Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Putting '04 to rest
OK, so I finally got around to doing a list also, and while I don't have the patience to write as much as DJ did about each record, I thought I would toss a few notes about why I liked these records.
1. Interpol - Antics
Working at a radio station, I find myself coming home with handfulls of records practically everyday, but more often than not I will give a record a listen or two and then leave it be. With the new Interpol record I found myself coming back to it again and again. I wanted to put records on this list that I knew I was going to be able to enjoy for years to come, not just to be able to name drop cool bands here and there. Say what you want about Interpol, but at the end of the day they write great songs and put on a fantastic live show. My favorite thing about this record is that it's only 10 songs deep, so I really feel like I get to spend time with them and not have the gems get lost in a record that 18 tracks deep or 75 minutes long. Keep up the good work men, you have yet to dissapoint.
2. Mastodon - Leviathan
Another reason the ATL is never going to called Atlantis. The greatest metal band in the world, Mastodon calls this place home. They wrote a record based around Moby Dick, how fucking rad is that. I'm going o be checking these guys out on New Years at the Clairmont Lounge. Aparently, they are only the fourth band to ever play there besides Shellac, Smoke and the Rent Boys. That could be some misinformation, but but either way they will be bringing in the new year proppa like. For those of you that normally don't like metal, there will be a song of theirs on the Year end best of comp, so listen with open ears. They are an amazingly complex band, and even though you probably can't understand them the lyrics aren't your typical metal bad fare. (p.s. I saw them they ruled.)
3. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
No this isn't just a white dude from England rapping. Mike Skinner is an amazing story teller and his concept album about losing $1000 only to find it in the back of his television is brilliant. I wish the version of "Dry Your Eyes" with Chris Martin was the one that made the record, but oh well. I also gotta say that all the English chicks on the records sound really hot. They probably aren't though. Oh well. Cheers on a great record Mike, but watch the gambling bro, I heard you've got a bit of a problem.
4. Kanye West - College Dropout
Thankfully someone came along to shake up the mainstream hip-hop scene. Kanye's unique production was a breath of freah air on the radio, and the depth of his record was suprising coming from Roc-A -Fella. Kanye also stepped up the hip-hop style ditchin' the throwbacks for some Izods. College Dropout is also a record that has song after song that rules. I think there were 6 singles released off this record and some of those songs asre great, there are at least 6 other tracks that I liked better than Jesus Walks or Slow Jamz. It'll be intersting to see how he follows all the hype.
5. Je Suis France – Tittania EP
I hope Ryan, Chris and Sean enjoyed this as much as I did. Nice work gents.
6. The Fall – The Real New Fall LP
Sparta F.C. is probably one of my favorite songs of the year, so is this album. I didn’t really start getting into these guys until this year. Not too shabby for an old geezer and a bunch of hired guns
7. Guided By Voices – Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Speaking of old geezers. I didn’t dislike this record as much as a lot of other people did. Sure it’s not their best, but a great record none the less. I wish I could have been there at the last show.
8. Comets on Fire – Blue Cathedral
DJ wrote a better review than I could
9.Death From Above 1979 – You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
This beats ass. (Period)
10.Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
I want to see what these dudes will be able to do to follow up this record. I think they are amazing, but I think I’m more interested to see where they can take it from here. They have the potential to anything, especially from a live perspective. Both times I’ve seen them they have been really good, but I think that they could add so much more to make it a total mind fuck show. Solid official debut
OK, so I finally got around to doing a list also, and while I don't have the patience to write as much as DJ did about each record, I thought I would toss a few notes about why I liked these records.
1. Interpol - Antics
Working at a radio station, I find myself coming home with handfulls of records practically everyday, but more often than not I will give a record a listen or two and then leave it be. With the new Interpol record I found myself coming back to it again and again. I wanted to put records on this list that I knew I was going to be able to enjoy for years to come, not just to be able to name drop cool bands here and there. Say what you want about Interpol, but at the end of the day they write great songs and put on a fantastic live show. My favorite thing about this record is that it's only 10 songs deep, so I really feel like I get to spend time with them and not have the gems get lost in a record that 18 tracks deep or 75 minutes long. Keep up the good work men, you have yet to dissapoint.
2. Mastodon - Leviathan
Another reason the ATL is never going to called Atlantis. The greatest metal band in the world, Mastodon calls this place home. They wrote a record based around Moby Dick, how fucking rad is that. I'm going o be checking these guys out on New Years at the Clairmont Lounge. Aparently, they are only the fourth band to ever play there besides Shellac, Smoke and the Rent Boys. That could be some misinformation, but but either way they will be bringing in the new year proppa like. For those of you that normally don't like metal, there will be a song of theirs on the Year end best of comp, so listen with open ears. They are an amazingly complex band, and even though you probably can't understand them the lyrics aren't your typical metal bad fare. (p.s. I saw them they ruled.)
3. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
No this isn't just a white dude from England rapping. Mike Skinner is an amazing story teller and his concept album about losing $1000 only to find it in the back of his television is brilliant. I wish the version of "Dry Your Eyes" with Chris Martin was the one that made the record, but oh well. I also gotta say that all the English chicks on the records sound really hot. They probably aren't though. Oh well. Cheers on a great record Mike, but watch the gambling bro, I heard you've got a bit of a problem.
4. Kanye West - College Dropout
Thankfully someone came along to shake up the mainstream hip-hop scene. Kanye's unique production was a breath of freah air on the radio, and the depth of his record was suprising coming from Roc-A -Fella. Kanye also stepped up the hip-hop style ditchin' the throwbacks for some Izods. College Dropout is also a record that has song after song that rules. I think there were 6 singles released off this record and some of those songs asre great, there are at least 6 other tracks that I liked better than Jesus Walks or Slow Jamz. It'll be intersting to see how he follows all the hype.
5. Je Suis France – Tittania EP
I hope Ryan, Chris and Sean enjoyed this as much as I did. Nice work gents.
6. The Fall – The Real New Fall LP
Sparta F.C. is probably one of my favorite songs of the year, so is this album. I didn’t really start getting into these guys until this year. Not too shabby for an old geezer and a bunch of hired guns
7. Guided By Voices – Half Smiles of the Decomposed
Speaking of old geezers. I didn’t dislike this record as much as a lot of other people did. Sure it’s not their best, but a great record none the less. I wish I could have been there at the last show.
8. Comets on Fire – Blue Cathedral
DJ wrote a better review than I could
9.Death From Above 1979 – You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
This beats ass. (Period)
10.Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
I want to see what these dudes will be able to do to follow up this record. I think they are amazing, but I think I’m more interested to see where they can take it from here. They have the potential to anything, especially from a live perspective. Both times I’ve seen them they have been really good, but I think that they could add so much more to make it a total mind fuck show. Solid official debut
