tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-94918132024-03-13T04:40:53.470-05:00Audio OverflowMusic Snobbery at Its Most MediocreUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger772125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-84815060166656803512013-05-29T09:40:00.002-05:002013-05-29T09:40:40.576-05:00Mound of Wires - A New VentureFollowers and readers of Audio Overflow, I am pleased to announce that I have started a new blog with some friends. Mound of Wires will focus on TV, Music, Comics, Video Games, and anything else that we feel passionate about. For the time being, everything on the blog is a work in progress, including formatting, and we are basically using it to get back in the writing habit. <br />
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If you miss Audio Overflow, and all of its mediocrity, set your browser to <a href="http://www.moundofwires.wordpress.com/">moundofwires.wordpress.com</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-65885494936188265342011-09-19T13:15:00.000-05:002011-09-19T13:15:00.844-05:00Update Bookmarks (or Your Own Knowledge)Pointing your browser to www.audiooverflow.com will now result in a tragic 503 Error. :(<br />
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It would be best to instead direct it towards audiooverflow.blogspot.com to continue enjoying all the wonderful things that I've written over the years. :)<br />
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Peace out, folks!<br />
<br />
--Cale<br />
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PS. Best album of 2011 so far? Bon Iver.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-23757316263493461392011-03-31T00:01:00.001-05:002011-03-31T00:01:02.327-05:00Audio Overflow: A GoodbyeWell readers, it's been a long time coming, but here we are.<br />
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Today is March 31, 2011 and it has been exactly 5 years since I wrote my first review for Audio Overflow. I thought it was only appropriate to officially close the blog on this date as well.<br />
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Over the last 5 years, I've written over 800 articles, reviews, news stories, and lists in hopes of getting my opinions out there to anyone who may actually care what I have to say. Along the way, I've made contacts with some really great people, listened to some fantastic up and coming artists, and strengthened my love for music!<br />
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Unfortunately, my life has changed in such a way that I can no longer devote any significant amount of time to this blog. People grow up, get real jobs, real responsibilities, and have to make sacrifices in order to move on. Ending Audio Overflow is in no way a huge sacrifice. Over the course of the last 5 years, I've yet to make a single dime from my rantings, but this blog was never about that. I always sought to bring you, the reader, quality reviews and unique articles that you wouldn't find anywhere else on the internet. Though my readership remained small over the years, I know I undoubtedly accomplished this goal.<br />
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It is sad for me to leave this blog behind because it was such a major part of who I was for so long. I will miss writing reviews, posting my year-end lists, and promoting bands that really need to be heard. Rest assured that what has been written will stay here for as long as the internet gods deem it worthy. All content will remain for your viewing pleasure, should you ever feel like lighting a candle and reminiscing on what once was.<br />
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Audio Overflow was not a unique blog, by any means. But it was my blog. And I will miss it.<br />
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Goodbye everybody. May the good music continue to find you.<br />
<br />
--Cale<br />
Audio Overflow<br />
2006-2011Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-13507912171888761532010-12-23T13:05:00.000-06:002010-12-23T13:05:41.206-06:00Best of 2010: The Top 31 Albums of 2010Remember Xanga? Yeah, I barely do either. Back on my old Xanga account, I posted my first "Best Albums of the Year" list in 2004. That year, I gave the top spot to of Montreal's <em>Satanic Panic in the Attic</em>, an album that I still think deserves that designation. This will be the seventh time that I've done this list, and judging at the way things have been going on the blog in 2010, it could be the last as well. So before moving on, I'd like to look back at the other artists who have made it to top of this annual countdown.<br />
<ul><li>2004 - of Montreal: <em>Satanic Panic in the Attic</em></li>
<li>2005 - Sufjan Stevens: <em>Illinois</em></li>
<li>2006 - The Flaming Lips: <em>At War with the Mystics</em></li>
<li>2007 - Field Music: <em>Tones of Town</em></li>
<li>2008 - M83: <em>Saturdays=Youth</em></li>
<li>2009 - Loney, Dear: <em>Dear John</em></li>
</ul>2010 was a phenomenal year for music, with excellent releases coming from artists I had previously hated, and others that I had never heard of. Putting together a list of this size is never an easy undertaking for one person, but this year's was escpecially difficult considering the wealth of music released in 2010. Enjoy the read, and make the most of the rest of this great year!<br />
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<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surfing-Void-Klaxons/dp/B003V13W4Q?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Surfing the Void" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003V13W4Q&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003V13W4Q" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#30: Klaxons: <em>Surfing the Void</em></strong> - Aside from having easily the most amazing album artwork of this year (or perhaps ever!!), Klaxons' sophomore release is a thoroughly enjoyable rock record with dense instrumentation and curious melodical choices. It is also a very dark album, or at least that's the vibe I'm getting from it. My first run-in with this group was at a party earlier this year when a guy threw on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDqNcCuFIzE">music video to "Magick."</a> I'm still recovering from that incident, though the moment was enough to make me want to check out <em>Surfing the Void</em>. I'm glad I did. Thanks, random dude!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4_vKjb7OAIhc_Xnt99ZLI-S1CAedvkZAnbNfIm1pbz36_WfM9H6amjnyb9YDt_nwTysEM4qU7oTh2R27nmUH83jL3Sfe02dcMAGKTTw3wxChExAU5pv94_ISF6SRazJ8K82p/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4_vKjb7OAIhc_Xnt99ZLI-S1CAedvkZAnbNfIm1pbz36_WfM9H6amjnyb9YDt_nwTysEM4qU7oTh2R27nmUH83jL3Sfe02dcMAGKTTw3wxChExAU5pv94_ISF6SRazJ8K82p/s200/front.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span id="goog_917059942"></span><span id="goog_917059943"></span><strong>#29: Yelawolf: <em>Trunk Muzik Mixtape</em></strong> - Not to be confused with <em>Trunk Musik 0-60, </em>also released in 2010 (dude....variety...), Yelawolf's first release of the year is a pretty solid collection of rap music. Oh the fun times I've had jamming out to "Mixin' Up the Medicine" and "Pop the Trunk!" There's something about Yelawolf's energy and presence. He embodies everything that made Eminem such a cool figure before he got fat and started making pop songs with Rihanna. He might be the guy to save hip hop from itself. Or he might just be some white trash, Travis Barker lookalike from Alabama. Either way, this is a great album. And this coming from a guy who isn't really the biggest fan of the genre!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Magic-Ceo/dp/B003RK1OV4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="White Magic" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003RK1OV4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003RK1OV4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#28: ceo: <em>White Magic</em></strong> - 80s pop stylings thrown on top of some amazing electronic pop music, sweetened with excellent lyricism: that's probably the best way to describe ceo's music. The solo project from Swedish musician, Eric Berglund (formerly of The Tough Alliance), ceo picks up right where TTA left off, while still maintaining some uniqueness. The electronic pop genre, since 2003, has really just been a bunch of also-rans playing catch up to The Postal Service, but that's not stopping me from loving it. ceo is a great addition to the club!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Before-Today-Ariel-Haunted-Graffiti/dp/B003G7DSHQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Before Today" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003G7DSHQ&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003G7DSHQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#27: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: <em>Before Today</em></strong> - I'm always weary when I read Pitchfork and see them ranting, raving, creaming over some artist that I've never heard of. It's not that I think that every artist I've heard of is worth hearing, it's just that sometimes such ranting can lead to false hopes (case in point, Best Coast....worthless). By the time I finally got around to listening to <em>Before Today</em>, I was so prepared for a letdown that it may have actually made me more open to liking what I was hearing. This is an album so infatuated with 70s psych rock, that distinguishing it from that era of music can be difficult. Everything about the instrumentation, effects, and fidelity of the music makes you think you're listening to an album that was made 35 years ago, and yet here we are in 2010. Crazy, really.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Business-Casual-Chromeo/dp/B003TL0IT0?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Business Casual" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003TL0IT0&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003TL0IT0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#26: Chromeo: <em>Business Casual</em></strong> - At the end of 2007, I added a second writer to Audio Overflow, and her name was Jill (Hey Jill!). Somewhere on her "Best of 2007" list was this band called Chromeo, whom I had never heard. They looked like a fun group and everything, but I just never got around to listening to them. So when I saw <em>Business Casual</em> in 2010, I immediately thought back to Jill (Hey Jill!) and her 2007 list. I downloaded the album and was amazed, really. Like Audio Overflow favorite, <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/search/label/Wallpaper">Wallpaper.,</a> Chromeo is kind of a tongue-in-cheek, funk pop band that knows how to let loose and have fun. While they may be a bit more musically heavy-handed than Wallpaper., they still do their thing extremely well, and bring a lot of smiles and dancing along the way. An adequate substitute if there ever was!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Dreams-Denim-Jeans-Uffie/dp/B003IMERO2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Sex Dreams And Denim Jeans" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003IMERO2&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003IMERO2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#25: Uffie: <em>Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans</em></strong> - If you would have told me in 2007 that the chick who "rapped" on Justice's album would make a full-length album in 2010 and that it would make it to my year-end list, I would have made you regret that decision. But alas, Uffie did make an album in 2010, and despite its fair share of garbage tracks, it's still pretty good - far better than her doppleganger (Ke$ha)! Tracks like "Pop the Glock" and "ADD SUV" are flat-out great pop songs that benefit from Uffie's unique style and excellent team of producers. So while other songs on this album have long been forgotten by me, these and a few others will continue to get plays for some time. Whether her shelf life will extend a few more years has yet to be seen, but for now, kudos, Uffie.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swim-Caribou/dp/B003A060K6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Swim" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003A060K6&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003A060K6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#24: Caribou: <em>Swim</em></strong> - I bought my first Manitoba album back in 2004. By the time Manitoba eventually became Caribou and Dan Snaith's music started gaining the kind of notoriety it always deserved, I had already stopped paying attention. For some reason or another, I decided to listen to <em>Swim</em> in its entirety. While it may be Snaith's most difficult album to date, it also contains some flat-out awesome songs, like the just-missed-the-top-31, "Odessa" and the amazing closer, "Jamelia." It's certainly not an album I'd recommend to everyone, but if you're feeling rather adventurous, give it a spin.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Interpreting-Masters-Vol-Tribute-Daryl/dp/B0036U0BUK?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0036U0BUK&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0036U0BUK" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#23: The Bird and the Bee: <em>Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1</em></strong> - The Bird and the Bee made it to 2009's end-of-year list with the expertly crafted <em>Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future</em>, and they appear here in 2010 with a Hall and Oates cover album of all things! I debated heavily as to whether such an album even qualifies for this list, but in the end, <em>Interpreting the Masters</em> is too good to not include. In addition to masterful covers like, "Rich Girl," "Kiss On My List," and "Private Eyes," the duo is nice enough to include an original song as well ("Heard It On the Radio"). Sure, it may not be the most original album of the year, but it is a fun listen - and "Rich Girl" is awesome!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Have-One-Me-Joanna-Newsom/dp/B0034C263A?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Have One on Me" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0034C263A&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034C263A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#22: Joanna Newsom: <em>Have One On Me</em></strong> - True story: those tickets I bought to see Joanna Newsom in Houston over a month ago turned out to be worthless. Such is life when you live in Houston and a show gets cancelled due to poor ticket sales. But fret not, Cale, cause Ms. Newsom gave you more that enough music (read: WAY TOO MUCH MUSIC!!) to digest well into the new year. Being a huge fan of 2006's <em>Ys</em>, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with <em>Have One On Me</em>. Being over 2 hours of music split over 3 CDs, it just felt way less cohesive than her previous efforts. And while most of the album's songs are great, it is simply a lot of music to take in. Is it good? Absolutely. Just not the greatest.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Beach-Gorillaz/dp/B0035G9ABQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Plastic Beach" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0035G9ABQ&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0035G9ABQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#21: Gorillaz: <em>Plastic Beach</em></strong> - In my opinion, Gorillaz albums have always been "hit or miss" affairs, containing a few solid tracks along with a handful of throwaways. <em>Plastic Beach</em> doesn't really change this much, but on Gorillaz's 3rd proper LP, Damon Albarn pushed the limits of what this little cartoon band could do. Featuring appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg and Gruff Rhys (odd couple, much?), <em>Plastic Beach</em> is a pop album so eclectic that it borders schizophrenic. "Stylo" shows Albarn at his best, pulling excellent performances from Mos Def and Bobby Womack, and keeping the production minimal, yet exciting. Meanwhile, "Superfast Jellyfish" has possibly the weirdest rap performance of the year, and one of the cathiest hooks as well. There's something for everyone on this album, which is part of what makes it great.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teen-Dream-DVD-Beach-House/dp/B002ZIAC26?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Teen Dream [CD + DVD]" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002ZIAC26&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002ZIAC26" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#20: Beach House: <em>Teen Dream</em></strong> - It took me a long while to fall in love with Beach House, and even longer to fall in love with <em>Teen Dream</em>. It is "mood music" through and through; the kind of stuff you're not going to want to listen to without being in a certain mood. And that's okay when the music is this solid! <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-of-2010-top-31-songs-of-2010.html">My #1 song of 2010</a>, "Zebra," kicks the album off right, capturing both melancholy and joy, with Victoria's soaring vocals and Alex's reliable guitar. "Norway" is the track that caught everyone else's heart, and with good reason. It's a lovely song - especially in a live setting (wow, just wow!). The album is one to come back to occasionally, not visit consistently, and yet it remains dear to me even now - almost a year after its release.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travellers-Space-Time-Apples-Stereo/dp/B003A3K3C4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Travellers in Space & Time" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003A3K3C4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003A3K3C4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#19: The Apples In Stereo: <em>Travellers In Space and Time</em></strong> - Funny thing about this album: when it first released, I was absolutely in love with it! I reviewed it favorably, named it a "Best New Music" selection, and listened to it on repeat for weeks. Mistake. <em>Travellers</em> is a terrific album, make no mistake, but after a few weeks of rocking out, I was done. I haven't been back since. Perhaps it was Robert Schneider's grating, nasally voice that did it for me, because it certainly wasn't due to a lack of pop hooks. There are so many great songs on this album, that calling it the best album the band has released in the last decade isn't even a stretch. It's an awesome collection of retro, disco-influenced pop music - I'm just bored with it now. Still, if you love your twee, indie pop, you owe it to yourself to check it out. For realsies.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG-8LUoBISegK19Ieg-wmB7mk4R6-_GPZpL7mfUt1XfABHW_F2ou4a0aKWCrTL1-GHX6QGWvbokrivE-PwGiKvE6C2Z7Y_ZC9HaTtsm1grdLixO6OCgcjITD1REhOYMSlxYFr/s1600/sitdownman200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG-8LUoBISegK19Ieg-wmB7mk4R6-_GPZpL7mfUt1XfABHW_F2ou4a0aKWCrTL1-GHX6QGWvbokrivE-PwGiKvE6C2Z7Y_ZC9HaTtsm1grdLixO6OCgcjITD1REhOYMSlxYFr/s200/sitdownman200.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><strong><span id="goog_1437287136"></span><span id="goog_1437287137"></span><span id="goog_1844660717"></span><span id="goog_1844660718"></span><span id="goog_2854284"></span><span id="goog_2854285"></span>#18: Das Racist: <em>Sit Down, Man</em></strong> - A friend threw out a pretty solid criticism on Das Racist a few weeks ago, namely that they rap about nothing most of the time. I'll admit, it's true, and yet there's something incredibly endearing to me about a hip hop group that doesn't take itself too seriously and is able to spit out more pop culture references on a single verse than most artists could muster on an entire album. That, and some of these rhymes are just too damn clever! Take, for example, the wonderful, "I'm counting Jacksons with black friends, counting tens and Benz's with white friends. Wonder if suicide is a largely white trend. Google it later and confirm that. Aight then." <em>Sit Down, Man</em> may not be at the forefront of socially-conscious hip hop ("Man, he's so conscious!"), but it is a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. And regardless of lyrical content, some of these rhymes are just insane. It makes learning the lyrics both a tedious task and a personal achievement.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permalight/dp/B0039A8R7Q?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Permalight" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0039A8R7Q&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0039A8R7Q" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#17: Rogue Wave: <em>Permalight</em></strong> - And the award for worst-named album of the year goes too.... In all seriousness, 2010 was a make or break year for Rogue Wave. Their first two albums are two of my favorites from the last decade, and yet by the time their third came around, I was pretty much worn out with the direction they were heading. <em>Permalight</em> shook things up a lot by adding in more refined production and a lot of electronic flourishes. "Good Morning (The Future)" is perhaps the album's greatest achievement, proving that the band who once sounded like an Elliott Smith rip-off is capable of breaking out of that mold and doing something entirely unexpected. And for as divisive as <em>Permalight</em> is for Rogue Wave fans, one has to be excited that the group is still trying new things and expanding their sound, rather than regress or remain stagnant. I'll give 'em props for that!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Delighted-People-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B00474ADES?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="All Delighted People" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00474ADES&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00474ADES" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#16: Sufjan Stevens: <em>All Delighted People</em> EP </strong>- Seven years in, and this may be the first time I've ever added an EP to this list. The obvious reason for making an exception with this particular album is that it's well over an hour in length and contains more amazing songs that most artists could muster on a proper LP. <em>All Delighted People</em> is the precursor to Sufjan's 2010 LP, <em>The Age of Adz</em>, coming out of nowhere last summer and being overshadowed by its big brother just a few months later. While its time in the spotlight is brief, it is an important collection of music because it represents the death rattle of the 50-states era of tunes; a dumping ground for a lot of ideas (great ideas!) that didn't really suit the direction that Sufjan wanted to take with his music. <em>The Age of Adz</em> is a great record by almost all accounts, but that doesn't mean that longtime fans didn't want some classic Sufjan either. <em>All Delighted People</em> is perhaps best viewed, then, as a gift to those who waited patiently for 5 years for Sufjan to drop some new music. Not a bad gift, either.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Ellie-Goulding/dp/B0034AAGIY?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Lights" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0034AAGIY&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034AAGIY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#15: Ellie Goulding: <em>Lights</em></strong> - With the exception of two songs, <em>Lights</em> is an album of flawless pop music. Girly pop music? Absolutely! But with production this amazing, a voice this talented, lyrics this affecting, and hooks this strong, <em>Lights</em> should be able to win over even the<a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2010/07/7-pop-albums-no-dude-should-be-ashamed.html"> most masculine of dudes</a>. Does that mean I don't get embarassed when a driver pulls up next to me at an intersection and sees me jamming out to "Salt Skin?" Of course not. But do I know that "Salt Skin" is probably better than whatever bullshit they're likely listening to? Yeah. And that makes me feel pretty good about myself.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Hunt-Tallest-Man-Earth/dp/B0038QMREA?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Wild Hunt" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0038QMREA&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0038QMREA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#14: The Tallest Man On Earth: <em>The Wild Hunt</em></strong> - Thank you Adam Holloway for seeing a random SXSW show a few years ago and introducing all of us to The Tallest Man On Earth! If it weren't for that chance encounter, I probably never would have checked out <em>The Wild Hunt</em> or any of the brilliant songs contained therein. Folk music - I mean <em>real</em> folk music - has never been something to come easy to me, and Kristian Matsson's music as The Tallest Man On Earth is no exception. The guy's voice isn't exactly what you'd call "smooth as butter" (side note: if you call anything "smooth as butter" go ahead and consider us unfriended), but his lyrics are both entertaining and deep, and his melodies are flawless as well. There's hardly a song on <em>The Wild Hunt</em> that I wouldn't want to listen to if you were to turn it on, and that's saying a lot! Listen to "Burden of Tomorrow" if you haven't heard it, and you may just fall in love too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Halcyon-Digest-Deerhunter/dp/B003XX2PD6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Halcyon Digest" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003XX2PD6&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003XX2PD6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#13: Deerhunter: <em>Halcyon Digest</em></strong> - The first time I ever checked out a Deerhunter song, I was pretty unimpressed. Same with Atlas Sound. Nothing by Bradford Cox ever really did it for me. I reluctantly checked out <em>Halcyon Digest</em> in November out of sheer boredom, and even then I didn't really enjoy it. Eventually, however, these songs clicked with me and I just sort of got it. It's rare these days to hear indie rock music that doesn't have a gimmick - just music for the sake of making music. I think Deerhunter, or at least the Deerhunter on <em>Halcyon Digest</em> embodies that idea fairly well. While there's nothing technically impressive about this album, nothing particularly noteworthy about many of these songs, they all have their role in forming this incredible whole. This album has only grown on me over time, and I see a whole lot more Cox in my future (yep...went there).<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Field-Music-Measure/dp/B002ZTQVMK?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Field Music (Measure)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002ZTQVMK&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002ZTQVMK" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#12: Field Music: <em>Measure</em></strong> - Scroll back up to the top of this article and you'll see that my 2007 Album of the Year was <em>Tones of Town</em> by a little band called Field Music. After that amazing album, and a brief haitus, the Brothers Brewis returned with a double album filled to the brim with pristine pop music. It's the kind of stuff your cool aunt, your best friend, and your dad could listen to and all enjoy with equal fervor. And while <em>Measure</em> has a ton of music to take in and digest, not all of it goes down as easy as it should. At 20 full songs, there are bound to be a few filler tracks in there. Sure, there isn't really a terrible song on the album, but some just feel incomplete of out of place. Still, there are moments on <em>Measure</em> where everything flows together perfectly, much like it did on <em>Tones of Town</em>, and the band shows no lack of creativity. The 3-song suite that opens the second disc of <em>Meaure </em>is a particularly impressive collection of songs, showing great range and musicianship. Field Music isn't exactly well-known, but they deserve to be. <em>Measure</em> makes that abundantly clear.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Contra/dp/B002YP45EQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Contra" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002YP45EQ&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002YP45EQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#11: Vampire Weekend: <em>Contra</em> </strong>- Vampire Weekend had another great year in 2010, starting with topping the Billboard charts and then finishing up the year with a pretty awesome tour. Sure they got into a little trouble with that album cover along the way, but a little bump in the road to becoming millionaires is a small price to pay. <em>Contra</em> may not be the instant classic that their debut was, but it follows up on the momentum of <em>Vampire Weekend</em> and diversifies the band's sound in the process. "Horchata" alone shows such musical growth, that any further discussion on the topic seems unnecessary. Take "Taxi Cab" and "Giving Up the Gun" into consideration, and its clear that Vampire Weekend is not a band to just sit back and do their thing. The band is constantly pushing the limits of their tightly-defined sound, and that's part of what makes <em>Contra </em>such an enjoyable listen. Also, it's a lot of fun!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Treats-Sleigh-Bells/dp/B003KT3NS4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Treats" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003KT3NS4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003KT3NS4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />#10: Sleigh Bells: <em>Treats</em></strong> - What is Sleigh Bells? Sleigh Bells is really badass guitar riffs fed through a few distortion pedals and shot out of a wall of amps. Sleigh Bells is a hot, tatooed chick singing about nothing, but doing so in a manner that you want to sing about nothing too. Sleigh Bells is that moment on the third verse of "Infinity Guitars" where your speakers seem to be pleading with you "HOLY SHIT, I WASN'T MADE FOR THIS!!! MAKE IT STOP!!" Sleigh Bells is all of these things, and it's also one of the most inventive pop albums I've ever heard. It is a near-flawless combination of pop, rock and dance music, and an album I can easily say <em>must</em> be listened to! So go listen to it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Write-About-Love-Belle-Sebastian/dp/B0040T7B2W?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Write About Love" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0040T7B2W&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0040T7B2W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#9: Belle and Sebastian: <em>Write About Love</em></strong> - One of the more pleasant surprises this year was the latest from Belle and Sebastian. After I grew tired of <em>The Life Pursuit</em>, I more or less thought that I had worn out the Scottish, indie-pop stalwarts. I checked out <em>Write About Love</em> under the assumption that it would be something that was solid, sure, but nothing that I would particularly care about. I was so wrong about that one. <em>Write About Love</em> is not justa better album than its predecessor, it blows it away on almost every level! Everything from the melodies, the variety, and the guest vocalists is practically perfect. I've enjoyed this album so much that I've even gone back to listen to <em>The Life Pursuit</em> a few times to find that it's actually still pretty awesome too! Wins all around!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Castles-II/dp/B003IPSPOW?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Crystal Castles (II)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003IPSPOW&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003IPSPOW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#8: Crystal Castles: <em>Crystal Castles (II)</em></strong> - Picking up right where they left off the first time around, Canadian electro-punk duo, Crystal Castles returned in 2010 with an album that smooths out some of their rougher edges yet continues to deepen what they already do so well. Tracks like "Empathy" or "Celestica" show the band with a more refined sound, while others like the nightmare-enducing "Doe Deer" prove that the band still hasn't given up their schtick entirely. Having seen the band twice this year, I am perhaps more in love with them than I should be (which could explain the high ranking on this list). But <em>Crystal Castles</em> is just a flat-out impressive album in so many ways, that I'd feel terrible <em>not</em> placing it so high on this list. I've been listening to it consistently since its release, and I've still got a long way to go before I get sick of it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Age-Adz-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B004132I4S?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Age of Adz" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004132I4S&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004132I4S" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#7: Sufjan Stevens: <em>The Age of Adz</em></strong> - I think there were very few Sufjan Stevens fans out there who actually <em>wanted</em> an album like <em>Age of Adz</em>. After five years of waiting for a proper follow-up to <em>Illinois</em>, I'm willing to bet that most of us were totally in the mood for some banjos, and guitars, and strings, and soft little tunes about historical figures. Right? Right. But even though <em>Adz</em> is nothing like what I envisioned or hoped it would be, it is perhaps the exact album that it needed to be. It is the album that Sufjan needed to reassert his place in the indie music world; one that separates him from his past without fully abandoning it; one that doesn't simply build off of a single idea, but combines all his best ideas from the last decade to create something beyond reproach. No, <em>The Age of Adz</em> is not our ideal album, but it may just be perfect in spite of that.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Odd-Blood-Yeasayer/dp/B0030E5NKU?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Odd Blood" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0030E5NKU&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0030E5NKU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#6: Yeasayer: <em>Odd Blood</em></strong> - On November 4th, a reader by the name of Mr. Shuffleupagus left a comment on one of my posts decrying my lack of "love" for Yeasayer, particularly their new album <em>Odd Blood</em>. Well, prior to that post, my only run in with the band was in a friend's vehicle earlier this year when he played me "Ambling Alp." But thanks to the suggestion of Mr. Suffleupagus, I decided to check out <em>Odd Blood.</em> What an awesome album! Even in listening to opener, "The Children," I knew I was in for something special. But as the album progressed and revealed itself as a masterpiece of modern pop/rock music, I began to fall in love. Songs like "Love Me Girl" and "O.N.E." expertly blend elements of experimental rock and pop music, keeping things consistently interesting and exciting. Hell, "Rome" sounds like a modern day "Ballroom Blitz." I'd love the album just for that! If you're a fan of intersting pop music, especially that of the 80s variety, do yourself a favor and listen to this album.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Together-New-Pornographers/dp/B0039ZEM0W?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Together" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0039ZEM0W&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0039ZEM0W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#5: The New Pornographers: <em>Together</em></strong> - I was listening to this album the other day and it suddenly struck me how much <em>better</em> it is than <em>Challengers</em>, the band's 2007 album. When it was first released, it was pretty clear, but as I listen to it months later and find that the songs are still so freaking enjoyable, the melodies still so catchy, I can't help but reemphasize its awesomeness! <em>Together</em> is a fantastic album, capturing inspired performances from every member of the band. My favorite songs is still "Up in the Dark," but there's really not a bad one on here. Even "Moves," which I found myself skipping over months ago, has recently made it back onto my playlist. If you liked <em>Twin Cinema</em> but found yourself a little disappointed by <em>Challengers</em>, go ahead and give the band another try. No one does power pop better!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congratulations-MGMT/dp/B0037W68F4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Congratulations" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0037W68F4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0037W68F4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#4: MGMT: <em>Congratulations</em></strong> - There is nothing easy about this album. It is a piece of music that reveals its greatness slowly. When I first downloaded it, I more or less stopped listening to it because I couldn't find a song like "Kids" or "Electric Feel". For some reason, though, I came back to it and gave it another shot. And I liked it a lot! Upon review, I gave it a 7 out of 10 star rating and went on my merry way. But <em>Congratulations </em>wasn't done with me. Songs that I didn't get, like "Siberian Breaks" I started to appreciate in ways that I never thought I would. Others, like "Flash Delirium" got even better! These days, its hard for me to fins anything about <em>Congratulations</em> that I don't absolutely love. So yeah, it's difficult, but if you stick with it, you won't be disappointed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/False-Priest-Montreal/dp/B003U42ZM4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="False Priest" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003U42ZM4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003U42ZM4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#3: of Montreal: <em>False Priest</em></strong> - If ever a year goes by when you don't see an of Montreal album in the Top 5 of an Audio Overflow countdown, one of two things has likely occurred. 1.) There was no of Montreal album released that year, or 2.) I've died. Fortunately for all of us, I'm still alive and able to enjoy (on a daily basis) the fruits of <em>False Priest</em>, the latest album from Kavin Barnes and Co. After 2008's <em>Skeletal Lamping</em> a lot of people pretty much assumed that Barnes had gone off the deep end, lost in an endless terrain of schizophrenic musical ideas. On <em>False Priest</em>, things have largely been toned down, but the band is still pushing boundaries. Barnes' vocals in particular are breaking new grounds, hitting falsetto notes left and right, and barking out passionate cries as well. Like most of the band's records, it may take a while to adjust to, but <em>False Priest</em> is badass. That's really the best way I can describe it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/ArchAndroid-Janelle-Monae/dp/B002ZFQD0E?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The ArchAndroid" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002ZFQD0E&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><strong><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002ZFQD0E" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>#2: Janelle Monae: <em>The ArchAndroid</em></strong> - Like many, I would imagine, I was in the dark on this whole "Janelle Monae" thing until I saw her amazing performance on The Late Show. That YouTube video caught my attention, and was followed a few days later with excellent reviews. So I checked out <em>The ArchAndroid</em>, not sure what to expect. What I got was easily the best female pop album in years, and one of the most inventive collection of music I've ever heard! Everything is explored here, from full orchestral pieces to pop music, from R&B to rock and roll. There's even a full-blown of Montreal song just sort of hanging out there in the middle of the album. And you know what? It all works! Flawlessly! In just a few months, Janelle Monae has cemented herself as one of the greatest entertainers around. And if you get a chance, check out the live show! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Happening-LCD-Soundsystem/dp/B003BEE0F8?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="This Is Happening" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003BEE0F8&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003BEE0F8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span></span><strong>#1: LCD Soundsystem: <em>This is Happening</em></strong> - There was a time when I absolutely hated LCD Soundsystem. That time was pre-2007, pre-<em>Sound of Silver</em>. Back then, I just didn't get what the big deal was about; how someone could seriously dig this kind of music. <em>Sound of Silver </em>made me a believer, proving that James Murphy actually has something to say over those repetitive dance beats. With <em>This is Happening</em>, the guy has made his masterpiece, assembling an album that is funny, heavy, funky, and complex. Of all the albums release in 2010, this one has given more joy than the others combined. Just listening to "Pow Pow" around other people and watching their reactions is priceless! Hearing the subtle genius of "Dance Yrself Clean" or "Drunk Girls" is equally as rewarding, but nowhere near as awesome as seeing the band do their thing live! Best live show I've ever seen? Pretty damn close. But enough about that! Back to the album. Which is awesome. You should get it. Yeah.<br />
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Peace out, 2010!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-45768350320239870562010-12-20T13:45:00.000-06:002010-12-20T13:45:27.799-06:00Best of 2010: The Top 31 Songs of 2010I've been doing year-end lists since 2004, and no year has brought such a diversified collection of artists and sounds as the one which we are currently sending off. To me, 2010 was the year of pop music, a year that brought us albums from Ellie Goulding, Robyn, Janelle Monae, of Montreal, and other amazing pop acts! This list will reflect that. But 2010 was also a year in which I opened my ears up to types of music that I had dismissed or ignored in the past: namely folk and hip hop. You'll also see a little bit from those genres in here. I don't intend for this list to be interesting in any way, but hopefully you'll see a song on here that you're unfamiliar with, download it, and fall in love. These are the Top 31 Songs of 2010. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Empathy/dp/B003IPWB7E?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Empathy" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003IPWB7E&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#31: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Empathy/dp/B003IPWB7E?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Crystal Castles - "Empathy"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003IPWB7E" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Crystal Castles</em></strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;">"You must work in symmetry. You must earn their empathy."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swim-Until-You-Cant-Land/dp/B002T3NSYQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Swim Until You Can't See Land" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002T3NSYQ&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002T3NSYQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong>#30: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Swim-Until-You-Cant-Land/dp/B002T3NSYQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002T3NSYQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>The Winter of Mixed Drinks</em> </strong><br />
"Are you a man, or are you a bag of sand?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hang-With-Me/dp/B004BLR80O?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Hang With Me" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004BLR80O&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004BLR80O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#29: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hang-With-Me/dp/B004BLR80O?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Robyn - "Hang With Me"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004BLR80O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Body Talk</em> </strong><br />
"When you see me drift astray, out of touch and out of place, will you tell me to my face?"</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Round-And/dp/B003HPSIA4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Round And Round" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003HPSIA4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003HPSIA4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#28: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Round-And/dp/B003HPSIA4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Round and Round"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003HPSIA4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Before Today</em></strong><br />
"I'm afraid. You're afraid. And we die and we live and we're born again."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Field-Music-Measure/dp/B002ZTQVMK?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Field Music (Measure)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002ZTQVMK&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002ZTQVMK" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#27: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Them-That-Do-Nothing/dp/B0035P0Y5S?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Field Music - "Them That Do Nothing"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0035P0Y5S" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Measure</em></strong><br />
"We used to all be happy while pretendithat we weren't. Now the smiles upon our faces show how much it all must hurt."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revival/dp/B0043XQ22K?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Revival" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0043XQ22K&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><em><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043XQ22K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em><br />
<div align="center"><strong>#26: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revival/dp/B0043XQ22K?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Deerhunter - "Revival"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043XQ22K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album,<em> Halcyon Digest</em></strong></div><div align="center">"Freedom, silence, always. All this darkness, always."</div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003HXXRKW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pow/dp/B003HXXRKW?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pow Pow" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003HXXRKW&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#25: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pow/dp/B003HXXRKW?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">LCD Soundsystem - "Pow Pow"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003HXXRKW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>This Is Happening</em></strong><br />
"With you on the inside, and me on the outside, there's advantages to both."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Gene-Feat-Janelle-Mon%C3%A1e/dp/B0046JRZ6I?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Enemy Gene (Feat. Janelle Monáe)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0046JRZ6I&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0046JRZ6I" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#24: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Gene-Feat-Janelle-Mon%C3%A1e/dp/B0046JRZ6I?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">of Montreal (Featuring Janelle Monae) - "Enemy Gene"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0046JRZ6I" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album<em>, False Priest </em></strong><br />
"How can we ever evolve when our gods are so primitive? They destroy our hope for peace, hope for love."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Want-To-Be-Well/dp/B0043X7XGE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="I Want To Be Well" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0043X7XGE&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#23: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Want-To-Be-Well/dp/B0043X7XGE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sufjan Stevens - "I Want to be Well"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043X7XGE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>The Age of Adz</em><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0043X7XGE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong><br />
"I'm not fucking around!"</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valkyrie-In-The-Roller-Disco/dp/B003H35ND6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Valkyrie In The Roller Disco" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003H35ND6&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H35ND6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div align="center"><strong>#22: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valkyrie-In-The-Roller-Disco/dp/B003H35ND6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New Pornographers - "Valkyrie in the Roller Disco"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H35ND6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Together</em></strong><br />
"Bounce off the walls, valentine, have your fun. Come on, be the one...come on, be the one."</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Magic-Ceo/dp/B003RK1OV4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="White Magic" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003RK1OV4&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003RK1OV4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#21: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Magic-Ceo/dp/B003RK1OV4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">ceo - "Love and Do What You Will"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003RK1OV4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>White Magic</em></strong><br />
"Take my hand and do whatever you will."</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Explicit/dp/B004BSIKVI?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Monster [Explicit]" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004BSIKVI&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004BSIKVI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#20: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Explicit/dp/B004BSIKVI?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kanye West (Featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver) - "Monster"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004BSIKVI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy</em></strong><br />
"Pink wig, thick ass, give 'em whiplash. I think big, get cash, make 'em blink fast."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Famine-Affair/dp/B0041VFY5A?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Famine Affair" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0041VFY5A&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Famine-Affair/dp/B0041VFY5A?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0041VFY5A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#19: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Famine-Affair/dp/B0041VFY5A?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">of Montreal - "Famine Affair"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0041VFY5A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0041VFY5A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album,<em> False Priest</em></strong><br />
"She says, 'You're not boring, I'm just bored with you' - the psychology behind it is ruthless."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horchata/dp/B002YP06SU?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Horchata" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002YP06SU&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002YP06SU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#18: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horchata/dp/B002YP06SU?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vampire Weekend - "Horchata"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002YP06SU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Contra</em></strong><br />
"Years go by and hearts start to harden. Those palms and ferns that grew in your garden are falling down and nearing the rose bed. The roots are shooting up through the tool shed. Those lips and teeth that asked how my day went are shouting up through cracks in the pavement."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG-8LUoBISegK19Ieg-wmB7mk4R6-_GPZpL7mfUt1XfABHW_F2ou4a0aKWCrTL1-GHX6QGWvbokrivE-PwGiKvE6C2Z7Y_ZC9HaTtsm1grdLixO6OCgcjITD1REhOYMSlxYFr/s1600/sitdownman200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG-8LUoBISegK19Ieg-wmB7mk4R6-_GPZpL7mfUt1XfABHW_F2ou4a0aKWCrTL1-GHX6QGWvbokrivE-PwGiKvE6C2Z7Y_ZC9HaTtsm1grdLixO6OCgcjITD1REhOYMSlxYFr/s200/sitdownman200.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>#17: Das Racist - "All Tan Everything" - from the album, <em>Sit Down, Man</em></strong><br />
"New dance, do the booty droop. On to the next one, now do the booty scoop. Do the booty up. Do the booty-ooty alley oop."<br />
<strong><em></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ambling-Alp/dp/B00367O7H6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Ambling Alp" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00367O7H6&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><br />
<strong>#16: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ambling-Alp/dp/B00367O7H6?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Yeasayer - "Ambling Alp"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00367O7H6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Odd Blood</em><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00367O7H6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong><br />
"You must stick up for yourself, son. Nevermind what anybody else done."<br />
<br />
<strong> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wild-Hunt/dp/B003EVF6GA?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Wild Hunt" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003EVF6GA&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></strong><br />
<strong>#15: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wild-Hunt/dp/B003EVF6GA?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Tallest Man On Earth - "The Wild Hunt"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003EVF6GA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>The Wild Hunt</em><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003EVF6GA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong><br />
"I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone. Yes, I'll be leavin' in the fall."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dilly/dp/B003KTK404?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Dilly" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003KTK404&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003KTK404" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#14: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dilly/dp/B003KTK404?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Band of Horses - "Dilly"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003KTK404" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Infinite Arms</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Take the mask off when you speak to me."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congratulations/dp/B003E85SHA?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Congratulations" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003E85SHA&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#13: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congratulations/dp/B003E85SHA?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">MGMT - "Congratulations"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003E85SHA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Congratulations</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"As strange as it seems, I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Hands/dp/B0035VLGJ0?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Sun Hands" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0035VLGJ0&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0035VLGJ0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#12: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Hands/dp/B0035VLGJ0?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Local Natives - "Sun Hands"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0035VLGJ0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Gorilla Manor</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"And when I can feel with my sun hands, I'll promise not to lose her again. And even if the morning never comes, my hands are blessed to have touched the sun."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Ellie-Goulding/dp/B0034AAGIY?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Lights" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0034AAGIY&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034AAGIY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#11: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Ellie-Goulding/dp/B0034AAGIY?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ellie Goulding - "This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)" </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034AAGIY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />- from the album, <em>Lights</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"This love is not what you want. This heart will never be yours. This love is be and end all. This love will be your downfall."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Is-Happening/dp/B003HY3530?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="This Is Happening" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003HY3530&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003HY3530" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#10: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-Happening-LCD-Soundsystem/dp/B003BEE0F8?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">LCD Soundsystem - "One Touch"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003BEE0F8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>This Is Happening</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"People who need people to the back of the bus."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kids/dp/B003P79G5U?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><strong><img alt="Kids" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003P79G5U&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></strong></a><strong><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003P79G5U" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#9: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kids/dp/B003P79G5U?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sleigh Bells - "Kids"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003P79G5U" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Treats</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I sip my kool-aid. I'm feeling better now"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEeTA3u4cZBT1xkOwQ-3v-S8oWiMdenOKs6jfgYnlRbJ52vP2XtLotQNeDHV0d4mW5PifkORlNcVTK2DFWjLHP8r2dT5mXpU2gN9IdEhUxfvfE4VYhxX_NkZo__BVK1-pSpJ3/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEeTA3u4cZBT1xkOwQ-3v-S8oWiMdenOKs6jfgYnlRbJ52vP2XtLotQNeDHV0d4mW5PifkORlNcVTK2DFWjLHP8r2dT5mXpU2gN9IdEhUxfvfE4VYhxX_NkZo__BVK1-pSpJ3/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#8: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wallpapermusic?v=app_178091127385">Wallpaper. - "#STUPiDFACEDD"</a> - <em>self-released</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm blacked out, sleepwalking, on a quest for god at my friend's apartment."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/F-k-You-Explicit/dp/B0041BYR6W?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="F**k You [Explicit]" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0041BYR6W&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#7:<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0041BYR6W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/F-k-You-Explicit/dp/B0041BYR6W?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cee-Lo Green - "Fuck You!" </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0041BYR6W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />- from the album, <em>The Lady Killer</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"If I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Ain't that some shit?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003E85SHA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Up-In-The-Dark/dp/B003H398GE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Up In The Dark" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003H398GE&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H398GE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#6: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Up-In-The-Dark/dp/B003H398GE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New Pornographers - "Up in the Dark"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003H398GE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Together</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You can't see them in it. It gets weaker, watch them go. Wrap yourself around me in the shadow show."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burden-Of-Tomorrow/dp/B003EVF6HE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Burden Of Tomorrow" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003EVF6HE&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003EVF6HE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>#5: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burden-Of-Tomorrow/dp/B003EVF6HE?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Tallest Man On Earth - "Burden of Tomorrow"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003EVF6HE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>The Wild Hunt</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I wasn't born, I just walked in one frosty morn' into the vision of some vacant mind."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cousins/dp/B002UK413K?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Cousins" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002UK413K&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002UK413K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>#4: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cousins/dp/B002UK413K?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002UK413K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Contra</em></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">"You and this model sit outside on the side of a house on a street they wouldn't park on at night."</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Delirium/dp/B003BWFA40?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Flash Delirium" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003BWFA40&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003BWFA40" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>#3: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Delirium/dp/B003BWFA40?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">MGMT - "Flash Delirium"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003BWFA40" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>Congratulations</em></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">"You can't get a grip if there's nothing to hold."</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tightrope-Feat-Big-Album-Version/dp/B0038RQV78?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Tightrope [Feat. Big Boi] (Album Version)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0038RQV78&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0038RQV78" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>#2: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tightrope-Feat-Big-Album-Version/dp/B0038RQV78?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Janelle Monae (Featuring Big Boi) - "Tightrope"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0038RQV78" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - from the album, <em>The ArchAndroid</em></strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">"See I'm not walkin' on it, or trying to run around it. This ain't no acrobatics. You either follow or you lead."</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zebra/dp/B0034E7JL2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Zebra" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0034E7JL2&tag=caleistheballs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034E7JL2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div align="center"><strong>#1: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zebra/dp/B0034E7JL2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Beach House - "Zebra" </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0034E7JL2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />- from the album, <em>Teen Dream</em></strong></div><div align="center">"Any way you run, you run before us, black and white horse arching among us."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-17212206704532752592010-12-03T07:02:00.000-06:002010-12-03T07:02:11.559-06:00Best of 2010: The Top 5 Pop AlbumsThese days, most of my music-listening involves pop music in some form or another. Even the more avant-garde pieces in my collection have catchy hooks or lines that infect you in the way that only a great pop song can. So cementing my Top 5 Pop Albums of 2010 is not the easiest task to undertake, but it is certainly a great way to reflect back on all the awesome pop music of the past year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUjuH4ckm5oSya9v2_ElpJKz3H3vE8QJtI73myizvo2S3vS7ugBkJ3YE_5eR7xSEodbWSkK8Mqx0_p6PjvuaTvYiEv7wBFymVAsade0L1XfOvUyH6RrH28xa1qKB6CzqO3chO/s1600/Ellie_Goulding_Lights_Cover_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUjuH4ckm5oSya9v2_ElpJKz3H3vE8QJtI73myizvo2S3vS7ugBkJ3YE_5eR7xSEodbWSkK8Mqx0_p6PjvuaTvYiEv7wBFymVAsade0L1XfOvUyH6RrH28xa1qKB6CzqO3chO/s200/Ellie_Goulding_Lights_Cover_art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>#5. Ellie Goulding: <em>Lights</em></strong><em> </em>– I can’t really explain how I first came across Ellie Goulding for this simple reason: I don’t remember. I almost certainly read about her on Pitchfork or some other source for music news, though my memory is hazy on this. All I remember is downloading <em>Lights</em> one night, playing the first track and immediately being blown away by Ellie’s vocal gymnastics, her excellent lyricism, and her songs’ flawless production. <em>Lights</em> was overlooked my pretty much everyone with an American accent, but it is one of the more endearing pop records of 2010, and the only one that isn’t afraid to wear its genre on its sleeve.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBRJl6y3IRImwX8RjLELZY7eq6Sl9h6oyqYCzoL-mJ7cUf0k8c2AQz_L-jB-xppt77KPQg7KuudT2Kew405KSIZTBwB_XApxe35DD9CHR0JSsUO9K7on_fjP-ZL4u-suSqa7s/s1600/belle_and_sebastian_write_about_love_300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBRJl6y3IRImwX8RjLELZY7eq6Sl9h6oyqYCzoL-mJ7cUf0k8c2AQz_L-jB-xppt77KPQg7KuudT2Kew405KSIZTBwB_XApxe35DD9CHR0JSsUO9K7on_fjP-ZL4u-suSqa7s/s200/belle_and_sebastian_write_about_love_300x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>#4. Belle and Sebastian: <em>Write About Love</em></strong> – 2007’s <em>The Life Pursuit</em> was my first run-in with this longtime indie pop favorite. I loved it upon its release, and even now I still throw it on occasionally. <em>Write About Love</em> is just as good, if not better than its predecessor. It’s filled with the kind of timeless pop music that the band is famous for and features awesome guest vocals from Norah Jones and Carey Mulligan (the latter is particularly charming). At some point in a band’s career, you begin to wonder if they can continue making amazing music, but Belle and Sebastian keep putting out awesome music. Doubt is not an option.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M6a64SXUSb-eNsffJUiubyOiRuzgyhHGLtpesUSb-H9sP7bkzHeU4wbTlZ7Zt8bQ3FxdKYYPQnxLgf3SibMVNQ4T6UCK8egxjLXSpaFzKppVhMLQnaCbUpJh7vya0tfReLAX/s1600/treats_review_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M6a64SXUSb-eNsffJUiubyOiRuzgyhHGLtpesUSb-H9sP7bkzHeU4wbTlZ7Zt8bQ3FxdKYYPQnxLgf3SibMVNQ4T6UCK8egxjLXSpaFzKppVhMLQnaCbUpJh7vya0tfReLAX/s200/treats_review_main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>#3. Sleigh Bells: <em>Treats</em></strong> – Sleigh Bells make the kind of genre-blending music that make assembling this list such a difficult task. Is it pop? Is it rock? Is it dance? What do we call it exactly? However, beyond the band’s distorted guitar and dance drums lie some of the catchiest pop songs of 2010. Rarely will I be listening to “Kids” or “Rill Rill” and not be singing along with complete disregard as to how ridiculous I sound in doing so. That alone is the mark of great pop music. Oh sure, they can put up a front of tattoos and amp walls, but we know that deep down they’re just a friendly little pop band looking to make you dance. Awwww!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc1toUZk3pzXAponbHO4l558UdgXc246PsGJNPF5Lp7W7YGR1EHyBQ92oda1jr9IVb0h1pO9SnQ-dDbBFov9KQklNRZV9WKOHZGjn_jNrsKJZIdBKe60oUJzu6VJGQV5JNWKO/s1600/falsepriest200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc1toUZk3pzXAponbHO4l558UdgXc246PsGJNPF5Lp7W7YGR1EHyBQ92oda1jr9IVb0h1pO9SnQ-dDbBFov9KQklNRZV9WKOHZGjn_jNrsKJZIdBKe60oUJzu6VJGQV5JNWKO/s200/falsepriest200.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>#2. of Montreal: <em>False Priest</em></strong> – Kevin Barnes’ latest foray into the dark corners of pop music is one of his more difficult listens. This is why it only received a 7 out of 10 from me when I reviewed it. But like most of Montreal records, it only gets better as you listen to it. Somewhere along the line, <em>False Priest</em> stopped being a fun little pop-funk record and started speaking to me on a deeper level. That’s something pop music rarely does, but something that Barnes does exceptionally well. <em>False Priest</em> is just the latest in a long line of affecting pop music from of Montreal. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmwiNDQuiEW1Q_sRwCZztxHBrRY93QWmecDpslkb0j4kv89WOe2QfFKNMfOk33uMGxflNReaAqW6RCgEgkyowTRATtzHongT7Aq4lclccq27DdpZ-Tc1Z7248sal7P6ch4-tu/s1600/220PX-%257E1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmwiNDQuiEW1Q_sRwCZztxHBrRY93QWmecDpslkb0j4kv89WOe2QfFKNMfOk33uMGxflNReaAqW6RCgEgkyowTRATtzHongT7Aq4lclccq27DdpZ-Tc1Z7248sal7P6ch4-tu/s200/220PX-%257E1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>#1. Janelle Monae: <em>The ArchAndroid</em></strong> – Much like Sleigh Bells’ <em>Treats</em>, Ms. Monae’s debut LP is a difficult album to define. At times it’s hip hop, at others it’s soul. But like its rock-laced brethren, <em>The ArchAndroid</em> is heavily rooted in pop music. One listen to “Tightrope” or “Make the Bus” and this becomes apparent. However, the brilliance of <em>The ArchAndroid</em> does not lie in the greatness of each individual track, but rather the overall package that they form. Janelle Monae has done more that create an amazing pop record, she’s crafted one of the strongest female albums of the last decade and presented us with one of music’s most exciting new characters. Everything from the album’s orchestral movements to the raw energy of her live performances makes clear the fact that Janelle is much more than your average pop star. She is a personality to be excited about, and one that will be with us for a long time.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-21581550826344127582010-11-29T11:01:00.000-06:002010-11-29T11:01:02.636-06:00Worst of 2010: The Death of All MusicFriends and family,<br />
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It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I come to you today to eulogize our dear friend, music, who passed tragically on June 8, 2010.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC65DTGLmckufMA_AP1DLR7po39CS4Tlpvz-M6b5oTiUK50OqTOR3pEmtXyU3nPqiq5lqfdPYagYsoN44Bjj9KR__WwIB_S8qbsOk0XAicEdsdlvxJwL_6hSYWlLH1Xh1mYnZ/s1600/xmasaltime_disney127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC65DTGLmckufMA_AP1DLR7po39CS4Tlpvz-M6b5oTiUK50OqTOR3pEmtXyU3nPqiq5lqfdPYagYsoN44Bjj9KR__WwIB_S8qbsOk0XAicEdsdlvxJwL_6hSYWlLH1Xh1mYnZ/s200/xmasaltime_disney127.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Music had long been a close friend of mine. Even from my earliest years, I can remember music by my side, accompanying me for long family drives, kindergarten classes, and birthday celebrations. Music was a diverse creature, able to change forms throughout its long, productive life. As a child, music first came to me in the form of a Disney Christmas Carol record and later a Chipmunks' Greatest Hits album. As I grew, so did music. It shed its childish routes in the early 90s and took on a form that was more mature, but still evolving throughout its life.</div><br />
In recent years though, music's health seemed to be digressing rapidly. Surely, I was not alone in this diagnosis. I first noticed it around the age of 18, around the same time that a band named Stain'd rose to prominence. Selfish as it seems now, it was difficult for me to be around music during this period of its life. We drifted apart. In the following years, we would meet up occasionally and I would see a faint glimmer in its eye, as if there was life beyond its frail and tragic exterior. I hoped, as I'm sure many of you did, that music would take hold of this light and fight its way out of its downward spiral. Sadly, this did not happen.<br />
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On June 8, 2010, I lost one of my best friends. On June 8, 2010, "Pretty Boy Swag" by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em was released to the general public.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wv6tlNfd57n_lb0VSYDIESZDy9lAhKmNF5m7V42f-MDnEpveO5z8x_DkXtmPEtZV5q9YiKiWl8Azi0TBkNv6WB3_QV21wOvwF8-5J1D1r4HBCbwx_y4yi03B_OPhOBEwgT5x/s1600/Soulja-boy-tell-%2527em-pretty-boy-swag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wv6tlNfd57n_lb0VSYDIESZDy9lAhKmNF5m7V42f-MDnEpveO5z8x_DkXtmPEtZV5q9YiKiWl8Azi0TBkNv6WB3_QV21wOvwF8-5J1D1r4HBCbwx_y4yi03B_OPhOBEwgT5x/s320/Soulja-boy-tell-%2527em-pretty-boy-swag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I first discovered the death of music a month or so after that horrible day. Driving with another close friend, "Pretty Boy Swag" began playing on the radio. Starting innocently enough, I was soon bombarded with what can only be described as the nonsensical ramblings of the mentally handicapped. I thought to myself, "Only in a world where music has died could such a monstrosity be released on a medium once-designated solely for that dear friend of mine." Depressed at the departure of music, I sought solace in the bars, hoping that alcohol would help ease my sorrow. Much to my chagrin, "Pretty Boy Swag" thrived in these locales, serving as a constant reminder of the death that has so greatly affected me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGy6sm4w7BfL7s_-GCxP1mK7CufdBwAeyHQV15C_4F3zGLf33qAI13wV32Cf3HfK3J2IXy9jjEcy5YWA-N-Iont14D_882DZtv3OA_28xRORuvdRQPnV6qH1zQRQTjt6ojOFE/s1600/BET%252BRip%252BRunway%252B2010%252BArrivals%252BOtWFhi0Xhewl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGy6sm4w7BfL7s_-GCxP1mK7CufdBwAeyHQV15C_4F3zGLf33qAI13wV32Cf3HfK3J2IXy9jjEcy5YWA-N-Iont14D_882DZtv3OA_28xRORuvdRQPnV6qH1zQRQTjt6ojOFE/s200/BET%252BRip%252BRunway%252B2010%252BArrivals%252BOtWFhi0Xhewl.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>In this moment, I feel I must confess to a transgression of heinous proportions. In the dark time following the death of music, I began indulging in the dark wine of "Pretty Boy Swag." Ironically, of course, though I cannot help but feel that my encouragment amongst friends and family helped propel this garbage to #34 on the Billboard Hot 100, if only by the minutest of amounts. All the parties I've thrown where I've "sung" along to the intoxicating, yet repulsive, "Heeeeeeeys" of "Swag's" chorus; all the terrible dances I've concocted to its lazy production; all of the shots I've taken to mask the effects of its inane lyrics - all of these have only contributed to the popularity of the beast. For this, friends, I must offer my apologies and ask for forgiveness - from you, of course, but also from music, should our friend be out there somewhere still longing to be intimately involved in the lives of mere people.<br />
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Music, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. And though your presence no longer lingers in the realm of the living, your memory will live on in the form of your various manifestations. In moments of weakness and sorrow, I will call upon the greatness of your memory to help me through. In moments of triumph, your exuberance will be my soundtrack. <br />
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I will never forget you, music. Come back to us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MlHou8hGhMsFHFPs8QgPTIRJo_o9k9hLakOoo1qVGulOqxzurDPIo_xjvVf6civ2aa8auYW3FpNqbiJ_0CBg_qphdIM9q9LsZZeJGab-YhXYRETqBb_ttdJzy4YQ9d6mcrI-/s1600/tombstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MlHou8hGhMsFHFPs8QgPTIRJo_o9k9hLakOoo1qVGulOqxzurDPIo_xjvVf6civ2aa8auYW3FpNqbiJ_0CBg_qphdIM9q9LsZZeJGab-YhXYRETqBb_ttdJzy4YQ9d6mcrI-/s400/tombstone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-5692652926217122322010-10-29T09:09:00.000-05:002010-10-29T09:09:02.768-05:0010/28/2010: Wallpaper. - Houston, TXLongtime readers of the blog are well aware of my perhaps frightening obsession with the Oakland, CA funk/pop band, <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/search/label/Wallpaper">Wallpaper</a>. (As of this writing, they are the5th most-blogged about artist on Audio Overflow, just above Muse and only one post shy of Sufjan Stevens.) However, despite my incessant hyping of the group, I had never seen them perform live until last night at Fitzgerald's in Houston, TX!<br />
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It should go without saying that I was just in love with what I saw. Ricky Reed's stage presence is as captivating as the character requires. Whether he's making subtle jokes, renaming songs on the fly, or just singing and dancing, the guy has got his act down! The energy that he gives off is absolutely infecting, keeping me moving and singing along the length of the set. In addition, I'd be remiss not to mention the talent of his P.I.C. and drummer, whose skill is just unparalleled. It's not a Wallpaper. song without a fresh beat, and Derrick (Arjun?) is the heart of the live show!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00iA9gqzJrm5efjzN9-jvbQB3PrktZm9y01cLWRKfWUXNEvQ4wKQOyFp6yM0GNTiyn5MIVzlcH9xSRznLa2m4Ts39yz9NtdWz_C5KGhxbRqUhiV16cW9QtLHX2B478ZCzQ_Fk/s1600/3808322599_4cfee60bd0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00iA9gqzJrm5efjzN9-jvbQB3PrktZm9y01cLWRKfWUXNEvQ4wKQOyFp6yM0GNTiyn5MIVzlcH9xSRznLa2m4Ts39yz9NtdWz_C5KGhxbRqUhiV16cW9QtLHX2B478ZCzQ_Fk/s400/3808322599_4cfee60bd0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The group played through a number of songs from their debut LP, <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doodoo-Face/dp/B002NVCNNQ?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Doodoo Face</a>, including "I Got Soul, I'm So Wasted," "Gettin' Drip," and set-closer "It's My Birthday." They also mixed in a few new songs as well, including the just-released summer jam "Indian Summer." When I first heard the track a week ago, I was a little unsure of its greatness. However, after hearing it live, I have no questions; this is a straight party jam! I loved it! Disappointments? Not many aside from the lack of "Txt Me Ur Love" or "I Ain't Most Dudes," though I understand that when you're playing a 30-minute set, you sometimes have to cut the less crowd-pleasing songs. </span><br />
<br />
<span>Wallpaper. opened for <a href="http://www.theheavy.co.uk/">The Heavy</a>, who are making waves right now with their similarly funky sounds<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002NVCNNQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />. My apologies to the band for not sticking around for the show. Believe me, if I didn't have to work at 6am this morning, I would have been there in the front dancing my ass off! But hey, I did get to see Wallpaper., and I got to meet the guys after the show too! </span><br />
<br />
<span>Listen, if you have yet to listen to this awesome group, do yourself a favor and catch them on the road soon! The band is currently touring the US with The Heavy (Austin tonight!!), and you can check out their tour dates on their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/wallpaper">Myspace</a> page. Come back to Houston soon, guys! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-63914006105082070982010-10-11T22:53:00.002-05:002010-10-12T07:03:14.257-05:00Review: Sufjan Stevens: "The Age of Adz"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm-qfCTdm3yyKF2Uzf6-wz3oh1j3Yr4EmJDOwwcuBZhmzj6E9oJHsxpCGPlEVfuzhd6jMqPDUMau-ttJZijOo4Vm7pyXB1iB1Zw8X1z85yUcRMfISSR4D8USPJFIs1cnoh_ax/s1600/sufjan-stevens-age-of-adz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm-qfCTdm3yyKF2Uzf6-wz3oh1j3Yr4EmJDOwwcuBZhmzj6E9oJHsxpCGPlEVfuzhd6jMqPDUMau-ttJZijOo4Vm7pyXB1iB1Zw8X1z85yUcRMfISSR4D8USPJFIs1cnoh_ax/s200/sufjan-stevens-age-of-adz.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In 2009, Sufjan Stevens contributed a song called "You Are the Blood" to the excellent compilation album,<i> Dark Was the Night.</i> At the time it was released, it was one of the first original Sufjan pieces I'd heard in years, and at 10 minutes, it seemed to signal a change in the style of music the artist was interested in creating. It was not only the song's length that gave it away, but also the heavy emphasis on electronic instrumentation. While the more dedicated fans out there know that electronic music is nothing new to Stevens, he had yet to really combine it with his more orchestral pieces in the way that he did in that song. I, for one, found it to be refreshing take on his usual schtick which, like it or not, just wouldn't have been as enchanting now as it was in 2005 (if only for the fact that we've all been listening to it for five years). With <i>The Age of Adz</i>, Sufjan continues to evolve his sound in a similar manner to "You Are the Blood," with almost-perfect results!<br />
<br />
The album begins with "Futile Devices," a beautifully soft acoustic song that serves more as a palette cleanser than as a track indicative of the whole of <i>Adz</i>. Sufjan's billowy vocals float lightly over his delicate guitar-picking, putting the listener at ease and giving us the chance to enjoy the wonderfully-written lyrics. It ends abruptly, if not beautifully, running head on into the glitchy percussion of "Too Much." This song is the real primer for <i>The Age of Adz</i>. It adds synths and electronic percussion to great effect, but simultaneously retains what was always so great about Sufjan Stevens' music - namely, a brilliant composition, lively vocal arrangements, and music that is constantly engaging. It literally sounds like a classic 50-states era song with some newly-introduced instruments. It's easily one of the album's catchiest tracks, and the one on which most opinions will be hitched; positive or negative.<br />
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From here, Sufjan continues to trek into new territory. Title track, "The Age of Adz" begins with a flood of horns and flutes that make it sound more like the soundtrack to an epic battle scene than a Sufjan Stevens song. Unfortunately, a lot of that momentum is thrown out soon after and the song reveals itself to be a bit more ho-hum than it led on - like a sheep in wolf's clothing. "The Age of Adz" reveals pretty plainly what the album's greatest flaw is, and that is Stevens' reoccurring difficulty to write a compelling vocal melody. The same guy who was able to make a song about a serial killer into a oddly-catchy sing-along can barely assemble a strong string of notes on a few of the songs on <i>Adz</i>. Granted, on tracks like "All For Myself" or "Bad Communication," he seems more focused on creating an atmosphere than a melody, but he does so at the expense of arguably one of his greatest talents as a songwriter.<br />
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"Get Real, Get Right" picks up where "Too Much" left off, blending upbeat glitch percussion and more traditional instrumentation with a strong hook. Surprisingly strong, in fact, considering it features Sufjan and Co. singing "Do yourself a favor and get real, get right with the Lord." Sufjan's never been one to shy away from his faith in music, but it's rarely been so plainly written and joyfully executed. Whether it's done in jest or in earnest is debatable, but the brilliance of the song is not. A person with a less open mind might be quick to judge then when Sufjan proudly declares just a few songs later that he's "not fucking around" - but I personally find it to be one of <i>The Age of Adz</i>'s most-enjoyable moments! The moment happens in the second half of "I Want to Be Well." On first listen, I was caught off guard by the sheer brazenness of the language. Sufjan has always been a very delicate writer. However, by the time he's passionately shouting the line over a chorus of vocals singing "I want to be well," I'm right there with him, cheering him on! This is not an emotion we are used to from this guy, and it is made all the more powerful as a result.<br />
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A lot will probably be said about the way that Sufjan decided to end <i>The Age of Adz</i>. Any song that clocks in at over 25 minutes is certainly a sign of overindulgence, and "Impossible Soul" is certainly not an exception to this rule. But to its credit, the song never tires, never bores - not once in its 25 minutes! Plus, the song gives us a featured performance from Annie Clark, a dance section, and one of the most tragic endings to a song I've heard all year. Is it unnecessary? It's hard to say, really. To be sure, his use of auto-tune in one section is questionable (and perhaps unintentionally funny). But at the same time, the technology has definitely been used to worse ends in the last few years! And let's not forget that "Impossible Soul" is perhaps more accurately viewed as the second half to a double album or an EP within an LP. Even without its inclusion on <i>Adz</i>, the album is brilliant, however its place at the end of the album gives <i>The Age of Adz</i> a more touching ending and an increased depth. There is a lot to take in here that many of listeners may not appreciate until after repeated listens.<br />
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Whether people end up hating or loving <i>The Age of Adz</i>, one can't really fault Sufjan for wanting to try his hand at self-reinvention. In 2005, this guy was on top of the indie music world. It would have been easy to milk that success with a few more albums about states in the same vein as his previous critically-acclaimed albums. Instead, he retreated into pet projects and relative obscurity, all the while crafting an album that is bold, entirely unique, and unfailingly captivating! <i>The Age of Adz</i> is refreshing in ways few albums have been since <i>Illinois</i> was released over half a decade(!) ago. While it won't hold a candle to some of his past albums, <i>The Age of Adz</i> stands entirely on its own as a brilliant work of creative genius! Sufjan is back, and thank god, he hasn't lost it! Not even close.<br />
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<b><i>Key Tracks:</i></b><br />
1. "Futile Devices"<br />
2. "Too Much"<br />
3. "I Walked"<br />
4. "Get Real Get Right"<br />
5. "I Want to Be Well"<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>8 out of 10 Stars </b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-42806703777108601972010-10-09T14:45:00.000-05:002010-10-09T14:45:16.926-05:0010/8/2010: LCD Soundsystem w/ Sleigh Bells - Houston, TXTypically when ACL comes around, Houston gets a few minor residual bands who do a show on their way through the state. But this year has been good to us. <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2010/10/1072010-vampire-weekend-w-beach-house.html"> On one night</a> I get to see Beach House and Vampire Weekend. On the next, I see LCD Soundsystem and Sleigh Bells. While Vampire Weekend was certainly an excellent show to see, this one totally blew it away!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fy3OvdbT6UFVBsLLqMiV2eCt1Hhz7KVdARtfx9Z5VWId_WKCzRz9a8QWi-ou6b71hRip9cKogrxvTF4TMuivbXEYUqDY25WvKxtkQTKpcbI9DysBH6lg1VmobKzRwT0qFlf2/s1600/sleigh+bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fy3OvdbT6UFVBsLLqMiV2eCt1Hhz7KVdARtfx9Z5VWId_WKCzRz9a8QWi-ou6b71hRip9cKogrxvTF4TMuivbXEYUqDY25WvKxtkQTKpcbI9DysBH6lg1VmobKzRwT0qFlf2/s400/sleigh+bells.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Sleigh Bells. That is a moderately large wall of amps. My ears are still ringing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've been a fan of Sleigh Bells from the moment I first heard "Kids" and seeing them live has been an experience I've been dying to make reality. They do not disappoint. Quite the opposite actually; they're freaking amazing! I had seen a few YouTube videos of their shows, and none of them come close to matching the sheer energy that is on display! Derek's guitar shredding is enthralling and Alexis has the stage presence of Alice Glass. She certainly knows how to get the crowd going. Every song they played was amazing, primarily because they left out "Rachel" (thank heavens!). I will definitely be seeing them again!<br />
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Next up is LCD Soundsystem. Now, I've been hearing about how awesome LCD shows are for years, but until last night I have never seen one.<br />
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Damn.<br />
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This could very well be one of, if not the best live show I've ever had the pleasure of attending! From the moment the band walked on stage, the Verizon Wireless Theatre turned into one giant party. The band wisely eschewed some of their slower songs and kept the energy turned up with the best songs from all three albums. <i>This is Happening</i> received most of the love, as expected, but it's also LCD Soundsystem's best album. So fair trade. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E2T1elnMK4ZPltfwW40EcgsTHQaCjYBy2LGhbe2dcbNpfhRQ5fo99IGF_drt5SzDsAfiGNj_IvNyv5IBCGjlKL8oS_H-6leBjqCBtiV86Zst1pHdz6CWFIHGAUrbkM_nm_Db/s1600/lcd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E2T1elnMK4ZPltfwW40EcgsTHQaCjYBy2LGhbe2dcbNpfhRQ5fo99IGF_drt5SzDsAfiGNj_IvNyv5IBCGjlKL8oS_H-6leBjqCBtiV86Zst1pHdz6CWFIHGAUrbkM_nm_Db/s400/lcd.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">It's blurry because I'm dancing. No need to stop for a picture, really.</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>James Murphy. How do you do it? How do you take something so repetitive and easy and make it into some of the greatest music of the last decade? How do you transform that into something that I'll not only pay to see, but pay to see again and again? There wasn't a damn thing wrong with last night's performance. And sure it could've been that I was a little tipsy, or that I was in the company of some very nice people; but that show was amazing, and I had the time of my life! For real.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-20126690048037373612010-10-09T14:26:00.000-05:002010-10-09T14:26:57.783-05:0010/7/2010: Vampire Weekend w/ Beach House - Houston, TXA few nights ago, two really great bands came through town. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG23_WCH3Lyf7-1QNPbUrUugjILdJYEojcTUvaU6ATZt1h8ubRIM6gOMX2z8Bl703Ljsgqh7qyLqFMPpjNp2olcSBIfLEhYxcgUGcvip_13nxyuzpT5C4bCVYs-mz3iVsKx7-/s1600/beach+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG23_WCH3Lyf7-1QNPbUrUugjILdJYEojcTUvaU6ATZt1h8ubRIM6gOMX2z8Bl703Ljsgqh7qyLqFMPpjNp2olcSBIfLEhYxcgUGcvip_13nxyuzpT5C4bCVYs-mz3iVsKx7-/s400/beach+house.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach House performs "Norway." Meanwhile, iPhone takes poor pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Beach House has been getting regular plays on my iPod for months now, but mostly just the song "Zebra," which I adore. The rest of their most recent album is awesome, but it's just not going to be featured on my regular rotation. But damn, Beach House was amazing the other night! Hearing "Norway" live was probably the highlight of the evening, besting anything that Vampire Weekend could come up with. The band has this sort of ethereal sound that just flies out of the speakers and hits you in the chest. If you're going to listen to Beach House, live is the best way to do it!<br />
<br />
And then Vampire Weekend came out and put on a hell of a show! This was the first time the band has ever been through Houston, and I feel like we did them right! The crowd was loving everything they were playing. Even total balls songs like "Taxi Cab" - just a live bore, really - was treated to applause and niceties. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP6wa7f0pKm6p2VnEgU8KxdjdN1TkCt4t00zriPbiy8NQFlvDChfpzNpluAdpx3Lx9h01JljjMdbxIbqCP66I4fgGvOY5HK1BdYwDCooDrAmvlCgq8Oq0dzRuA40O_wptCjxl/s1600/vamp+week.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP6wa7f0pKm6p2VnEgU8KxdjdN1TkCt4t00zriPbiy8NQFlvDChfpzNpluAdpx3Lx9h01JljjMdbxIbqCP66I4fgGvOY5HK1BdYwDCooDrAmvlCgq8Oq0dzRuA40O_wptCjxl/s400/vamp+week.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vampire Weekend does their thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One thing the band definitely has is showmanship. Whether it was bursting onto the stage to rap music, Ezra's undeniable stage presence, or Chris Tomson's amazing drumming, the band is absolutely captivating! In the little over an hour they played, they hit all the highlights of their first two albums, though I was a bit disappointed that they left out "I Think Ur a Contra." Granted, it wouldn't really have livened up the crowd, but it is a gorgeous song. Best song of the night was easily "Oxford Comma" which remains their crowning achievement in general.<br />
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It was a wonderful evenening and I had a great time! The only thing better than this night was the next.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-48871550262713845292010-09-14T09:41:00.000-05:002010-09-14T09:41:29.067-05:009/13/2010: Crystal Castles - Houston, TXDear Crystal Castles,<br />
<br />
This being the second time I've seen your live show in the last month, it should go without saying that I really enjoy what you do. Your dedication to your music really comes through in the live setting in a way that I've rarely seen in all my years. Crystal Castles is one of the few groups who actually sound better <em>live</em> than on recordings (more or less).<br />
<br />
Ethan is god-like. Whether he's playing a really cool retro synth or vocoding the crap out of Alice's vocals, his skills are easily the backbone of the group. And yet despite this, Alice remains a particularly mesmerizing figure live; bringing a punk rock authenticity to a genre of music that is typically plastic and hollow. Seeing her get molested by the crowd only to go back on stage and light up a smoke like it's no big deal is pretty badass. Oh and Chris' live drumming? Just perfect! You guys really have your thing down!<br />
<br />
If you ever come back to Texas, I <em>will</em> be seeing you again. And so I thought I would politely request that if you're only going to play a 45 minute set that you make sure the intermission between the opening act and your act isn't an hour long. That seems like an especially shitty move, considering that the only thing required for setup is clearing off his table and pulling a couple of black sheets of a drumset. Also, it's also not good when the opening act "plays" a longer set than the headliner. I certainly didn't pay to see a dude try to hype up the crowd for an hour, and I feel as if I'm not alone in that.<br />
<br />
But seriously, you guys rock. I have the sweatty clothes, sore muscles, and sleep deprivation to prove it! Just keep the bullshit to a minimum in the future.<br />
<br />
Much love,<br />
CaleUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-3597301773824755382010-09-06T10:29:00.000-05:002010-09-06T10:29:39.290-05:00Review: of Montreal: "False Priest"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XwvAxvt4B5NK3GJpGyeZga8Hr8z7E5mN_Ln1T-qt68ZXb39yRu6U4Wsm1uuDCNLeALR-ubjUTP7JpwSJ7t3neSgmL_uhNDLts_l4Jyl1n0_FKTqyTpsKgf5ax6a0iod8HnuN/s1600/OfMontreal_FalsePriest_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XwvAxvt4B5NK3GJpGyeZga8Hr8z7E5mN_Ln1T-qt68ZXb39yRu6U4Wsm1uuDCNLeALR-ubjUTP7JpwSJ7t3neSgmL_uhNDLts_l4Jyl1n0_FKTqyTpsKgf5ax6a0iod8HnuN/s200/OfMontreal_FalsePriest_600.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In 2005, Kevin Barnes and of Montreal briefly flirted with the mainstream with the release of <em>The Sunlandic Twins</em>. That album got them a lot of deserved attention. And though each album since then has garnered much more commercial success, the music has taken a decidely non-mainstream turn. Not that that's necessarily a terrible thing. For as unfocused and schizophrenic as 2008's <em>Skeletal Lamping</em> was, it wound up being one of the group's most astonishing and endearing achievements. <em>False Priest</em> picks up where <em>Lamping</em> left off, with Barnes once again calling upon his Georgie Fruit persona for inspiration. Though less ambitious than its predecessor, <em>False Priest</em> is still a deserving addition to of Montreal's already stellar catalogue of music.<br />
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Like most of Montreal openers, "I Feel Ya Strutter" starts the album off with a bang! The piano-led, upbeat pop song showcases what is likely to be the most divisive aspect of <em>False Priest</em>, Barnes' heavy-reliance on falsetto singing. Barnes has never had the least-annoying voice in indie pop, but hearing him wail in falsetto makes his voice even that much more polarizing. As initially off-putting as it may seem, Barnes' embrace of this new-found liberation from vocal restraints makes the music even wilder and more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been. On "Strutter" you can practically hear him singing off his shackles, and to great effect! The song - about Barnes' realization that he is "blessed" to be with someone - finds its antithesis in the next track, "Our Riotous Defects" - a song about the crazy ex-girlfriend. Its spoken-word verses are not new in the world of of Montreal, and neither is its conspicuous humor. Kevin's reminiscing of the ex in question killing his beta fish as punishment for contradicting her in front of her friends is laugh out loud hilarious! Janelle Monae joins in on the song's coda, sounding lovely, if not underutilized.<br />
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Intra-album genre-hopping has never really been of Montreal's strong point, but on <em>False Priest</em> they manage to arrange an eclectic array of tunes into a relatively cohesive whole. Whether it's the unapologetic funk of "Hydra Fancies" or the smooth R&B sounds of "Enemy Gene," there are a lot of styles to take in here. The former song is my personal favorite on the album, featuring one of <em>False Priest's </em>catchiest hooks and an absolutely infectious synth solo towards the end. "Sex Karma" is equally as endearing and likely to be the album's second single. Solange Knowles absolutely <em>kills</em> it on the song's chorus, going tit for tat with Barnes' sex-crazed persona and singing such memorable lines as"You look like playground to me, playa" and "I kiss you where I shouldn't be." Also particularly brilliant is, "Coquet Coquette" - a great choice for the first single, as its easily the album's most "normal" , least-convoluted track. It's spanish guitars and catchy bassline make for repeatedly enjoyable song. <br />
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More often than not, of Montreal sounds more at ease with upbeat tunes than the more solemn songs. The depressing "Casualty of You" is a complete dud; not because it's unexpected and seemingly out of place on an of Montreal record, but just because it's boring and unaffective. of Montreal's "thing" in the last 5 years has been catharsis through pop music, but "Casualty" is a prime example of how to do that entirely wrong. Likewise, album-closer (and awesomely-titled), "You Do Mutilate?" ends the album with Barnes in the pulpit. His spoken-word sermon about respecting your fellow-man is admirable, to be sure, but it comes off as poor interpretation of a Michael Jackson acceptance speech and is no way to end an album.<br />
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But overall, <em>False Priest</em> is quite an enjoyable experience. Kevin Barnes has never been one to play it safe, and <em>False Priest</em> is an excellent example of this. Therefore, like all of Montreal albums, a listener has to go into it with an open mind. While a lot of it may seem too outlandish upon first listen; Barnes' unbelievable ability to craft memorable hooks from the most bizarre places will eventually win over the majority his detractors. Though the album's greatness wavers towards its end, there is very little on <em>False Priest</em> that isn't at least slighty awesome. It's a welcome addition to my of Montreal collection, and something I'll certainly be listening to for months.<br />
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<strong><em>Key Tracks:</em></strong><br />
1. "I Feel Ya Strutter"<br />
2. "Our Rioutous Defects"<br />
3. "Coquet Coquette"<br />
4. "Hydra Fancies"<br />
5. "Like a Tourist"<br />
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<div align="center"><strong>7 out of 10 Stars</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-74759401347560192842010-07-15T13:09:00.000-05:002010-07-15T13:09:24.487-05:007 Pop Albums No Dude Should Be Ashamed to LovePop music gets a bad wrap these days, and for good reason. The majority of modern pop music is just the same song, regurgitated and sprinkled with an extra layer of glitter. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2dPA2dCRNY">Click here if you don’t believe me</a>. But there is some good stuff out there too. The problem is, your average dude’s perception of modern pop music is that it’s girly, chick music made for preteen girly-chicks; which isn’t an entirely invalid assessment. The flipside is that most dudes are also going to think that the only music out there for them is going to be the macho-man, power chord-filled (POWER!!! RAWR!!!) nonsense that gets played on modern rock stations. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with loving pop music as long as it’s good! After all, a dude who only listens to Nickelback isn’t really a dude at all. He’s just a douche.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOLrbjavyFy5ajbGG3aPnCjreNhhE_21nlscRBg9jPs4af53a0dUfvKZFlr6yyoM2vUsB-7vnhDk0KCP-b2mamjzO6RC3Yk78m1NJvVAN9gN2HQRzBVq5OhEiSaaSNroKJIPP/s1600/Pop-Up_Yelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOLrbjavyFy5ajbGG3aPnCjreNhhE_21nlscRBg9jPs4af53a0dUfvKZFlr6yyoM2vUsB-7vnhDk0KCP-b2mamjzO6RC3Yk78m1NJvVAN9gN2HQRzBVq5OhEiSaaSNroKJIPP/s200/Pop-Up_Yelle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>7. Yelle: <em>Pop-Up</em> (2007)</strong> – Don’t think I would set out to compose a list like this without giving your manliness a little bit of a challenge. The country of France is like one big inside joke to us in the States, especially when it concerns issues of masculinity. So if you’re going to give pop music an honest shot, why not put yourself out there by listening to a little bit of French pop music. That’s right, Yelle is a French pop band with songs sung entirely in (you guessed it) French! If that alone makes you want to pop in your Staind CD and drink a Keystone, you may want to skip ahead. However, if you’re down for some inventive, catchy dance-pop, grab a copy of this album and get ready to experience something unlike anything you’ve ever heard on American radio. <strong>Definitely download: “A Cause Des Garçons”</strong> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp_c1YsjATSr6SBsfca-WbIQm3dDH-xLOJgBS9l-jlVhnSJFag8AO26Da4pTk9MzYbC7VP-3RS5_p_imBrCraGQrduhvzdSzuhrjyVev3JoN2rpHq2-TbMkGorp_WV75PP8nl/s1600/Ellie_Goulding_Lights_Cover_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRp_c1YsjATSr6SBsfca-WbIQm3dDH-xLOJgBS9l-jlVhnSJFag8AO26Da4pTk9MzYbC7VP-3RS5_p_imBrCraGQrduhvzdSzuhrjyVev3JoN2rpHq2-TbMkGorp_WV75PP8nl/s200/Ellie_Goulding_Lights_Cover_art.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>6. Ellie Goulding: <em>Lights </em>(2010)</strong> – Now that we’ve left France behind, why not make a stop in the U.K. to introduce you to Ellie Goulding? Goulding is fairly well-known in her home nation for her own form of pop music, which relies heavily on dancy, club beats and better-than-average lyricism. The lyrical prowess could stem from her oft-referenced folk background, but don’t let that throw you off because <em>Lights</em> is a pop album through and through. So why should you, a dude amongst dudes, listen to Ellie Goulding? Simple. It’s really good. It’s what Miley Cyrus would sound like if she weren’t spoonfed ridiculous lyrics. It’s what Katy Perry would sound like if she didn’t rely on producers whose only goal is to make her sound pander to the lowest common denominator. And she’s super cute. Which is cool too. <strong>Definitely download: “Guns and Horses”</strong><br />
<strong> </strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7EAfm3mBqJ2Dx0KSpQKHVkvxpWW9I9bh8ZljG3d_K7I0RyJsmC7sIeRmh49aPP42P97hysrsaiy03ScKrCbiPQiNMXhupql74a7BQx44ovj7CuZDUAAS3MdmekXX2oniR0fP/s1600/Birdandthebee_-_rayguns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7EAfm3mBqJ2Dx0KSpQKHVkvxpWW9I9bh8ZljG3d_K7I0RyJsmC7sIeRmh49aPP42P97hysrsaiy03ScKrCbiPQiNMXhupql74a7BQx44ovj7CuZDUAAS3MdmekXX2oniR0fP/s200/Birdandthebee_-_rayguns.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>5. The Bird and the Bee: <em>Ray Guns are Not Just the Future</em> (2009)</strong> – The Bird and the Bee is a boy-girl pop duo from California whose sound is pop for sure, but also draws heavily from jazz and lounge music. <em>Ray Guns</em> is their sophomore album and ended up getting a respectable ranking among my <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/search/label/Best%20of%202009">Top 15 Albums of 2009</a>. There’s a little bit for everybody here; from straight-up dance songs, to more bubblegum fare. One of the great things about this album is its diversity, so if you’re not immediately sucked into its web of awesome pop goodness, give it a few more tracks before you dismiss it entirely.<strong> Definitely download: “Ray Gun”</strong><br />
<strong> </strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4KytdtMI5buINX7oeH6izlsqd67dBzFircYL08V5trobxbHEUBakGTnp-3oneh4TOP2OCbvUK9NQ3hLPUxChgoz9aSk59x4xcrtLbJzVSzJ6LWLr0hujqwg6wzGB5DSOm9cM/s1600/Extraordinary_Machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip4KytdtMI5buINX7oeH6izlsqd67dBzFircYL08V5trobxbHEUBakGTnp-3oneh4TOP2OCbvUK9NQ3hLPUxChgoz9aSk59x4xcrtLbJzVSzJ6LWLr0hujqwg6wzGB5DSOm9cM/s200/Extraordinary_Machine.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>4. Fiona Apple: <em>Extraordinary Machine</em> (2005)</strong> – The only thing more agonizing then wait for Fiona’s 2005 masterpiece is the wait that many are enduring in anticipation of the follow-up. Why? Because <em>Extraordinary Machine</em> is one of the most perfect pieces of pop music to arrive in this century! Fiona may still reside in the body of a small white female, but she’s got the soul and vocal capacity of Aretha or Gloria! Listening to her pour out her heart on ballads is like witnessing a tragedy of Shakespearian gravity. At the same time, Fiona’s not one to shy away from her playful side, which she does magnificently on “Tymps” and “Not About Love.” As an artist, she arguably possesses more talent than any one else on this list, and for that alone you should listen.<strong> Definitely download: “Tymps”</strong><br />
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</strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoK4TQ6vXmjC9JQ90kmiVNooU6hgAQYfKo6xo4PW7OS9e5fQuut2z23EZo4ShZtGI23nfq1GNjfjd7LHR_EV1k79zWu66J-oz2tJwJUKle3pMMdfx_36h991NWfdGUx4TvABM/s1600/172448_1_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoK4TQ6vXmjC9JQ90kmiVNooU6hgAQYfKo6xo4PW7OS9e5fQuut2z23EZo4ShZtGI23nfq1GNjfjd7LHR_EV1k79zWu66J-oz2tJwJUKle3pMMdfx_36h991NWfdGUx4TvABM/s200/172448_1_f.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>3. Cibo Matto: <em>Viva! La Woman</em> (1996)</strong> – Because pop music is rarely timeless and usually only relevant during for a short period of time after its creation, the majority of the music listed here was made within the last seven years. Why then do I include Cibo Matto’s debut, which is now more than 14 years old? Because <em>Viva! La Woman</em> is an album that was so ahead of its time that, even now, it sounds like nothing else on this planet. Pop is only one genre to which this album could be pinned, but if you find yourself famished for trip-hop, rock, or just music about food in general, then it works well there too. That’s not to say that Cibo Matto is in any way accessible. There are very few people who will throw this album on and immediately fall in love with it. But it features some of the most creative production and unique lyrics that I’ve yet to hear in my 26 years! Cibo Matto’s approach to creating music is something that continues to perplex people to this day. If part of being a dude is being adventurous…this is about as adventurous as pop music gets! <strong>Definitely download: “Birthday Cake”</strong><br />
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</strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenz_SqU0uHhb8dN7AR6SMzPYyvJYHHQWjafxAX_z-5nVkmQs7B6k3wwwEqigKt3S86hhqXB0LlBGVvkJbSARKCCB0g1u643WFF8HhSj0-44qBtT9VVRqK_YxOhjWpjkIFgh9V/s1600/600px-PostalService_cover300dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenz_SqU0uHhb8dN7AR6SMzPYyvJYHHQWjafxAX_z-5nVkmQs7B6k3wwwEqigKt3S86hhqXB0LlBGVvkJbSARKCCB0g1u643WFF8HhSj0-44qBtT9VVRqK_YxOhjWpjkIFgh9V/s200/600px-PostalService_cover300dpi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>2. The Postal Service: <em>Give Up</em> (2003)</strong> – There are a few dudes out there who still hold to the tried-and-true caveman method of bagging a classy lady. However, there are also those of us who prefer to inject a little emotion into our relationships with the fairer sex. For us, The Postal Service’s one and only album serves as an excellent companion. It not only serves as this writer’s personal favorite pop album, but my top album of the last decade and of all time as well! Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard teamed up with Dntel’s Jimmy Tamborello to create an electronic pop album that was unlike anything ever heard before, and better than any wannabe that has come since (lookin’ right at you, Owl City). At its most cliché, pop music is about love. The great thing about<em> Give Up</em> is that it takes love and presents it in an entirely non-clichéd way. Countless pop artists have written about a love that “looks and sounds like a movie,” but only The Postal Service has actually described the making of a home-movie in which Gibbard tries to recreate that idealistic love. I only wish I were man enough to try to pull that off! <strong>Definitely download: “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight”</strong><br />
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</strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0znK_rwWQ6h4iuP8uFe9sZB-mkkF5_K50pWQQ3UxNAyW0fQGKYiFaeeOkSfcNPkmAVGkQkFJXNX30LogVjnb1dsn5YaeEWI9fw-rt91bpNCWKiGiOISfPXBSqko1y6U6K5O-/s1600/doodoo-face-cover-low-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0znK_rwWQ6h4iuP8uFe9sZB-mkkF5_K50pWQQ3UxNAyW0fQGKYiFaeeOkSfcNPkmAVGkQkFJXNX30LogVjnb1dsn5YaeEWI9fw-rt91bpNCWKiGiOISfPXBSqko1y6U6K5O-/s200/doodoo-face-cover-low-res.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><strong>1. Wallpaper.: <em>Doodoo Face</em> (2009)</strong> – For the uninitiated, Wallpaper is a pop/funk duo from Oakland, California that makes songs about partying, drinking, sex, and not paying utilities. Yes, Wallpaper takes the top spot here because unlike every other album on this list <em>Doodoo Face</em> seems specifically crafted for a male audience. There are songs that mention throwing up in the bathroom stall, sex with celebrities, pre-partying, and dating models; all stuff that any self-respecting dude can certainly appreciate! But beyond lyrical content, <em>Doodoo Face</em> also contains some of the freshest production and catchiest melodies to ever grace pop musicdom. It may take you some time to get past the heavy auto-tune, but it’s worth it. Totally worth it. <strong>Definitely download: “ddd”</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-72805330234733666402010-07-01T16:09:00.001-05:002010-07-01T16:10:19.846-05:00The Top 5 Songs of 2010 (So Far...)We're officially halfway through 2010, and damn there was some good music that came out! Here's the best of it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFZkUH3UZlQPWHI2N59SZ6ggrepRz-bsASTlKvolmOfPJCE14JaSiqoIjyyAViM7kyXQtlIxULBJCSSlqXoNeby16DpVxTRCIRLNh5e9n8nIJa-xLGBSTAkmtR_gOnPyNGaPE/s1600/sleigh+bells+-+Treats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFZkUH3UZlQPWHI2N59SZ6ggrepRz-bsASTlKvolmOfPJCE14JaSiqoIjyyAViM7kyXQtlIxULBJCSSlqXoNeby16DpVxTRCIRLNh5e9n8nIJa-xLGBSTAkmtR_gOnPyNGaPE/s200/sleigh+bells+-+Treats.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>5. "Infinity Guitars" by Sleigh Bells, from the album, <i>Treats</i></b> - I could throw down a lot of criticism on Sleigh Bells for their repetitive music and meaningless lyrics, but instead I choose to love every bit of the dance rock madness that they put out. "Infinity Guitars" stands tall above the rest for the last 40 seconds only. A distorted, bass-heavy breakdown that shatters all preconceived notions of what "heavy" music really is. God, I love it so much! Speakers up as loud as they can go, people! Don't half-ass this stuff!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC9CbKom9uy5AsTUiMOD3Pg-SXZ284xLQb7ofBYx32McQMseasl_rUCmL2u97Ss6V4TxB0B5-4WFM0wiu72nGpobuwyuA3tWzluNx7RuvAhmGTsI7KQTS40bN6HclEP2egzEG/s1600/new+pornographers+-+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuC9CbKom9uy5AsTUiMOD3Pg-SXZ284xLQb7ofBYx32McQMseasl_rUCmL2u97Ss6V4TxB0B5-4WFM0wiu72nGpobuwyuA3tWzluNx7RuvAhmGTsI7KQTS40bN6HclEP2egzEG/s200/new+pornographers+-+together.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>4. " Up in the Dark" by The New Pornographers, from the album, <i>Together</i></b> - The New Pornographers have always had a pretty tight sound, but they've rarely sounded as perfect as they do on this standout track from their awesome new album. The vocal back and forth between Carl Newman and Neko Case obviously steals the show here, but the rest of the band are playing their hearts out as well. Few songs have been able to illicit such joy from me, but this one does it without missing a beat.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulFW_lPOchLGz1jzxDOeu6Tstt1uxzlVhPpSk-ZgK-7PUV5bq893Ie_BBqWvw5iu9CpXQArB_yO0aYi4YoDC6MF3LhUWgjDyaqblzoX3H79UzJjKHlXDDDZuarHuhymGAt4V2/s1600/Lcdthisishappening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulFW_lPOchLGz1jzxDOeu6Tstt1uxzlVhPpSk-ZgK-7PUV5bq893Ie_BBqWvw5iu9CpXQArB_yO0aYi4YoDC6MF3LhUWgjDyaqblzoX3H79UzJjKHlXDDDZuarHuhymGAt4V2/s200/Lcdthisishappening.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>3. "One Touch" by LCD Soundsystem, from the album, <i>This is Happening </i></b>- James Murphy has never been one to shy away from long-ass tracks, but even an 8-minute dance song seems like he may be pushing it a bit. On paper, at least, because "One Touch" is not only one of the catchiest songs of 2010, but one of the most consistently captivating ones as well. Between the unparalleled production and the artist's engaging wordplay, there's so much to love about this song and almost nothing to hate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS2CH42hPYsIab3EBI9u_23TOOyNA_llH2bumtXGOmwpabpAYguHyqhJzBnTbtNAmB13xfbUZpNBpBO7ecN010EvBej69WbwFbtc2ANLPyIm7PrsaJgU1-C30CzxmtWD3B9aO/s1600/MGMT_Congratulations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimS2CH42hPYsIab3EBI9u_23TOOyNA_llH2bumtXGOmwpabpAYguHyqhJzBnTbtNAmB13xfbUZpNBpBO7ecN010EvBej69WbwFbtc2ANLPyIm7PrsaJgU1-C30CzxmtWD3B9aO/s200/MGMT_Congratulations.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>2. "Flash Delirium" by MGMT, from the album, <i>Congratulations</i></b> - When I reviewed <i>Congratulations</i> a few months ago, I was quick to point out that it's a very difficult album to get into. After a few weeks of letting it digest, I handed it a 7/10 rating and went on my merry way, not realizing that the album wasn't yet finished with me. Since then, Congratulations has become a frontrunner for "Album of the Year" and "Flash Delirium" plays a large role in that. According to my iTunes, I've logged over 45 listens to this song in the last 3 months alone and I'm still not tired of it! If you haven't heard it at least 5 times, you're missing out There are always new things to discover.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mggHWg23IU3ik4oFTi_sC7IqH7xQSRaC2DV3VvtUHUuB9Rj44h35SKp47K9ffY1rtgSnHFxBjpxjrv-EH_Zem3QJWSktmI38gj-vb-6UScAMSv6IyQqdBiEj9LKyWOLMqvWc/s1600/beach+house+-+Teendream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mggHWg23IU3ik4oFTi_sC7IqH7xQSRaC2DV3VvtUHUuB9Rj44h35SKp47K9ffY1rtgSnHFxBjpxjrv-EH_Zem3QJWSktmI38gj-vb-6UScAMSv6IyQqdBiEj9LKyWOLMqvWc/s200/beach+house+-+Teendream.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>1. "Zebra" by Beach House, from the album, <i>Teen Dream</i></b> - I first listened to <i>Teen Dream</i> at the beginning of the year when it released. It wasn't until several months later when I would cross paths with it again. During that second run through, this song stuck out and it hasn't left me yet. Every other song on this list is an upbeat, fun track. That really speaks a lot to what I've been into this year. The fact that "Zebra" - a methodical, passionate, ballad by any standard - takes top honors here is a testament to its brilliance. It is one of the most beautifully simple songs I've ever heard, and I'm in love with it. You should be too.<br />
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<br />
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<br />
Rooney's strength has always been their ability as a band to blend modern rock sounds with the older, more established sounds of the 60s and 70s. They continue this trend on <i>Eureka</i>, and yet there's something missing here. That thing is 'heart.' I'd be lying if I said that Rooney's music never seemed a bit plastic, but here they seem to just be going through the motions. The catchy, pop-rock is still there, but Robert Schwartzman's once-infectious, passionate vocal exclamations are long gone; replaced with vocals that sound good, sure, but far from notable. Even his lyrical talent seems to be waning.<br />
<br />
"Stars and Stripes" is the song on <i>Eureka</i> that best captures this criticism. On the surface, it's a poppy song with tight instrumentation and decent vocals. But Shwartzman's lyrics come off as a poor-man's version of "Lean on Me." He sings, "It's gonna take the world to change. It's time to start helping each other. There's nobody left to take the blame. We're all gonna have to take it together." Yeah, yeah, we get it; but sing it with some conviction, and maybe we'll latch on to that idea. Even the harmonies on this song are completely uninspiring! "Not in My House" is a pretty poor effort as well, sounding somewhere in between "War Pigs," "Icky Thump" and Fountains of Wayne. Actually, the Fountains of Wayne comparison might not be so far off album-wise; which, by the way, is bad.<br />
<br />
Ok, so I'm clearly not the biggest fan of <i>Eureka</i>, but my critique is not without a few concessions. For starters, it's good to hear modern rock that doesn't pander to the bottom feeders of society. Even when they come off as a less-authentic version of themselves, Rooney can be a lot of fun to listen to, or to put on at the start of a long drive. Songs like "Don't Look at Me" or "I Can't Get Enough" seem to capture some of the magic that the band has seemingly lost over the years, which is both refreshing and encouraging. But these are bright spots on an otherwise un-notable album. While the band still has the talent and sound to be occasionally entertaining, they've created a lackluster record that doesn't really give me a reason to play <i>it</i> over any of their older stuff. Speaking of which, it's pretty hot outside. I may want to go throw some on!<br />
<br />
<b><i>Key Tracks:</i></b><br />
1. "I Can't Get Enough"<br />
2. "Only Friend"<br />
3. "Into the Blue"<br />
4. "Don't Look at Me"<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>5 out of 10 Stars</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-49163888092008950242010-06-07T08:47:00.002-05:002010-06-07T15:56:18.395-05:00Free Press Summerfest 2010 (Day Two)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_m6iZqfbVIH3E915J6IVkL9BSVGoMJ31HjzXN1CAZDteJEHaidOKbLs9Tom-WJBVfHsHH4wizkHgxu0gqXt5M_sAf1U8o1g9Bf8qeXXaaS8LPFOR_FIrsiVSfbdmbgtEG4Rq/s1600/P1020758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_m6iZqfbVIH3E915J6IVkL9BSVGoMJ31HjzXN1CAZDteJEHaidOKbLs9Tom-WJBVfHsHH4wizkHgxu0gqXt5M_sAf1U8o1g9Bf8qeXXaaS8LPFOR_FIrsiVSfbdmbgtEG4Rq/s400/P1020758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kuSo8ScIdVklIw6vjKrBnKEATDt6IGnA4-6I45swv-mMvXjX6NZx-hoIPFrl0C1xBqduB8XelMZ_UPi_rp-EKd7-s3gPPkt-6PNku0V9KsgEeBxZ-E455Nlu1wkE8eivn06R/s1600/P1020718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kuSo8ScIdVklIw6vjKrBnKEATDt6IGnA4-6I45swv-mMvXjX6NZx-hoIPFrl0C1xBqduB8XelMZ_UPi_rp-EKd7-s3gPPkt-6PNku0V9KsgEeBxZ-E455Nlu1wkE8eivn06R/s200/P1020718.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDwmh7STGuXbR-49wGBeFOBuQ-gPUqDHobKsQU0xaNJYP26hDrnNUuyT_taALaPZL0ngh_4oCJmHSGL4DDhaTgoRH_4_oupG6pw9Rl1cRAAP2BdbO0VN_5Uhb7vw8FjgRwi6R/s1600/P1020708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDwmh7STGuXbR-49wGBeFOBuQ-gPUqDHobKsQU0xaNJYP26hDrnNUuyT_taALaPZL0ngh_4oCJmHSGL4DDhaTgoRH_4_oupG6pw9Rl1cRAAP2BdbO0VN_5Uhb7vw8FjgRwi6R/s200/P1020708.JPG" width="200" /></a>We arrived in downtown Houston during one of the worst rainstorms I've seen in the last several months. About half a mile down the road was the entrance to the festival; in between, several thousand gallons of water falling from the sky. Thank god for that plastic tablecloth that we just so happened to find in the trunk of the car. It was not only a makeshift group umbrella, but a cape, and later, a place to sit on the muddy, slick hill facing the stage in Eleanor Tinsley Park. Today was going to be an awesome day whether the weather wanted it to be or not. My only goal was to get a quality seat at the main stage and enjoy myself. And I did.<br />
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<strong><em>Stars</em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stars has been on my live band bucket list for years now, and the opportunity to see them live was just as awesome as I had always hoped! I had read a few months back that this tour would be filled with mostly new songs, and a few old ones thrown in. Fortunately, Stars reached deep into their catalogue of pop hits and played their best for the crowd! "Reunion," "Elevator Love Song," "Your Ex-Lover is Dead," "Midnight Coward;" pretty much every song that any Stars fan has ever loved was played. And guess what? They all sound amazing! Perfect, in fact!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcSXJ328xl15vmRbH_bG21J0MO9vRWj9NEvTH5CbzUC0VbP3vpYofPBeXipLGuQ7rHyIT0n_0F7eq3s5lnpfqAsRlBB2-UFHiI1umBJ-gOnru0ZV0Shl2ZI3wJakDF7oDWHR3/s1600/P1020725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcSXJ328xl15vmRbH_bG21J0MO9vRWj9NEvTH5CbzUC0VbP3vpYofPBeXipLGuQ7rHyIT0n_0F7eq3s5lnpfqAsRlBB2-UFHiI1umBJ-gOnru0ZV0Shl2ZI3wJakDF7oDWHR3/s400/P1020725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Stars put on a show that was better than I could have anticipated, and from what I could tell, everyone seemed to enjoy them as well. Their album is due out soon, so check it out when it drops. The new songs don't sound half bad.<br />
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<strong><em>Slim Thug & Bun B</em></strong><br />
Alright, so it sort of goes without saying that I'm not the biggest fan of rap music. But having grown up in Houston, I do have a soft spot for the kind of rap that these guys put out. And I'll be damned, Slim Thug actually has quite the stage presence, and is kind of fun to watch live! Seeing a sea of people bounce their heads and do that one-arm, in-tempo thing (kind of like a nazi-salute bouncing up and down), is a cool sight to behold. On the other hand though, if all you need to do to perform live as a rapper is play your entire song (WITH vocal tracks) and then rap over it, sign me up!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlsOrIiU5ZyDwXuwBeTGib65_JsehkZ4Dq3s6DCnCtDs9FyO0g_wG1mmT0oV4_XczCxJNbfikxzX_g4uuFxJs-LasiZqb54T4HLBG4u1fJhqIEjKgPhID4_0nGLkSEeagyoFz/s1600/P1020743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlsOrIiU5ZyDwXuwBeTGib65_JsehkZ4Dq3s6DCnCtDs9FyO0g_wG1mmT0oV4_XczCxJNbfikxzX_g4uuFxJs-LasiZqb54T4HLBG4u1fJhqIEjKgPhID4_0nGLkSEeagyoFz/s400/P1020743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<strong><em>The Flaming Lips</em></strong><br />
No surprise here, but The Flaming Lips are straight AWESOME live! I've said it numerous times on this blog before, but for those who may be reading for the first time, I'll reiterate: they put on the best live show you'll ever see! Seeing the Lips live is like being at a really huge party hosted by the nicest guys on the planet! This is the third time I've had the good fortune of seeing the band perform live, but it was the first time that I've seen them from a distance (read: not at the front of the venue being blasted with noise).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZU-wdFtsvDe87yz3xqhyy3NTSL3UoEDtGgufQMAJeevV4MhgiT4HMrmEzvgO91RJ2YLNB8_mb6DZRjpzXyfesrE5ECDOkkH8dMOGA_aixsHZEviMPMG7aiO5YL0TDtrVstOD/s1600/P1020770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZU-wdFtsvDe87yz3xqhyy3NTSL3UoEDtGgufQMAJeevV4MhgiT4HMrmEzvgO91RJ2YLNB8_mb6DZRjpzXyfesrE5ECDOkkH8dMOGA_aixsHZEviMPMG7aiO5YL0TDtrVstOD/s400/P1020770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It may have been my favorite performance that I've yet seen from them! They sounded absolutely stunning, and even Wayne Coyne's typically grating voice wasn't all that bad! It's been 10 years since the band last played Houston. Welcome back guys!<br />
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<strong><em>Final Thoughts</em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZFMo2f0Dc2C9C84C_hZdiUtt8HvATofCYSL_9FxoncLS7YaqelGWQqGcB69wqQE0iY2t2dTFoBUvDNo3HcwOoPSHHzsJP7hkKmisOH-99DSiqzez-oQsZCqTTTeT-WeLjQob/s1600/P1020759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZFMo2f0Dc2C9C84C_hZdiUtt8HvATofCYSL_9FxoncLS7YaqelGWQqGcB69wqQE0iY2t2dTFoBUvDNo3HcwOoPSHHzsJP7hkKmisOH-99DSiqzez-oQsZCqTTTeT-WeLjQob/s200/P1020759.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENuW0pgYYEdk__chjfHdSSctrAYMdtmRq48aX3lEqqkQebWydc_6-1WafIevNzzHMH0JFvfptR1sBRcx1tmL5kgVfFn0SY-H7Ro0LtFOAXWpDexLNcRFvmJnXM-iLNMzHn5S5/s1600/P1020739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENuW0pgYYEdk__chjfHdSSctrAYMdtmRq48aX3lEqqkQebWydc_6-1WafIevNzzHMH0JFvfptR1sBRcx1tmL5kgVfFn0SY-H7Ro0LtFOAXWpDexLNcRFvmJnXM-iLNMzHn5S5/s200/P1020739.JPG" width="200" /></a>Listen, Houston isn't exactly known for its music scene, so Free Press Houston has had its hands full the last two years trying to remedy that situation. If this year's lineup is indicative of a coming trend, I welcome it with open arms. Last year's lineup wasn't half bad, and this year's was better. Hopefully the hardworking people that made this festival happen can make it even more solid next year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4xiYcRGerEgfJVHYZ3jfD9xkvO5t8GAnjhnLOXMVaL50CryML_yEiPqOMARsHc-d36Q72jEKIoGQ3AcLudC2Qa8CPcEsXjFuYWMVXwijTSn0M0qkkPrFr2YAr2h_68w-d8KP/s1600/P1020762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4xiYcRGerEgfJVHYZ3jfD9xkvO5t8GAnjhnLOXMVaL50CryML_yEiPqOMARsHc-d36Q72jEKIoGQ3AcLudC2Qa8CPcEsXjFuYWMVXwijTSn0M0qkkPrFr2YAr2h_68w-d8KP/s200/P1020762.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>So yeah, the music lineup wasn't all awesome, but the actual experience of Summerfest is great! The people are absolutely wonderful (rain or shine or mud), the volunteer staff were helpful in all situations, and portapotties were widely available and, more often than not, clean. My only concern is that the festival is quickly outgrowing the confines of Eleanor Tinsley Park and the rest of Houston may not be as receptive to such a wild, weekend party. But this weekend was an absolute blast, and I'd like to personally thank the hundreds of people that made everything run so smoothly for all of us in attendance.<br />
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See ya' next year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCUwjmhREVLWphAbww6sGAAGfi6Sadutes4LwNFX0ILSH5ijWN3ndpg1YS3Sk9e9YzUofpJ34VYjrm2wIu8Fsl2eTen8lVX0rzMFBtf14lipLvTwndJnLzhw7rMheBvGn0t2c/s1600/P1020771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCUwjmhREVLWphAbww6sGAAGfi6Sadutes4LwNFX0ILSH5ijWN3ndpg1YS3Sk9e9YzUofpJ34VYjrm2wIu8Fsl2eTen8lVX0rzMFBtf14lipLvTwndJnLzhw7rMheBvGn0t2c/s400/P1020771.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-36693012648686788762010-06-05T22:58:00.000-05:002010-06-05T22:58:21.257-05:00Free Press Summerfest 2010 (Day One)So when you live in Houston, the live music scene pretty much consists of DJ sets, awful rap, and god awful metal bands. Today's lineup at Summerfest had all of this, and more. Not all of it was awful. Some of it was. <br />
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<b><i>Perseph One</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcIbz7hyhfaqPUfodFW689ZwBYJL_j6ku3TtNZu5uxvvbc5jzEP8OWrMNndvHif-9qoKbortEf-aLIyFoWN47BCn7vpfk50UCx_3AvUeDMe_4XUuX2wt70L-8If_BpHXUTTit/s1600/persephone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcIbz7hyhfaqPUfodFW689ZwBYJL_j6ku3TtNZu5uxvvbc5jzEP8OWrMNndvHif-9qoKbortEf-aLIyFoWN47BCn7vpfk50UCx_3AvUeDMe_4XUuX2wt70L-8If_BpHXUTTit/s320/persephone.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>We arrived at Eleanor Tinsley Park just before 5pm, so we missed a lot of the earlier bands that went on (sorry, The Eastern Sea...next year?). I headed over to the 29-95.com stage and caught the majority of Perseph One's set. Perseph One (like Persephone...get it?) is like a female Zach de la Rocha, but instead of rapping about social injustice, most of the lyrics I got were about girls in pumps and "dick ladders." It wasn't half bad really, and you can listen to some of the stuff on her <a href="http://www.myspace.com/perseph1">myspace page</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Sugar and Gold</i></b><br />
So after that, we headed all the way across the grounds to the Dos Equis stage and checked out Sugar and Gold, a pop band from California. Now I won't just come out and admit to loving this band, but they did have some admirable qualities. Their songs were all pretty danceable, and some of the synth and guitar work was catchy as hell. Lyrically, it was a little brain dead, but that helped with the vibe they were trying to give off. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F9bU6H9CR2zSrTD_1e6PJtOse5yoFO9LVBW4Pt_049qoOa3E2XANjLxijeCb-zPigdHUrOgYkzU0ag8TVDJUyKdxc4X2Qmx1mFdFt-nhyphenhyphenEo_hXhP5EkLcKT3duBA_bhtq2aO/s1600/P1020696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F9bU6H9CR2zSrTD_1e6PJtOse5yoFO9LVBW4Pt_049qoOa3E2XANjLxijeCb-zPigdHUrOgYkzU0ag8TVDJUyKdxc4X2Qmx1mFdFt-nhyphenhyphenEo_hXhP5EkLcKT3duBA_bhtq2aO/s400/P1020696.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I make music on the side, and while what I make doesn't sound exactly like this, it's definitely along the same lines. So I got some good ideas from the band, and I look forward to hearing more from them in the future. As long as they don't go all 3OH!3 on us, we should be fine. You can purchase their latest, <i>Get Wet!</i> from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Wet/dp/B003ACJ2E0?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003ACJ2E0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<b><i>Ra Ra Riot</i></b><br />
Ahh...finally a band I've heard of. I feel bad for Ra Ra Riot, because although they were one of the biggest bands on today's lineup, they went on 3 hours before the headliner and were only allowed a 30 minute set. Seems kind of a waste to come all the way out for that. But the band soldiered on (despite some initial sound issues) and played an awesome set. Sadly, an emergency situation in my group forced me to miss a lot, but I was able to hear the band play "Can You Tell," which I know better as "Can You Discover?" from Discovery's <i>LP</i>. That was a nice touch that I really enjoyed. The band was the best act that I saw today. Easily.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgLBamIMMmrvEYon2YwCrwnO1fJIhxIp2iR1hHxs24tBDUf3tCtt5W2OvKqymjWxvRHIsa1r9WUHW1cPKd1ljIZs8gNHr5oltI1vDrD4DDBo5q2pxNdow-ijt83vqi7LvGeHL/s1600/P1020702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgLBamIMMmrvEYon2YwCrwnO1fJIhxIp2iR1hHxs24tBDUf3tCtt5W2OvKqymjWxvRHIsa1r9WUHW1cPKd1ljIZs8gNHr5oltI1vDrD4DDBo5q2pxNdow-ijt83vqi7LvGeHL/s400/P1020702.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ra Ra Riot has a new album coming out in August apparently, so be on the look out for that one. I'm totally psyched for it now.<br />
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<b><i>Kid Sister</i></b><br />
Shit....just absolute bullshit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10OGOOxUyoke_y7rReWFyP9EHkQyHIgjOz6cQwpe-GiDvOyi2rUREnUvJMsILsX8CeeP01MvIoONDU0EpEqGAwqlbXd8db4iNvVz_HKyzJ1WnaXALuwaLdmyfu3nwSmMe5iN-/s1600/kid-sister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10OGOOxUyoke_y7rReWFyP9EHkQyHIgjOz6cQwpe-GiDvOyi2rUREnUvJMsILsX8CeeP01MvIoONDU0EpEqGAwqlbXd8db4iNvVz_HKyzJ1WnaXALuwaLdmyfu3nwSmMe5iN-/s320/kid-sister.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
<b><i>Detroit Cobras</i></b><br />
I had heard some good buzz about this band prior to the show, so I was excited to see what they were all about. Unfortunately Detroit Cobras are a really bad cover band, or at least they sound like one (I think they ARE an actual cover band though. How did they get this booking?<br />
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<b><i>Girl Talk</i></b><br />
Girl Talk was headlining the festival today, and even though I'm not really a big fan of the "music," I was excited to see what their show would be like. Watching a bunch of people fill the stage and have a dance party, separate from the giant dance party in the crowd was a cool thing to experience for all of 15 minutes. I left early because sometimes I enjoy <i>original</i> music. Note to Houston Free Press.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVMOl_xogP1xlK51VvR7EA4ViEBEoOBq7-1D7R7imlkzIwkaZWXMC6SyYDSUy0noaiiDmBDmcf-9XgydgQqqmd-cjm7CJNd9O5-pisZ48xGrZJJQvtVIDKM3NXDWmTF3Ba8fK/s1600/up-girl_talk_1_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVMOl_xogP1xlK51VvR7EA4ViEBEoOBq7-1D7R7imlkzIwkaZWXMC6SyYDSUy0noaiiDmBDmcf-9XgydgQqqmd-cjm7CJNd9O5-pisZ48xGrZJJQvtVIDKM3NXDWmTF3Ba8fK/s400/up-girl_talk_1_lg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-61851127095803940772010-05-30T16:35:00.000-05:002010-05-30T16:35:15.958-05:00Review: Uffie: "Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGULSKSacX5jBIkBIt0bFp6wnonLwZ2rrmA2pGpQwTiYHWLxpFysu3EBCXX8u3RaM7LobBsbEr7q5BXYxMw_ZHqUIC3LX3zDW4bGx9i9Ec_D7rQ8vWIHMrpsNbdHyJ0KBfDAq/s1600/600px-Uffie-SexDreamsDenimJeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGULSKSacX5jBIkBIt0bFp6wnonLwZ2rrmA2pGpQwTiYHWLxpFysu3EBCXX8u3RaM7LobBsbEr7q5BXYxMw_ZHqUIC3LX3zDW4bGx9i9Ec_D7rQ8vWIHMrpsNbdHyJ0KBfDAq/s200/600px-Uffie-SexDreamsDenimJeans.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Like most Americans, I would imagine, my first run-in with Uffie was on Justice's 2007 song, "The Party," for which she supplied all of the vocals. In <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2007/06/justice.html">my review</a> of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Justice/dp/B000QCUB8I?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">✝</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000QCUB8I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />,</i> I called the song "the one low point on an otherwise flawless album." And then I forgot about Uffie. Fast-forward to 2009 when I hear <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Ke-ha/dp/B002XNEII2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ke$ha</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002XNEII2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />'s "TiK ToK" and initially mistake it for Uffie. My interest was piqued and as I started listening to Uffie's small catalog of songs, something strange happened: I actually started to like some of it. So what we have here is one of my most bizarrely anticipated albums of 2010, and one that has been delayed for years and years. (Hell, "Pop the Glock" was originally released in 2006!) The result of all that waiting is <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Dreams-Denim-Jeans-Uffie/dp/B003IMERO2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003IMERO2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, an album that is certainly a letdown, but is not without its fair share of hits.<br />
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The aforementioned "Pop the Glock" starts the album on a high note. Featuring genuinely unique production from Feadz, the song remains just as fresh as it was 4 years ago when it first appeared. It's still one of the best songs on the album and is only topped by "ADD SUV." The Mirwais produced song is a straight-up, mainstream club banger that not only has the best production on the album, but the catchiest hook as well. Pharrell Williams (of The Neptunes and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Search-N-E-R-D/dp/B000078JM3?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">N.E.R.D.</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000078JM3" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />) adds his vocals to the song to great effect. His rap verse is one of the coolest aspects of the song and his voice fits surprisingly well with Uffie's auto-tuned half-rapping. <br />
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"MCs Can Kiss," S<i>ex Dream'</i>s first single (released back in January) stands out on the album due in large part to Mr. Oizo's old-school rap influenced beat. Uffie's vocals don't hurt either though, and as it stands, her flow on this song s the most technically-impressive thing she's ever done. The fact that she can spit out lines this quickly is a surprise because I'm so used to hearing her rap much slower (and much clumsier). "Difficult" continues this trend with another impressive performance by Uffie and yet more fantastic production. Uffie's declaration of "Don't worry if I write rhymes...I write checks" seems like a defiant finger to the haters, saying "I may not be the best lyricist, but I'm making money." It's an attitude that is echoed throughout the album, constantly acknowledging her (wildly apparent) flaws as an artist, and reinforcing the fact that she is - above all else - an entertainer.<br />
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However, a listener's ability to appreciate Uffie as an entertainer is going to depend heavily on their willingness to overlook her notable lack of musical talent. She cannot sing (she almost breaks auto-tune on "First Love"), she is often incapable of rapping fluidly, her lyrics are just garbage, and all of her best songs are often great despite her presence, not because of it. <i> Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans</i>' greatest asset may not be Uffie at all, but the producers who have provided their skills here (which is not completely surprising for an Ed Banger album). On songs where the production isn't as solid, Uffie flounders. Take "Art of Uff," for example, which is just a showcase of Uffie's mediocre rapping skills and elementary lyricism. With a beat this minimal, the focus is placed squarely on the artist, and she fails. Miserably. When she tries singing on "Give it Away" or "Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans" the result is just as disastrous; possibly worse. <br />
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Unfortunately,<i> Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans</i> is just as mediocre as the artist that appears on the cover. Despite truly awesome and groundbreaking songs like "Pop the Glock" or "Illusion of Love," it is hampered by others that go nowhere, say nothing, and entertain no one. The album's pacing and momentum also suffer from its hit and miss nature, and a great song is almost guaranteed to be followed by a bad one. Does Uffie succeed at being entertaining? Sure. In fact, I'd put some of these songs against anything that plays on mainstream American radio! But overall, <i>Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans</i> leaves a lot to be desired. Great production can only cover so many flaws, and Uffie's flaws burden an otherwise decent album. Seriously, when you make Pharrell Williams sound like a talented rapper, something is wrong. <br />
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<b><i>Key Tracks:</i></b><br />
1. "Pop the Glock"<br />
2. "ADD SUV" (feat. Pharrell Williams)<br />
3. "MCs Can Kiss"<br />
4. "Difficult"<br />
5. "Illusion of Love" (feat. Mattie Safer)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Dreams-Denim-Jeans-Uffie/dp/B003IMERO2?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">5 out of 10 Stars</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003IMERO2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-88375529728571517432010-05-18T10:08:00.000-05:002010-05-18T10:08:46.311-05:00The More Things Change, the More They Continue to ChangeOh readers, where do I start?<br />
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Back in December of last year, I wrote about the <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2009/12/2010-state-of-blog.html">state of Audio Overflow</a>, and laid out pretty basic plans about what I wanted to accomplish in 2010. To sum it up: more reviews, more news, more features, and Twitter integration. Can we all agree upon the severe disappointment that has since followed.<br />
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At that point, 2010 was looking like a pretty laid-back year in my work and personal life. Since early January, however, life has thrown an innumerable amount of curveballs at me, making my life much more hectic than anticipated at the time of that writing. Despite my honest desire to write on a more frequent (hell, a weekly) basis, the times in which I can sit down in front of a computer for a few hours and crank out a review are becoming fewer and fewer each day.<br />
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What happened to that whole <a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2010/02/indie-gold-introduction.html">Indie Gold</a> thing I was hyping back in February? Well it's still in the back of my head, waiting to be written. I've been listening to Arcade Fire specifically for that series for several months, but I just haven't found time to devote to it.<br />
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And while I have already written more reviews in 2010 than in all of 2009, there were plenty of albums that I wanted to get to but haven't had the chance (Vampire Weekend, Crystal Castles, LCD Soundsystem, Tallest Man on Earth, Band of Horses, etc.). Maybe I can fart out a Mini-Review, but oftentimes once I start writing one of those, it turns into a full on review (see Ellie Goulding or The New Pornographers). I will say with full confidence that writing fewer reviews has made me a better writer, with more time to devote to the work itself (<a href="http://audiooverflow.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-new-pornographers-together.html">The New Pornographers review</a> is one of the best I've ever written, I think).<br />
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My point in this post is to reassure the readers that, yes, I do still care about Audio Overflow and intend to get things going soon. <br />
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To all the artists who have sent me music over the last few months: thank you. I am listening to it, and if I believe in your art, I will write about it. <br />
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This post took me 5 minutes to write. Gotta go.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-66998694756077438052010-05-06T15:24:00.000-05:002010-05-06T15:24:51.729-05:00Review: The New Pornographers: "Together"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8RFYLLUqFKq0A2gE77F5d1Jss4ENpl7aFSlvq8GIp2DroH787ZIAGVI2vm0fIVVh1rIv-PuaUa0ONVvxehCHh_r-PC59OIg3TyDCSiU07nx34BpIbK3jA5XAPcf7_AdUey_z/s1600/new+pornographers+-+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8RFYLLUqFKq0A2gE77F5d1Jss4ENpl7aFSlvq8GIp2DroH787ZIAGVI2vm0fIVVh1rIv-PuaUa0ONVvxehCHh_r-PC59OIg3TyDCSiU07nx34BpIbK3jA5XAPcf7_AdUey_z/s200/new+pornographers+-+together.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Despite the fact that 2007's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Challengers-New-Pornographers/dp/B000S9KSC8?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Challengers</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000S9KSC8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> wound up becoming a better album as time went on, most people still viewed it as a disappointment in comparison to the near-flawless <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Twin-Cinema-New-Pornographers/dp/B000A2H880?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Twin Cinema</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000A2H880" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. Those same people should be pleased then with the latest from A.C. Newman's group of power-poppers, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Together-New-Pornographers/dp/B0039ZEM0W?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Together</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0039ZEM0W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>. Eschewing <i>Challenger's</i> eccentricities for the more mainstream and catchy aspects of <i>Twin Cinema</i>, <i>Together</i> is more of a return to form than a reinvention. Songs like "Crash Years" and "Your Hands (Together)" come crashing down on the listener like a giant reminder of what made The New Pornographers such an endearing act to begin with. They parallel classics like "Sing Me Spanish Techno" or "Electric Version" flawlessly, and inspire such a <span>visceral joy that repeat listens are almost guaranteed.</span><br />
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Neko Case regains a little bit of the spotlight that she lost on <i>Challengers</i>, and the result is nothing short of amazing. Her performance on "My Shephard" rivals some of her best solo work, and her vocals on "Up In the Dark" play flawlessly with Newman's, easily creating one of the best songs that the group has ever put together. Dan Bejar's songs are just as amazing. "Silver Jenny Dollar" may lack some of the lyrical charm of "Myriad Harbour," but the rest of the band makes up for that small misstep with flawless performances that keep the song interesting. "Daughter of Sorrow" is even better, but there's hardly any disguising that this is a Destroyer song dressed up in New Pornographers clothing. It has got all the grandeur of Bejar's greatest songs (think "European Oils" from <i>Destroyer's Rubies</i>), but completely overpowers his solo work with the help of his bandmates. I love it!<br />
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<i>Together</i> isn't all pomp and fanfare, however. Newman takes a few opportunities to slow things down and get emotional. "Valkyrie in the Roller Disco" is easily the most gorgeous song to release in 2010 thus far. Its subdued beauty is unparalleled by any other song the band has ever recorded (yes, even "Challengers"). When Neko and Newman sing, "Valkyrie don't go home/ It's not right/ Not right/ Leave with the lights up," it hits you in the gut and forces an emotional response. The drums and guitars are relegated to simple background duties, but Kurt Dahle absolutely nails the percussion here! When it comes in, it's just enough to heighten the song to another level. Amazing stuff, really.<br />
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A friend of mine commented on Facebook that <i>Together</i> is the best album the band has made since <i>Twin Cinema</i>. That's just a fancy way of saying that it's better than <i>Challengers</i>. Still, I'm compelled to agree with him on this one. <i>Together</i> is the New Pornographers album that all of us wanted after <i>Twin Cinema</i>. It is far more focused than its predecessor, presenting the listener with songs that aren't going to push any boundaries but still manage to excite. Some may be turned off by the band's insistence on sticking with the tried and true formula that has brought them such success, especially after <i>Challengers'</i> seemed to signal a slight change of direction. For what it's worth though, <i>Together</i> is a flat-out awesome album that rivals some of The New Pornographers' greatest work. Hearing it is like having an old friend write to tell you they're coming to visit. You're not entirely surprised by their arrival when they show up, but it's still nice to see them. <br />
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<b><i>Key Tracks:</i></b><br />
1. "Crash Years"<br />
2. "Your Hands (Together)"<br />
3. "My Shephard"<br />
4. "Up in the Dark"<br />
5. "Valkyrie in the Roller Disco"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>9 out of 10 Stars</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-33745547971963831502010-05-01T11:45:00.000-05:002010-05-01T11:45:31.943-05:00Introducing: Bigbang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF64ip0sVFHS-jaX_cY1QoDFGNt4ZBmZLO-9KnWS7hXvNWyzvNlbDvgKOdmcPM77PeK18AL1Z2SwrPNmfDL4nIW8cgmP3oXXPsf-0-tkA0_FDTPdqkOxzXNPviKWRAxd_wJDFl/s1600/bigbang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF64ip0sVFHS-jaX_cY1QoDFGNt4ZBmZLO-9KnWS7hXvNWyzvNlbDvgKOdmcPM77PeK18AL1Z2SwrPNmfDL4nIW8cgmP3oXXPsf-0-tkA0_FDTPdqkOxzXNPviKWRAxd_wJDFl/s320/bigbang.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>Oh, indie music is all well and good for the most part, but it can sometimes be lacking in that old-school rock and roll sound that preceded it. That's not necessarily a terrible thing, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to hear a little bit of the old stuff to understand where the new stuff came from. Los Angeles via Norway's Bigbang (not to be confused with the similarly-named Korean boy band, "Big Bang") is looking to fill that void in your music life with a style that pays tribute to bands like The Rolling Stones and REM yet still remains distinctively modern. <br />
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Over the last few weeks, I've been listening to their latest album <em><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Edendale-Bigbang/dp/B00307Q8TW?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Edendale</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00307Q8TW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></em>, and I'm amazed by how the band is able to draw from such a diverse pool of influences and yet keep the album from sounding like a patchwork tribute album. The band has a talent that's hard to deny, even if their music can sound slightly uninspired from time to time. But it's this talent that keeps the album from getting stale, even when their sound is pulled largely from other tried and true genres.<br />
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If that sounds like something that may interest you, Bigbang may be a band to keep on your radar (Check out the song "Bag of Leaves" - It's my personal favorite). The band is currently touring Europe in support of <em></em><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Edendale-Bigbang/dp/B00307Q8TW?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Edendale </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00307Q8TW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>which is out right now in the U.S. <br />
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More info at the band's <a href="http://www.myspace.com/smallbang">MySpace page.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-77855613711603955372010-04-20T10:09:00.000-05:002010-04-20T10:09:26.773-05:00Review: The Apples in Stereo: "Travellers in Space and Time"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpgXRAdItw_2bDDkcr7Tvr6v9juTO48OSMqRishwB4j_LxbRAptsak0oM1QUO47z_Fb3S6uLE_T64hrIeRaYfhFeG-R87RLXz5s4x6JxM_j8kSZscMLR78xjewWtif6Dy7KrR/s1600/Travellers_in_Space_and_Time_cover_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpgXRAdItw_2bDDkcr7Tvr6v9juTO48OSMqRishwB4j_LxbRAptsak0oM1QUO47z_Fb3S6uLE_T64hrIeRaYfhFeG-R87RLXz5s4x6JxM_j8kSZscMLR78xjewWtif6Dy7KrR/s200/Travellers_in_Space_and_Time_cover_art.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div>There are few bands in the indie world that garner as much name recognition and instant-respect as The Apples in Stereo. The band has been bringing their unique brand of pop music to fans for nearly two decades at this point; changing their sound throughout the process and therefore ensuring that they’ve created something for everybody. On <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Travellers-Space-Time-Apples-Stereo/dp/B003A3K3C4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><em>Travellers in Space and Time</em></a><em><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003A3K3C4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></em></span>, their seventh full-length album, the band offers up one of their most solid collection in years – and they do so by taking some fairly bold steps. <br />
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The most notable influence on <em>Travellers</em> has to be 70s-era disco music, which shows up on songs like “Hey Elevator,” “No One in the World” or “Dance Floor.” The former is a dance-along, sing-along pop masterpiece in and of itself, and the album’s greatest asset. Of course, The Apples are no strangers to singable pop songs, but it’s rare that one has been this instantly-enjoyable and able to hold its own after several repeat listens. “Dance Floor,” doesn’t have as strong of a melody, but it too pulls off the band’s new dance sound flawlessly. It’s the safe bet for the first single, for sure, but it’s certainly worthy of such a title.<br />
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One of the band’s best attributes is that they have always been able to mix pop and rock in such a manner that it hearkens back to some of the best music of the past. Whether its 60s rock or disco, The Apples are masters at blending those sounds with more modern twists; like a vocoder or synthesizer. “Dignified Dignitary” is a great example of this, with its heavy guitars and drums, but equally powerful melody. The band has drawn Beatles comparisons in the past, but their effect on Robert Schneider’s songwriting has rarely been so clear as it is here, or on “It’s All Right.” <br />
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And like The Beatles, the hooks just keep on coming. <em>Travellers in Space and Time</em> is one of the catchiest albums I’ve heard in months, not to mention one of the best! Aside from your typical Apples in Stereo fodder like a vocoder-only song (“Strange Solar System”) or tracks that aren’t music but just samples of something else (“The Code” or “Time Pilot”), <em>Travellers</em> is a surprisingly solid album and easily one of the band’s best! “C.P.U.” is mostly-awful due to its insistence on trying to make dissonance catchy, but every other song on here is great! As a pop album, one can rest assured that a few of these songs will lose their appeal after a certain amount of listens. The surprising thing about <em>Travellers in Space and Time</em> isn’t this fact, but rather the amount of quality songs that will no doubt go further. Any Apples fan has got to check this one out. I highly recommend it.<br />
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<div align="left"><strong><em>Key Tracks:</em></strong></div><div align="left">1. "Dream About the Future"</div><div align="left">2. "Hey Elevator"</div><div align="left">3. "Dignified Dignitary"</div><div align="left">4. "No Vacation"</div><div align="left">5. "Nobody But You"</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>8 out of 10 Stars</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-79558410418624220392010-04-12T15:51:00.002-05:002010-04-12T20:56:38.175-05:00Review: MGMT: "Congratulations"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScdeB2mUbxho5f2VZmMZI-Bl0RatC3IaNZ5TD1ebm8uL3jJh6-ALDWfRklsqA-bbQc_es4h-aCyubfkPA_UvXnx9zL-pUyaSSnorPkNgL_PZPl9sQlCMqwHjhCS5UWG_WcgCp/s1600/MGMT_Congratulations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScdeB2mUbxho5f2VZmMZI-Bl0RatC3IaNZ5TD1ebm8uL3jJh6-ALDWfRklsqA-bbQc_es4h-aCyubfkPA_UvXnx9zL-pUyaSSnorPkNgL_PZPl9sQlCMqwHjhCS5UWG_WcgCp/s200/MGMT_Congratulations.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>MGMT's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oracular-Spectacular-MGMT/dp/B0010VD7EO?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">debut</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0010VD7EO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> album was difficult for me. Pretty much every time that I tried to dig into the weirder sides of it, I was pulled back into the catchy dance-hooks of "Electric Feel" and "Kids." I never really made it past those songs in any significant form. So to hear <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congratulations-MGMT/dp/B0037W68F4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Congratulations</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0037W68F4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, the band's newest album is both a gift an a curse. A gift because, like it or not, there ain't a song on here that's overtly accessible; and a curse because that makes it all the more difficult to get into. Fortunately, if you're able to give it the time it deserves, you'll find a fairly decent and rewarding album that only gets better with time.<br />
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MGMT spend most of their time on <i>Congratulations</i> exploring the murky depths of psychedelia and blending it with pop music of both current and past persuasions. "It's Working" begins resembling old school Of Montreal before colliding head-on with a Beach Boys hook, complete with multi-part harmonies. Throw in some Surfaris, "Wipeout" drums and you've got one hell of a tribute to 60s pop/rock! One thing to take note of here is how often the songs on <i>Congratulations</i> seem to change direction, often ending in a completely different manner than they started and going through multiple alterations in between.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"Congratulations</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> is an album about exploration and experimentation, about embracing sounds that are either long-forgotten or entirely new."</span></div><br />
This is never more apparent than it is in the 12+ minute, "Siberian Breaks." The problem here isn't that the multiple movements in themselves are awful, but rather that they seem to be pieced together for the sake of being difficult. Of Montreal pulled off the multi-movement thing with <i>Skeletal Lamping</i>, but MGMT's attempt here seems forced. That's a real disappointment too because there are ideas in "Breaks" that could have been fleshed out into full (great) songs but are left as mere appetizers. "Song for Dan Treacy" handles the idea of cramming a bunch of concepts into one song much more smoothly.<br />
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My favorite track on <i>Congratulations</i> has to be "Flash Delirium," a song that I would imagine would be absolutely amazing live. Despite the fact that it's got the catchiest, most obvious melody on the album, it's also got a bunch of stuff that I simply wouldn't expect, but love! Whether it's the random shout-along verse, the jazz flute, or the chaotic finale; there is something here that just does it for me. Perhaps it's all of the above. "Brian Eno's" frantic, organ-heavy, Monster Mash-ish sound is equally as infectious. If the band were to release a single from this album (apparently that's not the plan), this seems like the safest choice, as it's a fun, upbeat track that probably has the widest appeal. People still like circus music, right?<br />
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My apologies to MGMT, but I spent my first few minutes with <i>Congratulations</i> skipping through the songs looking for an obvious first single a la "Time to Pretend." Much to the chagrin of, well, everybody I would imagine, that song doesn't exist. <i>Congratulations</i> is an album about exploration and experimentation, about embracing sounds that are either long-forgotten or entirely new. The result of such an endeavor is an album that is certainly mixed, but refreshingly deep. If that album art up there seems a little too weird for you, your time may be better spent elsewhere. As WTF-inducing as that image is, it's entirely appropriate for an album this bizarre. But aside from weirdness, <i>Congratulations</i> offers above average lyricism, complex instrumentation, and deep arrangements that beg to be listened to over and over again. Will I be jamming any of these songs for as long as I've been jamming "Electric Feel?" Not even close. But <i>Congratulations</i> is easily one of 2010's better releases thus far, and should definitely be checked out.<br />
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<b><i>Key Tracks</i></b>:<br />
1. "Song for Dan Treacy"<br />
2. "Flash Delirium"<br />
3. "Brian Eno"<br />
4. "Lady Dada's Nightmare"<br />
5. "Congratulations"<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Congratulations-MGMT/dp/B0037W68F4?ie=UTF8&tag=caleistheballs-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">7 out of 10 Stars</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=caleistheballs-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0037W68F4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9491813.post-17382689352960971292010-03-23T15:37:00.001-05:002010-03-23T15:37:38.091-05:00Review: The Bird and the Bee: "Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWnuPasFzNIzMBWkeVCMkuAy9mmy3C6Y0w6d5a4c08e4KF3fyBBmSBf7DyIYsbqT0EQZLuzDe9tEeu0XxwjMbNGXBmJwm5jn5S65fnD3_h1Ww_f9NzRMdltfVoyq7Eb5nTPhg/s1600-h/300-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWnuPasFzNIzMBWkeVCMkuAy9mmy3C6Y0w6d5a4c08e4KF3fyBBmSBf7DyIYsbqT0EQZLuzDe9tEeu0XxwjMbNGXBmJwm5jn5S65fnD3_h1Ww_f9NzRMdltfVoyq7Eb5nTPhg/s200/300-sm.jpg" width="200" /></a>If, to you, the neo-jazz/pop stylings of The Bird and the Bee seem like an unlikely fit for the music of Hall and Oates, welcome to the club. My first thought when I saw that one of my favorite new groups of the last few years would be covering an entire album of "the masters'" music was one of complete bewilderment. But once I began listening to the end result, my fears were put to rest. The first few notes of "Heard it on the Radio" say it all: this is a Bird and the Bee album! Simply put, the duo has done a fantastic job of taking these classic and instantly-recognizable songs and filtering them through their own unique style.<br />
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The lead-off track is a gorgeous song that is just as catchy as one would expect. It's bouncy digital production is reminiscent of some of Bird and the Bee's earlier stuff, but the 70s disco vibe sets it apart from the band's other tracks. It eases any fears that a skeptical listener may have and proves that even though many may not understand why the group chose to make this album, they at least know what they are doing. "Rich Girl" is just as exciting. I could easily see a bunch of teen girls (or hipsters for that matter) singing along to this song and not realizing that it's a cover of a much older song. That says a lot about how perfectly a lot of these songs are constructed and presented. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"The duo has done a fantastic job of taking these classic and instantly-recognizable songs and filtering them through their own unique style."</i></span></div><br />
For the most part, <i>Interpreting the Masters</i> is a flawless cover album, if such a thing can even exist. Still, some songs, though good, can't hold their own to the original recording. Specifically, "She's Gone" lacks the earnestness and power of the original. Instead, it comes off as plastic and unassured - the standard trappings of a cover song. Truthfully, this could just be how Hall and Oates' ballads come off because the same can be said for "Sarah Smiles" and "One on One," which just come off as ineffective. Are they solid covers? Sure, but they still leave a lot to be desired.<br />
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The best tracks on the album are the upbeat songs that we've all heard before. "Private Eyes" and "Kiss on My List" are just as awesome as they have always been and - depending on your generation - just as corny as well. Listeners, whether new or unaccustomed to the music of Hall and Oates should find most of their enjoyment out of these and the other fun songs on the album. As the title suggests though, <i>Interpreting the Masters</i> is very much a passion project for The Bird and the Bee, so it should be taken more as a casual diversion than an actual addition to the group's catalog of quality music. With that in mind, it's hard to be disappointed with what we're presented with here. The group has done Hall and Oates proud while simultaneously making something enjoyable for generations who have no idea who those two dudes are. Not bad.<br />
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<b><i>Key Tracks:</i></b><br />
1. "Heard it on the Radio"<br />
2. "Rich Girl"<br />
3. "Maneater"<br />
4. "Kiss on my List"<br />
5. "Private Eyes"<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>7 out of 10 Stars</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1