Auditiest – Best of 2011 – The Results

There were 742 entries in this year’s poll, and 445 albums.
Top Ten

1	Fountains Of Wayne // Sky Full Of Holes
2	Mike Viola // Electro de Perfecto
3	Sloan // The Double Cross
4	The Decemberists // The King Is dead
5	Wilco // The Whole Love
6	The Nines // Polarities
7	The Red Button // As Far As Yesterday Goes
8	Tommy Keene // Behind The Parade
9	Pugwash // The Olympus Sound
10	The Wellingtons // In Transit

Best of the rest

11	Wiretree // Make Up
12	The Smithereens // 2011
13	Ryan Adams // Ashes & Fire
14	Glen Campbell // Ghost On The Canvas
15	Army Navy // The Last Place
15	Ron Sexsmith // Long Player Late Bloomer
17	David Mead // Dudes
18	Buffalo Tom // Skins
19	The Jayhawks // Mockingbird Time
20	Matthew Sweet // Modern Art
21	Fleet Foxes // Helplessness Blues
22	Foo Fighters // Wasting Light
23	Cut Copy // Zonoscope
24	Tally Hall // Good & Evil
25	Kurt Baker // Rockin’ For A Living
25	Lindsey Buckingham // Seeds We Sow
27	Feist // Metals
28	Butch Walker And The Black Widows // The Spade
28	The Bangles // Sweetheart Of The Sun
30	Able Archer // The Way Machines See Us
30	Meyerman // Who Do You Think You Are?
32	Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit // Here We Rest
32	Gillian Welch // The Harrow & The Harvest
32	Cirrone // Uplands Park Road
35	Dark Ocean Colors // Dark Ocean Colors
35	Telekinesis // 12 Desperate Straight Lines
37	Brandon Wilde // Hearts in Stereo
38	Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds // Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
38	Schuyler Fisk // Blue Ribbon Winner
38	Urge Overkill // Rock ‘n’ Roll Submarine
41	Tom Waits // Bad As Me
41	Secret Powers // What Every Rose Grower Should Know
41	Skeleton Staff // Pyschomorphism
41	Peter Baldrachi // Tomorrow Never Knows
45	Jonny // Jonny
45	The Breakdowns // The Kids Don’t Wanna Bop Any More
47	Bye Bye Blackbirds // Fixed Hearts
47	Dave Alvin // Eleven Eleven
49	Hans Roternberry and Brad Jones // Mountain Jack
49	Robert Pollard // Space City Kicks
49	Timothy Nelson & The Infidels // I Know This Now
52	8 x 8 // The Anatomy Of An Apricot
53	Bats // Free All The Monsters
53	Genuine Fakes // Genuine Fakes
53	Pains Of Being Pure At Heart // Belong
53	The Ditchflowers // Bird’s Eye
57	The Wandas // The Wandas
57	Brandon Schott // 13 Satellites
59	Black Keys // El Camino
59	Allen Clapp & His Orchestra // Mixed Greens
59	Destroyer // Kaputt
59	Nick Lowe // The Old Magic
59	Rachel Yamagata // Chesapeake
59	Teddy Thompson // Bella
65	Tennis // Cape Dory
65	The Damnwells // No One Listens to the Band Anymore
65	Treefight For Sunlight // Treefight For Sunlight
65	Wild Bores // Welldone & Charred
65	Peter Bruntnell // Black Mountain UFO
65	Leadfinger // We Make The Music
65	Dwight Twilley // Soundtrack
65	Feedbacks // Give A Tree Your Name
65	Frank Turner // England Keep My Bones
65	Friendly Fires // Pala
65	Charles Bradley – No Time for Dreaming
76	Amanda Shires – Carrying Lightning
76	Beady Eye // Different Gear, Still Speeding
76	Balto // October’s Road
76	Garland Jeffreys // The King Of In Between
76	Low // C’mon
76	Henning Ohlenbusch // Henning Goes to the Movies
76	Raphael Saadiq // Stone Rollin’
76	Real Estate // Days
76	Red Barked Tree // Wire
76	Orwell // Continental
76	William Cleere & The Marvellous Fellas // William Cleere & The Marvellous Fellas
76	Tim Christensen & The Dark Crystals // Tim Christensen & The Dark Crystals
76	The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar
76	The Leisure Society // Into The Murky Water
76	The Rainmakers // 25 On
76	The Secret Powers // What Every Rose Grower Should Know
76	The Cordovas // The Cordovas
76	The Get Up Kids // There Are Rules
76	Yuck // Yuck
95	The Features // Wilderness
95	The Refreshments // Riding Along With The Refreshments
95	The Kooks // Junk of the Heart
95	Dutch Uncles // Cadenza
95	Farewell Continental // Hey, Hey Pioneers!
95	David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights // Left By Soft
95	Anton Barbeau // Three Minute Tease
95	British Sea Power // Vahalla Dancehall
103	Bruce Cockburn // Small Source Of Comfort
103	Boston Spaceships // Let It Beard
103	Bic Runga // Belle
103	Girls // Father, Son, Holy Ghost
103	Michael Oliver & The Sacred Band // Yin & Yanxiety
103	Gruff Rhyss // Hotel Shampoo
103	John Wesley Harding // The Sound Of His Own Voice
103	Tommy Stinson // One Man Mutiny
103	Tori Amos // Night Of Hunters
103	Vegas With Randolph // Above The Blue
103	The Barreracudas // Nocturnal Missions
103	The Apricot // A Forestful of Trees
103	Smoking Popes // This Is Only A Test
103	Sondre Lerche // Sondre Lerche
117	Skeleton Staff // Psychomorphism
117	Scott Gagner // Rhapsode in Blonde
117	The Associates // Spells
117	The Greatest Liar // The Girl With The Chestnut Eyes
117	Little Murders // Dig For Plenty
117	Groovy Uncle // Play Something We Know!
117	Ivy // All Hours
117	John Moremen // John Moremen’s Flotation Device
117	Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight The Days // That Shaped Me
117	Mastodon // The Hunter
117	Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms // Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms
117	Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs // God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise
117	Fun w/Atoms // Smart
117	Centro-Matic // Candidate Waltz
117	Civil Wars // Barton Hollow
117	Blitzen Trapper // Goldwing // Sub Pop
117	Childish Gambino // Camp
134	Peter Astor // Songbox
134	Matt Pond PA // Spring Fools (EP)
134	Okkervil River // I Am Very Far
134	In Blank // Title Tracks
134	Kate Bush // 50 Words For Snow
134	The Cry // The Cry
134	Terry Anderson and the Olympic AKT // More Smooth Jazz and Sweet Sweet Jam
134	The Postelles // s/t
134	Wire // Red Barked Tree
143	The James Carter Organ Trio // At The Crossroads
143	The Riffbrokers // Every Pilot’s Blinded By The Sun
143	The Real Numbers // Welcome To The Numberhood
143	The Wrong Words // The Wrong Words
143	Maxi Dunn // The Neglected Gambit
143	Paul Simon // So Beautiful Or So What
143	Rod Picott – Welding Burns
143	Barnstar! (featuring Mark Erelli) // C’mon!
143	An American Underdog // Always On The Run
143	Allen Stone // Allen Stone
143	East River Pipe // We Live In Rented Rooms
143	Death Cab For Cutie // Codes And Keys
155	Graham Colton // Pacific Coast Eyes
155	Cake // Showroom Of Compassion
155	Moonlight Towers // Day Is The New Night
155	Jonathan Coulton // Artificial Heart
155	M83 // Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
155	Lindi Ortega // Little Red Boots
155	Trolley // Things That Shine And Glow
155	What If // Mr. Big
155	The Story UK // Joyride On Memory Lane
155	The Golden Seals // Increase The Sweetness
155	The Grand Slambovians (a/k/a Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams) // The Grand Slambovians
155	The Feedbacks // Give A Tree Your Name
167	The Baseball Project // Volume 2: High and Inside
167	Malajube // La Caverne
167	Imelda May // Mayhem
167	Salyu x Salyu // S(o)un(d)beams
167	Reigning Sound // Abdication
167	Quinn Scharber // Every Other
167	Buffalo Killers // 3
167	Alto Verde // Paper Clips
167	Dropkick // Time Cuts The Ties
176	Girls Guns and Glory – Sweet Nothings
176	Giorgio Tuma // In The Morning We’ll Meet
176	Queen Electric // Queen Electric
176	Matt Nathanson // Modern Love
176	Ocean Grove // Little Record (EP)
176	Joel Crawford // 11 Golden Greats
176	Iron And Wine // Kiss Each Other Clean
176	Israel Nash Gripka // Barn Doors and Concrete Floors
176	Howling Diablos // Ultra Sonic Gas Can
176	Long Play 33 1/3 // Being Nowhere
176	Leatherbag // Yellow Television
176	The Cars // Move Like This
176	The Sick Rose // No Need For Speed
176	The Handcuffs // Waiting For The Robot
176	The Midwest Beat // Gone Not Lost
176	Twerps // Twerps
192	Tony Cox // On The Way
192	Tim Butler // All The Rest
192	The Dark Rags // The Dark Rags
192	Kanye West/Jay Z // Watch The Throne
192	Jack’s Mannequin // People And Things
192	Ocean Grove // Another Place To Stay (EP)
192	Gary Ritchie // Hum, Sing…Repeat!
192	Cut Off Your Hands // Hollow
192	Amy Lavere // Stranger Me
192	Blind Pilot // We Are The Tide
192	Brent Cash // How Strange It Seems
203	Beirut // The Rip Tide13.  Lindsey Buckingham // Seeds We Sow
203	Daryl Hall // Laughing Down Crying
203	Duran Duran // All You Need Is Now
203	Grace Weber // Hope & Heart
203	Greg Trooper – Upside-Down Town
203	Redondo Beat // Meet Redondo Beat
203	The Antlers // Burst Apart
203	Saves The Day // Daybreak
203	They Might Be Giants // Join Us
203	Tristen // Charlatans At The Garden Gate
203	The Hazey Janes // The Winter That Was
214	Unthanks // Last
214	Shake Some Action // White Lies And Bloodshot Eyes
214	Teenage Rasputin // Sorry ‘Bout The Moon
214	Steve Earle // I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
214	Robyn Hitchcock // Tromso, Kaptein
214	Lovers Electric // Impossible Dreams
214	Pajama Club // Pajama Club
214	Mayer Hawthorne // How Do You Do
214	Michael Carpenter // S.O.O.P. #3
214	Luke Temple // Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care
214	Feelies // Here Before
214	Bill Schulz // Bill Schulz
214	Arctic Monkeys // Suck It And See
227	Benjamin Francis Leftwich // Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm
227	Agesandages // Alright You Restless
227	Gorillaz // The Fall
227	Dum Dum Girls // Only In Dreams
227	Christoffer Lundquist // Through The Window
227	Hotel Lights // Girl Graffiti
227	Michael Carpenter // S.O.O.P. #4
227	Richard X Heyman // Tiers and Other Stories
227	Sam Roberts Band // Collider
227	PJ Harvey // Let England Shake
227	Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings // Soul Time!
227	She Wants Revenge // Valleyheart
227	The Galileo 7 // Are We Having Fun Yet?
240	The Rosebuds // Loud Planes Fly Low
240	The Tree Ring // Generous Shadows
240	PopFilter // Pop This!
240	I Fight Dragons // Kaboom!
240	John Hiatt // Dirty Jeans And Mudslide Hymns
240	Jodee Purkeypile // October House
240	Eleanor Friedberger // Last Summer
240	Gabriel Kahane // Where Are The Arms
240	Alexander Ebert // Alexander
240	Augustana // S/T
250	Bart Davenport // Bart Davenport
250	Bodeans // Indigo Dreams
250	Bon Iver // Bon Iver
250	Carlet Tanager // American Songbird
250	Fitz & the Tantrums // Pickin’ Up The Pieces
250	Greg Pope- Monster Suit
250	Jesse Sykes & The Hereafter // Marble Boy
250	Male Bonding // Endless Now
250	William Elliott Whitmore – Field Songs
250	Serious Clark // Things To Say After Hello
250	Steve Cropper // Dedicated
261	Stratocruiser // The Spark
261	The Demos // Lovely
261	The Whiskey Saints // 24 Hours
261	Jay Clifford // Silver Tomb for the Kingfiser
261	Indigo Girls // Beauty Queen Sister
261	Hot Tuna // Steady As She Goes
261	Ringo Deathstarr // Colour Trip
261	Foster and Lloyd // It’s Already Tomorrow
261	Derby // Madeline (EP)
261	Celebrated Workingman // Content Content
261	Barenaked Ladies // All In Good Time
272	Andreas Mattson // Kick Death’s Ass
272	Drive-By Truckers // Go-Go Boots
272	Rival Sons // Pressure And Time
272	Sallie Ford // Dirty Radio
272	Pyewacket // 1967
272	P.J. O’Connell // Join the Crowd
272	James McCartney // Close at Hand
272	Josh Rouse and the Long Vacations // S/T
272	The Vinyl Skyway // Return Of The Dead Surfer
281	Thea Gilmore // Don’t Stop Singing
281	The Beagle Ranch // A Moment Away
281	Suzy & Los Quattro // Hank
281	Nicole Atkins // Mondo Amore
281	R.E.M. // Collapse Into Now
281	Phil Angotti // People And Places
281	Dreaming In Stereo // 2
281	Deerhoof // Deerhoof Vs. Evil
281	Curtains For You // After Nights Without Sleep
281	Great Aunt Ida // Nuclearize Me
281	Amor de Dias // Street O The Love Of Days
281	Adele // Live at the Royal Abert Hall
281	Chickenfoot // Iii
281	Black Lips // Arabia Mountain
281	Blackie & the Rodeo Kings // Kings and Queens
296	Bowling For Soup // Fishing For Woos
296	Brilliant Colors // Again And Again
296	Brazzaville // Jetlag Poetry
296	Bryan Estepa // Vessels
296	Bubble Gum Orchestra // Out Of This World
296	China Syndrome // Nothing’s Not Worth Knowing
296	Captain Wilberforce // Ghost Written Confessions
296	Cass McCombs // Humor Risk
296	Cass McCombs // Wits End
296	Catherine MacLellan // Silhouette
296	Caitlin Rose // Own Side Now
296	1860 // Sagan
296	54321 // What We Did With Our Days
296	Alela Divine // Wild Divine
296	Anna Spackman // Her Voice
296	Amanda Palmer // Goes Down Under
296	Apex Manor // The Year Of Magical Drinking
296	Arborea // Red Planet
296	Beauty Queen Sister // Indigo Girls
296	Bevis Frond // The Leaving Of London
296	Green Pajamas // Green Pajamas Country
296	Greg Pope // Blue Ocean Sky
296	Giuda // Racey Roller
296	Fortune 500 // Flavor Of The Year
296	Freddy Monday // Everything Anyhow
296	Fingers Of The Sun // Fingers Of The Sun
296	Finn Silver // Crossing the Rubicon
296	Fleshtones // Brooklyn Sound Solution
296	David Bazan // Strange Negotiations
296	Cynics // Spinning Wheel Motel
296	Dan Mangan // Oh Fortune
296	Daniel Wylie // Fake Your Own Death
296	Cuff the Duke // Morning Comes
296	Cults // Cults
296	Deleted Waverform Gatherings // Pretty Escape
296	Dawes // Nothing Is Wrong
296	Donal Hinely // The Famous Rocket Cage
296	Emot // Make You Electric
296	Piney Gir // Geronimo!
296	Poplord // Poplord Vs The Universe
296	Pepper Rabbit // Red Velvet Snowball
296	Peter Berry & The Shake Set // Berry Go Round
296	Peter Bjorn & John // Gimme Some
296	Sara Lowes // Back To Creation
296	Sarabeth Tucek // Get Well Soon
296	Richard Snow & The In Laws // Am I Really That Boring?
296	Nik Freitas // Saturday Night Underwater
296	Nikki Lane // Walk of Shame
296	Panic! At The Disco // Vices and Virtues
296	Papercuts // Fading Parade
296	Michael Carpenter and the Cuban Heels // By Request Vol. 1
296	Michael Carpenter and the Cuban Heels // By Request Vol. 2
296	Mumble // Happy Living
296	Nick Jaina // The Beanstalks That Have Brought Us Here Are Gone
296	Meg Baird // Seasons on Earth
296	Megafaun // Megafaun
296	Matt Wertz // Weights and Wings
296	Kate Walsh // The Real Thing
296	Kathryn Calder // Bright and Vivid
296	Katie Herzig // The Waking Sleep
296	Katy Stephan // Lacemaking
296	Kelly’s Heels // Playing Into Your Hands
296	Kings Of Last Call // From Memory
296	Les Breastfeeders // Dans La Gueule Des Jours
296	Les Sans Culottes // ‘pataphysical Graffiti
296	La Casa Azul // La Polinesia Meridional
296	Ladybug Transistor // Clutching Stems
296	Laura Marling // A Creature I Don’t Know
296	Laurie Biagini // A Go Go Girl In A Modern World
296	Lay Low // Brostinn Strengur
296	Marian Call // Something Fierce
296	Lykke Li // Wounded Rhymes
296	Little Roy // Battle For Seattle
296	Lisa Hannigan // Passenger
296	Longplayer // Longplayer
296	Lotte Kestner // Stolen
296	Louise Burns // Mellow Drama
296	James Walbourne // The Hill
296	Janey And The Ravemen // Stay Away From Boys
296	Jenna Nicholls // The Blooming Hour
296	Jennie Lowe Stearns // Blurry Edges
296	Joan As Police Woman // The Deep Field
296	John Cale // Extra Playful
296	High Llamas // Talahomi Way
296	HoneyHoney // Billy Jack
296	Haroula Rose // These Open Roads
296	Ian Axel // This Is The New Year
296	I’m From Barcelona // Forever Today
296	Tan Sleeve // Too Big To Fail
296	Supraluxe // The Super Sounds Of Supraluxe
296	Suzie Brown // Heartstrings
296	Stevie Jackson // (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson
296	Terra Naomi // To Know I’m Okay
296	The Anydays // Move!
296	The Absolutes // Everybody’s Feeling Alright
296	Sexy Heroes // InterroBang
296	Shirley Lee // Winter Autumn Summer Spring
296	Simon Felton // Surrender Dorothy!
296	Siri Nilsen // Alle Snakker Sant
296	Sea Lions // Everything You Wanted To Know
296	Seapony // Go With Me
296	The Belle Brigade // The Belle Brigade
296	The Bo-Keys – Got to Get Back!
296	The Bony King of Nowhere // Eleonore
296	The Booze // Maximum Volume
296	The Civil Wars // Barton Hollow
296	The Cleaners From Venus // In Chimp World
296	The Cleaners From Venus // The Stopping Train
296	The Color Bars // Prosopopoeia
296	The Bad Examples // Smash Record
296	The Bandana Splits // Mr. Sam presents The Bandana Splits
296	The Davenports // Why The Great Gallop?
296	The Dahlmanns // All Dahled Up
296	The Brights // A Trivial Pursuit
296	The Bye Bye Blackbirds // Fixed Hearts
296	The Feeling // Together We Were Made: Double Album Edition
296	The Fire Apes // A Life In Letters
296	The Folk Survival Club // I Believe In Rock’n'Roll
296	The Foxes // Last Of Many
296	The Grip Weeds // Under The Influence Of Christmas
296	This Side of the River // Points of Light and Constellation
296	The Wind // Hear, Em Skear’em
296	The Zombies // Breathe Out, Breathe In
296	Title Tracks // In Blank
296	Tommy Flake // Second Skin
296	William Shatnet // Seeking Major Tom
296	Whitehorse // Whitehorse
296	Whitton // Rare Bird
296	Ulysses // Ulysses
296	Veronica Falls // Veronica Falls
296	Warm Digits // Keep Warm… with the Warm Digits
296	Wax Idols // No Future
296	The Wags // The Wags
296	The Turnback // Drawn In Chalk
296	The Sugar Stems // Sweet Sounds Of The Sugar Stems
296	The Stepkids // The Stepkids
296	The Skywalkers // Year One
296	The Real People // Think Positive
296	The Red Plastic Buddha // All Out Revolution
296	The Jigsaw Seen // Winterland
296	The High Llamas // Talahomi Way
296	The Higher State // Freakout At The Gallery
296	The Pains of Being Pure At Heart // Belong
296	The Pepper Pots // Train To Your Lover
296	The Latebirds // Last Of The Good Old Days
296	The Liarbirds // Allegedly
296	Your Gracious Host // Sleepers Awaken
296	Yvonne Lyon // More than Mine
296	Zaza Fournier // Regarde-moi
296	Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers // Starlight Hotel

Awesome Band Alert – The Explorers Club

If you haven’t heard the Explorers Club yet, you are in for a treat! This band released their first album, Freedom Wind, back in 2008, and it was a refreshing listen, with their classic pop sound, reminiscent of the Beach Boys and other awesome 60′s music. It has been a constant album to return to over and over. But now, they are back! With a new album coming soon, they are releasing some “Under Construction” songs in the meantime! The first 3 of these have been released for free as the Californian Suite on Amazon.com… Check out the third track “Summer Days, Summer Nights” right here, and catch the other two tracks on Amazon!

Summer Days, Summer Nights

@expclub – twitter
www.facebook.com/explorersclub
www.youtube.com/users/explorersclub
www.explorersclubmusic.com

Great new releases to check out!

Wow, I actually came back a week later! I wanted to share so much more great music with all of you. This week I am featuring albums recently released that you need to be aware of!

The Grabs – Political Disco – A fantastically eclectic album from this band features the vocals of Eleni Mandell, and the music of Steve Gregoropoulos. This album is just really fun and interesting. Definitely more of a post-punk kind of sound compared to Eleni’s usual output, but she sells it fantastically well. Definitely worth checking out, and act fast if you want the vinyl version!

Fountains of Wayne – Sky Full of Holes – One of my all-time favorite bands, I will never tire of Fountains of Wayne. This album is just more of the pop gems they consistently put out. I don’t think I need to say much more about this band, just to let you know they still got it!

Army Navy – The Last Place – This album blew me away! I liked their first one, but it felt a bit like they were trying too hard. This new album is just well made. They have cultivated a sound that is just great, and the slick production just works so well. Definitely check it out!

The Jayhawks – Mockingbird Time – I love the Jayhawks, and this album marks the return of Mark Olson. I think the Jayhawks is at their best as a band with the two styles at play. Not to say I don’t love the Gary Louris only side, Rainy Day Music is my one of my all-time favorite records, but the band really needs the mix to bring a fuller experience.

Six Fantastic Discoveries

Today, I wanted to check in and feature some new music I have discovered recently. As it happens, they are all female artists. For some reason, a majority of my recent finds seem to be led by women. So let’s just get on to the music!

Gold Motel – this band was an instant favorite for me when I heard their song “Perfect in my Mind.” Bringing out a sound that was 100% exuberant and just feeling like a summer day. The album continued in this fashion, and every song was awesome! I love things that are simple and pure. This band does not try to be anything other than a great pop band, and each song is a treasure. After the debut, Summer House, they released a 7-inch, and have been working on a new album. I, for one, cannot wait.

Lanae’ Hale – There was a small stretch where I was listening to a Christian radio station, to find anything good on the radio. This particular station plays the same songs over and over again, which can easily turn me against any song. However, there was this one song and singer that I never got sick of – Lanae’ Hale and her song “Back and Forth.” With a driving melody, and a unique vocal style, it always made me feel happy. Her album of the same name follows much the same pattern, while not quite reaching the peak of the title track, it has some great moments.

Jes Hudak – If you have been watching the Bravo TV show Platinum Hit, you may have seen Jes shine every week. Currently in the top 4, she has shown she has chops. But before that show, I was already a fan. Her song “Nothing in the World” appeared on an IPO compilation (Speaking of IPO, Vol 14 is out now!), and I loved it. Upon further research, her “National Holiday” EP is a gem, with 5 awesome songs. She does wonders with a melody, and her performances exude such emotion and passion for what she is saying. I think we will see much more greatness from Jes Hudak.

Beth Thornley – As part of the SOTT CD mix trading program run through the Audities mailing list, one person placed two tracks by Beth Thornley on their mix. Both songs made me stop and look at who this artist was. The songs have this strange pull that just grabs your attention. Her powerful, confident singing style transmits her way of thinking right into your brain. The album is called Wash U Clean. Sometimes her perspective is skewed and the language is off in such a way that it throws you for a curve, but it is great to just take it and ride the wave.

Grace Weber – I just heard about this singer, and I first passed it over as just pseudo-R&B and didn’t really pay attention. But then I heard “Hitchhiker” and my ears perked up. This song, and a few others really caught my attention and I gave it another listen. While there are some more mainstream aspects to this music than I normally like, I still think it’s worth a listen.

Jessica Jo Jolly – This is an artist that I first saw with just a guitar, opening for Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles. I loved her voice and her style. Next thing I knew, she formed the band Jodyboss, adding another layer of power to her music. A song called “Samantha” is a tuneful song that hides a sad story behind a happy melody. The rest of the Jodyboss EP shows a potential for some really great stuff from this artist.

All of these bands are worth checking out, whether they are led by a female or not. I am always on the lookout for just great music. These artists all fit my criteria for great songs, unique styles and a presence that captures my attention. Check out all their music!

Review (kind of) of Ocean Grove.

I hadn’t heard of Ocean Grove before but following on from an email I had a listen to their two EPs on Spotify (Sorry Americans, it’s not available to you).

I’ll come back and review this properly in a while but this is a placeholder because I didn’t want to hold off on giving you all a heads up on such a great band.

Go and see them live… http://www.oceangroveband.com/

Review: 24 Hours by The Whiskey Saints

Perhaps this is a slow burner but it really didn’t do anything for me. The first track took way to long to get going and even when it did there was nothing really substantial to it.

The second track is a an improvement, but then again i’m always a sucker for something with a keyboard part. Stil nothing memorable though.

I have to be honest that it’s all sounding desperately samey and i’m skipping through somewhat by now.

I would imagine i’m half way through now and ‘I need some luck’ is quite pleasant, though I have an aversion to slide guitar. If I ignore that then this track is a keeper. It barrels on like a train heading for a station which I probably don’t want to reach, but the journey isn’t too unpleasant.

I like to be positive in reviews and as such, rightly or wrongly, try and only review things which i’m passionate about but I was asked to take a look at this and so I did.

This album wasn’t for me.

Mike Lombardo feat. The Caulden Road – The Alchemist

Hello friends and pals and internetty buddies! I wanted to drop back in to let you know of a new project from Mike Lombardo. You may remember my post a while back about his music. If you love piano-pop, check him out. This new project is a bit of a departure, but no less exciting and engaging. The 15 minute EP is a concept album in the musical theatre tradition. It tells the story of the titular alchemist who makes a potion to send himself back in time to save his love. Musically, it is very ambitious and sounds great. What’s cool is that this was conceived of and finished in 3 weeks. For most people that could result in a shoddy production, but this sounds just as good if they had spent a year on it. Don’t let the musical aspects scare you away, these songs have a good pop structure, and stand alone for the most part. Give it a chance and have fun with it! Enjoy!

http://mikelombardomusic.com
http://thecauldenroad.com
http://dft.ba/alchemist - To buy the physical copy for $6 – with downloads
http://mikelombardo.bandcamp.com/album/the-alchemist - To buy just download for $3.99

Tops in 2010

Well, going with it’s better late than never, I finally was able to put this together. Always difficult to do because  I am not a writer, nor can I type well.  But gosh I sure do love music. And this was a great year, especially for female vocalists. Also for new discoveries  [Magic Kids, Tallest man,  Best Coast, Spring Standards, and Elizabeth and the Catapult]. Nothing better than stumbling onto a new artist and having that pay off for you. So here I go, picking albums and attaching numbers to them.

1] Joanna Newsom- “Have one on me”-
“On a good day, you can feel my love for you…”
From the moment I put disc one on, I knew I was hearing something that would resonate with me for years to come. Never any doubt. Album of the year. It took me weeks to even graduate to disc two, and eventually the third. The songs filled with whimsy held me captive. Her voice has matured, and her harp is pure magic. I am still finding little treasures, melodic twists, and poetic lyrics take on new meanings. An American masterpiece by a major artist. Ambitious and well worth the investment. Aaron Copland would be proud.
Key tunes: “Easy”, “On a good day”, “You and me Bess”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmHaYZ2mEE
2] John Grant- “Queen of Denmark”- Mojo’s album of the year. John is from the country noir band the Czars. This appears to be the album he has been waiting to make. The Texas mystical band, Midlake is his backing band and perhaps the best thing that could have happened to him. Their 70′s soft rock sound forms the background for John’s bittersweet songs laced with black humor. There is a timeless beauty to it all that is captivating. I love his honey tinged voice. I enjoyed the Czars, and this album is a delight. The opening track, “TC and the Honeybear” gets to me every time. When the song hits its crescendo and stops, the ending coda gives me chills.
Key tunes: “Marz”, “It’s easier” “Caramel” and the Scott Walker like “Where dreams go to die”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7PP4eecMC4
3] Silver Seas- “Chateau Revenge” – After the pop splendor of “High Society” from 2007, this Nashville group is back with an even stronger effort. The opener, “Another Bad Night’s Sleep” is a total rush, perhaps the best first track of the year. The album is loaded with pop hooks, some  R&B, and tasty guitar. Daniel Tashin is an extraordinary songwriter, and terrific pop vocalist. I love “From my Window.” It breaks my heart even more that David Mead’s cover. The chorus to “Candy” was stuck in my head for weeks. My favorite track is last one, “Kid”, with its advice to a young broken heart. This group knows how to begin and end a song. A very well thought out pop album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DU3Je2G-g

4] Belle and Sebastian- “Write About Love”- After a break and detour with last year’s girl group ”God Help the Girl,” Stuart Murdoch and Co. are back with afresh set of  pop tunes. They continue to expand their palette with sweet melodies. “Come on Sister” is irresistible, “it’s fun thinking of you like a movie star…” “I want the world to stop” stays in your head. There is a nice duet with Norah Jones, and the title song has a swell Zombies organ break. This is a top notch British band that keeps moving forward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snailu0RnLg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDTUAgMu6VU&feature=related

5] Magic Kids- “Memphis”- A young band from Memphis that plays pop like it was a science project. They’ve got it down from the sunshine pop of “Phone” to the Brian Wilson sounding “Summer.” This is feel good music you can hop skip and jump around the room to [I've done just that]. “Superball” is a sheer delight. The falsetto vocals in “Summer” make me swoon. There are horns, flutes, oboes, and cool girl vocals. And this is their first album. More please!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inp3Dh1zib8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJWmaA9edYQ&feature=related
6] Spring Standards- “Would things be different”- Ever since I saw them on Conan (back when he was still on NBC), I was hooked. It is so cool to find a new band to follow. They put out a fun 8 track EP, and this is their debut album and it is excellent. All three members trade instruments, and all sing. There’s some honky tonk piano on “Queen of the Lot”, sweet humming on “Halcyon Days”, and pure pop on “Bells and Whistles”. They touch on folk and country, and tour constantly. All the vocals are first rate [Heather is my fave]. Great live reviews, so look for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlUgUjdsWZQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6D_S3meE0

7] Edwyn Collins- “Losing Sleep”-This is a miracle. After 2 brain hemorrhages, here he is overcoming all that and is back with a thrilling album. He does have vocal help, but his own voice shines through.  His songwriting is strong. Upbeat tunes like “Do it Again” with its R&B chorus, and a great collaboration with the Drums. Alex from Franz Ferdinand guests, as well as the great Roddy Frame.  Lyrics like these are in the title song: “I must believe, I must retrieve, the things I know, the things I trust” – words from an artist who is still piecing his life together. He makes a glorious noise here. It’s been a terrific year for Edwyn, with his Orange Juice box set released, and now this. Welcome back Edwyn. I prayed for you.
I am including one of the videos from a concert he did with Teenage Fanclub from September 2009. Not a great copy, but it was fun to see them back him up. Edwyn does not have the use of one of his hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x64tqDrHgM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GmXmM4npjI
8] Teenage Fanclub- “Shadows”  One of my favorite bands of all time are back with a superb set. Three songwriters, shimmering guitars, and beautiful Byrds-like harmonies. This is what they are known for and do not disappoint here. Jazzy bossa nova opening track “Sometimes I don’t need to believe in Anything,” is followed by Norman Blake’s classic power pop “Baby Lee.” And my fave is the gorgeous folk rocker “When I still have Thee.” There are moments on this album when the harmonies remind me of the Association [huge compliment]. This is a quiet, confident, and well crafted album that blends together like a California Meritage.  Savor it. If we can have one these every few years, life is definitely good. Just for fun, I have added a video of the group doing a Gene Clark classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6UuoS7kd-g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tcl2jGiY98
9] Living Sisters- “Love to Live”- 2 of my favorite female vocalists, Inara George and Eleni Mandell, together with Becky Stark [of Lavender Diamond - who I am not familiar with] make up this splendid group. I hope it’s not a one album deal, because the vocals are out of this world. The opener, “How are you doing” reminds me of the Roches.  I love Eleni’s tunes like “Ferris Wheel” and “Double Knots,” and Inara’s “Blue” is a fun doo-wop song. But the real surprise for me is Becky Stark. “This Mountain has Skies” is the loveliest song here, and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down” closes the set leaving you wanting more. A laid back country sounding Bessie Smith cover “Good Ole Wagon,” and a Nancy Wilson 60′s cover “How Glad I Am” round out this excellent set. They also cover Bowie’s “Starman” as a bonus track. Wonderful record.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6BPJH0czXw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVOKy5f1NgI
10] The Roots- “How I got over”- What a year for the Roots. It seems like they were everywhere, least of all TV stars. Their Jimmy Fallon gig has really paid off. They are meeting many musical acts. That connection has led to some of those acts appearing on this set. For example, Angel and Haley of the Dirty Projectors, Jim James and the Monsters of Folk, and Joanna Newsom all met on the show, and all take part in this journey. This a well constructed album, extremely musical featuring coherent raps. The songs flow together, some dreamy like “A Piece of Light” and “Right On.” All of the raps and vocal hooks work magic with repeated play. At the center of the sound are those hard hitting drums of Questlove. I have not heard Kanye’s latest, but it would have to go some to top this fine album.
Key tracks: “Dear God 2.0″, “Radio Daze”, “How I Got Over”.
Note: Questlove is the most entertaining tweeter around, some done while the Fallon show is in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgUTLQdcC_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Qr5oKKP-M
11] Nellie McKay – “Home sweet mobile home”- On the heels of her Doris Day tribute, here is a new set of tunes by this amazing artist. She is equally adept at pop, show tunes, jazz, and here she tackles some sweet reggae, “Caribbean Time’” which was recorded in Jamaica. My faves: “Adios”- lovely ballad with Nellie on her ukulele, the jazzy “Beneath the Underdog” [a nod to Mingus?], gospel flavored “Dispossessed” -”I’m going to exorcise your spirit from my soul,” the R&B “No Equality” with it’s fiery piano solo.  Nellie plays all kinds of instruments, wrote all the songs, did the arrangements and co-produced. She also painted the front cover.  I recently saw her live, with a tight band, and boy did she deliver. She ended the set with a Tom Waits impression singing “Strait to the top” that was dead on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdJN9hzEkbc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijh5n6Q7SW4
12] Tallest Man on Earth – “The Wild Hunt”- Just a man and a guitar, traveling  the land singing his songs, telling his tales. A troubadour. This is the Tallest Man on Earth, who is Swedish artist Kristian Mattson. The immediate influence is Dylan, and yes he does remind one of early Dylan. Oh, but there is so much more going on. The guitar, like the intro to “Troubles Will be Gone,” is intricate, the perfect background to these tales. The more you listen to his voice, you hear nuances, little touches that are like pop hooks. Melodic twists that grow more endearing with each listen. Moments like a whisper, or humming, or just a simple vocal inflection that delights. Early tunes like the title song and “Burden of Tomorrow” set the pace. My favorite is “The King of Spain.” End result is a performer that is so original in what he is doing here, that someday artists may claim him as their influence. He is that good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJfhaayOAy0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y-jsHj7KfE
13] Best Coast -”Crazy for you”- One of the “buzz” bands of the year, on the strength of some early noisy singles. This debut album, with its summery wall of sound, is a treat. Bethany Corsentino has the perfect voice to pull this off. Her teen angst lyrics are filled with wishing and longing that are rock poetry in its simplest form. “Boyfriend” and “Crazy for You” are cool delights, and the sway of “Summer Mood” shows off her voice. The bonus track, “When I’m with You” is actually one of the best tunes: “When I’m with you, I have fun…” Fun indeed! Live reviews report her doing a Loretta  Lynn cover, and a recent Letterman appearance displayed a vocal talent far more advanced than the album. Check it out below, and listen at about 3 minutes in as she belts out some torch. Shows there is so much more to come.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sj5_WITMpA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q04mtNnTldY
14] She and Him- “Volume Two”- “You’ve Got to be Kind to Yourself…”  This enduring sentiment illustrates the positive vibe in Zooey Deschanel’s songs. This is a very “up” collection, one that further advances the music from the first album. For one thing, Zooey has become a more comfortable singer. And M. Ward’s fine guitar is more on display, like the top notch solo at the close of “In the Sun.” He even croons a bit on this set. We dip into their record collection with NRBQ ["Riding in my car"], and Teresa Brewer [" Gonna get along without you now"] covers. And 10 sweet Zooey tunes such as “Me and You”, and “Brand New Shoes.” The set ends with a gentle lullaby “If You Can’t Sleep”  For a treat, check out their jazzy cover of “Fools Rush In” below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyE5Va8kGEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDjDL2NAQM
15] Laura Viers- “July Flame”  “Even the most shimmering rain, empties the sky and comes to the end…” Set to a pining pedal steel, these lyrics from “Sun is King” are one example of the poetic arc contained in this album. Somewhat like Joanna Newsom, but more moody folk, “July Flame” is Americana at its most mysterious. Laura sounding a bit like Suzanne Vega in tunes like “Life is Good Blues”, with subtle background vocals that elevate this.  She adapts Rimbaud in “Sleeper in the Valley”, and salutes the great Carol Kay with a list of songs she played on ["Natural Man", "I'm a Believer" etc.] Touches like ethereal humming on “When you give your heart to me”, and a string quartet on the closer, “Make Something Good”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLilpPtY2JU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VVosIQaP9c

16] Rufus Wainwright- “All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu”- As impressive as Rufus’s catalog is, this diverse set stands out. The album is just Rufus and his Steinway. His singing has never been stronger, and his piano playing dazzles. The songs include an ode to NY ["Who are You NY?"], family drama ["Martha"], 3 Shakespeare Sonnets, and an aria from his opera ["Prima Donna"]. Intense is an apt description, but there is so much beauty here. The three sonnets set to music by Rufus are simply gorgeous. “True Loves” with its hushed silences is ravishing. “Martha” written while his mother was dying of cancer, is a series of messages to his sister: “there’s not much time for us to really be angry at each other…” Fragile and deeply personal, Rufus has delivered a song cycle worthy of Schubert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhPDonG4h2w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbRFcP–I6Y
17] Crowded House- “Intriguer”- With his brother Tim still recording, and his son Liam making records, it is nice that Neil Finn is back with Crowded House. This is very much a band album, proven by the DVD in the deluxe edition. “Upstairs at Home” are 8 of the songs performed in their home studio.  And wonderful tunes they are, filled with those Finn trademark bittersweet melodies, and minor key harmonies. Neil is in excellent voice. Two songs to point out are “Either side of this world,” with its breathtaking keyboard break, “When you’re in luck, the world moves with you…” and my absolute favorite, “Twice if you’re lucky” – one of those Neil Finn songs that brings me to tears.   “These are times that come, only once in your life, or twice if you’re lucky.”
Do check out the fun video for “Either Side of the World” with its vintage dancing girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEKzqHmI7rQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0odlsTs4idY
18] Radio Dept.- “Clinging to a scheme”- Third album by this Swedish trio, mixing icy guitar and fuzzy synths, yet ending up with a warm sound. The mix is very reminiscent of Factory Records, with its up front bass, detached vocals, lots of percussion, and those lovely synths. Add dashes of dub and reggae to the mix. Key tunes: the immediate rush of “Heaven’s on Fire,” and the dub filled “Never Follow Suit.” “Heaven” opens with a Thurston Moore vocal sample, and is filled with layers of echo. With repeat plays, the album reveals its sad, romantic, low key dance pop. The lovely slow closer, “You Stopped Making Sense,” with its high vocals, points to a possible new direction.  Another winning release from the reliable Labrador label.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8TZf3gVDc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A92-bzGREOU

19] Elizabeth and the Catapult- “The Other Side of Zero”-I discovered Elizabeth from an NPR “Song of the Day”, and have been hooked ever since. What a find. This is their second release of their brand of folk-pop. The star here is Elizabeth Zinman who plays a mean keyboard, and has a clear, beautiful voice. I can’t praise her intoxicating vocals enough.  “You and Me” is a bright pop gem that was stuck in my head for weeks. “Julian Darling’s” hook is its dreamy chorus, and ends with some captivating “ooh ooh’s.” [gotta love those]. The heartbreaking “Do Not Hang Your Head” finishes the album with just Elizabeth, piano and strings. Just beautiful.
“If ever I do hurt you, make your willows bend
If ever I deceive you, darling do not hang your head…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXC14Gg4RcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzKfhRTMKZ0
20] Tender trap- “Dansette Dansette” -Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey have been doing this for over 20 years. First there was the punk sounds of Talulah Gosh, then the switch to pop and Sarah Records with Heavenly.  Now it’s the Tender Trap, and they haven’t changed at all, except with two new girls. Amelia can pull off those girl group harmonies. “Dansette Dansette” [a certain record player] name drops Sandie Shaw, Leslie Gore, and the Supremes.  “Do You Want a Boyfriend” is as groovy as can be with the girls asking questions and Amelia answering: “Does he have to kiss right?  Yeah, the best things are free…” This leads to a gleeful chorus: “Heaven perfect heaven. You got to wait so long.” They visit their punk past with the fast moving “Girls with Guns.” This is timeless music that America is finally catching on to with groups like the Vivian Girls and Dum Dum Girls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFbLEjsdQQY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XqeOBPaKE8
Bubbling Under:

21-Arcade Fire- “The Suburbs”- Anthems galore
22-Josh Ritter- “So Runs the World”- inspiring work- features the awesome “Change of Time”
23-Spoon- “Transference”- Spoon  getting their groove thing goin’
24-The National- “High Violet”- Glorious brooding
25- Neil Young- “Le Noise”- Just Neil+ guitar and Daniel Lanois producing- Sounds like s full band album
26-Broken Social Scene- “Forgiveness Rock Record”
27- Pernice Brothers- “Goodbye Killer”
28- Beach House- “Teen Dream”- a lovely dream it is
29-Sambassadeur- “European”-Elegant Swedish pop on Labrador Records
30- Various artists- “Dark night of the Soul”- Flaming Lips, Danger Mouse, Iggy Pop, and David Lynch plus others- shouldn’t work but it does.
31-Bubblegum Lemonade- “Sophomore Release”- Long live the Rickenbacker 12 string! Scottish pop on Matinee Records
32-Sufjan Stevens- “Age of Adz”- Electro pop

Recording of special merit:
Brian Wilson- “Reimagines Gershwin”- Didn’t expect much, and was pleasantly rewarded. The cool thing is how Brian makes these sound like his work. For example, his version of “I Got Rhythm” sounds like vintage Beach Boys. He also completes two unfinished Gershwin songs. One of those, “The Like in I Love You” is a classic. Brian certainly did not phone this project in.

Songs of the year:
John Grant- “TC and the Honeybear”
Josh Ritter- “Change of Time”
Silver Seas- “Kid”
Magic Kids- “Summer”
Teenage Fanclub- ” When I Still Have Thee”
Best Coast- “Boyfriend”
Arcade Fire- “Ready to Start”
Crowded House- “Twice if You’re Lucky”
Bubblegum Lemonade- “Caroline’s Radio”
Belle and Sebastian- “I Want the World to Stop”

Re-issues -
James Taylor- Self titled debut on Apple Records from 1968 is a revelation. The string arrangements are so beautiful, and James’s songs are some of his best. No wonder the Beatles were taken with this guy.
Orange Juice- “Coals to Newcastle”- Truth of the matter is I can’t afford this currently. But, except for the dvd, I know this music very well. And my emotional attachment to Orange Juice and Edwyn Collins is quite strong. It is so amazing that this box set now exists.
Stuart Moxham- “Personal Best”- lovely package of post Young Marble Giants music.

I need to hear: Tame Impala, The School, Robyn, Mighty Clouds, Morning Benders, Allo Darlin, MGMT, Rose Elinor Dougall, Eux Autres, Clare Burson,  Brave Irene [ex-Softies], Lucy Wainwright Roche [just got it], Spampinato Brothers [ex-NRBQ], Ocean Tango [Louis Philippe and Trestbild], Rumer

Looking forward to: Strokes, Decemberists, Low Anthem, Okkervil River, Ron Sexsmith, Cleaners from Venus, Beady Eye, Nicole Atkins, Lykke Li, Peter Bjorn and John, David Mead, Stars in Coma,  Roddy Frame[Please!], Pearlfishers [Pretty please!], and any media connected to Boo Hewerdine’s upcoming reunion with the Bible.

I discovered: Rosie Thomas. I got a used copy of her Christmas album, and fell madly in love with it. So I just got “These Friends of Mine” and am enjoying it. She is good friends with Sufjan Stevens, and the music is quite special.

Rest in Peace Don Van Vliet- better known as Captain Beefheart. Where would I be without “Trout mask Replica?” Hope to hear him and Frank Zappa in the afterlife. “I love you, you big dummy”.

Special thanks to Matinee Records. Terrific pop label, reminiscent of Sarah Records. Also thanks to Mojo Magazine for always inspiring me. And Pitchfork and Popmatters for my daily news.  And to Ray and Kool Kat Music. With Not Lame gone, here is a pop site you can get lost in. And Bill Demain’s blog at his Swan Dive site is simply the best.

That’s about it. Apologies to any music I left out. Looking forward to another year of music discoveries. Let the hits keep coming.

Thank you dear wife for putting up with a music freak like myself.

Gene

Audities: Best of 2010 – THE RESULTS

Position	Artist // Album
1	Belle & Sebastian // Write About Love
2	Seth Swirsky // Watercolor Day
3	Teenage Fanclub // Shadows
4	Field Music // Measure
5	Farrah // Farrah
6	The Posies // Blood/Candy
7	Agony Aunts // Greater Miranda
8	Bleu // Four
9	The Grip Weeds // Strange Change Machine
10	Mark Bacino // Queens English
11	Oranjuly // Oranjuly
12	Jeremy Messersmith // The Reluctant Graveyard
13	Cleaners From Venus // English Electric
14	Elvyn // The Decline
14	Joanna Newsom // Have One On Me
16	Arcade Fire // The Suburbs
16	Superchunk // Majesty Shredding
18	Stornoway // Beachcomber’s Windowsill
19	Broken Bells // Broken Bells
19	Crowded House // Intriguer
21	Brian Wilson // Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
22	She & Him // Volume Two
23	Apples In Stereo // Travelers In Space & Time
23	Hans Rotenberry & Brad Jones // Mountain Jack
23	Janelle Monáe // The Archandroid
23	Paul Weller // Wake Up The Nation
27	The Black Keys // Brothers
27	The National // High Violet
29	Beach House // Teen Dream
29	Two Door Cinema Club // Tourist History
31	Anton Barbeau // Psychedelic Mynde Of Moses
31	Duncan Maitland // Lullabies for the 21st Century
31	Spock’s Beard // X
34	Len Price 3 // Pictures
34	Moon Safari // Lover’s End
34	Slumberjet // Slumberjet
34	The 88 // The 88
38	Tame Impala // InnerSpeaker
39	Timmy Sean // Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater
39	Vampire Weekend // Contra
41	Evelyn Evelyn // Evelyn Evelyn
41	The Orbans // When we were wild
41	Well Wishers // Post Modern Romantic
45	Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti // Before Today
45	Jakob Dylan // Women & Country
47	David Byrne // Here Lies Love
48	Best Coast // Crazy for You
49	Edward O’Connell // Our Little Secret
49	Greg Pope // Blue Ocean Sky
49	Kula Shaker // Pilgrims Progress
49	Spoon // Transference
53	Three Hour Tour // Looking for Tomorrow
54	Jason & the Scorchers // Halcyon Times
54	Steven Page // Page One
54	Apples in Stereo // Travellers in Space and Time
57	New Pornographers // Together
57	Roky Erickson with Okkervil River // True Love Cast Out All Evil
57	Rose Elinor Dougall // Without Why
57	Title Tracks // It Was Easy
61	Ben Folds & Nick Hornby // Lonely Avenue
62	Admiral Fallow // Boots met my face
62	Autolux // Transit transit
62	Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos // Walk This Ocean
62	Furious Reasons // Thank you for Saturday
62	Gold Motel // Summer House
62	Ian Moore & the Lossy Coils // El Sonida Nuevo
62	Joey Sykes // Joey Sykes
62	Munly // Petr and the Wulf
62	The Len Price 3 // Pictures
62	The Tallest Man on Earth // The Wild Hunt
62	The Weepies // Be My Thrill
73	Allo Darlin’ // Allo Darlin’
73	Ash // A-Z Vol 1
73	Blood Red Shoes // Fire like this
73	Broen Bells (James Mercer and Danger Mouse) // Broken Bells
73	Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez // The Deep End
73	Devo // Something for everybody
73	Eels // End Times
73	Frightened Rabbit // The Winter of Mixed Drinks
73	Gorillaz // Plastic beach
73	Grant Lee Phillips // Little Moon
73	Greg Laswell // Take a bow
73	James Yuill // Movement In a Storm
73	Jason and the Scorchers // Halcyon times
73	Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social // Love It To Life
73	Maple Mars // Galaxyland
73	Matt Purcell & The Blessed Curse // Matt Purcell & The Blessed Curse
73	Pete Yorn // Pete Yorn
73	Rusty Anderson // Born on Earth
73	The Genuine Fakes // The Striped Album
73	Wild Bores // We Think Alike
93	Angus & Julia Stone // Down the Way
93	Ash // A-Z Vol 2
93	Big Boi // Sir Lucious Left Foot // The Son of Chico Dusty
93	Chatelaine // Take a Line for a Walk
93	Cordrazine // Always Coming Down
93	Glossary // Feral Fire
93	Guster // Easy Wonderful
93	Hot Chip // One life stand
93	Jason Falkner // All quiet on the noise floor
93	Paul Collins // King of Power Pop
93	Robinson/Moncrieffe // Rorschach happy love skull
93	Robyn // Body Talk (Parts I and II)
93	Secret Powers // Lies And Fairy Tales
93	Summer Camp // Young
93	The Divine Comedy // Bang Goes The Knighthood
93	The Jim Jones Revue // Burning Your House Down
93	Treefight for Sunlight // A Collection of Vibrations for Your Skull
110	Benjamin R // The Other Side of Nowhere
110	Black Keys // Brothers
110	Dissapears // Lux
110	Eels // Tomorrow morning
110	Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams // The Circus in the Dance Tent
110	Jim Jones Revue // Burning your house down
110	MGMT // Congratulations
110	Nada Surf // If I Had a Hi-Fi
110	School of seven bells // Disconnect from desire
110	Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings // I Learned the Hard Way
110	Stars And Sons //Good Morning Mother
110	The Hold Steady // Heaven in wherever
110	The Lost Patrol // Dark Matter
110	The New Pornographers // Together
110	The Weekend People  // The Weekend People
110	Trash Can Sinatras // Brel
110	Two Cow Garage // Sweet Saint Me
127	Big Big Train  // Far Skies Deep Time
127	Cee Lo Green // The Lady Kille
127	Dan Reed // Coming up for air
127	Elizabeth Cook // Welder
127	Esperanza Spalding // Chamber music soceity
127	Jigsaw Seen // Bananas Foster
127	John Grant // Queen of Denmark
127	Love Parade // A Strawberry Situation
127	Mars Hallow // Mars Hallow
127	Miles Kurosky // The desert of shall effects
127	Paul Ellis // Twenty days until tomorrow
127	Professor Green // Alive till I’m dead
127	Rooney // Eureka
127	Shake some action // Fire and ice
127	Skeleton Staff // Solipsism
127	Sleigh Bells // Treats
127	The Davenports // Why The Great Gallop?
127	The Like // Release Me
127	The Secret History // The World That Never Was
146	Blitzen Trapper // Destroyer of the void
146	Broken Records // Let Me Come Home
146	Butch Walker and the Black Widows // I like you better when you had no heart
146	Elton John/Leon Russell // The Union
146	Halfway // An Outpost Of Promise
146	Mark Ronson // Record Collection
146	Natalie Merchant // Leave your sleep
146	Rabbit Velvet // Crows & Doves
146	Retribution Gospel Choir // 2
146	Tennis // Baltimore
146	The Innocence Mission // My Room in the Trees
146	The Mother Truckers // Van Tour
146	Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers // Mojo
146	Weezer // Hurley
146	Wiley // Unreleased demos
161	Charlotte Gainsborg // IRM
161	Cult with no name // Adrenalin
161	Doug Gillard // Call from Restricted
161	Gin Blossoms // No Chocolate Cake
161	Jack Johnson // For the sea
161	Jason Falkner // I’m okay you’re okay
161	jj // jj No. 3
161	Judson Claiborne / Time and Temperature
161	Kelley Stoltz // To Dreamers
161	Neil Young // Le Noise
161	Of Montreal // False Priest
161	Sia // We are born
161	Steve Kilbey/Martin Kennedy // Unseen music
161	The Candles // Between the sounds
161	The Gin Club // Deathwish
161	The Rubinoos // Automatic Toaster
161	The seven fields of Aphelion // Periphery
161	The Sights // Most of What Follows Is True
161	Treecreeper // Juniper
161	Zappa // Hammersmith Odeon Concert
181	Bad Books // Bad Books
181	Broken Social Scene // Forgiveness Rock Record
181	Drawn From Bees // Fear Not The Footsteps Of The Departed
181	Fran Healy // Wreckorder
181	Neon Trees // Habits
181	Nushu // Hula
181	OK Go // Of the blue colour of the sky
181	Quasi // American Gong
181	The Books // The way out
181	The Ocean Tango // The Ocean Tango
181	V.V. Brown // Travelling Like the Light
181	Yeasayer // Odd blood
193	78 Saab // Good Fortune
193	Andy Kim // Happen again
193	Fitz and the Tantrums // Pickin’ up the pieces
193	Gavin Guss // Mercury Mine
193	Jenny and Johnny // I’m having fun now
193	Laura Marling // I Speak Because I Can
193	Michael Franti & Spearhead // The sound of the sunshine
193	Pernice Bros. // Goodbye, Killer
193	Seabear // We Built a Fire
193	Sunrise Highway // Sunrise Highway
193	The Birthday Massacre // Pins And Needles
193	The Dashing Suns // Really Like You
193	The Greenhornes // Four Stars
193	The Real Numbers // Welcome to the Numberhood
193	Unkle // Where did the night fall
208	Al Stewart // Uncorked
208	Dr. Dog // Shame shame
208	Frankie Rose & The Outs // Frankie Rose & The Outs
208	Jason Moran // Ten
208	Kim Richey // Wreck Your Wheels
208	Larsen B // Musketeer
208	Manic Street Preachers // Postcards from a young man
208	Statuesque // Reader, I Curried Him
208	The Bell Parade // Let’s Make Em’ Like That Anymore
208	The Gaslight Anthem // American Slang
208	The Sadies // Darker Circles
208	Ty Segall // Melted
220	Ardentjohn // On the Wire
220	Band of Horses // Infinite Arms
220	BT // These Hopeful Machines
220	Heart // Red velvet car
220	Lazy Susan // Places That Made Us
220	Leilujh // Dreamtime Escape Plan
220	Richard Thompson // Dream Attic
220	Taylor Locke & The Roughs // Marathon
220	The Superimposers – Sunshine Pops
220	The Young Veins // Take A Vacation!
230	Bettye Lavette // Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
230	Buva // Not Scary! Friendly
230	Dum Dum Girls // I Will Be
230	Elvis Costello // National Ransom
230	Free Energy // Stuck on Nothing
230	Graham Parker // Imaginary Television
230	Josh Rouse // El Turista
230	Midlake // The courage of others
230	Perry Keyes // Johnny Ray’s Downtown
230	Salteens // Grey Eyes
230	Shad // TSOL
230	The Vaselines // Sex with An X
242	Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Beat // The Devil’s Tattoo
242	Cage the Elephant // Cage the Elephant
242	Everybody Was In The French Resistance…Now // Fixin’ he Charts, Volume 1
242	Frightened Rabbit  // The Winter Of Mixed Drink
242	Michael Carpenter & the Cuban Heels // The Incomplete Cuban Heels
242	Mostly Autumn // Go Well Diamond Heart
242	Never Shout Never // Harmony
242	The Ike // Release me
250	Aberfeldy // Somewhere to Jump From
250	Bryan Ferry // Olympia
250	Ed Harcourt // Lustre
250	Ian Axel // This is The New Year
250	John Mellencamp // No better than this
250	Kate Miller-Heidke // Curiouser
250	The Whigs // In the dark
250	True Love // ¡Pas Net!
258	Bellowhead // Hedonism
258	Courtney Murphy // Forever Long
258	First Aid Kit // The Big Black and The Blue
258	No Age // Everything in between
258	The Black Ryder // Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
258	The Coral // Butterfly House
258	The Incredible Casuals // Rip Your Mother (Live at da Coma 2005-2010)
258	The Magnetic Fields // Realism
258	Tonic // Tonic
267	Cary Brothers // Under control
267	Don Dixon // Don Dixon Sings The Jeffords Brothers
267	Maia Hirasawa // GBGvsSTHLM
267	Nigel Stonier // Notes from overground
267	The Pernice Brothers // Goodbye, Killer
267	White Belt, Yellow Belt // Methods
273	Caribou // Swim
273	Darker My Love // Alive As You Are
273	Dramarama // Agents Of Mercy
273	One Eskimo // One Eskimo
273	Tender Trap // Dansette Dansette
273	The High Dials // Anthems For Doomed Youth
273	Thea Gilmore // Murphy’s Heart
280	Deftones // Diamond Eyes
280	Jont // Set it free
280	Mike Lombardo Trio // Songs For A New Day
280	Odd Blood // Yeasayer
280	Standard Fare // The Noyelle Beat
280	Ted Leo and the Pharmacists // The Brutalist Bricks
280	The Sails // A headful of stars
280	Young Veins // Take a Vacation
288	Bastards of Melody // Hurry up and wait
288	Bill Nelson // Fables & Dreamsongs
288	Feeder // Renegades
288	Fyfe Dangerfield // Fly Yellow Moon
288	Hanson // Shout It Out
288	Marching Band // Pop Cycle
288	The Debutante Hour // Birth And Death Of Meaning
288	The Parties // Coast Garde
288	The Silver Seas // Chateau Revenge!
288	Woodpigeon / Die Stadt Muzikanten
298	Duffy // Endlessly
298	Epsilon Zero // Blood
298	Freedy Johnston // Rain On The City
298	IKE // Tie The Knot With All That You Got
298	Jackdaw4 // The eternal struggle for justice
298	Lucky Soul // A Coming Of Age
298	Massive Attack // Heligoland
298	Nellie McKay // Home Sweet Mobile Home
298	New Young Pony Club // The Optimist
298	Nothing Rhymes with Orange // The Happiness Struggle
298	Perfume Genius // Learning
298	Peter Gabriel // Scratch My Back
298	The 1900s // Return of the Century
298	The Flaws // Constant Adventure
298	The Offbeat // In Love Field
298	The Phantom Band // The Wants

Audities: Best of 2010 – REQUEST FOR VOTES

If you would like to submit your votes for this year’s ‘Audities – Best of 2010′ then then rules are;

#1 – No re-releases.

#2 – Released in 2010.

#3 – No compilations / Best of albums.

#4 – 20 points for you number one album, 19 points for your number two album, down to 1 point for your twentieth favourite. Albums at positions twenty-one and on will all get one point.

Also these year i’ll take nominations for your favourite song. It must be from an album that meets the requirements from the Album of the year.

The same scoring system will apply for songs.

1 December 2010 – Nominations open.

31 Dec 2011 – Nominations close.

2 January 2011 – Results will be published on Pop Underground.

You can submit votes to: matt.whitby@gmail.com

Review: Welcome to the Numberhood by The Real Numbers

The San Francisco based Real Numbers had me with the MerryMakers-esque opening to their first track. At a little over twenty five minutes long the album delivers and leaves you wanting more. Much more.

If you like Jason Falkner you’ll be wanting this. It’s a great first album and does what it promises. Tuneful, happy power pop of the highest order.

Listen to: My ugly face.

Web – http://www.therealnumbers.us/
Listen – http://realnumbers.bandcamp.com/

Review: Every living thing by Quakers on probation

I am not a huge fan of country and western, and whilst this album doesn’t sit fully into that genre it had enough similarities to make me slightly wary.  After a couple of tracks the album really just washed over me.  It was pleasant and the kind of thing I might put on in the background whilst I was eating.  It wasn’t until track four that my ears pricked up and started to pay attention.  Not that i’m overly keen on synth brass, but it kind of worked for me on “I know a woman”.

There are certainly some gems; but for every “Yard Sale” you have a “Hollywood walk of fame” with an opening bass line totally out of keeping with the record.

The album wasn’t really for me, but i’d come back and cherry pick a few tracks off it.

Web -http://quakersonprobation.com

Review: Four by Bleu

The album finally arrived after much anticipation on Saturday just in time to have a listen before seeing Bleu live at the Borderline Club in London where he was playing along with Tracy Bonham and Jim Boggia

My God it’s such a great, great album. It’s going to be a tie between Farrah’s self-titled album and this for my album of 2010.

From the stunning opening with all shouting, glockenspiels, brass and totally in your face to the fantastic melody on B.O.S.T.O.N. which I can only presume is now the State Capital’s official anthem. Suddenly the it’s down a notch to the sumptuous ‘How Blue’ with its heartbreaking strings,  ‘Dead in the morning’ with it’s Blues Brothers type coda, the wonderfully stripped down ‘I’m in love with my lover’.  It’s just hit after hit.  Not a single song that doesn’t knock the ball way, way, way out of the park.  Just in case you’re not sold so far then ladies and gentleman, may I present to you a song co-written with Roger Joseph Manning Jnr.?

I cannot stress this enough.  Get this album now.

Stand out tracks: Well, to be honest.. all of them.

http://www.bleutopia.com

http://www.lojinx.com/features/LJX026

http://www.myspace.com/bleutopia

Interview – The Divine Comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey! Long time no write! Using exclamation points! I have just had an exciting interview with Neil Hannon, the man behind The Divine Comedy! I have been a fan of his music for a long time. And he has just released his tenth album, “Bang Goes The Knighthood”. We discussed the new album, his songwriting process, and how he manages his busy life. Enjoy!

So how would you describe the new album?

It’s my tenth and definitely as good as the other ones. A lot of my albums have explored facets, but in isolation, and this is a more rounded take on it. It has its sweeping orchestral moments, straight pop, a lot of silly and a lot of serious stuff, all sorts. Not to be too much of a plug, but I think if someone asked if they could have one album to sum up what I do, this would be it.

What do you look to accomplish with your songs?

In its purest form, it is to elicit an emotional reaction, sometimes just laughter, more often than not, trying to make people think. But I try to do it with wit and style, and occasionally I try to get a genuine point across, for example on the new album I have a song “The Complete Banker” about the financial situation in the world. It is the first song I wrote from anger, which I don’t use much, but even so, it still comes off as satire rather than just anger.

Many of your songs are like stories; some could even be expanded endlessly. Is this something you aim towards?

For the most part, I don’t like putting narrative plots in my songs, it is usually too wearing on the listener. But sometimes it is a good way of having a reason for a song. I have always preferred songs or lyrics with action, things happening rather than abstract emotion and feelings, which bore me a little. For example, “At the Indie Disco” which takes small observations of what might happen in said indie disco, which is used to try to create the world inside the listeners head. Not for any reason rather than that it is a nice image.

Do you write stories or prose that are not songs?

I’ve never really written straight prose, it takes long enough to write three verses and a chorus! I’m just not quick enough. I also like to work within tight structures. As much as people talk about my lyrics, which I am flattered by, I tend to focus on the actual tunes and music, which is a bigger part for me.

You often have very extensive arrangements, with strings, horns, etc. How important is the arrangement and instrumentation when preparing a song?

It has its place. Something I find hard is not over complicating songs, sometimes the greatest victory I have is not sticking strings on everything. You learn to do what the song requires, not what can be done. After more than 20 years in this business, I am capable of knowing what makes a good song, and over arranging does not make a great song. For example the first track (“Down in the Street Below”), because of the way the song works, it sort of calls out for a large arrangement. It reminds me of those big 60s ballads, such as Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, and the Walker Brothers. They have all influenced me on songs like that. However, those influences are attributed to me too often; I am very excited about a lot more types of music than just that. For example, synth-pop, I am sincerely influenced by Human League and OMD, just in the way the songs work, rather than instrumentation.

Your songs could be interpreted several different ways. What are some examples of odd interpretations you have heard from listeners?

Well, one major example was a hit I had in 1998, “National Express”, which I was just writing about a bus company in Britain, and certain experiences of being on the bus, and watching people. I thought it was an ordinary enough song, but certain parts of the music press thought it was a fascist, anti-working class anthem, and I was hurt by this very much. So yes, audiences can profoundly misconstrue songs. Sometimes, though, I set myself up for a fall, for trying to sound too clever, name dropping, listing books I’d read when I hadn’t. A lot of fans (for whom I am very grateful) sometimes have the thought that I am some sort of F. Scott Fitzgerald figure, which is very far from the truth. It is nearly impossible to tell people exactly what you mean in a song, without being boring or too obtuse.

You are very busy it seems, with other projects, how do you balance the workload?

With great difficulty, The Divine Comedy is the day job, and I like it very much, or I wouldn’t keep doing it. But I do like to do other things, to freshen the palate. I wrote my first musical, which will be taking to the stage in Bristol in December, that was a terrifying, massive undertaking, which is now completely out my hands, I wrote the songs, and that was about it. It was very rewarding, though, and if I had to write musicals from now on, I would do it, but first, people have to go see it! I also was 50% of a project, the Duckworth Lewis Method, which was an album all about cricket, and we didn’t really take that outside of Britain, since there was not as much pull for that topic elsewhere.

Thanks for talking to me Neil.

It was nice to speak to you too.

Jamie Bendell

I got a couple of tracks from Jamie Bendell, a singer-songwriter from New York.  Jamie certainly has an ear for melody and of the two tracks; “Rescue Me” and “Chocolate Milk” the second was very pleasing. A happy little song that would more-than-likely appeal to the Kate Nash fans.  My only criticism, and it’s personal taste, would be the vibrato on every held note which to my ears grates a little.  That said I’d certainly like to hear a wider selection of songs and investigate further.

http://www.myspace.com/jamiebendellmusic