I heard Son, and I really don't think it sounds anything remotely like Kid A or Amnesiac. Of course, I'm not too good with comparisons either (notice that I listed nothing for my Espers II cherry picker entry.

There's one part where Molina's vocals (she mutters out some "dum dums") sound exactly like Thom Yorke's low muttering on "Kid A." A lot of the thick synths, particularly the pitch bends remind me of "Kid A," but maybe more "Amnesiac" due to the lighter tone of the whole thing. No doubt, Molina was inspired by those albums. Just what I hear...

A Blessing and A Curse - Drive By Truckers
Reminds of: Straight-up Southern Rock-- think Springsteen and Mellencamp fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd's rhythm section, with Steve Earle on lead guitar writing the riffs and solos
Must Tracks: "Daylight," "Easy On Yourself," "Feb. 14," "A World of Hurt"
Also check out: "Aftermath U.S.A.," "Goodbye," all but two tracks are absolutely stellar...
Skip: Which are both of Mike Cooley's songs, unfortunately, "Gravity's Gone" and "Space City"
Assessment: Amazing, amazing southern rock record; quite possibly the best DBT has ever done; one of my three favorite records of '06. Can't recommend it enough!

Belle & Sebastion - The Life Pursuit

Reminds of...: T. Rex, Camera Obscura, most twee pop

Must Tracks: "White Collar Boy", "Dress Up in You", "Sukie in the Graveyard"

Also worth Checking out...: "The Blues Are Still Blue", "Funny Little Frog", "To Be Myself Completely"

Definitely skip.: I don't really care that much for "Song for Sunshine", but it's not a DEFINITE skip

Any personal impressions...: I miss the sadder, quieter B&S of If You're Feeling Sinister and Tigermilk, but they've proven to me that their current infatuation with 70's pop is still a good thing. "White Collar Boy" is a piece of pop magic, "Blues Are Still Blue" feels like a good T. Rex b-side, and "Sukie in the Graveyard" is a whole helluva lotta fun. However, the secret weapon of the album is "Dress Up in You", which is a hint at their gloriously sad past.

quote:

Originally posted by Crowdiggs:
Sounds interesting pE. Where is their stuff available? Do they have an American label, or do you have to import their stuff?

They've had a few released in the US (Hourly, Daily, #4 Record, and Deliverance, for sure) but the new one is Aussie-only.

If you want a place to start, track down the 2-cd Aussie best-of called The Cream and the Crock.

Album: The Walkmen- A Hundred Miles Off

Sounds Like: Early U2 as performed by Bob Dylan & The Band.

Must Tracks: "Louisiana", "Emma, Get Me A Lemon", "Another One Goes By".

Also Check Out: "Danny's At The Wedding", "Lost in Boston", "Don't Get Me Down (Come On Over Here)"

Skip: "Tenley Town"

Assessment: Kind of a grower as an album. Much like Dylan and the Band's The Basement Tapes, it's a laid back, sloppy affair, but quite genius when you really listen to it.

The Walkmen have a song called Tenley Town? That yuppie bullshit neighborhood in D.C. (where they're from)? No wonder I don't like them.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
The Walkmen have a song called Tenley Town? That yuppie bullshit neighborhood in D.C. (where they're from)? No wonder I don't like them.

You don't like a band because they have a song that shares it's name with the name of a suburb you don't like? Isn't that a little like not liking Queen because you don't like Bohemians?

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
The Walkmen have a song called Tenley Town? That yuppie bullshit neighborhood in D.C. (where they're from)? No wonder I don't like them.

You don't like a band because they have a song that shares it's name with the name of a suburb you don't like? Isn't that a little like not liking Queen because you don't like Bohemians?

Uh...I don't think you understand. He's saying that if they're the kind of band that would advertise being from a "yuppie bullshit neighborhood,", then it's no wonder he doesn't like their music. He already didn't like them before he knew that they had a song with that title.

quote:

Originally posted by ¡KevinHess!:
Uh...I don't think you understand. He's saying that if they're the kind of band that would advertise being from a "yuppie bullshit neighborhood,", then it's no wonder he doesn't like their music. He already didn't like them before he knew that they had a song with that title.

I understand. I was just being a smartass. But It's not like the song is some advertisement for a yuppie neighborhood anyway. They're not saying, "Tenley Town is the place to be," or anything like that. Therefore it's an ill-informed statement and worthy of being mocked.

Walk through Tenleytown sometime and you'll see what I mean. The Walkmen are decent enough, goofy guys that make music I don't particularly care for, but any record with a title like that is immeadiately repulsive, aesthetially, to me, as a listener. That's all.

/explain

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
Walk through Tenleytown sometime and you'll see what I mean. The Walkmen are decent enough, goofy guys that make music I don't particularly care for, but any record with a title like that is immeadiately repulsive, aesthetially, to me, as a listener. That's all.

/explain

I live in DC, Tenleytown isn't nearly bad as you say it is. Walkmen are from NYC, fyi.

I don't live there (plan to, wish I did) but I've been there quite a bit. Most of Tenleytown, to me seemed, like the diplomat/American University, well-to-do, embassy row of Mass Ave. Way different from Shaw, where I stayed, and even Alexandria where my family would.

Unless you live in Friendship Heights or something, how often does anyone live/visit that far Northwest in the District? You're basically in Maryland by the time you're in Tenleytown. If I lived permanently in D.C., I'd make it a point never to go further on the red line than Dupont Circle.

What can I say? I'm a fan of the grittier D.C.

And I'm pretty sure the Walkmen live in Brooklyn currently, but met or are from D.C. or the D.C. area-- press one sheets have told me that. I trust those.

Honestly, I don't know how I've crammed all this info into my head...

Back to music now, I should hear this song. It might prove amusing.

You're right. The Walkmen are originally from the D.C. area, but currently reside in NYC.

Confirmation of sources: It's what I do.

Album: Tapes 'N Tapes - The Loon

Sounds Like: Come on Pilgrim-era Pixes meets Wowee Zowee-era Pavement.

Must Tracks: "Insistor", "Manitoba", "Cowbell"

Also Check: "Just Drums", "The Iliad", "Omaha"

Skip: "Crazy Eights"

Assessment: If you like quirky indie rock, as I do, this is one of the best albums of the year. Even songs I didn't like on first listen have really grown on me. Definitely one of the coolest debuts of 2006.

Notes: However, if you thought The Iliad was a pretentious book written by some old, blind Greek coot, this album may offend you.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
You're right. The Walkmen are originally from the D.C. area, but currently reside in NYC.

Well that's the last time I use wikipedia to fact-check.

Yay I actually reside in the Alexandria area, but go to DC often enough. I like the grittier DC area too (I used to live there), but from your previous statements it seemed like you utterly despised the area. There are some glossed over areas of every city, which is why I tend to avoid malls/mall areas like the plague everywhere I go.

Richmond Fontaine - Winnemucca
Reminds of - Uncle Tupelo but way better
Must Tracks - Winners Casino, Northline, Santiam, Western Skyline, Somewhere Near, 5 Degrees Below Zero.
Also Check Out - Twyla
Skip - Patty's Retreat
Assessment - It plays like a classic novel. Think Cormac McCarthy, Great Americana music, the best alt-country album made IMO, pastoral, atmospheric, rich with a steady stream running throughout without any disruptions to the flow of the album, laid back, lazy summer evening porch music.

Hmmn. I'll make a note to check out Richmond Fontaine. Winnemuca isn't a 2006 release, though. I think someone should start a cherry-picker thread for non-2006 releases. I really like the whole idea, and I'd like to see it expanded beyond just new releases.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Hmmn. I'll make a note to check out Richmond Fontaine. Winnemuca isn't a 2006 release, though. I think someone should start a cherry-picker thread for non-2006 releases. I really like the whole idea, and I'd like to see it expanded beyond just new releases.

woops, I went blind in my love-spew for Richmond Fontaine, forgetting this was a 2006 Cherry Picker thread...but the good to come out of it, is that Raving is on to something, suggesting we spread it to other years. I really dig this cherry-picker topic.

I think Winnemucca came out in 2003, maybe 2004...I can't remember.