The Top 50 Albums of the Decade

The past decade has been good to us, beginning with the question that prelude’s every decade:  what music will define this decade?  For me, the 2000s were absolutely the decade for indie rock!  I’m not alone in this thought either.  The genre exploded into mainstream consciousness over the course of the last 10 years, thanks in large part to the internet, iPods, and digital music in general.  I probably consumed more music in a single year of this decade than I had in all my years prior to it!

But the list below isn’t just a list of indie music.  It is simply a list of my favorite albums, and the memories that each one of them bring to mind.  I hope you find some enjoyment in my reflections on the greatest decade I’ve yet to live through, and I hope that this next 10 years is just as kind to us.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP 50

#50. The Elected: Sun, Sun, Sun (2006)
One-Liner: A charming, if not perfect, road trip album.

Life-Defining Moment: The only memory I have in my head currently, is driving down Hanna Rd. on my way home from work, shortly after picking up Sun, Sun, Sun. I wasn’t all that into it. Then Blake Sennett sings, “Your check’s signed in diapering ink,” on “Fireflies in a Steel Mill.” The band kicks in, the drums start up, and suddenly, I’m enlightened or changed in some small insignificant way.

Best Song: “Fireflies in a Steel Mill”

#49. Metric: Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003)
One-Liner: The first Metric album I ever heard, and still their best.

Life-Defining Moment: I think it was 2004 when I first listened to Metric, so there are a lot of memories here. The first one that pops into my head is driving around with my friend and his girlfriend, trying to get her to appreciate indie music. Metric was my way in. And while she acknowledged the awesomeness of this album, I don’t think she ever crossed over. Her loss.

Best Song: “Succexy”

#48. St. Vincent: Actor (2009)
One-Liner: One of the strongest female solo albums of the last decade, though not as memorable as her first.

Life-Defining Moment: Having been released within the last 12 months, there are too many moments still floating around in my head (I just listened to this 4 days ago). But the coolest Actor-related moment for me was seeing the video to “Actor Out of Work.” It was upon viewing it that I officially fell in love with Annie Clark. xoxoxo –Just kidding.

Best Song: “Actor Out of Work”

#47. Bjork: Medulla (2004)
One-Liner: An album that completely changed what I thought about music.

Life-Defining Moment: I was going to school in Dallas at the time Medulla came out. I remember putting this CD in my old-school Xbox and watching the visualizations as I got lost in the complexity of it all. It is an album featuring only the human voice (mostly), for those of you not in the know, and was the first full Bjork album I ever heard.

Best Song: “Where is the Line?”

#46. Headlights: Kill Them With Kindness (2006)
One-Liner: An unfocused, but relentlessly charming debut album.

Life-Defining Moment: I got a copy of this album by renewing my subscription to Under the Radar magazine. I remember opening the package and being disappointed by the CD they ended up sending me. As it turns out, it was probably the best option.

Best Song: “Songy Darko”

#45. The Streets: The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living ( 2006)
One-Liner: Mike Skinner’s most commercial, and coincidentally, solid Streets album.

Life-Defining Moment: My sister was dating a guy named Mitch at the time of this album’s release. He mentioned The Streets to me one day, and I responded with a “Meh, I don’t really like it.” But for some reason, I downloaded it anyway. And I loved it! It was one of the first albums I ever reviewed on Audio Overflow (it wasn’t even called Audio Overflow at the time), and I still think of it fondly.

Best Song: “Prangin’ Out”

#44. The Honorary Title: Anything Else but the Truth (2004)
One-Liner: A random purchase gone well.

Life-Defining Moment: In 2004, I was trolling Best Buy with a friend, looking for a random CD to buy. I did this from time to time, based solely on album covers. It just so happened that Anything Else but the Truth has an awesome cover. So I picked it up, listened to it, made fun of it, and discarded it. It wasn’t until a week later that I gave it a serious listen and discovered how awesome of an album it was.

Best Song: “Revealing Too Much”

#43. Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (2005)
One-Liner: The CD that changed everything.

Life-Defining Moment: I’m at Jeremy’s house one night, and we’re all hanging out. In walks Nathan, who I introduced to Of Montreal a month earlier with their 2001 album, Coquelicot. I’m eager to show him the new CD, so I put in Sunlandic Twins and wait to see everyone’s reactions. I remember how cool it seemed at the time. Now, it’s more tired than anything else. Still solid though.

Best Song: “The Party’s Crashing Us”

#42. Justice: ✝ (2007)
One-Liner: The best pure electronic album of the decade

Life-Defining Moment: I don’t know what I was expecting when I downloaded ✝ for the first time, I just know it couldn’t have been what I got. All I know is, I was reading the review on Pitchfork, and the next thing I know I’m downloading it. A few minutes later, I’m completely entranced. A few years later, nothing has changed.

Best Song: “D.A.N.C.E.”

#41. Band of Horses: Cease to Begin (2007)
One-Liner: A stereotypical indie rock band makes a not-so-stereotypical album.

Life-Defining Moment: You know that moment in “Is there a Ghost” when all the electric guitars and drums kick in? Yeah…

Best Song: “The General Specific”

#40. Rooney: Rooney (2003)
One-Liner: Definitely the best summer album of the decade.

Life-Defining Moment: I remember leaving Best Buy after purchasing this CD and showing it off to my friend, Josh. He didn’t get it, but I was loving every second of it.

Best Song: “Daisy Duke”

#39. Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005)
One-Liner: Oberst’s most-solemn and touching record to date.

Life-Defining Moment: Driving with a lot of the same friends mentioned in #43, this time through west Texas, blaring “Road to Joy” through my tiny truck speakers.

Best Song: “Landlocked Blues”

#38. The Killers: Hot Fuss (2004)
One-Liner: The only great thing this band has ever done, and a game-changer for me, musically.

Life-Defining Moment: I couldn’t sleep. I turned on the TV at 5am. MTV. The video for “Somebody Told Me” is on. I wait until 10am, go to Best Buy and buy the whole album. Sometimes you just know.

Best Song: “Mr. Brightside”

#37. Stars: Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
One-Liner: The album that began my formal obsession with pop music.

Life-Defining Moment: I was working at a desk in 2004, listening to internet radio. and “Elevator Love Song” (a track from another Stars album) came on. I loved it, so I went to my local record store to pick up a copy. They didn’t have one…but they did have this one.

Best Song: “Your Ex-Lover is Dead”

#36. The Decemberists: The Crane Wife (2006)
One-Liner: Meloy flexes his storytelling skills for the band’s first all-the-way-through great album.

Life-Defining Moment: When this album came out, I used to play it on my iPod at work over the PA system all day. There’s nothing like rocking out to track 2 while doing menial tasks for money.

Best Song: “The Crane Wife 3”

#35. The Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
One-Liner: It made progressive rock cool again…if only for a little while.

Life-Defining Moment: Driving around the summer of 2004 with my somewhat-significant other (too complicated for words, really), air drumming, singing, and other sad forms of rocking out. All this while driving, mind you. Specifically, driving with her and her brother on the way back from Conroe.

Best Song: “Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt”

#34. Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping (2008)
One-Liner: Possibly Of Montreal’s weirdest album to date…also one of their best.

Life-Defining Moment: Driving to my new job Monday through Friday at 6:45am. This album was playing every day on my recently-stolen 3rd Gen iPod nano, and I just let it loop over and over again. After 2 months I moved on to Crystal Castles…I don’t see that on this list. Do you?

Best Song: “Triphallus, to Punctuate!”

#33. Rilo Kiley: Take Offs and Landings (2001)
One-Liner: Rilo Kiley’s proper debut, and the only one that wasn’t a subsequent disappointment.

Life-Defining Moment: Driving in the fall of 2004 with a friend in the Dallas area. I had just picked up this CD from the old Virgin Megastore (RIP) and put it in my stereo. The girl is I’m with is upset. She doesn’t want to listen to it (she probably wanted to listen to something way worse, they do that you know?). But then “Science vs. Romance” starts playing and, oh, this CD is actually really good. We listen to the whole CD, and she deals with it, because – hey – she likes it now too!

Best Song: “Science vs. Romance”

#32. St. Vincent: Marry Me (2007)
One-Liner: St. Vincent’s first album is a classic, and beautiful album.

Life-Defining Moment: Showing the CD artwork to my dad after I bought this CD, he made a face – a not-pleasant face. Perfectly understandable, considering the cover, but a classic response.

Best Song: “Paris is Burning”

#31. Incubus: Morning View (2001)
One-Liner: In the 9 years since the release of this album, the band has yet to make something anywhere near this good.

Life-Defining Moment: I was sitting in the high school cafeteria, debating the awesomeness of Incubus with a friend. He insisted that they were not that good. Then Morning View came out. I think he still calls them his favorite band to this day.

Best Song: “11am”

#30. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend (2008)
One-Liner: An instantly charming, and relentlessly playable album.

Life-Defining Moment: My dad, again, thought to tear into the song “Mansard Roof” by describing the drums as “Ricky Ricardo, Babaloo” drums.

Best Song: “Oxford Comma”

#29. Wallpaper: Doodoo Face (2009)
One-Liner: A hilarious, catchy, and technically advanced pop album.

Life-Defining Moment: The first time I listened to the song, “Doodoo Face,” I was driving to work at 5:30am and I literally burst out laughing when Ricky Reed says “Dang, you nasty/ You smelling like soccer practice!”

Best Song: “I Ain’t Most Dudes”

#28. Mates of State: Team Boo (2003)
One-Liner: An insanely fast-paced, audibly jarring pop album that is equal parts love and mania.

Life-Defining Moment: I wasn’t too familiar with this album when I bought it way back in 2004 or 2005. But I wanted it, so I bought it. Driving home from the store, I put it in my CD, not really knowing what to expect entirely. “Ha Ha” is one of the best album-openers of the decade and instantly made me a fan of Mates of State!

Best Song: “Fluke”

#27. Sigur Ros: ( ) (2002)
One-Liner: A great, if not top-heavy album that may just be the best album of all time.

Life-Defining Moment: Well, obviously not, but let me explain the statement. I was driving with two girls in 2004 when they asked me what the best CD ever was, and I responded with ( ). Why? Because it’s in a made-up language, and is just as great to me as it is to someone in Uruguay or Japan! It is an album whose language is not a hindrance, but a doorway. And it’s beautiful!

Best Song: “Untitled Track 4”

#26. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca (2009)
One-Liner: The only DP album I’ve ever heard, and it’s so good I’m kinda scared to continue on.

Life-Defining Moment: Going on a weekend trip with a friend, we listened to this album in its entire. I’m not sure why that memory is the one that sticks out, but it WAS a pretty good weekend.

Best Song: “Temecula Sunrise”

#25. Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs (2008)
One-Liner: Ok, in my opinion, it’s their best album

Life-Defining Moment: I equate this song with work, because at the time of its release I loaded every song on my iPod and played that shit at work like crazy. Just ask Ben, he’ll tell you!

Best Song: “Grapevine Fires”

#24. Pop Levi: Never Never Love (2008)
One-Liner: The best male pop album of the decade? Hmmm….YES!

Life-Defining Moment: I always forget how awesome this album is until I listen to it. “Fountain of Lies” is one song that brings back a particular memory. Driving – as always – to work, though this time to my new job, it was my first day. “Fountain of Lies” begins playing, and I’m singing along as I’m pulling into the parking lot, completely oblivious to my surroundings. It eased my first-day jitters and became a perennial favorite at the same time!

Best Song: “Dita Dimone”

#23. Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir (2007)
One-Liner: A CD so sweet and wide-eyed that it made me an instant fan.

Life-Defining Moment: I was going to the movies with friends, and I was playing “No One Can Win.” Most people weren’t paying attention, but one guy said “Hey this sounds like The Beatles.” I really didn’t hear it, but I’m glad he did. He still listens to Loney, Dear.

Best Song: “No One Can Win”

#22. Zero 7: The Garden (2006)
One-Liner: A jazzy electronic album with wonderful vocalists.

Life-Defining Moment: Remember my dad? Yeah, this is probably the only CD I’ve ever shown him that he’s actually enjoyed. You just can’t beat the duo of Jose Gonzalez and Sia!

Best Song: “Crosses”

#21. Joanna Newsom: Ys (2006)
One-Liner: The album that completely changed my opinion of Ms. Newsom.

Life-Defining Moment: How bout a collection of moments? For some reason, every time the first cold of winter sweeps into Texas, I have this unexplainable urge to listen to Ys. 2006, 2007, 2008, and yes, even 2009 have been filled with Newsom. Not that it’s a wintery album, I just equate it with winter at this point.

Best Song: “Emily”

#20. The Wrens: Meadowlands (2003)
One-Liner: An album that’s depressing, but strangely hopeful at the same time.

Life-Defining Moment: I tried to cover “She Sends Kisses” back in 2006 with Fruity Loops. The result was decent, but you simply can’t recreate the raw energy and power of the song’s climax with software. Certainly not Fruity Loops. It never saw the light of day and is now lost forever. Good.

Best Song: “She Sends Kisses”

#19. Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
One-Liner: The best rap album of the last decade, and the last GREAT album that Eminem made.

Life-Defining Moment: I remember waiting the “Making the Video” of “The Real Slim Shady” on MTV when I was a sophomore in high school. At the time, I was familiar with Eminem, but I was never really a fan. But the video was hilarious, the music was fresh, and Eminem as a person was also kind of funny. It hooked me, and I ended up listening to this album for years.

Best Song: “Kill You”

#18. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
One-Liner: A cold, heartbreaking, and reflective album that never tires.

Life-Defining Moment: I didn’t get around to listening to Bon Iver for a year and a half after its official release. I got an email from an old friend who complemented me on my blog and said “I’m so behind on music, I’m just now getting to Bon Iver.” And my thought was…who? I downloaded the album and have since listened to it on almost a weekly basis. It is beautiful in so many ways, and I relate to it wholly.

Best Song: “For Emma”

#17. The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love (2009)
One-Liner: The pinnacle of Colin Meloy’s storytelling.

Life-Defining Moment: My life-defining moment for this album was seeing it performed live in its entirety back in October 2009. The Decemberists sounded spot on, and seeing Shara Worden play the Queen in person was just as shocking and eerie as it is on the album! It’s something that I’m glad I got to witness, and years from now if people are still discovering this album, I’ll be happy to know that I lucked out.

Best Song: “The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)”

#16. Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna Are You the Destroyer? (2007)
One-Liner: One of Of Montreal’s most-accomplished albums, and the one that lived up to the expectations following the commercial success of The Sunlandic Twins.

Life-Defining Moment: I first listened to this album in September of 2006 (it leaked waaaay early) and by the time it finally released in January of 2007 I had logged in several dozen listens. I remember thinking, as I would later write in my review, about how the album managed to capture both the zany Of Montreal of old and the new, radio-friendly pop band that they had become. Many consider this to be the band’s masterpiece, and they may be right.

Best Song: “Faberge Falls for Shuggie”

#15. Cursive: Happy Hollow (2006)
One-Liner: An emotional torrent of anti-religion, anti-government rock music.

Life-Defining Moment: Happy Hollow released at a time in my life when I was starting to rethink the way I was raised. Because of this, the album’s rebellious tone struck a huge chord with me (and probably explains why it is so high up on this list). Tim Kasher’s biting commentary on organized religion, war, politics, and relationships completely validated all of the thoughts that were going through my head and gave me a reason to not doubt myself. Despite the harsh tone of much of the album, the end message is clear: live your life to the fullest and don’t be held back by the constructs society may put in your path. For me, at that time of my life, and even now, that speaks to me.

Best Song: “Big Bang”

#14. The Flaming Lips: At War with the Mystics (2006)
One-Liner: An underrated album that finds The Lips at the height of their relativeness.

Life-Defining Moment: Again, my life defining moment for this album is seeing the band perform most of it live in September 2007! It, to this day, remains the most amazing live show I’ve seen and I have serious doubts about any band being able to top that. If I had to narrow down a moment which was particularly enjoyable, it would be Wayne getting the crowd to chant “FUCK!” on “Free Radicals.” That, or him screaming “C’mon motherfuckers!” while spraying the crowd with his stage fog gun.

Best Song: “Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”

#13. The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone (2003)
One-Liner: A flash of brilliant indie-pop/rock, accentuated by the sudden break up of the band that created it.

Life-Defining Moment: The first time I had ever heard The Unicorns was in early 2004, just as I was starting to discover indie music in general. As such, they had a huge impact on my perception of music and the acceptance of indie music. A moment that stands out in my mind was having the opportunity to see the band perform live in my hometown of Houston, TX in 2004, only to pass on the chance. It was the last show the band ever performed, and I’ve never forgiven myself. They are, and always will be, the most heartbreaking break-up of this wonderful decade.

Best Song: “Ghost Mountain”

#12. Loney, Dear: Dear John (2009)
One-Liner: An emotionally deep album, and one of the best male solo albums of the decade.

Life-Defining Moment: The moment that changed my outlook on the album was the first time I heard “Harm/Slow” and really listened to the lyrics. For me, the song is so bleak and depressing that it completely transformed the album from something that was dark, sure, but still kinda hopeful; to an album that is all darkness and no light.

Best Song: “Everything Turns to You”

#11. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema (2005)
One-Liner: Indie power-pop at its best and most rambunctious.

Life-Defining Moment: I had never listened to this album before, but my wallet was just begging to be opened and my ears begging for new music. I had read about Twin Cinema and how great it is was, and about The New Pornographers (who I had never heard before) so I decided to get it. Boy was I in for a surprise! I got into my vehicle and cranked it, jamming out to it for weeks. It is a perfect album, and one I’m a little disappointed didn’t make it to the top 10, frankly.

Best Song: “Sing Me Spanish Techno”

#10. The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute (2005)
One-Liner: A sophomore album so dense and complex that it requires you to listen to it again and again.

Life-Defining Moment: “Dude, the new Mars Volta just leaked!” “No way, which site are you on?….Cool I’m going there!” It’s downloading right now!” “Mine too.” It finished!!” “Lucky!” “I don’t know this first track is starting off pretty slo….WHOAH!”

Best Song: “Cygnus….Vismund Cignus”

#9. Muse: Absolution (2004)
One-Liner: Muse’s best album, and the one that kept me a fan of rock music when the rest of the rock world was sucking hard.

Life-Defining Moment: The first time I heard “Hysteria” I thought it was a song from a Tony Hawk game. I was wrong. That’s moment #1. Moment #2 takes place about a month later when a band I’m in decides that we want to play “Time Is Running Out” live. So we do. The MP3 still exists. Anyone want me to upload it?

Best Song: “Butterflies & Hurricanes”

#8. Field Music: Tones of Town (2007)
One-Liner: A pristine pop record in a time when the term “pristine pop” is overused.

Life-Defining Moment: Honestly, this CD took a while to click with me. It wasn’t until I heard “Working to Work” that it finally made sense. I started listening to the music, the lyrics, the feel of the whole thing. What I got was an awesome album, and one that ended up being my top album of 2007!

Best Song: “Working to Work”

#7. M83: Saturdays=Youth (2008)
One-Liner: A lush throwback to the emotions of 1980s brat-pack films.

Life-Defining Moment: I was leaving a friend’s apartment with another friend, and I was showing him “Kim & Jessie” for the first time. We both agreed that it sounded like it should’ve been the intro song in Donnie Darko. Then we started trying to figure out what that song actually WAS. Then we did. It was “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears. We both started belting out the chorus to that song acapella immediately thereafter. So just to recap: two dudes, driving alone, singing Tears for Fears acapella. Yep, probably one of the gayest things I’ve ever done.

Best Song: “Kim & Jessie”

#6. Of Montreal: Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004)
One-Liner: Of Montreal’s “transition” album also happens to be their best.

Life-Defining Moment: I knew Of Montreal, but I didn’t know this album. I had went to the Virgin Megastore in Dallas to pick up The Gay Parade, but it was out of print. So I picked up this. As I was pulling out of the parking lot, “Disconnect the Dots” started playing, and it was so unlike what I was expecting that I instantly fell in love with it! I listened to the album the whole way home, and in the process bonded with an album that I never intended on getting. I may not be a HUGE Of Montreal fan today, if it weren’t for The Gay Parade being out of stock. Truly life-defining.

Best Song: “Rapture Rapes the Muses”

#5. Radiohead: Kid A (2000)
One-Liner: An experience that most have had, and few have forgotten.

Life-Defining Moment: The first time I heard Kid A was shortly after it leaked in 2000 on Napster. My sister was playing it in her car, and we were driving around listening to it. As a 15 year old, I didn’t really understand a lot of it. I was listening to a lot of crap at the time. But it struck me as something strange, but cool; something unlike anything I’d heard previously. It wasn’t until I got into indie music and bought the album in 2004 that I fell in love with it, but that early impression certainly helped me make the purchase.

Best Song: “Everything In Its Right Place”

#4. The Notwist: Neon Golden (2002)
One-Liner: A deep, chill electronic album that stays with you.

Life-Defining Moment: Like most of the music in my early-indie years, Neon Golden was first recommended to me on Amazon.com. I downloaded the album before I bought it (twice) and played it in my dorm. Weeks later, my roommate, Preston, asks me to burn him a bunch of “my music” on a CD for him so that he can transfer it to his computer. Neon Golden makes the cut, and he loves it! Like, a lot! I haven’t talked to Preston in years, because, well, Preston’s a dick, but I’m glad I could pass my love of The Notwist on to somebody else.

Best Song: “Consequence”

#3. The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
One-Liner: An album that single-handedly defined “indie rock” for me.

Life-Defining Moment: The first Shins song I ever heard was “Turn a Square.” I didn’t really like it. Well, not exactly. It just wasn’t what I was expecting to hear. So I set the album aside and went on my merry way. A few weeks later, my friend asks me if I’ve heard The Shins, tells me that they’re awesome, and convinces me to give Chutes Too Narrow another shot. I do. And I love it!

Best Song: “Pink Bullets”

#2. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois (2005)
One-Liner: The best male album of the decade, and proof that any concept, no matter how mundane, can turn out amazing in the right hands.

Life-Defining Moment: I was picking up my friend Nick at his house to take him to church, and “John Wayne Gacy” was playing. I suppose he was passively listening to the lyrics, because suddenly he burst out with “Is this song about having sex with boys?!?!” I told him who it was about and we listened to it again. He was sold. At the time, Nick was into your generally shitty hardcore rock music. I think this album had a greater effect on him than it did on me. He now finds himself listening to Iron & Wine and Nick Drake more than that other garbage. I would have to think Sufjan had something to do with that.

Best Song: “The Predatory Wasps of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!”

#1. The Postal Service: Give Up (2003)
One-Liner: The album that introduced me to indie music and changed my life in the process.

Life-Defining Moment: There are too many moments. Quite frankly, my late teens and early 20s are soundtracked by this album. How do I pick a moment? Do I choose when Josh first showed it to me on Spring Break 2004? Do I choose that same Spring Break when I woke up everyday and pressed play on my CD player, only to lay back down in bed and listen to the album in its entirety? Perhaps trading off lyrics with a girl who I really liked and thinking how life couldn’t get any better is a more apt moment? There are simply too many occasions in my life in which this album played a role. And so I will not choose one moment.

Instead, I leave you with this picture. Imagine me, a 15 year old kid, listening to Relient K, Finger Eleven and Incubus in the year 2000. And imagine me now, a 25 year old man whose favorite albums of the decade include everything on this list and so much more! What caused such a transformation? It was this album being presented to me in the right place and the right moment. Never doubt the power of music, friends.

Best Song: “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight”

Today’s Twitter Updates (1/5/10)

What’s that?  You say you’re not following @audiooverflow on Twitter?  Well here’s what you missed today:

1. 
   
   Vampire Weekend News: Listen to Contra http://bit.ly/6C3BBi1 minute ago from web

2. New Album News – Of Montreal Progress Report on Strereogum http://bit.ly/7kJeY4about 4 hours ago from web

3. Polyvinyl Record Co. News – Headlights on Daytrotterhttp://www.polyvinylrecords.com/news/index.php?id=559about 4 hours ago from web

4. @warehouselive Sonya Westcott Evan Farrell, and Gram LeBron for Rogue Wave. Great band btw!about 5 hours ago from Twitterrific in reply to warehouselive

5. See (Pretty) Girls and Lasers in the East Village tomorrow and get a free mp3 of their Refina Spektor mix. Tell em Cale sent you! 🙂about 5 hours ago from Twitterrific

6. Free Download: Growing – “Hormones” http://bit.ly/5Fqaqfabout 7 hours ago from Twitterrific

7. Tour Dates – Vampire Weekend Announce Tourhttp://bit.ly/53av49about 10 hours ago from web

8. Peaches News: NEW video for RELAX.. http://bit.ly/4sEceqabout 13 hours ago from web

9.   

Adventures in Audio: Of Montreal and Bon Iver

There was a time, ladies and gentlemen, when I updated this blog at least 5 times a week (2008 as I recall). One of the things that I never really did during that period was actually write a lot of stuff as informal blog entries, opting instead for a more professional slant. Now that I don’t update near as much as I used to, I feel much more comfortable just writing about the music that I happen to be listening to. No agenda or focus, just writing. Whether or not you’ll enjoy what I have to say has yet to be seen, but at this point I’m beyond trying to impress with my writing.

Or my logo-design, as fate would have it.

So this past week, the 1st week in June of 2009, most of my music-listening time has been divided between two artists: Of Montreal and Bon Iver. Let’s start with the first, and most obvious.

It’s no secret that Of Montreal is my favorite band on the planet. Aside from me saying that on numerous occasions, there’s also that exhaustive Top 40 Of Montreal Songs list that I typed up last year and nobody really cared about. One album that was absent from that list entirely was the 2002 Tour-Only CD, If He is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children? Now I’ve had the CD in my collection for several years now, but for the most part I always just brushed it off without ever really giving it a fair shake. Something compelled me to put it on this week, and I’ve been listening almost non-stop ever since. Seriously, over 90 plays this week according to my Last.fm page.

The CD has a few week tracks, sure, but songs like “An Ill-Treated Hiccup” and The Zombie’s cover, “Friends of Mine” are absolutely winners, and probably should’ve been included in my Top 40 list. The really tricky thing about this album is that there are two versions of it, the 2002 self-released version (which I have) and the 2003 Track and Field version. The biggest difference between the two is the omission of “Neru no Daisuki” on the newer version. This song is absolutely fantastic and is actually a Japanese version of the song “An Ode to the Nocturnal Muse” from their album, Aldhils Arboretum. I feel bad for saying it, but I totally dig the Japanese version. It’s more uptempo, and Kevin sings it with much more enthusiasm. It’s also available on the Japanese version of Coquelicot, I believe. Either way, you’ll have a tough time obtaining it. Unless, of course, a really cool blogger happens to upload a copy for your streaming pleasure. But where are you gonna find someone that cool?

neru no daisuki – Of Montreal

On the exact opposite side of the musical spectrum we have Bon Iver, a name I have heard several times over the last year and a half and am only now getting around to listening to. The album, For Emma, Forever Ago is near-flawless in its bleak, wintery-ness, and the song “Creature Fear” is just beautiful (as are “Flume” and “Blindsided”). I’m kind of upset that it took me so long to get around to it, and kind of upset that no one even cared to leave a comment saying “Hey Cale, you should check out that new Bon Iver. It’s the bomb diggity!”

So if there are two albums that I would definitely tell you to check out today, they are:

Of Montreal: If he is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children?

and

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago

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 5th Annual Cale Awards: Winners!!

After a month of voting, the results are in!  This year’s Cale Awards were trimmed down, and as a result, we ended up getting more votes than we had last year.  Of course, that could also have more to do with the increased readership over 2008.  I’ll let you, dear reader, decide that one.  For now, enjoy the results of the awards that don’t really matter, but make us feel important anyhow.

Best Myspace Artist:

The Cyanide Valentine

50% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Hanne Kolsto – In a way, I’m very pleased to see The Cyanide Valentine pull this one out.  Though they weren’t my personal choice, they are a very talented band with a very unique sound.  Don’t forget to visit their website to download their 2008 album for FREE!!

The Staying Power Award

Of Montreal:  Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

40% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Spoon:  Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – Last year, Spoon’s album barely even made it to my year-end list.  It wasn’t until 2008 that I really started to appreciate this album in its entirety.  “Finer Feelings” has made it on my iTunes “Top Played” list and I can’t say I even placed it in my Key Tracks in my review of the album last year.  

Best Submitted Album

The Eastern Sea:  The Eastern Sea EP

83.3% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  The Eastern Sea:  The Eastern Sea EP – At the height of Audio Overflow’s popularity (I do believe we’ve peaked at this point), I was receiving 2-3 CDs a week.  Unless I had spoken with the artist or label personally, most of them got brushed aside.  The Eastern Sea’s debut as a full band was one that I could not ignore, and I’m pleased to see that the rest of you think so as well.

Best Album Artwork/Packaging

Radiohead:  In Rainbows

62.5% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Sia:  Some People Have Real Problems – In general, I thought that this year was a step backward in album design.  Radiohead had a cool idea; give people stickers to make their own jewel case.  But how many of you have actually done that?  Exactly.  To me, Sia’s packaging contained all the charm and playfulness of her best album yet!  Album art needs to convey the experience of the album in a tangible form, and this one did just that. 

Best EP

The Decemberists:  Always the Bridesmaid

50% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Wallpaper: T-Rex – This is an experience that I probably could’ve only enjoyed in an EP form.  I’m not entirely sold on the idea that Wallpaper’s pitch-corrected/vocoderized pop music wouldn’t wear thin on me after more than 20 minutes.  But here, it’s just enough to keep me smiling, singing, and trying to dance all cool-like. 

Best New Artist

Fleet Foxes

45% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Jaymay – You’d think a label like Blue Note would put more money behind an artist’s of Jaymay’s calendar.  Still, nearly a year after her debut album released, find someone who know who Jaymay is and I’ll give you a dollar.  For me, her debut was close to perfect and full of songs that still haven’t gotten old.  Check it out if you haven’t done so yet.

Band of the Year

Vampire Weekend

25% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Vampire Weekend – There wasn’t a band nominated that didn’t deserve this one, but I think most of us can agree that Vampire Weekend has had the biggest impact on the music world this year.  Making indie kids smile and the MTVers curious, the band has taken their unique sound to the heights of music in a short amount of time.  That’s good enough for me.

Female Artist of the Year

Jenny Lewis

40% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Shara Worden – I’m now completely annoyed with Jenny Lewis.  She used to be one of my favorite artists, but her past 3 outings (two solos and a Rilo Kiley album) have all been relatively shitey.  Acid Tongue was a step in the right direction but still short of her earlier years.  No, for me, Shara Worden is the most-deserving of this award.  Her second MBD album was a wonder of dark, orchestral pop, and was a shoe-in for my Top 10 Albums of 2008.

Male Artist of the Year

Kevin Barnes

50% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Pop Levi – Let’s be honest, Kevin Barnes’ transformation into Georgie Fruit has been one hell of a ride.  Any other year, and he would’ve gotten my vote easily.  But I’ve come to expect greatness from Barnes.  Pop Levi, on the other hand, was an artist I completely wrote off in 2007, only to fall in love with in 2008.  His second LP is an absolutely brilliant piece of pop rock and you owe it to yourself to check it out!  For coming out of nowhere to bring us something so awesome, this one’s just easy.

Song of the Year

“Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” by Fleet Foxes

28.6% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Coming Soon!

Album of the Year

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie

41.2% of the vote

Cale’s Pick:  Coming Soon!

Of Montreal – Houston, TX (11/12/2008)

This was my third time seeing Of Montreal in Houston, and fortunately the band opted to leave Numbers Night Club behind them and move on to far superior (in every way) venue, Warehouse Live.  The move seems to be one of necessity rather than preference, however, as there is no way a venue like Numbers could have handled a show of this magnitude.  

To describe the set, you need to know that the stage setup is massive.  Two giant platforms topped with drum-kits (yes, two drummers included), one platform with a smaller platform attached for Dottie to do her thing on, and a stage and screen in the center of the stage that rotates and moves at will.  The set practically swallowed the opening act, Icy Demons, whole as they played away in the shadow of this massive structure.

The band, themselves, were hit or miss – often blending pretty straightforward indie rock with what could only be described as an evil organ grinder’s best musical moments.  The drummer was absolutely insane, and the backing trio that switched off on a variety of instruments and vocal duties were also entertaining to watch.  The lead singer had a rather unimpressive voice, but he used it well enough to where it didn’t distract.  

Of course, the reason every single person was at the show was for Of Montreal.  Honestly, seeing pictures of this tour doesn’t do the thing justice at all.  I, myself, had seen them and I had no clue what an incredible production the band was able to pull off.  Much of the credit goes to the absolutely wonderful troupe of talented actors that play multiple roles during the show’s 1 1/2 hour runtime.  Buddha-like people, ninjas, old western saloon-dwellers, eagles, tigers, pigs (sexy bikini pig and naked fat-cat pig, mind you), assassins in camouflage, and probably a dozen other roles are assumed by this handful of people who add to the charm of the band without distracting from the music.

The band was awesome as usual, and seeing them in a larger venue really allowed them to perform to their heart’s content without any restrictions.  Kevin Barnes was his normal diva-self, engaging in countless costume changes, one which included a suit made entirely of shaving cream, another which was mostly just him in “hoochie shorts” and covered in red paint.  The show had him engaging in all sorts of activities, including being dressed in women’s clothes by a member of the acting troupe, trying to commit suicide in a variety of ways (ultimately achieving success by way of noose), and arising from a coffin in the aforementioned shaving cream suit.

For me, there was only one complaint for the night, and that was on the band’s insistence on using a variety of vocal effects that often made Barnes’ voice sound digitalized.  It simply detracts from the greatness of the songs in their original forms.  I can’t remember if I had the same complaint the last time I saw them, but for some reason I think that I might have.  Song of the night is a toss-up between the live juggernaut “She’s a Rejector” or the surprisingly awesome “Women’s Studies Victims.”  I would have to give it to the latter, I guess as it completely changed my view of the song.  “Gallery Piece” which I stated in my review of Skeletal Lamping, would probably fare better in a live setting, didn’t.  I still don’t enjoy it very much.

Friends and readers, I have been known from time to time to spout off about the sheer awesomeness of a Flaming Lips show, and I cannot begin to explain to you how much this new Of Montreal show compares in the size of production.  Certainly the Lips have much more capital at their disposal, and are able to accomplish things that Of Montreal simply can’t.  But for ambition, complexity, bizarreness, and entertainment value, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better show in 2008 or the coming year.  If you like the band or not, you owe it to yourself to see what a creative group of individuals like Of Montreal and their friends can accomplish.  This is a rock show like none other! 

Of Montreal: "Skeletal Lamping" Album Review

Weathering the Storm.

As many of the regular readers of Audio Overflow are aware, I’m based out of the Houston, TX area.  Any other time of the year, that’s not so bad, but when a hurricane sweeps through and knocks out the majority of your infrastructure, things can get pretty rough.  But this is life in a post-Ike world and thankfully, things are not as bad as they could have been.  The majority of the 5 million people in the Houston area have been without power since late Friday night, myself included, but a cool front has moved in, keeping it in the low 80s during the day.  I’ve been able to sleep in air conditioning for the last two nights thanks to a generator that we have running here, but there are many others who have been less fortunate.

But not having much to do in the way of work, play, or leisure has had quite the effect on my music-listening habits.  I’ve been doing a lot of it.  For the most part, that means I’ve been listening to Of Montreal’s upcoming Skeletal Lamping on repeat for a month (I absolutely adore it), but I’ve had the opportunity to check out other things that have been sent my way.

The first thing I’d like to mention is an album by Bella Koshka, called Slow Dancing on the Ocean Floor.  This is a very stylish group from the Minneapolis area, and this album was sent to me way back in July.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get to it before I shut down day to day operations of Audio Overflow.  I’ve been listening to it off an on for about a month, and it’s just not doing it for me.  The music is very slow and meandering, sometimes dreamy, but mostly unmoving.  There are moments of greatness occasionally, but they’re all but squandered by the mediocre vocals.  But it’s not all bad, of course, and if you have some spare time you might as well go by their Myspace page and check things out.

I got sent another album about a month ago from some really cool guys from Austin.  They go by the name of Black Bone Child.  Their debut album is a unique mix of blues, rock, and modern rock.  It’s not bad by any means, though lyrics can tend to be a bit off at times.  It’s got a very classic feel to it for most of the album, though some songs venture into modern rock territory – which isn’t my favorite genre at all.  Still, if you’re into the greats like ZZ Top or Stevie Ray Vaughn, I highly recommend that you check them out.  They’re nowhere near the caliber of those great artists, but for a modern twist on a timeless sound, you could definitely do worse.

That’s all I’ve got to report on for now.  I’m working on something special for Skeletal Lamping‘s release on October 7th, and you can definitely expect a review of that album in the next few weeks.  I’m also working on getting some advance copies of The Dears’ and The Streets’ new albums.  I can’t wait for those.

To my readers in the Houston and Galveston area, hang in there.  Things are looking up…

The Top 40 Songs By Of Montreal

After eight weeks of counting down, it’s time to bring this list to a close.  Here is the Top 40 in its entirety.

#40: “Nicki Lighthouse” from the album, Horse and Elephant Eatery (No Elephants Allowed) (2000) – This was one of the first songs by Of Montreal that I ever heard. It drew me in with its nonsensical lyrics about “the strangest girl that’s ever been” who has a bad habit of eating her dinner on her ceiling and wallpapering the floor. But what really did it for me is the song’s sing-along coda of “I’m a big fan/ Nicki Lighthouse/ You know that I am!” It’s a fun song to pull you out of whatever sort of funk you may be in, as most good Of Montreal songs do.

#39: “Tim, I Wish You Were Born a Girl” from the album, Cherry Peel (1997) – Of Montreal’s first album is kind of a mixed bag. There are some true gems, and others that just don’t do it for me at all. This song is one of the better tracks from that album. It really help set the whimsical, carefree tone that many of their later albums would take and was one of the first times that listeners had reason to question Kevin Barnes’ sexuality.

#38: “Let’s Go For a Walk” from the album, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – “Let’s Go For a Walk” is not nearly as wonderful by itself as it is in the context of the album that it is on. Coquelicot tells the story of a fairy-like creature of the same name who falls asleep and goes on many adventures with imaginary characters. This song wraps up the album beautifully as a heartbreaking goodbye to all of her friends that she has made. It is one of the most beautiful songs that Kevin Barnes has ever written. The instrumentation is simply gorgeous, and the minimal lyrics are welcomed over his usual SAT word-filled verses.

#37: “Rose Robert” from the album, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – Another one from Of Montreal’s 2001 concept album, this song tells the story of Rose Robert, a strange character with whom the narrator loves to cross-dress and “gurgle and squeak” rather than speak. It’s a zany song, even for this album (which mostly sounds like drug-induced circus music). Despite the claims of some that it’s far too silly, there’s actually a lot of cool guitar stuff going on in the right speaker, not to mention a beautiful piano solo and attractive vocal melody. This is one to sing along to when you’re taking a long trip home in the middle of the night. It keeps you awake. Trust me, I know.

#36: “Go Call You Mine” – from the album, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – This one only clocks in at 1:30, and yet it features probably more instruments than any other Of Montreal song. Kevin only sings for the last 30 seconds, leaving the first minute to be filled with one of the best instrumental performances on any Of Montreal album ever. It’s a difficult song to describe, so I’ll just let you listen to it. I hope you’ll agree that it deserves a spot on this list.

#35: “Disconnect the Dots” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – So the scene goes something like this. I hear a few Of Montreal songs on the internet (from The Gay Parade, specifically) and decide, “Wow, that’s really cool sounding. I think I’ll go buy that album!” So I head out to my local record store, only to find that The Gay Parade is out of print. Boo! I pick up Satanic Panic in the Attic instead, never having heard a song. I pop it into my vehicle on the ride home and “BLAM!” I am an instant Of Montreal fan. This lead-off track to that album hooked me right in with its catchy lyrics and sweet harmonies. It came completely unexpected to me as I was expecting a whole lot more folksy, circus music. What I got was an electronic pop masterpiece and one of my favorite albums of the last decade or so.

#34: “Doing Nothing” from the album, Aldhils Arboretum (2002) – Though I’m no expert on popular opinion, I believe that their 2002 album, Aldhils Arboretum, is generally considered to be the worst of the bunch. I heartily disagree, however, and find that even though it is not quite as solid as their best, it is far from their worst. Another lead-off track, “Doing Nothing” sounds a bit like the Friends theme song before cascading into a wonderful indie pop treat. Kevin’s lyrics are sing-along quality, as they usually are, but even more here than usual. Sure, the album is hit or miss, but this one will always give you a reason to pop in the ol’ CD player.

#33: “So Begins Our Alabee” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – Whereas Satanic Panic merely hinted at the electronic pop direction that Kevin Barnes would take Of Montreal in the future, it wasn’t until 2005 that fans actually found out what that would sound like: awesome. “So Begins Our Alabee” was the first track on The Sunlandic Twins that seemed to rely wholly on electronic instrumentation. Though there is some slight bass and electric guitar, the majority of this one is synth-based, with enough electronic drums and flutters to get anyone excited. A smart move by Kevin Barnes, as it made his then mostly-unknown band into one of the most-popular indie acts of the past few years. A T-Mobile commercial? Come on!

#32: “Sink the Seine” from the album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007) – Leave it to me to place this overlooked “filler” track from last year’s masterpiece on this list. The fact of the matter is that “Sink the Seine” remains one of the catchiest, most memorable tracks from Hissing Fauna. Not much else to say. I mean, it’s only a minute long.

#31: “Du Og Meg” from the album, Icons, Abstract Thee EP (2007) – Ahh yes. What would an Of Montreal list be without mention of at least some of there EP-only tracks? The simple truth is that if you’re only listening to the LPs, you’re missing out on a lot of great songs. Where most artist will place throwaways on an EP, Kevin Barnes focuses more on the good songs that just didn’t fit with the flow of his LPs. “Du Og Meg” is an absolutely fabulous track that takes Of Montreal back to its roots in that it tells a story of a couple characters. Of course, it’s no “Jaques Lamure,” but it’s still one of the band’s most infectious tracks. Worth mentioning, worth listing, worth listening to again and again.

#30: “I Was Never Young” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – When I first got my hands on The Sunlandic Twins back in 2005, I was excited to hear that the lead-off track “Requiem for O.M.M.2” showed a nice evolution of Of Montreal’s sound. It wasn’t until this song (track 2) that I realized that this was much more than an evolution, it was a revolution (oh yeah, I just went there). Caveman chants, mariachi trumpets, electronic drums…hell, this song has it all!

#29: “My Favorite Boxer” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – One of the many reasons why everyone should listen to The Gay Parade before calling themselves an Of Montreal fan, “My Favorite Boxer” is a charming, humorous story about a poor lad who idolizes a boxer named Hector Ormano. Feeling bad for someone has never been so joyous!

#28: “Eros’ Entropic Tundra” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – Leave it to Kevin Barnes to name a song “Eros’ Entropic Tundra” when the obvious and easy title would be “Sad Love” (yes, kiddies, that’s this song). This was one of the first times that I ever heard an Of Montreal be kind of sad, and I loved it. It’s heartfelt, earnest, and real which served as a nice break from all the necromancing and British tour diaries that overran the album. Of course, we would later get a whole heap of sad songs on Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? But in many ways, you never forget your first.

#27: “Penelope” from the album, Coquelecot Asleep In the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – Honestly, this is a really great song, thus explaining its spot on this list. But I fear that I might actually like Casper and the Cookies’ cover version better. I’m sure if Kevin Barnes had dreamt up the song in 2007 that he would have come up with something eerily similar to what those guys did. Still, the original flows much better and feels a whole lot less gimmicky.

#26: “She’s A Rejector” from the album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007) – As great as this song is, I never realized the full extent of its awesomeness until I saw the band perform it live in January of 2007. This is one of the few songs that I’ve ever heard sound better live than it does on the album. That’s not to detract from its greatness though, it’s a blast to listen to, sing along to, and freak out to at the right moments (“I CAN’T, I CAN’T, I CAN’T, I CAN’T!!”).

#25 – “Vegan in Furs” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – “Vegan in Furs” is probably the best album-ender in Of Montreal history. With a catchy melody, crazy guitars, and a sing-along quality coda (I think that’s the second time I’ve used that phrase in the last 48 hours), this song is undeniably awesome. It drips with Of Montreal’s trademark indie pop sound and Kevin Barnes’ usually strange lyricism. It reminds me of the good times before Of Montreal turned into a group that 15-year old girls can dance like skanks to. For that, this song makes it to #25.

#24 – “Butterscotching Mr. Lynn” from the album, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – At under 2 minutes long, it would be easy for many to overlook this great song. It perfectly captures Coquelicot’s whimsical feel while remaining sane enough (for the most part) for even the most casual of listeners to dig it entirely. Again, I do tend to get a little sentimental when I listen to old classics like this one. It’s so perfectly constructed, deep, and exciting, that it makes a fly beat and cool bass line seem like child’s play. Not to completely trash Of Montreal’s newer work, I love that stuff too. But there’s just something about songs like “Butterscotching Mr. Lynn” that absolutely does it for me!

#23 – “An Epistle to a Pathological Creep” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (Japanese Bonus Tracks) (2004) – It’s a little known song, sure, but it’s an absolute blast to hear. When I first got wind of it, I was in college, so Barnes’ rant about a guy who “speaks as if you should be taking notes” rang true with me. So many arrogant d-bags in college, and Kevin manages to nail every single one with his characterization of this pathological creep. Lovely! And because it’s so rare, I’ve uploaded it for your listening enjoyment.

#22 – “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – Ahh, the song that made Of Montreal into a household name. While it’s true that the Outback Steakhouse commercials really ruined hope of me every liking this song to the same degree that I did when I first heard it, nothing can erase the first time I popped The Sunlandic Twins into my CD player and jammed to this song on repeat. Hell, it was even on Cloverfield! Yes, my favorite little band has grown up and starred in T-Mobile commercials, mostly due to this song. Make no mistakes, it is a brilliant piece of pop music, and one that is oddly relatable.

#21 – “The Problem With April” from the album, Horse and Elephant Eatery (No Elephants Allowed) (2000) – This may or may not have been the first Of Montreal song that I ever heard, I can’t remember. But what is important is that it’s an amazing song that captures the heartbreak and hopelessness of being dumped, but does so with an amazingly upbeat, parade-march song. The lyrics are easily rememberable (Actual word? Spell check thinks so.) and easily some of Barnes’ catchiest to date. And hey, who doesn’t love New York in June? Besides radical Muslims…

#20: “The Actor’s Opprobrium” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins Bonus EP (2005) – If there was ever a reason to reach deep into that Sunlandic Twins case of yours and pull out the bonus EP that’s tucked away nicely, this song would be it. The story of a poor chap who is honored to star in the great master’s snuff film, only to find out that all blessings come with a consequence. The line of, “I want to be a star, but that’s going to far,” could probably be slapped on the t-shirt of every young hopeful out in Hollywood who wants to be taken seriously as an actor, but is probably more suited for pornography, or snuff as the case would be. Semantics, really.

#19: “Suffer for Fashion” from the album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007) – Of all the danceable songs that Of Montreal has made over the past 5 years, none fit the mold better than “Suffer for Fashion,” the lead-off track to their most recent album. The first time I heard it was at a show about a year before the album came out and – whoah – totally blown away. Keep that click clicking at 130 bpm, guys. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

#18: “Oslo in the Summertime” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – Containing what is arguably one of the catchiest, most endearing basslines of the last decade (at the very least), “Oslo in the Summertime” is the audible embodiment of “cool.” Linguistically, that may not make a lick of sense, but I think long time readers ought to be able to follow. The simple truth is that this song just makes you want to slick your hair back, throw on your shades and leather jacket, shove that comb in your back pocket and point at random people in tempo. Or maybe that’s just me. Either way…great song!

#17: “Lysergic Bliss” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – Let’s go back, once again, to right around the time that I first heard Of Montreal. Satanic Panic in the Attic was my very first album of theirs to own, and I bought it without ever hearing one of its songs (I was more familiar with The Gay Parade). So at the time, I still wasn’t completely sold on the band. But by the time this song came around (Track 2, I believe) I was completely sold! More specifically, it Kevin Barnes playing the role of dozens of schoolchildren and harmonizing with himself that sold me on the band. The rest is history. Boring, boring history.

#16: “Chrissy Kiss the Corpse” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – In 2004 I was driving back from the ghetto, where I had just received my first tattoo, and a friend was in the back seat – completely high if I recall correctly. Suddenly, this song starts playing on my stereo and I hear a faint voice from the back seat, “There’s soooooo much going on.” I turn around to see my tranquil friend wide-eyed in amazement. That’s what I think about every time I hear this song. Strange sure, but I always love how we can connect certain songs to different moments or times in our lives. That’s the magic of music, I suppose.

#15: “Old Familiar Way” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – Once again, I’m having fond memories of some of the first Of Montreal songs that I ever heard. This lead-off track to The Gay Parade deals with being bored with everyday life. Stuff that used to amaze you now leaves you wanting more, the life you live leave you unfulfilled. It’s the perfect setup to the zany world of The Gay Parade, with a cast of characters so expansive that you loose yourself in it and forget about your world entirely.

#14: “Nickee Coco and the Invisible Tree” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – There’s something so intensely magical and unforgettable about this song. No matter how many times I listen to it, I’m completely captivated by the story of a young girl who climbs up an invisible tree, falls asleep, and disappears. As the townspeople rally together to locate her whereabouts an owl flies by and spots young Nickee Coco, eventually leading to her discovery by friends and family. The final chorus is emphatic and celebratory, and it gets me every time. “We love you Nickee Coco/ We were so sad when we thought we lost you!” I still get goosebumps.

#13: “The Miniature Philosopher” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – I’m really on quite the Gay Parade kick here aren’t I? Hey, it’s an awesome record! Can you blame me? This song is one of the more charming tracks from that album, about a tiny philosopher whom nobody takes seriously due to his short stature. It’s a bit sad to hear about his continual failures in philosophy and how he continues his quest to become famous, but then again, who doesn’t enjoy hearing about the woes of pompous, precocious philosophers?

#12: “Voltaic Crusher/Undrum to Muted Da” from the album, Icons, Abstract Thee EP (2007) – While not the longest or most inventive song in the Of Montreal catalogue, Kevin Barnes’ depressing and self-depreciating break-up song is definitely one of the catchiest. The simple line of “You gave me a hand/I gave you a fist/Please don’t lose any sleep over me, baby/I hardly exist” has been stuck in my head so many times over the last year, that it’s getting to be quite ridiculous.

#11: “Good Morning, Mr. Edminton” from the album, Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse (2001) – The lead-off track to Of Montreal’s weirdest album to date also happens to be the most enjoyable song to sing along with – definitely in their collection, but maybe ever! Countless hours I have wasted singing “Tip toe down the spiral stairs and just before the cellar door you’ll see a picture of a juggler. Touch his nose and that will open up the secret corridor. Take the ladder at the end up to the street and run as fast as you can!” Grab a friend and make them sing harmony. Trust me. It doesn’t get any better than this.

#10: “Fun Loving Nun” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – It’s a sad day in the world when people no longer listen to music and smile.  So much of the music that infiltrates the lives of young people today is “hard” and “edgy,” and kids try to relate to that without realizing that the purpose of music has always been to entertain.  But I shudder to think of someone hearing “Fun Loving Nun” and not smiling.  1.)  I doubt it’s possible, and 2.) if it is possible, the person in question might be getting brutally murdered.  That’s the only thing I can think of that would keep me from not smiling when hearing this one.

#9:  “Requiem for O.M.M.2” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – The lead-off track to Of Montreal’s breakthrough album has everything that I love about the band:  a catchy melody, an infectious groove, and roots in 60s pop music.  Those two chords before Kevin sings, “I never ever stopped wondering,” just make me want to air guitar so hard.  Only thing is, it would be a pretty lame air guitar session, what with just two mediocre arm movements.  So I refrain.  But you have to admit, that’s a pretty catchy guitar part.

#8:  “Don’t Ask Me to Explain” from the album, Cherry Peel (1997) – There’s a line in this song that has had me since the very first time I heard it.  It goes, “I’d like to marry all of my close friends/ Live in a big house together by an angry sea,” and I always thought that was a perfect image.  Life is so complicated, so complex, but this line makes you imagine a much simpler existence.  Back in the day when I first heard it, it seemed like a pretty good idea.  These days I’m more content to live on some private compound where we each have houses and families.  A little strange, sure, but things could definitely be worse.

#7:  “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” from the album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007) – “Heimdalsgate” is the perfect example of what Kevin Barnes is absolutely brilliant at, namely taking a serious subject matter and turning into an infectious pop song that you simply can’t shake.  Who would’ve ever thought they’d be jumping up and down at a rock show yelling “Come on chemica-uh-uh-uh-uh-als?”  That’s what made Hissing Fauna such an amazing record, the fact that it could tackle such downer material but still be one of the year’s best pop records.  Who else could do that?

#6:  “My British Tour Diary” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – This is an amazingly fun song to sing to, especially when those “eee” harmonies kick in.  It’s got everything you could want in a song; British jokes, a catchy melody, bitchin’ guitars, amazing harmonies, a Gary Glitter reference, and about 5 seconds of “the most truly repelling techno music ever made.”  Classic Of Montreal – funny, catchy, and musically impressive.

#5:  “Faberge Falls for Shuggie” from the album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007) – Take note, those of you haven’t heard Skeletal Lamping yet.  If you didn’t like this song from Of Montreal’s 2007 masterpiece, you will probably have a tough time adjusting to the new stuff.  Barnes’ transformation into Georgie Fruit on Hissing Fauna was shocking and a great change of pace, on Skeletal Lamping it’s a force to be reckoned with.  The thing I love about this song is all the different things going on, all the different movements that it contains, the wide array of things that Barnes does with his voice, with the instrumentation, with the programming.  It’s simply a stunning example of the heights that Barnes is capable of attaining.

#4:  “Jacques Lamure” from the album, The Gay Parade (1999) – Barnes’ story of a volunteer firefighter with rotten luck is easily the most charming song he’s ever written.  In just a few minutes, you’re introduced to a character, sympathize with him, fall in love with him, and celebrate with him as he breaks free from the shackles of his small town.  It’s storytelling at its absolute best, and the fact that its a pop song makes it all the more impressive.  

#3:  “The Party’s Crashing Us Now” from the album, The Sunlandic Twins (2005) – Admit it, you memorized the claps to “The Party’s Crashing Us Now” and you clap along with it almost every time you hear it.  You sing along with the melodies and the harmonies.  You question what the “elevator trick” is, and you have no idea what two black wizards would look like when making love, but you’d love to find out.  I’m right there with you, friend.

#2:  “Jennifer Louise” from the album, Aldhils Arboretum (2002) – It never fails.  Each time I go to an Of Montreal show, I desperately wait for the band to start playing this quaint little song from possibly their least-admired album and they always disappoint me.  It has yet to happen, and I totally get it.  Why play a song to an album that no one bought, that none of your new-found fans want to hear?  It makes sense.  I just wish it didn’t.  “Jennifer Louise” easily made it into the Top 5 for a very good reason, and that’s because it’s simply too wonderful to not honor in such a way.  Now if only the band would do it the honor of playing it the next time they stroll through town. (Note to the band:  If you happen to google yourself and stumble upon this post, know that the town I’d like you to play it in is Houston, TX.  You’re scheduled to stroll through on November 12, 2008 and it’d be a treat if you played this song.  Also, “Fun Loving Nun” would probably be pretty bitchin’ as well.)

#1:  “Rapture Rapes the Muses” from the album, Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004) – I’ve yet to show this song to a person who has not fallen under its spell of awesomeness.  My sister who despises most of the music that I listen to became an Of Montreal fan by hearing this song, my friend who swears off of indie music entirely has made an exception for Of Montreal – you guessed it – because of this song.  Personally, I was already hooked on Of Montreal before I ever came across this gem of a song.  However, it was this one song that sealed the deal, that made them my favorite band.  Who would’ve thought singing “La la la” could be so much fun?  And to me, that’s what Of Montreal has always been about; finding fun in unsuspecting places.  

—————————-

That concludes this very long, and according to some, tedious list.  Thank you for taking the time to read it, and don’t forget to buy a copy of Skeletal Lamping when it releases on October 7, 2008.

Perfect Summer Soundtrack – Week 12

Well what do you know? It seems like only yesterday that I birthed this silly summer feature called the “Perfect Summer Soundtrack.” But alas the fruit of my loins must emerge from it’s nest and soar the autumn skies as a distant, though fond memory.

The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist

One might argue that I’ve spent too much time on the road trip this summer. While true in some regards (every album featured has been a particularly great road trip album), I’d like to offer a counter-point in that most memorable summer activities – be they vacations, trips to the beach, the lake, or a water park – involve hopping in the car and taking a drive. Certainly there aren’t many who read this blog that would engage in such an activity only to pop in Meshuggah or Mastodon to accompany their trip. Therefore, I’ve continually tried to offer up what I consider to be great drive-time records, filled with songs that somehow seem better when you’re behind the wheel.

This week’s playlist is not only the last of this series, but perhaps the last I’ll do for Audio Overflow, what with my imminent departure less than a week away. So I wanted to give you all something a bit special, in this case a multiple hour playlist (assuming imeem plays nice with all the 30-second samples) that is meant to be listened to behind the wheel. Is it worth going to your wireless provider, purchasing a laptop connect card, and hooking that laptop up to your car stereo for? Maybe. At the very least, it’s worth listening to at your work desk, or at home when you’ve got nothing better to do. Maybe you’ll find something that you’ve never heard, forgot about, or always liked but never bought. Maybe hearing it on this playlist will make you want to rush out and buy that to add to your own custom road trip playlist. I don’t know how you roll. What I do know is, for me, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Click HERE to view Weeks 1-11 of this 12-week series.