CD-Charts Position 51
Average Rating:

April

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Sun Kil Moon

Release Date April 01, 2008
I have been listening to Mark Kozelek's music for about 15 years. Once you have been hooked by one of his songs, it no longer leaves you.
Sometimes I don't listen to his songs for months, but when I listen to them again, I find my love for this music stays the same. I have noticed this with great artists, they dig the same thing again and again, year after year, so every new album sounds familiar while being different. This album is simply beautiful. If you don't know Red House Painters or Sun Kil moon, 'April' is an excellent starting point. If you find it boring at first listening, wait for several weeks and try to give it a second chance...

CD-Charts Position 52
Average Rating:

The Bird & The Bee

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: The Bird & The Bee

Release Date January 23, 2007
I like! It's a unique sound, and very artistically put together. The vocals really are beautiful. The harmonies are edgy, and the instrumentals are exceptionally well done.

CD-Charts Position 53
Average Rating:

Seven Swans

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Sufjan Stevens

Release Date March 16, 2004
This album is great. Some Sufjan fans may not like it because it's so overtly Christian, but HEY! he's a Christian! It doesn't make him uncool! I love the songs, they're solid and have great lyrics (what else would you expect from a writing major), and every fan should have this. I particularly love "Transfiguration." By the way, there are Christian themes in all of his albums - it just takes one to know one, I guess.

CD-Charts Position 54
Average Rating:

Under the Blacklight

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Rilo Kiley

Release Date August 21, 2007
Taking steps into opposite directions simultaneously is a brave move. A band such as Rilo Kiley, who is usually credited for making very approachable and traditional music, would not be expected to make a move such as this, but then again the band is used to big changes and refuse to stay the same as they progress. The hell of it is that the move is parallel, making the release of Under The Blacklight some sort of wild triple entente. As the music enters the world of major label releases, the biggest change is in accessibility. Under The Blacklight is easily Rilo Kiley's most approachable and immediately enjoyable record yet. And yet it still holds some dark secrets, and feels in some ways more sophisticated than it's predecessors.

It's a good sign ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 55
Average Rating:

Limbs And Branches

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Jon Foreman

Release Date October 28, 2008
Jon is definitely made to write music. No if's and's or but's. The man can make you think, re-think and then, yes re-re-think. Then, tear your whole heart out for you to examine your motives just once more. Then when you think you got what the message he is singing about is, it changes on you somehow just one more time. This whole collection (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) is a MUST buy. Limbs and Branches is good as well when putting together a playlist and have limited space.

I know the choices for the list of songs was voted on by fans at Jon's website, but it is missing the #1 song of the year, IMHO. Of all of the songs that have the power to bring tears to my eyes EVERYTIME is "Somebody's Baby" - that is missing from this compilation for some reason. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 56
Average Rating:

Alegranza

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: El Guincho

Release Date October 07, 2008
not really too much to notice at first aside from the drums... lots of percussion. but it grows on you and you find yourself hitting play after it ends and going back for more immediately. did I mention the drums? the different layers of drums and the energy they induce in you??? try to give it a GOOD listen to see if you like them, but it will get under your skin. just thinking about it makes me want to put it on and dance around the room. seriously, when I was listening to it for the first time, my mom came in to ask me a question and she started dancing in place.

if the ubiquitous "they" ever think of the ultimate collaboration, it should have this dude doing the beats, Juana Molina doing the background atmospherics, Q-Tip, Quasimoto and maybe Talib ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 57
Average Rating:

Velocifero

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Ladytron

Release Date June 03, 2008
If you ever thought hmm...female voices with Depeche Mode. Hooks, firmly in place, mikes and synths plugged with amps set at '11'. Place the needle at the beginning of "Burning Up". And there you go and you're welcome. Oh yeah, the rest of the album rocks, too.

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

Car Alarm

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: The Sea and Cake

Release Date October 21, 2008
At first listen, Car Alarm sounds a lot like The Sea and Cake's last album, Everybody. Sam Prekop's lilting voice still dominates the sound and no one is ever going to mistake these folks for Metallica. The Sea and Cake is understated indie, low on angst and distortion and long on melody and songcraft. However, Car Alarm has more bounce and edge to it than Everybody. The biggest risk of this band is that some of the songs are so smooth and effortless that sometimes they sound too close to "easy listening" or elevator music. With Car Alarm, The Sea and Cake looks to be trying to avoid dead-ending in that direction and add in some rougher guitars (as on "Aerial" or "Car Alarm" or "New Schools") and punchier bass lines ("Weekend" or "Down in the City") and unusual song structure ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

Leavetaking

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Peter Bradley Adams

Release Date August 05, 2008
I saw Peter Bradley Adams with Claire Small (vocals and guitar) and Jason Goforth (harmonica, lap steel) and it was a wonderful show. He did some of this album and some of his previous Gather. Fantastic, bought this CD just after the show and Claire Small's Ledger also. Peter's vocals astounding and he plays the songs on the guitar, tuning for each song. Amazing. This is great, highly recommend.

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

If You're Feeling Sinister

CD-Charts > Music > General
by: Belle & Sebastian

Release Date June 23, 1999
This album is best listen to while alone, driving in a car, and really really loud. You wont appreciate it completely until you do this. Spend some time with it, get to be able to sing the songs before you go dissecting the lyrics. Oh, and make sure you have enough time to listen to the album in full, and in the correct order. This album will creep up on you, if you let it. I find it's healthy to examine one's self periodically for change and understanding. In due time, this album will guide you to think about your life a little bit differently than before - something that every good folk album/song should do.

Now, a bit on the content. I've read a few reviews that doc Stewart Murdoch's voice. Well, his sound is raw. Not in the gut wrenching, wild and willy nilly sense ... Read More: