Best Of 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
25.
The Ocean Blue – Ultramarine: The band that
everyone always thought was British but weren’t are back with a new release
full of lush guitars and dream pop.
Swirling melodies layered with soft vocals build to create a haunting
yet pleasant wall of sound.
24.
The Polyphonic Spree – Yes, It’s True: The Spree
were one of those bands that I liked but would grow bored of quite quickly due
to their gimmick. This time around they
produced a record full of songs that had some substance and could hold up after
repeated listens. The acid house church
choir have honed their skills and focused the sound into a tighter package that
wasn’t so open and free.
23.
Tanya Donnelly – Swan Songs Vol 1-3: After a 7
year hiatus, Tanya returns with Swan Songs a collection of songs spread across
3 EP’s featuring her trademark melodies and various guest musicians. According to Tanya she plans on retiring from
music and this was her way of controlling her exit. The songs are more organic with heavy
elements of country and folk.
22.
Stereophonics – Grafatti On The Train: The
Stereophonics have been one of those bands that I had a love/hate relationship
with. With the different genre
experiments, Kelly Jones has produced some amazing releases and some big
duds. This time around the Stereophonics
gave up on the trends and did what they do best. Other than the awful duet with the late Amy
Whinehouse the whole cd is amazing.
21.
My Bloody Valentine – MBV: It only took 22
years but it was worth the wait. MBV
returned with a sonic assault on your mind.
The fuzzy and layered guitars drenched in feedback envelop the
whispering vocals that meander around looking for a home. 2012 saw a return of some Trip Hop
heavyweights while 2013 welcomed the pioneers of Shoegaze back.
20.
Bleached – Ride Your Heart: Ramones punk, 60’s
sunshine, fuzzy guitars, a bit of surf and attitude is a good way to describe
the Bleached debut. These sisters write
simple songs but they are catchy and have some longevity to them. They pay homage to the fun lovin boy/girl
themes of the 60’s but add a level of grime to bring it up to modern
times.
19.
Widowspeak – Almanac: I really didn’t want
to like this record. They are just
another Brooklyn Hipster band that all the idiot bloggers raved on about a
couple years ago. The 70’s throwback
Fleetwood Mac rip off was enough to make me walk away but I just couldn’t. They took the best of shoegaze and blended
it with American folk something I wasn’t expecting. So yes while the bulk of Brooklyn is full of
wankers and pretentious music snobs there are some hidden gems such as
Widowspeak and The National.
18.
Amanda Shires – Down Fell The Doves: Amanda and
her fiddle have returned with a collection of songs that are deeper and more
personal than before. Amanda channels
Nick Cave for a murder ballad and with the help of Jason Isobell adds a bit of
grit to the underlying sound.
17.
Houndmouth – From The Hills Below The City:
Boozy saloon and southern charm is a good way to sum up Houndmouth. The male/female vocals over a mix of country/folk
melodies written about a bygone era stood out and kept me interested all
year.
16.
Kitchens Of Distinction: Folly: After 18 years KOD return with a complex
release full of tension, atmosphere and shoegazing melodies. Deeply personal lyrics drag you into Patrick
Fitzgerald’s mind and take you on a trip thru ones life as they age and face
the world and all it has to offer.
15.
David Bowie – The Next Day: 10 years later and
with no warning David Bowie dropped ‘The Next Day’ onto us. It caught everyone off guard but it was well
worth the wait. David reminded us that
he wasn’t dead and that he just operates on his own schedule. The songs wade thru his many styles and sum
up what makes David such an amazing musician.
After the last R.E.M. record, which took their 31 years and packaged it
up into a nice retrospective of sounds, I wonder if Bowie is doing the
same. Lets hope not and I would love to
have more from the man himself.
14. Tricky – False Idols:
I had given up on Tricky over a decade ago but when he decided to
essentially remake ‘Maxinquaye’ I decided to give it a listen. This is the Tricky from the 90s, well minus
Martina and replaced with a new sultry lady.
The songs are layered with hazy beats, smoky vocals and everything great
about Trip Hop.
13.
Suede – Bloodsports: After a short hiatus, Brett
Anderson brought the band back together to make a proper release and something
worthy of Suede. All the glam, tight
production, swooning vocals and melancholy melodies one needs to relive the mid
90s Brit Rock scene.
12.
Moby – Innocents: After a couple of cold, dark and
downtempo releases, Moby returns with an eclectic mix of songs featuring
amazing guest vocals. With his knack for
pulling obscure people into the spotlight Moby did it again with Al Spx a.k.a.
Cold Sparks. Her songs expand the
electronic soundscape breathing life and warmth into a chilly experience. Moby also recruits Mark Lanegan and Wayne
Coyne to join the fun.
11.
The Editors – The Weight Of Your Love: I have always
enjoyed The Editors the UK’s answer to Interpol many years ago. They layer their sound with heavy keys, toned
down guitar, dark and brooding vocals and thick atmosphere. The Editors add more orchestration to this record,
which adds to the complexity of their sound.
10.
The Head & The Heart – Let’s Be Still:
I loved their debut release, fun Americana songs full of sunshine and
bits of quirkiness. I was worried that
they would have some issues with their sophomore release but was gladly proven
wrong. The songs have a similar style
but have taken a softer and deeper approach focusing more on the
instrumentation than the vocals.
9.
Beady Eye – BE: Liam and the gang return with
their sophomore release and do their best to differentiate themselves from
Oasis. They do a better job at keeping
the songs tailored to a single style and not so all over the place like their
debut. You still have tons of 60s
influences mixed with Gallagher charm.
8.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away:
Air, space and atmosphere are not things you think of when listening to
Nick Cave but this release is all of that.
It catches you off guard but draws you in and makes you part of Nick’s
world. The preacher Nick has been
replaced with the fireside Nick who just wants to tell you a story. I am curious to see how these songs sound
live and have no doubt that Nick won’t disappoint.
7.
Tired Pony – The Ghost Of The Mountain:
The first time I heard them I had no idea it was Gary Lightbody of Snow
Patrol. The vocals sounded familiar but
the sound was much different. Gary
pulled in some amazing musicians for this record Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck,
Lisa Hannigan and Richard Colburn to name a few. It’s a supergroup of Scottish and West Coast
musicians. The styles range from Alt
Country to Americana and keep your toes tapping from song to song.
6.
Josh Ritter – The Beast In Its Tracks: Josh strips
it down and plays softly with his latest release. The introspective songs sound great on
headphones and put you in the head of an amazing singer songwriter. They are quiet, humbling and full of melodies
that calm and put you at ease.
5.
Morcheeba – Head Held High: Morcheeba took a
break from their signature Trip Hop and decided to pick up the tempo and
experiment with Dub step, House, Rock and Steady. For the purists you may not enjoy but listen
carefully to the beats to understand how good the styles flow together. Morcheeba does bring it back home with some
amazing downtempo peppered throughout.
4.
Travis – Where You Stand: After a few subpar
releases, Travis find their stride and put together a solid release that rivals
‘The Man Who’ and ‘The Invisible Band’.
This release is Brit Rock at its finest.
It still amazes me how Coldplay became as big as they are and Travis
lagged behind. Fran Healy can write
circles around Chris Martin yet no one seems to notice.
3.
Josh Rouse – The Happiness Waltz: Josh returns to the
soft AM 70s sound with his latest release ‘The Happiness Waltz’. His great melodies get your toes tapping
while you sing-along. Josh has played
around with many styles throughout the years and is willing to experiment with
his sound. He does a great job of
blending elements from his back catalog without going too retro.
2.
Jagwar Ma – Howlin: Parts Happy Mondays and Stone
Roses, this Australian band took on the music world with addictive songs that
pay homage to the glory days of the Madchester scene. Backwards loops, heavy keys, and whispering
vocals add to this late night chill escapade.
First time I heard “Come Save Me” I was hooked. They remind me of Kasabian and how those guys
crafted modern sounds from the late 80s’ 90’s and made it their own.
1.
The National - Trouble Will Find Me: After ‘High
Violet’ the best cd of the decade, I wasn’t sure if The National had it in them
for a proper follow up. I expected a few
years between releases since they had embarked on a multiyear tour but they
surprised me with this. While its not as
strong as their previous CD it’s not a dud either. The songs are a bit lighter, more airy and
easier on your mind. It’s as if the guys
let out a huge sigh and said “Wow that weight is gone now its time to have some
fun”. This release grows on you and
gives you a new side of The National, one that can laugh and not be so serious.
Posted by mardenhill 12/27/2013 09:39:00 AM 3 comments
Best Of 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Best Of 2012
20. The xx - Coexist:
The xx's latest release isn't bad just not as engaging as their debut.
You have the dark and atmospheric sounds as before but more complex layers that
take additional listens to truly appreciate.
19. Dinosaur Jr - I Bet
On Sky: on their 3rd release since the return of the original members,
Dinosaur Jr craft songs full of loud guitars, 90s melodies and sub par J Mascis
vocals.
18. Beach House - Bloom: Lush,
intoxicating, ethereal are some words to describe the latest Beach House
release. Expertly crafted melodies engulf your mind, soothe and relax
your body.
17. Pet Shop Boys - Eyslium: A bit more
subdued and less dance friendly, the latest Pet Shop Boys release is great on
headphones or just relaxing as background music. Perfectly constructed
songs full of synth pop and soft vocals.
16. Kasey Chambers &
Shane Nicholson - Wreck & Ruin: On their 2nd release together Kasey
and Shane invoke the great duet sounds of Johnny Cash and June Carter. Tons of
banjos, fiddles, alternating vocals and bluegrass to keep your feet tapping.
15. Justin Townes Earle -
Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now: Steve Earle's son
is out with another amazing record full of steel guitar, rough vocals, horns
and Hammond organs. Great Americana songwriting by Justin.
14. Soul Savers - The
Light The Dead Sea: This time out the British electronic duo enlisted
David Gahan to sing on their latest record. Multifaceted orchestration
and layers that blend perfectly with David's voice.
13. Beachwood Sparks -
The Tarnished Gold: 11 years later
Beachwood Sparks returns with a solid collection of Alt Country/Americana songs
that keep you engaged from start to finish.
12. Tamaryn - Tender New
Signs: This one took a number of listens before it sunk in. There are not
a ton of catchy hooks and toe tapping melodies just layers of fuzz, tender
vocals and shoegazing. One of my favorites this year for listening on
headphones.
11. Raveonettes - The
Observer: I haven't had a Raveonettes cd I have liked from start to
finish since their debut EP but this one has snapped the trend. Lots of
fuzzy guitar, wall of sound and hushed vocals.
10. Air - Le Voyage Dans
La Lune: Air's latest pays homage to the nighttime sky with vintage
samples of early astronomy. It is classic Air with lush atmospheric beats
and a wide array of sounds.
9. Grant Lee Phillips -
Walking In The Green Corn: Grant Lee's latest takes a few listen’s to
appreciate. The toe tapping melodies you are used to have been replaced
by somber and intimate songs with stripped down instruments.
8. The Lumineers - The
Lumineers: The Denver, CO three piece mix rustic Americana with simple
and infectious melodies that keep your toes tapping and wanting more.
7. Bob Mould - Silver
Age: On Bob's latest he doesn't shy away from loud guitars, a bit of anger
and personal reflection. These songs take you back to the mid 80's when Hüsker
Dü were rocking out and setting the bar for bands to follow.
6. Murder By Death -
Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon: On their 6th release, Murder by Death keep the
Gothic Americana/Rustic/Alt Country going with more songs about drinking and
storytelling.
5. Jon Spencer - Meat and
Bone: After an 7 year hiatus followed by a year of reunion shows, Jon
Spencer with original members return with a gritty, dirty, loud, brash, blues
explosion that any fan will welcome with open arms.
4. Tim Booth - Love Life:
Tim Booth of James fame quietly released his 3rd solo album this year to
little fan fare. While it wasn't big news Tim doesn't disappoint and
showcases his wide range of musical styles and clever lyrics.
3. Norah Jones - Little
Broken Hearts: Norah with the help of Danger Mouse released her best
album to date. Gone is the soft jazz, replaced by fuzzy melodies that
bury deep into your head.
2. 2:54 - 2:54: The
debut from the Thurlow sisters is a blend of Shoegaze, Brit Rock and
Psychedelia. Whispering vocals hover over sonic guitars and atmospheric
keyboards. One of the best 1st releases I have heard in years,
1. Mark Lanegan - Blues
Funeral: After 8 years and countless
collaborations with others Mark returns with another amazing solo record.
Mixing up styles, Mark adds textures and layers to his dark and brooding
work.
Honorable Mentions
Spiritualized
Cornershop
Paul Banks
Aimee
Mann
Andrew Bird
Kelly Hogan
Dodgy
The Tallest Man on Earth
Mimi Page
Posted by mardenhill 12/22/2012 09:42:00 PM 3 comments
Mardenhill's Best of 2011 CD Releases
Monday, December 19, 2011
25. Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
I went back and forth with
this one. I liked the cd but wasn’t sure
it would make it long term. After a few
months I returned to it still enjoying it so here you go. Fuzzed out 60s surf with great melodies and
sing along choruses. Musically, the Dum
Dum Girls improved since their debut and if this growth is to be maintained
look out for their next release. This is
really a summer album but it can still be enjoyed on a sunny winter day.
24. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter – Marble Son
On her 4th full
length Jesse Sykes turns up the distortion and tears through a dark and bluesy
8-minute opening track. For the next few
songs, Jesse settles into her standard Folk Rock/Americana style with hypnotic
and swirling sounds. Jesse’s vocals are
soft, dusty and haunting adding to the mystique of the music. This one rocks harder than previous ones but
after a few listens you welcome the change.
23. Low – C’mon
On their 9th
studio release, Low continue to play their slowcore style of music with tweaks
to it at times. The music is soft,
melodic, somber and perfect for late night or rainy day listening. Married couple Alan and Mimi alternate vocals
and compliment each other on backup.
Since “The Great Destroyer” Low haven’t been afraid to use more
distortion to complete their sonic landscape.
These changes add to the variety of music and one that is great in the
background of any conversation.
22. R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now
No one thought this would be
R.E.M.’s last cd when it was released but looking back it makes sense. They did a great job at revisiting many of
their unique sounds throughout the last 31 years. Instead of blowing up in a huge fight, the
band released their last music together, parted ways and thanked all their fans
for their support over the years. I am
very happy with the cd, I think it’s a fair assessment of the band’s career and
hope one day for some reunion.
21. Vetiver – The Errant Charm
Hailing from San Francisco
and on their 5th release, Vetiver play some amazing music. Quiet and melancholy with soft and whispering
vocals layered over some beautiful melodies.
This is not wimpy emo, just lighthearted Indie Rock that can be enjoyed
on lazy Sunday mornings.
20. Beirut – The Rip Tide
Blending World Music with
Indie Rock, Beirut travel down a curious path that balances competing genres
with an interesting and enjoyable result.
The Eastern European gypsy influence adds texture to the folksy vocals
and keeps the listener from tuning out.
There are a number of bands playing in this genre but I have to say
Beirut are one of the best.
19. Portgual. The Man – In The Mountain In The Cloud
This one took a few listens
to sink in. I wasn’t sure what to expect
and thought it might just be too gimmicky for its own good. A few months later, I was still interested
and came to appreciate the band. You
have lots of 70’s glam going on with Elton John and David Bowie popping up over
and over.
18. The Jayhawks – Mockingbird Time
It was 1995 when Mark Olsen
left the band, 16 years later and reunited with Gary Louris, the Jayhawks don’t
miss a beat. Amazing alt country full of
strings, steal pedals, keyboards and perfectly crafted melodies. The band set out to make the best Jayhawks
record and I believe they did it.
17. Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials
UK’s latest siren releases
her 2nd cd “Ceremonials” undercutting any naysayers who think she
was a one hit wonder. On this cd,
Florence streamlines her style into a dark and haunting full bodied and rich
sound. Layers of organs are reminiscent
of Sarah McLachlan but Florence’s voice is strong that any comparisons really
fall flat. The songs are full of
crescendos, sweeping melodies and soul.
On headphones this cd creates a firestorm of enjoyment inside your head.
16. Ryan Adams – Ashes And Rain
It had been 3 years since the
last official release, which is an eternity in Ryan’s world. We did see a Cardinals record at the end of
last year but that had been recorded back in ’06. Anyways, Ryan returns to the music scene with
a stripped down and introspective release.
Lots of acoustic guitar and hushed vocals here along with a return to
the Alt Country of Ryan’s past. This one
takes a bit of getting used to but well worth it when you spend the time.
15. Gillian Welch – The Harrow And The Harvest
It had been 8 years since
Gillian’s last release but that time was well spent. Pulling from the past, Gillian along with
David Rawlings revives the country duet for a new generation of listeners. With the minimalist approach, each listen
feels like a personal concert gathered around a fire.
14. The Head And The Heart – The Head And The Heart
The first time I heard their
song “Rivers And Roads” I couldn’t get it out of my head. They are one of those toe tapping, head
bobbing infectious bands that burrow deep into your brain and never let
loose. They are not a cheesy jam band
but more a reflection of the new brand of Americana.
13. Beady Eye – Different Gear Still Speeding
Oasis minus Noel is pretty
much Beady Eye but Liam, Andy and Gem do their best to separate the two. Liam plays homage to many 60s bands
throughout the release while hoping to find a place he can call home. By running in the opposite direction of
Oasis, Beady Eye created a cornucopia of sound with many directions they can
travel and hone for release #2.
12. Crooked Fingers – Breaks In The Armor
Eric Bachmann returns with a brilliant
new release that focuses more on him and his guitar than the whole ensemble of
music. This isn’t a bad thing, previous
cds tended to be concept or full music ensembles. This one feels like a solo record with a few
people backing him up with a bit of atmosphere.
There is a nice mix of crunchy and acoustic guitar, with Eric’s
trademark vocals playing tour guide throughout the cd.
11. Kasabian – Velicorapter
On their 4th
release, Kasabian strive to create their own sound and show some growth from
their previous releases. In doing so,
the band have probably released some of their best songs to date. Yes its fun to sing along to “Club Foot” and
“Reason is Treason” but those were blatant rip offs of all the best sounds from
the UK late 80’s early 90’s. Many of the
new songs are moodier with lots of orchestration and world music vibes. Production quality is amazing which makes we
really excited for their US tour next year.
10. Josh Rouse And The Long Vacations – Josh Rouse And The Long Vacations
Josh ditches the Spanish
influences and heads back to the Americana roots rock with this release. Sunshine emanates from many of the songs with
interesting and subtle orchestration filling in the rest. Simple at first but after a few listens you
can really pick up on Josh’s vast musical past.
9. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Unlike Beady Eye, Noel
Gallagher doesn’t shy away from being in Oasis.
Many of the songs could have appeared throughout the years but it seems
like Noel kept these close to his chest waiting for the right time. There is a bit of freedom poking thru on
many of the songs with bits of the Beatles surfacing at times. Noel spared no expense and added lots of
orchestration and layers to each song.
8. Babybird – The Pleasures Of Self Destruction
As usual Stephen Jones
creates some form of controversy, this time pissing off the American Family
Association with the help of Johnny Depp on the song “Jesus Stag Night
Club”. The rest of the cd does settle
into the normal Babybird formula, love songs, hate songs, songs about death,
drugs, drinking, more love loaded with vivid imagery and satire. Stephen Jones does know how to write the
perfect love song, just expect a few turns to the left, a swerve across the
road then back on track.
7. Amanda Shires – Carrying Lightning
Young, fresh and feisty with
an old soul and the knack for some good fiddle playing pretty much sums up
Amanda Shires. On her 2nd
solo, Amanda expands her sound and delivers some amazing Alt Country that
anyone can enjoy. The music ranges from tender to lonely to rockin showcasing Amanda's wide range of talent. Check out Amanda playing fiddle on Jason Isobell's latest release as well.
6. Buffalo Tom – Skins
Classic BT here with
perfectly crafted songs balanced between Bill and Chris’s. Songs about women, love, loss, aging and
everyday things wrapped around simple melodies with raw guitar. 25 years later, the guys still have it and
are wonderful musicians and songwriters.
This is not a mid life, lets throw a few songs together to make some
cash record, instead its perfectly crafted representation of where the guys are
in their lives.
5. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
I will start with Erika told me about this band after seeing them on CMT one day. I fell in love with their sound, the alternating vocals layered over beautiful Country and Americana. There is no Country twang, no beer drinking sing along anthems just simple and gorgeous melodies.
4. The Kills – Blood Pressure
Alison Mosshart & Jamie
Hince take The Kills in a new direction with “Blood Pressure”. Yes they are still a 2 piece with a drum
machine but this release moves somewhat away from the garage sound of the past
and dives deep into a rich sonic landscape.
It’s a grower so give it a few listens.
3. J Mascis – Several Shades Of Why
J Mascis turns off the
distortion pedal and goes soft with this release. While its lighthearted and melancholy, it has
some interesting layers and textures that come out after a few listens. J’s voice is still unique and one that can
always be picked out of a lineup. J
proves that you don’t always need feedback to write a great song.
2. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient
I first heard this band on
Sirius XM while driving one day and was blown away. All I could think of was Bob Dylan playing in
modern Indie Rock band. You have some
complex layers with lots of atmosphere going on but not too much to make it
unlistenable. The sound fills the room
and sounds even better on a nice set of headphones.
1. Twilight Singers – Dynamite Burns
Greg finds his stride with
his latest release “Dynamite Burns”.
Tension, emotion, anger, beauty and attitude permeate from all the songs
reminding us why Greg was so amazing a decade ago and why he is still relevant. Mark Lanegan lends his vocals to one track
which is to be expected but Greg handles the rest. These songs are amazing live which is why the
band released their 1st live cd from the tour just last month. It’s a perfect companion to an amazing
release and Greg’s finest Twilight Singers to date.
Posted by mardenhill 12/19/2011 09:36:00 PM 2 comments
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