Random albums I'm listening to non-stop

Vince Gill - These Days: I originally borrowed this album from a library and ripped it to my computer. A few weeks later, i shelled out $25 for it just to own it. It is that good. All 43 songs of it. The second disc is still my favorite, but there is something for every mood here, and brilliant songwriting to back it up. (Best tracks: "Love's Standin'", "No Easy Way", "Sweet Little Corrina", "A River Like You")

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero: I think I underestimated this one. Trent finally discovers lyrical focus; he also discovers some strange instrumentation, such as the bells in "The Good Soldier" and the horns in "Capital G". A year ago, I was ready to give up on NIN. Now, I'll be first in line for Year Zero: Part 2 later this year. (Best tracks: "Capital G", "Zero-Sum", "The Beginning of the End", "God Given")

Kanye West - Late Registration: I think this one will age better than just about any rap album this decade. Jon Brion contributes orchestrations to this 70 minute plus epic that doesn't peak until near the end: the most memorable parts for me are the trio of "Hey Mama", "Celebration", and "Gone". It's a celebration, bitches! (Best tracks: "Heard 'Em Say", "Crack Music", "Celebration", "Addiction")

Protest The Hero's Fortress

It has been a while since I've picked up a metal album. Since I've been on a big country music kick lately, I was definitely overwhelmed by the speed of this album. Just try to count the time signature of any track here: it will make your hurt.

Anyway, this is a great album with suprisingly wonderful melodies. The singing is more emo than metal, which isn't surprising since it's on the Vagrant label (home to Dashboard Confessional). In a split second, this singer can go from death metal growl to emo cry to hair metal scream; that's a pretty impressive trick that keeps me interested for 41 minutes. Plus, great surprises like the piano part in "Spoils" and the flash bass solo in "Palms Read" kept me guessing even after hearing them a few times.

If you like prog metal but you think the Mars Volta are too over the top, you'll like Fortress. I don't care how old you are, we all need a good thrash and scream once in a while.

Joe Henry's Civilians

Last year gave us a ton of great albums, but it gave me three masterpieces that I'll be playing for years: Radiohead's In Rainbows, National's Boxer, and Joe Henry's Civilians. The first two have something to show for their work. Radiohead sold lots of albums, got the critics to kiss their asses again, and changed the way music can be sold. The National got critical acclaim, got some notice from opening for the Arcade Fire, and got to play David Letterman. Not too bad.

So why didn't Joe Henry get anything? I didn't see him on any of the critic's top ten lists. Some reviews were great, some were indifferent. His album was so unnoticed that Borders was the only store I could find that even carried it. And good luck finding any of his other records.

You can't ignore this album. This is rare album that I use the word timeless to describe: it could have come from the 60s, 70s, 80s.... it doesn't matter. The themes are modern (mostly anti-war songs), but they are so subtle that it could be from any time period. The first song describes a confused, disoriented General in a park drawing a battle plan on a napkin:

"Pray for you, pray for me! Sing it like a song! Life is short, but by the grace of God, the night is long!"

Who, besides Dylan or Waits, could write an anti-war song like that? Or this:

"Progress rides with thieves and whores, the stowaways of a civil war"

Why is this guy not worshiped as one of America's great songwriters? Listen to this album, and then buy Tiny Voices if you want more - and you will.

Kathleen Edwards "Asking For Flowers"

I've played this album a few times now and I am definitely impressed. Although the later half of the album never replicates the intensity of the first three songs, it is a solid, consistent effort by an artist I'd like to hear more by. "The Cheapest Key" delivers enough anger without losing her sweetness, which is a tough trick for some female country singers to pull off. The title track is sort of a corner crier, but the melody is hummable and memorable, so the lyrics work well enough. And you have to love any artist who can write a folksy heart breaker called "Sure As Shit".

Here's a rundown on all of the albums I've hear this year:

Brilliant, maybe a masterpiece:
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig! Lazurus Dig!
Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark

Great albums by promising artists:
Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
Kathleen Edwards: Asking For Flowers

Disappointing albums by once-great artists who should give us something better:
Magnetic Fields: Distortion
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Real Emotional Trash

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

After reading rave reviews from Rolling Stone and Allmusic, I was excited to hear Real Emotional Trash by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. Now that I've played it a few times, I have some mixed feelings.

The guitar work here is amazing. For this album, Malkmus decided to do more with guitar/keyboard interplay. He also added Janet Weiss, who is one of the most overpowering drummers alive. Instrumentally, this album is a cross between the Grateful Dead and Sonic Youth's more laid back work.

So why isn't this a great album? Two reasons: 1.) there are few memorable hooks or choruses to be found, and 2.) the lyrics are absolutely horrible.

I don't expect good lyrics out of Stephen Malkmus. That has never been his forte. Even on Pavement's best albums, the lyrics were the part I tried to ignore. Unfortunately, I think they get worse as he gets older. Just read the song titles: "Hopscotch Willie", "Elmo Delmo", and "Wicked Wanda". Could he have made an instrumental album?

There are some great moments here though. "We Can't Help You" is the rare beautiful moment that happens about once on each of his records (just like what "Here" was to Slanted and Enchanted). "Baltimore" has some of the best lo-fi buzz guitar soloing I've heard in years. "Gardenia" actually manages to be catchy: it's the only song you might still be humming after the album is over.

If you are looking for a great album to get drunk or stoned to, this one might work. If you are looking for a great rock album, get the new Drive By Truckers or wait a few weeks for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds new one.

Nick Cave delivers again!!!

Nick Cave has a new album called Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!. It isn't out in America until April 8, but you can hear it at:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=212434537

Now that I've heard this album, I think the Album of the Year 2008 competition might be over. This album is unbelievable. It's takes the best elements of Abattoir Blues and Grinderman and serves everything that makes Nick great: mock-gospel choruses, Biblical ranting, rock riffs, and hilarious lyrics about death.

"Dig yourself, Lazarus, dig yourself!!!"

I'm going to be writing about this one for months.

The Cure

The Cure are putting a new album out this year! OK, I don't know if I should be excited. It's been about 20 years since Disintegration now, and their last album was their worst.

However, I did think Wish and Wild Mood Swings were very good albums, even though by then the general opinion seemed to be "the Cure are done for". I remember seeing them on VH1's "Where Are They Now" in the late 90s, which was one of the saddest moments of my life. They aren't done yet! They are still a great band!

I'm not expecting a masterpiece like Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me, Disintegration, or The Head On The Door, but I'll give anything Robert Smith puts out a chance. He did get me through high school and several crappy relationships; I owe it to him!

If this new album and the new REM album are both disasters, I will be very depressed this year. And not that good depressed you get from listening to Disintegration.