Off-Topic: The Musical!
by Grant Brisbee on Dec 17, 2008 11:07 PM PST
Email
PrintNote: Most of the baseball-related talk will probably be over here today. Feel free to skip over my front-page, off-topic nonsense and go straight there.
Do you like magic? Do wanna see something cool? Check this out:
'Tis the season of dead time. There's a little baseball news, I guess. Rafael Furcal is back with the Dodgers. Mark Teixeira is...is...snsnsxxxxx...whoa, sorry. Dozed off, there. After the Vegas all-nighter that was the Winter Meetings, this week is a big pile of drunken catch-up sleep. So I'm going to post something off-topic, and I'm going to do it at night, as there's no way I'll have time to write on Thursday.
Just watch. The Giants are going to acquire Dan Uggla in a seven-team trade on Thursday, with Madison Bumgarner going to the Royals and Fred Lewis going to the Nippon Ham Fighters. And while I'm out gallivanting around a shopping mall like a good little consumption monkey, the entire internet baseball kingdom will check in with McCovey Chronicles to read a front-page meltdown. They'll instead be treated to my dippy thoughts on music. And the news about the trade will be posted in a FanShot, so the fascist moderators will delete 62 attempts at trade-related FanPosts.
Magic!
With that out of the way, here are my favorite albums of 2008:
5. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
I'm not sure if I trust anyone who doesn't like TV on the Radio.
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
It's hard to listen to this album and do anything else. I have no idea what the first song is about, but I stop whatever I'm doing whenever it comes on. It's probably the prettiest song I've heard in five years. I can't even find a better adjective. It's just pretty. Pretty, pretty song. Just so pretty. Oh, so pretty. It has a pretty mouth. The song has a pretty mouth. I'll stop now. Good album.
3. Opeth - Watershed
Listen to the third track, "The Lotus Eater." It's the perfect representation of the band's sound, so after 45 seconds, you'll know if Opeth is right for you and your needs. Metal enough to drive my wife nuts, and nerd enough to tour with Dream Theater, Opeth is consistently awesome. This album is their formula of soft-growl-soft done with the perfect balance. There's also a freaking clavinet breakdown in the middle of one of the songs, which cost them 500 metal points, but it was worth it.
2. Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle
I'm a sucker for sappy and catchy, and this is about as sappy-catchy as it gets. It feels like a magic album that was recorded over a week as a side project...which is exactly what it is. The combination of melody, laziness, and harmony is like some sort of musical Serpentor for me. They didn't even need to waste time digging up Woody Guthrie's DNA.
1. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
They remind me of seventeen different bands. Sometimes they remind me of Arcade Fire; that's good. Sometimes they remind me of Rusted Root; that's, uh, not as good. But I love, love, love every tangent they attempt on this album. When they shuffle off into a David Byrne groove, I'm there. When they mush up a My Morning Jacket intro with a Beta Band-swiping outro, it makes perfect sense. I'd hate for their next album to have focus.
Comment starters: Your favorite albums of 2008. If you didn't have that many favorites from this year, just list some albums that you discovered recently.
260 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I would probably name my band "Worst Baserunning in the History of the Game" if I could...
But that would probably piss off my imaginary bandmates also I am musically inept also I am a mega-dork.
Some other suggestions:
-The Third and Kings
- Bocock Rocket
- The Catching Molinas
- Jesús and the Alous
- Balk-off Homer
God those are horrible. I need some sleep.
Barry Zito - Mildly half-OK! Sometimes.
Also I hope to see more of the nippon ham is the name of the ham company label.
Barry Zito - Mildly half-OK! Sometimes.
by Revolution1 on Dec 17, 2008 11:34 PM PST up reply actions
I actually really liked...
the Third and Kings. But their later stuff started to suck once they signed to a major.
Flossing a dead horse
Agreed !
The “Third and Kings” FTW
My adopted sons Matt Downs and Ben Copeland . Still not ranked in the McC prospect list.
Come for the baseball, stay for the gibberish
In honor of Mays and McCovey I would name a band “The Willies” but some bozos from South Pasadena have already taken that one. They’re probably Dodger fans, too. Bastards.
Josh Phelps is the new Scott McClain.
Also really enjoyed TV On the Radio. Okkervil River’s “The Stand Ins” was great… and I just discovered Muse, so yeah, it’s okay to judge me on that, but I’ve been listening to Black Holes and Revelations virtually on a loop for the last few days.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Dec 17, 2008 11:38 PM PST reply actions
since the topic is music
I will tell you that Delorean’s band and my band are playing together with Earthless on Jan 17 @ Annie’s Social Club on Folsom. I’ll be meeting Ian in person for the first time that night but I already know I like him. I’m sure he can’t stop thinking about Adrian Gonzalez either…
the headliners – www.myspace.com/earthless
my band – www.myspace.com/orchidsf
delorean’s band – www.myspace.com/kowloonwalledcity
Fairley odd parent to Wendell
more shameless self-promotion
the Gene Hackman’s brand new band Black Crown Stringband is playing at the Hotel Utah on Jan. 10.
We’re also playing the annual SF Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival twice.
Feb 6th at the Make-Out Room
Feb 10th at Cafe du Nord
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
Wow, you're a banjo player?
All those missed opportunities for abuse and mockery…here I thought I was the only bluegrass type picker around MCC.
Josh Phelps is the new Scott McClain.
by EliminateMe on Dec 18, 2008 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
jesus, man, keep your voice down.
now people won’t take me seriously.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
what do you play?
who are your favorites?
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 1:14 PM PST up reply actions
Earthless!
You guys did well to end up on a bill with SanDiego’s garage-psych riffmasters Earthless.
I’ve seen them 3 times here in SF (BotHill, and twice at the now-defunct 12 Galaxies).
I’ll be sure to check you (pl) out.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
Albums of 08
Granted, this was a pretty slow year but here it goes:
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Calexico – Carried to Dust
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
The Explorers Club – Freedom Wind
Steinski – What Does It All Mean?
Sigur Rós – Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
All Disappointment List:
Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Ryan Adams – Cardinology
Reasons for Hope:
New Andrew Bird and John Frusciante albums come out 1/20.
Nickelback put out an album this year so it’s unlikely we will have have to endure another release next year.
Rafael Rodriguez: Your number 8 organizational prospect before stepping a foot on American soil and has "looked just super so far," according to Felipe Alou...according to Baggs.
…that Hold Steady record was so disappointing.
"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean
by Smotheredinhugs on Dec 18, 2008 4:45 AM PST up reply actions
I don't know...
Lord, I’m discouraged, One for the Cutters and Two crosses are damn fine songs.
Flossing a dead horse
Human Highway...
Ridiculously good album. Sleep Talking is my favorite song of the last couple years. Pretty much anything the guy from the Unicorns/Islands does is great though. His other side project Reefer’s album that just came out wasn’t bad either.
My other favorites from 2008:
Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Beach House – Devotion
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Really looking forward to Beirut’s upcoming release in February.
Tie Vote...
…so when is the runoff?
Wait, this isn’t the Community Prospect List Fanthing? I thought all these were FanThings?
SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!
new and old
1. The National- The Virginia EP (Best line of any song in recent memory: “Your heart’s full of liquor and everyone else is just ice in the glass”)
2. The Decemberists- Picaresque (By far their best album)
3. Okkervil River- The Stand Ins (I defy anyone to dislike “Calliong and Not Calling my ex”)
Flossing a dead horse
David Byrne And Brian Eno – Everything that Happens Will Happen Today
The Master Musicians Of Hop-Frog – Centuries Later
And My Favorite – Richard Swift – The Ground Jaw Trouble EP
Many of the other mentioned previously will make my top twenty list.
"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean
by Smotheredinhugs on Dec 18, 2008 5:06 AM PST reply actions
::witty band name involving a Giants player here::
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Come on people
You know I don’t listen to new music. Jeez, for discovering a CD I’d have to say something along the lines of a Led Zeppelin bootleg that I heard this year, and in that case the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre soundboard came out this year.
And I guess I’ve got my band name. Thought of it all through my Anthropology final.
The Neifis.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I’m with you Walrus Man. I don’t listen to too much new music and I haven’t heard of half of the bands mentioned in Grant’s post as well as everybody else. Plus because of this recession, my mortgage, and new baby, plopping down $13 for a album is out of my price range.
That said, I do like the hipster gibberish.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Dec 18, 2008 8:23 AM PST up reply actions
Yea.
Just a bit of a difference in age probably.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
(Poking Linda Ronstadt) "Hey , that's your cue."
“What’s….newwwwwwwwwww……..”
Gawd , I don’t know , that’s fer surr. i stopped listening to commercial radio about a decade ago. Sometimes I get brief flashes of it on the cable music channels (Which is where I heard The Decemberists and Guster) but outside of that? Fuck that noise , in every interpretation possible.
So it’s back to the Archives Of Oblivion for…Tears For Fears’ Raoul And The Kings Of Spain , where Roland Orzabal flaunts his depth.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 8:49 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t understand anything you just said, but I like it.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Dec 18, 2008 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
I didn't quite understand either..
But yea old music.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Point by point analysis at three AM
Nearly thirty years ago Linda Ronstadt did a torch song album backed by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
One of the songs was “What’s New” – I threw that out there to point up – figuratively – the “age difference” scenario being one a few of us can identify with.
I really did stop listening to commercial radio because I don’t listen to radio to hear ads , and Phoenix pop radio is either hiphop , death metal , or ancient alternative – all of it overloaded with advertising. I have an aversion to all of that – or , in more profane terms , fuck that noise.
Some cable providers have music channels where you can click on a particular genre or era. In this fashion I have heard some contemporary music.
Jeez , I must be bored. You’d think I could put my time to better use – like studying stats…
…but why muddle my emotion with knowledge?
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 19, 2008 1:38 AM PST up reply actions
Raoul And The Kings Of Spain
that is a killer record
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 9:53 AM PST up reply actions
I feel like I’ve had less time to listen to new music this year than ever before. Thanks for bumming me out.
My top 5 for 2008 probably looks like this:
5. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
4. Tobacco – Fucked Up Friends (amazing album)
3. Grouper – Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill
2. Black Devil Disco Club – Eight Oh Eight
1. Milieu – A Warm Wooden Hollow
Honorary mentions: Dr. Dooom – Dr. Dooom 2; Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Cipher; Kleerup – Kleerup; Odd Nosdam – Pretty Swell Explode; Bun B – Ill Trill, Electric President – Sleep Well; Ladytron – Velocifero.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
hell yes fleet foxes
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
I guess this was the year I stopped paying much attention to new music, because I hardly recognize most of the bands named thus far. There’s so much fantastic old stuff out there that I’m just discovering: Bing Crosby, Rochereau, Skatalites, random albums by Zep & Eno & Monk & Sleater-Kinney that were new to me …
My favorite new album by far was Randy Newman’s, which can’t possibly be cool. Others: Yelle, R.E.M., Love Is All, Robert Forster.
…random albums by Zep& Eno & Monk &…
There ya go fixed.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Perhaps..
Since I don’t even know who he is probably not. Just trying to pimp up Zeppelin.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Dude. You crossed out Thelonious Monk.
Not cool.
Disfrute Los Gigantes every day at www.leftymalo.com
My defense above..
Applies.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Ignorance is no defense. Your sentence: Go buy Eno & Byrne’s “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts” and “Monk’s Dream,” lock yourself in a comfy room, and listen.
Disfrute Los Gigantes every day at www.leftymalo.com
Good Monk album. I prefer Eno’s solo stuff, though. I like the ambient / soundtracky type stuff.
For Walrus, check out Discreet Music, Ambient 1, Ambient 4, and my favorite, Apollo Atmospheres and Soundtracks.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
This is why I’ve ignored Eno all these years — because the ambient stuff bored me silly when I was 19 or whatever. Now that I’ve discovered how good the preambient albums are, I might have to try the ambient ones again.
Yeah, I like his guitar pop work stuff as well, but the ambient is what resonates the most with me.
Everyone should listen to Here Come the Warm Jets at least a few times.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
that eno record with Jah Wobble, Spinner, is pretty great
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
I acutally liked Eno & Byrne’s get together this year as well, Everything that Happens Happened Today. Maybe not as groundbreaking as their early stuff, but still makes a comfy room exciting.
I second Moody Motorcycle, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, TV on the Radio, Sigur Ros, My Morning Jacket and Kings of Leon. And add Jenny Lewis, Frederic and Benjie Hughes.
But my favorite album this year might be Son Lux ridiculously good At War with Walls and Mazes.
Get the hell out the way Bengie, Pablito's hit the show!
Huh..ok.
I wasn’t even aware that I had a tail. But have you seen the video when I take on a Polar Bear and win? I think I’m ok.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Yeah, but that Polar Bear took a dive.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 18, 2008 8:53 AM PST up reply actions
Yello?
The duo of Boris Blank and Dieter Meyer , the latter being an actual billionaire CEO , which is hilarious in itself. And then you listen to “I Love You” , and start laughing all over again.
It was so cool when the Wallflowers redid “Heroes” and had Eno sit in.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 8:55 AM PST up reply actions
Born Again
They say that money
Can’t buy love in this world
But it’ll get you a half-pound of cocaine
And a sixteen-year old girl
And a great big long limousine
On a hot September night
Now that may not be love
But it is all right
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 5:46 PM PST up reply actions
Zep & Eno & Monk
Man, would that be an epic collaboration or what?
Josh Phelps is the new Scott McClain.
by EliminateMe on Dec 18, 2008 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
i come here for lolcats
i adopt brian sabean... take that dramatic irony!
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 18, 2008 7:27 AM PST reply actions
Band Name
Headhunter Rollins and the Lolcats
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 18, 2008 8:13 AM PST up reply actions
boo
i adopt brian sabean... take that dramatic irony!
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 18, 2008 9:19 AM PST up reply actions
Uh, off the top of my head…
R.E.M. – Accelerate
P!nk – Funhouse
Santogold – Santogold
I might add Issa’s “Dragon Dreams” after another dozen listens, as it’s showing a ton of promise, but damn if it isn’t the quirkiest thing the former Jane Siberry has ever done, and that’s saying a lot. She’s been quirky almost as long as I’ve been alive.
Proud member of the Adopt-a-Giant program (Aaron Rowand)
I prefer Exploding Penguin on the TV on the radio. (With Portuguese subtitles, no less.)
Disfrute Los Gigantes every day at www.leftymalo.com
. . . now what I'm with isn't it
Did Blonde Redhead’s 23 come out this year?
Man, am I not cool anymore.
No claim of these being the best...
just how much I enjoyed them. This will be totally different in about 5 minutes too. Honestly, there was no album that I felt stood out above all the others this year. I didn’t really consider the handful of hip hop albums that I got this year (John Robinson, Lil Wayne, etc.) since I have trouble comparing them to the indie/electronica/rock thing. If forced to put them in, John Robinson would probably fall in the 10-15 range and Lil Wayne might fall in the 15-20 range. Also, there are obviously quite a few albums that I don’t own that probably would have made the list—Hercules and Love Affair and Gnarles Barkley are the two most obvious for me… I was tempted to throw them on there because I like some of the tracks so much, but this is a best albums list and I just can’t do that without listening to the album all the way through at least once.
———————————————————————————————
(1)-(5):
(1) Fleet Foxes
It took me a bit of time to pony up the money to actually buy this off of iTunes. Honesly, I’m pissed when a label doesn’t give it to me for much cheaper on emusic, but this album was really worth it. I’ve really been into singer-songwriter, folkish type music lately, and I’m a sucker for vocal harmonies. Despite the backlash against the band (perhaps because they’re dirty hippies and no longer unknown enough), I think every song on here is a gem, and White Winter Hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, and Mykonos (actually off of the EP) are some of my favorite songs of the year. Include Sun Giant in with the album and I’m even more sure that Fleet Foxes put out my favorite music of the year.
(2) Bonnie Prince Billy- Lie Down in the Light
I think this is an unappreciated album this year. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, with the passing of Elliott Smith, takes on the title of best indie song writer. His song just sound deeper; I don’t know how to put it other than that. His forms are inventive and he’s not afraid to vary the instrumentation on a record. Highlights on this album include For Every Field There’s a Mole (love the, I think, Rhodes and clarinet solos) and You Want that Picture (love the vocal tradeoffs with the female vocalist). This is my second favorite Will Oldham album, and I really don’t like I See a Darkness all that much more.
(3) Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
This is the sort of album that you either love or hate. It was panned by a number of publications, but others put it high on their list of best albums of the year. I will admit that the album is inconsistent, but I love it anyway; really, I don’t think that someone could cram so many musical ideas into such a short span and not have the result be a bit inconsistent. I might be a bit reluctant to blare all the “black shemale” lyrics out my car windows or in proper company, but I definitely crank up this shit up in my apartment and dance around like an idiot. It’s like psycho-space-glam-funk-rock written by a mad genius who hasn’t taken his adderall. I heart Kevin Barnes.
(4) TV on the Radio- Dear Science
Honestly, if it’s possible, I was a bit disappointed by this album. I mean Return to Cookie Mountain IS LIKE THE BEST ALBUM EVAR AND YOU BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING CONTRARY BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE WRONG, and Dear Science is merely really, really good. I was a bit disappointed because TVOTR seemed to go a bit more mainstream with Dear Science and didn’t experiment quite as much. Still, Crying, Golden Age, and DLZ are great tracks and the rest of the album is very solid. Overall, I just like their style and I agree with Grant’s take that I can’t understand why anyone would not like these guys. They play really fun music, and it seems like there is something in there for everyone.
(5) The Week That Was- The Week That Was
This was one of the few albums that I usually felt compelled to listen to start to finish. It seems like the interwebs and caused people to start buying more single tracks and ignoring entire albums. Having grown up on Sgt. Pepper’s, I really don’t like this trend. This is a very good album all the way through and the band obviously conceived of the album as a single work and not just a collection of singles. Add in the interesting song writing, percussion, strings, and varying rhythmic patterns and this album sqeeks past Santogold and Crystal Castles into my top 5.
———————————————————————————————————
(6)-(30): Once you get past the top 10, the order of preference for me gets very, very tentative. Anyway, I’ve included the rest of these albums just to give everyone a better idea of what I’ve been listening too, because that should be really important to you!
(6) Santogold- Santogold
(7) Crystal Castles- Crystal Castles
(8) Lindstrom- Where You Go I Go Too
(9) Bon Iver- For Emma, Long Ago
(10) Deerhunter- Microcastles
(11) Portishead- Third
(12) Thao- We Brave Bee Stings and All
(13) Plants & Animals- Parc Avenue
(14) Mount Eerie- Lost Wisdom
(15) No Age- Nouns
(16) El Guincho- Alegranza
(17) Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
(18) Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line
(19) Why?- Alopecia
(20) The Dodos- Visiter
(21) Frightened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight
(22) Deastro- Keeper’s
(23) M83- Saturdays=Youth
(24) Friendly Fires- Friendly Fires
(25) Department of Eagles
(26) Gang Gang Dance- Saint Dymphna
(27) Okkervil River- The Stand Ins
(28) The Rural Alberta Advantage
(29) Chairlift- Does You Inspire You
(30) Fuck Buttons- Street Horrrsing
FLAME AWAY (please)!
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
Just out of curiosity - how does one become exposed to bands like those?
I’ve heard/heard of Portishead , I think I stumbled over them on Pandora by running some Depeche. That and Massive Attack…well , I’m pretty messed up.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 9:00 AM PST up reply actions
I go about it like this...
(1) Look for music I already like
(1a) Use pitchfork, drownedinsound, emusic, and other online resources to see what is coming out and use a band’s myspace site to see if I actually would like it.
(2) If I like it, look for it on emusic
(3) If it’s not on emusic, it’s going to cost me a bit more to download, so I have to like the album a bit more (see me not having purchased Hercules and Love Affair yet). I’ll cure the record companies and iTunes for a while, and if I still want the album, I’ll get it off of iTunes.
(4) ????
(5) Profit.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
I discover most of my music via podcast these days. I highly recommend the music podcasts from CBC Radio 3 and NPR’s All Songs Considered. There are also song of the day podcasts available from Indiefeed, KCRW, KEXP, and MPR. Obviously you’re not going to like everything with this sort of thing, but I’ve found tons of great bands.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I like All Songs Considered...
and they have some pretty cool web-based resources too.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
i listen to a lot of music but...
ive only heard of portishead, and i think thats actually the name for a type of toilet
i adopt brian sabean... take that dramatic irony!
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 18, 2008 9:20 AM PST up reply actions
hmmm... haven't heard of the Fleet Foxes?
I felt a bit bad putting them at #1 because they have their CD in Starbucks. LOL
It’s a wonderful album. Check it out if you get a chance.
http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
I have it on good authoritah
that Portishead isn’t a toilet manufacturer.
Nor is Porta – John some mobile dude (Quiet , Wil)
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
portishead
is just up the road where i used to live in England.
people were forever stealing the sign
BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.
by alea iacta est on Dec 18, 2008 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Bonnie Prince Billy- Lie Down in the Light
I think this is an unappreciated album this year. Bonnie "Prince" Billy, with the passing of Elliott Smith, takes on the title of best indie song writer.
The only reason this album wasn’t on my list is because I’ve only listened to it twice so far, but I’ve been amazed both times.
I really don’t like I See a Darkness all that much more.
You’re dead to me.
by Grant Brisbee on Dec 18, 2008 9:40 AM PST up reply actions
Who knew that was even possible?
Josh Phelps is the new Scott McClain.
by EliminateMe on Dec 18, 2008 12:41 PM PST up reply actions
Amazing!
Some guy on warriorsworld has the same exact list as you.
Holy moly….same name too! The odds have got to be astronomical.
by Stoned Slacker on Dec 18, 2008 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
Is this meaning..
You bought 30 or more CDs this year? Wow.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
That’s just two trips to Amoeba. Add to that to a dozen trips to Aquarius…
He (she is a possibility as well) does mention eMusic which is a
discount download site. Not everyone can exist on the same old
blues songs ripped off from their proper owners.
/zep bashin
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
Hey..
Yea Zep did some blues songs that were uncredited (that are now credited) but while the first album had 3 or 4 covers, their other albums had about 3 or 4 combined.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
yea... I probably get about 8 albums a month
with emusic, I get 100 tracks per month for $25 bucks per month (25 cents per track). Some people buy cable; I but a isht load of music.
The downside is that it can be overwhelming at times, but play and listening to music is something I dedicate a lot of time to.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
I love my emusic. My outlaw friends laugh at me paying for music at all, but every month is like Christmas when my 100 downloads refresh.
My problem is when eMusic doesn’t have something I want — which is all the time. If it’s something like TV on the Radio or Calexico – known favorites – I pay the premium. If it’s something like No Age…I just don’t get to listen to that album. Sub-Pop sucks for not being on eMusic.
If it’s Metallica, I download it for free. I know this secret program and everything.
by Grant Brisbee on Dec 19, 2008 9:46 AM PST up reply actions
totally...
emusic day is probably my favorite day of most months.
I download so much music that if I took it for free I would be paranoid that someone would go after me. Being a lawyer with all of its “moral” requirements makes it a bit more unsettling.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
If you don’t use all 100 in a month do they carry over?
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
hey... what did you think of their top 88 of '08?
I liked a lot of the stuff on that list. I particularly am liking the Deastro album. I got it recently and I think it might have been higher on my list if I had had more time to listen to it
On the other hand, after a few listens, I’m really not digging their #1, The Gaslight Anthem. Their songs all sound too similar to me… not terrible creative, IMO. I didn’t really like it as a #1. But I guess that is a taste thing.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
I was surprised at how few albums I had from that list. Of the ones I had:
Loved
Bon Iver
Liked
Okkervil River
The Fireman
Atlas Sound
Beach House
Vampire Weekend
Deerhunter
Thao
Frightened Rabbit
Eh
Black Mountain
Didn’t like
High Places
by Grant Brisbee on Dec 20, 2008 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
Grant was just embarassed to list his favorite Fall Out Boy abums, and came up with the above random bands, just to look cool.
They’ll be his number one with a bullet.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 18, 2008 10:47 AM PST up reply actions
THIS AIN’T A SCENE IT’S A GOD DAMN ARMS RACE!
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 18, 2008 11:36 AM PST up reply actions
Stuff I liked this year
Now, before someone gets technical, I preface this by saying music I listened to in ’08, even though it might have been released in ’07. Takes awhile for me to listen to stuff, etc.
In no particular order:
Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend
MGMT-Oracular Spectacular
Kings Of Leon-Only by the Night
Girl Talk-Feed the Animals
The Ting Tings-We Started Nothing
Stars-In our Bedroom After the War
Rademacher-Stunts (From Fresno, saw at Make-Out Room, really like it)
Lil Wayne-Tha Carter III
The Kills-Midnight Boom
Elbow-Seldom Seen Kid
Cold War Kids-Loyalty to Loyalty
Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago
Black Kids-Partie Traumatic
Haven’t quiet gotten to the TV on the Radio but I’m sure I’ll like it, liked the first album. Also just listened to Fleet Foxes for the first time this morning on the MUNI, need to give a few more times to decide. Basically, there’s still a lot of 2008 that I haven’t listened to but I’ll get to it eventually.
by AngelWillSaveUs on Dec 18, 2008 9:10 AM PST reply actions
the ting tings record
is close to perfection
BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.
by alea iacta est on Dec 18, 2008 8:45 PM PST up reply actions
Seventeen? You mean besides Rush and Zeppelin?
hey remind me of seventeen different bands.
OK, let’s see…
1. Brinsley Schwarz
2. Broken Social Scene
3. Buck Owens and his Buckaroos
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival
5. Desmond Dekker & the Aces
6. Eddie & the Hot Rods
7. Elbow
8. The Ethiopians
9. The Jam
10. Kaiser Chiefs
11. Moby Grape
12. Montrose
13. The Offspring
14. Super Furry Animals
15. Sweet
16. They Might Be Giants
17. The Yardbirds
BONUS BANDS: The Band, Little River Band, Band of Brothers, Band on the Run, Band of Gypsys, BANNED!
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??
Had some pretty decent guitarists pass through the ranks…
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??
My top ten
In arbitrary order, since I haven’t given enough thought to rank them. And with the caveat that there are a bunch of albums I haven’t had the chance to pick up/listen to yet:
- Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Dig!! Lazarus, Dig!!
- Kathleen Edwards, Asking for Flowers
- Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, We Brave Bee Stings and All
- Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords
- Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line
- She & Him, Volume One
- Portishead, Third
- Joan as Police Woman, To Survive
- Sons & Daughters, This Gift
It’s mostly a fairly conventional indie list, I know. And I have no idea what to put at #1. There were a number of albums this year that I like, but nothing that really blew me away as an obvious #1 the way Challengers by The New Pornographers did last year, or like Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood did the year before that.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
She & Him, Volume One
I still haven’t heard this album but I’ve got a crush on Zooey.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
It’s amazingly good considering it’s an album by a movie star who’d never released an album before. She has a great voice and is a pretty good songwriter, too.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I felt my list was really pretty conventional indie as well...
I certainly don’t fall into the category of indie fans where you can’t easily find the music to purchase it… over on DiS, some albums were like that. I’d look at a top 25 list and search for a couple of the bands, and you could only get their music through some small distributor based in Antarctica.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
And even they won’t sell to you until they’ve verified that you have the right piercings.
Josh Phelps is the new Scott McClain.
by EliminateMe on Dec 18, 2008 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
NICK CAVE!
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
i was really disappointed by the sons and daughters record
i’m a big fan, but i think the production really buried it
BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.
by alea iacta est on Dec 18, 2008 8:46 PM PST up reply actions
I quite liked it, but I’m not familiar with their previous stuff, so I can’t comment there.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
their first two records
love the cup and
repulsion box
are really great. they’re a lot more focused than the new record. i’d certainly recommend you check out. the song monsters, especially, will do you the world of good
BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.
by alea iacta est on Dec 18, 2008 11:43 PM PST up reply actions
Also, since Grant mentioned Plants and Animals
I really like the song Bye Bye Bye, but I’ve heard the rest of the album isn’t nearly as interesting. But the mention here is a reminder that I should really pick up that album when I go to Amoeba after Christmas.
Another album from this year I really need to pick up: Furr by Blitzen Trapper.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Speaking of Plants....
the Robert Plant and Allison Kraus record Raising Sand is one of the prettiest recordings I’ve heard since Iron & Wine’s Creek Drank the Cradle.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 9:57 AM PST reply actions
I think I need to listen to The Creek Drank the Cradle more. I like it okay, but all the songs tend to blend together for me. But people seem to really, really love it.
And yeah, Raising Sand is a nice album. I was never that into Robert Plant, but he won me over with that album.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I’m a big TCDTC fan. I think my track #2 the album hits a really nice, mellow stride that’s just really nice to listen to.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
Any other Iron & Wine albums you’d recommend? Like I said, I have an Amoeba trip coming up…
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I’d probably recommend Our Endless Numbered Days and the Woman King EP to try next.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
people really like the Sea and the Rhythm EP too.
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
The Iron & Wine/Calexico "In The Reins" EP is great
in addition to what xanthan said below
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
Plant’s got a great voice, whether he uses it to scream out Rock And Roll or serenade some country/bluegrass. If you’re just into the non-Rock And Roll type singing (come on, you’re jcb though!) then check out all Zeppelin’s acoustic stuff. You could probably fill a whole album easily with their acousticisms.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
you and I could definitely hang out and listen to some tunes over beers…
NOT THAT I’M ASKING YOU OUT OR ANYTHING.
Fairley odd parent to Wendell
sure not asking me out.
I’ll bring 4/27/1969.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
(pssst, I think he’s asking you out!)
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on Dec 18, 2008 9:30 PM PST up reply actions
I still haven't been able to get Raising Sand...
I want to take a listen to it though. I heard a recording of their show in SF and a lot of it interested me.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
I dunno
Outside of Jay Chou, I don’t really listen to much new Mandopop. Khalil Fong is pretty good, although he’s actually American-born and based in HK. Otherwise, it’s mostly Cantopop and Jpop for me.
Well, in my experience, a lot of Mandopop kinda blows anyway, except for Jay Chou and this guy.
well, what about Cantopop then?
Janice came out with a new album this month, if you’re into pop-ballady type music.
I recently discovered my little airport, an indie pop band, maybe the only Chinese one I’ve ever come across. Their music has a nice, quirky feel to it, somewhat similar to American indie pop bands.
Yellow Magic Orchestra - "Tighten Up"
“Hey everybody…we are the YMO!
We don’t sightsee – we dance!
We are the number one dance band in Tokyo!”
“Japanese gentlemen stand up please…”
“Behind the Mask” is a better jam. Simplistic , but fun.
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 19, 2008 8:51 AM PST up reply actions
TV on the Radio
I was a little let down by Dear Science, I didn’t like it as much as Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes.
/shrug
/deer head
Bay City Ball
Elbow's "Seldom Seen Kid"
Guy Garvey’s voice is so freaking cool.
I once punched a hole in a light fixture in celebration of a J.T. Snow home run. That is all.
Oh, and I’ve mentioned them in past threads but I really dig OCS — Or the Oh Sees as they are now called.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
Oh, and...
I haven’t heard the whole My Morning Jacket album, but Highly Suspicious may be the single worst song I’ve ever heard. Sorry to fans, but MAN.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
+1
New poster here, hello everybody.
I used to love MMJ, but that song singlehandedly made it impossible for me to listen to any of their previous catalog for a few months after it came out.
My top five:
1. Harvey Milk—Life…The Best Game In Town
2. Thee Oh Sees-The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In
3. White Magic-New Egypt EP
4. Portishead-Third
5. Department Of Eagles-In Ear Park (Grizzly Bear side project)
Lots of Montreal love (not Of Montreal love) from Grant in his top five. I live right next door to the drummer of Plants and Animals and though I’m not a huge fan of their record, they couldn’t be nicer guys.
And some Giants-related imaginary band names
Edweirdo Alfungo
Dick Pole & The Phallic Symbols
The Mighty Marks
The last one is only Giants-related in my mind – back in the mid-90s, the team had a seemingly never ending parade of players named Mark – Mark Gardner, Mark Lewis, Mark Portugal, Mark Carreon, Mark Leiter, Mark Leonard, Mark Dewey, Marcus Jensen. I dubbed them The Mighty Marks. Eventually Mark Gardner was the last of The Mighty Marks, and I think it’s ben years since we’ve had any at all. Oh, the tragedy.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Oh duh, we have had a Mark lately: Mark Sweeney. He was such an incredible Giant that I forgot he existed!
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
That Human Highway album sounds pretty good, from the Amazon preview thing. Reminds me a lot of Fountains of Wayne. The cover art freaks me the fuck out though.
I haven’t been listening to much new stuff this year. I was really looking forward to Jenny Lewis’s Acid Tongue album, but I really don’t like it. I love Rilo Kiley and her first solo album, but the new one didn’t click with me.
I want to start a band called The Lincecums. I just need a drummer.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 10:59 AM PST reply actions
I don’t like Acid Tongue as much as Rabbit Fur Coat, but it has some really good songs in my opinion – particularly the title track and Jack Killed Mom.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Yeah, I’m with ya. A few good songs, but the album as a whole feels very uneven. The thing I love about Rilo Kiley is that the albums are good all the way through, rather than just having a few standouts surrounded by mediocrity. Guess my hopes were just too high.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t know if I’d agree with you on Rilo Kiley. That holds true for More Adventurous and The Execution of All Things, I think, but Takeoffs & Landings was awfully uneven and I mostly hated Under the Blacklight,….but I’ve had that debate on MCC before.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Takeoffs and Landings did have some slow spots, it’s true, but there weren’t any songs that I flat out did not like.
I didn’t like Under the Blacklight at all when I first heard it, but after listening to it a bit more I started to dig it.
More Adventurous is still the best, and is one of my favorite albums ever, and Execution is amazing as well and was how I got introduced to them.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
I thought the Blake songs on Takeoffs and Landings were pretty bad. On the other hand, with Under the Blacklight, I thought Dreamworld was the best song on the album by a pretty healthy margin.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I tend to like the Blake songs. Ripchord is one of my faves.
His other band, The Elected, is kind of hit or miss though.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
I like Sun, Sun, Sun.
Have they done anything else?
/too lazy to spend five seconds on Wikipedia
GROUGTHINK ALERT
I didn’t like Under the Blacklight at all when I first heard it, but after listening to it a bit more I started to dig it.
Definitely. I’d still say More Adventurous is better, but Blacklight grew on me.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
There are a few songs I like, but there’s also some stuff that’s just awful in my opinion. Especially Dejalo, but also Smoke Detector, Give a Little Love, and The Moneymaker. Of course, it’s been about a year since I’ve actually listened to that album, so I should probably give it another listen.
The album also came out the same day as Challengers by The New Pornographers, which I loved, and it really suffered in comparison.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Dejalo and 15 were so awful they almost ruined everything Jenny Lewis related for me, including Troop Beverly Hills.
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
It’s hard for me to put in words exactly what drives me so crazy about these songs. Part of it, I’m sure, is that I had such high hopes for that album overall and how much I’ve enjoyed thier earlier stuff..
15 – I generally like the tune but the lyrics just strike me as utterly ridiculous.
Dejalo – I’m not sure I can put it into words. I just listened to it again and now I feel stabby. Why is she singing a disco song in spanish?
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
Yeah, the lyrics of 15 are creepy and awful and child molester-y. Dejalo sounds like Rilo Kiley trying to rip off Gloria Estefan, and that’s just wrong.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I will say that when I saw RK live at the Warfield last year, I thought a lot of the songs from UtB worked a lot better live – including 15.
I hope I don’t come across as the guy who refuses to let his favorite bands try new styles without freaking out – I generally love to hear new territory being broken. I just don’t think UtB’s explorations worked for the most part. The sound, by and large, just seemed really sludgey and dull to me. And the lyrics were pretty bad in a lot of places. I generally really like Jenny Lewis as a lyricist, and I didn’t have a problem as such with her writing about sex and prostitutes and porn and all that, but for the most part the way she wrote about that stuff came across as forced and, well, kind of dumb. Especially after Rabbit Fur Coat, which I loved lyrically, that was a real disappointment.
I do think Dreamworld, Breakin’ Up, and Silver Lining were good songs. And now, with this conversation, I’m going back and listening to the album for the first time since last October.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Thinking it over, one of things that’s disconcerting about those songs (and the album in general) is that the subject matter is heavy but the sound is so light and smooth, almost frivolous. But I love that mixed message. It enacts the seductiveness of self-destructive behavior, you might say.
Hey, while we’re talking about Rilo Kiley, I have a question maybe someone can answer. You guys know the song “A Man/Me/Then Jim” from More Adventurous? When I first heard that song I assumed it was a cover, because it’s written from the perspective of a guy (named Jim) but after googling, I don’t think it is. Anyone know the deal with this song? It’s one of my favorite songs so I was just curious.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:21 PM PST up reply actions
It’s not a cover. I always took the song as having three narrators, one for each verse – the first verse is narrated by “A Man,” the second by “Me,” and the third by “Jim.” If you’ll notice, Jim is referenced as “our poor friend Jim” in the first verse.
It’s probably favorite RK song too.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Oh yeah, looking at it like that, it makes more sense. Thanks!
It’s funny to find so many similar musical taste people on a baseball board. :)
I love you guys.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:32 PM PST up reply actions
The creepiness doesn’t actually bother me so much. The similes in the chorus just don’t work for me. I think I’m softening on my stance on this song though.
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
Yeah, I think I mostly agree with this. I don’t mind creepiness if it’s done well. Hell, Lolita is one of my favorite novels. But if it’s done badly it just becomes silly and embarrassing.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I always liked Glendora and those lyrics are pretty creepy. (link opens to lyrics)
Speed, defense... and an almost fanatical devotion to getting picked off.
Yeah, Glendora’s a great song. Largely, I think, because it has a sense of fun and playfulness that’s really missing from UtB.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
And the same holds for The Frug, another fine song:
And I can hate your girl
I can tell you that she’s real pretty
I can take my clothes off
I cannot fall in love
You’ll never see my eyes
I will not call you back
I cannot do the smurf
I cannot fall in love
I’ll never fall in love
I cannot fall in love…
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I’m not up on the whole downloading music stuff, I just buy CDs. So is there somewhere I could download this out of print stuff? That first self-titled album and the Live at Fingerprints EP both look great, but are way out of my price range to buy the actual CDs.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:47 PM PST up reply actions
Man, Live at Fingerprints has gotten a lot pricier. I bought it used through Amazon a few years ago for like $5, and now it’s going for over $30.
As for the self titled EP (aka The Initial Friend EP), you could probably find it if you ask around one of the various Rilo Kiley fan communities out there. There’s one on Livejournal, for example.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
Cool, thanks. I might just have to shell out the 35 bucks for the live EP, and I’ll look into the other one somehow.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:57 PM PST up reply actions
Wow..
You’re pretty screwed getting out of print downloads. The only real way is if someone rips it onto their computer (hopefully losslessly before I go on one of my rants) from the CD/LP and torrents it over the internet. Course that’s illegal.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
That’s not off of an album, is it? Is it an unreleased track or something?
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
I think once you know and accept that its a pretty big departure from their earlier stuff, you can enjoy it for what it is. At least that was my experience. I went in hoping for another More Adventurous, and hated it. But after I knew what to expect, it grew on me.
by The Double Deuce on Dec 18, 2008 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
2008 was the year in which I became an official fuddy duddy Old Fart. I never expected it would happen so suddenly, and before I turned 40. It used to be I’d pick up Spin’s Top 40 Albums of the Year issue or the Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll and read them back and forth — plus I’d have heard (or heard of) EVERY ALBUM THEY MENTIONED. Now? You kids may as well be posting in Sanskrit for all I know of these bands. Although I did quite like MGMT.
Tomorrow I plan to post about how much better ESPN was when they showed Australian Rules Football and kickboxing from the Phillipines. Now get off my lawn, kids.
My plans for 2009: getting married and attending Tim Lincecum Bobblehead Day.
Hey, my list has two bands who’ve been together for over a decade – Portishead and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
Never has a poster been more correct in the history of the internet. Ever! - ResDog on yours truly
I don’t listen to any bands that have come out in the last 20 years because they are all pretentious and boring. Now get the hell off my lawn.
Anagram of "Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum" = TENSE, CLIMACTIC, TRIUMPHING
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Dec 18, 2008 11:09 AM PST reply actions
I loves me some gibberish...
and… the countdown to a 2 week vacation starts TODAY, dammit. So… Giants-related band names (I might trot these out in Rock Band 2 someday):
Rikkert Faneyte and the DON’T SLIDE CANDY’s
Big Daddy and the Reuschels
Keena Turner Overdrive (wait… I got Niners humor in my Giants post! ack!)
Atlee Hammaker Schlemmer
Jack and Will’s Clark Clearwater Revival
Munterpol
Waiting for Boof (:shiftyeyes:)
Red Hot Chili Davises
Duck the Fodgers!
iTunes' preview of Moody Motorcycle wasn't bad
But in general, I don’t listen to new music, it all sounds the same to me. Some of your guys’ indie rock might not fall into that generalization, but I really don’t know how I would become exposed to that. I mostly enjoy just listening to classic rock. Yeah, it might be a bit commercial, but its some damn fine music.
The only album I bought this year was Metallica’s: Death Magnetic. I thought it was a very fine return to their …And Justice For All – type days, with hard-pounding, complex songs. And none of the ridiculous trash-can drums Lars busted out in St. Anger. I really enjoy that album, and having just seen them in Fresno, they still put on a great show.
Lamb of God, however, blew chunks in the last 15 minutes of their set that I caught. I just don’t understand how that can be considered music.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Dec 18, 2008 11:36 AM PST reply actions
St. Anger had the worst intentional production of any music album in the history of man.
“Hey, let’s record Lar playing trashcans in mono. FUCKING BRILLIANT”
/deer head
Bay City Ball
How do you know we aren’t the same person?
/shifty eyes
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 18, 2008 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
I am a shitty drummer, a mediocre guitar player, and a very good bass player.
by Lars The Wanderer on Dec 18, 2008 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
this is basically what I would have written and now I don’t have to.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 18, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions
Great topic thread. My Rhapsody account is gonna get a workout as I check out all the music that’s been listed. Here’s my list.
1- Raphael Saddiq- The Way I See It. Great retro album and I’m into retro. This guy nailed it. Way underappreciated for the talent he has. I wore this thing out.
2- Joe Jackson- Rain. Joe with two of his original band mates. Very jazzy. Piano driven. “Uptown Train” is my favorite. And Joe can still write a pop song with the best of ’em.
3- Conor Oberst- Conor Oberst. I’m a shill for this guy because I live in Nebraska and my kid got me hooked on him a few years back. “Milk Thistle” is great.
4- Republic of Loose- Vol IV Johnny Pyro and the Dance of Evil. Irish soul band who’s lead singer sounds like Daryl Hall. That means exactly two things (Jack and shit) but I still like their stuff. “The Steady Song” is pop drivel but I’m not above that.
5- Maxwell- Black. I’m just gonna pretend that he finally released the damn album…. For Maxwell fans, it’s “Chinese Democracy” X 1,000.
Again great idea for a thread. I rarely post but I do visit McC daily and love reading what you talented people create! Thanks!
Conor Gillaspie = Husker native.....GBR
Joe can write , all right...
I own Beat Crazy , Look Sharp! , I’m The Man , Night and Day (I saw him after that came out) , Jumpin’ Jive , and Big World. But I saw him on SNL sometime after that and I swear his voice was so dischordant it hurt. I had to turn it off.
Have he and Graham Maby tied the knot yet? lol
Who has the fun?
Is it always the man with the gun?
- The Stranglers
by victor frankenstein on Dec 18, 2008 5:56 PM PST up reply actions
Die Hipsters Die!
"I didn't know (after seeing a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch) whether to shit or go blind." - Former Giants Outfielder Harvey Kuenn on Willie Mays
The fixed-gear bike quip made me laugh because I knew people like that at college. There was always this one girl riding around town on one of them while wearing huge ass aviator sunglasses.
/deer head
Bay City Ball
They Might've Been Giants...
Francisco Liriano on lead guitar
Travis Denker on bass
Boof Bonser on drums
Manny Mota on keyboards
George Foster on vocals and wicked dance moves
Hank Aaron on percussion
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher??
Giants themed album of 2008
I Hardly Even Know Her by Bowker
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Dec 18, 2008 1:32 PM PST reply actions
Bonnie "Prince" Billy – Lie Down in the Light
Perhaps BPB’s (aka Will Oldham) best since 2000’s I See a Darkness.
Folkier and county-rier than recent efforts but the female backing vocals
really add tons of depth. Maybe my favorite recording of 2008 at this point.
Jucifer — L’ Autrichienne
A concept album about Marie Antoinette?! From Jucifer? Yes indeed. But
dont fear, it’s chock full of everything you love about Jucifer: crunchy, sludgy,
loud, quiet, tender and fantastic. Front-chick Amber Valentine is as easy on
the eyes as she is challenging to the ears.
The Grails – Take Refuge In Clean Living
Portland-based post-rock instrumental heavyosity. Swirling garage psych
that could fool you into thinking your listening to contemporary Japanese
psych-core or 1973-era Grateful Dead.
Sun Kil Moon – April
Mark Kozelek’s done it again. Great songwriting and performance. Moody
and dark while spiritual and life-affirming. I dont know how he does it, but
I hope he keeps it up.
Grayceon—This Grand Show
Your classic SF Cello, Guitar, and Drums metal band. You may know
Jackie Perez Gratz from her work in Amber Asylum, but here the goth
string quartet is replaced by hard-dring guitar and cello led math-rock.
Loud, fast and local.
Hank IV – Refuge In Genre
Local (SF) old-school (or maybe just old) punks keep getting better.
Catpower – Jukebox
Sure, Chan’s selling Lincolns (and tons of other shit) during the playoff
broadcasts, but I love everything she’s done, including this cover record.
Honorable mentions:
Two notable reunion tours:
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
thanks for the recs
I rather enjoyed the quick snippits I heard of BPB & Jucifer.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Dec 18, 2008 2:30 PM PST up reply actions
i thought that was her (cat power) covering Bowie.
thanks…
"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"
by The Gene Hackman on Dec 18, 2008 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
Wasnt that show the same weekend as Harly Strictly Bluegrass?
I remember thinking How weirdly diverse can this city’s music scene be?
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
Guess it had to be Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
Can’t have LL Cool J there at a Strictly Bluegrass festival.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
To me, this is like a glimpse of the future
I usually come around to albums 2 – 3 years late these days, so I’ll be able to do a competent 2008 list in around 2011. But this thread is a good look at what I might be listening to in a few years. Bon Iver gets rhapsodic, Beatlesish reviews almost without fail, that one will have to be checked soon.
Of what I did hear, my hands-down favorite was the Secret Chiefs 3 album, which is one of the year’s least surprising developments.
for those of you who are not acquainted with Gang Gang Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqn7kaCm8No
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
aw, I hate missing music posts!
1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (I don’t know how he does it, but he continues to be the most awesome person alive.)
2. Sun Kil Moon – April (Not as good as Ghosts of the Great Highway, but what is?)
3. Fleet Foxes – s/t (I love the genre “Sad Bearded Dudes with Guitars Playing Folksy Music”)
4. TV on the Radio – Dear Science, (discussed at length already)
5. not sure what to put here, I’ll make it a three way tie between
Man Man – Rabbit Habits (best live band ever)
Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer (I keep forgetting this even came out this year, but it was solid.)
Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins (I’ve only listened a few times but I really like it so far)
And my guilty pleasures of 2008
Panic at the Disco – Pretty. Odd. (I hated their first album with a passion, but this was fun happy 60s-y pop music. DON’T JUDGE ME.)
Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak (I only really like about half of the album, but that half of the album is really good.)
And I’ve spent most of the last few weeks getting really into Scott Walker. The Drift is a frightening album.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
wow... I doubly have to get Sun Kil Moon
and Nick Cave. I blame iTunes and their high prices for making me put off this purchase.
So much good music, so little time.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
this is quite long, but this is my summation of my year in music, for your humble perusal
This year seems to not have had the depth of last year. there are some albums i’ve loved, but there seems to be not a great deal after that.
A decent case could be made that i’ve spent less time searching stuff out. but, yknow. effing vampire weekend, innit
top ten records of the year
1.the ting tings – we started nothing. this is a pop record that is nearly perfect. it has one bad track on. the rest is genius. end of story.
2.school of seven bells – alpinisms. if you do not like this record, we may stop being friends
3.the raveonettes – lust lust lust. if this had any more echo on it, it’d never finish. this is a Good Thing, incidentally.
4.long blondes – couples. no stand out tracks, but consistently good record. more clever than it’s first listen, too
5.these new puritans – beat pyramid. very ambitious, doesn’t always come off, but never boring. it sounds like wire trying to work out how to play missy elliott.
6.nick cave – dig, lazarus, dig. what i sound like in my head when i’m drunk sometimes
7.Eleanoora Rosenholm – Vainajan muotokuva. what the CSS record should have sounded like if it weren’t terrible. and if it were in finnish
8.ladytron – velocifero. a decent ladytron record. enough said, really.
9.mogwai – hawk is howling. not their finest work, but, yknow. still better than most.
10.The Duke Spirit – Neptune. nearly forgot about this, cause it came out so long ago. but i like it a lot. probably should be higher up this list, actually.
compilation – Rock On (various artists). some artists, erm, rock on. FACT.
tunes of the year
1. raveonettes – young and beautiful. JaMC playing new order? yes thanks
2. florence and the machine – dog days are over. this song made me happy about dental surgery
3. lady genius – ex wife. i can’t stop seeing the unhinged look in the singer’s eyes. it’s great
4. these new puritans – elvis. best misheard lyrics of the year
5. ting tings – we walk. i like songs you can kinda do marching dances to, yeah
6. mystery jets – two doors down. there are many reasons to dislike this song. and still i cannot!
7. neon neon – belfast. gryff always manages to sound both lucid and fucked at the same time.
8. mogwai – i love you, i’m going to blow up your school. yes i am
9. school of seven bells – iamundernodisguise. likely should be higher, but hard to pick from the album
10. nick cave – i call upon the author to explain. reminds me of being drunk at the oakland coliseum
11. Jamie Lidell – little bit of feelgood. couldn’t leave this off
i also wanted to include ‘one small page’ by sportsday megaphone, but it came out in 2007. i only heard it this year, though, so it’s getting an honourary inclusion. if only for the best use of ‘hello?’ since lionel richies roamed the earth and men cowered in fear.
cover of the year
florence and the machine – you’ve got the love. again, if you don’t like this, you have to ask yourself if you like music.
Next year, i am mostly excited about – The FatM record, the new Maps record (yes?) the new raveonettes record, the legerdemain record. and a bunch of other stuff, i’m sure…
BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.
by alea iacta est on Dec 18, 2008 8:49 PM PST reply actions
Band name:
Bad Slide Into Second.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Band Name: Johnny Longtrousers and the Tinsel Hangers
Radiohead; In Rainbows
The Sunshine Fix: Age of the Sun
War on Drugs: Wagonwheel Blues
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
The Magnetic Fields: Distortion
Wolf Parade: At Mount Zoomer
Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
Ting Tings: We Started Nothing.
Plants and Animals: Parc Avenue
Love is Chemicals: Song of the Summer Youth Brigade
The Week That Was: The Week That Was
Throw Me The Statue: Moonbeams
No Age: Nouns
The Botticellis: Old Home Movies
Titus Andronicus: The Airing of Grievances.
The Ruby Suns: Sea Lion
Secret Machines: Secret Machines
Port O’Brien: All We Could Do Was Sing (mostly because i know the guys in the band)
Annuals: Such Fun
Passion Pit: Chunk of Change
also, gotta pimp The Cerfs, my best friends band. Endless sky crisis is out on iTunes.
I didn’t find any good jazz albums this year although I did complete my complete LPs of Bill Evans and Miles Davis.
Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.
by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Dec 19, 2008 1:24 AM PST reply actions
if you like the secret machines record
can i recommend the school of seven bells? its a new band from an ex secret machine and two from on! air! library!.
their record is just super.
I have no solutions, just rejoindres
by alea iacta est on Dec 19, 2008 8:46 AM PST up reply actions
Awww....now I feel guilty. Sorry Grant
I will not horrify you with my musical tastes…I am out of ‘cool’ when it comes to music.
However, I will add one band to this list: Stache and Hawk
The link allows you to listen to two of their songs, Hang with ‘Em, Doublin’ Up, Bad Clubbie Blues, and Down on the Farm.
Yes, that Farm. Norwich, Connecticut, among other places. What else would I post?
SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!
Band Name
Swinganamiss
"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean
by Smotheredinhugs on Dec 19, 2008 9:44 AM PST reply actions
By the way, this is obviously Giants related, right?
"Don't trust anyone under the age of 30" - Brian Sabean
by Smotheredinhugs on Dec 19, 2008 9:59 AM PST up reply actions
Thread metric (meta)
It’s interesting that the poll votes and the comments are running nearly 1:1
(252:251). From my experience here, polls usually apeal to lurkers and posters,
but comments obviously aren’t made by lurkers.
Given that 149 people said they dont come here for the hipster gibberish, this
thread is doing quite well. I know when I decided to unLurk (deLurk?), threads
like this made it easier to do so.
They say some players get out of bed hitting; Pablo Sandoval doesn't wait that long
Would like to implore you all
to check out now now, every children’s recently released full-length called “cars”. Local MN band I first saw as an opening act and they are pretty good.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Five tips for Showtime’s second season of ‘The Franchise,’ featuring the Miami Marlins
- The 10 best things about being a Detroit Tigers fan
- Surprise! A’s finally end the Yoenis Cespedes derby with $36 million deal for Cuban star
- The time Whitney Houston sang to Jim Bowden
- Pitchers and catchers! Mariners get early start in Arizona
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
