Music Fest 2012 February 28, 2012
Posted by Matt in concerts.Tags: 2012, Beale Street Music Festival, Jane's Addiction, lineup, Memphis in May, My Morning Jacket, Primus, Son Volt
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It’s like Christmas Day in February.
Today the Memphis in May website posted the official list of artists performing at this year’s Beale Street Music Festival and once again they’ve done an excellent job. At this point I don’t see it topping last year’s tour-de-force (MGMT, Flaming Lips, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, etc, etc), but it is still quite good and as always I’m sure the weekend will be a blast.
When it comes to must-see artists in this year’s lineup, My Morning Jacket tops the list for me, but I’m pretty excited about the inclusion of Jane’s Addiction, Primus, and Son Volt as well. Here’s a link to the full list in case you haven’t seen it.
And here’s the links to my rundown of last year’s epic shows. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3.
Lenten Listen #3: My Morning Jacket – Circuital February 24, 2012
Posted by Matt in Lent.Tags: Circuital, Lent, My Morning Jacket, mysticism, religion
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I’ve been a fan of My Morning Jacket’s style of hazy psychedelic rock for years and this latest release from 2011 was another excellent addition to the canon. I love the spirit of the album.
My own belief system has changed dramatically over the past several years as I’ve moved farther away from classic theism in my search for a descriptor, or for that matter a non-descriptor, of God that I believe is a better fit. In that time I discovered the world of mysticism and began to explore it, entranced by the possibilities in my search for the divine. Those studies and times of contemplation have led me to discover a lot, some of it uncomfortable and alien, things about God, the world, and myself, things I may never had considered in the past.
Without delving too far into my personal beliefs (that’s another series for another time), I’ll say that my discoveries have greatly changed my view of the world. I see the inherent divinity of humankind and the eternal connections between each of us and the universe and God, all of which lead me to the title cut from this album, a song which has sometimes made me wonder if vocalist Jim James is somehow reading my thoughts when he sings,
Circuits all running out
Connect my body deep into the ground
Circuits connect the earth to the moon
And link our heavenly bodies
And not a moment too soon.
Best Albums of 2011: 11-20 December 21, 2011
Posted by Matt in Best of 2011.Tags: albums, Best of 2011, Cults, drive-by truckers, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mastodon, music, My Morning Jacket, Raphael Saadiq, Saigon, TV on the Radio, Wild Flag, Yuck
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This week we’ve been looking at my favorite albums of 2011, beginning Monday with those ranked 31-40 and continuing yesterday with 21-30. Today we move into the next tier of greatness, 11-20.
20. Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
It’s no secret that I’ve had a longstanding love, going back some ten years, of the Drive-By Truckers, but because I hold their earlier albums (Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, and The Dirty South) in such high regard, it affects my view of their more recent works. This was especially true with 2009’s The Big To-Do, which I really liked from the first time I heard it, but it took time and a few shows for that to grow into a true appreciation for it. This story repeated itself with Go-Go Boots because I must admit I was not particularly impressed with it at first. Over time, though, it has blossomed in my eyes and ears and now I am more convinced than ever that it belongs in the holy canon. There are several standout tracks, including a new live staple and probably the most uncharacteristic track on the album, an R&B-tinged cover of the late Eddie Hinton’s “Everybody Needs Love.” Others to check out are the dark title track, a very DBT-esque tale of an adulterous, murderous Southern preacher, and “Used to Be a Cop” with its bass line made to be played live and its story of a mentally disturbed former police officer, but the real highlight from the album in my eyes is the closer, “Mercy Buckets,” a song that really captured my attention with a transcendent performance earlier this year in Memphis. With lyrics like “I will bring you buckets of mercy / And hold your hand when you’re crossing the street / Pay your bail if you need it / I will be your saving grace,” it’s a love song as only the great Patterson Hood could tell it. If you want to know why I’m obsessed with the band, start here and work back. You won’t be disappointed.
19. Cults – Cults
Though it may seem like it at times, not all of the music I enjoy is gloom and doom, with intricate intellectual themes weaved through the notes and words. No, sometimes there are bands like Cults who blow the entire dark-hued obelisk to bits, the type of band who can act as the lone sunbeam on an otherwise dreary day. Much like other recent bands like Camera Obscura, Brooklyn’s Cults reach back to 1960’s pop for their influence, dispensing rays of upbeat happiness like a lighthouse in the dark. This is an album full of pop gems, of innocence and puppy love that are sure to put a smile on your face and skip in your step. The catchy sing-along lines of “Go Outside” (I really want to go out / I really want to go outside / And stop to see your day) will ingrain themselves in your brain and it’s borderline impossible to not tap your foot along to the nostalgic beats of “Most Wanted.” Just put this one on and enjoy yourself. My kids love it, too, so that’s an added bonus.
18. Jay-Z/Kanye West – Watch the Throne
Some two decades ago, rap legends Public Enemy made the declaration, “Don’t believe the hype,” and it’s true that hype is a tough thing to reach. That being the case, when it was announced that two of the biggest and most revered hip-hop artists were going to join forces for an album, an impossibly high bar was put in place. It’s tough not to be guilty of high expectations, though, considering that Jay-Z is responsible for classics like The Blueprint and Kanye West released what I think may be the greatest rap album ever recorded, My Dark Twisted Fantasy. With expectations at that level, it’s hard for anyone, even those regarded as being among the elite, to reach that kind of height. Watch the Throne is a good album, one that may be regarded as excellent by another act, but it is hard to separate oneself from the legendary status of their past work when judging it. Jay-Z’s swagger is in full effect on songs like “Ni@@as in Paris,” when he doles out lines like “What’s fifty grand to a motha****er like me / Can you please remind me?” and in “Otis” (with its great Otis Redding sample” when proclaims, “I’m ‘bout to call the paparazzi on myself.” Kanye isn’t one to be outdone, though, when he blasts out in “Gotta Have It,” saying “LOLOLOL to white America, assassinate my character.” In the end, the album is somewhat underwhelming when compared to their past work, but it is still worth getting, with its great beats and rhymes from two of the best in the business.
17. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
First off, I must admit that I’m a bit of a late comer to TV on the Radio. Sure, I had heard some of their stuff in the past, but had never been moved enough to reach out and grab any of their albums. But the overwhelming positive reaction to the band was more than I could hold out on any longer and I grabbed a copy of Nine Types of Light soon after it came out. Needless to say, it was a great decision. This genre-hopping outfit is not easily defined, but that fluidity is perhaps their greatest asset as they effortlessly flit between soul to the sound of early 80’s post-punk to jazzy excursions, from electronic bleeps to distorted guitars, mixing it all together into a glorious whole, turning chaos into a sublime experience. You can feel the heartbreak in songs like “You,” where Tunde Adebimpe sings “You gave no reason for letting go / I just thought you might like to know / You’re the only one I ever loved,” and then the hopes for reconciliation in “Will Do,” (But I’ll be there to take care of you / If ever you should decide / That you don’t want to waste your life / In the middle of a lovesick lullaby). It’s a very personal work and one that requires several listens to fully appreciate, but once it reels you in there is no escape and that’s really the best thing you can ever hope for with an album.
16. Wild Flag – Wild Flag
Back in the late 1990’s, the riot grrrl movement of left-wing, feminist activism found an audience through the music of great punk-influenced indie rock bands like Sleater-Kinney. They certainly made their mark on the music scene, but by the mid 2000’s, many of those bands were no more and, though there were a number of great female-led groups, few matched the punch of those earlier ones. Finally, though, somebody stepped back in to fill the void. In 2010, Carrie Brownstein, guitarist and co-founder of Sleater-Kinney as well as a music contributor to NPR, announced her new project, Wild Flag, a collaborative effort between people from a few different riot grrrl era bands, and by September of this year their triumphant debut work was released. Despite having a sound that harkens back to a decade ago, the album sounds fresh and important, timely and needed, its indie pop calls for reckless abandon, for letting go of your worries and dancing without concern. When Brownstein urges the listener to “Shake, shimmy, shake,” you want to do it, regardless of where you are or what you’re doing. It’s a great throwback and a lot of fun.
15. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’
At the risk of sounding like someone far beyond my years or mindset, they just don’t make music like they used to when it comes to soul and R&B, so there has long been a gap existing in the music community, waiting for some eager people full of that special, heart-wrenching spirit to fill. Last year hip-hop artist Cee-Lo stepped up, producing an album of incredibly fun tunes with a sound akin to a potty-mouthed Stevie Wonder. This year another artist who has been around for some time, Raphael Saadiq, is picking up the soulful baton and taking his own turn. Saadiq first came to prominence in the late 80’s-early 90’s R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone! (“Feels Good,” “If I Had No Loot”) and since then he has worked as a producer for other top-selling artists as well as creating his own acclaimed music, but this is the first solo work of his I have acquired. Needless to say, I’m hooked. Listening to Saadiq, I hear a huge Sly and the Family Stone influence, particularly on the opener “Heart Attack,” while other tracks seem to draw from the likes of Ray Charles and other greats of times past. Make sure and check out songs like “Over You” and the title track and I’m sure you’ll agree: this is old school soul at its best.
14. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
Over the past ten years, there have been a number of bands that have entered and become fully planted in my consciousness, so much so that I wait with great anticipation for every release and passionately yearn for them to visit our city. There are those like the Drive-By Truckers who I have seen numerous times and then there is a band like My Morning Jacket, who I follow religiously but have somehow not made their way to Memphis in the time I’ve been living here. Their latest release, Circuitous, is another stellar release, complete with their trademark hazy, reverb-drenched sound and a bunch of excellent songs from Jim James and the boys. Following the incredible Z and the psychotropic freak out of Evil Urges, which I loved even more, MMJ fans wondered about the direction in which the band was headed. Would they return to their earlier sound or continue down the rainbow hued path to the always-elusive hallucinatory nirvana? Well, the answer is somewhere in the middle and this may be just as good, if not better, than either of those releases. The trippy seven minute “Circuital” (Circuits / Connect the Earth to the moon / And link our heavenly bodies / Not a moment too soon) is a must hear, as is the wonderfully weird “Holdin’ on to Black Metal” (Oh black metal, so misunderstood / Don’t turn yourself into Lucifer’s fool), but it is the carefree joy over somber tones of “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” (I’m going where there ain’t no fear / I’m going where the spirit is near / I’m going where the living is easy / And the people are kind / A new state of mind), that for the moment is my favorite cut on the album. Once again, MMJ strikes gold.
13. Saigon – Greatest Story Never Told
The story of Saigon is a rags to riches story of the best kind. While doing time for assault in the late 90’s, he became friends with a fellow inmate named Hakim, who rapped and employed both positive messages and an impressive vocabulary. After his release, he began to pick us some underground buzz and flew just below the mainstream radar for the next decade, collaborating with some of the biggest and most acclaimed artists in the genre while fighting with his record label over creative differences. So, the album sat on a shelf for some time before he was finally dropped by Atlantic in 2008, a situation he described in the song “Believe it” saying, “”They rather me pretend to be something that I’m not / I’m the new Public Enemy / I’m different that Young Joc.” The album finally broke through to the public earlier this year, having been released on an independent label, and this rap tour-de-force proved to be one of the best hip-hop collections of the year. His penchant for speaking candidly about social problems using the context of his own hard luck background shines throughout the work, though he’s certainly not above the braggadocio of hip-hop, claiming that “My flow is like the Cuban Missle Crisis” in “Come on Baby,” while saying in the title track that his personal story “is realer than 9/11 / I rhyme about lyin’ reverends / While showin’ all total respect to the Big Guy in Heaven / I rap about politicians, how money’s their acquisition / To get it they gotta keep us without a pot to piss in.” If you like good, socially conscious rap music, this is definitely one to check out.
12. Yuck – Yuck
Having come of age in the 1990’s, it’s only natural that I would be a bit nostalgic for the music of that era, so it is refreshing to find artists whose vision of the past is similar to mine. Over the years, the results of this endeavor have varied wildly, but occasionally a band breaks through the ever-thickening shroud of time and channels the energy of that fondly recalled era with such flair that you feel as though you’ve stepped into a flannel-covered time machine. Yuck, despite their name, is one of those wonderful memory-laden bands, their loud and fuzzy guitars eliciting a sense of euphoria rarely felt any longer. If Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus had a child who was then raised by J Mascis, it would sound like Yuck. It opens with “Get Away,” and a guitar that sounds as though it’s being played through a wall of white noise and the repeated intonation to “Tell me when the pain kicks in.” From that point on, the band rolls through a grunge litany long thought extinct, from the lovely “Georgia” to the distortion-filled “Operation,” making us believe again that stalwart indifference may be the answer to all of life’s questions.
11. Mastodon – The Hunter
As a teenager, metal music played a vital role in my music development, from Metallica (Black Album and earlier) to Megadeth to the savage violence of Pantera, but over the years I lost interest in the genre. Part of that may be from my aging sensibilities, but much of it, I believe, stems from my grumpy old man insistence that they don’t make it the way they used to. Then I heard Atlanta natives Mastodon and, once I recovered from the initial face-melting experience, I was hooked. The band made their mark with loud, intricate concept albums, Leviathan being loosely based on Moby Dick and their last album, 2009’s Crack Skye, telling the story of a quadriplegic traveling the astral plain before getting stuck in Tsarist Russia. The Hunter eschews the use of a central concept in favor of collecting a number of incredible songs showing their killer musicianship. It all kicks off with the guitar blast of “Black Tongue,” with its undeniably great riffing, then follows that up with the excellent, almost 70’s riff rock sounding, “Curl of the Burl” with one of the most awesome opening lines of the year, “I killed a man ‘cause he killed my goat. / I put my hands around his throat.” They may never be a household name like Metallica (and that’s a good thing because you can see how that turned out), but they have made an indelible mark on the world of metal over the past ten years and, if The Hunter is any indication, there is a lot more greatness to come.
Thoughts?
A Thanksgiving Playlist November 21, 2011
Posted by Matt in holiday, music.Tags: drive-by truckers, Led Zeppelin, My Morning Jacket, Talking Heads, Thanksgiving playlist, Todd Snider, Willie Nelson
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It’s easy to come by playlists for some holidays, whether it’s finding spooky sounding tunes for Halloween or the neverending line of Christmas carols or the odes to patriotism on the 4th of July, but Thanksgiving soundtracks are few and far between. On my iPod I could find only one song out of ~16,000 that explicitly referenced the holiday and only a smattering of them about being thankful (I’m way to cool and snobby for Christian music, though I’m sure those of you who enjoy that genre will have many more choices). So, I put together five songs from my iPod with the words Thanks or Thanksgiving in the title.
5. Talking Heads – Thank You for Sending me an Angel
4. Willie Nelson – Thanks Again
2. My Morning Jacket – Thank You Too!
1. Drive-By Truckers – The Thanksgiving Filter
“So put the food on the table and Papa says a blessing
They’re cutting up some turkey and gobbling some dressing.
My aunt’s praising Palin and my niece loves Obama
My uncle came to dinner wearing his pajamas.”
And one more that doesn’t have the word thanks in it, but that describes me pretty well.
Todd Snider – Happy to be Here
“All of my neighbors are all up in arms
About something they saw on TV.
Seems some politician got busted for something
That won’t make any difference to me.
Now I’m sure it’s all true and I’m tired of this too
But I can’t pray for some guy to fall.
I say let all the people do what people do
I’m just happy to be here at all.”
What would you add to the list?
Finding the Connection October 18, 2011
Posted by Matt in random.Tags: connection to the universe, cubicles, My Morning Jacket, stormy day, work
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Thunder rolled over the city, growling and coughing like God trying to clear some celestial phlegm from his throat. It was soon joined by the rain, attacking the ground with machine gun ferocity, pounding away at the asphalt and the dirt over and over again, as the darkness of a cold October storm shrouded the land, leeching away any small bits of joy, extinguishing all hope, destroying the sanctity of sunshine.
And though I was spared the sight of the impending meteorological destruction of all happiness because of my mid-building cubicle, the one located along the main walkway where everyone strolls by and glances over with hopes of catching you looking at something illicit on the company computer, the melancholic mood permeated the building, infecting the workers like an unseen virus. Even my nondescript 8×8 cell in the midst of dozens of other cells felt the pall settling in the building. I sat, tapping away on the keyboard, creating meaningless report after meaningless report that will no doubt immediately end up in the recycling bin of everyone on the distribution list, as the almost daily feeling of my sanity slowly ebbing away began to take hold.
Feeling the need to escape, I slipped on my earbuds and pressed play on my beloved iPod. Soon the psychedelic sounds of My Morning Jacket and the unmistakable voice of Jim James exploded in my head, not pushing away the darkness, but embracing it, grabbing it about the waist and dancing with it.
Spinning out gracefully
Going nowhere quickly
I am older, day by day
Still going back to my childhood way
Circuital
Round and round patiently
Getting lost by the guide
And I am all worked up over nothing
Circuits all runnin’ out
Connect my body deep into the ground
Circuits connect the earth to the moon
And link our heavenly bodies
And not a moment too soon.
And I started to feel it, that connection. Despite the rain and clouds, the honking cars and incessant typing seeming to come from miles around, it was there, stretching out of my head and into the sky, a ribbon into the cosmos, running through the solar system to distant stars and beyond, until, until…
“Hey, Matt, what’s up?”
Coming out of my trance, I shook my head, breaking the connection and returning to earth. Looking up I saw it was the guy in the next cube, the one with the Elvis haircut and the picture of a Harley displayed prominently on his desk.
“Hey, man, not much. Just doing my work.”
“Hell of a storm.”
“Yeah, I could hear it.”
“But they say it’s supposed to be sunny and nice for the rest of the week.”
Suddenly I couldn’t help but smile, “Cool, man.”
“Yeah, cool.”
The Best of 2011 … So Far, Top Ten June 30, 2011
Posted by Matt in Best of 2011.Tags: Beastie Boys, Best of 2011, Bon Iver, Eddie Vedder, Fleet Foxes, Hayes Carll, music, My Morning Jacket, Raphael Saadiq, Thurston Moore, top ten, TV on the Radio, Yuck
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As I said in Tuesday’s honorable mention post, this year has been a great one for music. So, my list of the best in the first six months of this year continues today with the top ten. Enjoy.
10. Thurston Moore – Demolished Thoughts
While I have listened to Sonic Youth for many years, I had never quite felt the urge in indulge in side projects from the band. And though was no particular reason behind this bit of negligence, I pretty much ignored those works amid the glut of releases each year. Then my friend Lynn posted a tweet in which he called it the “best album of the year,” and I knew I had to check it out. Once again, I found that he and I were on the same page. If, like me, you are accustomed to the chaotic noise of Moore’s work with Sonic Youth, this Beck-produced collection of acoustic numbers by the elder statesman of alt-rock guitarists is a wonderful surprise. With strings a-plenty and lyrics bending to the abstract, this is a truly wonderful work. From his first words, “With benediction in her eyes / Our dearest gods are not surprised,” over a strummed guitar, it becomes clear that this is another stellar work from an amazing talent. Whether or not you like the experimental noise of Sonic Youth, this is something you should hear.
9. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
The Thoreaun legend behind Justin Vernon’s debut as Bon Iver, For Emma, Long Ago, was perhaps as intriguing as the simplistic and beautiful music contained therein, but it also left questions regarding his future as an artist and whether or not he would be able to duplicate the spellbinding efforts of his initial work. The simple, lone acoustic guitar has mostly been replaced by a talented band and a virtual cornucopia of sound and warm textures, yet Vernon’s remarkable and unmistakable falsetto, still aching, remains intact. Incredibly, despite adding so many pieces to the puzzle, Bon Iver is still a very intimate album, one that will hold your attention and stretch your emotions. “Holocene” (And at once I knew I was not magnificent / strayed above the highway aisle / jagged vacance, thick with ice / I could see for miles, miles, miles) is a stunning achievement in and of itself This is an album that will stick with you, even haunt you, long after you finish it and, really, what else can you ask from an artist?
8. Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’
At the risk of sounding like someone far beyond my years or mindset, they just don’t make music like they used to when it comes to soul and R&B, so there has long been a gap existing in the music community, waiting for some eager people full of that special, heart-wrenching spirit to fill. Last year hip-hop artist Cee-Lo stepped up, producing an album of incredibly fun tunes with a sound akin to a potty-mouthed Stevie Wonder. This year another artist who has been around for some time, Raphael Saadiq, is picking up the soulful baton and taking his own turn. Saadiq first came to prominence in the late 80’s-early 90’s R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone! (“Feels Good,” “If I Had No Loot”) and since then he has worked as a producer for other top-selling artists as well as creating his own acclaimed music, but this is the first solo work of his I have acquired. Needless to say, I’m hooked. Listening to Saadiq, I hear a huge Sly and the Family Stone influence, particularly on the opener “Heart Attack,” while other tracks seem to draw from the likes of Ray Charles and other greats of times past. Make sure and check out songs like “Over You” and the title track and I’m sure you’ll agree: this is old school soul at its best.
7. Yuck – Yuck
Having come of age in the 1990’s, it’s only natural that I would be a bit nostalgic for the music of that era, so it is refreshing to find artists whose vision of the past is similar to mine. Over the years, the results of this endeavor have varied wildly, but occasionally a band breaks through the ever-thickening shroud of time and channels the energy of that fondly recalled time with such flair that you feel as though you’ve stepped into a flannel-covered time machine. Yuck, despite their name, is one of those wonderful memory-laden bands, their loud and fuzzy guitars eliciting a sense of euphoria rarely felt any longer. If Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus had a child who was then raised by J Mascis, it would sound like Yuck. It opens with “Get Away,” and a guitar that sounds as though it’s being played through a wall of white noise and the repeated intonation to “Tell me when the pain kicks in.” From that point on, the band rolls through a grunge litany long thought extinct, from the lovely “Georgia” to the distortion-filled “Operation,” making us believe again that stalwart indifference may be the answer to all of life’s questions.
6. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2
The Beasties have been doing this a long time and, after listening to their latest release, it’s obvious that there is still plenty of gas left in the proverbial tank. Originally set to be a two part album, Hot Sauce Committee, Part 1 was to be released two years ago, but after Ad-Rock’s cancer diagnosis, his bandmates (Mike D and MCA) put the project on hold until his treatment was complete. With a joking nod, they kept with the original release schedule and entitled their latest Part 2. Hot Sauce is full of the old school jams you would expect from the band, with record scratching, loads of samples, and those long familiar voices belting out song after song of danceable fun. Album opener “Make Some Noise” is a joyful blast from the past, with both the best music video in years and a great nod to their 25 year old hit, “Fight for Your Right to Party.” Their collaboration with rapper Nas on “Too Many Rappers” shines as well, and even though they acknowledge their veteran status, “Grandpa been rappin’ since ’83,” they more than hold their own and show once again that they are and have always been a force to be reckoned with in the rap community. With another eye on their pre-Party, punk rock past, the Boys blast through “Lee Majors Come Around” with a ferocity that belies their age. The Beasties are just pure, rocking fun. Turn up the volume and, as they would say, it’s time to get ill!
5. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)
I had never heard of Hayes Carll before I caught him opening for the Drive-By Truckers a couple of years ago and, though I enjoyed his short set of country-tinged rock, particularly the irreverent fun of “She Left Me For Jesus,” it wasn’t until this album that I purchased any of his work and I was instantly hooked. Carll is a smart songwriter who reminds me at more serious times of a young Steve Earle and at more playful times of Todd Snider. His boozy vocals complement the bar band music perfectly, creating a sound that would be at home in a smoky honkytonk, but infused with originality and intelligence that belie that sort of lowly presentation. His one liners (I’m like James Brown, only white and taller / And all I wanna do is stomp and holler) will make you chuckle out loud while unconsciously moving to the catchy brand of southern rock. “Grand Parade” is a bit of light, summer fun, while the rocking title track tells a story of the Afghanistan war and drugs, but it is the funny back-and-forth wordplay of Carll and Cary Ann Hearst in, “Another Like You,” that takes the prize as the most memorable song. The two meet in a bar and begin an insult-laden conversation that runs from politics (Her: Well, you’re probably a Democrat / Him: What the hell is wrong with that? / Her: Nothing if you’re Taliban) to personal barbs (Him: I bet you slept with half the South / Her: Don’t you ever shut your mouth? / Him: How much did you pay for that tan?), before they finally leave together. Overall the album is a lot of fun and one of the most played ones on my iPod from this year.
4. My Morning Jacket – Circuitous
Over the past ten years, there have been a number of bands that have entered and become fully planted in my consciousness, so much so that I wait with great anticipation for every release and passionately yearn for them to visit our city. There are those like the Drive-By Truckers who I have seen numerous times and then there is a band like My Morning Jacket, who I follow religiously but have somehow has never made their way to Memphis. Their latest release, Circuitous, is another stellar release, complete with their trademark hazy, reverb-drenched sound and a bunch of excellent songs from Jim James and the boys. Following the incredible Z and the psychotropic freak out of Evil Urges, which I loved even more, MMJ fans wondered about the direction in which the band was headed. Would they return to their earlier sound or continue down the rainbow hued path to the always-elusive hallucinatory nirvana? Well, the answer is somewhere in the middle and this may be just as good, if not better, than either of those releases. The trippy seven minute “Circuital” (Circuits / Connect the Earth to the moon / And link our heavenly bodies / Not a moment too soon) is a must hear, as is the wonderfully weird “Holdin’ on to Black Metal” (Oh black metal, so misunderstood / Don’t turn yourself into Lucifer’s fool), but it is the carefree joy over somber tones of “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)” (I’m going where there ain’t no fear / I’m going where the spirit is near / I’m going where the living is easy / And the people are kind / A new state of mind), that for the moment is my favorite cut on the album. It’s really a great work all around and I wholeheartedly endorse it.
3. Fleet Foxes – Hopelessness Blues
The 2008 debut album from Fleet Foxes was a pleasant surprise with its Crosby, Stills & Nash style folk harmonies over acoustic guitars, and songs that lent a natural feeling of forest-covered hills and bubbling brooks, of a quiet sunrise in a gentle meadow. But, despite the success of their first release, there were some questions over how the band would proceed with their career, and whether or not they would suffer that inevitable problem of popular music acts – the sophomore slump. After one listen, though, all doubts were put to rest. The music is hypnotic and beautiful with just enough tweaks to the formula of their first album to keep their creations interesting. “Montezuma” starts the work off with a melancholic fingerpicked guitar, followed by ___’s words, “So now I am older than my mother and father / When they had their daughter / Now what does that say about me,” his voice filled with yearning and feelings of youth lost as he continues the nostalgic and sad litany, “Oh man that I used to be / Oh man, oh my, oh me.” There is an interesting dichotomy at work in the Fleet Foxes, with their simplistic music against complex lyrical themes that I find fascinating and ultimately wonderful. In the title track, he offers up incredibly deep and penetrating stanzas like, “I was raised up believing I was somehow unique / Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see / And now after some thinking, I’d say I’d rather be / A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me.” This is an album full of difficult themes, and one that certainly won’t appeal to everyone, but to those who do put forth the effort, it is a veritable treasure trove.
2. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
First off, I must admit that I’m a bit of a late comer to TV on the Radio. Sure, I had heard some of their stuff in the past, but had never been moved enough to reach out and grab any of their albums. But the overwhelming positive reaction to the band was more than I could hold out on any longer and I grabbed a copy of Nine Types of Light soon after it came out. Needless to say, it was a great decision. This genre-hopping outfit is not easily defined, but that fluidity is perhaps their greatest asset as they effortlessly flit between soul to the sound of early 80’s post-punk to jazzy excursions, from electronic bleeps to distorted guitars, mixing it all together into a glorious whole, turning chaos into a sublime experience. You can feel the heartbreak in songs like “You,” where Tunde Adebimpe sings “You gave no reason for letting go / I just thought you might like to know / You’re the only one I ever loved,” and then the hopes for reconciliation in “Will Do,” (But I’ll be there to take care of you / If ever you should decide / That you don’t want to waste your life / In the middle of a lovesick lullaby). It’s a very personal work and one that requires several listens to fully appreciate, but once it reels you in there is no escape and that’s really the best thing you can ever hope for with an album.
1. Eddie Vedder – Ukelele Songs
I could easily cajole you once again with stories of my long-standing love for all things Pearl Jam, of the times I’ve seen them and frontman Eddie Vedder in concert and of the extensive collection of their releases I keep on file in my iPod, but perhaps the best thing I could do with this latest addition to one of rock music’s greatest catalogues is to tell you to leave your worries and cares at the door and just listen. Much like his solo work on the Into The Wild soundtrack or on recent Pearl Jam songs like the heart-wrenching “Just Breath,” Eddie strips away the noise and opens a door straight to his soul, using little but his unmistakable voice filled with yearning and loss and love and a lone, unlikely instrument – the ukulele. The simple beauty of each and every song will squeeze your heart, bring a smile to your face and maybe even a tear to your eye. Of all the iterations of Eddie Vedder that I’ve followed across the years – from his early days as a spokesman of the disaffected grunge rock youth, to his anti-corporate stands, to his political diatribes – today’s may be my favorite. There is something quite special about watching a man finally come into his own after years of fighting and discover contentedness, to find love and hope and beauty in life. The muted strums that open his version of Pearl Jam’s “Can’t Keep,” kickstart the album with a burst of energy that it rarely reaches again, and that’s a good thing. It’s the loveliness of “Without You” (For every wish I hold a star / That goes old and sets in the dark / There is a dream I’ve dreamt about you), the forlorn “Goodbye” (I’ve got our love to remember / That will never change / I have you in my head / And though I’ll never hold you / And I’m still asking why / I guess that this is goodbye), and the playful duet with Cat Power “Tonight You Belong to Me” (Yes, the song from The Jerk), that make this my favorite album so far this year. It’s an offbeat, moving, and utterly beautiful masterpiece from one of the greatest artists of our generation.
Thoughts?
Free Music Friday: My Morning Jacket June 3, 2011
Posted by Matt in free music friday.Tags: Circuital, live video, My Morning Jacket
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Given the release of Eddie Vedder’s excellent solo work, I was nearly guilty of allowing the newest album from one of my favorite recent bands, My Morning Jacket, to slip through the cracks. This killer piece of hazy, heavily reverbed, 70′s-style psychedelia should not be missed though. Check out the title track “Circuital.” Enjoy.
Ten for Tuesday: 2005 August 3, 2010
Posted by Matt in top ten.Tags: 2005, Beck, Bright Eyes, Gorillaz, Kanye West, music, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, the new pornographers, The White Stripes, top ten
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Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken trips in our top ten time machine to 1980, 1990, and 2000. Today we will be taking a short hop to five years ago, 2005. In ’05, I was 28 years old, we had been living in the Memphis area for a year, and our second child was born. Needless to say, it was a busy and exciting time. There was also a great deal of excellent music and movies being released and that is what we will look at today.
Top 10 Albums of 2005
10. The Decemberists – Picaresque
Picaresque was my introduction to The Decemberists, a Portland-based indie band known for its use of unusual instruments and hyper-literate lyrics. I was quickly taken by their lush arrangements and Collin Meloy’s storytelling, particularly on great songs like “We Both Go Down Together” and “16 Military Wives.”
9. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
This was around the time that I first became aware of one of The New Pornographers, one of indie rock’s great supergroups, and soon their brand of power-pop drew me in. The combination of Dan Bejar, AC Newman, Neko Case (one of my personal favorites) and others is a winning one on this fantastic collection.
8. Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
I can understand how Conor Oberst’s earnest, quavering voice rubs some people the wrong way, but I’m certainly not one of them. To me he exudes confusion and doubt in way that seems so real and normal.
7. Beck – Guero
I’ve been a huge fan of Beck since his breakthrough back in the 90’s and over the years I’ve collected all of his albums. While this one is not his best (a distinction that goes to either Odelay or Sea Change), it is a nice swerve back to the “two turntables and a microphone” style of alternative dance-rock, complete with random Spanish phrases and great beats, that he popularized a decade earlier.
6. Gorillaz – Demon Days
It was an interesting concept to say the least when Damon Albarn from the band Blur teamed with cartoonist Jamie Hewlett to form a new sort of project, one involving an animated alternative rock/hip-hop act, but it was this incredible second release, with unavoidable hits like “Feel Good, Inc.” and “Dirty Harry,” that they truly became a force to be reckoned with.
5. Spoon – Gimme Fiction
For 15 years, the Austin-based band Spoon has lurked just below the level of stardom, slowly building up their name and garnering attention without ever truly breaking through to the big time. Gimme Fiction shows the band doing what they do best, creating great danceable alternative rock numbers like “I Turn my Camera On” and “My Mathematical Mind” for their growing legion of fans.
4. The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan
The duo of Jack and Meg White were on top of the world at this time following the hugely successful lo-fi albums White Blood Cells and Elephant, but with Get Behind Me Satan, they decided to swerve from the blues-rock path they were blazing. Their more experimental style may have confounded some, but I loved it, particularly on great songs like “My Doorbell” and “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet).”
3. My Morning Jacket – Z
I was first introduced to MMJ’s spacey, retro-70’s style on the incredible album preceding this one, It Still Moves, but I think I can safely say that I believe Z is even better. Jim James’ band is on fire this time around, employing their Southern sensibilities through a psychedelic haze to produce a truly great work. Check out songs like “Gideon” and “Off the Record” and you’ll agree.
2. Kanye West – Registration
Back before he was a headline-grabbing bad guy, interrupting the acceptance speeches of teenage award winners, Kanye West was one of the most important forces in hip-hop and this is probably his masterpiece. How can you not like “Gold Digger” and “Diamonds from Sierra Leone?”
1. Sufjan Stevens
Illinois marked the second in Sufjan Stevens’ now seemingly-stalled 50 state series of albums, but this work is so incredible, so varied and interesting, that it seems almost impossible to top. Stevens employs a childlike uncertainty to his vocals against a lush instrumental background to tell stories from the great state, including songs like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.,” “Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Step-Mother!,” and “Chicago.” This is a must-have from 2005.
Thoughts?
Best of the Decade – Music Artists February 9, 2010
Posted by Matt in Top 100 of the Decade.Tags: 2000s, Arcade Fire, Beck, Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, drive-by truckers, Green Day, Interpol, Jay-Z, Johnny Cash, josh ritter, Kanye West, Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, neko case, Outkast, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Ryan Adams, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys, The Decemberists, The Flaming Lips, The Hold Steady, The White Stripes, top artists of the decade, Wilco
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Over the past few months we’ve taken a look at the music from the past decade in my ranking of the top 100 albums released during that time period. To arrive at this list, I considered more than 400 releases from those ten years, the majority of which I actually own. But, this undertaking led me to yet another question – if these are the top albums, who are the top artists? So, using these 400 albums and my rankings as a guide, I have compiled a listing of my 30 top artists of the time period stretching from 2000-2009. Let me know what you think.
30. Bright Eyes – Between his solo work and that with Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst is one of the most prolific artists on my list. Though he can be a bit over-earnest at times, I’m still a big fan of his unsure, wavering voice.
Notable Albums: Lifted or The Story is in the Soul, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002), Digital Ash in a Digital Urn (2005), Cassadega (2007)
29. The Avett Brothers – I became an instant fan of The Avett Brothers after hearing 2007’s alt-grass classic Emotionalism, a feeling which has only grown stronger through 2009’s piano ballad-driven I and Love and You.
Notable Albums: Mignonette (2004), Emotionalism (2007), I and Love and You (2009)
28. Modest Mouse – Modest Mouse had been around in indie rock circles for several years, but it was 2004’s unavoidable catchy “Float On” that propelled them to stardom.
Notable Albums: The Moon & Antarctica (2000), Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004), We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007)
27. Interpol – Downbeat and depressing, Interpol brought back everything that was good about the early 80’s post-punk movement.
Notable Albums: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), Antics (2004), Our Love to Admire (2007)
26. Ryan Adams – Another prolific artist, Adams released the equivalent of 10 studio albums over the past decade. Though most of his work is hit and miss, when he is on, he’s among the best working today.
Notable Albums: Heartbreaker (2000), Gold (2001), Love is Hell (2004), Easy Tiger (2007)
25. Johnny Cash – The Man in Black may have passed away in 2002, but that didn’t stop him from being among the highest rated artists of the decade. His final series of works with Rick Rubin are some of the most poignant to be found anywhere.
Notable Albums: American III: Solitary Man (2000), American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002), American V: A Hundred Highways (2006)
24. Jay-Z – There are few hip-hop artists who reach stardom that continue produce top-notch albums. Though Jay-Z has had his fair share of misses, he continues to be one of the best in the game.
Notable Albums: The Blueprint (2001), The Black Album (2003)
23. Neko Case – I fell in love with Neko Case’s soaring voice following her stellar ’06 release, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, and she has yet to disappoint me.
Notable Albums: Blacklisted (2002), Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006), Middle Cyclone (2009)
22. Arcade Fire – With a huge sound and a big Springsteen influence, Canada’s Arcade Fire burst onto the scene in a big way with their 2004 debut Funeral. They have a great deal of energy and passion that translates well in their stadium-ready songs.
Notable Albums: Funeral (2004), Neon Bible (2007)
21. Wilco – Though 2002’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot may be the creative pinnacle of their career thus far, in my opinion, the 1990’s were a far better decade overall for Jeff Tweedy’s band. Nevertheless, they did produce some enjoyable and inventive fare over the past ten years.
Notable Albums: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002), Sky Blue Sky (2007), Wilco (The Album) (2009)
20. The Decemberists – As I have mentioned in the past, there is probably no success story that is more unlikely than that of The Decemberists, with their obscure lyrical references and use of uncommon instruments (accordions, Wurlitzer organs, etc.).
Notable Albums: Picaresque (2005), The Crane Wife (2006), The Hazards of Love (2009)
19. Outkast – Given the fact that they have released two of the all-time quintessential hip hop albums over the past ten years, I wanted to place Big Boi and Andre 3000 higher then this. But, their lack of quality output since 2003’s double album extravaganza hurt them in the long run.
Notable Albums: Stankonia (2000), Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
18. The Flaming Lips – Trippy and weird, these Oklahomans have been cranking out alt-rock oddities for more than two decades. The past decade from the Lips brought us pink robots, politics, and a penchant for sonic insanity. Really, what else do you need?
Notable Albums: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2000), At War with the Mystics (2006), Embryonic (2009)
17. The Black Keys – This is down and dirty blues-rock done right – by a couple of hippy-ish white guys from Akron, Ohio. The Keys have put together work after work of irresistible riff-rock that needs to be heard.
Notable albums: Thickfreakness (2003), Rubber Factory 92004), Attack & Release (2008)
16. Coldplay – Sure, their sound may be a bit contrived and safe, but this band, which is certainly among the most popular groups of the decade, know how to make stadium-ready rock.
Notable albums: Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
15. Kanye West – With the kind of talent Kanye has who cares if he’s not a nice guy. If there is a single hip hop artist to be identified with this decade, it must be him. He is creative, fun, and a definite risk-taker across all four of his excellent releases.
Notable Albums: The College Dropout (2004), Late Registration (2005), 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
14. The Hold Steady – The band once proclaimed to be the “best bar band in America” has become one of the best bands period in America. Openly wielding a love for Springsteen, the band tears through song after song about the dead end people and towns.
Notable Albums: Separation Sunday (2005), Boys and Girls in America (2005), Stay Positive (2008)
13. Bob Dylan – Dylan’s career resurgence following 1997’s Time Out of Mind carried through the first decade of the millennium, a time in which his releases went from incredible to strange (whoever guessed we’d have Dylan Christmas album?), but never boring.
Notable Albums: Love & Theft (2001), Modern Times (2006), Together Through Life (2009)
12. Kings of Leon – KoL began the decade as little-known Southern rockers, the sons of a Tennessee preacher, and ended it as one of the biggest bands in America.
Notable Albums: Youth and Young Manhood (2003), Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004), Only By Night (2008)
11. Beck – Eschewing his “two turntables and a microphone” persona, alternative rock’s Dylan began the decade with a sad and darn near perfect collection of acoustic laments before carrying on with a return to the fun-loving and danceable tunes that propelled him to stardom in the 90’s.
Notable Albums: Sea Change (2002), The Information (2006), Modern Guilty (2008)
10. Sufjan Stevens – Earnest and uncertain, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens chose to do things his way over the past decade, releasing entire albums devoted to the states of Michigan and Illinois, producing a collection of Christmas EPs and wearing his spiritual side on his sleeve.
Notable Albums: Greetings from Michigan (2003), Seven Swans (2004), Illinois (2005)
9. Pearl Jam – The majority of Pearl Jam’s releases this decade were good, but lacking a bit when compared to their work from the 1990’s – or course, that was prior to 2009’s Backspacer, which ranked as one of my very favorite albums of the entire decade.
Notable Albums: Binaural (2000), Riot Act (2002), Backspacer (2009)
8. Green Day – This decade marked the evolution of Green Day from juvenile pop-punkers to worldwide fame and renown. Their newfound maturity and political themes turned Billy Joe’s band into one of the most important ones in America today.
Notable Albums: American Idiot (2004), 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
7. Spoon – Though Spoon had been around in the 90’s, it was not until the early 2000’s that I came in contact with their infectious, danceable tunes and I loved it. There are few bands that have been as consistently good as Spoon over the past 10 years.
Notable Albums: Kill the Moonlight (2002), Girls Can Tell (2001), Gimme Fiction (2005)
6. My Morning Jacket – Jim James’ band burst through their reverb-soaked haze early in the decade to claim a piece of the 2000’s Southern rock crown. Though their sound can veer from Neil Young to Prince, the overall product is a distinctly Southern one and not to be missed.
Notable Albums: It Still Moves (2003), Z (2005), Evil Urges (2008)
5. Josh Ritter – Ritter is quite possibly the best songwriter of my generation, and that’s really saying something. He could be the next Springsteen or the next Dylan, or maybe sometime in the future we’ll be calling another young singer-songwriter the next Ritter.
Notable Albums: Hello Starling (2003), The Animal Years (2006), The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)
4. Drive-By Truckers – There are few artists that I have followed as intently over the past ten years as DBT. There is just something about their stories of the dark side of the South that I find appealing and they have a killer live show.
Notable Albums: Southern Rock Opera (2001), Decoration Day (2003), Brighter than Creation’s Dark (2008)
3. Radiohead – If my generation has an answer to The Beatles, it is Radiohead. Thom Yorke’s band has continually pushed boundaries for the past 15 years and, in so doing, have produced some of the most creative and incredible pieces of work to be found in the music business today.
Notable Albums: Kid A (2000), Hail to the Thief (2003), In Rainbows (2007)
2. The White Stripes – I’m an unabashed worshipper of the power of Jack White and his guitar. The guy can pull incredible solos out of nowhere and make them look easy. This duo’s five albums of blues-rock are among the best of anybody for the entire decade.
Notable Albums: White Blood Cells (2001), Elephant (2003), Icky Thump (2007)
1. Bruce Springsteen – Who cares if the Boss topped 60 last year? The guy can still bring it like no other. The 2000’s have proven to be his most fruitful time since the early-mid ‘80’s, with 5 great albums released over the course of ten years. All hail the Boss, he’s still the man!
Notable Albums: The Rising (2002), Magic (2007), Working on a Dream (2009)
Best of the Decade – Music Edition (11-20) January 26, 2010
Posted by Matt in Top 100 of the Decade.Tags: 2000s, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, drive-by truckers, music, My Morning Jacket, neko case, The Flaming Lips, The Hold Steady, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Top 100 of the Decade
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We’ve almost completed are look back at the top 100 music releases of the past decade and today we will pick up with those ranked 11-20, leaving only the top ten for later.. In case you missed the previous entries, you can access them through the following links:
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
20. My Morning Jacket – Z (2005)
With Z, Jim James’ band reached a pinnacle of artistry to which many aspire, but few succeed. This time MMJ uses plentiful synthesizers and their normal southern fried brand of trippy rock, to create a bona fide masterpiece. The band channels the spirit of Neil Young in a haze of smoke and bourbon (I mean, they are from Kentucky) to near perfection. Check out songs like “Gideon” and “Lay Low” for just a taste and then listen to the whole thing.
19. Bob Dylan – Modern Times (2006)
Dylan’s remarkable career renaissance over the past decade probably reached its pinnacle with this great work (though a case could certainly be made for Love & Theft as well). Well into his 60’s, Dylan came out firing on this album and no doubt taught some of those young people dominating the charts a thing or two about respecting their elders. He rocks on songs like “Thunder on the Mountain,” croons on “Spirit on the Water,” and makes a timely political statement with “Workingman’s Blues #2,” all the while channeling his inner bluesman, jazzman and folk-rock star. It’s truly an amazing piece of work.
18. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (2008)
The “best bar band in America” may have first hit their stride with 2006’s “Boys and Girls in America,” but this is the release that propelled them to the forefront for me. I ranked this as the top album of 2008 for a reason – it is great. The line, “Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer. / I think he might have been our only decent teacher,” is perhaps the most descriptive way to describe their work, which, in my mind, sound like a young Springsteen fronting the Clash. Process that for a moment and you’ll realize just how awesome they are. Listen to “Constructive Summer,” “Sequestered in Memphis,” and the beautiful downer, “Lord, I’m Discouraged.” You won’t be disappointed.
17. The Strokes – Is This It (2001)
Is This It set the world on fire back in 2001, bringing about a sort of garage rock revival that helped form the state of music for the rest of the decade. It’s groovy and danceable and as much fun as your going to have with any release on this list. They have earned their place in the modern canon of greats. Just listen to “Soma,” “Barely Legal,” and “Someday,” and you’ll agree.
16. The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)
A lush and strange album revolving around a nebulous and no doubt metaphorical story of a young girl named Yoshimi, who happens to be a black belt in karate, that fights off an invasion of pink robots. This is proof positive that hallucinogens can make for some great music. Yoshimi is a mind-blowing work that must be listened to carefully and probably at high volumes to truly grasp and let it carry you away. Check out “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1” and “Do You Realize??.”
15. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (2006)
Amy Winehouse is the neighborhood bad girl, the one that every guy wants to take out, but none of them want to take home to meet their mother. She’s brash and vulgar and soulful like no white girl from Britain should be. In case you ever wonder what the big deal is about her, just put on this album and you will understand. I sometimes think of her as the anti-Norah Jones, the kind of artist you will never hear on an elevator. From the somewhat prophetic, “Rehab,” to “You Know that I’m No Good,” to “Back to Black,” this release shines and stands apart from all others.
14. Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream (2009)
Let us all hope that The Boss never slows down. The guy is 60 years old and still on top of the world as one of the most beloved artists to ever grace the stage. I saw him earlier this year while on tour for this album and let me tell you, the guy still brings it like no other. The album is superb and, along with the preceding release Magic, the best works he’s done since Born in the USA. This optimistic album kicks off with the incredible 8 minute epic “Outlaw Pete” and never lets up. The songs, “Queen of the Supermarket” and “Kingdom of Days” are also must-haves, but truly there is not one bad song on the whole album.
13. Neko Case – Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006)
This album marks the moment that I first fell in love Neko Case’s soaring, beautiful voice and when I first downloaded this back in 2006 I rarely went a day without listening to it. I tend to think of her work as having a southern gothic sort of sound, as if there is always something dark and sinister lurking beneath the surface of her powerful and aching vocals. Among my favorite tracks on the album are “Star Witness,” “Hold On, Hold On,” and “That Teenage Feeling,” but the entire thing is excellent.
12. Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera (2001)
Nobody probes the dark side of Southern life like DBT and nowhere do they do it better than on this sprawling double album. Though it may be true that there is some filler contained in its 94 minutes, when the Truckers are on, they are among the best. This throwback to decades before is not only a double album, but also a concept album that tells parallel stories of the rise and demise of Lynyrd Sknynyrd and of growing up in the 1970’s South. Frontman Patterson Hood sings of “the duality of the Southern Thing,” both rejoicing in his love for the land below the Mason Dixon and recognizing its many faults and the evils perpetuated there. You need really need to hear “Zip City,” “The Southern Thing,” and “Let There be Rock,” then grab the entire work.
11. The White Stripes – White Blood Cells (2001)
Jack and Meg White constitute what may be the greatest music act of the entire decade, something that is certainly apparent on this 2001 release. This amalgamation of blues, country, and a do-it-yourself punk-garage rock attitude blasted the duo into the stratosphere and put Jack on a well-deserved guitar god pedestal. Check out “Fell in Love with a Girl,” “Hotel Yorba,” and “Offend in Every Way,” and turn it up to an ear-splitting volume.
