Long Drive Home/Quarterly Round-Up

2010 is off to a bang, and my what a bang it is going to be when it's all said and done. In less than 90 days, I will be back in Tennessee with Boston in the rearview mirror. It's kind of sad, but not really. In truth, it's a relief and exciting to know that for the 1st time in 12 years I will be settled in one place with some permanence! For our cross country trek (Oregon Trail-style!), I couldn't think of a better soundtrack than what 2010 has already delivered. Can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds (IN EVERY ASPECT!).

Here are my favorite records for
the 1st Quarter of 2010:
(that I have PURCHASED)

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
I've already spoken ad-nauseum about this one. It's great. Enough said. It's the follow up that Fleet Foxes still hasn't released.




Download: Local Natives - "Sun Hands"


Harlem - Hippies
This AZ band via Austin is keeping my love of garage/retro rock alive. Their major indie debut on Matador is step up from their last outing, Free Drugs. Matador Records a stalwart of American Independent Labels is under the Beggars Group that also owns stake in Rough Trade, XL, 4AD, and the now defunct Beggars Banquet. All those labels are putting out some of the best music available right now. Harlem is the latest addition to a long list of legends in independent music.

Download: Harlem - "Gay Human Bones"

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Is surf rock back? I think so. It is rising up along the same lines with the flower punk. Surfer Blood is NOT surf rock, though. It is something like a bastard child of the Pixies/Breeders with My Morning Jacket (don't attach too much to the MMJ reference - I say that only b/c the singer has vocals that are reverbed out the wazzoo - he is NO Jim James)
***THIS JUST IN*** - They are going on tour with Pains of Being Pure at Heart and will be coming to the Hi-Tone in Memphis and the Bottletree in the big, salty 'Ham. So you better get off your couch and check out what should be an amazing show. THERE!

Download: Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes"

Spoon - Transference
One of my favorite bands is back for more with less. Scaling things back for a more raw/rough sound than 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Transference is more along the lines of Gimme Fiction without going fully minimalist like Kill the Moonlight. (I still like Ga and Girls Can Tell the best!)

Download: Spoon - "Mystery Zone"


Vampire Weekend - CONTRA
Saw the ol' VW last week at the Orpheum. I feel like I've seen it all. It felt like your umpteenth Dave Matthews Band concert in High School. I fear the next time I see them will be like the one DMB concert I saw in college (snore........). Regardless, the show was excellent and fun. Contra is of the vein of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Little studio tricks are toyed with (autotune), but it is still Vampire Weekend plain and simple. Spring has arrived and I believe it is time to put on my boat shoes!

Download: Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up the Gun"

She & Him - Volume 2
Zooey and M are back to sugarcoat your brains out! These little ditties are sappy as all get out, but they are good in their own simplicity. So, channel Phil Spector producing a Judy Garland/Patsy Cline duet album, put on your retro clothes (girls grab your favorite thrift store skirt and flats), prepare for a deadpan delivery and get lost in what sounds like music for a 70's Disney cartoon (Robin Hood, I'm looking at you....).

Download: She & Him - "In the Sun"

Let me tell you what let me down so far:

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
The Soft Pack
BOOO! You could do better!


There is plenty of awesome other music that came out that I really like but haven't gotten around to purchasing, yet:

The Morning Benders - Big Echo
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Los Campensinos - Romance is Boring
Beach House - Teen Dream
Happy Birthday - Happy Birthday

and on and on........

There is also a lot coming out soon to be fired up about:

MGMT
New Pornographers
The National
Avi Buffalo

and more!

It's gonna be a great year for us and for music!

They're So Money, Baby

So, I just stumbled upon this brother/sister trio from Camden Town, UK today. Apparently, I was late to the dance. They are in a time warp somewhere between 1930 and 1950 with Cab Calloway. They are cool cats for sure! I give you - Kitty, Daisy, & Lewis

Download - "Put the Kettle On" mp3

No One's First, and You're Next

Modest Mouse is one of those staple indie bands. After what seems like 7 or 8 albums, they have mainstream appeal and still have the street cred to boot. Obviously, their breakout moment came with 2004's Good News For People Who Love Bad News and the hit single, "Float On" (for fans of that song just FFwd to the next track, "Ocean Breathes Salty" is one of my favorite MM songs). They continued with more of the same on the 2007 follow-up, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (did you know both albums were recorded in good ol' Oxford, MS?).

The other week, Modest Mouse released an EP collection of outtakes from these albums, No One's First, and You're Next. Leading up to the release of this EP, the band systematically released the songs on limited edition 7". And like a psycho, I bought them all. Now I'm bummed, b/c I have no reason to by the EP. Yet, part of me is driven to purchase it.... Did I mention I have a problem? That's like buying enough baseball cards to complete the set and saying, "you know I think I'll buy the box set". After all this, the songs are just OK. "Satellite Skin" is a winner. The rest are what they are - songs that didn't make cut for the albums. One of the last tracks is noteworthy, because Heath Ledger directed a video for it before his death. He didn't finish it, but his production company did in his memory. Check out "King Rat" just for Heath and take this EP for what you will. The critics seem to like it.

Modest Mouse

We Are Country Mice (aren't we?)

I've been compiling my "Halvsies" awards for the 1st half of 2009 (BTW - where the heck did this year go?). I will post that hopefully this Saturday when I can finally breathe.

Before we get to that, let me tell you what is kicking off my 2nd half of 2009:

We Are Country Mice

This Brooklyn group is originally from the Midwest (read: Kansas/Wisconsin). They hit the NYC club scene earlier this year. Check 'em out on their MySpace****

**** If you like chill music, may I suggest the B-Side of their new 7" (Make Your Own Damn Fun), "The Ballad of John". If you are a little progressive, then "A Good Old Fashion Barn Raising" is for you. If you listen to both these songs, it is hard to believe that they are from the same band. Wicked Good!

Pre-Order this band's debut - HERE

I'm So Tired...

It's Monday, and I need to go to bed.....the weekend came and went, and I need more...
In 2 weeks, Boston's own, Passion Pit, will release their full length debut, Manners.

Sleepyhead

This song is almost a year old now, but it's the one that put them on the map
AND
it's how I feel today - Sleepy!

Check em out on May 18th all you Animal Collective weirdos!

SNL, Step Up!

After some pretty weak shows this year (and some good moments, too), let me say, " SNL, don't be lame tonight". Seth Rogen is hosting with one of my favorite bands and the only thing I like that is French - Phoenix. Their new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (more on it to come on FWYH) comes out in May, and their last one (see above) was one of my favorites of 2006 and is a must own in my humble opinion. Check em out tonight. If you like you can download their lead song, "1901", for free on their website (here). Hope you enjoy! Whitney always knows them as - "Isn't that Sofia Coppola's baby's daddy?".

Yes....

UPDATE (4/5) -

L'avez-vous vu ? Incroyable !

Weather Report !!!!

Those hoping for a new White Stripes album anytime soon - don't hold your breath. Jack has finally moved the offices of his label, Third Man, to Nashville. In conjunction with that, he unveiled his latest side project, The Dead Weather. With the lead singer of the Kills (another great boy/girl duo ala the Stripes), the other guitarist from Queens of the Stone Age and Jack Lawrence, the bass player for the Raconteurs/The Greenhornes, White has assembled another amalgamation of musicians. The album will be out in June, and the offices are open now. It will feature a vinyl store inside, performance space, recording studio and more! If you can track down the debut 7" that I believe was given to the 150 guests at the grand opening event night before last which included Sheryl Crow et al, you will have quite the collector's item. For now, just go download the songs off Hype Machine:

The Dead Weather - "Hang You From the Heavens" (clink Link)
The Dead Weather - "Are Friends Electric?" (click Link)

PS - I'll be in Nashville this weekend for Polly and Forrest's wedding, but I know where I'll be going on Saturday morning - Third Man !!!

****UPDATE**** (3/16)
Third Man is downtown on 7th Avenue! Check!

Noise for Deaf Ears

Here are some more songs for listening enjoyment or not.....

The Strange Boys - "Poem Party"
This Austin, TX garage band has me foaming at the mouth. You know how I love the garage...

Say Hi - "November was White, December was Gray"
Recent Barsuk Records signee, they are on tour with opening act Telekinesis.

Beck - "Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat"
A Dylan cover for the War Child Heroes compilation

Plushgun - "Just Impolite"
Postal Service-esque song sans the UPS whiteboard

Ra Ra Riot - "Can You Tell"
More goodies from the Rhumb Line

Friendly Fires - "Skeleton Boy"
SO much better than their 1st single. Sounds like poppie Klaxons

Crocodiles - "I Wanna Kill"
Lo-fi art rock that may help your National void (but not likely)

Wavves - "So Bored"
Not really sure what the big deal is? Blogs won't shut up about 'em/him...

Dum Dum Girls - "Baby, Don't Go"
Vivian Girls? Oh, no - I'm sorry....Dum Dum...

Songs From Coast to Coast

We are going bi-coastal with these two newbies and also international to boot.
Ironically, these two bands are singing about the opposite coast....

Wild Light
This New Hampshire outfit has just released their proper debut, Adult Nights. With generally positive reviews, they may achieve some momentum with their debut song, "California On My Mind". The only problem is that there will be NO love from traditional radio with this song as it proceeds to cuss the majority of the state (especially the San Francisco Bay area.....). Regardless of the language, the song is very catchy along with the rest of their Phantomy Planety songs. Check them out as they are my neighbors to the north (not Canada - I'm not that far north. Then again this group does claim a former member of Canada's own, Arcade Fire....). Leland, somewhere I read "for fans of CYHSY". No sure about that, but give 'em a whirl.

Wild Light - "California On My Mind" (Download)

Telekinesis
Not so much a group, but a guy that I stumbled upon after he was signed to Merge Records recently. Apparently, he's buddies with Death Cab, so he must be cool (sic). Out of Seattle, Telekinesis is singing about the east coast on "Coast of Carolina"....It is a good song, but I like their song, "Tokyo" better. Just can't find an Mp3 of it for ya......Enjoy

Telekinesis - "Coast of Carolina" (Download)

Found the video for "Tokyo"

Two For Tuesday

This is a modified 2 for Tuesday. Today, the Black Lips release 200 Million Thousand and The Muslims (The Soft Pack) - LP gets its repress after selling out it's short run last year. It is quite ironic that they are together today. The 1st time I heard the Muslims, I thought,

"The Black Lips much?"

The Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
This Atlanta fivesome plays the music I love: dirty, lo-fi, garage rock. It's just a bunch of guitars with what sounds like Danelectro faux-tube overdrive veering into surf rock via the Memphis garage. Their last one Good Bad Not Evil was one of my top 5 records of 2007. I have a couple of leaked songs from this venture, sounds like they are not going to fix it if it ain't broke. I finally got to see these boys when they opened for the Raconteurs last summer in Beantown - a fun time! If you've never heard them. Check them out.
(from the last album "Bad Kids" or "Cold Hands" or "O'Katrina" are some of my favs)

Download: "Short Fuse"

The Muslims - (s/t)
I think I've said enough about the Soft Pack. These San Diego prepster garagers are coming here March 28, and I am beside myself with excitement!!!!
Get this album via InSound or illegally...


Download: "Extinction" or "Right or Wrong"

(UPDATE/EDIT)
Just noticed that Black Lips comes out NEXT Tuesday.....
Guess I shoulda talked about M.Ward's new one...
WHOOPS!!!

The Hype Machine

2 months into 2009, 2 albums/bands have been getting British rag levels of hype. Before the ball had dropped in the Big Apple, the interweb was alive and buzzing about Animal Collective's forthcoming album, Merriweather Post Pavillion (named for an outdoor amphitheater in Maryland?). If you've never heard AC, you are not missing out on too much (especially, if you are straight - and by straight I mean laced - not sexual preference). AC's music would be phenomenal if you were a habitual user of hallucinogens. Since I'm not, I find it OK. My experience with Avey Tare and Panda Bear (the core members of this trippy folk union) basically was nothing past their album Sung Tongs (get it? Tongue Songs? these guys are a riot...) and Prospect Hummer. They came out from under a rock and into my life my 2nd year of dental school, and I admit I have some songs off theirs still on my iPod ("Who Could Win a Rabbit"). It is weird, and not something I would seek out on the pod to listen to regularly.

NEVERTHELESS

In a move that like so many other bands that find success will be described as the moment they sold out - This latest venture is successful. It is bizarre like AC but not to the point of driving me nuts. If you want something interesting to listen to while you do other things (for me: Commute on the subway) that you don't need to concentrate on, this is for you. They have finally added just a splash of Pop sensibility to their sound to make it palatable. With all the 5 stars and album of the year 2009 cries from critics, it would be hard to live up to the hype. I'm shocked and amazed that I'm saying this - IT DOES. As we began the new year, I was already dreading what the masses of weirdos would be saying about this album (see here). They said it and were right. I have given it a month of thorough attention: It's good.







VERDICT: Hypeworthy
DOWNLOAD: "My Girls"


If you have read a music Blog at all since the end of January, it is highly likely that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have been mentioned. The current darlings of the moment released their debut week before last, and the bloggers are just now starting to calm down. My vinyl copy came lovingly bubble wrapped from InSound week before last, and I have given it a many spins. It is simply a lovely little indie pop record. Not as sugary as the New Pornographers and not as mopey as the Smiths, PoBPaH have crafted a solid effort that is very pleasant (Robert Smith would be proud). While you will find that nearly every song sounds the same (let's be honest, we could argue that case against almost any band....), you'll also find yourself bouncing in your seat to each one. As a new proud father of Wii Fit (thanks, K-Mart.com for actually having one in stock), I like to do my morning routine to this one. Upbeat enough to work out with and not too loud to blow your concentration on your downward facing dog (shoot me...).









VERDICT: Hypeworthy
DOWNLOAD: "Everything With You" or "Young Adult Friction"

Download This Track NOW !!!

This song has been playing over and over in my head all last week like a guilty pleasure.

Flosstradamus ft. Caroline Polachek - "Big Bills"

Caroline Polachek is the lead singer of NYC's Chairlift (of iPod Nano commercial fame - "I try to do handstands for yooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"). While not a manly song, "Big Bills" will shake your fanny, and sometimes that is what we need.



On a similar note of rump shaking, I sure missed out on Eli "Paperboy" Reed last year. Born and raised here in Brookline, MA, Reed migrated to the Delta and Clarksdale, MS. Apparently, he was dipped and bathed in the soulful waters of the Mississipp'.

Eli "Paperboy" Reed - "The Satisfier"

Two for Tuesday (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love/Accept the President)

"And we're BACK!"

It's the 1st Two for Tuesday of the year. Today, we find two releases from 2 prolific pop/rock/folk experts. A.C. Newman (or Carl) is the lead singer of New Pornographers, the super group composed of members of the Broken Social Scene crew and Neko Case. His 2nd solo album, Get Guilty, comes out today. If you've never listened to him or New Pornographers, get off the couch. The man can sure craft a power pop wonder. Check out Twin Cinema from 2005 (even though critics will tell you that their 1st 2 are better.....I also will fight to say that Chutes to Narrow is the stronger Shins album over Oh, Inverted World - Bring IT ON, ZACH BRAFF!!!) I digress....I'll be honest I haven't heard much from Get Guilty and may have to go on faith alone.....


On the other side of the coin, we have Andrew Bird, who unlike Newman is an American. Bird has put out something like 7 albums. I'll be honest that I was not aboard the Bird express until 2005's The Mysterious Production of Eggs. 2007's Armchair Apocrypha continued his whistle/violin/troubadour vibe. You heard "Heretics" off that one, yeah? Today, marks the release of #7 - Noble Beast. Apparently, it lacks the chops of the last 2 albums, but we'll see...Check it out for yourself. The man can write a song.

January 20, 2009

SIDE NOTE: If you buy the Mp3 of Get Guilty you get a free T-Shirt at InSound (it may be the other way around.....buy shirt, get songs...who knows)

Have a great week everyone

Happy New Year / Centennial

Not only do we celebrate the beginning of a new year, it is the 100 post milestone for FWYH.
Thanks to all who have read along this past year
(I sure wish you would speak up)

Since this is a music Blog 1st and foremost,
here are things to look forward to these 1st couple of months.

These are the albums I am eager to hear!

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: (January 26)
Andrew Bird – Noble Beast (January 20)
Black Lips – 200 Million Thousand (February 24)
AC Newman – Get Guilty (January 20)
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (February 10)
Bishop Allen - Grrr (March10)
Jeremy Jay - Slow Dance (March 24)
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus (Spring 2009)
The Thermals - Now We Can See (April 7)
The Soft Pack/The Muslims - EP (February Repress)

(I'm sure I'll eat my words at this years' Willy's, but I could care less about Animal Collective and all that hype...They have always been completely bizarre for no reason - 9.6 on Pitchfork? Hmm....)

-----Wishing and Hoping-----

The Strokes
The National
Mew
Doves
Wilco
Arctic Monkeys

Happy New Year, Kiddos !!!

The Willys - Part VIII - Finale

Here is my top of the heap.

Like many decisions in life,
there may be some doubt tomorrow.
Today, these are my guys...

#1-4

4. Foals – Antidotes










Maybe seeing this Oxford, UK outfit is what it was like to see Gang of Four in Leeds in the 70's. Don't get me wrong. They're NOT Gang of Four, but they have that danceability. I'm surprised that they didn't have more attention in these end o' the year lists. I suppose that I'm the only one to bite the hook on this hype...With all the hype around TV on the Radio the past couple of years, I'll have you know that this album was produced by their guitarist. Regardless, I enjoy this in all its NME/British rag over-hype. "Mathletics" was their 1st single. "Balloons" (arguably their strongest track) slowly churns to a fever pitch. "Cassius" is simply a stomper, and "The French Open" opens the album with a march into the inevitable fast pace of the whole album. Much like riot grrls and Swedish music, Will is a sucker for any British Invasion.

3. Little Joy – (s/t)










The Lord only knows when and if another Strokes album will arrive, but it is amazing how their drummer, Fabrizio Moretti's, presence in this little side project shifts the sound the way of his primary band. Granted, Little Joy sounds like the Strokes at the Copa Cabana Lounge. Lead singer, Rodrigo Amarante (a Brazilian - hence, the Copa), sounds eerily like the Strokes frontman, Julian Casablancas, with his vocals distorted and filtered through a drain pipe. Free spirit, Bikini Shapiro, fills in with a mysterious and beautiful voice like Regina Spektor once did for the Strokes. "Keep Me In Mind" is the Strokes wannabe song but far from the best song. "Next Time Around" is a sweet ballad that finds all 3 of our players harmonizing over beach blanket riffs and beats. "Brand New Start" moves like a duet between Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello - simple and sharp. "Unattainable" is Shapiro's solo. It is identical to solo takes by Maureen "Mo" Tucker of The Velvet Underground (see: "After Hours" or "I'm Sticking with You"). At the end of the day, I love this record. In the dark, cold winter of Boston (it is dark here at 4:00pm, and we had a wind chill of -12 week before last), this little piece of vinyl will take you away to a desolate beach with a beautiful, warm sunset....

2. Vampire Weekend – (s/t)










You know? What more can be said about my little New England prepsters? I'm sure some of you STILL have not checked them out even after all my prodding. You still have time...Where Little Joy takes you to the beaches of Rio De Janeiro, the boys of VW make you feel like you are on the west coast of Africa having a beach jam off the Cote d'Ivoire. I must say as a Boston resident, resistance is futile as many have labeled this album a concept album about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" will bring out your inner noodle dance - go white people, go! "A-Punk" will make you bounce right through the living room floor. "Oxford Comma" has all my favorites: chapstick and bow ties. You people owe it a listen. So, grab your favorite critter sweater from J. Crew, your Vineyard Vines polo, throw on your Sperry top-sider boat shoes and dance like there's no tomorrow.

1. Fleet Foxes – (s/t)










Seeing my rants about the 2 previous bands, you've got to believe in the quality of Fleet Foxes to topple them both. 1 of 2 SubPop bands in my top 4 (Foals), the Foxes were a breath of fresh air as Spring turned to Summer in 2008. Their sound is something almost Appalachian with the heavy reverb that My Morning Jacket has popularized. Many of you love Band of Horses. I, too, once thought they had something. Now, I realize they are a bastardization of the Shins, the Jacket, and some Jane's Addiction sprinkled in like vermouth in my Manhattan. No thanks. Fleet Foxes is everything that BoH wishes they could be. This album is nothing short of beautiful. If you close your eyes, it's hard to tell whether you are trecking the Appalachian Trail or marching along the Misty Mountains from Rohan to Rivendell. This band was not one of hype. They just quietly worked their way to the top of almost every list out there. I hate to side with the masses, but Fleet Foxes are for real and deserve your attention. These songs were plumb worn out in Whitney's car. The lyrics and melodies will haunt you. I dare you to resist. "Your Protector" is one of my favorite songs of the year. "White Winter Hymnal" sounds like O Brother Where Art Thou's Baptist congregation bathing in the shoals. "Blue Ridge Mountains" is their "Battle of Evermore" (that's one of Led Zeppelin's most blatant songs of Tolkien influence in case you didn't know).

I hope some of this music will take you to another place. They have taken me away...

Thus, ends the Willy's.
Hope you enjoyed or even read some of this.
(it ate up some serious time)
Please comment with your favorites.
***I'd love to hear.***
I won't chastise your love of Sasha Fierce.
I promise.

Encore: The Muslims/Soft Pack

See, I told you I'm obsessed.
Here they are playing an acoustic
version of "Extinction" in Sterogum's studio.
They're garage rock, but they still rock stripped down.

The Willys - Part VII

Twice in 1 day, children

papa's got to make up for Friday.

Here begineth the rest of the Top 10...

8-5

8. Black Keys - Attack and Release

1st off I hate Ohio. Nevertheless, these Ohio natives are A-OK with me! Yet another Danger Mouse helmed album that stole my heart. This blues rock duo got down and drrrty for this Attack. While some of their bluesier sounds were sacrificed for some grungy 60's via Seattle sound, the end result is still fantastic. "Strange Times" is nothing strange, but shows the vacation from their stripped down sound on this album. It may be scorn early BK lovers, but they're still the same band you fell in love with.

7. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Much like Ohio, I have never been a fan of Death Cab. I know. It's right up there with Alex's heretic comment about Radiohead. You've all done it. That hot band that everyone embraces to the point that it makes you want to puke and the only way to rebel is to say, "No thanks". In 1994, it was Counting Crows and Hootie. In the '00s (that's pronounced ~ oughts), it has been Ben Gibbard and Co. It's not that I don't respect their music/talent (it's there), I just wanted no part of the hype. Narrow Stairs has come off like the end of the world for hardcore cabbies. Well guess what? I LIKE IT! Benny boy takes his mopey self and adds some "old" Seattleness rather than the droning new school of Shins and Band of Horses (another band - I loathe - here comes the hatemail - and I know they're from NM and SC, respectively - not Seattle). "Cath" f-ing rocks, while "No Sunlight" is a power pop anthem of AC Newman/New Pornographer proportions. What can I say...? It will "Possess Your Heart".

6. Blitzen Trapper - Furr

These cats are cool as grits. They sure like to have fun, and it translates to their music. They sound as if they could be a Phil Lesh offshoot of the Dead. "Furr" is them all stripped down for a mountain jam ala Fleet Foxes. Heck, just listen to the whole album. It sounds like a 70's rock revival (and I don't even like most 70's rock) see: "Sleepytime In the Western World".

5. The Muslims - (s/t)

The words escape my lips. Much like my eargasm/obsession that began last Winter with Vampire Weekend, the Muslims (now The Soft Pack) appear poised to steal my heart into 2009. They rock with the swagger of the Black Lips but take it into 5th gear. "Extinction" is the heat along with "Call It a Day" and "Beside Myself". Unless you bought this long before I blogged about it back when, you are plum out of luck until February when the 2nd pressing comes out...Get it fast!!!! If they come anywhere near your town, you owe to yourself to check them out. I'd put this closer to the top, but it isn't even a full album....

Tomorrow:
The Top of the Pops

The Willys - Part VI

Sorry for the delay kiddos...
it's hard to find time around the holidays....
Back in Boston and back to the countdown

12-9

12. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular










This was on my list last year, but seeing as it was re-released by Columbia this year to widespread appeal it deserves our attention. This trippy duo had arguably my favorite song last year in "Time to Pretend". It still is amazing 1 year later. This year they had another breakout in "Electric Feel" and a minor hit in "Kids". I'm sure you've heard something at this point. If not, you can't go wrong with any of those 3.

11. M83 – Saturdays=Youth










Other than "Don't Save Us From the Flames" from a couple of years ago, I was relatively uninterested in M83. This album changed that. Rather than an album, this plays like a soundtrack to an 80's movie you never saw. At times, it feels like the soundtrack to something like "Risky Business" minus the train ride...."Graveyard Girl" is the hit single, and "Couleurs" is the sound that M83 always aims for. They're one of the few French acts I can stand other than Phoenix.

10. Beck – Modern Guilt










Most of what Danger Mouse has touched turns to gold. Here he strikes again. Teamed with Beck they craft 60's reverbed rock that cuts like a knife. At just over 30 min, these 10 songs cut out the fat and leave you with the meat. "Orphans" pairs Beck with Chan Marshall/Cat Power for a spooky ballad. "Gamma Ray" is Beck's surf rock anthem. "Profanity Prayers" is Beck at his heart...Can You Dig It?

9. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges









Most people can't stand when their favorite band releases that "experimental" album (me included). For most, Evil Urges was that sour taste. For me, I thought Z was the experimental one. Give me all the "Evil Urges" I can handle. The title track soars, while "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream" is a classic! "I'm Amazed" is nothing short of amazing, and could be a hit for crossover country like "When the Stars Go Blue" was butchered by Tim McGraw....