Year End Special, Vol 7: Favorite Locals

Here are the bands I liked from Michigan or Illinois (mainly Chicago or suburbs). Check them out. Do it. Do it.

Best out of Michigan

1. Anathallo – Floating World : This almost made my real top ten list, but I felt that it fit better here. Much of the inspiration came from a Japanese folk tale - like the Decemberists new album - but for some reason these guys got picked on for being pretentious, while Colin Meloy and Co. were praised. Anathallo's beautiful, complicated pop music rests in a world of its own, and I'm very excited to see where this group goes.
2. NOMO – New Tones : NOMO is supposedly an Afro-jazz group comprised mostly of U of M masters of music students. Ironic humor aside, their music is sometimes stunning in the same way as many classic jazz artists. Now they just need to made some memorable hooks, and emphasize individual musicianship.
   
3. Thunderbirds Are Now! – Make History : I think Justamustache might have hit the nail more squarely on the head, but I'm proud of this group. No one has ever catapulted out of Ferndale, MI and made a sizeable dent in the indie rock community before. Rock on, and bring that exclamation point.
   
4. Those Transatlantics – Knocked Out : This seems to be a summer project of five Central Michigan University students, which is surprising, given how good the music actually is. I saw them at Abbey Pub over the summer and was impressed off record as well. Hopefully they'll put a full-time push into their music sometime soon.

Best Out of Chicago

1. Bound Stems – Appreciation Night : These guys just might be onto something new. It's not quite the disjointed indie rock of Modest Mouse, and it's not quite the buzzing-with-life collective rock of Broken Social Scene. It's something very....Chicago. But it's also something very intriguing.
   
2. Kyle Mann Combo – Goodbye Kites : I'm a huge Ben Folds Five fan, so the idea of a piano/bass/drum trio immediately grabbed me. Luckily, I wasn't let down. They produce some memorable music with intelligent lyrics and a whole lot of class.
   
3. Chin Up Chin Up – This Harness Can’t Ride Anything : CUCU is a tricky band. Just when you're about to write them off as a Cure copy (or any other kind of copy) they impress your pants off. They are becoming a special band to Chicago, not only because of their intimate connection with venues like Empty Bottle, but just because they make music that belongs in the Windy City.
4. The Diminisher – Imaginary Volcano : This is a hidden treasure that rests somewhere between the eclectic late-'60s work of Pink Floyd and the Beatles, with a dash of medieval flavor. Their MySpace page only has like 300 views, but hopefully I can help in that department.
   
5. Wax on Radio – Exposition : I had the pleasure of seeing this band recently at Beat Kitchen. Mikey Russel has a voice like I've never heard before. They play rock music of different varieties, but they are progressive in that they have the ability to finally eliminate many annoying mainstream trends of the past 15 years. Are they headed for radio? Maybe. Do I care? Hell no. I hope they take over the world.

Year End Special, Vol 6: Live Performances

I don't have much time anymore since I have to move tomorrow, so the rest are gonna come quickly. Maybe I'll return to them later to add more info. These were the bands that wowed me the most this year on stage:

1. Broken Social Scene @ Lollapalooza 2006 - 8/6 : Hands down the best set of the festival, and the moment I finally made peace with Chicago.
   
2. Disco Biscuits @ Lollapalooza 2006 – 8/5 : I'd rather see them play in an open field or a beautiful theatre, but damn were they fun.
   
3. Of Montreal @ Metro – 3/10 : Kevin Barnes is insane, but it makes for good stage presence.
   
4. Bloc Party @ Intonation Festival – 6/25 : Overall, the Intonation Festival was a joke. But this band brought every ounce of power from their album to the live setting.
   
5. Mice Parade @ Empty Bottle – 2/13 : My first experience with the Empty Bottle's free Mondays turned out to be an extremely pleasant surprise. This band is under-rated.
   
6. Aloha @ Schubas – 8/20 : Yay for xylophones. I'll never tire of them. Their intricate instrumentation and various moods come across the best on stage
   
7. The Little Ones @ Schubas – 11/16 : These guys bring southern California with them in the tour van. Bring your board shorts and sunscreen if you ever get a chance to see them!
   
8. Anathallo @ Lollapalooza 2006 – 8/4 : The Michiganian mini-marching band played at 1 pm on Friday (one of the first sets of the festival), but set the bar high for the rest of the weekend.
   
9. Evangelicals @ Schubas – 10/1 : What a wild trio. Schubas music room almost couldn't handle it. They have the potential to become a special band with a dedicated cult following.
10. Yo La Tengo @ The Vic – 10/5 : Their set at Pitchfork was unsettling, but this controlled environment allowed them to cultivate all their quiet and loud noises with perfection.
    

Year End Special, Vol 5: Bands I Hate the Most

Once again I don't want to dwell on these overhyped, undeserving, wastes of space. I just need to vent quickly, and then we'll return to more pleasant issues. These are the bands I hated the most in 2006:

1. The Walkmen – A Hundred Miles Off : I hold them at least indirectly responsible for delaying the recognition that French Kicks (former label mates) have deserved for years now. And then, when the Kicks get the push they need, their music lacks the same sparkle that drew me to them. The Walkmen are copycats and overall terrible musicians. Avoid them at all costs.
   
2. Joanna Newsom – Ys : Newsom sings like an epileptic, demented elf. I don't care about Van Dyke Parks' arrangements, I don't give a crap about Jim O'Rourke's production, and Newsom's harp skillz don't do shit for me. If only one guitarist existed in the world of independent music, he would not deserve praise for being the best guitarist. I think my next Anti-Hipster feature will cover this one, so I'll stop for now.
   
3. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain : I've already written an extensive feature about this filthy rubbish (see the July section of this blog). They'll fade away...just wait.
   
4. Bonnie “Prince” Billie – The Letting Go : He claims that music writers spend too much time categorizing and not enough time sharing. Well, Mr. Billie, if it makes you feel better, I'll share your music with my trash can. That's where it belongs.
   
5. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : It's the voice on this one. I can't stand the voice. I'd rather listen to CDs chock full of nail-down-the-chalkboard recordings. Does that idea alone make you cringe? That's what this band does to me.
   
6. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not : It doesn't matter what records they set or how much they got yapped about on the internet. This is lousy, derivative rock music with no future.
   
7. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers : Damn you, Jack White. Damn you to hell. Whatever artistic credibility you held with the White Stripes (a band I never even enjoyed) is now gone. Go rot in your world of classic rock radio giants.
   

Year End Special, Vol 4: Biggest Disappointments

This is a tough one for me. I don't like to center on the negative of anything, let alone bands that I was once obsessed with. But I've recently learned an important lesson. Artists and bands have to work for my devotion (just as they should have to for everyone else, although that's not always the case). Every single release from a band needs to be considered without bias. Each time a band records, they have the opportunity to create art. I have a feeling that the most artistically creative bands will see a power boost in the near future, thanks to resources like MySpace that send their music to a wider audience without the help of a major label.

Just because a band is on this list doesn't mean I hate their new album, or even that I wouldn't recommend them to a friend. It just means that they have had better moments. I know their potential on record, and this year they didn't reach it. With that said, these were the biggest disappointments of 2006.

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones : While their earlier work was comprised mostly of gritty, exciting art-rock, this album is nothing more than alternative pop/rock. Whether it's the boring time signatures, lack of guitar and drum explosions, or the absence of violent, sexual tension in Karen O's voice - this recording was a sonic kick to my groin. Maybe Karen O will one day join the ranks of lead-singers-gone-solo like Gwen Stefani (can you sense the bitter sarcasm?).
2. French Kicks – Two Thousand : 2003's Trial of the Century was one of my favorite records of this decade (if not of all time). Their '60s rock asthetic, subtle yet complex guitars and keys, and swooning vocals reached a pinnacle there. But this album doesn't feel as special. Maybe I shouldn't pick on them. Everyone has creative slumps, and I have a feeling they will make more memorable music in the years to come, and should reap the benefits of their newfound boost in promotion.
   
3. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife : I don't care what any critic says about this album. The group's main concern here was to create a record that would suit a major label (Capitol), regardless of whether or not the label pressured them to sound a certain way (the band says they were not pressured). They used to record every song as if it were a piece of art being handed down to the successor of some great empire. They've lost the intimacy and diversity that I used to love.
   
4. The Flaming Lips – At War With The Mystics : I can't bash the Lips. They are some of the greatest entertainers of our time (which I've been so fortunate as to witness twice). Maybe this is just the band's post-heroin album (well, Wayne Coyne claims to have never used drugs). But whereas 1999's Soft Bulletin was terrifying yet beautiful and 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots was unique, introspective space rock, this time around sounds a bit contrived. As long as Coyne's vocal chords don't give out on him, we should expect them to hold the festival performer trophy, regardless of what they do on record.
5. Incubus – Light Grenades : I've often said that Incubus is the one mainstream band that I will always defend. But really, there were two albums that I loved: 1999's Make Yourself and 2004's A Crow Left of the Murder. Plus, their live show has gotten consistenly better, as they explore new versions of old songs and try out different instruments. This is the same kind of let down as 2001's Morning View, where they rearrange tried styles instead of developing new ones. I won't give up on them though...not yet anyways.
   
6. Pretty Girls Make Graves – Elan Vital : 2003's The New Romance was also one of my favorite albums of the decade. The intricacies unfolded only after many listens, until eventually each second on the album feels completely necessary - a true work of art. Now, three years and a small line-up change (exit guitarist J Clark, enter keyboardist/vocalist Leona Marrs) later, they sound like they're trying way to hard. I have a feeling Clark had a lot to do with their ability to build delicate indie rock songs that bubbled until they erupted in a beautiful firestorm. Don't get me wrong. Elan isn't bad, but the romance is over.
7. ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead – So Divided : What can I say about ToD? I'm happy that they're finally starting to see the success they've deserved for a while (they were recently featured on MySpace). I just can't let go of 2002's Source Tags and Codes. To me, it was a Dark Side of the Moon for a new generation - and proof that the album is still an important medium (despite the general public emphasizing the rise of the "playlist"). Their mastery of the balance between order and chaos showed itself in truest form that time around. I have a feeling they're not lost for good, but this album failed to hold my attention.
   

Year End Special, Vol 3: Favorite Songs

This is a list of my favorite songs of 2006. The number was arbitrary - this is just how many popped into my head when I sat down to compile the list - but the order goes from 1 (most favorite) to the end (barely included). The way to get on the list is simple. All of these songs were stuck in my head at some point this year (and many were featured on my MySpace page...if you've ever visited). You'll notice a correlation with my most favorite songs and the albums that made my Top Ten list. You'll also notice some inclusions from the Biggest Disappointments and Bands I Hate the Most (which should arrive within the next day or two). The point is, a song is separate from an album, but it's also separate from the band itself. I might not like the direction one of my favorite bands is moving, but that doesn't mean a song or two doesn't still give me a thrill. Also, I sometimes think a band is extremely overrated, but I can admit when they have a powerful song or two.

Some will include short bits of info or stories. Some will have links and/or pictures. But some you'll just have to look up yourself. So here are my favorite songs to come out this year. I know you're excited. Remember to breathe!

1. Destroyer – European Oils : No song pulled on my heart strings the way this one did.
   
2. Mew – Why Are You Looking Grave?
3. Feist – Mushaboom (Postal Service Mix) : The original Mushaboom had more plays on my stereo this year (but that was released on Let It Die way back in 2004). Listen for Ben Gibbard vocals mixed with Feist's, and hope that she is added to the roster if Postal Service ever records again.
   
4. The Long Winters – Honest
5. Neko Case – Star Witness
6. Aloha – Ice Storming
7. M. Ward – Chinese Translation : The best road trip song of the year.
   
8. Evangelicals – Diving
9. Phoenix – Long Distance Calls
10. Serena-Maneesh – Selina’s Melodie Fountain
11. Girl Talk – Summer Smoke
12. The Little Ones – Oh, MJ! : These guys probably would have made my top ten list, but they didn't release a full length album yet.
13. Annuals – Dry Clothes
14. Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out Of This Country
15. Belle & Sebastian – We Are the Sleepyheads : B&S took some leaps on their new album, and not all to good places. But this song blew me away.
    
16. Hot Chip – Boy From School
17. DeVotchKa – Curse Your Little Heart : I'm sad that I missed them live. These Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack-ers make me want to drive to Mexico immediately.
    
18. Thom Yorke – The Eraser
19. The Essex Green – Rue de Lis
20. Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives
21. Wax on Radio - The General of Medicine City
    
22. The Decemberists – The Island : The album was lackluster, but this three-part song left my jaw dropped.
    
23. Ellen Allien/Apparat – Way Out
24. Anathallo – Hanasakajijii Four: A Great Wind, More Ash
25. The Roots – Atonement
26. My Brightest Diamond – Dragonfly : Her fluttering voice reminds me of Fiona Apple.
    
27. Basement Jaxx – Take Me Back to Your House
28. CSS – Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above : Silly Brazilians (one with a handlebar mustache) knew how to rock Chicago's Pitchfork Festival like no other band.
29. Band of Horses – The Great Salt Lake : Three words - pedal steel guitar.
    
30. Jim Noir – My Patch
31. The Elected – Would You Come With Me
32. The Rapture – Whoo! Alright-Yeah…Uh Huh
33. Tapes ‘n Tapes – Jakov’s Suite : This band was super-hyped, but they do know how to serve up a raw, urgent type of indie rock (like a northern Kings of Leon)
34. Ratatat - Wildcat
35. Lily Allen – Knock ‘Em Out : Do not approach Lily Allen at a club, unless you desire to be humiliated
    
36. Sonic Youth – James Run Free
37. The Ebb and Flow - Here Are Caught
    
38. The Diminisher - Snail Song
    
39. MSTRKRFT – Works On You
40. Asobi Seksu – Thursday
41. Those Transatlantics - Boys and Children, Sing for Summer
42. Yo La Tengo – Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind
43. Bound Stems – Wake Up, Ma and Pa Are Gone
44. …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead – Sunken Dreams : This song makes me think that ToD still has it in them to make music with the same cathartic release as is found on 2002's Source Tags and Codes. Here's hoping...
    
45. Beach House – Saltwater : This east coast duo creates eerie pop best listened to with your eyes closed
    
46. Junior Boys – In The Morning
47. NOMO – Nu Tones
48. Sufjan Stevens – Put The Lights On The Tree : Stevens does Christmas (and Michigan) proud with this, one of many originals from the Songs for Christmas box set
49. Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
    
50. Subtle – Midas Gutz
51. The Big Sleep – You Can’t Touch The Untouchable
52. Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Octopus Project – Spiracle : This was a collaboration between two groups I had never heard of before. They created some amazing indie electronica.
    
53. Thunderbirds Are Now! – We Win (Ha Ha)
54. Amy Millan – Blue In Yr Eye
55. Aesop Rock – Daylight
56. The Boy Least Likely To – Be Gentle With Me
57. Say Hi To Your Mom – Blah Blah Blah
    
58. Jeff’s Holiday – College : Yes, he is my brother, and yes, I get this song stuck in my head for days at a time
    
59. French Kicks – So Far We Are
60. The Flaming Lips – Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung : The best copy of Meddle-era Pink Floyd I've ever heard.
    
61. Islands – Rough Gem
62. Disco Biscuits – World Is Spinning (live)
63. Spank Rock – Bump
64. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – In This Home of Ice
65. TV on the Radio – Hours : I hate this band, but I whistled this song for a week straight while I was busy hating them
    

Year End Special, Vol 2: Honorable Mentions

Not everyone made the cut on the high school hockey team, but that didn't mean they sucked (or maybe that's just my opinion - having never made any school team...ever). Anyways, I found these albums highly enjoyable, but they didn't quite make my top ten list. They were lacking in things like originality, consistent greatness or repetitive listening ability. These are in no particular order, and definitely should be checked out.

1. The Long Winters – Putting the Days to Bed : I'm hoping that John Roderick will carry the torch of incredible Northwestern indie rock now abandoned by Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie). Look here for breezy, autumnal acoustic (mostly) rock.
   
2. Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped : This album was a pleasant surprise for me, since I had been exposed to Daydream Nation only about a year ago and haven't yet gotten into it. Their playing here is organized and melodic, as they stay true to their old style (they practically defined the term "wall of sound") while turning down the distortion.
   
3. Serena-Maneesh – S/T : Don't compare this Norwegian group to My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive, despite the fact that they are riding the crest of a shoegaze resurgence. Instead, allow them to demonstrate that shoegaze (that is, dreamy or ambient indie rock) with a hint of psychedelia and a dash of worldly flair can exist separately from those bookmark references.
   
4. Thom Yorke – The Eraser : All things considered, the leader of Radiohead did not let us down on his first solo effort. The music is technically similar to Kid A and Amnesiac, but it sounds fresh. The songs work like indie electronic ballads showcasing Yorke's haunting voice.
5. Subtle – For Hero: For Fool : This group just can't be described with common adjectives. Personally, I feel like they are way more successful than TV on the Radio at creating a new sound cominbing hip hop, rock, and electro. One thing is for sure - they demand attention.
   
6. Jim Noir – Tower of Love : If you threw Badly Drawn Boy, Beck, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys in a blender, this is what you'd get (minus all the blood and guts, of course). This bedroom recording project from the British bloke is quite impressive, and is sure to inspire many budding solo musicians to do the same.
   
7. Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass : From one point of view, this is a wonderful slideshow of every strengh the group has ever displayed. From another, it's yesterday's news. Also, the albums where they stick to one mood or theme may be more memorable (see And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out and Summer Sun). You decide.
8. The Essex Green – Cannibal Sea : Sasha Bell has a casual, yet completely addictive voice that seems transported straight from the 1960s. This group (along with Camera Obscura and others) helped to make 2006 the year of indie pop.
   
9. Junior Boys – So This is Goodbye : Add another point for our neighbors to the north. These Canadians owe much to 80s groups like Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode, but also to newer electronic pop bands like the Postal Service.
   
10. Ratatat - Classics : The next in a growing line of bands to put a tiger in their album art (including The Go! Team and The Big Sleep). This is instrumental indie rock with dual guitars and a drum machine, and it makes surprisingly good Christmas music (go figure).

Year End Special, Vol 1: Top Ten

Now that I've terminated both my day job and my internship, I have a couple days to spare before packing up and moving back to Michigan to begin my masters of journalism program. In the meantime, I'll try and crank out the biggest and best musical summary of 2006 that I can. This is the first year that I've had such extensive exposure to new music, and I've realized how absurd the idea of a top ten list really is. However, I've been keeping a running one all year, and now I'm going to share it with you. But it won't stop there! I'll also include Honorable Mentions, Best of Chicago, Best of Michigan, Biggest Disappointments, Hipster Bands I Hate the Most, Best Songs of 2006, and Best Live Performances of 2006 (also with honorable mentions). This is also a sort of one year anniversary of this blog. So keep tuned 'cuz this is gonna get exciting!

HEAD DRESS TATTOO 2006 TOP TEN:

10. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country : Sweet, summery, nostalgic indie pop from Scotland. This is the stuff that Saturday Looks Good to Me has been trying to create for years, but without the same payoff.
9. Hot Chip - The Warning : This is the electronica band comprised of four keyboards and a drum machine (they claim to have no computers or pre-recorded material for live shows). The result is catchy, stimulating electronic pop.
8. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood : I thought I didn't like country, but oh that strumming! That slide guitar! Her painful, haunting voice! Case makes me want to cuddle up in front of a fireplace with my sweetheart in a small Colorado cabin, as it snows and snows outside. Sounds nice? So does this album.
7. The Roots - Game Theory : ?uestlove and the gang give a realistic and gritty account of the modern world, while still creating something beautiful. The MC work is impressive, the productions are diverse, and there's not a wasted moment on the album.
6. Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites : These Danish fellows got picked on a lot for having long hair and writing songs of childhood fantasy and fear, but this blend of dream pop and progressive rock is nothing if it's not powerful. Anyone who calls them "uncool" can eat a heaping pile of hipster shit and die.
5. Girl Talk - Night Ripper : Gregg Gillis is winning over the masses with his mash-ups that combine various genres, decades, and styles to produce the best pre-drinking album of all time. He claims it's original music - not a DJ mix - and I'm starting to believe him. Do you?
4. Evangelicals - So Gone : This is not Flaming Lips progeny, even if they do share the same love for vivid, bombastic sounds. This is not a religious album, even if you will worship them after one listen. This is amazing indie rock, full of synth washes, time changes, and flailing vocals. Get ready for a new kind of freak out.
3. Aloha - Some Echoes : Pretty much the only band that fulfilled my expectations this year, Aloha creates intricate indie rock with an integrity level unheard of in modern music. I hope, hope, HOPE that they get their due sometime soon. They should own the world by now.
2. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That : Finally captalizing on the melancholic yet celebratory fervor inherent in "If I Ever Feel Better" (from their debut United) and "Everything is Everything" (from their sophomore Alphabetical), every song on this album is a special entity. Somehow these Frenchies manage to tap into the very essence of life on these short, simple little bits of heaven.
1. Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies : This album has been firmly planted in my #1 spot since I discovered it around June. Destroyer sounds like a classic rock band playing in some Western saloon in the abyss of your mind. The mix is so fragile that it really only works on record (they're good live, but not quite as good), as Dan Bejar's voice barely hits notes and the instruments hang onto each other by a thread. Call it a resurgence of my boyhood devotion to Cat Stevens (perhaps due to the assocation with my father, who would sing the songs to me when not playing them repeatedly on our Chrysler mini-van stereo). This record has the ability to make me miss a time during which I was miserable. Not because I want to be miserable again, but because it felt so incredible to discover this treasure even though I hated the state of my life earlier this year. That, my friends, is the power of music.