(no subject)
listen to my music again. courtesy of myself (with additional recommendations from the RMR staffers). let's start at the beginning. of course.
60. Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun Awakens (Drag City)
Another year, another shimmering Six Organs release. Ben Chasny forges the progressive stylings of Comets on Fire (his other band) with strong undertones of Eastern mysticism and folk. And yeah, as CoF fans would expect, some seriously bitchin’ psychedelic flourishes. This would fit well right between your Ravi Shankar albums and your patchouli. RMR does not advocate the usage of illegal substances, but it does advocate use of this album.
Recommended songs: The Desert is a Circle, Black Wall
59. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (Matador)
These guys are STILL making music? Onoffon wasn’t a death throe, but a harbringer of things to come. The Obliterati is a document of a band not quite ready to go away and leave the music scene with tepid imitators. Post-punk and indie rock bands alike should be prepared to fall in line again if these guys keep going. Will we still see them next year? Who knows…but with the intensity and sheer attitude these stalwarts display, it won’t matter.
Recommended songs: Donna Sumeria, Birthday
58. Mellowdrone - Box (Red Ink)
Since I’ve last checked up on this duo earlier in the year, I have heard snippets of songs from Box in commercials, promos for new TV shows, and the gym. Shout “SELLOUT!” from the rooftops all you’d like; this is just plain good music. Fans of Stabbing Westward, Filter, and all those 1990s alterna-rock giants will take this pill and it will go down quite easy. For the rest of you, consider it angst that is both danceable and worthy of a few good headbangs.
Recommended songs: Oh My, Fashionably Uninvited
57. Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XL)
Frontman for a critically acclaimed and incredibly influential band releases an album with more of the same musical aspects diehard fans have come to know and love = a no-brainer success. Yorke’s solo debut is everything you’d expect from this world-weary poet, complete with desolate metaphors and dissonance in spades. Think of it as Kid A for Lovers. Put on a pair of oversized headphones and just let it all wash over you like you know it will.
Recommended songs: The Eraser, Black Swan
56. Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles (Bpitch Control)
Two DJs use their differing approaches - direct and indirect - to dance music and electronica to bring EVERYBODY to the dance floor on Orchestra of Bubbles. Those who forcefully resist the pull of this amalgamation of acid-house, IDM, trance, and laptop funk will even find themselves bobbing their little wallflower heads while the rest of us just groove on it. All night long. In a year without a truly solid Basement Jaxx album, this was so very necessary.
Recommended songs: Way Out, Leave Me Alone
60. Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun Awakens (Drag City)
Another year, another shimmering Six Organs release. Ben Chasny forges the progressive stylings of Comets on Fire (his other band) with strong undertones of Eastern mysticism and folk. And yeah, as CoF fans would expect, some seriously bitchin’ psychedelic flourishes. This would fit well right between your Ravi Shankar albums and your patchouli. RMR does not advocate the usage of illegal substances, but it does advocate use of this album.
Recommended songs: The Desert is a Circle, Black Wall
59. Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (Matador)
These guys are STILL making music? Onoffon wasn’t a death throe, but a harbringer of things to come. The Obliterati is a document of a band not quite ready to go away and leave the music scene with tepid imitators. Post-punk and indie rock bands alike should be prepared to fall in line again if these guys keep going. Will we still see them next year? Who knows…but with the intensity and sheer attitude these stalwarts display, it won’t matter.
Recommended songs: Donna Sumeria, Birthday
58. Mellowdrone - Box (Red Ink)
Since I’ve last checked up on this duo earlier in the year, I have heard snippets of songs from Box in commercials, promos for new TV shows, and the gym. Shout “SELLOUT!” from the rooftops all you’d like; this is just plain good music. Fans of Stabbing Westward, Filter, and all those 1990s alterna-rock giants will take this pill and it will go down quite easy. For the rest of you, consider it angst that is both danceable and worthy of a few good headbangs.
Recommended songs: Oh My, Fashionably Uninvited
57. Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XL)
Frontman for a critically acclaimed and incredibly influential band releases an album with more of the same musical aspects diehard fans have come to know and love = a no-brainer success. Yorke’s solo debut is everything you’d expect from this world-weary poet, complete with desolate metaphors and dissonance in spades. Think of it as Kid A for Lovers. Put on a pair of oversized headphones and just let it all wash over you like you know it will.
Recommended songs: The Eraser, Black Swan
56. Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles (Bpitch Control)
Two DJs use their differing approaches - direct and indirect - to dance music and electronica to bring EVERYBODY to the dance floor on Orchestra of Bubbles. Those who forcefully resist the pull of this amalgamation of acid-house, IDM, trance, and laptop funk will even find themselves bobbing their little wallflower heads while the rest of us just groove on it. All night long. In a year without a truly solid Basement Jaxx album, this was so very necessary.
Recommended songs: Way Out, Leave Me Alone