Nomadic? No Problem.

Tinariwen is one of those bands that took me by surprise this year. Based solely on prior releases, this is a band that I never should have noticed, which makes sense because I never did (their back catalog probably deserves a listen at some point, but so far I haven’t delved into their past). At the same time, it makes complete sense that they would be all over my radar screen with Tassili. First off, they signed with the greatest record label in the world, ANTI-, for this album. It takes only a brief review of these blog posts to find that ANTI- has strong influence and heavy representation on these reviewers’ musical tastes. I have come to the point where I nearly trust them completely and expect just about anything they put out to have significant merit. Then, beyond the label and it’s outstanding production and marketing, add the fact that they hand-picked guest stars who showed up on elsewhere on my best-of-the-year list (including Tunde and Kyp, but also – spoiler alert – Nels Cline) and it seems like a can’t miss. The only remaining problem, one that initially made me put them off for a week or two before purchasing, was that it was largely instrumental, middle eastern “world music”. My expectation was droning, repetitive, sitar heavy meanderings. I’m glad I got over these preconceived notions and decided to take a chance because I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The beautiful and endearing thing about Tinariwen’s sound is that it has a distinct African and eastern sound (the band members belong to a nomadic tribe that roams Saharan Africa), but it has a strong tendency toward delta blues of all things. This weird but satisfying fusion is what makes their music instantly catchy, yet keeps it from becoming stale and repetitive. From the very first listen I was hooked and found the songs to have a hypnotic quality, never seeming over-long. And what makes this album as impressive as anything is that they’re able to produce this sound with nothing but acoustic guitar, hand drums, clapping and voices. Highlights include all songs on which the TVOTR guys provide vocals (what a great venue for these masters of falsetto to offer their talents), especially Asuf D Alwa and Walla Illa. Other great tracks are Imidiwan Me Tenem, featuring Cline’s characteristic frenetic guitar, and Ya Messinagh with simmering, sinister background sax and horns provided by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

In the end, I love the east meets west fusion they incorporate to create such an ingratiating sound. I’d love to see more of this in years to come, bringing music from around the world to people like myself who tend to lean, sometimes ignorantly, toward a more ethnocentric sound. Perhaps this will also motivate me to seek out new sounds beyond my own country and my usual paradigm.

The next entry on this retrospective comes from a band I was ready to write off just two years ago. Another of my personal all time favorites, I’m happy to say they’ve redeemed themselves with a vengeance and slide in at number seven.

2011 Best Albums by RJD

11. City And Colour - "Little Hell" (Vagrant, 6/6/11)

For fans of Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Travis
Choice cuts: The Grand Optimist, Weightless, Silver And Gold


10. Chris Cornell - "Songbook" (UMe, 11/21/11)

For fans of Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple Of The Dog
Choice cuts: As Hope And Promise Fade, Scar On The Sky, Black Hole Sun


9. In Solitude - "The World, The Flesh, The Devil" (Metal Blade, 5/23/11)

For fans of Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Ghost
Choice cuts: Serpents Are Rising, Dance Of The Adversary, On Burning Paths


8. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - "Scandalous" (Lost Highway, 3/15/11)

For fans of The Blues Brothers, James Brown, Otis Redding
Choice cuts: Black Snake, You Been Lyin', Booty City


7. The Black Keys - "El Camino" (Nonesuch, 12/6/11)

For fans of The White Stripes, John Spencer Blues Explosion, R. L. Burnside
Choice cuts: Little Black Submarines, Gold On The Ceiling, Mind Eraser


6. Sean Rowe - "Magic" (Anti-, 2/22/11)

A voice comes along once in a blue moon that grabs your attention at first listen. Sean Rowe has one of these voices. Penned as sounding like Leonard Cohen, Gil Scott-Heron and Al Green, this man from up-state New York croons with his baritone growl throughout his debut Anti- records release "Magic." The album opens with 'Surprise,' a song that showcases Rowe's voice over a simple guitar riff and an ambient background chime. The first three songs retain a slow, relaxing vibe allowing one to soak up his gravely swagger before segueing into the upbeat 'Jonathan.' 'Jonathan' is reminiscent of an Andrew Bird-style tune with great melody and lyrics dealing with angst as he sings "I lit the dash I took my sunglasses off, I like to see that fucker glow." Truly bad ass!
Choice cuts: Wet, Jonathan, American


5. Opeth - "Heritage" (Roadrunner, 9/20/11)

Sweden's greatest band ever (sorry ABBA) return with an album entirely void of "cookie monster" vocals. "Heritage" is much different than any prior Opeth album and the progressive rock influence of bands like King Crimson, Genesis and ELP are heard throughout. Mikael Akerfeldt's vocal transitions from gutteral roars to singing has always been one off my favorite attributes to Opeth's unmistakable death metal sound. However, I have always been more of a fan of his great singing voice and this album showcases it brilliantly. Despite the change in tempo, metal brilliance remains on songs like "The Lines In My Hand" with its blastbeat drumming and pummeling bass lines. Plus any band who dedicates a song ("Slither") to the late/great Ronnie James Dio deserves props on any (and all) year end lists. I also dub this album the coolest album cover of 2011.
Choice cuts: The Lines In My Hand, Folklore, Marrow Of The Earth


4. William Elliott Whitmore - "Field Songs" (Anti-, 7/12/11)

Keokuk, Iowa's prodigal son continues to create authentic folk music from the fields of Lee County with his fifth studio release "Field Songs." As the title suggests, "Field Songs" is a folk-opera dealing with hard-working, blue-collar, rural farmers and the days they endure. There is a simplicity to the music in both the lyrics and the hooks surrounding them, however, upon repeated listens, his craft is much more complex. The man who looks like he could grace the cover of Lowrider magazine's tattoo edition, sounds like a bluesman from the deep south in the 30s and his music is just as timeless.
Choice cuts: Not Feeling Any Pain, Bury Your Burdens In The Ground, Everything Gets Gone


3. Tom Waits - "Bad As Me" (Anti-, 10/25/11)

One of the greatest American singer/songwriters has returned with a new album of folk, alternative, Calypso, metal and carnival music all enrolled into one sweet package. Mr. Nick himself continues to incorporate many different instruments and effects creating songs that sound like theme music to a David Lynch film ("Raised Right Men") and others heavier than most modern thrash ("Hell Broke Luce".) This man is a legend and has influenced almost everyone on this list. And with this modern masterpiece, he plans on continuing to do so. At the ripe ol' age of 62, "Bad As Me" is arguably his best album since "Rain Dogs."
Choice cuts: Raised Right Men, Chicago, Hell Broke Luce


2. Primus - "Green Naugahyde" (Prawn Song, 9/13/11)

Primus sucks. Typically an endearing term from Primus fanatics, however their last few LPs were somewhat close to the literal meaning. The first album I ever purchased was Primus' "Sailing The Seas Of Cheese" on cassette. I have thought "Primus sucked" since watching "Jerry Was A Racecar Driver" on Headbangers Ball with Riki Rachtman. Since that time in the early nineties, Primus has not been able to muster up the funk-rock mastery created on their first three studio releases; "Frizzle Fry," "STSOC," and "Pork Soda." Until now. Green Naugahyde is Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Jay Lane at their best and sounding like their late 80s self. Lane was an original drummer before "Herb" joined and picks up the skins right where he [may have] left off. Claypool's voice has always been unmistakable and his bass unmatched. While Ler's guitar is yet again the perfect compliment to Les' frantic slapping bass. Primus is back in a big way and they suck more than ever on this little slice of lime pleather.
Choice cuts: Tragedy's a' Comin', Jilly's On Smack, Eternal Consumption Engine


1. Graveyard - "Hisingen Blues" (Nuclear Blast, 4/19/11)


Sweden has three of the best artists creating music today; Opeth, The Tallest Man On Earth and Graveyard. Hailing from Gothenberg, also known as the epicenter of Swedish Death Metal, Graveyard is not your typical Gothenberg act. Their music sounds like it comes directly from the pipes of Roger Daltrey and the strings of Richie Blackmore. Even more impressive, the songs on "Hisingen Blues" are better than a lot of music the band obviously used as inspiration. Songs like "Ain't Fit To Live Here" bring to mind old Zeppelin glory with Joakim Nilsson's voice sounding like a youthful Robert Plant and "Uncomfortably Numb" (possibly the worst song title of the year) is actually one of the best songs of the year with it's melodic chorus and guitar outro reminiscent of Skynyrd's "Free Bird." Fans of 60s/70s classic rock should feel comfort in that excellent music is still being produced in a world filled with Lady Gaga and Daughtry pop-shite. Despite the quality of albums this past year, "Hisingen Blues" is still easily my "best" album of 2011 (and the best I've heard in half a decade!) Rocka loss lägga Graveyard!
Choice cuts: Uncomfortably Numb, Ain't Fit To Live Here, RSS, The Siren, Buying Truth



Best songs of 2011:
1. Opeth - "The Throat Of Winter"
2. Primus - "Tragedy's A' Comin'"
3. Graveyard - "Uncomfortably Numb"
4. The Black Keys - "Little Black Submarine"
5. Tom Waits - "Raised Right Men"
6. Man Man - "Shameless"
7. William Elliott Whitmore - "Bury Your Burdens In The Ground"
8. Megadeth - "Never Dead"
9. A Pale Horse Named Death - "When Crows Descend Upon You"
10. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - "Black Snake"
11. Florence + The Machine - "Lover To Lover"

What the Senator Wants is a Corndog

Coming in at number nine is Stephen Malkmus with Mirror Traffic, his latest release with The Jicks. His fifth overall solo album and third under The Jicks moniker, this album is more of the same guitar-heavy, supremely catchy, twisted pop we’ve all come to expect from SM. He doesn’t really break any new ground here, but personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Having been an SM fan even before I developed a true appreciation for Pavement, his albums tend to be mainstays in my heavy rotation and though this album came in ninth on the list, it’ll likely be one of the most played in the next 5-10 years. This time around he enlisted Beck for production duties. While there are occasional unmistakable Beck flavored accents here and there (such as on No One Is (As I Are Be)), he mainly stays out of the way and lets the Jicks shine once again.

As is typical, there’s not a bad song in the bunch. These are the kind of tunes that stick in the brain and can lead you to sing their choruses throughout the day without even realizing – a risky proposition on some tracks (imagine your tech walking past your office just as you’re singing “I know what the senator wants, what the senator wants is a blowjob”). After getting off to a strong start with the very Pavement-y Tigers they slow it down on No One Is. A lot was made of this song when the album came out about how it was so much more introspective and autobiographical than SM’s typical lyrical output. I don’t know if that’s true and I don’t really care, but I will say it’s musically different than anything they’ve done and it’s beautiful. As the daddy of a little girl I also have to give them credit for the super-cute video featuring SM’s daughters and their little friends playing in the park. Next is Senator, which, if you’re not paying attention, could be dismissed as a gimmicky attention-grabber (there was a contest for fans to change the aforementioned lyric from “blowjob” to something more radio-friendly), but if you are paying attention you’ll know it’s a great tune soaked in that savory classic-Pavement flavor. Next is my favorite track, Brain Gallop. With it’s laid-back groove and the chorus “There’s not much left inside my tank today,” this one has become my driving-home-from work theme song. The rest of the album is consistently good, but Spazz, Share the Red, Forever 28 and Fall Away are as good as anything he’s ever written.

I still contend that Stephen Malkmus is one of the best songwriters not just of our generation but also of any generation. Despite this, he never seems to turn many heads on the national scene. His description in the media as a “slacker prince” is beyond cliché at this point, but if you’ve seen him live you do start to wonder if he’s even enjoying himself at all. Add on top of that the fact that he knows he writes kick ass songs and carries around a monstrosity of an ego and you have a very polarizing figure. You either love the guy or hate him. Much has been made by me in this blog over the years about my favorite bands rising to superstardom (see last year’s Black Keys entries and *ahem* maybe another one in the coming days?) and my internal struggle to continue to support them as mainstream artists. I’m happy to not have to share Malkmus with every douchey follower of the hype machine and respect him even more for figuring out the magic recipe to fly under the radar yet remain perpetually relevant.

The eighth spot on the list was an album that took me by surprise and, after Mondo Cane last year, marks the second consecutive year I’ve had a foreign language album in my top ten.

Nine Types of Awesome

It’s probably no surprise that TV on the Radio ended up on the list, though maybe a little surprising that they slid in at the bottom. I loved this album, but it doesn’t rank among their best works. I still remember the first time I heard this band – spring of 2004, riding in PD’s truck as we pulled away from Best Buy in Rapid City. I remember hearing the first little saxophone lick on The Wrong Way which led into the driving bass-heavy beat. I remember thinking I’ve never heard music like this before. I remember becoming more and more intrigued the longer the song played. It may not have occurred to me immediately, but I also remember at some point thinking it was the exact music I needed in my life right then.

Seven years and three LPs later I’m still hooked. I will say that there was a golden age of TVOTR that started with the Young Liars EP, continued with Desperate Youth and ended with Cookie Mountain. With this string of perfection, they set themselves a ridiculously high bar. They weren’t able to reach those soaring heights on Dear Science, a solid but not spectacular album (which despite being their weakest effort still landed in my top 10 of 2008. I trust these guys implicitly and will buy pretty much anything they ever do). They don’t quite get there on Nine Types of Light either, but, for me, TVOTR’s output on an average day is better than most others acts on their best one. Further, this album improves on Dear Science and moves them closer to that earlier high water mark. The first track is, oddly, called Second Song and sets the table perfectly. From The Wrong Way to I Was a Lover to Halfway Home to this one, these guys know how to kick off an album. It has the same intensity I’ve come to expect, and though it starts out with a contemplative spoken word suggesting the same serious tone we’ve heard from them in the past, it soon gives way to a very danceable beat and lyrics espousing the power of music and love and light. In other words, it doesn’t take long to realize that this is their most upbeat, optimistic and playful album so far. Next up is Keep Your Heart with Kyp on vocals. Possibly my favorite on the album, it’s a beautiful song that hits me in my sappy, romantic spot much like DS’s Lover’s Day did. The love fest continues on You, a song that perfectly exemplifies the spacy, sonic feel of these ten tracks as a whole. From there the album has its ups and downs. Highlights include the lovely Killer Crane (Holy crap was that a banjo? Why yes, I do believe it was!), the sultry New Cannonball Blues, the frenetic Repetition and the deep chill of Forgotten. Strangely, the low point on the album is the song they chose as their first single, Will Do. It strikes me as a little dull and the lyrics feel uninspired.

This album holds extra special meaning to me because my wife is as passionate about this band as I am. Not only did they give us this beautiful album all about love, but they were kind enough to come and perform it for us on our 10^th wedding anniversary. That was a show I’ll never forget.

From Nine Types of Light to number nine on my list, the next artist is another can’t-miss from my personal hall of fame. He moved from Portland to Germany this past year, so my dreams of us becoming buddies have probably finally died.

Best of 2011 - ZH Version

Wow, we really let this thing slip this year, didn't we? Nothing like a year-end top ten to get it started again. Personally, I thought 2010 was a banner year for music, but somehow 2011 managed to top it. I really had a hard time narrowing it down this year. It’s been a fun year of highly anticipated follow-ups for many (really, most) of my favorites as well as some debuts that caught me, pleasantly, by surprise.

This year’s list includes five solo artists and five proper bands. I had the fortune of seeing four of the ten perform live and have tickets to see a fifth in the new year. Three I liked so much I purchased them on vinyl. Six begin with either the letter “T” or the letter “W”. Remarkably, two of them were on my list last year and perhaps even more remarkably none are associated with the name Patton or Cave.

The field was so wide open this year that I thought I’d start out with a little honorable mention list. These albums spent a lot of time on heavy rotation and nearly made the final cut. All are well worth a listen if not a purchase.

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Man Man – Life Fantastic

Eleanor Friedberger – Last Summer

Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Coming soon, my tenth favorite album of the year. Interestingly, the lead singer and backup vocalist/guitarist of this group will show up again as guests on another top ten album.

The Tallest Man of a Killing Kind

Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man On Earth, is one of the most prolific singer/songwriters currently on the scene and undoubtedly one of the best. He recently released a new single in July, "Weather of a Killing Kind," as part of an Adult Swim singles program. He released a full length album "The Wild Hunt" last year (which appeared on ZH's "Best Of 2010" list and has quickly become one of my personal favorites.) Just a few short months after that release, he dropped a 5 song EP entitled "Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird" which contains my favorite Tallest Man track "The Dreamer." Hopefully this Swede will be performing in the upper Midwest soon.

Vs. (Episode 2)

Better album (we already know Roth was far superior to Hagar, now choose the superior album?)

Van Halen - "Van Halen" (1978)






vs.




Van Halen - "1984" (1984)

Vs. (Episode 1)

Better song (not necessarily which would you rather travel?)

"Stairway To Heaven" (Led Zeppelin)


Vs.

"Highway To Hell" (AC/DC)

Battles of 2011

Five of my favorite bands who have topped my year end lists in years past are coming out (or have come out) with albums in 2011. Check 'em out upon release and drop comments. In the meantime, here are some of their gnarly artwork for your viewing pleasure.

William Elliot Whitmore - "Field Songs" (7/12/11)


Opeth - "Heritage" (9/20/11)


Man Man - "Life Fantastic" (5/10/11)


Battles - "Gloss Drop" (6/7/11)


Primus - "Green Naugahyde" (9/13/11)

Gnarly Album Covers (#1)

Best album cover thus far this year.



Thoughts?

Alone By The Sea

Two years ago, James Vincent McMorrow decided to take an unorthodox approach to writing his new record. Accompanied only by his thoughts, McMorrow took his instruments, some recording equipment, and only a single microphone with him and moved into a lonely house on the beach. After five months spent in a self-imposed isolation of creativity, he ultimately completed eleven acoustic tracks that would come to be known as "Early in the Morning".

It becomes clear, from the beginning, "Early in the Morning" is a dish best served when your appetite is for relaxing and keeping the volume knob no higher than half way up (i.e. 5.5 for PD). The album opens with "If I Had a Boat", a drifting love song about longing to bridge the gaps of distance, either physical or psychological, narrated by McMorrow's gentle falsetto. This is followed by another delicate ballad, "Hear the Noise that Moves So Soft and Low", a nostalgic, forlorn ode to an extinguished flame. A slight change in tone is found on "Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree", a quietly haunting tune that hits your ears as smoothly as a misted wind. "Down the Burning Ropes" combines eerily beautiful vocals with ominous lyrics, and is a standout cut as well.

The underlying theme of "Early in the Morning" seems to involve the end of a long relationship, followed by mournful reflection, then ultimately walking away, only to continue to look back and never feel comfortable if the bond is completely out of reach. McMorrow creates vivid mental images with his allegory-laden lyrics, and explores the battle between a man's faith versus his desire for personal satisfaction. Each track is then woven together by sprinkles of piano, airy guitar chords, soft percussion, and McMorrow's distinctly graceful voice. Consequently, "Early in the Morning" is tranquil in its entirety, with only a rare attempt at up-tempo flare. So if you're ever in need of suitable music for a peaceful hour of quiet contemplation, this album would be an excellent fit.

No Ordinary Yo-Yo

Hayes Carll is an artist who physically appears almost exactly the way he sounds: gristly and refreshingly unrefined. Accordingly, his 4th album, "KMAG YOYO", would play as an appropriate soundtrack to an evening of kicking back a few drinks with your buddies in a small town saloon. Carll's storytelling is reminiscent of Todd Snider, and his mix of humorous lyrics with driving country music makes for an entertaining listen

The disc leads off with "Stomp and Holler", a steak and potatoes ditty showcasing Carll's growly voice over meandering electric guitar, with barroom country overtones ever-present. Later on is the title track, "KMAG YOYO", which is a military acronym for "Kiss My Ass, Guys, You're On You're Own". This rambling rocker is full of witty wordplay, bluesy electric guitar, and thinly-veiled objections to war. The following track, "Another Like You", is a duet with folk-singer Cary Ann Hearst that contains a fun, flirty, sarcastic repartee on the way to drunken sex. An additional highlight is "The Lovin' Cup", a tune that finds Carll jestingly detailing the rocky end of a relationship's "honeymoon" period, before thinking better of it and playfully returning to his better half, hat-in-hand. There are also multiple twangy ballads interspersed throughout "KMAG YOYO" that add even more rustic paint to the this country-filled portrait

"KMAG YOYO" is filled with down-on-your luck stories, anecdotes about drowning your sorrows in whiskey and beer, and the perplexing motivation of trying to live right despite continually catching bad breaks. There is a certain irreverent swagger to Hayes Carll's performance, and his music comes off as delightfully unpolished. The listener may find themselves living vicariously through him as he haphazardly experiences life's many conquests and missteps. In the song "The Letter", Carll declares, "This life is like to kill me, but it sure has been fun..."; I don't think I could have said it better myself.

Swing Low Sweet Anthem

Thus far this decade, there seems to be an almost unlimited amount of folk music being released every month. At times, it is difficult to differentiate between artists, as many songs sound increasingly uniform, with the small exception of the lyrics. However, there are a select few bands who have distinguishing characteristics that allow them to stick out from the homogenous background of their peers. The Low Anthem of Providence, RI, is one such example, as frontman Ben Knox Miller's distinct, raspy vocals are beautifully unmistakable.

"Smart Flesh", the 4th album from The Low Anthem, begins with the elegant "Ghost Woman Blues". This track is a delicate weave of piano, harmonizing vocals, clarinet, and Miller's dulcet delivery. My first listen to "Ghost Woman Blues" immediately reminded me of "The Bear" off of My Morning Jacket's "Acoustic Citsuoca", as they are both reserved ballads that just pull you in with their quiet splendor. Next up is "Apothecary Love", a wistful ditty that sways along with pedal steel and harmonica to give it a pleasant country vibe. The tempo picks up, albeit briefly, on "Boeing 737". This fuzzy rocker references "Man on Wire" subject Philippe Petit and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, and is far more forceful and loud than any other track on the album. As soon as the raw punch of "Boeing 737" fades, "Smart Flesh" slows down to a mix of morose lyrics and passive accompaniment for the remainder of the album.

The first half of "Smart Flesh" is filled with seductively gripping ballads and sonorous instrumentals, but the last half seems to bog down a bit much and becomes somewhat depressing. The Low Anthem has a vivid sound that is capable of subtly embracing the listener with their graceful music and Miller's engaging voice. And though exemplified but once on this album, they also have the ability to make a damn good rock song. However, to me, it appears "Smart Flesh" came out swinging with strengths, then turned and slowly walked away from the ring with serene yet non-descript offerings. On "Love and Altar", Ben Knox Miller opines, "To love is to play, lay your wealth upon the altar". I sincerely hope the Low Anthem put those words to practice on their next album, because the results just may be divine.