4-3) Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight (2007)

The first time I discovered Rilo Kiley, it was in anticipation of going to my first Bonnaroo in 2008. They were one of a dozen or so bands set to perform that year, which I had David burn to CD for my research. "Under the Blacklight," their first major label release, had just dropped the previous year (2007).

I know it's not exactly protocol to start one's discovery of a band with their fourth album, but you know - that's how I do. I eventually went back and listened to some of their earlier stuff at David's suggestion, but I kept coming back to this. I know this will not be new to everyone, but I hope that each of you might find something to enjoy about this week anyway.

Although I always enjoyed the album in its entirety, the song "Silver Lining" struck me in particular - I had it on repeat for months. I loved the music video too. It's beautiful, and sad:



We didn't end up going to Bonnaroo 2008, and I never did get to see Rilo Kiley perform live - the band broke up in 2011 before I got a chance to. But I did catch Jenny Lewis solo at Bonnaroo 2009, and she put on a great show. I really enjoy her solo stuff too. It's something about her voice - a little touch of country without totally going there (although sometimes I like that too).

Without getting too far off subject - I can still catch Jenny Lewis any time if I go to my parents' house and whip out my "Troop Beverly Hills" VHS tape. Yes, this week we are listening to the angelic voice of little Hannah Nefler. (Also, for those of you that might not get that reference - I didn't have cable as a child, but if Blake Sennett looks familiar it's because you saw him on "Salute Your Shorts.")

4-2) Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998)

For this week, I’ve decided to go with the 4^th in my ever revolving favorite album of all time choice (the other 3 we’ve already covered: The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper’, and Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ and ‘Kid A’). Before you listen to this, though, put any comparison between those albums and this one out of your mind. ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’ is unlike almost anything else in music, although their influence can be heard slightly in bands like The Decemberists and Arcade Fire. The album is a menagerie of strange instrumentation, and even stranger lyrics. While this may sound off-putting, don’t worry…the end result is one of the most original, beautiful musings on life itself ever created.


Neutral Milk Hotel, led by reclusive (at least until recently) mastermind Jeff Mangum, was a member of the highly influential Elephant 6 collective of bands that in the 90’s featured Of Montreal, The Apples inStereo, and The Olivia Tremor Control, among others. These bands made their name in creating psychedelic indie pop with a strong Beatles influence, but Neutral Milk Hotel was something else entirely. Their sound was one featuring instruments that almost sound like they could have come out of a junkyard, with Mangum’s relatively normal acoustic guitar backed by accordions, bagpipes, singing saws, fuzzed-out guitars, and horns that sound like they came straight off of a dusty Spanish street band.


Jeff Mangum’s lyrics are the real star of the show here, though. Legend has it that he wrote this album after reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” for the first time, and was so moved by her story that the words just burst out of him. The ghost of Anne Frank hangs over the entire album as he randomly makes clear references to her, but he really uses this base as a means to discuss all aspects of life, death, sex, and memories of childhood, albeit in an oft cryptic manner. There are far too many lyrical standouts here for me to name, and I strongly suggest finding the lyrics online and reading along at least once. I’ll leave you with one line from an 8 minute track recorded in one take that audibly elicited a slack-jawed “Holy Shit!” from the sound board guy (you can hear it at the end of the song if you listen carefully), the standout “Oh Comely”: “Soft silly music is meaningful, magical”. He proves himself right every time I listen to this album.

4-1) Clint Mansell - The Fountain Soundtrack (2006)

Clint Mansell is the best. What John Williams is to Steven Spielberg, Clint Mansell is to Darren Aronofsky. Aronofsky doesn't have the credentials of Spielberg (yet), but the man puts together some of my favorite movies and Clint Mansell is a key component of those.

My favorite soundtracks/films from the duo include Requiem for a Dream, Pi, The Wrestler, The Black Swan, and this week's selection, The Fountain. Other works from Mansell include Smokin' Aces, Sahara, Doom and one of my other favorite soundtracks, Moon.

Mansell is able to generate scenes in your head in absence of the film. He creates beautiful and sometimes terrifying settings. In addition, the emotion is palpable and really takes me places.

Despite the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack being my favorite, I chose the Fountain because the movie the soundtrack creates in my head is better than the actual movie. Not to suggest the Fountain is bad, it is actually quite beautiful and complex. The beautiful component doesn't necessarily jive with my taste.

I do not think you will be handicapped if you have not seen the film. For some background, there are three parallel stories, each featuring Hugh Jackman's quest to discover love for eternity. In the primary story, he is a scientist searching for a cure for his wife's terminal illness. In another, he is a soldier searching for the Tree of Life. The final story he attempts to save a dying star from a nebula.

I think the soundtrack captures the desperation from each of these stories really well. That desperation is the emotion which moves me. The whole album is one big experience, but the culmination, in my opinion, is 'Death is the Road to Awe'. The finale, Together We Will Live Forever, may very well bring you to tears if you have the opportunity to let this album take you on Jackman's journey.

I am very excited to share this album with you and sincerely hope it captures you the way it captures me.

If you have extra time this week, I encourage you to check out the Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Moon, and The Black Swan.

Justin's Favorites Albums of 2011

While 2010 was a tremendous year for music, 2011 had quite a few spectacular moments for me as well. My list this year is just 10 albums, and that's not to say there were only 10 good albums to come out this year, but each of these artists created something truly unique and special that captivated and entertained me throughout the past 12 months. Notable favorites that have been excluded include: Radiohead, TV on the Radio, My Morning Jacket and 9th Wonder; I write that to show that just because you are one of my favorite artists it doesn't give you an automatic lock for my favorites of the year. Take a moment to explore these artists and share any thoughts you have, cheers.


10. Smoovth - Red Dot Plot

The hip hop underground really bubbled this year with EP's and mixtapes from up-and-comers like Kung Foo Grip, Action Bronson and Shabazz Palaces. While there were shining moments on all of those efforts, none of them hooked me in like Smoovth's Red Dot Plot. This NY native is a torchbearer of the East Coast boom bap sound from the golden era 90's. Crisp production keeps a rigid street vibe yet doesn't feel out of place at a house party, in the vein of Black Moon's Enta Da Stage or Mobb Deep's The Infamous. Like one of my favorites from last year Roc Marciano's Marcberg, there is a hustler vibe but there are moments like the dusty piano driven "Phonograph" that give this project real heart.

Listen to: Speed Kills



9. Crystal Antlers - Two-Way Mirror

Sophisticated melodic punk music. Fun, fun, fun album! Perfect for any occasion and any season.

Listen to: Summer Solstice

8. WU LYF - Go Tell Fire On the Mountain

What would happen if you could somehow record cavemen playing electrified instruments? I believe the end result would be something close to this album. There is a current of animalistic thumping and gesturing throughout the entire album that feels dangerous and exciting. You want to keep listening to the album just to see what they do next. Although the lyrics are mostly indecipherable, they are undeniably celebratory and evoke Irish sing-a-longs and even battle cries. Undeniably unique, this album is an unrefined beauty.

Listen to: We Bros



7. BADBADNOTGOOD - BBNG

I love hip hop. I love jazz. Therefore, I love BADBADNOTGOOD. I discovered them on bandcamp.com and found out that they're 3 college students from Toronto who are trained classically in jazz but also happen to have an affinity for Odd Future, Gang Starr and J Dilla. On this album, which can be downloaded absolutley for free, they give their own renditions of hip hop classics like "Mass Appeal" and ODB's (begging to be made a jazz standard) "Brooklyn Zoo". But they are not just some generic jazz covers, the trio give these tracks room to breathe and grow. There are original compositions mixed in with the hip hop reworkings that display a playfulness and proficiency that leads me to believe they will have a say in the way jazz moves forward throughout this millennium. They are the perfect mix of talent and desire.

Listen to: Title Theme/Saria's Theme/Song of Storms


6. The Roots - undun

When your bandleader is an audiophile who can DJ a birthday party for Prince one week and a BBQ in Brooklyn the next, you have something special. The Roots are special. Inspiration is the catalyst for creativity, and drummer ?uestlove derives inspiration for those who came before him; from David Bowie and Brian Eno to Eric B & Rakim. His expansive vinyl cache is filled with pioneers of sound who weren't afraid to alienate their fanbase in order to create something personal or original. He and The Roots aren't interested in high-profile rappers guesting on their albums or remixing their songs. They are motivated by making music that has a purpose, that will be relevant for generations and not just a few weeks on the Billboard charts. With undun, they've tackled their first concept album; a story of a troubled youth that unfolds from his death backwards. They managed to dodge the cliche interludes that can bog a record down and created a taught timeline of soulful and funky reality. Can we please acknowledge them as one of the most important artists of this generation?!

Listen to: Make My



5. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

I fell in love with this album. I listened to it for over 2 weeks straight in my car. Kurt's voice curls around you like a snake but has a warmth like a few stiff shots of Jim Beam. There's a slacker, everyman vibe that Kurt has nailed down perfectly; he's like a less loveable Tom Petty. The duration of the album is Kurt exploring his disdain with everyday life, but like all good stoner-rock, a healthy dose of guitars helps him get through it. He doesn't hold any punches and calls everyone out, including himself; he copes by making excuses like we all do. Smoke Ring For My Halo personifies an apathetic nation; there are a few sunbeams poking throughout the dark clouds here but not many. It might take a few listens, but stay with this album and it will really grow on you.

Listen to: Baby's Arms



4. James Blake - self titled

Raw emotion. This music is so naked and exposed, you might get a little embarrassed the first time you listen to it. On the Feist cover "Limit to Your Love" the seconds of silence in-between the word "care" and the thunderous bass drop seem to carry the weight of the universe. Blake's knowledge of music and its history come through in the way he blurs the genre lines of soul, r&b, and dubstep. This album is sexy, heart-wrenching and engulfing in the way its sonic's will swallow you up and spit you out only to repeat the process on the next track. James lyrics and timbre create this candid masterpiece that makes it hard not to look introspectively into our own lives. If only we could express our thoughts as gorgeously as James, who is a future superstar.

Listen to: I Never Learnt to Share



3. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Ever since 2008's Saturdays = Youth album, I've been waiting eagerly to see what Anthony Gonzalez would do next. His flawless execution of 80's dream-pop on Saturdays had a joyous and familiar feel but seemed to lack something. That something else, was a confidence in his voice that he clearly has found on this triumph of an album. At times it's hard not to believe you're listening to Peter Gabriel sing when you hear Anthony's ethereal vocals. A movie score is obviously what he had in mind when making this adventurous recording, there seem to be sounds coming from every direction, at times, putting us right in the middle of the action denying us escape, but who would want to leave this incredible ride?! Anthony serves as the conductor to this orchestra who produces euphoric highs and maintains a heady buzz of synthy, dream-like bliss. It certainly feels like he pushed all of his chips in the middle on this double-album; it's evident this was a labor of love and it couldn't be more rewarding.

Listen to: Wait


2. Drake - Take Care

When I first heard Drake on his mixtape So Far Gone a few years ago, I couldn't help but think this guy could be the next Kanye. The way he was candid about his shortcomings and insecurities but at the same time had a (pardon the term) swagger, it was easy to connect the dots. His versatility to both sing and flow makes him special; with his last album Thank Me Later, he couldn't find a comfortable balance of the 2 and the project disappointed us who knew he could bring more to the table. Take Care is an album that showed me Drake is not just a singer/rapper but an artist. Each track feels like paint being brushed onto a canvas that, at the end, reveals a picture of a superstar that isn't comfortable with his fame. The party tracks are great: the Gil Scott-Heron sample on the albums title track is what dance floors are made for, and "HYFR" could have easily been on Wayne's (surprisingly) underrated Carter IV. For me, the meat of this album is in the slow burners like the Stevie Wonder assisted "Doing It Wrong". Relationships are tough for everybody, compound that with the fact that Drake's been a successful child actor and now music star, it can only make things more awkward and alienating. That Stevie harmonica breakdown at the end of "Doing It Wrong" is so beautiful and painful at the same time; I rewound that part too many times to count. "Look What You've Done" is such a genuine homage to his immediate family that has supported him through everything; it's those moments that makes this album resonate for me. Impressive work from an artist that is living up to his talent.

Listen to: Look What You've Done



1. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Music can be transcendent. It can make us feel ways we've never felt before. When I listen to Fleet Foxes I am taken to a space that is not of this world. Maybe it's "folk-bliss" (which is a term I've never heard of, but it definitely applies here) that comes over me. I'm taken away from a world that is strangled by technology and placed in this area that is sustained only by the harmonizing and playing of Robin Peckinold and his band. Nobody writes lyrics like Robin, who authors tales of devotion and questioning of his own fate all while building these set pieces that involve lush countryside and the creatures that inhabit them. My niece and nephew are also closely related to the music as both of the Foxes LP's have been released around the time of their births. I can't say enough wonderful things about a band that has given me so much joy in my life; watching them perform on a cool evening in the park earlier this year was pure serenity.

Listen to: The Shrine/An Argument

"Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier" - Sun Airway (2010)

While roaming over to the generously shaded Blue Stage on a steamy Saturday afternoon at Pitchfork Festival, I was trying to remember what Sun Airway sounded like. I remember briefly scanning over music from all the bands listed for the festival, when they were announced, and that Sun Airway struck me as poppy psych-rock. As this unassuming band from Philadelphia took the stage, I was eager to hear if my assessment was fair and most importantly if they were worth my time. The next 50 minutes showcased a polished product from a band that exuded a quiet confidence and skillful precision found in only the most accomplished and dedicated modern acts.

In a live setting, Sun Airway strip away their electronic reverbed production from the album and give lead singer Jon Barthmus a cushion of gliding guitars and subdued drums that allows him to showcase his confident and earnest falsetto. He struck me vocally at Pitchfork as a doppelganger for The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser; I get that from the album as well, but I also get Panda Bear and Julian Casablancas (but without the pretentiousness). The first album I went to listen to with my new Spotify account was this one and I keep coming back to it for pure blissful enjoyment. To me, this music hovers in a cloud of indie rock, psych-pop, and electronic, but there is also this unexplainable element that I find keeps swallowing me up when I listen to it. Maybe one of you can put a finger on it, when you listen to Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier, which is one of the weirdest album titles in recent memory. Between their live performance and this album, Sun Airway have thoroughly impressed me, so much that I wanted to share it with all of you.

Favorite Tracks: Infinity, American West, Swallowed By the Night, Waiting On You, Shared Piano, Put the Days Away, Five Years

"Bon Iver" - Bon Iver (2011)

The first half of 2011 has been one of the best periods for music that I can remember in quite some time. With new albums by Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile, Destroyer, James Blake, The Weeknd and EMA that are going to rank amongst my favorite albums for many years to come, these last six months have been very fruitful. None of these albums have come as close to flooring me the way that Justin Vernon's new effort as Bon Iver has, however. Bon Iver's previous full length, 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago was a solid affair, with a couple of great songs, such as "Skinny Love" and "Re: Stacks", but overall it didn't hit me as hard as it seemed to have gotten other listeners. The backstory, in which Vernon abandoned his life in North Carolina to move to an isolated cabin in the woods of Wisconsin, was ubiquitous with the release of the album, but the auto-tuned vocal effects that he used just didn't fit that isolation to me.

Fast forward three years, however, and Vernon's story has taken a 180-degree turn. In the time period since, Vernon has guested on albums by Collections of Colonies of Bees (as Volcano Choir), Anais Mitchell, Gayngs, and most notably Kanye West on his 2010 already-classic My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. These last two guest appearances have had a profound effect on Vernon, with Gayngs leaving a strong late 80's, early 90's cheeseball rock impression, and Kanye bequeathing some of his magical orchestral touch. Unlike Emma's stark, acoustic theme, Bon Iver has one of the more rich, head-space filling sounds that you're likely to hear for some time. This album is full of strings, woodwind instruments and steel guitars, all used to perfection, and throw in the growing confidence that Vernon has in his falsetto vocals and the result is out of this world. This is an album that I strongly suggest to anyone, regardless of musical tastes, and is one that I'll be playing forever....a new classic.

Favorite Tracks: "Minnesota, WI", "Holocene", "Towers", "Calgary", "Beth/Rest"

"Lungs" - Florence and the Machine (2009)

Ok I'm in full Bonnaroo mode now, so you'll probably hear about a few artists I'm excited to see... and when I return some artists I really enjoyed.

I focused on Mumford & Sons in my last post so I'm moving onto Florence and the Machine.

Top three tracks for me (best to least favorite): "Dog Days are Over", "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up" and "You've Got the Love." All three were released as singles.

At times, Florence reminds me of Imogen Heap, but maybe a little less weird. (If you've seen the video for Dog Days, I'd like to stress "a little.") But her voice is pretty amazing, and the beats on those more upbeat songs are incredibly high energy.

Either of the first two tracks is great for running, I might add. I really can't wait to see them live. I think this will be one of my highlights. I think Thomas and Beth would like them if they haven't already heard them. What do you think?

Beastie Boys Week

Due to the recent release of Hot Sauce Committee part 2, I spent the last glorious week reviewing the Beastie Boys' entire body of work. Although I loved this group prior to this week, after going through their albums, I fell even more in love with them. They have an amazing ability to create new sounds, while staying current and true to themselves. In addition, they have a sound which is so unique that no other artist comes close. Their rhymes and beats are fresh and are never repeated from prior works.

Though the 2011 release was outstanding, I still had a very hard time deciding whether License to Ill, Check Your Head, or To the 5 Boroughs was my favorite. I am leaning towards To the 5 Boroughs based on the depth and quality of every track. In addition, I am leaning towards Mike D as my favorite MC.

Again, HSC pII was outstanding. It was such a breath of fresh air from anything that came out in 2010 and I truly like every single track. The beats are very catchy including some rather heavy ones via guitar. The two tracks with featured artists were not half bad either, notably the Nas track. If you haven't picked this up yet, I hope you at least give it some consideration as you are truly missing out on yet another masterpiece from the trio.

"Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever" - Explosions in the Sky (2001)

While in Cincinnati for the birth of my niece, Thomas and I went record store hopping and I threw in an album from the group This Will Destroy You. I told him they were a post-rock instrumental group and that if he liked them, he should check out Explosions in the Sky. Thomas liked what he heard, so I wanted to make sure I got around to sharing this incredible album with the rest of you.

Released a mere week before 9/11, the album art is a bit unsettling. Especially, when you look inside the liner notes and there is a picture of an airplane with the caption underneath saying "This Plane Will Crash Tomorrow". It is an extremely unfortunate coincidence, but if you listen to this album keeping in mind the events that happened on that horrible day it makes for an overwhelming soundtrack.

Hailing from Texas, EITS say so much with their music without ever speaking a word. Their albums are compositions, not just individual tracks that are cleverly sequenced. With 3 guitars and a drum kit, they build these swelling and crashing pieces that can be euphoric, sublime and reflective. There are only 6 tracks on this album as the songs are quite lengthy, but the length is necessary in telling the story. I was interested to find out if this music speaks to any of you; I've heard people say it is boring and repetitive. I picked this one because it is my favorite and I recently purchased it on vinyl. They will be the final band I see perform at Bonnaroo this year, and I can't think of a more beautiful way to watch the sun go down in Tennessee.

"Web In Front" - Archers of Loaf (1993) / b/w / "Savory" - Jawbox (1994)

With the new format that we have recently begun, I think it's about time I kick off a new idea that I've had in regards to my posts. With our old rotation format, I always wanted to make sure that I picked something "important" (for the most part) with each choice. With this more open-ended, post whenever you feel like it format, however, I feel like it's given me the space to branch out even more, and introduce everyone to some things that I might not have been able to otherwise. With that in mind, I have decided to not only write about individual albums that are worth checking out, but also individual tracks that I have either loved for years, or that I just can't get out of my head at the moment. I've decided to post these songs in "single" format, meaning that each post will contain 2 or 3 songs, which I'll then relate to each other in the accompanying paragraph or so. Sometimes these songs will be from the same band (often when just a couple of tracks stand out from the rest), but many times I'll try to give a small indication of a trend by choosing songs from different artists. I plan on writing these "single" posts more often, as they're easier to listen to than an entire album, but I'll still continue with my regular album postings as well. Now on to my first choice....

The Mid-90's Underground Encapsulated....with Guitars

I guess I should start off by saying that the 1990's are my all-time favorite era of music. From the more mainstream bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, to indie bands such as Pavement and Modest Mouse, not to mention the golden age of hip-hop, the Western world was simply bursting at the seams with exciting sounds. My great love of music comes from experiencing as much of this music as I could while being in my formative years, and as long as I live, I'll never tire of the music I was listening to then.

In the mid-90's, many indie bands began incorporating a more hard-edged guitar sound into their music, all the while retaining a sense of melody that set them apart from a lot of the more mainstream bands. Archers of Loaf, a band from Chapel Hill, NC, used this edge to propel the slacker rock that Pavement had perfected into a new decibel range, mixing their guitars with Eric Bachmann's passionate, scratchy vocals. Meanwhile, DC's Jawbox was mixing a more hardcore sound with even more impassioned vocals, setting the scene for the late 90's emo surge (not to be confused with what was considered emo in the 2000's), that featured bands such as Cursive and The Promise Ring. Both of these songs were part of great albums, but each stands out so far from the rest that they deserve special recognition, as they perfectly encapsulate what was happening in underground music in the mid 90's. Listen and enjoy (hopefully!).

"Web In Front" - Archers of Loaf (from their 1993 album Icky Mettle) 
                                          &
"Savory" - Jawbox (from their 1994 album For Your Own Special Sweetheart)