Annuals - Be He Me

There is absolutely no way that I could accurately describe Annuals, or do them any sort of justice. They are the middle ground between folk, indie, pop, hardcore, and everything in between. I am only recently getting into them, but I am so glad that I have caught on to these indie darlings. The music shifts and changes as often as it possibly can, and the vocals leave nothing to be desired.

Download this immediately.

[Annuals recently released a new album entitled Such Fun. I will be posting it very soon.]

Tracklisting:
1. Brother
2. Dry Clothes
3. Complete and Completing
4. Carry Around
5. Chase You Off
6. Bleary Eyed
7. Fair
8. The Bull and The Goat
9. Mama
10. Ida, My
11. Father
12. Sway

Adele - 19

Oh, Adele. Thank you so much for existing. It's about time that someone started shaking up popular music, and I can think of no one better to do just that than Adele, with her soulful and jazz-influenced vocals and her vast amounts of class. The music is jazz through and through, moving and shifting the way that only jazz can. The vocals are a throwback to Ella Fitzgerald and the like. Add a touch of pop and a great amount of personality and poise and you have Adele. I honestly can not say enough good about this wonderful new artist. I am so glad to see a truly passionate and talented artist climb the charts and gain popularity.

Tracklisting:
1. Daydreams
2. Best For Last
3. Chasing Pavements
4. Cold Shoulder
5. Crazy For You
6. Melt My Heart To Stone
7. First Love
8. Right As Rain
9. Make You Feel My Love
10. My Same
11. Tired
12. Hometown Glory

Those Dancing Days - In Our Hero Space Suits

Those Dancing Days is a band that we will be hearing a great deal about very soon, I feel. Their infectious blend of indie and soul [sometimes teetering on the line of lo-fi] makes for the soundtrack for our own "dancing days". Really, it's the vocals that make this band so great, and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of polished vocals. I can't help but love the songs on this album though.

Now, I won't say that this is the best album I've ever heard or that it's even close competition. It's great, but it's a labor of love at times. The problem that I see with this record is that the songs don't grab you immediately. Each song is great, but you have to listen to about 20 seconds of mediocre at the beginning of each song. Once all of the instrumentation breaks in, though, you have some really great pop songs.

I anticipate that within the next year or so, we will see Those Dancing Days with major label backing, having hit their stride and releasing a widely accepted major label debut. Keep your eyes peeled.

Tracklisting:
1. Knights In Mountain Fox Jackets
2. Falling In Fail
3. I Know Where You Live
4. Run Run
5. Hitten
6. Actionman
7. Shuffle
8. Home Sweet Home
9. Duet Under Water
10. Kids
11. Those Dancing Days
12. Space Hero Suits

Highlight Tracks: "I Know Where You Live", "Hitten", "Home Sweet Home"

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

I haven't had a chance to listen to Cardinology in its entirety, but from what I've heard, I'm sure I'm going to be impressed. I know that the previous statement makes it sound as though I were worried that the album wouldn't be any good, and that's because I was. Not that Easy Tiger or Follow The Lights were bad, but I feel like they could have been better.

See, I'm a huge Ryan Adams fan, and I have been for a few years now, so every time he releases a new album, I feel an obligation to go out and pick it up. However, the last few albums, I feel, have been increasingly devoid of substance. Where Heartbreaker was an album that I felt was written specifically for me, I feel like Easy Tiger was written from an obsolete vernacular [wildcat], if what he was singing about was even experienced by him at all. The songs are catchy, but lacking the substance that makes an album like Heartbreaker or Gold so amazing.

Make up your mind for yourself.

Tracklisting:
1. Born Into A Light
2. Go Easy
3. Fix It
4. Magick
5. Cobwebs
6. Let Us Down Easy
7. Crossed Out Name
8. Natural Ghost
9. Sink Ships
10. Evergreen
11. Like Yesterday
12. Stop

Math and Physics Club - Math and Physics Club

Here is the full length that I promised. It's much better than the EPs in my opinion, but I still love Movie Ending Romance and Weekends Away.

Tracklisting:
1. Darling, Please Come Home
2. I Know What I Want
3. April Showers
4. Holidays and Saturdays
5. La La La Lisa
6. Look At Us Now
7. You'll Miss Me
8. Cold As Minnesota
9. Such A Simple Plan
10. Last Dance

Kenneth Ishak - Silver Lightning From A Black Sky

I started writing a [very] short review for this album, and then I started listening to it and I was reminded of how good it is. It has a great indie and pop feel to it, but Ishak also incorporates elements of disco and glam, but without being gimmicky like the band Under The Influence Of Giants. Great record and incredible musicianship. What's great about this album, though, is how diverse the songs are, and how no two songs are the same. Most certainly worth your time.

Tracklisting:
1. Passionate
2. New Rising Sun
3. Tall Companion
4. Snakes In The Grass
5. Anytime Kid
6. Hell
7. Misfits In Love
8. SOS
9. Don't Touch My Brother
10. Bright Time
11. Highway Of Madness
12. Sword

The Features - Contrast

Previous to the beginning of this year, I had never heard of The Features. As it turns out, they have been around the block a few times, having already been on and kicked off of a major label. Evidently, they refused to do a cover of a Beatles song for a commercial [hmmm...integrity, not many people know what that means anymore...] and the label sent them packing. Since then, The Features have spent a good many years touring and releasing albums on their own dime. Really, you should thank Universal Records, because without label backing, the band has had to adopt a DIY work ethic and build their fanbase from the ground up. Hence me never hearing of them. That is, until I saw them play at The Dame in Lexington. The entire place was dancing and singing along. It is most certainly high on my list of favorite concerts, and in good company with Sigur Ros, mewithoutYou, and Josh Ritter. I'll post their newest full length soon, but as for now, I wanted to get you used to them with this amazing EP.

Tracklisting:
1. Contrast
2. Wooden Heart
3. I Will Wander
4. Commotion
5. Guillotine

Ben Folds - Way To Normal

If you've never heard of Ben Folds then I apologize that I didn't do more in the way of introducing you to him. Imagine if Elton John [and whomever it was that wrote his lyrics] were more tongue-in-cheek and goofy. And you know, I'd half expect that to turn most people away, but despite his lack of seriousness and his interesting way of wording, he still crafts amazing piano-pop songs. The one drawback [for me] is that Folds has an uncanny ability to make a sailor blush, which you'll have to forgive. Regardless, enjoy this newest one.

1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)
2. Dr. Yang
3. The Frown Song
4. You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)
5. Before Cologne
6. Cologne
7. Errant Dog
8. Free Coffee
9. B*tch Went Nuts
10. Brainwashed
11. Effington
12. Kylie From Connecticut

The Middle East - The Recordings of The Middle East

I know next to nothing about this band and for some reason can find no information about them online. I do, however, know that everything that I have heard by them is wonderful. Call it folk, call it indie, call it something in between. Regardless of how you want to categorize it, you'll always find it under "G" [for good]. Check it out.

Tracklisting:
1. The Darkest Side
2. Beleriand
3. Lonely
4. Blood
5. Fools Gold
6. Pig Food
7. The Fall Of Man
8. Tsietsi

Anathallo - Canopy Glow

I hadn't planned on posting anything else, but as per usual, I happened upon something I didn't expect to find. See, I had only heard rumors of a new Anathallo album. I didn't know that it was an upcoming release. Not only that, but I had no idea that they had signed with a label, shedding their DIY mentality. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but I'm very excited.

For the record: I fully expect that Kathryn will squeal with joy and that Devin will roll his eyes.

Tracklisting:
1. Noni's Field
2. Italo
3. Northern Lights
4. The River
5. Cafetorium
6. Sleeping Torpor
7. Lost Ring Finger
8. John J. Audubon
9. Bells
10. Tower Of Babel