Random Thoughts of Nothingness

You Should Be Listening To: The Radio Dept - Freddy and the Trojan Horse

2008-06-03T21:10:00.004-04:00

Because this song is simply fantastic.

Head over to their MySpace page to download more tracks. You can also grab the Annie Laurie EP.

Download: The Radio Dept - Freddie and the Trojan Horse [mp3]
MySpace: The Radio Dept.

The Verve @ Ricoh Coliseum (May 1st, 2008)

2008-05-10T12:59:00.004-04:00

I was temporarily deaf for several days this week. That's because I got to see one of my favourite bands ever play one of the best rock shows I have seen in a long time. The band is The Verve. And the show happened in Toronto at the Ricoh Coliseum. The Verve undoubtedly picked up where they left off. What an amazing return to Toronto after a ten year hiatus.

This was not my first time catching The Verve front man in concert. I was fortunate enough to see Ashcroft play some of his solo material when he opened for Coldplay a couple of years back. He played some Verve songs at that show and don't get me wrong it was great but it was simply amazing to see him play these songs with Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and drummer Pete Salisbury. Fresh from Coachella, the group's energy was high and they seemed genuinely happy to be back together.

The show consisted of a good mix of material from the three studio releases. Most seemed to be taken from Urban Hymns. The The Verve played a lot of their hits like 'Lucky Man,' 'Sonnet,' 'The Drugs Don't Work' and of course, 'Bittersweet Symphony,' a song that was taken back for the night from "...the lawyers and the managers...," as Ashcroft proclaimed. Fans were also treated to two new songs. “Sit and Wonder” and “Love Is Pain.” The latter has a very "dancey" feel to it, very different for The Verve but it was the song that was stuck in my head as I left the venue.

If this show was any indication fans have a lot to look forward to. Hopefully a new album is in the works sooner rather than later. The wait has been long enough.

Coldplay - Violet Hill

2008-04-29T20:24:00.003-04:00

Because I love them....

Thoughts?

Download: Coldplay - Violet Hill [mp3]

MySpace: Coldplay
Coldplay: Official Website

Buy Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends [UK]

Duffy - Rockferry

2008-04-13T09:21:00.004-04:00

I mentioned Duffy a while back but I thought I should write a bit about her now considering her album has been released in the UK, has gone number 1 and has had given several chart entries since then. If you've never heard of Duffy let me see if I can get you up to date in as little words as possible. She's from Wales. She is, quite obviously, a singer-songwriter. She is often compared to Amy Winehouse, so you can think of her genre as indie soul-pop..

I actually got a hard copy of her album Rockferry this week (though I've been listening to it for a month or so...magically) at a non-import price. I know Rockferry wasn't supposed to drop in the U.S. until May 13th and I assumed that was when we would get in Canada but I guess not. Or maybe it is an import, I don't know. All that matters is that if you want it you can go to your local CD store and grab it.

And you should. You know when you first here a song by a new artist and you just don't know if they will turn out other good tracks (this is not exclusive to Duffy but true of everyone). Well, Duffy does produce other great songs, in fact, Rockferry is full of them. Although the track 'Rockferry' is up there, it might not even be the best song. I think this spot might be reserved for 'Stepping Stone.' If I had to choose the one song that you needed to listen to of this album it would be this one. Loved it upon first listen. 'Warwick Avenue' and ''Mercy' are up there too. There are even some B-sides that, in my opinion, should have been on the album considering it only has 10 songs. This could have easily been a solid 12-track album.

There are really no bad songs here. This is probably why numerous music insiders have chosen her as one of the artists to watch in 2008. 2008 is well on its way and so, it seems, is Duffy.

Download: Duffy - Tomorrow [mp3]
MySpace: Duffy
Duffy: Official Website

Buy Rockferry

R.E.M. - Accelerate

2008-04-06T14:40:00.004-04:00

There can be no doubt that R.E.M. has written some great songs. Actually they've written some of the best. I tend to forget this but all it takes is a listen to some of their back catalogue to make you remember. ‘Shiny Happy People’, ‘Orange Crush’, ‘Fall On Me.’ What a fantastic band! I think I can safely say that R.E.M. was one of the first bands that I called one of my favourites.

The band released their new album, Accelerate, this week in Canada. Many are calling it their best album since 1994’s Monster. This seems to imply that the band have been somewhat lacking with their releases in-between but I'll leave that up to you to decide. Anyways, I just got their new one and I can confirm that it is one of their best. Thank goodness! I would hate to think that we were kept waiting for what, four years, only to be disappointed. But none of that matters because as I said, Accelerate contains a fantastic group of songs and are very much reminiscent of some of their older material. Not really in sound (there’s no 80’s retro here) but it just has that feeling to it; at least it does for me. The single ‘Supernatural Superserious’ is a great example of this.

R.E.M. is still a relevant band and Accelerate proves it.

The band are also one-third of an exciting summer tour that includes The National and Modest Mouse. They play the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on June 8th and play twelve other dates including the tour opener in Vancouver. Tickets have already gone on sale. You can find a full list of dates on their MySpace page.

MySapce: R.E.M.
R.E.M.: Offical Website

Buy Accelerate

Album of the Month: FOALS - ANTIDOTES

2008-04-02T20:44:00.003-04:00

I've been waiting to write about this band for some time now but I thought I would wait until around the album release date for reasons that are evading me at the moment. The downside of this is that most of you have probably already heard of Foals, sampled their music and decided whether you like 'em or not. If you are one of the select few who have not done so and maybe have never come across them (where have you been?), consider this another chance of many that are, have been and probably will be available to you.

So what's the deal? The band is a five-piece from Oxford, England. The music is danceable with heavy emphasis on the rhythm section but the guitars are there too. Their genre is often labeled as 'math-rock,' a reference to the complex rhythm structures and vocal styling’s. While the history of Foals is by no means long, it has been an eventful few months. Last year saw the band release several singles including 'Hummer,' 'Mathletics' and 'Balloons,' a song that got them some attention.

Foals were eventually signed to Sub Pop in North America and will release their debut album Antidotes through them and on Transgressive Records in the U.K., where it has already been released. We get it on this side of the pond on April 8th. All of the songs here are pretty great and I can't think of a sleeper amongst them. Antidotes starts off with a bang, opening with the energy-filled ‘French Open.’ ‘Cassius’ was a great choice for a first single. Not only is it a great song but it also gives you a feel of exactly what Foals are about; but don’t ask me to summarize, it seems like an impossible task at the moment.

Anyways, the band will be touring for what seems like the rest of their lives. Check out their MySpace page for a list of dates. The band has also made two live recordings (‘Hummer ’and ‘Two Steps’) available for free download at their official website. Both were recorded from their show at Astoria in London.

Tracklisting
1. The French Open
2. Cassius
3. Red Socks Pugie
4. Olympics Airways
5. The Race For Radio Supremacy
6. Balloons
7. Heavy Water
8. Two Steps, Twice
9. Big Big Love (Fig.2)
10. Like Swimming
11. Tron

Download: Foals - French Open [mp3]
MySpace: Foals
Foals: Official Website

Buy Antidotes

Adele @ The Rivoli, Toronto (26-03-08)

2008-03-27T21:42:00.005-04:00

Adele made her first trip to Toronto last night and I was lucky enough to be in the audience to see her play a sold-out show at The Rivoli. For anyone who doesn't know, The Rivoli is a very small, historical venue in the city. A lot of musicians play their first gig in Toronto here and then move on the bigger and greater things. After last night's show I have no doubt that Adele certainly will as well.

You can probably guess that the size of location made for a very intimate affair. Besides that, the entire set was "stripped down" as Adele put it. This, Adele noted, is how she likes to introduce her music to a new city because it's the way she writes songs and plays them to her mum for the first time. Adele sat on a stool in the middle of the stage and began the set with just an acoustic guitar, playing the first track, 'Daydreamer' off her debut album. Shortly after she was joined on stage by her guitarist and pianist. They made there way through several songs on the album including 'Crazy For You', 'First Love', ''My Same', 'Melt My Heart To Stone', 'Chasing Pavements' and the Bob Dylan cover 'Make You Feel My Love'. Adele closed her first appearance in Toronto with the song that first introduced me to her music, 'Hometown Glory.'

The acoustic set was a great idea and it went over very nicely. While she admitted to being nervous and apologized for her raspy voice (she was suffering from a hangover after a gig in Montreal the night before) Adele hardly seemed as if she was not in top form. Anything that she considered imperfect about her performance last night were in fact, endearing. The only complaint that I have, which most at the show will probably agree with, is that the set was too short. It ran well under an hour, maybe between 40-45 minutes and managed to play around 10 songs.

Good news for anyone who missed out on last night's show. Adele mentioned that she will be back in Toronto and (more likely than not) North America in June with a "proper band." Sadly for us (but great for), she will probably be playing a bigger venue next time around. After last night's show I will definitely be going to see her again and so should you. If you haven't picked up her album 19 yet, do so. It's a keeper and the buzz that has been floating around Adele for a while now is deserving. Why? Because she has the talent to back it up.

MySpace: Adele

Buy 19

You Should Be Listening To: FANFARLO - FIRE ESCAPE

2008-03-25T22:15:00.004-04:00

I don't know much about Fanfarlo but I do know that I like what I hear and that's reason enough, right? But here's what I do know: the band are from London, they just played a couple of successful shows at SXSW and they have released several singles, each on different labels it appears. Most of the songs are floating around on the interweb (you can listen to them on the band's official website) but it's the catchy 'Fire Escape' that really sticks out among the bunch. It even ends with some good ol' whistlin'. Give it a listen.

Download: Fanfarlo - Fire Escape [mp3]
MySpace: Fanfarlo
Fanfarlo: Official Website

Buy Fire Escape [UK]

New Death Cab Track

2008-03-21T11:22:00.004-04:00

Ok, here it is. New Death Cab For Cutie. I have been very excited about this new album for a while now (called Narrow Stairs if you haven't heard) and the first single "I Will Possess Your Heart" has reminded me why. It's a long one too. It runs til' 8:36. Not sure if this is just an album version as it's length isn't very radio-friendly (not that I give a shit). The reason for this is the nice unexpected 4 minute-ish instrumental at the beginning of the track. It builds nicely to the vocal portion of the song, where Ben Gibbard kicks in and gives us a great quintessential Death Cab melody. I'm really liking the instrumentation on this song, The subtle, yet resounding, bass line is a perfect complement to the piano/guitar mix that Death Cab has perfected, at least they have in my book.

Bottom line: it's a Death Cab song, therefore, it's good. Really, you can't go wrong. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

Download: Death Cab For Cutie I Will Possess Your Heart [mp3]

MySpace: Death Cab For Cutie

Death Cab For Cutie: Official Website

Pre-Order Narrow Stairs (Delux Edition) [U.S. ITunes]

Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling

2008-03-15T10:54:00.005-04:00

I seem to really be into female singer-songwriters at the moment. Adele, Duffy, Feist, Laura Marling, the amount of female talent seems endless at the moment and I can now add Basia Bulat to that list. She is fantastic singer-songwriter from London, Ontario, Canada who is garnering some much deserved attention at the moment. She played this year's SXSW and NPR has labelled her as one of a few to watch at the festival. In 2005, Bulat released a self-titled EP. Her debut album, Oh, My Darling, was released in 2007 in Canada and the UK. It was released on February 5th of this year in the United States. The song, 'In the Night' is great, although it does not appear on her debut. I'm actually not sure where this recording can be found but hopefully it appears or will appear somewhere.

Basia Bulat is playing a whole bunch of shows in Canada and the U.S. this Spring. Check out her MySpace for a list of dates. Also be sure to listen to her session at Daytrotter. You can find a link to it on her official website.

Download: Basia Bulat - In the Night [mp3]

MySpace: Basia Bulat

Basia Bulat: Official Website

Buy Oh, My Darling

The Last Shadow Puppets

2008-03-10T20:29:00.004-04:00

The Last Shadow Puppets are Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of The Rascals. Need I say more? I didn't think so but I will nonetheless. I was a little surprised when I heard that Turner would be releasing solo work. Not sure why but it didn't matter because it was soon announced that it was actually a side project with Kane. The two met when The Little Flames (Kane's former band) opened for Arctic Monkeys in 2007.

The first track off the album is 'The Age of the Understatement.' This title also serves as the name of the album, to be released on April 21st, 2008 on Domino. Like most people, I've only really heard this track and whatever Youtube live footage I could find but what I can tell you with certainty is that this song is fantastic. Musically, it is nothing like Arctic Monkeys. There's strings for one thing and it's all very epic. If anything, the song will make you want to hear more from The Last Shadow Puppets.

So is the video by the way, which you can find at the band's website (and is actually all you can find right now). I don't know what it is about this video but I love it. You can't go wrong with the cold Russian winter and nice jackets. You just can't. Anyways, the boys played their first show in NYC last week. There should be more dates to come. Stay tuned.

Download: The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement [mp3]

The Last Shadow Puppets: Offical Website

Buy The Age of the Understatement [Single] (UK)

You Should Be Listening To: SONS AND DAUGHTERS - CHAINS

2008-02-18T20:41:00.004-05:00

Great song from Glasgow's Sons and Daughters. It's called 'Chains ' and it's off of the band's latest CD This Gift. The song pretty much sums up how awesome this album is. It's just good pop but with an edge. It is really worth picking up. The first two singles 'Gift Complex' and 'Darling' are just as good.

The band are supporting Editors for five dates in the UK before they head to North America for a tour which concludes with a spot at Coachella. Check their MySpace page for a list of dates and also a free dowload of an acoustic version of 'Gift Complex.'

Download: Sons and Daughters - Chains [mp3]

MySpace: Sons and Daughters

Sons and Daughters: Official Website

Buy This Gift

CD Releases: Week of 12/02/08

2008-02-12T21:41:00.004-05:00

One of the best singer-songwriters Dallas Green, a.k.a. City and Colour releases his follow-up to his debut album this week. The new one is called Bring Me Your Love and features Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip on the track 'Sleeping Sickness.' It is a fantastic tune. My favourite though, has to be 'The Girl.' The album is solid but I expect no less from City and Colour.

Other releases worth you attention include British Sea Power with Do You Like Rock Music and the 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Notable CD Releases

British Sea Power - "Do You Like Rock Music"
The Cardigans - "Best of"
Ray Charles - "The Way I Feel"
City and Colour - "Bring Me Your Love"
Marilyn Horne - "Souvenir of a Golden Era"
The Isley Brothers - "The Definitive Collection"
Michael Jackson - "Thriller (25th Anniversary Edition)"
Mike Jones - "Running 4 President 2K8"
Morrissey - "Greatest Hits"

Download: City and Colour - The Girl [mp3]

MySpace: City and Colour

City and Colour: Official Website

Buy Bring Me Your Love

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

2008-02-09T17:43:00.000-05:00

Justin Vernon a.k.a Bon Iver is set to release his solo album on February 19th. Once a member of the band DeYarmond Edison, Vernon took part in other musical ventures before setting out to write his solo material. The music on his debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, were written and recorded during 3-4 cold winter months in a cabin in Wisconsin. The songs reflect such an atmosphere and are a great listen on those cold snowy days. The album, of course, is a re-release as it was self-released by Vernon last fall. The music is folk mixed with horns and subtle drumbeats. Nothing is overdone or over produced. The beauty of it is it's simplicity.

Bon Iver hits the road with Vancouver's Black Mountain beginning on February 19th. Check his MySpace page for dates.

Download: Bon Iver - For Emma [mp3]
MySpace: Bon Iver
Bon Iver: Official Website [Jagjaguwar]

Buy For Emma, Forever Ago

CD Releases: Week of 05/02/08

2008-02-05T20:22:00.000-05:00

There are some really good releases this week including the much anticipated debut album from Adele entitled 19. Other releases worth checking out include a solo effort from Broken Social Scene's Jason Collet, Hot Chip's Made In The Dark and Nada Surf's Lucky.

Notable CD Releases

Adele - "19"
Beck - "Odelay" (Deluxe Edition)
Johnny Cash - "Collections"
Jason Collett - "Here's to Being Here"
Ben Folds - "Rockin' the Suburbs"
Hello Operator - "Break" (EP)
Hot Chip - "Made in the Dark"
Jack Johnson - "Sleep Through the Static"
Janis Joplin - "Collections"
Nada Surf - "Lucky"
Willie Nelson - "Collections"
Roy Orbison - "Collections"

You Should Be Listening To: THE HELIO SEQUENCE - KEEP YOUR EYES AHEAD

2008-02-01T18:59:00.000-05:00

The Helio Seqeuence are a great little indie band. They come from Portland, Oregon and just released their new album entitled Keep Your Eyes Ahead. The single, of the same name, is a wonderful track with a mild electronica-80's retro feel to it. I love the 80's, twas a great time. And the music, chalk full of one hit wonders, only makes the decade even better!

The Helio Sequence are essentially a duo, Brandon Summers and former Modest Mouse drummer Benjamin Weikel. They have been together for a while, since the late 90's and released their last album, Love and Distance, way back in 2004. So fans have waited a long time for this release and although it may be a little more slower paced than some of their older stuff, the songs are still pretty damn good.

Download: The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead [mp3]
MySpace: The Helio Sequence
The Helio Sequence: Official Website

Buy Keep Your Eyes Ahead

CD Releases: Week of 29/01/08

2008-01-29T20:46:00.000-05:00

Make sure to visit your local record shop this week as there are some really good releases. Among them are Vampire Weekend and The Mars Volta. If anything, pick these two up.

Notable CD Releases
ABBA - "The Best of Abba"
Sarah Brightman - "Symphony"
Johnny Cash - "The Best of Johnny Cash"
Eels - "Useless Trinkets 1996-2006"
Louis XIV - "Slick Dog and Ponies"
Shelby Lynne - "Just a Little Lovin' "
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "The Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd"
The Mamas and Papas - "The Best of Mamas and The Papas"
The Mars Volta - "The Bedlam in Goliath"
Willie Nelson - "Moment of Forever"
Protest the Hero - "Fortress"
Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend"
Hawksley Workman - "Between the Beautifuls"

Album of the Month - Vampire Weekend

2008-01-26T23:28:00.000-05:00

The self-titled album from Vampire Weekend is released this week on January 29th. The New York based band signed to XL Recording for their debut, one of the most anticipated album's of the first half of the year (at least for me it is). The song 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' made Rolling Stones' Top 100 Songs of 2007, coming in at #67. The band even got an opening slot with The Shins this past year. Not bad considering their album has not been released yet and the track was released only as a digital EP.

Vampire Weekend, who met while studying at Columbia University, formed in 2006. The band describe their music as "Upper Westside Soweto," a reference to their Afro-pop sound. The first single is called 'Mansard Roof' and it was released on October 28th, 2007. The next one is 'A-Punk' and for some reason I absolutely love their video for it. If you get a chance check it out. However, my favourite song has to be 'Bryn.' It's short but sweet and the slick guitars will stick in your head. Other songs include 'Oxford Comma,' 'Campus' and 'M79,' all very good songs. Here is a full tracklisting:

Tracklisting
1. Mansard Roof
2. Oxford Comma
3. A-Punk
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
5. M79
6. Campus
7. Bryn
8. One (Blake's Got a New Face)
9. I Stand Corrected
10. Walcott
11. Kids Don't Stand a Chance

Vampire Weekend are currently touring North America and play the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on February 11th. Check their MySpace page for a full listing.

FYI: At the moment you can stream Vampire Weekend's new album in its entirety on MuchMusic.com. Sample it, you'll probably love it.

Download: Vampire Weekend - Bryn [mp3]

MySpace: Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend: Official Website

Buy Vampire Weekend

You Should Be Listening To: ROGUE WAVE - LAKE MICHIGAN

2008-01-20T09:43:00.000-05:00

Rogue Wave released their third studio album this past September. It's called Asleep At Heaven's Gate and features the catchy first single 'Lake Michigan.' This release, like many others, seemed to pass me by last year. Still, better late than never I guess. Anyways, 'Lake Michigan' was a great choice for the first single. It has a great melody and the drumming is powerful and complements the heavy acoustic strumming. The album was produced by lead singer Zach Rogue and Roger Moutenot, who has work with Yo La Tengo in the past.

The band are currently in the middle of a U.S. tour before they head over to Europe in February to play some shows. Check their MySpace page for upcoming dates.

Download: Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan [mp3]

MySpace: Rogue Wave

Official Website: Rogue Wave

Buy Asleep At Heaven's Gate

CD Releases: Week of 15/01/08

2008-01-15T20:18:00.000-05:00

The Magnetic Fields release their new album Distortion today on Nonesuch Records. Pretty good album and worth picking up in my opinion. The band will embark on a mini tour of the U.S. in February playing several cities on multiple nights. Check out their MySpace page for a list of dates.

Download: The Magnetic Fields - California Girls [mp3]

MySpace:The Magnetic Fields

Official Website: The Magnetic Fields

Buy Distortion

Notable CD Releases

Econoline Crush - "Ignite"
Hayden - "In Field and Town"
The Magnetic Fields - Distortion

Nana Mouskouri - "The Ultimate Collection"
Frank Sinatra - "Beautiful Ballads and Love Songs"
Ringo Starr - "Liverpool 8"
Rhonda Vincent - "Good Thing Going"
Matthew West - "Something to Say"
Wisely - "Wisley"
Pete York - "Pete York and Friends"

You Should Be Listening To: JENS LEKMAN - THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH

2008-01-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

Night Falls Over Kortedala, the second release from Sweden's Jens Lekman, was released this past fall on October 9th, 2007. It's described as a collection of songs/recordings from 2004-2007. I'm guessing that means the album contains some old and new tunes written within that span of time but it doesn't really matter. The album has gotten all around great reviews and for good reason, the music is fantastic.

'The Opposite of Hallelujah' is one of the singles off of the release. It's a great song. You can never go wrong with a little bit of Swedish indie pop. Simply catchy. If you head over to his label site Simply Canadian, you can also download the first single 'Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo.'

Download: Jens Lekman - The Opposite of Hallelujah [mp3]

Jens Lekman: Official Website

Simply Canadian: Jens Lekman

Buy Night Falls Over Kortedala

CD Releases: Week of 08/01/08

2008-01-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

No big releases this week. Actually scratch that, Sia's pretty good. Buy that album this week

Bangles - "All Over the Place"
Bangles - "Different Light"
Bangles - "Everything"
Glen Campbell - "Classic Campbell"
Johnny Cash - "The Best of the Johnny Cash Show"
Bobby Darin - "Swing N Slow"
Andrew Heller - "Broadway Love"
Elvis Presley - "Viva Las Vegas Soundtrack"
Sia - "Some People Have Real Problems"

Download: Sia - Electric Bird [mp3]

MySpace: Sia

Sia: Official Website

Buy Some People Have Real Problems

New Song From City and Colour

2008-01-03T19:06:00.000-05:00

City and Colour aka Dallas Green from Alexisonfire has posted a new song for previewing on his MySpace page. It can also be purchased on iTunes Canada. The song is called 'Waiting...' and it's the first single off City and Colour's upcoming album entitled Bring Me Your Love. It is set to be released on February 12, 2008 on Vagrant and Dine Alone Records.

City and Colour is the acoustic side project of Green. It is very different than Alexisonfire, a wonderful Canadian band but there are some similarities. While the music is a lot more mellow and subdued, Green's melodies and vocals are still strong, if not better. He has one of the strongest voices in music and seems to be one of Canada's best kept secrets. His first release, Sometimes, was one of the best albums of 2005. 'Casey's Song,' 'Comin' Home' and 'Sam Malone' are fantastic tracks. If you haven't purchased this album yet, the time is now. It's simply beautiful and I expect the same will be said of Bring Me Your Love.

MySpace: City and Colour

City and Colour: Official Website

Buy Sometimes

Best of 2007: Top Albums - 20 to 11

2007-12-19T19:03:00.000-05:00

So here it is, my top albums of 2007. I know you've all been waiting on the edge of your seat for this (<--please read with sarcasm). In all seriousness, 2007 has been a pretty great year in music, at least it was for me. Several of my favourite bands put out albums and I discovered a lot of great new music.

FYI; the reasons why some albums appear ahead of others are unclear. The differentiation between say, #15 and #14, are non-existent but hey, everyone enjoys a list. The only album I do not doubt it's placement is my #1 choice. But I am sure of what should be in my top 10. So without further delay.....20 to 11

20. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight

After embarking on a solo effort, Jenny Lewis and Co. got together and put out a bold and risky album in the form of Under The Blacklight. Why do I consider it to be a little more adventurous for Rilo Kiley? Mainly because of the range in diversity of the songs. There's the Latin infused 'Dejalo,' the dreamy pop sounding 'Dreamworld,' the alt-country track 'Silver Lining,' and the list goes on. However, it's the variety of songs that makes this album so good. Sure the narrative storytelling that Rilo Kiley became known for is pretty much non-existent on this album but the edgy lyrics are no less interesting. The songs are upbeat and addictive. And let's face it, Jenny Lewis is quite the frontwoman.

Download: Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight [mp3]

Buy Under the Blacklight

19. The Cinematics - A Strange Education

It seems as if The Cinematics tend to be forgotten in the midst of the success of other Scottish bands such as Snow Patrol, Travis and Franz Ferdinand. This is unfortunate because the band put out a stellar release of neo-new wave tracks in the form of their debut release A Strange Education. The music is spine tingling. It just has a feeling to it that says it must be played very loudly. The album is fast paced and consistently good throughout its duration. I dare anyone to not tap their feet or sing along to songs like 'Chase,' 'Keep Forgetting' or 'Break' This is not an album that you should let pass you by. It's worth a look or two.

Download: The Cinematics - Chase [mp3]

Buy A Strange Education

18. Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky

Canadian music was in top form again this year. For me, Halifax, Nova Scotia's Wintersleep embodies the best new Canadian group of 2007. I know, they're not exactly a new act and Welcome To The Night Sky is their third album but I only discovered them this year, so they're new to me.

What can I tell you about this album? It's just CanCon at it's finest(that's Canadian content for those who don't know). The songs build on Welcome To The Night Sky and vocally lead-singer Paul Murphy is melodic and expressive, all while singing about astronauts and whales. And really, is there any more pleasing sing-along lyrics than those of 'Weighty Ghost,' a song complete with handclaps, organs and some sort of gang of back-up singers. Next year should be a big one for Wintersleep. Expect more touring, some Juno nominations and a lot more radio airplay.

Download: Wintersleep - Search Party [mp3]
Buy Welcome to the Night Sky

17. Radiohead - In Rainbows

Besides the new Britney Spears album (have you picked up your copy yet?), was there any album release that grabbed the headlines more than Radiohead's In Rainbows? The band was both lauded and criticized for offering their latest release this fall for practically nothing. What remained to be seen was whether the album delivered. Was it any good?

Well it was and in my opinion, it is Radiohead's best and most accessible album since OK Computer. From the opener '15 Step' to the closing track 'Videotape,' the songs just speak for themselves. They are simple, straightforward and very stripped down in comparison to Radiohead's recent releases. Sure the odd electronic keyboard sounds and layering are still there but while in the past these elements have taken away from the prominence of the guitars and piano, it actually enhances it and contributes to the enjoyment of the listening experience. Now that the dust has settled surrounding the release of this album, what lingers is the music, and it's good.

16. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin

I was excited with anticipation for the release of Band of Horses' second studio album, Cease To Begin. I mean who wouldn't be after Everything All the Time. Like everything else, when you set your sights high you tend to be let down. This was not the case with Band of Horses' new release. It is indie gold! The guitars are agile, the lyrics are genuine and the music is beautiful. There is nothing more to say.

Buy Cease To Begin

15. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Love 'em or hate 'em, no one can accuse Klaxons of being generic and Myths of the Near Future is one of those albums that should appeal to the masses. There seems to be a bit of everything here, a little something for everyone if you will. Thrashy guitars, danceable beats, heavy baselines and some great harmonizing pretty much sums up this release. Not precisely what you would expect from a self-proclaimed 'new rave' band. It's just an album that is full of high energy, one that refuses to let you down until the last note is played.

Download: Klaxons - Two Receivers [mp3]

Buy Myths of the Near Future

14. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

Short but sweet is the best way to summarize the second helping from Arctic Monkeys. Let's face it, Favourite Worst Nightmare isn't exactly a giant leap for Alex Turner and the boys but everything they did flawlessly on their debut album they did exceptionally well here. Considering the fact that Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was the fastest selling debut album in the UK, had two #1 singles, won the band the coveted Mercury Prize, garnered critical acclaim and made the lads from Sheffield a household name, why would they change a thing? Let's leave that for the third release because the tunes are still fast and catchy, the words are still tongue-in-cheek and the guitars/bass/drums have never been louder. Favourite Worst Nightmare did not disappoint.

Download: Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks [mp3]

Buy Favourite Worst Nightmare

13. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

No album has taken it's time to grow on me and find it's place on this list more than Beirut's The Flying Club Cup. Now when I look back, I can't imagine why I didn't instantly fall in love with it. The Flying Club Cup is as romantic and endearing as indie folk pop can ever be. It is stunning. The instrumentation, complete and utter perfection. Zach Condon, a genius.

Download: Beirut - Nantes [mp3]
Buy The Flying Club Cup

12. Idlewild - Make Another World

For anyone who has written Idlewild off, think again. The Scottish band put out an amazing collection of songs earlier this year, one worthy of praise. Tracks like 'No Emotion,' 'In Competition For The Worst Time' and ''A Ghost In The Arcade' are great rock songs, while 'Once In Your Life' is a track that will surely warm your heart. Make Another World is an album that should be listened to from beginning to end. There are no fillers here, which the band have often been accused of. Idlewild are truly in their element with this album. It is quality songwriting with every note being heard and having it's rightful place in each song. If you've lost interest in Idlewild over the years now is the time to get reacquainted with them. They will not disappoint.

Download: Idlewild - Once In Your Life [mp3]

Buy Make Another World

11. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

The Shins' Wincing The Night Away came out way back at the beginning of the year. It seems so long ago, so much so that I nearly forgot to put it on this list and that would have been a tragedy. The album integrates everything that is good and holy in indie pop; great melodies, jangly guitars and stick-in-your-head lyrics. Rick Mercer has certified himself as a quality songwriter with this release because anyone who can incorporate the lyrics "...Faced with a dodo's conundrum" into a pop song is brilliant in my books. Sure it's a little experimental at times but The Shins pull it off well. It is a lovely collection of music.

Download: The Shins - Phantom Limb [mp3]

Buy Wincing The Night Away

You Should Be Listening To: BEACH HOUSE - GILA

2007-12-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

Baltimore's Beach House are releasing the follow-up to their debut album, entitled Devotion, early next year. The band's sound seems to be unanimously described as 'dream pop' and the first single seems to fall nicely into this category. It's called 'Gila' and it features the haunting organ and vocals of band member Victoria Legrand and the smooth entrancing guitars of Alex Scally. If this song is any indication, Devotion will definitely be worth checking out in the new year. The album is out on February 26, 2008.

Download: Beach House - Gila [mp3]

MySpace: Beach House

Beach House: Official Website

Buy Beach House (debut album)