5. The Decemberists – Down By The Water

It’s no sea shanty or civil war folk-lore, but this R.E.M. influenced rock tune is pretty incredible.  I just can’t get enough of this entire album.  While most everyone seems to be going back to the 80′s for inspiration this year, these guys seem to have found the early 90′s early enough for them, and it really works.

4. The Head and the Heart – Lost In My Mind

Great harmonies, great lyrics, great melody, and with a fantastic continuous build and crescendo. This song is just darn-near perfect.

3. The Civil Wars – I’ve Got This Friend

This entire album is absolutely phenomenal, but I keep going back to this particular song over and over.  If you just sample this song, you won’t get it.  Just trust me. Download this song, let it get under your skin. Then go and buy the rest of the album.

2. Sarah Jaffe – A Sucker for Your Marketing/Vulnerable

This is a bit of an unorthadox choice for this list, especially to be this high, but I just couldn’t ignore it.  I usually don’t take the time to listen to very many live recordings, but this is just an absolute masterpiece.  The range and control she has over her voice is unbelievable and is showcased really well in this recording, not to mention the flawless and beautiful transition between the two songs.  This whole session is worth checking out.

1. Adele – Rolling In The Deep

This girl’s on fire and there ain’t nothing able to put her out.  Another album that could have had any number of songs on this list. As much of an affection I have for other songs on this album such as “Someone Like You” or “One and Only”, it had to be this song.  It is just so unbelievably catchy but has so much depth and character at the same time.  This is an absolutely epic song that will last for decades. It is the perfect opening track that sets the tone for one of the best records of the year.  A testament to the strength and power of this song is the numerous amount of covers that have already popped up from the unknowns to the legends, John Legend that is (more to come on that matter in future posts).

So there it is.  My personal favorites of the year.  I am sure that I have missed some great ones.  So please comment and let me know of the egregious errors in musical judgment that I have made.  What song do you think deserves that #1 spot?

Part 3 (#’s15 – 6)

Colin Meloy and team will be joined by R.E.M.’s Peter Buck on three of the ten tracks.  And it seems very apparent that he has had quite an influence on the sound of this new record.  I was a big fan of the sea shanty style of their earlier records, but I am enjoying hearing the band explore some different musical styles over the past few records.  And I am really digging the alt-country rock sound that this new record seems to encompass. Right now they are giving away the first single, “Down By the Water,” for free on their web-site. And below I have some videos of Meloy performing two more songs off of the new record @ KEXP’s CMJ stage.

Track Listing

1. Don’t Carry It All
2. Calamity Song
3. Rise to Me
4. Rox in the Box
5. January Hymn
6. Down By The Water
7. All Arise!
8. June Hymn
9. This is Why We Fight
10. Dear Avery

“June Hymn”

“Rise to Me”

So today I want to shine a light on an organization that has chosen not to ignore Haiti.  Instead of just sitting at home and writing a check, the people at Paste Magazine are using the influence that God has granted them and have started a campaign to raise funds for the relief effort that is taking place in Haiti right now.  They have asked artists from across the globe to donate songs that they would give away to those who donated to the relief fund.  Right now there are over 200 artists that have contributed mp3′s for this cause, with a good portion of them offering exclusive unreleased songs.

Part of me feels a little sleezy trying to entice you into giving by telling you about all of the great music you can get if you do. But then again, if writing this post means that more money will be given, and more lives will be positively affected, then that is all that matters.  I hope that those of you who are reading this recognize the great opportunity to “love your neighbor” through financial gifts and are doing so regularly. But that is another matter. For right now I have some great tunes to tell you about.

Paste has managed to get an excellent and very eclectic group of artists to participate. Of Montreal, Bruce Cockburn, Switchfoot, State Radio, Deer Tick, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Duncan Sheik, Ludacris and literally hundreds more have given songs to help the people of Haiti.  And these aren’t just cheap b-side tracks that would’ve remained unheard.  There are some real gems to be found in this musical smorgasbord. So head on over to SongsforHaiti.org and make a difference while you download music today.

Several of the best indie artists in the business have donated rare and exclusive songs for this great cause.  So I encourage you to go to iTunes or Amazon and download these tracks.  It is a great way to get some new music and love your neighbor at the same time.  You should also check out Causes 1, which is also loaded with great artists, such as Bright Eyes, The Shins, Spoon and Death Cab. And if you go to the Causes store, you can buy both albums for just $17.

Tracklist for Causes 2

Leading up to this amazing festival stay tuned to I Hope Your Ears Bleed for an in-depth look into each band that will be featured this year as well as a pick list of bands to go see if you are fortunate to be in attendance this year.

If you would like to investigate yourself feel free to browse www.aclfestival.com which has bios, songs and videos posted showcasing each artist.  

I hope some of these bands will make your ears bleed with anticipation.

The Decemberists Hazards of Love (Capitol)

These guys just keep getting better and better.  I found it very obvious that this project began as the score for a broadway play.  Even if he’s never able to bring anything to the stage, I hope he continues to use this same approach to each of his records.  It just brought a cohesiveness to the album that is so rare to find in this digital age.  Thankfully, Meloy is not obsessed with the single, like the rest of the mass media.   So after day one, it hasn’t disappointed me.  My anticipation was well warranted.

Full Album Stream

Swan Lake Enemy Mine (Jagjaguwar)

This is the sophomore effort from the musical fusion of Daniel Bejar (New Pornographers), Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade), and Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes).  It may not match up to the works of original groups, but I am still a big fan.  As far as anyone knows, this is the first known use of a “court painting” as a record cover.  Thus the early working title for this album had been “Before the Law”, a beloved Kafka parable and a reference to the court painting. However, the band is sick of being referred to as “literary”, so they went with “Enemy Mine”, which is a movie from Bejar’s youth and a serves as a metaphor for collaboration.  I hope more artists will venture to take the time to make such a collaboration.

Swan Lake – Spider

Swan Lake – A Hand At Dusk

Harlem Shakes Technicolor Health (Gigantic)

This is the debut album from the band whose self-released EP, Burning Birthdays, earned generous praise from Pitchfork, SPIN, Rolling Stone and a myriad of blogs back in 20o7, and then went on tour in support of many great acts such as Beirut, Vampire Weekend, and Deerhoof.   It won’t be long before these guys are on their own headlining tour, for they have picked up right where they left off with Technicolor Health. It’s just fun blend of garage rock and psychedellic pop, with some fantastic harmonies throughout.

Harlem Shakes – Strictly Game

Mono Hymn to the Immortal Wind (Temporary Residence)

I’ve actually never heard of these guys until I received some promo material on Hymn, their first album in over 3 years, but their fifth LP and apparently their “most expansive album to date.”  It is an awesome and majestic record.  The best instrumental record I’ve heard since Explosions in the Sky’s The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place.   The 28-piece chamber orchestra that plays throughout the album helps to create such a gorgeous and grandiose sound.

Mono – Follow the Map

Various Artists – The Very Best of Prestige Records (Prestige)

So I usually don’t pay much attention to “best of” records, or jazz music for that matter.  But I just enjoyed this album so much, I couldn’t not mention it on this list.  It is a fantastic collection of songs and is great for many occasions.  If you’re looking for a good dinner party mix, this would be a great one.  And I have found it to be a great record to put on while I’m working in the office.   After listening to this record you will surely become just as infatuated with the trumpet as I am.

Full Album Stream

Fun is the new brainchild of Nate Ruess (The Format) and Andrew Dost (Anathallo).  News of this project has helped keep me from spiraling down into a deep dark depression over the loss of one of the greatest pop bands of all time.  While I love the name, I am slightly annoyed that yet again I will have a hard time finding anything on them with just a google search.  I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to hear this album.  Nate has written in a blog post that these are some of the best songs that he has ever written.  Not to mention that he has been getting the help of Andrew Dost for the arrangements.  And if for some reason you are unfamiliar with Dost or his former band Anathallo, the guy is a musical genius who can play pretty much any instrument, “switching from singing and playing the glockenspiel to playing the piano and flugelhorn” all mid-song.  Not a joke, I’ve seen him do it.  So far they are still unsigned, which I am assuming is by choice, cause I don’t know why all the labels wouldn’t be fighting over them.  But as long as the new album gets finished and makes it to my ears, I don’t care how they do it. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more information to share with you all.  But I will leave you with this great demo version of one of their new songs.

Fun – Benson Hedges (Demo)

3. Guster

Unfortunately they have only updated their studio journal 3 times in the past three months, so I’ve learned a whole lot of nothing about this new record.  Except that it is going to have a reggae song in it and that Ryan plays an omnichord on one of the tracks.  But honestly all it takes for me to get excited about a new Guster album is to know that it is being made.  These guys put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen (easily top 3) and their last few studio albums have just blown me away.  There are tracks on Keep It Together that still give me chills.  Like the track I sampled below for those poor unfortunate souls that have yet to discover the wonders of Guster.

Here is a video of some guy named Larry playing a fluglehorn on one of the new songs that is tentatively titled “Lost at Sea.”

Larry the fluglehorn guy from guster guster on Vimeo.

2. U2

No Line on the Horizon – 3/3

Yeah I know, I am behind again.  Another of my most anticipated albums got released before I could write about it. And unfortunately I have been too busy and too poor to listen to it. But I will tell you why they made it all the way into my top five.  It is because somehow Bono and his crew have not only managed to have an incredibly successful and lucritive music career that has spanned over 3 full decades now. And all the while they have managed to attain the attention and the respect of both music critics and the mainstream media.  So for as long as they are in the business I am sure that I will get excited about anything that they create.  Not to mention, they were like my second music love as a child.  Although I must say that I am slightly disappointed with “Get on your Boots.”  It seems to be a less awesome “Vertigo” in my mind.

U2 – Get On Your Boots

1. The Decemberists

Hazards of Love – 3/24

The creators of our favorite album of 2006 are finally back with their fifth studio album, The Hazards of Love.   I absolutely cannot wait to hear what apparently started out as a musical, and has turned into yet another themed record from The Decemberists.   According to frontman Colin Meloy, it is a “mossy and evil” record, that tells the story of a woman named Margaret.   I absolutely adore how nearly every song they write tells a story, and I am excited to know that this new album has a cohesive story to tell.  I am also glad to know that My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, has lent her gorgeous voice to a fair number of tracks.

The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song

Pre-order the album here.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 – Part 4

Anyway. Back to the matter at hand.  Engine Room Recordings has announced the release of the second edition of the Guilt By Association cover series. The cd is set to hit stores on February 17th, but it has already been released for download on Itunes.  But for those of you short on cash, you can go ahead and stream it over on the Engine Room Recordings web-site.  Also here is My Brightest Diamond’s installment in the series. I know that I just wrote about here not too long ago and that I had thirteen others to choose from.  But I was just so excited that she chose to record this song, because I actually saw her play this song when I saw her open for The Decemberists a couple years ago and it was seriously the highlight of the show. Shara Worden is an incredible performer, with one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard.  I cannot recommend seeing her live enough.  Or the Decemberists for that matter.  Well to wrap things up, here is the tracklist for Guilt By Association Vol. 2.  I hope your ears bleed (but not really).

1 My Brightest Diamond – Tainted Love (Gloria Jones/Soft Cell)

2 The Bloodsugars – Self-Control (Laura Branigan)

3 Robbers on High Street – Cool It Now (New Edition)

4 Frightened Rabbit – Set You Free (N-Trance)

5 Matt Pond PA – I’m Not Okay (My Chemical Romance)

6 Takka Takka – In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)

7 Kaki King – I Think She Knows (Justin Timberlake)

8 Francis and the Lights – Can’t Tell Me Nothing (Kanye West)

9 Lowry – Africa (Toto)

10 The Forms – We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel)

11 Rafter – If You Leave (OMD)

12 Cassettes Won’t Listen – Need You Tonight (INXS)

13 Jukebox the Ghost – It’s a Beautiful Life (Ace of Base)

14 Max Vernon – I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry)

First of all I would say that for the most part the car manufacturers have shown the most improvement in their musical taste. Like for instance the new GM commercial that features the ever so talented Brandi Carlile singing the title track off her most recent album.

Brandi Carlile – The Story (removed 2/13/09)

Then there is the ever so addictive song by Sea Wolf that is found in the new Chevy Malibu commercial. I seriously cannot get enough of that song. I first heard it over a year ago and it is still in constant rotation on my ipod. For some reason I can’t find that one on youtube. But here is the song.

Sea Wolf – You’re A Wolf (removed 2/13/09)

And I can’t leave out the AT&T Olympics commercial that ever so wisely features a song off of The Crane Wife by The Decemberists, not to mention the incredibly talented Gold Medalist Nastia Luikin. Which this one doesn’t surprise me. AT&T have been filling my sporting event breaks with creative and entertaining commercials for years.

The Decemberists – The Crane Wife 3 (removed 2/13/09)

And last but certainly not least, my favorite commercial that I have seen during my many hours of watching the Olympics. The very touching and inspiring Coca Cola commercial that shows tons of athletes from both the Olympics and the Special Olympics bowing to receive their medals. It makes me think of my absolutely fantastic and brilliant little cousin who has down syndrome, and it almost makes me cry every time. And they seriously could not have picked a better song. This song evokes so much emotion out of me even with out the images it accompanies here in the commercial.

Sia – Breathe Me (removed 2/13/09)

Now I realize that unless you are incredibly unpatriotic and have chosen to watch the trash like Deal or No Deal instead of the Olympics, that you have already seen these commercials. But I thought you might enjoy learning who the artists were behind this great marketing scheme. And feel free to let me know if there are any you were disappointed to not see on here. Or if you there was another commercial that you liked the song but didn’t know what it was, maybe I could help you out. Until next time…keep bleeding.