Thursday, September 22, 2011

Duke Spirit, Veronica Falls, Lisa Hannigan




The Duke Spirit – Bruiser

Where their previous albums had a fairly abrasive rock edge, this one seems a little different.  That edge is still there, but it’s been softened a bit.  They seem more concerned with the textures of their songs.  Liela Moss (lead singer) seems to be finding a new way to use her voice, as she slinks it around these new arrangements.  It’s a different direction for The Duke Spirit, and I really like it.

Favorite track: “Homecoming”
Rating: 4/5



Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls

Most of this album feels like a 50s doo-wop album, drenched in reverb.  Pretty melodies and harmonies are everywhere.  The songs are driven by a nice little guitar line, and drums that don’t do much beyond keeping the beat.  It reminds me of Loveless Unbeliever by The School, but with more reverb.  It’s a nice little album.  There’s not much to it, but it’s fun.  The sun is shining outside, and this seems like a good album to be listening to right now.

Favorite track: “Come On Over”
Rating: 4/5



Lisa Hannigan – Passenger

Damien Rice’s favorite back-up singer releases her second album.  It’s good.  Not altogether different from what she has already done, but it’s nice.  Folksy, with some pretty interesting arrangements.  Somewhere along the line, though, all of the songs kind of bleed together.  It’s a pleasant enough album, but nothing really jumped out at me.

Favorite track: “Passenger”
Rating: 3/5

Friday, September 02, 2011

Fall Music

The last couple of days notwithstanding, the weather has begun to cool down.  The first Saturday of college football is tomorrow.  Almost without warning, Fall is in the air.
That got me to thinking about the music I like to listen to during this time of year.  Everyone has those albums that just seem to sound better depending on the season.  Or the mood.  Or the precipitation.
I decided to look through my music and pick out the albums I usually turn to around this time of year.  This is not a complete list, but it does include some of my favorite albums for this time of year.
Since there are so many, I've decided not to write reviews for them.  Or give them ratings.  Suffice it to say, I love all of these albums, and they would all get somewhere between a 4 or a 5.  The only order they're in is alphabetical.
Feel free to share your own albums in the comments.  Hopefully I'll write some more of these in the future, but I make no promises.



The Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl: Volumes 1 & 2
Favorite track: "Doors Lead to Questions"



Beck - Sea Change
Favorite track: "Lost Cause"



Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Favorite track: "Cataracts"



John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Favorite track: "Part 1: Acknowledgement"



Common Children - The Inbetween Time
Favorite track: "How Many Times"



Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Favorite track: "Anna Begins"



The Cure - Show
Favorite track: "From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea"



Dear Euphoria - Heal My Violence
Favorite track: "Heal My Violence"



Elliott - Song in the Air
Favorite track: "Carry On"



William Fitzsimmons - Goodnight
Favorite track: "Hold On With My Open Hands"



A Girl Called Eddy - A Girl Called Eddy
Favorite track: "Girls Can Really Tear You Up Inside"



Granada - Takes a Lot of Walking
Favorite track: "Once Long Ago"



Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl
Favorite track: "Red Dirt Girl"



James Iha - Let it Come Down
Favorite track: "No One's Gonna Hurt You"



Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat
Favorite track: "Talking in Code"



Marissa Nadler - Songs III: Bird on the Water
Favorite track: "Diamond Heart"



Ola Podrida - Belly of the Lion
Favorite track: "Sink or Swim"



Paper Route - Paper Route EP
Favorite track: "Let You Down"



Pedro the Lion - It's Hard to Find a Friend
Favorite track: "Secret of the Easy Yoke"



Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday
Favorite track: "While You Were Sleeping"



Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer of Fear
Favorite track: "Summer of Fear, Pt. 2"



Shearwater - Rook
Favorite track: "Home Life"



Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life
Favorite track: "Gold Day"



Starflyer 59 - Gold
Favorite track: "Messed Up Over You"



Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans 
Favorite track: "To Be Alone With You"



Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
Favorite track: "I Believe in You"



Velour 100 - Fall Sounds
Favorite track: "Joy"