4 New Grand Archives Songs!!! For FREE!!!

Head on over to grandarchives.com to download 4 new demos from their upcoming LP, Villains.

Or, click below to listen:

Grand Archives - Hey Hey Heart Attack [mp3]

Grand Archives - Villains [mp3]

Grand Archives - West of Worry [mp3]

Grand Archives - Are We Coming to Get You? [mp3]

Longtime blog readers will recall that Grand Archives' debut LP was one of my favorite albums of 2008.  It had so many great tracks and promised BIG things for the band.  Unfortunately, their 2009 followup, Keep in Mind Frankenstein was not one of my favorites.  Quite disappointing, to be honest.  These 4 new demos, however, are VERY promising!  Wow.  What a return to form!  These make so very excited for their next full length. 

Song du Jour Nr. 064

Silver Among the Gold [mp3]

by

Grand Archives

from

Keep in Mind Frankenstein
[2009]

Song du Jour Nr. 063

Miniature Birds [mp3]

by

Grand Archives

from

Grand Archives [2008]

Song du Jour Nr. 062

Torn Blue Foam Couch [mp3]

by

Grand Archives

from

Grand Archives
[2008]

Best Albums of 2009: September Edition

Best Albums of 2009

September Edition (a bit late, sorry)

Rather than compiling a huge list at the end of the year, not having enough time to do a good job, and simply throwing something together really fast, I'm going to start compiling my thoughts on albums over the whole year - month by month. Some of these may have actually been released earlier in the year, but are in this months set because this is when I got my hands on them.

1.
J. Tillman
Year in the Kingdom


Two LPs in one year - not too shabby. Tillman's 2nd offering of 2009 is hands down, one of the best indie-acoustic-folk releases in a long time, if not ever. It features his familiar dark, brooding, mellow vocals, quiet guitar strumming, and richly overlain harmonized oooings and aaahings in the background. There are some great string arrangements backing these tracks as well. And, it appears that Tillman has discovered the dulcimer, which adds a unique new texture to his music -giving Year in the Kingdom a distinct feel. Top Tracks are all of them. Seriously. Try these out though: Though I have Wronged You [download mp3] and Earthly Bodies [download mp3] via stereogum.

2.
Joshua James
Build Me This


I wrote quite a lengty review on this album last month as a stand-alone review. It is quite lengthy, so I'll just direct you there. On that review I had originally posted a sample mp3 of Coal War - the albums opening track. Joshua had given me express written permisison to do so, but his record label disagreed and made blogger disable the post TWICE. I took the mp3 down immediately, but they felt it necessary to flag it for abuse a 2nd time (even though the link was gone). Bummer.


3.
Owen
New Leaves


Mike Kinsella's now multi-year solo project, Owen, simply does not disappoint. I can't get enough of his brand of indie-acoustic slowjam! New Leaves is marked by his now very well established noodly acoustic guitar tracking, oft-hesitant vocals, painful lyrics and interspersed lead electric guitar. Reportedly, this album still contains some material recorded in his mother's basement - as per tradition - but clearly features a more well-developed writing and production process than previous releases. It follows in the footsteps of "At Home with Owen" in this regard. Great strings and other backing instrumentaiton abound. Top tracks include New Leaves and A Trenchant Critique [download mp3].


4.
A.A. Bondy
When the Devil's Loose

I have just recently gotten into A.A. Bondy. The new album is good, but some of the alt-county production turned me off. I think I liked his 2007 American Hearts a lot more. I do appreciate his gravely vox though. Mmm Mmm. Loves me some good 'ol fashioned gravely vox!


5.
Volcano Choir
Unmap


I have been a fan of Pele, and their later reincarnaiton as Collections of Colonies of Bees for quite a while. Avant-garde, experimental, noodly-guitar rock. When I heard they teamed up with Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon to form Volcano Choir, I was intruiged. I'm not a huge bon Iver fan, but his falsetto vox prove a great addition to the experimental Wisconsinites' sound. In deed, many of the lyrics are indiscernable anyways, and his voice serves as another layer of instrumentation. Very nicely done boys. Top tracks include Island, IS [download mp3] and Still.


6.
Grand Archives
Keep in Mind Frankenstein


Grand Archives' 2008 self-titled LP still stands as one of my favorites. It set the standard pretty high for their sophomore release. Even with mediocre expectations, however, Keep in Mind Frankenstein is disappointing. There are a few good tracks, but much of the album is simply boring. Dig That Crazy Grave is a travesty of alt-country devolution/digression. According to their label profile at subpop.com, they originally recorded a much more raucous album, but scrapped it, wrote this one on the spot, and recorded it. I think I would like to hear the more raucous one. The redeemable tracks are Topsy's Revenge, Silver among the Gold [download mp3] and Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will.
















Running LP List

1. J. Tillman - Year in the Kingdom (September)
   
2. Joshua James - Build me This (September)
   
3. J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (January)
   
4. Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend (August)
   
5. fun. - Aim and Ignite (August)
   
6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May)
7. Shark Speed - Sea Sick Music (April)
8. Owen - New Leaves (September)
   
9. Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs (February)
10. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (January)
11. Iron & Wine - Around the Well (May)
12. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches (August)
    
13. Before Braille - Spring Cleaning (June + July)
14. Art for Starters - Drugs Made / Drugs Ruined (April)
    
15. The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (March)
16. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South (May)
    
17. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band (August)
    
18. The Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels (March)
19. A.A. Bondy - When the Devil's Loose (September)
20. Volcano Choir - Unmap (September)
    
21. Mos Def - The Ecstatic (June + July)
    
22. Dent May and his Magnificent Ukuele - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May (March)
23. Jeremy Enigk - OK Bear (May)
24. Coconut Records - Davy (January)
25. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity Live (April)
    
26. Iain Archer - To the Pine Roots (April)
    
27. The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha (February)
28. John Vanderslice - Romanian Names (May)
    
29. Peter, Bjorn and John - Living Thing (March)
30. Jonsi and Alex - Rice Boy Sleeps (June + July)
    
31. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (May)
32. Grand Archives - Keep in Mind Frankenstein (September)
    
33. Lateef the Truth Speaker - Truth is Love Mixtape (April)
    
34. Vetiver - Tight Knit (March)
35. General Elektriks - Good City for Dreamers (February)
36. Dark was the Night compilation (April)
    
37. Ben Kweller - Changing Horses (January)

Running EP List

1. Common Market - The Winter's End (March)
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Open Door (March)
3. Owen - The Seaside (August)
   
4. Joshua James - Sing Songs (May)
   
5. Andrew Bird - Fitz and the Dizzyspells (August)
   
6. The Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice - Moon Colony Blood Bath (April)
7. Blue Scholars - OOF! (August)

New Grand Archives song

As previously posted, Grand Archives is releasing their new album, Keep in Mind Frankenstein, on September 15, 2009. Below is a link for the first song to be previewed off the album. Not my favorite GA song, but good to hear that they haven't gone in some horrible direction that I can't stand! I will be very excited fro September!

Grand Archives - Silver Among the Gold [from Keep in Mind Frankenstein]
Download mp3

New Grand Archives in September

I don't know how long this has been out, but I just heard about it. Grand Archives is releasing their 2nd full length LP on September 15, 2009 on Sub Pop. The LP is titled Keep in Mind Frankenstein.

Track Listing:

1. Topsy’s Revenge
2. Witchy Park/Tomorrow Will (Take Care of Itself)
3. Silver Among the Gold
4. Oslo Novelist
5. Lazy Bones
6. Siren Echo Valley (Part 1)
7. Left for All the Strays
8. Dig That Crazy Grave
9. Siren Echo Valley (Part 2)
10. Willoughby

Needless to say, I am incredibly excited!

I'm still waiting for that Southern Glass Home EP you guys promised me!

Best Albums of 2008

My Favorite LPs of 2008

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

· Wow. I have been following Sub Pop new bands for quite some time, but Fleet Foxes took me completely by surprise. It was a good surprise. Their blend of folk, indie rock and near-Mamas and the Papas-esque harmonies was such a breath of fresh air. Their sound was completely their own and this album came out of nowhere. With a set of internet songs out, and the Sun Giant EP, Fleet Foxes have now honed their sound and found their voice. Their sophomore effort will be one of my most anticipated for the next couple years. Top tracks are . . . all of them. Seriously. Here's a couple live tracks via la blogotheque.

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

2. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum end

· Mmm. Sigur Ros. I loved Agaetis Byrjun. Takk was a masterpiece. They were albums that I liked to listen to on a nice set of headphones – with all other sounds blocked out. However, for some reason, when they came up on my iPod when on shuffle, I would often skip their tracks. The songs were something to be experienced and enjoyed outside of the shuffle format. Med sud I eyrum vid spilum defies that. On this album, Sigur Ros comes closer than ever before to writing traditional pop-rock songs. I’m not saying that pop-rock is the gold standard for good music (heaven forbid). However, for my shuffling tendancies, there is something to be said for a traceable intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus (or some permutation thereof) format. This album incorporates new sounds as well: a heavier reliance on acoustic guitars, more vibraphone and celesta than ever before, and more brass, more orchestra. This move away from the regular underlying cello-bowed distorted electric guitar allows the band to explore new sounds. I hate the term “soundscapes,” but in the case of Sigur Ros, it might actually be a worthwhile term. Again, Top tracks are all of them. Here's a live concert for your enjoyment.

3. Grand Archives – Grand Archives

· I think this was an underrated album. I loved it. Grand Archives is a fabulous example of straightforward indie-rock. Just some guys making good music. Lots of acoustic guitar and endless layers of vocal harmonies. Contains former members of Band of Horses and Carrissa's Wierd. Top tracks are Torn Blue Foam Couch, Miniature Birds, George Kaminski and Sleepdriving. Here they are on late night TV.

4. Common Market – Tobacco Road

· I find myself listening to this album a lot more than I thought I would. I love that Seatlle has a burgeoning Hip-Hop scene. Two of the premier acts are Blue Scholars and their Massline Media label-mates, Common Market. The two groups share their DJ, Sabzi, but have different MCs. Common Market’s self-titled debut was good, but is overshadowed in everyway by Tobacco Road. MC RA Scion’s new album has a more coherent voice that their previous LP lacked. HE focused heavily on his roots in the agricultural U.S. South, the troubled family life of his childhood and other seemingly autobiographical themes. He finds new cadences and new rhythms as well. DJ Sabzi finds new sounds as well – lots of vibraphone and other instrumentations that seem borrow from his skills as a jazz pianist. Top tracks include Trouble Is, Winter Takes All, Weather Vane and Tobacco Road. In particular, try Weather Vane. Common Market juxtaposes a smooth, almost sleepy, vibraphone track with the album’s grittiest and most disturbing lyrics – focused on domestic violence in small town rural America. Its chilling stuff. Here's their 1st music video.

5. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs

· This was a highly anticipated album if there ever was one. I still can’t believe that Death Cab for Cutie – that band that I first heard while growing up in Bellingham, WA, where they were going to college there at Western Washington University. Heck, I used to play them on my radio show at KUGS 89.3 when they were wandering the Western U.S. in beat-up vans. It is unbelievable to see them headlining major festivals, debuting their new album Narrow Stairs at #1 on the Billboard charts and getting Grammy nominations! Wow! Well, maybe I should be surprised, because they ARE amazing. Narrow Stairs finds them in a more stripped down and raw state than on the previously uber-produced Plans. The result is fabulous. Indie rock at its best. Some guys in a room, playing great music. Gibbard lyrics continue to impress me. The music industry has few true poets. Gibbard may be one of them. Top tracks are Cath . . . , Grapevine Fires and Your New Twin Sized Bed. Check out this documentary on the making of Narrow Stairs:

6. The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride

· Oh the Mountain Goats. John Darnielle is by far my favorite lyricist in the business. On each successive album his oft nasally vocals get more refined and his talent as a musician is more polished. As has been mentioned in some reviews, Darnielle is more a songwriter than a musician. Top tracks are San Bernadino, How to Embrace a Swamp Creature and Michael Myers Resplendent.Here's a video off the album - one of my favorites of the year.

7. Dear and the Headlights – Drunk Like Bible Times

· I found this band via their record producer, Bob Hoag @ the Flying Blanket Studio. On a side note, I’m still waiting for Bob’s The Go Reflex to release a new album. Please Bob, for my sake . . . I need some more Go Reflex. OK, back to Dear and the Headlights . . . This band’s first album, Small Steps, Heavy Hooves was good. I liked it. Drunk Like Bible Times is better. They seem more comfortable with their voice, and claim that this album better represents who they are, whereas their previous LP was outdated and unrepresentative of where the band was. The vocals are more frenetic than ever (if you can believe it), guitars are more noodley and there is a broader instrumentation overall. Top tracks are I’m not Crying, You’re not Crying, Are You?, Saintly Rows (Oh Oh) and I Know. Here's a video from their first album.

8. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues

· J. Tillman has been putting out some great solo, singer-songwriter material for a few years. I found him via his current gig as the drummer for Fleet Foxes and form my bro-in-law McGreggor. His 2^nd release of the year, I like this one better than Minor Works. The production value and sound quality isn’t quite as good as Minor Works, but thankfully, he didn’t lay down the countrified slide guitar as much. Top tracks are Firstborn, James Blues, Barter Blues and Master’s House.

9. R.E.M. – Accelerate

· Hallelujah for a comeback. R.E.M. was probably the most influential band during my adolescent/teenage years. My wife claims I like them simply for the nostalgia, but I disagree. However, as much lamented by myself and other, their last couple efforts have been soooo disappointing. Up, Reveal and Around the Sun . . . I could do without them. So, their latest effort was so exciting. Wow. R.E.M. is back, mad and pumped full of something! This album is full of angst, energy and direction. Accelerate is a good mix of their traditional sensibilities with some of the added energy of Monster and New Adventures in Hi Fi. Top tracks are Living Well is the Best Revenge, Man-Sized Wreath, Hollow Man and Mr. Richards. Here's them on late night

10. Someone Still Loves you Boris Yeltsin – Pershing

· Another good release from Polyvinyl Records! Upbeat, harmony-laden indie rock. I was glad to find it on vinyl for $7 in a discount bin at graywhale records in SLC! Top tracks are Glue Girls, Modern Mystery and Think I Wanna Die. A video.

11. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

· Overrated? Over exposed? Critical backlash due to all the hype? Blah blah blah. This band and album has receive a lot of blogosphere attention. All of the bickering aside, this is a fun album. Enough said. It is unique, upbeat, has good strings and again, its fun. Just fun. Top Tracks are Mansard Roof, A-Punk and The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance. Another top video of the year for me.

12. J. Tillman – Minor Works

· Previously mentioned, this was J. Tillman’s first release of the year. The sound quality was a vast improvement from his previous 3 releases. However, as many bands do when they have a larger budget for recording, Tillman over did it a bit. Too much slide guitar . . . and at times a bit overproduced. Top tracks are Jesse’s Not a Sleeper, With Wolves, and Restlessness.

13. Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins

· As intended, this is a good follow up to 2007’s The Stage Names. If you liked that, you’ll like this. Top tracks are Lost Coast Lines, Starry Stairs and Bruce Wayne Campell Interviewed on the Roof of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979. Lost Coast Lines video:

14. The Mighty Underdogs – Droppin’ Science Fiction

· The Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Lateef the Truth Speaker (Latyrx and Maroons) and Headnodic (Crown City Rockers) . . . you can’t go wrong. This is a fun album with great beats that underlie the expected lyrical expertise of the MCs. Top Tracks are Monster, Ill Vacation and Hands in the Air. Gunfhigt Video:

15. Damien Jurado – Caught in the Trees

· I have heard people say that Jurado is poised to be the next Elliott Smith. Hmmm. I don’t know about that. He is great though. Good orchestration on the album. A solid release. Top tracks are Trials, Everything Trying, Paper Kite and Best Dress. Video for Caskets:

16. Panic at the Disco – Pretty. Odd.

· I feel like I need a huge disclaimer for including this on my list. I despised everything this band was on their previous work. The eyeliner, the Fall Out Boy clone vocal styling. All of it – makes me shudder. This album however, was impressive. They were obviously shooting for a Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band type album and sound. The reason it isn’t higher on my list is that the lyrics were abysmal. Honestly. The more I listened to the words, the more I realized how banal they were! The music though, is really impressive. Great instrumentation, great transitions, very fun. Top tracks are Nine in the Afternoon, That Green Gentleman, When the Day Met the Night and Behind the Sea.

17. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst

· I’m not entirely sure why Bright Eyes frontman (is he a frontman if it has largely been a solo show?) Conor Oberst decided to put out a new album under his own name, but I’m glad he released more music either way. Bright Eyes, or Conor Oberst and the Mystic Vally Band, he puts out some good stuff. The sound is a bit grittier than Cassadaga. It feels more spontaneous and less calculating. Top tracks are Moab, Get-Well-Cards and Souled Out.

18. Joshua James – The Sun is Always Brighter

· Turns out I knew this guys’ sister without putting together the “James” last name connection. Small world. I don’t know why this album hasn’t generated more buzz. Excellent indie-acoustic-rock with great instrumentation, strings, etc . . . James writes good songs and spins a good yarn. Top tracks are The New Love Song, FM Radio and Dangerous. A coupel vids HERE

19. Ben Folds – Way to Normal

· This is not my favorite Ben Folds album. It was a bit noisy for my taste and it lacked two things that many of his previous efforts had: a cohesive thematic voice, and some sort of traceable stride or pacing to the album’s flow. There were also quite a few tracks that I simply could have done without. Top tracks are Hiroshima (honestly one of the catchiest songs of the year), Cologne and Kylie from Connecticut. The fake versions of songs that leaked were quite a treat as well. Another top video of the year:

20. Matt Pryor – Confidence Man

· The New Amsterdams, side project for Matt Pryor, always played 2^nd fiddle to his primary gig as the frontman for The Get Up Kids. Nevertheless, they put out some great albums. Worse for the Wear was a masterpiece. The early free internet release versions of Killed or Cured were quick favorite. However, once the Get up Kids broke up and Pryor dedicated himself fulltime to the New Amsterdams (ok . . . and the Terrible Twos), the music took a turn for the worse in 1 awful (Story Like a Scar) and 1 “acceptable” (At the Foot of my Rival) release. Then, out of nowhere, Pryor dropped his Amsterdam moniker and released under his named, Matt Pryor. The resulting LP drives straight back to what The New Amsterdams had started as. Minimalistic, acoustic, harmonicas, singer-songwriter-esque stories to music. I’m glad for this return to roots. Top tracks are Confidence Man, When the World Stops Turning, and the now multiple times redone Dear Lover.

My Favorite EPs of 2008

1. Common Market – Black Patch War [EP]

· This EP got me so ramped up for the Fall 2008 release of Tobacco Road. His Eminence may be my top hip-hop track of the year. Gritty, personal, rooted in southern agricultural and rural roots. Very good.

2. The Mountain Goats & Kaki King – Black Pear Tree [EP]

· John Darnielle’s lyrics + Kaki King’s guitar. Wow!

3. The Mountain Goats – Satanic Messiah [EP]

· More Mountain Goats is always a good thing!

4. Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant [EP]

· Can you think of a better debut EP? I can’t.

5. Colin Meloy – Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke [EP]

· Colin Meloy teams up with Zoey Daschelle on backup vocals. The result is my favorite of all of Colin Meloy’s cover EPs. Cupid is great.

6. The Mighty Underdogs – The Prelude [EP]

· This was a tasty teaser!

7. Minus the Bear – Acoustics [EP]

· GUNS & AMMO is a great new track. I also like hearing We Are Not a Football Team acoustic.

8. Conor Oberst – Gentleman’s Pact [EP]

· 4 good tracks.

9. Blue Scholars – BUTTER&GUN$ [EP]

· I can always use some more Blue Scholars. Butter&Guns is the only track worth mentioning though.

10. Josh Ritter – Live at the 9:30 Club [EP]

· I like Josh Ritter. I love Josh Ritter live.

11. Drew Danburry – Mother [EP]

· Hooray for Drew Danburry! Not only is he a great guy and a quality human being, but he makes some very entertaining music.

12. Matt Pond PA – The Freeep [EP]

· Nothing sticks out to me. Good, but not gripping. Much like most of Matt Pond PA’s music.

13. Ben Kweller – How Ya Lookin’ Southbound? Come In . . . [EP]

· This EP worries me. It is supposed to get us ready for next year’s Changing Horses. I don’t hear a lot that I like here. Too county.

Other notable releases:

Amos Lee – Last Days at the Lodge

· Nice and bluesy. Not as good as his self-titled.

Ashton Allen – Wellspring

· I was really excited to hear that Ashton Allen was putting out a new full length. His first album, Dewdrops was really great. It was a mix of the Beatles, Elliott Smith and Ben Kweller. This album, however, didn’t grab me as before. Good, but not great.

Before Braille - Kill the Messenger, Keep the Message

· Has this officially came out yet? Kind of, I think so. Frontman Dave Jensen (also owner of the Sunset Alliance record label) mailed these out for Christmas. A bunch of old tracks from his now defunct band. Some great stuff though. A few tracks honestly among B4B’s finest. You should all buy it from Dave. Try Dave's new bad Art for Starters

Chris Walla – Field Manual

· For a long time, Death Cab for Cutie multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Walla has been recording songs and putting them up on his website for free. I was glad to see him properly put out an LP. It is really good. His voice is not the strongest, but it is interesting to try to juxtapose his music with that of Death Cab – trying to distill his musical voice from the broader Death Cab sound. Good stuff.

Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty

· A grittier Maroon 5 with Led Zeppelin vocal crooning. Robbers and Cowards, their previous LP had so many catchy hooks and grooves. This album has much fewer.

Colin Meloy – Colin Meloy Sings Live!

· Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy can (almost) do no wrong. He sounds so great live.

Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

· Funny and entertaining, but not something I listen to very often. Season 2 should be good.

Hotel Lights – Firecracker People

· I hope this grows on me. Darren Jesse from Ben Folds Five as frontman.

Hudson River School – Rise & Fall

· A long time coming, this Salt Lake City group offers this as their last effort, simultaneously announcing their breakup. Some good tunes.

Jack Johnson – Sleep Through the Static

· Better than his last couple. Its still not Brushfire Fairytales, but held my interest more than his last couple efforts.

Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge

· Good, but not great. I like her 1^st two better.

Less than Jake – GNV FLA

· Hooray! Less Than Jake got their voice back! The last couple albums strayed too far into mainstream sound for my tastes. It is great to hear them back in their prime.

Lyrics Born – Everywhere at Once

· Very very very very very very disappointing! Man! Lyrics born can be such a good MC, such a lyricist with some of the best flow, breath control and fast syncopated storytelling around! This album was weak sauce. Too much fluff. Too much R&B!

Lyrics Born – The Lyrics Born Variety Show, Season 3

· Some really good tracks. The first 2 seasons were better, but this is a welcome addition to the series.

Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us

· The best release to date by this married couple. Very catchy.

Mike Doughty – Golden Delicious

· Alright Mike Doughty! More tunes from our former Soul Coughing frontmanThis was close to being on the top 20. It had a couple great songs. I just want the girl in the blue dress to keep on dancing was one of my favorite songs of the year! Put it down was also great.

Phantom Planet – Raise the Dead

· I was really disappointed with Phantom Planet’s last self-titled release. REALLY disappointed. In previous releases, Phantom Planet is Missing, The Guest, Polaroid, etc . . . they had carved a unique sound and made some really fun music. Then their last LP seemed to poorly mimic and jump on the garage band – Strokes bandwagon. Boo! This release was significantly better. Top tracks are

Ra Ra Riot - Rhumb Line

• Just barely got this, and it needs some more listens. So far, so good.
  

Ratatat – LP3

· Their self-titled was better. This album lost my attention, but stayed on my iPod nonetheless.

Reggie and the Full Effect – Last Stop: Crappy Town

· Crappy Town is right. Reggie always had a great quirky sense of humor with some good sounds as well. This just devolved into generic screamo-core way too much! A couple good songs though.

Sun Kill Moon – April

· Also a close contender for my top 20. Kozelek can be great and can be very mediocre. This is one of his better releases.

Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings and All

· Quirky and fun.

The Dodos – Visiter

· A few tracks I could have done without, but come really good stuff.

TV On the Radio - Dear Science,

• I liked this a lot better than their previous work. The vocals are still as erratic as ever, but the underlying music was much improved.
  

New Grand Archives Video - Miniature Birds

Concert Review: Grand Archives at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, 1 May 2008

Since when do good bands come to Lincoln, Nebraska! I have lived here for 4 years, and so far have seen only a handful wander through - never to return! OK, enough exclamation points. On Thursday night, David Bazan and Grand Archives came and played a free concert on UNL campus. Bazan was good, but the room was ill-suited acoustically for his set. Furthermore, I am more familiar with his early Pedro the Lion days, and didn't recognize many of the songs. This said, he was sporting a nice sports jacket.

Grand Archives took the stage around 9:15 and played a great set. Here is the set list:

1. Miniature Birds
2. Orange
   
3. Index Moon
4. Swan Matches
5. George Kaminski
6. A Setting Sun
   
7. Sleepdriving
8. Southern Glass Home
9. Torn Blue Foam Couch
10. Crime Window

Once they got the band EQ'd and balanced correctly a few songs into the set, they cruised through them and sounded really good. 3 guitars all jamming at once, 4 of the 5 band members singing harmonies. The music was very layered. And, when, in Torn Blue Foam Couch, the LP features some great horn parts, the band substituted by yelling "Ba Ba Ba Da Da." Great touch! Another highlight was their version of Southern Glass Home - a great track which didn't make it onto the LP. In the middle, they transitioned into a cover of the Bee Gee's "I started a joke," then the Zombie's "Care of Cell 44," and then a 3rd cover which I didn't know. Very funny. Great harmonies. Some of my friends who came, but were unfamiliar with the band compared their vocal harmonies to Simon and Garfunkel or the Beach Boys. I think the band should take that as a compliment.

I have high hopes for this band. Their self-titled LP has a lot of high points, but also a few mediocre points. I hope that their upcoming Southern Glass Home EP (which according to the band on Thursday, was going to feature the title track plus a few new ones), and subsequent sophomore LP effort takes off where those high-points direct.

Below are some videos I took at the show. We recently got a new camera, and I wanted to test it out. The lighting and acoustics weren't the best, but the videos turned out fairly well.

forgive my amateur cameraman-ship (I know, thats not a word)

Miniature Birds


Index Moon


Swan Matches


George Kaminski


A Setting Sun


Sleepdriving


Torn Blue Foam Couch


Crime Window