I havent been in the game for the last year- and I mean compeltely out of it like Sting and reality. So Im asking you for a brief synopsis of 2004/2005 in review. Feel free to be as succinct ("It sucked.") or verbose (see pfm) as necessary.

Im mainly looking for brief recommendations- anything new and exciting? Anything tried and true but does it exceptionally well enough to merit money being spent.

Things Ive been digging lately:

-Handsome family and Palace type alt-country stuff

-"melodic" Japanese noise - like Boris and the Ruins (not Merzbow debauchery)


Feel free to taunt me and direct me to threads I should have read...

Go directly to Willard Grant Conspiracy's Regard The End. Do not become distracted on your way there Your ears will thank you.

Back to the debauchery..........

This what we liked last year.

http://www.obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2930&start=0

Ah thanks.. I should have looked for the yearly poll... did you guys post the individual votes? Some people have tastes more in line with my own...


EDIT: nevermind...

http://www.obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t ... +2004+poll

Individual lists

http://www.obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t ... +2004+poll

Full rankings

In the realm of melodic noise (not Japanese) I like the records by Excepter and Sightings (much more melodic than their past stuff) from last year and, to a lesser extent, the ones by Gang Gang Dance and Black Dice.

For Palace alt-country, you definitely need to hear the Superwolf album if you haven't.

Yes, indeedy.

There's always Johnny Dowd, his Pictures from Life's Other Side is my favorite of his, very haunting alt country stuff. He's playing a bar in town this week, a little place that holds probably under 200 people max, I gotta decide if I wanna be out until 2 to see him and be hungover for work or not...guess I'll have to wait and see what's goin' on that day.

I'll also toss out The Violent Femmes 2nd record, Hallowed Ground. That's a real rootsy sounding thing with seriously dark and twisted lyrics. It really turned off a lot of thier fans who were hoping for another album of sly sing along type stuff like on their excellent debut, but it's really aged well.

If you like Palace try his brother's band and sometime Will Oldham contributor - Anomoanon.

Court & Spark is a nice breezy Alt-country group with Beach Boys influence, too.

Josh Rouse's new - Nasheville is great also thread here
http://obner.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=410 ... josh+rouse


as for the taunt ...you cheeky closet tobacco chewing redneck

oh I appreciate all these replies really I do.. but Im much more interested in 2004/2005 rec's... I know pre-2003 pretty well (well enough for the moment)...

so... 2004/2005 right, go

You might like the Sufjan Stevens album on the list. It's my personal favorite album of last year.

Don't be such a stranger 'round here, Paul! Here are my 2004 recommendations:

http://hipdispleasure.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_hipdispleasure_archive.html

You should absolutely hear Animal Collective's "Sung Tongs" if you haven't.

I'd like to hear more Japanoise ala Boris, too, if you have suggestions.

Get Blanche's "If We Can't Trust The Doctors". It's very Handsome Familyish.

I'd also suggest Iron & Wine's stuff from this year and last, and I will also say 'yes' to Superwolf.

<--- realizes millions of months later that she was a dork for not participating in the year-end lists.

welcome back, paul. hope that academia is treating you well. new decemberists is very good, as is new iron & wine.

I didn't do that shmoo poll last year. If I had I would have voted for these:

1. Lhasa - The Living Road
2. Wagner PA & Brazuca Matraca - el transuente imparable
3. Blake, Norman & Nancy - Morning Glory Ramblers
4. Bebo & Cigala - Lagrimas Negras
5. Espers - Espers
6. Dunger, Nicolai - Here's My Song...
7. White, Jim - Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See
8. Mombojo - Nadadenovo
9. Trio Mocoto - Beleza Beleza Beleza
10. Johnson, Will - Vultures Await
11. New Year, The - The End Is Near
12. Porto, Fernanda - Giramundo
13. Byrne, David - Grown Backwards
14. Hoodoo Gurus - Mach Schau
15. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
16. Stevens, Sufjan - Seven Swans
17. Traore, Rokia - Bowmboi
18. Lerche, Sondre - Two Way Monologue

The only 2005 release that I've dug much is the new Maximilian Hecker, but I haven't bought or heard that much new this year.

melodic noise you say

Thanks for the suggestions.. let me see what I can reply to.. (I dont have much time anymore for random music musings... academia is a harsh mistress until you are tenured).

Sujan Stevens- I heard some of his stuff (Greetings from Michigan, Seven Songs..) wasnt terribly interested, but given the time that has passed, I will give him some more airplay

Iron and Wine again wasnt too impressed..I dont know which album it was that I heard, but it was a favorite of some CMJ people.. again, I will check it out

Espers- Billy, I like and agree.. great stuff (My next post was going to be - where the hell is Billy G.. glad you are alive.. hope you are doing well)

Animal Collective- havent heard it, but will definitely seek it out now

Mars Volta just bought the new one this past weekend.. while I like it, I say you must be on crack if you think it surpasses the Tremulant or De-loused..then again, in time, I may agree

Arcade Fire a friend of mine swears by this album, and sent me 2 songs.. I didnt exactly understand why this album is on everyone's list.. just seems like more of the usual..but given how it placed so highly on so many (respected) CMJers lists, I am obliged to giving it a serious listen.


Thats all the time I can take to post right now.. I miss passing whole days with nothing to do but press the refresh button on my web-browser at CMJ but alas here, they expect me to work. I lurk much more than I post....

of all the albums on my 2004 top 20, arcade fire was my most underrated. i'd probably rank that in-or-near the top 5 now. give it time.

or if you'd like to try an album that takes even more time to enjoy, grab tv on the radio's latest.