New Vinyl Additions

My awesome wife knew exactly what to get me for Christmas:



Also, my friend Steven hooked me up with this gem:


And last but not least, my friend Chad bestowed upon me these treasures:

Cat Stevens - Catch Bull At Four

I love Cat Stevens. I don't know what it is, but there is something about his music that is just special to me. As it is nearly impossible to find the Harold & Maude OST on vinyl for less than $200, I recently turned to his other works, of which there is an abundance on vinyl. Catch Bull At Four has more than caught my attention. Maybe not the best place to start on the road to Cat Stevens fandom, but an amazing album for those of us whom have already formed an appreciation for his music.

Tracklisting:
1. Sitting
2. The Boy With The Moon & Star On His Head
3. Angelsea
4. Silent Sunlight
5. Can't Keep It In
6. 18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)
7. Freezing Steel
8. O Caritas
9. Sweet Scarlet
10. Ruins

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

Well, here it is. I have been looking forward to this for a while. Completely unlike anything that the band has ever released, The King Is Dead is a foray into Americana and Roots territory. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of The Hazards Of Love, so when I heard that the band had a new album ready, I was at least a little hesitant. All of my fears were relieved, however, with the first listen. This is just a great album. If you are even a passing fan, download this album immediately.

Tracklisting:
1. Don't Carry It All
2. Calamity Song
3. Rise To Me
4. Rox In The Box
5. January Hymn
6. Down By The Water
7. All Arise!
8. June Hymn
9. This Is Why We Fight
10. Dear Avery

Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way

Angus & Julia Stone are a brother/sister duo from Australia. I first caught wind of them probably a year or two ago when they released their previous album and I must admit that I was less than impressed. Suffice it to say, I didn't understand all of the hype that was surrounding them until I finally listened to their most recent album, Down The Way. There is little I can say about it other than it is a fantastic record, even if Julia sounds a lot like Joanna Newsome.

Here is the music video for the track "Hold On". This is what made me really start appreciating them.


Tracklisting:
1. Hold On
2. Black Crow
3. For You
4. Big Jet Plane
5. Santa Monica Dream
6. Yellow Brick Road
7. And The Boys
8. On The Road
9. Walk It Off
10. Hush
11. Draw Your Swords
12. I'm Not Yours
13. The Devil's Tears

Andrew Bird (Partial) Discography

For the last several days, I have been able to listen to little other than Andrew Bird. For years, I had liked a couple of his albums, but they never made it to my favorites list. The other day, I found myself wanting to listen to something familiar, but not anything that I listen to with any sort of frequency. Mr. Bird caught my eye and I listened. Now, I can't listen to anything else. Seeing as how his discography contains not only his solo albums, but also his previous endeavor, Andrew Bird & The Bowl Of Fire, I think that to cut it down to a more manageable size is acceptable. Here are his most recent 3 full-lengths and a European tour EP. Enjoy!

Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs


Soldier On EP


Armchair Apocrypha


Noble Beast

Year In Review (Top 10 of 2010)

10. Old Abram Brown - Restless Ghosts
Old Abram Brown sounds at least a little like the Cold War Kids that we all came to know and love. Actually, that may serve as a good example of an understatement. They sound STRIKINGLY like Robbers and Cowards-era Cold War Kids. That fact, however, should not serve as a deterrent from this incredible and talented band. Their newest album, "Restless Ghosts" is haunting and moving. It has heart in a way that most bands aren't able to achieve.

9. The Morning Benders - Big Echo
The Morning Benders is a band that I had yet to really appreciate, that is, until I saw the video that they had made for the song "Excuses". They gathered as many of their friends as would fit into a large recording room and had them all playing together and there is an intimacy and a strong sense of immediacy (in that they are all there together and like time is standing still) that comes across that gives the song depth beyond just listening to it. Great album, great band, very strong release.

8. Tift Merritt - See You On The Moon
If she isn't already, it's only a matter of time before Tift Merritt is monopolizing the NPR airwaves. She is insanely talented and writes songs that are deeply rooted in blues and pop, but that have a depth and oh, how her voice is haunting. Great for fans of Feist, Hem, Over The Rhine and others.

7. Beat! Beat! Beat! - Lightmares
So, I am willing to bet that this is the first that you are hearing of Beat! Beat! Beat! which isn't terribly surprising as they are a relatively unknown (and now defunct) Brooklyn-based band. Their brand of indie pop is reminiscent of bands like Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Nada Surf, but with a touch of that straightforward New York rock drive.

6. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
I'm sure that it comes as a great surprise that The Arcade Fire's newest (and strong contender for best) album isn't topping my Year In Review list, and I'm surprised as well. However, keep in mind that if this amazing album is at #6, then the remaining 5 albums must be something really special.

5. Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul
It really is a shame that Sparklehorse (aka Mark Linkous) ended his life earlier this year, because if he was successful before, then this would have been the album to launch his into the stratosphere. Featuring collaborations from such reputable musicians as The Flaming Lips, James Mercer of The Shins, Iggy Pop, and The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, "Dark Night Of The Soul" has soul and depth. A great album for late nights spent with friends or late nights spent alone. These are the kind of songs that you want on your life's soundtrack.

4. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
There is nothing that I can say about this album, other than that it is epic in scope and execution. Brilliant from a musical and production standpoint, and one that I'm sure will remain close to my heart for a very long time. Can't wait to see what these young lads from across the drink have in store for the future.

3. Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws
Here is an album that few people caught wind of prior to its release, and I'm not entirely convinced that it has caught on quite as well as it should yet. In stark contrast to their previous releases and sound, "Flaws" is a lush and beautiful exploration into folk territory (and a very successful one, if I might say so).

2. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Oh, this album. To think that one man was able to (for the most part) create such lush and fleshed out songs with little more than a guitar and his voice is mind-blowing. Suffice it to say, there is a reason that Kristian Matsson is being referred to as the "Swedish Bob Dylan". There is nothing more that I can say other than if you have yet to listen, then do it already!

And last but not least:
1. The National - High Violet
I have learned in my life that the bands that I hate (disclaimer: this is not always the case) have a way of becoming some of my favorite and most treasured. The National is a band that I just couldn't appreciate when I first listened to "Boxer" a few years ago. They had an interesting sound, but I couldn't understand why they were surrounded with such hype. Then, one day it clicked. It made sense and since then, they have been one of my favorite bands. When it comes to bands that I love so dearly, sometimes I get nervous when they are gearing up for a new release. What if they have changed their sound and it doesn't work? What if they have lost whatever it is that makes them so special? What if the songs just aren't good? We've all seen these scenarios played out and bands like Dashboard Confessional, My Morning Jacket (though I still hold out hope for them) and Sufjan Stevens have caused me to lose interest with their more recent outings (and believe me, there is a reason that "The Age Of Adz" isn't on this list). None of these fears were even close to being realized with the release of "High Violet". It takes their trademark sound and expands it. Makes it bigger. Breathes more life into it. Brilliant.

Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know!

Over The Rhine - The Long Surrender

"Little Did I Know" that today when I woke up, that I would find a link for Over The Rhine's forthcoming album, The Long Surrender. As it was downloading, I was getting anxious; I didn't know if it was actually what it was looking for, if it would work when I tried to open it, and if those two fell into place, if it would be good. Don't get me wrong, I love everything that I have ever heard from Over The Rhine, even The Trumpet Child, which I felt was more of an exploration into more traditional adult contemporary and less rooted in folk and americana, and being that Trumpet Child is their most recent release, one has to wonder if that is the direction that they are heading. My fears have been relieved! Upon listening, The Long Surrender is very much a return to the sound that we have all come to know and love, but there are hints of that Trumpet Child sound occasionally, which makes for a fantastic and well-rounded release. Go get a hot cup of coffee, open the blinds and put this record on. You will not regret it.

Tracklisting:
1. The Laugh of Recognition
2. Sharpest Blade
3. Rave On
4. Soon
5. Undamned
6. Infamous Love Song
7. Only God Can Save Us Now
8. Oh Yeah By The Way
9. The King Knows How
10. There's A Bluebird in My Heart
11. Days Like This
12. All My Favorite People
13. Unspoken

Over The Rhine - Ohio

Today, with the snow falling outside of my large living room window and the steam rising from my strong cup of coffee, I am finding that little else can tie all of the things that I'm feeling together quite as well as Over The Rhine. Ohio is OTR's seventh (and technically eighth as well, as it is a double album) album and an incredibly strong release. I love this band so much. They create the kind of music that you don't just listen to; you feel it in your heart. They create an aching and longing with the sincerity and honesty of their music. Suffice it to say, I can't say enough good about this group of talented and earnest musicians.

Disc 1 [Download]

1. B. P. D.
2. What I'll Remember Most
3. Show Me
4. Jesus In New Orleans
5. Ohio
6. Suitcase
7. Anything At All
8. Professional Daydreamer
9. Lifelong Fling
10. Changes Come

Disc 2 [Download]

1. Long Lost Brother
2. She
3. Nobody Number One
4. Cruel and Pretty
5. Remind Us
6. How Long Have You Been Stoned?
7. When You Say Love
8. Fool
9. Hometown Boy
10. Bothered
11. Idea #21 (Not Too Late)