Check Out: Millionyoung

 Just a quick suggestion......Millionyoung

Like It? Get his EP "Sunndreamm" HERE for FREE!! Just click on the giant picture and ENJOY!

#6 Camera Obscura "My Maudlin Career"

 DUN DUN!...."Spent A Week In A Dusty Library"....DUN DUN!..... "Waiting For Some Words To Jump At Me". So begins the first song on Camera Obscura's, "My Maudlin Career". Dropping earlier this year around April, this cd earned a spot in my cd player on those evening drives as the sun was descending and clouds were few. Ahhh nostalgia....I still think they record all their music in a castle or deep halls. One of my favorite things about this cd and band from Stockholm in general, is there immense far-off sound fronted by Tracyanne Campbell's tender and soothing voice. Although this sound is heard throughout the whole cd, and yes, takes a couple listens to appreciate, it will grow on you. Its not difficult to notice what this cd's theme is about, and with track titles like, "Sweetest Thing", "James" and "Careless Love", it should be obvious, but I'll let you be the judge of that. "This Maudlin Career Has Come To An End, I Dont Want To Be Sad Again".......so help cheer ole' Cambell up and GET.THIS.CD!

#7 Times New Viking "Born Again Revisited"

 I feel like I'm going out on a limb on this one but it's just too damn good to pass up. Times New Viking's "Born Again Revisited" is a lo-fi, garage band, noise-rock fan's paradise. Each and every song, with a little relief on "No Time, No Hope", is fuzzy and distorted with barely distinguishable vocals. However, the melodies and anthemesque choruses, in context with the sound TNV have developed, in my opinion, are what make this cd unique. Despite "2/11 Dont Forget" (probably my favorite song on the album), every song is under three minutes. Definitely one of my favorite discoveries of 2009.

#8 Fruit Bats "Ruminant Band"

 Moving right along to my 8th favorite cd of 2009, we have Fruit Bats with their hilariously titled cd, "Ruminant Band". My friend Max had mentioned this band a couple of times but for some reason I never paid them much attention. I was missing out, thats for sure. Oddly enough, over Thanksgiving week my family went to Tulsa,Ok for some family get together...ing? Anyways, while I was there I snagged my parents' car for a night and drove to a nearby skatepark. While I was driving, due to the lack of cd's in my parents' car, I started flipping through channels with little of hope anything worth listening to......country......rap.....metallica....oh, wait...whats this?? sounds pretty cool, chill, catchy.. So I pulled my iPhone out and used what is possibly the BEST app ever, Shazam, to find out who it was. As you probably have already guessed it was indeed Fruit Bats with their song "Being On Your Own", a catchy, up-beat and warming song. Once I got home I immediately downloaded the song and repeatedly played the hell out of it. So eventually I just got the cd......and it delivered. Eric Johnson (who is also a part of the Shins, I might add) has a gift for capturing the listener with his melodies and slightly-falsetto voice. What I enjoy most about this cd is its ability to deliver in just about any possible scenario: late at night, early in the morning, mid summer day, hell, even on gloomy days. Very good cd...

#9 Real Estate "Self Titled"

There has been a popular genre of music rising in the year of 2009: a summer provoked, sunlit and carefree style of music. Whatever you want to call it, I'm just going to label it simply as "Beach Music", music that sparks that familiar desire to be baking in the sun with sand in you hair. Real Estate was introduced to me earlier this year with a single entitled "Black Lake", a lazy, muffled and nostalgic song about, in my belief, a lazy sunny day in the summer. I fell in love with the song and continued to keep my eye on them taking advantage of every single they put out for free (there were quite a few). Months after their first single was introduced, rumors of a full length were being thrown around and I could'nt have been more stoked. Finally a set date was established, in the polar opposite month of chilly November their cd that undeniably anticipates you for summer was dropped and found its way into my cd player very quickly. Just as their first single promised, the full-length stayed true to their style and not once is averted from the beachy feel they have formed. I am very excited and stoked to hear more from these guys.

Top 10 Albums Of 2009: #10 Cymbals Eat Guitars "Why There Are Mountatins"

Has there ever been something that you WANTED to like? Either you wind up not liking it or you warm up to it and it eventually grants itself a spot in your cd player multiple times. For some reason, maybe their appearance, I've always wanted to like Deviled Eggs, but everytime I try one it grosses me out.....hmm. I digress. There have been a slew of cd's that I've felt this very way about that just never caught my attention (Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix). But Cymbals Eat Guitars must of had some serious positive reinforcement or somekind of subliminal message in their music because this cd took me 3-4 listens to get interested in. To be honest the first time I listened I guess I was a bit disoriented or had something else on my mind because I just could not connect or "get" it at all. In fact I was a bit confused. But I kept seeing that big brown face on the cd cover and all the people ranting about them. I finally put the cd in and focused on it and became very intruiged. From the first and one of my favorite songs on the cd "And The Hazy Sea" to "Like Blood Does", this cd runs in and out of conscious awareness. The songs are sloppy yet structured abnormally. I am very glad that I gave this cd multiple listens and persisted in liking it.......because unlike deviled eggs, this one grew on me.

This has been quite the year in music and probably one of my favorites. There have been expected excellence, surprises and dissapointments. I think this year has expanded my taste and interest in music immenseley. From bands that I didn't want to like but eventually did for whatever reason (No Age) to bands that I've loved for so long that I've grown out of (Cursive), this year has reformed music in its entirity. So with that said I will start my Top 10 list of my favorite albums of the year...

S.O.T.D: The XX "Crystalised"

I know, I know...... these guys put this cd out like 3 months ago and honestly I gave them a brief listen and shunned them. I've heard site after site rave about this London trio and how great their new self-titled album is. SOOO I gave them one more shot and listened to their song "Crystalised", a sexy, dark and gripping song and, instantly was hooked. So here is the S.O.T.D. The XX-"Crystalised. Enjoy.

A Fresh Start

Going to give this one more try and do my best to keep this updated atleast every weekday.
Some changes have been made: instead of Band of the Day, I'm just going to post Song of the Day/or Single of the Day, either way you like it haha. So with that.........lets give this one more try.

Happy 4th Of July!!

Just wanted to wish all of you a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! Hope you all have a great weekend! To celebrate, we have Animal Collective's song "Fireworks" from their album "Strawberry Jam".

Band Of The Day: Two Gallants

I don't know about you or what your preferences are on folk music, but I have an extreme interest in it. I don't know why but it just appeals to me. Well today we have a band off of Saddle Creek by the name of Two Gallants. Bet you cant guess how many people are in the band. If you said three......your wrong, because there are only two! A hell of a drummer, and a hell of a guitarist with a raspy yet cool voice make up Two Gallants. These guys take folk-rock to a new level bringing in a bit of an emo touch but not excessivly. They have three albums out with "Two Gallants (self titled" being their latest". Today's song comes from their first full length cd "The Throes" and is called "Drive My Car". This was the first song I ever heard by them and still manages to be my favorite amongst the band. Check Em Out and Lemme Know What Ya Think!