quote:

Originally posted by Filmore Holmes:
Fog - 10th Avenue Freakout (Lex, 02.28.2005)
Rubin Steiner - Drum Major (Platinum, 02.09.2005)
Venetian Snares - Rossz Csillag Alatt Született (Planet Mu, 03.14.2005)
This is surely the most sophisticated relase by Aaron Funk (Snares) to date. Totally my favorite producer.

Yeah and u have all these...sha right?

I have been waitin for the v.snares and fog for a litle bit now!

Have u listened to them in their entirety?

Or are u making a prediction that they will be in your favs?

I just picked up Stars - Set Yourself On Fire. Based on one listening, I'd put it up with Woman King and Nashville for my favorite albums this year so far.

Now, you never know how much you'll like an album on the tenth listen, after the first listen. But based on the first listen, I like it a lot.

Just got a sure fire winner.

Justus Kohncke-Doppelleben

Another "essential" in the kompakt library.It seems a sif i am buying everything they put out and have not been displeased yet...sould live without some of the ambient stuff...but they sure put there own spin on it.

new Spoon is good, from what i've heard leaked like "Sister Jack." Kaiser Chiefs is decent, if for nothing more than the "I Predict a Riot" single, but it will get old soon. new Beck was just average on first listen, but it's growin on me. still waiting for the first great album of the year candidate, but should have one soon with all the Spring releases. need to check out Archer and Graham.

quote:

Originally posted by Imprezu21:
Yeah and u have all these...sha right?
Have u listened to them in their entirety?
Or are u making a prediction that they will be in your favs?

Yes. There's a thing called MP3s...though I have pre-ordered Venetian Snares.

to further defend Fillmore, there are such things as advance CDs that record store employees and magazine people sell back to Amoeba and sometimes you find a diamond in the rough of the used CD bin. hence, my endorsements of new Spoon, Beck and (almost forgot) Malkmus.

The thing about downloading...I think it's only wrong if you're doing it *instead* of purchasing the album.

If you download tracks from an album you intend to buy that isn't out yet, or if you download to see if you *want* to buy the album, I don't see anything wrong with it, except of course that you're risking a lawsuit from the record company, which if that's a risk you're willing to take, you should go ahead.

Heck, I know people who have bought more albums *because* of downloading than they would have if they hadn't downloaded songs.

Best albums of 2005 that I've heard all the way through, in no particular order:

Dirty Projectors, the Getty Address
Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die
Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins
Angels of Light, Sing Other People
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Superwolf
Six Organs of Admittance, School of the Flower
Patrick Wolf, Wind in the Wires
Skygreen Leopards, Life and Love in Sparrow's Meadow
Akron/Family, self-titled
The Books, Lost and Safe
Okay, High Road and Low Road (two separate discs)

The Architecture in Helsinki record and the Of Montreal record are both off the charts fantastic. Hard to conceive that both bands could so effortlessly trump their strong 2004 releases. I haven't seen much buzz on Okay, but I like both of the records quite a bit -- Syd Barrett in a bedroom with a few Casios lying around.

I'm inclined to agree with those who suggest we're off to a slow start this year. Two of my faves are a bit questionable since they've been out in Europe since last years:

Graham Coxon Happiness in Magazines
Ed Harcourt Strangers

The others have been pretty well hashed out here already:

Antony and the Johnsons I Am a Bird Now
Bettie Serveert Attagirl
Archer Prewitt Wilderness
Josh Rouse Nashville

Based on the single "Goodnight, Goodnight" I'm looking forward to Hot Hot Heat's major label debut Elevator on April 5th.

Now Playing: NPR's All Things Considered

Daft Punk's Homework was the first CD I ever purchased. Their scratchy beats and rumbling bass made the album worth every penny.

With their latest release, Daft Punk has slipped into the world of boring music. "Human After All" is lethargic.

2005 will go down as a year of disappointing records from some of our favorite bands.

The two most charming albums this year:
Superwolf
Mysterious Production of Eggs

What do you gentlemen think?

Now playing: Morrissey's I am Hated For Loving

Well, just because Daft Punk had a disappointing record doesn't mean that the other really good bands releasing albums will disappoint.

Although, although I thought Moby's album would be good after I heard 'Lift Me Up'...I then heard 'Beautiful' and it just strikes me as....an atrociously miscalculated stab at pop songwriting.

And as for Kaiser Chiefs? They seem like they're latching onto a musical style after it's already gained steam and not really adding anything new to it. And their sound doesn't really come together the same way bands like the Strokes and Franz Ferdinand do.

But, I'm enjoying the tracks I have off Guero, and I think it might end up being my favorite album since Elephant. And the Lips...the Lips shall not disappoint...

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
Well, just because Daft Punk had a disappointing record doesn't mean that the other really good bands releasing albums will disappoint.

Although, although I thought Moby's album would be good after I heard 'Lift Me Up'...I then heard 'Beautiful' and it just strikes me as....an atrociously miscalculated stab at pop songwriting.

And as for Kaiser Chiefs? They seem like they're latching onto a musical style after it's already gained steam and not really adding anything new to it. And their sound doesn't really come together the same way bands like the Strokes and Franz Ferdinand do.

But, I'm enjoying the tracks I have off Guero, and I think it might end up being my favorite album since Elephant. And the Lips...the Lips shall not disappoint...

fair point on Kaisers, but as i said originally it's something that has stood out by its catchiness. i don't predict longevity with them.

as for your "Elephant" comment, i hope you're talking White Stripes instead of that horrible BAND Elefant.

i noticed the Flaming Lips love, any serious fan of the band should check out the Flaming Lips mix tape Late Night Sessions that just came out.

A mix tape compiled by the band itself, all of their favourite songs and a cover of Seven Nation Army by the Lips.

I was skeptical but the mixing of the album, and the variety of the sounds make for an awesome listen.

After a couple of listens, I don't find that the Kaiser Chiefs are doing anything ORIGINAL but I like it. It's fun, dumb, and derivative, but I'll take it over some of the artier, COOLER stuff that the critics are plotzing over. "I Predict A Riot" is a really kickin' little jam...

I don't know...the three tracks I heard from Kaiser Chiefs come off to me as "This type of music is really big right now so we'll just try to do it in a very pandering way".

Like..focus group music.

I listen to these Patrick Wolf tracks over and over and I'm still on the fence over whether or not to get it...

Edit: Okay, is there a reason I can't find Wind in Wires in *any* stores?? Is it one of those Canadian releases with no real US distributor or something? I hate paying for shipping. *grumble*

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobthespirit,

If you want hip-hop, try Sage Francis' 'Healthy Distrust.' It is difficult listening but undoubted lyrical skill and musical talent. No doubt one of the genius albums of the year.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
I don't know...the three tracks I heard from Kaiser Chiefs come off to me as "This type of music is really big right now so we'll just try to do it in a very pandering way".

Like..focus group music.

Focus group music...interesting idea. I guess I fit into the focus group.

It strikes me that it would be VERY tough for a band to put itself together (or retool its sound) based on the hot sound of 2004 and get a record out in early 2005. Not impossible, but tough. So, I'm not sure I can buy the claim that the Chiefs are bandwagon jumping...I'd be surprised if they hadn't been around as a band for a few years. Also, they're friends with the guys in Franz Ferdinand, so I'm not surprised that there's some symmetry. But I still think they sound more like The Jam, The Clash, or the Futureheads than Franz's Gang of Four-isms.

I'll tell you what song sounds like focus group music, though...I keep hearing and seeing the video for the John Legend song. Ugh. It's godawful pandering for the Norah Jones/Alicia Keys (plus pushing the Kanye West connection credibility thing) crowd with no discernible melody. Admittedly, that kind of music isn't my bag, so maybe I'm way off, but I find that song unlistenable.

as of right now, my favorite album is the New M83. i'm suprised it isn't getting more recognition in this thread.

I'm excited someone mentioned that the new Architecture in helsinki is good, cause that was my favorite album of 2004, and i just listened to the 'do the whilrwind' ep, and it wasn't that great (cept for the actual single of course).

oh yeah, and M.I.A, thats my number 2 of the year so far.

Yeah, I agree about the Do The Whirlwind EP. The title track is totally fantastic and awesome. The next track, where they try to rap is really shameful. Then a remix. Then AIH do Sung Tongs better than Animal Collective did.

If they have street ambitions, it's better that they reveal them on a teaser single than on a proper album. I was tempted to email the band and threaten to fly to Australia and murder them if they ever try to pull something like that ever again.