'08's Music to Love More Than Music: Love More, Pt. 13

Love More (<3)
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
I have to say I was not expecting this album to sound the way it did at all. The first track jumps up and beats on your brain in ways so completely foreign to any Sigur Rós fan that it's bound to have made a few people simple turn the record off. Sigur Rós is known for their spacey, ethereal Post-Rock tendencies, so to see this new, energetic, and all around joyous album is a fairly strange thing indeed. Possibly the most uplifting album of the year.
Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook
Sigur Rós - Ára bátur

Why? - Alopecia
This is one of those albums that I point people to when they tell me that few good albums came out this year. Because of Why?'s atypical rapping habits, people may be turned off by these songs, but I charge you really delve into the irregularities and really groove with it. Why? is another of those rappers that, I have to say, completely confuses me with his lyrics. Why? could be talking about anything. This is another one of those Hip-Hop acts that I will forever have respect for because, behind it all, there's a band, and to think a full band could make such curious compositions is a darn good band.
Why? - These Few Presidents
Why? - Brooks & Waxing

Murder by Death - Red Of Tooth And Claw and Fuego! EP
Daaaaaamn good. There are those who feel that it didn't match up to their older stuff or even to their own potential, but I think it was just fantastic. I had mentioned that Johnny Cash would be proud of these fellas had he had the chance to hear them, but now I'm leaning more toward the idea that they no longer owe anything to Mr. Cash, they've made their own way. Bravo MbD.
from the album:
Murder by Death - Comin' Home
Murder by Death - The Black Spot
from the EP:
Murder by Death - My Baby Shot Me Down (live)

Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears - Flight of the Knife
Bryan Scary, as it turns out, is a genius. I had mentioned that this album shows certain affinity towards bands like Queen, well after listening to it a few more times, I can safely say that this album belongs along side the Queen catalog and the Who catalog as one of the most epic rock operas around. The virtuosity shown on the album, however, surpasses anything that either of those bands have pumped out. A bold statement, but you have to realize that while I respect those bands, I've never been extraordinarily impressed by them. Bryan Scary impresses me.
Bryan Scary - Flight of the Knife (pt. I)
Bryan Scary - Mama Waits


STAY TUNED FOR THE LAST PART AND MY "FAVORITE ALBUM OF 08" POST! :)

B(l)ogged Down, Pt. 5

Murder by Death - Red Of Tooth And Claw
Verdict: Love (<) +
Johnny Cash would be proud ... if Johnny fancied things with a little bit of punk that is.
Murder by Death - Comin' Home
Murder by Death - The Black Spot
Murder by Death - Rumbrave

Robots In Disguise - We're In the Music Biz
Verdict: Like ()
Like The Sounds meets the White Stripes, but dumbed down a little.
Robots In Disguise - We're In the Music Biz
Robots In Disguise - I Don't Have A God
Robots In Disguise - Everybody's Going Crazy

The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion
Verdict: Like ()
The Ruby Suns - There Are Birds
The Ruby Suns - It's Mwangi in Front of Me
The Ruby Suns - Ole Rinka

Sian Alice Group - 59.59
Verdict: Love (<)
Man. I really enjoyed this album. It was slow and soothing and strange and sexy and wow ... just amazing.
Sian Alice Group - When...
Sian Alice Group - Motionless
Sian Alice Group - Contours

Ursula 1000 - Undressed...remixed
Verdict: Like ()
Nice and Dancy but no album of the year
Ursula 1000 - Hello! Let's Go To A Disco ((Robosonic Remix))
Ursula 1000 - Kaboom ((All Good Funk Alliance Remix))
Ursula 1000 - Boop ((Skeewiff Remix))

Warbringer - War Without End
Verdict: Didn't Like (ø)
This album just weirded me out. Having an Angry Yell Death Metal band sing about Satan is just weird and unexpected. I mean, guttural yelling Death Metal, that just makes sense, but this is just strange to me. Plus, it's honestly not the most impressive album.
Warbringer - Instruments of Torture

The Lisps - Country Doctor Museum
Verdict: Love (<)
Sweet and soulful folk. Haunting in more ways than a few.
The Lisps - I'm Sorry
The Lisps - Heaven
The Lisps - The Familiar Drunk

Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique
Verdict: Love (<)
The album had me torn. I think that the whole effect is lost on me since I'm seeing it performed live right before. Given that, it's still fun and ridiculous :)
Ghostland Observatory - Heavy Heart
Ghostland Observatory - Dancin' On My Grave
Ghostland Observatory - The Band Marches On

Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
Verdict: Love More (<3)
You know how you were looking for that perfect dance party album? The one that would go well with LCD and !!!? well here you go. This album is so much fun I'm afraid it's going to set my house on fire.
Hercules and Love Affair - Blind (HECK YES!)
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules' Theme
Hercules and Love Affair - Athene

Why? - Alopecia
Verdict: Love More (<3)
A shining beacon of hope in the dismal sea of horrible music.
Why? - Good Friday
Why? - Gnashville
Why? - These Few Presidents

Beach House - Devotion
Verdict: Love (<)
More chill than Greenland, this album will lull you into a false sense a security so comforting that it will make you gloriously comatose.
Beach House - Gila
Beach House - Some Things Last a Long Time
Beach House - Turtle Island

Andrew Bird - Soldier On
Verdict: Like ()
Few EP's or short releases find their way deep into my heart. Granted there are a few exceptions, but its pretty rare. This release, being so closely released to his last magnificent album, is kind of overshadowed and feels like a bonus disc more than anything. That said, it does have a good song or two. Check that, every song is pretty good.
Andrew Bird - The Water Jet Cilice
Andrew Bird - Oh Sister