The Young Sinclairs: Songs of The Young Sinclairs (4/5)

Jonathan's #9 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Kindercore
Genre: Psychedelic Folk Rock
TRT: 59:55

I have to say that I was really excited to see this record pressed. My brother lives in Roanoke, VA and is friends with a lot of the guys in "The Magic Twig Community" and about two years ago he introduced me to some of them. These guys are doing music the way they want in a large group of friends with about 5-6 different bands....and The Young Sinclairs happen to be signed to Kindercore Records.

I actually emailed Kindercore once asking them to press The Young Sinclairs to vinyl, and one day my brother comes to my house with this....so I gave him money to get me one of these limited copies. I'm glad to hear the great mixing/mastering job that John Thompson (drums and lap steel for The Young Sinclairs) did for all these different tracks from their past recordings. They all come together really nice.

I'd describe the sound as being a mix of The Byrds and The Who with a heavy dose of the modern reverb sound. Sam Lunsford has some great melodies that float over the guitar riffs that show the songs are well written...and I love that the lyrics are on their myspace.

01 Darling
02 Cancelled Flight
03 Engineer Man
04 Thanks Paul Horn
05 Blessed Blackness
06 Tough Face
07 It's Real and It's the End
08 Keep Them Down
09 Tribe
10 The Most Impressive
11 Up Against the Wall
12 They're Not Writing
13 Honeysuckle, Rose and Pumpkin
14 Talisman
15 Don't Be Scared
16 Llama Farm
17 Everything I Do is Wrong
18 Help You Decide

Myspace for The Young Sinclairs

The Yellow Moon Band: Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #8 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Static Caravan
Genre: Psychedelic Space Rock
TRT: 52:04

The album has only one song with a vocal part in it...even though it could use more, I really enjoy the feelings I get throughout this album. On the song "Entangled" I get this feeling that I only ever get when listening to "The Notorious Byrd Brothers" by the Byrds.

The musicianship on this recording is similar to the 70's progressive movement, which personally I'm a big fan. The melodies sit well and transition properly...so that at the end of the album you feel as if you had gone on a psychedelic space journey.

01 Polaris
02 Chimney
03 Entangled
04 Maybach
05 Focussed
06 Domini
07 Window
08 Lunadelica

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Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #7 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Domino
Genre: Psychedelic Electronic Pop
TRT: 54:05

I'm not a big fan of electronic music so for this to make my top 10 this is a huge exception. Textures should be the title of this album. The cover itself has some pink/purple photo or something under the neon green moving (optical illusion) pattern. The music has so many great layers of sounds from tamborines > stick clicks > claps > bells > and other random noises tweaked with echo or delay. This recording has some flourishing harmonies that I wish the guys could pull off live [from most of the videos I've seen they're always off key]. But, no matter how they sound live...this recording is pristine and perfect in structure and the moods created.

My favorite thing about this album is that I can put it on and without taking any substances...I kind of feel like I'm tripping. So go dream (day-dream or otherwise) to this recording.

01 In the Flowers
02 My Girls
03 Also Frightened
04 Summertime Clothes
05 Daily Routine
06 Bluish
07 Guys Eyes
08 Taste
09 Lion in a Coma
10 No More Runnin
11 Brother Sport

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Shapiro: Shapiro (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #6 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Dweeb Records
Genre: Indie Rock/Pop
TRT: 41:35

I went to the release show for this vinyl LP in Harrisonburg, VA on my birthday...and all the guys in the band are really fun people to hang out with....so I knew this album was going to make my top 10 back in April. Also, interestingly enough; I used to be in a band with Chris (guitar) back when we played metal.

I love that every gatefold cover has a different unique stamp as Nathan (guitar and background vocals) inked up his foot and started stomping....mine is smeared crazy off to the right, not like the one above. Also, they only pressed 100 of these and they numbered them so I now own 36/100.

The music on this recording is really great and original. Jeremy's (vocals and piano) voice is really well recorded and has such a great depth to it. I feel like every song is an elegant pop hit with hints of some rock in the vein of Queen but definitely with a way more modern feeling.

01 Right and Wrong
02 All Things Around the Sun
03 I'm Not There (You Can't Talk to Me)
04 When I'm With You (Soporific)
05 L-E-A-V-I-N-G
06 One Hit Pitch Pipe
07 Emily
08 You Had It Coming
09 Battle of Beatrix
10 For Something to Do
11 Prelude

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Volcano Choir: Unmap (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #5 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Jagjaguwar
Genre: Psychedelic Ambient Avant-Folk
TRT: 35:12

The album art is really interesting...and definitely fits well with the sounds inside.

The recording starts off ambient with some nice textured sounds and melodies. I like Justin Vernon's vocal runs here because it really starts giving the vibes of this record....sometimes hitting an off key note in the run similar to TV on the Radio. When the song "Island, IS" begins, you can instantly feel a slight shift in the tempo and this really starts the album...this is an amazing track. The album then slows down a bit again to an ominous meditation sound with waves in the background. At this point it's obvious what to expect from here-on-out. Sit back and enjoy the tranquility in accord.

01 Husks and Shells
02 Seeplymouth
03 Island, IS
04 Dote
05 And Gather
06 Mbira in the Morass
07 Cool Knowledge
08 Still
09 Youlogy

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The Future Kings of England: The Viewing Point (5/5)

Jonathan's #4 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Backwater Records
Genre: Progressive Space Rock
TRT: 44:49

This year I really got into 1970's progressive rock so this finding this album made me really happy. It's a little strange though because I wanted to add this to my vinyl collection and it's not available in that format. Either way the material here is definitely up to par with some of the greatest progressive rock minus there aren't any vocals except some areas have distant choir voices just singing notes.

I would definitely classify this as progressive space rock with great guitar solos and awesome organ riffs. The bassist has the task of tying it all together and keeping everything consistent...and his bass lines are just perfect. These guys have a great sound and this recording takes you on a wild ride to anywhere you want and back. It's truly a beautiful experience.

01 Go...
02 Sea Saw
03 The Cold Hard Truth
04 Time Flies Like an Arrow
05 Rain Later, Good
06 The Viewing Point

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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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Steal the Prize: I Want to Talk to God (5/5)

Jonathan's #1 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Self-Released
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
TRT: 58:13

I will first say that I live with these guys and it obviously makes me biased...but I think because I live with them, I've connected to these songs and the album as a whole.

I believe "I Want to Talk to God" epitomizes my description of this list so well that it has to be my number one album of the year. To me music is the creative expression of the deepest point in the core of an artist/band. Steal the Prize is a very versatile band that can rock a song as hard as Led Zeppelin then on another song write a perfect pop hit with the lyrics taking the forefront. The lyrics are non-stop in provoking thought on ideas that sometimes get lost in the everyday routine....while the music is eclectic and beautiful.

It seems that every song has been crafted to stand the test of time as the band looks for the big picture when writing a song...and I think it comes across nicely especially with the lyrics complementing the vibes sent out through the songs.

This recording proves that Steal the Prize isn't trying to fit into any specific genre as much as they are being themselves musically....which I respect and admire a lot. Pick this up at a show and experience the art that is within the package.

This is an album about doing and being......

01 Some Things Don't Translate
02 The Opposite of Space
03 You're My Moment
04 You Go Left, I Go Righteous
05 If These Walls Could Talk
06 Us or Me
07 All the Pretty Ladies
08 Outrun the Sun
09 Let Me Know
10 Pledge Allegiance to Planet Earth
11 The Skeptics Were Right
12 Born Again, Again

Myspace for Steal the Prize

Cloudkicker: The Discovery (5/5)

Year: 2008
Genre: Progressive Polyrhythmic Metal
Label: Self Released
TRT: 39:48

Writing extremely complex music that is as intricate as it is interesting is no small feat, yet Cloudkicker seems to achieve this effortlessly. Ben Sharp, the sole entity behind the moniker, seems to have a firm grasp on what he wants to accomplish, and executes his ideas flawlessly.

Fans of Meshuggah, Periphery, Animals as Leaders and simlar progressive poly-rhythmic acts will eat this up.

This is the sort of album that makes me sad most of my friends refuse to listen to metal.

So after I'd had the album on repeat for 3 days straight, I figured it was time to take the next step in our relationship. but after several minutes of frantic searching, I came to the realization that nothing Sharp has ever released has been anything but a download link from his myspace page.

This is exceedingly admirable as far as motives and intentions go, but for the hardened collector like myself, this is a travesty! So I would implore you...if you enjoy this album as much as I do, drop a note at his myspace page and ask him to go through with a physical release. Maybe if enough of us request it, our wish will be granted.

01 The Genesis Device
02 Dysphoria
03 Avalanche
04 Everything's Mirror
05 Viceroy
06 Segue
07 The Discovery
08 Covington
09 Triumverate!
10 States

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Gregor Samsa: Rest (4/5)

Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Post-Rock
Label: Kora
TRT: 48:02

If you're looking for the next This Will Destroy You or God is an Astronaut, you might be best suited looking elsewhere. I hesitate to even label it as post rock, as Gregor Samsa's music is not patterned after the"typical" post rock structure and motiff.

The mountaintop is not the focus, but rather the journey itself. Because of this, Rest almost has more in common with the latest records from Grouper and Valet than the aforementioned bands.

Gorgeous textures, subtle organic layers and an ethereal atmosphere, rounded out with subdued vocals (both male and female) all contribute to the beauty of this release. Very relaxing and engrossing, and the "extra" instruments used (piano, xylophone, strings, et cetera) are used appropriately, in that they enhance the songs, everything works together for the benefit of the whole instead of each vying for your attention.

I didn't hear this album until early 2009, otherwise it would have been a strong contender for my 2008 top picks list.

01 The Adolescent
02 Ain Leuh
03 Abutting, Dismantling
04 Company
05 Jeroen Van Aken
06 Rendered Yards
07 Pseudonyms
08 First Mile, Last Mile
09 Du Meine Leise

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Shape of Despair: Shades Of... (4.5/5)

Year: 2000
Genre: Funeral Doom
Label: Spikefarm
TRT: 56:59


Funeral Doom is not supposed to be catchy.

It's not supposed to be beautiful either.

I guess no one bothered to mention that to these guys, because they've managed to make this monstrosity of an album, capturing those elements and molding them into songs as dark and heavy as an event horizon.

01 ...In the Mist
02 Woundheir
03 Down Into the Stream
04 Shadowed Dreams
05 Sylvan-Night

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Tim Koch: Faena (4/5)

Year: 2006
Genre: Atmospheric Electronic Glitch
Label: Merck
TRT: 59:30


When I first got a hold of this release in 2006, it made an impression on me, and ended up barely missing a spot on my top ten list for the year.

After revisiting it a great deal of late, it startles me how much more I like it now as opposed to then. Very lush textures composed of interesting electronic beats, with a warm and inviting atmosphere accented by a healthy dose of glitch. Brings to mind Telefon Tel Aviv, or a more ambient and less spastic Autechre.

it’s a great album to listen to start to finish while driving or performing some other task.

01 Introduct
02 Distantamount
03 Ellermanstraat
04 Groove 90
05 Take The Stairs
06 Attery Bop
07 Intensive Porpoises
08 Blue And Grey
09 Shalike
10 Macrome
11 Gulf Streams
12 Seven Ate Nine
13 Kilteroff
14 X_To_M
15 Truth Sinks In
16 Waiting Room
17 Cutcut

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Steve Hillage: L (4.5/5)

Year: 1976
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Space Rock
Label: Virgin
TRT: 44:01

With Todd Rundgren manning the board and Utopia along as backup band, ex-Gong member Hillage sets the controls for an electrified hippie-prog land of new age spiritual wonder on "L". Bookended by two appropriate covers in Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and George Harrison's often overlooked Yellow Submarine contribution, "It's All Too Much," the album applies a stoned '67 outlook to a clean and shimmery '76 production job by Rundgren, and while "L" occasionally reaches some intense levels, it's not so overstuffed as to leave one with the ice cream headache often associated with a really tripped out progressive band.

Throughout, Hillage lays down some tasty, fluid guitar work, sorta coming off like a more coherent, focused variation on most of the space-rock formulas....filtered through a heavy dose of Eastern mysticism. This is a great album to sit back and chill to.

01. Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan Cover)
02. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando
03. Elecktrick Gypsies
04. Om Nama Shivaya
05. Lunar Musick Suite
06. It's All Too Much (George Harrison Cover)

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Man: Revelation (4.5/5)

Year: 1969
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Acid Rock
Label: Pye
TRT: 43:16

This album has everything that rock music had to offer at the time (1969) and more. These guys were ahead of their time as much as Led Zeppelin or Nektar were...but over time they just couldn't keep a consistent line-up or sound.

This debut album is the best start they could have had....with saturated organ sounds and amazing psychedelic/trippy guitar licks. The vocals are really unique in many ways. The main vocal lines have this hap-hazard kind of approach when he wants to accent something it's definitely there but when he doesn't it gets mixed in with some other lyrics and just flows. Also, the harmonies are some of the best I've heard because they have well crafted eerie harmonies that don't sound off at all and acutally somehow come across almost normal. There is also a piano chord that makes an appearance at the beginning and end of the album and it is my favorite sound on this great debut.

Overall....this is a must listen. I think everyone should give it a chance. There is so much going on here that I think a lot of people will be surprised by what they may enjoy.

01. And In the Beginning
02. Sudden Life
03. Empty Room
04. Paula ! Paula !
05. Love
06. Erotica
07. Blind Man
08. And Castles Rise In Childrens Eye
09. Don't Just Stand There
10. The Missing Pieces
11. The Future Hides Its Face

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Depressed Mode: Ghosts of Devotion (4.5/5)

Year: 2007
Genre: Atmospheric Death Doom
Label: Firedoom Music
TRT: 51:15

Depressed Mode started out as a joke amongst members of Shape of Despair, but quickly solidified as the potential was realized.

Even with a lame pun for a name, this band manages to be kickass. Part of what makes them so good is their ability to balance the mid-paced with the snails-paced.

The other part is their ability to weave the elements of female vocals, keys, piano and strings into their songs, without ever coming off as cheesy, trite or forced.

I may even like this release more than the new one, which will undoubtedly rank high on my end of the year best of metal list.

01 Alone
02 So Long
03 Words of Silence
04 Suffer in Darkness
05 Ghosts of Devotion
06 The Sun Is Dead
07 Fallen Angel
08 Dunkelheit
09 Cold

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Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic J!had (4.5/5)

Year: 2000
Genre: Industrial Goth Rock
Label: Morpheus
TRT: 45:55

I went through a huge industrial goth phase in my teenage years, especially when it came to female fronted ones.

This band is/was comprised of two people, Tobey Torres (that's a chick) on vocals, and Jason Slater (former bassist of Third Eye Blind) on everything else. I think they added a guitarist later.

Unlike their musical contemporaries (Collide, Kidneythieves, et cetera), most of thier lyrics are self-satirizing and tongue in cheek. Very entertaining. This, their lone album, also contains two of the best covers I've ever heard, Love Song (The Cure) and How Soon is Now (The Smiths).

I keep hoping that one day a sophmore release will appear out of no where and blow me away, but for now, I'll just have to be content with what is available.

01 Breed
02 Casualty
03 You and Your Friend
04 Lovesong
05 Act Your Age
06 More Than Love
07 Strangled
08 Oh Well
09 Somebody Loves You
10 Vulcan
11 How Soon is Now?

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Nektar: Recycled (5/5)

Year: 1975
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Space Rock
Label: Bacillus
TRT: 36:51

On this album the band chooses their tried and true method of performing a movement of songs into one piece....which for the days of vinyl (dealing with two sides) is an excellent choice. This album continues in the same vein as the few previous releases...except the music has now been formed into a more synth prog. The samples the band uses are very futuristic sounding and even for music created in the 70's; I think it still holds true today. From being an intense Nektar fan I can tell they are really pulling all the positive things from their past albums and combining it together for this release. This is another really solid effort from Nektar and the artwork again is wild and trippy....there are always small little details in the artwork that when you see it from the big picture...blow your mind. Enjoy...

01. Recycle
02. Cybernetic Consumption
03. Recycle Countdown
04. Automation Horrorscope
05. Recycling
06. Flight to Reality
07. Unendless Imaginations
08. Sao Paulo Sunrise
09. Costa Del Sol
10. Marvellous Moses
11. It's All Over

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Nektar: Remember the Future (5/5)

Year: 1973
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Space Rock
Label: Bacillus
TRT: 35:39

This is another of those all too rare perfect albums. It all just fits together seamlessly and despite its age, is a rather intoxicating and enjoyable listen. I've owned this on album (LP) for about a year and I can't stop listening to it...it is my favorite Nektar album in their extensive catalog. Nektar may just be the most solid band of the 70's besides the greats (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin & Yes).

If you know anything about Nektar then you know they were all about combining the experience they provide...from their light show which was said to put all other bands to shame....to their always amazing cover art....to their well thought-out/intelligent and ultimately "real" lyrics....they really cover the spectrum that is involved with what music has to offer.

The lyrics on this album have gone beyond just the normal concept that was ever-so-popular in the prog scene at the time; they actually make it a complete conversation between a blind boy & a spiritual bird. I would recommend finding the lyrics to this album and reading them as you listen through the entire album in one sitting. It honestly may change the way you look at life. This is virtually a flawless example of early 70's prog-rock at its finest....as it cleverly avoids all the cliches of the genre. "Classic".

01. Remember the Future: Part I
02. Remember the Future: Part II

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Nektar: A Tab in the Ocean (5/5)

Year: 1972
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Space Rock
Label: Bacillus
TRT: 35:50

I've seen pretty mixed reviews on this album but ratings and polls aside, I think this album has something very special about it...especially the B side. Really the most amazing information about this album is that it is their 2nd album of 1972. It's like they went as far out as you can go on hallucinogenics for "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" and as they came down they were able to relate their huge ideas they got from different perspectives into a more arranged and cohesive conversation.

I really think this has the "Obscured by Clouds" & "Dark Side of the Moon" feel and it's got the very professional orchestrated arrangement that a lot of psychedelic rock bands didn't even worry about because they were okay with the chaotic drug-induced arrangements that pushed other boundaries. But there is something really amazing about listening to a very carefully arranged recording and still getting all the psychedelic nuances of a Pink Floyd album. The lightly distorted organ is omnipresent and I love it because organ is one of my favorite instruments to hear done well. The epic 16 minutes "A Tab in the Ocean" is made of aggressive symphonic keyboards and electric guitar full of distortion, near metal sometimes! They can really go anywhere they want in the realm of uncapped infinite sounds and pull down the exact sounds to convey what they are feeling. Nektar is therefore very underrated.

01. A Tab in the Ocean
02. Desolation Valley, Waves
03. Crying in the Dark
04. King Of Twilight

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Nektar: Journey to the Centre of the Eye (5/5)

Year: 1972
Genre: Progressive Psychedelic Space Rock
Label: Bacillus
TRT: 41:55

First I must say this is one of my absolute all-time favorite bands. Nektar has to also be one of the most underrated bands. This album is full of pounding hammond organ, trippy effects, weaving guitar lines mixing together with other instruments, the majestic mellotron, and of course a larger-than-life concept. These are the common tags one can apply to this release by the nearly unknown British psychedelic/prog-rock band working in Germany.

The songs flow well together, creating a tight conceptual suite with the actual songs never becoming too boring as it brings certain musical themes throughout the whole album. I'm quite certain this band has a sound of their own, but for sure they're certainly more hypnotic and heavy than your average prog-rock band.

01. Prelude
02. Astronauts Nightmare
03. Countenance
04. The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun
05. Warp Oversight
06. The Dream Nebula: Part I
07. The Dream Nebula: Part II
08. It's All in My Mind
09. Burn Out of My Eyes
10. Void of Vision
11. Pupil of the Eye
12. Look Inside Yourself
13. Death of the Mind

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McDonald and Giles: McDonald and Giles (5/5)

Year: 1970
Genre: Psychedelic Progressive Rock/Pop
Label: Island
TRT: 46:02

Not to long ago a record store opened in town and I was buying a lot of vintage vinyl including: King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Yes, Nektar, etc....

I guess after seeing me buy a few stacks from him over time, the owner of the store showed me an album that he said was pretty rare that had members of King Crimson's first album. He obviously couldn't sell me his copy but he told me if I ever saw it, I should pick it up. I went onto eBay the next day and luckily ran into the Argentinean release from '77...the price wasn't even bad.

After the first listen I knew this was such a great album...I loved everything about it. Now after listening to it many times and some from different perspectives; it is probably my favorite album of all time. I know that's almost blasphemy when we talk about the best bands in the world, but for releases individually alone it is my favorite. If I could rate it a little higher than my other 5 star ratings.....I would.

01. Suite in 'C'
02. Flight of the Ibis
03. Is She Waiting?
04. Tomorrow's People - The Children of Today
05. Birdman

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Saltillo: Ganglion (4/5)

Year: 2006
Genre: Trip-Hop IDM
Label: Suspicious
TRT: 52:17



Glitchy IDM Electronic music is sweet.

Glitchy Electronic music with an orchestra is even better....

01 A Necessary End
02 Giving In
03 Remember Me?
04 A Simple Test
05 A Hair on the Head of John the Baptist
06 Blood and Milk
07 The Opening
08 Backyard Pond
09 Grafting
10 Praise
11 I'm on the Wrong Side
12 002 F#m

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If These Trees Could Talk (4/5)

Year: 2006
Genre: Post-Rock
Label: Self Released
TRT: 32:01

If These Trees Could Talk are part of the elite group of post-rock bands that don't need 10+ minutes to build a climax, and are as engaging during their quiet sections as they are during their riotous finales.

01 Malabar Front
02 Smoke Stacks
03 The Friscalating Dusklight
04 Signal Tree
05 The Death of a Paradigm
06 41°4'23n, -81°31'4w


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Goldfrapp: Supernature (4/5)

Year: 2005
Genre: Electro Dance Pop
Label: Mute
TRT: 48:05

While 2008's Seventh Tree was a warm and dreamy, carefree slice of summer, Supernature is darker, colder, and a more engaging listen. Ms. Goldfrapp throws herself into these tracks with reckless abandon, and you can't help but get caught up in the energy and vigor exuded.

01 Ooh La La
02 Lovely 2 C U
03 Ride a White Horse
04 You Never Know
05 Let It Take You
06 Fly Me Away
07 Slide In
08 Koko
09 Satin Chic
10 Time Out From the World
11 Number 1
12 Beautiful

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School of Emotional Engineering: School of Emotional Engineering (4.5/5)

Year: 2004
Genre: Dark Atmospheric Soundscapes
Label: Architecture
TRT: 46:47

Even though I've had this for a couple years now, it never really clicked with me until just recently. It's the sort of music that seeps into your head and slowly takes over your mind. Very delicate and unassuming. But once it makes it to your core, the sinister undertones sink in and take root, like a juxtaposition of Mago's Definition of Raw Moments From a Different Perspective and Ulver's Teachings in Silence.

I can't stop listening to it.

01 To Be Continued
02 ...Refrain
03 Falling for Sylvia
04 Of Angel Dust...
05 ...Refrain (Bloodline)
06 Redline
07 She Dreams in Car Crashes
08 Slicing the Skin Between My Toes

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Unsane: Visqueen (4/5)

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Year: 2007
Genre: Post Hardcore Sludge
Label: Ipecac
TRT: 42:08

Unsane has been around for close to two decades, but I just recently checked them out. As often happens with a band that's been around for so long, one loses the urgency to investigate, and they slowly get lost on an endless list of bands "to check out". So when I saw this cd for $4, I was interested, but when I flipped it over and saw they were now on Mike Patton's label, I was sold, and I bought it.

What I was immediately impressed with was the clear, upfront and meaty basslines found on this disc. Very heavy and mean sounding. The vocals are not usually something I'm fond of, but the throaty yells of Chris Spencer really feel at home here, and fit perfectly. The combination of those things paired with mid-paced and methodical drumming over sludgy, driving guitars make for an experience with an unexpected groove that makes you want to nod your head to the beat, while raising your fist in protest of...anything and everything.

01 Against the Grain
02 Last Man Standing
03 This Stops at the River
04 Only Pain
05 No One
06 Windshield
07 Shooting Clay
08 Line on the Wall
09 Disdain
10 Eat Crow
11 East Broadway

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Steal the Prize: I Want to Talk to God (5/5)

Year: 2009
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Label: Self-Released
TRT: 52:29

These guys are young, talented, brilliant, and hard working. Every song has been perfectly crafted to stand the test of time. The band looks for the big picture when writing songs and I think it comes across nicely especially with the lyrics complementing the vibes sent out through the songs.

The album is a concept based around the lives of the guys in the band...starting with the first song you get the idea that the band has control by making a catchy hit with lyrics about feeling crazy. By the second song you will start to understand this is going to be a psychedelic album.....and believe me, you wouldn't be more right, this album is soaked in the perspective and oneness that come from psychedelics.

The band overall if I had to categorize them would be a sweet fusion of Led Zeppelin & The Beatles. You might have an idea of what you think they sound like from that mix but it'll be different because this band is truly one of the most unique new bands out right now. They aren't just taking the styles that worked in the 60's and 70's and working it into their music like a lot of bands these days, but they are making their own music from their own standards not necessarily caring about what the masses might think.

This is an album about doing and being......

myspace.com/stealtheprize

01 Some Things Don't Translate
02 The Opposite of Space
03 You're My Moment
04 You Go Left, I Go Righteous
05 If These Walls Could Talk
06 Us or Me
07 All the Pretty Ladies
08 Outrun the Sun
09 Let Me Know
10 Pledge Allegiance to Planet Earth
11 The Skeptics Were Right
12 Born Again, Again

Small Brown Bike: The River Bed (4/5)

Year: 2003
Genre: Emotional Post-Hardcore
Label: Lookout
TRT: 40:33

I heard about this band way back in the day, but never got around to checking them out. Their break-out album Dead Reckoning was released right around the time contemporaries Thursday and Cursive released their own contributions (Full Collapse and Domestica respectively), and they actually did a split with the latter.

Fast forward to a local indie music store going out of business and having a massive sale. I see this album for $7 and think to myself, why not? I had an idea of what to expect from them, and they delivered handsomely.

Their final release, coming two years after the album I'd heard so much about in 2001, is presented in a more mature way, both musically and lyrically. Very catchy songs with interesting drumming, and heartfelt vocals that make you want to stand up and shout along. If you're a fan of any of the bands or albums I've mentioned, you will dig this hard.

01 Deconstruct/Rebuild
02 Safe In Sound
03 A Declaration Of Sorts
04 Scream In The Silence
05 Day And Nightmares
06 Tragically Ending
07 Sincerely Yours
08 What's Missing Is Dead
09 The Outline Of Your Hand Still Remains On My Hand
10 A Lesson To Remember

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Valet: Naked Acid (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#1 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Psychedelic Minimalism
Label: Kranky Records
TRT: 43:47

I walked through a room where this album was playing, and I instantly fell for it. The lush textures and dreamy atmosphere are unmatched, and the smoky, sensual and dark vocals of Honey Owens drip over the heavily layered soundscapes in such an elegant way. This is the sort of album you put on repeat, and just sink further and further into it’s hypnotic mystery.

01 We Went There
02 Drum Movie
03 Kehaar
04 Fuck It
05 Babylon 4 Eva
06 Fire
07 Streets

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Grouper: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#2 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Acoustic Drone
Label: Type Records
TRT: 45:41

Liz Harris has been creating static-drenched drone albums for several years now, but with this release, she progresses her sound further than ever. Instead of focusing on the guitars and the feedback, these elements act as a cocoon of sorts, a framework of sounds that support her quiet vocal stylings and acoustic guitar strumming. The result is warm and inviting, and very relaxing, while maintaining a certain quality of unease to challenge your comfort level and keep you engrossed.

I was not at all surprised to find out Grouper hails from the same Portland music scene as Valet.

01 Disengaged
02 Heavy Water/ I'd Rather Be Sleeping
03 Stuck
04 When We Fall
05 Traveling Through a Sea
06 Fishing Bird (Empty Gutted in the Evening Breeze)
07 Invisible
08 Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
09 A Cover Over
10 Wind and Snow
11 Tidal Wave
12 We''ve All Time to Sleep

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Nine Inch Nails: The Slip (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#3 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Electro Glitch Rock
Label: Null Corporation
TRT: 43:47

Trent Reznor has come a long way since the days when he would force fans to wait 5 or more years between records. With Year Zero released a mere two years after With Teeth, following that a year later with Ghosts I-IV. And then scarcely two months after the digital release of Ghosts, Reznor springs another full length album, The Slip.

There’s a rumor circulating the internet that The Slip is a closer view at the “Great Destroyer” of Year Zero. While I can certainly see the similarities, and with a little creativity connect the dots between the two, I would tend to think the stories are related in content and context, but not actually one and the same.

With this release, Reznor combines the raw energy of Pretty Hate Machine with the polished intensity of Year Zero, rounding it out with the commercial appeal of With Teeth. While I wouldn’t say this is anywhere close to his “strongest” album, it has a strange addictive quality to it. Whatever issues I may have with the pacing and flow (towards the end of the album), I just can’t stop listening to it. And the higher the volume, the better the experience.

01 999,999
02 1,000,000
03 Letting You
04 Discipline
05 Echoplex
06 Head Down
07 Lights in the Sky
08 Corona Radiata
09 The Four of Us Are Dying
10 Demon Seed

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Clark: Turning Dragon (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#4 out of 10 (tie)


Year: 2008
Genre: Electronic Dance Glitch
Label: Warp
TRT: 46:35

Combining schizophrenic glitchy electronics with big beat dance floor beats, Chris Clark has created the perfect amalgamation of experimentation and control. Unashamedly Infectious and unabashedly catchy, it’s hard to name an album that’s more fun to audit.

01 New Year Storm
02 Volcan Veins
03 Truncation Horn
04 For Wolves Crew
05 Violenl
06 Radiation Clutch
07 Ache of the North
08 Mercy Sines
09 Hot May Slides
10 BEG
11 Penultimate Persian

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Earth: The Bees Made Honey in the Lions Skull (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#4 out of 10 (tie)


Year: 2008
Genre: Southern Drone Rock
Label: Southern Lord
TRT: 53:24

Perfectly crafted tracks with immense depth and character are nothing new from these pioneers, but who would have guessed drone could be this catchy? Never before has a drone album captured my attention as fully as this one. This has to be the most accessible drone record ever written. Earth have truly reinvented themselves, and I for one am extremely impressed.

01 Omens and Portents I: The Driver
02 The Driver
03 Miami Morning Coming Down II (Shine)
04 Engine of Ruin
05 Omens and Portents II: The Carrion Crow
06 Hung From the Moon
07 The Bees Made Honey In The Lions' Skull

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Anathallo: Canopy Glow (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#6 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Indie Rock
Label: Anticon
TRT: 44:22

After a release as ambitions as 2006’s Floating World, it’s hard to know what to expect from the follow-up. Instead of trying to push the proverbial envelope even further, this troupe of musicians wisely took a step back and a step away from their previous work, and released a much more subdued, subtle and contemplative work of art.

Canopy Glow is probably the most “consistent” of all their albums, in that the contrast between delicate and bombastic is played down considerably, keeping a relatively even keel throughout. But one must not confuse “even keeled” with “uneventful”. The changes of pace, while less drastic, are executed with the same expert precision previously displayed.

01 Noni's Field
02 Italo
03 Northern Lights
04 The River
05 Cafetorium
06 Sleeping Torpor
07 All the First Pages
08 John J. Audubon
09 Bells
10 Tower of Babel

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Goldfrapp: Seventh Tree (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#7 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Electro-Pop
Label: Mute Records
TRT: 41:34

This album has such a vibrant warmth to it, it’s hard to ignore. Though I can’t imagine why anyone would try. When I look back on the summer of 2008, this album will be playing in the background of my thoughts. Atmospheric, free flowing and with a general sense that every thing is right in the world, it’s the quintessential album for a roadtrip with the windows down, or sitting on the porch with the sun shining down and a book in hand.

01 Clowns
02 Little Bird
03 Happiness
04 Road to Somewhere
05 Eat Yourself
06 Some People
07 A & E
08 Cologne Cerrone Houdini
09 Caravan Girl
10 Monster Love

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M83: Saturdays=Youth (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#8 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Electro-Pop
Label: Mute Records
TRT: 62:10

Anthony Gonzalez has a way of overhauling and reinventing his music, while always managing to maintain his signature sound. Saturdays=Youth is his tribute to the decade he grew up in, and he sought to recreate the experiences he had as a kid stumbling through the 80’s. Along with Goldfrapp’s Seventh Tree, this album is sure to brighten your mood and lift your spirits with it’s warm energy and glow of discovery. Even the darker tracks contain a certain level of optimism, as naïve as it may be.

download part i
download part ii

01 You, Appearing
02 Kim & Jessie
03 Skin of the Night
04 Graveyard Girl
05 Couleurs
06 Up!
07 We Own the Sky
08 Highyway of Endless Dreams
09 Too Late
10 Dark Moves of Love
11 Midnight Souls Remain

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