The Best Albums of December 2010

A note before I start this little ditty. To give myself another opportunity to get posts out more regularly, I'm going to try out a new series. In that series, I will look back at each month and give a quick preview of the three albums I think look the most promising and enjoyable. Now, I can't possibly listen to all of these (I am a college student, after all; I don't have that kind of money), however, I browse iTunes more than is healthy, and you can bet I've listened to an unearthly amount of previews of these songs, as well as reading up on reviews and listening to what I can through Myspace.

That being said, December probably isn't the best month to start this series--after all, it is the month of the Christmas EPs... blech. Still, I'm nothing if not persistent, so here are three albums I think have the potential to be great listens for anyone looking to fulfill an immediate music fix. Here we go!

1. "Tron Score" by Daft Punk

Yes, my most promising album of the month is an orchestral, but oh my is it an orchestral score. One word sums it up: epic. Daft Punk works in great electronics (not necessarily much that could be songs on their own, but definitely things that accent the other music here) with an orchestra that belts out all the majestic chord sequences that make a movie score great. Need something to make packing up to go back to school less boring? Put this on, you'll feel like you're saving the world, one mismatched pair of socks at a time.

2. "All You Need is Now" by Duran Duran

Eighties power pop is the guilty pleasure of a massive amount of music listeners. Hey, don't stop believin' that's true, because any way you want your other music, the eighties faithfully spew out extremely catchy music (ten bonus points to those of you who caught the three Journey references in there). This album sounds like it's going to be immensely catchy, an example of amazing eighties pop alive and well in the 21st century.

3. "In Darkness & In Light" by The Maine

The Maine is an alternative band near and dear to my heart. I've been listening to their "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" for years. The songs are catchy and uplifting and, despite the appearance of a typical alternative rock band, they pulse with a definite heartbeat. This album appears to be a B-Side album, something I always love to see from a band, because a B-Side album basically says, "Fans, this is for you; we know you'll appreciate it." And, I think we definitely will. On another note, the album cover is just plain awesome. Does that make me easily amused? ... Perhaps, but for Pete's sake it's like the clasp on an old notebook!

I hope that a couple (or hey, maybe all) of these albums give you an hour or two of enjoyable new music to get you through the month. I'm not a fan of December in the music world--to be completely honest, I'm a definite non-fan of holiday EPs. Give me Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole for my Christmas classics, thank you. In any case, next month looks to be a great month for new music, so keep checking back in for new album reviews and the next installment of this series at the end of next month!

Thanks for reading and, as always, enjoy all the music out there!

Happy New Year :)

Andrew

"The Wild Hunt" by The Tallest Man on Earth

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas (if that's your holiday). Needless to say, one of my gifts was some money for iTunes, and the first album I downloaded was this one right here. "The Wild Hunt" is The Tallest Man on Earth's most recent full length album. It's spectacular.

Kristian Matsson goes through most of this album using just a nimbly plucked and strummed acoustic guitar, combined with his raw, extraordinarily emotional vocals. However, the final two tracks on the CD are just him and a piano; it makes for a haunting combination. The comparisons of him and Bob Dylan are there for a reason. I personally think he's much better--his guitar work is on another level and his voice is more melodious.

In addition to instrumentation, Matsson's lyrical work is outstanding. Most of the songs on the album are self-reflective: some are happy, some are sad, and many are sung with a wry wit that makes each and every track an absolute joy to listen to.

If I were to describe the music of The Tallest Man on Earth in one word, it would be "captivating." Matsson is just one guy with an acoustic guitar, but he holds your attention throughout the entire album. I've also heard live performances, and his music is just as mesmerizing.

My three favorite songs on the album are "The Wild Hunt," "King of Spain," and "A Lion's Heart."

All in all, this album is the perfect driving album. This Swedish singer/songwriter makes everything on the CD so easy, blending blues and folk. For those who are looking for a great introduction to the world of folk, a la Bob Dylan, The Tallest Man on Earth is your go-to guy. His voice takes some getting used to at first, that's for sure, but once you make the adjustment, I guarantee you that his music will establish itself as one of the most satisfying albums in your library.

Here's a link to his Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/thetallestmanonearth

As always, enjoy the music that's out there :)

"Reistu Þig Við, Sólin Er Komin Á Loft..." by For a Minor Reflection

A note before I start: I have decided to eschew the song by song review format of my blog posts in favor of a more cumulative, more traditional review format. Why? Cuz, quite frankly, I've increasingly noticed that my song by song posts are... shall we say... frickin long. So, that's that with that! Other than that, the blog will run pretty much the same! Onward!

Anyone heard of a band called Explosions in the Sky? Anyone who has heard of Explosions in the Sky want to hear about a band that basically takes that sound and increases the explosiveness by five? Then, dear people, For a Minor Reflection is the band for you. I went through an Icelandic phases a few months back; I downloaded this album and another instrumental album by Ólafur Arnalds (which I will probably review a little bit later). These guys can just flat out rock. Ironically, the album artwork is simple but epic in a way. That's this album in a nutshell. Here we go! (Just fyi, some of the song names have symbols I can't find on my computer, so I didn't type those symbols; I hope you forgive me.)

This album is best taken and listened to as a whole, because most of the songs bleed together to make one hourlong piece of musical goodness. With guitars, bass, and drums, the people of For a Minor Reflection create long songs that almost tell stories in their own right. To me, this album sounds a bit like a journey. It starts off slow and thoughtful, almost as though you are waking up on the morning of the day you are to start something big: a project, a journey, an epic quest to find a magical piece of cheese, you name it.

Each song builds slowly, starting with a simple drum rhythm or guitar riff. As time goes on, other melodic elements come into play, and instrumentation increases. Eventually, the music builds to earth shattering proportions. The music on this album is simply explosive. It could be the soundtrack to someone's life. It has ups and downs; it can be sad, happy, urgent, and triumphant within a mere five minutes (qualities that life shares, I've noticed).

These builds can happen numerous times over the course of one song; just when you think these guys are getting ready to tone it down and end the song, they hit you with one, final, amazing melody change that throws you for a loop and leaves you wanting even more.

Seeing as there are no lyrics on this album, there really isn't much of a message to interpret from song to song, no overt theme that is obvious to the listener. But, as I said, this music reminds me of a journey (could this be because I rewatched The Lord of the Rings this week?.... Maybe). But still, that makes the music no less outstanding.

Explosions in the Sky is another band in the same vein as For a Minor Reflection, and they are much better known. However, if I had to pick a favorite between the two, it would be For a Minor Reflection simply because of the raw emotion in their music. It's rougher than the music of EITS, but its lows are lower and its highs are higher. Simply put, I think it's more powerful.

If you're looking for an album to melt away in, this is perfect. You don't have to pay attention to any lyrics; you just have to let go and float away into a musical landscape that these people from Iceland have created so well. I look forward to their next album.

Here's a link to their Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/foraminorreflection

Until next time, enjoy all the great music out there, try some Icelandic music; it never fails to disappoint, in my experience.

Finally, and most importantly, happy holidays and happy new year!

P.S. For those of you who have read this far, I'm going to be starting a new post series which will talk about my top 3 favorite albums released each month. So, check back in frequently for more album reviews and month recaps!

"The Clarence Greenwood Recordings" by Citizen Cope

This album was released in 2004 (I know, ancient history, but bear with me). Citizen Cope (aka Clarence Greenwood) puts out interesting music; I think of it as a cross between alternative, indie, and reggae. As a result, the music takes some getting used to - his voice is raw, but filled with emotion. However, with extremely catchy music and really well-written lyrics, the album is a great listen. You might not love it immediately, but it's always worth coming back to years later (like I just did!). Considering the album artwork isn't anything noteworthy, we'll get straight into the songs!

1. "Nite Becomes Day" - The album starts off with a song that, though it speaks of some dark things, is essentially hopeful. The narrator sings that "things have been getting real heavy [and later, hectic] these days." He blames the media world, as well as the violence that humans inflict on one another. However, he finds hope in "the same thing that makes the night become day": love. Upbeat piano and a funky beat make this song a great start to the album.

2. "Pablo Picasso" - Definitely one of my top three favorite songs on the album. The narrator is insane, there's not much else to say. He sings about the woman he is in love with--in fact, she's a mural or massive poster: "The woman I love is forty feet tall." In fact, "she's the only one alive who knows that I'm not crazy." Though this is a disturbing idea, Greenwood goes about the song in such a down-on-his-luck, happy-go-lucky way that it's infectious. Expertly incorporated piano and drums, along with an excellent melody change about 2/3 of the way through make this song one to sway and bob to.

3. "My Way Home" - "Pablo Picasso" bleeds right into this song, which is essentially a continuation of the previous song. There aren't much lyrics to speak of. The narrator simply states that he's going to find his way home, no matter what is in his way. Though the music in the background is great, this song could definitely classify as filler, but it's enjoyable filler to be sure with an undeniable joy and determination coursing through it.

4. "Son's Gonna Rise (featuring Santana)" - This song is one of the most urgent on the album, and Santana's guitar work is an excellent accent (I think the guitar is the speeding car). The narrator is driving--fast. After all, his wife is entering labor in the back seat. This inspires urgency. The narrator speaks reassurances--though it's not entirely sure who he's reassuring. It could be his wife, it could be his child, or it could be him. Infectious choruses make this solid song one of the most energetic on the album.

5. "Sideways" - Another of my top three favorite songs on the album, and easily the most popular and commercialized on it. The song is so catchy, so undeniably sweet and sad at the same time, that it's almost not fair. The narrator sings that his feelings for his love are impossible to get rid of, and that "There's no words to describe it, in French or in English." The simple instrumentation of the song in the verses (mainly acoustic guitar) leads into the more impactful chorus (strings and piano add on to create musical awesomeness). This song is just flat out amazing.

6. "Penitentiary" - This song is not one of my favorites, because it's pretty repetitive. However, the lyrics are well written. Greenwood sings that he looks forward to the day people are free of all expectations in terms of how they live their life: "When the penitentiary is on fire." It's not a bad song by any means, and the music is great (dance-worthy and almost sensual, much like fire itself) but it pales in comparison to "Sideways." No song can really follow "Sideways" and hope to measure up.

7. "Hurricane Waters" - This is another of the few love-ish songs that Greenwood has sprinkled into these tracks. He sings of how he would carry his love "through the hurricane waters" and how he'll "remember [her] in the blue skies." Past that, however, there is an uncertainty to this song, as though Greenwood loves his significant other, but their relationship is not free of question. As always, the music in this song just makes you wanna move around, with piano and percussion creating some outstanding beats.

8. "D'Artagnan's Theme" - Another of my top three favorite songs on the album, but it has gotten virtually ZERO attention. The song starts off beautifully with piano and acoustic guitar, and that's how the song continues--beautifully. The lyrics are the epitome of beautiful simplicity. Greenwood sings of how he is caught up in the chaos of life, and of how he is just trying to mind his own business. Past that, "Well I don't know how else to say it." The chorus is absolutely wonderful. It's not as high profile as "Sideways" or "Bullet and a Target," but I would say that this song is my favorite on the album.

9. "Bullet and a Target" - Definitely the song with the most punch, politically. The song talks about our imperialist tendencies and how they have gotten us in a lot of hot water, in terms of having international friends. In fact, Greenwood bluntly states, "People wanna bomb us." Brutal honesty, much? He restates this later, with more humor and with some great wit: "What you've done here, is put yourself between a bullet and a target." Catchy, energetic, and bold. What's not to like?

10. "Fame" - The commentary on life continues in "Fame," which is essentially about all the different types of people that hope to make a living and a name for themselves in America. There's the con man, the guilty man, the innocent man, the buffalo soldier, the man at the "Spider Man" premiere... an endless variety of types of people, all wanting the same thing. The song is about desire, and the music emphasizes this message really well through a slow, lumbering, almost tired-sounding melody. Greenwood knows how to craft a song.

11. "Deep" - A simple, relaxing instrumental song to close out the album.

There's something about Clarence Greenwood's voice that is completely and undeniably human. It's raw,   very raw-- he wouldn't be winning any vocal talent shows, or making it past the first audition for the first matter. But he sings with such emotion that his voice is, in my opinion, much more powerful than the voice of someone who has been trained. This album is the perfect chill-out album, one to listen to while you drive or while you lay back to forget about life for a while.

Here's a link to his Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/citizencope

Until next time, enjoy the music :)

P.S. Spread the word about the blog through word of mouth, Facebook, giant banners in the sky, anything! I'd love some more readers :D

"Boxer" by The National

Fresh off my list of the Top Albums of 2010 is The National! No, the album isn't "High Violet." Actually, it's "Boxer," which I enjoyed more than HV. This was the first I had ever heard of The National, and after I heard the album for the first time, I listened to it on repeat at least five times over the next week. I had never heard anything QUITE like it. Namely, because of the lead singer's baritone, a tone that oozes melancholy and a deadpan sort of humor. In fact, he serves as the main instrument on the album; there are no big electronic guitar riffs to spek of; everything is there to support the vocals. The album artwork is one of those that doesn't really say anything about the album except that there is a vintage feel to the music, so here we go!

1. "Fake Empire" - This song sounds a bit like a dream - which I think is what the song itself is about. It is also my favorite song on the album, by far. Piano sets the stage for the song and they remain a huge part of the song throughout its entirety, which features lyrics about whimsy - "picking apples, making pies," and "tiptoe through our shiny city with our diamond slippers on." All this culminates in the final lines of each verse: "We're half awake in a fake empire." There is also an outstanding instrumental section during the song that made me all sorts of happy.

2. "Mistaken for Strangers" - This song has a sense of quiet urgency to it, of shadyness and shadow. Guitars set the scene with raw, grimy sounds at the beginning of the song, and that feel carries through the rest of the song. The subject of the song keeps himself at a distance from all those around him, only wanting to be in pictures if he seems far away. In fact, he is mistaken for strangers by his own friends (cue the "Hey, that's the title!" music). While the lyrics are interesting, this is one of my least favorite songs on the album.

3. "Brainy" - It would appear that the narrator of this song is whipped: "I've been dragging around from the end of your coat for two weeks." A moment of silence, please.... thank you. However, to our guy's credit, he has a good attitude about his girl, who seems to take him for granted. He tells her with a sort of wry sense of humor and determination, "You might need me more than you think you will." The melody of the chorus mirrors this sort of wry humor, making the song pretty enjoyable. Like many songs on the album, drums provide a solid and groove-friendly pulse, with guitars serving as accent pieces.

4. "Squalor Victoria" - Let me begin by saying the title of this song is just plain cool. That being said, there's not a whole lot to the lyrics of this song. Drums kick it off before being joined by cello (yay!) and piano. That simple feel keeps going through the whole song, and what can I say, I love me some cello and piano. The narrator repeats a few phrases setting the stage that he is trying to appear as a member of a higher quality than he is. The final line of the song confirms this: "This isn't working, you, my middlebrow fuck-up." That made me chuckle. Plus five points for sarcastic lyrics.

5. "Green Gloves" - Continuing with the unique premises of these songs, "Green Gloves," as much as I can interpret it, is about a man who loses his friends to drugs - they are no longer themselves. So, he appears to take their lives upon himself and inserts himself into what they would otherwise be doing. It's a weird, almost dystopian song, but I love it. Acoustic guitar provides a refreshing musical change of place; it is joined by electric guitar as well; they both provide an outstanding bed for the vocalist to work on.

6. "Slow Show" - This song is simple: it's about a man who has screwed up his relationship and wants it back. The narrator has "made a mistake in [his] life today," which I presume has something to do with his love in the song. He is lost, and all he wants to do is go home to hear, "put on a slow, dumb show for you, and crack you up." This song is a great example of the sort of melancholy sense of humor that I wrote about earlier. The instrumentation and music of this song is perfect for the lyrics as well; you can just see this guy running down the sidewalk back home. Another one of my favorites.

7. "Apartment Story" - I dare say the couple in this song has had a bit to drink. The narrator sings of things he and his love do. They are "tired and wired," while they wait for winter to be over. They are hiding from the outside world (I'm thinking metaphorically) and he says that they'll "do whatever the TV tells us." An odd little song, and not one of my favorites.

8. "Start a War" - I really like this song, which essentially constitutes a warning from the narrator of the song to his girlfriend not to leave him: "Walk away now and you're gonna start a war." How charming. The couple is clearly disillusioned with how the relationship is going, but the narrator holds on to the grim determination that the relationship will fix itself and that "I'll get money, I'll get funny again." Ironically, the song's instrumentation is basically just an almost dainty acoustic guitar, joined later by strings and electric guitar; one of the best songs on the album (I have a feeling I've said this type of thing several times on this review, woops!).

9. "Guest Room" - To be honest, I can't say I completely understand the lyrics of this song (most of these songs don't really click the first time through, but I've never really gotten a hold of this one). It seems that a couple has basically lost it, neither of them are completely right in the head, and they're hiding in a guest room, where they are convinced people will eventually find them and take them away. I said I loved the album, I didn't say I loved every song.

10. "Racing Like A Pro" - Another great song. This time, the lyrics are about a young, middle class woman who is stuck in the same old, middle class routine. Her body does all the same things - sometimes she bakes a cake, sometimes she stays in bed. However, he mind longs to get out of her situation - "you're mind is racing like a pro." Another dystopian song, as this one reminds me of the Stepford Wives. Again, acoustic guitars provide an amazing bed of sound, with strings and piano playing a supporting role. Just plain outstanding.

11. "Ada" - In another song about a disturbed woman, "Ada" is a lady who doesn't want to tackle any issues around her. She appears to be paranoid, maybe even insane (whoever writes the lyrics must have dated some doozies for the inspiration for these songs). She refuses to talk about things that bother her, despite the narrator's urgings: "Ada, don't talk about reasons about why you don't wanna talk about reasons why you don't wanna talk." The music, once again, perfectly mirrors the lyrics, with piano and guitar creating a troubled musical atmosphere; it's almost shifty. You can imagine Ada looking around her for something that isn't quite there.

12. "Gospel" - Another one of my favorite songs on the album, and probably the sweetest. The narrator wants to do anything he can do to spend time with his love, from bringing over magazines to hanging her holiday lights in the garden (appropriate timing much?). He sums it up by saying, "Let me come over, I can waste your time, I'm bored." This song features some of my favorite music as well, with acoustic guitar and piano creating a musical atmosphere that is both simple and absolutely beautiful.

The National is a band with a very unique sound - the frontman's voice is not for everyone. In fact, it took me a couple listens to really get used to the tone of the voice and to completely understand what he was saying. However, if you take the time to get used to his voice, it allows you to really listen to all the great melodic things going on in this album. Instrumentation that creates wonderful beds of sound, outstanding drums, and an all-around classic, antique-like sound. "High Violet" is a great album as well--a little more accessible and contemporary. For me though, "Boxer" will always be the quintessential album by The National.

Here's a link to their Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/thenational

Until next time, enjoy some music :)