My Top Albums of 2006 (pt 3 of 3)
Down to the final four. And so here they are.
#4: Gillian Welch - Hell Among the Yearlings
Well, I didn't say I couldn't have more than one. Darker and older than Time (the Revelator), this is Gillian at her best, singing songs with names like "The Devil Had a Hold of Me," "Whiskey Girl," "My Morphine," and "I'm Not Afraid to Die." If she had been born thirty years earlier, we be watching movies about her instead of June Carter.
#3: Margot & The Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat
I found Margot just browsing through emusic one day, and have been listening to their album ever since. Named after a Wes Anderson character, the word I've seen used most often to describe their sound is "chamber pop." They themselves call it "scarf rock." I would call it well crafted and complex songs with literate and sharp songwriting. It's a great album, and it's their debut. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.
#2: My Morning Jacket - Z
Reverb heavy pop/rock. What sets MMJ apart is their totally unique sound, effortless passion and Jim James' outstanding voice. I've got some of their older stuff off of emusic, but for this one you're going to need to head over to iTunes. Absolutely beautiful music. Why they aren't on the radio is beyond me.
#1 Sufjan Stevens - Live at Lee's Palace, Toronto, 16 Nov. 2004
Like I said, no one said I couldn't have more than one. I love Sufjan's albums, but somehow this captures him better for me. The sound is great, the crowd engaged but quiet, and he plays songs off of all three of his major albums: Seven Swans, Michigan and Illinois. Highlights: "50 States," which has this great line: "Go to New Hampshire, Missouri too--it's not Virgina, but it'll do"; a subdued version of "Chicago," and an essentially perfect rendition of "Romulous," which is my personal candidate for most underrated Sufjan song ever. This is the album that's kept me company more than any other this year--it's now nearly an old friend, and it's also a free download available here.
#4: Gillian Welch - Hell Among the Yearlings
Well, I didn't say I couldn't have more than one. Darker and older than Time (the Revelator), this is Gillian at her best, singing songs with names like "The Devil Had a Hold of Me," "Whiskey Girl," "My Morphine," and "I'm Not Afraid to Die." If she had been born thirty years earlier, we be watching movies about her instead of June Carter.
#3: Margot & The Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat
I found Margot just browsing through emusic one day, and have been listening to their album ever since. Named after a Wes Anderson character, the word I've seen used most often to describe their sound is "chamber pop." They themselves call it "scarf rock." I would call it well crafted and complex songs with literate and sharp songwriting. It's a great album, and it's their debut. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.
#2: My Morning Jacket - Z
Reverb heavy pop/rock. What sets MMJ apart is their totally unique sound, effortless passion and Jim James' outstanding voice. I've got some of their older stuff off of emusic, but for this one you're going to need to head over to iTunes. Absolutely beautiful music. Why they aren't on the radio is beyond me.
#1 Sufjan Stevens - Live at Lee's Palace, Toronto, 16 Nov. 2004
Like I said, no one said I couldn't have more than one. I love Sufjan's albums, but somehow this captures him better for me. The sound is great, the crowd engaged but quiet, and he plays songs off of all three of his major albums: Seven Swans, Michigan and Illinois. Highlights: "50 States," which has this great line: "Go to New Hampshire, Missouri too--it's not Virgina, but it'll do"; a subdued version of "Chicago," and an essentially perfect rendition of "Romulous," which is my personal candidate for most underrated Sufjan song ever. This is the album that's kept me company more than any other this year--it's now nearly an old friend, and it's also a free download available here.
which link do I select on the concert download page if I want it to download to my computer?
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:48 PM
http://www.archive.org/download/SufjanStevensSufjanStevensLiveatLeesPalaceTorontoNov162004/SufjanStevensSufjanStevensLiveatLeesPalaceTorontoNov162004_vbr_mp3.zip
Enjoy.
Posted by
Josh Anderson |
9:52 PM
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/091686/091686_01_01_full_100.asx
...Try it, you'll like it.
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:49 PM
Josh, I just discovered your blog from Chris Smith's link. I had no idea we had the same taste in music. Some of this stuff I've been listening to but some of the albums come as welcome suggestions. Have you discovered Pandora internet radio? It changed my life. I discover so much good music there. Are you a Wes Anderson fan too? We need to get together for some film and music sharing.
Posted by
Justin Donathan |
7:03 PM
Lovin' me some Sufjan. Ditto.
Didn't know you had a blog, Josh, but glad I found it (I added you as a link on mine).
Let's get together this new year and see if we can have conversations that don't involve Hebrew.
Oy vey.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:37 PM
Do you listen to The Shins?
Posted by
Frank |
7:56 PM
Josh,
Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos are going to be at Blueberry Hill on March 11. Just thought you may want to check them out. I'm going to be going down there with some others.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:11 AM
Do you like Mutemath?
Posted by
Frank |
8:56 PM
Hey look! It's my favorite music! I think you may have influenced me.
Posted by
Ruth |
9:54 PM