The Beach Boys - SMiLe Sessions
One would think that an album with as much lore and history surrounding it as this one would actually come up short when it came time to actually enjoy the music. At least the very least you'd expect the album to be mediocre - so much hype affects expectations in a great way. But it doesn't. The album is great. Had it been released at its expected time it would have had a profound effect on the musical landscape we know today - maybe those changes would have been subtle and things wouldn't appear to be that different but it would have made a mark. I'm glad it exists in as many forms as it currently does - as it allows a rabid listener to discover variations and ponder the creation process. I don't really care for 15 tracks of studio chatter or the lamer "bonus" tracks but the actual album is what I'd hoped it would be. A shock to all I am sure.
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Jim Guthrie - Children of the Clone
I think it's safe to say that 2011 was the Year Of Jim Guthrie for me. I was already a curious fan based on his work in Human Highway but it was the Sword and Sorcery soundtrack that really brought me in. This album feels like a logical extension of that soundtrack - maybe a bit quirkier but still some great dark undertones throughout. The music was recorded on a Sony Playstation generated by the MTV Music Generator "game" - not a technical specification for an album you encounter too often. If these songs end up in a videogame someday I won't be the least bit surprised, they'd fit in perfectly.
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Tristen - Deck the Halls
I kind of hate 7" vinyl. Mostly because I am lazy and don't want to get up every 3.5 minutes to switch over a record. However, when the packaging is quality and the songs are unique - it's worth it. Such is the case with this little mini-compilation of Christmas songs from Tristen. Granted, you're not going to wear it out by playing it year round but it's good to have post-Thanksgiving.
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Mariachi El Bronx - II
You ever wonder why bands still make music videos if they're just going to be shown on Youtube? Well, it *can* generate new fans and generate sales. Case in point, I saw the Funny or Die sponsored video for "48 Roses" and immediately pointed my browser to Amazon MP3 to get the whole album. It is, as expected, very much so in the realm of Calexico, DeVotchKa, etc. Fortunately, this isn't a genre I encounter too often so it's a pleasant Desert-tinged listen.
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Ween - Chocolate and Cheese
True story, I had a dream one night that almost entirely consisted of the song Voodoo Lady from this record. Upon awakening (pleasantly) I went to iTunes to relisten to it. Turns out, I didn't actually own the record. A travesty! So, I fixed that life oversight and am happy to have this album officially back in my life.
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Matt Berry - So Low (single)
You know you're an obsessive completionist when you spend three dollars on a digital single with two songs, one of which you already own. Oh, and the other track is an instrumental. Still, had to have them.
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Nikki Lane - Gone, Gone, Gone
Based on the cover art, I assumed Nikki Lane was a vapid, self-obsessed, songwriter type that embodied most of what I hate about the stereotypical Nashville music scene. Turns out, it's just absolutely horrible cover art. This four song EP contains songs steeped in traditional country flavor with Spector-esque vocals telling stories of leaving lovers, being a drunk and other classic self-effacing insights. "Gone, Gone, Gone" should be in everyone's top songs of 2011 - and be sure to look up the video as well. Great stuff all around... except for that cover art, sheesh.
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Casa Castile - Conference Call
Live versions of tracks are often far inferior to their original counterparts. However, in this case, I feel like the songs have improved. At the very least, they're just as good and still different from their source. An impressive accomplishment for a recording done in an office space.
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Feersum Ennjin - Feersum Ennjin
Paul D'Amour is the man responsible for the bass lines you likely associate with early Tool recordings. He's also the man that put out an EP as Feersum Ennjin via Silent Uproar Records in 2005. Those five songs, plus seven more, are now an official full-length album. I've heard that four of the tracks were intended for a possible Lusk followup but have since been absorbed into this project - fine with me. Intelligent, layered, non-angsty, hard rock is not easy to come by these days so I'll take all I can get.
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Self - Looks and Money
It can't be easy to be Matt Mahaffey. He built a substantial, and dedicated, fanbase with loads of releases but no official Self record has come out since 2000. Sure, there were b-sides and the abandoned Dreamworks record but nothing Official. 11 Years of waiting is a lot of pressure. Is this the best Self song I've heard? No. Is it nice to know that he's putting his thinking cap back on and ready to make new Self music again? Absolutely.
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Coupler - America in the Coming Age of Electronics
A collection of ambient soundscapes is not something I'm going to attempt to describe. I will say this works great for working, quiet contemplation or maybe that seance you've been thinking about having. Once this one pops up digitally on Bandcamp (some day), I recommend procuring it.
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Birdcloud - Cool Christmas
I feel like Birdcloud is either a band you will love or despise entirely. I can see it going either way - especially with this track. It's a far cry from their mostly acoustic debut and way further down the rabbit hole of craziness. The music is perfectly cheesy, the vocals are maniacal (and potentially grating) and the lyrics are hysterical. It's not for everyone but, for me, it's just the right amount of ridiculous.
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Jessie Baylin - Pleasure Center EP
Did Jessie Baylin have a recording career before this free EP of cover songs done with Richard Swift? I don't care to know. There's only disappointment at the end of that question and I'm going to willfully embrace my ignorance on it. I have listened to this EP way too many times - an embarrassing amount. The Sonic Youth cover is perfect and the little Swift backing vocals on the Thin Lizzy song just make my day. I look forward to her forthcoming album, Little Spark, with incredibly high expectations.
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Netherfriends - Does Nilsson
If I told you this was a mash-up of Nilsson samples you'd probably assume it was hip-hop of some sort, right? Well, it's not. It's definitely still beat driven but it's more like new rock compositions. It is a strange listen but a commendable undertaking.
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Mr. Gnome - Madness in Miniature
I get a lot of music marketing / PR emails. I think its from years of running a blog and signing up for RSVP lists at SXSW. Most of the time, I delete them without even reading the first paragraph. For some reason, the heads up regarding Mr. Gnome caught my attention. Maybe it was the fact that it was a duo rock band from Ohio. Maybe it was the Donnie Darko-esque creepy cover art. Maybe it was the fact that it was recorded at Josh Homme's studio. Or maybe I'd just been craving some proper hard rock in my life. All of that has led me to listen to this countless times since its release. If you're into QOTSA, Mini Mansions or their ilk I can't imagine this not being right up your alley. I'd even be as bold as to say that this record will well outlast 2011.
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Jason Lytle - music meant to accompany the art of RON CAMERON
I'll admit that I procured this off some Rapidshare site. Lytle's official site was sold out of the physical copies and no officially sanctioned digital version seems to exist. In fact, Lytle himself calls this collection more of "a bunch of shit" or “a reason to clean up my desktop" than anything worth mentioning. Despite those expectations, I really like it. It's a mish-mash of rather silly songs, little ambient undertakings and the occasional Lytle pop gem. If you ever procured any of the band sanctioned Grandaddy b-side compilations this will feel familiar.
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Atlas Sound - Parallax
This repository of "reviews" is really just a way for me to track the music that I purchased in a given year. The critical angle of introspection about the specific album is a bit of a smokescreen for the actual purpose. I don't have deep thoughts about these records beyond I Liked It or I Was Not Interested In Hearing This Again.. not really. I'm not going to be able to properly articulate the differences between this album, Logos, the volumes of Bedroom Recordings or the last Deerhunter record without sounding like a bit of an idiot. The same quiet, cool, somewhat introspective, shoegaze-y vibe is still here; although it feels more upfront about its pop tendencies at times. In the end, it's an Atlas Sound record - it's a little different from the others but still springing from the same brilliant mind as the previous. If you're already a fan, you'll love it. If you're not, this isn't the worst way to be introduced to the offerings of Bradford Cox.
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White Denim - Takes Place In Your Work Space
It's hard to believe that the band putting out this bit of soft-rock is the same outfit responsible for the absolutely energetic jams of Shake, Shake, Shake or Let's Talk About It. Half the EP contains some guitar noodling that steers towards the style of frat pop that I'm not too keen on, the other half consists of more tension building numbers. I'm happy to have more White Denim of any kind but I think this officially signals their disinterest in being the Rock Band everyone wanted them to be. At least their branching out; no stagnation in terms of style for these guys.
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Fops - For Centuries
I try my damndest not to compare FOPS to their previous project, Thee More Shallows, but the distinctive vocals and similar styles make it difficult. Thematically, there are quite a few similarities - a grab bag of slightly melancholy pop songs, some silly diddies and a dash of total zoning out. I won't say it's better than their debut full-length but it's certainly welcome new material. Hopefully it won't be the last of it either.
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Chancellor Warhol - The Silver Factory
I know so very little about hip-hop that it's entirely possible that I shouldn't even bother reviewing this record; as I've no idea where it stands in the pantheon of the genre as a whole. With that in mind, I'm quite fond of this album - possibly because it embraces a more "traditional" rock format for the verse-chorus music switchup than alot of hip-hop I encounter typically does. I've also had the pleasure of seeing him perform live a few times and it's one of the most energetic, honest, all-in performances I've had to pleasure to see.
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M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming
After my disappointment with Saturdays=Youth I wasn't expecting much from this double LP. Anthony Gonzalez seemed to have moved away from the foreboding and shoegazey soundscapes and into total pop territory. Much to my surprise, it seems he was able to blend the two styles for this undertaking. In fact, if you imagine that Saturdays=Youth never existed this seems like a much more intelligent followup to Before The Dawn Heals Us.
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Nick Waterhouse - Is That Clear
Everything about Nick Waterhouse screams 1940's. The typography on the record sleeve, the way he dresses and, most importantly, the music itself. The style of music that preceded Rock, some might call it Rhythm and Blues, is clearly what he's striving for and absolutely accomplishing. I can see some indie nerds getting bothered that this 24-year-old is straight copping such an old sound but he's doing it with such enjoyable results you'd be a total fool to complain. I hope this blows up huge because I'd love to hear it everywhere.
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Alabama Shakes - EP
I think it's fair to say that most contemporary Soul isn't something that crosses my path in a pleasing way. It's typically a little bit too Adult Contemporary Radio; some aspect of it seems like the band is putting on airs to emulate the checklist of what a soul band should be.. just feels off. However, none of that is true with the Alabama Shakes - it sounds authentic. The vocals especially feel like they're coming from the heart and the explosive musical builds are just right. Maybe they just figured out how to emulate the sound just right but, either way, it works incredibly well. Looking forward to having more than just four tracks to play constantly.
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Wilco - The Whole Love
I do not count myself among the hardcore Wilco fans. I don't scrap up every little thing they put out or go out of my way to see them in concert or busy myself with dissecting the arc of their recorded outputs style. So, I am not one to wax philosophic about where this record stands in their pantheon of releases. However, I can say that Tweedy's voice never gets old to me, and the crazy guitar outbursts from Nels Cline are always welcome. In other words, it's a great record. That is, Another Great Record from Wilco.
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Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
I wish I had paid attention to this when it was released in 1995. I can remember some of the videos during high school but I didn't really tune in to Linkous until the follow-up years later. It's quality, slightly off-kilter, rock that probably would have shaped my tastes from that point forward. Instead I'm just appreciating it in hindsight. I can see it becoming one of those records I tell myself I've loved all along even though I'm 16 years late to the party.
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