It always amazes me that I hear cd’s all the time and it doesn’t do it for me and I kinda toss them to the side. Then from some other source, or by accident, I hear a song I haven’t heard yet or just something I guess I wasn’t ready to hear the first time round….and BANG!! What was I thinking, how did I not love this from the first note. All the lost time that I could have been soaking this in…gone…just gone. Anyhow….this happens all the time, it really shouldn’t surprise me anymore. On this note, I’m going to try and do a year in review type thing of cd’s I really liked. Some aren’t brand new, but maybe they were new to me…or maybe I just decided to like them the fourth time around. Before I begin the list, I’ve got a couple of new songs maybe you can listen to while you read….and just maybe you like the first time around. Two of them fall into the “I didn’t like at first”(or didn’t hear correctly), and two of them were instant love. I was also lucky enough to find two of them on the same poster….excellent. Artwork by Dan Stiles.
Blitzen Trapper – Wild Mountain Nation
Of Montreal – Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
Favorite Albums of the year after the jump!!!
So I’ll try and put links to posts if I’ve already written about or posted music from the particular band this year….or whenever.
In no particular order.
Romantica – America
Americana Folk with a damn Irish slur….its pretty damn awesome and there are some pretty darn amazing lyrics.
Dr. Dog
Not so much any particular album…but the heart it races cover is so damn good, I couldn’t not mention it.
Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
This was not one of those listen to four times before I like it…..love at first sight or whatever. FAR and AWAY one of my absolute favorite albums of the year. And also new artist to me. Amazingly pretty simple, low key and up beat. All of his albums are ridiculous. Just listen….seriously
The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America.
This album is actually from last year…and I can’t really remember when they became one of my favorite bands. However, this album is down right fun.
Coconut Records – Nighttiming
Solo gig by Jason Schwartzmen. We all know who he is, so I won’t explain it. So simple and good.
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
I already loved their last cd. There was pretty much no way that I wouldn’t like this one. I don’t like it as much as the first, but that was a pretty high bar to reach. I already said plenty about this.
Kelly Willis – Translated from Love
Nobody sounds quite like her. Its rare that a country cd makes it into this list. But, here it is.
Detroit Cobras – Baby
I don’t even know what to say about this. I love the concept, the sound, the covers. I get really excited when I listen to it.
The National – Boxer
I’m surprised that I never posted anything. So eerily amazing. This cd sneaks up on you and says BOO!!….damn thing gets me every time.
Saturday Looks Good To Me – Every Night
This is actually their previous Cd. I found my way to it from the most recent(which is really good too). Most recent and one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. Its a sound that I haven’t really found anywhere else. Every song is good. Its the backup cd in my car in case my ipod dies. They are now a permanent fixture on every mix cd I make….which is what its all about really.
Honorable Mentions
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
Sixty Acres – Banjos and Sunshine
The Go! Team – Proof Of Youth
I’m a little sad that I wasn’t able to put a Rilo Kiley album or a Tegan and Sara album on this list. And I’m even more sad that its not because they didn’t make new albums. Looking back…I think its a pretty obvious trend that’s forming in my musical selections, and I’m not sure what to think of it.
I’m sure I’ve forgotten all kinds of stuff. Maybe I’ll update if something comes to me. Maybe not.
Enjoy. Thanks for listening.
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