The Indie Thread

[white_frog914]

Wow. You like Calibretto? They were a fun band. Even more fun live.

Please don't rub it in... I DESPERATELY wanted to go to their final show last Halloween, but I couldnae find anyone to go with.

I love the progression of their albums though, how they went from "It's kind of funny how you're all so retarded" to "Jesus Christ you guys are retarded!" to...well Don't Go Into The Woods is...something else. And I proudly claim it as my favourite album of theirs.

 

[philN]

I wasn't able to go their last show either. Although, Christopher and Joe are still playing together as Harley Poe, who just played a Halloween show with the amazing and talanted Everything, Now!

Everything, Now! is going to be really big some day. I just have a feeling. You can download their first album online at www.everythingnowmusic.com . It's not too bad, but the new album Police, Police is much different and has parts that are absolutely brilliant. They were Paste Magazines band of the week the week after Wolf Parade was. It's really weird when people you know start getting famous or at least national press. Weird, but well deserved.

Speaking of Wolf Parade, I've decided that I really do not like Apologies to Queen Mary all that much. It's sooo boring in some places. I'm used to Pitchfork raving about carppy indie rock bands, but I think Wolf Parade is significantly less interesting than many bands who were given worse ratings.

Eh.

Has anyone started trying to think about what their top ten albums of the year are?

So far the only shoe-ins are: Sufjan Stevens, New Pornographers, Antony & the Johnsons, Why?, and Animal Collective. Caribou and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy are both up there too, but they may have to fight it out with a few others. The new Oneida might make it in there too; it's a little soon to tell, but I really like the album.

 

[philN]

Oh, and I'm seeing the Go! Team tomorrow night here in Boston. I am really excited. It's going to be like one big dance party pretentious indie kids. I can't wait.


And I think I'm going to go see Headphones (the esteemed David Bazan of Pedro the Lion fame) and American Analog Set play in two weeks. I haven't seen Headphones live yet and it's only $12. Might be fun.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

I keep a running list in a notepad:

Records of the year
Antony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
The Bees - Free the Bees
MIA - Arular
Akron/Family - Akron/Family
The Juan Maclean - Less Than Human

Disappointments of the year
Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Dangerdoom - The Mouse and the Mask
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
Castanets - First Light's Freeze
CocoRosie - Noah's Ark
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Daft Punk - Human After All

Overhype of the year
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The Boy Least Likely To - Best Party Ever
Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
Kaiser Chiefs/Bloc Party/Libertines/ad infinitum

 

[blackwasp]

I think my top three are:

Illinois -- Sufjan Stevens
The Milk of Human Kindness -- Caribou
The Mysterious Production of Eggs -- Andrew Bird

I'll have to think of how I'd rank the others.

 

[philN]

I forgot about that MIA album, that will probably make my top ten list this year.

You're the first person I've heard who was disappointed with Twin Cinema. What didn't you like about it?

And I'm standing by Picaresque. I think that was one of the best albums of the year and a fine work by the Decemberists. So shoot me.

I haven't heard The Bees, Akron/Family, or The Juan Maclean. Actually, I'm not even sure I know what kind of stuff they do. I've only heard of some of them in passing.

 

[philN]

The Mysterious Production of Eggs -- Andrew Bird

It's weird. I love Andrew Bird. But there are only certain times that I can really bring myself to listen to Mysterious Production of Eggs. It's a solid album, but for some reason, it doesn't make me want to listen to it a whole lot. Maybe someday soon everything will just click.

 

[blackwasp]

It's weird. I love Andrew Bird. But there are only certain times that I can really bring myself to listen to Mysterious Production of Eggs. It's a solid album, but for some reason, it doesn't make me want to listen to it a whole lot. Maybe someday soon everything will just click.

Maybe I just enjoy it too much.

I like Twin Cinema, I'm sure it will make it's way into my top ten. Hell, I might even put the Woman King EP by Iron and Wine in there...I didn't think it was too shabby.

By the way, Phil, I got the package in the mail today. You rock. I counted, and I now have over 30 full albums that I haven't listened to yet.

 

[philN]

I also don't feel like Broken Social Scene was that much of a letdown.

I feel like it was the next logical step after You Forgot It In People, and while it may not be as accessible, I think it has some intelligent pop songwriting. Granted, alot of the melodies are buried under layers of cacophony and dissonance, but it is still there and usually as layers pile on it becomes clearer and clearer (I'm thinking about Ibi Dreams of Pavement, in particular).

I know that I have not been able to deconstruct the whole album yet and really get familiar with all the little minute details that come together to make the album what it is. And I think that when I finally do, I will have a much greater appreciation for all that is going on.

Most of the complaints that I have heard thusfar are about individual tracks, but the more I listen to the album, I think that scrutinizing this or that track is missing the forest for the trees. When experienced from start to finish, I really can't say that the album is an utter disappointment. Different? Yes. Unexpected? Yes. But defnitely not disapointing.

But to each his own.

 

[white_frog914]

I keep a running list in a notepad:

Records of the year
MIA - Arular

Disappointments of the year
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Dangerdoom - The Mouse and the Mask
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Daft Punk - Human After All

Overhype of the year
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The Boy Least Likely To - Best Party Ever
Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
Kaiser Chiefs/Bloc Party/Libertines/ad infinitum

A part of me just died inside...


I'm going to start formulating my lists now...

 

[philN]

I like Twin Cinema, I'm sure it will make it's way into my top ten. Hell, I might even put the Woman King EP by Iron and Wine in there...I didn't think it was too shabby.

I listened to Woman King basically nonstop after I got it, but now I really only play it on occasion. I'm not sure if that's the album or me overlistening to it. Probably the latter.

By the way, Phil, I got the package in the mail today. You rock. I counted, and I now have over 30 full albums that I haven't listened to yet.

Sweet. I hope there isn't too much stuff on there that you already have.

I've been listening through those Modest Mouse EPs slowly but steadily. So far Everywhere and His Nasty Parlor Tricks is my favorite. "Night On the Sun" is such a great song. I still have to listen to Sad Sappy Sucker. And I'm digging the mix as well. Thanks so much.

 

[white_frog914]

Records of the year
MIA - Arular

I meant to mention this anecdote earlier, but sadly forgot:

A friend and I spend most of our time at a Used CD store near our house (most of our time being...3 or 4 times a week) and every time we go we count how many copies there are of Arular in the electronic/dance section. I think the highest amount that was there was 6, right now there is one. But there is always at least one copy there.

Anyways! I'll take more time to make a more comprehensive list, but for now here's my Top 5 of this year:

1.) Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
2.) Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (or, Sufjan Stevens Invites You to Come On Feel The Illinoise!)
3.) Decemberists - Picaresque
4.) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
5.) Annie - Anniemal

 

[blackwasp]

Sweet. I hope there isn't too much stuff on there that you already have.

The only repeats were the Wolf Parade and one of the Half-Handed Cloud albums. There are so many artists that I'm excited about checking out.

I've been listening through those Modest Mouse EPs slowly but steadily. So far Everywhere and His Nasty Parlor Tricks is my favorite. "Night On the Sun" is such a great song. I still have to listen to Sad Sappy Sucker. And I'm digging the mix as well. Thanks so much.

Yeah, I never bought the Interstate 8 EP b/c I think it's out of print, and most of it made it to BNOOS. I think that SSS is a great album, but you definitely have to give it a few listens.

 

[philN]

5.) Annie - Anniemal

Wasn't Anniemal a 2004 release?

 

[philN]

The only repeats were the Wolf Parade and one of the Half-Handed Cloud albums. There are so many artists that I'm excited about checking out.

I'm glad. I'd love to hear what you think of some of them. I didn't think I put that Wolf Parade album on there, but I guess I did. I'm finding I like it less and less lately though.

 

[The Theory]

Wasn't Anniemal a 2004 release?

yes, but only overseas. the US didn't get it until '05.

I know my top 3 of the year to this point would be (in no order yet)

The Fiery Furnaces- Rehearsing My Choir
Sufjan Stevens- Illinois
The New Pornographers- Twin Cinema

I won't compile an official list until the end of December.

 

[theFijian]

My albums of the year:

(Smog) -- A River Ain't Too Much Love
DFA 1979 -- You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Sufjan Stevens -- Illinois
Bloc Party -- Silent Alarm
CocoRosie -- Noah's Ark
Untitled -- Autechre (not as good as LP5 but in the same vein as those halcyon days)

 

[white_frog914]

yes, but only overseas. the US didn't get it until '05.

Same with Silent Alarm, I think.

 

[blackwasp]

I'm glad. I'd love to hear what you think of some of them.

Right now, I'm going through Ween. I'm only halfway through Pure Guava, but it is exceptional!

 

[The Theory]

anyone have any opinions on "The Woods" by Sleater Kinney? I was in a sleater kinney phase for a while several years ago... then I realized I didn't really care if I never listened to One Beat again. But on a whim I picked up "The Woods" used a month or two ago and yowza! it's pretty damn fine.