The Shins: Wincing The Night Away

It is hard to believe that it has been over two years since Natalie Portman, Garden State and the Shins all teamed up to change our lives. Since then, the indie popsters have found their way onto countless myspace profiles of kids who were hopelessly in love with the band and who longed to one day hear a third song of theirs that was not on the G State soundtrack. Honestly though, I like totally was into them like a year before that movie came out. Like totally. I discovered The Shins at my local library on a cd rack containing what must have been at least twenty(!) cds. Lord only knows how their sophomore album, Chutes Too Narrow, found its way into that library. I was intrigued by the albums opening claps and subsequent 'woo!', but I knew I was onto something when I first heard So Says I, again largely because of the infectious 'woo's that adorn the song's crescendo.

And now The Shins are back in 2007 to change more lives with a fuller more developed sound. The album opener, Sleeping Lessons, serves as a perfect bridge between the old and new Shins. Bubbling with intimacy and what actually sounds like bubbles, Sleeping Lessons transitions from the soft closeness that made the band famous to a rollicking indie rock anthem. Once the songs kicks into gear, the group finally converts vast potential into a fully realized dynamic sound.

From their, the familiar vibe of previous albums presents itself but with a little more of everything. The hooks and harmonies reach a little farther, the guitar goes a little bigger and louder, and general cohesiveness of the band is stronger than ever before. The single, Phantom Limb is one of the best examples of this, opening with a fuzzy bass line, and slowly adding new concepts to the familiar sounds of their previous material. It culminates in a cool drive that is reminiscent of indie pop chieftains, The New Pornographers. Yes, I called them chieftains, but anyone who has heard Twin Cinema will have a hard time disagreeing with me. Generally, Wincing the Night Away is not surprising, but solid and enjoyable. If you enjoy lighthearted and twinkling indie pop, you will have a hard time not liking this album.

Best of 2006

Top Albums of 2006

It is only fair that I warn you that this is one of the more bizarre mixes of music I have ever seen on one list before. These range from experimental noise rockers to mainstream pop. I like what I like and I make no excuses. I only ask that you give everything a chance before you decide it's bad. If you do, then you might be surprised at what you hear.

20. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
19. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
18. Cursive - Happy Hollow
17. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
16. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
15. TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
14. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
13. Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat
12. M. Ward - Post-War
11. Beck - The Information
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
9. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
8. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
7. The Killers - Sam's Town
6. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
5. Dashboard Confessional - Dusk & Summer
4. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time

3. Girl Talk - Night Ripper

The first time I heard Girl Talk, I just about fell out of my desk chair three times during the first song. It's suprising enough to hear Boston, Ludacris, The Verve, Oasis and the Ying Yang Twins mentioned in the same article. Now, imagine hearing them mixed together on the same track. The 42 minute album runs together as a giant seamless musical dance smoothie of just about every popular song of the past three decades. Aside from the beats and the occasional other addition, Night Ripper is entirely comprised of samples and yet despite this fact, it doesn't take long to realize that Girl Talk possesses just as much, if not more, talent and vision than the artists he borrows from. Every since I purchased it, this cd has accompanied me to just about every party I have attended and no one has been disappointed yet. Night Ripper is a party in your ears. If you've heard it, you know what I mean. The attention span of each movement is roughly comparable to the average five year old; the same series of beats and samples are rarely present for more than 30 seconds. The best moments on the album come when you hear two or more songs mixed together that you thought would never mix and the whole becomes so much more that the sum of the parts. The Frankenstein version becomes more than a novelty and it begins to sound as though this is how it was supposed to sound in the first place. I think that Girl Talk meant to send a message at the end of the album to not only his listeners, but to his musical contemporaries and followers as well. The album fades out to the sound of Girl Talk's original synth lead and a loop of Trillville's words "You can neva' eva', neva' eva' get on my level". Arrogant? Possibly. Correct? Absolutely.

2. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

This band has just about reached the 'can-do-no-wrong' and The Crane Wife is only further proof of this fact. After last years fantastic Picaresque, the bar was set high for the bands fourth full length album. But it doesn't take long to realize that The Decemberists have morphed into a bigger and better band in the past year. The Crane Wife is full of sprawling rock epics, with two songs exceeding ten minutes and the rest playing out with such richness that they sound like classics upon the first listen. The album is definitely very bookendish in its quality with the best tracks being the first and last two, and the worst being When the War Came which is placed right in the middle. All three movements of title track are stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking and give lead singer Colin Meloy the opportunity to showcase his incredible storytelling ability. Any discussion of this album would be incomplete however without mentioning the final track: Sons & Daughters. The song opens with a slow organ and then stacks on guitars, vocals, more vocals and a whole slew of intricate instrumentation. The song builds up with three vocalists singing a round before finally shifting gears and vaulting into an epic chant of "Hear all the bombs, they fade away" that gives me chills every time I hear it. If you are looking for a the great indie rock anthem of 2006, this is it.

1. Mates of State - Bring It Back

I just can't help myself. I am such a sucker for songs or bands that have girls and boys singing together. And don't even get me started on upbeat pop music. Mix these two elements and you have my favorite album of 2006: Bring It Back. I liked this album the very first time I heard it back in March and it took me the entire rest of the year to slowly realize this is so much more than it lets on. It is simply amazing what two people, with only their voices and a small handful of instruments can create. Granted, they are able to create a much richer and more layered sound in the studio, but it is still just the two of them doing it and the results are just breathtaking. Everything from the way their voices bounce of each other to the quirky organ lines and unconventional song structure help elevate the Mates of State from married pop music duo to a completely different level. If you've never heard them, all I can say is that you are in for a treat. Due to the nature of the band, most of the songs center around the marriage and it is utterly heartwarming. The song Punchlines kicks and screams all the way up to the plateau of transcendent indie pop while other songs like Nature and the Wreck and Running Out are so honest and full of love that it really does make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside to listen too. Bring It Back is this band a their best, and because of the wide dynamics and the completeness of beauty that is created by love and music, this album is my favorite of 2006.


Top Tracks of 2006

20. The Flaming Lips - Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
18. Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing
17. My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words
16. Girl Talk - Ask About Me
15. M. Ward - Chinese Translation
14. Ghostface Killah - The Champ
13. Dashboard Confessional - Stolen
12. Fergie - London Bridge
11. Asobi Seksu - Nefi+Girly
10. Muse - Kinghts of Cydonia
9. Mates of State - Punchlines
8. Secret Machines - Lightning Blue Eyes
7. Rihanna - SOS
6. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)
5. The Killers - When You Were Young
4. Jusin Timberlake - SexyBack
3. Band of Horses - The Funeral
2. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
1. The Decemberists - Sons & Daughters

Live: Asobi Seksu/Mates of State

I'm not sure if I know many people who enjoy waiting through a set by a band they have never heard of before the act I paid to see takes the stage. I certainly don't. Even in the case of bands that are halfway decent, my impatience tend to get the best of me. I have even been bored through sets of bands that I really enjoy when I anticipate the headliner more. This concert was no exception. It certainly seemed like whoever was about to warm up for Mates of State, couldn't possible impress or entertain me. And with a name like Asobi Seksu, I was pretty sure nothing good could come of the situation. However, it turns out that every so often the planets align themselves in such a way that even I turn out to be wrong. Don't get me wrong, this does not happen often and when it does I am just as surprised as everyone else. Ego aside, it didn't take me long to realize that the New York based Asobi Sesku are a pretty solid act.

Let me get this out of my system before I actually provide a semi-coherent analysis of their show: Asobi Seksu is like My Bloody Valentine meets Sigur Ros, while wishing they were Sonic Youth, and, maybe just because I've been listening to them quite a bit lately, a touch of TV on the Radio. Now that I got all of my pretension out of my system (or at least as much as I can in one sitting at least), we can proceed.

My initial reaction to Asobi Seksu was that we were in too small of a venue to fully capture the breadth of their sound. With synths and distorted, reverberating guitars, the band created a unique and cohesive sound that seemed too large, chaotic and beautiful to be confined to a room slightly larger than a walk in closet. Each instrument weaved into the others and yet, the different elements retained their own value in a way that separated them from the others. During the set I was entranced. It was one of those rare occasions where something you are hearing makes it so you can't look away. What I am trying to say is: this band is good. All of this and the headliners hadn't even taken the stage yet.

The last time I saw Mates of State was at Lollapalooza on a side stage and the brutally hot weather made it difficult to enjoy their music. Due to the conditions and size of the audience, their performance did not pull me in as much as I had hoped. I figured that if I had a chance to see them in a smaller venue, then I would be able to see Mates of State at their best. I was right.

Excuse my inability to be original, but a married couple playing pop music together is high on my list of Cutest Things Ever. I'm sorry, but it's true. They seemed just as excited to be playing music together as we were to hear it and despite an audience of fewer than a hundred people, Mates of State pumped out pop melodies like they were the biggest act in the industry. Their energy was equalled only by their humility, interacting with the crowd like they were playing a show for old friends even altering their set list on the spot to accommodate. After having fun with a number of dancier tracks, drummer Jason Hammel announced they were just going to keep playing dance songs for a while.

The couple's chemistry plays a big part in both their live show and their studio recordings. They alternate vocals and sing them more to each other than to the audience. On the recordings it adds another dimension to their particular brand of pop, and on stage it simply helps everyone else feel the love. Additonally, both will sneak glances at the other and let a little smirk slide. It is this subtle display affection that makes their music so genuine and lovable. Even though you can't see it on their albums, you can definitely hear it, and once you see the chemistry on stage you fall a little bit more in love with everything that Mates of State is.

Jay-Z: Kingdom Come

Just three months ago I recall sitting at my desk, on my computer and reading the first rumours of the impossible occurring. It was alleged to have three different titles and three different release dates by three different sources. Soon after, the shroud of mystery began to slide back and the truth poked its head out. The impossible was about to occur: Jay-Z was coming out of retirement with a new album. Clearly, my excitement was difficult to contain. The Michael Jordan case(s) aside, how often does the best ever there ever was decide to quit and come back?

I suppose I should have expected a cheesy opening monologue. But as the opening notes unfolded from my stereo, something rather unexpected occurred: I was bored. Like a kid unwrapping socks at Christmas, I was shocked and disappointed. Me and Hov were off to a rocky start so far, but then like finding a wad of Benjamins inside those socks, the second track alleviated any fears. Sampling the classic Allman Brothers Band song Whipping Post, the song Oh My God's beat pops like a one-two punch. His energy is as powerful as it ever has been. But despite the fire of songs like Oh My God, Show Me What You Got, and Trouble, gone is some of the edge that made Jay-Z famous.

This may be for the best. The man has had ten years on the scene and has re-invented himself with each album to some degree. This album sees a large departure from the feel of previous albums like The Black Album and The Blueprint. The lyrics reflect the sad fact that Jay-Z is in his late 30s, incredibly reach and is running out of enemies. There is much less aggression and even though it would be overkill to have every song pull an audible knife on the listener, the album lacks anything comparable to songs like Takeover or Threats. The only thing that comes close is Dig A Hole, in which says "I give em enough rope/they put themselves in the air/ I just kick the chair" and a chorus with the order to "Dig a hole/ bury yourself". Threatening? Maybe. Lazy? Just a touch. Rather than staring the enemy in the face, he almost seems to think that he has become so big that enemies just die on their own. Maybe I just miss the Jay-Z who had to fight to get to the top.

At least he can not be accused of not progressing as an artist. Like it or not, this is a step in a new direction. That direction just happens to be an aging rapper trying to reinvent himself. But its not all bad. The album, though different overall is well done. It has a fair share of surprises like Anything which features Usher and Pharrell. When I hear of that collaboration, I thought that there was no way they could fail. I was wrong. It is actually one of the least original and developed songs on the album. But when I heard that Jay-Z would have a song featuring Chris Martin, I quietly snickered to myself. I love Coldplay and Jay-Z but at the time I thought that there could not have been a more misguided and hopeless collaboration. Much to my surprise, their song, Beach Chair (which even sounds lame), is one of the best and most progressive songs on the album.

As relaxed and passive as the album is at times, it is still the best ever doing his thing. In most cases, the relaxed feel translates to a slow grove, and only rarely results in boredom. Its certainly no Black Album or Blueprint, but overall I really enjoy this album. Some fans will undoubtedly reject this for the reasons I've discussed, but the album represents a new Hov. And a new, if not perfectly realized, direction by Jay-Z is still better than most others can ever hope to achieve. Take him or leave him, he is still the best.

Pavement

Last Tuesday, 90's indie rock heroes, Pavement, re-released their third full length album in a two-disc format with a large number of b-sides and session outtakes. This (re)release prompted me to go on a somewhat of a Pavement binge, and now they shall be the subject of this post.

My own Pavement story begins in the backseat of a one of my friends cars. I couldn't tell you where we were driving to, but I certainly remember hearing the song Shady Lane for the first time. My friend who was driving made the hilarious "this song sure is short" joke a minute and fifteen seconds in, (listen to the song, you'll know what I mean) just before the second verse came in. I had a reputation with these friends of being a music elitist who new every indie band ever, and I could tell that I had missed something and was too shy to ask who the song was by. When I got home, I Googled the lyrics I could remember and that led me to Pavement. Our relationship has been great ever since.

Pavement's music is defined by their notoriously laid back sound and quirky songwriting. Mix that in with a bit of uniquely catchy noise pop and you've got yourself Pavement. They have a generally accessible sound, however their first album Slanted & Enchanted is decidedly rough around the edges. I would recommend either Brighten the Corners or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain for those who are just now discovering them. Additionally, the newest re-release, Wowee Zowee, is also worth the time and money. At times, their sound can be abrasive and chaotic, but if you give them a chance, you will quickly find that they are worthwhile. Tragically, Pavement has long since disbanded so don't expect new material anytime soon.

And now my gift to you is this, the Pavement Starter Kit. Fifteen Pavement songs that start with their easiest to love and then dig deeper into what makes and defines Pavement.

1. Cut Your Hair - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
2. Shady Lane - Brighten the Corners
3. Rattled by the Rush - Wowee Zowee
4. Summer Babe - Slanted & Enchanted
5. Range Life - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
6. Father To A Sister of Thought - Wowee Zowee
7. We Are Underused - Brighten the Corners
8. Elevate Me Later - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
9. Date With Ikea - Brighten The Corners
10. Gold Soundz - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
11. AT&T - Wowee Zowee
12. Stereo - Brighten the Corners
13. Stop Breathin' - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
14. Camera - Cut Your Hair b-side
15. In the Mouth of a Desert - Slanted & Enchanted

Introduction

I am starting this blog to be a place for me to share my thoughts, primarily on the topic of music. I hope that it will be a resource for people who wish to expand their musical horizons. The motivation behind this is simply that I have noticed a stratification amongst music listeners, and I have (foolishly) taken it upon myself to bridge some of the gaps. Far too often I encounter people who either don't know much beyond what is played on Top 40 radio stations or listen exclusively to what Pitchfork Media recommends to them. But at the heart of both of these, and any other music listener for that matter, resides the same thing: an unconditional love for music. I have been a member of each of those parties at some point in my life, but I have since rounded out my taste and landed somewhere in the middle. My goal is to share the music that I fell in love with and hopefully others will enjoy as well. Music is not about sales figures, but rather about the music itself. Whether you like what I write about or not, all I ask is that you keep an open mind. The biggest mistake I ever made, as a music listener, was to put a limit on the types of music I would listen to. I offer these suggestion to be not the supreme law of the land, but simply to be suggestions. Its only my opinion, so feel free to agree or disagree. I will probably be doing reviews of new albums, lists, band features, and whatever else I feel like. Enjoy.