Best of 2009: 40 - 31

Continuing the list of the best (read: my favorite) albums of the year:

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40: Delorean - Ayrton Senna (EP)

Spanish dance-rockers Delorean are another group I don't know much about, but this EP, Ayrton Senna, is fantastic. Smooth beats, shimmering guitars, and more hooks than you can count make this an easy choice for this list despite its fairly brief length. (More from me)

Seasun (MP3 via Pitchfork)


39: Visqueen - Message to Garcia

I found out about this album fairly late in the year, but I immediately fell in love with frontwoman Rachel Flotard and company. Visqueen makes big, crunchy guitar rock that spans the past couple decades yet feels fresh despite its familiarity. Put simply, Message to Garcia is an absolute blast.

MySpace


38: The Lonely Forest - We Sing the Body Electric

This is an album that has continually grown on me throughout the year. We Sing the Body Electric is, in some ways, a throwback to 90s alt-rock, but The Lonely Forest provide plenty of their own personalty over the course of 15 eclectic and energetic tunes. (More From Me)

We Sing in Time (MP3)

MySpace


37: Mirah - (A)Spera

Mirah's (A)spera impressed me upon first listen, but nearly got lost in the shuffle for me this year. Luckily, I managed to spend some more time with it later on and remembered immediately why I loved it; beautiful vocals, exquisite arrangements, and fine lyricism. A wonderful record. (More from me)

MySpace


36: Joshua James - Build Me This

Joshua James isn't exactly a local boy, but he did spend quite a bit of time here in Utah while growing his career. He's an amazing performer and gifted songwriter, and on Build Me This, he raises the bar set by his debut with 13 emotionally-charged folk-rock tunes. (More from me)

Magazine (MP3)

MySpace


35: Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem

Ever the adventurous type, Phil Elverum's newest project, Mount Eerie, is perhaps his most ambitious and startling yet. Wind's Poem is something like a metal-folk album, with dense drones and thunderous bouts of noise blended in with more acoustic guitar interludes for a unique and truly compelling experience.

MySpace (I think)


34: Polvo - In Prism

Though 12 years separates In Prism from its predecessor, you wouldn't know it just by hearing the record. Polvo sounds invigorated and inspired, crafting a very strong set of nine rock tracks that should be a delight for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Would that all comeback albums were this great.

MySpace


33: Roman Candle - Oh Tall Tree In The Ear

Roman Candle's Oh Tall Tree In The Ear is a simple and even modest records in many respects, but the songwriting here is anything but ordinary. The band's earnest brand of pop-rock is straightforward and mostly gimmick-free, with lyrics that provide the assurance that great storytelling can still be found in rock 'n' roll.

MySpace


32: The Mountain Goats - The Life of the World to Come

Josh Darnielle maintains his status as one of indie rock's greatest songwriters on the Bible and faith-based The Life of the World to Come. It's a more mellow record (often, anyway) than most of his previous efforts, but it's no less engaging or powerfully personal.

MySpace


31: jj - jj n° 2

With heavenly female vocals, sunny, relaxed beats, and sharp production, jj n° 2 is a brief but absolutely gorgeous record that effectively puts jj on the map, whoever they are. The anonymous Swedish artists already have another one in the works, so prepare accordingly. (More from me)

Ecstasy (MP3)

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This Week @ In Review Online: Flaming Lips, The Mountain Goats and more

Maybe this should read last week at In Review Online, but these review just got posted recently and I think we've got a good haul for you. My Monsters of Folk review I've already posted, but here's the full list:







Flaming Lips - Embryonic ( by Yorgo Douramacos)
3.5 Stars (of 4)

"If all you think of in connection with Wayne Coyne and the boys is sugary, glacial bliss and secular humanist hymns set against stories about weird aliens and superheroes, here comes Embryonic to remind us just who we’re dealing with."

The Mountain Goats - Life of the World to Come (by Jordan Cronk)
2.5 Stars (of 4)

"...The Life of the World to Come is a deeply penetrating, earnestly manifest song cycle applicable to just about anyone willing to open themselves up to Darnielle’s penetrating realizations."

Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk (by Yours Truly)
3 Stars (of 4)

"You probably won’t want any of these talented musicians to quit their day jobs soon, but this album is more than just a fun diversion—it’s an impressive achievement."

Califone - All My Friends are Funeral Singers (by Jordan Cronk)
3 Stars (of 4)

"All My Friends Are Funeral Singers represents yet another unique and deeply rewarding conflation of a variety of classic and modern American rock and folk signifiers."

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers (by Yorgo Douramacos)
3.5 Stars (of 4)

"...Wild Beasts somehow create echo-drenched theatrical lounge music for tomorrow’s sexier rocket ships."

Continued: The Year in Review So Far: Folk Music

I got a little excited with the last post and it was longer than I thought. So I'll continue with the last three albums I intended to review.

The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride (***1/2)

The Mountain Goats is led by John Darnielle; actually, he pretty much IS The Mountain Goats. However, "Heretic Pride" sounds much more like a full-band effort than some of his previous releases. Even classifying this release as folk might be a stretch, but I think it's probably the most appropriate genre.

Your enjoyment of the The Mountain Goats will probably rest on how much of Darnielle's voice you can stomach. It's high, it's nasely, it can be a little much. As much as I enjoy the music, I sometimes can only take a track or two at a time. Having said that, those who are willing to get past or get used to the vocals will be richly rewarded by some very strong storytelling and great melodies.

It's enthralling to hear songs like "Heretic Pride," which tells the story of a martyrdom from the martyrs perspective. As the subject is dragged through the streets and buried alive, his positive outlook and confidence in eternal justice fit the bouncy drum and bass line. Sounds a little morbid, I know, but it's great. Other songs tell stories of lake monsters, lost love, cults; it's a variety show. Not every song is a hit, and listening to the whole thing at one time gets a little grating, but there are some real gems to be found here.

Favorite Tracks: Heretic Pride, Tianchi Lake, San Bernardino

The Weepies - Hideaway (****)

If you're a sucker for male-female harmonies, like I am, you'll probably love The Weepies. Not to say that's all they have going for them, because it's not. The weepies are good lyricists, and they know their way around a great melody. Also, Deb's voice has a simple, child-like quality to it, which doesn't sound like a compliment, but it is. That's really what keeps them from being one of a dozen other folk duos out there.

I loved The Weepies' previous album, "Say I Am You," and I don't feel like Hideaway is quite up to the standard (which is quite high). It's probably a more even and consistent album, but that's partly what makes it a bit boring. I blame the production, mostly. It's a little too shimmery and shiny, which I found to be an unnecessary touch. The songs sometimes blend and a few tracks don't add much to the whole.

With that gripe out of the way, now I can say how much I really do enjoy listening to "Hideaway." It's not especially inventive or incredibly unique, but that isn't really the point. The point is that you will have a tough time NOT singing along by the second half of every song. And if you let the sweet lyrics and beautiful harmonies sink in, you might just find it difficult to stop listening.

Favorite Tracks: Orbiting, Antarctica, How You Survived The War

Sun Kil Moon - April (****)

Sun Kil Moon is more of a stage name for singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek than a band. I'm unfamiliar with the rest of his catalog, but apparently it's fairly lengthy; he's been around for a while and the critics generally like what he does. On his latest release, "April," Kozelek has created a beautiful album that, despite it's VERY long run time (11 tracks, 73 minutes!), is rarely boring and usually captivating.

You'll have to be in the right mood to listen to "April." It's a low-energy affair for the most part, with songs regularly stretching to seven or eight minutes, some of which are fairly repetitive. Luckily, Kozelek never runs out of things to say and throws in just enough musical twists that each track serves as more than just background music. His voice can take a little getting used to as it meanders around finger-picked guitar lines and soft percussion, but everything comes together for an interesting and intimate sound that demands the listener to pay attention. It's hard to say what exactly makes this album a success, which I think is what makes it worth a listen in the first place.

Favorite Tracks: The Light, Harper Road, Like the River