The follow up to my earlier post. Again I know it's late since we are into the third month of 2009 all ready but humor me. And I will again reiterate how we as a species feel compelled to compile such list to judge various components of pop culture as being sort of vapid and hollow. In seems that the people putting together such list are actually trying to project more on their own self image, status qua, and id than any of the various avenues of art they are critiquing. As for me besides trying to look cool by my musical taste, I just want to maybe introduce you to some music I think is pretty great.
Honorable Mentions:
Tapes and Tapes
The Living End
Crystal Castles
Late of Pier
The Cool Kids
10) Jukebox the Ghost - Let Live and Let Ghosts
The this a local D.C. band who I think has gain some sort of reputation in whatever circles the hipster music fans hang out in. It is a pop album that probably has been unfairly compared to Ben Folds Five only because of the implementation of the piano. I say it is an unfair comparison because unlike Ben Folds every Jukebox song isn't about how fucking ironic it is to be Ben Folds. A couple slow songs drag the album down a little but overall the album is very solid.
Best Tracks: Static to the Heart, Victoria, Lighting Myself on Fire, Hold it In, Where are All the Scientists Now
9) Friendly Fires- Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires are an English band who had a song on the show Gossip Girl! It's a very intense album that you would not be surprised to find being played at the clubs. The bass player always seems to be playing some disco beat. It is a lot better than I make it sound.
Top Tracks: Paris, In the Hospital, Skeleton Boy, Jump in the Pool
8) Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
Another English band who makes dance music that combines 80's dance rhythms with modern sensibilities. Like any albums that find inspiration from the 80's they have a couple ballets on here while at times slow the flow of the record down from the instantly hummable dancier songs, they are infinitely better than the ballets most of the 80's bands actually recorded.
Top Tracks: Shake a Fist, Hold On, Wrestlers, Ready For the Floor, Out at the Pictures
7) Bloc Party - Intimacy
This album came out of nowhere since they announced a week before that it would be released. They move even further away from the proto-punk English movement that they helped create with the release of their first release. I enjoy how they are further moving away from the expectations their fans have and released and album like this.
Top Tracks: Ares, Halo, Trojan Horse, One Month Off, Better Than Heaven
6) Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Another band who has moved away from what they were doing. There are fifteen songs listed on the album but there are something like seventy movements in the songs which is either good or bad. Either you will become overwhelmed by such an album or you will embrace it.
Top Tracks: Nonparil of Favor, For Our Elegant Caste, An Eluardian Instance, Mingusings, ID Engager
5) We Versus the Shark - Dirty Versions
Though they never do answer the question who would win in a fight between we and the shark (I would guess if it was on land we would stand a chance) they are pretty good at playing fast math rock that is influenced by punk and prog.
Top Tracks: I Am The President of the World, Hello Blood, I Am Scared of Everything, Keep it Wolf
4) Nas - untitled
A very political and socially conscience rap album with production from Cool & Dre which means absolutely nothing to me. Though a lot of artists stop by to guest on a lot of his songs, this album is more or less basically about Nas's rhymes.
Top Tracks: Breathe, Hero, Sly Fox, America
3) Born Ruffians - Red Yellow and Blue
A Canadian Rock band that separates itself from its Canadian peers by the fact that they are a traditional group. The instruments play in perfect harmony and the disjointed rhythm of each song really makes the band sound different from their peers.
Top Tracks: Hummingbird, Kurt Vonnegut, Hedonistic Me, red Elephant, Red Yellow and Blue
2) Foals - Antidotes
Another math dance band that won't so much get you moving but will provide an airy calm feeling. Very tight musicianship and tempo changes on a dime.
Top Tracks: The French Open, Olympic Airwaves, Balloons, Like Swimming, Cassius
1) Los Campesinos! - Hold on Now Youngster/We are Beautiful We Are Doomed
I chickened out and named both these albums as my favorite album but since they were released the same year and sound like they could flow together I put them both at number one. Sue me. All the songs on here are catchy, energetic, sound different than most everything else out there ad fucking rock.
Best Tracks: Too fucking many of them.
And I'm just adding this Matt & Kim song because I think it is awesome.
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