Q2 '09: Top Albums/Songs

damn it city hurry the hell up and update.

I blame many things.

Atlantica Online

Headphones

Okkervil River.

HALF YEAR MARK

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
2. Bomb the Music Industry! - Scrambles
3. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent
4. Dan Deacon - Bromst
5. Meg & Dia - Here, Here and Here
6. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

and everything else i haven't really felt strongly about to justify it on a list.

Songs:
1. Daniel
2. Sleepless
3. The Climb

regualar updates starting tomorrow.

No More Teaspoons: play em off, keyboard cat

damn it damn it!  My headphones are twitchy.  I have to bend it a certain way for my left side to work.  I'll probably save up to buy a new one.

Who's Cassie?  Hello Rihanna.

This Flash game is pretty cool.  pretty music too.

This girl is cool too.

So I'm suppose to finish my 03 list this week because that's how I planned it, but I've been doing a Lost marathon.  Sun Kil Moon wins.

The new Michelle Branch single is called "sooner or later."  isn't that a switchfag song?  Anyways, i know it's on youtube, but I want my virgin listen to be the real studio version.

Riceboy sleeps = cool

Dredg = not digging

Green Day = nothing so far

Enimim = nothing so far

Better Than Ezra = barely above alt-rock

Bob Dylan = I will never get him =/

I think I'll start reviewing again in June.

Song of the Week:

Sufjan Stevens - Happy Birthday (video)

No More Teaspoons: Keep your hands clean

I should really stop playing this stupid mmo game.  Anyways.

I listen loosely to both Jenny Owen Young and Maria Taylor.  both are okay, but not really something I would recommend.

Manchester Orchestra are warming up to me, but the second half dies on me.  I need to push throught it and see if I can 'get' it, but the first 2-3 songs are really good.

I feel like I should like St. Vincent, but I don't fine her appealing.  my ears, oh no.

Younha new one is pretty cool.  Not YUI good, but she has some spunk.

Tinted Windows isn't as bad as some reviews are making them out to be.  But it's still average.

I hope Mat Kearney's new album is good.  word is out that the album leaked.

Autotune the news?  (click)

Song of the Week:

Okkervil River - For Real (video)

No More Teaspoons: r.i.p geocities

If Susan Boyle was hot, nobody would give a shit.

Did you hear about some dude getting tasered at Coachella?  I love seeing dick.

Did you hear about some Beyonce thingy where apparently, she 'can't' sing?  Made me laugh, but it's a fake.  I knew it was fake.

Maximo Park, Jars of Clay, Jason Lytle, Bob Dylan, Patrick Wolf all leaked this week.   I didn't listen to them yet.  Sorry...I've been on a Meg & Dia high.

This Matt and Kim video is pretty cool.  They get naked in public and you're wondering how the hell are they allow to do that.

As for 'new' to me music, I've been listening to Bill Callahan.  Dude gots an awesome voice.

My australian friend did this cover and it's worthy of a listen if you're into raw mistakes.

I keep telling myself to make a checklist for what I want to post on friday, but then i forget.  So yeah, this NMT update is pretty MT.  At least I finally made a banner for my blog.  I think it looks okay.  I was going for an abandon website look.

Song of the Week:

St. Vincent and The National - Sleep All Summer

Bomb The Music Industry! - Scrambles

Release Date: 02/15/09
Genre: DIY Ska-Punk

As music fans, if you see a band's name mention many many times, there's a good reason why.  Their 2006 album was so catchy, but I was not happy with their 2007 album.  Scrambles murders both.

Review: I think my new number one rule of a good album is music that has lyrics with no predictable rhymes.  It doesn't matter if you feel that he can't 'sing,' he has good expressions and the band changes the melodies a lot within a song so it feels jam packed.  And if they can convince me that they giving it their all, then I'm in. Number two rule, album flows together.

I liked how the first track is lo-fi, reminding me that this band is DIY.  Then they just smash everything up as the album unfolds.  Along the way, they have softer tracks like "Wednesday Night Drinkball," "$2,400,000" and "Sort of Like Being Pumped."

there's nothing less cool
then feeling exhausted
from hours of not doing
a damn thing at all

I love their hyper-ish songs just because they make me feel (insert word), but there's always this burst of overloading hyper-ness that's just amazing sounding.  Like they squeeze the hell out of that lemon.  Overall, it's a fun album that works well.  They blend punk, ska and maybe some indie effects and it just works.  Best of all, I believe their passion for the music. If the first 4 tracks don't do anything, it's not for you.

Summary: I'll scream it better.  I fucked up the beginning.  That was bad.

Key Tracks: Stuff That I Like, Fresh Attitude, Young Body, 25!

Rating: 8/10

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You

Release Date: 02/10/09
Genre: Pop

I should have written this long ago, but I was on a break.  

Review: So I actually listen to her debut in preparation of this album and I wasn't sure what critics were raving because "Alright, Still" was all filler except for her 3 excellent singles.  So going in, I was expecting an artist running out of ideas, but her fans will defend her.  But this album is actually enjoyable.  I can say that because I don't know anybody (in my circle) who listens to her.  But really, this album is really catchy and I don't plan on listening to it all year, so I don't know if the freshness will run out.

I predicted in my head that "Not Far" will/should be the next single and yep yup, it is.  The video is kind of whatever, but the song itself is what won me over.  It's just really cowboy-ish, but so damn catchy.  Maybe dancey too.  easily the best song on the album.  Her other catchy songs: 22, Never Gonna Happen, Fuck You

But really, most of her songs have really good chorus.  Reminds me of why I liked P!nk's last album.  I also had this thought, but then i remember reading a review who had the same thoughts so don't accuse me of stealing...but because of her electronic flavor, I thought "I Could Say" and maybe "Chinese" sounded like a euro DJ making a club remix of Lily Allen's music.  And a few of her songs have that flavor too so it creates a easy breeze when listening.  Not a real complain because I enjoyed the album, but hey, I need to feel the creative juices running.

Summary: So this album has fillers too, but I would say it's completely listenable.

Key Tracks: Not Fair, Never Gonna Happen, Him

Rating: 6/10

Meg & Dia - Here, Here and Here

Release Date: 04/21/09
Genre: Pop-Rock, Pop-Punk

co-worker: Meg & Dia!

me: Megadeth?

I finally gave this band a listen thanks to a co-worker.  I remembered seeing a poster for them at Towers, but I kept forgetting to google them online.  They were cute, but I didn't want a Tegan and Sara rip off (at the time, I wasn't a fan).  Vocals were different, but I enjoyed their storytelling lyrics.  I kept track of them on and off, but this video scared me with the whole 'team of songwriters' and the way Meg supposedly 'forgot' how to play guitar.  I don't know.  So going in, all I was expecting was a more 'band' sound, rather than a singer-songwriting team.

Review: And after my first listen, I did hear it moving towards a more pop, maybe mainstream sound, but only because their first two albums were raw, happy accidents.  This time around, the sound feels cleaner and instead of those weird shifts, the songs have straight forward directions.  As a whole, the album is pop, but there are a few tracks that throw some curves.

The first song I wanted to replay for myself was "Bored of Your Love" as it's the first track to my knowledge featuring male vocals.  And the male's vocals aren't super great, but I love how they play off one another.  It's a song about being bored of the other partner and with more listens, i too got bored with it, but it stands out and great placement for track 7.  So it sorta gives the album a break of that female rage Dia can bring sometimes.

"Black Wedding" is the single and I don't think it's a strong enough song to be a single.  Like it doesn't represent the band for me.  The chorus is hyper and I love how Dia nearly loses her voice around 2:51, but the verse doesn't hold me that much.  Still, it is fun.  I think "Hug Me" should have been the first single as it has good melodies in both the verse and chorus.  I like her lyrics of "I am loyal because I simply am raised that way."  Plus it's memorable and I don't know what hug me til you drug me means, so i have my own  meaning.  waitttt.. waitttttt.. 

My favorite song has to go to "Inside My Head" just because it makes me want to read Charles Dickens.  It begins with the chorus, which at first I found unpleasing, but it warmed up to me because it fits the crazed.  In terms of verses, this song is my favorite.  Sounds pretty badass imo.

In terms of chorus, "The Last Great Star In Hollywood" contains my favorite.  It's a little high pitch, but the drums bang in sync with the words so it's a head nodder.  As for the verses, maybe it's just me, but there's a low pitch voice that sounds kind of British.  I know it's one of the girls, but yeah, I think it's cool sounding.

I describe "What If" and "One Sail" as the cruise control songs of the album with the first one a steady album track, but it's more of a fun track.  The second sounds more of a track you expect from Meg & Dia.  Cruise control is not a negative term.  I like both tracks very much, but it's not something where I can say it's something new.  With the way I listen (in order), they both just make me happy and nothing more.

"Are There Giants Too, In The Dance?" is the only song that makes me want to dance.  And true story, in my head, I referred to this song as 'giants' so I didn't know it had the word 'dance' in the title til now.  anyways, yeah, there's this groovy backdrop to it.  It's almost cruise control worthy, but it's not something I expected so it stands out more.  and I like how reserve the vocals can be.  No screeching.

Why does "Agree To Disagree" sound so country?  Actually, it isn't so bad.  "Agree to Disagree" has good verses, chorus, not sure.  The last two tracks drifted for me.  I feel like such a fanboy if I just say "it sounds okay," but really, it sounds okay.  Let's just say the last two tracks are my bottom two.  Does it work as a closer?  I think it tried too hard to sound epic.  but once you're in the 'zone,' I don't think it's a problem.  

Summary: So it sounds more pop and it sounds more of a band effort.  You can hear different ideas, but none of the songs feel out of place.  I went back to "Something Real" and it was weird how this new album made me dislike the old one a small bit.  I miss "Rebecca," but this album shows them stepping up their game.  And Meg is hot.

Key Tracks: Hug Me, Inside My Head, The Last Great Star In Hollywood

Rating: 8/10

No More Teaspoons: Track 3 is Missing

Hey dorkshake. Tomorrow is Record Store Day. Go crazy!

So the founders of the Piratebay are going to jail. Complete bullshit. But the site is still up. I don't use torrents anymore, but if they shutdown megaupload/rapidshit, I'm fucked.

Hey man, did you hear about some dude who had a tree grow inside his lung? Chuckie almost died man, didn't you learn.

Updates on the decade list:

So unlike the earlier years, I knew ahead of time what my favorite album of 03 is.

Ghosts of the Great Highway

Then 2nd place is all over the place.  Right now, it's a 3-way tie with It Still Moves, Michigan, and Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.  After i get done with 2004, I should be back to 2009 albums.  So yeah, maybe I should just review old albums because hey, it's new to me.  Special shout out to The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place.

Speaking of new, but old.  Someone on the MBMB wanted to start a music magazine and it did enter my mind, but I want to reach 1000 before I 'join' with anybody.  LOL@me.  I have no readers.  Anyways, they only had 2 post so I did nothing, but they came back and here's the link.  Their layout is better than mine.  Anyways, they'll be on my reading list because I love reading 'normal' people's music opinion.

So Coachella is this weekend.  and?

Did you discover anything?

So Meg & Dia's new album was leaked, but where was track 3?  Aww wells.  I did listen to it.  I probably need more time to evaluate it.  The lyrics are still on the level of their last album, but I guess my taste has shifted in the last two years that hearing Dia's voice alone doesn't rock me anymore.  Like the album didn't strike a core with me.  Again, I still need more time.  I didn't like The '59 Sounds at first, and it almost became my AotY.

MewithoutYou.  ummm, not much of an impact yet, I only listen to it once and so far, it felt 'pretty.'  Less of that hardcore feel and more alt-country?  i don't know, don't quote me yet.  I feel like a hypocrite because I hate bands who released the same shit over and over.  So this band released something really different.  I'm gonna put it aside for now and wait for lyrics to appear to come out so i can follow along.

So everybody's favorite band from the Netherlands, Rosemary's Sons released a new album.  it's not on eMusic yet, but based on the so-so tracks on their myspace, nothing stands out like "Wrong Way Around."  Doesn't he sound like bon jovi?  I know, screw bon jovi.  (i'm kidding)

So who's looking forward to Green Day's new album.  "Know Your Enemy" sounds like a continuation of American Idiot and it's my favorite GD album.  But as a single, I don't know, sounds like a piece of crap to be honest.  Good job at being repetitive.

Miley Cyrus's The Climb = story of my life.  Dudes, she's hilarious.  But at her age, I think the song is perfect for her career, but dang, I bet many teen girls are going to have this as their anthem song for many years.  But take it out of content, the song is a formulaic pop ballad with lame violins.

Donna Du wrote her best song to date, but now that video on youtube can't be found.  O well.  (edit) oh, here it is.  (video). Why couldn't I find it earlier?  So yeah, isn't it cool that she isn't smiling?  Even if she's not heartbroken, she made her lyrics believable.

A quick bookmark

The City Never Sleeps

It's like she doesn't know the boards have a music section.  lol.  Their sound is cool.  They need one song that is extra catchy.  Maybe there is one on the album.  That's why I'm bookmarking them.  =D

City Later!

I can't wait to see Star Trek!  May 7 guys!

Song of the Week:

St. Vincent - Actor Out of Work (Video)

No More Teaspoons: Good Friday

How awesome!  I got my first follower.  How awesome.  A minor tick I've found is when people consider removing the vowels in curse words as an acceptable  means of being modest.  what the f*ck?  what could that missing letter be?  On another forum, they deleted my entire post on the latest episode of Lost because I think I said 'shitty.'   Now really, how is that offensive?  I think some 14 year old is powerhungry.  Or just hungry.

So I think I'm done exploring 2002.  My top 3 looks like:

Wilco

Sleater-Kinney

Broken Social Scene

Post 2008 List regrets:

How did I leave out "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed" and "The Stand-Ins."  At the time, I just felt underwelm with both efforts, but to leave them out of the top 100.  I'm such a Lizard.  So those two, I approve of them.  

Did I discover anything new this week?

So Metric has a video for their song "Gimme Sympathy" and the way she sort of dances at 1:13ish..is so damn sexy.  So now I'm really into her voice.  Here comes the sun.

So I wanted to finally check out those Michelle Branch videos of her performing "This Way," but I stumble on a cover, which led me to her myspace page.  Cassandra Farrar is her name.  I suck at picking potential breakout stars, so I won't give her any false hopes.  I'm mainly just posting about her as sort of a bookmark.  Reminds me of old school Jewel.  Good melodies for a girl with chords.

YUI has as new song out...but for an anime?  hello Fullmetal alchemist Brotherhood.  ha.  It's not a bad song.  She's still JRocking.  I wonder if she'll ever be more folksy.

Galneryus.  Heck yeah Japanese metal.  I um, damn it Mei.

We Made You, I don't think it's that of a bad song.  Hopefully the album has content.

Any music news?

Amazon's top 100 indie albums.  Man, now I got more music to explore.

Maybe I should make a checklist:

I think I'll start doing rapid fire reviews in the upcoming weeks.  I've been working on reviews for Cymbals Eat Guitars and Emmy the Great for a while now.  Even Pitchfork reviewed Cymbals, so now my opinion is lame.  So instead of trying to talk about each song, I'll just give a overall feel.  But albums I really really want to review for the purpose of keeping a diaryish blog.

The Antlers

The Appleseed Cast

Bat for Lashes

BoA

Bomb the Music Industry!

Bon Iver

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

The Boy Least Likely To

nvm, i have too much.  Let's just say my goal is to get 10 done by next Friday.  Until then, City later

Dear Fox.  Please don't cancel The Sarah Connor Chronicles or Dollhouse.

Song of the Week:

Hammock - Mono No Aware (Video)