20) The White Stripes – Icky ThumpJack and Meg return with a classic rocker that brings the songcraft.Here’s the video for “Conquest”: 21) Wilco – Sky Blue SkyWhat felt like a retreat at first opens up to reveal intricacies that deepen with each listen.Here’s the video for “What Light”: 22) Various Artists – David Shrigley’s [...]
25) Ween – La Cucaracha Ween are method musicians… doing blissed out techno pop for “friends”, haunting balladry for the truly screwed up “Object”, sneery post punk for “Shamemaker“. Like DeNiro in his prime, they believe it, so we believe it. Oh yeah and David Sanborn guests. That’s commitment.Here’s the video for “Friends”: 26) Robert [...]
30) The Field – From Here We Go SublimeMusical chill pill – hypnotic repetition builds Philip Glass like patterns — some of which you can dance to. Here’s “The Little Heart Beats so Fast” live at Monterrey 31) Kings of Leon – Because of the TimesThe Kings get complex — Lynyrd Skynyrd force fed Pixies [...]
35) Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter Josh Ritter does nothing fancy — just straight ahead well-written rock songs, an expansive success where so many other artists (like Ben Harper) have come up short.Here’s Josh Ritter performing “Mind’s Eye” live: 36) The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever Famous friend Alex [...]
Here are the best re-issues and archival releases of the year according to yours truly. Each of them would make a fine Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan or Zoroaster’s Feast gift: 1) Various artists (including Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, The Temptations etc. )- The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 7 1967, Vol. 8 1968These were two of [...]
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