The Indie Thread

[nadroj1985]

So, anyone heard the new Sujfan Stevens album, Illinoise? I think it's his best album yet.

It's tough to say, but I might agree with you. Like Arnold said, it drops off a bit towards the end, but overall it's excellent. "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." is now my favorite Sufjan song.

And what do you think are the best albums released this year so far?

It's not been the best year for new music so far. Illinois is the only one I've really loved. But, the Books "Lost and Safe," Bonnie "Prince" Billy's "Superwolf," Low's "The Great Destroyer," and Six Organs of Admittance's "School of the Flower" are all good records. The Iron and Wine EP's not bad either, though it got boring for me after a few listens.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

Seriously, kids...I saw the Hold Steady on Sunday night. These guys are the real deal. Absolutely stunning show. I got chills. If they aren't playing 2000-seaters in a year's time, there is no justice in this world. Think Mark E. Smith fronting the E Street Band, and you're in the neighborhood, but not really. They manage to use a worn-out musical idiom (bluesy bar-rock riffing) and be totally unique at the same time. Beautiful, tragic, stunningly terrific. Buy their records...go see them...

I heard a few songs from them, and I liked the speak-sing aspect of it... not much else, sorry.

Also, the opener (United State of Electronica) was amazing in a wholly different way. An indie-rock Daft Punk. Not a thought in their pretty heads, but incredibly energetic and fun. Highly recommended.

Sunday was a good night...

Hold Steady: http://www.theholdsteady.com
United State of Electronica: http://www.usemusic.com/

I absolutely, on the other hand, adore USE. Vocoder bliss, plain and simple. I've always said that with a name like United States of Electronica, either these guys are being cheeky or they are dead serious about partying and having fun. We are all better off that they're the latter. You can DL their whole album in a zip file from their website, I believe. That's how I got it anyway. I'm still kinda bummed that I missed them at SXSW.

 

[charmtrap]

I heard a few songs from them, and I liked the speak-sing aspect of it... not much else, sorry.

I'd just say, try and catch them live if you have a chance. I like the albums pretty well, but live they were a revelation.

I absolutely, on the other hand, adore USE. Vocoder bliss, plain and simple. I've always said that with a name like United States of Electronica, either these guys are being cheeky or they are dead serious about partying and having fun. We are all better off that they're the latter. You can DL their whole album in a zip file from their website, I believe. That's how I got it anyway. I'm still kinda bummed that I missed them at SXSW.

Yes. I had only heard a couple of songs before seeing them Sunday, and I liked em...catchy, fun, etc. But live they are a whole different beast. They look like refugees from KC and the Sunshine Band. They bounce around, jump down into the audience, bring the audience up on stage to dance, drink a lot...I was won over completely almost immediately. And yeah, the vocoder use is a bit over the top, but it's pretty clear that their only concern is to sound good and party, and at that they succeed admirably.

Also, the diva/backing singer/whatever is hot.

 

[The Theory]

So, anyone heard the new Sujfan Stevens album, Illinoise? I think it's his best album yet.

I think it's a step down from "Michigan" and "Seven Swans" (which, in turn were not nearly as good as Enjoy Your Rabbit)

It feels like he's recycling too many past ideas without really expanding his sound much. It's still a good listen, and one of the better releases of year, but-- still a step down for Sufjan.

Although, some of the songs on there are some of the best he's done. The project as a whole, however, isn't.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

So, anyone heard the new Sujfan Stevens album, Illinoise? I think it's his best album yet.

i didn't realize i hadn't posted about it. oops. i've really been enjoying it. i got my copy in the mail a couple weeks ago-ish. agreeing with everyone else, "john wayne gacy jr" is an absolutely amazing song. i'm not sure whether i think this is his best album, though.

And what do you think are the best albums released this year so far?

i haven't bought many new releases yet this year, but i really like sufjan's, the iron & wine ep, and the new half-handed cloud.

 

[antiarte]

i didn't realize i hadn't posted about it. oops. i've really been enjoying it. i got my copy in the mail a couple weeks ago-ish. agreeing with everyone else, "john wayne gacy jr" is an absolutely amazing song. i'm not sure whether i think this is his best album, though.

I agree, "John Wayne Gacy, Jr" is an amazing song.

 

[Kar_uhh]

The music charts seem to be full of indie kids, but there is a lack of indie threads.

I know whats up with that??
well the Killers are pretty really awesome, as is LoveDrug and Copeland.

 

[philN]

So, anyone heard the new Sujfan Stevens album, Illinoise? I think it's his best album yet.

I haven't been able to stop listening to it. I get to the end and just start it over again. "John Wayne Gacy Jr." is quite possibly my new favorite Sufjan song.

I think it's a step down from "Michigan" and "Seven Swans" (which, in turn were not nearly as good as Enjoy Your Rabbit)

Eh. I don't know if I'd say that. I have trouble comparing Enjoy Your Rabbit and the others because of how different it is. I think I like Illinois more than Michigan, but I think Seven Swans may still be my favorite. I'm not sure where Enjoy Your Rabbit fits in; it's like comparing apples and oranges.

It feels like he's recycling too many past ideas without really expanding his sound much

Illinois takes the instrumentation of Michigan and some of the singer/songwriter aspects of Seven Swans and sort of puts them together. I think he is building on familiar things, but I wouldn't say he's recycling. I also think he is experimenting with poppier arrangements on Illinois, which I really like.

And what do you think are the best albums released this year so far?

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Half-Handed Cloud - Thy Is A Word...
Fiery Furnaces - EP
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Archetecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die

and I've also enjoyed, though I don't know if I'd call them the best of the year, but I've enjoyed the new Beck, Alkaline Trio, System of a Down albums as well.

And there are probably some I'm forgetting.



The Theory -- I'll be sending out those cds for you in the next few days. Sorry it's taken so long.

 

[The Theory]

that's cool. you're the man.

 

[nadroj1985]

Has anyone got "The Milk of Human Kindness" by Caribou? I've heard a few of the tracks and I'm pretty impressed; wondered if anyone had heard it all the way through...

 

[philN]

I've heard some very good things about that album. I've got some songs downloading right now...veeerrry slowly (stupid dial-up!).

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

i've got the feeling i may end up buying a bunch of 2005 albums in 2006, unless my buying habits drastically change for the rest of this year. i totally forgot the decemberists even put out a new album.

and phil, man, i feel ya. dial-up sucks. (though, of course, it is still better than nothing.)

 

[Arnold_Philips]

Has anyone got "The Milk of Human Kindness" by Caribou? I've heard a few of the tracks and I'm pretty impressed; wondered if anyone had heard it all the way through...

No.

 

[antiarte]

Has anyone got "The Milk of Human Kindness" by Caribou? I've heard a few of the tracks and I'm pretty impressed; wondered if anyone had heard it all the way through...

I was downloading it the other day and for some reason forgot about it. I'm gonna try to listen later.

The Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat is what I've been playing practically non-stop. Now is that I'm really appreciating the album. I also got me the new Lali Puna, some Soul-Junk and Architecture In Helsinki.

 

[philN]

Architecture In Helsinki.

I just got In Case We Die and I love it. People keep asking me what they sound like and I have no idea what to tell them, but I can't seem to stop listening to it.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

The Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat is what I've been playing practically non-stop. Now is that I'm really appreciating the album. I also got me the new Lali Puna, some Soul-Junk and Architecture In Helsinki.

i really want that fiery furnaces album. they're such a fun band. i can't really get into lali puna. maybe i've just heard the wrong stuff, but none of the songs i've heard have been particularly interesting.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I didn't like Blueberry Boat because it was too different from Gallowsbird Bark, and the new AiH was pretty disappointing except for a handful of songs. Fingers Crossed felt so much more like an album to me.

And I like Lali Puna's Scary World Theory and Tridecoder, but their newest one was too rock-y for my tastes.

The new Xiu Xiu (La Foret) is kind of bland too, if anyone was wondering. Not as dynamic as Fabulous Muscles, although I really like "Bog People" and "Muppet Face."

The new New Pornographers is kind of bland too, in the same way that Gimme Fiction isn't as exciting and rollicking as Kill the Moonlight.

I hate everything.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

i didn't even know xiu xiu had a new album out. boy am i behind the times. i just want to get "gimme fiction" sometime.

 

[philN]

i didn't even know xiu xiu had a new album out. boy am i behind the times. i just want to get "gimme fiction" sometime.

Yeah. I just got Fabulous Muscles a few weeks ago. It's so hard to stay up to date with all of this stuff.

I didn't think Gimme Fiction was too bad. Maybe not as good as Kill the Moonlight, but it's decent.

I had a somewhat lengthy drive today. I listened to Ween's God Ween Satan: The Oneness and part of the Mollusk on the way there and Sufjan's Illinois on the way back. It was fun.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

am i the only one who doesn't put kill the moonlight up on a holy pedestal of light? i like girls can tell better.