Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (2010)

If Fleet Foxes weren't boring and Vampire Weekend had musical talent and they formed a rockin' supergroup, they would be Local Natives. This debut album has all the catchy, hopped up rhythms but without all the fluff and the vocal harmonies really bring everything together. Most of the arrangements on the album just really seem to show some extreme effort. The only issue is, the first half of the album really seems to gel and all of the songs are fantastic but once you get to that half-way point, things start getting a little monotonous. Maybe it just hasn't grown on me or the first bunch of songs are sooooo good that the others pale in comparison, I have no idea, just welcome in the warmth of summer with this album and thank me later.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gommzjmwwgi

Mono - One Step More and You Die (2003)

In spirit of record store day, I bought Mono's album I posted on here a long time ago, You Are There. Then I was listening to their other records and realized it's been a while since I posted some Mono and also realized somewhat recently how much i love this album. The flow is perfect and just about everything about it is beautiful. It's quite the sonic journey.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ju1vldnijbv

Kickball - S/T (2002)

I know I havent posted in too long...don't be upset! I have a slew of amazing albums for you all to check out and I figure I'll start off with something familiar for anyone who digs all the stuff I post. I've posted just about every other kickball album on here, I think, so here's their first, self-titled release from way back. I couldn't even find a good sized picture of the album art but here's a picture of them rocking out for good measure. this album is extremely sparse but still has all the wonky, twangy guitar and eccentric drumming you love about huckleberry eater but more of a happy vibe, perfect for the weather. Get on it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?wvxaveymotm

Nivathe - Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss (2009)

Ok. To spare yourselves the time of reading an entire little review, just do yourselves a favor and glance at the cover art and the name of the album for a quick second. If you haven't come to the conclusion that this is some heavy, depressive black metal already then you should probably just ignore this post. This album is not for the faint of heart or people with no patience. It's very atmospheric and droney between the disgustingly intense surges of hatred and self-loathing. The whole thing is an abomination in the best way possible. It's all one guy from texas (I believe he goes by 'Plague') who hates pretty much everything and makes it VERY clear. Check this out if you hate yourself.

1. Writhing, Collapsed Flesh
2. Veins Of Death And Hunger
3. Decay
4. Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss

Enveloped In A Diseased Abyss
apparently, the first track was corrupt so here's a link for that.
Writhing, Collapsed Flesh

2009: A Reflection

So many great albums came out this year but its so hard to decide what the 'best' ones were. I'm a freak about making lists and I tried to make a poll but it annoyed me. Below is a list of what I suppose is my 'Top 30' (this number is completely arbitrary, it's just nice that when I was done, it was an even number so i got excited.) favorite albums from this year and I'd like to see what everyone has to say about the albums I've listed or nominate other albums if your favorites aren't on my list (leave stuff in the comments por favor). Maybe I missed something or maybe you just have bad taste...I don't know...but I'm still curious.

Now in quite a particular order:

Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Kidcrash - Snacks
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bowerbirds - Upper Air
Kaospilot - Shadows
Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist/The Majestic Majesty
Thrice - Beggars
Toe - For Long Tomorrow
Loma Prieta - Dark Mountain
Phantogram - Phantogram EP
Rx Bandits - Mandala
Native - Wrestling Moves
Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom
Daïtro - Y
Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Portraits of Past - Cypress Dust Witch EP
John Frusciante - The Empyrean
Bygones - By~
Daniel Striped Tiger - Certain Stuff
The Dodos - Time to Die
Russian Circles - Geneva
Bon Iver - Blood Bank EP
Castavet - Summer Fences
maudlin of the Well - Part the Second
Mouse on the Keys - An Anxious Object
Nadja - Under the Jaguar Sun
Fall of Efrafa - Inlé
St. Vincent - Actor

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Ok...honestly, if you don't know about Animal Collective by now, then I don't even know where to begin. Ridiculously catchy yet super weird in outer space, these guys do what they want, how they want it...and it's fantastic. This is definitely their "poppiest" and most "accessible" album yet but it's still got all the quirky things that make AC so great, as well as new-found pop sensibilities that made Pitchfork soil itself and now every hipster worth his salt loves AC. I'm sure almost everyone who comes here has, at least, heard of this but it certainly was one of the very best albums of the year even though it came out right at the beginning of it. If you somehow haven't heard this yet, give it a listen for sure.

01. In The Flowers
02. My Girls
03. Also Frightened
04. Summertime Clothes
05. Daily Routine
06. Bluish
07. Guy's Eyes
08. Taste
09. Lion In A Coma
10. No More Runnin'
11. Brother Sport

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Toe - For Long Tomorrow (2009)

Japan's finest have done it again. I don't think I can stress enough how amazing Toe is but you really have to listen for yourself. This is their first full-length album in about 4 years and it's well worth the wait. What makes this album so great is that it is such a natural progression. There is a lot more instrumentation involving everything from synths to glockenspiels and the like. There are also a lot more vocals. Sometimes they really add to the song like the female vocal samples in 'After Image' and the female vocals in 'Goodbye' but they are also most prominent in the album's weakest track 'Say It Ain't So'. The vocals and over-simplified instrumentation make for a somewhat catchy, happy sounding japanese pop song but I don't see how that fits on this masterpiece of an album. Last but certainly not least, the drumming is just as spectacular as ever and it never ceases to amaze me no matter how many times I listen.

01.koko ni wa nani mo kamo ga aru shi, nani mo kamo ga nai
02.shoushitsu tenyo fue
03.after image
04.esoteric
05.say it ain’t so
06.two moons
07.mosikiiton wa mou kikoenai #1
08.mosikiiton wa mou kikoenai #2
09.last night (Album Version)
10.goodbye (Album Version)
11.you go
12.our next movement
13.long tomorrow

For Long Tomorrow

Bowerbirds - Upper Air (2009)

For me, Bowerbirds was one of those bands that just clicked and I was immediately hooked as soon as I heard their debut album, Hymns For a Dark Horse, which I posted a while ago. This album is much more of a 'summer' album, in my opinion, but that might have to do with the fact that it came out in july... Anyway, it just has a much more upbeat vibe whereas Hymns is more somber and autumnal sounding. The addition of a bassist and a lot more drumming really made for a drastic change in dynamic while retaining their folky integrity. Everything sounds full and the arrangements are just as beautiful as ever. Even though it's getting pretty bleak outside (for me, anyway) this album will keep you in high spirits and is completely worth the 2 minutes it'll take to check it out.

01. House Of Diamonds 2:58
02. Teeth 4:10
03. Silver Clouds 4:30
04. Beneath Your Tree 3:40
05. Ghost Life 5:24
06. Northern Lights 2:54
07. Chimes 4:18
08. Bright Future 4:01
09. Crooked Lust 4:04
10. This Day 3:08

Upper Air

oh wait...
I posted the first album but long after that, I found the bonus tracks which are nothing short of spectacular. They are even better than some of the songs that actually made it on the album and one of them, La Denigracion, has become one of my favorite songs by them in general.

Hymns For a Dark Horse Bonus Tracks

Best of 2009

I just realized that the last two albums I posted are some of my favorites from this past year. I'm terrible at making lists because I can never decide but I'm going to post my own little top 10 from 2009 for the next 8 posts I suppose. I may do more than 10 if I'm too indecisive (count on that) and I may rank them eventually but who knows... I MAKE THE RULES.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca (2009)

This album took over my life when it came out at the beginning of this past summer. If you've heard the album's first single "Stillness is the Move" and didn't like it...that's ok. The rest of the album is notthhhiiiinnngggg like that song. Don't get me wrong, I adore that song in the context of the album but I feel like it turned a lot of people off. Anyway, if you haven't checked out this album yet for some absurd reason, here's your chance. The ridiculously creative compositions and beautiful vocal harmonies make this album a fascinating and fulfilling listening experience.

1. "Cannibal Resource" - 3:55
2. "Temecula Sunrise" - 5:05
3. "The Bride" - 2:49
4. "Stillness Is the Move" - 5:14
5. "Two Doves" - 3:42
6. "Useful Chamber" - 6:28
7. "No Intention" - 4:17
8. "Remade Horizon" - 3:55
9. "Fluorescent Half Dome" - 5:45

Bitte Orca