Sassigrass' Favorite 50 of 2007

I don't feel the need to rehash what I have already said about these albums, so what you are going to get is a pure and simple list, no explanations. I had a difficult time ranking many of these albums since I like a lot of them equally. This is a list of my favorite things that I have listened to this year. Obviously no one can get to absolutely everything that comes out in a solitary year. Let me know if you think there is something I missed that I would enjoy. I would love to see others' lists posted in the comments section. Thanks for reading our blog this year. It's been a great year for music!

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago








2. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup








3. Caribou - Andorra








4. Luke Temple - Snowbeast








5. The National - Boxer








6. Deerfhoof - Friend Opportunity








7. Dirty Projectors - Rise Above








8. Blonde Redhead - 23







9. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog







10. Avey Tare & Kria Brekken - Pullhair Rubeye







11. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam








12. Marnie Stern - In Advance of The Broken Arm








13. Navigator - Throwing Tongues








14. Battles - Mirrored








15. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover









16. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum








17. Kevin Drew - Spirit If...







18. Liars - Liars








19. Akron/Family - Love Is Simple








20. David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band

21. Radiohead - In Rainbows









22. Mum - Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy








23. Seabear - The Ghost That Carried Us Away








24. Mike Wexler - Sun Wheel









25. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?









26. Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold









27. Shugo Tokumaru - Exit









28. Panda Bear - Person Pitch









29. The Future Of The Ghost - Freak Out









30. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible








31. Handsome Furs - Plague Park









32. Julianna Barwick - Sanguine








33. Winter In Alaska - Dance Party In The Balkans









34. Black Dice - Load Blown









35. M.I.A. - Kala









36. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away








37. Minus Story - My Ion Truss








38. Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals








39. Efterklang - Under Giant Trees








40. Angels Of Light - We Are Him









41. Feist - The Reminder









42. Phosphorescent - Pride









43. Portugal. The Man - Church Mouth









44. Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation









45. Lightning Dust - Lightning Dust









46. Wolev - Tout Seul dans la Foret en Plein Jour, Avez-Vous Peur?








47. Alex Delivery - Star Destroyer

48. Justice - Cross

49. Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian

50. Giant Skyflower Band - Blood Of The Sunworm

Honorable Mentions:

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass

LCD Soundsystem - Sould Of Silver

Pink Lightnin' - Pink Lightnin'

Aa -GAame

Dungen - Tio Bitar

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Postion

The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth

Besnard Lakes - Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

- Sassigrass

Mr. Thistles Top 50 of 2007

This list is the result of a constantly updated Excel spreadsheet that I have kept all year, so hopefully nothing deserving gets left out. The sad part is that I wasn’t able to listen to a few albums which I sampled (Sightings, John Wiese, Stars of the Lid, The North Sea) of which I am sure would have made the list. It is inevitable to miss a few though. At some point you just have to give up and post your list, right? Anyways, we’ll get to all those records on FG eventually. Having thoroughly enjoyed this year’s musical fruits I have opted to further inundate you with the ten picks preceding my top 50 albums of 2007 (51-60). This is essentially for my own piece of mind. I already feel horrible for some of the enjoyable albums I have cut (such is the mindset of a music obsessed geek). Hopefully the addition won’t be viewed as too pompous or overwhelming (a general characteristic of ‘lists’ as a whole anyway – I love them though!). You may note that I have also updated my top ten from the time that it was graciously featured in Slowtrain’s year end music-zine. It’s just been that kind of year. In the end, this list represents what has endured and what was just hype. Seeing as how I have give out a virtual 8.5 to everything I have reviewed (I review what I like, so what), we are discussing the potential of removing scoring all together from Forest Gospel’s album features (give us your opinion on this!). The goodness of an album can fluctuate based on mood and time as this list prove. These are the albums that held strong through the thick and thin, hope you likey…(PS – please share your agreements, disagreements and your own list [I know you have one] in the comments; be a virtual friend)

1. Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover – The most multi faceted package of pure orchestrated incredibleness. It has been a long time since I have been so enamored with something so easily labeled ‘indie rock.’

2. Grouper – Cover the Windows and the Walls – In comparison, nothing else on this list deserves to be called haunting. One of the most beautiful records I have ever listened to.

3. Pumice – Pebbles – My first true love of 2007. While it has been slightly upstaged by the albums I’ve placed in front of it, Pebbles is the kind of music that I wish that I would’ve created. Spanning territory from pop to drone to everything else in-between, Pumice is a versatile genius. Also, this would be a suitable blurb without the writing lo-fi.

4. Shugo Tokumaru – Exit – Imaginative folk pop perfection of the Japanese variety. Better than just about anything else you could be forced to call ‘charming.’

5. Aa (BIG A Little A) – Gaame – In a year with some great drumming, Aa’s Gaame has the best. Varied, wonderful, frantic rock that is the progressive as it is primal.

6. Yellow Swans – At All Ends / Descension EP – Devistatingly loud and coarse yet beautiful.

7. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago – The second most beautiful album of the year would be the most beautiful in any year that Grouper’s Cover the Windows and the Walls. Melancholy songwriting at its best.

8. Tim Hecker – Norberg - A puffy, billowy cloud of electro-acoustic bliss in just over twenty minutes. One singularly perfect, transcendent excursion.

9. Raccoo-oo-oon – Behold Secret Kingdom – A production miracle, Raccoo-oo-oon has taken everything that has made them mysterious noise rock maestros and channeled it into a crisp, resilient beast of a record. Behold Secret Kingdom is their masterpiece.

10. Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam – poppy and weird, Animal Collective continue to knock the socks off every, regardless of when and where you heard them first. Perfect for old timey AC fans and nubes alike.

11. Wooden Wand – James & The Quiet – Pure, strong American songwriting of incredible quality. One of the most critically underrated albums of the year in my view.

12. No Age – Weirdo Rippers - Turning arty noise rock into accessible slabs of punk perfection. One of my favourite new bands of 2007.

13. Marnie Stern – In Advance of the Broken Arm - Incredible guitar work supplemented by incredible drumming from Hella. Marnie Stern’s debut was the first great CD I heard in 2007 and it is still as beautifully dangerous as ever.

14. Ben Frost – Theory of Machines – The pure combination of machine and humanity, Ben Frost’s Theory of Machines is an apocalyptic exercise in grinding cinematics.

15. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity – The most accessible album from one of the best experimental indie rock bands of our generation. An early release date may have caused a lot of people to forget about this one. Amazingly amazing.

16. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup – Didn’t hit the heights of Elephant Gun for me, but was definitely a solid effort in music that can only be measured in terms of grandeur. Blissfully reaffirming music from the boy wonder.

17. Mark Templeton – Standing on a Hummingbird – organic, glitchy, kaleidoscopic, gorgeous.

18. Navigator – Throwing Toungues – An on honest, penetrating album of lo-fi bedroom songs that require repeat listens.

19. Gowns – Red State – gothic Americana with a twinge of no wave. Gowns created an enrapturing, claustrophobic document of Middle America with Red State.

20. Shuta Hasunuma – OK Bamboo – Low key piano experiments that practically spell ‘pleasant’ without loosing its engaging touch.

21. Rhys Chatham – A Crimson Grail – Wildly powerful live document of 400 guitars playing like 400 guitars should; loud and long.

22. Avey Tare & Kria Brekkan – Pullhair Rubeye – While the concept that managed to piss off more than its fair share, Pullhair Rubeye is much more than a gimmick and nothing less than what Animal Collective fans should have come to expect of an album with Avey Tare.

23. The Lionelle – Oh! The Company We Keep! – This album did for me what Portugal. The Man did last year, produced a sharp indie rock record with which to simply rock.

24. Stag Hare – Ahspen – A single track of gorgeousness from the enigmatic sound voyage.

25. Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals – I still hear Fleetwood Mac and Paul Simon here and I think Yeasayer is all the better for it.

26. The National – Boxer – A classic down tempo album of for any occasion.

27. Blonde Redhead – 23 – I retried this album after initially discarding it and fell in love. Thank you Sassigrass!

28. Morgan Packard – Airships Fill The Sky – Check the review from last week.

29. Giant Skyflower Band – Blood of the Sunworm – Glenn Donaldson strikes again with more psych folk pleasantries that never dip below his standard of genius.

30. Health – Health – This self titled album sounds like filling a car with discordant guitars and pedals along with a full drums set and a thousand drum sticks and then driving the whole thing off a cliff. It’s that good.

31. WZT Hearts – Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones – Um, this album is kind of like watching the crash of the car in the previous blurb filmed and shown in reverse. Kinda.

32. Radiohead – In Rainbows – A solid release from the Radiohead camp will always find a way onto my year end list, whether revolutionary or not.

33. The Dirty Projectors – Rise Above – Dave has long been one of my favourite musicians and Rise Above seems to be his great achievement after numerous recordings with scattered results.

34. Machinefabriek – Weleer – Two discs of compiled beauty from the Dutch experimentalist. If you like avant garde music, this album has a little bit of everything for you.

35. Angels of Light – We Are Him – Michael Gira has had a lot of admirers this year with dedicatory songs from Ben Frost and Klimek and We Are Him is the reason why. No one does gothic Americana quite as heavily or good as him.

36. Deerhunter – Cryptograms – This album is everything that critics have said about it. It isn’t hard to find someone gushing over Deerhunter this year.

37. Shining – Grindstone – Spastic, orchestral Norwegian metal…how couldn’t you like it.

38. Julianna Barwick – Sanguine – This album sounds like the more innocent, younger sister to Grouper’s Cover the Windows and the Walls. With that said, it is no wonder that it is so enriching.

39. Kemialliset Ystavat – untitled – This album is possibly the most bizarre on this list and is all the better for it. It sounds like packing a bomb with as many musical ideas as possible and the lighting the wick and watching to see how everything is blown to pieces.

40. Adrian Orange & Her Band – S/T – I have never liked Thanksgiving (Adrian Orange’s moniker) too much but something about this release, with its dub influences and choral embellishments is just impossible not to fall for.

41. Luke Temple – Snowbeast – A subtle, melancholic romp through some of the most exciting pop made all year.

42. James Blackshaw – The Cloud of Unknowing – meditative 12 string guitar picking that are simply transporting in their dreamy composition.

43. Battles – Mirrored – Wildly talented instrumental rock. In fact, this is about the only thing that has been exciting about instrumental rock for quite a few year

44. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha – an understated album from one of the wittiest muscians on the independent landscape.

45. Mouthus – Saw a Halo – The record that was most likely to have been mixed and mastered in a trash compactor.

46. Fiery Furnaces – Widow City – Fiery Furnaces at their most rocking and consistent.

47. The Tenants of Balathazar’s Castle – A Capella – Hushed, looped vocal experiments that are as surprisingly rewarding as they are unique.

48. Blues Control – Blues Control – Scuzzy blues ragas washed with noisy effects pedals.

49. Clipd Beaks – Hoarse Lords – No wave album of the year.

50. A Sunny Day In Glasgow – Scribble Mural Comic Journal – If Fennesz was in a pop band, this is probably how it would end up.

51. Pantha du Prince – This Bliss

52. Seabear – The Ghost That Carried Us Away

53. MoHa! – Norwegianism

54. Besnard Lakes – Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

55. M.I.A. – Kala

56. Eric Copeland – Hermaphrodite

57. Vic Chesnutt – North Star Desert

58. Mike Wexler – Sun Wheel

59. Woelv – Tout Seui Dans la Foret en Plein Jour, Avez-Vous Peur?

60. Handsome Furs – Plague Park

-Mr. Thistle

Spruce Lee's Year End List

Contributing Writer Review
I have done initial reviews on many of these albums, and it is interesting to notice how initial perspectives change, especially when considered on a spectrum. Anyhow heres a list of ten albums.

10. Lounge Legends, by France Gall:
I know this is no where near an '07 release, but it was new to me this year, and considering the retro feel of many of my picks it doesn't seem too out of place. Had it been released this year it would probably be my #1.



9. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, by Spoon:
I had hoped for more when this album came out, but i still can't deny how solid of an album it is.



8. Exit, by Shugo Tokumaru:
As with the Books most recent album, I long for the days of less singing and more atmosphere, but I'll still take this any day of the week.



7. You, You're a History of Rust, by Do Make Say Think:
As other instrumental rock/whatever bands seem to fade into the sunset, this album stands out all the more.



6. Throwing Tongues, by Navigator:
In the last two days this album has worked it's way from being no where on my radar, to number six. I wonder where it would be if i had waited until tomorrow to make this list.

Navigtor on Virb

5. Good Bad Not Evil, by Black Lips:
This album wont revolutionize much but it will electrify most anyone listening.



4. Invitation Songs, by The Cave Singers:
In a year with much for the eclectic and eccentric listener, it is nice to have a simple album with a defining voice, and to realize how good music can still be without all the frills.



3. 100 Days 100 Nights, by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings:
I have been listenning to the opening and closing tracks of this album on repeat for a while now, and the rest of the album is no slouch either.



1 & 2. Sound of Silver, by LCD Soundsystems & Boxer, by The National:
Because all lists are kind of trivial anyways i figure there's really no sense trying to rack my appreciative senses and decide which one of these should top my list, so both and neither do. But i might have to give a slight edge to LCD on account of their live performance at Thanksgiving Point.





-Spruce Lee

Year-End List Time!! Wooly Mammal's Top Ten

Contributing Writer Top 10!!!

While Mr. Thistle and Sassigrass are able to compile top 50's, I'm not sure if I've even listened to 50 albums from 2007. However, I have still managed to pass by some truly amazing music this year and here's a small list of whats stuck with me.

10. Big a Little a - gAame

For an album that's mostly drums, there sure is a lot of variety. Plus its nuts. In a good way.



9. Polysics - Karate House

Any band that can still write good songs after 8 LP's deserves to be on some sort of list.



8. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

Remember when they played #1 on Conan O' Brien?



7. Dirty Projectors - Rise Above

I've never really gotten into Black Flag, but I'm glad Dave Longstreth did.



6. Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

Ai yi yi, another japanese band. A bit more poppy than his previous outings, but don't worry its not J-Pop. Shugo ROCKS!!!!



5. Adrian Orange and Her Band - S/T

How can you go wrong with an afro-beat/ dub/ dancehall album from Thanksgiving?



4. Castanets - In the Vines

Its haunting, in a safe comforting way. Westbound, Blue is one of the prettiest songs of the year.



3. Woelv - Tout Seul dans la Foret en Plein Jour, Avez-Vous Peur?

One of my favorite artists make her best album to date. Its dark and passionate, while still maintaining a sense of hope. I don't understand French.



2. Stag Hare - Ahspen

Ahspen feels more like a spiritual journey than just "music". Salt Lake City should be proud to have such inspiring art being made in our own backyard.

Stag Hare on Virb

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

It took me a while to get into this album, but now I cant escape. Ripping off Beach Boys harmonies has never sounded so good.



- Wooly Mammal

Shows

To be honest, I couldn’t find anything good this week. If you are a band in Salt Lake and have a show this week that you think we should know about, please comment below. This should be an ongoing thing, contact us if you think that we should be listing your shows. Aside from the lack of shows this week (I mean seriously, Christmas is in, like, 8 days!) there are some insane shows on the horizon (most notably Beach House, Yeasayer, Liars and No Age). But they’re not the only ones. Take a look for yourselves:

1/04 – Band of Annuals, Joshua James – Kilby Court
1/10 – Grizzly Prospector, Stag Hare, The Groom, Chaz Prymek – Kilby Court
1/15 – David Williams, Glade – Kilby Court
1/17 – Sea Wolf, Atherton – Kilby Court
1/25 – The Future of the Ghost – Kilby Court
1/31 – The Lionelle, Dead Horse Point, Patterstats – Kilby Court
1/31 – Liars, No Age – Urban Lounge
2/02 – Blood On The Wall, Will Sartain cd release – Kilby Court
2/03 – Yeasayer, MGMT – Kilby Court
2/06 – Navigator, Aye Aye, Stag Hare, Grizzly P. – Kilby Court
2/28 – The Future of the Ghost, Band of Annuals – Kilby Court
3/08 – Panther - Slowtrain
3/09 – Living Legends – Kilby Court
3/21 – Beach House, Papercuts – Kilby Court
3/22 – Jose Gonzalez – Union Ballroom
3/24 – Explosions in the Sky, Lichens, Black Moth Super Rainbow – In the Venue
3/26 – Headlights, Evangelicals – Kilby Court
4/15 – Blitzen Trapper, Calico – Urban Lounge

Morgan Packard - Airships Fill The Skies

Morgan Packard
Airships Fill the Skies
(07.2007, Anticipate)
8.5/10

Ezekiel Hong’s Anticipate label has quickly become one of my favourite new labels. Seemingly releasing only the very best in terms of minimalist, experimental electronic music, the label deserves attention for the selective restraint with which they release beautifully progressive music. Morgan Packard’s Airships Fill the Skies in the second of four spectacular releases this year for Anticipate and is typical of their higher than high production standards. The album embodies a distinctively organic air that permeates this very digital music. Packard marries tiny blips and bleeps with organic samples and beautiful instrumentation forming a paradisiacal down tempo treat. This is the kind of music that resonates well in dim lights and at early hours. If you’re not a night owl, dimming the blinds will provide the same nostalgic fervor. Packard’s compositions are carefully fractured so that their prescribed beats begin to slowly tilt and sway off the mark with glitchy electronic flourishes riding them to their soft-spoken doom. With Airships Fill the Skies, Morgan Packard has created minimalist electronic music without it ever sounding like “electronic music.” A highly endorsed album from a highly endorsed label – it’s a win win!

-Mr. Thistle

Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

Shugo Tokumaru
Exit
(10.2007, P-Vine)
9.5/10

Oh Shugo, I’m in love again. There is something about this little Japanese import that is flush with the type of magic you feel when you go to Disneyland when your eight years old. On this, Shugo’s third proper album, his previous melancholy has brightened noticeably. A deft multi instrumentalist, Tokumaru’s songs have become progressively more complex with hordes of morphing melodies running throughout each second of each song. Tokumaru masterfully employs all sorts of odd and unique instrumentation as he continues to develop his singularly unique sound. The result is powerfully packed folk-pop candy that is endlessly enjoyable. Despite the disconnect with the language (is he really singing “bra-shoe” in the chorus of the opening song?), Tokumaru’s Japanese lyrics and soft voice continue to be as soothing as ever. Even now, just now as I am writing and listening to the album, I can’t keep a grin off my face. Tokumaru must be manufacturing some kind of magic that he infuses in his songs. If true, I wouldn’t be surprised; Exit is bewitching every step of the way. And, as was true with his previous releases, Exit has an uncanny ability of completely transport you when the music hits your ears. Listening to Exit is like wearing enchanted glasses that somehow make everything more vibrant and enjoyable, and for those things which aren’t so pleasant, more tolerable. It is just a side effect of insurmountable charm coupled with unequaled composition and execution. Shugo Tokumaru has won my little boyish heart and has reverted me to a childlike state of obsessive adoration. Being Decemeber, I feel quite comfortable labeling Exit as one of the very best albums of the year.

-Mr. Thistle

Shugo Tokumaru - "Green Rain"

A Place To Bury Stangers - Self Titled

A Place To Bury Strangers
A Place To Bury Stangers
(08.2007, Killer Pimp)
8.0/10

Personally, it is pretty impossible to listen to A Place To Bury Strangers debut album without immediately thinking My Bloody Valentine. Fortunately, My Bloody Valentine is one of the universally influential bands like The Velvet Underground or Pavement that are permissibly rippable because, in the indie rock world, it is pretty hard not to. Fortunately, this ain’t some by-the-numbers, watered down rehash of Loveless. A Place To Bury Strangers are modern guitar heroes, contorting their guitar strings into heavily distorted curtains of reverberated goodness. It’s an instantly euphoric sound that isn’t recorded obnoxiously loud as is common with the noisier side of the avant music world these days. With both electronic and manual drumming coupled with shimmering guitars and drifting vocals, A Place To Bury Strangers floats perfectly through air like a distorted eighties soundtrack. A frantically addictive grower, after a few spins in your stereo it is extremely difficult to get it out.

-Mr. Thistle

A Place To Bury Strangers – "To Fix the Gash in Your Head"

White Rainbow - Sky Drips Drifts

White Rainbow
Sky Drips Drifts
(2007, States Rights Records)
8.0/10

The second of his two full length releases this year, Sky Drips Drifts, sees White Rainbow's "healing" spiritual vibes in five extended jams all clocking in at about the ten minute mark. The process is slightly different in comparison to the variably sized output on Prism of Eternal Now. White Rainbow's ability to work successfully in multiple formats, whether creating bite sized audio snacks or extended musical meals displays the diversity of his ability. Regardless of track lengths, White Rainbow always manages to bond his songs together into a unified whole from album to album. Sky Drips Drifts is the peak of this type of cohesion, as each successive track melts into the next with ease. It is in this unobtrusive way that Sky Drips Drifts is both an elated, engaging listen and an occasional sleep inducer. It really all depends on what you are bringing to the table when you listen. There is definitely in optimistic feel that, if alert, will invigorate your spirit and relax your mind. Additionally, the repetitive loops, whether guitars, vocals, sythns or his signature drum patter, can act as an instant sedative if there is so much as a drowsy bone in your body (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Overall, Sky Drips Drifts pushes the White Rainbow large catalog further into perfection, simultaneously retaining his calling cards while expanding his musical palate.

-Mr. Thistle

White Rainbow - "Sun Shadow Drifter"

Health - HEALTH

Health
HEALTH
(2007, Lovepump United)
9.0/10

Ok, this is my third attempt to start this review. The first two failed based on my lazy stabs at description, using out-there band equations and referencing similarly caustic art noise that has been released this year (and there has been more than a successful few). All and all, this album deserves to stand alone. It is safer that way really because Health’s self titled release on Lovepump United is like tiger at the zoo that must be segregated from the rest of the pack because of its spastic temper and careening mood swings. This isn’t to say that Health can’t be hospitable and friendly, it’s just that once the band bears its teeth you have already lost a limb. The attack is sharp and quick which is part of the reason why Health runs through they're eleven song set in under thirty minutes. That’s all the time it takes for the band to clear away the meat from the bones. The real beauty of the band is in its ability to tie together a full range of disharmonic sounds and influences and pack it into a pleasantly accessible whole. It is a hardcore noise-punk blast of shoegazer pop trash fixed to heavy, pounding drums – kind of like a dreamsicle with gravel on it. It only seems proper that the perfect way to listen to the album involves corralling a large group of people into a room, locking the door, turning out the lights and turning Health up to eleven. It may not be healthy but it sure is fun!

-Mr. Thistle

Grampall Jookabox - Scientific Crickett

Grampall Jookabox
Scientific Cricket
(07.2007, Joyful Noise)
8.0/10

Grampall Jookabox is an eclectic duo playing hodge podge folk of unmatched energy and absurdity. On their debut release, Scientific Cricket, the band rips and tears through an albums worth of sugar addled experiments that somehow form an accessible pop edge. This outcome is a pleasant surprise seeing as how the band seems to be composing the songs by the seat of their pants, staggering from track to track with reckless abandon. The fervor is catchy and the oddball melodies and vocals build upon each other to form some sincerely appeasing songs. Comparisons to Animal Collective, Annuals or Akron Family could all be made appropriately but there is something distinctly unique here that separates Grampall Jookabox from the standard freak folk crowd. At least a part of this must be attributed to the juvenile innocence (occasionally teetering on the brink of annoyance) that makes the songs feel like you are hearing them for the very first time as if they are being spontaneously played by some genius inspiration. While a majority of tracks work this way there are definitely a couple that fall flat following the same formula minus the genius inspiration. The other most identifiable aesthetic that separates Grampall Jookabox from the crowd is an absolute disregard for recording quality. Grouping recordings that hail from bedrooms to city alleys to backyards to who knows where else and packing it all into the same track, Scientific Cricket is the definition of lo-fi. While the disjointed, multi-faceted nature of Grampall Jookabox’s music doesn’t necessarily lend itself to unity, Scientific Cricket somehow manages to be a complete and fulfilling statement of the beauty of naive excitement.

-Mr. Thistle

Grampall Jookabox - Ponta

Yellow Swans - Descension

Yellow Swans
Descension
(05.2007, Acuarela)
9.0/10

The first time I ever listened to Yellow Swans was when they opened for Xiu Xiu at Kilby Court in 05'. The set was so loud and abrasive that I listened in the court yard, sparing the ears of a then budding love interest. In conversation she described the sound billowing out of the venue as conjuring “a thousands ghosts on a train.” While I felt that the coarseness of their earlier sound required the specification of demons rather than ghosts, I thought the term was terrific. Now, a couple years later, I feel like Yellow Swans finally embody that statement. Gone are the demons, remaining are thousands of ghosts, not necessarily ill begotten, but still breathing a cacophonous moan as passengers reeling along the screeching of an ancient train track. Descension, released earlier this year, is a pair of long form live recordings that are exactly what I thought would really be the outcome of “a thousand ghosts on a train.” As the opener to their fabulous full length release At All Ends, Descension takes steps to upstage the main event. Totaling just under a half hour, the tracks dive head long into the most jarringly beautiful recreation of a spectral despair magnified and layered a thousand times over. A must for fans of experimental noise music.

-Mr. Thistle

Descension on Boomkat

Shows This Week

Tuesday (12/11), Urban Lounge is hosting a local barn burner with the likes of Ether Orchestra, Coyote Hoods and Calico, all worthy bands. This is the first time I’ve heard from Coyote Hoods in a while since seeing them earlier this year at a Slowtrain instore. They are absolutely amazing – a must see band live. (Can someone clue me in as to whether they have released any recorded material and if they haven’t – Coyote Hoods, take this as a call to record!)

Coyote Hoods on Myspace



Friday (12/14), The Wolfs are playing at Monk’s

The Wolfs on Myspace

Friday (12/14), freestyle mastermind Edeyea and beat maestro Abilities will be rocking mic and turn tables at In The Venue to wet your hip hop tongue.

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apochrypha

Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha
(03.2007, Fat Possum)
8.5/10

I guess now is as good a time as any to remember Andrew Bird’s Armchair Apocrypha released in March of this year. Fitting for me at least because it has taken quite a bit of time to really discover the wonderful integrity of this album. When FG first started this summer we wanted to review this but no one knew what to say. Following up Mysterious Production of Eggs, one of my favourite albums of all time, it was hard not to be over excited about Armchair Apocrypha. Then, when I listened to it, though I desperately wanted to fall in love with it, there seemed to be nothing that stuck and I would fail to make it through the first few tracks before having to bow out. It quickly went on the back burner as an abundance of additional, wonderful albums came only to resurface occasionally, either when I noticed it while mindlessly scrolling through my Ipod or when I heard parts of it in NPR interlude music. It was only recently that I finally found the circumstances to listen to it as a whole, and then re-listen, and then listen again. First of all let me state this for everyone who has shared my early disillusionment about the album: we missed the mark folks. Armchair Apocrypha contains all the beauty of Andrew Birds subtle, wry lyricism, offbeat instrumentation and, of course, that whistle. The album simply suffers from bad sequencing. For those with great expectations the slow beginning is deflating. However, patience and repeat listening will convert you to every song (even album opener “Fiery Crash” of which I felt destined to skip over every time I listened to the album). After the initial learning curve, Armchair Apocrypha reveals itself as another breezy album of Andrew Bird’s and one of his most rewarding accomplishments to date.

-Mr. Thistle

Andrew Bird on Virb

Navigator - Throwing Tongues

LOCAL REVIEW
Navigator
Throwing Tongues
(12.2007, A Star)
9.5/10

Navigator is the moniker of Braden J. McKenna. A self taught musical prodigy, McKenna was in multiple musical projects that rocked Kilby Court and the likes throughout his teenage years. Now he is stepping back into the limelight with new musical aspirations. He currently contributes his ear to a few local acts and writes solo, once under Braden J McKenna, now Navigator. Throwing Tongues is his first Navigator release and it will throw you into an instant love affair. Navigator is probably the first to admit that he isn't the most talented musician around, however, something about the way he is able to create a song is entrancing. It's simple folk pop with occasional electric rock outs. The composition is loose and expressive, nothing feels forced or perfected. McKenna's screechingly high voice quivers unimposing religion laden lyrics about Jonah and the Whale, Elijah, and the place where God resides over beautifully written subtle melodies. The liner notes of Throwing Tongues is a testament to the lo-fi aesthetic, listing the date and location of every recording. The list spans bedrooms and living rooms of friends and family illustrating Navigator's ability to make something out of nothing by being able to record at the drop of a hat. His feeble voice and amature recording abilities/resources seem to push the charm of the record far beyond anything that might have resulted from a studio. Navigator is a joy to see live (lucky there are two Navigator shows this weekend including tonights cd release at Slowtrain- see our previous shows posting!) The albums concise running time (just over thirty minutes) doesn't linger even a moment beyond its welcome, nestling itself precisely long enough to enter your ears and make its way to your heart. These tunes will stay with you, and you will like it! Sassigrass' pick for best album of the year, hands down!

-Sassigrass & Mr. Thistle

Navigator on Virb

Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim

Sigur Ros
Hvarf/Heim
(11.2007, Xl Recordings)
7.5/10

Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth going through the motions of writing reviews about albums like this. It's been out a month, sold over 50,000 copies in it's first week, and now I am finally getting around to writing a review after everyone has already heard the album and made up their mind about how much they like it. After reading blogs by many Sigur Ros fanatics it's seems to me that people were very divided about how they felt about Hvarf/Heim. Obviously with Sigor Ros' cult status many people can find no wrong in them and worship everything to do with the band, others however were disappointed after waiting and anticipating a new SR release, mostly by how short the 2 disc album is. The 2 discs together are 70 minutes, which could have fit on one disc. The reason they split the album is because it acts as two separate releases, probably EP's. Disc one Hvarf, which in Icelandic means "disappeared" contains studio versions of primarily unreleased songs which occasionally surfaced at their live shows and delighted fans who pushed for the release of the songs. Heim, which means "home" is comprised of acoustic already released songs played live in various settings while the band played surprise shows in odd places like deserted fish factories and dark caves. These shows are filmed and documented in the DVD Heima, which somewhat accompanies Hvarf/Heim. Even live the songs remain full bodied and magnificently grandiose. It's exactly what you would expect from Sigur Ros, especially if you have already seen them live. There is no new material here so we don't see the band advancing or growing, but it's a great addition to the Sigur Ros fan's collection.

-Sassigrass

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - Like, Love, Lust and the Open Halls Of The Soul

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
Like, Love, Lust, and the Open Halls Of The Soul
(02.2007, Barsuk)
6.5/10

Like, Love, Lust and the Open Halls of the Soul is the first true exposure I have had to the notorious singer/songwriter Jesse Sykes. On first listen I had a hard time accepting the fact that it's a female singing. Sykes has a sort of Rod Stewart mixed with Vashti Bunyan quality to her voice. I know that sounds really bad. Rod Stewart isn't the epiphany of good music by any hipster standard, but somehow Sykes works it. It's breathy, masculine, mournful and weary and placed over a backdrop of alt country/psych folk acoustics. The subsequent sound is a haunting lounge sound that would fit well in any eerie, smokey, dim bar setting. It has an alluring sound, but the beautiful quality gets slightly monotonous throughout the album. It's hard for me to listen to an entire whispered album, and her enticing voice starts to sound a little cheesy and irksome, full to the brim with forced loneliness. After repeat listens, the one thing that drew me to this album, her voice, ended up being the thing that kept it from having much replay value. It's a solid album and is worth a listen, but it's not going to change your life. It's decent, but forgettable.

-Sassigrass

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - "The Air Is Thin"

Soft Circle - Full Bloom

Soft Circle
Full Bloom
(01.2007, Eastern Development)
6.5/10

With former calling cards of Black Dice and Lightning Bolt, Hisham Bharoocha’s Soft Circle project should be right down my isle but after months of listening I can’t bring my self to a slam dunk review. Soft Circle’s sound can be rightfully compared to contemporaries like Animal Collective, Boredoms and former band Black Dice, but with all its similarities Full Bloom seems a little too equally contrived a slightly watered down. As a drummer, Bharoocha’s method includes an abundant, restrained use of his drum kit along with swirling guitars and Panda Bear vocals circa Young Prayer. The effect is a sort of ambient spiritualism that you would be likely to find on a White Rainbow album. The elements are all worthy and that is why listening to it has been tricky. Many of the album’s features feel like Soft Circle is a regurgitation of work done when he helped create Beaches & Canyons. That doesn’t mean that Full Bloom is a failure, Beaches & Canyons is incredible source material, but amongst his contemporaries it becomes easy to distinguish Soft Circle’s debut as something of an unnecessary addition to a well trodden path, like a collection of B-sides if you will. Full Bloom is pleasant, it doesn’t step on anyone’s toes (because most are yards ahead), it’s viably enjoyable yet, deep in the back of my mind, no matter how I try to suppress it, there is a little voice in my head whispering “enjoy it while you can, because tomorrow you won’t even remember that you own a Soft Circle album.”

-Mr. Thistle

Soft Circle - "Shimmer"

The Lionelle - Oh! The Company That We Keep!

LOCAL REVIEW
The Lionelle
Oh! The Company We Keep!
(12.2007, Self Released)
9.0/10

The last recorded footprint we had from The Lionelle was filled with pared down, acoustic treatments that made up an EP's worth of material. Subsequent attendance of their live sets saw those same songs re-imagined into a full band format, terrorizing the little ghosts of those songs into Frankensteinian monsters. The outcome was exciting to say the least and the impending recorded results have long been awaited. Now, months later, Oh! The Company We Keep! (The Lionelle love their exclamation points!) is here and the devastatingly progressive evolution of the band is jaw dropping. I really saw potential in the band when I heard that oh-so-quaint Little Bee EP, but in reality, my assertion that the band could produce the local album of the year was a bit more of a hopeful wish than an actual belief. It's a difficult thing, realizing creativity with talent, and I honestly wasn't expecting the album to be fully realized. I also didn't foresee some of the amazing output they would be competing with (Stag Hare and Navigator have additionally struck gold in 2007). Yet, even with these reservations The Lionelle have gone and done it; gone and produced the exact record that I had wildly imagined and wished they would make. The acoustic guitars have turned angular and electric, the vocals have become multi tracked and the skeleton of their EP's trappings has born flesh and muscle. The angst of youth is still intact, but the composition has become mature and beautiful. Front man Tate MCL has morphed his bedroom freak pop into an experimental, post-hardcore, pop catastrophe of generous proportions. And, with that, I am prepared to make the convoluted statement I had thought virtually impossible - I am pronouncing the bands debut my pick for best local album of the year. (Well, actually, along with the two other albums that I previously mentioned I am going to have to pronounce a three way tie, but don't let that confuse you.) Oh! The Company That We Keep! is what indie rock should be: progressive, weird and oddly catchy. Latch onto The Lionelle soon because this is the kind of music that doesn't stay local for long.

-Mr. Thistle

The Lionelle on Myspace

Goodies - Shugo Tokumaru

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Just when I felt like I was starting to get a handle on my year end list we get news of Shugo Tokumaru’s third solo release Exit. Granted, the album has been released in Japan since October, but sometimes we here at FG are a bit slow. Regardless, we are staggering around trying to get ourselves a copy as Mr. Tokumaru is one of our dearest faves. Here are some sampling goodies for your listening (and viewing) pleasure!








Shugo Tokumaru - "Hidamari"

This Week in Shows

Monday (12/3), Team Sleep will be rocking Chino Moreno’s indicized (that’s a new word) version of The Deftones with contributing members from Pinback and Hella. The band will be playing at The Avalon.



Tuesday (12/4), David Bazan of Pedro The Lion fame will be busting out his solo steez at In The Venue tomorrow. Get your introspective religion on with one of the premier singer songwriters of our day.



Tuesday (12/4), Canadian super troupe The Most Serene Republic will be offering up their conglomerate pop effort at Kilby Court. This will be an exciting show in the confines of Kilby. Go see it!



Friday (12/7), Vampire Weekend will be processing their sweet left-field pop at Kilby Court. Something about their music has always reminded me of a Wes Anderson film. Needless to say they should provide a magnificently charming set to an unfortunately stacked night of shows.

Vampire Weekend on Virb

Friday (12/7), Iron & Wine will be playing out at The Great Saltair. I am sorely bitter about having to miss this show. Beam plays an entrancing set and it would be exciting to see The Shepherd’s Dog in a live setting. Should be an amazing show.



Friday (12/7), local upstart Navigator will be playing in conjunction with the release of his staggering debut (trust us) along with Ruth Allison and Adam Lipman(!) at Slowtrain. The show will be free in along with a Potter Press screenprinting party scheduled that night. Forest Gospel pick of the week.

Navigator on Virb

Saturday (12/8), Mt.Eerie may have had to cancel his touring plans but Watery Graves are still planning on showing Salt Lake City what they have to offer at a house show with Rob Walmart, Grizzly Prospector and Navigator (2nd night in a row). Not only a terrific lineup but an intimate setting as this is a house show. Music starts at 8pm at 2496 E. 6200 S. in Holladay.

Watery Graves on Virb

The Tenants of Balthazar's Castle - Nephlocentric Moods

LOCAL REVIEW
The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle
Nephlocentric Moods
(10.2007, A. Star)
8.0/10

The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle continues in his prolific mode capturing the fifth of his alleged nine releases before “the castle will fall.” Nephlocentric Moods sees ToBC upping the packaging qualities of his work as well, including a beautiful photograph of a bustling cloudscape. The image shares the disposition of the music: warning of an impending storm. Nephlocentric Moods is a single track exceeding thirty minutes in length that parades some new territory for ToBC. Opening with an incessant buzz underscored by some brooding melodics, Nephlocentric Moods starts with the slowly building power electronics that any Tenants fan should be somewhat familiar with. The coarseness of the electronics falls just below the devastation of his debut, Terror in Twelve Parts. Slowly building, the introduction of some deviously distorted vocals demonizing the piece, causing you to question the direction you are heading. Just past ten minutes an alarm sounds, the phone is off the hook and a barrage of muffled explosives hit the surface. The escalation of tone continues to rise and then slowly withers away giving a brief relief. These minimalistic tricks continue until, about 2/3rds the way in, the structure switches from free noise to free jazz with a searing clarinet. The madman playing drives the last ten minutes of the piece to its breaking point. Another worthy addition to a spotless back catalog, The Tenants of Balthazar’s Castle continues to expand and excite.

-Mr. Thistle

ToBC on Virb