Land of Talk's 2008 LP, Some Are Lakes was one of my favorites of last year, and even landed in my year end top 20. The Montreal based band will be releasing a new EP, titled Fun and Laughter on Oct 27 on Saddle Creek, which will include 3 videos from the band as well. You can preview the video for, "The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle)" below, which was directed by Joseph Yarmush, with Petros Kolyvas producing. The song also appears on their debut full length 'Some Are Lakes'.
Fun and Laughter EP track listing: Sixteen Asterisk May You Never (1996) As Me A Series Of Small Flames The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle) (Video) Troubled (Video) Some Are Lakes (Video)
Most bands try to reinvent their sound for a reason, Portland Oregan's, The Helio Sequence were forced to go back to the drawing board for their 2008 disc, Keep Your Eyes Ahead. The band which consists of Brandon Summers on guitar and vocals and Benjamin Weikel (who has also played for Modest Mouse) on keyboards and drums, almost suffered a devastating setback when Summers damaged his vocal cords in 2005, and was forced to relearn to sing. The band which has been around since '99, adapted their sound to fit Summers' vocals, and the result turned into one of the years best LP's, mixing elements of electronica, indie rock, and folk, along with two of the years best tracks, "Lately" and "Shed Your Love." The group have been touring for most of the past year in support of 'Keep Your Eyes Ahead', and the band continues to look ahead themselves, as they have added a leg of dates as the support act for Keane, on a big arena tour starting next month, culminating with a show in Radio City Music Hall in NYC on May 27th.
Helio Sequence tour schedule: May 8 Fox Theater w/KEANE Oakland, California May 9 Hollywood Palladium w/KEANE Los Angeles, California May 10 The Grove of Anaheim w/KEANE Anaheim, California May 12 Kingsbury Hall w/KEANE Salt Lake City, Utah May 13 The Ogden Theatre w/KEANE Denver, Colorado May 15 Myth w/KEANE Maplewood, Minnesota May 16 Aragon Ballroom w/KEANE Chicago, Illinois May 19 DAR Constitution Hall w/KEANE Washington DC May 20 Tower Theater w/KEANE Upper Darby, Pennsylvania May 21 Bank of America Pavilion w/KEANE Boston, Massachusetts May 23 The Sound Academy w/KEANE Toronto, Ontario May 24 Time Warner Amphitheater w/KEANE Cleveland, Ohio May 26 Wellmont Theater w/KEANE Montclair, New Jersey May 27 Radio City Music Hall w/KEANE New York, New York
If you happened to see our top 20 albums from 2008 list, it's no secret that we're loving the music that's coming out of Portland, Oregon, as 4 bands from the area placed on the list, with three making the top 10. While there is a good majority of folk based bands gaining popularity in Portland, Point Juncture Wa's new disc, Heart To Elk is on a different plain altogether. Though the band has been tagged as indie rock, don't let that fool you, as the album is far more diverse when giving it a full listen. I gotta say that it's an album that made a big impression on it's first listen, but with each one thereafter, after all the layers unfolded and were absorbed, it stuck with me even more. The band isn't afraid to experiment and it shows, as the disc has moments of explosiveness, joyous pop, quiet pastoral melancholy, and lo-fi 90's rock, with a wide array of arrangements and instrumentation. There's a lot of can't miss moments on 'Heart to Elk', but there are a few tracks that push it over the top. On numerous tracks throughout the LP, Victor Nash (keyboards, vocals) & Amanda Spring (vocals, drums) swap vocal duties with the disc not skipping a beat, as both bring something uniquelly different to each track being tackled. A perfect example is on, "New Machine" which has lush harmonies and a playfull vibe between the pair. Other standout moments on the disc include, "Sioux Arrow" which has a slow, steady never ending tension, that despite a few moments of bursting out, still manages to show uncanny restraint. "Biathalon" feels like Sonic Youth at it's best, while tracks like, "Sick on Sugar," "Melon Bird," and "Fleet and Small" show the group's varying degrees of melodic understanding. 'Heart to Elk' which has actually been out since late '08, and just received it's re-release after getting picked up by Mt. Fuji Records. Check it out online or at a store near you.
20 Sigur Ros- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
19 Weinland- La Lamentor
18 Lykke Li- Youth Novels
17 The War On Drugs- Wagonwheel Blues
16 Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
15 The Secret Life of Sofia- Seven Summits
14 Laura Marling- Alas I Cannot Swim
13 Wye Oak- If Children
12 The Dodos- Visiter
11 Land Of Talk- Some Are Lakes
10 City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love
In what was a very good year for acoustic/folk based music, this one flew way under the radar. This solo project from Dallas Green is passionate and effortless. The man simply has a killer voice.
9 Point Juncture, Wa- Heart to Elk
This one may have appeared even higher if we just didn't recently come across it. Although it's still relatively new to our ears, it had to be included in the top 10. Gorgeous, dreamy, textured pop gems that seem to build and build.
8 Blitzen Trapper- Furr
Our 3rd entry from Portland in the top 20, Blitzen Trapper deliver a detailed new album that grows on you with each listen. Great rootsy old Americana feel, with excellent harmonies.
7 Jessica Lea Mayfield- With Blasphemy So Heartfelt
Amazing debut from the 19 year old Mayfield. Strong album from start to finish and she sounds wise beyond her years. A distinct fresh voice that we think you'll be hearing a lot of for years to come.
6 Helio Sequence- Keep Your Eyes Ahead Our 4th Portland band in the top 20,the album features two of the years strongest tracks in, "Lately' and "Shed Your Love". Singer Brandon Summers severely damaged his vocal cords, which led the band to re-invent it's sound. The result is an ambitious album that beautifully blends, indie rock and folk, with ambient and synth led numbers.
5Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line If you know the story of the tragedy the band went through, losing there drummer John Ryan Pike to a drowning accident while recording the LP, you can't help but feel the heartbreak that plays out on the disc. Pike wrote some of the LP's most ironic tracks such as, "Dying is Fine" and "Ghost Under the Rocks." Excellent melodic indie rock album.
4 She Keeps Bees- Nests
In a music world that is often times lacking some true soul to it, She Keeps Bees delivers. The NYC powerful two piece is gritty and raw, and frontwoman Jessica Larrabee is one of the finest there is.
3 Damien Jurado- Caught In The Trees
Usually known for his fictional storytelling prowess, Jurado gets personal on his latest disc and delivers his best work yet. For a guy that's been around as long as he has, it's about time he gets recognized for this disc.
2 Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
What can you say, the guy had a killer year, but still one that I just kept coming back to again and again. One of the years most intimate records. It truly takes you away to that cabin in the Wisconsin woods, where you can feel the despair.
1 Frightened Rabbit- The Midnight Organ Fight
Raw, visually blundt, emotional, exceptionally strong songwwriting. Plays out very cinematically with a beginning, middle and end. You won't find a better album from start to finish then this one.
The latest batch of 'Year End' lists check in with some similarities, some distinct differences, and some pure head scratchers. See for yourself.
Spin's Top 40: 40 Chairlift - Does You Inspire You 39 Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy 38 Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul ... 10 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular 09 Coldplay - Viva La Vida 08 Hot Chip - Made In The Dark 07 Deerhunter - Microcastle 06 Santogold - Santogold 05 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes 04 Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life 03 Portishead - Third 02 Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III 01 TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Rolling Stone Top 50: 50 No Age - Nouns 49 Hot Chip - Made In The Dark ... 41 AC/DC - Black Ice 40 Jonas Brothers - A Little Bit Longer ... 10 Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend 09 Metallica - Death Magnetic 08 Beck - Modern Guilt 07 Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends 06 Santogold - Santogold 05 John Mellencamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom 04 My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges 03 Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III 02 Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs:The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 01 TV on the Radio - Dear Science
NME Top 50: 50 Heartbreak- Lies ... 25 Portishead - Third ... 10 Friendly Fires- Friendly Fires 9 Kings Of Leon- Only By The Night 8 Mystery Jets- 21 7 Santogold- Santogold 6 Metronomy- Lights Out 5 Foals- Antidotes 4 Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend 3 Glasvegas- Glasvegas 2 TV On The Radio- Dear Science 1 MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
It's that time of the year again to let the arguments begin, and no were not talking about getting together with the relatives over the holidays. Nothing sparks greater debate than the infamous 'best of' year end lists. With the big music magazine's starting to roll out their lists, the arguments are sure to begin about what got excluded and how some made it on.
Here's some of what's come out so far....
Paste Magazine's Top 50 50. TV On The Radio- Dear Science 49. Sandra McCracken- Red Balloon 48. REM- Accelerate 47. Laura Marling- Alas, I Cannot Swim 46. Lykke Li- Youth Novels 45. M83- Saturdays=Youth ... 10- Deerhunter-Microcastle ... to see the complete list click here.
Filter Magazine's Top 10 10. The Dears- Missiles 9. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colors 8. M83- Saturdays=Youth 7. She & Him- Volume One 6. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago ... for the complete list go here.
Blender Magazine's Top 33 33. Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind 32. Taylor Swift - Fearless 31. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! ... 19. Katy Perry - One Of The Boys ... 12 My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges 11 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs 10 Fall Out Boy - Folie A Deux 09 Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend ... to see the rest click here.
Tell us what you think, and state your case for your favorites.
Land of Talk's 2008 LP, Some Are Lakes was one of my favorites of last year, and even landed in my year end top 20. The Montreal based band will be releasing a new EP, titled Fun and Laughter on Oct 27 on Saddle Creek, which will include 3 videos from the band as well. You can preview the video for, "The Man Who Breaks Things (Dark Shuffle)" below, which was directed by Joseph Yarmush, with Petros Kolyvas producing. The song also appears on their debut full length 'Some Are Lakes'.
