This one surprised me. I remember it getting a lot of airplay (the record came out in September), but enough to top the Top Ten of the whole year? Impressive.
WXVU really dug this record. A lot of the guys got to see them in Kansas City, and said they were one of the best live acts they've ever seen. If you haven't checked out the second record, Return to Cookie Mountain, you better get on that - guest contributions from David Bowie and Nick Zinner should be enough to persuade you.
Pitchfork gave this record a 9.2. 'Nuff said.
And if you can't make it to Decemberists? June 6th, Penn's Landing. Do it up.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Number 2: The Decemberists - the Hazards of Love
What more can I say about this record? It might be the most amazing thing this band, a band, has ever done. Go read any review and you'll get the full story. Folk opera. ONe long song. Full costume. My brightest diamond/lavendar diamond. There's so much to tell, and I have no time to tell it. It's kind of a travesty this wasn't number one - oh well. Easily my top record of the year, if you haven't listened to it yet,
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101397853
has info on how you can hear the whole album, performed LIVE. If you want to see it yourself, check them out at the Tower on June 6th! Check their site for details.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101397853
has info on how you can hear the whole album, performed LIVE. If you want to see it yourself, check them out at the Tower on June 6th! Check their site for details.
Number 3: Miniature Tigers - Tell it to the Volcano
Okay, contrary to the last record, i LOVE this record. It's the most fun thing I've ever heard. Even if you don't like to dance, you will dance. Songs named after animals, ranging from the upbeat drummy pandemonium of "tell it to the volcano" to the droning, gramophone vocals of "hidden pyramid", this record is really a brilliant piece of work from a bright young band.
They'll be playing in Philadelphia with Kevin Devine at the Northstar tomorrow night, also Brian Bonz at that show, member of the Goddamn Band. DEFINITELY an amazing show if you can make it out - if not, look for it in your homestate after finals, myspace.com/miniaturetigers
They'll be playing in Philadelphia with Kevin Devine at the Northstar tomorrow night, also Brian Bonz at that show, member of the Goddamn Band. DEFINITELY an amazing show if you can make it out - if not, look for it in your homestate after finals, myspace.com/miniaturetigers
Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood available in Digital TODAY
Just wanted to put a mini-plug in for Kevin Devine's new record - I'll never get a chance to hype it on the radio, so I wanted to tell you guys it is now available in digital format!!!! IT'll be available next week in physical if you're interested.
http://www.spinner.com/2009/04/16/kevin-devine-brothers-blood-free-mp3-of-the-day/
Brother's Blood, the title track, is the download of the day for aolmusic, and he's a featured artist on myspace.com. Check it out, and check him with Miniature Tigers tomorrow night at the Northstar!
http://www.spinner.com/2009/04/16/kevin-devine-brothers-blood-free-mp3-of-the-day/
Brother's Blood, the title track, is the download of the day for aolmusic, and he's a featured artist on myspace.com. Check it out, and check him with Miniature Tigers tomorrow night at the Northstar!
Number 4: Bloc Party - Intimacy
I'll be honest, I'm not huge on this record. It's kind of boring, the sound is almost identical to so many other, better bands out there. I feel like they just got lucky. Whatever, that's me.
If you're interested in the band, they're putting out an album of remixes called Intimacy Remixed on May 11. Mogwai, Villains, Gold Panda, and No Age are some of the guys working on the tracks, so that will definitely be worth a listen.
The record is about a breakup. Aren't most?
If you're interested in the band, they're putting out an album of remixes called Intimacy Remixed on May 11. Mogwai, Villains, Gold Panda, and No Age are some of the guys working on the tracks, so that will definitely be worth a listen.
The record is about a breakup. Aren't most?
Number 5: Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
They're a band with staying power, but they're an odd band too. Google pictures of them - shit will freak you out.
Skeletal Lamping was "released in ten different formats, including conventional CD and vinyl, as well as t-shirts, button sets, wall decals, tote bags, and a paper lantern, the latter formats replete with a digital download code for the album." Talk about embracing new media.
They also have a shitload of side projects. But doesn't everyone these days?
Skeletal Lamping was "released in ten different formats, including conventional CD and vinyl, as well as t-shirts, button sets, wall decals, tote bags, and a paper lantern, the latter formats replete with a digital download code for the album." Talk about embracing new media.
They also have a shitload of side projects. But doesn't everyone these days?
New Wilco Album!
Pitchfork has announced that the new Wilco record will be called "Wilco (The Album)". It's due out in June - the first single is "Wilco (the song)", and there's a song with Feist. More info at http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2380949426777918876
Number 6: Beck - Modern Guilt
Not much to say about Beck. It's fun beep boop rock music, and he's a god. Everyone knows him from his cameos on Futurama for sure. He has 12 full length releases under his belt, and is also apparently a crazy Scientologist. Sucks for him.
Number 7: Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down
Love this record. Easily in my personal top ten for the year. The british accent, the subtle (or not so subtle) humor, the upbeat, unabashed poppiness - its all here for this British folk-pop outfit.
The band came out in a time of other bands with similar names (see Tommy and the Whale, Peter and the Wolf, etc), but managed to leap to the forefront.
They're in the studio working on a new record, along with a film that will run the entire length of the record called "First Days of Spring". More info at http://www.baeblemusic.com/featuredarticle/exclusiveinterview:noahandthewhale
The band came out in a time of other bands with similar names (see Tommy and the Whale, Peter and the Wolf, etc), but managed to leap to the forefront.
They're in the studio working on a new record, along with a film that will run the entire length of the record called "First Days of Spring". More info at http://www.baeblemusic.com/featuredarticle/exclusiveinterview:noahandthewhale
Number 8: Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Sub-Pop kills it on the Top 10 with 2 artists. They aren't the big winner though, that's Interscope with 3 - those 3 will be announced later though, no spoilers!
Fleet Foxes were a hit the second they came in here, and harken to the indy/folk roots of college radio. It's inspiring to see a band like this get the kind of attention they do, and they don't rest on their laurels - they're constantly touring, collaborating with other artists, and garnering numerous album of the year awards, including one from Billboard's Critics Choice.
Fleet Foxes were a hit the second they came in here, and harken to the indy/folk roots of college radio. It's inspiring to see a band like this get the kind of attention they do, and they don't rest on their laurels - they're constantly touring, collaborating with other artists, and garnering numerous album of the year awards, including one from Billboard's Critics Choice.
eventful.com
Was just checking some stuff out online, saw this awesome site by way of Zoe Keating, an awesome cello artist. It's eventful.com - it lets you "demand" that artists come to your area, and then be alerted when they're on their way. I haven't gotten a good feel of how many artists are on there yet, but it's definitely worth checking out.
http://www.eventful.com
http://www.eventful.com
Number 9: Kings of Leon "Only By the Night"
As we just said, mainstream records are tough for us. This record did especially well because of its cross over appeal - a lot of heavier rockers dug it as much as the indie kids. Sometimes we have to let our pretentiousness fall to the wayside and enjoy catchy hooks and distorted guitars.
The record came out in September of 2008, and the band has been on fire since. They hit number one on all sorts of charts and are playing some huge festivals, including Lollapalooza.
The band already has a handful of tracks in the bank for their next record, which they say are sort of bluesy - if you can catch them on tour soon, you may hear a few.
The record came out in September of 2008, and the band has been on fire since. They hit number one on all sorts of charts and are playing some huge festivals, including Lollapalooza.
The band already has a handful of tracks in the bank for their next record, which they say are sort of bluesy - if you can catch them on tour soon, you may hear a few.
Number 10: CSS - Donkey
CSS, or Cansei de Ser Sexy, is a band from Brazil. This record came out in July of 2008, and was a huge hit as soon as we got back to school. This song "Move" was the last single off the record, and is a pretty big hit at Happy Fridays.
Interesting note? The band's name, meaning "tired of being sexy" in Portugese, is a quote attributed to Beyonce.
Interesting note? The band's name, meaning "tired of being sexy" in Portugese, is a quote attributed to Beyonce.
Top Ten for 2008-2009
Hey guys it's Andrew, I'll be blogging the show today, giving you the lowdown on everything we're doing.
Basically we're playing the Top Ten albums from when I started as Music Director in 2008 up to last week. We measured these by number of weeks on the Top Ten, so they're decided by our DJs, and by extension, our listeners for requesting these records.
Hope you like it, hit us up on AIM (wxvufm) or phone (610 519 7200) throughout the show to send your goodbyes to kev-o and myself (I'm not leaving but I'll be taking goodbyes so feel free)
-andrew
Basically we're playing the Top Ten albums from when I started as Music Director in 2008 up to last week. We measured these by number of weeks on the Top Ten, so they're decided by our DJs, and by extension, our listeners for requesting these records.
Hope you like it, hit us up on AIM (wxvufm) or phone (610 519 7200) throughout the show to send your goodbyes to kev-o and myself (I'm not leaving but I'll be taking goodbyes so feel free)
-andrew
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