Why wait for the end of the year to find out who has made the best albums anyway?
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Fredrik – Trilogi
I’m not saying this is best album of January…. never mind, it is. Fredrik’s Trilogi is elegant in composition, very rich in harmonies and thick with layers, both organic and electronic. Fans of stargazing, fairy tales, and Salad Fingers rejoice, for you have a new alternative to your Sigur Ros library. I can’t believe you haven’t heard them yet. What you have? Then buy Trilogi already.
Listen to Fredrik – Locked In The Basement
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The Album Leaf – A Chorus Of Storytellers
Just when you thought The Album Leaf has mastered their sound they come out with a release as necessary as A Chorus Of Storytellers. The Album Leaf musically ventures along similar lines as Sweden’s Fredrik, but have been around for nearly a decade longer, hail from San Diego, and are led by the grand master of instrumental music Jimmy Lavalle. A Chorus Of Storytellers was fronted by Sub Pop and found Jimmy once again recording and mixing in Sigur Ros’ Iceland studio. He also plays la guitarra in Tristeza and The Locust – who would have ever thought? Have you heard The Locust? PS – this album came out January 2nd, but I already wrote this review for this post and didn’t want to wait until March to tell you about it. Listen to The Album Leaf – Falling From The Sun
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Vampire Weekend - Contra
This feels like a ska album, but it’s not. Perhaps a reggae surf-rock album ala Man Or Astro Man? Could be. Maybe Vampire Weekend is making songs for lullaby’s now? Perhaps. You especially hear this on “I Think UR A Contra”, a song that could have been written for Yo Gabba Gabba! it’s all shakers, hand drums, and tinny acoustic guitars. “California English” just about drives me nuts with its Weekend At Bernies vibe going on, but it’s lovable in the right mood. To keep this little review simple, you can’t pigeon-hole this little wonder of an album.Listen To Vampire Weekend – White Sky
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Matt Pond PA - Starting EP
Cabins, the woods, deer, guitars, are all favorites of Matt Pond PA. You can hear it in their glorious pop songs. The Starting EP is just the precursor from what sounds to be an album about “Starting” over and sweeping the cobwebs from our winter heads, a collection of songs that goes by the name of The Dark Leaves – my most anticipated album of 2010. The Starting EP is the 1st in a series of 3 EPs to be released by the band in the coming months.Listen to Matt Pond PA – Starting
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Beach House – Teen Dream
So I’ve been writing this article non-stop to this point. Does it show yet? …….. on we go to Beach House, easily one of the most anticipated albums for IRR this year, as it should be for you. The recording production is impeccably in-tune with the band, from album opener “Zebra” to album ender “Take Care” the listener is taken away on clouds made of chords and harmonies. Wisely Sub Pop has filled in the gap between Band Of Horses releases with Teen Dream, which may not have as many “hits”, but it’s every bit as moving as anything the label has put out.Listen to Beach House – Norway
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Spoon – Transference
I’ve never liked the band Spoon, and the hype surrounding the band has always left somewhat of an acrid taste in my mouth. But finally, like the bittersweet satisfaction of swallowing down acid reflux, I am willing to admit that their new album “Transference” is genius. I feel like an American convert to Christianity after being an atheist for most of my adult life, I’ve finally seen the light, or given into social norms. Whatever. – Barry Moore (read full review)
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Laura Veirs - July Flames
July Flames sounds like the moment after you die and you realize you are in heaven. It also feels like longing. You know, that feeling of memories bubbling up in the pit of your stomach when you see a portrait of your family when you were only a kid? Laura Veirs makes me feel like that. From her organic musical compositions to Laura’s mesmerizing vocals July Flames abounds in earthly delights. Visit Raven Marching Band, her label, to buy the album, or if you go to her website you can download a couple of tracks for free. RIYL – music.
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The Magnetic Fields – Realism
It’s easy to like an album when you sound like the singer of the band, or at least that’s what I imagine I sound like. That is Stephen Merritt. Realism is pure magic, that is if you believe in such a thing. These songs could not be any more different from the bands last release of Distortion, I image that’s why Stephen had this to say about the album, – ‘“I thought of the two records as a pair,” Merritt reveals, “and I kind of wanted them to be called True and False. But I couldn’t decide which I wanted to be called True and which I wanted to be called False. They both have to do with the notions of truth and falsehood in recording and music—not particularly with the lyrics but with the production style.” Go ahead, have a listen, then buy the album.
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Postdata - Postdata
When an album is allowed space to breathe as does Postdata, that’s when magic happens. It’s the kind of magic you hear late at night walking through the big city all by your lonesome. Everything seems so otherworldly as if you are an alien on some foreign planet. Or it simply sounds like sitting on a mountain top, looking down at the world below and realizing what peace really is. This is an album that lives by it’s simple bravery, thank goodness Paul Murphy and his guitar had the fortitude for such an album.
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