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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

New Video: Tame Impala - Mind Mischief (Kinda NSFW)

Shockingly, the parents of another one of my favorite albums of 2012 (Full list here), Tame Impala's Lonerism, have released a new a video for "Mind Mischief."

**Be aware, there is mild (animated) nudity featured in the second half of the video when things get a little trippy**

I can't help but think of the "Take me to Pleasure Town" scene from Anchorman with this video, just more acid-like than overly comedic.

Unfortunately, I was late to pick up Lonerism so there is a good chance in the very near future I will truly understand how I vastly underrated this album with my list. Nonetheless, check out the video below and remember back to the days in school when you had one of those hot teachers that countless writers and bands have used as inspiration (i.e., Van Halen and Varisty Blues). Not all of us could be as lucky as this kid, though...maybe...depending on your interpretation.


Monday, January 28, 2013

New Video: Grizzly Bear - gun-shy

It seems that Grizzly Bear are celebrating (spoiler alert) from my naming their recent effort Shields as my top album of 2012 (PROOF) by releasing a new video for the fantastic "gun-shy."

Not exactly strangers to interesting/odd videos, GB have another one on their hands and it delves into the "creative energy of living organisms" and what they "would look like on a molecular level." This is per Australian director Kris Moyes, and you could read more of what he had to say on the band's Tumblr.

Scope it out. Even if you don't care for the video so much just minimize the page, listen, and all will be right in the world.

As a person who wears contacts, I hate it when mine have the same effect as you see below. Just dreadful....


Friday, January 25, 2013

My Top 50 Albums of 2012

What a tough year....I guess they all are but this one seemed different. I almost did a top 75 because there didn't seem to be a huge different between a lot of albums from the 30s through the 70s but that was taking way too long. So I cut it down to 50.

It was also kind of a frustrating year in which the follow ups to some of my favorite albums in recent years just couldn't keep my attention enough to make this list (i.e., Beach House, Passion Pit, Avett Brothers, Sleigh Bells...).

There were others that I have enjoyed listening to a lot but couldn't find a place for them unfortunately (i.e., Imperial Teen, Good Field, Django Django, Empires, Metric, Reptar, Walk the Moon, Nick Waterhouse...).

Then there were those that I just couldn't do anything with because I have heard them too much over the last year or 2 and it hurt my brain to even type their names into the spreadsheet I was working off of (i.e., The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons). I never even listened to the new Edward Sharpe. I enjoy their live show but other than that feel I might need a couple years off from the band.

There were also some obvious omissions people will call me out on for not including (Fiona Apple), and that's because I never listened to it. Not that I have anything against her, just never really been a huge fan. Used to think she was kinda boring so I supposed that stuck with me. Again, I listen to what I want to listen to or what people send me and I post on that. Maybe it's lame on my part but I don't feel it's necessary to add negative reviews, not why I'm doing this. Some of you may jump on me even more for including the new Dave Matthews Band album. Well, it's actually really good. Best thing they've done since the 90s.

So yeah....some food (or tunes) for thought.

One more thing, as I've read through the lists that have come out a couple of things stood out and wanted to mention since I don't go into detail on these albums on my list, unless I did a post about it previously....
1) Where's the love for Grizzly Bear this year?? I read a couple that said the album lacked a "Two Weeks" or "Ready, Able" type single. I suppose I get this but I feel people may be missing the fact that the ENTIRE album is full of songs like these. If they scattered these songs across a few albums with lesser tunes, these tracks would be heralded as awesome. Don't punish the album because it's stellar from top to bottom, and more accessible as a whole than previous albums.
2) Zero love for the new Yeasayer?? Interesting. I love this album and know a ton of people that feel the same way. The way they continue to expand their sound and adapt has been entertaining, to say the least.

50) Niki & the Dove - Instinct 

49) Porcelain Raft - Strange Weekend (Post on This)

48) Twin Shadow - Confess

47) Tennis - Young & Old 

46) Two Wounded Birds - Two Wounded Birds

45) Band of Horse - Mirage Rock

44) Bloc Party - Four

43) Dave Matthews Band - Away From the World

42) Hospitality - Hospitality (Post on This)

41) Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself

40) The Shins - Port of Morrow

39) Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas

38) Fierce Creatures - Catacomb Party (Post on This)

37) Bear In Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool

36) Lower Dens - Nootropics

35) Benjamin Gibbard - Former Lives

34) Gary Clark Jr - Blak and Blu


33) Jack White - Blunderbuss

32) Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

31) Lambchop - Mr. M (Post on This)

30) Damien Jurado - Maraquopa

29) Dr. Dog - Be The Void

28) J. Nolan - The Upbringing

27) The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now

26) Purity Ring - Shrines

25) Stars - North

24) Tanlines - Mixed Emotions

23) First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar (Post on This)

22) Two Door Cinema Club - Beacon

21) The XX - Coexist

20) Grimes - Visions (Post on This)

19) Electric Guest - Mondo

18) Wild Nothing - Nocturne

17) Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

16) Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

15) Jessie Ware - Devotion

14) Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city


13) Tame Impala - Lonerism

12) Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal

11) Chairlift - Something (Post on This)

10) Father John Misty - Fear Fun

9) Here We Go Magic - A Different Ship

8) Lord Huron - Lonesome Dreams

7) Divine Fits - Divine Fits

6) Chromatics - Kill for Love

5) Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

4) Yeasayer - Fragrant World (Post on This)

3) Frank Ocean - Channel Orange 

2) Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

1) Grizzly Bear - Shields (Post on This)




Thursday, January 24, 2013

My Top 10 EPs of 2012

So it's been a little bit since I posted anything on here due to various reasons. My New Year's resolution is to do a better, or at least more consistent, job of posting reviews and whatever else piques my interest.

Comparatively, I'm also behind on my Best Albums of 2012 lists but as in years past, I like to actually post mine AFTER the year has ended. For all of those Best of 2011 lists that came out before the Black Keys released Casino El Camino, did they leave it off of their 2012 lists because they didn't think it was worthy or because it didn't come out in 2012? So the album's fate is either that it wasn't that good or it's in record purgatory. Makes sense....not! (Still bummed Wayne's World 3 isn't happening after all. Maybe....)

I'll mention this again for my Top Albums list but I'm guessing the biggest complaint I'll get will be about some  "obvious" omissions. I don't get paid to do this and I just like to rank the LPs and EPs that I have enjoyed. I don't have to listen to anything I'm not interested in. Also, there are albums I come across that I don't necessarily care for and don't ever post anything about them. It's my opinion not to like someone else's music and I don't want to sway someone away from a band or album without giving it a proper chance. Not what I'm here for. Aight?

So anyway....my Top 10 EP releases from 2012:

10) Suburban living - Cooper's Dream


9) S. Carey - Hoyas 

8) Communist Daughter - Speed of Sound

7) C2C - Down the Road (Post on This)

6) Memory Tapes - Grace/Confusion

5) The Antlers - Undersea

4) Gracie - Treehouse (Post on This)

3) Dirty Projectors - About to Die

2) Daniel Rossen - Silent Hour/Golden Mile

1) J. Nolan - The Archetype (Post on This)