEYS - Things Ain't Like They Used To Be</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Count:</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/AOb3ujsC/the_roots_birthday_girl/" target="_blank">THE ROOTS - Birthday Girl</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G---986B9jA" target="_blank">video</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">...wtf?)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/fKkCWNio/lykke_li_breaking_it_up/" target="_blank">LYKKE LI - Breaking it Up</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/fQ32upJB/the_presets_talk_like_that/" target="_blank">THE PRESETS - Talk Like That</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/9EwdbOsx/of_montreal_stexquisites_confessions/" target="_blank">OF MONTREAL - St. Exquisite's Confessions</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/nktjlIZr/blitzen_trapper_black_river_killer/" target="_blank">BLITZEN TRAPPER - Black River Killer</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/ca62YuQL/el_perro_del_mar_glory_to_the_world/" target="_blank">EL PERRO DEL MAR - Glory to the World</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/tdFcK6af/amanda_palmer_oasis/" target="_blank">AMANDA PALMER - Oasis</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://stereogum.com/archives/video/new-amanda-palmer-video-oasis_031521.html" target="_blank">video</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/KEyx2cvb/fleet_foxes_white_winter_hymnal/" target="_blank">FLEET FOXES - White Winter Hymnal</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> (</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE" target="_blank">video</a><span style="font-family:georgia;">)</span><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/nrjW1dDL/the_teenagers_the_teenagers_homecomingmp3/" target="_blank">THE TEENAGERS - Homecoming</a><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.imeem.com/people/EG04SLR/music/wxuYMVKl/alphabeat_fascination/" target="_blank">ALPHABEAT - Fascination</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have a happy new year everyone!</span>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-68630629480413632322008-12-22T23:34:00.025-05:002010-01-04T18:21:40.182-05:00The Alphabetic Order's Best Albums of 2008<div style="text-align: left;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" equiv="Content-Type"><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator"><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"><style>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">2008 was an exciting year for new-comers to the scene; three of our top 10 released debut albums this year (Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Titus Andronicus), with six others following in the list. New trends also emerged, with the invasion of Swedish indie rock from groups such as El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li, as well as the mashup genre becoming extremely popular (lead by Girl Talk and E-603). <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Unfortunately, due to TAO getting started up well into 2008, we had a rather difficult time making our way through all the latest albums released this year. Surely we missed out on many…which is where all of you come in to play. We encourage you to leave comments about where our choices stand in your mind. What totally rad band ruled this year but didn’t get the respect they deserve? Which albums did you think sucked but were featured in our list? Or, leave a “Best of 2008” list of your own.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The TAO staff would like to thank all of our readers for the tremendous support you’ve given us and the new site. We hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a most excellent new year. Enjoy the list!</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">**You can sample each artist by clicking the link attached to each name.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">40. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/e603" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">E-603 – Something for Everyone</a> (self-released)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A great mashup album that will keep all you ADD music fans occupied for hours.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">39. <a href="http://www.conchords.co.nz/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS – Flight of the Conchords</a> (<i>Sub Pop</i>)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The only comedy album on here, that should say something.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">38. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/elperrodelmar" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">EL PERRO DEL MAR – From the Valley to the Stars</a> (<i>Licking Fingers/The Control Group</i>)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Lo-fi twee pop – whatever the hell that means – it’s good though.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">37. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/adamgreen1" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ADAM GREEN – Sixes and Sevens</a> (<i>Rough Trade</i>)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Indie crooner from The Moldy Peaches works very, very well solo.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">36. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelastshadowpuppets" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS – The Age of the Understatement</a> (<i>Domino</i>)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (The Rascals) – two wildly popular musicians in the UK – collaborate to give us a great taste of how rock still rules in the old country.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">35. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/conoroberst" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND – Conor Oberst</a> (<i>Merge</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A surprising top-40 of the year. Oberst gives us a great acoustic album for any given lazy summer afternoon.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">34. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/qtip" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Q-TIP – The Renaissance</a> (Universal/Motown)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Q-Tip’s perfectly-timed flow with classic beats continues to work just as well as it did back in the day.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">33. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tapesntapes" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">TAPES ‘N TAPES – Walk It Off</a> (<i>XL</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Some more great austere yet quirky indie rock from this Minnesota quartet.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">32. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thecoolkids" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">COOL KIDS – The Bake Sale EP</a> (<i>Chocolate Industries</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A more than respectable throw back to the days of minimal tick/clap beats and 808s from this Chicago duo.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">31. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/hotchip" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">HOT CHIP – Made in the Dark</a> (<i>Astralwerks</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">This London quintet comes out with another stimulating mix of electro-pop. <br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">30. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/nin" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">NINE INCH NAILS – The Slip</a> (self-released)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Reznor produced industrial rock. Another freebie for you from a band that still has it.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">29. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kaseychambers" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">KASEY CHAMBERS & SHANE NICHOLSON – Rattlin’ Bones</a> (<i>Sugar Hill Records</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A fantastic debut album from this newly-wed duo, with songs about all the classic bluegrass themes: broken hearts, the devil, and love. There’s something especially intriguing about two Australians recreating a traditionally American genre so perfectly.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">28. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/blocparty" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BLOC PARTY – Intimacy</a> (<i>Atlantic</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">These Brits keep us satisfied with another solid album after critically acclaimed <i>Silent Alarm.</i></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><i></i></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><i></i></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">27. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theholdsteady" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">THE HOLD STEADY – Stay Positive</a> (<i>Vagrant</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">New York angst and strong songwriting make you want to start a band and tour the best dives in America.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">26. <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/loveisall8" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">LOVE IS ALL – A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night</a> (<i>Whats Yr Rupture?</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">This new member of the Swedish invasion is loud, anxiety-ridden, and occasionally simply astounding.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">25. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/slowrunner" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SLOW RUNNER – Mermaids</a> (self-released)</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">This "substitute teacher by day and songwriter by night" somehow created one of the year’s best albums about love and relationships. A soft one, but serves its purpose when you need it most.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">24. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lykkeli" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">LYKKE LI – Youth Novels</a> (<i>LL</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Swedish indie folk pop’s debut album makes you want to move to the fjords with nothing but love.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">23. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/reverendalgreen" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">AL GREEN – Lay It Down</a> (<i>EMI</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">?uestlove produced and much awaited return album gets my pants off, fast.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">22. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/okkervilriver" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">OKKERVIL RIVER – The Stand Ins</a> (<i>Jagjaguwar</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A great rock/pop (not heavy, but not soft) album with songs about everything across the board.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">21. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/muse" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">MUSE – H.A.A.R.P. Live From Wembley Stadium</a> (<i>Warner Bros</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Holy shit, that power comes from 3 guys? It’s the return of arena rock that will melt your face off. Not kidding…caution advised.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">20. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/beck" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BECK – Modern Guilt</a> (<i>Interscope</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Though no longer at his creative peak, <i>Modern Guilt</i> is still standard Beck awesomeness, just way too short.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">19. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/girltalk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">GIRL TALK </a></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/girltalk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mgmt" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">–</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/girltalk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> Feed The Animals</a> (<i>Illegal Art</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Girl Talk impressively mashes well over 10 songs on each track. Rap + nostalgia rock = your best friend…for about 2 weeks.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">18. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Vampire Weekend</a> (<i>XL</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The “Sublime of the ivy leagues” assaults with catchy pretentious radio tunes.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">17. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thedodos" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">THE DODOS – Visiter</a> (<i>Frenchkiss</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">A San Francisco-based acoustic/percussion combo that is as calm and catchy as it is maniacal and emotional.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">16. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/santogold" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SANTOGOLD – Santogold</a> (<i>Downtown/Lizard King</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Insert entire album into your party mix.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">15. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/atmosphere" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ATMOSPHERE – When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold</a> (<i>Rhymesayers</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Smooth, smart lyrics and fresh beats; another classic from Slug and Ant. They bring their deep poetic flow back on their 6th studio album.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">14. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/doesitoffendyou" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? </a></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/doesitoffendyou" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mgmt" style="font-weight: bold;">–</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/doesitoffendyou" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into </a>(<i>Virgin/Almost Gold</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Don’t be intimidated by the name. DIOYY provides one of the most eclectic mixes of sound of the year, ranging from ‘80s pop-punk to electronica.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">13. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/blitzentrapper" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BLITZEN TRAPPER – Furr</a> (<i>Sub Pop</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Indie acoustica revolution.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">12. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theblackkeys" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">THE BLACK KEYS – Attack & Release</a> (<i>Nonesuch</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Ohio’s own Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney continuing to do what they do best – crunchy blues riff-rock – though now featuring the distinctive touch of mastermind DJ Danger Mouse.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">11. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bopenglish" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">WHITE DENIM – Exposion (US)/Workout Holiday (UK)</a> (<i>Transmission</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Good ol’ rock ‘n roll with somewhat of an indie twist. This Austin trio breaks loose with thick catchy riffs and straight-talkin’ vox.…we dig it.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">10. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/foals" style="font-weight: bold;">FOALS – Antidotes</a> (<i>Transgressive/Sub Pop</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The best prog-rock/jam-band/UK indie music ever made...if there’s any of that to compare them to. The virtuosic guitar/percussion combo is fascinating enough in itself.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">9. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/titusandronicus" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">TITUS ANDRONICUS – The Airing of Grievances</a> (<i>Troubleman Unlimited</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">No, not the Shakespeare tragedy, think rather if Conor Oberst snapped and started playing dirty garage rock. Ah, much better. (thanks for that one Cody)</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">8. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tvotr" style="font-weight: bold;">TV ON THE RADIO </a></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/tvotr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mgmt" style="font-weight: bold;">–</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/tvotr" style="font-weight: bold;"> Dear Science</a> (<i>4AD/Interscope</i>)</span><br />
</div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Bowie cameos – need we say more?</span><br />
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</div><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">7. <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/theraconteurs" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">THE RACONTEURS – Consolers of the Lonely</a> (<i>Warner Bros</i>)</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Jack White's genius alongside four formidable musicians make for one of the best hook-laden rock albums of the year.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">6.</span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/kingsofleon" target="_blank">KINGS OF LEON - Only By The Night</a> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">(RCA)</span> <br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">The Followill family come back again with a fantastic album full of playfully layered guitars and the trademark howling of Caleb at lead vocals. These guys never cease to amaze. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">5. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/radiohead" target="_blank">RADIOHEAD – In Rainbow</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/radiohead" target="_blank">s</a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> (self-released)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Radiohead continuing to do what they do best with this one; somehow pushing their sound a little bit further while staying true to the Radiohead style that we all know and love. And did we mention, for free.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">4. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ofmontreal" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">OF MONTREAL – Skeletal Lamping</a> (<i>Polyvinyl</i>)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" face="georgia"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Zappa of the new millennium; discordant, different and beautiful.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">3. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/boniver" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BON IVER – For Emma, Forever Ago</a> (self-released)</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Misery loves company, and Bon Iver will be there for you whenever you need. The best solo acoustic album since Ryan Adams’ <i>Heartbreaker</i>.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2. </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mgmt" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">MGMT – Oracular Spectacular</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>(<i>Sony</i>)</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This catchy synth-pop is the new voice of our generation. A few hit tracks and some more than solid filler make for a unique adventure that somehow doesn't get old. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">1. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">FLEET FOXES – Fleet Foxes</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>(<i>Sub Pop</i>)</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This album should speak for itself. Listen and you'll know why...it cleanses your soul with its purity.</span> <br />
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</div></div>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-9534312067560786442008-12-22T16:58:00.006-05:002008-12-22T17:19:50.860-05:00Guest author: Cody Andrews reviews The Hold Steady<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22RSWBCXTM4CriNHIvcGI67kxgxWMvpbDhhoAzmRRArg3by2OoAIBEC4Akg2mhY5RG7OhLzgvjjk9aU7R5mSbYIUzc192JX_DZDm0LMk6JcLrCwwehgEBFZhez0X0d73EDDBw0vYF-zk/s1600-h/separation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22RSWBCXTM4CriNHIvcGI67kxgxWMvpbDhhoAzmRRArg3by2OoAIBEC4Akg2mhY5RG7OhLzgvjjk9aU7R5mSbYIUzc192JX_DZDm0LMk6JcLrCwwehgEBFZhez0X0d73EDDBw0vYF-zk/s200/separation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282737619097598514" border="0" /></a><meta 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-unhide:no; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault 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mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Craig Finn and Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady have maintained that they will not make the same album twice.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Through their four releases, they have held up their end of the bargain.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">This year we were treated to a markedly different album from the New York-based group.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">2008’s <i style="">Stay Positive</i> has diverged sonically from 2006’s guitar driven <i style="">Boys and Girls in America</i>, as this year’s effort has employed everything from glockenspiel to harpsichord.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">But what really sets the lovingly dubbed “World’s Best Bar Band,” apart is an instrument more unique than anything being featured in a band currently: Craig Finn’s voice singing Craig Finn’s lyrics.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Finn has an uncanny ability to make his version of non-singing interesting by energetically reciting his dense and oft-vivid lyrics.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">He is able to so adeptly convey the situation or characterize the person in question that headphones are almost required to best experience his virtuosity.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Nowhere is this best highlighted than THS’s second album <i style="">Separation Sunday</i>.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i style="">
<br /></i></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i style="">Separation Sunday</i> is a concept album, but like all great concept albums you do not have to listen to it in the stringent order of beginning to end; at least not until after the first </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">go-round.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The album is loosely chronicling the adventures of three partiers: Hallelujah (Holly), Gideon, and Charlemagne.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The songs all make mention of each character in some fashion and culminate with the miraculous “resurrection” of Holly.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">(If you have picked up on a Catholic theme, you have certainly been paying attention; this motif is visited throughout the album)</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">“Hornets! Hornets!” opens the album with our first glimpse of Holly.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Though she is not mentioned by name, her first words give the audience an indication of what kind of woman Holly is: <i style="">“She said, there is gonna come a time / when I’m gonna have to go / with whoever is going to get me the highest.”</i></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">You believe her and you think to yourself, well, sure, okay, I guess I can get behind that decision, all the while humming along.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The second track, “Cattle and The Creeping Things” ups the ante as it romps through the bible with a matter-of-fact tone.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Age old lessons (set to rock music) are applied to present times and it appears that we are in the midst of the same cycle as thousands of years previous.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">This collection of musings on the current state of affairs and their connection to the biblical lessons of yore would be easy for me to examine line by line, <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2005/aug/holdsteady/lyrics_cattle.html">but I will offer this link instead</a>.</span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The foot-tapping “Banging Camp” starts with an alternating left channel/right channel guitar riff and goes on to offer insight on one means of becoming ‘born again’. This scientific and sacred ceremony involves recreational use of nitrous followed closely by having one’s head dunked in water.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">“<i style="">When you wake up / you’ll be high as hell and born again.” </i>The middle of the album was made for rockers as Tad is able to showcase his chops, most notably on the rollicking “Charlemagne in Sweatpants” and Thin Lizzy-tinged “Stevie Nix”. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">These hard-rocking guitar tracks, like all THS songs, are not without a heavy dose of Finn’s wordplay.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Here, in the heart of the album, Holly’s story starts to unfold piece by piece but there is no compass rose to make sense of the clues gleaned from each track.</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Finally, with the album-closing “How a Resurrection Really Feels” we are able to make sense of Hallelujah’s saga.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The truth comes out that Holly has been having these misadventures across the nation while most of those close to her have feared her dead.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">“<i style="">We wrote her name in magic marks / on stop signs and subway cars / they got a mural up on east 13<sup>th </sup>/ saying ‘Hallelujah Rest In Peace’”</i>.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Hallelujah wanders back home and limps through the doors of the church during the Easter service much to everyone’s surprise and amazement; well everyone except Finn: “<i style="">Holly was a hoodrat / Now you finally know that / She’s been disappearing for years / today she finally came back</i>.”</span></p><p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i style="">Separation Sunday</i> is a triumph of straight-ahead rock music tastefully blended with masterful storytelling yielding raucous results.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The storyline is secondary and can only truly be appreciated after multiple spins.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The instrumentation will draw you in initially, and once you can decipher Finn’s mouthful of lyrics good luck taking THS out of heavy rotation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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<br /></p> Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-7410184277460991572008-12-19T14:47:00.004-05:002008-12-19T17:14:40.981-05:00Attention World!The Alphabetic Order is branching out into the Interwebs!<br /><br />We've opened up <a href="http://theabcorder.tumblr.com">TheABCorder.tumblr.com</a><br /><br />It's part of the vast Tumblrverse, and you should be a part as well!<br /><br />TheABCorder.tumblr will be a shorter, more A.D.D. version of this blogspot, but nothing will change about this site. We've only expanded our horizons.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />The TAO staff.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795205506716386194.post-59900453133057698192008-12-15T17:52:00.005-05:002008-12-15T21:42:27.798-05:00Love Is All plays Columbus, tonight!<span style="font-family:georgia;">For all of our Columbus, OH readers, recently reviewed Love Is All will be performing at The Summit tonight. The show's only 8 bucks. Go check them out and let us know how it goes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">http://www.songkick.com/venue/36816/summit-columbus</span>Nathan "Iggy" Igdaloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356045227888047836noreply@blogger.com0