With the end of year song lists and albums coming around soon, I wanted to know some unsung songs and albums to check out before I make my list. No need to mention Spoon, The Shins, etc. I'm talking about bands or songs that may end up in your top 10 that other people maybe haven't heard. They don't have to be totally random, just not bands or songs that are frequently discussed on this site.

Let's limit it to 3 albums and 3 songs so it's not too much

Good topic.

Three albums:

Keren Ann by Keren Ann
Sleepers Wake by The Whiles
Salvation Blues by Mark Olson

Three Songs:
"The Ride" by Joan As Police Woman
"Down Boy" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Chain Yr Soul" by Moon Maan

This is a good topic.

Three big album surprises for me this year:

The Broken West - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On
Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
The Saints - Imperious Delirium

Cool. I'll check them out.

Last year I heard some great stuff after seeing them on top 10 lists, this year I hope to hear them before (so I can make a better list).

I didn't put any up when I opened the thread so here are mine:

Albums:
Against Me-New Wave
John Vanderslice-Emerald City
The Cribs-Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever

Songs:
Marissa Nadler-Diamond Heart (will be in my top 10 songs this year)
Kings of Leon-Ragoo (I know they are pretty well known, but I haven't once seen this song mentioned on this site)
The Figurines-Hey Girl (Album comes out in 2 months but song is on their my space. Also, may be in my top 10)

Albums
1. A Sunny Day in Glasgow- Scribble Mural Comic Journal: It's been mentioned a few times on year-end lists but I don't think it gets much respect as a whole. It's an album filled with dreamy shoegaze music mixed in with haunting vocals and electronic glitches.
2. Amiina- Kurr: Sigur Ros' tourmates are an all girl group (also from Iceland) who make minimalist yet beautiful music using strange instruments and tools. Their live show is spectacular.
3. Hauschka- Room To Expand: A german pianist who makes wonderful tunes filled with so much emotion.

Songs
A Sunny Day in Glasgow- 5:15 Train
Amiina- Seoul
Low- Breaker

Lets see:

3 albums -

Silver Jews - "Bright Flight"

Gets overlooked because of the awesomeness that is "American Water", but is a damn good album in its own right.

Breathe Owl Breathe - "Canadian Shield"

Is probably my album of the year right now. They have a gorgeous folk sound with gorgeous male/female harmonization and a plethora of instruments.

Slim Cessna's Auto Club - "The Bloody Tenent Truth Peace"

A damn fun Southern Gothica album, full of fun foot-stomping tracks.

3 tracks -

Breathe Owl Breathe - "Toboggan"
Jim White - "10 Miles to Go on a 9 Mile Road"
The Mountain Goats - "Up the Wolves"

quote:

Originally posted by wilsonna:

Keren Ann by Keren Ann

There it is, still my favorite album of the year.

Three random great & unsung albums I'll plug:

The Time Flys Rebels of Babylon
Punk pop. More Ramones-y than their debut album which had a harder edge.

Blanche Little Amber Bottles
Americana/alt-folk, more songs of sadness and some joy.

The Brigadier View from the bath
Beach Boys/Zombies influenced Brit pop. Terrible album cover but excellent tunes inside.

Songs:

Keren Ann Between the Flatland & the Caspian Sea
Ah I love her vocals.

The Volcanics Point of No Return
Yes, it a cover of a classic surf instrumental but the band make it their own here.

The Len Price 3 Rentacrowd
Garage rock with some Kinks influences.

quote:

Originally posted by DrAwesome:
Silver Jews - "Bright Flight"

This is a great album, but it came out in 2001.

Artist - Album - Song from Album:

Maps - We Can Create - "So Low, So High"
--> Some British guy in his bedroom made this delicious blend of electronica/symphonic-pop, but don't let that deter you.

namelessnumberheadman - Wires Reply - "Animal Kingdom"
--> Actually, that may be the only good song on the album. Oh well, just wanted people to know the homegrown kc scene isn't all Get Up Kids screamo homage bands.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - IS IS (EP) - "10 x 10"
--> wilsona already listed a song from this ep (so 2 out of 5 now). Sure almost everybody knows about YYY but not everyone knows about this EP, and they should. Unless you think YYY are overrated, in which case I hate you.

the yarrows - plum

found this band before i went to russia, and spent the subsequent month and a half listening to it non-stop in the swamps of siberia - either its a damn good album, or i was just starved for media...

quote:

Originally posted by pixiestame:
Unless you think YYY are overrated, in which case I hate you.

You hate me.

there's some bug in the system here!! ha ha

Weird... how come this thread got moved to the books forum? Some kind of necromancy, no doubt. Or perhaps one of the mods decided to hide it here so he could have it all to himself.

Reminds me of when I was a kid, and I found a game/record/video I wanted in the sale, and I'd hide it in another section, while I went round the rest of the shops to see if I could find it cheaper, before returning for it later. So if you couldn't find that album you were looking for, it was probably because I hid it. Sorry.

Two things:

1) I'll look like a crazy if they move this thread back where it should be.

2) If they don't... who am I talking to? No one knows it's here...

So many books, so little time. I could talk about books all day. Apparently, someone wants us talking books. Books, books, books.

Albums

1. Thee Stranded Horse - Churning Strides------Great, odd fingerpicked folk album.
2. Stendeck - Faces----Electronic heaven
3. The Snake the Cross the Crown - Cotton Teeth-----Tremendous alt-country album


Songs

Radical Face - "Welcome Home, Son"
Jacob Golden - "Out Come the Wolves"
Elephant Micah - "Detailed Cathedral"

quote:

Originally posted by crazed:
Blanche Little Amber Bottles
Americana/alt-folk, more songs of sadness and some joy.

Keren Ann Between the Flatland & the Caspian Sea
Ah I love her vocals.

Sounds like I'll have to listen to both of these artists.

Albums

1. "Rap Music" - Brother Reade

This harks back to the "Golden Age" of hip hop... ah, better days. This sounds incredibly fresh probably because the art of the DJ making simple beats for the MC to rhyme over seems to be long forgotten. Bobby Evans old-school production is exemplary and Jimmy Jamz rhymes are tight and cliche free. Future classic, no doubt.

2. "The Kiss" - Bikeride

I've not heard anyone talking about this album, but I think it's fantastic. Infectious, inventive, upbeat, unabashed pop music. Nothing revolutionary, but not a dull moment from start to finish.

3. "The Darkest Spark" - Ghost Is Dancing

Yet another Canadian collective. Uplifting, epic music with a definite hint of Arcade Fire, and a dash of Broken Social Scene. Again, they're not doing anything particularly original, but it sounds great.

After Dark - Various Artists

Truly outstanding disco-meets-Miami Vice compilation.

Out of the Woods - Tracey Thorn (uplifting electronic/dance)

Gutterfly - Lifesavas(Highly consistent and feelgood hip-hop)

Speakers and Tweeters - Dub Pistols (mix of dub, dance and hip-hop that is perfect for the summer)

quote:

Originally posted by Everyoneanindividual:
A Sunny Day in Glasgow- 5:15 Train

Mmm, ya I love that song, it's on my MySpace right now .