CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The Swell Season

by: The Swell Season

Release Date August 22, 2006
I checked out The Swell Season at Bonnaroo this year and they blew me away with their rich and finely textured songs. This first album captures the same spirit, in a sonically richer environment. Highly recommended to any fan of fabulous songwriting and beautiful harmony and melody.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Once

starring: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Senan Haugh, Leslie Murphy (II), Danuse Ktrestova
directed by: John Carney

Release Date December 18, 2007
I'm gonna be honest and say that I;m giving this movie 4 stars because of the performance of Marketa Irglova. Take this novice actress away and replace her with someone else, and the movie will be worth less than half a star.
I didn't think the music was that great. I only find Falling Away and Marketa's piano piece about her husband passable. All the songs have too much angst to interest me much. Music aside, Irglova pretty much stole the movie with the scenes she was in. Her sincerity and occasional goofiness makes her shine through her dull male co-star.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

The Cost

by: The Frames

Release Date February 20, 2007
I love the sound of this album, but after buying it, too many of the songs just sounded the same. The vocals are unique but the album drags after a while. It dropped to the bottom of our play list rather quickly.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Fitzcarraldo

by: The Frames

Release Date April 07, 2006
FITZCARRALDO is, plain and simple, a fantastic album. After hearing live versions of several of the tracks on the superb SET LIST, I knew I had to have this album in my collection.

Every track has something special about it. The title song alone makes the album worth owning. There is so much going on musically in "Fitzcarraldo" that I all I could do was sit and listen with my mouth open in amazement. "Revelate" begs to be danced to, "Evergreen" boasts a surprising guitar riff, and you'll find it hard not to sing along with "Angel at My Table" and "Denounced". Fans of ONCE will recognize the stellar "Say It To Me Now", presented here in its full electric version. "Your Face" is a beautiful, mellow tune that ties up the album well. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Set List

by: The Frames

Release Date February 24, 2004
I was given this CD on Sunday and listened to it today (Tuesday) for the first time. I would say that it is the most striking experience I have had listening to a CD for the first time since, well, perhaps the first time I heard London Calling. Beautiful, haunting, energetic, I could go on and on. Instead do yourself a HUGE favor and just get yourself a copy of this as quickly as you possibly can. Wonderful from start to finish.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Burn the Maps

by: The Frames

Release Date February 08, 2005
This is probably The Frames darkest album. It definitely sets unsettling mood throughout. But it also has some of their most rocking tunes that you just get swept up by. "Finally" the second track on the CD is possibly the most captivating openings to a rock song ever. It's so bitter in tone and yet so fun to sing along to! A lot of songs on this album also fall into their signature format "opening soft and whispy, building, adding layers of violin, rocking the hell out, bombast intensity, and suddenly cutting back to the melodic quiet of the opening..."
And this album adds a bit of electronic bits and beeps into the mix for some interesting affect. Sort of in a Radiohead vibe...but with their own distinct vibe. There's some soundscape experimenting ala ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

For the Birds

by: The Frames

Release Date October 23, 2001
I only recently learned of the Frames after hearing the song Dream Awake on an iTunes radio station. I just had to buy their latest album but somehow accidentally purchased their 2001 album Burn the Maps. I wasn't especially impressed on the first listen but now find this album has quite a few gems. (It's impossible to fairly judge an album with only one listening, especially in a car). Now I think For the Birds is a more complete album than their 2005 Burn the Maps, which is itself also a great album. For the Birds is more mellow and reflective whereas Burn the Maps ads a few more guitar and commercial undertones.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

The Swell Season Live From The Artists Den

starring: Swell Season

Release Date April 15, 2008
I finally bought this after waiting in vain for netflix to send it. The wait time with them was something like "Infinitely Long Wait." I don't understand why they don't just buy more copies of the DVD in that situation. (??) Anyway, I'm glad I purchased it, as it pretty much fulfills all of the promise of Glen & Marketa's collaborations in Once. Their songs are "swell" (sorry, couldn't resist!), the harmonies are deluxe, and the sound quality is very good. We get to hear and see versions of their Once tunes (including the minimally featured title track!), plus some good Frames material from Glen. My only complaint with the production is that the camera stays on Glen too long and doesn't feature Marketa enough. On their duets, you'd like to see more shots ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Roads Outgrown

by: The Frames

Release Date August 19, 2003
Don't know The Frames? This is a wonderful introduction album. The fact that there are so many in the US that have yet to experience this wonderful long-living, hard-playing and well-toured band depresses me. It's like the metric system: the entire rest of the world knows and uses it, but not the US. Well, wake up...U2 and the Chieftains are not the only musical products out of Beautiful Ireland. This group is listed Indie Pop, but it's so much more. The songwriting and the vocals give you a sense of many different artists. Glen has an amazing talent for reaching into your heart and grabbing it. What has this man been through? He's funny, soulful, raucous and incredibly energetic. The band is pure gold talent and so generous to the listener. You know they love you loving ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Dance the Devil

by: The Frames

Release Date November 28, 2005
I've crammed the entire Frames oevre in the last few months
and IMO this is the best of a mighty good bunch. Not a skippable
track on it. From ballad to Stadium to the satisfyingly
disturbing "Hollocaine" and REM-ish "Rent Day Blues" you wont
be disappointed. Fitzcarraldo is a great disc too but this is the
classic that should have made them huge worldwide.