Mid-Year Favorites 2009

So here are some of my favorite albums at this halfway point. No order should be taken yet.

mewithoutYou – it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright

The Dangerous Summer – Reach for the Sun

Paper Route – Absence

New Found Glory – Not Without a Fight

Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Health

Sunbears – Dream Happy Dreams [ep]

Disappointed by:

This Providence – Who Are You Know?

Two Tounges – Two Tounges

Can’t quite get into:

Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing

Kevin Devine – Brother’s Blood

mewithoutYou – it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright

mewithoutYou – it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright
2009

mewithoutYou has done it again. I’m not sure if it’s to the extent they did with Brother, Sister, but it’s been done. That’s for sure. The songs seem much simpler than anything they’ve done before, yet they still have wonderful layers are are notably mewithoutYou.  The lyrics are much more organic, earthy, and overtly Christian than their previous efforts. This is not the same band that wrote [A->B] Life (and maybe Catch for Us the Foxes), thats for sure. I’m not sure if this will be my favorite mewithoutYou album, but I still find it outstanding based upon the number of listens I’ve had of it. It’s wonderful. I think “Timothy Hay” and “The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate.” I’m still not sure about “Bullet to the Binary pt. 2″ or “Cattail Down,” but they may grow on me.

Oh, boy. I love mewithoutYou.

Blink/ Weezer

So one of my predictions for the year was smashed. Blink 182 is back and apparently they’re going on tour with Weezer this summer. Only good things can come of this. Only good things.

The Gaslight Anthem, Pittsburgh PA, 3/29/09

Oh, what a triumphant return to Mr. Smalls. I haven’t been there in what seems like forever. The best I can remember, it was The Format/ Anathallo. That can’t right though. All of the shows I’ve been interested in have been at Diesel, which isn’t bad, but its not Mr. Smalls.

This show was so much different than some of the more recent shows I’ve been to. The crowd was just so different. The bands were different. It was wonderful. Everyone looked “normal.” No one seemed to dress up. No tights, no hair product, no neon tshirts, no piercings. Some tatoos and beards. And, it was nearly all guys. From most of the concerts I attend, it seems that I have very girly taste in music. It was nice to see that I’ve found some manly bands. ha.

Good Old War killed it. Check out a video of them on youtube. I’m not going to embed one here. I’m a bit lazy, and there are too many wonderful ones. They placed most of The Only Way to Be Alone. They were so good. Everyone had a mic, and the harmonies may have been better than their recordings. So good.

I forget the name of the second band. It was something stupid. I forget. Anyway, they were alright. A little bluesy, folk. They had a girl singer who had one of those growling voices. I could not understand a word she said. O, well. No loss.

The Gaslight Anthem finished off the night, and did they ever. O boy. From the first chord of “Great Expectations” to the last chord of their encore, the crowd sang along every word. The singer was having the time of his life. He joked back and forth with the crowd between songs about ex-girlfriends, Jersey, and Bruce Springsteen. They sounded spot on. I can’t speak any more highly of these guys. So good.

Sunbears! – Dream Happy Dreams [ep]

Sunbears! – Dream Happy Dreams [ep]
2009

So I don’t really remember how I found these guys, but they’re real good. It sort of has a Hot Fuss era Killers vibe to it. Mix that with some indie pop and some more electronics, and out comes a wonderful blend. Honest. The songs are catchy, well constructed, and almost run together at times (not a bad thing). It even ends with a 4:50 long electronic intramental outro. Super. Honest.

Link it

Albums I’m Digging (1/31/09)

Fall Out Boy – Folie A Deux
I’m not sure if it’s premature of me to say this, but I think this is the album that they’ll be measured against for the rest of their career. Sure, Take this to Your Grave has the nostalgia, but the melodies, arrangements, choruses, and creativity are not even close to FAD. Gosh, this is so good.

Spoon – Kill the Moonlight
Thanks for this one Nate. A lot of these songs were used in Stranger than Fiction, so they were familiar to me. The full versions with lyrics are so good. Solid Indie Pop. This is how it’s supposed to be done.

Coconut Records – Davy
It’s really simple. Really catchy. Really good. Its a really short album too. I wish it was longer. That may be my only gripe with it. It’s really the only album that has come out this year that I’ve enjoyed. (really good indie pop).

Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
Ok, I don’t like rap, but I like this. It’s so good. So good. The language is terrible, so I try to take it in in moderation. It’s so good though.

Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger
I have to keep myself from listening to it too much. It hasn’t gotten old though, which is probably a good sign.

Still deciding about:

Fiction Family – Fiction Family
I definitely understand and appreciate it musically and lyrically, but it’s not quite sticking. It is a really interesting listen though. They’ve got a good bit going on.

Two Tongues – Two Tongues
I’m pretty sure I’ve decided against this one. Its just really boring, which is really sad, because it had so much potential. If a band made up of nobody’s made this album, no one would give a hoot. Because two big names were behind it (Max Bemis, Christ Conely) some more people are paying attention, but it’s definitely not deserved.

Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Shakes
I think I like this one. I haven’t given it enough time though. It’s got a good dancey feel, which is fun.

Perfect Setlist: Fall Out Boy

So things have been pretty uneventful around here. I just finished Arrested Development on Hulu.. and I don’t start work until Monday, so why not start a new series of blogs? So I’m going to go through some of my favorite bands and come up with a perfect setlist for them. I’ve been listening to a lot of Fall Out Boy lately, so I’ll start when them. Enjoy (or hate it if you want).

Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things To Do Today
Dance, Dance
Sugar, We’re Going Down Swinging
Homesick At Spacecamp
Dead on Arrival
The (Shipped) Gold Standard
7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)
Beat It
Chicago Is So Two Years Ago
(Coffee’s For Closers)
Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy)
Sending Postcards From a Plane Crash
XO
Of All the Gin Joints In All the World
Hum Hallelujah
Our Lawyers Made Us Change the Name of this Song
America’s Suitehearts
The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Thriller
What a Catch, Donnie
Saturday

2009 Predictions

So predictions are always fun. I guess I can look back on this list at the end of the year and see how well I did. Ok, let’s see how I do.

1. Pop-punk will continue to be run by neon splattered, headband wearing, boys with long, swooping haircuts. Legit pop-punk bands (ex: Valencia) will continue to be overlooked by the mainstream.

2. A band that I have not heard of yet will take the top spot in my end of the year list.

3. mewithoutYou will release yet-another beautifully fantastic album, keeping them on top as the most relevant and honest band making “Christianity” influenced music.

4. Relient K will release a new album by the end of year with more alt-country influence and will be awesome because of it.

5. House of Heroes will make waves in the Christian mainstream, and hopefully the normal mainstream.

6. Fun’s new album, though, awesome will make us all wish The Format had not broken up.

7. Cartel will redeem themselves after that bubble fiasco by releasing an album comparable to Chroma.

8. Brand New will release an album that everyone loves and hails as the best in music today. While I like it, it will, again, not quite stick with me.

9. Manchester Orchestra will continue to be awesome.

10. Two Tongues will not measure up to that song on their Myspace, “Crawl.”

11. Say Anything’s new album, will once again, not match …Is a Real Boy.

12. Blink-182 will not reunite.

2007 Revisited

So it’s been one year since I made my favorite music list from last year. After looking at it, I’ve decided that last year wasn’t all that memorable in music for me. O, well. Here’s what I had last year:

10. Lovedrug – Everything Starts Where It Ends
9. Anberlin – Cities
8. Once – Music from the Motion Picture
7. Motion City Soundtrack – Even if it Kills Me
6. Straylight Run – The Needles, the Space
5. Four Year Strong – Rise, or Die Trying
4. Relient K – Five Score, and Seven Years Ago
3. Say Anything – In Defense of the Genre
2. The Rocket Summer – Do You Feel
1. Deas Vail – All the Houses Look the Same

Now I still listen to most of these from time to time, but  not as much as other ones from last year. I haven’t listened to Lovedrug’s at all, I don’t think, and Relient K’s never really stuck with me. Well after a bit of thought I’d say that these are now my top 10 albums from last year:

10. Four Year Strong – Rise, or Die Trying
9. Anberlin – Cities
8. Sherwood – A Different Light
7. The National – Boxer
6. Motion City Soundtrack – Even if it Kills Me
5. Straylight Run – The Needles, the Space
4. The Rocket Summer – Do You Feel
3. The New Amsterdams – At the Foot of My Revival
2. Steel Train – Trampoline
1. Deas Vail – All the Houses Look the Same

I didn’t get Steel Train or The New Amsterdams until this year, but both are fantastic. I love them The National’s also grew on me a lot since last year.

Favorite Music of 2008

I know you’ve all been anxiously awaiting this entry all year. Well here it is. I be no means claim this to be a “best of the year list.” It is a list of my favorite music. Granted, I believe that my musical taste is a cut above the average. All of these artists come highly recommended. Check them out. You may just find your new favorite band.Enjoy.

Favorite Albums: 2008
Honorable mentions

20. Search/Rescue – The Compound
19. Panic at the Disco – Pretty. Odd
18. Punchline – Just Say Yes
17. The Wellingtons – Heading North for the Winter
16. Jeg Lag Gemini – Fire the Cannons
15. Astronautalis – Pomegranate
14. Anberlin – New Surrender
13. Wild Sweet Orange – We Have Cause to be Uneasy
12. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
11. Anathallo – Canopy Glow

10. Valencia – We All Need a Reason to Believe
9. Annuals – Such Fun
8. The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
7. Copeland – You Are My Sunshine
6. Fall Out Boy – Folie A Deux
5. Lydia – Illuminate
4. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
3. Good Old War – The Only Way to be Alone
2. Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger
1. House of Heroes – The End Is Not the End

Favorite Songs (no order)
Jon Foreman – “Your Love is Strong”
Jack’s Mannequin – “Spinning”
Death Cab for Cutie – “Cath…″
Copeland – “The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)”
Good Old War – “Coney Island”
House of Heroes – “Codename: Raven”
Weezer – “The Greatest Man that Ever Lived”
Relient K – “At Least We Made it This Far”
Fall Out Boy – “What a Catch Donnie”
Deas Vail – “White Lights”

Favorite eps
6. You, Me, and Everyone We Know – So Young, So Insane
5. Deas Vail – White Lights
4. Straylight Run – Un Mas Dos
3. Manchester Orchestra – Let My Pride Be What’s Left Behind
2. Relient K – The Nashville, Tennis
1. Jon Foreman – Spring

Biggest Disappointment
Lovedrug – Sucker Punch Show

Best Live Performances (no order)
Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, HUB
The Dear Hunter, Deisel
House of Heroes, Club Zoo
Relient K, Club Zoo
Valencia, HUB
The Hush Sound, Deisel

Band Discoveries that I Should’ve Loved Earlier
M. Ward
Jack’s Mannequin
The Matches
Spoon

Favorite New Band (first full length released)
Good Old War

Favorite Covers
The Maine – “I Wanna Love  You (Akon)”
Weezer – “The Weight (The Band)”

Albums I need to listen to more before deciding on favorites
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals

Pop Punk Bands Doing Things the Right Way
Valencia
Fall Out Boy
Jet Lag Gemini
Punchline

For more comprehensive list visit: Rate Your Music

Disclaimer: All of these decisions are subject to change without notice or reason.