Top Ten Albums of the Year So Far (Cont'd)

6. Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune
                    Soundtrack of the year no question. Air has not released a record since the huge disappointment, Love 2 in 2009. For the most part, the French duo has always been on top of their game creating some great mellow electronica. After being so turned off by their last release I was somewhat skeptical but optimistic that their new record would be another spectacular Air release and especially being it was written to a remastered version of one of the most monumental films ever created. Sure enough, Air is back and sounding better than ever. It is exactly what one would have hoped for and so much more. The sound fits so perfectly along with the newly remastered film as well as shows how Air has kept their same style while progressing within their sound to new regions. People have claimed this record to be better than their incredible debut album, Moon Safari which need less to say is a tough reach, but honestly, these people might be right. This record is easily worth the wait and makes me fall in love with the band I have loved for awhile all over again and frankly, it was much needed. 

7. Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras & The Congos - FRKWYS Vol. 9
                    RVNG is having a pretty good year to say the least with this release being one at the top of their list. The FRKWYS collections are great experimental collaborations that have provided artists with a great outlet to meet different artists and create a new sound in its entirety. The latest edition in the series featuring electronic artist Sun Araw and M. Geddes Gengras working together with legendary dub band, the Congos is nothing short of amazing. The sound that is created from this collaboration which was recorded in 2 days in Jamaica is so innovative. Both music styles are integrated to meld such a wonderfully experimental dub sound that is so pleasantly surprising it will keep you coming back for more throughout the year. It is such an intriguing listen with so much dynamic that this record should be a part of any avid listeners collection. Its a beautifully weird record that most record collectors should seek for their personal collection.

8. Mount Eerie - Clear Moon
                    Anyone a Microphones fan? Mount Eerie is Phil Elverum who is more notably known for his work as the Microphones. Clear Moon came out this spring as the first part of a two part installment to be released this year. Clear Moon is a dark, spacey, droney, distorted, mellow, atmospheric sounding record which is filled with so much to listen to. There are so many effects with transitions being carried out so well along the beautifully created noisy record. This record carries a charmingly morose sound throughout its entirety and I know it does not sound appealing but their is something unique about this record that will make you fall in love with it. This record is charming like fog on a lake early in the morning of a gloomy day. Don't pass judgement due to its unattractive appeal but rather listen and fall absolutely in love with this record like I have. I am sure you will.

9. Dirty Three - Toward the Lower Sun
                    Ditry Three is back after 7 years and sounding just as good as ever. Warren Ellis is back after the recent departure of the Nick Cave Grinderman project and thankfully so if we can see some other great releases; not to say I'm not bummed about the recent break up of such a great sounding group. Dirty Three is beautifully chaotic creating an intensely formulated post-rock jazz style which is for anyone willing to give it a listen. The talent is so brutally raw and crazed that one listening to this record at night on a pair of headphones alone can't help but overcome with its brilliance. This record may not be for everyone and I can see that based off of its style but if you can dig it, you will totally understand where I am coming from in being so in love with this record. By all means this record is the one record in my top ten that is probably not for everyone but it is still brilliant and worthy of recognition in my opinion. Love it or hate it, it makes my top ten so far and will be a record I will love for many years to come.

10. Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
                    Let me start of by saying if you are an Andrew Bird fan and have not listened to this record, you are probably missing out on his best piece yet. This record truly shows how this breathtaking artist has progressed throughout his career and continued to create music that reaches new levels. The loops that he creates whistling, plucking his violin, playing violin lines all building on top of one another are almost unfathomable. He truly is a talented musician fine tuning his niche into beautifully crafted music for just about any music lover out there. Not only is Andrew Bird full of talent in it of himself but so is the rest of his band which includes the ever so uniquely skilled Martin Dosh on drums to list one. This record reaches new areas within Andrew Bird's realm and creates catchy hooks which are layered with so many sounds and elements throughout the whole record. A very noteworthy record for the end of the top ten so far list.

                   

Top Ten Albums of the Year So Far

Although the year had a slow start, there have been some great albums released this year. I figured I would reflect a little on what has been released so far and take a little time to highlight some of my favorites. Due to a time crunch, this first post will have the first five, with the second five coming as soon as I can find some time to throw up another post.

1. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

                    Ty Segall Band's Slaughterhouse is a loud, noisy, lo-fi filled quick record. This is probably my bias coming through as this sound is right up my alley for interest, but this record feels like he has reached his best sound yet. It is the same Ty Segall but a louder, heavier side that has not quite been seen in his records as a whole. Slaughterhouse a perfect little face-melter that deserves to be played a maximum volume every listen and to be honest, its hard not to. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAXONGchVtc

2. Liars - WIXIW

                    Liars sixth release WIXIW was a record which I had no expectations for as this unfortunately is my first encounter with this band. I have managed to let Liars slide through my radar knowing who they are, but never taking the time to finally sit down and listen. Well, the wait was worth it because this record is solid front to back. It by all means is not a singles record which from my understanding is to be expected from Liars but it is a great record fitting well together as a whole. The album carries a dark, dance, layer filled sound throughout its entirety. The progression of this band from my little understanding is also the move in a great direction with the band developing a new sound but still staying in the realm of previous works with the Liars feel. This record has a unique sound that I can't get enough of and I will keep returning to for quite some time. 

3. Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory

                    I am going to start out by saying this is one of the most overlooked records I have seen this year. Most people I have talked to have not heard this record and frankly, they should. It is a great alternative, lo-fi sounding record full of energy. The record starts off with a bitter morose sound and picks up pace as the tune progresses building energy. Immediately following it is launched into the fast paced, long jam  Wasted Days and continues on a similar path until the end. This record was one that I initially was not blown away with but I found the songs coming into my mind a lot and I have revisited this record this year probably more than any other album. 

  

4. Can - Lost Tapes [Box Set]

                    What can be said about Can that has not already been said before? If you don't know who I am talking about, then you need to do some digging in the catalog and spend some time with this old Krautrock band. This is the first time in quite some time needless to say that unreleased Can material has been released. This release is for any Can fan out there. It is full of new unheard material and truly encompasses Can's sound with great avant-garde, experimental, psychedelic sound full of epic jams, classic Can avant-garde tunes, story telling tunes, and live tracks. This box set will make any Can fan smile.

5. Grimes - Oblivion

                    Grimes is a young Canada pop music artist who is ripping up the scene, at least according to Pitchfork but as most know, they tend to have their favorites and over-hype some artists similar to the Current effect experienced here in the Twin Cities. Anyway.....the point is, the are right to follow her because the music she has been releasing is nothing short of amazing considering all that she does. She writes her own music, records it in garage band with surprising great quality, does her own artwork, shoots her own music videos, choreographs all her videos, and has released 3 buzzed about records in 2 years. Her most recent release Oblivion was a record I was not impressed with at first but the more and more I listened to this record the more I feel in love with it and the louder it went while I listened. This is by far my Pop music record of the year. She has a way of sucking you in with all the different layers she uses to create catchy pop songs that are so intriguing. One day this record will just pop into your head and I can tell you it will stay there for awhile. Don't judge this record on one listen, give it a few listens and I can almost guarantee you will fall in love with it the same way I did. 

Recent Dig

I have been digging the new Icky Blossoms record lately which was released by Saddle Creek. It is a good synth-pop driven record which continues to stick with me. The record has sold almost every time I have played it at work and rightfully so. Some tracks are better than others but there are some stand out tracks to keep one revisiting songs for awhile. Here is a track off of the new record which I can't seem to get out of my head.