Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Crewsin' 4 A Brewsin' 04 Styles and Smiles
Crews sent this to me electronically and asked that I make it public.
15. Of Montreal: Satanic Panic in the Attic – One of my students gave me a copy and said it was different and better than their other stuff and I have to agree. Its pretty dancey and, dare I say, rocking, at times
14. The Streets: A gram don’t come for free – This is rare that I actually like a hip-hop album, but this is pretty different than most stuff. Probably not worthy of The Beat, but really, other than DJ, who gives a shit about The Beat? “Dry your eyes” is one of the better melodramatic songs in a while. “Fit, but you know it” is funny.
13. Fiery Furnaces: Blueberry Boat – This made the list because I really like them live.
12. Camera Obscura: Underachievers Please Try Harder – Really good pop. This entry has a sub-entry of Biggest Blue Hi-Fi which was a great re-release on Merge.
11. Arcade Fire: Funeral – Once again a band that is better live than on album, but in this case the album is still really good. This band has so much hype, that their show in Chapel Hill in a couple of weeks sold out around Christmas time.
10. Joanna Newsom: Milk-Eyed Mendor – Weird year in which I saw lots of bands/performers that I had never heard of and was blown away. Joanna Newsom was fucking incredible and this cd is really great.
9. Devendra Banhart: Rejoicing in the Hands - He was the headliner of the Joanna Newsom show and had a tough act to follow, but damn, that hippie can turn a tune. Me and my friends in Houston also convinced him to do keg stands before he left. This record is really good, particularly “This Beard Is For Siobhan” and “This is the Way”
8. Bugs Eat Books: Ghosts of Leaves – Rob can write good songs. If he didn’t sing like someone stomped on his throat this would be better (jus kidding). Bugs Eat Books writes great songs that are lyrically really awesome.
7. Lil’ Flip Scoldjah: Out Francin Y’all – I got flip-scolded!
6. Brian Wilson: Smile – Yeah, he pulled it off. Something kind of makes me feel like it shouldn’t have been done. Its like straightening the leaning tower of Pisa or something. I like that I had a bootleg copy and it was incredible, now everyone has this record. Still one of the greatest records of all time.
5. Bonnie Prince Billy: sings Greatest Palace Music – Palace, Nashville-Style. Great classics with some good ol’ county music.
4. The Thrills: Let’s Bottle Bohemia – Lost in the shuffle of “the” bands this band is really good. This record and their previous one, So Much for the City, are really awesome. I recommend them to everybody.
3. the Delgados: Universal Audio – The song “Everybody Come Down” is one of my favorites of the year. This band has always flown just under my radar, but I finally gave these Scots a chance and listened to their record and then saw their show and they are good, Pop rules.
2. Mountain Goats: We Shall All Be Healed – One of my homies, fellow Durham-ite John Darnielle delivers on this album. Great songs but the added bonus of less tape-hiss than usual. Don’t hate because he finally went into a studio and also added a few instruments here and there. I saw him play recently with John Vanderslice and band and dammit, if he didn’t stand-up and rock a few numbers. Fucking Awesome
1a and 1b. Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and Guided by Voices: Bee Thousand- Yeah, they’re technically re-issues, but fuck it! Its my list, dammit!
Crews sent this to me electronically and asked that I make it public.
15. Of Montreal: Satanic Panic in the Attic – One of my students gave me a copy and said it was different and better than their other stuff and I have to agree. Its pretty dancey and, dare I say, rocking, at times
14. The Streets: A gram don’t come for free – This is rare that I actually like a hip-hop album, but this is pretty different than most stuff. Probably not worthy of The Beat, but really, other than DJ, who gives a shit about The Beat? “Dry your eyes” is one of the better melodramatic songs in a while. “Fit, but you know it” is funny.
13. Fiery Furnaces: Blueberry Boat – This made the list because I really like them live.
12. Camera Obscura: Underachievers Please Try Harder – Really good pop. This entry has a sub-entry of Biggest Blue Hi-Fi which was a great re-release on Merge.
11. Arcade Fire: Funeral – Once again a band that is better live than on album, but in this case the album is still really good. This band has so much hype, that their show in Chapel Hill in a couple of weeks sold out around Christmas time.
10. Joanna Newsom: Milk-Eyed Mendor – Weird year in which I saw lots of bands/performers that I had never heard of and was blown away. Joanna Newsom was fucking incredible and this cd is really great.
9. Devendra Banhart: Rejoicing in the Hands - He was the headliner of the Joanna Newsom show and had a tough act to follow, but damn, that hippie can turn a tune. Me and my friends in Houston also convinced him to do keg stands before he left. This record is really good, particularly “This Beard Is For Siobhan” and “This is the Way”
8. Bugs Eat Books: Ghosts of Leaves – Rob can write good songs. If he didn’t sing like someone stomped on his throat this would be better (jus kidding). Bugs Eat Books writes great songs that are lyrically really awesome.
7. Lil’ Flip Scoldjah: Out Francin Y’all – I got flip-scolded!
6. Brian Wilson: Smile – Yeah, he pulled it off. Something kind of makes me feel like it shouldn’t have been done. Its like straightening the leaning tower of Pisa or something. I like that I had a bootleg copy and it was incredible, now everyone has this record. Still one of the greatest records of all time.
5. Bonnie Prince Billy: sings Greatest Palace Music – Palace, Nashville-Style. Great classics with some good ol’ county music.
4. The Thrills: Let’s Bottle Bohemia – Lost in the shuffle of “the” bands this band is really good. This record and their previous one, So Much for the City, are really awesome. I recommend them to everybody.
3. the Delgados: Universal Audio – The song “Everybody Come Down” is one of my favorites of the year. This band has always flown just under my radar, but I finally gave these Scots a chance and listened to their record and then saw their show and they are good, Pop rules.
2. Mountain Goats: We Shall All Be Healed – One of my homies, fellow Durham-ite John Darnielle delivers on this album. Great songs but the added bonus of less tape-hiss than usual. Don’t hate because he finally went into a studio and also added a few instruments here and there. I saw him play recently with John Vanderslice and band and dammit, if he didn’t stand-up and rock a few numbers. Fucking Awesome
1a and 1b. Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and Guided by Voices: Bee Thousand- Yeah, they’re technically re-issues, but fuck it! Its my list, dammit!
