People who like music like making lists; it just sort of goes with the territory I guess but it seems pretty standard. Sure it�s not always the Hi-Fidelity-esque compulsive, competitive listing, but the inherent classification of criticism tends toward the list. Having said that (something that anyone with half a brain could have figured out�it�s my specialty), I continue to have a deep problem with lists.
It�s not that I dislike spending the time or energy composing, but rather that the gaps in my knowledge and a tendency to hyperbole tend to embarrass me in the long run. I tend to be sadly out of touch with public opinion (not that that�s necessarily a detriment considering we�re dealing with indie-rock) but it still gets me in trouble. Therefore it seems wise to begin my assessment of the first half of 2004 by revising a list I made for 2003 (the original can be found here). I could probably do this every few weeks (thank god I�m not allowed to), but there are simply some terrific albums that I didn�t know about and some albums that haven�t aged as well as I had hoped. So, after some reflection, my favorite albums of 2003 as of right this second:
1. The Wrens: The Meadowlands
2. Broken Social Scene: You Forgot it in People
3. Radiohead: Hail to the Thief
4. Viktor Vaughn: Vaudeville Villain
5. The New Pornographers: The Electric Version
6. My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves
7. The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We�re Gone
8. M. Ward: The Transfiguration of Vincent
9. Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates and Earthquake Glue
10. British Sea Power: The Decline of British Sea Power
11. Okay, so I promised 10 but it�s worth pointing out that both Decemberists� albums, Cafe Tacuba�s great Cuatro Caminos, MF Doom�s turn as King Geedorah, and the Shin�s Chutes too Narrow were strong contenders for this list.
Right, well now that we�ve gotten that out of the way we can get down to the business at hand. Scott left this pretty open to us as far as to the goal of this piece (thus the previous list) so it seems most fun to run through the 10 albums and 10 songs that have most captured my attention/imagination/fancy/whatever-the-fuck. So, here goes nothing (I reserve complete control as to the changing/disowning of this list at any future date, so please don�t write any of this down. And if you do choose to write it down, send me your phone number so I can call you up and have you eat the scrap of paper when I change my mind. Acid-free paper goes down easy, and is part of this complete breakfast, kids).
Ten Songs That Abso-fucking-lutely Rawk
While I tend to shy away from singles and strongly support the idea of the album format, there are still some songs that fully justify the jaw-drop reaction. These are ten of those that I have loved from this year so far. In alphabetical order by artist:
1. A.C. Newman: �The Town Halo�
This is an easy song-of-the-year contender. Carl Newman does with a cello what most never manage to achieve with an electric guitar: a truly great pop song.
2. Belle & Sebastian: �Your Cover�s Blown�
As a stalwart B&S traditionalist I was thoroughly disappointed by last year�s outing from the group, but their newest EP sends them back to the �Legal Man� time of pure goofy fun. The three sections of the song are blissful summer disco, and if the goal of the EP was to beat Franz Ferdinand at their own game, Murdoch & Co. have clearly done so. Let the Scottish disco wars begin.
3. Destroyer: �It�s Gonna Take An Airplane�
I thought this song worked especially well, meshing Bejar�s insistent weirdness with his newfound love of synthesizers.
4. Deerhoof: �Milk Man”
Although the album was something of a disappointment this song is everything the album should have been. The only rock song to give �The Rat� a good run for its money.
5. Eyedea & Abilities: �Now�
Again, the case of the mediocre album with a pretty awesome single. I hope for more from Rhymesayers, but lets see if they redeem themselves later this year with more Soul Position and perhaps the long awaited MM Food.
6. Madvillain: �America�s Most Blunted�/�Figaro�
As the next list makes clear this remains my favorite album of the year. Nothing tops the mind-blowing power of the combined power of Doom and the Beat Conductor, and these two songs capture both the upbeat (the horn-driven �America�s Most Blunted�) and the ultra-cool (MF Doom�s long form over a great Madlib beat on �Figaro�).
7. Sonic Youth: �Unmade Bed�
I continue to be on the fence about this album�it�s clearly got the chops, but the extended jams deflate in some cases. �Unmade Bed� is far and away the best; Moore�s lyrics are decent (the most we can hope for) and the guitar work is nothing short of stunning.
8. TV on the Radio: �Staring at the Sun�/�Ambulance�
�Staring at the Sun� seems like too much of last year�s song to really be in the running, but it still sounds unbelievable. �Ambulance� is the only a cappella song I have ever liked. Ever.
9. The Walkmen: �The Rat�
This song rocks so hard. Simple, fucked-up beautiful, and unbelievably hard. Not necessarily the best on the album (�Thinking of a Dream I Had� perhaps), but this song grabbed me and still refuses to let go. It is impossible to listen to this without flailing along to Matt Barrick�s drumming or sneering along with those ice-cold lyrics.
10. Wilco: �At Least That�s What You Said�
Tweedy starts off his album with such a perfect little song. The lyrics are classic Tweedy whispers and then the soloing provides the violent undercurrent that�s hinted at. Wilco never cease to impress.
Ten Albums Worth Owning
Yes, folks, that�s right. Sometimes you�ve got to let your DSL line take a break and actually go out and lay down your hard-earned money for albums. These ten definitely deserve it and comprise my favorites of this year so far. In order:
10. TV on the Radio: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
David Sitek and Tunde Adebimpe (easily the best singer of the year as of now), along with new-addition Kyp Malone take round two by storm, following up the justly deserved accolades surrounding Young Liars with a hugely promising debut. While the last third of the album failed to connect, the first six songs built on the elegance, technical excellence, and deep soulfulness that Young Liars so clearly paved the way for.
9. Franz Ferdinand: Franz Ferdinand
Keeping the indie kids dancing, Franz Ferdinand has managed to produce a consistently great debut. One of those lovely albums where nearly all the songs could make a great single.
8. Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse
There are few jam bands that I can taken any pleasure from, and though I hesitate to place Sonic Youth in that sad category, Sonic Nurse definitely falls into that category. When focused on instrumental aspects, this record can be a lot of fun, but someone should have withheld microphones from the band (or at least Kim�no matter what anyone says, she�s still awful).
7. Iron & Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
While perhaps not a match for The Creek Drank the Cradle, Sam Beam�s second LP proved that he could make the leap to hi-fi without abandoning his roots. �Each Coming Night� and �Sodom, South Georgia� alone would qualify this album for a top 10 list.
6. The Walkmen: Bows + Arrows
The more I listen to this album, the more I wonder if perhaps it is superior to the Walkmen�s fantastic debut. Matt Barrick�s insane drumming propels tracks like �The Rat� and �Little House of Savages,� while Hamilton Leithauser�s wail over the organ-heavy closing tracks, especially the beautiful �Thinking of a Dream I Had,� proves how much the quintet has going for them.
5. P.J. Harvey: Uh Huh Her
Once you get past all the nonsense criticism about Polly Jean being in a state of continual reinvention (it�s as if creative writing isn�t an option and she�s expected to be entirely autobiographical), Uh Huh Her stands up as quite a good record. The louder tracks feel somewhat dull, but when Harvey opts for the more restrained, quiet approach (�The Desperate Kingdom of Love� being the best example) her songwriting has never been better.
4. Wilco: A Ghost is Born
Wilco seem to have completely divided the masses on this one�very much a love or hate album. As a Radiohead fan I�ve come to expect evolution in my bands, and Wilco have never disappointed. Tweedy has the chops for the solos, and his lyrics are as strong, if not better, than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, even if the white noise sections can get a bit dull.
3. Black Eyes: Cough
On their deathbed, Black Eyes created an absolutely enormous punk rock album: creative, political, hard as nails, and a terrific listen. I haven�t been this impressed by a (new) punk record since Fugazi�s The Argument.
2. A.C. Newman: The Slow Wonder
At this point there doesn�t seem to be anyone out there who can beat Carl Newman when it comes to pop music. Whether it be Zumpano, the New Pornographers, or as a solo artist he has consistently created the smartest, catchiest pop available. The Slow Wonder in no way disappoints.
1. Madvillain: Madvillainy
The combination of MF Doom�s long-form flow and Madlib�s genre-destroying beat production came together better than anyone could possibly hope. An amazingly creative tour-de-force that brings out the best in both of the collaborators (which is saying a lot), Madvillain will take a lot to knock off of the number one spot for this year.
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So, there it is, a list that will most likely be regretted within five minutes of posting, though I�m getting sort of used to that. As for albums that are worth looking out for in the rest of this year, I�m on the edge of my seat about the new albums from Interpol, MF Doom (both as himself and Viktor Vaughn), the Drive-by Truckers, MF Grimm, Clinic, the Fiery Furnaces, Guided by Voices, British Sea Power, Frog Eyes, Nas, K-Os, Brian Wilson, and, of course, Elliot Smith. With a line-up like that we could be in for an excellent six months.
