Aaron's

These are all from Grooveshark, since I haven't bought new music in over a year and a half.

1. Editors - An End Has a Start. I like this more than their new one. Also, I often confuse Editors and the National. There. I said it.

2. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight. They're Scottish, and therefore have no problem singing in ridiculous accents or in using execrable language in love songs.

I should note that I found FR by sifting through the SXSW bands a couple of years ago. How about that?

3. The Thermals - F***in' A. You kind of have to be in the right mood for this. The kind of mood where you want to listen to a guy yell at you for 45 minutes.

4. Sunny Day Real Estate - How it feels to be something on. At one time last year, I was using Groovshark to listen to some old music that I hadn't heard in a long time. I came up with that playlist of songs I remember from the radio in high school, listened to some albums I have lost (like this one), and from there went on a 90's post-hardcore, early emo jag. Anyway, I eventually found this album. I had only heard earlier and later stuff from Sunny Day, and this blew my freaking mind. So here you go.

I had for similar reasons considered an earlier The Promise Ring album, but figured I had to hurry up and post something or Andrew would feel bad.

Andrew's Top 5

They will all eventually be found here. Only have one uploaded so far, but the rest are zipped up and will be doing them this week. Keep an eye on that link. Once I get them all uploaded I'll blog about them, but in the meantime please do enjoy The Temper Trap. I know I did.

Twee

It makes great "running along the river at sunrise" music.

Youth Group - The Night is Ours

Nate informs me that just being from Australia doesn't qualify as being "world music." Says I, if they're not world music, then what are they? You know, other than pretty mainstream...you think it's bad that a Band of Horses song was on Chuck? I just found out that a Youth Group song found its way onto a Gossip Girl episode. How do you think that makes ME feel?

There's nothing about the band that makes Youth Group particularly special, and while I'm sure they're very talented, I can't find any songs on this album that I can point to and say "look at this showcase of talent!" But some very catchy tunes. At first listen I didn't think much of them, but their songs kept showing up on the shuffle and I kept thinking "this is good stuff.....who IS this?..."

Their sound isn't very contemporary. The synth riff in track 3 (Two Sides) sounds positively 80's. Some of their songs remind me a lot of James. I dunno. Just some nice tunes to have playing in the background while you're in the market and not thinking too hard about what you're listening to.

Favourite tracks: 2- One For Another, 4 - Dying at Your Own Party, 7 - A Sign, 8 - Babies in your Dreams.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

This album was wildly popular in indie/folk circles when it came out, and for a while I really couldn't figure out why. It's the kind of music I know I should like; folky, heartfelt, brought to us by Jagjaguar (the same label as Okkervil River), but it wasn't catching me and after the first listen I pretty much discarded it.

It turns out that the gym may not be the best place to really appreciate good music. It kept showing up on people's "Best Album of the whatever" list, so I returned to it several months later to give it another chance and was surprised how much had stuck with me after that first listen. I chose it for the top 5 to introduce some variety into my picks, but I also think the album has real merit. I would not recommend listening to it if you are the least bit tired.

The album was written and recorded while Justin Vernon was sick with mono in a cabin in Wisconsin during winter, which is about as depressing a setting as I can imagine. He had just broken up with the titular Emma (tee hee....titular....) and drew inspiration from that. What's more inspiring than a bad break-up and mono?

Anyways, may not be your cuppa, but I urge you to give it a chance.

Fav tracks: 1 - Flume, 3 - Skinny Love, 6 - Creature Fear, 8 - For Emma

Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts

Don't know what to say about this one, guys. Youtube told me I should like them and I'm very impressionable when the interwebs tells me something. Youtube suggested it based on my listening patterns. They're a bit more bright and cheerful than I normally find myself enjoying, but I just got hooked. This album was on regular rotation when I went back to Utah in March for the funeral (along with Vampire Weekend and New Pornographers), which although a sad time, was a good time to be together so I think there's some nostalgia working here.

That said, I love the instrumentals and the eclectic sound. Every song is different enough from the one before it to keep it interesting, and you can't deny they have a lot of talent. I'm a sucker for these large, multi-instrument bands (see: Margot and the Nuclear So-and-so's). Aaron calls them a mash-up of Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes, but I think that doesn't give it enough credit.


Favourite tracks: 3 - Tornado Lessons (bizarre fast-speed vocals, but it never gets old). 6 - Journey of the Featherless, 11 - May your hearts stay strong. What the hell, I like the last track too. There, I said it. I think the build is just awesome.

Okkervil River - The Stage Names (plus bonus demo disk)

From long-time family favourites Okkervil River, I bring you The Stage Names, plus the demo versions. Originally I was going to try to compare the album versions of each song to the demo versions (ex. I prefer the Album version of 1-"Our life is not a movie or maybe" to the demo version) but I don't think that's really fair. There's a lot to take away from each version. I couldn't possibly say that I prefer one version of "Unless its kicks" over the other, because they both leave you with a different interpretation of the song, and that's one reason I chose this. I like hearing the chill demo versions, compared to the full-band, more energetic album versions, and hear how the song started out and where it progressed to. Hope you enjoy it as well.

Favourite tracks: 1 - Our life is not a movie (especially the album version), 2 - Unless it's kicks (both versions), 6 - Girl in Port, 9 - John Allyn Smith Sails (I love how this one builds).

Band of Horses - Everything All The Time

Ah, Sub Pop Records. I'm willing to overlook the Nirvana and the Soundgarden for The Shins, Flight of the Conchords, Postal Service, and the Band of Horses.

I know I had heard BoH before, but I didn't get interested in them until a mate sent me this video (it's like parkour on a bike, and makes anything I've ever accomplished in my life look absolutely pathetic and amateurish by comparison). The lead vocals remind me a lot of The Shins, and I don't care what Aaron says. Listen to Track 2-Wicked Gil and tell me there's nothing there.

It's an album that I can pretty much listen to any time (All The Time?), but by favourites tend to vacillate depending on my mood. I'm a big fan of tracks 2 (Wicked Gil), 4 (The Funeral), 6 (The Great Salt Lake), and 9 (Monsters).

Cheech's Picks

I'm actually going to start doing this, finally.

I'll do a separate post for each album, but I know Cameron didn't get my pics so I'm posting the general FileFactory link here that will eventually have all my albums uploaded. Use it in good health.

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

This is the one that I don't feel as attached to. I guess I have to be in a particular mood before I sit down and listen to it, but I'm always glad when I do. I think it works better for me as an album, and I shouldn't let my mp3 player shuffle through this one with the rest of my music.

Or maybe I'm hesitant because I first heard one of their songs on an episode of Chuck.

Anyway, it's good driving music, but not great for while working out.

Favorite songs: 4 - Detlef Schrempf, 7 - Islands on the Coast, and 9 - Cigarettes, Wedding Bands.