Giant music sampler
I'm bored, so here's a giant list of the music I've discovered this year, at least what I can think of!
Almost all tracks or even albums should be available on elbo.ws or a good Google search, but I've included links anyway- mostly YouTube, others Songza or random blogs. Some are videos, some are just audio; some are album recordings and some are live.
All of the following tracks are wholehearted recommended! However, ones with × are standouts, and the same goes for albums with ** (around half of the list - consider it a "top 20"). If you must, skip to those, although I've kinda gone overboard with starring stuff, but please take a few days or weeks or whatever and go through everything. :P
So here we go, in almost-alphabetical order:
Air France - No Way Down (EP)
Whispy electronic music with "vocals". Very sunny music that just kinda...bursts, with the exception of the opening track.
Try: "June Evenings", "Collapsing at Your Doorstep", "No Excuses"
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (2009)**
Literate, occasionally thought-provoking, spine-chilling stuff, with a healthy dose of whistling and Stringz. This is all as usual, I'm happy to report, and it'll be on my best-of for next year!
Try: "Oh No"×, "Masterswarm", "Natural Disaster", "Fitz and the Dizzyspells"× live renditions
from Armchair Apocrypha (2007): "Plasticities", "Armchairs"×, "Spare-Ohs"
from The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005): "Sovay"×, "Fake Palindromes", "Skin Is, My", "Measuring Cups"
Annie - Don't Stop (2009)
Pure pop music right here. Unfortunately, the leaked version feels like half of a great album; maybe that's why Annie's gone back to the studio and pushed the release back half a year! Some great tracks below.
Try: "My Love Is Better", "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me"
from Anniemal (2004): "Heartbeat"×, "Chewing Gum", "Greatest Hit"
Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling**
Canadian folk-popster, sounds even better live. Neat instrumentations, but very accessible. She's got a very classic sound.
Try: "In the Night"×, "Snakes and Ladders"×, "I was a Daughter", "The Pilgriming Vine"
Beach House - Devotion**
They do evoke the image of a beach house...but of an abandoned one in the winter. Beautiful chamber pop, but not everyone's cup of tea. Don't let that deter you.
Try: "Heart of Chambers", "You Came to Me", "Gila"
and a separate single: "Used to Be"×
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Experimental folk/rock/Americana...hippie? Kinda hard to describe...listen for yourself. It's the immediate kind of music though.
Try: "Gold for Bread", "Furr", "Black River Killer"×
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)**
Quiet, wintery music ("bon iver", bon hiver...get it?). Very haunting, and it's perfect to curl up to. I can imagine the fireplace.
Try: "Skinny Love"×, "Re: Stacks" (as heard on House), "For Emma, Forever Ago", other live renditions
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue
Indie rock leaning on pop and punk. Catchy, but some tracks may annoy before it grows on you. In a good way. Oh yeah, they're Canadian, that's a plus.
Try: "Barnacle Goose", "Hummingbird", "I Need a Life"×
Brazilian Girls - New York City
Random blend of world music in an electronic/dance style. One of the three members is a girl, and none are Brazilian, but hey, the lyrics bounce around in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese...sometimes in the same song.
Try: "Good Time"× (hey, I'm living close to this neighbourhood), "Losing Myself" (multilingual!)
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning - Something for All of Us...
This sounds very BSSish indeed, but that's not a bad thing. It leans towards the wall of sound style, lots of fuzz, and plenty of guitar rockers.
Try: "Hit the Wall", "Churchers Under the Stairs"×
from Broken Social Scene (2005): "7/4 (Shoreline)"×, "Fire Eye'd Boy"
Calexico - Carried to Dust
Kinda Latino-folk, country-rock? Jazzy, soft, quirky, even "Western" at different times, an interesting listen.
Try: "Two Silver Trees", "Inspiración", "House of Valparaiso"
Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
This kinda sticks out on my list. I'm sure you've all heard at least some of this- TV, radio... Good music, better than the last record. Beware of cringe-inducing lyrics ("Lost!").
Try: "Cemeteries of London", "Strawberry Swing"
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours**
Danceable electronic music delivered with an Australian accent. Catchy, summery, and continuous- the tracks bleed into each other.
Try: "Lights and Music"×, "Hearts on Fire", "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found"
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park**
My favourite record of the year. Each listen rewards some new subtlety. Fall-time folk/rock with smidgeons of electronic stuff, with a haunting voice to go along.
Try: "No One Does It Like You"×, "Phantom Other", "Waves of Rye"
The Dodos - Visiter**
Frenetic guitar and craaazy drums. It's folk rock, but that's a deceiving label. It's intensely addictive (I'm listing 5 tracks here!), and will sweep you right in.
Try: "Red and Purple", "Fools"×, "Winter", "Ashley"×, "Undeclared"
Dosh - Wolves and Wishes
Frequent Andrew Bird collaborator with some interesting electronic sounds and heavy drumming. Dynamic music makes up for few lyrics.
Try: "If You Want To, You Have To"
from The Lost Take (2006): "Um, Circles and Squares", "MPLS Rock and Roll", "Everybody Cheer Up Song"
School of Language - Sea from Shore**;
The Week That Was - The Week That Was**;
Field Music - Tones of Town (2007)
I might as well group these three together. Field Music makes insanely catchy indie pop/rock, but they're on hiatus now. Two-thirds of the band have done solo projects (with each other's help) this year- School of Language leans more on the rock side, while TWTW veers further and creates a narrative of paranoid music. Both are great, but one is slightly better- figure it out yourself!
from Sea from Shore: "Rockist (Part 1)"×, "Poor Boy", "Rockist (Part 4)", two others on Myspace
from TWTW: "Learn to Learn", "The Airport Line", "Scratch the Surface"×
from Tones: "A House Is Not a Home"×, "In Context", "Working to Work", "Sit Tight"
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes**
My second favourite record of the year. Timeless, melodic music with vocal harmonies and strong, evocative lyrics. You can just see the mountains. And the hippiedom.
Try: "White Winter Hymnal"×, "Ragged Wood"×, "He Doesn't Know Why", "Blue Ridge Mountains"
Fujiya & Miyagi - Lightbulbs**
Four British guys doing Krautrock-inspired electronic music. Repetitive, almost nonsensical (in a good way!), but with massive swagger. Very fun to listen to.
Try: "Knickerbocker"×, "Uh"×, "Dishwasher", "Pussyfooting"
from Transparent Things (2006): "Ankle Injuries", "Collarbone"×, "Sucker Punch"
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
Talk about a 180 from Supernature! From electronica/dance to light, breezy acoustic music. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some highlights. The lyrics are rather disturbing, check 'em out.
Try: "Happiness"× (about joining a cult), "A&E" (about an overdose), "Caravan Girl"
from Supernature (2006): "Ooh La La", "Ride a White Horse", "Number One"×
from Felt Mountain (2000): "Pilots (On a Star)"
Gotye - Like Drawing Blood (2006)
Experimental pop/rock music with a dark tinge. All the tracks are quite different, almost in genre.
Try: "Hearts a Mess"×, "Learnalilgivinanlovin", "Thanks For Your Time" (a rant about being put on hold)
Guillemots - Red
Windowpane was pretty brilliant, but Red is a bit of a disappointment (great first half, then...). Still, some great highlights though from a pop band with limitless energy and emotion.
Try: "Kriss Kross", "Get Over It"×, "Clarion", "Falling Out of Reach"
and from Through the Windowpane (2006): "Trains to Brazil"×, "Made Up Love Song #43"×, live renditions
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive**
A solid rock record, laden with fun storytelling, riffs and stuff you'd find in classic rock. People call them a "bar band", and I concur, despite never being in a bar...
Try: "Stay Positive", "Constructive Summer", "Sequestered in Memphis", "Lord, I'm Discouraged"
from Boys and Girls in America (2006): "Stuck Between Stations", "Chips Ahoy!"
Hot Chip - Made In the Dark**
Quirky dancable electropop. Pulsating at one moment, poignant (and not dancable) in others.
Try: "Ready for the Floor"×, "One Pure Thought"×, "Made In the Dark"
from The Warning (2006): "Over and Over"×, "And I Was a Boy From School", "Look After Me"
Jamie Lidell - Multiply (2005)**; Jim
Former electronica artist turned funk/soul singer. You'd never think he was a white British guy from that voice, or even the music. Catchy stuff, I can't believe I didn't find this earlier!
from Multiply: "Yougotmeup", "Multiply"×, "Newme"
from Jim: "Another Day"×, "Out of My System", "Hurricane"
Jason Collett - Here's to Being Here
Broken Social Scene-ster gone alt-country. He's got a nice raspy voice. Also, some rather Ontario-centric lyrics if you delve into his albums.
Try: "Out of Time"×, "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington", "Sorry Lori"
from Idols of Exile (2005): "Fire"×, "I'll Bring the Sun", "Hangover Days" (an old live rendition with Feist)
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
I never got into Rilo Kiley, but Jenny Lewis' solo stuff is pretty good. Good ol' fashioned alt-country/classic romper.
Try: "Carpetbaggers" (feat. Elvis Costello), "The Next Messiah"×, "Acid Tongue" via Myspace
Jim Noir - Jim Noir**
Immaculately crafted psych/electro/60's pop with an overarching (but not mentioned) narrative about an astronaut lost in space, recalling his memories. Very underrated, extremely cohesive album; this is my #3 for the year.
Try: "All Right"×, "Don't You Worry"×, "Happy Day Today"×, "Same Place Holiday", "On a Different Shelf"
from Tower of Love (2006): "My Patch"× (Grey's fans may recognize), "Eanie Meany", "Key of C"
Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers
Okay, this is straight-up country music, and I normally hate country! There's something different though (other than "she's Canadian")...she's frank, occasionally wry, and a step above the rest.
Try: "The Cheapest Key"×, "Asking for Flowers", "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory"
from Back to Me (2005): "In State"×, "Back to Me"
The Lodger - Life is Sweet
Jangly, catchy indie pop. It's pretty straightforward, but enjoyable enough.
Try: "The Good Old Days", "Falling Down"
Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Hyperactive Welsh kids with loud indie pop. It's both wordy and exuberant. They've released a second album this year which I haven't checked out yet (We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed).
Try: "Death to Los Campesinos!"×, "You! Me! Dancing!", "My Year In Lists"
Love Is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night
Continuing on the loud, brash indie pop, but this one leans more rock/punk, has lots of saxophone, and they're Swedish. Some may find this girl's voice annoying. Oh, it might be good driving music.
Try: "Give It Back"×, "Movie Romance", "Wishing Well"
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Minimalist, dancable Swedish pop- sometimes airy, sometimes bass-heavy. The four singles below are so strong that the rest of the album seems to pale in comparison, but try it anyway if you can.
Try: "Dance Dance Dance", "Little Bit"×, "I'm Good, I'm Gone"×, "Breaking It Up"
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
French electronic group with major 80s vibes and a love for shoegaze (think layered wall of sound). The songs are oddly about teenage angst. Huh.
Try: "Graveyard Girl"×, "Kim & Jessie", "Couleurs"
Marnie Stern - This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That
Riff after riff of electric guitar shredding at blistering speeds. This is like noise rock on a sugar high. I can never get through the whole album in one sitting, but it's so ridiculous (like the title) that it's awesome.
Try: "Transformer"×, "Shea Stadium", "Ruler"
Okkervil River - The Stage Names (2007) / The Stand-Ins**
Shearwater - Rook**
Might as well group them together. Okkervil River is an indie rock band- catchy, loose, wordy, and an absolute pleasure to listen to. The two albums listed comprise a "double album", both are excellent (first is stronger though). Shearwater is a spinoff band but completely different- haunting and still. Both are definitely worth your time.
from Stage Names: "Our Life Is Not a Movie Or Maybe", "A Girl In Port"×, "Plus Ones", "Unless It's Kicks"×
from Stand-Ins: "Lost Coastlines"× (seriously awesome), "Singer Songwriter", "Blue Tulip"
from Rook: "Rooks", "The Snow Leopard"×, "Century Eyes"
Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue**
Just another amazing indie-rock record from Montreal, what else? I absolutely love this record. It's got the right amount of emotion and propulsion, and a great listen.
Try: "Bye Bye Bye", "Good Friend"×, "Feedback in the Field"×, "New Kind of Love"
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)**
I was never really into them, but this- a surprisingly accessible album- really struck me. It's not "out there", it's...intricate.
Try: "15 Step", "House of Cards"×, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place"×, "Reckoner", "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"
Ratatat - LP3
An electronic music duo whom I swear could totally soundtrack movies. This is an entirely lyric-less affair, but very hooky and immediate. Their videos are...weird, but at least go for the music.
Try: "Mirando", "Flynn", "Shempi"×, "Falcon Jab"
from Classics (2006): "Wildcat" (awesomely ridiculous)
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
That title is quite odd. The music and the lyrics aren't dirty at all...but the sound is. Dirty, white-noisy synth/punk music. This is best played loud.
Try: "Aly, Walk With Me", "Dead Sound"×
and a single: "Black/White"×
She & Him - Volume One**
Actress Zooey Deschanel (yes, she can really sing) and one of my old faves, M. Ward, team up for some classic 60's/AM-radio pop. It's a simple but enjoyable record, and no, I'm not ashamed to like it so much.
Try: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"×, "Black Hole", "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today", "Change Is Hard"×
from M. Ward's Post-War (2006): "Chinese Translation"×, "Requiem", "Rollercoaster"×
from Volume Two (2009): "Lingering Still"
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Save for the one (their first) English song on this album (not included here), chances are you won't understand a word (it's half Icelandic, half made-up language). And that's okay, cause the music speaks for itself. It's other-worldly, takes its time to build, and is utterly captivating.
Try: "Gobbledigook"×, "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur"
from Takk... (2005): "Glósóli"×
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All**
An excellent, catchy indie folk/pop record laden with horns and strings. The lyrics draw many images of childhood, and I love letting my mind zone out (and go back ten years) to this record.
Try: "Bag of Hammers"×, "Swimming Pools"×, "Big Kid Table"×, "Feet Asleep", "Travel"
from Like the Linen (2005): "Chivalry"
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Dense experimental rock with various influences. It took me awhile to get into them, but the critics seem to love them. A lot. Me, I'm not so sure (I'm late to the party), but they're definitely pushing musical boundaries.
Try: "Dancing Choose"×, "Golden Age", "Family Tree"
from Return to Cookie Mountain (2006): "Wolf Like Me"×, "I Was a Lover" (very weird), "Dirtywhirl"
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
They may have been overhyped, but this is catchy indie rock, a Frankenstein of classical and African music. It's a solid record once you see past the hype.
Try: "A-Punk"×, "Oxford Comma", "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
Almost all tracks or even albums should be available on elbo.ws or a good Google search, but I've included links anyway- mostly YouTube, others Songza or random blogs. Some are videos, some are just audio; some are album recordings and some are live.
All of the following tracks are wholehearted recommended! However, ones with × are standouts, and the same goes for albums with ** (around half of the list - consider it a "top 20"). If you must, skip to those, although I've kinda gone overboard with starring stuff, but please take a few days or weeks or whatever and go through everything. :P
So here we go, in almost-alphabetical order:
Air France - No Way Down (EP)
Whispy electronic music with "vocals". Very sunny music that just kinda...bursts, with the exception of the opening track.
Try: "June Evenings", "Collapsing at Your Doorstep", "No Excuses"
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (2009)**
Literate, occasionally thought-provoking, spine-chilling stuff, with a healthy dose of whistling and Stringz. This is all as usual, I'm happy to report, and it'll be on my best-of for next year!
Try: "Oh No"×, "Masterswarm", "Natural Disaster", "Fitz and the Dizzyspells"× live renditions
from Armchair Apocrypha (2007): "Plasticities", "Armchairs"×, "Spare-Ohs"
from The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005): "Sovay"×, "Fake Palindromes", "Skin Is, My", "Measuring Cups"
Annie - Don't Stop (2009)
Pure pop music right here. Unfortunately, the leaked version feels like half of a great album; maybe that's why Annie's gone back to the studio and pushed the release back half a year! Some great tracks below.
Try: "My Love Is Better", "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me"
from Anniemal (2004): "Heartbeat"×, "Chewing Gum", "Greatest Hit"
Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling**
Canadian folk-popster, sounds even better live. Neat instrumentations, but very accessible. She's got a very classic sound.
Try: "In the Night"×, "Snakes and Ladders"×, "I was a Daughter", "The Pilgriming Vine"
Beach House - Devotion**
They do evoke the image of a beach house...but of an abandoned one in the winter. Beautiful chamber pop, but not everyone's cup of tea. Don't let that deter you.
Try: "Heart of Chambers", "You Came to Me", "Gila"
and a separate single: "Used to Be"×
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Experimental folk/rock/Americana...hippie? Kinda hard to describe...listen for yourself. It's the immediate kind of music though.
Try: "Gold for Bread", "Furr", "Black River Killer"×
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)**
Quiet, wintery music ("bon iver", bon hiver...get it?). Very haunting, and it's perfect to curl up to. I can imagine the fireplace.
Try: "Skinny Love"×, "Re: Stacks" (as heard on House), "For Emma, Forever Ago", other live renditions
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue
Indie rock leaning on pop and punk. Catchy, but some tracks may annoy before it grows on you. In a good way. Oh yeah, they're Canadian, that's a plus.
Try: "Barnacle Goose", "Hummingbird", "I Need a Life"×
Brazilian Girls - New York City
Random blend of world music in an electronic/dance style. One of the three members is a girl, and none are Brazilian, but hey, the lyrics bounce around in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese...sometimes in the same song.
Try: "Good Time"× (hey, I'm living close to this neighbourhood), "Losing Myself" (multilingual!)
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning - Something for All of Us...
This sounds very BSSish indeed, but that's not a bad thing. It leans towards the wall of sound style, lots of fuzz, and plenty of guitar rockers.
Try: "Hit the Wall", "Churchers Under the Stairs"×
from Broken Social Scene (2005): "7/4 (Shoreline)"×, "Fire Eye'd Boy"
Calexico - Carried to Dust
Kinda Latino-folk, country-rock? Jazzy, soft, quirky, even "Western" at different times, an interesting listen.
Try: "Two Silver Trees", "Inspiración", "House of Valparaiso"
Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
This kinda sticks out on my list. I'm sure you've all heard at least some of this- TV, radio... Good music, better than the last record. Beware of cringe-inducing lyrics ("Lost!").
Try: "Cemeteries of London", "Strawberry Swing"
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours**
Danceable electronic music delivered with an Australian accent. Catchy, summery, and continuous- the tracks bleed into each other.
Try: "Lights and Music"×, "Hearts on Fire", "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found"
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park**
My favourite record of the year. Each listen rewards some new subtlety. Fall-time folk/rock with smidgeons of electronic stuff, with a haunting voice to go along.
Try: "No One Does It Like You"×, "Phantom Other", "Waves of Rye"
The Dodos - Visiter**
Frenetic guitar and craaazy drums. It's folk rock, but that's a deceiving label. It's intensely addictive (I'm listing 5 tracks here!), and will sweep you right in.
Try: "Red and Purple", "Fools"×, "Winter", "Ashley"×, "Undeclared"
Dosh - Wolves and Wishes
Frequent Andrew Bird collaborator with some interesting electronic sounds and heavy drumming. Dynamic music makes up for few lyrics.
Try: "If You Want To, You Have To"
from The Lost Take (2006): "Um, Circles and Squares", "MPLS Rock and Roll", "Everybody Cheer Up Song"
School of Language - Sea from Shore**;
The Week That Was - The Week That Was**;
Field Music - Tones of Town (2007)
I might as well group these three together. Field Music makes insanely catchy indie pop/rock, but they're on hiatus now. Two-thirds of the band have done solo projects (with each other's help) this year- School of Language leans more on the rock side, while TWTW veers further and creates a narrative of paranoid music. Both are great, but one is slightly better- figure it out yourself!
from Sea from Shore: "Rockist (Part 1)"×, "Poor Boy", "Rockist (Part 4)", two others on Myspace
from TWTW: "Learn to Learn", "The Airport Line", "Scratch the Surface"×
from Tones: "A House Is Not a Home"×, "In Context", "Working to Work", "Sit Tight"
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes**
My second favourite record of the year. Timeless, melodic music with vocal harmonies and strong, evocative lyrics. You can just see the mountains. And the hippiedom.
Try: "White Winter Hymnal"×, "Ragged Wood"×, "He Doesn't Know Why", "Blue Ridge Mountains"
Fujiya & Miyagi - Lightbulbs**
Four British guys doing Krautrock-inspired electronic music. Repetitive, almost nonsensical (in a good way!), but with massive swagger. Very fun to listen to.
Try: "Knickerbocker"×, "Uh"×, "Dishwasher", "Pussyfooting"
from Transparent Things (2006): "Ankle Injuries", "Collarbone"×, "Sucker Punch"
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
Talk about a 180 from Supernature! From electronica/dance to light, breezy acoustic music. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some highlights. The lyrics are rather disturbing, check 'em out.
Try: "Happiness"× (about joining a cult), "A&E" (about an overdose), "Caravan Girl"
from Supernature (2006): "Ooh La La", "Ride a White Horse", "Number One"×
from Felt Mountain (2000): "Pilots (On a Star)"
Gotye - Like Drawing Blood (2006)
Experimental pop/rock music with a dark tinge. All the tracks are quite different, almost in genre.
Try: "Hearts a Mess"×, "Learnalilgivinanlovin", "Thanks For Your Time" (a rant about being put on hold)
Guillemots - Red
Windowpane was pretty brilliant, but Red is a bit of a disappointment (great first half, then...). Still, some great highlights though from a pop band with limitless energy and emotion.
Try: "Kriss Kross", "Get Over It"×, "Clarion", "Falling Out of Reach"
and from Through the Windowpane (2006): "Trains to Brazil"×, "Made Up Love Song #43"×, live renditions
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive**
A solid rock record, laden with fun storytelling, riffs and stuff you'd find in classic rock. People call them a "bar band", and I concur, despite never being in a bar...
Try: "Stay Positive", "Constructive Summer", "Sequestered in Memphis", "Lord, I'm Discouraged"
from Boys and Girls in America (2006): "Stuck Between Stations", "Chips Ahoy!"
Hot Chip - Made In the Dark**
Quirky dancable electropop. Pulsating at one moment, poignant (and not dancable) in others.
Try: "Ready for the Floor"×, "One Pure Thought"×, "Made In the Dark"
from The Warning (2006): "Over and Over"×, "And I Was a Boy From School", "Look After Me"
Jamie Lidell - Multiply (2005)**; Jim
Former electronica artist turned funk/soul singer. You'd never think he was a white British guy from that voice, or even the music. Catchy stuff, I can't believe I didn't find this earlier!
from Multiply: "Yougotmeup", "Multiply"×, "Newme"
from Jim: "Another Day"×, "Out of My System", "Hurricane"
Jason Collett - Here's to Being Here
Broken Social Scene-ster gone alt-country. He's got a nice raspy voice. Also, some rather Ontario-centric lyrics if you delve into his albums.
Try: "Out of Time"×, "Charlyn, Angel of Kensington", "Sorry Lori"
from Idols of Exile (2005): "Fire"×, "I'll Bring the Sun", "Hangover Days" (an old live rendition with Feist)
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
I never got into Rilo Kiley, but Jenny Lewis' solo stuff is pretty good. Good ol' fashioned alt-country/classic romper.
Try: "Carpetbaggers" (feat. Elvis Costello), "The Next Messiah"×, "Acid Tongue" via Myspace
Jim Noir - Jim Noir**
Immaculately crafted psych/electro/60's pop with an overarching (but not mentioned) narrative about an astronaut lost in space, recalling his memories. Very underrated, extremely cohesive album; this is my #3 for the year.
Try: "All Right"×, "Don't You Worry"×, "Happy Day Today"×, "Same Place Holiday", "On a Different Shelf"
from Tower of Love (2006): "My Patch"× (Grey's fans may recognize), "Eanie Meany", "Key of C"
Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers
Okay, this is straight-up country music, and I normally hate country! There's something different though (other than "she's Canadian")...she's frank, occasionally wry, and a step above the rest.
Try: "The Cheapest Key"×, "Asking for Flowers", "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory"
from Back to Me (2005): "In State"×, "Back to Me"
The Lodger - Life is Sweet
Jangly, catchy indie pop. It's pretty straightforward, but enjoyable enough.
Try: "The Good Old Days", "Falling Down"
Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Hyperactive Welsh kids with loud indie pop. It's both wordy and exuberant. They've released a second album this year which I haven't checked out yet (We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed).
Try: "Death to Los Campesinos!"×, "You! Me! Dancing!", "My Year In Lists"
Love Is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night
Continuing on the loud, brash indie pop, but this one leans more rock/punk, has lots of saxophone, and they're Swedish. Some may find this girl's voice annoying. Oh, it might be good driving music.
Try: "Give It Back"×, "Movie Romance", "Wishing Well"
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Minimalist, dancable Swedish pop- sometimes airy, sometimes bass-heavy. The four singles below are so strong that the rest of the album seems to pale in comparison, but try it anyway if you can.
Try: "Dance Dance Dance", "Little Bit"×, "I'm Good, I'm Gone"×, "Breaking It Up"
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
French electronic group with major 80s vibes and a love for shoegaze (think layered wall of sound). The songs are oddly about teenage angst. Huh.
Try: "Graveyard Girl"×, "Kim & Jessie", "Couleurs"
Marnie Stern - This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That
Riff after riff of electric guitar shredding at blistering speeds. This is like noise rock on a sugar high. I can never get through the whole album in one sitting, but it's so ridiculous (like the title) that it's awesome.
Try: "Transformer"×, "Shea Stadium", "Ruler"
Okkervil River - The Stage Names (2007) / The Stand-Ins**
Shearwater - Rook**
Might as well group them together. Okkervil River is an indie rock band- catchy, loose, wordy, and an absolute pleasure to listen to. The two albums listed comprise a "double album", both are excellent (first is stronger though). Shearwater is a spinoff band but completely different- haunting and still. Both are definitely worth your time.
from Stage Names: "Our Life Is Not a Movie Or Maybe", "A Girl In Port"×, "Plus Ones", "Unless It's Kicks"×
from Stand-Ins: "Lost Coastlines"× (seriously awesome), "Singer Songwriter", "Blue Tulip"
from Rook: "Rooks", "The Snow Leopard"×, "Century Eyes"
Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue**
Just another amazing indie-rock record from Montreal, what else? I absolutely love this record. It's got the right amount of emotion and propulsion, and a great listen.
Try: "Bye Bye Bye", "Good Friend"×, "Feedback in the Field"×, "New Kind of Love"
Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)**
I was never really into them, but this- a surprisingly accessible album- really struck me. It's not "out there", it's...intricate.
Try: "15 Step", "House of Cards"×, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place"×, "Reckoner", "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"
Ratatat - LP3
An electronic music duo whom I swear could totally soundtrack movies. This is an entirely lyric-less affair, but very hooky and immediate. Their videos are...weird, but at least go for the music.
Try: "Mirando", "Flynn", "Shempi"×, "Falcon Jab"
from Classics (2006): "Wildcat" (awesomely ridiculous)
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
That title is quite odd. The music and the lyrics aren't dirty at all...but the sound is. Dirty, white-noisy synth/punk music. This is best played loud.
Try: "Aly, Walk With Me", "Dead Sound"×
and a single: "Black/White"×
She & Him - Volume One**
Actress Zooey Deschanel (yes, she can really sing) and one of my old faves, M. Ward, team up for some classic 60's/AM-radio pop. It's a simple but enjoyable record, and no, I'm not ashamed to like it so much.
Try: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"×, "Black Hole", "I Thought I Saw Your Face Today", "Change Is Hard"×
from M. Ward's Post-War (2006): "Chinese Translation"×, "Requiem", "Rollercoaster"×
from Volume Two (2009): "Lingering Still"
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Save for the one (their first) English song on this album (not included here), chances are you won't understand a word (it's half Icelandic, half made-up language). And that's okay, cause the music speaks for itself. It's other-worldly, takes its time to build, and is utterly captivating.
Try: "Gobbledigook"×, "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur"
from Takk... (2005): "Glósóli"×
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All**
An excellent, catchy indie folk/pop record laden with horns and strings. The lyrics draw many images of childhood, and I love letting my mind zone out (and go back ten years) to this record.
Try: "Bag of Hammers"×, "Swimming Pools"×, "Big Kid Table"×, "Feet Asleep", "Travel"
from Like the Linen (2005): "Chivalry"
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Dense experimental rock with various influences. It took me awhile to get into them, but the critics seem to love them. A lot. Me, I'm not so sure (I'm late to the party), but they're definitely pushing musical boundaries.
Try: "Dancing Choose"×, "Golden Age", "Family Tree"
from Return to Cookie Mountain (2006): "Wolf Like Me"×, "I Was a Lover" (very weird), "Dirtywhirl"
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
They may have been overhyped, but this is catchy indie rock, a Frankenstein of classical and African music. It's a solid record once you see past the hype.
Try: "A-Punk"×, "Oxford Comma", "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"