May 31, 2010: Menomena

Artist: Menomena
Album: Mines
Year: 2010

I've always had a certain fondness for indie-pop-rock act Menomena; from their rock to their soft and soothing, they are eternally half anxious, half laid back. More so, they were an act that was constantly improving. While debut I Am The Fun Blame Monster (anagram of "The First Menomena Album" if you were wondering) was great, sophomore effort Friend And Foe was what made me love them. However, after two listens, I am certain it'll be Mines that I look back on the most fondly. Menomena always knows how to open their albums. "Cough Coughing" was a highlight of their debut and "Muscle 'N Flo" was probably the best song they'd written until Mines. However, opener "Queen Black Acid" is an absolutely beautiful intro to the album and to Menomena in general. However, if the band was in any way subdued previously, they end that with the balls to the wall opening of "TAOS", which then morphs around from rock to violin choir to show tune and when it's all over the only definition is that it's something that's just distinctly Menomena and nothing else. They manage to be familiar and adventurous at the same time, but never in a way that forces you through a hoop. More highlights are "Killemall", "BOTE", "Five Little Rooms" and wonderful closer "INTIL". Recommended to any of you indie rock lovers.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWRNZDjEQ5U

May 30, 2010: Taking Back Sunday

Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Tell All Your Friends
Year: 2002

"So sick, so sick of being tired / and oh so tired of being sick" yelps Adam Lazzara on the first verse of opener "You Know How I Do", and you can tell he means it. Tell All Your Friends is an album from an ancient time in second-wave "emo" where bands played with massive distortion in low-budget studios and said "if we just make everything louder people won't hear the production value... and if we just yell the lyrics, they'll just yell along". See Your Favorite Weapon or Full Collapse for more examples of this. While follow-up Where You Want To Be would prove to be both more mature and refined then the debut, Taking Back Sunday showcase here an intensity that doesn't need to be contained, a rawness that's more honest then under produced. Adam's iconic "Your lipstick his collar / don't bother angel / I know exactly what goes on" shows something Taking Back Sunday would never show for the rest of their career: not just emotional intensity, but the idea of going all out. This album is full of highlights like "Timberwolves At New Jersey", "There's No 'I' In Team" and "Bike Scene", but the whole album is strong and I highly recommend you blare this out your car stereo as I do. Oh, and go see their original line-up while you still can.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzo1D6gxjPM

May 29, 2010: Say Anything

Artist: Say Anything
Album: ... Is A Real Boy
Year: 2006

Another in a row of concept albums that aren't actually about anything, the masterpiece of Max Bemis is a work of bitter, sly and ferocious social commentary. On some of the album, he shows aggravation; other times, he is sour and self-deprecating. But at every moment, you can count on him being absolutely relentless. The album begins with a joke at the expense of Max's social anxiety, but as soon as the message pops through: "and the record begins with a song of rebellion", suddenly he's coming at you with a battering ram of sing-along choruses, scathing one-liners and a yell for recognition. "Woe" contains the brilliant exchange of "And this girl who I met / whose pride makes her hard to forget / she took pity on me / horizontally / but most likely because of my band". The roller coaster continues with the greatest love song ever written about the Holocaust, "Alive With The Glory Of Love", biting "Yellow Cat / Red Cat", and "The Futile", which opens with Bemis yelping "shit / nothing makes sense / so I won't think about it" with such tongue-in-cheek apathy you can't help but agree with him. "An Orgy Of Critics" in a stand-out, as well as "Every Man Has A Molly" (which probably has the one greatest, most smirk-inducing opening verses to any song, ever). This is one of the few albums that manages to follow through on a strong start, and very stripped and sincere (but still socially conscious) "I Want To Know Your Plans" leads into "Admit It!", the album's ultimate track and probably the song I'll associate with Say Anything for the rest of my life. I'll post it as the "listen to" track for this album, so try to keep up as Max dissects a little bit of everyone's life, but some more than others. Highly reccomended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2OqgkAtCD0

May 28, 2010: Sufjan Stevens

Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Album: Illinois
Year: 2005

Sufjan Stevens was born to write music for me to listen to. While his first "state album", Michigan, set the format of "write lots of songs and instrumentals with tongue-in-cheek big names", it's Illinois where Sufjan perfects his own template. Don't be turned off by the song titles (such as "The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience but You're Going to Have to Leave Now, or, 'I Have Fought the Big Knives and Will Continue to Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!'" or "A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze" - which is exactly what it sounds like) - the indie-folk-pop Sufjan bounces around on this album is absolutely brilliant. I can't think of any song as unsettling as "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.", or as triumphant as "Chicago", as reflective as "Casimir Polaski Day" or as jubilant as "Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!". The album itself shows Sufjan Stevens has a sense of humor about the whole "project", and it being more in good fun rather than in ostentatious nature really sets the message: Sufjan thinks Illinois is a pretty neat state (and it is), and writes a whole bunch of jams about it that mostly remains universal or associated in a way that's personal to him. We get to reap the rewards of this, and this is by far one of the best albums of this decade and generation of music. To hear it once is to love it forever. Personal favorite: "They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!" or maybe "Come On! Feel The Illinoise! Part I: The World's Colombian Exposition / Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream". I don't buy many albums*, but I wager there are at least two copies in my house (one being my father's) and one in my car. Highly recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDRrqcZbdPU

* I was originally going to write "I don't usually buy albums, but when I do, I prefer Sufjan Stevens". Which would make me... the most pretentious blogger in the world.

May 27, 2010: Joni Mitchell

Artist: Joni Mitchell
Album: Blue
Year: 1971

One album I've missed dearly since this experiment is Joanna Newsom's Have One On Me, an album that got plenty of comparison's to Mitchell's work and for good reason. I, myself, wasn't as aware of the style similarities until my dad picked out Blue for me this week, an album I'd always planned to listen to but never got around to. Mitchell really starts off the confessional singer-songwriter format here, and very carefully puts together a collection of songs that function together as well as apart. Highlights are opener "All I Want", "Little Green" and the gorgeous "River".

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY

May 26, 2010: Forgive Durden

Artist: Forgive Durden
Album: Wonderland
Year: 2006

I've always thought this was a great album, but going through it again with real focus made it very clear that Dutton and folks have crafted a much more clever album then I'd remembered. It's not just the wordplay he tosses around in highlights "Beware The Jubjub Bird And Shun The Frumious Bandersnatch" and "Harry Frazee And No, No, Nanette"; while the more mature themes of the album - hardship, greed, hypocrisy, death - are obvious, little nuances fill the album (see: the end of "Beward The Jubjub Bird...") that really make it come to life. The album is strong from start to finish, highlights include "Parable Of The Sower" (another clever track), "Il Tango Della Signora Francesco Di Bartolommeo Di Zanobi Del Giocono" and the concept album climax track "I've Got A Witch Mad At Me And You Could Get Into Trouble". Song titles and lofty "concept album" status of Wonderland side, this is a damn good album akin to Gatsbys American Dream fare.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnCD5enbT00

May 25, 2010: The Ataris

Artist: The Ataris
Album: Blue Skies, Broken Hearts... Next 12 Exits
Year: 1999

The Ataris got me through high school. Did they get you through high school? If they did, well, I'm sure you immediately understand my love for this album. Angst, hope, it's all there. "Why can't I ever seem to learn / that love is wrong / and girls are fucking evil", Kris Roe yells on "The Last Song I Will Ever Write About A Girl, in stark contrast to lines like "Let me start this from the day we met / you were so beautiful / I never could forget" opening "1*15*96". This album has all the ups and downs of emotional maturity, and Kris Roe sings along with every word completely and fully honest. This album is a triumph to being young and stupid, and even past those days (as Kris was at the time of it's release) it's easy to smile and fondly remember using him as our lens. Highly reccomended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynDili3sI70

Thank you, Adam, for your great choice. Tomorrow is Beth's pick, Forgive Durden's Wonderland. I'm excited.

May 24, 2010: No Knife

Artist: No Knife
Album: Hit Man Dreams
Year: 1997

Not much to say about this early album from post-punk pioneers No Knife. Angular guitar riffs, melodic songwriting with a clear edge. I only owned their last album, Riot For Romance!, but this a great album for investigating the beginnings of a band who would eventually write a masterpiece. Highlights are "Your Albatross" and great closer "Sweep Away My Shadow". Fans of Fugazi and mid-late 90's post-punk and pre-emo emo check them out, but I'd highly reccomend starting with songs from their magnum opus Riot For Romance!

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YeDAwmZFjw

While you're on youtube, check out "The Red Bedroom" by them, it's my favorite song by them and a bit more up-to-date.

May 23, 2010: Anathallo

Artist: Anathallo
Album: Canopy Glow
Year: 2008

Awesome indie-pop album, really catchy and powerful and well-written. It's clever, but not in a superficial or smug way. Highlights are "Noni's Field", "Italo" and "The River". Theatrical in a lot of ways, too, with Andrew Dost's clever vocal lines and their unique approach to songwriting and vocal melodies. Highly reccomended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/anathallo
["Noni's Field"]

May 22, 2010: Alkaline Trio

Artist: Alkaline Trio
Album: From Here To Infirmary
Year: 2001

The quintessential dark pop-punk album, and in my opinion a great band's magnum opus. Matt Skiba and Dan Adriano burst through twelve tracks with an incendiary lyrical gift, no remorse for anything left in their wake. Every track is great, but my favorites are "Mr. Chainsaw", "Take Lots With Alcohol", "Another Innocent Girl", "Armageddon" and "You're Dead". Highly reccomended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtIkxixWKBI

May 21, 2010: The Creeps

Artist: The Creeps
Album: Lakeside Cabin
Year: 2008

Oh, punk! It's so good to see you again! Lakeside Cabin is in some ways a throwback to those classic dark-punk acts (later Ramones, The Misfits, early AFI) but I'd liken them to a muddier Goddammit-era Alkaline Trio. Pulsing power chords, deep-throated yell-singing lyrics about violence and romance, all with the tongue firmly placed inside the cheek. Not much more to say about this; it is exactly what it is and pretends to be nothing more, and I praise it for it's authenticity. Also, I'd really like to put on some From Here To Infirmary right about now. Key tracks: "All The Way Home", "Voices (Again And Again)".

Hear it for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/capitalcitycreeps
["All The Way Home"]

Tomorrow? "From Here To Infirmary". I mean, I can do that, right?

May 20, 2010: Dan Fogelberg

Artist: Dan Fogelberg
Album: Home Free
Year: 1973

The best of the "parents choice" albums so far, Dan Fogelberg's debut "Home Free" was a pleasant surprise. Unlike, say, The Moody Blues, the 1973 LP in no way feels dated; the kitschy soft-rock/folk/confessional singer-songwriter bit is still done quite a bit, and there's no question that some of them are emulating Fogelberg. Fogelberg himself is at his best when he's giving his most self-intuitive and original efforts; while the CSNY influence is made overtly obvious in songs like "Long Way Home" and closer "The River", these songs - while still pleasant homages - fall short of the more direct "Stars", "To The Morning", and the beautiful and sparse "Looking For A Lady (Living In The Country)". Personal favorite is the haunting and remarkably powerful "Wysteria", as stripped as Fogelberg gets on the album. The song shows that Fogelberg shows his true talent when the arrangements don't cloud up his confessional style and stellar voice, but rather let them build to their natural climaxes. The album is strong through and through with obvious highlights and nothing feeling out of place. Highly recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQWwZQxSwoM

Until tomorrow.

May 19, 2010: Hidden In Plain View

Artist: Hidden In Plain View
Album: Life In Dreaming
Year: 2005

Hidden In Plain View is a middle-of-the-band road. They lack the talent and creativity to be great, but are certainly at least competent at what they do and unique enough to not be truly mediocre. Life In Dreaming is the baseball equivalent of hitting a midfield single and getting caught at second. For it's genre, it does what it's supposed to; but where it falters when it tries to go beyond that. Opener "Bleed For You" is catchy enough to be memorable and well-written enough to keep you listening, but the band tries reaching a few times only to come up short: "A Minor Detail", "The Innocent Ones", "Top 5 Addictions" and "American Classic" come to mind. With that said, the album at times puts strong tracks to the plate, including the aforementioned opener, "Twenty Below", "Ashes Ashes" and cheeky closer "Halcyon Days" (despite the headbanger pun). It's a C+ album that gets a B- for effort.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfgFQbe1qcc

May 18, 2010: Alanis Morissette

Artist: Alanis Morissette
Album: Jagged Little Pill
Year: 1995

It's like rain, on your wedding day.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v9yUVgrmPY

May 17, 2010: Sam Quinn

Artist: Sam Quinn
Album: The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships
Year: 2010

Admittedly, I had no clue what I was getting into when a friend sent me "The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships"; I had heard comparisons to Chappaquiddick Skyline, or a more Americana-styled Red House Painters. While these comparisons are justified, I find Quinn more akin to, say, a more melancholy Gary Higgins, treading the between folk and alt-country effortless while writing sad, meandering tunes with a strong backing band. A better and more contemporary would be the later period of The Avett Brothers, with less of a bluegrass influence and the sheer fun of making music in general exchanged with reflection and mystery. Quinn has a pained, full and emotional voice akin to Otis Redding (another good comparison and definite influence) - and a cleverly delivery. Overall, the music is very pleasant despite the darkness that lies beneath it's surface. Stand-outs are the terrific opener "Hello", "Suite Motown", "Help Me" and the album's strongest track "Late The Other Night". Definitely worth a listen, and a big help to prove my case that people named Sam with beards are excellent musicians.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.myspace.com/samquinnjapanten
["Late The Other Night"]

Tomorrow, it's Adam and Kim choosing. Ahem, ahem.

May 16, 2010: As Tall As Lions

Artist: As Tall As Lions
Album: As Tall As Lions
Year: 2006

Dan Nigro is a heartbroken, soul-searching blues singer raised in the '90s and fronting an indie-pop band. Somehow, it works. Expect Dan to belt and croon his sleeved-heart off about lost loves in foreign locales, doubt, loss while his band plays along with pretty sounding instruments in well-crafted ballad. As Tall As Lions is immediately catchy, deep and powerful with a certain penchant for the dramatic. Your spirit will soar and drop along with Dan as he sings about losing his soul in "Stab City" or about during the rousing chorus of "Love, Love, Love (Love, Love)", a song in which the content is pretty obvious. It's pop music for the counterculture or indie music built for the pop crowd. However, with the smart songwriting and delivery, accessibility and Dan's powerhouse of a voice, it's pretty easy to make this album your own. Stand-outs are "Song For Luna" and "Ghost Of York", but this album is solid through and through. Personal favorite is probably "Milk And Honey", a song about a relationship falling apart after a miscarriage, or the stellar hidden track "A Soft Hum". Highly recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2fWHGa4r6s

Tomorrow is gonna be fun, fun, fun! I promise.

(I don't actually promise)

May 15, 2010: MewithoutYou

Artist: MewithoutYou
Album: Brother, Sister
Year: 2006

Aaron Weiss is far and away the greatest lyricist of this generation, and is likely one of the greatest lyricists of all time. His band, styled mewithoutYou, divulges deep into their art-punk and indie rock tendencies, and any like most art-focused music Brother, Sister can be a tough listen. However, both the honest self-imagery and wise-beyond-his-years reflections initially drew me into the album, and it wasn't long before Brother, Sister was a necessity for my music collection. I won't lie: this album takes repeated listens for full immersion. However, it is beyond worth it; Weiss' lyrics hit hard once understood and absorbed; despite the religious themes and personal background of it all, Weiss writes and sings nothing that the everyman can't relate to. Hell, this might be the nature of genius in full. Definitely one of my favorite albums and one I'll be listening to years from now. Key tracks: In A Sweater Poorly Knit, Nice And Blue Pt. 2, O Porcupine, C-Minor, Messes Of Men, In A Market Dimly Knit... Really, the whole thing. Give it a chance.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4g-3WRXIts

May 14, 2010: The Kooks

Artist: The Kooks
Album: Konk
Year: 2008

Sorry, The Cars, but you've just been one-upped in the "most fun album" category. If you're a fan of the third wave of britpop (Absent Elk, The View, Doves, The Wombats, The Music, Pigeon Detectives... etc) then you're probably a fan of The Kooks. They have a smart "indie" sound with both rock ideals and a pop bounce. The album is all around solid, but my favorite tracks are the strong opener "See The Sun", the at-first pacified "Sway" and the jangly "Gap". You'll probably recognize "Shine On" from some commercials, too. "Always Where I Want To Be" is another stand-out, as well as hidden track "All Over Town". Britain is still the best place to find new music, you just have to pay more attention now. Highly recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6N41w5RmAk

I'm a day behind, so I'll be doing another one before the day is over after going to see The Spill Canvas with Adam and Kim. Wonder what album I'll pick...

May 13, 2010: Jackson Browne

Artist: Jackson Browne
Album: I'm Alive
Year: 1993

Solid Jackson Browne material from the later half of his career, I'm Alive is a story about recovering from a break-up. I was four when it all happened, but my dad says it was highly publicized and I don't know much about it so, hey, a highly publicized break-up can lead to some good tunes. Key tracks are "I'm Alive" and "My Problem Is You", as well as closer "All Good Things". All in all, great singer-songwriter stuff with a feel that's isn't at all dated. Recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYwSAIKlkeI

As I am busy pretty much all of tomorrow (interning and then a concert), I'm afraid Brian's choice of The Kooks' "Konk" will have to wait for a double-header on Saturday. Unless I can get a listen through after the concert. We'll see.

May 12, 2010: Brand New

Artist: Brand New
Album: Deja Entendu
Year: 2003

The magnum opus of a great band, Brand New's "Deja Entendu" is one of those few albums that people will still be listening to forty years from now. A classic, if you will. Opener "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" gives the listener a rush to the head, pushing a oscillating back beat over Lacey's call and response lyrics about youth, doubt, despair, and feeling out of place. "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light" is another highlight, running seamlessly into what is probably the crowning achievement and best track in the history and future of Brand New: "Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't". If you don't know this song, click on the link below. The rest of the album is strong, including single "The Quiet Thing That No One Ever Knows", personal favorite "The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot", and the album's powerful finale, "Play Crack The Sky", a longing ditty where Lacey seamlessly compares a literal shipwreck to, well, any other kind of shipwreck: "your tongue is a rudder / that steers the whole ship / sends your words past your lips / or keeps them safe behind your teeth". Great album, highly recommended, and a thank you to Beth for getting this into my library again.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oorx2EQ0Ag

Tomorrow will be another parent's choice album. I currently don't know what it is yet. Should be interesting!

May 11, 2010: The Spill Canvas

Artist: The Spill Canvas
Album: Sunsets And Car Crashes
Year: 2005

Words cannot describe my love for this album. Listen to it for yourself; there are no excuses. Whether or not it's your cup of tea is inconsequential. This album could change your life in wonderful ways, or at least your idea in what actually qualifies as music. So why wait? Hear it for yourself. There are no excuses. At least do yourself the favor of turning off the lights, putting on "The Tide" and following along the lyrical story while Nick Thomas pours his heart out about what life isn't and can be. Also highly recommend "Bracelets", "The Night Will Go As Follows", "All Hail The Heartbreaker", "Caterpillars", the title track, "Your Evil Soul"... Oh, I could go on.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfBighSAXgo

If that wasn't enough, Beth has picked a shocker* for next week: Brand New's "Deja Entendu". Return for more gushing, if you like.

* not actually a shocker

May 10, 2010: The Cars

Artist: The Cars
Album: Heartbeat City
Year: 1984

The first album of the eighties to grace us, Heartbeat City is a testament to everything the eighties had to offer. Most of the album is humorous, tongue-in-cheek but catchy pop with an out of this world mindset and a somewhat goofy approach to songwriting. However, Ocasek and company have more to offer than eighties goof balling; single "Drive" is a testament to the power that's also lurking behind their song craft. Probably the funnest album currently in my line-up, I highly recommend at least "Drive".

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbTjzZzfR7w

Tomorrow, Adam's giving me a huge break by letting me add an absolutely crucial album to my library: the ridiculously wonderful "Sunsets And Car Crashes" by The Spill Canvas. Return here tomorrow for some immense, deserved gushing.

May 9, 2010: Cold

Artist: Cold
Album: 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage
Year: 2000

What I've decided as the quintessential nu-metal album of the 90's actually came a bit late; in the new millennium, even. Regardless, the album sustains the same values of music that was established in the 90's during the post-grunge backlash. The album goes through many emotions, but usually it's anger. "Just Got Wicked" is the closest the band had to a single and has a strong chorus (most of these songs do), "End Of The World" is downright surreal. "Send In The Clowns" is the major stand-out here, really pressing almost everything the genre has to offer into one four minute stack. Even ballad lovers get a major boon here, with gorgeous closer "Bleed" showing of the band's ability to be sweet and sincere in spite of the darkness that clouds the rest of this album. Sierra Swan does some excellent background vocals in "No One", which should be mentioned. Very solid album, if it's your kind of thing.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz8LIOsejVQ

Later today, we'll be getting my actual Monday album (this post is late): The Cars' "Heartbreak City". Haven't heard this before, excited to get into it.

May 8, 2010: Dear And The Headlights

Artist: Dear And The Headlights
Album: Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
Year: 2007

This is one of the most clever albums I've ever heard. Both musically, emotionally, and lyrically, Dear And The Headlights take you for an absolute ride that's worth repeating. Lead singer Ian Metzger is a brilliant lyricist, both sharply intelligent and immediately relatable; there is not a song on this album that doesn't belong. Highlight "Skinned Knees And Gapped Teeth", a song about adolescence and stories about him and his older brother is a particular gem with this gem of a lyric: "remember how I swore I would pass you up in age / you just scoffed at me / well I'm still gonna do it / just haven't quite figured out how yet". I can't really write anything here to do this album justice, other than heavily recommend you go out and get it for yourself.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ4BtNWzCU8

Tomorrow will be another album. Surprising, right?

May 7, 2010: Does It Offend You, Yeah?

Artist: Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Album: You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into
Year: 2008

Treading the trails blazed by Daft Punk and co., Does It Offend You, Yeah's debut LP incorporates fast paced dance-punk with a new new wave (post-no wave?) aesthetic that encompasses both pop sensibility and absolute chaos. Lead single "We Are Rockstars" shows this quickly, with a jarring synth line that breaks down into robotic droning akin to most of Daft Punk's work. However, the band is not content to stay on these lines, incorporating indie rock concepts (standout "Dawn Of The Dead"), as well as slowing the album down considerably near the end, most noticeably on "Epic Last Song". The album has it's ups and downs, but which tracks are keepers and which aren't is very obvious on the first listen. Special shout-out to "Attack Of The 60 Foot Lesbian Octopus" for it's ridiculous song title - it's actually one of the best tracks on the album.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AJoRggrExQ

Tomorrow will be a surprise (for both of us!). See you then.

May 6, 2010: The Moody Blues

Artist: The Moody Blues
Album: Days Of Future Passed
Year: 1967

With a band name like "The Moody Blues", you'd figure these guys have a pension for the dramatic. Well, as most of you know... they do. Considered by many their magnum opus, it will have the honor of being my first "parent's choice" album. I knew "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)", probably better known as "Tuesday Afternoon", and of course "Nights In White Satin", but I had never listened to the album in it's entirety. Well, after going through, I can say pretty safely that it's established state as a classic is completely deserved. The album opens with a stunning overture, establishing an orchestral theme that runs throughout the album. "Dawn Is A Feeling" is a great tune showcasing the band's powerful and emotional songwriting, while "Peak Hour" shows off the band effortlessly jumping into the rock and roll that made this era of music so remarkable. The two singles from this album really speak for themselves: "Forever Afternoon (Tuesday)" is a great tune and "Nights In White Satin" - especially in the extended cut on the album - is an absolutely unforgettable epic and showcases a band channeling emotion powerfully and successfully, a feeling that bands before and since have tried to encapsulate and which most have failed at. Somewhat overlooked by it's competition in the 60's, "Days Of Future Passed" is an absolute staple to music becoming more than the sum of it's parts.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lazdg-eqmQ

Tomorrow, we'll be getting onto an album chosen by Brian and one I've wanted to get around to listening to: Does It Offend You, Yeah?'s debut LP "You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into". New new wave, here we come.

May 5, 2010: Thrice

Artist: Thrice
Album: The Artist In The Ambulance
Year: 2003

Thrice is just one of those bands I could never get into. Despite the pressures of one specific person *ahem*, I just very simply never liked their sound. Going through another listen of "The Artist In The Ambulance" very simply proved that point again for me. It's not a technical issue; the band is talented, and Dustin Kensrue is a decent lyricist and a better singer. Unfortunately, he spends very little time on this album singing; I tend to not like screaming in music in general with little exception, and his thin and callous tone is not an exception. The album itself tends to drag on, and even the songs with minimal screaming come off very generic and repetitive. I need the establishment of some kind of hook or melody, or with a band trying to be original, some interesting work in off-keys... but the albums just hammers in minors with reckless abandon. I feel like anyone could have written this group of songs; maybe not performed it, but definitely written it. From what I've heard, this band managed to get better in later efforts, but this is not a good place to start. Stand-outs are "The Melting Point Of Wax" and the "Stare At The Sun", as they are the only ones that I think are bearable.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk3Y_HBK9jA

Sorry, Laura. Tomorrow's album is parent's choice, so that should be very interesting. Stay tuned!

May 4, 2010: Ace Of Base

Artist: Ace Of Base
Album: The Sign
Year: 1993

Oh, the nineties. Specifically, in Sweden. Ace Of Base is one of those bands that are a benchmark in a counter-culture irony. Just as Rick Astley's 1987 hit gained new popularity in the new millennium, even Ace of Base has managed to resurface with a reunion and sold-out US tour. Really.

With that said, "The Sign" doesn't deserve the snubbing and backlash that has made it so laughed at by a culture relentlessly making fun of nineties music. Ace Of Base isn't anything more than it is - Swedish dance-pop. The singing is not direct, but well used, and every song features a synth pulsing on the off-beat. The melodies on opener hit "All That She Wants" are actually pretty intuitive. No need to explain "The Sign", but even that song has more depth than you remember. Most of the album drags on, though, and only has four or five legitimately good songs. With that said, it's hard not to listen to the album and not feel dirty. Because, I mean, it's Ace of Base. It's just not something you are supposed to enjoy. It's a guilty pleasure that Johnny Cochran couldn't get off the hook. And trust me, give some of these songs a spin and you ain't getting rid of the hooks either.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJwqDa1QVI

Well, that's over. Going to go take eighteen showers so I can feel clean again. Tomorrow, we listen to Laura's pick, Thrice's "The Artist In The Ambulance". I am probably not going to like it, but hey. We'll see tomorrow.

May 3, 2010: Black Kids

Artist: Black Kids
Album: Partie Traumatic
Year: 2008

Jumped right into this album. I'd heard of this band offhand from a friend and for easily identifiable reasons the name stuck with me so I thought, "why not?". Oh man, this album is fun. At times, the album is a full-blown party, full with moogs and handclaps and big synth lines and pulsing beats. I'm a big fan of the indie-dance craze, and this album has no problem thrusting you right into the scene. "Hit The Heartbrakes" and "Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)" are highlights; however, this album has a subdued edge that creates some damn good songs in the vein of mid-years The Cure; "I'm Making Eyes At You" might be the best song on the album. Highly reccomended for anyone who loved the late 70's, and newer bands like MGMT and The Wombats. Another stand-out track is the gloriously titled "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You". Good times.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcoxfibLBLc

Tomorrow will be the first day of blogger choice. Adam and Kim take this day, with Ace of Base's "The Sign". It's... It's going to be interesting. Leave me your condolences, as I may need them.

May 2, 2010: Cursive

Artist: Cursive
Album: Happy Hollow
Year: 2006

Happy Hollow may not be considered the best Cursive album, but after re-experiencing it this weekend I've come to realize that it's my favorite. While "The Ugly Organ" has a better collection of songs, including my favorite "The Recluse", I feel that Happy Hollow is a stronger album due to it's conceptual nature and the threads that tie all of the songs together. Happy Hollow follows a quaint, religious town (named after a real area near Omaha) as it shows it's hypocrisy, seedy underbelly and the general disarray hidden below. It's powerful, imaginative, and full of horns. Who doesn't like horns? "Bad Sects", "Into The Fold", "Flag And Family", "Dorothy At Forty"... all highlights. The whole album is a highlight. Go get it.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aYq6Y5A96w

Well, whatever plans I had for an album tomorrow just got blown away. The new Gaslight leaked - which takes precendence - as well as new Hold Steady, New Pornographers, Black Keys and The National, LCD Soundsystem, Crystal Castles... What a week of music I can't listen to. Alas.

May 1, 2010: The Format

Artist: The Format
Album: Interventions And Lullabies
Year: 2003

Nice to finally get a pop album here. After the political commentary so melded with Leo's work and Nick Cave's out-of-this-world musings, Nate Ruess is a welcome voice of simplicity, especially in the band's full-length. While I enjoy Interventions immensely, I feel it only set a bar that the band would throw to the sky on their follow up, "Dog Problems", which we will certainly get to if this music library is to be in any way complete someday. Interventions contains the band's swan song (well, pre-Dog Problems), "The First Single", which is... well, a great, addictive single done in Ruess' self-aware style. Another highlight is "On Your Porch", a very pretty song about coping with loss that has been in lots of movies and stuff like that. Overall, great debut, my favorite song being "Tie The Rope".

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apY9rP7iuHk

Tomorrow, I will be going with another CD that, despite not being the band's magnum opus, is great in it's own right: Cursive's "Happy Hollow".