Here it is. Click on the album covers to purchase the album and keep reading, I have a few more surprises up my sleeve before this year ends.
20. Woven – Designer Codes: Listening to this album was like watching Alien for the first time. Terrifying, moving and pieced together with Goth -like architecture and supernatural sounds.
Woven – Fragments
19. Nada Surf – Lucky: What makes me love Nada Surf is that poetry + pop mix that they mash so well. Lucky is not as abstruse as Let Go, but it’s certainly a straight up fun rock record.
Nada Surf – These Bones
18. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes: Indie rock’s version of the Byrds arrived this year with this gently harmonic record debut that warms the heart and sooths the soul. It’s the kind of record that rewards with every listen.
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
17. Facing New York – Get Hot: Balls out entertaining rock music is hard to come by these days. But lucky for our benefit Facing New York decided to overcome some changes in line-up and enhanced their style to this clap-demanding super catchy rock & roll with Get Hot.
Facing New York – Me N My Friendz
16. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals: Whether you consider this an album for A.D.D. indie brats or a genius mish-mash that is a view in the future of party music, you can not deny that Feed the Animals is a shining star in today’s sky of pop culture.
15. Beck – Modern Guilt: Beck paired with DJ Danger Mouse seemed like a good idea on paper, but no one really knew what to expect. What we got was Beach Boys-like surf music with that special Beck tweak. This record was made for convertible cars.
14. The Walkmen – You & Me: This disarming and dramatic record was slow to grow on me. However, after a few more listens, I was marveled by its well structured songs and throwback to classic rock ‘n’ roll.
The Walkmen – The Blue Route
13. The Mae Shi – Hllyh: There aren’t that many bands out there like The Mae Shi and there wasn’t any album like Hllyh this year. This spastic yet charming record screamed in my face yet for some strange reason…I enjoyed it.
12. Man Man – Rabbit Habits: Man Man can’t exactly bring their famous frenzied live show to your living room, but listening to Rabbit Habits is the closest you’ll come to it. The gypsy psycho freak band has probably made their finest record to date.
11. Foals - Antodotes: Sounding like Bloc Party’s evil twin, Foals entered the scene with their swarming guitars and sketchy vocals and left me in awe. Songs like Two Steps Twice and Hummer are electrifying in execution and make this record a perfect driving soundtrack.
Foals – Balloons
10. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago: This is not your average folk record. Bon Iver’s emotional record paints pictures of snowy pine trees and the pain of a guilty man. This record must be handled with care and loved for its delicacy.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
9. Quiet Village – Silent Movie: Like some kind of 70s soundtrack mixed with RJD2-like sampling, Silent Movie is what I miss from proper easy listening music. Be careful though, your mom might like this too.
Quiet Village – Circus of Horror
8. Santogold/Diplo – Top Ranking: There is so much going on in this masterfully manufactured mix tape. Mashing dub-step, reggae, dancehall, and the extremely talented Santogold is an ideal equation for the perfect party music.
Santogold – Creator (Mumdance Mix)
7. Q-Tip – The Renaissance: No hip-hop artist came close to even evening out to this masterfully constructed album. Q-Tip has more than proven that he can hold his own as a solo artist with a little help from the late, great J Dilla.
Q-Tip – Life Is Better (ft. Norah Jones)
6. Max Richter – 24 Postcards in Full Colour: The concept is almost laughable but this Berlin based 21st century composer brings on the emotion by showing that love and loss can happen in small increments of time.
Max Richter – H in New England
5. Black Mountain – In The Future: Rough, wicked, and wailing with desert rock brutality; In The Future is a Frankenstein-monster built from the best aspects of classic rock and prog-metal.
Black Mountain – Tyrants
4. The Notwist – The Devil, You + Me: Gracefully trekking musical ground that has been graced a million times over; The Notwist somehow make electronic rock music interesting and touching again.
The Notwist – Good Lies
3. TV on the Radio – Dear Science: If you list out all the elements that make up Dear Science, you’ll wonder how an album stock pilled with so much could be so amazingly catchy. This album is a grand picture of what to expect in coming future of rock music.
TV on the Radio – Red Dress
2. Portishead – Third: I can’t tell you how much a loved this record the day it came out. I don’t normally listen to a record on repeat in fear that I may ring it dry of all its magic, but that is not the case with Third. It’s yet another masterpiece from this deeply mysterious band.
1. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: Along with one of my favorite live shows of the year, Sigur Rós also made my favorite album of the year. I guess you could say that they were my favorite band of the year? Maybe. But I can without a doubt say that this album is a flawless piece of work. How could a band so epic in execution take on a more upbeat direction? This album is the answer to that question. It struck me in a time of my life that involved a lot of changes and therefore will always have a special place in my heart.
If you’re in the Bay Area, here’s a few concerts to attend this week…
Sunday:
Woven / Phantom Float / ghost tree
The Crepe Place
1134 Soquel Ave
San Jose 95062
United States
Monday:
A Place to Bury Strangers / Sian Alice Group / The Blacks
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107
United States
Tuesday:
My Bloody Valentine
The Concourse
620 7th Street
San Francisco CA 94103
United States
Wednesday:
MSTRKRFT / Felix Cartal / Congorock
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street @ Mint
San Francisco CA CA 94103
United States
Thursday:
Noah and The Whale
Popscene
330 Ritch Street
San Francisco CA 94107
United States
Friday:
Sigur Rós / Parachutes
Greek Theatre – U.C. Berkeley
Gayley Rd.
Berkeley, CA 94701
United States
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 8 (Friday – Sunday)
Iron & Wine / Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / Gogol Bordello / Alison Krauss and 37 more
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco
United States
Saturday:
Deerhoof / Okay / The Happy Hollows
The Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco CA 94109
United States
My mom is little more musically inclined than most (I assume). I blame XM radio and me and my brothers for that. Recently she sent a little package with an awesome drawing from my little brother Cully, some old mail, and a little note (pictured above). Now, I’ve always been a fan of Nada Surf, but I never got around to buying the new album. Also I knew they were coming to town, but I opted to sit this one out. However, Let Go and This Weight is a Gift are always in heavy rotation in my car stereo because of how catchy and heartfelt their music is. So after getting this note, I realized I’d never heard the song. I soon found out it was off their latest record, Lucky. I searched the internet and downloaded the song. I was amazed; it disarmed me just like certain Nada Surf songs do. It spoke to me and to my current life situation. In response, I bought tickets for tonights show at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and plan on purchasing the new record at the merch desk.
So here’s a recommendation not from me, but from my mom. Enjoy!
Nada Surf – The Film Did Not Go ‘Round
For those unfamiliar with Nada Surf, here’s a few more little nuggets for ya…
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
Chad VanGaalen – City of Electric Light
