1.Lambchop - Damaged
This is a stately, considered album that merely presents itself to you. You have to come to it. Otherwise it just kind of floats there, pretty enough but not really engaging. But once you dig into the skin, or let it get it's teeth in, it's a finely observed masterwork. It's full of character studies that the band fully inhabit. It's got moments of absolute splendour (the horn breakdown in "Beers Before the Barbican") amongst sections that evoke abject fear without declaring specifics (unsurprisingly, the song "Fear"). Kurt Wagner's thick delivery struggles against the backing music, but it's an effective and emotive instrument despite its small range and unclear diction.
The album also ends on an awesomely cantankerous rant against the indie-rock coolocracy. It doesn't fit the rest of the album, but it is nice to revel in a good tirade once in a while.
Slightly crazy idea that a mid-low level plodder might achieve a BQ if he put his mind to it. I might talk about music, motorbikes or cycling if the mood takes me as well.
Current PBs
5km - 21:10.5 (23/07/17) (prev 22:43, 2013)
10km - 46:35 (2017) (prev 46:43, 2011)
14km - 67:30 (07/05/2017)
21.1km - 1:46:04 (02/07/2017) (prev 1:51, 2011)
42.2km - 4:11:14 (2011)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
2.Y’s - Joanna Newsom
I don't think I've ever heard such an ambitious album come off so effortlessly. The songs are wonders in themselves, but the way the accompaniment sweeps and shudders underneath, full of filigrees and curlicues, is audacious and bloody amazing really. Nothing is simple, in fact it's almost like it wants to be more complicated. "Sawdust and Diamonds", the sole exception is all the more special for it's simplicity. There's such an amazing amount to be unpacked from this album, it's easy to forget that it's also so moving and human.
I don't think I've ever heard such an ambitious album come off so effortlessly. The songs are wonders in themselves, but the way the accompaniment sweeps and shudders underneath, full of filigrees and curlicues, is audacious and bloody amazing really. Nothing is simple, in fact it's almost like it wants to be more complicated. "Sawdust and Diamonds", the sole exception is all the more special for it's simplicity. There's such an amazing amount to be unpacked from this album, it's easy to forget that it's also so moving and human.
3.Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
It's up here for a few reasons. I love her voice. I think the songs are excellent, and I think the arrangements are top notch as well.
It keeps me interested, and it engages my emotions. Also, it seems to be fairly deep conceptually. It's some sort of concept album about innocence and experience or something.
It's up here for a few reasons. I love her voice. I think the songs are excellent, and I think the arrangements are top notch as well.
It keeps me interested, and it engages my emotions. Also, it seems to be fairly deep conceptually. It's some sort of concept album about innocence and experience or something.
5.Holly Throsby - Under The Town
So, she's won my heart again, with an album of obviously personal lyrics, somewhat awkwardly sung over some quite surprisingly arranged tunes. The spritely ramshackle nature of "Making a Fire" sits very comfortably with the solo piano confessional of "On Longing".
Her manner is intimate and open, and the effect is just stunning, full of a gentle melancholy that is manages subtle and surprising humour sometimes too. This is quite private music, both for the artist and the listener, but I want all of you to know about her too. I think she's pretty special.
This is all my fault
I have many things done wrong
I've been longing for a dove
or an olive in a cup
and I'm so sorry sorry love
I want us to make up
(from "On Longing")
So, she's won my heart again, with an album of obviously personal lyrics, somewhat awkwardly sung over some quite surprisingly arranged tunes. The spritely ramshackle nature of "Making a Fire" sits very comfortably with the solo piano confessional of "On Longing".
Her manner is intimate and open, and the effect is just stunning, full of a gentle melancholy that is manages subtle and surprising humour sometimes too. This is quite private music, both for the artist and the listener, but I want all of you to know about her too. I think she's pretty special.
This is all my fault
I have many things done wrong
I've been longing for a dove
or an olive in a cup
and I'm so sorry sorry love
I want us to make up
(from "On Longing")
7.Bluebottle Kiss - Doubt Seeds
We're getting to the truly exceptional end of the list here. This album is a monster, calling on 50 years of popular music while maintaining a truly identifiable sound. Never mind that there are some amazing songs on here too. Over the 9 months or so this album has been out, I've noticed Miles Davis, Spiritualized, The Stooges and Harvest era Neil Young all fighting to be heard over Jamie Hutchings own talents, both music and lyrical.
Individual songs worth mentioning are "The Judas Hands", "Little Disappearer", "Silent. Golden.", "Your Mirror is a Vulture" and "Harold Holt". There are at least 3 or 4 others. That this is a double album is less important than the fact it is an economical double album, just a shade over 80 minutes in total, and only a minute or two wasted.
It's bold and challenging and it deserves to be heard by many many people.
We're getting to the truly exceptional end of the list here. This album is a monster, calling on 50 years of popular music while maintaining a truly identifiable sound. Never mind that there are some amazing songs on here too. Over the 9 months or so this album has been out, I've noticed Miles Davis, Spiritualized, The Stooges and Harvest era Neil Young all fighting to be heard over Jamie Hutchings own talents, both music and lyrical.
Individual songs worth mentioning are "The Judas Hands", "Little Disappearer", "Silent. Golden.", "Your Mirror is a Vulture" and "Harold Holt". There are at least 3 or 4 others. That this is a double album is less important than the fact it is an economical double album, just a shade over 80 minutes in total, and only a minute or two wasted.
It's bold and challenging and it deserves to be heard by many many people.
8.Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Not just the years best shoegazer record, but probably the decades best shoegazer record. It's full of catchy tunes, bright melodies and chirpy vocals. I like it, a lot. It just goes to show that no genre is ever really played out; there's always room for good songwriting and honest performances.
Not just the years best shoegazer record, but probably the decades best shoegazer record. It's full of catchy tunes, bright melodies and chirpy vocals. I like it, a lot. It just goes to show that no genre is ever really played out; there's always room for good songwriting and honest performances.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
13. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
Good old predictable YLT. Although, they're predictably unpredictable . Predictably, this album sags a bit in the middle, but starting with the 10 minute drone machine of "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" is excitingly unpredictable.
This is better than "Summer Sun" and "I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One", but not as good as "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out".
12. Isis - In The Absence of Truth
As so aptly put on Allmusic, this is music that seeks the white heart of nothingness that beats in most music; that centre of the song that tunes out everything else. In the right frame of mind this album approaches that intensity and weight. It's incredibly heavy, yet it moves and mutates with a grace and litheness that's occasionally breathtaking. I'm only just starting to unearth this properly.
11. You Am I - Convicts
Attitude is sometimes all you need. If it gets you back up on your feet, dukes in the air, swinging at shadows at least you're back. This was such a surprising and energetic return from You Am I. Maybe I should rephrase - sometimes attitude and a break are what you need to relight the fires. You Am I are back and burning bright, and I don't think they're burning up.
10. The Knife - Silent Shout
Such a cold and calculated album, full of strange sounds, but it's metallic heart beats like any other. It's got a streak of otherness running through it - it's undenaibly and absorbingly weird.
9. The Drones - Gala Mill
This feels like an important album - it's one of the few albums around that deals honestly with the horrors in Australia's past in an unapologetic and disarmingly straightforward way. But it doesn't rest with tales of Australia's convict nightmare - the state of the world gets a thorough damning in opening track "Jezebel". It's a mean, ragged and nasty song, just like it's subject matter.
Good old predictable YLT. Although, they're predictably unpredictable . Predictably, this album sags a bit in the middle, but starting with the 10 minute drone machine of "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" is excitingly unpredictable.
This is better than "Summer Sun" and "I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One", but not as good as "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out".
12. Isis - In The Absence of Truth
As so aptly put on Allmusic, this is music that seeks the white heart of nothingness that beats in most music; that centre of the song that tunes out everything else. In the right frame of mind this album approaches that intensity and weight. It's incredibly heavy, yet it moves and mutates with a grace and litheness that's occasionally breathtaking. I'm only just starting to unearth this properly.
11. You Am I - Convicts
Attitude is sometimes all you need. If it gets you back up on your feet, dukes in the air, swinging at shadows at least you're back. This was such a surprising and energetic return from You Am I. Maybe I should rephrase - sometimes attitude and a break are what you need to relight the fires. You Am I are back and burning bright, and I don't think they're burning up.
10. The Knife - Silent Shout
Such a cold and calculated album, full of strange sounds, but it's metallic heart beats like any other. It's got a streak of otherness running through it - it's undenaibly and absorbingly weird.
9. The Drones - Gala Mill
This feels like an important album - it's one of the few albums around that deals honestly with the horrors in Australia's past in an unapologetic and disarmingly straightforward way. But it doesn't rest with tales of Australia's convict nightmare - the state of the world gets a thorough damning in opening track "Jezebel". It's a mean, ragged and nasty song, just like it's subject matter.