'08's Music to Love More Than Music: Love, Pt. 11

Love (<)
Sons and Daughters - This Gift
I find myself constantly forgetting what this band even sounds like, and that's not because their music isn't good. I can't really figure it out. But that's certainly one reason the album isn't higher on my list. Sometimes I go with my gut. Well, I always do. Anyway, the music is catchy and dancy and the lyrics are totally "sing-a-long-in-your-car-on-your-way-to-someplace" worthy. I think if they focused themselves they could come up with an epic indie rock album.
Sons and Daughters - Split Lips

Casy and Brian - Catbees
San Fransiscan duo Casy and Brian are electric and peculiar. Sometimes their songs get a little long or a diverge from the dancey nature of their music, but heck, what's a song without a little experimentation? I can't wait until these guys get a little money behind them and get in a good studio so we can hear what they're really capable of.
Casy and Brian - Deux Drumbaclots

Jabee/OB-one - Because I Won EP
Okay, to be honest, I don't know why I liked this EP so much. The lyrics are actually a little dull, and the first track and last track are basically just Jabee talking about all the people he'd like to thank. The beats are good but not phenomenal. I think I attached to it so much because it seemed like there was a lot of promise underneath it all. I dunno. Maybe.
Jabee/OB-one - My Speed

Patti Smith, Kevin Shields - The Coral Sea
This release was a little hard to get through. That's not because it's bad, but because it's dense. A 2 disc set, each disc containing a single live performance of Patti Smith's epic poem The Coral Sea, with Kevin Shields doing improv wickedness behind her. When Patti Smith sets out to say something, she doesn't do so without a little forethought, so the text is deep. Her rich poetry flows swimmingly with Kevin Shields improv compositions. It's clearly a great work, but it's hard to get through unless you set aside some time to sit and listen to it.
Patti Smith, Kevin Shields - Performance I, Part I

Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth
This was one of the albums I attached to early on this year, and I'd forgotten why until a few days ago when I listened to it again. The band clearly knows what they're doing in the music department, they understand that they're basically the only ones making the music that they're making, so whatever they do is probably going to be, on some level, interesting. Thing is, as far as I can tell, they don't stop there, and they decide to make good music. Mixing Cambodian pop, psych, and indie pop, these cats have crafted quite the release.
Dengue Fever - Tiger Phone Card

"Outrageous, Alarming, Courageous, Charming"

(Trust me, that's related, just go get the Okkervil River album and you'll know what I'm talking about)

So school has started back up and the regular amount of scholastic duties have begun to fall upon me like a 2 ton brick ... which is lame ... but I guess I am getting an education ... which is rad. This means I'm not going to get to go to as many shows as I'd like, and I'm not going to be able to blog about music as much as I'd like, but I suppose having a future with a job that isn't fast food is a good trade off (mostly because I can't stomach fast food places or food for even a few minutes). Anyway, this one is kind of short ... I hope to have longer posts in the future. Keep warm Colorado:

Okkervil River - Golden Opportunities mixtape
Verdict: Love (<)
As good as any Okkervil River album (which is very good), but free, and mostly covers ... so why not get it? no reason.
Okkervil River - Golden Opportunities mixtape

Sons and Daughters - This Gift
Verdict: Love More (<3)
Creepy lyrics coupled with dancy drum beats, charging guitars and groovy bass lines this album is instantly engrossing and consistently entertaining. The album is just frightening at times. I find myself going to it and playing it when I can't find anything else I really want to listen to right now, and it usually takes a while to become a fall back. You'll certainly be hearing more about this album from me later on.
Sons and Daughters - Split Lips
Sons and Daughters - The Nest
Sons and Daughters - This Gift

Black Mountain - In The Future
Verdict: Love More (<3)
Like Wolfmother, but less of a rip off and more psychedelic, Black Mountain returns and slays the Sophomore-Slump-Monster with their absolutely stellar release In The Future. At times delving into Prog Rock and early 90's Alt Rock, Black Mountain has sculpted one of the most well rounded albums to ever go unnoticed. Don't get me wrong, I think the album is great, I just think that too few people will really take notice. Their loss.
Black Mountain - Queens Will Play
Black Mountain - Tyrants
Black Mountain - Stay Free

The Royal We - The Royal We
Verdict: Like ()
The Royal We are unabashedly dancy and juvenile. Unfortunately sometimes the juvenile part shines through too well and the music comes off as amateurish. Fortunately, though, this can work to their advantage at times, because, really, you don't need music to be incredibly thought through to be fun. The impression I get from this album is that this band is just a bunch of kids who like to play music and dance around, and, if that's the case, well done :).
The Royal We - I Hate Rock N Roll
The Royal We - Willy
The Royal We - French Legality