The Top 50 Albums of the Decade – Honorable Mentions

Those of you keeping up with my Twitter feed (@audiooverflow) should be aware that when I decided to compile my Top 50 Albums of the decade for Audio Overflow, I narrowed down the decades huge collection of great music to 118 album that I thought deserved to be nominated.  Then came the difficult task…narrowing that list to 50.  In the process, a lot of great albums that I though for sure would make it in the Top 50 got cut.  But I love these albums!  So in the interest of honoring properly, here are albums 70-51 in my best of the decade list. The honorable mentions, if you will.

#70.  Of Montreal:  Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies:  A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001)
#69.  System of a Down:  Toxicity (2001)
#68.  Fiona Apple:  Extraordinary Machine (2005)
#67.  A Perfect Circle:  Thirteenth Step (2003)
#66.  LCD Soundsystem:  Sound of Silver (2007)
#65.  Sufjan Stevens:  Seven Swans (2004)
#64.  Fleet Foxes:  Fleet Foxes (2008)
#63.  Midlake:  The Trials of Van Occupanther (2006)
#62.  Tilly and the Wall:  Bottoms of Barrels (2006)
#61.  Tegan and Sara:  The Con (2007)

#60.  Rogue Wave:  Out of the Shadow (2003)
#59.  My Morning Jacket:  Z (2005)
#58.  The Flaming Lips:  Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots  (2002)
#57.  My Brightest Diamond:  A Thousand Shark’s Teeth (2008)
#56.  Conor Oberst:  Conor Oberst (2008)
#55.  The Shins:  Wincing the Night Away (2007)
#54.  Rogue Wave:  Descended Like Vultures (2005)
#53.  Mates of State:  Bring it Back (2006)
#52.  Jaymay: Autumn Fallin’ (2008)
#51.  Bright Eyes:  Cassadaga (2007)

Just a little something to hold you over until the full list, complete with photos and commentary, is posted sometime in the next week.

The Top 31 Albums of 2008 (Pt. 3)

Albums 31-21

Albums 20-11

#10: Conor Oberst: Conor Oberst – Another year passes and another Conor Oberst album makes it into my Top 10. The whole idea is getting quite old, yet Oberst’s music remains just as fresh today as it was back in August. On his self-titled solo album, the Bright Eyes frontman ditched a lot of the self-loathing, depressing songwriting for a more upbeat, exciting record. Even depressing songs like “Danny Callahan” have an uplifting feel to them. Oberst also takes the time to clean up that death rattle of a voice to something much more accessible (or acceptable). In the end, it’s just a great album that you absolutely need to hear.

#9: CSS: Donkey – I, like many, found CSS’s debut to be a bit on the annoying side. Their follow-up has its fair share of annoyances as well. However, for every minor annoyance, there are a handful of cool harmonies, infectious grooves, and inescapable hooks! Donkey is one of the most solid pop albums in recent memory. It will make you feel dirty, it will make you want to dance; but I promise it will not make you want to watch Dirty Dancing.

#8: Jaymay: Autumn Fallin’ – When I first received an email about Jamie Seerman in early 2008, I had no idea how much her music would affect me throughout the year. An mp3 sample of single “Blue Skies” hooked me, and I politely requested a copy of the album for review. Two months later, I gave the album an 8 out of 10 rating, and it remains just as poignant, beautiful, and poetic today! Seerman is an undeniable talent in songwriting, and you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this album today!

#7: Plants and Animals: Parc Avenue – P&A managed to take the best from 60s psychedelia and indie rock and turn it into one masterful work. I’ve already had the opportunity to introduce this band to 40 and 50-year-olds who have enjoyed every second of Parc Avenue. While the last few songs on the record do wear a bit thin, it is more than bolstered by its miraculous first half. If you haven’t done so already….listen to it.

#6: Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend – And the award for best new artist goes too….(sorry, Fleet Foxes). Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut was one of the most focused, enjoyable, and universally acclaimed albums of 2008, and all of that praise was deserved. It’s not every day that an album comes around that will make seasoned music journalists fein knowledge of genres of which they have no background (in this case African music). I guess that’s just another reason why we “lesser people” should look down upon the snooty students at Columbia University. You’re not that much better than us!!

#5: Pop Levi: Never Never Love – I’ll go ahead and stop ranting and raving about the greatness of Pop Levi’s second album as soon as I know that some of you have taken my advice and checked it out. However, judging by the album’s ranking on Amazon.com (one of the few places you can actually find it), few of you have taken the leap yet. Don’t be an idiot. Go get a hold of hit soon! An album this good doesn’t come around often, and you don’t want to be that person who hears it 2 years later than everyone else.

#4: Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs – For such a shitey album title, Death Cab’s latest surprised most of us. True, the band doesn’t take any huge leaps in any direction, but they stayed true to their classic sound and in the process created what many might call their crowning achievement (though Ben Gibbard getting engaged to Zooey Deschanel is giving it a run for its money). I know it’s my favorite Death Cab album, and with such instant classics as “Cath…” and “Grapevine Fires,” it’s bound to be rocking my iPod for many more months to come.

#3: My Brightest Diamond: A Thousand Shark’s Teeth – I’ll be the first to admit that Shara Worden doesn’t have the sort of universal appeal as, say, Vampire Weekend. What she does have, however, is a depth of talent that rivals any of her peers and an album in A Thousand Shark’s Teeth that put most competitors to shame in 2008. For all the grandeur and theatricalities of her 2006 debut, A Thousand Shark’s Teeth far exceeded any expectations and benchmarks that she may have set. It is a wonderful album and an absolute joy to listen to. I recommend you do it at least once.

#2: Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping – Poor Of Montreal. For as many years as I’ve been making year-end lists, my favorite band on the planet has only gotten to the #1 spot once (for 2004’s Satanic Panic in the Attic). Every other year that they’ve been eligible have resulted with a fantastic, though still disappointing #2 placement. The sad truth is that were it not for last year’s “The Past is a Grotesque Animal” or this year’s “Gallery Piece” they may have nudged their way into first place every time. But for all the excessiveness that Kevin Barnes has nailed perfectly, there’s always one or two tracks that just seem like a bit much. Skeletal Lamping is the picture of excess, and with the exception of that one track, it was the best album of 2008.

#1: M83: Saturdays=Youth – If you were to tell me in January that my #1 album of the year would be an M83 record, I would’ve probably laughed in your face. M83 has been off my radar since 2005, and for good reason. For as brilliant as Anthony Gonzalez’s past works have been, they were never as enthralling a few weeks after their initial play. Saturdays=Youth, a 1980s, John Hughes tribute album in more ways than one, has been my favorite album of 2008 since it was released way back when. It is easily the most impressive album of the year with its ability to uncannily recreate the sounds, harmonies, feelings, and imagery of what all of us envision a teenage life in the 1980s would have been like. From start to finish, it is a layered vision, a masterpiece of production and performance. In fact, the only thing holding it back from a perfect 10 out of 10 rating (a rarity on Audio Overflow) is the fact that it’s lyrics are full of the cheesy poignancy that one would expect of an 80s teen drama. As such, the listener is taken on a ride, but it’s not an emotional one that they themselves can experience. Besides this minor and oft-overlooked blunder, Saturdays=Youth is a marvel of electronic pop music that will be remembered for years and years to come. Giving the #1 spot on my list to anyone else would not have seemed appropriate, and there’s no one who deserves it more.

The Top 31 Songs of 2008

In years’ past, I have made it a point to post my songs and albums together in one long, tedious, and confusing list.  This year, I’ve simplified the process just a little bit.  Don’t get cocky, I did it mostly for myself – but you can still be grateful.  Below you’ll find my Top 31 Songs of 2008 in one glorious list.  I’ve even sprinkled it with some commentary because, well, this is a blog after all.  Enjoy the list and be sure to tell me what your #1 (or Top 5 or 31) are.

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#31: “Got Your Number” by Nadia Oh – It should be known that I fully understand that Nadia Oh is without an ounce of verifiable talent. It should also be known that I’m a sucker for good production and a catchy tune. And my standards have dropped significantly this year. Obviously.

#30: “The Score” by Chris Walla

#29: “Boracay” by The Little Ones

#28: “I’m Amazed” by My Morning Jacket

#27: “White Composition” by Darker My Love

#26: “Dark Leaves From a Thread” by Destroyer

#25: “Crisis 1 & 2” by The Dears

#24: “Walking” by The Dodos

#23: “Valerie Plame” by The Decemberists – Who would’ve thought that one of the most hilarious, catchy tunes of the year would be from a collection of mediocre songs brought to us by The Decemberists?

#22: “Triphallus, to Punctuate!” by Of Montreal – It’s two songs in one, and both songs are equally enchanting, exciting, and lovable.

#21: “Souled Out!!!” by Conor Oberst

#20: “Jager Yoga” by CSS – The title doesn’t sound fun at all. The song does.

#19: “Cath…” by Death Cab for Cutie

#18: “Get-Well Cards” by Conor Oberst

#17: “Kill the Director” by The Wombats

#16: “Courtship Date” by Crystal Castles – I’ve only just recently started listening to Crystal Castles, but I can confidently say that their debut album is one of the coolest things to happen to electronic music in a while. This song is my favorite from the record.

#15: “Txt Me Yr Love” by Wallpaper – If you listen to one song on this list, make it this one. But come on, just listen to ’em all!

#14: “Couleurs” by M83 – I don’t care which country you’re from, that’s an incorrect way to spell “colors.”

#13: “Id Engager” by Of Montreal

#12: “Grapevine Fires” by Death Cab for Cutie

#11: “Bye Bye Bye” by Plants and Animals – The best “Bye Bye Bye” since JT had Jheri Curls.

#10: “The Devil, You & Me” by The Notwist – One could make the argument that this is the greatest song The Notwist has ever written. I might be inclined to agree.

#9: “Oxford Comma” by Vampire Weekend – The first several times I listened to VW’s debut, this one just didn’t stand out among the afro-pop stylings of “Mansard Roof” or “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.” After a year or so of letting it sit, this one is the stand-out for sure!!

#8: “The Escapist” by The Streets – Mike Skinner’s latest is a fun romp through the ususal, though it lacks a bit of the emotion that I enjoyed from his previous record. “The Escapist,” however, is more than enough reason to pick up this album. The rest of the songs ain’t bad either.

#7: “The Re-Arranger” by Mates of State – The “Biggest Disappointment of the Year” award may go to the Mates’ newest record, but you simply can’t deny the heart put into the title track.

#6: “Market Girl” by Headlights – It started the year as one of my favorite tracks and showed more resiliency than any other song on this list. Do yourself a favor and check out this catchy tune.

#5: “To Pluto’s Moon” by My Brightest Diamond – Shara Worden is a genius – we all knew that. But “To Pluto’s Moon” is not only her crowning achievement of 2008, but perhaps her entire (brief) career. It’s hard to imagine her being able to being able to top such an honestly heartbreaking song.

#4: “Dita Dimone” by Pop Levi – If 2008 has done anything for me, it has reaffirmed my love for pop music. This list, and others to come, are filled with great pop music. This just happens to be one of the best songs of the year, not to mention one of the best pop tracks.

#3: “Ill Willed Person” by Jaymay – Early on, “Sea Green, See Blue” was my favorite. Nowadays, I simply can’t get enough of Jamie Seerman’s “other” track. “Ill Willed Person” is such an emotional and truthful song that you simply can’t hate it.

#2: “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” by Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes has been this year’s IT band, and I feel that a lot of that hype is undeserved. While putting together a solid album, the band has also revealed a lot of flaws and gaps in creativity. This song, however, is one thing that they did right; very, very right.

#1: “Kim & Jessie” by M83 – It was my favorite song of 2008 when it released. It is my favorite song of 2008 now. It will probably be my favorite song of 2008 in 2009, 2010, and pretty much every moment until the world ends in 2012 (the ancient Mayans’ call – not mine). The simple truth is that Anthony Gonzalez has a masterpiece on his hands. I simply could not get enough this year.

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Now the big question is “When will that albums list be up?”  The good news is that it’s compiled and ready to be go.  That bad news is that I’m not telling.  🙂

Go ahead and enjoy that tense anticipation.  

Perfect Summer Soundtrack – Week 7

Again, I’d like to reiterate that unless you have all of these songs on your iPod or have rigged up some ingenious contraption that allows you to carry your laptop on your bicycle, this playlist may just be a waste of time for you.  At the very least, you can close your eyes and imagine the scene while sitting at your desk.  Totally your call on that one.

The Bike Ride Through the Country Playlist

Allow me to preface this playlist by noting that while I have been through the country, and have in fact ridden a bike, I have yet to combine the two into one awesome, soothing experience.  But having knowledge of both parts of this one activity gives me enough of a reason to post this playlist.  It’s got the predictable highs to keep you going, as well as some accompanying lows that will hopefully allow you to better appreciate your surroundings.  

Week 1 – Rooney’s Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 – The Picnic Playlist
Week 3 – Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)
Week 4 – The 4th of July Party Playlist
Week 5 – The Pump Me the F*** Up! Playlist (Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running)

Week 6 – The Elected: Sun Sun Sun (Road Trip)

Weekend Recommendations (4/11/08)

Cale’s Recommendations

Portishead: Third
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I just got my promo copy of this in the mail this week, and while I wasn’t completely sold on it on my first listen, it’s slowly growing on me. It’s released April 29th, and I think it’s worth mentioning. You should definitely consider picking this one up when it’s released.

The Honorary Title: Anything Else but the Truth
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Dntel: Life Is Full of Possibilities
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Erin’s Recommendations

Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins
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I own 3 albums of Of Montreal and out of those three, The Sunlandic Twins is by far my favorite. I find that a lot of the songs on this album are lighter than on others and I generally like singing these more. Not to mention, “Wraith Pinned To The Mist And Other Games” is so recognizable now from the Outback Commercials, I feel like they could easily win over new fans. I play it all the time for people at work and they start singing the jingle… All this to say, The Sunlandic Twins is my favorite Of Montreal album and my favorite for the week.

Sufjan Stevens: Come On Feel the Illinoise
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Jaymay: Autumn Fallin’
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The Top 5 Songs of 2008 (Well…So Far)

At the end of every year, Audio Overflow always has the big Top 31 Albums of the year countdown. It’s kind of a big deal. I literally keep a spreadsheet throughout the year and add and remove albums from it as time passes. But for songs, I tend to be a lot less set in stone. What I’m into changes drastically throughout any given year, so what may be a great song in January may have totally worn on me by June. So if you were to ask me right now what my favorite songs of 2008 were, I would respond with these picks.

#5: “Backfire at the Disco” by The Wombats, from The Wombats EP – It wasn’t too long ago that I was against anything that sounded remotely “punk.” Can you blame me? My only exposure to said genre, aside from Iggy Pop or The Ramones, was what MTV presented to me. That means, Blink 182, Simple Plan, Sum 41, and a whole lot of other bands that are too crappy too recall. But The Wombats are an indie punk band that I actually like. Their music is a little more complicated than their MTV counterparts and the melodies and lyrics are totally more enjoyable. This song is just a humorous little song that I can’t get enough. I totally sing along to it in my vehicle…in a British accent of course.

#4: “Market Girl” by Headlights, from the album, Some Racing, Some Stopping – This is one of those songs that may or may not make it through the year. As it currently stands, I find the guitars in this song to be absolutely infecting. It’s definitely one of the catchier songs that Headlights has ever made, which is saying a lot actually. I listen to this CD when I’m in the shower and this song always comes on right about the time I’m getting out. That means I always have to resist the urge to dance to it, because I’d be completely naked…and who knows what that could possibly mean about me. TMI?

#3: “Dark Leaves From a Thread” by Destroyer, from the album, Trouble in Dreams – I never got around to reviewing this album, mostly because I find Den Bejar’s work to be difficult to explain or critique. If you’re at all familiar with his work, though, you’ll know that this is one of his more enjoyable tunes, complete with a convincing vocal performance and (believe it or not) a melody that begs to be sung along to. When Dan sing, “Perfectly at home with this dread/ dark leaves from a thread!” I can’t help but syncopate head bangs with his lyrics. It’s just a really great song that proves that you don’t need actual lyrics to make a great chorus.

#2: “Mansard Roof” by Vampire Weekend, from their self-titled album – I can’t help it. Every time I hear the first three notes of this song, I must shout out, “I see a mansard roof through the trees!” with the biggest smile on my face. This song is one of the most enjoyable songs I’ve heard in quite a long time. It’s so charming, so energetic, yet lethargic; who couldn’t like every second of it? That’s pretty much all I have on this one. Listen to it and you’ll know what I mean.

#1: “Sea Green, See Blue” by Jaymay, from the album, Autumn Fallin’ – If you’re noticing a theme in the songs that I’ve listed so far, it’s that I totally dig a song that you can sing along to. If you can’t sing along to it, it loses a lot of points in my book. This song from Jaymay is no different. The odd thing is that I find myself whistling or humming the chorus (which itself is just hums) to this song at random times throughout the day, even if I haven’t heard it in a week. It’s just one of the best, most touching songs that has come out this year. I have a pretty good feeling that this one will end up in my top 5 by year’s end, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it stayed in the #1 spot. It’s simply that good. Listen for yourself in the playlist I’ve provided below.

Jaymay: "Autumn Fallin’"

Inevitably, the first time I ever hear an artist’s music, I’m waiting for a moment; a single moment that will make me fall in love with them. If that moment never comes, it’s rare that the artist will stay in my memory for long. For Jamie Seerman, here known as Jaymay, that moment came at about 1:40 into the opening track on her debut album, Autumn Fallin’. She sings of waiting on a man to “make the first move” so to speak, saying, “I’m giving you the lead, so go on. Go on and take it. Don’t fake it,” before delicately whispering, “shake it.” A shaker soon adds to the instrumentation and wide smile shoots clear across my face. I love it!

Jamie is a rarity in music these days. She manages to write intricate lyrics of specific moments in her life, utilizing every last detail to paint a clear picture of what she’s trying to convey with her music. Such a task would do a lot of musicians in, so it’s incredible to me that her songs are not only lyrically impressive but musically impressive as well (not to mention catchy as hell). On album opener, “Gray or Blue,” for example, she sings of a “boy” that she’s interested in but doesn’t have the courage to approach. She notes the color of his eyes, his mouth, the shape of his hands and body, and in doing so is able to convey the depths of her attraction without relying on cheap descriptors.

She’s oddly specific with her lyrics as well, and they read like diary entries or poetry that you write and stash away in a drawer, never showing a soul. So while a line about a conversation in Grand Central Station or “Super Keith” emblazoned on a cup may be completely meaningless to the lister, the mere fact that she brings such things up proves her words as honest recollections rather than empty words. In fact, the true relatability of Jaymay’s songs have nothing to do with the lyrics but the emotion and feelings that go behind them, that she brings out with her voice.

But enough about lyrics. Lyrics can only take an artist so far. Thankfully, Jaymay rarely disappoints on Autumn Fallin’. Her voice is lovely, and I can’t help but compare her to Fiona Apple in that department. It’s not near as deep or powerful, but it is jazzy and smooth. It fits the quaint nature of her songs perfectly. The albums first single, “Blue Skies,” sounds like a first single; complete with increased production and a loud, energetic refrain. It is a great song, and definitely one of the album’s better tracks, but it’s not necessarily indicative of the remainder of Autumn Fallin’. More often than not, Jamie’s voice is only complemented by an acoustic guitar and some light drumming. “Sea Green, See Blue” is a gorgeous song that doesn’t need a catchy chorus to delight (Jamie simply hums a melody where the chorus should be, to great effect). At over 6 minutes in length, it’s far more ambitious than other pop songs out there, and with a delicately played saxophone, rhodes organ, and strings, it’s a lot better as well.

Title track, “Autumn Fallin’,” tells of a lost friendship. She sings, “I believe it was you who I wanted to be walking next to. And I believe we were friends, and I believe we will be again.” It’s a short, but effective song that sidesteps the boy-girl relationship theme that is touched upon quite often on the album. “Ill Willed Person” is one of my favorites, with a passionate performance from Jamie and a sing-along quality melody. In the chorus she cries, “Love everything you’ve always loved,” repeatedly in a voice that seems more raw and real than what we’ve been presented to up to this point. It’s so refreshing and beautiful that repeat listens are inevitable.

But Autumn Fallin’ has it’s share of missteps as well. “You’d Rather Run” is almost 10 minutes long, but by 5 I found myself wanting her to wrap things up. The melody never really changes, nor does the organ-driven instrumentation that surrounds it, and as a result it gets tiring fast. The lyrics, however, are among the album’s best. She sings of what seems to be an ex-lover with whom she’s not on good terms, noting, “Was there ever a moment, one small slice in history, when I took you seriously? When your belt and your shoes did not announce your poor taste so fearlessly? Cause that’s news to me!” Ha! On “Hard to Say” she actually scats, which actually fits her voice, but not the rest of the album. It’s worth listening to, but come on…it’s scatting!

Overall, however, Autumn Fallin’ is a surprisingly impressive debut. Jaymay is one of the most talented songwriters I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing, and for that, her few missteps are easily overlooked. The songs on this album are soaked in earnestness, and over the course of the past month I’ve found myself singing along and loving nearly every second of this fantastic debut! Jamie Seerman is an early candidate for Female Artist of the Year, and judging from her competition, she may just wind up with that (completely meaningless) title. Listen to a few samples and decide for yourself, but in my book, Autumn Fallin’ is a must-buy!

Key Tracks:
1. “Gray or Blue”
2. “Blue Skies”
3. “Sea Green, See Blue”
4. “Autumn Fallin'”
5. “Ill Willed Person”

8 out of 10 Stars

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