The Best Albums of February 2011

Hey all!

As I sit here recovering from what was an overall boring Oscars show, I figured it was a perfect time to write out my top three albums for February 2011! It was another good month for music, but not quite as solid as January (that month of music is going to be hard to top). Anyway, here they are! I hope you enjoy!

1. "Smart Flesh" by The Low Anthem

The Low Anthem does several things superbly in this album. They tread the lines between folk music, indie rock, and classic rock with amazing precision. In addition to their clever lyrics, what really got me hooked on this album is their multi-faceted instrumentation, which occasionally includes a clarinet. I had never heard a clarinet used in contemporary music, and as a clarinet player myself, it sent shivers of "Wow my instrument CAN be cool!" down my spine. You can safely expect this album in a future post.

2. "Barton Hollow" by The Civil Wars

What makes this album stands out is the male/female harmonies. Together, the vocalists of The Civil Wars craft an album that is so extremely delicate and so intimate that it's easy to simply float away into their songs. Along with sweet lyrics, simple and delicate instrumentation makes this album a light treat to listen to. It'd be safe to expect to see this album later as well.

3. "The Cold Still" by The Boxer Rebellion

I suppose it's probably safe to assume that many more of you have heard of this album than the previous two in this month's list. "The Cold Still" is an admirable heir to "Union," which catapulted the band to popularity with its epic and anthemic feel. The epic songs are in this album as well, but even more impressive and haunting is the dark, brooding songs that dominate the first half of the album. This album gets to you with its poignancy, and doesn't let you go for a while, throwing you through peaks and valleys. It's quite the musical ride. 

Hope you enjoy the music and I'll see you all on the other side of my essay due this week (no worries, it's only worth 30% of my grade... gulp). 

Andrew

"Copia" by Eluvium

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for another review of an instrumental only album. In this case, it's the "ambient/electronica but not really" album titled "Copia" by Eluvium, one of my favorite ambient artists, though his most recent album features vocals.

The album is the amazing combination of relaxing and epic. If you don't believe me, just take a look at the album artwork. The human-ish creature on the cover is a recurring character in most of Eluvium's album artwork. It's as if we as listeners are following his journey. And that's exactly what this album feels like: a journey to some majestic, far-away place.

It's the perfect set of songs to just float away into. I listen to it when I'm doing homework and I absolutely need to focus or when I'm reading and I just want to forget every single bit of stress around me. Thirty seconds into the first piece and I'm gone. Nothing can bother me.

The album almost feels like one big classical composition in itself. Strings, woodwinds, piano, and brass make up a huge part of the instrumentation. It feels as though your listening to a soundtrack. If only there was a movie that went to this music. I'd be in line waiting to see it. This feel of one big orchestral effort is aided by the song titles, many of which include musical terms such as "hymn," "prelude," "requiem," and "ostinato."

As a little sidenote, the final song on the album, "Repose In Blue," is the grand finale to the symphony, complete with the sounds of fireworks.

For anyone looking to expose themselves to some great ambient music, the work of Eluvium is a perfect introduction. For those of you who are already fans of that genre and are looking for another great artist to follow, look no further.

My three favorite songs on the album are "Amreik," "Requiem On Frankfort Ave," and "Repose In Blue."

Here's a link to Eluvium's Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/eluviumtaken

Until next time, enjoy the music and please tell all your friends to go to the "I Need Your Help" post and click on the link to Castle Ink to help me win a scholarship!

Thanks :)

Andrew

I Need Your Help!

Hello everyone,

So, this isn't a music post. I am taking part in a scholarship competition through Castle Ink. My job is bring as many visitors to their site through a statement encouraging recycling. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could visit it (as many times as you want :]) and tell your friends to visit it; re-post it wherever you can and send it to anyone you can. Thanks again so much and here goes!

If recycling inspires you, click on the link below. If it doesn't, click on the link below because: 1) maybe you'll discover a passion for keeping the earth green and 2) this blog doesn't help my parents pay for my college education, but this scholarship will. Please and thank you!

http://www.castleink.com

Thanks again so much and I'll be back soon with another music post!

"The Everglow" by Mae

Having to decide which classes to take next quarter can be a stressful thing. In such times, I tend to find other things to do. Cue the "Heroic Entry of the Blog" music!

This album was going to show up on this blog at some point. It was inevitable. "The Everglow" by Mae is one of my all time favorite albums by one of my favorite all time bands. Also, how freakin' cool is the album artwork? The answer is artsy, unique and awesome.

The album is a sold hour of absolutely wonderful music. The lyrics are not philosophical, for the most part, but they touching to be sure. And, they are delivered by a frontman that sings in such an earnest, down-on-his-luck-but-you-can't-help-but-love-him voice that they become infectious in a heartbeat. It's like Oliver Twist is singing to you. You can't help but want some more.

On a side note, however, "Say anything, but say what you mean," a lyric from my favorite song on the album and one of my favorite all time songs, was my senior quote.

The ultimate plus of this album is its melodic brilliance. Piano, electric guitar, bass, and percussion create intricate melodies that soar above all the lyrical work. Many times, the songs will start off softly before building to earth-shattering levels.

What I enjoy most about the music, however, is the instrumental sections that Mae's members conjure up. They can be up to a couple minutes, and they are sections of pure musical epic awesomeness. Those moments are what make the album what it is.

This album defined my junior year, and it's become an everlasting, everglowing (ahh, puns) part of my music library. Unfortunately, they are on a farewell tour, but their entire discography is safe and sound in my music selection.

My three favorite songs on the album are "We're So Far Away," "Suspension," and "The Sun and the Moon."

Here's a link to their Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/mae

Until next time, enjoy the music!

Andrew

"Miike Snow" by Miike Snow

Midterms are finally over (yay) which means it's time for another post!

"Miike Snow" by Miike Snow is not like many of the other albums I review on this blog, namely because it's electronics-based alternative pop music. That's a genre I usually steer clear of, but in the case of this CD, I made an exception. I'm so glad I did.

This CD is a smart and extremely catchy 47 minutes of music. The great synth work is there, as are some great "electronic bass-type" riffs. Each song is a joy to listen to, and each is a definite pump-up song. If you're looking for gym music, look no further. On another musical note, however, piano makes the occasional foray into the scene, which I'm always a fan of.

Music aside, the vocals and lyrics on this side are another great element in the album, used to accent the music, which is refreshing. Many electronic-based bands include sparse, shallow lyrics as a way to broaden their appeal. Not so with Miike Snow. The lyrics are clever. At times dark and at times humorous, they open up every song for more enjoyment.

Though the band does use auto-tune, it's done tastefully, or to the point where the voice becomes another instrument. In my opinion, you either barely use autotune (or not at all) or use to it the point that you make the voice an instrument to be manipulated. Kudos to Miike Snow on treading that line with grace.

There is not one boring song on this album, and trust me, you'll be bobbing your head in spite of yourself after the very first song on the album. Only after the final song on the album will you regain control of your ability to groove.

My three favorite songs on the album are "Animal," "Silvia," and "Black & Blue."

Here's a link to their Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/miikesnow

Until next time, PLEASE tell your friends about the blog and enjoy all the good music out there!

Andrew

"Songs for Lonely Boys and Girls With Fleeting Crushes" by Leif

Anyone ever noticed that studying for midterms is little to no fun at all? Yep. So have I.

Well, I've been listening to an album by a very under-the-radar artist for a couple days now which has made the process infinitely less stressful. This man has gotten significantly less attention than he deserves, and I'm so glad I found it on iTunes. The album artwork caught my eye for the wonderfully quirky, hand-drawn scene it features. You'll come to find out that the cover mirrors the feel of the music on the album quite well.

I decided to write about the album because I've been listening to it while I study, but this album is just as at home playing in the car or in a dark room, accompanying merely you and your thoughts.

For those of who would like some soothing study-music, or for those of you who would just like a wonderful and simple set of relaxing songs, boy do I have the album for you.

"Songs for Lonely Boys and Girls With Fleeting Crushes" (which by the way, is one of the best album names I have come across in a while) is about a half hour pure relaxation. Simple acoustic guitar creates an almost ever-present bed of warm sound for Leif's vocals to rest lightly on top of.

The lyrics have a meditative feel to them, in my opinion, and they succeed in making you think without getting you down. Leif sings in a soft voice, a little above a whisper. But, he sings with a pure tone. The result is an extremely intimate sound. He might as well be singing to you in your living room.

Even though the album is soft throughout, there are still different ranges of dynamics. There are peaks and valleys to every song, from quietly triumphant (if that's not too much of an oxymoron) to soft and thoughtful.

For those of you who'd like an artist in the music world to link Leif to in terms musical style, I suppose the closest would be Joshua Radin, though I think Leif's music is more atmospheric.

I sincerely hope you give Leif's album a chance. It'll provide you with an escape from stress whenever you need it (or simply some music to float away in at any time).

My three favorite tracks are: "November," "Morning," and "1:22 a.m."

Here's a link to Leif's page on the site of Holster Records.

http://holsterrecords.com/artist/leif/

Until next time, spread the word about the blog and enjoy the music!

Andrew

"Blind Man's Hill" by The Bridge

Apologies for the sporadic posting, with midterms going at full speed ahead, it's been hard to find a few minutes to just sit and do nothing, let alone find the time to type up a blog entry.

But, now that I have a few minutes not being filled by notecards about various subjects, here's a post for you guys!

I found this album walking down Bruin Walk. A stand was selling CDs for a quarter each. I couldn't just walk past it! So, I bought "Blind Man's Hill" along with two other albums. This is by far the strongest. And perhaps the biggest reason I love this album is that it represents a genre that is sorely under-heard lately.

That would be down home, southern rock.

Now, to those of you who just began to freak out because you associate the above phrase with country music, don't fear. "Blind Man's Hill" is not a country album. There is none of the trademark twang that signals a country tune.

The music is solid and simple, featuring guitars, percussion, some organ, and the occasional saxophone feature, which I always love. In addition, the music is varied. Each melody has something unique to bring to the table, a quality in music that is greatly under-appreciated, in my opinion.

There are light and happy songs. There are dark songs. There are uplifting and almost ethereal songs. This band has it all, and they definitely execute it all with flying colors.

As the final cherry on top of this multifaceted musical sundae, the frontman has a wonderful voice. It's pure, without any glittery auto-tune. The guy has a presence, and he gives the listener the impression that he's well-acquainted with all the world has to offer.

This genre might be greeted with skepticism if it's grouped with country. I really hope it isn't, because I had never heard of this band in my life before picking the CD up (based completely on its album artwork, I confess). I can't believe they haven't made more of a name for themselves, and all I can say is I hope they continue to make more great music.

My three favorite songs are: "Honey Bee," "Devil On Me," and "Lasting Hymn."

Here's a link to their Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/thebridgebaltimore

Until next time,
Andrew

The Best Albums of January 2011

January, ladies and gents, was a darn good month for new music. Excellent albums were everywhere. I had plenty of music to choose from for this installment of the best monthly music series. Also, looking back on this entry having already written it, I feel the need to promise I didn't know that two thirds of my list were Irish products. Hope you enjoy!

1. "Science & Faith" by The Script

If The Script were a retail store, they would be selling "Essence of Catchy." Every single song on this album is an emotional, extremely catchy and melodic song. Most of the album is about the ups and downs of love. It's not exactly a light listen - no album by this band is. But, every song on this CD is well-written and extremely well-executed. So much so, that you forget how sad the songs are sometimes, you're so swept up in the music. Buy it and blast it in your room. A side note: they're from Ireland = plus ten awesome points. 

2. "Early in the Morning" by James Vincent McMorrow

This album represents the US release of this album, which has apparently already become something of a hot item in the UK. The guy's from Ireland, which gets him ten awesome points (as a redhead, I feel obligated to give them out to Ireland-based bands, don't judge me). James Vincent McMorrow has one of the smokiest, most soulful voices that I have heard in a long time. It brings to mind Bon Iver, but McMorrow's voice is much more intimate, as is his music. Acoustic guitars, the occasional piano, wonderful lyrics, and McMorrow's heartfelt delivery make this album a hidden gem that deserves to be shone to anyone interested in a solid indie/folk album.

3. "Immersion" by Pendulum 

"Immersion" would have to be the odd man out in this group. I don't even really know how to classify it. There are vocals, yes, but they are not the main focus of this album. Instead, it is the crazy, intense, electronic melodies and beats going on behind the vocals. However, Pendulum can then completely surprise you on tracks such as "Watercolour" by lulling you with some piano before smacking you in the face with more epic electronic music. In places, the vocals themselves become a sort of instrument through autotune. All in all, this album is a huge collections of cinematic alternative/electronic songs. If you need to be pumped up for a while, put this album on your iPod and reap the benefits. 

Well, that's January! Don't think that these three are the only albums of note to come out this month. Far from it. These are just my picks, so go on iTunes and explore for yourself! I hope you enjoyed this list and, as always, I hope I've helped to point you in the direction of some new favorite music. 

It might be a few days before I can post again, just like it was a while in between posts this week (midterms are an absolute joy).

Until next time, enjoy some music :)

Andrew