Chad VanGaalen: Soft Airplane (5/5)

Jonathan's #1 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Psychedelic Lo-Fi Pop
TRT: 54:27

VanGaalen was an artist that I stumbled upon while listening to one of the radio stations I had created on Pandora.com. When I found out he had an album coming out this year I was really excited, and I had a lot of expectations based upon the earlier material he's composed. One listen all the way through and I knew it would already be one of my top albums of the year. This album has all the bells and whistles of the normal VanGaalen songs, except I think this is his best songwriting. The songwriting is so good I don't feel any low points on the album, he just keeps bringing the goodies we all love.

VanGaalen is also an amazing artist in animation. Watching the songs he's made videos for on YouTube just makes the experience of this album even more amazing than just the mental visual images I get while only listening.

01 Willow Tree
02 Bones of Man
03 Cries of the Dead
04 Inside the Molecules
05 Bare Feet on Wet Griptape
06 Phantom Anthills
07 Poisonous Heads
08 TMNT Mask
09 Molten Light
10 Old Man + the Sea
11 City of Electric Light
12 Rabid Bits of Time
12 Frozen Energon

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Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (5/5)

Jonathan's #2 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Baroque Harmonic Pop
TRT: 54:27

Fleet Foxes is a five-piece Seattle based band who describe their music as "baroque harmonic pop jams". This is a perfect way to describe it because in some places you'll hear 5 part harmonies that are just so beautiful paired with an up-tempo drum beat.

I bought this vinyl from my local record store "Speakertree Records" after I'd heard the internet leak, which I was immediately digging upon my first listen. I was also really impressed to see the band was releasing not only their full-length but also the ep "Sun Giant" together with the gate fold packaging. The artwork alone is a great reason to purchase these two records but once you start listening to the music you realize the talent and songwriting is rarely matched.

There are so many tracks I could highlight but they all take you on an amazing journey. Overall, I can't get over the earthy tones, harmonies, and natural feeling this one gives me.

Full Length~
01 Sun it Rises
02 White Winter Hymnal
03 Ragged Wood
04 Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
05 Quiet Houses
06 He Doesn't Know Why
07 Heard Them Stirring
08 Your Protector
09 Meadowlarks
10 Blue Ridge Mountains
11 Oliver James

Sun Giant EP~
01 Sun Giant
02 Drops in the River
03 English House
04 Mykonos
05 Innocent Son

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The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #3 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Jagjaguwar
Genre: Psychedelic/Atmospheric Indie Rock
TRT: 52:42

The Besnard Lakes are an indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Formed by the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas. The band are currently a six-piece centered around the atmospheric songs of Lasek and Goreas, whose expansive sound culls from numerous aspects of rock 'n' roll history.

This band does more than just the "indie" sound that we've all come to know the meaning of in our own ways, but I feel they are creating their own niche in this ever expanding genre by adding psychedelic and atmospheric elements. The album starts out with a falsetto vocal part layered over top of tremolo guitar and a violin, which I think just sets the perfect mood for any listener about to experience the rest of these songs. And it doesn't hurt to have amazing bass lines that draw you deeper into the vibes and feelings saturated all over this recording.

This is the year where the "Beach Boys" harmonies and vocal styles are coming back stronger than ever, and this not an exception. With that said, I think anyone can listen and still appreciate the complete originality of the beautiful musicianship.

01 Disaster
02 For Agent 13
03 And You Lied to Me
04 Devastation
05 Because Tonight
06 Rides the Rails
07 On Bedford and Grand
08 Cedric's War

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Jim Noir: Jim Noir (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #4 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: My Dad
Genre: Psychedelic Electronic Indie Pop
TRT: 57:37

Jim Noir (real name Alan Roberts) is an English singer-songwriter from Davyhulme, Manchester. This is his sophomore release and I have to say he just keeps getting better. Roberts goes deeper into his electronic side which normally I don't like too much of, but everything that goes on through-out the album just continues to uplift me. The harmonies are reminiscent of The Beach Boys but they have such a great tone that I never really caught myself thinking that until now. Honestly, this reminds me the most of the writing style of Caribou, because not only are the harmonies, electronic, and guitar wonderful, but the percussion on this album stays on par with all the other instruments. I'd have to say there is no lull in this album, everything continues to flow until it is finally over.


01 Welcome Commander Jameson
02 All Right
03 What U Gonna Do
04 Don't Worry
05 Ships and Clouds
06 Happy Day Today
07 Look Around You
08 Good Old Vinyl
09 Same Place Holiday
10 Day by Day by Day
11 Welcome CJ
12 On a Different Shelf
13 Forever Endeavor

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Dr. Dog: Fate (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #5 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Park the Van
Genre: Indie Blues Pop
TRT: 54:55

Dr. Dog is a psychedelic rock group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which formed in 1999.

"Fate" is a really catchy album that brings back the feelings I get when I hear Bob Dylan and The Band, because it has the bluesy soul that so much of the music today has forgotten. It definitely has the newer edge to it that you would expect, but instead of letting the music from the past define them they manipulate it to their individuality to create something new and unpredictable.

01 The Breeze
02 Hang On
03 The Old Days
04 Army of Ancients
05 The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer
06 The Ark
07 From
08 100 Years
09 Uncovering the Old
10 The Beach
11 My Friend

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The Explorers Club: Freedom Wind (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #6 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Dead Oceans
Genre: Psychedelic Sunshine Pop
TRT: 54:27

The Explorers Club are a pop rock band from the coast of South Carolina. They are a 6 man band who are heavily influenced by the harmony styles of the Beach Boys.

Although, the band has stolen the style of the Beach Boys, I can't say they've stolen anything else, nor can I say anything bad about this release. With each listen I continue to love each song more. I can't help but feel that this album in it's concept was sent through the cosmos and reincarnated into the present as the lost Beach Boys album; and not only the lost album, but possibly even the best album

01 Forever
02 Honey Don't I Know Why
03 Don't Forget the Sun
04 Lost My Head
05 Do You Love Me?
06 Summer Air
07 If You Go
08 In the Country
09 Safe Distance
10 Hold Me Tight
11 Last Kiss
12 Freedom Wind

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The Ruby Suns: Sea Lion (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #7 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Neo Psychedelic World Indie Pop
TRT: 53:14

Headed by writer Ryan McPhun, the New Zealand's The Ruby Suns formed in Auckland in 2004. Ryan and his Dictaphone (portable tape recorder) have ventured into the wilds of Africa, the ancient monasteries of Thailand, and the haunting landscapes that surround his everyday. This really shows through as I was instantly feeling the raw vibes and colourful tones wrapped into this shoegaze/world indie pop album.

The harmonies this year have been outstanding, and The Ruby Suns may just have some of the most unique blends. There are some intense sounds on some places through-out the album that I have no idea how they were made which fascinates me more than anything else. I think these sounds are so special because it really shows that the band is fishing for new ideas and feelings that haven't yet been dropped into existence.

01 Blue Penguin
02 Oh, Mojave
03 Tane Mahuta
04 There Are Birds
05 It's Mwangi in Front of Me
06 Remember
07 Ole Rinka
08 Adventure Tour
09 Kenya Dig It?
10 Morning Sun

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The Dodos: Visiter (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #8 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Wichita
Genre: Indie Folk Pop
TRT: 59:09

The Dodos formed in the early part of 2006 in San Francisco; shortly afterward, band member Meric Long released an EP entitled "Dodo Bird".

On "Visiter", the very interesting thing that first stood out was the slapping of acoustic guitar strings against the frets meshed with the layered drum beats. Usually, musicians try to avoid the strings hitting the frets, but it really works on these songs.

This album is one of those that just keeps growing on you, although on the first listen I was already loving it. As I keep listening to this album, I continue to find places through-out where the intricacies of certain parts engage me to really listen to everything going on. It really amazes me how much the band is able to accomplish with such few instruments.

01 Walking
02 Ted and Purple
03 Eyelids
04 Fools
05 Joe's Waltz
06 Winter
07 It's That Time Again
08 Paint the Rust
09 Park Song
10 Jodi
11 Ashley
12 The Season
13 Undeclared
14 God?

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Black Mountain: In the Future (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #9 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Jagjaguwar
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
TRT: 45:05

Black Mountain is a Canadian psychedelic rock-band which by day, three members of the band work for an organization (Insite) that meets the basic living requirements of the chronically poor, drug addicted and mentally ill near Vancouver's infamous Main & Hastings intersection, in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, widely considered to be the heroin capital of Canada, if not North America.

After reading that on wikipedia I felt like I instantly connected to the members of this band. I love the name of the album, because it gives me the feeling of living in the moment as I'll be listening the rest of the album going into the future. Musically, this record just a great solid psychedelic rock album. On this recording there is reverb, echoes, harmonies, and the leslie function, to mention just a few of the elements that contribute to the creating of nuances and feelings I get from listening. "Wucan" is a track that you must listen to if any of the things I mentioned above interest you.

01 Stormy High
02 Angels
03 Tyrants
04 Wucan
05 Stay Free
06 Queens Will Play
07 Evil Ways
08 Wild Wind
09 Bright Lights
10 Night Walks

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Gary War: New Raytheonport (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #11 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Shdwply
Genre: Psychedelic Lo-Fi
TRT: ??:??

Gary War's "New Raytheonport" is the most rare release that I have found this year in 2008. There are hardly any press reviews on this release and it is one of those lo-fi recordings which tend to get less attention.

This whole album was recorded on a Tascam 488 which gives it that 70's tape feel which really works well for War. I feel like War is bridging the gap that has existed between lo-fi recording and other more professional ways to record by adding a lot of reverb and warbling effects which really help to soften the sound.

This record seems to have the right mix of catchy pop hooks and a swooping melted aural explosion that continues to blow my mind..

01 Clouds Went That Way
02 Good Clues
03 Obscure Preferences
04 Please Don't Die
05 Cyclops Eye
06 Bounce Four
07 Healthy Living
08 Grown in Shells
09 Eye in the Sky
10 Edge of Mess

Deerhunter: Microcastle (4/5)

Jonathan's #12 out of 20 Album of 2008



Year: 2008
Label: 4AD
Genre: Psychedelic Shoegaze
TRT: 40:53

Deerhunter, based in Atlanta, GA began in 2001 with the ambition of fusing the lulling hypnotic states induced by ambient and minimalist music with the klang and propulsion of garage rock. The band has weathered chaotic line-up changes, the death of a member, and much discouragement. Their live performances almost always leave audiences polarized, and have been referred to by Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs in NME as bordering on “a religious experience.”

The album starts with such an amazing intro that possibly rivals for one of the best beginnings to an album I've ever heard. These songs are so beautiful and have the gentle hints of the neo-psychedelia movement that give this lush recording the individual creativity that a lot of new bands lack. This is a solid album with a lot of catchy hooks that the last album "Cryptograms" could have used a bit more of, but I think this is just the steady progression of where this band will take us in the future.

01 Intro
02 Agoraphobia
03 Never Stop
04 Little Kids
05 Microcastle
06 Calvary Scars
07 Green Jacket
08 Activa
09 Nothing Ever Happens
10 Saved By Old Times
11 These Hands
12 Twilight at Carbon Lake


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Brightblack Morning Light: Motion to Rejoin (4/5)

Jonathan's #13 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Matador
Genre: Neo Psychedelia
TRT: 49:16

Brightblack Morning Light (formerly Brightblack) is a band based in New Mexico, specializing in permutations of folk rock and psychedelic music.

"Motion to Rejoin" is a great album to chill/relax/reflect and discover something new to. It's a down-tempo listen that has the same feel as the last album, but the mystical shimmering of the rhodes piano mixed with the fuzzy guitar sounds accompanied by slightly brushed drums and shakers is just the perfect style to continue forward with. Each song brings about the experiences of living the simple life that the members of this band live day to day, and I think that really shines through the music because they are so open to those feelings.

This is an album I'm going to have to keep going back to so that I can reconnect to the feelings of the simple but yet spiritually amazing sounds of this duo.

01 Introduction
02 Hologram Buffalo
03 Gathered Years
04 Opressions Each
05 Another Reclaimation
06 A Rainbow Aims
07 Summer Hoof
08 Past a Weatherbeaten Fencepost
09 When Beads Spell Power Leaf

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The Beep Seals: Things that Roar (4/5)

Jonathan's #14 out of 20 Album of 2008



Year: 2008
Label: Heron
Genre: Psychedelic Indie Pop
TRT: 40:51

The Beap Seals may be the biggest secret in Manchester, UK. They're known for throwing huge warehouse parties and making their audiences participate in dressing up in absurd costumes. As for the music, this album is just pychedelic indie pop at its best with the off key notes hitting so perfect you don't even realize it's off. Overall, this kaleidoscopic album flows better than most albums that flow well together.

01 Biting Glass
02 Tell Your Friends
03 Use Your Other Head
04 She Sells Sea Shells
05 I Dreamt a Metal Hat
06 Join Me on My Cloud
07 Stars
08 Chariot Song
09 On Opening the Curtains...
10 Things that Roar
11 I Used to Work at the Zoo
12 Such a Bloody Pain


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The Morning Benders: Talking Through Tin Cans (4/5)

Jonathan's #15 out of 20 Album of 2008



Year: 2008
Label: +1 Records
Genre: Indie Rock
TRT: 32:23

This young San Francisco indie pop quartet bring their youthful insight to the realm of music mostly dominated by older Beatles cover bands, and I think they've nailed their spot with this release. The vocalist has a pretty unique voice that kinda hints on the side of The Shins' James Mercer, but it only adds to the thoughtful and bouncy melodies. I can only imagine that there will be more amazing releases from these young guys in the future.

01 Dammit Anna
02 I Was Wrong
03 Loose Change
04 Patient Patient
05 Crosseyed
06 Waiting for a War
07 Heavy Hearts
08 Boarded Doors
09 Wasted Time
10 Chasing A Ghost
11 When We're Apart


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of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping (4/5)

Jonathan's #16 out of 20 Album of 2008



Year: 2008
Label: Polyvinyl
Genre: Psychedelic Pop
TRT: 57:58

Of Montreal (officially typeset "of Montreal") is an American indie pop band formed in Athens, Georgia fronted by Kevin Barnes. Barnes himself has described the album as a concept album, 'detailing his transformation from Kevin Barnes into Georgie Fruit. Georgie Fruit is the name of Kevin Barnes' African-American cross-dressing stage persona, similar in many ways to David Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Georgie Fruit was first mentioned on Of Montreal's 2007 album Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? during the song "Labyrinthian Pomp".

With all the craziness that goes along with the album out of the way the music itself is very familiar to normal of Montreal, yet as much as the constant segues and stylistic shifts disorientate, they yield a harvest of magical moments. I'm definitely a sucker for Barnes' echo-soaked harmonies, sparkling guitars, and his eclectic electronic beats. To state all of what I've already said into a sentence; this is another solid of Montreal album to add to the ever growing discography.

01 Nonpareil of Favor
02 Wicked Wisdom
03 For Our Elegant Caste
04 Touched Something's Hollow
05 An Eluardian Instance
06 Gallery Piece
07 Women's Studies Victims
08 St.Exquisite's Confessions
09 Triphallus, to Punctuate!
10 And I've Seen a Bloody Shadow
11 Plastis Wafer
12 Death is Not a Parallel Move
13 Beware Our Nubile Miscreants
14 Mingusings
15 Id Engager


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Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (4/5)

Jonathan's #17 out of 20 Album of 2008



Year: 2008
Label: "Vinyl Collective" Suburban Home Records
Genre: Psychedelic Pop
TRT: 52:34

First things first, I had no idea what to expect when I first heard this except for that it had amazing artwork. The cover has a giant eyeball with an irregular rainbow and a gathering of clocks with everything mirroring itself. Not to mention the record itself is a milky rainbow and the label is the same eye on the cover spinning over and over. Psychedelic in all the ways that I love it.

As I was listening to the music I noticed the voice sounded so familiar but it wasn't necessarily a good reminder. As the album went on I realized it was Gatsby's American Dream, sure enough I looked up the band on last.fm and it read two members from GAD. Now this initially was a bad thing for me but as the album went on I really started enjoying his vocal performance on all the songs, and there are a lot of songs on this double record gate fold which is limited to only 300 copies.

On the specifics of the album I'd have to say it reminds me a lot of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Also "Bowie the Desert Pea" (side B of record A - the first song) has a John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) drum beat right out of "When The Levee Breaks" at the beginning of the song. None-the-less this is a great group of songs by this fantastic new band.

01 Into The Realm Of The Unknown
02 Hey Momma'
03 Birds (On a Day Like Today)
04 Simon Courage Flees The Coop
05 Ol' Rum Davies
06 Bowie The Desert Pea
07 Santa Cruz Lined Pockets
08 Bloodstone Goddess
09 Cloud Country
10 Swan Ink
11 Night of the Star Child's Funk
12 One Ought To See
13 All Alone


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The Shortwave Set: Replica Sun Machine (4/5)

Jonathan's #18 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Wall of Sound
Genre: Psychedelic Indie
TRT: 39:15

The Shortwave Set are a British psychedelic pop band who combine samples and songs to create a sound the group describe as “Victorian Funk”. After looking at the album cover and only listening to the first track "Harmonia", I knew this would be an amazing album. There are so many new melodies and vocal runs that really stand out to me as being a breath of fresh air. The band really utilizes the samples they add to their music as it layers the horizon of their solid song structures. Also, the band has a very unique and branding harmony that sticks throughout the album. There are so many great albums for 2008 that this has taken spot #18 on my list for this year, but last year this could have easily been in my top 5.

01 Harmonia
02 Glitches 'n' Bugs
03 Replica
04 House of Lies
05 Now Til '69
06 Distant Daze
07 No Social
08 Yesterdays to Come
09 I Know
10 Sun Machine
11 The Downer Song


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The Black Angels: Directions to See a Ghost (4/5)

Jonathan's #19 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Light in the Attic
Genre: Psychedelic Stoner Rock
TRT: 1:10:21

The Black Angels are a psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in May 2004. Their name derives from the Velvet Underground song “Play The Black Angel’s Death Song”. This album has the same exact feel through-out the entirety of the album but there are only a few spots that started to lose my interest, which is saying a lot for the creativity of The Black Angels in this genre. There were also, spots where I hear the vocal empathy of Jim Morrison styled melodies and I love the eastern feel of track 6 "Deer-Ree-Shee". I feel that this is a definitive original style the band has given to the ever growing popularity of the sitar sound. The music has a way of droning you into the infectious grooves like sirens singing to the shipwreck. I feel like every time I listen to this album I'm in it for the long haul, because this is a lengthy album but I can't turn it off before it's come to its end.

01 You on the Run
02 Doves
03 Science Killer
04 Mission District
05 18 Years
06 Deer-Ree-Shee
07 Never/Ever
08 Vikings
09 You in Color
10 The Return
11 Snake in the Grass


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King of Prussia: Save the Scene (4/5)

Jonathan's #20 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: Kindercore
Genre: Psychedelic Pop, Indie Rock
TRT: 25:44

King of Prussia is a band from Athens, GA and I'm not surprised. I really can't believe how many bands keep coming up from this city. "Save the Scene" is best described by anti-commercialism clashing into nostalgia. I could better define the nostalgia by saying the album reminds me a lot of The Byrds at their best on "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" mixed with some of what The Beatles did through-out their gigantic discography. Honestly, there were not as many hooks as I would have liked coming from a band like this, but I almost think that this is the style of band leader/lyricist/singer Brandon Hanick.

01 Spain in the Summertime
02 Shades Of Hippiedom
03 Misadventures Of The Campaign
04 Cheerleaders
05 The Doctor & the Mathematicians
06 Terrarium
07 Physics Never Stood A Chance


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Jesu: Heart Ache (5/5)

Year: 2004
Genre: Ambient Drone Doomgaze
Label: Dry Run
TRT: 39:55

This is Justin Broadrick at his finest. When he takes his time, doesn't rush things along, and just lets the music unfold as it will, the soundscapes he creates are breathtaking.

Some might look at the lengths of the two tracks here and shy away, and that's ok. at twenty minutes a piece, they're ponderous and intimidating at first blush. But don't let that fool you. Each track starts out soft and warm, slowly building upon itself to realize the monstrosity they become.

This EP is as massive as it is melancholic and as crushing as it is romanticly sad.

01 Heart Ache
02 Ruined

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Cursive: The Ugly Organ (5/5)

Year: 2003
Genre: Progressive Experimental Indie Rock
Label: Saddle Creek
TRT: 40:10

The first time I heard this album in 2002, it was heralded to to me as "the future of music". I was as you might expect, dubious of such lofty claims. I was lent a promo copy and told to return it the following day. I did'n't get a good chance to listen to it and really digest what I was hearing, so upon returning it the next day I shrugged my shoulders and went on with my life.

About a year and a half later, a buddy of mine was cd shopping with me, and came across a copy of this album on the shelf. He went crazy and bummed half the cost from me because he just had to have it. Upon listening to it again...I was blown away.

While the concept of the album is nothing groundbreaking, the story is told with a fresh inventive twist, with instrumentation highlighting and underlining key moments. This gives the tale extra depth and texture that simple lyrics never could. It still amazes me how every single part of each song is a calculated part of the whole, without a beat misplaced, wasted or turning superfluous. This is the sort of album you can listen to again and again without it losing it's initial power, hitting you with the same force and passion as it did the very first time.

01 The Ugly Organist
02 Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand
03 Art Is Hard
04 The Recluse
05 Herald! Frankenstein
06 Butcher the Song
07 Driftwood: A Fairy Tale
08 A Gentleman Caller
09 Harold Weathervein
10 Bloody Murderer
11 Sierra
12 Staying Alive

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Saviour Machine: II (5/5)

Year: 1996
Label: Massacre Records
Genre: Apocalyptic Gothic Metal
TRT: 76:20

This band has been around for nearly twenty years, and released an immense amount of music over the course of those two decades, with each of their five release (save their first) clocking in at well over an hour.

And even more remarkable, each of their albums are almost exclusively about the end of the world. Somehow, they are able to maintain the quality of their content, and for the most part managing to avoid rehashing the same old themes in the same old ways.

II was their second release, and out classes all the others in my mind, as it's far more philosophical and subtle than their subsequent releases (all of which revolve heavily around the biblical books of Revelation and Daniel), and because of this, it comes off as the most passionate and genuine of the lot.

This also might be one of the most epic albums I've ever heard, containing one of the most epic songs ever written (The Stand). The instrumentation is nearly flawless, especially the drumming, and the flow from song to song is seamless most of the time, with beautifully executed transitions, especially the one, two three punch of Enter the Idol/The Hunger Circle/Child in Silence. I'm not one for a song-by-song analysis, so I'll refrain from going into any more detail, except to mention the only taint on the entire album, which is the grating and superfluous Ascension of Heroes, which I always skip over.

If you like gorgeous and moving music coupled with soaring passionate vocals and dark themes, you have no excuse for passing this over.

01 Savior Machine I
02 The Gates
03 Enter the Idol
04 The Hunger Circle
05 Child in Silence
06 Ascension of Heroes
07 Paradox
08 The Stand
09 American Babylon
10 Ceremony
11 Overture
12 Love Never Dies
13 Savior Machine II

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Elend: A World in Their Screams (4.5/5)

Year: 2007
Genre: Classical Dark Chamber
Label: Prophecy
TRT: 57:38

The atmosphere and tension created by this group is something often grasped for, but seldom attained. I can't think of a better time of the year to pop in this disc, with it's chilling choral arrangements, instrumentation both thunderous and hushed but always for maximum impact, and haunting spoken word sections. Adding to the mystique, everything is in French, so you really have no idea what sort of incantation is being uttered. in a few words,
Imagine the twisted sadistic half-brother of Dead Can Dance and you'll have a decent idea of what you're in for. As an added bonus, they have a fairly extensive back catologue reaching all the way back to 1994.

Highly recommended for scaring the fudge out of Trick-or-Treating visitors.

01 Ophis puthôn
02 A World in Their Screams
03 Ondes de sang
04 Le dévoreur
05 Le fleuve infini des morts
06 Je rassemblais tes membres
07 Stasis
08 Borée
09 La carrière d'ombre
10 J'ai touché aux confins de la mort
11 Urserpens

Rodrigo y Gabriela: Rodrigo y Gabriela (4.5/5)

Year: 2006
Label: Rubyworks
Genre: Acoustic Flamenco Metal
TRT: 42:49

Thank you Jay Leno for having this amazing duo on your show. After seeing them perform one track off this album, Iwent out and bought it. The things they do are mind-boggling, especially if you're a guitarist. They met each other in a Brazilian black metal band, and quickly realized they were both becoming increasingly disconnected and dissatisfied with the scene they were a part of. So they decided to do something different together, and this is the fruition of that aspiration. Blistering, unconventional, groovy and simply fun to listen to. Be sure and look up some videos of them playing too, because that intensifies the experience even more.

Can't wait to see what they come up with next.

01 Tamacun
02 Diablo Rojo
03 Vikinman
04 Satori
05 Ixtapa
06 Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
07 Orion (Metallica)
08 Jaun Loco
09 PPA (Pinche Personal Assistant)

EDIT: We received a DMCA complaint, so the preview link has been removed.

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Jimmie Spheeris: Isle of View (4/5)

Year: 1971
Genre: Folk Rock
Label: Columbia
TRT: 38:47

I stumbled across this gem among my boss' record collection at a yard sale he recently had. The artwork immediately grabbed my eye, and I just couldn't turn it down. I had no idea what sort of music it was, but with an album cover that epic, it just had to be good. I wasted no time ripping it to my computer and educating myself.

I was not disappointed. From the first track I was hooked. Very accessible but also intelligently put together. There's a lot of sexual undertones to be found, but the man was very obviously a hippie, so I'm actually a bit surprised he wasn't more overt with his aural advances. All in all, a solid record from a deceased artist that never got the recognition he deserved.

This album was recently released on cd I believe, so it shouldn't be too hard to get a copy of it, but in my opinion it's worth buying the record to have the larger artwork.

01 The Nest
02 For Roach
03 Monte Luna
04 Seeds of Spring
05 I Am Mercury
06 Long Way Down
07 Let It Flow
08 Seven Virgins
09 Come Back
10 Esmaria

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Eluvium: An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death (4.5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Temporary Residence
Genre: Atmospheric Classical Piano
TRT: 30:09

This is, in my opinion, Mathew Cooper's finest work. Beautifully crafted and completely engrossing, his fingers never let go of their hold. One of my favorite parts of this album is the raw element found due to the occasional miss-hit that was left in. It just adds a warmth that I find very comforting. This is a wonderful album to put on when you have nothing to do but sit and ponder, or as intellectually conducive background ambiance.

01 An Accidental Memory
02 Genius and the Theives
03 Perfect Neglect in a Field of Statues
04 Nepenthe
05 In a Sense
06 The Well-Meaning Professor
07 An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death

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Faust vs. Dalek: Derbe Respect, Alder

Year: 2004
Label: Staubgold
Genre: Dark Industrial Krautrap
TRT: 52:58

This is an extremely odd release. Two heavyweights of their respective forte join forces to create this mystery dish of an album. One part avant-garde krautrock, one part underground politically explicit rap, it's the sort of thing that makes you sit back and scratch your head. The strangest part about it though, is that it actually works. Not all the time, maybe not always for an entire track, but over-all this record will have you hooked, and you'll want to listen again in case you missed something.

If nothing else, there's little-to-nothing else out there like this, and that's worth at least a few listens.

01 Imagine What We Started
02 Hungry for Now
03 Remnants
04 Dead Lies
05 Erratic Thoughts
06 Bullets Need Violence
07 Collected Twighlight
08 T-electronique
09 Bonus Track

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Vashti Bunyan (5/5)

Year: 2005
Label: Fat Cat
Genre: Atmospheric Folk
TRT: 35:31

I'm not going to go in to the entire back story leading to the release of this album, you can look that up on your own. I'll just say that Mrs. Bunyan released an album in 1970 to mediocre success, and retired to the English country side to raise her family. Then after a fantastic chain of events she released this album in 2005 to much acclaim. Though keeping the same aesthetic as Just Another Diamond Day, she brings much more life experience to the table this time around. She has crafted a timeless classic full of warmth and soothing beauty with touches of nostalgia seasoned with sage.

01 Lately
02 Here Before
03 Wayward
04 Hidden
05 Against the Sky
06 Turning Back
07 If I Were
08 Same but Different
09 Brother
10 Feet of Clay
11 Wayward Hum

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Extol: Undeceived (5/5)

Year: 2000
Label: Solid State
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
TRT: 57:14

This band single handedly opened my eyes to the world of aggressive music. I heard their debut album first, but this is the one that absolutely blew my fifteen-year-old mind. A perfect amalgamation of brutality and beauty forged together into one nearly flawless work of art. A must hear.

01 Inferno
02 Undeceived
03 Time Stands Still
04 Ember
05 Meadows of Silence
06 Shelter
07 A Structure of Souls
08 Of Light and Shade
09 Where Sleep is Rest
10 Renewal
11 Abandoned
12 And I Watch

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Embodyment: The Narrow Scope of Things (4.5/5)

Year: 2000
Label: Solid State
Genre: Melodic Hardcore
TRT: 52:03

I read a review of this album a year after it came out when I was really getting in to heavier music, and I tried to track it down for awhile to no avail. Then I received it as a birthday present to much excitement. At the time, I really loved the "hardcore" tracks, and did not care for the "melodic" tracks. But looking back on it and listening to the album now, I really do like every aspect of the album. Everything is very well crafted and put together. Even though it's nearly split in half between the two distinct sounds, they pull off both with remarkable ease.

Now when I first heard this album, I was unaware that just a few years earlier they had released a brutal death metal album, and that this was a drastic change for them. Similarly, the next year they completely dropped the hardcore element and went to straight up alternative rock. I've never been too much a fan of either ends of their spectrum, but this disc still holds it's own in my library.

01 Winter Kiss
02 Pendulum
03 One Less Addiction
04 Greedy Hands
05 Confessions
06 Assembly Line Humans
07 Prelude
08 Killing the Me in Me
09 Critical Error
10 Ballad
11 One Less Addiction (Acoustic)
12 The Aftermath of Closure

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Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (4.5/5)

Year: 1994
Label: Warp
Genre: Ambient Soundscapes
TRT: Disc I: 74:42 Disc II: 76:58

The first disc of this set was a very influential album for me. For weeks I listened to it every night as I drifted off to sleep, and had it on repeat so I woke up to it as well. Though it was perfect for this implementation, I saw little use for it otherwise. But eventually, it seeped int my head and settled in the cracks of my brain, and one morning when I woke up to Radiator and realized the genius behind it. While "ambient" music is exactly that, good ambient music is very intention and planned, with textures and layers and atmosphere designed to engage and entrance when paid attention to, but to slip to the background otherwise. As Brian Eno said in 1978, "Ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting".

Disc II never impacted me in the same way as disc I, mostly because i didn't aquire it at the same time, and haven't listened to it nearly as much. But it's still a quality album in it's own right.

Disc I
01 Cliffs
02 Radiator
03 Rhubarb
04 Grass
05 Mould
06 Curtains
07 Blur
08 Weathered Stone
09 Tree
10 Domino
11 White Blur

Disc II
01 Blue Calx
02 Parallel Stripes
03 Metal Grating
04 Windowsill
05 B+W Stripes
06 Siding Nails
07 Corrugated Tubing
08 Lichen
09 Leaves
10 Tassels
11 Rusty Metal
12 B+W Stripes II

download disc i
download disc ii

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Scarlet: Something to Lust About (4.5/5)

Year: 2003
Label: Ferret Music
Genre: Chaotic Math Metal
TRT: 12:24

Scarlet was a favorite in the Richmond scene for a long time before they signed with Ferret, but this EP is really what announced their presence to everyone else. Brash, in your face, and unashamed to call you out on your darkest secrets. John Spencer's furious vocals pull you in to the whirlwind, and when it's all said and done, you're left ravaged, and wanting more.

01 Revolver
02 Carbon Copy Killer
03 Sell Yourself
04 Erotic Antibiotic
05 Something to Lust About
06 Suicide King

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Terra Firma: Terra Firma (4/5)

Year: 1998
Genre: Stoner Groove Metal
Label: Music Cartel
TRT: 40:12

I bought this album years ago thinking it was the christian metal group, and was a bit miffed when I realized it definitely was not. But nevertheless, I really started to dig it. I don't know why I like this album and not much else by way of stoner anything, but this album is so much fun I can't help myself. Extremely catchy, and it will make you move.

01 Rainbow Ride
02 Goatburn
03 Good Stuff
04 ...And the 8th Seal Was Her's
05 Separate Graves
06 Spiral Guru
07 Fifth Wheel
08 Nimbus
09 Troll Formula
10 Altered Beast

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Arsis: A Celebration of Guilt (5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Willowtip
Genre: Technical Death Metal
TRT: 44:20

Death metal with a keen sense of melody is what you'll find here. These metalheads from Richmond Virginia serve up an intense ride that will have you humming along in no time at all. Be assured, this is a brutal record, but it's also as catchy as a bad case of mononucleosis. And it'll stick around for longer.

01 The Face of My Innocence
02 Maddening Disdain
03 Seven Whispers Fell Silent
04 Return
05 Worship Depraved
06 Carnal Ways to Recreate the Heart
07 Dust and Guilt
08 Elegant and Perverse
09 The Sadistic Motives Behind Bereavement Letters
10 Looking to Nothing
11 Wholly Night

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Ulver: Teachings in Silence (5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Jester
Genre: Dark Ambient Soundscapes
TRT: 52:55

This is the combination of two previous limited release EP's, and is one of my favorite albums of all time. It's difficult to put in to words why, other than to say that it instantly arrested my attention, and took me to places I'd never been. Mysterious, dark, brooding and in it's own way, beautiful, this cd is in a league of it's own.

And Darling Didn't We Kill You is absolutely amazing.

01 Silence Teaches You How To Sing
02 Darling Didn't We Kill You
03 Speak Dead Speaker
04 Not Saved

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Order Teachings in Silence from The End Records

Crowpath: Son of Sulphur (4.5/5)

Year: 2005
Label: Willowtip
Genre: Brutal Technical Death Metal
TRT: 33:49

This is a concept album following the exploits of an arsonist, a paradoxically chilling journey through the mind of a psychopath. There's just something about this record (and this band period) that sets them apart from the plethora of similar bands. Maybe it's their wonderful ability to create atmosphere, or the way the furious precussion section includes the extensive use of bell cymbals, or perhaps it's just the sheer precision and passion displayed by the band as a whole. Whatever that "something" is, they have an abundance of it, and I can't get enough.

01 Candles and Kerosene
02 The Will to Burn
03 Chased, Caught and Charged
04 Pidgeonmasher
05 Children of Boredom
06 Self Destruct Pessimism
07 Seed of Arson
08 Picked Clean
09 The Lucanthrope
10 Scab Coated Attraction
11 Lights Out, Left For Dead
12 End in Water

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Controlled Bleeding: Shanked & Slithering (4/5)

Year: 2005
Label: Soleilmoon Recordings
Genre: Power Electronics Noise
TRT: 79:41

I picked up this album along with about 8 other noise cds at a Wolf Eyes show I attended a few years ago, but I only recently gave it a serious listen, and it has risen above the rest. One night I popped this record into my stereo system and listened to it VERY LOUD at 2am whilst reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower saga (the saga that named this journal). It was an aurally overwhelming, brutally divine experience. It's a bit difficult to put into words how some noise is better than other noise, or to sequester the differences found within "the good stuff". All I can say is, once you release yourself and let this sinister wall of sound wash over you, once you find the warmth in letting go of everything, maybe you'll understand a little more.

This is really a compilation that spans the groups vast career, which makes the consistancy of quality it all the more remarkable. They have released nearly 30 records since 1983, covering many different genre along the way.

01 Swallowing Scrap Metal No. 9
02 Shanked And...
03 Bees No. 1
04 Bees No. 2
05 Dry Lung
06 Vole
07 Experiments Infuck
08 Bladder Bags (Session No. 1)
09 Hymn No. 1
10 Horsemeat (Yak Remix)
11 Swallowing No. 5 (Power Mix)
12 Bladder Bags (Session No. 2)
13 Hymn No. 2

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