I just can’t shake the sadness that has become “radio” these days. When I was young, I would listen to the radio for hours, staying poised by the record button on my tape recorder for those songs that spoke only to me. Where have all of those songs gone? Now when I listen to the radio at work, because with iPods and my own CD collection why else would you subject yourself to someone else’s playlist, I find myself skipping around non-stop and judging a good evening of radio as the station that held me for three songs in a row for an eight hour period. That’s just sad. Well even though most of this upcoming music may not be on the radio in heavy rotation, it is music I connect with as I list my Top 10 Albums of 2008 at the (little over) half way point.
#1 With a bullet and I see very slim chance of them being dethroned for “Album Of The Year,” is the magnum opus of The Black Keys known as “Attack & Release.” The first single “Strange Times” keeps you in that normal BK groove while introducing you ever so slightly to their evolving sound thanks to the help of producer Danger Mouse. “Oceans & Streams” is far and away my favorite song but tracks like “Psychotic Girl” and "So He Won't Break," also highlight this amazing album. The Keys are also the first band I'm aware of that made a song ("Remember When") with two different versions, and tracked them side by side on an album. One version is slow the other fast. Check out this album or be lost forever.
#2 Shooting in from out of nowhere comes the Avett Brothers with “Emotionalism.” Sure they have been heralded in the underground for a while (they do have 6 or 7 albums) but they are new to me and boy did they make a good first impression. It is a rare occasion when I can listen to a CD start to finish without tracking ahead or just sampling the songs. Not only did I never touch the track button, I actually listened to the CD twice in a row, start to finish. Perhaps it was my mood, but I credit the Avett Brothers with some of the praise. “Shame” was the first song I heard from the band which led me to buy the actual album. From there, “I Would Be Sad,” “The Ballad Of Love & Hate,” and "Will You Return" cemented my new muse. “Go To Sleep” is my runaway favorite.
#3 10 Years “Division” the Sophomore effort from the Atlanta band is very strong and cover to cover with good songs. It may depress you and anger you but the band is definitely growing in the right way and expanding their sound and writing. The first single "Beautiful" is a nice tongue in cheek message and "11:00 am (Daydreamer)" has to be an upcoming breakout hit. The song is amazing but listen to the entire album.
#4 Immortal Technique “3rd World” keeps Tech as the best and most dominant rapper in the biz today. The guy is creative as hell, smarter than us all, and actually finds a way to drop a message in his rhymes as well as good beats by partner in crime DJ Green Lantern. Tech’s tongue still holds for no man and no subject as he tackles true subjects rappers like Jay Z & 50 Cent don’t even know, or care about. Get the CD for an education as well as some good rap in a world filled with "Lils" this and "Youngs" that from the man. Check out "That's What It Is," The 3rd World," and "Crimes Of The Heart."
#5 Sevendust returns with their 7th studio album “Hope & Sorrow” still firing on all cylinders and perhaps even improving. I always like their stuff but it seemed like they rushed this album out after the great “Alpha” album that didn’t gain much attention. Still its (as always) a rocking CD with the first release “Prodigal Son” establishing the classic Sevendust style while tracks like "Lifeless" & "Inside" take the brothers to a newer powerful level. This solid band never disappoints (especially in concert) and destroys the popular drivel of bands like Papa Roach who pretend to be hard.
#6 Some people call The Offspring a poor man’s Green Day but though they both emerged with major success at the same time, they aren’t really very similar. The Offspring usually have more hilarity in their music than they do this time though “Stuff Is Messed Up” the best song on their new CD “Rise & Fall, Rage & Grace” lives in this vain. Moreover, like the first release “Hammerhead” The Offspring’s shot at a war song is actually poignant and bad ass. “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid,” the song about duping those around you is a personal favorite and “A Lot Like Me” speaks to personal self-loathing that I can really identify with. Some of the slow songs aren’t really necessary and this isn’t their best album to date, but it’s still worth buying especially when crap like 3 Days Grace is the standard today.
#7 Gogol Bordello “Super Taranta" the newest CD from the “Gypsy Punks,” is a good place to start for the GB virgins. Eugene Hutz from Ukraine came to America to spread his love of gypsy music and its mind bending merger with punk turning into something you have never heard before. The result is some fun shit everyone with a sly sense of humor and willingness to be adventurous that is irresistible. Chiggdy-check "Super Theory Of Super Everything," "My Strange Uncles From Abroad," and "American Wedding" to get you started baby bear.
#8 Weezer hasn’t exactly impressed me on their last two albums, but they always have a few good songs to check out. A friend burned me a copy of their new “Red” album and I was blown away. Some damn good songs here like “Troublemaker,” “Everybody Get Dangerous,” and the radio smash “Pork & Beans.” It’s back to the old fun loving nerd style that’s just fun to rock to and then there is a little song called “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” A long song (for Weezer) stretching 5:54 and reminding one of the eclectic nature of a “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Amazing song and special fun time joy album.
#9 "MC Chris Is Dead" is the name of the album from rap super-star MC Chris. If you are not yet a part of the Nerdcore scene you won't understand but seal your hole and listen. The pint sized comedian/rapper spawned from the cartoons of Adult Swim is back with another blistering CD. The mans voice is so distinct its like nothing ever heard before and the lightning quick rhymes always bring a smile. The title track kills as does "Nrrrd Grrl (I recommend the Chiptune Remix)," "Pizza Butt," "Older Crowd," and I dare you not to laugh during "On." Dude is wicked sweet.
#10 Scars On Broadway the self titled release from the “other” guys in System Of A Down and friends is a little disappointing. The first single “They Say” is the best song on the album so take it from there. It does have some good stuff like the funny and fun “Chemicals” which reminds me of System Of A Down’s “Violent Pornography” and "Serious" and "Babylon" are also stand outs. Most of the songs are pretty short and the verses are pretty repetitive but hey, that’s why it only made it to #10. A good enough CD and I kept 10 of the 15 tracks.
*DISCLAIMER* Keep in mind I already reviewed the new releases from Flogging Molly ("Float"), Pennywise ("Reason To Believe"), Counting Crow's ("Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings"), and Clutch ("From Beale St. To Oblivion") who are still in the running for album of the year but not included in this recent releases countdown.
#1 With a bullet and I see very slim chance of them being dethroned for “Album Of The Year,” is the magnum opus of The Black Keys known as “Attack & Release.” The first single “Strange Times” keeps you in that normal BK groove while introducing you ever so slightly to their evolving sound thanks to the help of producer Danger Mouse. “Oceans & Streams” is far and away my favorite song but tracks like “Psychotic Girl” and "So He Won't Break," also highlight this amazing album. The Keys are also the first band I'm aware of that made a song ("Remember When") with two different versions, and tracked them side by side on an album. One version is slow the other fast. Check out this album or be lost forever.
#2 Shooting in from out of nowhere comes the Avett Brothers with “Emotionalism.” Sure they have been heralded in the underground for a while (they do have 6 or 7 albums) but they are new to me and boy did they make a good first impression. It is a rare occasion when I can listen to a CD start to finish without tracking ahead or just sampling the songs. Not only did I never touch the track button, I actually listened to the CD twice in a row, start to finish. Perhaps it was my mood, but I credit the Avett Brothers with some of the praise. “Shame” was the first song I heard from the band which led me to buy the actual album. From there, “I Would Be Sad,” “The Ballad Of Love & Hate,” and "Will You Return" cemented my new muse. “Go To Sleep” is my runaway favorite.
#3 10 Years “Division” the Sophomore effort from the Atlanta band is very strong and cover to cover with good songs. It may depress you and anger you but the band is definitely growing in the right way and expanding their sound and writing. The first single "Beautiful" is a nice tongue in cheek message and "11:00 am (Daydreamer)" has to be an upcoming breakout hit. The song is amazing but listen to the entire album.
#4 Immortal Technique “3rd World” keeps Tech as the best and most dominant rapper in the biz today. The guy is creative as hell, smarter than us all, and actually finds a way to drop a message in his rhymes as well as good beats by partner in crime DJ Green Lantern. Tech’s tongue still holds for no man and no subject as he tackles true subjects rappers like Jay Z & 50 Cent don’t even know, or care about. Get the CD for an education as well as some good rap in a world filled with "Lils" this and "Youngs" that from the man. Check out "That's What It Is," The 3rd World," and "Crimes Of The Heart."
#5 Sevendust returns with their 7th studio album “Hope & Sorrow” still firing on all cylinders and perhaps even improving. I always like their stuff but it seemed like they rushed this album out after the great “Alpha” album that didn’t gain much attention. Still its (as always) a rocking CD with the first release “Prodigal Son” establishing the classic Sevendust style while tracks like "Lifeless" & "Inside" take the brothers to a newer powerful level. This solid band never disappoints (especially in concert) and destroys the popular drivel of bands like Papa Roach who pretend to be hard.
#6 Some people call The Offspring a poor man’s Green Day but though they both emerged with major success at the same time, they aren’t really very similar. The Offspring usually have more hilarity in their music than they do this time though “Stuff Is Messed Up” the best song on their new CD “Rise & Fall, Rage & Grace” lives in this vain. Moreover, like the first release “Hammerhead” The Offspring’s shot at a war song is actually poignant and bad ass. “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid,” the song about duping those around you is a personal favorite and “A Lot Like Me” speaks to personal self-loathing that I can really identify with. Some of the slow songs aren’t really necessary and this isn’t their best album to date, but it’s still worth buying especially when crap like 3 Days Grace is the standard today.
#7 Gogol Bordello “Super Taranta" the newest CD from the “Gypsy Punks,” is a good place to start for the GB virgins. Eugene Hutz from Ukraine came to America to spread his love of gypsy music and its mind bending merger with punk turning into something you have never heard before. The result is some fun shit everyone with a sly sense of humor and willingness to be adventurous that is irresistible. Chiggdy-check "Super Theory Of Super Everything," "My Strange Uncles From Abroad," and "American Wedding" to get you started baby bear.
#8 Weezer hasn’t exactly impressed me on their last two albums, but they always have a few good songs to check out. A friend burned me a copy of their new “Red” album and I was blown away. Some damn good songs here like “Troublemaker,” “Everybody Get Dangerous,” and the radio smash “Pork & Beans.” It’s back to the old fun loving nerd style that’s just fun to rock to and then there is a little song called “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” A long song (for Weezer) stretching 5:54 and reminding one of the eclectic nature of a “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Amazing song and special fun time joy album.
#9 "MC Chris Is Dead" is the name of the album from rap super-star MC Chris. If you are not yet a part of the Nerdcore scene you won't understand but seal your hole and listen. The pint sized comedian/rapper spawned from the cartoons of Adult Swim is back with another blistering CD. The mans voice is so distinct its like nothing ever heard before and the lightning quick rhymes always bring a smile. The title track kills as does "Nrrrd Grrl (I recommend the Chiptune Remix)," "Pizza Butt," "Older Crowd," and I dare you not to laugh during "On." Dude is wicked sweet.
#10 Scars On Broadway the self titled release from the “other” guys in System Of A Down and friends is a little disappointing. The first single “They Say” is the best song on the album so take it from there. It does have some good stuff like the funny and fun “Chemicals” which reminds me of System Of A Down’s “Violent Pornography” and "Serious" and "Babylon" are also stand outs. Most of the songs are pretty short and the verses are pretty repetitive but hey, that’s why it only made it to #10. A good enough CD and I kept 10 of the 15 tracks.
*DISCLAIMER* Keep in mind I already reviewed the new releases from Flogging Molly ("Float"), Pennywise ("Reason To Believe"), Counting Crow's ("Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings"), and Clutch ("From Beale St. To Oblivion") who are still in the running for album of the year but not included in this recent releases countdown.
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