The Top 15 Albums of 2009

#15. Tegan and Sara: Sainthood – Tegan and Sara’s best album is still 2007’s The Con. I doubt many people in the know would argue this point. Still, Sainthood does have its moments; like the punk rock influenced “Northshore,” or the delightfully catchy “Alligator.” I’m still not sure what “Alligator Tears” are, but I can manage without. Look, the bottom line – whether you like Tegan and Sara or not – is that Sainthood beat out a lot of great albums to make it to this list. Respect.

#14. Muse: The Resistance – Seems as if Muse peaked way back on 2003’s Absolution, because every subsequent album has been worse than the one before it. That’s not to say that The Resistance is awful; it’s just the band’s worst. Somewhere along the line the band fancied themselves a poor-man’s U2 and decided to write songs almost exclusively about conspiracy theories and government coercion. Small doses, guys. Small doses. While The Resistance does suffer much from the weight of its own bullshit, it’s still the best mainstream rock album of the year. Easily.

#13. Headlights: Wildlife – Headlight’s second album was a critical success even though I found it miles behind their debut. On their third album, Wildlife, the Champagne, Illinois trio recaptures the charm of Kill Them With Kindness while staying true to the sound that they established on Some Racing, Some Stopping. Sticking with the lo-fi, indie pop/rock mood, Wildlife is a definite improvement and shows the band maturing into their own unique sound.

#12. Julian Casablancas: Phrazes for the Young – Even though the second half of this album drops off in quality, the first half more than makes up for it. Casablancas has always been a great vocalist and songwriter, and Phrazes for the Young is the perfect outlet for his creative talents. I totally dig the heavy-handed synth stylings of this album, as well as his ability to blend that with his staple rock sound. It’s definitely not an album for everybody, but surely every will find at least one song that they can admit to liking.

#11. Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk – If there is one piece of criticism that I could level on this album, it would be that there are just too many songs on it. Most of those songs, mind you, are great, but as an album, the whole thing simply falters under the weight of its own aspirations. “Dear God,” “Say Please,” and “Man Named Truth” are all instant classics in the indie world, and whether or not these guys ever get together again is irrelevant. They did it once, and it worked. For that, they deserve a bunch of credit.

#10. Clues: Clues – Clues’ debut is a strange thing. Some songs, like “Remember Severed Head” or “Ledmonton” are instantly catchy, and accessible. And then there are other songs that seem to be purposefully difficult (“In the Dream”). It’s not the easiest thing to sit down and listen to, but I’m glad I did; because after I got over the weirdness and difficulty of songs like “Perfect Fit” I discovered that Clues is actually one hell of an album, especially for a debut! No, I’m still not sure why “Remember Severed Head’s” lyrics are recycled on “Cave Mouth,” but I also don’t care. Both songs are awesome! Just like the album, itself.

#9. Passion Pit: Manners – Passion Pit’s debut LP is a hit or miss affair, for sure. One good song, one bad, two good, one bad, etc…The great thing about Manners is that the good songs completely negate the few that are a little rough around the edges. By this point, I’ve already named “Little Secrets” as my favorite song of 2009, but there are other great tracks on here as well. “Let Your Love Grow Tall,” “Eyes as Candles,” and “The Reeling” stand out as some flat out amazing tunes. If it weren’t for the few duds, this would easily be a Top fiver.

#8. The Bird and the Bee: Ray Guns are Not Just the Future – B&B’s debut wasn’t all my friends made it out to be. With that in mind, I reluctantly checked out Ray Guns and was surprised by how awesome it is. I seriously jammed out to “Love Letter to Japan” for weeks before I decided to move on to something else. I’m a dude, people. That’s something! Beyond that though, Ray Guns is stacked full of great tunes that don’t get old, and other songs that reveal their greatness over time. If you haven’t checked this one out yet, do yourself a favor and snag a copy. You won’t regret it!

#7. Discovery: LP – LP sure has its flaws. But as difficult as it can be, it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s a quaint little record filled to the brim with relentlessly catchy songs. The only one that really doesn’t do a thing for me is “Carby,” but hey, it’s not really all that difficult to hit the skip button is it? This one got ripped pretty hard by the critics, and I can see their collective point despite my obvious affection for it. It’s a download first, buy later, for sure. Just be sure to give it a fair shot. You may be surprised.

#6. St. Vincent: Actor – Is there any denying that Annie Clark is one of music’s most-talented females? Besides the fact that she’s making some of the most inventive and awesome songs out there, she’s also doing so with a grace and style that is completely unique to her. While I still feel that her debut has more staying power than Actor, her 2009 follow-up still packs one hell of a punch. I’ve been re-listening to it for the past week now and, whoah, it’s just fantastic! St. Vincent is officially my favorite female artist at the moment, and Actor is officially the best female album of 2009!

#5. The Flaming Lips: Embryonic – When Embryonic came out, it quickly made it to the top (#1) spot on my Most Disappointing Albums list. How it made its way up to the #5 album of the year is a long, strange tale. Well, not really. Essentially it boils down to this: I kept listening to it. My first 2 times through I was completely dumfounded and upset that it didn’t sound like any of their last 3 records. I was pissed, to be honest. As I kept listening, however, I eventually set aside my preconceived ideas about what a Flaming Lips album should sound like. It was only then that Embryonic revealed itself as an amazingly complex and meaningful album. Wayne Coyne has seemingly let the darkness creep over him, and it shows in both his lyrics and the musical compositions that surround them. I can understand why people would be turned off by this album, really. But I’m glad I decided to tough it out and figure it out. It truly is one of the year’s best.

#4. Wallpaper: Doodoo Face – I got my hands on Wallpaper’s T-Rex EP in the summer of 2008. I was still listening to it in the summer of 2009, right around the time I found out that Ricky Reed was releasing a full-length album. I was pumped. I spread the word – the Gospel of Wallpaper , if you will – to all my friends, and played for them the songs I had. By the time Doodoo Face came out, I was set up for disappointment. But Wallpaper didn’t disappoint; in fact, they exceeded my expectations! I was expecting another synth-heavy, collection of short ‘n sweet pop songs. I got the heavy synths alright, but the saxophones, trumpets, female vocals, and funk influences came as a complete surprise. Doodoo Face sounds like a silly album, and at times it can be. But it’s also one of the most impressive debuts of recent-memory, and something that I’ll be listening to until the next LP drops!

#3. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca – Most albums that I listen to take time for me to get into. This is true for pretty much every album on this list, with the exception of a few. One of those exceptions is Bitte Orca. This album was my first run-in with Dirty Projectors after reading about the band for some time. I was instantly captivated by all the things going on at any given moment. Even now, I’m still amazed by some of the harmonies and guitar riffs that seem too complex to be written, but too perfect to be improvised. It is a very impressive album, and probably the one I’ve listed to with the most consistency since its release. Is it one of the best of 2009? Easily. It can also be considered for one of the best of the decade!

#2. The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love – Forget the mixed reviews and the haters! The Hazards of Love is a beautiful and affecting piece of art. If there’s any knock against it, it’s that it can’t really be listened to one song at a time. It’s something that must be digested as a whole. That’s important, because in an era when much of the music industry seems to be about the single, Colin Meloy & Co. have created the exact opposite! When it is experienced as it is meant to be, you’d be hard-pressed to find an album more poetic, more astounding, or more poignant in 2009!

#1. Loney, Dear:  Dear John – In 2007, Loney, Dear’s Emil released his U.S. debut, Loney, Noir to much acclaim. It was this blog’s #4 album of that year, and I was still listening to it when Dear John released early this year. Dear John is one hell of an album! Every song helps to create an atmosphere of doubt, regret, and depression that is both haunting and refreshing. Even the album’s more upbeat tracks are tinged with the sentiments that make the rest of the album so dark. Hopefulness, an idea that was prevalent on his last record, has largely been dismissed on Dear John, and while I’m normally a guy who is into pop music (see the rest of this list), there is something about Emil’s music that speaks to me as an individual.

Dear John is more than just the best album of 2009, it is one of the best male solo albums of the last decade; easily comparable up against Sufjan Sevens’ or Conor Oberst’s best work. Loney, Dear doesn’t get the same kind of press coverage as those two dudes, and it’s a shame, because when it comes to writing powerful, deep, meaningful songs, he blows Sufjan out of the water and gives Oberst a run for his money. Without question, Dear John is the #1 album of 2009. It is a perfect record, and one that I will never take for granted.

Best of 2009: Top 5 Album Covers

To many people, the album cover is non-essential.  It’s simply another barrier between the music and the listener.  For me, however, it’s a necessary part of the experience.  That’s a large reason why I still buy into physical formats.  Having art in your hands makes your $15 purchase seem a lot more worth it, than paying $10 for a digital copy of some music and a JPEG.  With that in mind, here are 5 album covers that really helped me do my part in saving physical media in 2009.

#5. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca – When I first held Bitte Orca in my hands and looked at the album cover, I was intrigued. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Here you have two women and colored splotches of paint. Okay. I didn’t get it. Hell, I still don’t get it. But I stayed there and looked at it for a few minutes. Occasionally I still open the image up in iTunes just to look at a larger version of it. It’s nothing fancy, and it’s nothing special, but I like it. I can’t explain it any differently.

#4. St. Vincent: Actor – Annie Clark’s album cover for Marry Me was kind of funny, whether that was intentional or not. She totally ugged it up for that image, and I loved it. Then Actor comes along and rather than get a timid mess of a mental hospital patient, we get a lovely young woman, seemingly wide-eyed and innocent. “Hopeful” is probably the best way to describe her gaze. It’s a nice image, with interesting color choices.

#3. Muse: The Resistance – Okay….so there’s a dude on a Billie Jean floor in outer space, surrounded by a hexagonal rainbow vortex that leads to earth? I’m sold! Seriously though, say want you want about Muse’s latest album, you have to admit that when stacked against their most recent two covers, this one is pretty sweet. For one, there’s not a picture of random humans sitting at a table in the desert. Secondly, the colors! Oooh….pretty!

#2. Wallpaper: Doodoo Face – If you had doubts about whether or not Wallpaper. was more of a light-hearted side project than an album from an artist that takes his work too seriously, this image should put them to rest. Doodoo Face has one of the best album covers of the year because it pretty much sums up exactly what to expect when you press play. What you expect is “that guy” doing all sorts of musical nonsense. And that’s pretty much what you get.

#1. The Flaming Lips: Embryonic – I first saw this image long before Embryonic came out, or leaked, and my thought then is exactly what it is now: what the hell am I looking at?!?!? Okay, it’s a face that’s being pulled out of an upside down ripped open face….or is it being pushed in? Why is her tongue behind her teeth like that? Have you tried that? It’s not a natural thing to do with your tongue. Random scribbles? Huh? People, I don’t have an answer to any of these questions. What I do know is that this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in my life. If they had a full-size art print of it, I’d frame it and hang it up. Maybe they do have one…I’m going to check on that.

Stream the New Flaming Lips Album, Courtesy of Stephen Colbert

If you missed last night’s Colbert Report like I did (strict 9:30 pm bedtime policy), then you missed a rousing performance of the song “Convinced of the Hex” from their upcoming album, Embryonic.  Never fear though, because I’ve embeded the video below for your viewing pleasure.

<td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'The Flaming Lips – Convinced of the Hex

The Colbert Report	Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
www.colbertnation.com
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In addition, you can stream Embryonic in its entirety directly from colbertnation.com RIGHT NOW!  Personally, I’m abstaining from listening to it until I can get a copy of the album in my hands.  The digital age has made record releases much less of a big deal than they used to be (with leaks and streams, etc.), and a new Flaming Lips album is, to me, a big freakin’ deal!  There’s nothing like walking anxiously to your car from the record store with a fresh CD in your hands, getting to your car and ripping the shrinkwrap off, and then basking in (what is hopefully) the glory of a fantastic album!

But if none of that matters to you…head on over to colbertnation.com and check it out.  Embryonic releases to stores on October 13, 2009.

Moods – Introspective

Hey, what is this feature?  Oh, it’s Moods, the feature where I pick a specific mood and then build a playlist off of that.  Nice!  I almost forgot it existed.

Ever get in one of those moods where you just have to sit back and self-evaluate; where you sit back and ask yourself those really deep questions that you try to avoid most of the time?  That, friends, is called “introspection” or “the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional process.”  It can be quite helpful in determining who you are, who you want to become, and what you want out of life.  

But introspection has it’s drawbacks too.  For example, I don’t think a person is capable of being introspective when an *Nsync song is playing in the background.  You’ll either a.) start dancing and singing along (guilty), or b.) jump up to turn that shite down!  Either way, you’re getting out of the zone.  To stay in the zone, I usually require a song with no words – an instrumental.  That way,  I’m not distracted by catchy hooks or someone else’s introspective thoughts.

So with that in mind – you guessed it – here’s a playlist of instrumental songs that should keep you in that introspective mood long enough to figure out why exactly you’re still dating that rather annoying, though inexplicably hot girl that you just can’t stand, or why you constantly feel the need to be the center of attention.  Deep stuff, people. Don’t screw it up!

Perfect Summer Soundtrack – Week 2

In our continued mission to give you, the reader, something good to listen to in almost any situation or mood, we have been kind enough to begin our Perfect Summer Soundtrack feature.  Every week, we’ll give you music to get you through all of your summer activities, be they tame, exciting, or somewhere in between.  We always have you covered!  You should know that by now.

The Picnic Playlist

Quite the conundrum we have here, ladies and gentlemen.  For as great as picnics are, there’s almost so way to take your computer to the park with you to jam on this playlist; unless, of course, you live in one of the handful of cities with municipal wi-fi.  In which case, lucky you.  But assuming you don’t, you’ll have to either resort to downloading (be it illegal or iTunes…I won’t judge) or spending a ridiculous wad of cash getting all these songs together.  Personally, I’d opt for the downloading route.

So without any further ado, I give you the picnic playlist; a collection of 20 songs that will make even the most mundane, bologna sandwich taste like a bitching Quizno’s Black Angus sub!*  And if you’re lucky, and happen to be going on a picnic with a member of the opposite sex, you might as well go ahead and pack some rubs.  This playlist will totally get you laid.**  Enjoy!

*Results not typical.
**Results extremely typical.

Week 1 – Rooney’s Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)

Moods – Frenetic

I’m doing this week’s Moods all Jill style.  That includes a definition.  That’s what makes it awesome!

Frenetic – adj. – fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

So if you just so happen to be in a frenetic mood today, here’s a playlist to make sure you stay that way.  Each song has its wild and uncontrolled moments, and each is sure to please.  So enjoy this playlist, person.  I worked hard on it.  Kinda.

Frenetic

Moods – Horny

Oh yeah.  I’m totally going there.  Let’s face it folks, sometimes you just want to hear some sexy music to play during your sexy times.  So I’ve created a playlist of songs that could all be considered “sexy” (with the exception of song #2, which is just flat out inappropriate).  The next time your lady or man gets that look in their eye, say, “Hold that thought,” run to your computer, pull up this post and turn those speakers up!  Or if you want to add a little something to spice up all that boring internet porn, this should also do the trick.  Oh yeah.  I totally went there.

My Top 5 Customized Ringtones

I swear there’s nothing worse than hearing a bad ringtone.  And it’s not even the polyphonic ones that suck nowadays (remember when monophonic ringtones were around?).  No, the ringtones that really bother me are the ones that are the phone-owner’s personal favorite songs.  A few weeks ago I was out with some friends.  This girl’s phone started ringing and we were all unwillingly forced to listen to “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna through a terrible cell phone speaker.  

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of listening to bad music through a bad source.  That’s why I make sure that every cell phone I buy allows me to import my own custom MP3s to use as ringtones.  That way I’m able to take my favorite songs by my favorite artists, and use short clips that I know will sound decent when someone calls in.  I try to make them pretty unidentifiable and vague.  No lyrics, nothing obnoxious; just good sounds.  Here are my Top 5 Customized Ringtones.  Feel free to add them to your phone as well.

#5:  Beck – “Girl” (0:01 to 0:012) – If you can ever find bloops and bleeps that are not overpowered by heavy drums or vocals, chances are it’d make a good ringtone.  The electronic intro to Beck’s song “Girl” from the album, Guero, is pretty much begging to be a ring tone.  It won’t sound good looped, but hopefully you’ll pick up after 12 seconds.  Otherwise, you’re probably not worth calling to begin with.

#4:  The Flaming Lips – “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1” (0:01 to 0:24) – This is another intro to another great song, and if you’re at all familiar with this song you know the part I’m talking apart.  There’s a really cool acoustic guitar rhythm with some great effects added to it.  About halfway through this section, some slight drums kick in and there’s even some Japanese being spoken.  I had this one as my ringtone for a while and people totally thought I was the bomb at the waiting room in the Doctor’s Office.  Just sayin’…

#3:  The Postal Service – “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” (2:43 to 3:07) – During the instrumental bridge to this classic opener from The Postal Service’s album, Give Up, there’s a very catchy little “ditty” that begins playing.  That’s what this is.  This one has been on every phone I’ve had since 2004 and I don’t anticipate taking it off anytime soon.  The trick is to add a short, half-second fade-in at the very beginning.  That way, everything sounds flawless.

#2:  Field Music – “Working to Work” (0:01 to 0:16) – In March of 2007, I purchased a Samsung BlackJack and immediately went about looking for a new ringtone.  I landed on this one, which I’ve kept ever since.  This happy little acoustic guitar jingle is perfect for a ringtone because it’s very clean-sounding and there’s a slight pause at the end of the 16 seconds so you won’t have to do any strenuous editing.  The only downside is that you don’t get to hear the rest of the song…which is awesome.

#1:  The Postal Service – “Brand New Colony” (0:02 to 0:07) – If you know The Postal Service, you know this song.  If you know this song, then you know the little synth line that begins at the beginning of this song by heart.  This short, sub 5-second clip is not ideal for a standard ringtone, but I’ve used it for text message and voice mail alerts for years now.  I don’t know what I’d do without it!  It’s short, sweet, and totally awesome.  Plus, if you happen to be within earshot of an attractive Postal Service fan, this one’s pretty much the best ice breaker ever.  Too bad that never happens.  *sigh*

The Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums (Albums 15-11)

#15 – The Cure: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Jill says: “Quite simply, the lyrics of track 16, “A Thousand Hours”: ‘A thousand wasted hours a day/Just to feel my heart for a second/A thousand hours just thrown away/Just to feel my heart for a second…'”

#14 – New Order: Substance (1987)
Jill says: “I could write volumes about New Order. I could write a novel about this album. I have every single New Order and Joy Division album there is to have. I have it on cd, I have it on vinyl, I have it on rare, very expensive bootleg vinyle. I paid an exorbiant amount to see them live. It’s dark, it’s deep, it’s dirty, it’s clever in it’s hidden messages. I am not a “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle” kind of girl. To find me on that album, you have to look elsewhere: “Everything’s Gone Green”, “Thieves Like Us”, “Procession”, “1963”, and the song that ranks 2nd on my list of all time favorite songs, “Perfect Kiss”.”

#13 – The Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics (2006)

Cale says: “The Flaming Lips have a career that spans the life and death of several genres. 80s metal, hair bands, new wave, grunge rock; the list goes on and on. Through it all, the band has remained true to their psychedelic rock roots while remaining as innovative and entertaining as ever. They experienced sort of a rebirth in the late 1990s and since then have created some of their strongest albums ever. In my opinion, it is their most recent album, At War With the Mystics, that tops them all! Every second of this album is breathtaking, filled with such dense compositions that you’re bound to catch new things you’ve never heard before with almost every listen! It is an amazing achievement for any band, much less a band that’s been around for over two decades.

#12 – Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
Jill says: “Honestly, don’t dismiss Tears for Fears the way I did for so long. “Shout” is the most recognizable but not the best track. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is fantastic but it’s “Head Over Heels/Broken” that is the true gem. It’s a live track but that doesn’t take away from the simple genius of it. I used to not like Tears for Fears, but the older I get, the more I realize they are truly quiet a talented pair.”

Cale says: “I don’t think there has ever been an album cover that screams “Alternative Rock!” more than this one. And who could argue with the fact that “Shout” is the most rockin’ song this side of Metallica? Only a fool, friends. Only a fool.”

#11 – Depeche Mode: Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
Jill says: “It is one of the few albums I will listen to from beginning to end without skipping over anything. “Walking In My Shoes” is by far my favorite, “In Your Room” is so sexy it makes me blush, and “Higher Love” just makes me want to start the entire thing over again.”

Erin says: “Depeche Mode never gets old and neither does Songs of Faith. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be singing these songs when I’m well into my twilight years, but hey, they’re that good.”

The Top 5 Live Acts I’ve Ever Seen!

For the most part, there are a lot of awesome artists that I need to see live; Radiohead, The Decemberists, Joanna Newsom, Bright Eyes, you know, stuff like that. That’s the biggest problem with living in Houston (aside from, say, the traffic), even though it’s the 4th largest city in the nation, it’s a crap music city! As such, a lot of the better indie acts avoid it like the plague. It’s not all doom and gloom though. I can still get out there and see a show and enjoy myself, and then go on to make a list based on my experience. That’s why I’m bringing this list to you today. Please enjoy the Top 5 Live Acts I’ve Ever Seen!

#5: The Shins – Generally speaking, The Shins aren’t the most entertaining bands to watch. They don’t writhe on the floor in extended rock-out sessions or wear funny costumes, nor do they have zany homade instruments and confetti cannons. What makes them such a great live act is the fact that they sound almost exactly like they do on their albums, if not better! Everything you could ever hope for in a Shins show is pretty much given to you without question. Let’s face it, when you go to a Shins show, you don’t want a bunch of distractions. You just want to jam to their music and have it be perfect. And it is! That’s why they made it to #5 on my list. Read a review of my Shins show experience here.

#4: Of Montreal – I’ve seen Of Montreal twice already, and if I didn’t have to work tonight I’d be seeing them again (they’re playing in Houston again). What makes Of Montreal such a great live band really lies in trial and error I would assume. The band spends probably about 85% of any given year on the road, bringing their indie pop masterpieces to the fans. So you’d have to think that the reason they’re so good live is because they do it enough to to know what works and what doesn’t. One thing is for sure, Kevin Barnes and Co. know how to get the crowd pumped. Sometimes that means just playing really well, other times that means performing in the nude. Of Montreal will do whatever it takes to get you moving and enjoying their songs, including selling their song to Outback Steakhouse. That kind of devotion to the fans really comes through in a live setting. Read a review of one of my Of Montreal show experiences here.

#3: The New Pornographers – I’ve been thinking about doing this list for awhile, but I had to wait until today to do it. The reason for that is because I just saw The New Pornographers last night for the first time, and I had a pretty good idea that this list would be incomplete without them. Turns out I was right! The New Pornographers put on one of the most flawless shows I’ve ever seen last night, complete with driving energy, flawless harmonies, and even a few surprising moments courtesy of Dan Bejar. I have a pretty good feeling that I may have been the only person at the show last night that would put them so high up on my list, but my expecations for the band were huge and they delivered well above what I expected. The band didn’t spend a lot of time mingling with the crowd, but they didn’t have a lot of time to. They used what time they had wisely, playing their strongest songs from their best albums. It was awesome and I’ll definitely be in the front row they next time they swing by. Read a review of my New Pornographers show experience here.

#2: Sufjan Stevens – When it comes to delivering a flawless musical experience in a live setting, no one I’ve seen has done it better than Sufjan Stevens. When he came to Dallas last year, he brought along a mini orchestra and his usual pack of noisemakers to deliver one of the most awe-inspiring nights of my life! Every note he played on piano, banjo, or guitar was perfect and his voice was just as flawless! He seems a bit awkward on stage, like he doesn’t know why he’s there but he’s going with the flow anyways. Of course, when you’re wearing plastic eagle wings on your back, that might just be an expected side-effect. Add in the fact that Shara Worden was there lending a helping hand and just being adorable, and you have an amazing show! I’ve already said that the next time he comes around that I’m scooping up tickets for everyone I know, but I may take it a step further and buy them for complete strangers as well. It’s that important. Read a poorly-written review of my Sufjan show experience here.

#1: The Flaming Lips – At this point, I’m not entirely sure that anything short of a Radiohead concert could top my experience seeing The Flaming Lips just over a month ago. Wayne Coyne can’t really carry a tune all that well, but for every missed, cracked note that came from his mouth there were about 30 giant balloons and 800 pounds of confetti. The Lips sure know how to put on a show! From the first note they played to the time they walked off the stage, I was never bored, I never even wanted to leave (a rare thing for me). Every moment, every second was exciting and enthralling. The band really knows how to connect to their fans too, as Wayne would stop and just talk to us for a few minutes in between songs or lead us in explicative cheers! It was the absolute best show I’ve ever seen, without question. Make it a point to see them if you have the chance. There’s no way you’ll regret it! Read about my Flaming Lips show experience here.