I don't really enjoy The National much. They are musically talented, and I appreciate that, but Matt Berninger's voice is just too syrupy for my tastes. His voice makes it hard for me to hone in on the lyrics very well, to the point where I don't immediately recall lyrics to any National song. Instrumentally, they're a great group, on Alligator especially. Their drummer is fantastic, but it's harder to enjoy it when Berninger is singing. I know a lot of people love this one though, so don't let me dissuade you from giving it a go.
Alone in a Crowd by Catch 22
A nice solid ska album. Not nearly as good as their debut, Keasbey Nights, but for their first album without Thomas Kalnoky, it's a very nice effort. Their cover of the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B.", "Wreck of the Sloop John B," is a very different take, but a great interpretation. Not a lot else to say about this one. Pick it up if you like ska or punk, see what you think.
Alright, Still by Lily AllenAs female pop stars go, Lily Allen is my favorite. I realize that's not saying a whole lot, considering how vapid most of them are. Allen is different though, at least on record. She is acerbic, she is mean, she is what she feels like being. She doesn't cutesy things up for radio play. Her lyrics are subversive, and they are backed with some of the most lush pop instrumentation in recent memory. "LDN" is so fantastically upbeat, yet the lyrics show the very unglamorous side of London. It's this juxtaposition that makes Alright, Still fun to listen to, even now, almost 5 years later. I have a feeling this will still sound great in 5 more years, if not longer.
Always the Bridesmaid: A Singles Series by The Decemberists
People who love the Decemberists always know what they are getting from a new release, and this is no exception. Released over a period of months as three 12" singles, Always the Bridesmaid bridged the gap between The Crane Wife and The Hazards of Love, and did so in a lovely fashion. The first volume - "Valerie Plame" and "O New England", is undeniably the strongest pair of songs, but the whole package is very solid. I think it would be a bit better without both versions of "Days of Elaine" - either the short or the long should go, I don't really care which - but I still greatly enjoy it as a short album / EP.
Aman Iman by Tinariwen
I don't partake in any sort of recreational drugs, but this music gives me the distinct feeling that it would be great to listen to if you were completely stoned. Even sober, I can put it on and just sort of let it ride, and enjoy it without really paying direct attention to it. And it's not like there's a lot to pay attention to - the lyrics are in Arabic (I believe). The instrumentation is somewhat sparse and winding, and it lends itself well to relaxation and clearing out your mind.
I don't believe I mentioned it in the writeup for A is for Accident, but Amanda Palmer is the voice of the Dresden Dolls, for those of you who aren't aware. She has developed a successful solo career over the last few years, and this is her most recent release - an EP of her covering Radiohead songs on ukulele. It is surprisingly good. Her voice is well-suited to the songs she selected, particularly "No Surprises" and "Exit Music (For a Film)". Some tracks mix in piano along with the uke, but they all sound excellent.
American Gangster by Jay-ZThere is a distinct possibility that this will go down as the last great Jay-Z album. It's well over three years old now, The Blueprint 3 has come and gone, and it was lackluster at best. American Gangster, inspired loosely by the film of the same name, is back to basics mafioso rap from one of the guys who has done it best. He goes light on the guest spots - there are only really 3 - and the production from Diddy and the Hitmen is both soulful and bombastic in equal measure. I won't go so far as to say that it's the best album Hova has ever released, but damn, sometimes it feels like it might be. And no lie, "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)" might be my favorite Jay-Z single ever. That brass section...! Fantastic.
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted by Ice Cube
It's hard to believe Ice Cube used to be this good. He goes so hard on every single track here, it's ridiculous. I can't even imagine where that fire went, or how it turned into shit like "Are We There Yet?" or whatever terrible PG comedy he's doing these days. Shameful. Production on this was handled by Public Enemy's Bomb Squad, and they came up with some of the best work they've ever done. There are beats on here that people will recognize without ever having heard an Ice Cube song, I think. Come back, Cube!
Amnesiac by Radiohead
Not including Pablo Honey, which I don't even have any more, this is probably my least favorite Radiohead record. There are certainly some great tracks - "Like Spinning Plates" and "Pyramid Song chief among them - but the songs in between just... don't do anything for me, as a listener. I feel mostly disengaged from the music when I listen to Amnesiac, like the songs between the high points are only there because they have to be there. The whole experience just feels dull too often.
Amputechture by The Mars Volta
Not one of the better Mars Volta albums, by any means. It's not out and out bad, but it's not something I would listen to regularly. "Viscera Eyes" is a great track (and remains the only Mars Volta song I've ever heard on commercial radio), but there's both not enough and too much going on in this album for it to be good cover to cover. I did do math better when listening to it, though, so there's that.
No comments:
Post a Comment