Next is the C
Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
One of the more interesting Hip Hop albums released this year. Super geeky yet intelligent and (occasionally) heartfelt lyrics on top of club (Electro, House, etc) music instead of the typical breakbeats.
Cassettes Won’t Listen : Small-Time Machine
More Indie Electro tipping this genre into total overkill…but wait! This guy has a pedigree. CSW has provided remixes for a number of Def Jux artists, and while this album can be in no way be considered Hip Hop, it’s obvious that hi guy knows his way around beats and dynamics. An excellent addition to an overcrowded genre.
Cass McCombs : Dropping the Writ
Singer Songwriter stuff that’s not third tier Elliot Smith or Matt Nathanson for the Indie kids. I remember when Pete Yorn was heralded as being a sensitive SSW guy who took 80’s British bands like Smiths as his biggest influences. Yeah, not so much in hindsight, but I could definitely buy that from McCombs.
Castanets : City of Refuge
Southern Gothic Folk with, I shit you not, a serious dub influence. In between the gently plucked, down in the dirt, spirituals like “I’ll Fly Away” are throbbing tracks like “High Plains” this is their best album and well worth seeking out, though his creaky voice will be a deal breaker for most.
Cat Power : Jukebox
Hey, remember when you used to write your own songs? They were great. I mean really excellent. I mean, please, stop with the covers.
Chatham County Line : IV
In case you didn’t know, I love Blugrass, and I refuse to apologize for it. I love it way more than I like traditional country and folk because it has an energy and rawness that they often lack. This is what they call “Progressive Bluegrass” because its cleaner and better produced and incorporates non-country elements. Too often this results in bands like “Nickel Creek” who are technically amazing but lacking soul. CCL manages to have both proficiency and soul.
Chin Chin : Chin Chin
Cheesy as-all-get-out funk. Perfect for your next Hipster loft party, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m kind of bopping around in my chair to it as I’m writing this.
Chris Walla : Field Manual
At least as responsible for the sound of Death Cab for Cutie as whats-his-name, so you either worship at Walla’s throne or you hate him, and he is your enemy. Despite the baggage that comes with it, this is a really good Indie Pop record. Nothing earth shattering but good for what it is.
Civet - Hell Hath No Fury
All girls punk that’s so heavy it verges on metal. L7 started this disturbing trend in punk: girls can do the lunkheaded Rock stuff just as well as boys can. True, but most of us don’t like it when the boys do it either. Now, I’m not completely slotting this into that category, but…simplistic, “I’m a bad-ass; you suck” lyrics, check; pummeling riffs, check. What raises them above this level, though, is their voices which are excellent, moving from sneering to note perfect Girl-Group harmonies and their playing which raises the lunkhead riffing to a Spector, wall of sound, level. It’s growing on me.
Clark : Turning Dragon
This the best thing Clark has ever released, using bits of Glitch to pump out a heavy dance record that surges and falls apart in all the right places. Who says you can’t dance to IDM?
Cock Sparrer : Here We Stand
There was a point in my life when I fancied myself a skinhead. Boots, braces, the whole thing. Now, before you freak the hell out, I’ll spare you the rant about how Oi! was in no way a racist movement, and just say that I considered myself a SHARP (Skinhead Against Racial Prejudice). Cocksparrer was, and still is, one of my favorite Oi! bands, and this is one of their best albums. Shocking, since they’ve all got to be pushing 50 by now. They’ve moved past you youth anthems and are now writing songs for adults, particularly “Did You Have a Nice Life Without Me” which addresses an old girlfriend who wanted good ol’ Colin to settle down and raise a family. Now, it’s thirty years on, and he’s evaluating the decision. Fantastic album, from beginning to end.
Cordero : De Donde Eres
With the Latin American sounds pushing the Indie Rock to the back, Cordero return with their best record to date. Lovely and percussive, it’s a great mix of folk and dance songs.
Crystal Antlers : EP
Striking a good balance between Prog and Noise, CA almost live up to their hype.
Crystal Stilts : Alight of Night
Crystal Stilts bring out the Garage Rock in the Jesus and Mary Chain. Which is in contrast to The Raveonettes who bring out the Girl Group sound. Some one needs to start a band that highlights the Krautrock sound in JaMC , and then they can all combine to form some kind of Jesus and Mary Chain Voltron. How awesome would that be?
Cut Off Your Hands : You and I
Wow. Great opening track. Phil Spector rears his head, or as Waren Ellis calls it, “His mighty wig of innocence” in Indie rock again. Total wall of sound here. After that, it’s by the numbers jittery Post Punk. But that first song…damn.
One of the more interesting Hip Hop albums released this year. Super geeky yet intelligent and (occasionally) heartfelt lyrics on top of club (Electro, House, etc) music instead of the typical breakbeats.
Cassettes Won’t Listen : Small-Time Machine
More Indie Electro tipping this genre into total overkill…but wait! This guy has a pedigree. CSW has provided remixes for a number of Def Jux artists, and while this album can be in no way be considered Hip Hop, it’s obvious that hi guy knows his way around beats and dynamics. An excellent addition to an overcrowded genre.
Cass McCombs : Dropping the Writ
Singer Songwriter stuff that’s not third tier Elliot Smith or Matt Nathanson for the Indie kids. I remember when Pete Yorn was heralded as being a sensitive SSW guy who took 80’s British bands like Smiths as his biggest influences. Yeah, not so much in hindsight, but I could definitely buy that from McCombs.
Castanets : City of Refuge
Southern Gothic Folk with, I shit you not, a serious dub influence. In between the gently plucked, down in the dirt, spirituals like “I’ll Fly Away” are throbbing tracks like “High Plains” this is their best album and well worth seeking out, though his creaky voice will be a deal breaker for most.
Cat Power : Jukebox
Hey, remember when you used to write your own songs? They were great. I mean really excellent. I mean, please, stop with the covers.
Chatham County Line : IV
In case you didn’t know, I love Blugrass, and I refuse to apologize for it. I love it way more than I like traditional country and folk because it has an energy and rawness that they often lack. This is what they call “Progressive Bluegrass” because its cleaner and better produced and incorporates non-country elements. Too often this results in bands like “Nickel Creek” who are technically amazing but lacking soul. CCL manages to have both proficiency and soul.
Chin Chin : Chin Chin
Cheesy as-all-get-out funk. Perfect for your next Hipster loft party, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m kind of bopping around in my chair to it as I’m writing this.
Chris Walla : Field Manual
At least as responsible for the sound of Death Cab for Cutie as whats-his-name, so you either worship at Walla’s throne or you hate him, and he is your enemy. Despite the baggage that comes with it, this is a really good Indie Pop record. Nothing earth shattering but good for what it is.
Civet - Hell Hath No Fury
All girls punk that’s so heavy it verges on metal. L7 started this disturbing trend in punk: girls can do the lunkheaded Rock stuff just as well as boys can. True, but most of us don’t like it when the boys do it either. Now, I’m not completely slotting this into that category, but…simplistic, “I’m a bad-ass; you suck” lyrics, check; pummeling riffs, check. What raises them above this level, though, is their voices which are excellent, moving from sneering to note perfect Girl-Group harmonies and their playing which raises the lunkhead riffing to a Spector, wall of sound, level. It’s growing on me.
Clark : Turning Dragon
This the best thing Clark has ever released, using bits of Glitch to pump out a heavy dance record that surges and falls apart in all the right places. Who says you can’t dance to IDM?
Cock Sparrer : Here We Stand
There was a point in my life when I fancied myself a skinhead. Boots, braces, the whole thing. Now, before you freak the hell out, I’ll spare you the rant about how Oi! was in no way a racist movement, and just say that I considered myself a SHARP (Skinhead Against Racial Prejudice). Cocksparrer was, and still is, one of my favorite Oi! bands, and this is one of their best albums. Shocking, since they’ve all got to be pushing 50 by now. They’ve moved past you youth anthems and are now writing songs for adults, particularly “Did You Have a Nice Life Without Me” which addresses an old girlfriend who wanted good ol’ Colin to settle down and raise a family. Now, it’s thirty years on, and he’s evaluating the decision. Fantastic album, from beginning to end.
Cordero : De Donde Eres
With the Latin American sounds pushing the Indie Rock to the back, Cordero return with their best record to date. Lovely and percussive, it’s a great mix of folk and dance songs.
Crystal Antlers : EP
Striking a good balance between Prog and Noise, CA almost live up to their hype.
Crystal Stilts : Alight of Night
Crystal Stilts bring out the Garage Rock in the Jesus and Mary Chain. Which is in contrast to The Raveonettes who bring out the Girl Group sound. Some one needs to start a band that highlights the Krautrock sound in JaMC , and then they can all combine to form some kind of Jesus and Mary Chain Voltron. How awesome would that be?
Cut Off Your Hands : You and I
Wow. Great opening track. Phil Spector rears his head, or as Waren Ellis calls it, “His mighty wig of innocence” in Indie rock again. Total wall of sound here. After that, it’s by the numbers jittery Post Punk. But that first song…damn.