My opinion about this week's major releases :
- Franz Ferdinand : it's fun and catchy, as usual. I love the starting guitar riff of "fallen". The album is as good as their debut.

- My Morning Jacket : i'm agree with a lot of people here, this album is a true masterpiece, very different from their previous releases, more ambitious. They even managed to make a catchy single with "off the record". There's always the great southern-rock guitar solos but also more electronic sounds. The singer's voice is beautiful. "It still moves" was a strong record with only good songs, no filler, but the album was too long and there was too much reverb'. "Z" is shorter and the production is better. As Modestryan right said, "this has to be the album that has vaulted them into the upper echelon of respected bands". Definitely one of this year best albums.

- Broken Social Scene : after two listenings, it's a huge disappointment. I don't find all the great things I loved in "YFIIP". Maybe I will change my opinion after several other listenings.

Concerning the question about "short lists/long lists", I prefer short lists. A top 10 is the right number for me, whatever I have listened 20 or 500 records during the year. I think it's much more fun,even if it's very difficult to choose. When I see a list in this forum with more than 10 records, I only read the first ten. But, and it's where I disagree with Istambullies, I respect other people. I think everyone is free to list whatever he wants.
I also find curious that many people here criticize Pitchfork, but when I see people's lists here, most of them are typical "Pitchfork albums"... And many of all these lists are nearly the same. Maybe some people wants to be coolest than cool ;-))
Sorry for my bad english, can someone explain me what is a "sad list dweeb" ? I've looked for the word "dweeb" in my English-to-French dictionnary and I haven't found it !

quote:

Originally posted by Dumbangel:
My opinion about this week's major releases :
- Franz Ferdinand : it's fun and catchy, as usual. I love the starting guitar riff of "fallen". The album is as good as their debut.

- My Morning Jacket : i'm agree with a lot of people here, this album is a true masterpiece, very different from their previous releases, more ambitious. They even managed to make a catchy single with "off the record". There's always the great southern-rock guitar solos but also more electronic sounds. The singer's voice is beautiful. "It still moves" was a strong record with only good songs, no filler, but the album was too long and there was too much reverb'. "Z" is shorter and the production is better. As Modestryan right said, "this has to be the album that has vaulted them into the upper echelon of respected bands". Definitely one of this year best albums.

- Broken Social Scene : after two listenings, it's a huge disappointment. I don't find all the great things I loved in "YFIIP". Maybe I will change my opinion after several other listenings.

Concerning the question about "short lists/long lists", I prefer short lists. A top 10 is the right number for me, whatever I have listened 20 or 500 records during the year. I think it's much more fun,even if it's very difficult to choose. When I see a list in this forum with more than 10 records, I only read the first ten. But, and it's where I disagree with Istambullies, I respect other people. I think everyone is free to list whatever he wants.
I also find curious that many people here criticize Pitchfork, but when I see people's lists here, most of them are typical "Pitchfork albums"... And many of all these lists are nearly the same. Maybe some people wants to be coolest than cool ;-))
Sorry for my bad english, can someone explain me what is a "sad list dweeb" ? I've looked for the word "dweeb" in my English-to-French dictionnary and I haven't found it !

Broken Social Scene will grow on you. It is what it is, not as good as "You Forgot" and a much more sunshine, pop, whatever kind of CD. They take some chances and after repeat listens they work.

quote:

Originally posted by Dumbangel:
My opinion about this week's major releases :
- Franz Ferdinand : it's fun and catchy, as usual. I love the starting guitar riff of "fallen". The album is as good as their debut.

- My Morning Jacket : i'm agree with a lot of people here, this album is a true masterpiece, very different from their previous releases, more ambitious. They even managed to make a catchy single with "off the record". There's always the great southern-rock guitar solos but also more electronic sounds. The singer's voice is beautiful. "It still moves" was a strong record with only good songs, no filler, but the album was too long and there was too much reverb'. "Z" is shorter and the production is better. As Modestryan right said, "this has to be the album that has vaulted them into the upper echelon of respected bands". Definitely one of this year best albums.

- Broken Social Scene : after two listenings, it's a huge disappointment. I don't find all the great things I loved in "YFIIP". Maybe I will change my opinion after several other listenings.

Concerning the question about "short lists/long lists", I prefer short lists. A top 10 is the right number for me, whatever I have listened 20 or 500 records during the year. I think it's much more fun,even if it's very difficult to choose. When I see a list in this forum with more than 10 records, I only read the first ten. But, and it's where I disagree with Istambullies, I respect other people. I think everyone is free to list whatever he wants.
I also find curious that many people here criticize Pitchfork, but when I see people's lists here, most of them are typical "Pitchfork albums"... And many of all these lists are nearly the same. Maybe some people wants to be coolest than cool ;-))
Sorry for my bad english, can someone explain me what is a "sad list dweeb" ? I've looked for the word "dweeb" in my English-to-French dictionnary and I haven't found it !

dweeb
n. Slang
A person regarded as socially inept or foolish, often on account of being overly studious.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Origin unknown.]

quote:

Originally posted by Dumbangel:

- Broken Social Scene : after two listenings, it's a huge disappointment. I don't find all the great things I loved in "YFIIP". Maybe I will change my opinion after several other listenings.

I don't know if BSS's new album is as solid as YFIIP, but I don't think it's dissappointing at all. In many regards, it's a huge step forward. They've got a wall of sound on that album that would almost make Brian Wilson jealous. "Ibi Dreams of Pavement" is easily one of the best tracks of the year, and "7/4 Shoreline" is no slouch either.

It's a different record, but I don't know if I'd call it "worse." I'd actually say that it's far less pop than You Forgot It In People.

Ben Folds- Songs for Silverman
British Sea Power- Open Season
Broken Social Scene- s/t
The Decemberists- Picaresque
Elbow- Leaders of the Free World
Iron & Wine- Woman King EP
M83- Before the Dawn Heals Us
My Morning Jacket- Z
The New Pornographers- Twin Cinema
Oasis- Don't Believe the Truth
Of Montreal- The Sunlandic Twins
Sigur Ros- Takk
Spoon- Gimme Fiction
Sufjan Stevens- Illinoise

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

Why-Elephant Eyelash

This album immediately jumps into my top 5.
The most cohesive thing Yoni has ever done.

Maybe the addition of a nice backing "band" helped.

This is an excellent album.

Here are my 10 favourites albums of the year 2005 so far :

1. Hal - s/t
2. My Morning Jacket - Z
3. Mercury Rev - The secret migration
4. Richard Hawley - Coles corner
5. Broadcast - Tender Buttons
6. Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies to paralyze
7. Paul McCartney - Chaos and creation in the backyard
8. Antony And The Johnsons - I am a bird now
9. Franz Ferdinand - You could have it so much better
10.Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

This coming week is gonna a great week of music because I'm gonna going to 3 concerts of artists I really like :
Tuesday 11 : Broadcast
Wednesday 12 : Richard Hawley
Thursday 13 : Hal

I'm looking forward to see and listen all these great artists !!!

Here's my updated and long list. While some may think that I'm just trying to impress you with my list, it's more likely that I'm just a hopeless list dweeb. 1-20 are pretty much well-ordered. Once you get past 20, they become more murky, but I know I like, say, BRMC more than Spoon based on more draw to the former than the latter.

1. British Sea Power: Open Season
2. Richard Hawley: Cole’s Corner
3. The Ordinary Boys: Brassbound
4. Josh Rouse: Nashville
5. The Pernice Brothers: Discover a Lovelier You
6. Greg Dulli: Amber Headlights
7. The Orange Peels: Circling the Sun
8. Clem Snide: The End of Love
9. Richmond Fontaine: The Fitzgerald
10. Mike Doughty: Haughty Melodic
11. Adam Richman: Patience and Science
12. Bob Mould: Body of Song
13. Brendan Benson: The Alternative to Love
14. My Morning Jacket: Z
15. The Stands: Horse Fabulous
16. The Go-Betweens: Oceans Apart
17. Kaiser Chiefs: Employment
18. Son Volt: Okemah and the Melody of Riot
19. Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman
20. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers: S/T
21. Bloc Party: Silent Alarm (and Silent Alarm Remixed)
22. Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock and Roll
23. I Am Kloot: Gods and Monsters
24. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Howl
25. Editors: The Back Room
26. Elbow: Leaders of the Free World
27. Coldplay: X and Y
28. Jack’s Mannequin: Everything in Transit
29. Franz Ferdinand: You Can Have It So Much Better
30. Ben Lee: Awake Is the New Sleep
31. The Primary 5: North Pole
32. Archer Prewitt: Wilderness
33. Doves: Some Cities
34. Leaves: The Angela Test
35. Chris Mills: The Wall to Wall Sessions
36. Ed Harcourt: Strangers
37. Iron and Wine: Woman King EP and In The Reins EP
38. Teenage Fanclub: Man-Made
39. Marjorie Fair: Self-Help Serenade
40. The Magic Numbers: S/T
41. Super Furry Animals: Love Kraft
42. The National: Alligator
43. The Frames: Burn the Maps
44. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cold Roses/Jacksonville City Nights
45. Engineers: S/T
46. Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
47. Gorillaz: Demon Days
48. Lucero: Nobody’s Darlings
49. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
50. Goldrush: Ozona

Bubbling Under: Oasis, Hal, Death Cab for Cutie, Sparrow, Damien Jurado, Okkervil River, Graham Coxon, The Hold Steady

Still Under Review: Big Star, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Coral, Limbeck

And, yes, I realize I left Sufjan off the list. I'll dissent from the general consensus...I find Illinois to be a snoozer.

The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike is rapidly growing on me.

It's that rare find that manage to sound really unique and collage-of-noises-ey without seeming pretentious or too uncatchy or inaccessible.

Potentially a top ten candidate. I at least enjoy it more than the other Q4 contenders so far, Fiona Apple and Franz Ferdinand, which I both enjoy.

(Agree with Eric about listing. I mean, I've got 75 2005 albums to sort through so far, and I find almost half of them worthy of repeated listens. So why not list them?)

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike is rapidly growing on me.

This is the most over-hyped album of the year for me.I cannot stand this album.I tried to like it, but it is completly annoying.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
44. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cold Roses/Jacksonville City Nights

I'm a bit surprised to see those two records listed together, since they're so different from each other, to my mind. I liked Cold Roses much, much more.

quote:

I'm a bit surprised to see those two records listed together, since they're so different from each other, to my mind. I liked Cold Roses much, much more.

I'm into Jacksonville City Nights, personally — some really fantastic songs on there ("The End", "The Hardest Part", "Peaceful Valley").

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike is rapidly growing on me.

It's that rare find that manage to sound really unique and collage-of-noises-ey without seeming pretentious or too uncatchy or inaccessible.

Potentially a top ten candidate. I at least enjoy it more than the other Q4 contenders so far, Fiona Apple and Franz Ferdinand, which I both enjoy.

(Agree with Eric about listing. I mean, I've got 75 2005 albums to sort through so far, and I find almost half of them worthy of repeated listens. So why not list them?)

This came out in 2004. It was in my top 20 for last year.

They just released it in the U.S. last week with a coupla extra songs. I only have the import, but I got it from a friend (hal) earlier this year. It meant nothing to me then. Now it sounds damn fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Imprezu21:

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike is rapidly growing on me.

This is the most over-hyped album of the year for me.I cannot stand this album.I tried to like it, but it is completly annoying.

This album moves amazingly. Party mood...too bad just getting domestic attention, available over a year now, but I'll be interested in the new tunes on this release....

I agree that "thunder, Lightning, Strike" flows very well. I downloaded a few tracks shortly after it was released last year, and picked up the US release last week. I put it on as background music while I'm working at work and it always manages to draw people over.

I'm not quite liking the new My Morning Jacket as much as everyone else.

I liked it more than I expected. It's got some extremely well written songs. But I guess it kind of lacks a certain something that draws me into the music I like the most. 'Emotional power', or 'energy', or something.

I have had it for a while now, but I was lucky enough to find the new Deerhoof album at the local record store today and I just had to buy it. It is, quite simply, one of the year's most vital releases, and IMHO the best of Deerhoof's wildly experimental career. I can't get enough of it - and how exciting that the CD comes with the lyrics!!! Now you can learn all those wild and crazy lyrics about little lemons, twin killers, and, uh, peppercorns. God, I love this album.

The Runners Four freaking rules.