Montag, 16. Mär 2009, 22:14
Re-posted with some corrections
You know that the year is off to a good start when it’s only March and you already have fifteen albums to rave about. I have been soaking up the new releases like a sponge, spending lots of cash at Toronto’s many fine CD shops, and I can honestly say that 2009 is turning out to be a banner year for music. Below are the 15 best albums released over the last three months, according to me and my obsessive, music nerd point of view.
Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
For my money, there is no other singer in alternative country today that matches the depth and feel of Neko Case. Beautiful, soulful melodies and an intoxicating voice make this an essential album for your collection.
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
I have only recently gotten into Animal Collective, but it did not take me long to realize why people like them so much; they are that good. This is a more beat-heavy offering, and arguably their most accessible album.
Robyn Hitchcock – Goodnight Oslo
Similar to Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock has found a new winning streak in his 50’s and his songwriting and musical chops have only improved with age. This is the second outing with The Venus 3, a group that includes REM’s Peter Buck, and it’s another winner. If you’re buying this, also get “Ole Tarantula!” as the two albums compliment each other nicely.
M. Ward – Hold Time
A brilliant follow up to “Post War” that seamlessly blends rock, folk country and blues, and it’s easily M. Ward’s best album yet.
Dan Auerback – Keep it Hid
This album took me by surprise, but it was an essential purchase since I am a big fan of The Black Keys. The bluesy rock of his day job is still well intact, however there are elements of bluegrass, soul, and straight-forward rock thrown into the mix. It’s a thrilling combination that works remarkably well, and I found myself listening to this album over and over again.
Late of the Pier – Fantasy Black Channel
It’s been a long time since a new band has been as electrifying and instantly engaging as Late of the Pier, a Welsh dance-rock band that feels like a cross between the youthful rock antics of the Arctic Monkeys, the prog-rock elements of Porcupine Tree, and the dirty electronic beats of mid-career Depeche Mode. If that combo sounds like your cup of tea, this is definitely an album to pick up.
AC Newman – Get Guilty
As a longtime fan of The New Pornographers (hence my love of Neko Case), the second solo album from AC Newman was highly anticipated, and it definitely did not disappoint. It’s a power-pop record that doesn’t follow conventional blueprints, and it’s a thrilling listen from start to finish.
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
As good as “You are the Quarry” and better than “Ringleader of the Tormentors”; it seems that Morrissey is incapable of making a bad album these days. His songwriting is as clever as always and the music is in top form, and it almost makes you glad that the Smiths will not reunite because Morrissey can concentrate on albums like this. Well, almost.
Anthony & the Johnsons – The Crying Light
Fame and fortune have obviously not dulled the craftsmanship of Anthony Hegarty, and “The Crying Light” proves that the leftfield success of his last album was not a fluke. This is a mesmerizing, thoughtful, and highly emotional album that kept me enthralled from start to finish. It may be too ballad-heavy for some tastes, but it’s a treat for anyone who enjoys introspective mood music.
Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
I have a weakness for Bruce Springsteen, so I would slap the “essential” label on any album he comes out with. The success of his last album, “Magic”, coupled with his success at the Super Bowl and his backing of Barack Obama, has made this a bit of a renaissance period for Springsteen. “Working on a Dream” is his most straight-forward and accessible pop album; not as rocky as his previous outing, but full of killer tracks and the standard barnstormers. I’ll be seeing him on May 7 when he plays in Toronto!
The Devastations – Yes, U
I am not sure if this was released in 2008 or 2009, but it’s a new discovery for me so it makes the list. The Devastations are an Australian rock band that is part Nick Cave, Tindersticks, and Hunters and Collectors; brilliant rock music with melancholic lyrics and a brooding vocalist. I heard one of their albums in a record shop and I had to have it.
Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Third time is a charm for Franz Ferdinand. When put together, all three of their albums make up a trilogy of sorts, with each album following the same framework yet sounding slightly different each time. “Tonight…” is a respectable album that doesn’t quite match the grandeur of their debut, however I enjoy it better than the band’s sophomore album. It seems that Franz Ferdinand has found their sound and is resting comfortably within it, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
I was never afraid to admit that Allen’s debut “Alright Still” is a not-so-guilty pleasure, with sunny pop music being sung by a little British girl with an acid tongue. Her sophomore album seems to take a more serious and mature direction, but not at the expense of the humor or accessibility. My favorite lyric is on the song “Not Fair”, where she laments about a great boyfriend who is lousy in bed; “I like it in the wet patch in the middle of the bed, I’m feeling pretty damn hard done by, I’ve spent ages giving head”. How could you not like that?
The Von Bondies – Love, Hate and Then There’s You
Garage rock has gone out of fashion in recent years, however nobody told The Von Bondies. Mind you, their last album was released at a time when bands like Jet and The White Stripes were pushing the garage rock medium to the height of it’s popularity. Five years down the line, a new album has come out and it’s surprising good. It’s everything that you would expect; rocky, ballsy, and shouty, however it doesn’t feel shallow or dated.
Starsailor – All The Plans
Of all the emotive British bands that have come and gone, Starsailor has remained a consistently good act that has been quietly releasing great albums with lush melodies and brilliantly crafted songs. Unfortunately, they have getting little attention for it. I have loved all their albums and “All the Plans” is another winner, perhaps their best album since “Love is Here”.
Most disappointing album so far….
U2 – No Line on the Horizon
It’s a sad thing when a formerly great band descends into mediocrity and seems happy to stay there. U2 have been on a creative slide since “Achtung Baby” and most of their recent releases have been patchy at best. “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” and “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” focused more on stadium rocking than meaningful songwriting, and the same can be said for “No Line on the Horizon”. Don’t get me wrong, all of the aforementioned albums have some redeeming elements, however they don’t even come close to the albums released during the band’s glory days (1984 to 1991). The new album is a plan, and unexciting record that I was hoping would grow on me over time, however subsequent listens have failed to change my initial perception. It’s not a bad album per se, but it’s a bad U2 album and . The godawful “Get on Your Boots” single is perhaps their worst ever.
Neko Case, Animal Collective, Robyn Hitchcock, Dan Auerbach, Late of the Pier, AC Newman, Morrissey, Anthony & The Johnsons, Bruce Springsteen, The Devastations, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen, The Von Bondies, Starsailor, U2