ITI's Top 50 CD's of 2004 (pt. 1)
50. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "Shake the Sheets" (Lookout! Records)
Sounds Like: Good old rock and roll
There are few albums released these days that could be filed as rock and roll and nothing more, given the deluge of sub-genres we've encountered, but I don't think there's any other way to describe this album. Another solid rock offering from Ted Leo and his band.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "Me and Mia" (go to the site and download it)
49. Scout Niblett, "Uptown Top Ranking" (Secretly Canadian Records)
Sounds Like: Mirah, Elliot Smith, Joanna Newsome
I'll admit, the inclusion of this 3-song EP to the list was not entirely fair. Becuase it was this EP that turned me on to her previous debut full-length, which is currently becoming a personal favorite. This is an EP steeped in singer-songwriter fare; mostly guitar and vocals only. But the vocals are one of Scout's biggest strengths, as she posses one of those rare, unique voices that can only be hers.
Scout Niblett, "Uptown Top Ranking"
48. Nedelle and Thom, "Summerland" (Kill Rock Stars Records)
Sounds Like: The Mates of State on downers?
This is some summery pop right'chere. Like many of their married-and-in-a-band peers, this duo specializes in happy pop. But unlike, say, Mates of State, the music here is rather calm and serene, choosing to roll and bounce around listlessly. Despite it's title and rediculously good nature, though, I've found this album is best suited for a snowy winter day.
Nedelle and Thom, "In Time It Snows"
47. Graves, "Yes Yes Okay Okay" (Hush Records)
Sounds Like: Slightly folksy, organic pop
This album sounds real atmospheric and organic, like a K Recs record. Perhaps that's because members of Little Wings perform on this record. This record is pretty down-tempo and minor, almost to the point of being sad. But not quite. It's hooky, it's earthy, and comes in handy as a backdrop to some serious meditation and self-searching.
46. Tilly and the Wall, "Wild Like Children" (Team Love Records)
Sounds Like: Mates of State, Rainer Maria, and a smidgen of Riverdance :-\
Yes, in the grand tradition of the aforementioned groups, Tilly and the Wall provides us with sang/shouted vocals and harmonies that you simply can NOT not sing along with. But here's the kicker: they also tap-dance. Lame gimmick? Yeah, probably. But you probably won't notice it, anyways; and, besides, it DOES seem to give the rhythms a more dancey feel. It has a great, youthful charm to it, and what's more, they've made the entire thing available to us as a free download.
45. The Lashes, "The Stupid Stupid" (Lookout! Records)
Sounds Like: The Exploding Hearts, The Undertones
If you listened to either of the bands mentioned above, you've already heard this song. But this band is so endearing you'll probably give in and listen to the song one more time. If you don't know those bands, well, this EP offers rollicking guitars and keyboards, with gorgeous power pop harmonies. A promising sign of what's to come.
The Lashes, "Death By Mixtape" (go to the site and download)
44. Ulrich Schnauss, "A Strangely Isolated Place" (Domino Records)
Sounds Like: Electronic ambient pop; many say M83
Whoooo boy, what a purdy record. Ulrich can almost be seen as somewhat of a grandoise composer here, with layers of swirling sound flying around, and occassional bombast now and then. I don't know about using the term ambient to describe this, as I know little about ambient, yet this doesn't seem quite ambient. Still, lots of reviews deemed this ambient. Ditto for referencing M83. Still, this is a gorgeous electronic record where everyone seems to lvoe the guitars, not realizing there are no guitars.
Sounds: None availabe =(
43. The Owls, "Our Hopes and Dreams" (Magic Marker Records)
Sounds Like: A slightly more upbeat Azure Ray
I went through this entire year thinking this band had a Kinsella connection until told otherwise. I mean, sure, the lyrics have a midwestern emo flair to them, but the Mirah-esque etheral female vocals intertwining combine with a sweeping sound that could only be Kinsella in Joan of Arc. But regardless of connections, this is a pretty record that's just great for wintry night drives =).
42. S, "Puking and Crying" (Suicide Squeeze Records)
Sounds Like: The Postal Service meets Rainer Maria?
This is the new project from Jen Ghetto (who is formerly of the apparently much-missed Carissa Weird, which I'm just now discovering). I'm really not sure where to begin describing the music, but I guess I could say that it has some of the Postal Service's electronic stylings, but with more live instrumentation. The vocals are emotional and desperate, sounding somewhere between Rainer Maria passion and Bjork drama. This one seemed to slip under the radar, but I doubt the next one will.
41. Call Me Lightning, "The Trouble We're In" (Revelation Records"
Sounds Like: The soundtrack to losing your sanity
This record is nuts. It doesn't rely on shocking imagery like The Blood Brotehrs nor does it over-use a push-pull sound -- it's just the sound of a band falling apart at the seams and trying to make the song follow suit (and they succeed on occasions). It ain't a perfect record, but it's an intriguing noteable for completsits.
Call Me Lightning, "Pizza Party" (have to go to the site, and it's only a Real Player track)
