Favorite Music

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I"m listening to music other than the Alligator Records House Rockin' Christmas. I did love that one though over the holiday. If you like blues, you should definitely check it out.

I've moved on from that and am listening to some new downloaded CDs from Amazon. Right now they have 50 of their favorite albums of the year (MP3 downloads only) for five bucks each. And, lo and behold, there are some of my extreme favorite albums of the entire year on there as well.

First, these two albums have kept me company from the second they came out. I love them and if they were vinyl, they'd have deep grooves worn into them by now. 

I'm starting with Fleet Foxes self-titled record. It's a folkie sort of rock album by this Seattle band. I love their music and it has received huge critical acclaim this year. It has certainly been one big chunk of 2008's soundtrack for me.

the second cd that you can pick up for five bucks that is one of my top favorites this year is

For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver.

Love it, love it, love it. Bon Iver is French for Good Winter. The lead singer is a young guy, Justin Vernon, who is from Wisconsin. So I imagine he knows a bit about winters good and bad. The album has beautiful lyrics, acoustic guitar, and spare arrangements. I discovered this band around the same time as Fleet Foxes and constantly listened to both of them in one big tangled loop of happy sounds. the title track is gorgeous. the whole album is wonderful. the harmony of voices in the beginning of the song The Wolves give me chills.

next up...i just finally got this album yesterday and i have listened to it at least three times since.

 

i had gotten wind of some of the hype around Santogold earlier this year but never checked it out. when i saw it for five bucks yesterday i snapped it up. and i am very happy i did. when i moved to l.a. in '87 i was very into the band missing persons.

do you remember this song?

i loved that song. and of course, if you loved dale bozzio and the punk/new wave sound of missing persons you probably dig the band no doubt as well. gwen steffani's voice has always reminded me of dale bozzio. and now there is Santogold, aka Santi White out of Philly. check her out: this song lights out is awesome. it will stick in your brain like a big old piece of hubba bubba. it's more of a gentle rocker compared to the rest of the album. but without this album i surely wouldn't have managed to jam through vacuuming and doing five loads of laundry and the dishes this morning. it's totally great.

all right. i have to jam along on these next few fabulous, fabulous CDs. life is calling me away. if you are looking for some music to move you into 2009, you cannot go wrong with these for only five bucks:

The Odd Couple by Gnarls Buckley

You probably heard their song Crazy before. This is their newest album and it rocks all over the place. You will be on your feet with this album. This video will show you a moving slower song of theirs recorded live at Abbey Road. Stick with it and you'll be inspired and have a little something to think about. 

Beck's Modern Guilt
You know I love me some Beck. This is the album I've been hollering about all year. Five bucks. Unbelievable. Genius disc.

Viva La Vida by Coldplay

If you haven't gotten this one yet, you've been missing out. It's excellent. Lovers in Japan is an excellent cut. The song 42 is so poignant and true to me. It haunts me. I've had this one so long and have enjoyed it so, so much. And I cannot believe you can get it for five bucks.

Some People Have Real Problems by Sia

This is my first run in with Sia, who hails from South Australia. I am really digging this one. Here is a video of her appearance on Letterman if you want to give it a listen...

Quick, quick, a couple more...

Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs

One Cell in the Sea by A Fine Frenzy

In Rainbows by Radiohead

I hope you'll find some new music to turn you on in the new year!

Comments

[Nancy Jamar]

Coldplay of course, but I love that you love Bon Iver, too! We got the vinyl and played it on Christmas after everyone left, over and over, and there is a special card in there so you can download the MP3, too! I got in the wayback machine yesterday and put some oldies on my blog...Thunderclap Newman, a couple of Utopia tunes, and then some Jeff Buckley. Was looking on Playlist for Bebop Deluxe and Kazumi Watanabe (in that order, Bill Nelson's old band, check out anything on youtube from "Starburst Finish" like "Ships in the Night", and second, my favorite Japanese jazz fusion guitarist; check him out playing "Splash" on youtube), but didn't find them for my playlist. boo hoo, but I've still got my vinyl! N

[Pilar]

Santogold is great fun and yes, she does have that Missing Persons vibe to her work. She&Him is great fun as is M83. : D

[Kateri]

You're so cool! I love your musical taste! ^_^