This will probably be less comprehensive as part 1, mostly because songs are pretty tough to pull out of thin air. I'm an album guy. So, the only rankings I'll do for songs are 1-15, followed by a smattering of a bunch of songs. If I get the motivation, maybe I'll make a spotify playlist. Also included in this post are some alterations to the original list and last words on albums I didn't mention, incase there are some people that want my limited amount of knowledgeable input on them. I also tossed in a list of good albums that I started listening to this year, that weren't released this year, and a list of vinyl reissues that were pretty cool for me. I'm just trying to give everyone a smorgasbord of different albums to check out lol.
1. The Hold Steady- Spinners
2. Leonard Cohen- Did I Ever Love You?
3. Father John Misty- Bored in the USA
4. Sylvan Esso- Hey Mami
5. Conor Oberst- You are your mother's child
6. Myriam Gendron- Solace
7. Sun Kil Moon- Carissa
8. Orwells- Who Needs You
9. Soko- For Marlon
10. Strand of Oaks- Shut In
11. Ought- Weather Song
12. Courtney Barnett- History Eraser
13. J.E Sunde- A Blinding Flash of Light
14. Echosmith- Cool Kids
15. Cat Power with Coldplay- Wish You Were Here
The New Pornographers-Champions of Red Wine
Ex Hex- Waste Your Time
Vance Joy- Riptide
Hozier- Jackie and Wilson
La Roux- Sexotheque
The Men- Pearly Gates
Isaiah Rashad- Heavenly Father
Jenny Lewis- Just One of the Guys
Run the Jewels- Lie, Cheat, Steal
Beck- Blue Moon
Vince Staples- Blue Suede
Perfume Genius- Queen
Against Me!- Black Me Out
Cloud Nothings- I'm Not Part of Me
Future Islands- Seasons (Waiting On You)
Iggy Azalea- Fancy
Bleachers- I wanna get better
Strand of Oaks- Mirage Year
Sam Smith- Stay with me
Alt-J- Left Hand Free
Jack White- Lazaretto
Charlie XCX- Boom Clap
PHOX- Slow Motion
Spoon- Inside Out
Parquet Court- Sunbathing Animal
Generationals-Gold Silver Diamond
The Notwist- Kong
Kendrick Lamar's new untitled song
clipping- Work Work
Wussy- Teenage Wasteland
Against Me!- FUCKMYLIFE666
Tweedy- Nobody Dies Anymore
Generationals- Black Lemon
St. Vincent- Birth in Reverse
Warpaint- Disco//very
Owl John- A good Reason to Grow Old
Benjamin Booker- Violent Shiver
Myriam Gendron- Threnody
Top Album Add-ons:
Sun Kil Moon- Benji*
I kept hearing about how great this album was, but, I was skeptical because, while I'm a fan of Red House Painters, I know Sun Kil Moon is a bit on the slow depressing side. In a way, I was right. With that said, this album is really really amazing. I finally decided to check it out this Thursday and felt so much listening to just the first two songs. The rest of the album just keeps digging and digging deeper into shit, that by the end of it, you're a wreck. An album about death pretty much. It is so detailed, but ambiguous about whether what he is saying is real or not. His voice is just so earnest that it doesn't matter. A very wordy album, you have to listen to the words intensely to really enjoy it. Honestly, it was worth it. If I could go back, I'd place this album in a 12 and up position. Favorite Lyric: "Carissa was thirty-five, you don't just raise two kids and take out your trash and die." CO- I implore you to check out Carissa. Truck Driver, Pray for Newtown, Ben's My Friend.
Strand of Oaks- HEAL*
When this album came out, I kind've wrote it off because I had seen him open up for Tallest Man on Earth and wasn't impressed. Reviews started to roll in and it was gathering a nice collection of praise. I checked it out from the library, listened to it in the car, and was just okay with it. Fast forward to December 18th, it is 8 at night, I'm walking to the library, and I start to sing the chorus to the song Shut In ("Know my name, no, I mean it"). I hadn't listened to the song earlier that day, or even lately. I get to the library, put on my headphones, and play the album on Spotify. Holy shit did it resonate with me! I remember the album was written with the intent to pretty much exorcise his demons, and just listening to it, you can feel the catharsis. This is an album meant for headphone listening, I think this is where I went wrong the first listen through. Some albums are meant to listen to in the car as background music as you transverse the road, and others are meant to be paid attention to fully. Once again, if I were to update my original list, I'd place this somewhere around the 15 mark. CO- Shut In, Mirage Year, JM.
She and Him- Classics
Hey, M.Ward are you going to do Zoey Deschanel or what, because you need to release a solo album ASAP. HOly shit, it feels like it's been forever. These albums are nice and all, but two albums of cover songs kind of seems like a waste of time. It's an okay album, it's a pleasant listen. I enjoyed it, not overly so, but, yea, I enjoyed it. It just feels like they are wasting time doing these kind of albums. Their three original song albums were above average releases. Maybe I'm bitter because I'm a big M.Ward solo fan, or whatever. Anyway, it's a good listen if you're in a somewhat nostalgic mood. They don't radically change the songs but still add a little twinkle to them.
Notwist- Close to the Glass*
I'm kind've embarrassed I forgot this album lol. Kong was one of my favorite songs for a while there. I remember sitting in the computer lab, last semester, and Sub Pop announcing that they had just signed a major artist for a release. I had no idea who it was but I was excited because Sub Pop have been great tastemakers. The announcement came and it was Notwist. I had not heard of them and was let down a little. Their album came out, I checked it out from the library, and it was actually really cool. The album is a mix of The Shins, glitch hop, and like acoustic Radiohead-ish (I don't know, I just wanted to include a third haha). I think I would definitely bump off another album off my list to make room for this one, probably in the 20-30 area. So far, I've kicked off Freddie Gibbs, Vance Joy, and Foxygen (sad) lol. CO- Kong, Run Run Run, 7-Hour-Drive.
Gaslight Anthem- Get Hurt
I feel bad that I didn't enjoy the album more than I did. I've been listening to Gaslight since about 2009 (?) and I've loved their first three albums and was cool with their fourth. I think the problem with this album is something that I had a problem with with the newest Frank Turner album, there is a bunch of songs and, thematically, they aren't strung together. The songs aren't bad (except for Vicious, which I can't stand), they just aren't rising above being pure cotton candy. The production is too good, it's causing a gloss. It's hard rocking at times and "obligatory sincere" at other times. I just didn't really feel the passion that I hear in earlier albums, and that passion is what pushes a rock song from merely turning up the volume, and a slow song from merely being "time to slow it down." There's a notable difference between, say, Break Your Heart and She Loves You or even 45 and Rollin and Tumblin', there's an extra oompf. Good songs that I'm sure will work better in a live setting, they just don't work strongly as a cohesive album. CO- Get Hurt
Jenny Lewis- The Voyager*
I have such a crush on Jenny Lewis, she's straight up banging. I love Rilo Kiley. I love Jenny and Johnny. Her solo, though, has been hit or miss for me. In this case, I think it's mostly hit. Not enormously, I guess, but solid to the point that I feel like if I listened to it a few more times that I would start to like it much more (does that make sense?). Just One of the Guys is one of those songs that have a playful child-like swagger that makes it catchy, then it goes into this breakdown where she says, "I'm just another lady without a baby," and it breaks my heart a little. It's a sad sentiment. I'm listening to the album as I write this little blurb and I can already feel myself liking it more.
King Tuff- Black Moon Spell
I'm a fan of earlier King Tuff albums, this new one feels a little duller. I think live it would sound better because King Tuff is known for being loud and junk, you know, garage rock stuff haha.
Alvvays- Alvvays
I haven't gone all the way through this album yet, but they are opening up for the Decemberists so I'm thinking they've been getting some nice exposure. Archie, Marry me has been playing on the radio, I believe. The album sounds like contemporary indie pop placed in the 60's. I say give the album a shot, I've been enjoying it.
Lana Del Rey- Ultraviolence
I don't have the patience to get through all the songs because they are all decently long, hazy, and slow. I do see the draw, though, once I listen to the songs individually. Brooklyn Baby is pretty good. Lana's first album was great, I was all about Diet Mountain Dew, Video Games, Off to the Races, and pretty much the rest of the album, so I'm not coming at the new album with the hipster bias associated with Lana ( which, I guess goes one of two ways: 1. You love her. 2. You hate her because she was already affluent and has this air of pretentiousness about what she does.). I'll keep working at it.
Non-2014 Releases That I've Discovered This Year
Alex Turner- Submarine EP: Singer for the Arctic Monkeys soundtrack for the film, Submarine. There's only six songs and they are all amazing. I spent a majority of the year listening to this, I love it more than any recent release from the Arctic Monkeys.
Dressy Bessy- Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons: Some guy on eBay had these crazy auctions going on, and a lot of them were Elephant Six releases. This album doesn't show up on eBay often. I lost by two dollars and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Very fun pop album that conjure the Dressy Bessy doll image. CO- Jenny Come on, If You Should Try to Kiss Her, Just Like Henry.
The Gerbils- Are You Sleepy?: Not part of those series of auctions (although, I would pay top dollar for this very limited release), I went Elephant Six crazy for a few months and found this album. A member of Neutral Milk Hotel, this a cool lo-fi gem that is equal parts weird and great.
Colleen Green- Milo Goes to Compton: I first came across Colleen Green when I read an article from a magazine that I was given for free at the Exclusive Company. One of the questions asked was, "Why did you choose to use a drum machine on these songs?" and she replied, "because I can't play drums." That was probably the coolest answer she could've given. She's like some kind of melodic punk. CO- I Wanna Be Degraded, Goldmine, Nice Boy (I Want A).
The Daredevil Christopher Wright- In Deference to a Broken Back: This is J.E Sunde's band. I've already professed my love for J.E Sunde. This album is a little bit of everything, very great lyrically. CO- The East Coast, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, A Conversation About Cancer.
Warpaint- The Fool: Super beautiful, murky, sexy album. An album of mood, not really of super catchy hooks. See them live!
Elf Power- Dream in Sound: Elf Power is one of those bands that I think should be a bigger deal than they are. I don't feel like they get the respect they deserve, I mean, they've been at this since the mid 90's. Recently, I've been listening to some of their albums (I bought their first album on vinyl for 10 dollars on eBay, which isn't even on iTunes) and Dream in Sound is a good representation of them (and, also, When the Red King...). I remember going to see Neutral Milk Hotel in Madison with my friend and Elf Power was opening. We sat during their performance but after they were done, my friend said, "they were actually pretty good." So yeah. CO- Jane, High Atop the Silver Branches.
Electrelane- The Power Out: I bought this one a whim from that eBay guy because the more I bought the more I saved on shipping lol. Hadn't heard of them before, what a pleasant surprise. Every song is unique (The Valleys is a choir song), a great album if you want to be snooty to your friends about knowing a little gem of an album. CO- Gone Under Sea, The Valleys, Take the Bit Between Your Teeth.
Common- Like Water for Chocolate: I've always known of Common but never really explored. Oh man, what a rewarding album. Listen to all of it.
Snoop Dogg- Doggystyle: Snoop dogg's always kind've been a figure in pop culture that is present, and you know he's important, but over time you've lost why that is. I finally got around to listening to his debut. Holy shit this could be one of my favorite rap releases. God no wonder he can fuck around as much as he does, coaching football, becoming a lion, and shit. After an album like this you can do whatever you want afterwards.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven: They are a band that really doesn't make music for commercial gain, they make actual pieces of art. If you want to listen to something that'll tell a story without using a lot of words, this is the album for you.
Favorite Vinyl Reissues
5. Lewis- L'amour, finally unearthed. For the longest time, his existence was a mystery.
4. Sleater Kinney's entire discography released in a boxset
3. Washington Phillips- What Are They Doing in Heaven Today, I don't actually think this was reissued this year but whatever, one of my favorite albums to listen to on vinyl. It's an old timey sounding religious recording by a man playing an instrument called the Phonoharp.
2. Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West and This is a long drive for someone with nothing to think about, on black vinyl, although(!), Newbury Comics released a special edition of limited color vinyl, which are sold out now.
1. The Unicorns- Who will cut our hair when we're gone, on pink vinyl after many years of being out of print
Lastly, my updated Best Of list:
30. La Roux- Trouble In Paradise
29. Vince Staples- Hell Can Wait
28. Gerard Way- Hesitant Alien
27. Warpaint- Warpaint
26. Notwist- Close to the Glass
25. Ex Hex- Rips
24. Jenny Lewis- Voyager
23. Benjamin Booker- Benjamin Booker
22. Soko- I Thought I Was An Alien
21. Future Islands- Singles
20. Bleachers- Strange Desire
19. Leonard Cohen- Popular Problems
18. Vincent James Mcmorrow- Post Tropical
17. Courtney Barnett- The Double Ep: A Sea of Split Peas
16. Strand of Oaks- HEAL
15. Jack White- Lazaretto
14. Hozier- Hozier
13. Sun Kil Moon- Benji
12. Sylvan Esso- Sylvan esso
11. Ought- More Than Any Other Day
10. Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 2
9. Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else
8. J.E Sunde- Shapes That Kiss the Lips of God
7. Orwells- Disgraceland
6. Spoon- They Want My Soul
5. Conor Oberst- Upside Down Mountain
4. Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues
3. St.Vincent- St.Vincent
2. Hold Steady- Teeth Dreams1. Myriam Gendron- Not So Deep as a Well
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Favorite Albums of 2014
Here is my list of favorite 2014 releases. Besides the number one spot, I can see all the albums having some wiggle room, especially towards the beginning. There were a few albums that I wanted to include that I haven't necessarily been able to listen to thoroughly, so the rankings are slightly skewed. I've worked on this for an oddly long time (3 weeks), combing through every year end list and reflecting back on what I bought. Each entry will be followed by CO, standing for check out, which is where I'll throw out songs to listen to from the album. I guess I'd call this part 1 of my 2014 list, this will be followed up by part 2 where I'll count down my favorite songs of 2014, albums that weren't 2014 releases but were unearthed, favorite vinyl reissues, and albums I'm looking forward to in 2015.
Albums that didn't make the list:
Sharon Van Etten/ Are We There- Too morose for me. Great reviews and all but lacking feeling, maybe?
Mac Demarco/ Salad Days- My knees are too erratic to listen to Mac's laidback music for more than a few minutes. Still very good, great if you substances.
Strand of Oaks/HEAL- Way better than I thought he was when I saw him open for Tallest Man on Earth. CO- Shut In
The War on Drugs/ Lost in the Dream- I don't know why I don't enjoy them. You can find this album on pretty much every end of the year list, I just can't get into it. CO- Red Eyes
First Aid Kit/ Stay Gold- I flip flop on First Aid Kit. Sometimes their harmonies remind me of locus and annoys me. I remember listening to their new album and enjoying it but right now I'm drawing a blank. CO- My Silver Lining
Phantogram/ Voices- I don't know why it is that I didn't attach myself to this release, given that I came into this year being a Phantogram fan. It's just lacking that cool factor. CO- Black Out Days, Celebrating Nothing
Bliss and Alice/ Poetry Volume One- The Shit Talker Tape- Just started listening to this album today and it's really impressing me so hopefully someone sees this and gives him a listen. Free on Bandcamp.
Generationals/ Alix- Sugary sweet album with songs that'll get stuck in your head forever. Somehow their songs feel impersonal to me, hence why they came up short. CO- Black Lemon, Gold Silver Diamond (really suggest these two songs)
Temples/ Sun Structures- Their sound feels very 1960's psychedelic, too strong of an influence for me personally. However, I can honestly see others gravitate towards it more. CO- Shelter Song, The Guesser
Tweedy/ Sukierae- Originally this was going to be at least in my 10-20 area of the list, but I went to import select songs into my iPod and found myself not remembering them too much. I think it works as a pleasant album to spin while working on homework or driving mindlessly. CO- Nobody Dies Anymore, Wait For Love
Perfume Genius*/ Too Bright- If I would've listened to this album in full in time, it definitely would've been on the list (if not in the top 10). Perfume Genius has always been a fearless artist and listening to some of the songs off the album makes it clear that that trend will continue. I star it because it has a serious case for mulligan when it comes to not being on the main list. CO- Queen, Fool
Vashti Bunyan/ Heartleap- I feel bad that this album hasn't gotten more praise, mainly because this is Vashti's last album and for so long she went unnoticed until she was rediscovered. I personally haven't listened to it yet (and honestly her music can be a bit too serene), just wanted to include her though.
Ty Segall/ $ingle$ 2- I'm including his singles collection instead of his album Manipulator because his singles kind've jump out at me more than his ode to glam. CO- Cherry Red, Hand Glams, Fucked up Motherfucker
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra/ Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything- Definitely an interesting listen, very sprawling and epic. Not a super fun album but if you invest yourself, there could be something for you. CO- Take Away These Early Grave Blues
Wussy/ Attica- an album that was critically acclaimed with a lot of different influences. CO- Teenage Wasteland
Grouper- Depressing album but also beautiful. CO- Clearing
Isaiah Rashad/ Cilvia Demo- Swaggy up the ass. KO- Heavenly Father, Shot You Down
Protomartyr/ Under Color of Official Right- Another post-punk release that will impress if you are into that scene. CO- Maidenhead
cllipping./ CLPPNG- Work Work makes me want to snake my way to the floor and struggle to maintain my composure after I struggle to get back up. If you are a rap fan, check it out. CO- Work Work, Body & Blood
Sunny Day in Glasgow/ Sea When Absent- I tried a lot of times to get into it. It just isn't happening to a deeper level. I enjoy it, not to the extent I want to though. CO- MTLOV, Oh, I'm a Wrecker
White Lung/ Deep Fantasy- less than 30 minutes of neck breaking punk, so fulfilling though. CO- Face Down
32. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Pinata
Madlib is awesome and thats why I decided to give this album a listen. If I was able to listen to the whole thing from start to finish, it'd be higher. CO- Deeper, Thuggin'
31. Vance Joy- Dream Your Life Away
That Imagine Dragons kind've album that is super fun to listen to, but ultimately is radio fodder. CO- Riptide, Winds of Change, Mess is Mine
30. Foxygen- ...And Star Power
If it wasn't so overblown, overindulgent, and was edited down to a manageable number of songs, it would've been a great album. Not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, just too much of everything. CO- How Can You Really,
29. Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour
Soulful voice, the whole album was actually pretty entertaining. CO- Money On My Mind, Stay With Me, I'm Not the Only One
28. Parquet Courts- Sunbathing Animal
Disoriented cool punk that I feel got lost in the shuffle, despite how critically acclaimed they are. CO- Black and White, Sunbathing Animal
27. Shakey Graves-And the War Came
It could be because I was disillusioned with the concert (was tired and worn out from an overly long opener) that made me have it on the lower end of the list (or maybe I feel bad for not going crazy at the concert, resulting in me ranking it higher than I would), but still worth a good listening too. CO- Dearly Departed, Hard Wired, Big Time Nashville Star
26. Owl John- Owl John
Frightened Rabbit was a big part of my 2013, I'm not sure why. This is the lead singer's solo effort and it comes off as a spare version of Frightened Rabbit (in the best way possible obviously). My biggest critique of it is that I wanted some of the songs to ramp it up a bit. CO- A Good Reason To Grow Old, Red Hand, Lose Angeles, Be Kind
25. Angel Olsen- Burn Your Fire For No Witness
I've been a big advocate for Angel Olsen from the very first time I heard Half Way Home. I remember texting my friend when the first single dropped and texting my friend to tell him that this album could be the best album of the year. My ranking could be short-changing it a little because it's a fine album, just not the top 10 one I thought it'd be. CO- Unfucktheworld, Iota
24. La Roux- Trouble In Paradise
2014's best album for white women with no butts to dance to while getting ready in the morning. CO- Sexotheque, Kiss and Not Tell
23. Vince Staples- Hell Can Wait
I just started listening to him and this isn't a full album, but, great album. CO- Blue Suede, Limos
22. Gerard Way- Hesitant Alien
Surprisingly good. It sounds nothing like My Chemical Romance. I was actually blown away by how different it is compared to what I thought it'd be. CO- No Shows, Zero Zero, Brother
21. Warpaint- Warpaint
Saw them live and had a boner for a straight hour. An album of hazy, smooth tunes. CO- Disco//Very, Love is to Die
20. Benjamin Booker- Benjamin Booker
Blues Punk? What a world! Seeing him next year and it's going to be nuts. CO- Violent Shiver, Have You Seen My Son, I Thought I Heard You Screaming
19. Future Islands- Singles
The songs all kind've blur together in my head, but the band doesn't sound like any one else right now and if I were to give it another listen, I'm sure it would've jumped up a few spots. CO- Seasons (Waiting On You), A Dream of You and Me,
18. Soko- I Thought I Was An Alien
Super sad album, earnest and tear-jerking. CO- We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow, For Marlon (this broke my heart), I thought I was an Alien, First Love Never Die
17. Ex Hex- Rips
Reminiscent of like 80's girl punk bands. Like Joan Jett with more street cred and teeth. CO- Hot and Cold, Waste of Time, Don't Wanna Lose
16. Bleachers- Strange Desire
Purely fun album. Not too dissimilar to fun., big anthemic tunes. CO- I Wanna Get Better, Shadow, Rollercoaster, I'm Ready to Move On/Wild Heart Reprise
15. Vincent James Mcmorrow- Post Tropical
Incredibly soulful album that I have to listen to in sequence to appreciate. It's a vinyl buy for sure. Go see him live, it won't be boring like you would think. CO- Look Out, Glacier, Cavalier
14. Leonard Cohen- Popular Problems
I feel like it's weird to include Leonard Cohen on a list of best albums of 2014, but it's a legitly impressive album. Be warned the song Slow is cringingly bad. Did I Ever Love You is my second favorite song of the year. CO- Did I Ever Love You, Born in Chains, Almost Like the Blues
13. Courtney Barnett- The Double Ep: A Sea of Split Peas
The first half of the album is amazing, the second is a little more raw. Technically came out last year, but it took forever for it to be released in the U.S. CO- Avant Gardener, History Eraser
12. Hozier- Hozier
Super catchy album, maybe hurt a little because I listened to it so much in my car when I was too lazy to switch CDs. CO- Take Me to Church, Jackie and Wilson, From Eden, Like Real People Do, Cherry Wine, Foreigner's God
12a. Jack White- Lazaretto
I forgot to place Jack White! I remember listening to the album and was like wow this a great album. I don't remember much from it right now though and I think thats why its not in the top 10. CO- Lazaretto, Entitlement, Just One Drink
11. Sylvan Esso- Sylvan esso
Super fun album that mixes folk with electronica. Honestly, I'm almost regretting putting this album as low as it is. I think it should be more like 8 or 9, I'm just having a hard time remembering a lot of the tracks. Looking back, it should probably be in top 10 lol. CO- Hey Mami, H.S.K.T, Coffee
10. Ought- More Than Any Other Day
Ought is my King Krule pick of 2014, an album that seemingly comes out of nowhere and sounds like nothing else that is happening at the moment. They sound like a post-punk version of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album takes its time to build to something with its herky-jerky instrumentation, their metallic clean sound break out into Tim Beeler's howling restrained vocals. I love this album. The line "tell me what the weathers like so I don't have to go outside" gets stuck in my head so often that I say it even when I'm already outside. I'm not a big synth/electronic guy and it's great to see bands still finding ways to keep the classic setup interesting. CO- Habit, The Weather Song, Clarity!
9. Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 2
What can I say that hasn't been said on pretty much every best of 2014 lists? Best rap album of the year. God listening to this album makes me feel like the biggest bad ass in the entire world. I probably would've ranked it higher if I would've been able to listen to the album in order and not shuffled on Spotify (getting it from the library soonish). CO- Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck), Lie, cheat, steal, Blockbuster Night Pt 1 &2, Oh My Darling Don't Cry
8. Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else
A punk band that reminds me more of The Descendents than, say, the Sex Pistols. A punk band that doesn't sound like a few guys that want to knock shit around, they sound like a punk band that went to college (boom, a milo goes to college reference). It's music that is heavy on hooks but with a viciousness of pent up uptightness. I think this is my Japandroids record of 2014, an album that you put on when you want to thrash around your room and aggressively mouth fuck the words. CO- I'm Not Part of Me, Psychic Trauma, Now Hear In
7. J.E Sunde- Shapes That Kiss the Lips of God
He is possibly the nicest guy I've ever seen perform. I've seen him twice and both times he's had this humble confidence to him. The first time seeing him was when he opened up for Laura Marling, and he killed it. I loved his performance way more than hers. The second time, he had the opening slot for Phox. During this second time, everybody was just terribly rude to him. Everybody was talking and not giving him any attention and I hope everyone felt like shit when Phox came out later and pointed that out. His voice is very different from a lot of what is out there today, and his lyricism is unmatched on the "local scene." His Howl reference was just a cherry. A mix of eccentric, smartly written songs, definitely a great album. CO- Mother Fury, Mother Cry, Easy Kid, A Blinding Flash of Light, I'm Gonna Disappoint You. Check it alllll out.
6. Orwells- Disgraceland
This was an album that I've been waiting for, for this year. Just a slab-of-dumb-in- your-face-belligerent kids throwing their guitars and yelling about anything and everything. Live, these guys (especially the singer) just ooze that "I don't give a fuck" dangerous attitude that makes for an amazing atmosphere. My Fidlar of 2014. Originally, they gained a lot of attention for their David Letterman performance that called for an encore and parody by Paul Shaffer. The songs range from drinking, murderers, sex, and America damnation. Probably not super critically acclaimed in the wine drinking circles, nonetheless, the music is a shot of adrenaline. CO- Who Needs You, Southern Comfort, North Ave., Let it Burn, Always n Forever
5. Spoon- They Want My Soul
This album is funky as shit. I roll my shoulders so much when listening, it's almost like I have rhythm. I'm not a big Spoon guy. They have lots of build up to their songs and just drop off when they get to the chorus, leaving us without that big ejaculation. Then I gave this album a shot and fell in love. These are some of the best hooks I've heard all year and I dare you not to get Do You stuck in your head. Top to bottom this is an album made by guys that have been around for a while and not only know what they're doing, but a band that can tweak their sound just enough to keep old fans and draw in new ones. Now I regret not seeing them in Milwaukee, especially since they covered a Jay Reatard song! To sum this album up: swag for days and rolling for the pullin'. CO- Rent I pay, Inside Out, Do You, New York Kiss
4. Conor Oberst- Upside Down Mountain
It's Conor. Do I have to say more? I will. I was able to see him play live in Milwaukee and he was amazing. He was as close to being what a rock star looks like in concert, if that makes sense. I keep going back and forth about how much I really like the album. Sometimes I'm never in the mood to listen to it, being away from it for a while clouds my enjoyment of it, I think. The memory of the album becomes hazy, then I give it another listen and become enthralled in it again. It feels very major label, not a bad thing. Great hooks, Conor said in an interview that he isn't the best singer in the world, but once he gets down a hook, he can turn out a great song, and he does that for the duration of the album. He more than adds to the Conor Oberst body of work. If you're not sold, listen to You Are Your Mother's Child and see where you're at after. CO- Hundreds of Ways, Double Life, Kick, You Are Your Mother's Child, Governor's Ball, Zigzagging Toward the Light
3a. Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I forgot to include this album! I'm so stupid! I didn't want to renumber so I'm making this 3a because it would've been number 4. Against me is a punk band that really works well after "selling out." Their sound is really meant for bigger production. Thomas Gabel is the first major musical figure to come out as transgender and the album is pretty much him coming out as one. Very powerful statement with really strong songs to back it up. I've been listening to Against Me for about six years, outside of New Wave, this is their best album. CO- FUCKMYLIFE666, Black Me Out, Unconditional Love
3. St.Vincent- St.Vincent
It took a while for this album to grow on me. At first, I was put off by the almost impersonal futurism she's presenting. If you see her stage show, it's pretty choreographed and thats how the album feels, an interesting view but I don't know about seeing it again. With that said, I always drive with my iPod on shuffle and whenever a song from this album came on, I had to listen. I wanted to listen. She's the pop artist Lady Gaga wish she was, she's weird and serious and willing to take risks but it doesn't come off hokey or pretentious. She did an album with David Byrne that had a lot of his odd swagger in it, and you can definitely feel the imprint on this album. It's oddly danceable at its highs and sinister at its lows. I feel like St. Vincent is an artist that constantly has to win me over, I listened to all her albums on surface level and couldn't get into them, but on that second and third listen where I really lean into it, she wins me over. She consistently tops herself, from guitarist in Polyphonic Spree, to the slow burn intensity of Marry Me, to the dark disney of Actor, to brushing shoulders with a legend in Love This Giant, to the sexiness of Strange Mercy, St. Vincent is always moving somewhere else and knocking it out of the park. In the indie landscape, she's a leader for sure. CO- Birth In Reverse, Digital Witness, Bring Me Your Loves, Rattlesnake
2. Hold Steady- Teeth Dreams
I understand that the Hold Steady has changed. They hired the producer who've worked on albums by Rush and Evanescence, obviously trying to sound more radio ready and less contingent on knowing the characters of the previous Hold Steady albums. They've always been a band that had prided themselves on this working class aesthetic of misspent youth, not caring about making their sound anything more than they wanted it to. They wanted to eliminate the pretentiousness of the indie scene. There was talk singing, guitar solos, Springsteen keyboards, familiar characters with their own problems and issues to work out, clever and masterful lyrics, and tales of surviving the abstract pointlessness by drinking cheap beers when you're young and finding your place later in life through struggle. This new album, however, has been getting a lot of flack for being a bit more stream-lined and "hard-rockin'." To be honest, though, I don't mind it. I'm a huge Hold Steady fan and they've influenced me a lot in my music sensibilities and how I write, they could've put out anything and have me love it. It's a collection of very tight songs, with my only complaint being how they obscured Craig Finn's voice, whereas their earlier albums had it first and foremost. It's not going to change lives like their first four albums did, but if you take off your snobby hat for a second, its an album thats definitely worth a listen. Spinners is my number one song of 2014. CO- Spinners, I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You, Oaks, The Only Thing
1. Myriam Gendron- Not So Deep as a Well
Absolutely beautiful album. Very simple album. My summer was a mix of momentary excitement, peaceful contemplation, and overbearing sadness, and this was the soundtrack for all of it. This was one of Acme Records in Milwaukee's albums of the day so on a whim I decided to pick it up. I've never been more happy with any decision ever. I love this album and is one of those albums that I'll always keep with me. CO- Threnody, Solace, Recurrence, The False Friends
Albums that didn't make the list:
Sharon Van Etten/ Are We There- Too morose for me. Great reviews and all but lacking feeling, maybe?
Mac Demarco/ Salad Days- My knees are too erratic to listen to Mac's laidback music for more than a few minutes. Still very good, great if you substances.
Strand of Oaks/HEAL- Way better than I thought he was when I saw him open for Tallest Man on Earth. CO- Shut In
The War on Drugs/ Lost in the Dream- I don't know why I don't enjoy them. You can find this album on pretty much every end of the year list, I just can't get into it. CO- Red Eyes
First Aid Kit/ Stay Gold- I flip flop on First Aid Kit. Sometimes their harmonies remind me of locus and annoys me. I remember listening to their new album and enjoying it but right now I'm drawing a blank. CO- My Silver Lining
Phantogram/ Voices- I don't know why it is that I didn't attach myself to this release, given that I came into this year being a Phantogram fan. It's just lacking that cool factor. CO- Black Out Days, Celebrating Nothing
Bliss and Alice/ Poetry Volume One- The Shit Talker Tape- Just started listening to this album today and it's really impressing me so hopefully someone sees this and gives him a listen. Free on Bandcamp.
Generationals/ Alix- Sugary sweet album with songs that'll get stuck in your head forever. Somehow their songs feel impersonal to me, hence why they came up short. CO- Black Lemon, Gold Silver Diamond (really suggest these two songs)
Temples/ Sun Structures- Their sound feels very 1960's psychedelic, too strong of an influence for me personally. However, I can honestly see others gravitate towards it more. CO- Shelter Song, The Guesser
Tweedy/ Sukierae- Originally this was going to be at least in my 10-20 area of the list, but I went to import select songs into my iPod and found myself not remembering them too much. I think it works as a pleasant album to spin while working on homework or driving mindlessly. CO- Nobody Dies Anymore, Wait For Love
Perfume Genius*/ Too Bright- If I would've listened to this album in full in time, it definitely would've been on the list (if not in the top 10). Perfume Genius has always been a fearless artist and listening to some of the songs off the album makes it clear that that trend will continue. I star it because it has a serious case for mulligan when it comes to not being on the main list. CO- Queen, Fool
Vashti Bunyan/ Heartleap- I feel bad that this album hasn't gotten more praise, mainly because this is Vashti's last album and for so long she went unnoticed until she was rediscovered. I personally haven't listened to it yet (and honestly her music can be a bit too serene), just wanted to include her though.
Ty Segall/ $ingle$ 2- I'm including his singles collection instead of his album Manipulator because his singles kind've jump out at me more than his ode to glam. CO- Cherry Red, Hand Glams, Fucked up Motherfucker
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra/ Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything- Definitely an interesting listen, very sprawling and epic. Not a super fun album but if you invest yourself, there could be something for you. CO- Take Away These Early Grave Blues
Wussy/ Attica- an album that was critically acclaimed with a lot of different influences. CO- Teenage Wasteland
Grouper- Depressing album but also beautiful. CO- Clearing
Isaiah Rashad/ Cilvia Demo- Swaggy up the ass. KO- Heavenly Father, Shot You Down
Protomartyr/ Under Color of Official Right- Another post-punk release that will impress if you are into that scene. CO- Maidenhead
cllipping./ CLPPNG- Work Work makes me want to snake my way to the floor and struggle to maintain my composure after I struggle to get back up. If you are a rap fan, check it out. CO- Work Work, Body & Blood
Sunny Day in Glasgow/ Sea When Absent- I tried a lot of times to get into it. It just isn't happening to a deeper level. I enjoy it, not to the extent I want to though. CO- MTLOV, Oh, I'm a Wrecker
White Lung/ Deep Fantasy- less than 30 minutes of neck breaking punk, so fulfilling though. CO- Face Down
32. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Pinata
Madlib is awesome and thats why I decided to give this album a listen. If I was able to listen to the whole thing from start to finish, it'd be higher. CO- Deeper, Thuggin'
31. Vance Joy- Dream Your Life Away
That Imagine Dragons kind've album that is super fun to listen to, but ultimately is radio fodder. CO- Riptide, Winds of Change, Mess is Mine
30. Foxygen- ...And Star Power
If it wasn't so overblown, overindulgent, and was edited down to a manageable number of songs, it would've been a great album. Not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, just too much of everything. CO- How Can You Really,
29. Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour
Soulful voice, the whole album was actually pretty entertaining. CO- Money On My Mind, Stay With Me, I'm Not the Only One
28. Parquet Courts- Sunbathing Animal
Disoriented cool punk that I feel got lost in the shuffle, despite how critically acclaimed they are. CO- Black and White, Sunbathing Animal
27. Shakey Graves-And the War Came
It could be because I was disillusioned with the concert (was tired and worn out from an overly long opener) that made me have it on the lower end of the list (or maybe I feel bad for not going crazy at the concert, resulting in me ranking it higher than I would), but still worth a good listening too. CO- Dearly Departed, Hard Wired, Big Time Nashville Star
26. Owl John- Owl John
Frightened Rabbit was a big part of my 2013, I'm not sure why. This is the lead singer's solo effort and it comes off as a spare version of Frightened Rabbit (in the best way possible obviously). My biggest critique of it is that I wanted some of the songs to ramp it up a bit. CO- A Good Reason To Grow Old, Red Hand, Lose Angeles, Be Kind
25. Angel Olsen- Burn Your Fire For No Witness
I've been a big advocate for Angel Olsen from the very first time I heard Half Way Home. I remember texting my friend when the first single dropped and texting my friend to tell him that this album could be the best album of the year. My ranking could be short-changing it a little because it's a fine album, just not the top 10 one I thought it'd be. CO- Unfucktheworld, Iota
24. La Roux- Trouble In Paradise
2014's best album for white women with no butts to dance to while getting ready in the morning. CO- Sexotheque, Kiss and Not Tell
23. Vince Staples- Hell Can Wait
I just started listening to him and this isn't a full album, but, great album. CO- Blue Suede, Limos
22. Gerard Way- Hesitant Alien
Surprisingly good. It sounds nothing like My Chemical Romance. I was actually blown away by how different it is compared to what I thought it'd be. CO- No Shows, Zero Zero, Brother
21. Warpaint- Warpaint
Saw them live and had a boner for a straight hour. An album of hazy, smooth tunes. CO- Disco//Very, Love is to Die
20. Benjamin Booker- Benjamin Booker
Blues Punk? What a world! Seeing him next year and it's going to be nuts. CO- Violent Shiver, Have You Seen My Son, I Thought I Heard You Screaming
19. Future Islands- Singles
The songs all kind've blur together in my head, but the band doesn't sound like any one else right now and if I were to give it another listen, I'm sure it would've jumped up a few spots. CO- Seasons (Waiting On You), A Dream of You and Me,
18. Soko- I Thought I Was An Alien
Super sad album, earnest and tear-jerking. CO- We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow, For Marlon (this broke my heart), I thought I was an Alien, First Love Never Die
17. Ex Hex- Rips
Reminiscent of like 80's girl punk bands. Like Joan Jett with more street cred and teeth. CO- Hot and Cold, Waste of Time, Don't Wanna Lose
16. Bleachers- Strange Desire
Purely fun album. Not too dissimilar to fun., big anthemic tunes. CO- I Wanna Get Better, Shadow, Rollercoaster, I'm Ready to Move On/Wild Heart Reprise
15. Vincent James Mcmorrow- Post Tropical
Incredibly soulful album that I have to listen to in sequence to appreciate. It's a vinyl buy for sure. Go see him live, it won't be boring like you would think. CO- Look Out, Glacier, Cavalier
14. Leonard Cohen- Popular Problems
I feel like it's weird to include Leonard Cohen on a list of best albums of 2014, but it's a legitly impressive album. Be warned the song Slow is cringingly bad. Did I Ever Love You is my second favorite song of the year. CO- Did I Ever Love You, Born in Chains, Almost Like the Blues
13. Courtney Barnett- The Double Ep: A Sea of Split Peas
The first half of the album is amazing, the second is a little more raw. Technically came out last year, but it took forever for it to be released in the U.S. CO- Avant Gardener, History Eraser
12. Hozier- Hozier
Super catchy album, maybe hurt a little because I listened to it so much in my car when I was too lazy to switch CDs. CO- Take Me to Church, Jackie and Wilson, From Eden, Like Real People Do, Cherry Wine, Foreigner's God
12a. Jack White- Lazaretto
I forgot to place Jack White! I remember listening to the album and was like wow this a great album. I don't remember much from it right now though and I think thats why its not in the top 10. CO- Lazaretto, Entitlement, Just One Drink
11. Sylvan Esso- Sylvan esso
Super fun album that mixes folk with electronica. Honestly, I'm almost regretting putting this album as low as it is. I think it should be more like 8 or 9, I'm just having a hard time remembering a lot of the tracks. Looking back, it should probably be in top 10 lol. CO- Hey Mami, H.S.K.T, Coffee
10. Ought- More Than Any Other Day
Ought is my King Krule pick of 2014, an album that seemingly comes out of nowhere and sounds like nothing else that is happening at the moment. They sound like a post-punk version of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The album takes its time to build to something with its herky-jerky instrumentation, their metallic clean sound break out into Tim Beeler's howling restrained vocals. I love this album. The line "tell me what the weathers like so I don't have to go outside" gets stuck in my head so often that I say it even when I'm already outside. I'm not a big synth/electronic guy and it's great to see bands still finding ways to keep the classic setup interesting. CO- Habit, The Weather Song, Clarity!
9. Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 2
What can I say that hasn't been said on pretty much every best of 2014 lists? Best rap album of the year. God listening to this album makes me feel like the biggest bad ass in the entire world. I probably would've ranked it higher if I would've been able to listen to the album in order and not shuffled on Spotify (getting it from the library soonish). CO- Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck), Lie, cheat, steal, Blockbuster Night Pt 1 &2, Oh My Darling Don't Cry
8. Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else
A punk band that reminds me more of The Descendents than, say, the Sex Pistols. A punk band that doesn't sound like a few guys that want to knock shit around, they sound like a punk band that went to college (boom, a milo goes to college reference). It's music that is heavy on hooks but with a viciousness of pent up uptightness. I think this is my Japandroids record of 2014, an album that you put on when you want to thrash around your room and aggressively mouth fuck the words. CO- I'm Not Part of Me, Psychic Trauma, Now Hear In
7. J.E Sunde- Shapes That Kiss the Lips of God
He is possibly the nicest guy I've ever seen perform. I've seen him twice and both times he's had this humble confidence to him. The first time seeing him was when he opened up for Laura Marling, and he killed it. I loved his performance way more than hers. The second time, he had the opening slot for Phox. During this second time, everybody was just terribly rude to him. Everybody was talking and not giving him any attention and I hope everyone felt like shit when Phox came out later and pointed that out. His voice is very different from a lot of what is out there today, and his lyricism is unmatched on the "local scene." His Howl reference was just a cherry. A mix of eccentric, smartly written songs, definitely a great album. CO- Mother Fury, Mother Cry, Easy Kid, A Blinding Flash of Light, I'm Gonna Disappoint You. Check it alllll out.
6. Orwells- Disgraceland
This was an album that I've been waiting for, for this year. Just a slab-of-dumb-in- your-face-belligerent kids throwing their guitars and yelling about anything and everything. Live, these guys (especially the singer) just ooze that "I don't give a fuck" dangerous attitude that makes for an amazing atmosphere. My Fidlar of 2014. Originally, they gained a lot of attention for their David Letterman performance that called for an encore and parody by Paul Shaffer. The songs range from drinking, murderers, sex, and America damnation. Probably not super critically acclaimed in the wine drinking circles, nonetheless, the music is a shot of adrenaline. CO- Who Needs You, Southern Comfort, North Ave., Let it Burn, Always n Forever
5. Spoon- They Want My Soul
This album is funky as shit. I roll my shoulders so much when listening, it's almost like I have rhythm. I'm not a big Spoon guy. They have lots of build up to their songs and just drop off when they get to the chorus, leaving us without that big ejaculation. Then I gave this album a shot and fell in love. These are some of the best hooks I've heard all year and I dare you not to get Do You stuck in your head. Top to bottom this is an album made by guys that have been around for a while and not only know what they're doing, but a band that can tweak their sound just enough to keep old fans and draw in new ones. Now I regret not seeing them in Milwaukee, especially since they covered a Jay Reatard song! To sum this album up: swag for days and rolling for the pullin'. CO- Rent I pay, Inside Out, Do You, New York Kiss
4. Conor Oberst- Upside Down Mountain
It's Conor. Do I have to say more? I will. I was able to see him play live in Milwaukee and he was amazing. He was as close to being what a rock star looks like in concert, if that makes sense. I keep going back and forth about how much I really like the album. Sometimes I'm never in the mood to listen to it, being away from it for a while clouds my enjoyment of it, I think. The memory of the album becomes hazy, then I give it another listen and become enthralled in it again. It feels very major label, not a bad thing. Great hooks, Conor said in an interview that he isn't the best singer in the world, but once he gets down a hook, he can turn out a great song, and he does that for the duration of the album. He more than adds to the Conor Oberst body of work. If you're not sold, listen to You Are Your Mother's Child and see where you're at after. CO- Hundreds of Ways, Double Life, Kick, You Are Your Mother's Child, Governor's Ball, Zigzagging Toward the Light
3a. Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues
I forgot to include this album! I'm so stupid! I didn't want to renumber so I'm making this 3a because it would've been number 4. Against me is a punk band that really works well after "selling out." Their sound is really meant for bigger production. Thomas Gabel is the first major musical figure to come out as transgender and the album is pretty much him coming out as one. Very powerful statement with really strong songs to back it up. I've been listening to Against Me for about six years, outside of New Wave, this is their best album. CO- FUCKMYLIFE666, Black Me Out, Unconditional Love
3. St.Vincent- St.Vincent
It took a while for this album to grow on me. At first, I was put off by the almost impersonal futurism she's presenting. If you see her stage show, it's pretty choreographed and thats how the album feels, an interesting view but I don't know about seeing it again. With that said, I always drive with my iPod on shuffle and whenever a song from this album came on, I had to listen. I wanted to listen. She's the pop artist Lady Gaga wish she was, she's weird and serious and willing to take risks but it doesn't come off hokey or pretentious. She did an album with David Byrne that had a lot of his odd swagger in it, and you can definitely feel the imprint on this album. It's oddly danceable at its highs and sinister at its lows. I feel like St. Vincent is an artist that constantly has to win me over, I listened to all her albums on surface level and couldn't get into them, but on that second and third listen where I really lean into it, she wins me over. She consistently tops herself, from guitarist in Polyphonic Spree, to the slow burn intensity of Marry Me, to the dark disney of Actor, to brushing shoulders with a legend in Love This Giant, to the sexiness of Strange Mercy, St. Vincent is always moving somewhere else and knocking it out of the park. In the indie landscape, she's a leader for sure. CO- Birth In Reverse, Digital Witness, Bring Me Your Loves, Rattlesnake
2. Hold Steady- Teeth Dreams
I understand that the Hold Steady has changed. They hired the producer who've worked on albums by Rush and Evanescence, obviously trying to sound more radio ready and less contingent on knowing the characters of the previous Hold Steady albums. They've always been a band that had prided themselves on this working class aesthetic of misspent youth, not caring about making their sound anything more than they wanted it to. They wanted to eliminate the pretentiousness of the indie scene. There was talk singing, guitar solos, Springsteen keyboards, familiar characters with their own problems and issues to work out, clever and masterful lyrics, and tales of surviving the abstract pointlessness by drinking cheap beers when you're young and finding your place later in life through struggle. This new album, however, has been getting a lot of flack for being a bit more stream-lined and "hard-rockin'." To be honest, though, I don't mind it. I'm a huge Hold Steady fan and they've influenced me a lot in my music sensibilities and how I write, they could've put out anything and have me love it. It's a collection of very tight songs, with my only complaint being how they obscured Craig Finn's voice, whereas their earlier albums had it first and foremost. It's not going to change lives like their first four albums did, but if you take off your snobby hat for a second, its an album thats definitely worth a listen. Spinners is my number one song of 2014. CO- Spinners, I Hope This Whole Thing Didn't Frighten You, Oaks, The Only Thing
1. Myriam Gendron- Not So Deep as a Well
Absolutely beautiful album. Very simple album. My summer was a mix of momentary excitement, peaceful contemplation, and overbearing sadness, and this was the soundtrack for all of it. This was one of Acme Records in Milwaukee's albums of the day so on a whim I decided to pick it up. I've never been more happy with any decision ever. I love this album and is one of those albums that I'll always keep with me. CO- Threnody, Solace, Recurrence, The False Friends
Friday, July 25, 2014
For the Record part 3: Here kid, you want a tip...
This is part 3 of my vinyl series. Lets be honest though, I'll probably talk about vinyl again at some point. Here are my tips and thoughts on buying vinyl:
Don't buy old albums new, first presses are ideal
I hate seeing this. I hate seeing someone buy an Elton John album new for like 20 dollars when you can get a used one for less than 5. Or buying Beatles albums new (and lots of people do as evidenced by Abby Road always sneaking on the top 10 most bought vinyl lists every year). Maybe its just me but I'd rather have an earlier pressing, with first pressing being ideal. Just the idea that the record has been around so long and is still playable is amazing to me. I like the cracks, imperfections, and that old unremastered sound. Having an original copy of an old record is like finding a dinosaur bone, you dust it off and admire it.
Plus it just seems lazy to up and buy a new copy. The elbow work is the most rewarding part, to be honest. I really want a Ramones album. I could easily buy a copy at any record store new but that feels cheap. Side note, one of the coolest finds I've come across is a Rocket to Russia test pressing complete with original factory papers.
However, there are exceptions. Say an original or early copies are almost impossible to find. This happens a lot with alternative bands from the 80's and up (especially the 90's when vinyl was being phased out). For example, The Unicorns are rereleasing their album Who Will Cut... on vinyl and original copies of that album are pretty rare. I'm definitely picking that shit up as fast as I can. Or something slightly more minor like a copy of Joy Divisions Unknown Pleasures (which I have an original copy of, whateves), its a hard album to get and won't show up at most places so I can see buying this one new (for the record, pretty cheap new. Around 14.99 and worth it). Pretty much what I'm saying are records that had small original pressings, cult favorites, and unappreciated albums are on the table.
Buy eccentric types of music
Something that vinyl does is that it makes music you usually wouldn't be into sound alright because of the overall feeling of the vinyl experience and how its outside how people usually listen to music at the moment. I recently bought an album by Washington Phillips and its legitly one of my favorite things to listen to, despite it being a gospel album sung by one man and his homemade instrument. I don't listen to orchestras but I will on vinyl because it just feels fancy. I hate listening to music with a non-english speaking singers but I'm totally buying a copy of Francoise Hardy's debut album next time I go to Acme. Pick up some Bossa Nova shit or something. Some Celtic Folk. I guarantee that you'll love it when you put it on. You won't like it anywhere else but this stuff will be your shit on vinyl.
Rap is great on vinyl
I guess the title of this section really says it all. Maybe its because it conjures up images of a DJ spinning wax at a club or maybe its because rap is more lyrics based which comes through on vinyl a lot more.
The cover
Album covers are important because they are going to be alllll up in your grill due to the large size of a record. What I do is imagine my future kids rummaging through my old collection and seeing a cover that catches their eye, like how Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate catches my eye. It can't look overly cheesy or two much and it always has to fill the entirety of the cover. Green Day's Dookie has a great cover! I bought it mostly because the cover is awesome. In contrast, I am very close to having all the Arcade Fire albums but I whenever I run into their album Neon Bible, I can't buy it because the cover doesn't translate that well to vinyl. The black looks like an off black, probably due to the lighted lines that border the album, but that small detail makes me unable to buy it.
Also on a related note, I prefer gatefolds. They make a record feel more put together than just a regular sleeve.
Pre-order
Vinyl preorders are fun. A lot of artists have special limited edition presses that are colored or something cool like that and become quite the collectors item. So if your favorite band is releasing an album in the future, I recommend checking to see if they have a cool deal going on. The Hold Steady announced their new album and they had a limited edition gold vinyl and they quickly sold out (I got my copy). Usually they are a bit more expensive, especially if you include shipping, but if your a fan I think its worth it. Gaslight Anthem is a band, for example, that have great deals like that. They are both releasing a picture disc with 3 extra tracks and a white and red splatter disc...pretty cool stuff.
Don't buy something that is too produced or glossy.
I usually don't like to buy vinyls from big artists on major labels because the sound is pretty produced and glammed up, which takes away that fun vinyl-y sound. Its like hey I might as well be listening to a CD. One of my favorite albums is Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit, so when they announced a RSD release of it, obviously, I picked it up. It just doesn't add anything new by listening to it on vinyl. In my experience, you'll get this effect with more of the fad bands, say like, Smallpools or The Neighbourhood or Daughter.
Don't buy off Amazon, go to a store and save a few bucks
A lot of time, Amazon will overcharge on vinyl (shipping included) so recommend finding a nice record store. A chain most likely will have lower prices, whereas smaller stores have to overcharge to stay afloat. I bought Sylvan Esso at Acme and spent 20 dollars on it but at The Exclusive its sold for 14.99. On the flip side, however, I find that smaller stores have lower prices on used items because the store owner has to use common sense and he is most likely a seasoned collector. A recently bought one of my favorite albums of all time Passover by Black Angels on vinyl for 13 dollars, a miracle given its hard to find for lower than 20 since its a double and gatefold (am I obnoxious yet?)
Have a list of dream vinyl and never let go of them
If you want to have this be a long-term hobby, make a dream vinyl list. It'll keep you searching and interested in the format. Your heart will skip and your arms will spasm in embarrassing ways when you find one of your dream albums. It'll keep you going. Always on the look out. Just some of my dream ones are:
The Coroners Gambit by Mountain Goats, Both albums by The Drums, Go Tell Fire to the Mountain by Wu LYF, New Wave by Against Me!, The first three Hold Steady albums (I'd go bananas if I got my hands on them), Why There Are Mountains by Cymbals Eat Guitars, Zen Arcade by Husker Du (cheap!), Dub Housing by Pere Ubu, an original Rain Dogs by Tom Waits, Struggleville by Listener, Her Jazz by Huggy Bear, Blinking Lights by Eels, an original Rodriguez record, and Small Talk at 125th and Lenox by Gil Scott Heron.
20 dollar and over
If something is over 20 bucks, be sure the benefits outweigh the cost. Usually the more expensive ones are albums that are either in limited quantity (the Mowglis) or a big name artist (Conor Obert's newest is like 28 dollars). The limited quantity ones are obviously on a track to become collectors items, but you also run the risk of it becoming a bargain bin album 10 years down the line since it could be limited run because they're not a big name and will remain that way. The big price for big name artists, I find, maintain their value pretty well over time. You'll see this in older albums a lot. After the Beatles had a slew of great albums, they released Sergeant Pepper and I'm not sure but I'd say that one was probably a "upper 20 dollar album" (quotations because record prices weren't that high back then) because there's a good chance of running into early Beatles albums used but a Pepper is a pretty rare thing to find and when it is, its more on the pricey side. It maintained its value because it was probably a big hit pricey album so not everyone grabbed a copy so eagerly. Thats my theory, I could be wrong because it was a super important album from the worlds biggest band so obviously it was bought. Pretty much what I'm saying is that there's a reason some albums are priced so high. By the way, I got mine from a garage sale but it was in rough condition and the owner just wanted everything gone.
For me, I prefer minimalist vocal works
I feel that more vocal works translate better to vinyl, bangers tend to get pretty messy and don't match the ambience of what I'm usually going for. Plus a lot of the faster paced albums I have usually skip so maybe that taints my attitude a bit. Here's an example because I'm using a lot of examples anyway: I have an original copy of Passion Pit's first album,which sounds a little less glossy and not as maximalist as their second, and it's a pleasure to listen to. Their second album though is more hook laden and loud and doesn't translate that well to vinyl. Plus they were annoying and made it a double lp and its such a bitch to have to change the record after 3 songs.
Albums with longer songs
Albums with long songs are nice because where the hell are you going to go, you have to listen to them haha. And appreciate them. They're more tolerable. Out in the world, short catchy songs are ideal because the world is always hustling and bustling so your music has to keep up. On vinyl, you're stuck in a room. I bought Arcade Fire's newest and most of the songs are long and that album is amazing on vinyl. Honestly, that album is a great vinyl album. I remember buying that album, getting back to my apartment, and just dancing crazy to it. You don't mind the length of the songs because you get caught up in it.
Final note because I don't think I have another tip, my standup debut it coming up on Wednesday. I literally don't know if my jokes are funny because I've been repeating them to myself for the past month now. I'm funny conversationally, but I have my reservations about being the center of attention without having somebody to bounce off of so hopefully this works out. I don't feel like I'm nervous. It could be that I'm not thinking about the actual day or it could be that I'm just not nervous. I mean, I've done presentations in school and those usually just turn out to be me doing stand up anyway. I like feeling nervous though, to be honest. It makes you feel alive, like its great to feel something so much that your voice trembles as well as your body. I probably won't win, obviously. I'm having enough trouble just getting 5 people to come lol. It'd be nice to win that prestigious 20 dollars though, you know, just so I can pay for my drinks there aka they have pricey drinks. Eh, plus if I win I'll have two more sets I'll have to come up with by the end of the year. I'm just hoping I don't bomb.
Don't buy old albums new, first presses are ideal
I hate seeing this. I hate seeing someone buy an Elton John album new for like 20 dollars when you can get a used one for less than 5. Or buying Beatles albums new (and lots of people do as evidenced by Abby Road always sneaking on the top 10 most bought vinyl lists every year). Maybe its just me but I'd rather have an earlier pressing, with first pressing being ideal. Just the idea that the record has been around so long and is still playable is amazing to me. I like the cracks, imperfections, and that old unremastered sound. Having an original copy of an old record is like finding a dinosaur bone, you dust it off and admire it.
Plus it just seems lazy to up and buy a new copy. The elbow work is the most rewarding part, to be honest. I really want a Ramones album. I could easily buy a copy at any record store new but that feels cheap. Side note, one of the coolest finds I've come across is a Rocket to Russia test pressing complete with original factory papers.
However, there are exceptions. Say an original or early copies are almost impossible to find. This happens a lot with alternative bands from the 80's and up (especially the 90's when vinyl was being phased out). For example, The Unicorns are rereleasing their album Who Will Cut... on vinyl and original copies of that album are pretty rare. I'm definitely picking that shit up as fast as I can. Or something slightly more minor like a copy of Joy Divisions Unknown Pleasures (which I have an original copy of, whateves), its a hard album to get and won't show up at most places so I can see buying this one new (for the record, pretty cheap new. Around 14.99 and worth it). Pretty much what I'm saying are records that had small original pressings, cult favorites, and unappreciated albums are on the table.
Buy eccentric types of music
Something that vinyl does is that it makes music you usually wouldn't be into sound alright because of the overall feeling of the vinyl experience and how its outside how people usually listen to music at the moment. I recently bought an album by Washington Phillips and its legitly one of my favorite things to listen to, despite it being a gospel album sung by one man and his homemade instrument. I don't listen to orchestras but I will on vinyl because it just feels fancy. I hate listening to music with a non-english speaking singers but I'm totally buying a copy of Francoise Hardy's debut album next time I go to Acme. Pick up some Bossa Nova shit or something. Some Celtic Folk. I guarantee that you'll love it when you put it on. You won't like it anywhere else but this stuff will be your shit on vinyl.
Rap is great on vinyl
I guess the title of this section really says it all. Maybe its because it conjures up images of a DJ spinning wax at a club or maybe its because rap is more lyrics based which comes through on vinyl a lot more.
The cover
Album covers are important because they are going to be alllll up in your grill due to the large size of a record. What I do is imagine my future kids rummaging through my old collection and seeing a cover that catches their eye, like how Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate catches my eye. It can't look overly cheesy or two much and it always has to fill the entirety of the cover. Green Day's Dookie has a great cover! I bought it mostly because the cover is awesome. In contrast, I am very close to having all the Arcade Fire albums but I whenever I run into their album Neon Bible, I can't buy it because the cover doesn't translate that well to vinyl. The black looks like an off black, probably due to the lighted lines that border the album, but that small detail makes me unable to buy it.
Also on a related note, I prefer gatefolds. They make a record feel more put together than just a regular sleeve.
Pre-order
Vinyl preorders are fun. A lot of artists have special limited edition presses that are colored or something cool like that and become quite the collectors item. So if your favorite band is releasing an album in the future, I recommend checking to see if they have a cool deal going on. The Hold Steady announced their new album and they had a limited edition gold vinyl and they quickly sold out (I got my copy). Usually they are a bit more expensive, especially if you include shipping, but if your a fan I think its worth it. Gaslight Anthem is a band, for example, that have great deals like that. They are both releasing a picture disc with 3 extra tracks and a white and red splatter disc...pretty cool stuff.
Don't buy something that is too produced or glossy.
I usually don't like to buy vinyls from big artists on major labels because the sound is pretty produced and glammed up, which takes away that fun vinyl-y sound. Its like hey I might as well be listening to a CD. One of my favorite albums is Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit, so when they announced a RSD release of it, obviously, I picked it up. It just doesn't add anything new by listening to it on vinyl. In my experience, you'll get this effect with more of the fad bands, say like, Smallpools or The Neighbourhood or Daughter.
Don't buy off Amazon, go to a store and save a few bucks
A lot of time, Amazon will overcharge on vinyl (shipping included) so recommend finding a nice record store. A chain most likely will have lower prices, whereas smaller stores have to overcharge to stay afloat. I bought Sylvan Esso at Acme and spent 20 dollars on it but at The Exclusive its sold for 14.99. On the flip side, however, I find that smaller stores have lower prices on used items because the store owner has to use common sense and he is most likely a seasoned collector. A recently bought one of my favorite albums of all time Passover by Black Angels on vinyl for 13 dollars, a miracle given its hard to find for lower than 20 since its a double and gatefold (am I obnoxious yet?)
Have a list of dream vinyl and never let go of them
If you want to have this be a long-term hobby, make a dream vinyl list. It'll keep you searching and interested in the format. Your heart will skip and your arms will spasm in embarrassing ways when you find one of your dream albums. It'll keep you going. Always on the look out. Just some of my dream ones are:
The Coroners Gambit by Mountain Goats, Both albums by The Drums, Go Tell Fire to the Mountain by Wu LYF, New Wave by Against Me!, The first three Hold Steady albums (I'd go bananas if I got my hands on them), Why There Are Mountains by Cymbals Eat Guitars, Zen Arcade by Husker Du (cheap!), Dub Housing by Pere Ubu, an original Rain Dogs by Tom Waits, Struggleville by Listener, Her Jazz by Huggy Bear, Blinking Lights by Eels, an original Rodriguez record, and Small Talk at 125th and Lenox by Gil Scott Heron.
20 dollar and over
If something is over 20 bucks, be sure the benefits outweigh the cost. Usually the more expensive ones are albums that are either in limited quantity (the Mowglis) or a big name artist (Conor Obert's newest is like 28 dollars). The limited quantity ones are obviously on a track to become collectors items, but you also run the risk of it becoming a bargain bin album 10 years down the line since it could be limited run because they're not a big name and will remain that way. The big price for big name artists, I find, maintain their value pretty well over time. You'll see this in older albums a lot. After the Beatles had a slew of great albums, they released Sergeant Pepper and I'm not sure but I'd say that one was probably a "upper 20 dollar album" (quotations because record prices weren't that high back then) because there's a good chance of running into early Beatles albums used but a Pepper is a pretty rare thing to find and when it is, its more on the pricey side. It maintained its value because it was probably a big hit pricey album so not everyone grabbed a copy so eagerly. Thats my theory, I could be wrong because it was a super important album from the worlds biggest band so obviously it was bought. Pretty much what I'm saying is that there's a reason some albums are priced so high. By the way, I got mine from a garage sale but it was in rough condition and the owner just wanted everything gone.
For me, I prefer minimalist vocal works
I feel that more vocal works translate better to vinyl, bangers tend to get pretty messy and don't match the ambience of what I'm usually going for. Plus a lot of the faster paced albums I have usually skip so maybe that taints my attitude a bit. Here's an example because I'm using a lot of examples anyway: I have an original copy of Passion Pit's first album,which sounds a little less glossy and not as maximalist as their second, and it's a pleasure to listen to. Their second album though is more hook laden and loud and doesn't translate that well to vinyl. Plus they were annoying and made it a double lp and its such a bitch to have to change the record after 3 songs.
Albums with longer songs
Albums with long songs are nice because where the hell are you going to go, you have to listen to them haha. And appreciate them. They're more tolerable. Out in the world, short catchy songs are ideal because the world is always hustling and bustling so your music has to keep up. On vinyl, you're stuck in a room. I bought Arcade Fire's newest and most of the songs are long and that album is amazing on vinyl. Honestly, that album is a great vinyl album. I remember buying that album, getting back to my apartment, and just dancing crazy to it. You don't mind the length of the songs because you get caught up in it.
Final note because I don't think I have another tip, my standup debut it coming up on Wednesday. I literally don't know if my jokes are funny because I've been repeating them to myself for the past month now. I'm funny conversationally, but I have my reservations about being the center of attention without having somebody to bounce off of so hopefully this works out. I don't feel like I'm nervous. It could be that I'm not thinking about the actual day or it could be that I'm just not nervous. I mean, I've done presentations in school and those usually just turn out to be me doing stand up anyway. I like feeling nervous though, to be honest. It makes you feel alive, like its great to feel something so much that your voice trembles as well as your body. I probably won't win, obviously. I'm having enough trouble just getting 5 people to come lol. It'd be nice to win that prestigious 20 dollars though, you know, just so I can pay for my drinks there aka they have pricey drinks. Eh, plus if I win I'll have two more sets I'll have to come up with by the end of the year. I'm just hoping I don't bomb.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
My Top Albums so Far 2014
This hasn't been that big of an exciting new album release year, or maybe I just can't remember. There hasn't been many albums that I listened to and did my "wow this is super good" whisper while driving (last time being listening to Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend). I was optimistically excited about the new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah album but it didn't do anything for me, too atmospheric for me. However, there have been a few albums that I picked up and loved (in no order):
Courtney Barnett- Double ep: A Sea of Split Peas
This was technically released in 2013 but it didn't come out in the US until April 15th and as I always say, nothing matters outside of the US. I'm a big lyrics buy and her stream of thought splurges are witty and interesting to follow. I constantly have the line "The paramedic thinks I'm clever cos I play guitar/ I think she's clever cos she stops people dying" in my head from Avant Gardner. She flings off words casually and really folks it up towards the end. An album made up of two different eps, but it collectively makes up a nice listening experience.
Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues
The singer is currently going through the process of becoming a woman and this album was her way of putting together a powerful state of address on her transformation. Their punk core is maintained throughout the album but still uses their mainstream minded skills obtained from their last album to keep the songs catchy. I definitely recommend FUCKMYLIFE666 or Black Me Out.
Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else
My friend and I were at the Exclusive Company in Milwaukee and they were playing this album and my friend turns to me and says "what's this shit they're playing" and in my head I thought to myself "this shit is Cloud Nothings". I was pretty excited for this album coming out since I enjoyed their last album a comfortable degree and wanted to see how they'd up the ante. They definitely did! More aggressive, more yelling, more hooks.
Conor Oberst- Upside Down Mountain
From reading through old reviews of his old albums Bright Eyes to now, I've noticed that the only album that was universally praised Wide Awake, although I've loved everything he's put out give or take an album or two, but he's amassed this devoted following of fans because of his vulnerable voice that is constantly on the edge of tearing up or finding a new revelation and lyrics that sum up how it feels to be on that edge. When this album was announced, I was super excited, so much so that I broke my own rule of waiting until release day to listen to it. I wasn't disappointed, even though it wasn't that "smash" album I wanted him to have. He said in an interview that he doesn't believe that he's the best singer in the world but if he has a melody in his head he can make something great, and I think this album is definitely a testament to his strengths. My two personal favorite songs: Kick and You Are Your Mother's Child.
The Hold Steady- Teeth Dreams
In my head, there is no fucking band in the entire world (besides Neutral Milk Hotel, of course) that is better than the Hold Steady. They've been called all the best live band in the world and the best bar band on the scene. They write songs about the little moments: those drunken nights that everyone wants to forget, those small town connections from Hallelujah to Charlemagne to everyone's hoodrat friend, those massive nights in the party pits bumping into people that don't even know you; The Hold Steady talks for the everyman and weave a tale of such specificity that somehow still connects to everyone. They saw the pomp and pretension that was taking over the indie scene and said "hey, I just want to play some music you can old school rock to" and they did. The indie scene almost lives off being ironic towards "rock'n'roll" but they're has to be a part of even the douchiest hipster that just wants a guitar solo that'll burn the skin right off their fucking face or music they can jump around to and strain their neck banging along to because if there isn't then they might have to reanalyze their musical priorities. To say the least, Teeth Dreams was announced and I ordered it straight away (on gold vinyl). They've toned down their punkier influences and turned up their Foo Fighter rock sensibility but nothing is lost in the transition. Craig Finn is literally one of the greatest lyricists in music and continues that with this album. I'll admit the vocals sound a bit more muddied than they should but I still love it. I'd say this isn't their best album...but the Hold Steady not at their best is better than the majority of bands.
Sylvan Esso- Self-titled
This album came out of nowhere. I listened to it on a whim and was blown away. A mixture of folk and electronic #whatwhat. Hey Mami I'm pretty sure is my song of the year so far. So catchy, beautiful vocals that are cast out with such ease, and dancey. Even if everything I've written so far is largely ignored because no one really wants to listen to music suggested to them, either because it's a pain to assert themselves that much or they feel they already know the kind've music they like, I highly suggest checking out this band. Catchy enough for a casual listener and difficult enough for a seasoned ear. Hell, check out everything I mention in this post, don't be a snob, am I right? Dip some toes.
I actively searched every album that was released this year and these are the ones that I felt were noteworthy but haven't listened to them yet (due to my need to physically have them in my hand) or I albums that I felt should've been better or something.
Angel Olsen- Burn Your Fire for No Witness
I bought this right when it came out. Her album Half Way Home was such a nice piece of depressing emotive music and after I listened to her single I sent my friend a text saying this album is going to be huge. I listened to it and I'm still iffy on it. It's getting a lot of critical acclaim right now, but everytime I listen to it I just don't feel blown away. I've listened to it a few times but still can't really remember any song from it. I still recommend it, for sure, in hopes that someone will get more attached to it. Not a bad album and I'll probably relisten to it tonight actually.
Parquet Court- Sunbathing Animal
This band is just straight up fun. They're lead single "Sunbathing Animal" was described as a fan jumping on stage and yelling nonsense into the microphone and until the moment I listened to it, I had no idea thats exactly what I wanted. I haven't listened to the album yet, but it's getting some kind words from critics and I've sampled a few songs and they make me very happy since punk has been said to be on it's dying legs for years but bands like this are keeping it, not only, off life support but spitting in everyone's face and fucking their girlfriends/boyfriends.
Fucked Up- Glass Boys
I could say everything I said for Parquet Court for Fucked Up, with the exception that Fucked Up is way more aggressive. Their previous album David Comes to Life was a masterpiece in punk and was given album of the year nods all around. Glass Boys isn't as good from what I've heard so far, but I recommend it for people that like metal-ish vocals. Nice brutal band for whiskey drinking punks.
Seawolf- Song Spells, No.1: Cedarsmoke
This was a kickstarter album and I've only been able to find it on youtube. I haven't listened to it yet but the one song I listened to was good and a throwback to early Seawolf. If you're a Seawolf fan, check it babydoll.
Gaslight Anthem- B-sides
Not an album album but I liked it better than their last official album. Amazing acoustic takes and fun non-album songs. She Loves You is a song I want to sing with a group of friends around a bonfire. The only song I don't enjoy is their take on State of Love and Trust mainly because I heard Pearl Jam's version and it sounds too similar. Really good album of songs.
Phox- Phox
I've written about them before. Since it's been released, I've sampled some songs but they seem kinda slow so they might be in the mood songs. I'll listen to it eventually, especially since I have tickets to their show at Turner hall in August. Monica's vocals are amazing, nonetheless.
Jack White- Lazaretto
A must have for a vinyl collector because of the craziness he put into it. I haven't listened it but I'm assuming it'll be great because he's Jack White and everything he does has a tinge of awesome.
First Aid Kit- Stay Gold
I listened to this album today for the first time and I was pretty impressed. Their harmonizing kinda gets on my nerves because it sounds a bit country but so far I like it a lot. If you want nice driving by a big field music, this is definitely it. These girls got it going on. Off topic, listen to King of the World from their last album because it has a guest verse sung by Conor Oberst.
Orwells- Disgraceland
Fun Fun band! I can't say they're changing the world but they are a cool as fuck band. I saw them on David Letterman and the frontman is exactly the kind of frontman I want to see perform. He's crazy and charismatic. Fun punk album, I haven't listened to it all the way through yet but it's album that you can listen to even if you aren't into punk because it's still un-abrasive enough to be listenable.
Kishi Bashi- Lighght
His first album is gold. Haven't listened to the new one yet but it's sounds like real classy stuff.
Black Keys- Turn Blue
Is this album big right now? I feel like I haven't heard anything from it. I don't listen to the radio so maybe thats why, but I just haven't heard any hype behind the album.
Eels- The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
I feel bad that I don't like this album more, but I wish it was more upbeat at times. He's gone through so much tragedy in his life (his dad came up with the multiple universe theory and killed himself, his sister killed herself, and his mom died on cancer) so it's understandable an album titled to sound like a story of the man's life, who is lovingly renamed E, is filled with slower songs. Maybe it's a grower. I recommend the entire Eel's catalogue, my personal favorites being Electro-Shock Blues and Hombre Lobo, and Blinking Lights.
Fanfarlo- Let's Go Extinct
Haven't listened yet, but they haven't released a bad album yet and can't see this being any different. Just bringing some attention to the band haha.
Strand of Oaks- HEAL
He opened for Tallest Man on Earth and my friend and I weren't that impressed. I'm sampled a few songs from his new album and there is a noticeable change in his music that gives each song a new sense of urgency and stronger vocals. It's getting great reviews. It sounds so good, thus far, that I'm considering going to his 10 dollar show at the Pabst.
clipping.- CLPPNG
Rap album, it sounds real dope. Holy fast rapping on the song Get Up. I was impressed with the album
Future Islands- Singles
They are everything about 80's synth rock that you hate to admit you love. Check out their performance on David Letterman and try not to be interested in seeing them at Turner Hall in August. I listened to the album and thought it was really good and dance-able. Their passionate performance style adds a lot to the mystique of the band. Love them, please love them.
James Vincent Mcmorrow- Post Tropical
A nice classy heartfelt album. I saw him live and oh boy was everything jazzed up. It was a surprisingly powerful performance and recommend seeing him live. I'm good with his recorded stuff but he blew me away live. Think Justin Vernon of Bon Iver with even more soul.
Phantogram- Voices
I don't have much to say about their new album, I've only given it one listen, but I'd give a solid B. It grooves just as much as their first album but I think it lacks the stand out tracks like When I'm Small and Mouthful of Diamonds #thehits
Protomartyr- Under Color of Official Right
Haven't really listened but just wanted to point them out for anyone who likes punk (or post-punk to be more specific). I listened to a song or two and was interested.
Ought- More Than Any Other Day
As of right now, they are at the top of my to buy vinyl list. Short album but it packs a punch.
Owen Pallet- In Conflict
If you like the pomp and pretension I mentioned earlier, check out Owen Pallett and his previous incarnation Final Fantasy (not meant as an insult). He's classically trained and knows what he's doing.
St. Vincent- Self titled
I like this album but it just doesn't ever feel like an album I want to listen to at anytime. It sneaks up on me sometimes and then I listen. I feel like it's the most confident she's sounded on record and thats backed up by her live performance where she needs a lot of confidence to be that choreographed. I'd say all around, its probably St. Vincent's best album if Actor didn't exist.
A Sunny Day in Glasgow- Sea When Absent
I already wrote about them: a nice chill album.
The Notwist- Close to the Glass
Sub Pop was toting an exciting signing made by them so naturally I was interested. Notwist was the reveal and I was pretty disappointed. I finally got around to listening to this album and it was good. I definitely recommend giving it a listen. Nice mix of electronic and relaxed vocals. Its a good album to just listen to when you're doing something else and make yourself feel cinematic.
The Coathangers- Suck My Shirt
I love my riot grrrl! There's maturation on this album (in relation from their debut where they couldn't play their instruments and had songs like Nestle in My Boobies and Shut the Fuck Up) but they sound as hard driven as they have on their last albums.
Sharon Van Etten- Are We There
I wish I could get into this album more, but I've never been a fan of slow moving songs. With that said, this album has been getting great reviews and I suggest giving it a try.
Beck- Morning Phase
Maybe there's something slightly wrong with me in my head...but I just wasn't feeling this album. Beck is one of those musical figures that when he puts a new album there's always going to be ready-made hype and instilled greatness no matter what he puts out. I thought the album was kind've boring, but to be fair, I wasn't too big a fan of the second half of Sea Change either. I remember being in my apartment and seeing Beck was finally releasing another album and the single is out, and I listened to that single, Blue Moon, and was super excited over it. I eventually got the album in my hands and in my car stereo and I was a bit underwhelmed because every song was that same downbeat motion, where its depressing but in a uplifting way, and it eventually just got straight up depressing.
Courtney Barnett- Double ep: A Sea of Split Peas
This was technically released in 2013 but it didn't come out in the US until April 15th and as I always say, nothing matters outside of the US. I'm a big lyrics buy and her stream of thought splurges are witty and interesting to follow. I constantly have the line "The paramedic thinks I'm clever cos I play guitar/ I think she's clever cos she stops people dying" in my head from Avant Gardner. She flings off words casually and really folks it up towards the end. An album made up of two different eps, but it collectively makes up a nice listening experience.
Against Me!- Transgender Dysphoria Blues
The singer is currently going through the process of becoming a woman and this album was her way of putting together a powerful state of address on her transformation. Their punk core is maintained throughout the album but still uses their mainstream minded skills obtained from their last album to keep the songs catchy. I definitely recommend FUCKMYLIFE666 or Black Me Out.
Cloud Nothings- Here and Nowhere Else
My friend and I were at the Exclusive Company in Milwaukee and they were playing this album and my friend turns to me and says "what's this shit they're playing" and in my head I thought to myself "this shit is Cloud Nothings". I was pretty excited for this album coming out since I enjoyed their last album a comfortable degree and wanted to see how they'd up the ante. They definitely did! More aggressive, more yelling, more hooks.
Conor Oberst- Upside Down Mountain
From reading through old reviews of his old albums Bright Eyes to now, I've noticed that the only album that was universally praised Wide Awake, although I've loved everything he's put out give or take an album or two, but he's amassed this devoted following of fans because of his vulnerable voice that is constantly on the edge of tearing up or finding a new revelation and lyrics that sum up how it feels to be on that edge. When this album was announced, I was super excited, so much so that I broke my own rule of waiting until release day to listen to it. I wasn't disappointed, even though it wasn't that "smash" album I wanted him to have. He said in an interview that he doesn't believe that he's the best singer in the world but if he has a melody in his head he can make something great, and I think this album is definitely a testament to his strengths. My two personal favorite songs: Kick and You Are Your Mother's Child.
The Hold Steady- Teeth Dreams
In my head, there is no fucking band in the entire world (besides Neutral Milk Hotel, of course) that is better than the Hold Steady. They've been called all the best live band in the world and the best bar band on the scene. They write songs about the little moments: those drunken nights that everyone wants to forget, those small town connections from Hallelujah to Charlemagne to everyone's hoodrat friend, those massive nights in the party pits bumping into people that don't even know you; The Hold Steady talks for the everyman and weave a tale of such specificity that somehow still connects to everyone. They saw the pomp and pretension that was taking over the indie scene and said "hey, I just want to play some music you can old school rock to" and they did. The indie scene almost lives off being ironic towards "rock'n'roll" but they're has to be a part of even the douchiest hipster that just wants a guitar solo that'll burn the skin right off their fucking face or music they can jump around to and strain their neck banging along to because if there isn't then they might have to reanalyze their musical priorities. To say the least, Teeth Dreams was announced and I ordered it straight away (on gold vinyl). They've toned down their punkier influences and turned up their Foo Fighter rock sensibility but nothing is lost in the transition. Craig Finn is literally one of the greatest lyricists in music and continues that with this album. I'll admit the vocals sound a bit more muddied than they should but I still love it. I'd say this isn't their best album...but the Hold Steady not at their best is better than the majority of bands.
Sylvan Esso- Self-titled
This album came out of nowhere. I listened to it on a whim and was blown away. A mixture of folk and electronic #whatwhat. Hey Mami I'm pretty sure is my song of the year so far. So catchy, beautiful vocals that are cast out with such ease, and dancey. Even if everything I've written so far is largely ignored because no one really wants to listen to music suggested to them, either because it's a pain to assert themselves that much or they feel they already know the kind've music they like, I highly suggest checking out this band. Catchy enough for a casual listener and difficult enough for a seasoned ear. Hell, check out everything I mention in this post, don't be a snob, am I right? Dip some toes.
I actively searched every album that was released this year and these are the ones that I felt were noteworthy but haven't listened to them yet (due to my need to physically have them in my hand) or I albums that I felt should've been better or something.
Angel Olsen- Burn Your Fire for No Witness
I bought this right when it came out. Her album Half Way Home was such a nice piece of depressing emotive music and after I listened to her single I sent my friend a text saying this album is going to be huge. I listened to it and I'm still iffy on it. It's getting a lot of critical acclaim right now, but everytime I listen to it I just don't feel blown away. I've listened to it a few times but still can't really remember any song from it. I still recommend it, for sure, in hopes that someone will get more attached to it. Not a bad album and I'll probably relisten to it tonight actually.
Parquet Court- Sunbathing Animal
This band is just straight up fun. They're lead single "Sunbathing Animal" was described as a fan jumping on stage and yelling nonsense into the microphone and until the moment I listened to it, I had no idea thats exactly what I wanted. I haven't listened to the album yet, but it's getting some kind words from critics and I've sampled a few songs and they make me very happy since punk has been said to be on it's dying legs for years but bands like this are keeping it, not only, off life support but spitting in everyone's face and fucking their girlfriends/boyfriends.
Fucked Up- Glass Boys
I could say everything I said for Parquet Court for Fucked Up, with the exception that Fucked Up is way more aggressive. Their previous album David Comes to Life was a masterpiece in punk and was given album of the year nods all around. Glass Boys isn't as good from what I've heard so far, but I recommend it for people that like metal-ish vocals. Nice brutal band for whiskey drinking punks.
Seawolf- Song Spells, No.1: Cedarsmoke
This was a kickstarter album and I've only been able to find it on youtube. I haven't listened to it yet but the one song I listened to was good and a throwback to early Seawolf. If you're a Seawolf fan, check it babydoll.
Gaslight Anthem- B-sides
Not an album album but I liked it better than their last official album. Amazing acoustic takes and fun non-album songs. She Loves You is a song I want to sing with a group of friends around a bonfire. The only song I don't enjoy is their take on State of Love and Trust mainly because I heard Pearl Jam's version and it sounds too similar. Really good album of songs.
Phox- Phox
I've written about them before. Since it's been released, I've sampled some songs but they seem kinda slow so they might be in the mood songs. I'll listen to it eventually, especially since I have tickets to their show at Turner hall in August. Monica's vocals are amazing, nonetheless.
Jack White- Lazaretto
A must have for a vinyl collector because of the craziness he put into it. I haven't listened it but I'm assuming it'll be great because he's Jack White and everything he does has a tinge of awesome.
First Aid Kit- Stay Gold
I listened to this album today for the first time and I was pretty impressed. Their harmonizing kinda gets on my nerves because it sounds a bit country but so far I like it a lot. If you want nice driving by a big field music, this is definitely it. These girls got it going on. Off topic, listen to King of the World from their last album because it has a guest verse sung by Conor Oberst.
Orwells- Disgraceland
Fun Fun band! I can't say they're changing the world but they are a cool as fuck band. I saw them on David Letterman and the frontman is exactly the kind of frontman I want to see perform. He's crazy and charismatic. Fun punk album, I haven't listened to it all the way through yet but it's album that you can listen to even if you aren't into punk because it's still un-abrasive enough to be listenable.
Kishi Bashi- Lighght
His first album is gold. Haven't listened to the new one yet but it's sounds like real classy stuff.
Black Keys- Turn Blue
Is this album big right now? I feel like I haven't heard anything from it. I don't listen to the radio so maybe thats why, but I just haven't heard any hype behind the album.
Eels- The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
I feel bad that I don't like this album more, but I wish it was more upbeat at times. He's gone through so much tragedy in his life (his dad came up with the multiple universe theory and killed himself, his sister killed herself, and his mom died on cancer) so it's understandable an album titled to sound like a story of the man's life, who is lovingly renamed E, is filled with slower songs. Maybe it's a grower. I recommend the entire Eel's catalogue, my personal favorites being Electro-Shock Blues and Hombre Lobo, and Blinking Lights.
Fanfarlo- Let's Go Extinct
Haven't listened yet, but they haven't released a bad album yet and can't see this being any different. Just bringing some attention to the band haha.
Strand of Oaks- HEAL
He opened for Tallest Man on Earth and my friend and I weren't that impressed. I'm sampled a few songs from his new album and there is a noticeable change in his music that gives each song a new sense of urgency and stronger vocals. It's getting great reviews. It sounds so good, thus far, that I'm considering going to his 10 dollar show at the Pabst.
clipping.- CLPPNG
Rap album, it sounds real dope. Holy fast rapping on the song Get Up. I was impressed with the album
Future Islands- Singles
They are everything about 80's synth rock that you hate to admit you love. Check out their performance on David Letterman and try not to be interested in seeing them at Turner Hall in August. I listened to the album and thought it was really good and dance-able. Their passionate performance style adds a lot to the mystique of the band. Love them, please love them.
James Vincent Mcmorrow- Post Tropical
A nice classy heartfelt album. I saw him live and oh boy was everything jazzed up. It was a surprisingly powerful performance and recommend seeing him live. I'm good with his recorded stuff but he blew me away live. Think Justin Vernon of Bon Iver with even more soul.
Phantogram- Voices
I don't have much to say about their new album, I've only given it one listen, but I'd give a solid B. It grooves just as much as their first album but I think it lacks the stand out tracks like When I'm Small and Mouthful of Diamonds #thehits
Protomartyr- Under Color of Official Right
Haven't really listened but just wanted to point them out for anyone who likes punk (or post-punk to be more specific). I listened to a song or two and was interested.
Ought- More Than Any Other Day
As of right now, they are at the top of my to buy vinyl list. Short album but it packs a punch.
Owen Pallet- In Conflict
If you like the pomp and pretension I mentioned earlier, check out Owen Pallett and his previous incarnation Final Fantasy (not meant as an insult). He's classically trained and knows what he's doing.
St. Vincent- Self titled
I like this album but it just doesn't ever feel like an album I want to listen to at anytime. It sneaks up on me sometimes and then I listen. I feel like it's the most confident she's sounded on record and thats backed up by her live performance where she needs a lot of confidence to be that choreographed. I'd say all around, its probably St. Vincent's best album if Actor didn't exist.
A Sunny Day in Glasgow- Sea When Absent
I already wrote about them: a nice chill album.
The Notwist- Close to the Glass
Sub Pop was toting an exciting signing made by them so naturally I was interested. Notwist was the reveal and I was pretty disappointed. I finally got around to listening to this album and it was good. I definitely recommend giving it a listen. Nice mix of electronic and relaxed vocals. Its a good album to just listen to when you're doing something else and make yourself feel cinematic.
The Coathangers- Suck My Shirt
I love my riot grrrl! There's maturation on this album (in relation from their debut where they couldn't play their instruments and had songs like Nestle in My Boobies and Shut the Fuck Up) but they sound as hard driven as they have on their last albums.
Sharon Van Etten- Are We There
I wish I could get into this album more, but I've never been a fan of slow moving songs. With that said, this album has been getting great reviews and I suggest giving it a try.
Beck- Morning Phase
Maybe there's something slightly wrong with me in my head...but I just wasn't feeling this album. Beck is one of those musical figures that when he puts a new album there's always going to be ready-made hype and instilled greatness no matter what he puts out. I thought the album was kind've boring, but to be fair, I wasn't too big a fan of the second half of Sea Change either. I remember being in my apartment and seeing Beck was finally releasing another album and the single is out, and I listened to that single, Blue Moon, and was super excited over it. I eventually got the album in my hands and in my car stereo and I was a bit underwhelmed because every song was that same downbeat motion, where its depressing but in a uplifting way, and it eventually just got straight up depressing.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
For the Record Part 2: Baby Carrots in a Cucumber Fight
I love my vinyl collection. I love collecting vinyl more than I like people. They take up a lot of room, some are too messed up to play, and they're overly pricey but I love my collection. I'm in the process of bolstering the amount of punk records (Bikini Kill, Pere Ubu, Orwells, Ought) I have at the moment since there aren't many exciting new releases coming up. Here's a list of positives for vinyl collecting:
1. They come with a download card
The biggest fault with vinyl is there lack of portability that is always brought up when vinyl is brought up (which is internalized by the joke "hey lets listen to it in the car"). What all new vinyl comes with now is a free download card that you can download the MP3s of the album....a surprising amount of people don't know this. While I'm talking about stuff that people don't know-- why do a lot of older people not know not only where to buy new vinyl, but that it's still being sold. I feel like whenever I go to a record store a couple of old people always walk by and say "oh wow I didn't know they still sold records." And the ones that do buy them are terribly un-savvy at it, "is that a cat stevens?! Oh man they got it.... Journey."
2. Buying Vinyl is a Game
There's a certain amount of knowledge and skill when it comes to buying vinyl (not a lot of either but more than you need for other music mediums). You have to check condition, if its an original or repress, if its a rarer find, if there's a chance it could go out of print, knowing if it'll translate to vinyl well enough, if the price is a good or bad deal, etc. I go to multiple record stores and vinyl shows and rummages and after a while you start to see what albums are worth a lot or what isn't and what tends to show up the most. For example, people go nuts over Elvis but he was the number one guy in music for a long time, despite my slight hate for him, which means there are a lot of sold records out there. It's easy to find Elvis records (barring his first which is pretty hard to find) and find them cheap.
3. Aesthetically Pleasing
Vinyl just looks better. The picture is bigger, which makes the album look less like a product and more like artwork. It pops more. Even the size of a vinyl makes it feel worth more than a CD. Plus a few records come with a nice inner sleeve, or its a gatefold which is my favorite. I have big stacks of CDs and I'd rather look at my vinyls. CDs are baby carrots in a cucumber fight.
4. It's Classic Cool
Aside from the looks, the whole process of buying and listening to a record is cool. FIrst, flipping through records is a lot cooler looking than most things. If you find someone who is really good at flipping, they're fingers look so nimble sauntering in between each record. Walking with a record to the side of you in your in hand makes you look badass and casual, a hard combination. Taking a vinyl out of it's sleeve and observing it, you look like a music scientist. This last one actually sold me one buying vinyls. My friend had vinyl before I did and he convinced me that putting on a record while having a lady over will make you look suave as fuck...and it does. Putting down that needle on a groove, classy.
5. Fun Variations+ Collectable
There are so many different kinds of vinyl to buy, as Jack White has recently shown us with his Ultra LP. There are different colors, picture discs, see through, glow in the dark, flat as in paperish vinyls. All kinds. Its fun to open up a vinyl and see if be in red or clear or boobs on it (thank you Sky Ferreira). 45's are fun too, especially since they usually come with a non-album B-side or non-album songs period, which is something that often happens too. I believe Against Me just released a picture disc 45 with two b-sides on it and Ty Segall routinely releases one off songs on 45. What makes these variations cooler is that they're extremely collectable to vinyl nuts. An example of this is when before an album is dropped, there are preorders that are limited, usually in a different color or picture disc, and once they're sold out, they're out. Having highly collectable records is kind've a feather in a collectors cap. It feels cool to have something only a few people have. I have a Cults test pressing that only had a run of less of 100 and although it isn't worth much cause they aren't that big, it still feels neat to have it. Plus finding these collectable pieces is part of "the game". Original early Hold Steady albums are sold for at the very minimum 100 dollars, which is pretty good for a record. Plus Plus, they make cool heirlooms if they maintain their coolness for another generation.
6. Listening to the Album
This is my favorite for a less obvious reason. I feel that a vinyls lack of portability is one of its strengths because you're legitly stuck in a room with the music. You have to listen to that record and I think that creates an appreciation for the music when you can't dilly dally with other things. Its intimate. One of my critiques for buying a record (which ill go more in-depth in my last of this series) is if the record is worth sitting in a room with. For example, you haven't listened to Bob Dylan until it's just you and him in a room and his voice and his thoughts and his passion are the only thing taking up space. It was through vinyl that I finally gained an appreciation for the Beatles because you start hearing all the little things that they put into the music. You start hearing the stories and ironic jokes that Randy Newman is telling and you start hearing pureness in the voice of Phil Ochs. Everything starts standing out. Some records are meant to be listened to and others are meant to play in the background. I don't mean that in a bad way, obviously, but some records are best listened to when they are commanding the room.
Also kinda not really connected to this, is that its pretty nice to have some albums that you only have a vinyl. My Neutral Milk Hotel MP3s are damaged and instead of replacing them, I only listen to them on vinyl. It makes an album feel special if you can only listen to it a certain place. Aeroplane Over the Sea is my favorite album, but having it not widely available gives it a different aura. I have very little "classics" on my iPod because I have them on vinyl. Its good to have some music tucked in your back pocket. Its the Wu-tang experiment done on a smaller scale. Wu-tang made an album that is only going to be listenable at select museums and not released commercially so its considered a piece of art and not just a product. Having a few albums not on an iPod or streamed or something make those albums feel more valuable. Like going home and looking at a painting hung up in a den and not having it as the background to a phone. I'm big on not having overexposure.
I could just be a big weirdo for taking all of this so serious but hey its something to do, am I right? Having something to care about is a pretty nice thing.
1. They come with a download card
The biggest fault with vinyl is there lack of portability that is always brought up when vinyl is brought up (which is internalized by the joke "hey lets listen to it in the car"). What all new vinyl comes with now is a free download card that you can download the MP3s of the album....a surprising amount of people don't know this. While I'm talking about stuff that people don't know-- why do a lot of older people not know not only where to buy new vinyl, but that it's still being sold. I feel like whenever I go to a record store a couple of old people always walk by and say "oh wow I didn't know they still sold records." And the ones that do buy them are terribly un-savvy at it, "is that a cat stevens?! Oh man they got it.... Journey."
2. Buying Vinyl is a Game
There's a certain amount of knowledge and skill when it comes to buying vinyl (not a lot of either but more than you need for other music mediums). You have to check condition, if its an original or repress, if its a rarer find, if there's a chance it could go out of print, knowing if it'll translate to vinyl well enough, if the price is a good or bad deal, etc. I go to multiple record stores and vinyl shows and rummages and after a while you start to see what albums are worth a lot or what isn't and what tends to show up the most. For example, people go nuts over Elvis but he was the number one guy in music for a long time, despite my slight hate for him, which means there are a lot of sold records out there. It's easy to find Elvis records (barring his first which is pretty hard to find) and find them cheap.
3. Aesthetically Pleasing
Vinyl just looks better. The picture is bigger, which makes the album look less like a product and more like artwork. It pops more. Even the size of a vinyl makes it feel worth more than a CD. Plus a few records come with a nice inner sleeve, or its a gatefold which is my favorite. I have big stacks of CDs and I'd rather look at my vinyls. CDs are baby carrots in a cucumber fight.
4. It's Classic Cool
Aside from the looks, the whole process of buying and listening to a record is cool. FIrst, flipping through records is a lot cooler looking than most things. If you find someone who is really good at flipping, they're fingers look so nimble sauntering in between each record. Walking with a record to the side of you in your in hand makes you look badass and casual, a hard combination. Taking a vinyl out of it's sleeve and observing it, you look like a music scientist. This last one actually sold me one buying vinyls. My friend had vinyl before I did and he convinced me that putting on a record while having a lady over will make you look suave as fuck...and it does. Putting down that needle on a groove, classy.
5. Fun Variations+ Collectable
There are so many different kinds of vinyl to buy, as Jack White has recently shown us with his Ultra LP. There are different colors, picture discs, see through, glow in the dark, flat as in paperish vinyls. All kinds. Its fun to open up a vinyl and see if be in red or clear or boobs on it (thank you Sky Ferreira). 45's are fun too, especially since they usually come with a non-album B-side or non-album songs period, which is something that often happens too. I believe Against Me just released a picture disc 45 with two b-sides on it and Ty Segall routinely releases one off songs on 45. What makes these variations cooler is that they're extremely collectable to vinyl nuts. An example of this is when before an album is dropped, there are preorders that are limited, usually in a different color or picture disc, and once they're sold out, they're out. Having highly collectable records is kind've a feather in a collectors cap. It feels cool to have something only a few people have. I have a Cults test pressing that only had a run of less of 100 and although it isn't worth much cause they aren't that big, it still feels neat to have it. Plus finding these collectable pieces is part of "the game". Original early Hold Steady albums are sold for at the very minimum 100 dollars, which is pretty good for a record. Plus Plus, they make cool heirlooms if they maintain their coolness for another generation.
6. Listening to the Album
This is my favorite for a less obvious reason. I feel that a vinyls lack of portability is one of its strengths because you're legitly stuck in a room with the music. You have to listen to that record and I think that creates an appreciation for the music when you can't dilly dally with other things. Its intimate. One of my critiques for buying a record (which ill go more in-depth in my last of this series) is if the record is worth sitting in a room with. For example, you haven't listened to Bob Dylan until it's just you and him in a room and his voice and his thoughts and his passion are the only thing taking up space. It was through vinyl that I finally gained an appreciation for the Beatles because you start hearing all the little things that they put into the music. You start hearing the stories and ironic jokes that Randy Newman is telling and you start hearing pureness in the voice of Phil Ochs. Everything starts standing out. Some records are meant to be listened to and others are meant to play in the background. I don't mean that in a bad way, obviously, but some records are best listened to when they are commanding the room.
Also kinda not really connected to this, is that its pretty nice to have some albums that you only have a vinyl. My Neutral Milk Hotel MP3s are damaged and instead of replacing them, I only listen to them on vinyl. It makes an album feel special if you can only listen to it a certain place. Aeroplane Over the Sea is my favorite album, but having it not widely available gives it a different aura. I have very little "classics" on my iPod because I have them on vinyl. Its good to have some music tucked in your back pocket. Its the Wu-tang experiment done on a smaller scale. Wu-tang made an album that is only going to be listenable at select museums and not released commercially so its considered a piece of art and not just a product. Having a few albums not on an iPod or streamed or something make those albums feel more valuable. Like going home and looking at a painting hung up in a den and not having it as the background to a phone. I'm big on not having overexposure.
I could just be a big weirdo for taking all of this so serious but hey its something to do, am I right? Having something to care about is a pretty nice thing.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
For the Record Part one: Cutting Down the Competition
Part one of my spiel about vinyl:
Cutting Down the Competition
MP3
I hate buying MP3's. It is everything I hate in the world. I hate it so much that I want to go back in time and hate on past me for using iTunes so long (futuristic self loathing?). One, being able to selectively buy "the hits" only ruins the concept of "the album" and all the work that was put into it. I'm a big proponent that an album should be seen as a whole rather than its individual components. There's nothing better than an album that has a great flow from song to song. The artists probably go through a lot of work to decide what goes where; not to mention the work that is put into every song. Wouldn't it be shitty to put yourself so much into a song, putting your heart into a song, and have it ignored because it didn't have the catchiest hook or a quotable line that'll make some idiot sound smart during a conversation or a line that they can drop when they get stupidly douchey at a party. Yeah its just music, but it's also someone's life. They sat down and worked hard to create something; why can't these songs be a part of the package thats sold? It's like doing a dissection and focusing on the big organs like the heart or brain but missing out on the less romanticized organs that keep things on track.
Two: It's lazy. You can't go to a store and buy music? Everyone always wants everything right now. We got our netflix and phones that do anything you can think of and drivers that drive twenty miles over the speed limit just to get home a couple minutes early to catch that rerun of some interchangeable action flick. We want everything quick and if we can't do something quick then it's not worth it. We buy shit on amazon and pay a slightly higher price plus shipping just so we don't have to run somewhere (obviously excluding items that are exclusively out of state...I mean road trips are cool too though). Buying MP3's is just another example of I want something now so I'm going to go recline and do some clicks and have it now. Then we wonder why teenagers have such a shitty attitude towards doing pretty much anything; it's because they've grown up in a world where we continuously develop technology and new ways of being lazy. By being lazy with your music purchasing, you're getting a worse deal and most people don't even care because hey at least they got it without doing any work at all besides flexing your debit card muscle.
Three- I say it's a worse deal because, you're literally buying nothing. You're buying air. A music file, sure, but you have nothing concrete for what you just spent money on. I could understand if MP3s were cheaper, like say, 5.99 instead of 9.99, but buying a CD is literally only a couple bucks more and a vinyl can range between 5-10 dollars more than an iTunes album. Money has more value than just the nickels and dimes that make it up. Money is time. Money are minutes, hours, days of your life that you're wasting by not trying to make the most of it. A 10 dollar MP3 album: thats an hour of your life thats gone. Thats an hour of your life that you can't get back and you don't even have anything in your hands to show for it. People go to jobs that they hate for a majority of their lives just to have money, why put yourself through a misery just to waste that time? When everyone is on their deathbeds, they're going to want that hour back. They're going to want that day back. Maybe they'll even want those few stray minutes back. I'm not saying that you can't make that money back or that having a job is pointless; I'm saying why be purposely wasteful? Buying music isn't a necessity, but if you're going to do it, why not try to get the most out of the deal as possible?
If I go out to eat, I want a meal that'll balance out with what I spent on it. If I go out and spend 15 dollars on a meal, I want to be full for most of the day off of it. I don't want a small square of steak and a small side salad. I want a fucking buffet where after I'm done eating I'm like "well I'm not eating for the rest of the day. That was economical!" Just like I want to be a certain amount of full from an expensive meal, I want to have the most I can get with my music purchase as I can. I want something to take home with me. To show that I'm not wasting anyone's time (I don't have a job so I can't say my time lol). People waste money alllll over the place, even though someone much less fortunate would love to have it.
CDs
CDs are so informal, aren't they? I mean, they kind've look like office supplies. They look like mass produced items of consumption. The same thing could be said about vinyl but there's just a different homier feeling to have a big ole record in your hand. Have you ever watched a talk show and when the musical act is coming out, the host shows the camera the album that is being promoted and I don't know about you but that album looks a lot more impressive on a vinyl cover than that small unimpressive CD cover.It just doesn't pop like someone would want it to.
Once that plastic comes off that CD, it's pretty much worthless. This comes from years of CD collecting: good luck selling CDs back for any profit. If you go to any place that buys CDs, they'll tell you that CDs aren't worth much of anything. You buy a CD at lets say 11.99, the store is going to sell it for roughly half the price, the store wants to make a profit so they're going to buy it for half of the half price at the absolute most. But hey, at least you can sell them back for something, am I right MP3s?
There are benefits to a CD though. At least you have something in your hand, a booklet to read, and if you want, you can put the MP3s on to an MP3 player. Also, there are some albums that work better as CDs (and MP3s. Part 3 of this series)
Streaming services like Spotify
I definitely recommend using Spotify. That's my opinion as a consumer. There's been some controversy on how much artists are paid, but its a lot of bang for your buck honestly. On a desktop, you have unlimited access to all of the music you're going to want for free (most of the music). Spotify on your phone won't give you that option of any song any time unless you get premium. I had premium for a little while and it was great if you want a lot of music on the go without having to actually own the music, its like a temporary iPod. You can download songs onto your phone so you don't have to have wifi or use your precious precious data. It's great for playlists too and sharing your music with friends if you're into that (or have friends).
My biggest problem with Spotify, and why I canceled my premium, is that I feel it ruins what makes music special. By having all music with you all the time, it cheapens music and turns it all into some consumerist scratch and sniff. Albums stop having individual merit and all become this big grey blob called music. One of my favorite aspects of buying music is just finding an album. There's a build up, a want that boils in your head that makes the music you listen to worth it. I remember I was so excited for The People's Key by Bright Eyes to come out. It leaked online, I had Spotify like websites to go to, there were ways to listen to this album. But I waited. I waited awhile to get the album. My anticipation made the album feel special. I bought the album and song after song, I was blown away (#sexuntilmarriage). Every song was better than they probably were. I feel like if I continued to use Spotify all the time, I'd become jaded. Unexcited about something I love. I get CDs from the library and sometimes I wait months for a CD and I wouldn't have it any other way because patience is something that people take for granted. Right now, I really want the album Zen Arcade by Husker Du on vinyl and have wanted it for a year now, but I'm waiting. I could buy it right now for between 17-20 dollars but that feels like a cheap way to get something. It's the chase. I love the chase, the build up. I'm not going to buy that Husker Du album until I find it at some store used and original or for a christmas present or something out of my hands. You have to be patient and you have to keep looking even if you want something really really bad because you'll appreciate it more. I spotified the new Cloud Nothings album and while I loved it, I have no desire to buy it on vinyl even though its one of the cheaper ones on vinyl, and its because I treated it like it was nothing when it was first released. Now in my head, its an album that is worth as much as how much effort I put into listening to it.
I realized how stereotypical hipster my library check outs are today and I feel like if all the librarians were scholars, they'd be rolling their eyes at my hipstery.
Movies:
Annie Hall (the cliche Woody Allen movie but I love that last lines of the movie "After that it got pretty late, and we both had to go, but it was great seeing Annie again. I... I realized what a terrific person she was, and... and how much fun it was just knowing her; and I... I, I thought of that old joke, y'know, the, this... this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And, uh, the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I feel about relationships; y'know, they're totally irrational, and crazy, and absurd, and... but, uh, I guess we keep goin' through it because, uh, most of us... need the eggs.
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson movie. Not as great as I was hoping)
Celeste and Jesse Forever
Stranger than Paradise (essential minimalist art film)
Inside Llewyn Davis (lots of hype, I've waited a while to see it so hopefully its good)
CDs
Oasis- Definitely Maybe reissue
Eagulls- Eagulls
Coldplay- Ghost Stories
Timber Timbre- Hot Dreams
Little Dragon- Nabuma Rubberband
Conor Oberst- Outer South
Conor Oberst- Upside down Mountain
Wild Beast- Present Lense
Perfect Pussy- Say yes to love
Temple- Sun structures
Future Islands- Singles
Books
John Updike early stories
Cutting Down the Competition
MP3
I hate buying MP3's. It is everything I hate in the world. I hate it so much that I want to go back in time and hate on past me for using iTunes so long (futuristic self loathing?). One, being able to selectively buy "the hits" only ruins the concept of "the album" and all the work that was put into it. I'm a big proponent that an album should be seen as a whole rather than its individual components. There's nothing better than an album that has a great flow from song to song. The artists probably go through a lot of work to decide what goes where; not to mention the work that is put into every song. Wouldn't it be shitty to put yourself so much into a song, putting your heart into a song, and have it ignored because it didn't have the catchiest hook or a quotable line that'll make some idiot sound smart during a conversation or a line that they can drop when they get stupidly douchey at a party. Yeah its just music, but it's also someone's life. They sat down and worked hard to create something; why can't these songs be a part of the package thats sold? It's like doing a dissection and focusing on the big organs like the heart or brain but missing out on the less romanticized organs that keep things on track.
Two: It's lazy. You can't go to a store and buy music? Everyone always wants everything right now. We got our netflix and phones that do anything you can think of and drivers that drive twenty miles over the speed limit just to get home a couple minutes early to catch that rerun of some interchangeable action flick. We want everything quick and if we can't do something quick then it's not worth it. We buy shit on amazon and pay a slightly higher price plus shipping just so we don't have to run somewhere (obviously excluding items that are exclusively out of state...I mean road trips are cool too though). Buying MP3's is just another example of I want something now so I'm going to go recline and do some clicks and have it now. Then we wonder why teenagers have such a shitty attitude towards doing pretty much anything; it's because they've grown up in a world where we continuously develop technology and new ways of being lazy. By being lazy with your music purchasing, you're getting a worse deal and most people don't even care because hey at least they got it without doing any work at all besides flexing your debit card muscle.
Three- I say it's a worse deal because, you're literally buying nothing. You're buying air. A music file, sure, but you have nothing concrete for what you just spent money on. I could understand if MP3s were cheaper, like say, 5.99 instead of 9.99, but buying a CD is literally only a couple bucks more and a vinyl can range between 5-10 dollars more than an iTunes album. Money has more value than just the nickels and dimes that make it up. Money is time. Money are minutes, hours, days of your life that you're wasting by not trying to make the most of it. A 10 dollar MP3 album: thats an hour of your life thats gone. Thats an hour of your life that you can't get back and you don't even have anything in your hands to show for it. People go to jobs that they hate for a majority of their lives just to have money, why put yourself through a misery just to waste that time? When everyone is on their deathbeds, they're going to want that hour back. They're going to want that day back. Maybe they'll even want those few stray minutes back. I'm not saying that you can't make that money back or that having a job is pointless; I'm saying why be purposely wasteful? Buying music isn't a necessity, but if you're going to do it, why not try to get the most out of the deal as possible?
If I go out to eat, I want a meal that'll balance out with what I spent on it. If I go out and spend 15 dollars on a meal, I want to be full for most of the day off of it. I don't want a small square of steak and a small side salad. I want a fucking buffet where after I'm done eating I'm like "well I'm not eating for the rest of the day. That was economical!" Just like I want to be a certain amount of full from an expensive meal, I want to have the most I can get with my music purchase as I can. I want something to take home with me. To show that I'm not wasting anyone's time (I don't have a job so I can't say my time lol). People waste money alllll over the place, even though someone much less fortunate would love to have it.
CDs
CDs are so informal, aren't they? I mean, they kind've look like office supplies. They look like mass produced items of consumption. The same thing could be said about vinyl but there's just a different homier feeling to have a big ole record in your hand. Have you ever watched a talk show and when the musical act is coming out, the host shows the camera the album that is being promoted and I don't know about you but that album looks a lot more impressive on a vinyl cover than that small unimpressive CD cover.It just doesn't pop like someone would want it to.
Once that plastic comes off that CD, it's pretty much worthless. This comes from years of CD collecting: good luck selling CDs back for any profit. If you go to any place that buys CDs, they'll tell you that CDs aren't worth much of anything. You buy a CD at lets say 11.99, the store is going to sell it for roughly half the price, the store wants to make a profit so they're going to buy it for half of the half price at the absolute most. But hey, at least you can sell them back for something, am I right MP3s?
There are benefits to a CD though. At least you have something in your hand, a booklet to read, and if you want, you can put the MP3s on to an MP3 player. Also, there are some albums that work better as CDs (and MP3s. Part 3 of this series)
Streaming services like Spotify
I definitely recommend using Spotify. That's my opinion as a consumer. There's been some controversy on how much artists are paid, but its a lot of bang for your buck honestly. On a desktop, you have unlimited access to all of the music you're going to want for free (most of the music). Spotify on your phone won't give you that option of any song any time unless you get premium. I had premium for a little while and it was great if you want a lot of music on the go without having to actually own the music, its like a temporary iPod. You can download songs onto your phone so you don't have to have wifi or use your precious precious data. It's great for playlists too and sharing your music with friends if you're into that (or have friends).
My biggest problem with Spotify, and why I canceled my premium, is that I feel it ruins what makes music special. By having all music with you all the time, it cheapens music and turns it all into some consumerist scratch and sniff. Albums stop having individual merit and all become this big grey blob called music. One of my favorite aspects of buying music is just finding an album. There's a build up, a want that boils in your head that makes the music you listen to worth it. I remember I was so excited for The People's Key by Bright Eyes to come out. It leaked online, I had Spotify like websites to go to, there were ways to listen to this album. But I waited. I waited awhile to get the album. My anticipation made the album feel special. I bought the album and song after song, I was blown away (#sexuntilmarriage). Every song was better than they probably were. I feel like if I continued to use Spotify all the time, I'd become jaded. Unexcited about something I love. I get CDs from the library and sometimes I wait months for a CD and I wouldn't have it any other way because patience is something that people take for granted. Right now, I really want the album Zen Arcade by Husker Du on vinyl and have wanted it for a year now, but I'm waiting. I could buy it right now for between 17-20 dollars but that feels like a cheap way to get something. It's the chase. I love the chase, the build up. I'm not going to buy that Husker Du album until I find it at some store used and original or for a christmas present or something out of my hands. You have to be patient and you have to keep looking even if you want something really really bad because you'll appreciate it more. I spotified the new Cloud Nothings album and while I loved it, I have no desire to buy it on vinyl even though its one of the cheaper ones on vinyl, and its because I treated it like it was nothing when it was first released. Now in my head, its an album that is worth as much as how much effort I put into listening to it.
I realized how stereotypical hipster my library check outs are today and I feel like if all the librarians were scholars, they'd be rolling their eyes at my hipstery.
Movies:
Annie Hall (the cliche Woody Allen movie but I love that last lines of the movie "After that it got pretty late, and we both had to go, but it was great seeing Annie again. I... I realized what a terrific person she was, and... and how much fun it was just knowing her; and I... I, I thought of that old joke, y'know, the, this... this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And, uh, the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I feel about relationships; y'know, they're totally irrational, and crazy, and absurd, and... but, uh, I guess we keep goin' through it because, uh, most of us... need the eggs.
Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson movie. Not as great as I was hoping)
Celeste and Jesse Forever
Stranger than Paradise (essential minimalist art film)
Inside Llewyn Davis (lots of hype, I've waited a while to see it so hopefully its good)
CDs
Oasis- Definitely Maybe reissue
Eagulls- Eagulls
Coldplay- Ghost Stories
Timber Timbre- Hot Dreams
Little Dragon- Nabuma Rubberband
Conor Oberst- Outer South
Conor Oberst- Upside down Mountain
Wild Beast- Present Lense
Perfect Pussy- Say yes to love
Temple- Sun structures
Future Islands- Singles
Books
John Updike early stories
Monday, June 9, 2014
Music With Some Death Stuff
Part 3 of my top concerts and I'm thinking these are going to go fast because after a while the specifics are foggy.
Volcano Choir
- Hmmm I feel like this is one of those concerts thats in the top just because the actual show was awesome. Volcano Choir deadlifted their way to the top based on quality. Justin Vernon is probably the biggest name to come from Wisconsin in a long time and him with the combination of Collections of Colonies of Bees made for one of the top releases of 2013 (2009's Unmap was barely just okay for me). Vernon stood in the middle of the stage at a podium looking stand that light up in accordance to the songs and stands as the coolest setups at a show because it looked like he was giving some kind of state of music address. His voice was filled with the strength and intensity of a president speaking on behalf of a country in dire straits.
-The highlight: Byegone. The buildup to the climax of the song was great because you could feel everyone wanted to let out that "Set Sail!" Then when the part came, the lights went up and watching from the balcony, made the crowd look like waves of the ocean. Everyone was dancing or just moving their head with the music and it was just one of those moments that make you smile without any conscious effort. Definitely one of my favorite concert moments.
Vampire Weekend
- You haven't lived until you've heard josh's life is pointless speech.
- "Cheese fries...where the fuck are we?!"
- Sluts be like "a bandana and short shorts will keep me warm, right?"
- Bike carriages "it's a dangerous walk guys", "I like that their sales pitch is pretty much fear."
- I know you love Ezra 13 year old girl sitting next to us but you're small and not that close to the stage. He left not knowing you or your sentiment.
- Fate continues to dance with Josh.
- "I can't bring water bottles in here....this is what the holocaust was like"
- That girl was stupid for throwing her burrito away because she could've just bought one inside.
- That photographer.
- This felt like a big time concert. The place was packed and the venue was filled with the voices of everybody singing along. Great lighting and stage setup gave the concert a big production feel that I'm not accustomed to since all the concerts I go to are indoor venues with medium big indie bands. The whole set was amazing except for Hannah Hunt for the encore that brought the mood down for Walcott #Pullittogether
- Cults should probably stick to smaller indoor venues...her voice was covered up by the music.
Blind Pilot
- Probably the best opening band I've seen in the River City Extension. I regret not standing to watch them, politeness be damned. They received a standing ovation afterwards and immediately became one of my hype bands (playlist coming soon). Please check them out.
- Welcome to the jungle, don't get raped.
-A couple were making out in front of me for a long time and a guy tapped me on the shoulder and said "I bet this wasn't the show you thought you'd see". I didn't get what he meant for another half hour but pretended I did. Jokes on him, it was the kind of show I was hoping to see.
- Blind pilot was wayyyy better than I thought they were going to be even though I was a big fan going in. Very full of life. Highlights: The Bitter End starting off with only the singer then the rest of the band slowly making their way out, giving a feeling that they were comforting the singer. We Are the Tide was a very fun moment. I don't think I'll forget the the woman drummer smiling and her hair bouncing along to the music. Not in a pervy way but for the amount of joy her and the rest of the band had for the music they were playing.
- Blind pilot, buds, Battlestar Galatica
Here's a list of stuff incase I die in surgery Friday #DeathbyTooth
- Find a way to make me look cool with sunglasses on during my funeral because I could never figure out the trick in life.
- I want old timey pictures taken of each guest with me sitting on a bench.
-I don't want a slide show of pictures of me in the regular sense. I want pictures that have me photoshopped into them. Some places unrealistic for me like a job site.
- There has to be a roast after the funeral portion.
- No mentions of any religious jargon and I want it to take place outside. If it's raining all the better, everyone knows how I like to be dramatic.
- Either give away my records (since I didn't have kids) or sell them on Ebay. Some are rareish. In the description you have to write that I died thinking about them.
- The eulogy has to be given like a black preacher would give it.
- I prepared a funeral playlist and heres the short version:
Passenger Side- Wilco
Leonard- Sharon Van Etten
Take Care- Tom Rosenthal
Where I thought I I met the Angels- Tallest Man on Earth
The Great Escape- Patrick Watson
Dark Parts- Perfume Genius
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea- Neutral Milk Hotel
Love love love- Mountain Goats
Married with Children- Oasis
Werewolf- Fiona Apple
New White shoes- Conor Oberst
Lua- Bright Eyes
No Buses- Arctic Monkeys
Welcome Home- Radical Face
Sail Away- Randy Newman
Citrus- Hold Steady
Freaks and Geeks- Childish Gambino
Volcano Choir
- Hmmm I feel like this is one of those concerts thats in the top just because the actual show was awesome. Volcano Choir deadlifted their way to the top based on quality. Justin Vernon is probably the biggest name to come from Wisconsin in a long time and him with the combination of Collections of Colonies of Bees made for one of the top releases of 2013 (2009's Unmap was barely just okay for me). Vernon stood in the middle of the stage at a podium looking stand that light up in accordance to the songs and stands as the coolest setups at a show because it looked like he was giving some kind of state of music address. His voice was filled with the strength and intensity of a president speaking on behalf of a country in dire straits.
-The highlight: Byegone. The buildup to the climax of the song was great because you could feel everyone wanted to let out that "Set Sail!" Then when the part came, the lights went up and watching from the balcony, made the crowd look like waves of the ocean. Everyone was dancing or just moving their head with the music and it was just one of those moments that make you smile without any conscious effort. Definitely one of my favorite concert moments.
Vampire Weekend
- You haven't lived until you've heard josh's life is pointless speech.
- "Cheese fries...where the fuck are we?!"
- Sluts be like "a bandana and short shorts will keep me warm, right?"
- Bike carriages "it's a dangerous walk guys", "I like that their sales pitch is pretty much fear."
- I know you love Ezra 13 year old girl sitting next to us but you're small and not that close to the stage. He left not knowing you or your sentiment.
- Fate continues to dance with Josh.
- "I can't bring water bottles in here....this is what the holocaust was like"
- That girl was stupid for throwing her burrito away because she could've just bought one inside.
- That photographer.
- This felt like a big time concert. The place was packed and the venue was filled with the voices of everybody singing along. Great lighting and stage setup gave the concert a big production feel that I'm not accustomed to since all the concerts I go to are indoor venues with medium big indie bands. The whole set was amazing except for Hannah Hunt for the encore that brought the mood down for Walcott #Pullittogether
- Cults should probably stick to smaller indoor venues...her voice was covered up by the music.
Blind Pilot
- Probably the best opening band I've seen in the River City Extension. I regret not standing to watch them, politeness be damned. They received a standing ovation afterwards and immediately became one of my hype bands (playlist coming soon). Please check them out.
- Welcome to the jungle, don't get raped.
-A couple were making out in front of me for a long time and a guy tapped me on the shoulder and said "I bet this wasn't the show you thought you'd see". I didn't get what he meant for another half hour but pretended I did. Jokes on him, it was the kind of show I was hoping to see.
- Blind pilot was wayyyy better than I thought they were going to be even though I was a big fan going in. Very full of life. Highlights: The Bitter End starting off with only the singer then the rest of the band slowly making their way out, giving a feeling that they were comforting the singer. We Are the Tide was a very fun moment. I don't think I'll forget the the woman drummer smiling and her hair bouncing along to the music. Not in a pervy way but for the amount of joy her and the rest of the band had for the music they were playing.
- Blind pilot, buds, Battlestar Galatica
Here's a list of stuff incase I die in surgery Friday #DeathbyTooth
- Find a way to make me look cool with sunglasses on during my funeral because I could never figure out the trick in life.
- I want old timey pictures taken of each guest with me sitting on a bench.
-I don't want a slide show of pictures of me in the regular sense. I want pictures that have me photoshopped into them. Some places unrealistic for me like a job site.
- There has to be a roast after the funeral portion.
- No mentions of any religious jargon and I want it to take place outside. If it's raining all the better, everyone knows how I like to be dramatic.
- Either give away my records (since I didn't have kids) or sell them on Ebay. Some are rareish. In the description you have to write that I died thinking about them.
- The eulogy has to be given like a black preacher would give it.
- I prepared a funeral playlist and heres the short version:
Passenger Side- Wilco
Leonard- Sharon Van Etten
Take Care- Tom Rosenthal
Where I thought I I met the Angels- Tallest Man on Earth
The Great Escape- Patrick Watson
Dark Parts- Perfume Genius
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea- Neutral Milk Hotel
Love love love- Mountain Goats
Married with Children- Oasis
Werewolf- Fiona Apple
New White shoes- Conor Oberst
Lua- Bright Eyes
No Buses- Arctic Monkeys
Welcome Home- Radical Face
Sail Away- Randy Newman
Citrus- Hold Steady
Freaks and Geeks- Childish Gambino
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Top Concerts Part 2
Foxygen at Turner Hall
- Every show has a different feeling to it. Some feel like pure fun energy (Vampire Weekend), some can feel beautiful (Patrick Watson), somber to the point of boredom (S. Carey). The only way I could describe Foxygen show is.. it felt fucking dangerous. It was exactly what everyone should want from a "rocknroll" concert. Sam France, the singer, was more unhinged than any front person I've ever seen (including Conor Oberst's recent show of emotion on eleven). At times the music swirled and intoxicated the audience, making it feel like the Willy Wonka boat scene if Willy Wonka was a drug addled Mick Jagger. On record, their music feels a little muddied in the 60's style of recording. Live, the music felt like an explosion. As Josh put it, "it was as if we went back in time and watched rock'n roll being made." Sam France moved like a man electrocuted, smacked himself in the face with the microphone, yelled into the mic like someone on a bad trip, balanced on the flimsy speakers on the front of the stage, and even lay down during a song and leaving the stage before the end of the last song like he was saying he did his job so fucking leave now. The craziest antic came when he climbed the speakers on the end of the stage and jumped off to the floor, which is crazy because the speakers are pretty tall and very shaky. He was so crazy that on the next stop of the tour, he broke his leg doing his balancing.
-Interspersed throughout the show were disney song snippets and awkward banter.
- Not only was danger around during the concert but all around because Josh brought a girl and her friend along. Very unique experience since a third, more so a forth, is rarely added to our shows. They were obviously less interested in getting to know me, despite me being hilarious! If the main friend didn't turn out to be crazy I would've been more offended haha.
-Twin Peaks was the opener but I don't remember them #Timetohangitup
Death Cab For Cutie with the Magik Magik Orchestra at the Riverside
- This was on my birthday! What makes it even cooler is that this concert was released on vinyl on Record Store day this year and hasn't been released on iTunes or anything yet.
-The whole set, excluding the encore, was backed up by a pretty nice orchestra, which gave their songs a fuller feeling. Death Cab's old songs especially were improved on a lot, I'm talking songs from their first three albums that sounded not as polished as they became.
- Some song highlights: A beautiful transition into Different Names from Passenger Seat, Monday Morning was played acoustic and is something that is unique to the concert, and Transatlanticism was a sprawling closer to the set. My takeaway from the show the guy just crying uncontrollably at Transatlanticism, taking breaks to cry into his sweater followed by him dramatically singing along ("I need you so much closer") and raising his hand in the air. Embarrassing for him? Yea, maybe. But I would kill to get that emotional over something. It must've felt so freeing to just let go. He was by himself and I wonder if he was like "no guys I have to go alone. I'm going to cry just a stupid amount at this show. I'm going to cry so much that it'll make everything awkward for everyone around me and I don't care."
- The opener was Low, who have a decent following to them, and they were crazy boring.
I've kind've lost interest in this countdown because its a lot of work so at some point this countdown might just drop off lol. Plus I regret putting Morning Benders at 10 already because of the limited amount of spots. I may be taking this too seriously.
Here are my 10 Beauty steps:
1. Always use a new towel because you don't want yesterdays schmutz on you #EricWhite
2. Wash hair first then everything else because your hair gross will leak on to the rest of you if you do the reverse.
3. Keep those teeth clean playa
4. Deodorant on before putting on your shirt. Nothing that isn't completely done being prepared should touch your clothes.
5. Think of how much time you put into your hair...add five minutes to that.
6. Take your time drying off. Looking good isn't a race, you just need to get to where you need to be.
7. Dry your feet separately, pamper your tootsies.
8. Don't put too much time into what your wearing because thats where instinct comes in.
9. Clean those ears, people like a person that listens.
10. Look at yourself in the mirror before getting dressed and say today is going to be a good day. After getting dressed, look in the mirror again and say "it's looking like a good day already."
- Every show has a different feeling to it. Some feel like pure fun energy (Vampire Weekend), some can feel beautiful (Patrick Watson), somber to the point of boredom (S. Carey). The only way I could describe Foxygen show is.. it felt fucking dangerous. It was exactly what everyone should want from a "rocknroll" concert. Sam France, the singer, was more unhinged than any front person I've ever seen (including Conor Oberst's recent show of emotion on eleven). At times the music swirled and intoxicated the audience, making it feel like the Willy Wonka boat scene if Willy Wonka was a drug addled Mick Jagger. On record, their music feels a little muddied in the 60's style of recording. Live, the music felt like an explosion. As Josh put it, "it was as if we went back in time and watched rock'n roll being made." Sam France moved like a man electrocuted, smacked himself in the face with the microphone, yelled into the mic like someone on a bad trip, balanced on the flimsy speakers on the front of the stage, and even lay down during a song and leaving the stage before the end of the last song like he was saying he did his job so fucking leave now. The craziest antic came when he climbed the speakers on the end of the stage and jumped off to the floor, which is crazy because the speakers are pretty tall and very shaky. He was so crazy that on the next stop of the tour, he broke his leg doing his balancing.
-Interspersed throughout the show were disney song snippets and awkward banter.
- Not only was danger around during the concert but all around because Josh brought a girl and her friend along. Very unique experience since a third, more so a forth, is rarely added to our shows. They were obviously less interested in getting to know me, despite me being hilarious! If the main friend didn't turn out to be crazy I would've been more offended haha.
-Twin Peaks was the opener but I don't remember them #Timetohangitup
Death Cab For Cutie with the Magik Magik Orchestra at the Riverside
- This was on my birthday! What makes it even cooler is that this concert was released on vinyl on Record Store day this year and hasn't been released on iTunes or anything yet.
-The whole set, excluding the encore, was backed up by a pretty nice orchestra, which gave their songs a fuller feeling. Death Cab's old songs especially were improved on a lot, I'm talking songs from their first three albums that sounded not as polished as they became.
- Some song highlights: A beautiful transition into Different Names from Passenger Seat, Monday Morning was played acoustic and is something that is unique to the concert, and Transatlanticism was a sprawling closer to the set. My takeaway from the show the guy just crying uncontrollably at Transatlanticism, taking breaks to cry into his sweater followed by him dramatically singing along ("I need you so much closer") and raising his hand in the air. Embarrassing for him? Yea, maybe. But I would kill to get that emotional over something. It must've felt so freeing to just let go. He was by himself and I wonder if he was like "no guys I have to go alone. I'm going to cry just a stupid amount at this show. I'm going to cry so much that it'll make everything awkward for everyone around me and I don't care."
- The opener was Low, who have a decent following to them, and they were crazy boring.
I've kind've lost interest in this countdown because its a lot of work so at some point this countdown might just drop off lol. Plus I regret putting Morning Benders at 10 already because of the limited amount of spots. I may be taking this too seriously.
Here are my 10 Beauty steps:
1. Always use a new towel because you don't want yesterdays schmutz on you #EricWhite
2. Wash hair first then everything else because your hair gross will leak on to the rest of you if you do the reverse.
3. Keep those teeth clean playa
4. Deodorant on before putting on your shirt. Nothing that isn't completely done being prepared should touch your clothes.
5. Think of how much time you put into your hair...add five minutes to that.
6. Take your time drying off. Looking good isn't a race, you just need to get to where you need to be.
7. Dry your feet separately, pamper your tootsies.
8. Don't put too much time into what your wearing because thats where instinct comes in.
9. Clean those ears, people like a person that listens.
10. Look at yourself in the mirror before getting dressed and say today is going to be a good day. After getting dressed, look in the mirror again and say "it's looking like a good day already."
Monday, June 2, 2014
Top Concerts Part 1
Top Concerts Part 1, no specific order until the end.
According to my ticket book, I've been to forty two concerts since 2010 (realistically it's more given the tickets I may have lost and summerfest concerts that don't really count).
10. Morning Benders with opening act Twin Sister- Turner Hall
This is my first indie concert (or Stornoway was. I have a terrible memory sometimes) and I remember thinking to myself, "this is like a movie, this is so cool." It was probably spelled kool because high school, but it was a really great experience. I walked into Turner Hall and looked around at how rundown and shitty it looked, and was like I want to be here all the time. Back in high school everyone is looking for someplace to fit into and Turner hall was filled with a bunch of hipster kids maybe thinking the same things I was. At the time, I was just dipping my toes into indie music by listening to bands like Pavement, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Bright Eyes. Its Hardly Been by Stephen Malkmus actually got me really into different music, which is weird because I don't even really listen to him all that much even though the album Face the Truth is bonkers good.
Back to the concert, Josh and I squirreled our way to the front of the stage because thats what kids do at Turner Hall shows. Once you hit a certain age, you kinda just want to sit until the main band comes out unless the main person is really worth standing for four hours (thanks Sharon van Etten for my blisters). Maybe we even sat on the floor in between sets because in your teens you don't mind if people stare at you differently.
There may have been a third band that was unannounced called shore something but as many openers do they aren't really a factor in memory. The second band (maybe first) was Twin Sister. At some point they had some hype behind them because of their ep Color Your Life I wasn't too into what they were dishing out although I feel like today it would've been a solid opening set. At one point the woman singer rolled her eyes at our lack of interest and thats what I remember the most about their set. Man, what a jerk.
Morning Benders came up next and you best believe (#berniemac) that I was excited to see what all this concert business was about, especially since I only came on Josh's insistence. They were great! The lights were gold and it made it feel like I was already mid-remembering it on the car ride home. Like it was a memory already. My initial reaction was "wow they're Asian!". They played Waiting for a War (which is still on my car ride playlists) and told us to dance. I didn't dance because I was so awkward in high school that my hips remained rigid in order to keep myself from embarrassing myself worse than I had to. It was a evolutionary development. Conditioning out of mercy. I regret not buying a shirt because a few years after this show, the Morning Benders turned into Pop.Etc because benders is a homophobic slur. Pop.etc became a slur for music.
I was going to fit five entries on to this post but I rant way too much. Here are my future topics I'm thinking of writing about: The draw of records and what records are better on vinyl, drinking, summerfest justifications, acting like a man, religion, the idea of regrets, hipster thoughts on music, my compulsions, creative writing thoughts, probably more music related topics and maybe movie recommendations if I want to put more thought into these posts than I want to. I don't really fix anything or try for any flow on these posts (there's a to instead of a too in my second post and I can't stop thinking about it).
Songs I Can't Not Sing in the Car Playlist
Anything We Want- Fiona Apple
Walcott- Vampire Weekend
Thirteen- Ben Kweller
No Buses- Arctic Monkeys
Over and Over Again- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
My Attempts To Grow A Beard- The Daredevil Christopher Wright
Passenger Seat- Death Cab For Cutie
Blues Run the Game- Laura Marling
Stubborn Love- Lumineers
Middle Distance Runner- SeaWolf
A Pillar of Salt- The Thermals
Horny Hippies- Dodo Bird
According to my ticket book, I've been to forty two concerts since 2010 (realistically it's more given the tickets I may have lost and summerfest concerts that don't really count).
10. Morning Benders with opening act Twin Sister- Turner Hall
This is my first indie concert (or Stornoway was. I have a terrible memory sometimes) and I remember thinking to myself, "this is like a movie, this is so cool." It was probably spelled kool because high school, but it was a really great experience. I walked into Turner Hall and looked around at how rundown and shitty it looked, and was like I want to be here all the time. Back in high school everyone is looking for someplace to fit into and Turner hall was filled with a bunch of hipster kids maybe thinking the same things I was. At the time, I was just dipping my toes into indie music by listening to bands like Pavement, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Bright Eyes. Its Hardly Been by Stephen Malkmus actually got me really into different music, which is weird because I don't even really listen to him all that much even though the album Face the Truth is bonkers good.
Back to the concert, Josh and I squirreled our way to the front of the stage because thats what kids do at Turner Hall shows. Once you hit a certain age, you kinda just want to sit until the main band comes out unless the main person is really worth standing for four hours (thanks Sharon van Etten for my blisters). Maybe we even sat on the floor in between sets because in your teens you don't mind if people stare at you differently.
There may have been a third band that was unannounced called shore something but as many openers do they aren't really a factor in memory. The second band (maybe first) was Twin Sister. At some point they had some hype behind them because of their ep Color Your Life I wasn't too into what they were dishing out although I feel like today it would've been a solid opening set. At one point the woman singer rolled her eyes at our lack of interest and thats what I remember the most about their set. Man, what a jerk.
Morning Benders came up next and you best believe (#berniemac) that I was excited to see what all this concert business was about, especially since I only came on Josh's insistence. They were great! The lights were gold and it made it feel like I was already mid-remembering it on the car ride home. Like it was a memory already. My initial reaction was "wow they're Asian!". They played Waiting for a War (which is still on my car ride playlists) and told us to dance. I didn't dance because I was so awkward in high school that my hips remained rigid in order to keep myself from embarrassing myself worse than I had to. It was a evolutionary development. Conditioning out of mercy. I regret not buying a shirt because a few years after this show, the Morning Benders turned into Pop.Etc because benders is a homophobic slur. Pop.etc became a slur for music.
I was going to fit five entries on to this post but I rant way too much. Here are my future topics I'm thinking of writing about: The draw of records and what records are better on vinyl, drinking, summerfest justifications, acting like a man, religion, the idea of regrets, hipster thoughts on music, my compulsions, creative writing thoughts, probably more music related topics and maybe movie recommendations if I want to put more thought into these posts than I want to. I don't really fix anything or try for any flow on these posts (there's a to instead of a too in my second post and I can't stop thinking about it).
Songs I Can't Not Sing in the Car Playlist
Anything We Want- Fiona Apple
Walcott- Vampire Weekend
Thirteen- Ben Kweller
No Buses- Arctic Monkeys
Over and Over Again- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
My Attempts To Grow A Beard- The Daredevil Christopher Wright
Passenger Seat- Death Cab For Cutie
Blues Run the Game- Laura Marling
Stubborn Love- Lumineers
Middle Distance Runner- SeaWolf
A Pillar of Salt- The Thermals
Horny Hippies- Dodo Bird
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