The sound is what found us

[rockmarooned]

Another year, another bunch of albums that I bought or listened to extensively. I've read a bit how there isn't a really powerful consensus about great records for 2011, which I guess explains how the Adele album keeps turning up towards the top of so many lists: if we can't find something great, let's just be happy that this one album was super-

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[ext_947004]

Came for the Kinney, stayed for the Timony-
While you noted the S-K residue on Wild Flag, I was heartily rewarded by delving into Mary Timony’s back catalogue, particularly Ex Hex and Helium’s The Magic City. As I had been intermittently playing Wild Flag between Timony albums, the more subtle and more interesting (in comparison) Something Came Over Me revealed itself to be (essentially) a Mary Timony song (see Harmony on Ex Hex).

Things will start getting really exciting if the Flag keeps the longer form, but whispers to the Racehorse and heads into the proggy-drone territory of cuts like Helium’s The Revolution of Hearts and Timony’s Silence.

Also, as an appreciator of 70’s roots reggae, I read a description of Oberst Dread irie new album. First thought: bad idea. Then I heard it: yup, his delivery has so much in common with Ras Trent (http://www.thelonelyisland.com/video/ras-trent) that it must have been a co-production-“Dreamt I was riding on a motorbike, a Lion of Judah painted on the side.” I & I, too, Rasta. I & I, too.

[rockmarooned]

I bought a used copy of Helium's Dirt of Luck a few months ago but I haven't really delved into it yet. I'm interested, though, since I like pretty much every element of Wild Flag just as I liked all three components of S-K.

I think Oberst's voice has gotten a lot stronger and more interesting over the years, but yeah, I'm not so interested in how he interprets reggae influences, not least because I can't really listen to reggae!