2/10/2006

Some of Our Favorite Releases of 2005

It was a good year for music, we thought.  This one will be hard.  Here goes ...

Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die:

This is one of those bands that has something like 58 people in it ... Oh, okay 8.  Anyway, they write quirky pop songs (our favorite) that are played with everything from guitars to vibes to tin cans.  If you have iTunes, check out the song The Cemetery.  If you don't love this song then you'll hate Architecture In Helsinki.  You're also probably a very bitter and lonely person ... and overwhelmingly sexually frustrated.  But hey, no judgments here.  They have a song called "Frenchy, I'm Faking".  That's enough to make me love them.

Brazilian Girls - (self titled):

Neither Brazilian nor all girls, this NYC combo is so fun.  Our favorite track is Don't Stop.  Sounds like a completely benign dance song, until you actually stop and listen to the words.  Then you realize, you hope your mom isn't actually listening to the words when it happens to be playing in your car the day you pick her up from the airport.

FannyPack - See You Next Tuesday:

We luvs us some Fannypack!  Their beats are boomin' ... their rhymes are not only hysterical, but clever as well.  How can you not laugh at lines like, "I got big ass wad of nothing in my pocket... Still my fans get high like a rocket"  They kind of remind me of the old school rap acts like Salt and Peppa or JJ Fad, but without taking themselves nearly so seriously.  And their songs are in a completely different league!  One of our favorites for 2005!

Giant Drag - Hearts and Unicorns:

Just in time to make the cut, Giant Drag's Hearts and Unicorns was a nice way to finish 2005.  They remind me a little of My Bloody Valentine with a little bit of Kendra Smith thrown in, but maybe they don't take quite as many drugs.  We're in love with lead singer Annie Hardy (sorry Barry and Kathleen).  She is so cute and has this very sexy voice that sounds like she's a girly tomboy.... HOT!  Check out the songs This Isn't It and Kevin Is Gay.

Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak:

We LOVED this album.  Hooks.. Hooks.. HOOKS!  God we love hooks!  These guys have more hooks than a fisherman's tackle box.  Soulful vocals, melodies that range from bluesy to punk, and cool haircuts... and great lines like, "Girls are gonna love the way I comb my hair ... Boys are gonna hate the way I seem".  Check out the songs Slow Night, So Long and Velvet Snow.

LCD Soundsystem - (self-titled):

White punks on funk!  You know the Sex Pistols and  The Clash really did change everything.  Seems everything these past few years have been a revival of punk, and these guys are no exception.  But not an a la Red Hot Chili Peppers kinda thing, (that's so passe)... more like a Talking Heads meets Kraftwerk meets Beck meets ... somebody else.  One of those albums that really kinda had to grow on us, but we love it now.

M. Ward - Transistor Radio:

Okay, we don't for a second think that the people going to love everything on this list.  And we're certain that almost none run out and buy anything on this list.  But if you truly wish to own an amazingly beautiful album, you MUST go out and buy this.  If you even pretend to simply like music, you must add this to your CD collection. This guy sounds like he's not of this time.  Beautiful compositions that sound as if they're coming through a magic Transistor Radio that only plays old, haunting music.  This album kind of reminds us of Rufus Wainwrights first album ... not so much musically, but in the sense that it doesn't sound like ANYTHING that anyone else is doing right now.  These songs are so honest and sincere, and refreshingly without a hint of irony.  Check out the song Hi-Fi on iTunes.  It's a good example of what this album is made up of, which is haunting melodies, sweet lyrics, and an overwhelming urge to smile.  Another favorite is a tune called Paul's Song.  A sweet little song about how people ask what it's like to travel town to town, and he has the unfortunate task of informing these people that their town isn't unique.  GO OUT AND BUY THIS RECORD!  Did we say that already?

M.I.A. - Arular:

Another GREAT recording of 2005.  This is one of those rap records that makes you think all other rap acts just sound the same.  Completely unique and chock full of beats that will have you shaking your torso like you are having a seizure.  Hard to explain the sound ... rap meets world meets techno with a dash of crack thrown in to make it super addictive.  Download the songs Bucky Done Gone, Pull Up The People, and Sunshowers.

The Magic Numbers - (self-titled):

Here we are with another straight forward record that is so sincere, you almost can't believe it's not tongue in cheek.  These are some of the sweetest pop songs that border on perfection... maybe they are perfect.  Listen to the song Forever Lost and right from the start we bet you'll be hooked.  Irresistable hooks, (and you know how much we love those) that make you wonder if you've heard the song before or if you're listening to a cover.  The first song we fell in love with was a song called Love Me Like You.  A song so addictive that when the song gets to a part where the music stops and you hear 3 quick hand claps, and then starts again, you think you're head might explode.  Mine actually did.  If this CD were a record, we would have worn a groove through it already.  And if you don't like this record, then not only are you bitter and lonely ... You could be a sociopath, and should seek help.  We find name calling helpful in pressuring people to buy good music.

Calexico / Iron & Wine - In The Reins:

We love this record.  A joint effort by Calexico and the guy who's song appeared in that M&M's commercial doing a cover version of a Postal Service song ... Remember?  Anyway, it's great.  Check out the songs Sixteen, Maybe Less and A History Of Lovers.

These CD's are not in any order.  Also there were so many other great things that we didn't include, either because they didn't come out this year, or they're still growing on us, or we were embarrassed to list them.  But here are some cools ones just the same ...

The Shins
Pinback (Check out Summer in Abaddon)
Broken Social Scene
The Go! Team
Brakes
The Homosexuals
Alicia Keys
Hot Hot Heat
Hot Chip
Gorillaz
Animal Collective
Interpol
Franz Ferdinand
The American Analog Set
The Green Hornes

That's it for now!