The National's "High Violet" - Living Up to Expectations

So the new National album (due May 11th on 4AD Records) has had quite the buzz around it now for several months. Numerous tracks have been strategically leaked and the band played on Jimmy Fallon a few nights back, further building the anticipation for the album. Instead of waiting till the official release date, the full length album was streamed this weekend in concert with a New York Times feature article on the band. (Visit the NY Times to read the full length article)

Like the previous two National releases (Alligator and Boxer) this album has several outstanding tracks that will only continue to grow on you over time. The album keeps to the group's style with very dark, sorrowful lyrics amidst deep, layered instrumental rock. The rich drumming on this release really stands out from the previous albums, as the group is more apt to using lead singer Matt Berninger's classic baritone to augment the music this time around. Stand out tracks include Sorrow, Anyone's Ghost, Runaway and Afraid of Everyone, the latter featuring Sufjan Stevens on background vocals.

No doubt this album is going to find itself on numerous top ten lists at the end of the year. Highly highly recommended.

Johnny Cash's "American VI: Ain't No Grave" - A fantastic swan song

"American VI: Ain't No Grave" is the final release of Johnny Cash material from the much heralded American Recording Series produced by Rick Rubin. Each of the recordings has featured stripped down covers and a few originals which did an amazing job in reinventing Johnny Cash's career. While Cash didn't necessarily need to be reinvented, these new recordings did their purpose and served to reintroduce Cash to a new audience.

While this album is not as good as American II or American VI, there is a vibe in this album that makes it stand out completely differently. Perhaps the album's content, featuring very dark vocals on mortality and redemption, is amplified due to its posthumous release. The opening title track stands as arguably one of the best recordings of the entire series. The cover of the Hawaiian classic Aloha Oe, placed at the end of the album, is as fitting a finale to an album i've ever heard. Also standing out on the album is the cover of Sheryl Crow's Redemption Song and the cover of the Sons Of the Pioneers' cowboy classic Cool Water.

Unlike other posthumuous releases, which compile B-Sides and discarded material, this release truly represents the final recordings of the late great Johnny Cash. We should all be thankful to be able to hear one last set of recordings from him. Highly recommended!

Broken Bells - Darker that you think...

This is really a fantastic listen. James Mercer of The Shins and Danger Mouse have crafted an album of airy harmonies intermixed with psychedlic production. While the music itself is somewhat light, what might be missed at the first few listens is the relatively dark nature of the lyrics on the album centering on breaking up, moving on, etc. Unfortunately, Broken Bells is not nearly as good as any Shins' album or other Danger Mouse produced albums, but it has several good moments and you'll definitely find yourself enjoying the ride. Recommended.

The Flaming Lip's "Dark Side Of the Moon" - A Stellar Effort

First things first. I promised to blog more and beginning this week I will blog more. Expect weekly album reviews, sports rants and misc nonsense. I'm going to start this week by catching up with some albums already released this year.



Now I love Pink Floyd and DSOTM has always been one of my all time favorite albums. That being said, this effort by the Flaming Lips, arguably the only band "worthy" of remaking this seminal album, is quite good and well worth the listen. The album is a straight cover of the original album done not completely note for note, but in a very Flaming Lips psychedelic type of way

I particularly am fond of the use of Henry Rollins and Peaches. The guest appearances are not over-bearing and never take away from the original material. I think what makes this album so good is that it actually serves in many ways to remind you how good the original album is. For instance, after many years on classic rock radio, Money has become stale and boring; however the reworking on this album not only is well done, but it serves to refresh the original.

In the end, the original album is always going to be one of the most important albums of all time. Any reimagining/reworking of the album has to be done with nothing but the greatest of respect to the original material. This was the right group to do this. Well done.

Top Ten Albums of 2009

I realize this is late, but i'm going to go ahead and post my top ten albums for 2009 that I wrote up in December. I'll begin posting more album reviews shortly. Feel free to continue not caring.

1. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

I've bitched and bitched about the inconsistency of Grizzly Bear's albums. Each of their albums seemingly has 5-6 fantastic songs intertwined with several so-so songs. I first thought 'Veckatimest' was the same, with several amazing songs and several ok songs. The problem was that even with a couple duds on the album, this damn cd never left my car all year. It's as intricate and precise as an album that's been released in a long time, and it shows live. This album is on everyone's top ten, but i'm putting it at number 1.

2. Japandroids - Post/Nothing

Japandroids are two guys. One guitar, one drum set, two sets of vocals. Sounds small right? There is absolutely nothing "minimal" about these guys or this album. Loud, raucous, heavily distorted rock music that sounds like it's coming from a five piece band is what this is. No one song sticks out over any other; but the album will leave you feeling very sated. Rock on

3. Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light

Absolutely stellar album, stretching Antony's Nina Simone-esque voice to a max. An exploration of nature's relationship between birth and death. Somehow this album is darker than his previous release. Not musically darker, just lyrically. I'm a sucker for this type of depressing ass music.

4. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away; No More Stories, The World Is Grey; I'm Sorry, Let's Wash Away

Ok, Mew's second full length release, the insanely long album titled "No More Stories..." might catch your eye only due to the long album title. Title aside, this album is an amazing prog rock piece by the Danish four piece which is at times rocking and at times mellow and appeasing. Prog rock is the forgotten rock genre which you never hear about "resurging". That's not necessarily a bad thing, as albums like these can still be released and get noticed.

The album might sound a bit chaotic and unorganized at first listen, but after several listens you see the complexly woven mesh that underlays this amazing release. Be sure to give it several listens, you won't be disappointed.

5. Animal Collective - Merriwether Post Pavilion

This album is popping up as Number One on everyone's top ten albums list, so I don't need to gush over it anymore than already is being done. This album will propel Animal Collective to the top of the indie scene, and for good reason. Animal Collective, along with Sigur Ros, TV On the Radio, The Flaming Lips and Radiohead have been constantly in my head for the past 5 years, and likely will remain.

6. YACHT - See Mystery Lights

I usually hate this genre of music. Electro/disco influenced dance pop? This album is catchy as hell, and YACHT absolutely sold me with a fantastic live show. Highly recommended.

7. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

Very minimalistic, bittersweet album with depressing lyrics (yup, I like the sad shit) and strong vocals. Most people are digging on Fever Ray and St. Vincent, but I prefer Bat For Lashes.

8. Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Alright, all the metal heads will probably get all pissed that i'm digging this Mastodon album, but ignore the hype of the "new dawn of metal" the critics are calling them and you'll hear a fucking kick ass metal album. The lyrics are weird as shit (I think it's a concept album about space travel and Russia?) but the album is well constructed, the guitar work remains awesome, and after a few listens you grow to like it more, which I haven't been able to say about a metal album in a while.

9. Sunn O))) - Monoliths and Dimensions

This is still the churning, heavy drone metal that's to be expected from these guys with one difference, the craftwork of the 4 songs on this album are better than any of their other releases. I might start hating this genre soon, but this album so far stands out.

10. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport

This album is just flat out awesome. The tracks are unbearingly loud, and there is a serious lack of cohesion and sense, which is seemingly what makes this album work. It's an oddly complex electronic rock album that stretches the ears. Good stuff.

Honorable Mention

Swan Lake - Enemy Mine; The Flaming Lips - Embryonic; The Handsome Furs - Face Control; Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca; 1349 - Revelations Of the Black Flame; These United States - Everything Touches Everything

Damn.

My apologies to my very very few listeners. I haven't blogged in a minute and a half.

I will begin blogging much more regularly beginning this week.

To make up for it, here's a picture of an anteater.