AWmusic

So this mix album by Simian Mobile Disco came out a few months ago. Sorry, the timing of this post is neither early nor late enough to be cool but hopefully there are a few of you out there riding the slow train with me. I actually haven’t listened to any of their other mix compilations but I loved the Jameses’ work in both Simian Mobile Disco and Simian so I had pretty high hopes for FabricLive41.

The album is solid overall. Smooth transitions, decent content … but I feel like there’s a dip in quality around the middle. There’s only two tracks actually by Simian Mobile Disco on the album. One of them is awesomely addictive track #3, Simple. It’s very repetitive but I could listen to it on loop all day. It’s followed by another strong track, a remix of Hercules and Love Affair’s Blind. The original song is already pretty good but the remixed version makes it sound all eerie and ultimately more interesting. I’m usually ADD-ish and can’t listen to anything longer than four minutes but I’m sad to hear this one end after six and a half.

The next few tracks are alright but nothing to write home about. The low hits around #10 with Crack El. Even then, it’s not terrible – just kind of generic. The biggest disappointment of the album is the other Simian Mobile Disco track, Sleep Deprivation mixed by Simon Baker. Sleep Deprivation is probably my favourite track off Attack Decay Sustain Release. It has a wonderful buildup, rhythm, peak, ending, you name it – I love everything. The remixed version sucks because … well, it sounds nothing like the original. And I don’t mean they don’t sound the same – I hate remixes that sound like the original, what’s the point? To slap your name on something? But the Simon Baker remix of Sleep Deprivation is not even recognizable. I’ve probably listened to the original five dozen times by now and even then, I was like “what the hell is this?” and I don’t think that’s just my tone deafness talking.

But the end of the album picks up again. I especially like track #19, Pitch Control by Moebius Plank Neumeier. The beginning reminds me of the bizzaro-world version of a Battles song, sweet.

4/5

Simian Mobile Disco – Simple
Moebius Plank Neumeier – Pitch Control

I did hate uploading tracks though and the linking stuff (takes forever). I also had to re-upload some tracks after annoying my friend Jack with bandwidth usage. Look out for the rest tomorrow.

50. A Girl in Port by Okkervil River
49. Shirin by Jens Lekman (link)
48. I Know I’ll See You by A Place To Bury Strangers (link)
47. For Science Fiction by Maritime (link)
46. Freak Out by Liars (link)
45. Phantom by Justice (link)
44. Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco
43. Take Me To the Ballroom by the Moonbabies
42. Tthhee Ppaarrttyy by Justice (link)
41. Myriad Harbour by The New Pornographers (link)
40. Objects of My Affection by Peter, Bjorn and John
39. Blue Headlights by The Shout Out Louds (link)
38. No I in Threesome by Interpol
37. My Moon, My Man by Feist
36. Kookaburra by John Vanderslice
35. Paper Birds by Siberian (link)
34. Make A Plan To Love Me by the Bright Eyes
33. Philadelphia Grand Jury by the Fiery Furnaces
32. I Believe by Simian Mobile Disco
31. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon
30. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You by the Black Kids
29. You Can’t Hold the Hand of the Rock and Roll Man by Okkervil River
28. Airship by Siberian (link)
27. Turn On Me by The Shins (link)
26. White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes (link)

Click->>> For Top Albums of ’07: #10-1<-----------

#20 Feist – The Reminder
Original Rating: 5/5
This album was on rotation for about two weeks then I just totally forgot about it. I personally didn’t like “The Reminder” as much as her previous effort “Let It Die”. Feist has seen some mainstream success with that iPod commercial but I still love her.
I Feel It All by Feist

#19 BSS Presents Kevin Drew – Spirit If…
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Was this effort a little bit like Broken Social Scene and didn’t really distinguish Kevin Drew as a solo artist? Sure but who cares?! Still a great album and if it’s being compared to BSS you know it’s good. This album usually doesn’t come to mind when thinking of the top albums of 2007 but after going back to it…I have to agree with myself…lol
Gang Bang Suicide by Kevin Drew

#18. Justice – Cross (too lazy to find the cross image)
Original Score: 4.75 out of 5
This album just makes me want to dance. Annoying at times but overall something different than what I would normally listen to. I almost didn’t even bother to try to check out Justice but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Let There Be Light by Justice

#17 Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release
Original Score: Forgot (Should be 4.75 out of 5)
Simian Mobile Disco are basically tied in my book when it comes to the score. The tie-breaker may be that I like SMD a little more as it suits what I look in a electronic bands. To think this liking to SMD started with that Hustler video with girls making out. This album makes me want to dance or go on drugs. Either way I feel like I’d be having a good time putting on this record.
Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco

#16 Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
To be perfectly honest I barely gave this album ANY time before and after reviewing it. One thing for sure though, it didn’t need any effort to begin liking. It probably doesn’t get any higher on this list for being rather simple and I’d agree that artistically it probably doesn’t have the same quality as those ahead of it. To me anyway this album has one of the better first halves of an album then any other album of 2007. The second half was decent but it’s hard to match up to Don’t Make Me A Target, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb and Rhthm and Soul.
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon

#15 The National – Boxer
Original Score: 4 out of 5
It felt like forever when I originally tried to listen to “Boxer” and had such a tough time and I finally reviewed it after struggling with it for a few months. “Boxer” is definitely a grower and you will have to give a LOT of time I would say before it creeps up on you and reels you in. If you asked me when I did the review the only two songs I liked were “Mistaken For Strangers” and “Start A War” you can probably add most of the album now. If it was the perfect album it wouldn’t be called a “grower” and it takes my 15 spot.
Apartment Story by The National

#14 Josh Ritter – Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
This album was easy to like from the beginning. I seem to have an affinity for folk songs that I never knew I had and despite I find this album rather “simplistic” compared to the other albums on here, it’s overall just great music and something that had more playing time then The National and Spoon and thus the higher ranking.
To The Dogs or Whoever by Josh Ritter

#13 Arctic Monkeys -Favourite Worst Nightmare
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This is another one that I barely recall giving a lot of effort in listening and critiquing (you could probably tell with the sub-par review). I go back to this album once in awhile but I find myself intrigued more by their previous effort “Whatever People Say I am…”. Very solid everywhere and produced one of my favorite songs of the year “Fluorescent Adolescent”.
Fluorescent Adolescent by The Arctic Monkeys

#12 Moonbabies – Moonbabies At the Ballroom
Original Rating: 5 out of 5
I remember listening to this album for a good month straight earlier this year. I sure do love “dream pop”. The Moonbabies probably won’t be on many other lists this year but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out their album. I just haven’t seen a ton of exposure but from top to bottom this album had me singing along. I actually haven’t seen one entirely bad review for this album…but who knows why? If you have similar tastes as I do then you will like this album.
Take Me To The Ballroom by The Moonbabies
Cocobelle by The Moonbabies

#11 The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The Shins were already one of my favorite bands before they released Wincing The Night Away. I was a fan of indie rock but I didn’t pursue it like I do now. I’m scared to read my review in March because it is so long ago and I arguably was not the same blogger as I am now. Anyway is this album as good as their previous works? No but this album is solid top to bottom and I’m not complaining. This album I believe really appeases already Shins fans without going “too” mainstream and they have become a very popular band now. I’m having trouble picking a song right now that would be called my favorite…too many to choose from. I feel kind of “iffy” putting this just outside my top 10 (it was originally but Okkervil River booted them out).
Turn On Me by The Shins
Red Rabbits by The Shins

Look Out for #10-#1 either tomorrow or Thursday

I have tried listening to albums this year that were highly praised by critics like Battles’ Mirrored and LCD Soundsystem’s Sounds of Silver. Both were not to my taste and I have to say that I enjoy listening to “Attack Decay Sustain Release”.

There are some great dance tracks and some good beats with the occasional song on the album filled with vocals. The music video which I displayed for “Hustler” which a group of girls kissing was also great.

I really dug this album and while I believe it’s not getting as good of reviews as it should and people shouldn’t be worried about it not being “complex” when it comes to electronic music. Some great songs on here.

Check out the first track Sleep Deprivation and the video for arguably one of the better songs on the album “I believe”:

Sleep Deprivation (download)

The album I want the most on when releases come up on September 11th is the band in the picture, the Shout Out Louds. I loved Howl Howlf Gaff Gaff and I expect bigger things from them. It was produced by Bjorn of Peter, Bjorn and John and while they generally have depressing songs theyre song are all catchy and they have “the Cure” type of feeling when I listen to them. Our Ill Wills is an album I am definitely buying.

There first single was “Tonight I have to Leave It”. They had a very good track featuring the Essex Green a band I have liked a few songs by.

Check it out:

Streams of Whiskey.mp3 Shout Out Louds Featuring The Essex Green

Another album worth checking out is Hot Hot Heat’s Happiness Limited. I am hoping we don’t have songs that are too depressing but I doubt that from the title.The 50 cent vs Kanye West was stupid but I expect Kanye to come out of it the winner for putting on better raps. I’ve grown tired of 50 cent that he annoys me now.

Ani DiFranco’s greatest hits may be also worth checking out including Simian Mobile Disco who have heard songs from. Simian Mobile Disco’s music video for Hustler is awesome: