LoudSpeakers

December 28, 2005

If “Everything All The Time” was released in 2005, it could have easily been very close to the top of my favorite records for the year. It’s that good.

I specifically say, “that didn’t do it for me,” because surely someone enjoyed the hell out of Illinois, the most recent Sufjan Stevens record, but I can’t listen to it without a gagging sensation coming over me. Anyway, these are the records that people seemed to go on and on about that just didn’t [...]

My list has changed somewhat since originally posting it in early August. It was really because of some late year show stoppers like Jens Lekman and Great Lake Swimmers.
1. M.Ward - Transistor Radio (Merge)
2. Rogue Wave - Descended Like Vultures (Sub Pop)
3. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Vice)
4. Great Lake [...]

Is it just me or does it seem like this is the year of lists? I typically shy away from reviews that assign points to music on some sort of scale. A 10.0 review indicates a perfect record, but the system is baseless when it’s not open and up for debate nor does [...]

December 26, 2005

Mates Of State - Bring It Back
:: This is the kind of record that makes me do Rodin’s Thinker while staring out the window one minute and then spontaneously switch to head nod and protruded lips a la Jagger the next.
The M’s - Future Women
:: Though this record may sound all over the [...]

December 24, 2005

If I happened to be in the military and a Christian hip-hop outfit showed up to entertain me and my brethren during wartime, I would be listed as AWOL before the show was over.
I can only imagine what their lyrics might be…
Religion and popular music just don’t mix well in my opinion.
Guardian Unlimited | The [...]

December 21, 2005

Iron And Wine | Calexico - In The Reins
:: I can’t believe I didn’t focus in on this when it originally came out, but I love it.
Princess Superstar - My Machine
:: Is this some sort of massively planned joke because I couldn’t continue listening because I was too busy laughing at some point.

Fembots [...]

December 18, 2005

Friday evening was spent at the Iron & Wine slash Calexico slash Salvador Durain event. It was indeed more than just a show. It was a long one, but it didn’t drag or begin to strain one’s patience likely due to diverse line-up.
I certainly gained a greater appreciation for Calexico and “In The [...]

December 12, 2005

Destroyer - Rubies
:: Besides being the best Dan Bejar slash Destroyer related stuff since This Night, my favorite song is “Painter In Your Pocket.”
Times New Viking - Dig Yourself
:: It’s a stunned feeling when you may have found your new lo-fi friends by complete accident.
Delaware - Lost In The Beauty Of Innocence
:: This [...]

December 9, 2005

I included the iTunes exclusive, live version of Belle & Sebastian’s “If You’re Feeling Sinister” recently on the “One Sentence..”thingy hoping that it would be released in time to include a quick blurb about it.
iTunes released the record a day late, but it was well worth the short delay. I have listened to it [...]

December 7, 2005

A little late considering I was out of town all last week and am in Kansas City, MO tomorrow.
The Strokes - First Impressions Of Earth
:: It has become all too popular to talk shit about the Strokes, probably because of their success considering their backgrounds, but half of this record is reason [...]

December 5, 2005

I just realized that I have been confusing two bands that deserve no confusion at all. The Magic Numbers are NOT The Magic Markers. The Magic Numbers I can listen to and really enjoy.

November 28, 2005

The Happy Bullets - The Vice And Virtue Ministry
:: The lead track can be misleading (imagine that!) so do yourself a favor and start with the second track and enjoy the occassional falsetto combined with the semi-predictable vocal and percussion stops and starts.
Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins - Rabbit Furcoat
:: Insanity I [...]

November 20, 2005

Davenport - The Hands Of Worm Heaven
:: With one minute left of a nearly fifteen minute song consisting of isolation torture drums, I was forced to write this band off forever before caving to the demands of my captors and revealing the name of Bob Woodward’s source’s source.
Cars Can Be Blue - [...]

November 15, 2005

Writing from San Francisco tonight…
Clearlake - Amber
:: “No Kind Of Life” is a great opener to what sounds like a good record.

The Mendoza Line - Full of Light and Full of Fire
:: Note to self: remember to let David Beisel know that he’ll enjoy the hell out of this record since it’s [...]