Top 25 of 2008 - Alphabetically (Part IV)

Ten to go; here are the next five; this section of the list probably contain some of my most unique picks:

Johnny Flynn - A Larum

A Shakespearean actor and poet, Johnny Flynn brings an "olde fashioned" folk style to his debut album, A Larum. He and his band, The Sussex Wit, show remarkable maturity throughout the eclectic set of 14 songs, using guitars, strings, horns, and keys to help give life to Flynn's witty yarns. Sometimes lighthearted, other times wistful or melancholy, A Larum is consistently fascinating and enjoyable. Flynn's new artistic outlet is a welcome one.
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Larsen & Furious Jane - Zen Sucker

I'm cheating a bit on this one as Larsen & Furious Jane's most recent album, Zen Sucker, isn't actually available yet in the U.S., but I can't help mentioning it here. The Danish band's latest effort is, without a doubt, a top ten record in my book. Nearly flawless in its construction and execution, Zen Sucker makes for an addicting mix of beauty, intensity, and emotion. Achieving the perfect balance between experimental alternative rock and accessible melodies and arrangements, this is a unique and truly special album.
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Marching Band - Spark Large

I heard very little mentioned about these guys this year, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. The duo from Sweden make radiant pop music with layers of harmony and joyful melodies so wholesome it actually causes the clouds to part and the sun to shine even on the darkest of days. Spark Large's 12 songs might be a little sweet for some listener's tastes, but with so many fantastic arrangements and infectious musical hooks, Marching Band should win themselves quite a congregation if given the exposure. Spark Large is a smile-inducing masterpiece.
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The Republic Tigers - Keep Color

The Republic Tigers are another band that didn't get enough love this year, in my opinion. Their debut album, Keep Color, is rarely boundary-pushing or revolutionary, but it effectively blends 80s synths and classic indie rock with just a bit of psychedelia in a very effective and enjoyable way. Kenn Jankowski's smooth tenor voice, surrounded by constant vocal harmony, fits well into the band's crisply produced and well-executed tunes, which range from spacey anthems to danceable pop songs.
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Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

Ryan Adams has been cranking out great music for a little over a decade now, and Cardinology is no exception. It's level, relaxed, and generally grounded, which for Adams (now three years sober) is a good thing. The Cardinals provide ample support with their consistently solid musicianship, and while Adams breaks no new ground here, his strengths as a songwriter remain sharp. Despite occasionally lonely or downhearted lyrics, he imbues his tunes with an underlining message of hope that feels refreshing and breathes life to Cardinology.

MP3 Monday on Wednesday: Larsen & Furious Jane, Matt Duke, Anathallo

So I missed MP3 Monday, but that doesn't mean we can't all enjoy some free music later in the week, right? I've actually got THREE songs and one video for you to enjoy, so check them out.
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Larsen & Furious Jane

The first two songs actually have to do with my latest post on Larsen & Furious Jane. Two more tracks have been made available for posting from their fantastic record, Zen Sucker, so I'm putting them up here because it's imperative that you take a listen. "Vietnamese Pool Boy" is a dark, edgy tune, while "Local Nobility" leans more toward mellow noise rock. Both are great.


Vietnamese Pool Boy (MP3)

Local Nobility (MP3)
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Matt Duke

This next song comes from singer/songwriter Matt Duke. Duk is well-loved in his home town, Philadelphia, and has recently released his sophomore album entitled Kingdom Underground. The song, "Spilt Milk," is an emotional pop-rock ballad that deals with some heavy issues. Matt's new album is full of more weighty matters than love or heartache, as he explains;

“Love songs – I put those aside. I hear them on the radio so often. Writing about love and breakups is almost tired. The whole idea of your spiritual unrest, what you believe in and what you don’t, what you’re struggling with now and what you will struggle with for the rest of your life, were, for some reason, the things that were the easiest to write about."

Spilt Milk (MP3)
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Anathallo

OK, so I'm cheating a little here. This isn't a track for download, but it's a song you should hear. Over at Pitchfork they have a video for the song "Bells" by the band Anathallo. The band have a rich art-rock sound full of gorgeous instrumentation and layers of harmony. Their new album Canopy Glow was released on Tuesday and is receiving rave reviews already. The video is odd, to say the least, but the song is wonderful.

Bells (Video)

Review: Larsen & Furious Jane - Zen Sucker (* * * * 1/2)

Larsen & Furious Jane are most likely the best thing to ever have emerged from the Denmark music scene. Easy for me to say, outside of Aqua and the Raveonettes, I haven't had any exposure to Danish music, but the band's third album, Zen Sucker is an absolute stunner and one of the year's best. The group, started by friends Torsten Larsen and Tore Johansen, has received critical acclaim in their homeland and with any luck, they'll break on through to the U.S. side soon.

I realize that Radiohead comparisons are often an obvious/lazy way to describe a band, and while Zen Sucker doesn't exactly sound like OK Computer, the album is compelling and fascinating in the way that Radiohead's albums always have been. The lyrics have a dark edge, similar to Yorke's, and though the music is sometimes deceptively warm and inviting, the beautiful melodies always seem underlined by an almost menacing feeling. Also, while the band experiment with a variety of sounds and effects, it's never at the expense of the music itself, resulting in a thoroughly captivating listen.

Larsen & Furious Jane's ability to create so much diversity while maintaining a sense of unity and connection between the songs is what makes Zen Sucker such an impressive and interesting record. "The People Person Is A Zen Sucker" and "A Car That Comes With The Job" have a sparse, yet delicate background for the clear tenor vocals (Larsen, I think) and bitter lyrics. On other, heavier tracks like "A Deathbed Conversion," "Snakes In The Grass" and especially "Vietnamese Pool Boy," the tone becomes considerably more sinister while Larsen channels dramatic singers like Ian Curtis and Interpol's Paul Banks. It's a wonderfully strange ride, one you'll hate to have come to an end after the gorgeous, haunting closer "Forbidden Fruit."

Zen Sucker unfortunately does not have a scheduled U.S. release date, though I do have one of my favorite tracks ("A Deathbed Conversion") here for download and their MySpace has a few more to check out. I'm interested to know what you think about these guys; if you like what you hear, send me a note and I'll put in a good word to see if we can generate some interest.

A Deathbed Conversion (MP3) [Once again, if you're having trouble playing this in the browser, just click on the link to download the song or play it outside this window]