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.   

The Top 31 Albums of 2008 (Pt. 3)

Albums 31-21

Albums 20-11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Top 31 Songs of 2008

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

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

#30: “The Score” by Chris Walla

#29: “Boracay” by The Little Ones

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

#27: “White Composition” by Darker My Love

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

#25: “Crisis 1 & 2” by The Dears

#24: “Walking” by The Dodos

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

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

#21: “Souled Out!!!” by Conor Oberst

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

#19: “Cath…” by Death Cab for Cutie

#18: “Get-Well Cards” by Conor Oberst

#17: “Kill the Director” by The Wombats

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

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

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

#13: “Id Engager” by Of Montreal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go ahead and enjoy that tense anticipation.  

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!

Video of the Week – Week 76

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Vampire Weekend – “Oxford Comma” from the self-titled debut.

The Top 5 Songs of 2008 (Well…So Far)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vampire Weekend: "Vampire Weekend"

In today’s vastly uninteresting music world, it has become increasingly difficult to find an artist that is truly unique. Too many artists out there sound exactly like some other artist who excels , or has excelled in the same genre. Vampire Weekend is not one of those bands. Though there are several instances where one could say “Ooh that sounds like –insert artist–,” it’s always a very small detail that never overrides their own unique style of music. To be honest, I’ve never heard a band that sounds quite like Vampire Weekend. That alone should be enough reason for you, the skeptical reader, to give them an open ear. If, however, you find yourself needing further convincing, keep reading.

The album’s first track “Mansard Roof” is one of my personal favorites. Ezra Koenig’s smooth vocals really make this song what it is. His infecting melody rides weightlessly over some contrastingly harsher instrumentation (fast, simple drumming, manic, though simple electric guitars, and a prominent organ-synth). There are also some small flute appearances and a delicately played violin that adds some nice depth. It all sounds very Caribbean to me, though the genre that the band is often associated with, “afro-pop,” is also a very appropriate assessment. “Oxford Comma” takes similar instrumentation but has a more traditional indie rock sound, particularly in the chorus. Koenig sounds convincingly like Britt Daniels of Spoon when he questions, “Why would you lie ’bout something dumb like that? Why would you lie ’bout anything at all,” which isn’t a bad thing.

“A-Punk” is perhaps the most appropriate title on Vampire Weekend, as it shamelessly wears its punk influence on its (imaginary) sleeve. When the band shouts, “Ay ay ay ay” over a sprinting bass line and frantic drumming, I had to remind myself that I wasn’t listening to The Ramones. Really (not really…but almost). “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” sets aside the punk sound for what is my favorite song on the album, and the one that helped launch the band’s career. Here is where the afro-pop label is most appropriate (the term “kwassa kwassa” actually refers to an African dance rhythm). Djimbes and congas take over most of the percussion work here, though shakers and a cymbal are also used periodically. Koenig swoons “As a young girl, Louis Vuitton with your mother on a sandy lawn. As a sophomore with reggaeton and the linens you’re sitting on,” over a repetitive, yet completely endearing guitar riff. In the wordless bridge, some sweet falsetto harmonies are utilized brilliantly to create a truly African vibe. Very cool sounding.

“Boston” continues where “A-Punk” left off, though this time reminding me for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones for some reason. Don’t fear, it’s only for the first few seconds. In fact, it eventually winds up being one of the album’s more memorable and catchy tracks. “Campus” has a very 60s pop sound to it at times, though it’s also somewhat reminiscent of The Strokes. While that may not sound like it could ever possibly fit, it does. It is yet another favorite of mine. “One” returns to the afro-pop sound again, this time with the awesome one-line hook of “Blake’s got a new face” sung in a style that I can imagine an African boys choir would be more familiar with. Everything is very tight and perfectly performed, and is one of the album’s more unique tunes.

“Bryn” is Vampire Weekend‘s most disappointing song (maybe its only one). If Coldplay were a lo-fi indie pop band, they would probably sound like this. It’ s not bad by any means, just not entirely memorable and you may find yourself skipping it in favor of the next track, “Walcott.” In it, Koenig asks, “Don’t you want to get out of Cape Cod, out of Cape Cod tonight?” over perfectly composed Cello and Violin lines, while also managing to mix in some syncopating keyboards and the band’s now-standard manic guitars. The song’s conclusion is particularly surprising as the band “rocks out” for the first time, and while it’s definitely not near as pleasant as when they’re taking it easy, it is a nice change. The album’s closer, “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” has a very reggae feel to it, and I can imagine one of the Marley’s proudly singing it before a sea of people. It is a touching and poignant ending to a remarkable debut album!

The argument could be made that Vampire Weekend does a bit too much dabbling in traditional African music, especially for a bunch of “white boys” from New York. But as a huge fan of what I’m hearing, I can’t help but applaud the band for their decision to not only inject the style of music into their own, but to delicately weave it into every second. If anything Vampire Weekend has paid tribute to a style that is too-often overlooked in pop music today by making it their own and blending it with their other numerous influences. The band’s self-titled debut is far more than a gimmicky musical diversion, it is a unique, captivating work of art (Pop music as art? Go figure!). I highly recommend it to fans of indie rock, as well as anyone who may stumble upon this review. Like it or hate it, you won’t be forgetting it any time soon.

Key Tracks:
1. “Mansard Roof”
2. “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”
3. “One (Blake’s Got A New Face)”
4. “Campus”
5. “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance”

8 out of 10 Stars

NOTE: Apparently, the version of this album that I downloaded was not the real thing. The real thing, which I purchased this afternoon, does not have the track, “Boston” on it. It does have two tracks not mentioned in this review, however. They are called “M79” and “I Stand Corrected.” Both are pretty cool tracks, kind of mellow, but very well-composed and performed. Usually I catch these sorts of things. This time I did not. That being said, the rating still stands. This is a great album! (Download “Boston”)