End of the Year Lists

It's that time of year again, music geeks! Make some lists, because I know you can't resist!


Top 10 Albums of the Year
1. Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
A crazy lady with a harp. She howls and yelps, and her voice is a huge deterrent for some, but to me it's pure magic. Saw her live with Devendra Banhart and the whole feeling was like a gypsy caravan rolled into town and sank laughing into the night.

2. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
A guy with a banjo and an oboe and a tiny choir makes spiritually themed Nick Drake songs. This is not one of the albums he is making for each of the 50 states. He is also hot.

3. Phoenix - Alphabetical
Cute French boy music. Synths and meaningless lyrics, because really, we could use some music devoid of pretension right about now.

4. Jolie Holland - Escondida
Same hoarse jazz voice of Norah Jones and CHan Marshall (Cat Power), and plays country and jazz type music. Highly recommended by Tom Waits.

5. The Castanets - Cathedral
Dirty, guilty swamp music. Dirges from a coffin. The bog shifts to reveal a slowly gyrating music box.

6. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street
Same old Kings of Convenience.

7. Architecture in Helsinki
Like The Books, but with words. Very playful short songs that all run into one another for a cohesive record.

8. United States of Electronica - USE
With a name like United States of Electronica, I knew these guys were either trying to be really funny or were completely serious about what they're doing. Turns our they are completely serious. Song titles like "It! Is! On!" (yes, three !'s) and "La Discoteca" practically force me to pump my fist in the air and shake what God gave me.

9. Chops - Virtuosity
Junky hip-hop producer. Watch it, gonna be hot soon.

10. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
Same old Sam Beam, but with better equipment and a girl harmonizing instead of harmonizing with himself.


Disappointments of the Year
1. The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
2. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News
3. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
4. The Mountain Goats - We Shall All Be Healed
5. A. C. Newman - Slow Wonder
6. Tortoise - It's All Around You
7. Telefon Tel Aviv - Map of What is Effortless

Discoveries of the Year (old music that I just got around to liking)
1. Blanket Music
2. The High Llamas
3. Al Green
4. Clem Snide
5. MF Doom

Best New Artist
Wolf Parade

blackwasp said:

Out of curiosity, why did you list Good News for People Who Love Bad News as a disappointment? I view it as more mainstream than their previous efforts, and I think that they have grown leaps lyrically and melodically. I'd list that album as my #1 album of the year.

Click to expand...

The departure of drummer Jeremiah Green made a noticable difference. He drummed really loosely, which I thought was integral to their sound. This is all coming from somone who fell in love with Lonesome Crowded West-era Modest Mouse. Plus, there's the whole distasteful indie-bias against bands that sell out. The production was too shiny for my tastes, as well. I had too many expectations of the album, I guess.

Same thing with the Fiery Furnaces. I can't go from a two minute Gallowsbird Barker to an eight minute Blueberry Boater.

I'm pretty sure they're all alcoholics.