jls

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:36:51 GMT

Someone needs to slap me right across the face for ever bad-mouthing Florence + The Machine. I was so very wrong. Forgive me!

Top Albums of 2009, #10 - #1

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:39:57 GMT

Continuing the countdown...

#10: Cheryl Cole - 3 Words

Of course I'm partial to this album, as Chezza is one of my favourite entertainers, but I was truly pleasantly surprised with her first solo venture. 3 Words is an album full of the sort of music Cheryl (and I) grew up on; bass-ridden R&B/hip hop influenced numbers, and a few dancier club tracks, as well. Favourite tracks: Parachute, Happy Hour

#9: Erik Hassle - Hassle

Erik Hassle came my way on the suggestion of a friend, and am I glad she recommended him. At only 20 years old, Hassle managed to release (unfortunately only in Sweden at the moment) one of the most solid pop albums in recent years. His voice is controlled and emotive, and the songs suit this perfectly. It's a great listen-- heartbreaking in places, fun in others, but always a total pleasure. Favourite tracks: Hurtful, Back To Bed

#8: Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP

Bon Iver is one of those wonderful men who writes songs that women just seem to want to curl up inside-- or is that just me? A wonderful (albeit brief) follow up to his gorgeous debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, the Blood Bank EP is cold, stark, and at the same time, immensely comforting. You'll love it-- I know I do. Favourite tracks: Woods

#7: Jack Splash - Heir To The Throne, Vol. 1

While not an official 'album' release, this mixtape from prominent producer (think John Legend, Alicia Keys, Britney, etc) managed to put out an incredibly smooth and absolutely addicting collection of songs, both original and sampled, which showcase his many talents. With appearances from the likes of Kelis and R. Kelly (amongst many others), HTTTV1 hasn't left my rotation since its release. Favourite tracks: Ringtone

#6: Miike Snow - Miike Snow

Miike Snow were another discovery I owe to Mark Ronson, since it was his remix of 'Animal' that introduced me to them. A great pop-rock collection of songs that's new & unlike many of its peers. Give it a go.

#5: Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

Irish Radio is who I have to thank for this one, for it was on Today FM near around 2 years ago that I heard "The Devil's Crayon", a track from the band's previous album. That album was good, but Two Dancers is even better; bordering on divine. Favourite tracks: All The King's Men, Underbelly

#4: The XX - XX

Another great young act from the UK, The XX's sound-- minimal hip-hop laced with rock & various other influences-- is unique and took the indie music scene by storm in 2009. With good reason, too! There's not another group like them, especially not one so effortlessly good and, well, cool. Favourite tracks: Crystalised, Night Time

#3: Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

If you don't have this album, you are missing out. That's all I think I need to say about this one.

#2: Wale - Attention Deficit

An absolutely incredible debut album from 25 year-old Wale, miles ahead of Kid Cudi's-- despite his contemporary getting far more critical acclaim-- and in general an amazingly refreshing, heartfelt, and inspiring hip hop album. I can't wait to hear more from him as time goes on. Favourite tracks: Beautiful Bliss, World Tour, Prescription

#1: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Just when you thought Neko Case couldn't get any more brilliant, Middle Cyclone is released and every single expectation you had is blown away and exceeded. Absolutely exquisite from start to finish, with vivid imagery and Case's unique take on life and love that I feel privileged to be privy to. Favourite tracks: Magpie To The Morning, Middle Cyclone

Well, that does it for the Top 20 albums! Top 10 singles coming tomorrow! Hint: none of them are included on any of these albums!

Top Albums of 2009, #20 - #11

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:55:40 GMT

Well, it's that time, folks. Here's my Top 20 albums of 2009. These may not be critically the best, but they were the ones that spoke the most to me, and ones I think everyone should hear. Let's get started, shall we? Clicking on the photo or album title above it will take you to a download of the album.

#20: Noah & The Whale - The First Days of Spring

While this album came to me rather late in the year, it immediately snagged the spot of the perfect cold weather album; reminiscent of falling leaves & barren landscapes, the songs on this album just sort of sweep in and gather you up for the entirety of its modest 45 min runtime. Instrumentation is lush-- and often unconventional-- and the lyrics are simplistic and sometimes that's what makes them the most effective. Favourite track: 'My Broken Heart'

#19: Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

The 2nd album from Bat for Lashes opens with Natasha Khan's lofty & haunting vocals before exploding into a full-on sonic experience. This album has shown up on every 'Best of '09' list I've seen, and for good reason-- Khan makes good use of her clear musical influences, yet still manages to create a sound that is uniquely her own. Favourite Track: Daniel

#18: Jack Peñate - Everything Is New

Jack Peñate managed to put together a wonderful album of pop rock that's varied & interesting, full of some wonderful rhythms & melodies. There's not much to say about this one other than that it's a great listen. Favourite Track: Tonight's Today

#17: Little Dragon - Machine Dreams

Once in a while, a band comes along that's just so smooth, so effortlessly groovy for the lack of a better word, that it takes you completely by surprise. I first heard Little Dragon when they were played on Mark Ronson's Friday night show on East Village Radio, and immediately went to grab everything they've done. They're Swedish, and following in the tradition of great Swedish pop music, their albums are full of pseudo-disco grooves, funky synth lines, and fantastic vocals from the group's lead singer, Yukimi Nagano. Favourite tracks: Feather, Swimming

#16: The Saturdays - Wordshaker

The girl band phenomenon in America seemed to begin and end with the Spice Girls (not that they're American-- I'm referring to their success in American music charts), but in the UK, girl bands are alive and at least somewhat well. Girls Aloud hold the crown for the most successful in chart history, and with good reason, but with 2009 being a year for each of the girls to work on solo projects, a gap was left in the charts which The Saturdays happily slipped in to occupy. What else can be said? Pure pop joy with great vocals & solid melodies. Can't ask for more than that. Favourite tracks:Forever Is Over, Here Standing

#15: Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You

For as much of an obnoxious cow as she can be-- see: her piracy gaffe, her countless interviews slagging off other celebrities, etc-- Lily Allen did manage to put out an incredibly solid album this year. The first single from the album, 'The Fear', was immensely successful; Allen's same cheeky, laissez-faire attitude is still on this album in bulk, only slightly more matured (because let's face it, if she'd released Allright, Still as a 25 year old, we all might raise some eyebrows). Still, this album only works if you're able to turn off all the press surrounding her which makes her so unlikeable. On the strength of music alone, she's still got my vote. Favourite tracks: I Could Say, The Fear

#14: Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night

Ah, Sarah Blasko. She's continued to grow with each album, and ADFN is no exception. The album is absolutely gorgeous, full of Blasko's sometimes-breathy, sometimes-powerful vocals (her voice alone is enough to melt you) & cutesy (but never annoyingly so) quirks. I don't know what to say about this album besides: LISTEN TO IT. Favourite tracks: All I Want, We Won't Run

#13: Alicia Keys - The Element of Freedom

Considering this album only officially hit shelves a little over two weeks ago, the fact that she's managed to grab a hold of a high position in my personal Top 20 should speak to the quality of this record. Filled with signature piano ballads (including an absolutely gorgeous follow-up of ESOM titled, appropriately, 'Empire State of Mind Part 2') & some groovier R&B numbers which have granted her much success in the past, the album is simultaneously intimate & vulnerable while retaining the strength to outstand a lot of other efforts in the same genre. Amazing stuff. Favourite tracks: Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready), Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart)

#12: Richard Hawley - Truelove's Gutter

Another album that came to me late in the year, but left me completely gobsmacked by its beauty. I'm not going to say more, lest I ruin it-- believe me, you will adore this record.

#11: Tegan & Sara - Sainthood

I often like to reminisce about Tegan & Sara, as we've shared the long journey of respective youth-- the first time I saw them live, I was 17, and they were performing free on a Wednesday afternoon in Battery Park. They wore baggy khakis, had short spiky hair, & I don't think either of them had so much as touched an electric guitar. Fast forward 8 years, and I'd like to think we've both matured quite nicely-- and not just in terms of style choices. Sainthood is another step in the right direction, full of electropop/rock numbers that, if not the most unique formulations in the world, are still a TON of fun to listen to. Favourite tracks: On Directing, Paperback Head

#10-#1 PLUS top 5 singles coming later today!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:24:16 GMT

“Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions. You change direction but the sandstorm chases you. You turn again, but the storm adjusts. Over and over you play this out, like some ominous dance with death just before dawn. Why? Because this storm isn’t something that blew in from far away, something that has nothing to do with you. This storm is you. Something inside of you. So all you can do is give in to it, step right inside the storm, closing your eyes and plugging up your ears so the sand doesn’t get in, and walk through it, step by step. There’s no sun there, no moon, no direction, no sense of time. Just fine white sand swirling up into the sky like pulverized bones. That’s the kind of sandstorm you need to imagine.

An you really will have to make it through that violent, metaphysical, symbolic storm. No matter how metaphysical or symbolic it might be, make no mistake about it: it will cut through flesh like a thousand razor blades. People will bleed there, and you will bleed too. Hot, red blood. You’ll catch that blood in your hands, your own blood and the blood of others.

And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

-Haruki Murakami

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:15:01 GMT

Fuck. DJ AM died.

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:38:16 GMT

This has been such a great summer for music in my life. I owed elapses a mix forever, & I like it so much that I thought I'd share it with everyone. If you asked me to DJ at your party, this is pretty much exactly the playlist I'd play, though I did edit this for time. There were some pretty serious soul tracks that got left out (Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man", for instance), but I wanted this to be a cohesive piece, and I think I've done that. There's a nice mix of pop, hip hop, jazzy afrobeat, electro, etc.

PLEASE if/when you download, create an iTunes playlist and put the tracks in the order they're intended. Otherwise, it doesn't work quite as well. Click on the album cover to go to the mediafire folder where the files are!

Tracklist:

1. the streets - everything is borrowed
2. slum village - fall in love
3. miike snow - animal
4. peter bjorn & john - nothing to worry about
5. boogie boys - a fly girl
6. menahan street band - the traitor
7. little dragon - after the rain
8. the temper trap - sweet disposition
9. ladyhawke - back of the van
10. the roots - the seed 2.0
11. kid cudi - maui wowie
12. amy winehouse - in my bed
13. the phenomenal handclap band - you'll disappear
14. david byrne & brian eno - strange overtones
15. erykah badu - didn't cha know
16. passion pit - sleepyhead
17. janelle monae - metropolis
18. m83 - i guess i'm floating