The BEP 100: 2K8

100. Testament – ‘The Formation Of Damnation”
99. Upon Beauty Rests – ‘For The Days We Fear, The Air We Breathe’
98. Kaki King – ‘Dreaming Of Revenge’
97. From A Second Story Window – ‘Conversations’
96. Mercy Arms – s/t
95. She & Him – ‘Volume 1′
94. Inhale/Exhale – ‘I Swear..’
93. God Is An Astronaut – s/t
92. Cat Power – ‘Jukebox’
91. Aqualung – ‘Words & Music’
90. Bleeding Through – ‘Declaration’
89. Augustana – ‘Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt’
88. A Weather – ‘Cove’
87. Once Nothing – ‘First Came The Law’
86. Forest City Lovers – ‘Haunting Moon Sinking’
85. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – ‘Lie Down In The Light’
84. Keith Canisus – ‘Ferris Wheel Makeout CD’
83. Jolie Holland – ‘The Living & The Dead’
82. Abigail Williams – ‘In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns’
81. Emanuele Errante – ‘Humus’
80. Noah & The Whale – ‘Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down’
79. Library Tapes – ‘Fragment’
78. Windy & Carl – ‘Songs For The Broken Hearted’
77. Brightwood – ‘Wake’
76. Priscilla Ahn – ‘A Good Day’
75. Shiny Toy Guns – ‘Season Of Poison’
74. Lynne Hanson – ‘Eleven Months’
73. Trenches – ‘The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole’
72. Fear Before – s/t
71. Sera Cahoon – ‘Only As The Day Is Long’
70. Mirror – s/t
69. Fleet Foxes – ‘Ragged Wood’
68. Lower Definition – ‘The Greatest Of All Lost Arts’
67. Gemma Hayes – ‘The Hollow Of Morning’
66. Neil Halstead – ‘Oh! Mighty Engine’
65. Blessed By A Broken Heart – ‘Pedal To The Metal’
64. The Notwist – ‘The Devil, You, & Me’
63. Horse Feathers – ‘House With No Home’
62. Max Richter – ‘24 Postcards In Full Color’
61. Beach House – ‘Devotion’
60. Johnny Truant – ‘No Tears For The Creatures’
59. Calexico – ‘Carried To Dust’
58. Jenny Lewis – ‘Acid Tongue’
57. GNR – ‘Chinese Democracy’
56. Peter Broderick – ‘Float’
55. NIN – ‘Ghosts I-IV’
54. Chris Brecht – ‘The Great Ride’
53. Nada Surf – ‘Lucky’
52. The Stills – ‘Oceans Will Rise’
51. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – ‘Cardinology’

Ah! The wait is over!
The moment you and I have both been waiting for since Jan. 1, 2008 has finally arrived!
As I’ve mentioned a few times, the bottom half of this list has already been posted on the sidebar aaand the top 50 (reviews and all) starts right this moment. This is my biggest yearly list undertaking yet, and I figured it was necessary since I’ve listened to an ungodly number of records this year..like 300something..and I couldn’t give props to all the things I wanted to give props to without expanding the list..but I’m still too lazy to type out 100 reviews. Maybe next year. Anyway..on with the show!

#50
The Cure – 4:13 Dream
Geffen Records
Released October 28, 2008

You’ll never hear me claiming to be anything more than a casual Cure fan..I obviously dig all of their ‘hits’ from over the years and I have a few of their cds, but it’s pretty rare that I get the urge to listen to Robert Smith and his goth moodiness. When I heard they were droppin a joint this year, I was intrigued however, because I found their last record terribly blah and was curious to see how they’d come back this time. This record had quite the build to it as well; I think they released like 4 singles (starting back in the summer), before this thing even got close to being released..and one of them, entitled ‘The Only One’, really got me stoked for the disc due to it’s classic Cureyness and quality. Once the disc was released, I was pleased to find that this was actually a pretty darn solid cd with some pretty well written and catchy tunes that WILL get stuck in your head and overall it’s a bit brighter..i guess..than some of their other recent stuff. Here’s the thing though, because I’ve seen a ton of negative reviews about this record – you can’t go into a record by a band like this..whose best days are probably behind them..expecting them to reinvent the wheel or recreate a classic record like Disintegration or whatever. Generally, they are what they are, and that’s def. the case with Smith & Co on this record. Overall, I enjoy this thing a lot..it has a couple clunkers songwise, but the good stuff more than makes up for it for me. A really good record from a rather timeless sorta band.
Standout Songs: ‘The Only One’, ‘The Perfect Boy’, and ‘Underneath The Stars’

#49
Matt Bauer – ‘The Island Moved In The Storm’
Southern Records
Released September 9, 2008

Greenpoint, Brooklyn represent! I liked Greenpoint, I have a Polaroid picture of a flowery tree thing that I took there on my fridge right now. But on to the music. Sure didn’t take long for a singer-songwriter to show up on this here list. If you remember back to my list last year, there was a band on it called The National Lights who had a cd that was a collection of folk tunes about murder and death and such pleasantries and really this isn’t THAT different. This cd is apparently based on a story from Kentucky where an unidentified girl was found dead back in the 60s along the side of the road wrapped in a canvas tent bag or something of the sort. Wacky. I suppose he was pretty intrigued by the story, because he has written quite a good record here. Granted, I’m a bit partial to all things acoustic/folk with a country and bluegrass twang to it..and if there’s a banjo and slide guitar somewhere along the way..fuhgetaboutit..I’m usually all in. But that doesn’t take away from the quality. Bauer keeps things soo subtle and simple (almost to the point of being mysterious), he has a really calm almost whisperlike vocal delivery (think Iron & Wine) and most songs are very simple musically, but yet manage to be impressively powerful in their execution.  This is a great album, and I’m not really sure how I came across it..but I’m quite glad I did.
Standout Songs: ‘Florida Rain’, ‘Rose and Vine’ and ‘Sheltering Dark’

#48
July Skies – ‘The Weather Clock’
Make Mine Music
Released May 19, 2008

Sometimes, when I’m feeling lazy, I like to copy and paste reviews that I wrote in some old edition of From My Ears To Your Eyes into this year end list thingy, and that is exactly what I plan to do right now because everything I said there still stands true to this day. So hurr we gizzoooo.. I think I’ve decided this is what Explosions in the Sky would sound like if they expanded their sound repertoire, did more with acoustic things, made shorter songs, and added some vocals to the mix. This record never really allows you to a firm grasp on what it is classificationally (haha) speaking. Sometimes it sounds like post-rock record, sometimes it’s shoegaze, sometimes it’s just a nice little mellow, ambient thing, sometimes it sounds like British acoustic indie stuff..it’s as all over the place as a record whose songs basically all have the same feel can be. The best way to describe this music is dreamlike and peaceful. Airy. Wistful. Relaxing. Ya know how sometimes you’re watching a movie and there’s a really cute or dramatic or peaceful scene and you’re all like ‘dude what is this song? it’s great!’ WELLLLL, this is where that song came from. It’s the perfect soundtrack for watching the sunset over a big lake or whilst romping through a meadow at dusk with a youth-like innocence.
Standout Songs: ‘See Britain By Train’, ‘Distant Showers Sweep Across Norfolk Schools’, and ‘One Morning In May’

#47
The Gaslight Anthem – ‘The ‘59 Sound’
Side One Dummy Records
Released August 25, 2008

If you know me, and you know this band, then you’re well aware that this is an odd band to be showing up here on the list. Admittedly, I don’t understand why I like it as much as I do..I mean, I know the songs are all pretty awesome, but the whole sound of the band shouldn’t be THAT appealing to me.  Amazon classifies this as ‘Punk Revival’, and I can hear some similarities to modern day punkish bands like Against Me or even more old school stuff like the Replacements or The Clash…a sound that I usually don’t care much for. BUUUT when combined with a thick helping of NJ Spingsteen-like flair and hint of the Killers and Tom Petty hangin out in there too..what can I say? It really really works for me.  I only got around to listening to this band about a month ago (otherwise it’d likely be much higher) after hearing and seeing all kiiinds of hype and praise from around the world and I’m quite glad I gave it a shot, because it’s a damn good album. It rocks in a ‘we’re not really trying to blow you away but here’s some rock & roll stuff you might enjoy’ kinda way, and the storytelling through the lyrics is on point. They’re like one of those random bands you see in a bar and you turn to your friend and say ‘Ya know, these dudes are actually pretty good’ as you tap your foot along with the beat while you drink your Stella and your buddy just nods in agreement which annoys you because you don’t think he appreciates them as much as he should but whatever, his musical taste sucks anyway.
Standout Songs – ‘Great Expectations’, ‘Old White Lincoln’ and ‘Meet Me By The River’s Edge’

#46
Goldmund – ‘The Malady Of Elegance’
Type Records
Released July 8, 2008

That’s kind of a creepy album cover isn’t it? Anyway. Goldmund is an alias of composer Keith Kenniff, who has appeared on my lists before (and just might again very soon WINK WINK) under his other moniker..Helios.  There really isn’t all that much to say about this record..the bottom line is it is beautiful. Haunting, simple, lonely, and beautiful. It’s basically comprised entirely of piano compositions, and it’s kind of incredible to hear the power and emotions that those keys possess. I challenge you to listen to this record and not be thrust deep into thought or be lulled to sleep..you can’t..not..do it. This is one of those cds that would be fantastic to listen to while sitting alone in a room lit only by a gentle fire burning in the fireplace, feeling the hint of warmth it provides and getting lost in the crackles of the flames and the melody of the ivory. Thinking. Dreaming. Remembering. Hoping.
I wish I could play piano.  Sigh.
Standout Songs: ‘Apalachee’, ‘Finding It There’, and ‘Evelyn’

#45
Telescreen – ‘The Solar Sea’
The Burn Collective
Released 2008

So even though this was digitally released back in 07, it wasn’t released on an actual cd until this year aaand I didn’t hear it until this year either, so in my book, it still counts.  Telescreen is awesome for me because I was a big, big fan of Codeseven and I dug on Classic Case a bit, and this is the new band made up of them dudes. Musically, they basically sound like a continuation of the direction Codeseven was heading at the time of their demise which is great. I love the spacey, airy kinda guitar sounds and vox a ton. A couple intersting tidbits about these dudes..first off, when they perform live, they apparently do so behind a big translucent screen with neato images playing on it..sorta like Sigur Ros does sometimes I suppose..only these guys play the whole show that way so as to take the attention of themselves and focus it on the tunes. Alllso, if you buy this EP from them digitally, you’re able to sell it to your friends or whoever for a set price and keep all the profits for yourself. Interesting concept. ANNNYhoo, this cd is short but great and I sure hope they drop a full length next year..and go see ‘em with dredg if they come to your town, I bet it’s a killer show.
Standout Songs: ‘True’, ‘The Solar Sea’, and ‘Rumors’

#44
Joshua Radin – ‘Simple Times’
Mom & Pop Music
Released Sept 30, 2008

Another day, another singer songwriter. This is the sophmore record for Radin, and while I dug his first record, I havta say this new one is a step up for him.  I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but the tunes just seem to have more of a dynamic to them and I find myself enjoying them quite a bit. And with the new season of Scrubs starting soon, I’m sure the world shall follow suit, as this dude’s music seems to be on half the episodes due to him being LIKE TOTAL BBFS OMG with quirky doctor heart throb Zach Braff.  I need some famous friends to  promote BEP.com on tv shows and movies and shit. Maybe I can get my addy plastered on the ring gear of some boxer or get a logo on some dude in the ‘09 World Series of Poker.  Screw fulltiltpoker.com, they don’t need the promotion like I do. Cmon. I have bills to pay people. Hook it up. Anyone?  So Josh Radin. This cd is really good stuff, it manages to be a fairly upbeat record without losing it’s mellow edge and the production helps add warmth to the music..it’s like a big acoustical puffy coat, perfect for the chilly winter ahead.
Standout Songs: ‘Sky’, ‘Brand New Day’, ‘No Envy No Fear’

#43
Unearth – ‘The March’
Metal Blade Records
Released October 14, 2008

Alright, so I know that I reviewed this record on here a few months back and only gave it a 3 outta 5. Hey, I had my reasons. I said it was the same cd Unearth has been releasing for years now..that it had a few badass tunes and the rest were basically filler. And in some respects, I still feel that way. But one thing that I underestimated was the staying power of the songs I did like and their ability to act as a gateway drug to get me into the rest of the cd. So while this is the same old cd these guys release each time, I find myself really digging it the way I did back with the last cd of theirs I enjoyed, ‘The Oncoming Storm’. Seriously, most of the songs on this cd are rockin’ as all hell.. there’s tons of heavy, there are a ton of solos, there are breakdowns..it’s an Unearth cd, but it’s an Unearth cd that’s a return to form after the very disappointing ‘In The Eyes Of Fire’. Is it a bit bland and cookie cutter? Sure. But it’s really grown on me and become a go to disc when I’m wantin to RAWWWWK. And dudes, I cannot emphasize the awesomeness of the first song ‘My Will Be Done’ enough. So rad. It’s even my ringtone right now! Yay!
Standout Songs: ‘My Will Be Done’, ‘We Are Not Anonymous’, and ‘Cutman’

#42
The Tallest Man On Earth – ‘Shallow Grave’
Gravitation Records
Released March 5, 2008

Before you even say anything, no I have no idea how tall this dude is.  He’s Scandinavian..how tall do those people get over there? Hmm. I dunno.  It seems like every single singer songwriter that comes out these days gets compared to Bob Dylan. Conor from Bright Eyes has been labeled ‘this generation’s Dylan’ many times, as have countless other folks, heck, even Josh Radin up above has been called that by Rolling Stone magazine.  But Tallest Man does all those guys one better, he doesn’t just write Dylany songs, dude sounds a lot like a Bob Dylan. Not cause he’s trying to, because I certainly don’t get that vibe..he just..does.  And believe you me, that has nothing to do with my enjoyment of this cd, cause I don’t even like Bobby D’s music much. Honestly, this record sounds like the guy walked into the studio with just his guitar, was all like ‘alright, let’s do this’, and an hour later went home feeling accomplished because he just recorded this gem of a record. It sounds really effortless, really natural, and above all, really good.
Standout songs: ‘Pistol Dreams’, ‘Honey Won’t You Let Me In’, and ‘Where Do My Bluebirds Fly’

#41
The Battle Of Land And Sea – s/t
Mis Ojos Discos
Released January 16, 2008

I’ve never been to Portland, Oregon..or anywhere near there really..but if this is what kinda music comes out of there, count me in. This Northwestern duo have created a record that’s about as sparse as a record can be, with nothing but the quiet strumming of an acoustic guitar, a few reverby swells of said guitar’s plugged in counterpart, and the lovely, honest voice of Sara O’Shura filling up what would otherwise be, well, silence I suppose.  The Battle Of Land And Sea kinda sounds like a mix of a sullen-Cat Power and Mazzy Star and is chill to the max, thus making it a fantasmo listen on a slow rainy day or a primo addition to my iPod’s sleep playlist. They even have a cover of that 80’s tune ‘Harden My Heart’ by whoever sang that song..most likely some one hit wonder type group..and turn it into something a lot more interesting and intimate than the original version ever hoped to be. Great stuff here, dudes.
Standout Songs: ‘Saltwater Queen’, ‘Lady’, ‘The Beautiful Ones’

#40
Blind Pilot – ‘3 Rounds and a Sound’
Expunged Records
Released July 15, 2008

Hey wouldn’t ya know it..it’s another folky duo from Portland! I first checked out this record because I saw it described somewhere as The Shins with a folk style not all that different from Iron & Wine. I’m all about both of those bands, so I had high hopes for Blind Pilot and as it turns out, I was totally not let down. The Shins with acoustics comparisons are totally on the money here, especially with the similarities the two acts share in the vocal department. 3 Rounds and a Sound is a great little record with heartfelt and slightly melancholy songs about life and love and is the kind of music that just sorta affixes to me as soon as I listen. It’s something that I put aside a few different times over the months but was never able to forget about it. I kept have an urge to come back and listen to it again because on some level, it made me feel happy when it hit my ears. I really wouldn’t be surprised if this band got relatively big at some point in the near future. They’re totally that band whose songs should have a prominant spot in some kinda Juno or Garden State type movie. If that happens, you heard it here first. I’m like Nostradamus and shit.
Standout Songs: ‘Poor Boy’, ‘Oviedo’, and ‘Things I Cannot Recall’

#39
Bitcrush – ‘Epilogue In Waves’
n5MD Records
Released February 26, 2008

This label has become one of my favorites in the past couple years as they’ve released a ton of awesome music. Artists like Last Days, Lights Out Asia, and Near The Parenthesis call n5md their home..and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a pretty solid stable of artists..and actually, Bitcrush guy is the reason for that. Mike Cadoo (that’s a silly name, isn’t it? cadooooooooooooo!) is the man behind Bitcrush as well as the operator of said label. So nice work Mikey. They deal mostly with electronic and post-rock stuff, and ‘Epilogue in Waves’ follows right along in that mold. God, I just love this type of music. There’s so much beauty in the subtle soundscapes found in electronic and ambient music, don’t you think? Yes you do. I also love that so many of these artists seem to search for inspiration in the ocean and so many of these type cds are incredible to listen to while just sitting back and watching the waves and thinking. If you know me, you’re well aware of my love affair with the beach at night and how nothing is really more perfect to me..well even though I don’t live in an area that allows me experience it, I also love the idea of the beach in the winter. Think Eternal Sunshine’s Montauk. This is the type of record I wanna be listening to if I’m sitting on a freezing cold beach wearing a huge puffy coat and just watching the water and thinking. Ahhh, I’m all fuzzy just thinking about it.
Standout Songs: ‘An Island, A Penninsula’, ‘Pearl’, and ‘A False Movement, True’

#38
Ours – ‘Mercy (Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Enemy)’
American Records
Released March 18, 2008

I waited for this record FOR-EV-ER. Back in ‘01 when Ours released ‘Distorted Lullabies’, I remember being blown away by singer dude Jimmy Gnecco’s ridiculously powerful voice that reminded me of Bono at times and the overall coolness of the cd. In ‘02 came the really lackluster ‘Precious’ and the band seemed to fall off the face of the earth due to label issues and whatnot but now it’s the Oh Eight and Ours is back in top form and have once again released a cd that’s up to speed with Lullabies.  There really aren’t any week points here on this record guys. The record kicks off with the incredible title track (’Mercy’, duh) and chugs along with killer tunes like ‘Ran Away To Tell The World’, ‘Live Again’, and ‘Murder’ and has really served to make me fall in love with this band all over again.  I’d be hard pressed to name a better all around vocalist in rock music than Gnecco..maybe Muse guy..but this dude’s voice is just so powerful and brings these songs to life in a way that I don’t think many other people would be able to.   Awesome disc and I hope I don’t havta wait like 6 years for another one.
Standout Songs: I just told you. See? Right Up There.

#37
Near The Parenthesis – ‘L’Eixample’
n5MD Records
Released August 19, 2008

After getting name dropped two cds ago, NTP appears on their own right here at 37. This guy does the whole ambient, atmospheric, glitchy electronica thing and boy it’s a great listen. As I sit here, it’s an overcast/rainy, coldish morning here in Atlanta and that’s the perfect storm for music like this, as I kind of alluded to back with Bitcrush.  It’s hard to talk about music like this though, because there isn’t all that much to say. All the stuff I’ve read about this record, because I do my research, talk about how dude went to Barcelona and this whole thing is inspired by that experience but I don’t know nothin about that, because I’m not exactly reminded of Spain when I hear it. Cause like, there isn’t a mariachi band on it. Get it? Spain? Mariachi? Sigh. Yes so I dunno nothin about that, all I know is that good music is good music annd that the whole ambient/modern classical genre has been kicking some ass over the past couple of years and it’s really some of the most inspiring and moving music out there, for my money at least.  It’s so great for chillaxing, so great to just have on in the background. Calm is good.
Standout Songs: ‘Modernisme’, ‘Guell’, and ‘Paral.lel’

#36
The Myriad – ‘With Arrows, With Poise’
Koch Records
Released May 13, 2008

A long time ago, I posted the video for the track ‘A Clean Shot’ on this here bloggy because I thought it to be quite an enjoyable tune. Well not long after, this record dropped and I was able to check out the whole thang. At first, I was kinda thrown off by the lyrics because they seem kinda random and vague. I know these guys have the whole  Christian thing going, and you can pick that up evvvvery once in a while from a verse or two so I decided that the lyrics as a whole are maybe supposed to be representative of something more than they just are on the surface and open to the listener’s intrepretation. I’m cool with that, so I moved on.  Back to the music. These guys are a really good band..if I had to compare them to anyone I’d probably  throw out names like Lovedrug or  maybe even Mutemath or Muse, but they def have the legs to stand alone.  These are some well written, well rounded and rich sounding songs annnnnnnnd the hooks are undeniable to the point that they’re hard to not enjoy even if you don’t care all that much for this genre of music.  I had the damn ‘you waste time like a grandfather clock’ melody stuck in my head for like two weeks after I first heard the record and I mean that in the least obnoxious way possible. Point is, I think it’s a top-quality cd with great catchy tunes and fierce staying power and thaaaat, my friends, is why it made the uber-exclusive list.
Standout Songs: ‘Get On The Plane’, ‘A Clean Shot’, and ‘A Thousand Winters Melting’

#35
Gregor Samsa – ‘Rest’
Kora Records
Released May 13, 2008

In the past, I’d always thought of Gregor Samsa as more of a post rock band than they appear to be with this record. Where once there were guitars, now there seems to be piano..at least at more piano that I seem to remember from their past releases.  I love me some piano, so that’s fine by me. Here’s the deal with GS..really chill atmospheric music with a shoegaze feel to it, lots of strings, pianos, synths, vibraphones, and soft male & female vocals that don’t take anything away from the beauty of the compositions.  Gone seem to be the epic post rock swells and in their place are beautiful and understated melodies that still serve to be every bit as powerful as a sweeping guitar and drum infused crescendo.  It goes without saying that I highly recommend this record for many of the same reasons that I recommended some of the other quiet-ish cds on this list already..it’s a great, calming listen.  Oh oh, and I’m pretty sure there’s an ocean theme happening with this disc too..because the ocean rools.
Standout Songs: ‘The Adolescent’, ‘Jerone Van Aken’, and ‘Ain Leuh’

#34
Gregory & The Hawk – ‘Moenie And Kitchi’
Fatcat Records
Released October 7, 2008

If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do because I have a memory like a steel trap when it comes to altogether pointless things – Gregory & The Hawk (or Meredith Godreau) was a bit of a Myspace star before she got a big boy record deal. Or at least her popularity on the website helped her get label attention. Or something like that. I dunno.  Point is I remember GATH being big on Myspace a bunch of years ago and lots of girls posting bulletins saying like ‘OMG I LOVE GREGORY & THE HAWK’ or going to people’s profile pages and seeing that they had one of her songs as their profile songs. Heck, I may have had one of them as myyy profile song at some point..and I probably did because I have an ear for great music if do say so myself. I love this girl’s voice, it sounds so sweet. She’s probably cute.  Often times, female singer songwriters fall victim to the record blahs for whatever reason. Maybe I’m just being sexist.  ‘What’s wrong with being sexy?’ Ah Spinal Tap. Boy I’m all over the place.  This chick has skills though, she’s made a great record and will only improve over time. I wonder how many times she’s been asked who Gregory is and what instrument the Hawk plays. Things that make you go ‘hmmm’.
Standout Songs: ‘Oats We Sow’, ‘August Moon’, and ‘Stone Wall Stone Fence’

#33
November 5, 1955 – ‘Bears Of The Sea’
Metal Blade Records
Released February 19, 2008

Back in the summer, I said this about the 11/5/55 cd…’Besides having a ridiculously favorable album title for this blog, this record all packs a ton of awesomeness as well. Our buddy Fool Of Gold brought these guys to my attention a little while back and I’ve only recent gotten around to checking them out. Boy I’m glad I did. These guys bring to mind Circle Takes The Square, Glassjaw, ATDI, maybe a little Dillinger Escape Plan, with a few other flavors added to the pot for good measure. Musically creative & interesting and seemingly pretty solid lyrically, this cd might be the best metal cd I’ve heard all year and so far probably has the best chance of staying in my heavy music rotation as the year goes on.’  Six months later and I still feel pretty much the same about this record..as far as metal goes, it’s one of the highest ranked cds on my list this year. The songs are technically sound and are just all over the place enough to never get dull and not to just become a mangled mess of noise at the same time. That is a very good thing. More bands should take it upon themselves to jump outside the realm of cookie cutter metal and do something interesting. Just a thought.
Standout Songs: ‘We Are (Rainbow Bridge), ‘A Farewell Waltz’, and ‘March On’

#32
Helios – ‘Caesura’
Type Records
Released November 11, 2008

So this is the other project of Goldmund dude Keith Kenniff that I talked about a bunch of cds ago. Helios has a lot more musical substance than Goldmund does..it goes the route of  ambient/electronica/with a hint of post rock the likes of which has appeared more than a few times already here on this list. What can I say, I enjoy the genre.  On the EP Helios released last year, Ayres, for some reason he decided that the addition of vocals would be a positive thing for his music..buut the results were rather ehh..so luckily he’s given them the boot again for the full length. On my initial listens to this cd, the main issue I had with it was that it didn’t have anything that stood out to me like his last LP, Eingya, did. But upon further listening, I found that the songs kinda flowed more like a complete album moreso than some of his other work did and that really gave it new legs for me.  It sounds like there was a total effort made to make this  record more consistant all the way through, and I can appreciate that. All the songs kinda run together, and I say that in the least insulting way possible..it really helps this record achieve a dreamlike vibe, perfect for escaping the world for 49 minutes or so. Good stuff.
Standout Songs: ‘Come With Nothings’, ‘The Red Truth’, and ‘Hope Valley Hill’

#31
Brown Bird – ‘The Bottom Of The Sea’
Peapod Records
Released July 1, 2008

With all of the folk song writing singer songwriters I put on these year end lists of mine lately, you’d think I’d just go learn how to play guitar and record an album of my own. Afterall, I know what makes for good listening. There generally have to be several factors present included certain levels of: melancholy, vulnerablity, peacefulness, and a twinge of hope.  Throw in an open-for-interpretation moody album cover, some strings or piano in the background, maybe some soft female guest vox on a song or two, and boom goes the dynamite, you’ve got a hit.  I can’t really sing either though, and that would present a bit of a roadblock for me as well. Oh well. Heck, all that rambling and I’m not even positive if Brown Bird is technically just one dude or if it’s a group. I seem to think it’s just one dude, but whatever.  This is a great cd, now I’m gonna go make myself a sandwich.
Standout Songs: ‘My Daddy’s A Preacher’, ‘Lioness’, and ‘A Ghost Of Myself’

#30
Ra Ra Riot – ‘The Rhumb Line’
Barsuk Records
Released August 19, 2008

This record is kind of this year’s happy little accident for me. I initally downloaded this record to send to a friend of mine who happens to be friends with these dudes up in NY. Buuut then I listened to it, and was all like ‘hey this is really good’. People compare this band to Vampire Weekend all the time, but eff that. I strongly dislike VW and not these guys, so that’s prooobbbbably enough to put the kibosh on any and all comparisons due to me having the final say in all things music-related.  I must say that I am a big supporter of this latest trend of indie bands having violinists and cellists and whatever other random instrumentation in tunes (see the Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, et al), and Ra Ra Riot implements them perfectly..dare I say their inclusion is probably what helped make me like this record so darn much.  While the band themselves are somewhat shrouded in tragedy (their drummer died last year) and the lyrics have a darkness to them, the songs themselves contrast nicely, many having a nice upbeat, energetic, and engaging feel. The opening, and perhaps most fantastic song on the record, ‘Ghost Under Rocks’, reminds me a bit of the Rosebuds..while other songs bring hints of the Shins and older Death Cab stuff..but The Rhumb Line totally has a musical mind and life of it’s own. This is, hands down, my favorite ‘indie’ record of the year. It’s fun and sounds happy even if it technically isn’t all the time and it’s something I highly recommend to all of my 20 or so readers, ha. Word of warning to our own fool of gold though: there are some ‘oh oh ohhhs’.
Standout Songs: ‘Ghost Under Rocks’, ‘Winter ‘05?, ‘Dying Is Fine’

#29
StoneRider – ‘Three Legs OF Trouble’
Trustkill Records
Released January 29, 2008

From a personal standpoint, I’m slightly obligated to give all kinds of props to this band and this record. This is, after all, my brother’s band, and I have known these dudes forever and a day. That being said, in order to show up on this list, your record had better kick ass; I don’t care who you are. Luckily for all involved then that this album has no shortage of ass kicking shoved into it’s 10 tracks.  This record is like the defibrillator for the mostly boring rock scene these days, doing everything it can to bring rock back to the life it once enjoyed in days gone by.  This is southern rock the way it oughta be done..packed with huge hooks, dirty riffs, and just innuendo to fuel a small nation. Hey ladies – ya know how you gather up all your girlfriends and go to the bar for a night of drinks and gossip? Well, once you have a few drinks in you and all you wanna do is dance, this is the band you’re searchin for in the jukebox, because when push comes to shove, these guys know how to make you move. It kinda baffles me how these guys haven’t blown up yet, but I think it’ll come. All it takes is one set of ears, ya dig?  Anyway. It’s saturday night. Go grab yourself a PBR or a Jack & Coke, throw on this record, and let the good times roll.
Standout Songs: ‘Wild Child’, ‘Hair Of The Dog’, and ‘Juice Man’

#28
Rachael Yamagata – ‘Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart’
Warner Bros. Records
Released October 7, 2008

A handful of years ago, this young lady released a cd called ‘Happenstance’, and fueled by killer songs like ‘Be Be Your Love’ and ‘Worn Me Down’, it was an instant fav of mine. Fast forward a few years, and the sultry songtress has returned with this double lp of new stuff (the first disc full of slower, quieter songs and the second with more uptempo, rock-oriented songs) and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I wanna say that those songs I mentioned off her first record were hits of song sort, so I sort of assumed that she might take that route for this one, capitalizing on her past successes and leaning towards a more ‘marketable’ product. What this is, however, is a record of slow, mostly piano and strings driven songs about heartache and similar things that it sounds like she was born to make.  She has such a sexy, powerful, sultry voice..think sort of along the lines of a female Ray LaMontagne (who, incidentally, she has a duet with on this disc on a song called….wait for it………..’Duet’)..that’s it impossible for me to deny her or her music.  Just to be clear, I don’t care much for the disc of rock tunes, they do nothing for me. But the slow songs are totally gorgeous, the arrangements are wonderful, and all in all I really love this cd.
Standout Songs: ‘Sunday Afternoon’, ‘Duet’, and ‘Elephants’

#27
Goldfrapp – ‘Seventh Tree’
Mute Records
Released February 26, 2008

This ain’t yo daddy’s Goldfrapp. But really, is any Goldfrapp cd all that comparible to the one that came before it? If you popped this record in hoping for a repeat of the past two records by Allison & Co with their glam electro dance beats and synths all over the place, you surely walked away disappointed because this is really nothing like that. If anything, it’s closer to their debut ‘Felt Mountain’ record but I kinda feel like this is better. To me, this cd has a very fresh and organic sorta sound to it. Lush is a word I see used a lot in music reviews, and lush is a word that I think might fit this cd rather nicely. Smooth, airy vocals, some acoustic geetars and a lingering synth track or two among other things, and a few mildly trip-hop sounding beats a boppin in the background add up a really impressive cd…boy it’s kinda funny how many of these cds are the same sorta style of music this year..but I digress.  If you listen to no other song on this album, plllease listen to ‘A&E’. It’s one of my favorite songs of the entire year, the melody is so perfect it gives me chills. Do it. Do it now. Did you do it? Cmon, please, for me. You shant be disappointed.
Standout Songs: ‘A&E’, ‘Road To Somewhere’, and ‘Monster Love’

#26
The Killers – ‘Day and Age’
Island Records
Released November 24, 2008

Wow, I must think pretty highly of this cd if it was able to jump into basically the top quarter of my list after only a week or 2 of release/leakage.  The Killers are absolutely incredible at catchy as hell poprock songs. You can’t deny that. ‘Hot Fuss’ had like 38 singles, and even the disappointing ‘hey let’s write Springsteen songs’ ‘Sam’s Town’ had three kick ass singles that I remember.  ‘Human’ was the first taste the world got of this album, and it is a fantastic song as well despite it’s awkward ‘are we human or are we dancer’ line that’s alledgedly a nod to Hunter S. Thompson or something and does a great job of letting you know what to expect here on this record. Sounding like the offspring of the band’s first two cds with the addition of more Cure and Queen influence than I could shake a stick at, Day & Age might be their best record yet. Every song has it’s own identity (’Joy Ride’ even makes me think of Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’), and is as good as the one that came before it.  After the success of  ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘Mr. Brightside’, these guys could have very easily started to rehash hoping lightning would strike twice or fallen off the face of the earth. Instead, they flipped the script, changed up their sound, and have proven to have the ability and the songwriting chops to remain fresh and relavant in an industry that’s as cutthroat and fickle as can be. Nice going dudes, I have a feeling you’re gonna be around for a long time to come.
Standout Songs: ‘Human’, ‘Spaceman’, and ‘A Dustland Fairytale’

#25
iliketrains – ‘The Christmas Tree Ship’ EP
Fantastic Plastic Records
Released November 24, 2008

Heeey wouldya look at that. We’ve finally reached the top 25, and that means just one review a day! Bad for you, good for me.
Don’t be fooled by the title of this EP. This thing really has nothing to do with the joys of Christmas and there are no bells a-jinglin and red nosed reindeer mentions. Instead this is a dark, atmospheric instrumental..and yes, post rock, record that is, from what I gather, a soundtrack to some old tale about a Captain and his logging boat who were lost mysteriously at..lake I guess..while trying to deliver Christmas trees to Chicago. Ah, that really warms the heart.  But that’s what these guys do..they write music as a s/t to tragic historical events. They have songs about a deadly 1912 expedition to the South Pole and former chess-guy-turned-loon Bobby Fischer on past releases, so a depressing Christmas cd is right up their alley. This is a top notch record, it really is. It’s broken into 5 songs, but it’s really one long piece of music, that ebbs and flows with the emotion and power that any quality post-rock cd should. It starts slow and song by song builds up to what is undoubtedly the punch in the face climax of the record during the final track, ‘Friday – Everybody Goodbye’. I can almost visualize a ship being torn about by some killer storm on Lake Michigan right now as I close my eyes while listening to it.  Awesome.  I’ve always thought this band was a bit underrated and off the radar, but at the same time have often been less than enthusiastic about the Morrissey-like vocals most of their songs have had in the past. But have no fear, no vocals here! Just pure, unadulterated musical refreshment.  If you like your guitars with an echo and your music unabashedly dark and moving, ‘The Christmas Tree Ship EP’ might be for you.
Standout Songs: ‘South Shore’, ‘Friday – Everybody Goodbye’, and ‘Three Sisters’

#24
Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – ‘Why Is Bear Billowing?’
Carpark Records
Released September 9, 2008

Today is one of those day’s that I’m feeling really lazy, and when that happens during the month of December, that means that you get a fun copied & pasted review that I crafted months ago for this here site.
When you download..er..um..listen to..as many records as I do, it’s hard for things to stand out. Often times, If it’s something I’ve never heard of, I’ll give it a first listen..maybe a second, and if it doesn’t catch my ear I send it off to pasture. This is one of those times where I think I may have found a bit of a gem. Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez is, if you couldn’t tell just by looking at the album art, a folky singer songwriter who manages to really stand out in a genre where it’s kiiiiinda tough to really stand out. Some people will criticize LGA as nothing more than a Devendra Banhart ripoff, and hey, I can see where those people are coming from. There are some similarities (art, weird name, semi-quirky lyrics, etc) but I think they’re a bit off base. If anything, he is an easier to consume Devendra meets Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, or Donovan. The bottom line here though is this guy has skills and this cd is really good. The songs are all so simple, warm, and honest that they will  melt your cold, black heart upon first listen and you’ll be better for it.
Standout Songs: ‘Pinecone Eyes’, ‘The Letter B’, and ‘All With Golden Locks’

#23
Anberlin – ‘New Surrender’
Universal/Republic
Released September 30, 2008

Coming on the heels of last year’s awesome ‘Cities’ and following a much-deserved jump to a major label, Anberlin dropped ‘New Surrender’ on the masses this year, much to the delight of people everywhere! No? Well, how about much to the delight of me. That work better for ya? Ya know, I think that if this list was based solely on album art, this cd would be number one. I love me some trees and mountain and nature and whatnot.  Buuut alas, it’s not based on that, so luckily they’re bringing some good tunes to the table as well. With each cd leading up to this point, Anberlin has seemed to pride themselves on evolving, as many bands do I suppose. With ‘Cities’, they seemed to find themselves, and they’ve built on that with NS..continuing their streak of writing great songs with meaningful lyrics but this time really spreading out the songs stylistically. They have a more varied collection of songs here than I can remember them having in the past..from the ‘rockin’ type songs to the slower ballad types to acoustic stuff to ‘radio’ hits to anthem type stuff..they cover all the rock bases here. Some might argue that they watered themselves down  a bit for the major label debut, and I can see where that arguement may come from, but honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I enjoy this every bit as much as I enjoyed ‘Cities’, and that was a ton. Catchy, memorable songs with great lyrics are the norm for Anberlin and they do not disappoint on this bad boy.  In other words, if you’re lookin’ for a collection of songs solely about girls and school, you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you want pop-rock tunes with a bit more actual content, NS may be just what the good doctor ordered. So pick it up, wait for nice sunny day, roll the windows down, pop this disc in, and let the goodness melt your ears off.
Standout Songs: ‘The Resistance’, ‘Misearbile Visu (ex malo bonum)’, and ‘Retrace’

#22
M83 – ‘Saturdays = Youth’
Mute US
Released April 15, 2008

Hi guys. My wordpress keeps giving me error messages while I’m trying to post this so this is the best I can do right now and I don’t even know if this will post. I’ll give it a go again later tonight or tomorrow…

I got lazy. this cd is great. listen to it.

Standout Songs: ‘Graveyard Girl’, ‘Couleurs’, and ‘You, Appearing’

#21
Ray LaMontagne – ‘Gossip In The Grain’
RCA Victor
Released September 30, 2008

Ah Ray LaMontagne..the breathy, raspy voiced crooner that can make the ladies swoon and the dudes..play the music for the ladies to make them swoon.  Or maybe you’re like me and you like Ray’s stuff because it’s great, not because you’re trying to get some hottie naked. Not that there’d be anything wrong with that. Either way, there’s no denying that Ray LaMontagne has some mad skills and his back catalogue of music is something to talk about as ‘Trouble’ is great and ”Til The Sun Turns Black’ is nothing short of outstanding in my opinion. With ‘Gossip’, Ray has turned up the volume a bit, opening up to a much broader sound than the often times myopic, chilled out ‘TTSTB’ and at first that was a bit of a turn-off for me. I was all about the idea of him bringing in an orchestra or whatev on lots of the songs, but I wasn’t all that comfortable with the upbeat sound of tunes like lead single ‘You Are The Best Thing’ which sounds like it’s straight off of some big band backed Ray Charles record or something. But hey, time goes by and things grow on you, and that’s what happened here with me.  While I still feel that this record can’t really hold a candle to ‘TTSTB’, it’s still a great display of songwriting and musicianship and has that one of a kind LaMontagne flair that you’re not really gonna find anywhere else in the music scene today.  It should probably be noted that I saw this guy live a month or 2 ago, and that sort of thing always helps me get more into musicians who release a record I may not be totally sold on beforehand. The bottom line is, despite whatever holdups I may have about him spreading his musical wings and expanding his sound like a peacock puffing out it’s colorful plumage, it’s still the same old Ray under the sparkly newer exterior, and he’s still bringin the heat. The high, stinky limburger.
Standout Songs: ‘Sarah’, ‘A Falling Through’, and ‘Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame)”

#20
Jon Foreman – ‘Fall & Winter’
Credential Records
Released January 15, 2008

Better known for his day job as singer of the band Switchfoot, Jon Foreman, over the past year, has released a slew of EPs with songs that were meant to capture the feel of the season they were released in.  This disc was released back in the winter and combined his previous EP from fall of  ‘07 with songs for winter of ‘08. As you might guess, most of these tunes are of the acoustic variety and are relatively slow so it’s right up my alley. I never really expected to like this as much as I did. I’ve always been a relatively casual semi-fan of Switchfoot, so my intial instict was that it probably wouldn’t matter all that much if I heard this disc or not. HOWEVA, once I went to his myspace and checked out the lead track on the cd, a song called ‘The Cure For Pain’, I had flipped and I had flopped and immediately hustled to go check out the whole record. Good thing too, cause I’d be totally missing out. This is a wonderful record, the songs seem so honest to me, so intimate..and I’m sure I mention that sorta thing a lot with singer/songwriter records I enjoy, but it’s a big deal. I wanna be able to believe the songs, to really feel them as a listener..and that’s tough to do if the dude singing them doesn’t.  But Foreman is 100% real, the songs are great, plus there are more than a few traces of spirituality in the lyrics, and that’s something I personally kinda dig hearing.  There isn’t a bad song in the bunch, and it’s kinda neat how the songs on the fall half feel like you’re approaching winter and then ones on the winter cd have traces of spring in them. I love this record, you should too.
Standout Songs:  ‘The Cure For Pain’, ‘My Love Goes Free’, and ‘Behind Your Eyes’

#19
Right Away, Great Captain! – ‘The Eventually Home’
Favorite Gentleman Recordings
Released November 11, 2008

Hopefully I can pry myself away from that facebook geo challenge game long enough to write this little review up.  It’s got some very addictive qualities, that game.  But on with the show. So RAGC is the solo project of yet another singer from yet another band..this time the band is Atlanta’s Manchester Orchestra and the singer’s name is Andy Hull.  Now admittedly I don’t much care at all about Manchester nor could I name any song by them or really even tell you much about how they sound, but one thing I do know is that this record was a big time surprise in it’s awesomeness. Homeboy has a sound that’s quite similar to Conor/Bright Eyes with a few traces of Ryan Adams, and is yet another record on my list that’s about being out at sea (from what I’ve read, this is his second solo record about a captain out at sea, and this time, the good capt. is headin’ home. .to a cheatin’ woman and a life in shambles. Bad times. Needless to say, the record is dark lyrically, and much like Conor Oberst, his quiverry shaky voice adds a really substancial level of vulnerabilty to the lyrics and the tone of the record.  Folk music at it’s rootsiest is all about storytelling, and Hull proves himself to be quite proficient in that aspect of the game. ‘Tis quite an enjoyable record by a dude who surely has a loooong, profitable career in front of him.
Standout Songs: ‘Down To Your Soul’, ‘I Was A Cage’, and ‘Father Brian Finn’

#18
Wolftron – ‘Flesh & Fears’
Eyeball Records
Released May 6, 2008

For a long time earlier this year, I was pretty much obsessed with this record. It’s like the rest of the music industry was David Cook and Wolftron was David Archuleta and I was a 13 year old girl text voting my heart out for the American Idol winner.  As any avid follower of pop culture should know, things didn’t quite work out for david a..but it’s cool cause he still is a superstar and a future giant in the biz, and that’s sort of how I feel about this cd. I don’t quite love it as much as I did earlier in the year, mainly cause more stuff came out for me to be obsessed with..but that doesn’t mean I’m discounting this guy in any way.  This is essentially a solo record by the frontman of the band Daphne Loves Derby, and if was hard-pressed to compare the sound of this thing to other music, I’d bring up acts like Copeland, Umbrellas, Codeseven (RIP!), and Owen.  It’s nice, lazy, peaceful, and indie/emo-twinged acoustically rooted but not driven music featuring equally soothing vocals.  It may not be the album of the year I thought it to be in May, but it’s still oozing with awesome.
Standout Songs: Crystal Skulls”, ‘Happiness’, and ‘Beautybird’

#17
Conor Oberst – ‘Conor Oberst’
Merge Records
August 5, 2008

I’m really not sure why this isn’t a Bright Eyes release. I assume it’s just because he has some different dudes backing him this time around (’The Mystic Valley Band’) and it was released on Merge instead of Saddle Creek. Or maybe he just wanted to break out of the confines of that name. Who knows. When whispers first started about this project, rumor was that it was gonna be a Oberst/M. Ward collab, and that would have been awesome, but those rumors proved unfounded and what we got was a self-titled Conor ’solo’ record.  The first thing I noticed about this was that it was immediately easier on the ears than last years Cassadaga, whose grandiose production values killed some of the spirit of everything I had felt that Bright Eyes represented.   The record feels a bit more stripped down..not even as much from a instrumentation sense as from just a moodiness sense. It sounds like a much more laid back and low pressure record for Oberst, as he infuses his usual folk rock with more of an upbeat country sound than I can ever remember him doing in the past.  That said, all the songwriting prowess you know and love from the Bright Eyes records exist in full force here, heck, all the everything you know and love from BE is on this record.  If you’re a BE fan, I see no reason why you wouldn’t like this record as it’s obviously basically the same thing.  It’s no ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’, but it holds it’s own in his impressive catalogue of music. Oh, and might I add from experience that this is a darn good cd to listen to as you drive through Texas at twilight with the windows down.
Standout Songs: ‘Milk Thistle’, ‘Moab’, and ‘Sausalito’

#16
Johann Johannson – ‘Fordlandia’
4ad Records
Released November 3, 2008

Oh the beautiful sounds of classical music.  Iceland native Johann Johannson is a modern composer, who, much like his contempory Max Richter, infuses electronic elements into his classical orchestrations.  I wanna say this is probably the 4th Johannson cd that I’ve listened to over the years and this, by far, is the top of the pops for him.  It’s the second in an apparent trilogy of records supposedly about technologial wonders and American brands..the previous one being named after an old IBM computer model..and this one named after a huge plot of land Henry Ford bought back in the ’20s in Brazil in hopes of being able to import his own rubber  but the whole thing blew up in his face yada yada and you can read about it on Wikipedia if you so choose.  The music here is absolutely gorgeous, and while I have no idea if it actually works at being a soundtrack to the Fordlandia debacle, it works brilliantly at being the soundtrack to an eyes-closed romp through your own personal dreamland with enough quietly subtle moments and patiently built up swells to satsify anything your mind can throw at you. Johannson makes sure nothing feels rushed and there aren’t too many ideas crammed into the songs, thus allowing for a perfectly paced and developed musical journey that can take you absolutely anywhere you want to go.
Standout Songs:  ‘Fordlandia’, ‘Melodia (Guidelines…)’, and ‘The Great God Pan Is Dead’

#15
Emmylou Harris – ‘All I Intended To Be’
Nonesuch Records
Released June 10, 2008

It’s a bit of a mystery as to why Emmylou Harris and her music had eluded me for as long as it did.  You’d figure that my enjoyment of chilled out singers and classic country/roots artists and all things Nashville would surely have lead me down the Harris road many moons ago. Alas though, it was a burnt copy of her ‘Wrecking Ball’ disc that my brother gave to me that really set the stage for my recent love affair with her music.  ‘All I Intended To Be’ is her most recent effort and is comprised of a handful of cover songs (originally performed by arists such as Patty Griffin, Merle Haggard, and Tracy Chapman) and some of her own material and is unbelievably great, if I might say so myself. I really, really love her voice to be honest with you. She could be singing the topping list at a pizza place and I would probably be pretty enthralled by what was goin on.  The woman is truly a legend in every sense of the word and I’m so glad I gave her a chance to win me over.  Incredible cd.
Standout Songs: ‘Shores Of White Sand’, ‘Hold On’, and ‘Take That Ride’

#14
Peter Bradley Adams – ‘Leavetaking’
Sarathan Records
Released August 5, 2008

We’re really starting to get into the meat and taters of this here list folks.  Today the wheel of good music stops on Peter Bradley Adams. This is PBA’s second solo cd (he used to be a member of underrated duo eastmountainsouth as well) and it’s a gem.  The one problem with making this kind of list though is that if I have a lot of arists that fall under the same genre of music, it gets harder and harder to write new things about it as the list goes on. As you may be able to guess, PBA does the acoustic guitar singer thing. Nice calm music, good songwriting, you know the drill. One song in particular,’ Los Angeles’, is worth the price of admission on it’s own.  Great cd, check it out. Onto more interesting stories. So I went to Nashville to see Sleeping At Last last month, and it just so happened PBA was playing in town earlier that same night. Soooo we headed to check him out and he had this lame opening guy so we sat outside and I got a white russian and would you believe it…the half and half the bartender used was bad! It smelled weird but I drank half of it anyway cause I’m dumb and don’t like causing a scene. So then a member of my party went and returned my drink and got a beer instead. The End.
Standout Songs: ‘Los Angeles’, ‘Ohio’, and ‘So Are You To Me’

http://tinyurl.com/Leavetaking-Amazon-Music-Store

#13
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida’
Capitol Records
Released June 17, 2008

In an attempt to show continuity here at BEP, we will now, as a collective unit, relive my initial review for this Coldplay cd as it begins with ‘it’s Friday night and I’m terribly bored..’ so it fits rather well in the current situation. Plus, it’s a long review and pretty decent, so why not give ‘er another go?………..’It’s Friday night and I’m terribly bored, so what else is there to do but post a few thoughts about a cd on a ridiculously popular blog site? Nothin, that’s what. Alright, so on to the show. I think I might be one of the few who really though that X&Y was a super solid record for Coldplay and even amongst less company in saying it’s my favorite of the band’s cds. Nothing against Parachutes or Rush Of Blood, it’s just my personal preference. I liked the direction they seemed to be slightly deviating towards on that record, and found it a nice change from the straight up piano balladry the band usually makes use of. So it’s been a few years now and the band is back with this, the oddly titled Viva La Vida (or death and all his friends), complete with it’s Revolutionary artwork, and the promise of quite a shift in audible output. Singer Chris Martin had commented that this cd wouldn’t be such a ‘piano record’ and the fact that this was to be produced by music legend Brian Eno (if you have to ask, look him up kids) cemented the idea that a change was in the works. But would it be a change for the better? That’s what I was determined to find out when I downloaded this bad boy a few days ago. My expectations were admittedly low for this disc, I hadn’t liked lead single ‘Violet Hill’ the first few times i heard it and I just wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got though when I started listening to this cd was music that kinda blew me away a little bit. Coldplay REALLY steps their game up to the next level here guys, they’ve made what amounts to a rather beautiful record with soundscapes so lush only Brian Eno could have been behind them while keeping all their pop sensibilities in tact so as not to push too many people away. They’ve really managed to create a record that might just hush their critics, win over the music snobs, and please the soccer (football?) moms all in one fell swoop..and that ain’t easy folks. Songs like ‘42? (with it’s slight Radiohead similarities) and ‘Yes’ are great songs that show a matured band..while tunes like ‘Reign Of Love’ and ‘The Escapist’ really appeal to my quiet side and might just be two of my favorite songs of the year so far. Heck, even the once disliked ‘Violet Hill’ is a favorite of mine now. Something about that song feels important, do ya know what I mean? Anyway, I’ve only listened to the record 4 or 5 times now I guess, so as usual, all my opinions are subject to change..but as far as right now goes, I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possibilities for this to be a top 10 or 15  record this year for me if all goes according to plan. So that’s cool. Viva La Vida… should go a long way in solidifying Coldplay’s spot in music today, and might even do for them what the Eno-produced Joshua Tree did for another little band called U2..which is propel them into music industry lifers; or who knows, maybe even legends.’   Oh oh also, the freshly released ‘Prospekt’s March EP’ is pretty solid stuff too.
Standout Songs: ‘Lovers In Japan’, ‘Reign Of Love’, and ‘Strawberry Swing’

#12
William Fitzsimmons – ‘The Sparrow And The Crow’
Dark Sparrow Records
Released September 30, 2008

Even if this cd had sucked, this guy probably could have made an appearance on this list on the stregth of his beard-filled album cover alone.  Yes, this is yet another singer songwriter (if you’re sick of them, beware, there are still a few more to come over the next week or so…) and yet another guy whose music sounds destined to be a part of an emotional moment in some Zach Braff project if it hasn’t already.  ‘The Sparrow and The Crow’ is a pretty deep record for Fitzy, as it chronicles a divorce he recently went through and all the ups and downs and pain that caused in his world. It’s not all rain clouds and pouty faces though, because he manages to keep a pretty uplifting or hopeful feeling in many of these songs, which is admirable and keeps the record from being too depressing.  Ya know, as I sit here listening to the album, I’m noticing something I have never noticed about him before..and that’s how much he suddenly reminds me of Sufjan Stevens (on his Seven Swans cd to be specific) vocally at times.  So that’s another plus. Also, the female backing vocals on some of these songs totally sound like Priscilla Ahn in places, heck it probably is her, and I totally adore her voice. I wonder if she’s single. Hm.  I also wonder why more people don’t have killer beards. They obviously increase your natural talents ten fold or just give you superbeardpowers altogether. Think about it, folks like this dude and Iron and Wine guy and ZZ Top dudes have mondo beards and they’re great at what they do.  Oh, and baseball fans, remember how likable Jonny Damon was back as a Red Sock when he had that long hair and beard and they won the World Series and then he went to the Yankees, shaved that shit off, and instantly became a douche? Yeah. Beards are awesome.
Standout Songs: ‘After Afterall’, ‘I Don’t Feel It Anymore”, and ‘Just Not Each Other’

#11
Steve Reynolds – ‘The Carnival Papers’
429 Records
Released June 3, 2008

Hey James, guess what? Beard & a guitar!

Boy I’m so sleepy today. Hungry too.  Given those facts, it’s a small miracle that I’m here to post this for you right now.  I should probably get a gold star for dedication, but it really just comes from a natural desire to serve you, my reader. It may be tough to resist the temptation to shower me with praise, but I implore you to do so.  As I said, I am here to serve you – and you should not be concerned with my level of hunger or sleepiness. So um, I loved Steve Reynolds’ last disc but this one is a huge step up and the progressions in sound and growth of him as an artist are vividly apparent.  Maybe being BFFs with my homeboy Tom McRae is paying off for him. The arrangements are better, the music is warmer, and overall it melts like the four sticks of butter in a Paula Deen dish on my eardrums. I kinda can’t believe the top 10 starts tomorrow.  I wonder if anything up in there will come as a surprise to folks who know me.  The real question is..where will Metallica end up? Hmm. Hmmmmmm. Alright, I’m ready to get this entry off the books and take a nap or something. Yay Steve Reynolds!
Standout Songs: ‘Cover Of Night’, ‘Stage Fright’, and ‘Winter Stories’

#10
Copeland – ‘You Are My Sunshine’
Tooth & Nail Records
Released October 14, 2008

Ah, December 22. I just scored 2 goals each in back to back games in my hockey game, I watched Home Alone 2, it’s 31 degrees outside, and now it’s time to dive headfirst into my top 10 favorite cds of the year. Oh yes, life is good.  This record showing up in the top 10 might be a bit of a surprise to some of you out there, but I assure you it belongs here.  I’ve been a Copeland fan since the days of ‘Beneath Medicine Tree’, and while their past few records have been pretty good, none really did for me what ‘Beneath..’ did. Until now. This is perhaps the band’s finest hour and the most complete performance they’ve turned in yet.  I think the band is at their best when they keep things relatively mellow, as I feel that singer Aaron Marsh’s warm, falsetto vocals work best in that musical environment aaand that’s the vibe on the majority of this disc.  Most songs feature relatively sparse and turned down instrumentation that still manages to sound so so full and lush and great in the background..sort of in the vein of the Appleseed Cast I spose.  Since I’m on the topic of the overall sound of the cd, I’d be nuts to not mention how great the whole thing sounds and what a wonderful job of production was done on the record.  I think this probably features the best production job I’ve heard all year..it’s crazy how something like that can add to a record so much. ‘You Are My Sunshine’ is my feel good cd of the year; it’s warm melodies and uplifting vocals/lyrics are the perfect remedy for a blah-filled day. Excellent record, you would be wise to check it out.
Standout Songs: ‘The Day I Lost My Voice’, ‘The Grey Man’, and ‘To Be Happy Now’

#9
Lights Out Asia – ‘Eyes Like Brontide’
n5MD Records
Released July 19, 2008

A year after picking up the number 3 spot in my 2007 year in list, Lights Out Asia returns with another top 10 appearance. That’s quite a feat if I do say so myself.  On their previous record, they brought a lighter mood to the table, maybe more dreamlike in sound. This time around, the mood just feels darker, heavier, and  noticably more urgent and epic, with song titles like ‘If I Die, I Wish You A Horrible Death’ and ‘Radars Over The Ghosts Of Chernobyl’ around to really drive the darker imagery home.  ‘Eyes Like Brontide’ is both the storm and the calm that follows it, if that makes sense. It’s quite versatile. To expand on that idea, let’s go in this direction…this record could serve as the soundtrack to a post-apocalyptic world and if you allow yourself to daydream a little bit during listening, you may find yourself walking alone down  a debris-filled street, surrounded by twisted metal and destruction on all sides of you, struggling to make sense of it all. Thing is though, as you’re walking, for some reason you still have a feeling deep inside that maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem. The feeling that maybe there’s something on the other side of the horizon just ahead, and suddenly a rush of hope swells inside you and you know that despite everything, things are gonna be okay. Everything is going to be okay.
Standout Songs: ‘MIR’, ‘Six Points Of Fire’, and ‘Psiu! Puxa!’

#8
Underoath – ‘Lost In The Sound Of Separation’
Solid State Records
Released September 2, 2008

Twas the day before Christmas and all through the ‘net, everyone was wondering how much better this list could get. Well I’m happy to tell you, yes I’m happy to relate, that Underoath has taken spot number 8.  They have spent years honing their ways and have evolved into a band who releases music that slays.  Underoath has affixed themselves firmly atop the Christian metal scene, a spot that for me, was once filled by the breakdown happy Norma Jean. But while NJ has faltered, Underoath has thrived, turning themselves from friendly pop metal into some technically sound and pretty brutal guys. Poignant lyrics are the norm as with many bands in the scene, in fact our own Fool Of Gold described them as a metal mewithoutYou, and he doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.  This record is incredible and the songs are the best and if you disagree, well then surely you jest. To sum it all up, new Underoath is the bomb, and have a great Christmas Eve from your friend Brandon and bearseatpeople.com!
Standout Songs: ‘Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear’, ‘A Fault Line, A Fault Of Mine’, and ‘Emergency Broadcast :: The End Is Near’

#7
Nels Andrews – ‘Off Track Betting’
Phantom Sound & Vision
Released February 26, 2008

As you may be aware, today is Christmas, and while I’d like to sit around and type up a review for this cd, I’d sorta rather be doing other more Christmas-y things.  So for that reason I ask you to take my word for this cd’s goodness.  If you’d like, you can go click on the ‘From My Ears To Your Eyes’ section up above and scroll down a bit and read the blurb I wrote back in the spring about this bad boy..(I loved it back then too). Or, if clicking around doesn’t suit your fancy, then just go listen for yourself. Oh, and for the 39th time, I hope everyone out there is having a swell day whether you’re into the Christmas thing or not. Take care!
Standout Songs: ‘Fever Dream’, ‘Sunday Shoes’, and ‘Lady Of The Silver Spoon’

#6
Sigur Ros – ‘Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust’
XL Recordings
Released June 24, 2008

Every year, there comes a time on the list when things start to get a bit fuzzy from a putting things in order standpoint.  This year, as you may have guessed, the time has come now at number six.  From this point on, all the cds had a legit shot at being number one, and I hope you don’t think that Sigur Ros’ placement down out of the top five is a sign of me not being totally enamored with this cd..because I assure you I am. With each release, SR seems to challenge themselves to be a bit different, and I tend to think they’ve gotten better with each record.  Everyone loved ‘Aegitsitsgsgsd Bjuareuym’ or whatever, then the ( ) disc came and it was winter in musical form..quiet and gorgeous..then came ‘Takk…’ in all it’s underappreciated glory. Takk was a lot warmer than some folks were expecting I  suspect, but I loved it. It was the sunrise to ( )’s sunset. This time around, the Icelandic dudes let the world know they were in for something different right off the bat with the release of the odd ‘Gobbledigook’ single and it’s happy clapping and lalalalala’s that sounded like they had been listening to too much Animal Collective or something.  While the Gobbley song is the least ‘Sigur’ song on the record, it does show that they turned over a new, more organic, less processed leaf.  Most of this stuff sounds like it was recorded live, giving more of the impression that the guys are playing this stuff over in your living room or the backseat of your car.  I’m rambling and I don’t feel like this review has much focus, but oh well.  So the cd starts with lalallaa’s and claps, and as it goes on slows down to a much more recognizable pace, especially as it gets to the end, but has some amazing moments along the way. Can you seriously tell me that you can listen to ‘Inní mér syngur vitleysingur’ and not smile? Or ‘Ára bátur’ and not be simply awestruck when the song peaks and the symphony and choir really kick in? Or even the English ‘All Alright’ and not be touched to the brink of tears with the delicate piano and extremely personal lyrics. It’s beautiful stuff I tell ya. Amazing cd.
Standout Songs – ‘Ara batur’, ‘Festival’, and ‘Sud I Eyrum’

#5
Portishead – ‘Third’
Mercury Records
Released April 29, 2008

Ah, the top 5! Things are getting fun now! Today’s cd comes from one of my favorite bands that hadn’t really done a damn thing in like 10 years or something, Portishead. Gah, I was so excited when I found out they were finally releasing a new record..good bands being on hiatus  is kinda stupid. Anyway.  Upon my very first listen, I was kinda taken aback by the fact that they had sorta done away with the trip-hop thing they had hung their hats on for so long (or two records at least)  and really rearranged their whole sound.  The songs seemed a lot darker, the music a bit more repetitive, minimalistic and disturbing, and the whole direction just seemed a bit weird to me.  Buuut apparently, this record is like a fine wine or aged cheese or something, because as time went by and I listened more and more, I slowly found myself thinking ‘man, this is their best, most complete record yet’.  I maintain this stance and will do my best to argue with anyone who may disagree (although if you say Dummy is better than this, I probably won’t even waste my time, as I have always felt the self titled record to be far superior to Dummy.)   Beth’s voice is as haunting as ever and continues to be the most intriguing factet of the band, and it seems like they really tried to build things around her this time; to really use her voice as an instrument more so than in the past.  Sometimes you can listen to a record and know that the artist made it totally for themselves..think Radiohead with ‘Kid A’..and this is one of those records. Portishead didn’t worry about what people wanted them to do, they threw all preconceived notions about what they were out the window and started fresh. Risky? Sure. But boy the payoff was great.
Standout Songs:  ‘Machine Gun’, ‘The Rip’, and ‘Silence’

#4
Thrice – ‘The Alchemy Index Vols 3 &4: Air and Earth’
Vagrant Records
Released April 15, 2008

After Thrice’s initial installment of The Alchemy Index dropped last year and was totally awesome, I had very lofty expectations for this second part..especially because it promised to be quieter and have a more folky and stripped down vibe.  Needless to say at this  point, with this record sitting at number 4 and all, that all my expectations were met and greatly exceeded.  The growth these guys have shown from record to record is almost unheard of, and this record..or I guess this whole 4 cd Alchemy set..is a true testament to that.  But the songs here are amazing, and I spent months being totally obsessed with these cds.  Personally, I think I dig the Air one a bit more, but that’s only because I think ‘Silver Wings’ is the best song in the band’s entire repertoire.  Althouuugh, ‘Come All You Weary’ over on the Earth disc is almost as close in terms of fantasticness.  Truth be told, there isn’t a bad song in this whole bunch and as a whole the cd is incredible and is a gret listen no matter what your situation. Road tripping? Going for an evening stroll? Watching the waves crash into the shore? Thrice has you covered.  Dustin Kensrue solidifies his spot as probably the top dog in the vocals and lyrics game in whatever genre you wanna classify Thrice as these days and I can only imagine what he’s gonna do in the oh nine. Oooo maybe he’ll release another a solo record. That’d be great. And where in the world is Thrice’s sound gonna go from here? I have noooo idea..but I promise you I’ll be along for the ride.
Standout Songs: ‘Silver Wings’, ‘Come All You Weary’, and ‘A Song For Milly Michaelson’

#3
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Jagjaguwar Records
Released February 19, 2008

Every once in a while, a record comes along that knocks you so flat on your ass that you’re kinda scraping yourself up off the pavement for weeks afterwards.  I did not listen to this record until MAYBE a month ago. A month. It made it to my top 3  in less than a month.  Get the point here?  This cd is something special. Bon Iver is the work of a guy named Justin Vernon, and this cd is the result of 3 months alone with some instruments and recording gear in his dad’s hunting cabin up in Wisconsin in the middle of winter.  Put yourself in that situation..can you imagine how great it must have been to be isolated and just totally immerse yourself into something and work through all your emotions, demons, hopes, and dreams?  This cd is pure magic, it’s raw and at times minimal, and Vernon’s falsetto voice croons through these songs with such grace and honesty that it’s undeniable. The record flows like the healthiest of rivers in one of those ‘winter scenes’ that pop up on tv channels on Christmas day. You know what I’m talking about. The power of the music on this cd is tough to describe any more than I already have. You just need to listen.  It may not seem to be anything extraordinary at first, but I assure you, it’s there, and when it hits you, well, you’ll know.
Standout Songs: ‘Skinny Love’, ‘Blindsided’, and ‘Re: Stacks’

#2
Metallica – ‘Death Magnetic’
Warner Bros. Records
Released September 12, 2008

Oh Metallica, how I love thee. You’ve been my favorite band for years and years and years and you have finally released a record worthy of making it into one of my year end lists. Although, that statement is a bit misleading, as St. Anger is really the only thing they had released in all the years  of my actual listing, so while things like the Load discs and S&M would have placed highly, I had yet to commence the listin’.  Soo back to DM. It’s basically the record fans have been clamoring for forever, as it’s a huge nod to their classic records of the 80’s, especially the Justice record..so that’s pretty awesome. It’s everything St. Anger wasn’t, so basically..it’s good. Real good.   Kickass solos are back, the Het sounds like the Het again, and the drums haven’t been replaced with empty milk jugs this time around.  It’s got some songs that are destined to be Tallica classics..especially the awesome ‘All Nightmare Long’, and even the songs I initially didn’t care all that much for (Unforgiven 3, The Day That Never Comes) have become enjoyable aaand I at even listen to a few minutes of that stupid long instrumental song when it comes on before skipping it! The one problem casting a shadow on this otherwise kickass record is the loudness. Much has been made of the  quality of the cd, the clipping, and the sometimes overwhelming volume it attacks your ears with..and I was one of the thousands who signed petitions to get them to do something about it. Buuut they have yet to (although the video versions of their two singles sound ‘better’..hmmm), so thank goodness for smart people out there on the internet who were able to tinker with the sound of the cd and use the Guitar Hero versions of these songs to create a much better product than the band and Rick Rubin did. Heck, I don’t even listen to my actual cd anymore, only the cleaned up version..and for what it’s worth, if you’re interested in checking it out, do a search for the Moderus Remix out there on the internet – it’s the bomb and you won’t be disappointed.   It was almost kinda painful making this cd number 2, that’s how much I enjoy it. It’s rockin’ as balls,  it’s one of the best records Metallica has ever made, and I sure hope ‘09 gives me a chance to see this stuff live..so i can hear thousands of people randomly shout.. METALLICAAAA!
Standout Songs: ‘All Nightmare Long’, ‘That Was Just Your Life’, and ‘Cyanide’

#1
City And Colour – ‘Bring Me Your Love’
Vagrant Records
Released February 18, 2008

Wow, so I’ve finally made it. I kinda can’t believe it’s the end of 2008 already..I know it’s horribly cliche to say, but it feels like it just started.  I probably said the same thing last year and will do so again next year.  That’s life I suppose. Musically speaking, it’s been a pretty solid year..with some old faves making big comebacks, some really disappointing records, and some artists coming from off the radar to really surprise me.  My number one this year sorta fits into that last category – to an extent at least.  I knew all about City and Colour before this year, I knew who Dallas Green was, I knew his last record was pretty good, but I had no way to forsee this happening. When I first heard this record back in the winter, I knew it would be something special for me, but I half expected my feelings towards it to fade away into the sunset as the year went by and for the cd to end up with a spot down in the 20s or something here on my list. If there’s one thing ‘BMYL’ had though, it’s staying power. It remained a staple for me throughout the entire year, and I have yet to sour on it in the least bit. If anything, I love it more today than ever.  For those of you who are uneducated on the matter, Dallas Green is the singer of semi-hardcore whatever band Alexisonfire, and this is his solo project. It’s a collection of 12 fairly simple songs about love, heartache, loss, death, and pain played with the support of the obvious acoustic guitar and a few other folky trimmings served up here and there for good measure.  The appeal is fairly obvious here, the lyrics are comprised of themes most people out there in BEP land can probably relate to on some level or another, and Green’s voice, practically flooded with honesty,  is the perfect vessel  to deliver them to our ears. It’s not all that often that a record remains my favorite of the year for, well, most of the year.  Obviously, as I mentioned the other day, there were a few other contenders. Anything in the top five or six could have been right here, but in the end, it wouldn’t have felt right. This feels right to me.
Ya know, as I listen to this cd now, the one memory of this record that stands out in my mind is roadtripping to AZ with my buddy Fool Of Gold. I remember listening to this cd as we drove through El Paso I think it was, as I was trying to sell him on the cd as I do with many things, and while I don’t think my efforts paid off, it really solidified the cd for me. Maybe it was the scenery, maybe it was the idea of the journey, maybe it was knowing I was probably spending time with one of my best friends for the last time for a while, I don’t know. What I do know is that, for me, that moment sticks out in my head, and this record, especially the ‘Against The Grain’ song,  is the soundtrack to it.  Sigh. Anyway, this album is stellar, amazing, fantastic, and any other overwhelmingly positive adjective you can think of. I love it so very much. It’s my favorite record of 2008. See you next year!
Standout Songs: ‘Against The Grain’, ‘The Girl’, and ‘Sleeping Sickness’

What Did I Like In ‘07? Go See!