by

Favorite albums of 2011

It’s done! I need to either start getting paid for this or rethink my strategy. :) I spend a significant amount of time listening to new music. At the end of the year, I spend more time reviewing the lists that I’ve made, thinking about the past year and sometimes changing my opinions. I’m not seeing many patterns in the past year’s music, maybe because it’s all still too close. Last year’s predictions were pretty spot-on I think, so at least that’s gratifying. This year I decided to link to a YouTube playlist of best videos; if you want to hear more from these bands, I highly recommend grooveshark.com. I have plenty of playlists saved there as well. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL50BFDBB7146B858E&feature=mh_lolz

by

Regional playlist: Boston

Music from Boston

Haven’t been posting much for a while; just haven’t been FEELING it, you know? A chance conversation at work led me to decide to set a challenge for myself: playlists showcasing good music from different cities around the U.S. We’re starting off with the nearest “big city” to me, Boston, Massachusetts. It’s weighted toward the late 80s and early 90s, the periods of music I know best. For more recent acts, use the Google to check out Mellow Bravo, the New Collisions, the Organ Beats, Bad Rabbits, Swaggering Growlers, John Shade, the Effective Dose, Sea Monsters, and the Nate Wilson Group.

by

Electro-swing from gay Paris

Caravan Palace is fairly new group, and my impression is that they’re better known in Europe than in the States. They combine modern electronic dance beats with Quintette du Hot Club-era European jazz for driving, insistent party tracks. The lyrics are forgettable, but the music combination works together well–and check out the cool, steampunky video!

by

New Tori Amos album, listen while you can

Tori Amos is one of the first artists I remember getting excited about when Little Earthquakes showed up at KNWD. I’m unapologetic about loving the arty garrets of pop music. So few people get it right. For every great piece from Brian Eno or Godspeed, You Black Emperor! there are embarrassing, overblown indulgences from musicians with just enough education to be dangerous. In her 20-year solo career Tori Amos has been all over that spectrum. I’m glad to say that Night of Hunters is a resounding success. The songs here are inspired by European composers like Satie and Schubert. The whole album is simultaneously21s-century lieder (it’s even released by Deutsche Gramophon) and the best sort of college radio chamber pop. NPR Music has the album streaming for a limited time check it out at the link.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/11/140261371/first-listen-tori-amos-night-of-hunters

by

A nonmusical update

I live in Waterbury, Vermont. The community was hit particularly hard by Tropical Storm Irene. Our place was without electricity for a couple of days, but many neighbors have it SO much worse. North Main Street is a line of houses with their owners’ ruined possessions on the lawn, the stink of mold coming out of every open window. A thin, shifting layer of brown dust covers everything outside; once the storm passed, the sun came out and quickly baked the mud that had been left on the street. We have our problems, certainly; Suri’s workplace was destroyed and we might have trouble paying some bills until her income gets restored. But mostly I’m grateful that we, our cats, and our property are safe and sound.