This year, for the first time, I think I have as many older albums as current ones.
The Best:
Straight To Hell - Hank Williams III : Punk-Rockin' Country without the nauseating modern country-pop sound. Hank Williams I would be very proud of his rebel grandson.
Guitar Romantic / Shattered - Exploding Hearts : Wow. 70s Punk rock style without the cliches. I thought this band was destined for greatness. Guitar Romantic came out in 2003 and Shattered, a compilation of b-sides, retakes, and singles, came out this year. Then I felt, well, shattered when I learned that sometime after recording Guitar Romantic a van crash killed three of their members. The rock-n-roll gods end the career of a young talented band and yet leave Aerosmith...where is the justice?
More Parts Per Million - The Thermals : Ok, so I'm three years behind on this one. An album brimming with energetic, lo-fi, indie rock. While I was enjoying this disc, the band released THIS year's album The Body, The Blood, The Machine. I am hoping that it will be as good. Look for it on next years list.
Boys and Girls in America - The Hold Steady : I really didn't want to like this band. I listened to their album Almost Killed Me and thought they could rock, but something about the sound didn't resonate with me. Over the year I started reading positive reviews of BaGiA and thought I'd give them another shot. After the first play there was still this intangible disconnect. Lucky for them (and myself) I followed my "listen to a new album at least twice" rule and on the second play it connected. I read somewhere that described the Hold Steady as a cross between the Replacements and Bruce Springsteen. A real rock-n-roll album.
The Crane Wife - Decemberists : Some people gasped when news came that the Decemberists were making the big label jump. Luckily, Colin Meloy and the band's sound hasn't jumped. Early Decemberists made me think of sea shanties and gypsies. On this album the gypsies have strapped on electric guitars. Not many bands can sing about the civil war and days of old without sounding silly. Lyrically wonderful and musically satisfying, bravo boys, bravo.
Return to Cookie Mountain - TV On The Radio : Goodness I came to the party late. I started listening to Blood Thristy Babes just recently and loved it. I thought it would be on my list this year, but that changed near the end of the year when I realized that Cookie Mountain was out. This album is one of those that you have to be in the mood for. Catchy, complex and experimental, background music this is not. An engagingly, satisfying album.
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters : OK, I'm an album behind on these kids. When I heard about them and the word "disco" was mentioned I steered clear, then I actually listened to the album. This is definitely a case of 'better late than never'.
Curse of the Zounds - the Zounds : A gritty post-punk from the 1980s.
Destroyer's Rubies - Destroyer : Dan Bejar is talented. When he isn't Destroyer, he's in The New Pornographers and Swan Lake. Fortunately, Dan hasn't spread himself too thin. The name reminds me of a metal band, but this is far from the case. Rubies is an enigmatic indie rock gem (sorry for the pun.)
The Rest :
Savane - Ali Farka Toure : Blues meets African music.
Pick A Bigger Weapon - The Coup : Psychedelic funk and soul. The grooves on this album recall PFunk and the Digital Underground. While sometimes Boots Riley's lyrics feel too forced (much like DU), often trying to be too clever. When it works, the words get you thinking and the music gets you moving.
Ole Tarantula - Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 : Robyn returns to form channeling his Eye-era songs. Not all songs hit this lofty level, but the ones that do like "Adventure Rocketship" realize how much I missed him.
Broken Boy Soldier - Raconteurs : Most musical super-groups never quite live up to the hype, but Jack White and Brendan Benson put together a band that was able to release a surprisingly solid album.
Over the Edge - the Wipers : An underrated 1983 punk rock album from an underrated punk rock band.
Love - Beatles : Having OD'ed on the Beatles in my youth, I was pleasantly suprised by this remix/mash-up. The DVD-Audio version feels fresh.
This Time / Lonesome, Onry, and Mean / Ol' Waylon - Waylong Jennings : Remasters of classic country and western.
Pretty Little Head - Nellie McKay : Normally bubble-gum pop music doesn't agree with me, but something about Nellie makes it seem alright.
Living With War - Neil Young : The old man still has it in him.
Other things of note:
Best Online Music Store: eMusic
Worst Online Music Store: BMG Music Club
Showing posts with label Robert Knaack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Knaack. Show all posts
January 7, 2007
December 15, 2006
Best Music 2005 - Robert Knaack
01) Brakes – Give Blood [quirky, frivolous, and fun rock]
02) Sleater-Kinney – the Woods
03) Buck 65 – This Right Here Is [country indie rap is the best description I can come up with]
04) New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
05) M Ward – Transistor Radio
06) Soviettes – III [energetic, playful punk]
07) Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah – CYHASY
08) Russian Futurists – Our Thickness [one man indie-pop band]
09) Band of Bees – Free the Bees [new psychedelia – wonderful]
10) Rakes – Capture/Release [not to be confused with the Brakes – snotty British punk-rock ala the Clash]
11) Josh Rouse – Nashville [a great Americana follow-up to 2003's winning "1972"]
12) Supergrass – Road to Rouen [just when I had given up on them they make a great record]
13) Joseph Arthur – Our Shadows Will Remain [alt-pop songs that get into your brain]
14) Eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations [2 discs is too long, but incredible songs throughout]
15) Sons and Daughters – Repulsion Box [folk-rock songs that m-o-v-e]
16) MIA – Arular [dance music is usually not my thing, but something about this works for me]
17) Andrew Bird – Mysterious Production of Eggs [I hate to use the phrase 'adult alternative pop', but it seems to fit here. Beautiful songs]
18) Perceptionists – Black Dialogue [political rap that thumps]
19) Decemberists – Picaresque
20) White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
Bands just missing the cut:
Of Montreal – Sunlandic Twins
Spoon – Gimme Friction
Brights Eyes – I'm Awake…
Mando Diao – Hurricane Bar
Antony and the Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
Adrian Belew – Side One
02) Sleater-Kinney – the Woods
03) Buck 65 – This Right Here Is [country indie rap is the best description I can come up with]
04) New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
05) M Ward – Transistor Radio
06) Soviettes – III [energetic, playful punk]
07) Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah – CYHASY
08) Russian Futurists – Our Thickness [one man indie-pop band]
09) Band of Bees – Free the Bees [new psychedelia – wonderful]
10) Rakes – Capture/Release [not to be confused with the Brakes – snotty British punk-rock ala the Clash]
11) Josh Rouse – Nashville [a great Americana follow-up to 2003's winning "1972"]
12) Supergrass – Road to Rouen [just when I had given up on them they make a great record]
13) Joseph Arthur – Our Shadows Will Remain [alt-pop songs that get into your brain]
14) Eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations [2 discs is too long, but incredible songs throughout]
15) Sons and Daughters – Repulsion Box [folk-rock songs that m-o-v-e]
16) MIA – Arular [dance music is usually not my thing, but something about this works for me]
17) Andrew Bird – Mysterious Production of Eggs [I hate to use the phrase 'adult alternative pop', but it seems to fit here. Beautiful songs]
18) Perceptionists – Black Dialogue [political rap that thumps]
19) Decemberists – Picaresque
20) White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
Bands just missing the cut:
Of Montreal – Sunlandic Twins
Spoon – Gimme Friction
Brights Eyes – I'm Awake…
Mando Diao – Hurricane Bar
Antony and the Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
Adrian Belew – Side One
December 14, 2006
Best Music 2004 - Robert Knaack
An interesting year. A lot more good stuff than I realized.
top 10 albums in 2004
01 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
02 - Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow
03 - Black Keys - Rubber Factory
04 - Old 97s - Drag It Up
05 - Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
06 - Magnetic Fields - i
07 - Elliot Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
08 - Minus 5 - In Rock
09 - Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
10 - Arcade Fire - Funeral
top next 10 albums
11 - Nick Cave - Abattoir Blues / Lyre of Orpheus
12 - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
13 - Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
14 - Southern Culture on the Skids - Mojo Box
15 - Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16 - the Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
17 - Modest Mouse - Good News...
18 - Futureheads - Futureheads
19 - The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free 20 - Drive-By Truckers - Dirty South
honorable mentions
Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Killers - Hot Fuss
top 10 albums in 2004
01 - Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
02 - Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow
03 - Black Keys - Rubber Factory
04 - Old 97s - Drag It Up
05 - Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
06 - Magnetic Fields - i
07 - Elliot Smith - From A Basement On The Hill
08 - Minus 5 - In Rock
09 - Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat
10 - Arcade Fire - Funeral
top next 10 albums
11 - Nick Cave - Abattoir Blues / Lyre of Orpheus
12 - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets
13 - Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
14 - Southern Culture on the Skids - Mojo Box
15 - Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16 - the Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
17 - Modest Mouse - Good News...
18 - Futureheads - Futureheads
19 - The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free 20 - Drive-By Truckers - Dirty South
honorable mentions
Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts...Now
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Killers - Hot Fuss
Best Music 2003 - Robert Knaack
The year started out slow, but picked up after a few months. Lots of good stuff.
top 20 albums i purchased in 2003 (IN ORDER)
- Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood
- Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
- Mars Volta - De-loused in the Crematarium
- Nappy Roots - Wooden Leather
- the Libertines - Up the Bracket
- Longwave - endsongs
- Cursive - the Ugly Organ
- Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
- White Stripes - Elephant
- Pretty Girls Make Graves - the New Romance
- Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
- Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
- Superdrag - Head Trip In Every Key
- Super Furry Animals - Phantom Power
- Grandaddy - Sumday
- Longwave - strangest things
- Polyphonic Spree - the beginning stages of
- black keys - thickfreakness
- Raveonettes - Whip It On
- TMBG - No!
- immortal lee country killers - love is a charm of powerful trouble
- the Thrills - So Much For The City
- Strokes - Room On Fire
- Turbonegro - Apocalypse Dudes
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own
top 20 albums i purchased in 2003 (IN ORDER)
- Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood
- Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
- Mars Volta - De-loused in the Crematarium
- Nappy Roots - Wooden Leather
- the Libertines - Up the Bracket
- Longwave - endsongs
- Cursive - the Ugly Organ
- Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
- White Stripes - Elephant
- Pretty Girls Make Graves - the New Romance
- Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
- Mountain Goats - Tallahassee
- Superdrag - Head Trip In Every Key
- Super Furry Animals - Phantom Power
- Grandaddy - Sumday
- Longwave - strangest things
- Polyphonic Spree - the beginning stages of
- black keys - thickfreakness
- Raveonettes - Whip It On
- TMBG - No!
- immortal lee country killers - love is a charm of powerful trouble
- the Thrills - So Much For The City
- Strokes - Room On Fire
- Turbonegro - Apocalypse Dudes
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own
Best Music 2002 - Robert Knaack
top 15 albums i bought in 2002
1. Bright Eyes - Lifted...
2. Desaparecidos - Read English, Speak Spanish
3. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
4. Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
5. White Stripes - De Stijl
6. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
7. White Stripes - White Blood Cells
8. Joe Pernice Chappaquiddick Skyline
9. Hives - Veni, Vidi, Vicious
10. Strokes - Is This It
11. Badly Drawn Boy - About A Boy
12. Spoon - Girls Can Tell
13. Trail of the Dead - Source Tags & Codes
14. Tom Waits - Alice
15. Charlie Patton - King of the Delta Blues
Note: I have been informed that I purchased the Strokes in 2001. oops
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