AWmusic

Set It Off by Girl Talk
Hands In The Air by Girl Talk

#19 Portishead – Third
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I probably would’ve left this off my top 20 but the other writers have spoken. I was unsure about this album, I think it was going to an album I would forget and not listen to and that’s exactly what happened. Beth Gibbons has an amazing voice and Machine Gun will be on the best tracks of the year. I still feel like this album is a bit hit or miss, it’s definitely unique and stands on its own so there is merit to having it included in the top albums of the year discussion, I just happen to be one who disagrees that some of the music doesn’t work quite as well.
Machine Gun by Portishead
#18 Cut Copy – In Ghosts Colours
Rating: 4 out of 5
If you looked at previous scores, you’ll realize that 4 out of 5 is on the low side compared to other albums. I’ve got a good explanation. At first I wasn’t as impressed as many of my fellow bloggers and various other critics. I think this album takes time to grow and reach it’s full potential and this was 4 months or so after the initial review. It’s kind of hard to believe an electro album as a grower but In Ghost Colours is exactly that, there’s much to absorb in the initial listens and attention is diverted from the great moments at first. Top to bottom though this is a great album and I’m willing to admit my mistake.
Far Away by Cut Copy
Unforgettable Season by Cut Copy
#17 Pomegranates – Everything Is Alive
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In my original review, I went on a rant on how people are scared of the word “Emo” and are willing to dismiss it off the bat. The Pomegranates aren’t full on emo but emotive indie rock would be a proper term to classify their music. With two lead singers they have arguably one of the better balances in indie, despite not many people hearing as much about them. I’ve seen some of the WORST reviews given to this band (not exactly bad reviews but actually poorly written ones). With a mix of keys and awesome guitar work, this album is definitely deserving of whatever praise its given despite being under the radar. This album is just way too good not to include it on this list.
In The Kitchen by Pomegranates
Appreciations by Pomegranates
With/Whom by Pomegranates
#16 She & Him – Volume One
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
At first, I felt like I was overrating this album but perseverance prevailed after writing the initial review and I’ve become a big fan of Zooey Deschanel’s songwriting and singing talent (not that’s she not hot or anything). While pop country/folk isn’t the most immediate genre that I would recall to liking Zooey makes the genre likable with romantic ballads about the various men in her life. It’s almost surprising at first how good this record actually is but it has won over quite a few people and if you’ve seen her live, you’ll see exactly how genuine her talent is. (She’s got a voice that rivals many established female vocalists).
Sentimental Heart by She and Him
Why Don’t You Let Me Stay Here by She and Him
#15 Those Dancing Days – In Our Space Hero Suits
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
I always have a spot for pure pop and usually one or two albums sneak into the end of the year lists but this all-girl group out of Sweden has released a solid album top to bottom with great singing from Linnea Jonsson. She really steals the show on tracks like Hitten and Home Sweet Home which features some singing in her foreign language. I’d actually like to hear what she could offer in a non-English song. Some pop albums are just undeniably good though I guess with indie records it’s customary to disregard these types of albums, it seems not as many people are finding out about this album due to this shyness. I do go back and forth on where this album belongs but I absolutely love it.
Hitten by Those Dancing Days
Space Hero Suits by Those Dancing Days
#14 Walkmen – You & Me
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
This was my first exposure to the Walkmen, which while difficult to admit, I’m glad I finally gave them a shot. The problem with this album (hardly any) is that I keep forgetting how good it really is. It’s an amazing subtle album that has its emotions wrapped into tiny crevices. I almost forgot to include it in my top 20 and sometimes I find it difficult to go back to which is why they may be lower on the list then you’d list. There are more then a few amazing tracks though but no real stand outs.
Canadian Girl by The Walkmen
In The New Year by The Walkmen

#13 Chad Van Gaalen – Soft Airplane
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I’ll admit that the album score for this album is a little low but the album still has some flaws. However, I would qualify them a good flaws since it had to do with VanGaalen over experimenting in some sections of this album, so there really is no argument that this album isn’t great (I’m looking at you Now Magazine). VanGaalen experiments with a variety methods using some electronic elements in TMNT and his singing and writing is top notch. You probably wouldn’t know it but VanGaalen records this in his basement and he makes it sound like he’s in some expensive recording studio. Maybe he’s just super talented? He also creates the artwork to his own videos in addition to to the artwork on his album, showing us just how inhuman he actually is.
Bare Feet on Wet Grip Tape by Chad VanGaalen
Rabid Bits of Time by Chad VanGaalen

#12 Wolf Parade – At Mt. Zoomer
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
The best duo vocalists in indie rock, period. A Wolf Parade record is always a schizophrenic affair with Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, they teamed up on super track Kissing The Beehive, however the lead up to grand finale is as good as you’ll find anywhere. I think the main problem with this record is that their first record was out of this world amazing that any album would be hard to top it. I am lamenting the fact that I was still on crutches when they came into town… The album itself is much less accessible then their predecessor but it explores more elements that the band didn’t show off on Apologies to the Queen Marry but bringing more of what they brought on their great side projects (Sunset Rubdow, Handsome Furs etc).
Fine Young Cannibals by Wolf Parade
Call It A Ritual by Wolf Parade
#11 Thao With the Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings And All
Original Rating: 5 out of 5
When I first heard Beat (Health, Life and Fire), I instantly fell in love with Thao Nguyen and her backing band the Get Down Stay Down and it’s hard not to. She’s has an instant charm where she sings about kid and being an adult finding herself. I may have been overly too excited at first about this album but it does hold up strongly as Thao becomes one of my favorite singer-song writers. I really can’t say enough about her, she conveys duel emotions strong/weak, assertive/hesistant, strong and confidence and weak and shy all at the same moment. It really gives her an edge over many artists within the same genre.
Beat (Health, Life and Fire) by Thao Nguyen With The Get Down Stay Down
Geography by Thao Nguyen With The Get Down Stay Down

Here are this week’s posts:
Jess wrote a tribute to Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright.

Nancy did one mother fucking long post. Covering some key concerts happening this fall in the T-dot.

Kojo spread the word on Amanda Davids a Canadian soul artist.

Christian reviewed the not-yet released on this part of the world, Glasvegas’ self-titled disc.

I also sucked up the courage to listen to MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular.

The National’s Virginia EP is solid. At least I thought the Pitchfork review was not cool.

Joe reviewed Ray Garrison’s EP.

Adam reviewed Toronto ska/reggar band Rebel Emergency‘s EP.

I just found out about Siberian’s break up last week and wrote on my sadness.

I shared my input on the critically acclaimed You & Me by The Walkmen.

We Landed On The Moon are an upcoming band with a frontwoman who sounds a great deal like Jenny Lewis.

Ghalib covered rica-review/”>The Wiper’s Youth of America. Ghalib also proves that he likes to go out a ton with another concert review.

News around the blogosphere:
Pitchfork dropped a 1.6 on The Airborne Toxic Event. The band apparently didn’t like that. One thing for sure though, it caused a lot of discussion between bloggers… because TATE’s open letter was sent through their PR firm (Big Hassle) in an effort to make the review a publicity stunt (it worked). I didn’t care before, I don’t care now.

I guess I’m done…

I don’t know which old records of The Walkmen to check out but based on reviews but Bows and Arrows seems like one I should check out (comments anyone?). However, it was a bit tough knowing what the Walkmen once were because a lot of the reviews compared You and Me to their previous records which for myself I don’t have that background.

I decided to check out this album after, like I do with most bands, when I stream their songs on their myspace. Like any and every band they go through the same process…if I like it, forget it and if I do like it, I get the album and they face my wrath .

Anyway, I think I was a little surprised at what I wear hearing, I thought of the Walkmen as a more upbeat style band but hey, I’m not complaining.

If you’ve taken particular interest in reading reviews on this album You and Me, this album is gold but it comes in terms of a subtleness that is really hard to explain without hyperboles or anything other then deep and emotional without actually seemingly deep or emotional.

Musically, I really dug the seemingly classical type of approach. Everything is quiet and it creates an atmosphere where I feel that the and the singer and I are alone (kind of like the title of the album). The story telling is great even though when reading the lyrics, they turned out to be less complex then I felt like it was. There’s something about the way Hamilton Leithauser (? I’m having trouble finding out their lineup) sings that gives off a simple soothing voice but with it he can accentuate any feeling.

This album is great from start to finish, it has a real completeness about it that really just had me going through this whole album from start to finish without any real complaints. The only real problem I had were identifying the songs that really stuck out to me (though to be honest saying a certain song stands out is not giving the rest of the album enough credit). Canadian Girl is by far my favorite song…it’s simple in nature but very emotionally inviting. In a close 2nd is The Blue Route, a story about people changing their lives and just reflecting how people change. I’m doing a poor job of describing it in my opinion because you should just listen to it on your own. The New Year is very good as well but it’s probably the most angry, extroverted song on the album and is a bit different but still a great track (it’s more of a stand-alone track then going with the rest of the album)

Overall, this album is wonderful. Maybe not 5 out of 5 material but still it is up there as it is a great album to just lay down and sit still to.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5
No real criticisms, it’s good all the way around, not absolutely the greatest at all points of the album but I have new appreciation for the Walkmen. There is much more to this album then meets the eyes, tons of sonic elements that I tend to notice as I listen to the album more and more.

Canadian Girl by The Walkmen
The Long Route by The Walkmen
In The New Year by The Walkmen