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Grinderman
By
Grinderman, 2007
Find in the Library
4 stars
A recent episode of Fresh Air with Terry Gross reminded me to listen to Grinderman, a 2007 side project of Nick Cave's. If literary punk rock is your bag, check it out!
Crystal @ Main
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Asking For Flowers
By
Kathleen Edwards, 2008
Find in the Library
Kathleen Edwards’ lyrics tell stories of flawed characters with sympathy, and her voice brings to mind a gentler Lucinda Williams.
Beth @ Southeast |
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Boys and Girls in America
By
The Hold Steady, 2006
Find in the Library
Blender magazine said of The Hold Steady that they “sound like the best bar band in the world,” and I would have to agree.
Beth @ Southeast
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Load Blown
By
Black Dice, 2007
Find in the Library
5 of 5 Stars
Load Blown weaves a psychedelic tapestry of resonant timbres. Creating most of their sounds with microphones ran through guitar effects pedals, these once fierce noise terrorists have evolved a mature intricate style. Each element equally serves a melodic and rhythmic function. (Indeed, their drummer quit two albums ago). By adding and subtracting richly textured sonic events, structures materialize only to dissolve and reoccur via permutation. This playful boundary jumping between structure and chaos is usually reserved for the best free jazz or IDM. Abstract, but brightly colorful, Black Dice are a magenta-tinted mackerel sky on the far horizon of music.
Bryan @ Main |
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Watina
By Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective, 2007
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I saw this by happenstance and what a great find. It was, as far as I am concerned, the best world music CD of 2007. Unfortunately it also ended up being Andy Palacio's swan song. He died in Jan 2008. The Garifuna are a descendents of Central American slaves who escaped to the mountains and forests and became intermixed with natives. Andy Palacio brings that culture and music together on this wonderfuly conceived and produced CD. Like so much of the African-American music of the Caribbean and Central/South America it feels like party music but it speaks to the trials, tribulations and hopes of the the people. If you like reggae, calypso or samba you will love this.
Jai @ Main |
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Critical Beatdown
By Ultramagnetic MCs, 1988
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4 of 5 Stars Most of the tracks being cut by Ced Gee, an unheralded member of the highly influential Boogie Down Productions, Critical Beatdown is a vibrant slice new school hip hop. It is the first record to feature Kool Keith, one of my all time favorite MCs. Keith is maniac. Recorded at a time when hip hop just beginning to split off into ideologically conflicted directions, the rhymes are equal parts gansta and backpacker. Nothing explodes like an unhinged MC going off over a simple but wicked funky breakbeat. This isn’t music for earbuds. This is music to fill the room.
Bryan @ Main |
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Bone Palace Ballet
By
Chiodos, 2007
Find in the Library
4.37 stars I don't know how to best describe the style of this band. They do hardcore screaming metal, but the lead singer also has a sweet tenor voice that really goes more emo on the ballads. Some arrangements contain nice keyboard work, and a few of the songs have minimalistic cello passages that are reminiscent of Steve Reich. I saw them live with Linkin Park and their show was Gothic and dark, which I really liked. If classical music and heavy metal mated and had a child, Chiodos would be its weird first cousin hiding in the corner, waiting to be discovered. Plus, hands downs, they have the best song titles ever - "is it progression if a cannibal uses a fork?" or "i didn't say i was powerful, i said i was a wizard"! Gotta love that.
Amanda @ Main |
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Gypsum Strings
By Oakley Hall
Find in the Library
As much as you may be scared that this is some lame banjo and fiddle, it's pure hipbilly sunshine. Listen to the rolling beats of songs like "If I Was In El Dorado" and the waddling banjo in "Spanish Fandango".
Raffi @ Green Hills
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Real Things
By Joe Nichols
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"If you live in Nashville long enough, eventually the music will rub off on you." Well, my mother was right. I can't stop listening to Joe Nichols' 2007 release "Real Things." He has the best male "traditional country" voice going right now. If you hear just one song off this record, make it "My Whiskey Years" which was co-written by Tom Hambridge and Jeffrey Steele, and beautifully interpreted by Nichols (my new favorite NOT rock'n'roll singer...).
Crystal @ Main |
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The Story
By Brandi Carlile
Find in the Library
T Bone Burnett is one busy man. I know of at least two great records released in 2007 that he produced. One involves a legendary rock n roll singer and bluegrass artist which has received much critical acclaim(I'm sure you know the record I'm referring to), the other has fallen off most people's musical radar. Allow me to refresh your memory: check out Brandi Carlile's "The Story" produced by T Bone Burnett. She's a great songwriter, with an amazingly soulful voice.
Crystal @ Main |
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Icky Thump
By The White Stripes, 2007
Find in the Library
5 stars
Ok, so I know I’m about 8 months behind the rest of the world, but I just found The White Stripes latest release, Icky Thump. I came because of the “300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues” but I stayed because the whole album is a stimulating musical experience. My only previous White Stripes enjoyment came from their first single, “Fell in Love with a Boy,” and then it was mostly because of Joss Stone’s cover. I just wasn’t impressed with a single guitarist and drummer. A band should have more members, right? Jack and Meg bring their A-game with this album, though. Not only do I get drums and guitar, but there are bag pipes, trumpets, and mandolin. Song styles range from traditional rock to folk to some indescribable conglomeration of many different genres that shouldn’t fit together but somehow do. Anyone who can be this unabashedly artistic is ok in my book. So if you haven’t heard Icky Thump yet, check it out. Seriously, you’ll thank me. As for me, I am going to continue my musical journey and explore this band called Led Zeppelin. I’ve heard they’re keen.
Amanda @ Main |
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Radiance
By Keith Jarrett, 2005
Find in the Library
5 of 5 Stars
Double live solo improvisations on grand piano - Keith building, working, exploring and mesmerizing here in this series of related pieces. Philip Glass meets Thelonious Monk - love it!
Phil @ Main |
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Nina Simone and Piano!
By Nina Simone, 2001
Find in the Library
4 of 5 Stars
I’ve always loved sad songs the most. Nina Simone and Piano dumps ice water on your soul. But isn’t there something warm and fuzzy about feeling depressed? This is music for sipping scotch. If the album has a flaw, it is its one dimensionality. It is literally just Ms. Simone and a piano. Then again, are there two more expressive instruments in the universe besides Nina Simone’s voice and the pianoforte? Like I said, a rainy night and scotch.
Bryan @ Main |
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The Black and White Album
By The Hives, 2007
Find in the Library
In the mood for a mean little rock record? Check out The Hives' latest release!
Crystal @ Main |
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Red Carpet Massacre
By Duran Duran, 2007
Find in the Library
Like any proper child of the 1980's, I fed myself a steady diet of pop music from bands like Duran Duran. Although they have never topped 1982's Rio, I still continue to keep tabs on their musical career. The end of 2007 brought their latest comeback effort, Red Carpet Massacre. There are some real "Rio" like moments here - "Red Carpet Massacre", "Box Full O' Honey", and "Tempted" are stand-out tracks. The rest of the album is pretty good, too. They worked with top producers Danjahandz and Timbaland; and Justin Timberlake co-wrote the song "Falling Down." By the way, if you have a "Second Life" online, you may run into Simon, John, Nick, and Roger. As for me, I'll wait for their next comeback tour stop close to Nashville.
Crystal @ Main |
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Kala
by
M.I.A., 2007
Find in the Library
Guaranteed to make you dance.
Alexandra @ Main
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Rabbit Fur Coat
By Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, 2006
Find in the Library
5 stars
Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley shows off her gorgeous voice on some twangier tunes.
Beth @ Southeast |
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Emotionalism
By Avett Brothers, 2007
Find in the Library
5 stars This is my favorite album of 2007, hands down. It's completely addictive.
Beth @ Southeast |
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Made of Bricks
By Kate Nash
Find in the Library
5 stars She's British, she's cheeky, she's awesome!
Kyle @ Main |
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Mercury
By Long-View, 2005
Find in the Library
4 Stars -- If you like Coldplay, you'll love Long-View.
Carrie @ Main |
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Nights from the Alhambra
By
Loreena McKennitt
Find in the Library
Recently, a friend asked me about my favorite concert moments from 2007. One of the best would have to be Loreena McKennitt and her band performing "Marco Polo" at the Ryman last winter. If you weren't there, you definitely missed out! To me, Loreena is like the James Brown of world music. If you're puzzled yet intrigued by this statement, then check out the CD Nights from the Alhambra, which was recorded in Spain during her tour last year. This 2 CD set also includes a concert DVD!
Crystal @ Main |
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ESG, a South Bronx story
By ESG, 2000
Find in the Library
4 of 5 Stars. Authoring the blueprint for a decades indie grooves, ESG invented "dancepunk" before some music nerd coined the term. Or at least that is the blurb that is constantly bandied about. When I hear this record, I think "dance" first and "punk" about ten free associations later. Though the music is great, and it does predate some contemporary trends in dance music, I can't help feel ESG are mythologized as much as they are simply because they played "real" instruments and this fact satisfies some critics' techno-phobic notions of authenticity. A South Bronx Story really amounts to a collection funky minimal grooves. But the funk is fun enough and grooves subtle enough to satisfy both 80s-retroheads looking for a neon party and icy cold techno DJs voiding into a speakercone abyss. Tracks like "Tiny Sticks" can even make curmudgeons like myself look foolish by inducing head bobbing at stoplights.
Bryan @ Main |
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Blackout
By Britney Spears, 2007
Find in the Library
3 1/2 stars. Forget all the drama that surrounds her, and check out Ms. Spear's lastest!
Crystal @ Main
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Mothership
By Led Zepplin, 2007
Find in the Library
3 stars. While Mothership best serves the Zep neophyte, this is a fun compilation for hardcore fans too, especially when you add in the remastering factor.
Crystal @ Main
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Anchors and Anvils
By Amy Lavere,
Find in the Library, 2007
Ready to have your ears dazzled? Request this CD at your local library! Standout tracks include "Killing Him", "Pointless Drinking", and "People Get Mad". Lavere lived in Nashville during the 1990's, but has since relocated to Memphis. I hope she and her touring band visit again soon...
Crystal @ Main
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Easter
By Patti Smith Group, 1978
Find In the Library
4 of 5 Stars This is one of my favorite of Patti’s albums. Often noted for its accessibility, it also includes some wicked slam poetry, “Babelogue,” and tribal incantations, “Ghost Dance.” This is not to underplay the value of her searing remake of Bruce Springsteen’s “Because the Night.” The library’s copy also includes the b-side bonus track “Godspeed” which Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth declared his favorite song ever in a recent interview.
Bryan @ Main
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Orphans brawlers, bawlers & bastards
By Tom Waits, 2006
Find In the Library
4.5
Tom Waits Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards CD triple set Diverse collection of great stuff, covers and out takes from the gruff and beguiling tunesmith. Gotta love the Ramones cover "Danny says" - beautifully done.
Phil @ Main
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Under the Blacklight
By Rilo Kelly, 2007
Find In the Library
4 Stars. Jenny Lewis is an amazing talent. This album is fun and quirky, full of lyrics that will at times break your heart.
Kyle @ Main
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