I was not able to listen to any new albums this week and I thought I would mix things up a little bit. So, I'm going to talk about one of my favorite albums. Please post something about your favorite album, even if it's just mentioning it. Or, if you can't decide on one, post about a new release that you think is really worth listening to.
An album I couldn't stop listening to in high school is Is this It by The Strokes. I really felt at the time that it was the "essence of originality." The artwork in the CD case is trippy and the music is, to say the least, cool. Not awesome, just cool.
Stemming out of New York, these guys put together a style of play that stood out like a sore thumb in 2001. Most people would think that The Strokes were able to ignore the common trends in music and set their own path, and I agree with that.
Their lyrics are insanely simple and they are pretty much just fun to sing along to. They really don't keep me up at night thinking about things, and I doubt they ever will. Julian Casablancas's voice is very rough, but I don't get the feeling that he wants to sing perfect notes. The rhythm guitar playing and drumming of this album are what stick out to me as the most important. The bassist and lead guitarist aren't really the reason I loved it so much. In songs like "Is This It," I really find myself enjoying these simple textures that the beats and careful melodies pump out. "Soma" has to be my favorite song on this album because its lyrics are a little more complex, and the drumming on this song is perfect.
The latter tracks of most of the album are not really that great, so don't get too sad if you are not satisfied with them. Also, I'm looking forward to listening to Julian Casablancas's solo work that came out last week. It is supposed to be electronica-related.
Other than that, all I have to say is:
I didn't take no short cuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Aw mama runnin' out of luck
Well like my sister don't give a fuck.
Check out The Strokes: Is This It soon. And comment.
Great CD. I definitely agree about the rhythm guitar - that aspect really sets the Strokes apart from so many other groups.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I actually enjoy the last two songs of the album ("Trying Your Luck" and "Take It or Leave It"). I feel there's a certain emotional charge in Julian's vocals in each chorus that's missing in the middle tracks of the album.
"Soma" is a certain favorite and I feel that last bit you quoted from "Barely Legal" just adds to the album's coolness.
Some 2009 albums I enjoy:
John Frusciante - The Empyrean
The Veils - Sun Gangs
Wilco - The Album
From Q,
ReplyDeletedude. i just downloaded that album last week. so late, right. i definitely agree that its COOL too. I'm loving the blog, guys.
Some albums that i like right now are:
Discovery EP-Discovery
For Emma, Forever Ago-Bon Iver
Hope of the Hopeless-Brett Dennen
Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Beth Kleinpeter really loves this album. I only listened to it with her, but I like it, and I'm glad you reviewed it.
ReplyDeletethe most life-changing albums for me (ever; but only a few):
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Martha Wainwright - Self-Titled
Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
new albums I really like:
A.C. Newman - Get Guilty
Motel Motel - New Denver
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
The Figs - What Keeps Me Up At Night
Wax Tailor "Hope & Sorrow"... is he famous here?
ReplyDeleteA couple albums I really enjoy:
ReplyDeleteLifted or the Story is in the Soil - Bright Eyes
Album of the Year - The Good Life
15 albums I can never get over:
ReplyDeleteThe Beatles- Abbey Road/Revolver/The White Album
Sufjan Stevens- Illinoise/Seven Swans
Simon and Garfunkel- Live 1969
The Postal Service- Give Up
Belle and Sebastian- Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Camera Obscura- Let's Get Out of this Country
The Shins- B-sides
Fleetwood Mac- Rumors
Feist- The Reminder
Iron and Wine- Our Endless Numbered Days
Radiohead- In Rainbows
Ella Fitzgerald- Simply Ella
yep, ive gone and put too many.