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| From | garymaher@juno.com |
| Subject | My Top 10+ of 2003 |
| Date | Fri, 16 Jan 2004 02:59:09 -0500 |
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OK, I was all set to post this sooner, but there's one CD listed here
that I don't have yet, and I was waiting for it to emerge from
backorderland so I could rank it properly. I have heard 4 songs from it
plus samples of others, so I'm ok with listing it, but based on how I
feel about their prior records, it might have been higher if I had had a
chance to listen to it properly. (And those of you who know me will
probably be able to figure out which one it is.) As usual, there is a
lot of stuff out there I just haven't heard, because one of the primary
sources for my music shopping list is usually the prior year's Audities
Top 20, but here's what did it for me among the stuff I have heard:
1. Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress: Far and away the best
thing I've heard this year. This record continues to blow me away. I've
rambled on at length about it before, but I think this part bears
repeating: Of all their releases, this record is most closely attuned to
the average Auditeer's pop sensibilities. If you've ever wanted to check
them out but haven't, now is the time. And if you've heard their earlier
stuff but weren't impressed (or felt, as some have mentioned, that it was
unnecessarily cloying or depressing), give this one a shot. At least
check out some samples somewhere. There's plenty of gorgeous pop there
to go 'round. http://www.belleandsebastian.com/home.php
2. Tiny Volcano - s/t: The rookie comes in at #2. Pretty impressive!
This record is pure Audities through and through and I'm surprised it's
not on more lists. I can only assume people haven't heard it, because
it's overflowing with sunny, clever pop along the lines of XTC,
Jellyfish, Wondermints, the Beach Boys, etc. Trust me, they grew up
listening to the same stuff as you, and it shows. Great songs, varied
arrangements, and I even like the three instrumentals, which is unusual
for me. "Loaded Gun" especially friggin' rules. I cannot more highly
recommend this record to Audities members. So whaddya waiting for -- git
it! www.tinyvolcano.com
3. My Favorite - The Happiest Days of Our Lives: Truth be told, this CD
finished in a virtual dead heat with the Tiny Volcano, but I gave the nod
to TV here based on genre. My Favorite is located near the intersection
of The Smiths and New Order, with some sweet female lead vocals on some
songs. Strangely enough, these apparent Britmopers are from Long Island.
(I'm sure WLIR is partially responsible for their sound.) Standing out
among the mostly introspective and moody songs here, the infectious, New
Orderly "Burning Hearts" is among my favorite songs of the year. You can
download it here: http://www.lostdetective.com/mp3s/BurningHearts.mp3
and check out the band in general at www.lostdetective.com .
4. Splitsville - Incorporated: Splitsville has been and continues to be
one of the finest bands around, and this release is no exception. "White
Dwarf" is so mightily kickass, and this CD is a must. But I'm sure
everybody here already knows that . . . www.splitsville.com
5. FOW - Welcome Interstate Managers: I have nothing to add on this one
that hasn't already been said, except that isn't it great that the
average (for FOW) "Stacy's Mom" is causing thousands of people to hear
the brilliant non-playlisted power pop on the rest of the record, plus
their earlier work? Maybe we should all include one sell-out track per
record?
6. Sloan - Action Pact: Did I fuck something up? Why isn't this on
everyone's list? It's Sloan, fer crissake! I mean, sure, it's no Navy
Blues, but that's like expecting TFC to put out another Grand Prix, and
that just ain't gonna happen. Action Pact is solid Sloan, maybe with
just one or two instead of the usual 3 or 4 KILLER tracks. I wouldn't
kick it out of my bed!
7. the innocence mission - Befriended: Ah, Christian Rock for atheists
everywhere! Shouldn't really say that, as explicit religious imagery is
actually becoming more common in their songs, but they're never preachy
or devotional. Karen Peris is the greatest female singer ever in the
history of music. Live, her voice literally makes me shiver. Her
husband Don plays the most beautiful flowing, jangly guitar parts. This
is not pop -- musically, it's moody along the lines of say Cowboy Junkies
or Red House Painters, but the songs are more optimistic. And their past
couple of releases are really sparse, owing to the departure of their
drummer. But Auditeers with a taste for this sort of thing would
probably enjoy their third record, Glow. ("Bright as Yellow" was on the
Empire Records soundtrack.) www.theinnocencemission.com
8. Pernice Brothers - Yours, Mine & Ours: The feel is more like Lou
Barlow's songs on Harmacy than the sunny pop of The World Won't End, but
Joe Pernice sure can pack a wallop into these little songs with those
expressive vocals and painful lyrics. Maturity? Maybe, or perhaps just
clinical depression. Who cares -- great record!
http://pernicebrothers.com/index_flash.shtml
9. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief: I'm really thankful that Radiohead
exists. There's nobody else doing anything like this. (And I don't
count OK Computer knockoff bands like Coldplay -- Clocks aside, they have
all of the form and none of the substance.) I'd be thrilled with a
return to the "normal" pop songs of The Bends, and sure, Kid A and
Amnesiac are superior to this new one, I think, but when I'm in the mood
for recent Radiohead, there's nothing else that will do. Well, maybe
Eno's Another Green World, but that's about it. BTW, the video for "Go
to Sleep" is awesome, my 3 year old son loves it. He also loves to break
things. (That's actually relevant to the video.) If you happen to have
Comcast digital cable, look for it in the basic (non-subscription) "on
demand" listing.
10. Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway: This is a side project
of Mark Kozelek, the guy behind Red House Painters, and it sounds just
like a Red House Painters record. Mark writes some of the gloomiest
music around, so don't go there if it's not what you want. I found this
one to be more interesting than the last RHP release, Old Ramon.
Although a bit more upbeat and varied, this one is still for fans of Mark
Eitzel, American Music Club, Low and the other slocore bands.
20 [sic]. The Cardigans - Long Gone After Daylight: No, that number's
not a typo. I really do love the Cardigans, but I was disappointed by
this record. It's a bunch of sad, nondescript songs. Its saving grace
is the single, "For What It's Worth", and that's why I included it at
all. "But Gary, you love that miserable, mopey shit!" Sure, from
certain bands. I wouldn't be happy if Jason Falkner put out an entire
record of downers. It wouldn't suit him, and it doesn't suit the
Cardigans either, IMHO.
Honorable Mention: Isobel Campbell - Amorino. Solo record by former
member of Belle & Sebastian. Not quite my cup of tea, but some people
here seem to like jazzy, Francoise Hardy-inspired chick singers. Some
songs here are pretty, but it hasn't grabbed me.
Kicking Myself for Not Getting Them Sooner: Four way tie: Cloud Eleven
(Orange & Green), Wondermints (Mind), Pernice Bros. (World) and The
Oranges (Young Now USA).
Biggest Disappointment: Owsley - The Hard Way. IMHO: What a let down,
not even close to being worth the wait. I've listened to it a bunch of
times and it's almost a total dud. The first two tracks are
unremarkable, typical of most of what I hear on the radio. #4 and #6 are
just painful for me to listen to. #3 I did like, and #5 is interesting
too, but only because he's doing Radiohead (note the bass). #8 sounds
like a boring Wallflowers song. The only thing I was impressed by is the
bonus cover track, which made my jaw drop. As much as I love and worship
his solo debut and the Semantics record, I can't see this one making its
way into the CD player very often. No points for you!
Looking Forward to in 2004: Jason Falkner, TV Eyes (hopefully), Posies
(supposedly), Rainy Day Assembly (if she gets her act together!),
Stingray Green (if not a proper CD, something other than the same 4 mp3s
on their website), world peace . . .
g
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