DM Stith: Heavy Ghost (5/5)

Jonathan's #3 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Asthmatic Kitty
Genre: Psychedelic Baroque Folk
TRT: 43:46

I instantly loved this album...there's so much to take from this. Stith makes simple minor notes something new by bending them slightly to the perfect psychedelic melodies. Also, there is this haunting feeling throughout the recording because there are so many parts that have distant eerie harmonies. There's guitar, other strings, horns, lap steel, effects, piano, and probably instruments I can't pronounce....but they are all used in the most profound ways. The drums are almost tribal sometimes and really help build his climaxes to a spiritual place.

Each song has a similar feeling but they are also so different. Stith really takes himself to places and then somehow brings it back into a uniform translation of those feelings. The artwork that came with this package really helps translate this...as each piece looks similar to the others but has a very definite uniqueness.

Overall, even with the eerie feelings at times; Stith pulls everything into a beautiful swirl as his freedom of expression is painted on each song.

01 Isaac's Song
02 Pity Dance
03 Creeksong
04 Pigs
05 Spirit Parade
06 BMB
07 Thanksgiving Moon
08 Fire of Birds
09 Morning Glory Cloud
10 GMS
11 Braid of Voices
12 Wig

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Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest (5/5)

Jonathan's #2 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Warp
Genre: Psychedelic Baroque Folk
TRT: 52:04

I pre-ordered this as soon as I saw it was available...because I just knew after "Yellow House" this had to be amazing. Well, it actually surprised me more than I had initially thought.

The first thing I noticed was that it wasn't a gatefold but when I looked inside, it had a really nice booklet with big beautiful pictures of natural landscapes and unique shots of their instruments. After my first listen of the album...I thought it wasn't as good as "Yellow House", but after the next listen I was thinking it might be better. Grizzly Bear is just extraordinary with unimaginable sounds that give me feelings that I've never experienced with any other recordings.

The music here is dynamic psychedelic folk with beautiful melodies and graceful harmonies...it's great to listen to at almost any moment. My favorite part of the band is how progressive the drummer can be as it really adds to all the other textures the band has. After thoroughly listening to this recording, I can easily see how Grizzly Bear has stretched themselves far beyond what they were doing on "Yellow House", even though I still love that one. I believe this will definitely be a timeless album for all the future to come.

01 Southern Point
02 Two Weeks
03 All We Ask
04 Fine For Now
05 Cheerleader
06 Dory
07 Ready, Able
08 About Face
09 Hold Still
10 While You Wait for the Others
11 I Live With You
12 Foreground

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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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