January: The Decemberists The King Is Dead
Origin Of Discovery: heard the 8-minute "Mariner's Revenge" epic on college radio, and have been in love with Colin and his mutton-chops ever since.
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? For the most part, although I didn't really start playing any of it until the summer.
Helpful Hints: "Rox in the box" is actually, like, "rocks" and about mining.
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Down By The Water", "Don't Carry It All"
Beard: Not currently
February: The Civil Wars Barton Hollow
Origin Of Discovery: this year, probably on a music blog or something
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? not normally, as it's too much bluegrass for me to handle in one sitting, but they're great
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Barton Hollow", "I've Got This Friend"
Beard: Yes
also: The Submarines Love Notes/Letter Bombs
Origin Of Discovery: I've had random songs of theirs for a few years, but this is the first whole album I've heard
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? yes, it's very pop-oriented and probably the most "mainstream" band of the albums I heard this year
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Shoelaces"
Beard: No
March: New Numbers Vacationland
Origin Of Discovery: the drummer is in KD's band, the singer is formerly of The Jealous Girlfriends, who toured with KD
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? yes, very great get-through-the-workday type of album
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Hinterlands"
Bonus Endearment: their genre is listed as Big Beat
Beard: No
also: River City Extension/Kevin Devine split EP
Origin Of Discovery: KD was on tour with them in March
Featuring: KD's acoustic version of "Between The Concrete & Clouds" and the best cover ever of Tom Petty's "Walls"; RCE's "Ballad Of Oregon" -I actually didn't like them live but their recorded stuff is nice
Beard: Yes, all
April: Cass McCombs Wit's End
Origin Of Discovery: KD covering his songs
Most Common Word Used To Describe Him Since He Doesn't Tweet His Every Move: enigmatic
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I listened to the album a lot whilst in-flight, as it's very calming and slow, but mostly I listen to "County Line" on repeat
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "County Line"
Beard: No
May: Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues
Origin Of Discovery: probably on a music blog or something
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I listen occasionally, but mostly the title track on repeat.
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Helplessness Blues", "Grown Ocean"
Beard: Yes
also: Okkervil River I Am Very Far
Origin Of Discovery: probably on a music blog or something
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I listen occasionally, but mostly "Wake And Be Fine". I also saw them in concert for the first time this year and it was lovely.
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Wake And Be Fine"
Beard: Yesalso: Manchester Orchestra Simple Math
Origin Of Discovery: toured with KD
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Simple Math", "Pensacola", "April Fool" "Virgin"
Bonus Endearment: every conversation I've had with Robert "Rob Blondie" Gobotron McDowell; these guys + KD are in a band called Bad Books also
Beard: Yes, are you jealous of Andy's beard?also: David Bazan Strange Negotiations
Origin Of Discovery: as a teenager, I listened to Pedro The Lion every day (his former band)
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I recommend the whole album but there's not much variation in his song style. However, he has incredible lyrics, always, like "you can't be right about the future if you're wrong about the past"
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "Virginia", "Future Past", "Wolves At The Door" "People"
Beard: YesSeptember: Blind Pilot We Are The Tide
Origin Of Discovery: probably on a music blog or something
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I listen to the first four songs which actually sound like them and then skip the end because it is very slow and quiet
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "We Are The Tide" "Half Moon" "Keep You Right"
Beard: Noalso: A.A. Bondy Believers
Origin Of Discovery: KD covering his songs, but then I realized I knew him in his former life in the grunge band Verbena
Most Common Word Used To Describe Him Since He Doesn't Tweet His Every Move: enigmatic
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? I listened to the album a lot whilst in-flight, but I haven't really delved into specific songs yet
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: "The Heart Is Willing"
Beard: No
also: Kevin Devine Between The Concrete & Clouds
Origin Of Discovery: Pandora, circa 2004also: Kevin Devine Between The Concrete & Clouds
Is This A 10 Song, Pop Version Of Their Normal Stuff That Seems To Be The Theme This Year? Yes
Do I Listen To/Recommend The Whole Album? Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes
Standout Tracks To Endear You To Listen: the playlist ones are "11-17" and "I Used To Be Someone", otherwise don't make me choose
Beard: YesThoughts That I Wrote Back In September:
The album seems to identify a shift in tone - less personal, and instead more society-at-large, a
more visceral reflection on the choices we make every day, the specific decisions we make amidst the background of the intrusive world around us. The themes remind me a bit of David Bazan's new album - trying to break out of the cycle of default thinking, of cynicism and obsession with the past, and moving on toward change and redemption. "Leave 10 years ago 10 years ago" and the refrain feel like a continuation of some of the Bad Books song themes, really making an effort to not get so set in our ways that no one can startle us out of them. I think the album is challenging us to not be afraid of the future, to somehow find a way to function amidst countless tragedies, and to discover how to keep the people we've lost at the forefront of our memories, but maybe not so prominent in our daily choices. His lyrics seem more straightforward this time around, and really motivational, like if everyone tried to do their best every day, and take responsibility for themselves, then maybe society and even religion would get better, and we would stop blaming those institutions for all our problems. The music style reminds me of Phantom Planet's first album ("is Missing") and also of some R.E.M. melodies, with a bit of The Pixies or The Ramones mixed in there, very jangly, folky. I'm really glad "Awake in the Dirt" made the cut, it's such a poetic reflection on such a lovely book (Roth's American Pastoral). The "Part of the Whole" and "Luxembourg" singles are gorgeous as well.
Conclusion: Okay I just realized I also know about Okkervil River because KD covered "Black Sheep Boy" so yeah, I pretty much listen to all the bands he covers/recommends because they are all ridiculously talented. Let's all not get sued by Courtney Love in 2012.
I made a playlist of all the standout tracks (you may need a blip.fm account)
thanks, musicians.
