Just a few albums that surprisingly didn't yield any search results here. Artists are hyperlinked to the official website. I can up the first but don't have a local copy of the second (yet). Feel free to add your own albums and thoughts.


Polar Bear
Peepers
The Leaf Label

What is it: The latest release from the 2005 Mercury Prize nominees. Throws different be-bop, cool, and improv ideas against the wall and sees what sticks.
Why some Obners will like it: Takes a rock songwriter's approach to jazz (not 'fusion', which tends to be the inverse). Adds a new fact to the "UK vs. US" debate.
Why some Obners will hate it: It's jazz. Their website induces great pain.
Sketch's take: Big fan. Strong top 5 candidate.



Anaïs Mitchell
Hadestown
Righteous Babe Records

What is it: "A folk opera based on the Orpheus myth." Certainly closer to O Brother, Where Art Thou? than Nick Cave's Lyre... in terms of aesthetic. Apparently, it's the highest-rated 2010 album in the UK and not getting much love anywhere else.
Why some Obners will like it: Mitchell is female and based in Vermont. Justin "Bon Iver" Vernon plays Orpheus. Well-produced arrangements with a diverse mix of folk, blues, and swing.
Why some Obners will hate it: Ani DiFranco plays Persephone. Mitchell's voice risks annoyance. Mitchell's first name risks pretense.
Sketch's take: Lots of good ideas, but it will need a few more spins to sell me. Directing a stage production of this would be fun.

Local (Western Mass) station has been playing "Wedding Song" (from Mitchell) for a while now and whenever it was on I would sit up and listen, but for some reason, continuously forget to check it out further. Thanks.

wouldnt mind checking out the polar bear album

there's a decent mix curated by those dudes on that site

http://thequietus.com/articles/05020-se ... r-mix-tape

Young Fresh - 'Fed Up' (DJ Khaled)
Warpaint - 'Elephants'
Daughters - The Virgin
Bear In Heaven - 'You Do You'
Wildbirds And Peacedrums - 'The Course'
Shortstuff - 'Naughty Step'
Dot Rotten - 'Go Down'
Afrika Bambaataa - 'Zulu Nation Throwdown'
Joe Black - 'North London State Of Mind'
Gunna Dee - 'Real To Death'
Dubbel Dutch - 'Throwback'
Jammer - 'Max Not Minimum'
Lindstrom And Christabelle - 'High And Low'

Like this thread, Sketch. Keep it going.

Unwelcome Guests (http://www.myspace.com/unwelcomeguests)
Don't Go Swimming
Kiss of Death Records

What is it: Sincere folk rock/punk/country band from Buffalo, NY
Why some Obners will like it: Uncle Tupelo + REM + indie/punk
Why some Obners will hate it: Bort likes it
Bort's take on it: Became my number 1 waaaay back in March or so, has yet to be de-throned. Solid album from start to finish. Listen to "Wrecking Ball" "Walking Is Tough" "Warm Soon" "Any Other Place"

Thanks for the post, bort. First listen is promising. Definitely more pop-punk than alt-country, but I can dig that.


Pulled Apart By Horses
Pulled Apart by Horses
Transgressive Records

What Is It: The Leeds quartets refer to themselves as "back door scuzz rage pop." One of the few bands that actually sounds like their band name.
Why some Obners will like it: RIYL: New Bomb Turks, Les Savy Fav. Not only are they British, they've opened for Muse. Has nothing to do with Thom Yorke's 2009 single.
Why some Obners will hate it: The reg-rock/proto-punk influence is there but often countered by screaming vocals. The lyrics don't often live up to the promise of their song titles.
Sketch's take: I haven't listened to a lot of loud stuff this year, and this is scratching the itch at the moment.

Just wanna throw my support behind that Unwelcome Guests record. That's absolutely one of my faves this year. I've listened to it a ton. Also agree more people around here would like it if they gave it a chance.

I think I dl'd it when it made the rounds here, but I don't think I ever listened to it. I'll give it a shot.

thanks, I will check this one out.

I'm sort of surprised more people around here don't like Titus Andronicus.

I thought I was the only one who really didn't like them.

thought I might like this, but listened to a few samples and it really wasn't my thing.

I didn't like their first one and I didn't like the new one at first, but have been listening to it a fair amount lately (doing that review next) and it's really something else. Boozed as fuck.

Unwelcome Guests/Pulled Apart By Horses links? If it's in 2010 thread, I'm too lazy to look. Give me a page #

yeah this board is weird.

Every time I think about listening to that Titus Andronicus album, I see how long it is and pass.

its like 60 minutes and thats because the last track is 14 (and its the best track)

i usually get bored when songs are over 6 minutes or so but that hasn't happened with this album.

Amparo Sanchez
Tucson Habana

What is it: The debut solo release from Amparo Sanchez, the lead singer of Latin alt rock band, Amparanoia (RIYL: Manu Chao). Her solo album is a mellower affair with the music more southwestern in style than Latin.
Why some Obners will like it: Three members of Calexico make up the band that plays behind her.
Why some Obners will hate it: The vocals are in Spanish.
Billy G's take: Only have listened once but its good. Strong top 5 candidate.

I don't know if "mainstream music" would be considered under the Obner radar, but the Corrinne Bailey Rae album that came out this year never disappoints. Thanks go out to the wife for turning me on to this stuff.

I was the same way but I've been listening to it the last couple of days and love it. Could see it landing in my top-5 easily.

I posted this is the Twentyten thread, but I think it belongs here too.





Debut album from Baltimore, Maryland band Lower Dens. Spacey guitars a-la Beach House (maybe Sigur Ros at times, but that might be pushing it). Definitely should not be missed by some folk around here.

Hanni El Khatib
Dead Wrong 7"
Stones Throw label

What is it: Hanni El Khatib is a multi-instrumentalist that serves as singer, songwriter and producer for his one-man band. With his sinewy guitar and wry, whiskey-glazed voice, Hanni creates a mix of bluesy garage-rock soul meets malt shop music for those who drink them spiked with bourbon on his debut 7" single.
Why some Obners will like it: He sounds a lot like The Black Keys
Why some Obners will hate it: PPDD name
Shiv's take: Really good and I like the b-side (a cover of Louis Armstrong's I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You) a little more than the main song. It's only 2 songs, give it a try.

download

I'm diggin' Ampro Sánchez and Lower Dens. Hope to download Hanni El Khatib later this week.

SB: As a dreadfully late reply, you can stream the whole Unwelcome Guests album from their myspace page. I don't have a local copy of Pulled Apart By Horses, but if/when I do I'll upload it.

Build an Ark - Love Part 1

This was released at the beginning of this year, and billy g talked about it in his best of 2009 thread. (I think he bought it early from them at a show?) Anyway, it's basically spiritual jazz, jazz infused with soul and gospel music played by a really big pan-generational ensemble that features vocals on several tracks. It's a really beautiful, warm, and uplifting record.