...i know what's sooooo good!
Here are some albums released this year that I really enjoyed. It's so impossible for me to rank these. I'd have to make decisions like, "Did I like Plans more because Death Cab is my favorite band, or was Picaresque better? What did I enjoy shaking my ass to more, Twin Cinema or Silent Alarm? Does everything Chris Walla touches just end up being seriously amazing?" So anyway, here's
Annie - Anniemal
Someone posted some Annie tracks over on the Rhapsodical community. I was in totally poppy, super cheesy love. Matt was awesome enough to buy me this CD for my birthday. Annie is super cute and super fun. I looooove it!
Beck - Guero
This album is super awesome. Petra Haden even sings on one of the songs, which is most definitely a plus. I <3 Beck, especially his dancey side. Maybe I can learn to love the other parts of Beck. Whatever. This album is seriously amazing. I love having dance parties with Beck.
Better Than Ezra - Before the Robots
I have liked Better Than Ezra for a while now (since Matt introduced me to them). They've had so many problems with record labels and such, which is a shame because they're such a good band. Now they're on Artemis Records. This album is seriously amazing, and I hope like millions of people buy this album so they won't get dropped from a record label again because people would rather listen to 50 Cent or whatever. Oh yeah, I saw them live last month...the lead singer (Kevin Griffin) was soooo dorky. Ahh, I loved it.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Let me just say...I fucking love this band. I downloaded a few songs, and I thought they were good...saw them perform on some late night show...but I was super poor at the time. Matt liked the songs too, so he bought the album. I listened to it, and I was like, "HAHA, for once...I have found an awesome band!" This band makes me dance my ass off. Silent Alarm Remixed is also super fantastic.
Caesars - Paper Tigers
I had heard Caesars before, but Matt made a mix with one of their new songs on it. I loooooved it, so I listened to the entire album. I thought it was amazing. This band is seriously really good. I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I really enjoyed this album a lot.
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Death Cab is definitely my favorite band, and I've been so in love with them ever since I heard the first few notes of Title Track. So any Death Cab release is ultimately fantastic in my book. I couldn't really get into this album at first, but then I saw them play so many of the songs live. Let me just say that I fucking <3 Chris Walla because I just can't say that enough. Ben Gibbard could fart into a microphone, and I'd buy the album. Their major label debut shows that they've grown up, but they definitely haven't sold out. Take that, haters.
The Decemberists - Picaresque
This release solidified The Decemberists' ranking as my 2nd favorite band. This album is fucking amazing in every single way. Lyrics are fantastic, the instrumentation is amazing, and fuck...it is just so good. I love, love, love this band. Plus, Chris Walla produced this album!
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
So it's June of 2004. Matt and I went to see Franz Ferdinand at the Avalon in Boston. I had heard a few of their songs beforehand, and I thought they were pretty decent. Well, we went to this show...and I danced my ass off. It was such a fucking fun time. In fact, on the drive home, I kept announcing that it was the most fun time I'd had all year. The next day, I bought their first album, their EP, and a CD single. I love this band. They're so much fun.
Hot Hot Heat - Elevator
I liked Hot Hot Heat's first album, but I wasn't crazy about it. This album is definitely a step above, a step in the right direction...the direction of super awesomeness. The lead singer's voice started to only annoy me 8% of the time. This album is really fun, a little poppy. That's how I like it...oh yeahhh.
The Long Winters - Ultimatum [EP]
I've heard The Long Winters before, but I was never really into them. Then I downloaded the song Ultimatum and purchased this EP, and that has all changed. This EP can enter my top releases list by the awesomeness of this song alone. Note: every other song on the EP is also super good!!!
Mae - The Everglow
This album is really awesome, and I never thought I'd dig this band. I wish they would tour with a band that's actually good or at least doesn't suck so I could possibly have a chance to see them eventually. Let me just say that I discovered their full-on awesomeness on a 6 hour car ride. Also, the album artwork is so pretty.
Minus the Bear - Menos el Oso
Minus the Bear are back. The song titles aren't as silly as before, but they are still fucking awesome. This album is just really good, really chill music. I am convinced that El Torrente should be used in an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I'd probably cream my panties.
Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift
I was a little bit of a Nada Surf fan before this album came out. This album definitely made me a super fan and earns Nada Surf a slot in my "bands that are totally my favorites" list. It is just soooo good, seriously. Buy it because everything about it is wonderful. Oh yeah, Chris Walla produced this album!
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Dude, I love this band. Neko Case and A.C. Newman both wow me on their solo albums, but together...they are fucking amazing. This band makes me want to dance my ass off and learn to sing like Neko Case. I love to sing along to this in the car and pretend that I am Neko Case. I believe this album may just be their best effort yet. wOOt.
Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
When I first heard this album, I said "It's OK, nothing fantastic." Then one of their songs came on randomly one day, and I was like "Dude, this is goooood!" Maybe I have a new-found super love of the keyboard or something. I just really enjoy this album a lot.
Sons & Daughters - The Repulsion Box
I saw this band open for Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 2004. I was impressed with the lead female singer's side-step tamborine dance, but that's a whole other story. I loved them, although no one else in the crowd seemed to give a fuck about them. Their style is really hard to describe, but they're just soooo good and a little something different.
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
So this album was released in 2004 in Canada. Big deal, I don't live in Canada...so this gets to be on my list. I had listened to this album a few times, and I thought it was good. Then I saw this band open for Death Cab for Cutie. Holy shit, they were amazing. Soo many people rocking out on stage, and there was even a violin player. I <3 the violin!! Anyway, this band amazed me so much that I wasn't even all thinking, "Get off the fucking stage so I can see Chris Walla." After seeing them live, I definitely enjoyed the album more. This album is so amazing and beautiful...buy it, seriously.
Annie - Anniemal
Someone posted some Annie tracks over on the Rhapsodical community. I was in totally poppy, super cheesy love. Matt was awesome enough to buy me this CD for my birthday. Annie is super cute and super fun. I looooove it!
Beck - Guero
This album is super awesome. Petra Haden even sings on one of the songs, which is most definitely a plus. I <3 Beck, especially his dancey side. Maybe I can learn to love the other parts of Beck. Whatever. This album is seriously amazing. I love having dance parties with Beck.
Better Than Ezra - Before the Robots
I have liked Better Than Ezra for a while now (since Matt introduced me to them). They've had so many problems with record labels and such, which is a shame because they're such a good band. Now they're on Artemis Records. This album is seriously amazing, and I hope like millions of people buy this album so they won't get dropped from a record label again because people would rather listen to 50 Cent or whatever. Oh yeah, I saw them live last month...the lead singer (Kevin Griffin) was soooo dorky. Ahh, I loved it.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Let me just say...I fucking love this band. I downloaded a few songs, and I thought they were good...saw them perform on some late night show...but I was super poor at the time. Matt liked the songs too, so he bought the album. I listened to it, and I was like, "HAHA, for once...I have found an awesome band!" This band makes me dance my ass off. Silent Alarm Remixed is also super fantastic.
Caesars - Paper Tigers
I had heard Caesars before, but Matt made a mix with one of their new songs on it. I loooooved it, so I listened to the entire album. I thought it was amazing. This band is seriously really good. I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I really enjoyed this album a lot.
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Death Cab is definitely my favorite band, and I've been so in love with them ever since I heard the first few notes of Title Track. So any Death Cab release is ultimately fantastic in my book. I couldn't really get into this album at first, but then I saw them play so many of the songs live. Let me just say that I fucking <3 Chris Walla because I just can't say that enough. Ben Gibbard could fart into a microphone, and I'd buy the album. Their major label debut shows that they've grown up, but they definitely haven't sold out. Take that, haters.
The Decemberists - Picaresque
This release solidified The Decemberists' ranking as my 2nd favorite band. This album is fucking amazing in every single way. Lyrics are fantastic, the instrumentation is amazing, and fuck...it is just so good. I love, love, love this band. Plus, Chris Walla produced this album!
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
So it's June of 2004. Matt and I went to see Franz Ferdinand at the Avalon in Boston. I had heard a few of their songs beforehand, and I thought they were pretty decent. Well, we went to this show...and I danced my ass off. It was such a fucking fun time. In fact, on the drive home, I kept announcing that it was the most fun time I'd had all year. The next day, I bought their first album, their EP, and a CD single. I love this band. They're so much fun.
Hot Hot Heat - Elevator
I liked Hot Hot Heat's first album, but I wasn't crazy about it. This album is definitely a step above, a step in the right direction...the direction of super awesomeness. The lead singer's voice started to only annoy me 8% of the time. This album is really fun, a little poppy. That's how I like it...oh yeahhh.
The Long Winters - Ultimatum [EP]
I've heard The Long Winters before, but I was never really into them. Then I downloaded the song Ultimatum and purchased this EP, and that has all changed. This EP can enter my top releases list by the awesomeness of this song alone. Note: every other song on the EP is also super good!!!
Mae - The Everglow
This album is really awesome, and I never thought I'd dig this band. I wish they would tour with a band that's actually good or at least doesn't suck so I could possibly have a chance to see them eventually. Let me just say that I discovered their full-on awesomeness on a 6 hour car ride. Also, the album artwork is so pretty.
Minus the Bear - Menos el Oso
Minus the Bear are back. The song titles aren't as silly as before, but they are still fucking awesome. This album is just really good, really chill music. I am convinced that El Torrente should be used in an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I'd probably cream my panties.
Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift
I was a little bit of a Nada Surf fan before this album came out. This album definitely made me a super fan and earns Nada Surf a slot in my "bands that are totally my favorites" list. It is just soooo good, seriously. Buy it because everything about it is wonderful. Oh yeah, Chris Walla produced this album!
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Dude, I love this band. Neko Case and A.C. Newman both wow me on their solo albums, but together...they are fucking amazing. This band makes me want to dance my ass off and learn to sing like Neko Case. I love to sing along to this in the car and pretend that I am Neko Case. I believe this album may just be their best effort yet. wOOt.
Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
When I first heard this album, I said "It's OK, nothing fantastic." Then one of their songs came on randomly one day, and I was like "Dude, this is goooood!" Maybe I have a new-found super love of the keyboard or something. I just really enjoy this album a lot.
Sons & Daughters - The Repulsion Box
I saw this band open for Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 2004. I was impressed with the lead female singer's side-step tamborine dance, but that's a whole other story. I loved them, although no one else in the crowd seemed to give a fuck about them. Their style is really hard to describe, but they're just soooo good and a little something different.
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
So this album was released in 2004 in Canada. Big deal, I don't live in Canada...so this gets to be on my list. I had listened to this album a few times, and I thought it was good. Then I saw this band open for Death Cab for Cutie. Holy shit, they were amazing. Soo many people rocking out on stage, and there was even a violin player. I <3 the violin!! Anyway, this band amazed me so much that I wasn't even all thinking, "Get off the fucking stage so I can see Chris Walla." After seeing them live, I definitely enjoyed the album more. This album is so amazing and beautiful...buy it, seriously.