Music on TV - Week of January 30: Bon Iver, Fishbone

Bon Iver is this week's musical guest on Saturday Night Live.

2011 turned out to be quite a year for Justin Vernon. Besides his eponymous sophomore release under the moniker Bon Iver being a critical success and debuting at #2 on the Billboard Charts, Bon Iver's also since been nominated for four Grammys (even if the awards show is a waste of time) and has been given his own imprint (Chigliak) on Jagjaguwar to release records that have fallen through the cracks. 2012 hasn't been so bad either, with his first musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live slated this week, while also being an odds on favorite to win at least one Grammy award the following week.

Meanwhile, the legendary Los Angeles Ska/Punk/Funk Freakie Deakie outfit Fishbone makes their first national television appearance in... man, FOREVER! Not that they haven't been in the Late Night talk show news, what with The Roots famously playing Fishbone's "Lying Ass Bitch" as Michelle Bachmann's walk in music and Paul Shaffer playing it later during a commercial break in solidarity. The band was the focus of the recently aired documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, which we profiled here and here (with playlists). In honor of February being Black History Month, the documentary will be available via iTunes starting February 1.

Elsewhere, HBO has the Cameron Crowe directed documentary on the making of Union, the collaboration between legends Elton John and Leon Russell; Wilco takes over Austin City Limits; Ringo Starr hits both Conan and Craig Ferguson; and Lana Del Rey gets a second chance to not bomb on national tv, this time with Letterman.

Picks for the week
Monday, January 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Fishbone
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Madonna, Joe Perry
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Nada Surf
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Tom Morello, Bear Hands (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Tuesday, January 31
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Girls Generation
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ringo Starr
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Björk
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Imelda May
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: J Cole
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Horrors
Wednesday, February 1
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Gotye
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Airborne Toxic Event
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: William Shatner
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Evanescence
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: We Were Promised Jetpacks
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Flo Rida
TBS: Conan: Ringo Starr
Thursday, February 2
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tim and Eric
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Lana Del Rey
HBO: The Union: Elton John, Leon Russell, Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Booker T. Jones, Robert Randolph
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Bush
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Nas
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: White Denim
TBS: Conan: Evanescence
Friday, February 3
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ziggy Marley
NBC: The Today Show: Gym Class Heroes
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Fitz and the Tantrums
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: M83
Saturday, February 4
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Bon Iver
PBS: Austin City Limits: Wilco
Sunday, February 5
HDNET: HDNET Concert Series: Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones
NBC: Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show: Madonna, Nicki Minaj, MIA

Top 50+ Albums of 2011: Featuring Destroyer, Girls, tUnE-yArds, M83, Bon Iver

Top 10 includes Destroyer, Girls, tUnE-yArds, M83, Bon Iver, James Blake, PJ Harvey, St Vincent, Shabazz Palaces, Real Estate

If 2010 was 1993 all over again, 2011 seemed to ignore this trend (and all the corresponding 20 year anniversary reissues), instead reaching back a decade prior. Releases from Destroyer and M83 mined that decade to make great albums, while several bands of that era (Gang of Four, Wire, The Feelies) returned with new releases. Another minor trend we noticed here was artists absolutely obliterating the tired "sophomore slump" myth, with Girls, tUnE-yArds, Bon Iver, Real Estate, Fleet Foxes, Male Bonding and Smith Westerns all having strong follow ups to their hyped debuts.

2011 also marks the second year in a row where anyone of my top 5 could have nabbed the top spot, but Destroyer's Kaputt edges out the aforementioned sophomore releases from Girls, tUnE-yArds and Bon Iver along with a career defining release from M83.

As a side note, I've had this Top 50+ Album list done for weeks now, but it's been a real bear to get formatted and find time to write. And since I want to get it out before the year ends, some of the writing is TBD (look for more in the coming days). But the albums are the meat of the matter, right? Here's the list. Hate it, debate it, relate it, whatever -- in the end, I'm just another jackass with a blog and a list.

Playlist: Top 50+ Albums of 2011

1. Destroyer - Kaputt
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Every once in awhile, an album comes along that makes you rethink your past listening habits -- a re-evaluation of what is kitsch and what is genuine art. The smooth 80s sax solo, for instance, has long been filed in the 'bad idea' folder (and I'm a sax player!), but in the hands of Dan Bejar, it's a revelation. Much like listening to Steely Dan back in the day, you feel like your hearing something much greater than the smoother-than-smooth parts making up the song. Kaputt does that and more. I didn't know what in the Hell was going with it when I first heard it a year ago, but it quickly became the 'go to' listen for nearly all of 2011.

(Review, January 25, 2011)

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2. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Stream / Purchase [mp3
Frontman Christopher Owens was raised in a cult, and with every stellar release, he's unwittingly creating his own. Father, Son, Holy Ghost not only beats the sophomore slump, it's miles beyond and not looking back. The nods to 70s rock abound, with all the modern touches you can't do without -- like Elliott Smith fronting Pink Floyd, with even a nod to Deep Purple ("Die") thrown in for good measure. Required listening.

(Review, September 13, 2011)

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3. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Another impressive sophomore long player, w h o k i l l is a brilliant anti-pop pop masterpiece that mixes R&B, folk, jazz, afro hop and funk for an addictive concoction. And Merrill Garbus does it mostly herself, even live, sampling drums, guitar and all her vocal calisthenics. One of the few truly great odd albums that is enhanced tenfold in a live setting.

(Review, April 19, 2011)

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4. M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Stream / Purchase [mp3]
Anthony Gonzalez continues to mine his childhood for nuggets of nostalgia, and his fifth release ups the ante to a double album. Hurry Up We're Dreaming mixes up the best parts of his previous releases and throws in some Peter Gabriel-like vocal squalls in case you didn't get the 80s decade reference in the music.

(Review, October 18, 2011)

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5. Bon Iver - Bon IverStream / Purchase [mp3]

Bon Iver's gotten a lot of love during this year-end list season, and with good reason. With his eponymous sophomore release, he's injected his gorgeous sound with some of the adventure of the side projects he's dallied in (Gayngs, Volcanic Choir), making the songs on Bon Iver reach for, well... more. I didn't find myself returning to this album as much as the other top four, so that's why it's here, but there's a greatness here that provides ample reason for it's near consensus "album of the year" tag that you'll find elsewhere.

(Review, June 21, 2011)

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6. James Blake - James Blake
Stream / Purchase [mp3]


(Review, February 8, 2011)

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7. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Stream / Purchase [mp3]


(Review, February 15, 2011)

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8. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Stream / Purchase [mp3]


(Review, September 13, 2011)

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9. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Stream / Purchase [mp3]


(Review June 28, 2011)

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10. Real Estate - Days
Stream / Purchase [mp3]


(Review, October 18, 2011)

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11. Atlas Sound - Parallax
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review November 8, 2011)

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12. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review May 3, 2011)

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13. Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review June 7, 2011)

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14. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

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15. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Live recap, July 27, 2011)

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16. Cut Copy - Zonoscope
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, February 8, 2011)

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17. Male Bonding - Endless Now
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, August 31, 2011)

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18. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, February 22, 2011)

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19. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

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20. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, September 13, 2011)

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21. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, June 7, 2011)

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22. Yuck - Yuck
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

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23. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, January 18, 2011)

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24. Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread
Purchase [mp3]

(Review, June 21, 2011)

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25. Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler / The Dream
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

(Review, August 11, 2011)

26. Wilco - The Whole Love (Review September 27, 2011)
27. The Antlers - Burst Apart (Review, May 10, 2011)
28. Tom Waits - Bad as Me (Review October 2, 2011)
29. Beirut - The Riptide (Review October 2, 2011)
30. Mastodon - The Hunter (Review September 27, 2011)
31. Drake - Take Care (October 15, 2011)
32. Cults - Cults (Review June 7, 2011)
33. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
34. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong (Review March 29, 2011)
35. Panda Bear - Tomboy (Music on TV preview, )
36. White Denim - D (Ear on TV preview for July 11, 2011)
37. Battles - Gloss Drop
38. Toro y Moi - Underneath The Pine
39. Elbow - Let's Build a Rocket, Boys! (review March 8, 2011)
40. EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints
41. Campfire OK - Strange Like We Are (Review February 1, 2011)
42. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Mirror Traffic (Review August 23, 2011)
43. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thought (Review May 24, 2011)
44. Wire - Red Barked Tree (review January 11, 2011)
45. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
46. Wye Oak - Civilian
47. Washed Out - Within Without (Review July 12, 2011)
48. Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer (Review July 12, 2011)
49. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes (Review March 1, 2011)
50. Das Racist - Relax (Live recap + photos)
John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams
Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'
Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (Review May 10, 2011)
Boston Spaceships - Let it Beard (Review August 2, 2011)
Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme Some (Review March 29, 2011)
Thao & Mirah - Thao & Mirah
Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital (Review June 28, 2011)
Cass McCombs - Wit's End (Review April 26, 2011)
Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming (Live Bumpershoot recap with photos -- September 20, 2011)
Shelby Earl - Burn the Boats (Live recap with photos from Doe Bay Fest -- April 26, 2011)
Times New Viking - Dancer Equired (Review August 25, 2011)
Megafaun - Megafaun (Review September 20, 2011)
Richmond Fontaine - The High Country (Review September 20, 2011)

Would you believe this is the 16th Top Albums of the Year list that I've done? Here's links to the lists still out there on the web: Top 50+ Albums from 2010, Top 50 Albums from 2009, Top 50 Albums from 2008, Top 100 Albums from 2007, Top 100+ from 2006, Top 50 from 2005, Top 10 from 2004

Music on TV - Week of 06.20.11: Archers of Loaf

Archers of Loaf play Fallon Friday, June 24

Fresh off a couple reunion shows (including the recent Sasquatch! performance we covered three weeks back), North Carolina's Archers of Loaf are answering their fans' call and now embarking on a full tour. To help kick it off, AoL is taking to the airwaves, playing Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Friday night, granting many a Loafhead's greatest desire.

On top of that, Merge Records has stepped up to reissue all four of their releases, including a special 20th anniversary edition of the noise pop classic Icky Mettle. For those not familiar with the Loaf, this will be the album to get as they'll be tacking on the great EP Vs the Greatest of All Time on it as well. We can expect Eric Bachman and crew to perform "Web in Front" from Icky Mettle, and we'll be chanting "All I ever wanted was to be your spine" before the night is over.

Meanwhile, the oft-mentioned Bon Iver has two appearances this week, hitting Fallon as well this week (Tuesday), but also sitting down for truthiness on the all of a sudden music-heavy The Colbert Report on Monday. Stephen Colbert is eschewing his normal author and politician guest run this week in favor of a week of musicians. This week The Colbert Report also welcomes Florence & the Machine (Tuesday), Talib Kweli (Wednesday) and the Black Belles (Thursday).

Elsewhere, there's Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder taking a break from the PJ 20th anniversary celebrations, going it alone with his ukelele on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Monday evening. Tiny Tim better watch out.

But the real pearl might just be the combination of alternative legends Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) both making appearances on Fallon Wednesday night. Moore recently released an intriguing acoustic-centric release, Demolished Thoughts, easily the best solo release he's done yet. Mould, for his part, is out promoting his memoir See a Little Light, co-authored with rock scribe Michael Azzerad (Our Band Could Be Your Life). Mould must be sitting down for an interview, talking about his work with wresting's WCW and his late immersion into gay culture, but will he also be performing? Sitting in with The Roots? Must tune in to find out...

Picks for the week
Monday, June 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Panic! at the Disco
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Eddie Vedder
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Bon Iver
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Chain Gang of 1974
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: LMFAO
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Weird Al Yankovic (sitting in with The Roots), Mint Condition
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mini Mansions (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Tuesday, June 21
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Pitbull
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Drive-By Truckers
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Florence and the Machine
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Maine
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Bon Iver, Big Sean (sitting in with The Roots)
TBS: Conan: Reggie Watts
Wednesday, June 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Matt Nathanson
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Beady Eye
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Talib Kweli
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Ziggy Marley
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Raphael Saadiq
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Bob Mould, Thurston Moore
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ra Ra Riot (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Flo Rida (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Thursday, June 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jill Scott
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Noah and the Whale
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Little Big Town
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: The Black Belles
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Black Veil Brides
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Antlers
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mini Mansions (REPEAT)
PBS: Keeping Score: Mahler - Part 1, Origins: Gustav Mahler
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Pitbull
TBS: Conan: My Morning Jacket
Friday, June 24
CMT: Crossroads: The Doobie Brothers and Luke Bryan
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
NBC: The Today Show: Bruno Mars
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Plain White T's
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Archers of Loaf
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Nicki Minaj (REPEAT)
Saturday, June 25
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Friendly Fires
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Elton John & Leon Russell
PBS: Austin City Limits: Manu Chao

Skins "J.J." - Between friends

Time to check in again with Skins, and "J.J." was one I had circled looking ahead in the season, thinking focus on the kid with Asperger Syndrome would lead to something interesting, and I wasn't disappointed.

Sure, there are still plenty of things wrong with season 3, and specifically with the drastic cutting that goes on before it makes it to a BBC America airing, but this episode was mostly intact, thanks to a soundtrack choice involving lots of Claude DeBussy. The use of DeBussy is actually a reference to the Japanese film Riri Shushu no subete, AKA All About Lily Chou-Chou), a film that kind of parallels the concept of Skins - following teens through the rough and tumble life of high school in the city. Debussy's music was a centerpiece to the film (especially "Arabesque 1"). Here, the music adds an elegance to the episode that the series often lacks.

Elsewhere, the band You Love Her Coz She Is Dead is performing in a club that was chosen due to its appearance in the film Morvern Callar. Two obscure film references in one episode? Way to go Skins! Going to take more than that to get me to recap it on a weekly basis, though. Below is the music as it was meant to be in the uncut UK version.

Playlist: Skins - Episode 3.07
1. "Claire De Lune" - Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
2. "La Plus Que Letnte" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
3. "The Little Shepherd" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
4. "Golliwog’s Cakewalk" - Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
5. "The Snow is Dancing" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
6. "Sweet Jane" - Velvet Underground
7. "Reverie" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
8. "Estamps Pagodes" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
9. "Nocturne" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
10. "Lucille" - Little Richard
11. "Free Like The Sun" - Amy Sawers
12. "Go Go Gurrll" - Da Hood
13. "Cracked Black Pepper" - Fat Segal
14. "Overpowered" - Roisin Murphy
15. "Superheroes" - You Love Her Coz She Is Dead
16. "Le Rock 01" - Vitalic
17. "Duck Chase" - DJ Krush
18. "Arabesque 1" – Claude Debussy (David McGuiness)
19. "Flume" - Bon Iver

Previously: "Cook": The Only Card I Need is... (Episode 2.02)

Hunting Sasquatch - A Saturday/Sunday Primer

The Sasquatch Music festival has always been my favorite, and it's primarily due to it's location, the majestic gorge in South Central Washington. The lineup of artists ain't too shabby either. I've always found myself avoiding the mainstage in the evenings, and this year, with headliners like Kings of Leon and Nine Inch Nails, that tradition remains intact. The Wookie Stage draws smaller crowds and quite often, better acts. I've got my schedule mostly set, and it's embedded below.

Who am I excited to see this year? Well, readers of this blog won't be surprised by most. On Saturday, there's Passion Pit and King Kahn and the Shrines in the early part of the day, and then Animal Collective and Bon Iver in the evening. Sunday features St. Vincent, The Wrens, TV on the Radio and Of Montreal, who are all need-to-see when in town. The early part of Monday is what I'll be sad to miss -- Grizzly Bear, Deerhoof, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Santigold, The Duchess and the Duke, Monotix, Fleet Foxes all play in a span of about four hours.

It's been four years now since I was last here, a period of time marked by having kids and schedule conflicts (bar mitzvah, wedding, etc.). The weather has also been freakish in the years since I've been, so it's nice to see that we're expecting 85 degrees and dry for both days.

Here are the expected points where my camera will be getting a workout:

Chuck versus the Colonel - Awesome and Awesomer

As we were warned, Chuck held nothing back for the penultimate episode of the season (and quite possibly the series). We keep saying "game changer" over and over, but it's true for the recent run of Chuck episodes, and especially this one. Not only is the Chuck/handler dynamic forever changed, but every Chuck universe changed in a big way. Besides Chuck getting the intersect out of his head, Morgan finally took hold of his dream and quit, and Awesome was pulled into the circle of trust. Of course, Chuck can always get the intersect back in his head and Morgan can always come back, but Captain Awesome has eaten from the apple and there's no turning back for him.

Plenty of fun cultural references throughout, including a continuation of the Godfather II, with Big Mike now 'Michael,' holding court in the A/V room like Michael Corleone's Las Vegas office. Later, Rorke (Chevy Chase) invokes Cyrus from The Warriors with his repeated question to the Fulcrum recruits, "Can You Dig It?" And finally, Morgan's exit from the Buy More was right out of An Officer and a Gentleman, complete with the requisite slow clap.

Music-wise, just how many goose bumps did we get from the use of Bon Iver's "Creature Fear" during both the Chuck/Sarah makeout session(!) and the reprise at the end? The other song that got lost in the shuffle was Malbeck's "The Answering Machine" that played for Morgan's triumphant exit, which also felt right. I'm so glad they resisted the urge to use "Up Where We Belong."

Before I pass out from exhaustion, here's some of the many lines that struck my fancy:
"Do all your friends give your mothers urinary tract infections?" - Emmett
"You can't kill me with that radiator. It is far too confined in this car for you to get the appropriate torque." - Chuck
"Ass man, we are under siege... shoot to kill!" - Emmett
"So sorry, Colonel. But congratulations on that chicken franchise you always wanted." - Chuck
I need you to be awesome. Can you... be awesome?" Chuck, then later Ellie, to Devon
"Mr. Bartowski, you are free to return to... whatever it is you do." - General Backman

Music: Chuck - Episode 2.21
1. "Creature Fear" - Bon Iver
2. "The Answering Machine" - Malbeck



Previously: Chuck versus the First Kill - Trust, Trust, Trust (Episode 2.20)

Chuck: An Unfeeling Machine

If Chuck is on the edge of cancellation, it's certainly not going down without a fight (or without a few 'stunts' to get some ratings). Exhibit A: "Chuck vs The Broken Heart" features Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Burn Notice) stripping at Awesome's surprise Buy More bachelor party. It was fun seeing how Jeffster react to the proceedings, but the machines that brought us to that point were loud and clumsy (ditto goes for the Subway footlong product tie-in).



Of course, it was inevitable that the Sarah-has-feelings-for-Chuck liability was going to have to be addressed, but the resolution with General Beckman at the end didn't seem at all earned. At least Tricia Helfer got to show off her... um... skills, and I think we'll see Agent Alex Forrest again, if there's another season, of course. Casey and Forrest make an interesting pair, with the scenes between them cleaning and loading their tranq guns being a highlight of the epiosode. There's a good story arc in there somewhere... one possibly involving some bunny boiling, if her name has any significance (Fatal Attraction). The other name fun was the target here, Rashad Ahmad, who's in the hospital with a bum ticker under the alias Harry Lime (The Third Man,) which an exhibition of the power of positive thinking (many lives).

Most the music tonight was devoted to the bachelor party, but the ending song, Bon Iver's "Blood Bank" was an inspired choice, the kind that gives goose bumps. I'm fairly certain the song's meaning has little to do with what was intended here (the ties of blood between Ellie, Chuck and their father,) but it works nonetheless.

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 2.18
1. "Hearts And Minds" - Matt Pond PA [mp3]
2. "Jump Around" - House Of Pain
3. "LoveGame" - Lady Gaga
4. "Bottle Pop" - Pussycat Dolls (with Snoop Dogg)
5. "You're Turnin' Me On" - Keri Hilson (with Lil Wayne)
6. "Bite Hard" - Franz Ferdinand
7. "Blood Bank" - Bon Iver

Previously: The Other Side of the Screen (Episode 2.16)

Best Albums of 2008 (that were really from 2007)

It's my annual kicking off point for the year-end lists. Here I highlight the best albums seeing their U.S. debut in 2008 that were released elsewhere (or self-released) prior to that. It's a good way to both narrow down my real 2008 list while still highlighting more at the same time. It's called having your cake and eat it too. The top five this year are especially good, and all would make #1 on this list most years.

Playlist: Best Albums From 2008 (That Were Really From 2007)

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Bound to be on many 2008 lists, this siren call from the woods of Wisconsin was self-released in 2007. In what was essentially a outpouring of a broken man on the mend, Justin Vernon recorded For Emma Forever Ago over three frozen months in a remote cabin. "Skinny Love" is the track that most have heard, either via live performance or on TV shows like Chuck, and it's one of the songs of the year. Hearing how the song has evolved in live performances over 2008 is as fascinating as the album itself.

Download: "Skinny Love" [mp3]

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2. Radiohead - In Rainbows

Here's one that's almost the inverse of the intention of this yearly post. In Rainbows was only digitally available in 2007, yet it reached a wide enough audience that it made nearly every 2007 year end list (#2 on ours). This welcome (slight) return to more 'classic' Radiohead, is on very few lists this year as a result, which is good... it wold be embarrassing otherwise.

Video: "Body Snatchers"

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3. Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine

Excerpt from previous review:
Delta Spirit fits nicely in your alphabetically ordered CD collection between Cold War Kids and Dr. Dog, as Ode To Sunshine seems to take what I like about both those bands. It's the kind of album I wish Cold War Kids would've made, full of strong melodies and focused energy. Or it's like Dr. Dog both cleaned and woke up, still weaving classic pop sounds of the past, but utilizing better production and... well... a bit more energy.

(review August 27, 2008)

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4. Wye Oak - If Children

If 2008 taught us anything, it's that the 90's are back, but Wye Oak probably knew that in 2007. If Children captures much of what was great (Yo La Tengo dream folk pop and of course shoegaze) and matches it with lyrics that match the dry wit and spitfire of Jenny Lewis. The Baltimore duo's 2007 release was picked up by Merge earlier this year, and there's ample anticipation for whatever they come up with next.

(review April 8, 2008)

Download: "Warning" [mp3]

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5. Robyn - Robyn

Excerpt from review:
Robyn was released in Sweden in 2005 to rave reviews, and slowly found it's way to the ears of music fans here in the U.S. via import and illegal download. Even though it's three years removed, the album still sounds as fresh as ever (aside from the Teddybears cover "Cobrastyle," as the original is now in the 'tired' column).

(preview April 28, 2008)

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6. Feral Children - Second To The Last Frontier

Local product (originally from Maple Valley, South of Seattle) is the amalgamation of indie rock, psyche folk and noise rock. They drink from the same Seattle suburb angst well that fueled Modest Mouse, but with a bit more primal chaos and, for lack of a better word, 'thump.'

Download: "Spy/Glass House" [mp3]

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6. The Heavy - Great Vengeance and Furious Fire

The Heavy, I have to confess, are right in my sweet spot. That spot being soul-rich falsetto vocals over funky rhythms and grunged-up guitars, complete with some vinyl-scratch atmospherics. Sure, there's points in the album where the formula strays, bringing it down from masterpiece to good, but it's still some sticky sounds that will remain with you when you try and put it down. Maybe you'll have better luck than me at putting it down.... I can't stop. Oh yeah, they managed to make it on Chuck as well.

Video for "That Kind of Man"

7. Throw Me the Statue - Moonbeams
(on a ferry)
8. Wolfkin - Brand New Pants
(The Great Dane Invasion)
9. Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling
(review February 6, 2008)

Ear on TV: Week of 12.08.08

For a few weeks, we might just as well rename this weekly post 'Music on Spectacle,' as the show is all I can think about (it's that good). Elvis Costello's guest this week is Lou Reed, who after some coaxing from Costello, actually opens up a bit and even cracks a smile.

The impeccably prepared Costello is able to put the historically prickly artist at ease by getting him to talk about his influences, which is by far the most fascinating part of each episode of the Sundance series. Reed warms to the subject, championing blues singer/songwriter Doc Pomus, who contributed songs like "Viva Las Vegas" and "Save the Last Dance for Me" into the rock lexicon. Reed later even pulls out a guitar and shares with us the 'secret chord' to his song "Sweet Jane," which feels like something he'd only do for a peer like Costello.

Speaking of sharing, Reed also brings along director/artist Julian Schnabel (on to help promote the Reed Berlin DVD,) who does some spontaneous recitation of Reed's "Rock Minuet" and then goes on to tell a story about Reed and his dying father. It was both touching and awkward, the kind of thing that would get edited out of most talk show formats, but here it fits and works in the context of all the magic that comes before it.

Elsewhere, this week Chicago's Common releases his eighth album, Universal Mind Control, which finds the rapper moving into new directions. Finding inspiration with hip-hop legend Afrika Bambaataa, the album looks forward by looking back at Bambaataa's futuristic nods electronica (his "Planet Rock" famously sampled Kraftwerk). Common appears on Jimmy Kimmel on Tuesday and later gets some daytime love Thursday on Ellen.

Finally, it's December, so folks are putting together their year-end lists, and one that's sure to appear near the top of albums of the year lists is Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago. When the Wisconsin native Justin Vernon, the artist behind the Bon Iver name, plays on Letterman Thursday night, it will serve as a timely reminder that perhaps his album should be on your list (even if it was self-released in 2007).



Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 8
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Duke Spirit
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Aesop Rock (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: T-Pain
Tuesday, December 9
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Common
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Man Man (REPEAT)
IFC: IFC Music Blast: Free Blood, Beck
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Billy Bragg (REPEAT)
Wednesday, December 10
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Adele
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Loudon Wainwright III
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lyle Lovett
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Lou Reed
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Adele
Thursday, December 11
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Snow Patrol
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bon Iver
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Hank Williams III (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Cure
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Tony Bennett
OVATION: Live at Montreux: Johnny Cash
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Common
Friday, December 12
Zzzzzzz
Saturday, December 13
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Kanye West
PBS: Austin City Limits: Crowded House (REPEAT)