Sound Writer

For those of you who I haven't yet contacted, I have a new music blog. If you've been wondering why I haven't posted anything in awhile, well, that's the reason. It's called Sound Writer, and can be found here:

http://soundwriter.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your support!

-Bryce

2009 Grades

Now that I have graduated high school, survived an unfortunate event in my life, and am back to being mentally stable (for the most part), there will be frequent posts here. I know you have no reason to believe me, but it's true this time. To get things started, here is a list of 2009 album grades. Let me know if you want a review of any of these or if you have any questions or opinions on these.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead- The Century of Self (C+)

1349- Revelations of the Black Flame (B)

311- Uplifter (C)

Absu- Absu (B)

Adagio- Archangels in Black (B+)

Alestorm- Black Sails at Midnight (B)

Alexisonfire- Old Crows/Young Cardinals (B)

Amesoeurs- Amesoeurs (A-)

Amorphis- Skyforger (A-)

Anaal Nathrakh- In the Constellation of the Black Widow (B)

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion (A)

Art Brut- Art Brut vs. Satan (B+)

Black Dice- Repo (B)

Black Lips- 200 Million Thousand (C+)

Black Moth Super Rainbow- Eating Us (B+)

Bob Dylan- Together Through Life (B-)

Bonnie "Prince" Billy- Beware (B+)

B-Real- Smoke & Mirrors (C)

Bruce Springsteen- Working on a Dream (C+)

Cage- Depart From Me (C+)

Cannibal Corpse- Evisceration Plague (C+)

Cattle Decapitation- The Harvest Floors (B)

Chickenfoot- Chickenfoot (C)

Chimaira- The Infection (C)

Chris Cornell- Scream (F)

Crooked X- Crooked X (C)

Cursive- Mama, I'm Swollen (C)

DÅÅTH- The Concealers (C+)

Dalek- Gutter Tactics (B-)

Depeche Mode- Sounds of the Universe (B)

Destroyer 666- Defiance (B)

Devin Townsend Project- Ki (A)

Dinosaur Jr.- Farm (B)

Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca (A-)

DOOM- Born Into This (C-)

Dream Theater- Black Clouds and Silver Linings (C+)

Dredg- The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion (A-)

Eels- Hombre Lobo (B)

Eluveitie- Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion (B)

Eminem- Relapse (A-)

Franz Ferdinand- Tonight (D+)

Goblin Cock- Come With Me if You Want to Live (B)

God Forbid- Earthsblood (C+)

Graveworm- Diabolical Figures (B)

Green Day- 21st Century Breakdown (B+)

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest (A)

Hammerfall- No Sacrifice, No Victory (B-)

Heaven and Hell- The Devil You Know (B+)

Hurt- Goodbye to Machine (B-)

If These Trees Could Talk- Above The Earth, Below The Sky (B+)

Isis- Wavering Radiant (B-)

J. Tillman- Vacilando Territory Blues (B)

John Frusciante- The Empyrean (B)

Killswitch Engage- Killswitch Engage (B)

K'nann- Troubadour (B+)

Korpiklaani- Karkelo (B-)

K-Os- Yes! (B)

Kreator- Hordes of Chaos (B)

Lacuna Coil- Shallow Life (D)

Lamb of God- Wrath (C+)

Lazarus A.D.- The Onslaught (B+)

Manic Street Preachers- Journal for Plague Lovers (A-)

Marilyn Manson- The High End of the Low (D+)

Mastodon- Crack the Skye (B)

Meat Puppets- Sewn Together (C+)

Method Man & Redman- Blackout! 2 (B)

Mono- Hymn to the Immortal Wind (B+)

Morrissey- Years of Refusal (C)

Mos Def- The Ecstatic (B+)

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band- Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (B)

My Dying Bride- For Lies I Sire (B)

Napalm Death- Time Waits for No Slave (B-)

Neko Case- Middle Cyclone (C)

Obituary- Darkest Day (C)

Obscura- Cosmogenesis (B+)

Old Man's Child- Slaves of the World (C+)

P.O.S.- Never Better (A-)

Papa Roach- Metamorphosis (D)

Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (B)

Pure Reason Revolution- Amor Vincit Omnia (B-)

Queensryche- Amerson Soldier (C)

Riverside- Anno Domini High Definition (A-)

Royksopp- Junior (C+)

Rumpelstiltskin Grinder- Living for Death, Destroying the Rest (B)

Sepultura- A-Lex (C)

Sonic Youth- The Eternal (B)

Spinal Tap- Back from the Dead (D)

Stream of Passion- The Flame Within (B)

Street Sweeper Social Club- Street Sweeper Social Club (C+)

Stuck Mojo- The Great Revival (F)

Suffocation- Blood Omen (B)

Sun O)))- Monoliths & Dimensions (B+)

Tech N9ne- Sickology 101 (B)

The Crystal Method- Divided By Night (C-)

The Decemberists- The Hazards of Love (B)

The Gathering- The West Pole (B+)

The Lonely Island- Incredibad (B-)

The Mars Volta- Octahedron (C+)

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart- The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (B-)

The Prodigy- Invaders Must Die (B+)

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus- Lonely Road (C-)

U2- No Line on the Horizon (C-)

Wilco (The Album)- Wilco (C+)

Wolves in the Throne Room- Black Crusade (A)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- It's Blitz! (C)

Zu- Carboniferous (B+)

After a long delay...The Top 10 Albums of 2008

Last year my list was delayed due to me being in the hospital. This year, it's delayed because the guest critic I was going to be revealing my top 10 list with is in the hospital. Once he gets out, we may still do an "Ebert & Roeper" type video blog where we discuss both of our lists, but for now this is the best I can do. No comments yet, as I'm still holding out for a chance to explain my list alongside my good friend, Noah.

10:
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!



9:
Gojira
The Way of All Flesh



8:
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes



7:
Ihsahn
angL



6:
Sadistik
The Balancing Act



5:
The Hold Steady
Stay Positive



4:
Steven Wilson
Insurgentes



3:
Atmosphere
When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold



2:
Opeth
Watershed



1:
TV on the Radio
Dear Science

"Shallow Life"- Lacuna Coil mini-review

Lacuna Coil- Shallow Life

What happened here? Although I attempt to review every album objectively, I wouldn't be reviewing albums to begin with if I didn't love music, and thus have some bands that I consider to be my personal favorites. Lacuna Coil have been a personal favorite of mine ever since I became a metalhead many years ago. While their sound has contained of heavy metal, gothic rock, and alternative, Lacuna Coil have always been a creative and often under appreciated group that has stayed far ahead of their countless imitators. Led by the duel vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro, the former being one of the absolute best female singers in rock and metal, the pure and powerful vocals have been one of the group's strongest assets. Not here though. On Shallow Life both voices sound like they've gone through some "studio magic," and have become boring in the process. That's the first of many problems with Shallow Life. The biggest, however, is that there are hardly any strengths to overshadow the flaws. The opening track has a nice little intro to it, but that goes to waste once the actual song starts. Every single track sounds like a radio rock song. Maybe this album will be a hit with mainstream rock fans, but anyone who remembers the days of a creative, varied, beautiful, heavy, and powerful Lacuna Coil will be flat out angered by the atrocity of Shallow Life. It's doubtful that any fan of the band, even those who learned of them through the often criticized (but still solid) Karmacode, will be pleased with what Lacuna Coil has released. If you're a fan of mainstream rock, there might be something here that you'll like, but if you're Lacuna Coil fan I hope you don't mind that I'll put myself out of the misery of having to think about this album and end the review here by simply telling you to avoid this album at all costs unless you're a Lacuna Coil purist that has no other choice but to give it a try.

Grade: D

The Worst Song I've Ever Heard

For reasons I will likely never understand, most critics seemed to think Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III was a masterful album. I am not one of them. Tha Carter III was one of the worst albums I heard all of the last year, and in my humble opinion, is an absolute to disgrace to hip-hop. His latest single, "Prom Queen," takes things to a new low. It might not be my place to post a link to a song and then deliberately bash it, but this one deserves it. After having time to digest Lil Wanye's first single from his upcoming "rock" album, Rebirth, I have come to the conclusion that it is the single worst song I have ever heard. Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm posted this other than that I'm horrified that a song like this can exist and that the artist responsible can be met with critical praise. This, my friends, is a sad time we are living in:

2009 Rockstar Energy Mayhem Tour Info

Main Stage:
Slayer
Marilyn Manson
Killswitch Engage
Bullet For My Valentine

Hot Topic Stage:
Cannibal Corpse
Behemoth
Job For A Cowboy
The Black Dahlia Murder
Whitechapel

Jägermeister Stage:
Trivium
All That Remains
God Forbid

Tour Dates:
Jul. 10 - Sacramento, CA
Jul. 11 - San Francisco, CA
Jul. 12 - San Bernardino, CA
Jul. 14 - Seattle, WA
Jul. 17 - Phoenix, AZ
Jul. 18 - Albuquerque, NM
Jul. 19 - Denver, CO
Jul. 21 - Kansas City
Jul. 22 - St. Louis, MO
Jul. 24 - Atlanta, GA
Jul. 25 - Indianapolis, IN
Jul. 26 - Chicago, IL
Jul. 28 - Toronto, ON
Jul. 29 - Scranton, PA
Jul. 31 - Cleveland, OH
Aug. 01 - Pittsburgh, PA
Aug. 02 - Detroit, MI
Aug. 04 - Boston, MA
Aug. 06 - Virginia Beach, VA
Aug. 07 - Camden, NJ
Aug. 08 - Hartford, CT
Aug. 09 - Washington, DC
Aug. 11 - Tampa, FL
Aug. 12 - West Palm Beach, FL
Aug. 14 - Dallas, TX
Aug. 15 - Houston, TX
Aug. 16 - San Antonio, TX

I honestly wasn't expecting to be excited by this news. However, Slayer, Behemoth, and Killswitch means I'll be there on the 14th. What do you guys think of the lineup this year? My personal opinion is that this is a hell of lot better than Slipknot and Disturbed, the former headlining being one of the reasons I didn't attend.

First Two Reviews of 2009

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion



Merriweather Post Pavilion is an album that is difficult to describe, but not difficult to grade. It's hard to point out what exactly makes it a masterpiece, but it's also easy to tell that it is in fact a masterpiece. There is so much going on here that it's hard to filter out what's coming from where and how everything has been put together. That, however, is the genius of Merriweather Post Pavilion. Each listener will have a completely different experience with the music, and not just in the way that you'd expect from a work of art. The album's first impression will depend entirely on what you pick up first, and Animal Collective haven't made one specific part of the album stand out more than another. Just about everything stands out, and again, it can be overwhelming. However, with each listen more and more of the album comes together, and eventually it will click. The fact that someone actually wrote music like this and recorded an album with as many layers as Merriweather Post Pavilion is staggering. It's simply genius, as nothing about this album is simple other than its genius, and each song is completely different from the last. As a whole, the album is noisy, catchy, trippy, intelligent, clever, and incredibly subtle. There's more here than what one can write about, and there's more here than what one can pick up on after even a few listens. Animal Collective have crafted a gem in Merriweather Post Pavilion, and any true fan of music should not only listen to it, but invest the time into understanding all that's going on in this beautifully chaotic album.

Grade: A

Stuck Mojo- The Great Revival



I'll admit that I don't know a whole lot about Stuck Mojo. I love rap and I love metal, but the combination of the two has rarely resulted in quality music, so forgive me for not remembering much about this late 90s rap-metal act. What I can say is that whether you like rap, rock, metal, previous Stuck Mojo albums, or even music in general, you should avoid The Great Revival. This is as awful of an album as there is, and I can't imagine anyone being able to stand it for more than a track or two. It is, however, hilarious. It's not trying to be, but it is. Songs like the Limp Bizkit-meets-Hannah Montana "Friends" and the nauseating cover of "Country Road" (where West Virginia randomly becomes North Carolina, even though the band is actually from Georgia) are guaranteed to make any fan of real rap or metal laugh, but most of the other tracks are just awful in the less humorous way. The songwriting is horrific on just about every level, the rapping is even worse than Fred Durst's, the lyrics are laughably bad throughout, and the same generic drop-d riff is played over and over again. On top of all of that, Stuck Mojo throws in random style changes at the most inopportune times, making it even more obvious that this band has absolutely no clue what they're doing. The "experimentation" adds nothing to the music, partly because the band doesn't seem to understand how to play the styles they add in. If The Great Revival is any indication, Stuck Mojo don't understand rap, metal, or any form of music they attempt to play. Other than for comedic purposes, there is no reason to listen to this album. Please, do yourself a favor and stay clear of The Great Revival. Even though it's one the first albums released in 2009, it will almost certainly be among the worst albums released all year.

Grade: F

Holiday Buyer's Guide 08- Extreme Metal

Other Sections:

-Introduction
-Accessible Metal
-Mainstream Rock
-Progressive
-Alternative
-Melodeath/Doom/Goth
-Indie Rock
-Hip-Hop
-Power/Folk/Symphonic Metal
-Indie Folk
-Extreme Metal
-Experimental

Extreme Metal

One of the most misunderstood and controversial genres of music, extreme metal is truly a unique form of art. Fans of black and death metal had a number of good albums to treat themselves to over the past year, and if you’re shopping for a metalhead, here are ten of the heaviest and most brutal albums released in 2008.

Arsis

We are the Nightmare

It’s no surprise that Arsis’ latest album is good. This is one immensely talented band, and they seem to get more technically complex with each release. Purely from a guitarists’ perspective, these are some of the most complicated riffs found in any 2008 album, and once again, no death metal fan should be surprised. What may be a surprise to some, and the main reason We are the Nightmare achieves greatness, is due to the shocking amount of subtlety and progression on this record. Musically, there is far more here than great solos and complicated riffs. There is actual melody to the solos, uniqueness to the chord progression, and just a sense of true emotion that is often missing from death metal. Even things as subtle as using the same riff to start and end the album makes this a true experience, as well as a great technical death metal album. While it may be too extreme to appeal to anyone outside of the death metal community, Arsis has created an album that deserves to be listened to by any open-minded music fan.

Bloodbath

The Fathomless Mastery

If there’s one 2008 album that exemplifies what metal is all about, it’s Bloodbath’s The Fathomless Mastery. The members of Bloodbath are comprised of members of Opeth and Katatonia (including Opeth vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt) and it’s essentially their way of paying tribute to classic death metal. Unlike Opeth and Katatonia, Bloodbath follows a specific formula, as it stays true to its death metal roots. It’s doubtful that anyone is expecting The Fathomless Mastery to be some kind of progressive concept album, as what you’re getting here is a brutal death metal album by some of the most talented musicians in the genre, but just make sure you know that isn't anything like Opeth before you buy it. If you’re into death metal, however, The Fathomless Mastery is essential. Obviously, it’s nothing the genre hasn’t seen before, but it’s a brutal tribute to the death metal gods.

Dead Congregation

Grave of the Archangels

Dead Congregation is pure old-school death metal in its purest form. Grave of the Archangels is as heavy and brutal of an album as you’ll find, and it’s one with very few flaws. The band clearly borrows from classic death bands like Morbid Angel and Incarnation, but considering that this is a debut album that masterfully recreates the pure brutality often lost in modern death metal, it’s really more of a good than a bad. There are also some moments of atmospheric experimentation that only add to the darkness of the music. From start to finish, Grave of the Archangels is classic death metal at its finest. This is a great album for fans of old-school death metal, and anyone looking for a truly brutal experience will find it here.

Enslaved

Vertebrae

It’s hard to say exactly what genre Enslaved fits under, as they seem to consistently reinvent their sound, and it’s also hard to say just who Vertebrae will most appeal to. Regardless of whether black metal fans will appreciate Enslaved’s more progressive side, Vertebrae is a phenomenal album that deserves to find an audience. Along with Wolves in the Throne Room, Agalloch, and Emperor, Enslaved plays the most progressive and creative brand of black metal out there. Vertebrae is less of a black metal album than Enslaved purists may want, but it’s also one of the most unique and experimental albums Enslaved has put out. I’m not sure quite who to recommend Vertebrae to, other than to simply recommend it to anyone willing to listen. It’s a great album that deserves an audience from any and all open-minded metalheads.

Hate Eternal

Fury and Flames

Hate Eternal’s Fury and Flames is hardly an essential album, but it is another quality death metal release from Morbid Angel’s Erik Rutan. From a technical stand point, Fury and Flames is typical death metal. It features impressive musicianship, but nothing particularly unique musically or lyrically. However, Hate Eternal has put more into their brutality than most. This is not just a brutal album for the sake of being brutal, but instead an album that uses its brutality to convey emotion. While many death metal albums are an emotionless exercise in technical musicianship and brutality, Hate Eternal blends their brutality with genuine anger to create an experience that is more than just mindless brutality. Pure death metal fans might not notice it, but anyone looking for a more emotional death metal album will find it here.

Leviathan

Massive Conspiracy Against All Life

Jeff Whitehead, the man behind one-man atmospheric black metal band Leviathan, and has crafted one dark and haunting album with Massive Conspiracy Against All Life. If you want an album full of dark atmospheric music that will send chills down your spine, this is as good of an album as there is. It’s appropriately disturbing and hard to listen to, and I mean that in the best way possible. Leviathan is an intentionally dark and inaccessible project that is definitely not for everyone. Anyone who appreciates dark and disturbing music, however, should check out this atmospheric black metal release. No 2008 album came close to reaching the level of darkness found in Massive Conspiracy Against All Life.

Meshuggah

ObZen

One of the best metal albums of 2008, Meshuggah’s latest release is an essential purchase for any metalhead. ObZen is a brutal album with some of the most technical musicianship you’ll ever hear, but it’s also creative in its brutality. Few extreme bands use as many musical styles as Meshuggah, and even fewer manage to remain as brutal while doing it. The band’s problem has always been consistency, but ObZen fixes that. The albums starts off blazing with ridiculously fast drumming and brutal bass-driven riffs, and it never lets up. Even through the massive amount of variation within each song, ObZen is manages to be a pure extreme metal that is as artistic as any indie album released in 08.

Nachtmystium

Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1

Assassins is a difficult album to describe, as it really doesn’t fit into one specific genre. Nachtmystium put a multitude of influences on display, including black/death metal, progressive and psychedelic rock, and even pure heavy metal. It’s a unique combination, and at times underwhelming, but Assassins is an interesting album throughout. Fans of more ambient and progressive black metal bands like Agalloch and Wolves in the Throne Room should check out Nachtmystium’s latest this holiday season, as it’s up there with Ihsahn's angL and Enslaved's Vertebrae as the best "artistic" black metal album released this year. It may not be brutal enough to satisfy fans that are looking for raw black metal, but Assassins is a far better album than your standard black metal release.

Origin

Antithesis

While Origin’s Antithesis doesn’t stray from the death metal formula, this is one of the strongest death metal albums releases this year. The musicianship here is both technically masterful and incredibly brutal, and anyone who appreciates true death metal will find a lot to love with Antithesis. The speed and technically of Origin is staggering, and again, anyone who is looking for an album full of impressive technical musicianship will find it here. Antithesis is a simple album and one that it almost pointless to analyze, but it’s also one of the best death metal albums of 2008. If you’re looking for the fastest and most brutal album of the year, Antithesis is certainly an album worth looking at.

Septic Flesh

Communion

Septic Flesh is death metal with melody. However, they are not melodic death metal. Septic Flesh is instead a technical death metal band with goth and symphonic metal influences. The result is a sound that combines the brutality of death metal with the melody of symphonic to create a rather unique mixture. Granted, Septic Flesh don't do anything new other than combining the two genres. Their brand of death metal is pretty typical, and the same can be said for their gothic and symphonic influences. Still, Communion is a death metal album with a unique sound that should appeal to fans of the genre. The technical death elements are performed expertly, and the melody shows up in all the right places. It’s not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but instead a death metal album that is very easy to recommend.

Holiday Buyer's Guide 08- Indie Folk

Other Sections:

-Introduction
-Accessible Metal
-Mainstream Rock
-Progressive
-Alternative
-Melodeath/Doom/Goth
-Indie Rock
-Hip-Hop
-Power/Folk/Symphonic Metal
-Indie Folk
-Extreme Metal
-Experimental

Indie Folk

Another new category this year, indie folk is a genre of music that I admit to not being experienced in reviewing, but one that I greatly enjoy nonetheless. 2008 didn’t have an Iron & Wine for me to obsess over, but there were a still of a number of great indie albums with folk influences to warrant its own category. Whether you’re a fan of softer indie rock, traditional folk, or even someone who has already become a fan of indie folk, here are recommendable albums that at least vaguely fit into the genre.

Bon Iver

For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver’s debut is a different kind of indie folk album than most, but it’s also one of the best albums in the genre. From the lyrical poetry to the beautiful atmosphere Bon Iver creates, For Emma, Forever Ago is an emotionally charged album that is truly something to behold. It’s not a perfect album by any means, but the sheer beauty of the record is something that any fan of music should appreciate. If you or someone you know is looking for an album that is both original and beautiful, For Emma, Forever Ago is as good of a choice as any. This is one of the best debuts of 2008, as well as a special album in its own right.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy

Lie Down in the Light

Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy) is one of indie folk’s most critically acclaimed and well respected musicians. This is for good reason. Lie Down in the Light is another beautiful and artistic folk album from Oldham, and as a critic, it’s honestly hard not to praise everything this man touches. This has nothing to do with name or his reputation, but simply that he records creative and original music with a stunning amount of polish on just about every record. Oldham has unique voice filled with passion, and it’s obvious that he loves what he does and puts a lot of care into his music. This is the kind of passionate album that exemplifies why folk music is great, and any fan of the genre should give it a listen.

Calexico

Carried to Dust

While Calexico isn’t necessarily indie folk, it has enough folk influences to earn its place on the list, and an appearance by Iron & Wine certainly helps its cause. Carried to Dust is also somewhat of an inconsistent album, but its standout moments are some of the year’s best. The single “Two Silver Trees” is mesmerizing in its beauty, and while the rest of the album doesn’t quite reach that same level, it’s still a solid album worthy of a strong recommendation. There are moments of experimentation as well, and it’s when Calexico breaks from their usual sound when this album works best. Carried to Dust ranges from mediocre to great, but there are more than enough moments of greatness to warrant a spot on your holiday shopping list.

Damien Jurado

Caught in the Trees

Damien Jurado has been one of the most underrated folk musicians for some time, and while Caught in the Trees is a few standout tracks short of being a masterpiece, it's another very good album to go with his other greats. This is an album that strays from Jurado’s usual darkness and subtleties, and instead focuses on simplicity. Caught in the Trees is certainly a simple album, but it’s also one of that could not be done by any other musician. This is not your typical indie folk album, as while beauty and simplicity are its strengths, the way the lyrics compliment the simple instrumentals works in ways that are rarely used in folk. Everything about Caught in the Trees is simple, except how it comes together, and it’s album that any fan of folk or indie music should pick up.

Death Vessel

Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us

It’s hard to talk about Death Vessel without mentioning that the vocalist of this folk project is in fact a male. While that may not seem like a strange quality for an indie folk band, it’s quite hard to believe after listening to him sing. Joel Thibodeau is his name, and while his falsetto vocals can be somewhat of a distraction, Death Vessel’s music as a whole is actually very relaxing. Like one would expect from indie folk, there’s not much that's particular complex here, but again, that’s part of what makes Death Vessel such a relaxing and beautiful project. The vocals are soothing once you get used to them, and the lyrics are decent enough, although no where near the level of Iron & Wine or Bon Iver. Still, Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us is a soothing folk record that fans of simple relaxing music enjoy, even if it's a moderate step down from their debut.

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes

It’s astonishing that Fleet Foxes’ self titled album is their first full length release. In a year that contained some of the most original music I’ve ever heard, the Fleet Foxes have released one of the most original, polished, and overall best albums of 2008. This album is guaranteed to be in my top 10 list, and could very well be called the best album released all year. This little indie band from Seattle has crafted a truly unique sound that populates an album full of subtleties and beautiful melodies. One album in, the Fleet Foxes have created a masterpiece. Any music lover that has yet to purchase this album needs to take care of that as soon as possible. I honestly can’t imagine anyone not finding something to like in this album, even if you're the type of person that laughs at the idea of indie folk, and I assume that the majority of listeners will love just about every minute of it.

Horse Feathers

House with No Home

More of a pure folk album than any other on this list, Horse Feather’s House with No Home is a unique record that I’m proud to say comes from the Northwest. House with No Home is every bit as beautiful as the other indie folk albums found in this guide, but there’s far more here musically than just a poet with a guitar. Banjos, violins, cellos, and female vocals add a great deal of musical variety to the typical indie folk sound, and anyone looking for a true folk album will find one here. House with No Home is another simple yet beautiful record lyrically, but it’s also an album that isn’t afraid to try new things. It’s not only the closest thing to a pure folk record you’ll find in indie music, but it’s also one of the most original albums in the genre.

Lau Nau

Nukkuu

While metalheads know that Finland is filled with many artistic metal bands, less music fans are aware of the amazing folk scene they have. Lau Nau may very well be the absolute best of the Finnish folk artists, and believe me when I say that is high praise. Nukkuu is her second full length album, and it’s one of the most beautiful albums of 2008. While the lyrics are performed in Finnish, the physical copy of the album comes with English translations, and even translated the lyrics are poetic. The music itself is also full of beauty and passion, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to call Nukkuu the best pure folk album of the year. This is music in its most beautiful form, and it's worth tracking down for anyone who enjoys beautiful art.

Sun Kil Moon

April

In terms of originality, Sun Kil Moon’s April pales in comparison to the likes of Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Lau Nau, and some of the top folk-influenced indie albums released in year full of great indie folk albums. However, Mark Kozelek, best known for fronting the indie rock group Red House Painters, understands the most important aspect of folk music. Sun Kil Moon understands emotion and how to convey in through music. The emotion found in April is what makes this album special. Lyrically and musically, it’s not a drastic change from the average indie folk record, but the emotion found in both the vocals and musicianship of Kozelek is nothing short of magnificent. If a purely emotional album is what you’re looking for, Sun Kil Moon’s April is just about the best you’ll find.

The Mountain Goats

Heretic Pride

The Mountain Goats are the epitome of indie folk. If you’re a fan of the genre, chances are you know this band, and should know what they can do. Heretic Pride is not the best album they’ve put out, but it’s still solid, as well as one of the best albums for anyone looking to start their indie folk collection. For those who aren’t quite sure what indie folk is, The Mountain Goats, along with Iron & Wine, are probably the first artists to look into. Their sound is closer to indie rock than what one would typically associate with folk, but replace the rock and roll influences found within quality indie rock, and you have The Mountain Goats. It’s a simple concept with a simple sound, but a beautiful one nevertheless.

Holiday Buyer's Guide 08- Alternative

Other Sections:

-Introduction
-Accessible Metal
-Mainstream Rock
-Progressive
-Alternative
-Melodeath/Doom/Goth
-Indie Rock
-Hip-Hop
-Power/Folk/Symphonic Metal
-Indie Folk
-Extreme Metal
-Experimental

Alternative

Last year, I grouped indie rock and alternative into one list. This was because 2007 was somewhat of a lackluster year for alternative rock. However, 2008 is a very different story. Indie rock has moved into a completely separate genre, and the ten albums left in the alternative category are even stronger than last year. If you are a fan of alternative rock or are shopping for, you have a number of great albums to chose from without having the settle for the Coldplay and Nickelback albums that the industry wants you to buy.

Dead Confederate

Wrecking Ball

Dead Confederate is a band that exemplifies the greatness of rock music. Yes, the band is more associated with alternative and indie than mainstream and hard rock, but that has more to do with the indie community’s appreciation for new and artistic sounds than the actual sound of Dead Confederate. There is a heavier grunge influence here than just about any post-grunge album released in the last decade, yet this isn’t a grunge album in the slightest. Wrecking Ball is raw, gritty, and full of passion, something that pure rock music has been deeply lacking in recent years. The album also contains a far share of ballads, none of which feel forced or out of place in the album’s context. Wrecking Ball is one of my personal favorite albums of 2008, and while some filler keeps from being an A-quality record from an objective standpoint, I love this album to death, and I highly recommend it.

Elbow

The Seldom Seen Kid

While Elbow is often classified as indie rock, The Seldom Seen Kid is an album that should please any fan of alternative music, not just the indie crowd. Their sound is just as accessible and radio friendly as that of any other band in this category, which is why I think it fits better into the general alternative section on this list. It’s really quite amazing that this band isn’t a household name at this point, as fans of bands like Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, and other famous indie rock bands should be obsessing over Elbow. The Seldom Seen Kid is the evolution of accessible indie rock, and it has something for just about any alternative fan. Trust me when I say that when that uniformed pre-teen you’re buying for asks for the new Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie album, he really means this one. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Gnarls Barkley

The Odd Couple

While nothing on Gnarls Barkley’s second album received as much radio play or mainstream exposure as their hit “Crazy,” The Odd Couple is every bit as good and catchy as their first album. In a world where idiotic pop music is far more widespread than the intelligent form of the genre, Gnarls Barkley are the rare group that makes pop music that is as catchy and fun as it is creative and intelligent. Danger Mouse’s production is top notch and Cee-Lo Green’s vocals are as powerful and unique as they were on the band’s debut. The Odd Couple is certainly an odd album, but it’s also a surprisingly polished one that is at times beautiful, consistently fun, and always creative. Whether you’re a fan of alternative, pop, soul, funk, or hip-hop, The Odd Couple has something for you. It’s a very solid choice this holiday season for just about any music fan.

Murder By Death

Red of Tooth and Claw

Featuring deep vocals, unique hard rock riffs, creative lyrics, a beautiful violin, and the imagination to hold it all together, Murder By Death’s Red of Tooth and Claw is one of the easiest albums to recommend from this past year. Murder By Death doesn’t fit it any particular category of rock music, yet they are one of the purest rock bands left. They play a blend of alternative rock that is unlike anything else out there, and rather accessible to boot. Anyone from metalheads to indie fans to straight up rockers should give Red of Tooth and Claw a try. It’s a gorgeous gem of an album that sees one of rock’s best kept secrets reaching their full potential.

Nine Inch Nails

The Slip

Originally released as a free album earlier in the year, The Slip came out of nowhere to be the best Nine Inch Nails album since The Downward Spiral. If you downloaded the album for free, there really isn’t any reason to buy the physical copy other than to support the artist (unless you want the DVD that comes packaged with the album), but anyone that missed out on The Slip last spring should not miss it this holiday season. The album strikes a balance between hard and soft, accessible and unique, and formulaic and experimental. The Slip had a large amount of hype when it first released, so it’s hard to imagine a fan of Trent Reznor that doesn’t already own this in some form. However, this is a great starting point for anyone new to Nine Inch Nails, and any old fans who lost interest after NIN’s more mainstream period may want to give this album a chance. It truly is the best Nine Inch Nails record in more than a decade.

R.E.M.

Accelerate

Accelerate is an album for R.E.M. fans. It’s been over a decade since R.E.M. released even a decent album, and while Accelerate isn’t necessarily a great album, it’s the closest thing the band has had to one in far too long. R.E.M. sounds like R.E.M. again, and Accelerate marks the return of deep lyrics and intelligent songwriting to R.E.M.’s sound, as well as the return of true guitar driven music with substance. While the album is short, there’s no filler to speak of, and it’s a huge step in the right direction. If you know an R.E.M. fan or happen to be one yourself, Accelerate makes for a solid purchase.

Spiritualized

Songs in A&E

Not unlike the band that made it, Songs in A&E is somewhat of an underrated little album. It rarely has moments where it does anything particularly spectacular in comparison to other alternative albums, but it remains consistently simple and beautiful from start to finish. This is an album that’s difficult to criticize and very easy to like, even if it isn’t one of the 10 or 20 best albums released in the past year. Spiritualized sticks to what their good at, and the result is an album that is just that. Songs in A&E is just a solid beautiful alternative album that anyone can appreciate. For that reason, it makes a great holiday gift, as it’s hard to imagine a music fan not finding something to like in Spiritualized’s sound.

The Butterfly Effect

Final Conversation of Kings

Although it was somewhat overlooked, few albums showed as much improvement as The Butterfly Effect’s Final Conversation of Kings. At first glance it may seem like a huge departure from the post-grunge and hard rock sound of the band’s previous albums, but what separates The Butterfly Effect from other bands in the genre has always been their willingness to experiment with alternative and progressive rock. Final Conversation of Kings is a full transition into alternative rock, and it has more in common with experimental alternative bands than generic radio rock artists. The songs are longer and more varied, and the band has struck the perfect mixture between mainstream accessibility and more obscure experimentation. The Butterfly Effect have finally reached their potential, and Final Conversation of Kings is an album well worth getting for any fan of alternative rock.

The Gaslight Anthem

The ’59 Sound

2008 was not an especially great year for punk music, but that doesn’t mean The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound is the best punk album of the year by default. While it didn’t have a lot of competition, this is the one 2008 album that punk fans need to get. The Gaslight Anthem play punk in its purest and most raw form, and in doing so put most modern punk to same. They don’t do anything particularly unique here, but they do it better than just about anyone else. If you listen to punk, you’ll know what to expect once you hear the opening of the first track, but you’ll also love the album for it. It uses classic punk conventions the way they should be used, and it’s the type of raw rebellious album that has becoming increasingly rare in punk over the last few years. If you’re looking a punk album this Christmas, this is by far the best once released in the past year.

The Mars Volta

The Bedlam in Goliath

In what turned out to be a year full of “A” quality albums, The Mars Volta’s The Bedlam in Goliath was the first release to make my “Essential Albums” list in 2008. To say it’s unique would be stating the obvious, as The Mars Volta have been one of the unique bands in music for the past decade. This, however, is different even for them, as it’s their heaviest, fastest, and most focused album to date. The Mars Volta have taken a number of risks in making this album, and most of them pay off. From the first note of the opener “Aberinkula” all the way to album’s end, The Bedlam in Goliath plays out like an energetic jam session that could be described as a far more focused version of their live show. The lyrics are as cryptic as you’d expect from The Mars Volta, and despite its massive energy, this is an intelligent and challenging album that is nearly impossible to classify. The Bedlam in Goliath is the most focused Mars Volta album yet, but it’s the one that takes the most risks and ends up being the most unique. Anyone willing to take a few listens to get used to it should find this to be a very enjoyable album.

Holiday Buyer's Guide 08- Indie Rock

Other Sections:

-Introduction
-Accessible Metal
-Mainstream Rock
-Progressive
-Alternative
-Melodeath/Doom/Goth
-Indie Rock
-Hip-Hop
-Power/Folk/Symphonic Metal
-Indie Folk
-Extreme Metal
-Experimental

Indie Rock

No genre had a better year in 2008 than indie rock. Last year, I had to group alternative albums together into one list, but things are different this year. Indie rock has its own guide, and no list had more competition than this one. Some tough sacrifices had to be made, and believe me when I say that all ten of these albums are great choices for any fan of indie or alternative rock.

Black Mountain

In the Future

In the Future can be described almost as a progressive psychedelic indie rock album, and anyone who thinks that sounds as awesome as it is does to me will likely love this album. It doesn’t have the staying power of Deerhunter’s Microcastle, the creativity of TV on the Radio’s Dear Science, or the lyrics of The Hold Steady’s Stay Positive, but In the Future is one of 2008’s hidden gems that got far less attention than it deserved. Regardless of where it stands on the long list of great indie rock albums from 08, Black Mountain have crafted a very creative piece of art that I highly recommend. From a subjective standpoint, this is one of my personal favorite albums released this past year, and I doubt I’m the only person who will love it.

Deerhunter

Microcastle

If looked at as a shoegaze record, Deerhunter’s Microcastle is the best album in the genre since My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. However, Microcastle is far more than just a shoegaze album. This is one of the most unique indie albums you’ll find, and it combines shoegaze, ambient, rock, and punk influences together to create something that walks the line between noise rock, indie rock, and shoegaze. If you know what those genres are, chances are you’re a fan of more obscure indie rock, and Microcastle will be exactly what you’re looking for. However, you don’t need to be an indie rock fan to enjoy it. This is a very unique album that is unlike anything else out there, but it’s also the most accessible album in Deerhunter’s discography. In what turned out to be a phenomenal year for indie music, Microcastle is one of the best indie rock albums of 2008, and it’s an experience that you can’t get anywhere else.

Dr. Dog

Fate

Compared to many of the other albums on this list, Dr. Dog’s Fate is a bit basic. It’s a fairly standard indie rock album laced with dream pop and psychedelic influences, and it’s one that rarely goes beyond solid. Regardless, Fate is an example of quality indie rock that is consistent throughout and original enough to separate itself from the legions of generic indie rock groups flooding the market. Dr. Dog is a band that’s easy to like, as they have a very accessible and simple sound that is without a ton of flaws. It’s what the band doesn’t do that makes Fate a merely good album, but very little of what is here can be faulted. It’s a solid indie rock album that fans of the genre should enjoy.

My Morning Jacket

Evil Urges

Rarely is a band criticized for becoming more experimental, but it’s happened to My Morning Jacket. What were once a southern rock group have turned into a full experimental indie act with traces of psychedelic, funk, country, and progressive rock. They’ve certainly changed, but the criticism of their change is more based on how great they were before, not how they sound now. In all actuality, My Morning Jacket have created another excellent album, and one that can be wholeheartedly recommended to anyone who understands that this band has changed. They’ve matured, become more intelligent songwriters, and have opened up their sound to more than just southern rock. It’s really a brilliant album indie album that if looked at it objectively, is really quite stunning.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

Nick Cave’s brilliant Dig!! Lazarus Dig!!! has been overshadowed by the slew of impressive indie rock albums released in the latter half of 2008, but looking back upon the year as a whole, this is still one of the absolute best albums released all year. Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! is a hilarious thought-provoking album by one of the most creative and respected musicians in the history of the genre. While it may not be the definitive indie rock album of 2008, it’s an “A” quality album that is as entertaining as any album available. Whether you interpret it as a serious look at religion, a laugh out loud comedy, or a bit of both, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! is an album any music fan should consider when putting on your holiday wishlist.

Shearwater

Rook

Rook is yet another great album from Shearwater. If you like your indie rock beautiful, epic, and powerful, then Rook is the album for you. It’s quite a simple album, but like indie music should be, it’s wildly creative within its simplicity. Rook is the type of spine-tingling tense album that does an excellent job of creating an emotional connection between the artist and the listener. On the surface, Shearwater doesn’t do anything particularly different in sound than their peers, including frontman Jonathan Meiburg’s former and much more generic project, Okkervil River. However, like most good indie rock, Shearwater’s true beauty comes from the subtleties of their sound. Everything from the chord progression to the passionate vocals make Rook better than the sum its parts, and the result is a tense album that would make a great pick for any indie fan.

Sons & Daughters

This Gift

This Gift was one of the first great albums released in 2008, and 11 months later it still stands out as one of the best indie rock albums of the year. Sons & Daughters do a fantastic job of mixing male and female vocal harmonies in ways that are reminiscent of indie bands varying from Sonic Youth to Rilo Kiley to even Sleater-Kinney from strictly the perspective of the females vocals. This Gift doesn’t necessarily take a lot of chances, as it features the same upbeat sound with emotionally varied lyrics that has become typical of indie rock, but the album uses that as more a positive than a negative. Sons & Daughters clearly have a formula that they build off, but they’ve made their formula by taking the best of their influences and putting their own spin on it. It’s not groundbreaking stuff, but a safe pick that delivers the goods for indie rock fans.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks

Real Emotional Trash

Real Emotional Trash is a different type of Stephen Malkmus album, but it’s still a solid indie offering that should please any fan of the genre. The former Pavement frontman, also aided by former Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss, focuses more on jamming and experimenting instrumentally here than he has in the past, and it’s safe to say that this album is pretty much the opposite of classic Pavement. Malkmus does show why he’s a legend though, both in his songwriting abilities and in his incredible musicianship. While he still hasn’t quite found a distinct sound, Malkmus uses the lack of a focus to his advantage, and creates some truly remarkable moments that seem to come out of nowhere. Real Emotional Trash isn’t the best album Stephen Malkmus has been a part of, but it’s another very good that indie fans should not miss.

The Hold Steady

Stay Positive

Simply, The Hold Steady’s Stay Positive is a masterpiece in every respect. The album as a whole is a masterful collection of stories that come together to paint a beautiful picture of life. On their own, each song is a masterpiece, as each contains a poetic story full of vibrant characters dealing with genuine issues, but the concept that the stories make is even better. Stay Positive is an album that anyone can relate to, and it’s unique musically as well. The lyrics are deep and poetic, and it’s easy to get lost in thought interpreting the stories and metaphors. This is an album for music lovers, poetry lovers, and intelligent listeners, and if you fit into one of those categories, make sure to get yourself a copy.

TV on the Radio

Dear Science

How good is TV on the Radio’s Dear Science? Let’s just say that if you buy one album in the next ten years, I recommend this one. Years from now, this very well may be the record that defines this decade in indie rock. Dear Science is the modern day equivalent to the Pixies’ Doolittle and Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. That is to say, it’s a jaw dropping masterpiece of creativity, lyricism, poetry, and experimentation. It exemplifies what modern indie music is all about, and in a year where dance-punk has been the major indie trend, TV on the Radio have introduced just enough of that into sound to show how much better than the rest of the indie rock crowd they really are. Dear Science is an unbelievable masterpiece, and it belongs in the collection of every music fan.