the magnetic fields – distortion (2008)

Posted on January 19th, 2008 in 2008 albums, music by dja

The Magnetic Fields
Distortion
[Nonesuch/Jan 15]
Horrible cover art aside (yes, that album cover is actually real), Stephin Merritt’s latest thematic undertaking is drenched in reverb — brilliantly accentuating Shirley Simms’ sugary vocals, which in turn act as delicious adversaries to Merritt’s deep, miserablist delivery.

High point: I’ll Dream Alone

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RIYL: Witty lyricisms, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The National, The Hold Steady

the big sleep – forever (2008)

Posted on January 19th, 2008 in 2008 albums, music by dja

The Big Sleep
Sleep Forever
[Frenchkiss/Feb 19]
Brooklyn band’s second full-length is a wall of post-rock guitars interlaced with shoegazy post-punk influences. Sleep Forever dares to kick some ass one minute and cry in the rain the next — what you would get if you mixed Black Sabbath with Explosions in the Sky.

High point: Pinkies

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RIYL: Sonic Youth, Explosions in the Sky, Unwound

nada surf – lucky (2008)

Posted on January 19th, 2008 in 2008 albums, music by dja

Nada Surf
Lucky
[Barsuk/Feb 5]
Nada Surf’s fifth full-length is an unfortunately bland addition to an impressive recent discography. The splendid mellow harmonies found on their past few releases have been dulled down into a mired pit of average indie rock.

High point: See These Bones

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RIYL: Indie rock that would sound good on The OC, Earlimart, Midlake,

thinking machines; a great way to start off 2008

Posted on January 8th, 2008 in 2008 albums, music by dja

Thinking Machines
A Complete Record of Urban Archaeology
[Catapult/Jan 1]
This Philadelphia trio’s third full-length is an exclamatory blend of post-punk dynamism and melodic cacophony that seamlessly connects to its roots and never denies its willingness to explore new sonic territory. An early frontrunner for best-of-2008.

High point: Fire

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RIYL: No Knife, Les Savy Fav, early Sonic Youth with Lee Renaldo singing, Jawbox, Castor

2007’s biggest disappointments :’(

Posted on January 2nd, 2008 in WTF, music by dja

As much of a holy omfgical year in music it was for me, there were also some huge disappointments. Here were the biggest:

:’(
Smashing Pumpkins
Zeitgeist
[Reprise/Jul 10]
The first new Pumpkins album in 7 years was a horribly-produced, steaming pile of shit with Corgan’s vocals turned up 5,313 decibals louder than anything else. Even the album cover is laughable. The only thing remotely decent was Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming, which is barely audible anyway.
:’(
Interpol
Our Love to Admire
[Capitol/Jul 10]
This album was way better the first two times they wrote it. The third time around, it’s a boring, uninteresting eulogy of a band who once had a world of hype and promise. To add insult to injury, it (terrible cover and all) was released the same day as The Smashing Pumpkins’ Zeitgeist.
:’(
Against me!
New Wave
[Sire/Jul 10]
Perhaps not coincidentally also released on July 10, these folk punks’ fourth studio album showcases the final steps of a band moving completely into the spectrum of mainstream, polished production that does nothing but ruin their sound. RIP
:’(
Tiger Army
Music From Regions Beyond
[Hellcat/Jun 5]
Like Against Me!, these psychobilly’s latest offering suffers from a polished production that does not fit their sound and style at all. Though not a terrible record, their track record has proven capable of much better, making this all the more disappointing.
:’(
65daysofstatic
The Destruction of Small Ideas
[Monotreme/Apr 30]
These UK post-rockers have done nothing but gone downhill since their stunning 2004 debut. The most recent entry to the band’s catalogue furthers a descent into generic instrumental post-rock that lacks the tumultuous electronic drums and pulsating beats that made their debut so incredible.
:’(
Portugal. The Man
Church Mouth
[Fearless/Jul 24]
Despite an amazing EP at the beginning of this very same year, these Alaskans’ second full-length is hardly daring and fails to deliver on the experimental promises of their previous work. Hardly a worthy adversary to a debut that was one of 2006’s best releases.
:’(
The New Pornographers
Challengers
[Matador/Aug 21]
Though this album was one of the top 75 of the year, it was nonetheless a weak offering from a band who’s previous releases were nothing short of amazing. Challengers is by far the worst from The New Pornographers to date.
:’(
I Heart Hiroshima
Tuff Teef
[Valve/Aug 13]
I had been excitedly awaiting the debut full-length from this band after several excellent EPs. Tuff Teef however, is a bland record filled with unmemorable moments that all run together like a freight train of boring.
:’(
She Wants Revenge
This is Forever
[Perfect Kiss/Oct 9]
She Wants Revenge’s second album is an uninspired set of 80s synth-pop homages that don’t bring anything original to the table. The band’s previous penchant for intensely disconnected darkwave melodies is sorely lacking, leaving behind a lifeless collection of uninspired neo-goth.
:’(
Hard-Fi
Once Upon a Time in the West
[Warner/Sep 18]
Hot off the success of a surprisingly solid debut, these Europeans returned with a second album of trite, semi-indie rock wrapped in a terriblely gimmicky “no cover art” ploy. It doesn’t much matter, as there isn’t anything worth listening to underneath the obvious White Album imitation.
:’(
Foo Fighters
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
[RCA/Sep 25]
Dave Grohl continues his journey towards adult contemporary with this latest forgettable entry into mediocrity. Foo Fighters have been steadily declining since Pat Smear’s departure a decade ago, and this album is no exception.
:’(
Hot Hot Heat
Happiness Ltd.
[Sire/Sep 11]
The fourth album by these formerly danceable Canadians sounds like The Strokes on Vicodin playing arena rock. All of the band’s prior strengths have been covered up by overproduction and radio-whore subterfuge. So long :(

the best albums of 2007 (yes, there are 75 albums on this list, omg); part III

Posted on January 1st, 2008 in music by dja

PART III (#25-#1)

OMG.


2007 has been the greatest year of new music in my lifetime. When I began writing this, I had over 140 albums to whittle down into some sort of cohesive, OCD-styled best-of list. I chose 75 because that is where the cutoff appears to be (the albums I absolutely love vs. the albums that were just okay). There were so many disgustingly good albums this year, it makes me want to puke with joy and convulse with happiness. I love music, and I love each of these albums.

You should, too:

025
Okkervil River
The Stage Names
[Jagjaguwar/Aug 7]
Artsy Austin band’s fourth full-length is rife with angular hooks and intellectual wordplay, brimming with a cool nonchalance that slays its surroundings with droll wit.

High point: Unless It’s Kicks

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024
Boat
Let’s Drag Our Feet
[Magic Marker/Jul 10]
Seattle lo-fi rockers’ second full-length is a breezy, anticlimatic ride through the midwestern plains and northwestern forests and small towns along the way that effortlessly combines (and updates) the influences of the past 15 years into a refreshing, original album.

High point: The Whistle Test

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023
Dinosaur Jr.
Beyond
[Fat Possum/May 1]
Reunited vetaran stoner rockers’ eigth studio album (and first in ten years) is a sludgefest of guitar solos fronted by J. Mascis’ typically nasal vocals that still manages to sound completely new and different.

High point: Lightning Bulb

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022
Voxtrot
Voxtrot
[Playloudrecordings/May 22]
The long awaited full-length debut by these neo-Spoon, Austin up-and-comers delivers on the promises hinted at by their multitude of EPs and singles while continuing to experiment with a more piano-soaked, chamber pop sound.

High point: Kid Gloves

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021
Modest Mouse
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
[Epic/Mar 20]
Brilliant Pixies heirs’ fifth proper full-length reverts slightly back to the rugged, abrasive quality of their earlier albums while retaining the poppy hooks of their recent past to form yet another unbridled indie rock masterpiece.

High point: Parting of the Sensory

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020
Film School
Hideout
[Beggars Banquet/Sep 11]
A droning dream of moody neo-shoegaze that explodes and implodes in a speedball of ketamine and doom, this San Franciscan band’s third record infinitely loops and encircles its own ambitions and fears.

High point: Sick Hipster Nursed by Suicide Girl

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019
Moros Eros
Jealous Me Was Killed By Curiosity
[Victory/Oct 16]
Georgian Les Savy Fav disciples offer up second album of brash, confrontational melodies and vigorous song structures that refuse to lay down or even shut the hell up while they dance in circles and vandalize their enemies.

High point: Chokes

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018
New Young Pony Club
Fantastic Playroom
[Modular/Jul 9]
English hipsters’ debut is a créme brûlée of art punk/new rave á la mode — its detachedly sassy vocals flawlesly emasculating the über-hip hooks to add a foxy, art-school risque.

High point: F.A.N.

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017
Circa Survive
On Letting Go
[Equal Vision/May 29]
The latest full-length from Anthony Green is a frozen icescape of spacey harmonics and gorgeous melodies trapped in a timeless cave of ambiguity, exquisitely afloat and hovering somewhere between hidden and frostbitten dimensionality.

High point: The Greatest Lie

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016
Dax Riggs
We Sing of Only Blood or Love
[Fat Possum/Aug 21]
Prolific metalhead’s first official solo LP is a smattering of Roy Orbison-like rockabilly and Glenn Danzig-styled crooning mixed with southern metal roots that coalesce into a glorious, neo-retro machismo.

High point: Terrors of Nightlife

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015
Spoon
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
[Merge/Jul 10]
Renowned Austinites return with a brand new helping of bubbly, jangly indie rock that swanks with stoned grooves and shimmies and shakes like a zombie on PCP; altogether blasé, sluggish, rhythmic and danceable.

High point: The Ghost of You Lingers

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014
Kings of Leon
Because of the Times
[Hand Me Down/Apr 3]
Third full-length from southern garage rockers is a booze-addled introduction to life’s asskickings, replete with raucous guitars, clever wordplay and a brilliant understanding of Pixies-esque dynamics and southern rock & roll.

High point: Ragoo

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013
You Say Party! We Say Die!
Lose All Time
[Paper Bag/Mar 20]
Canadian dance-punks’ second effort is an unapologetic onslaught of deliberately vapid keyboards and defiant vocals set to danceable beats that wears its hipster cred on its sleeve.

High point: Opportunity

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012
Radiohead
In Rainbows
[TBD/Oct 10]
Musical superheroes’ seventh full-length is glorious unification of past and present releases that introduces new directions whilst simultaneously appeasing history’s universal acclaim.

High point: Bodysnatchers

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011
The National
Boxer
[Beggars Banquet/May 22]
Churning with pounding rhythms and an air of murk, acclaimed Brooklyn band’s fourth album is despondent, disconnected and serves to darken the already gloomy and dejected (and sophisticated) lyrics even moreso.

High point: Mistaken For Strangers

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010
Arcade Fire
Neon Bible
[Merge/Mar 6]
Canadian indie rockers’ sophomore album builds on the promise of a near-perfect debut and delivers a second helping of gorgeous orchestral anthems and complex instrumentation that’s subdued, majestic, poppy, dignified.

High point: Ocean of Noise

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009
Minus the Bear
Planet of Ice
[Suicide Squeeze/Aug 21]
Seattle band’s third LP showcases sophisticated songwriting, witty lyricism and complex time signatures as dynamic and innovative as a room full of drunken M80s and crackpipes with guitars.

High point: Dr. L’Ling

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008
Thurston Moore
Trees Outside the Academy
[Ecstatic Peace/Sep 18]
Eminent experimentalist’s second solo release is a stunning display of deceptively poppy avant-garde noise catharsis adrift in a sea of unwinding, melodic complexity.

High point: Wonderful Witches

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007
The Ponys
Turn the Lights Out
[Matador/Mar 20]
The Ponys’ third record is another brilliantly cool slathering of vintage rock ‘n’ roll attitude updated with post-punk tendencies that churns like a ‘79 Trans-Am with t-tops and a huge fucking yellow Firebird logo on the hood.

High point: Exile on My Street

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006
The Raveonettes
Lust Lust Lust
[Fierce Panda/Nov 12]
Drenched in a minimalistic hurricane of reverb and Jesus-and-Mary-Chainsian harmonies, these neo-shoegazers’ third album is a midnight-tinged exposé of leather jackets and 50s-style diners backed by thick beats and nervous, pulsating desire.

High point: Lust

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005
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
Underground
[Vinyl International/Nov 6]
The mysterious first Haunted Graffiti album from lo-fi cult hero is another strange, hallucinatory journey through a collage of twisting melodies, noisy interims and brilliant songwriting that combine together to form a surprisingly coherent, cohesive whole.

High point: Underground

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004
A Place to Bury Strangers
A Place to Bury Strangers
[Killer Pimp/Sep 17]
Exploding with brain-melting guitars, barely-audible vocals and pulverizing drum machines, NYC’s loudest band offer up a debut of ten thunderously melodic homages to shoegaze and noise pop that nearly break the sound barrier.

High point: To Fix the Gash in Your Head

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003
Les Savy Fav
Let’s Stay Friends
[French Kiss/Sep 18]
Seminal post-hardcore outfit return from 6-year hiatus with renewed brilliance — showcasing a greater attention to production and adding even more melody to an already defined pair of angular, post-punk fists of fury.

High point: The Lowest Bitter

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002
Sexton Blake
Plays the Hits
[Expunged/Jul 7]
Portland singer/songwriter’s sophomore album is a collection of jaw-dropping acoustic renditions of classic 80s anthems that salivates at the seams with unparalleled brilliance; genuinely astonishing.

High point: Girl You Know It’s True

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001
Blonde Redhead
23
[4AD/Apr 10]
Seminal indie-rock trio’s seventh proper album is their moodiest yet; twisting and heaving and dying like some kind of drugged-out fairytale from a doomstricken Japanese netherworld, its mortality as ambiguous as ever.

High point: Spring and by Summer Fall

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Part I (#75-51)
Part II (#50-26)