Road Trip Mix

A couple of people (including GFP's own Lise) are going on road trips soon, so I thought I would make a little road trip mix. I have about 8 driving mixes that I've made in the past few years, despite the fact that I drive about 4 times a year. I find that music really improves the experience though while driving. Here are some songs that are fun to drive to and that will keep you energized when you're on the road for a while.

12345678 [mp3] - The Hard Lessons - B&G Sides (iTunes)
I Feel It All [mp3] - Feist - The Reminder (iTunes)
Tell Me How You Want It [mp3] - Julius C - Julius C Says (iTunes)
Lego [mp3] - The Maccabees - Colour It In (iTunes)
Cowbell [mp3] - Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon (iTunes)
The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty [mp3] - The Dandy Warhols - Earth to the Dandy Warhols (iTunes)
Hey [mp3] - Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins in Dearland (iTunes)
The Sweat Descends [mp3] - Les Savy Fav - Inches (iTunes)
You Don't Love Me [mp3] - The Kooks - Inside In / Inside Out (iTunes)
Golden Star [mp3] - My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me the Workhorse (iTunes)

And if you happen to be driving through the mountains, I randomly discovered that just about anything by Frontier Ruckus is really perfect for that while I was in Utah.

Best Non-Debut Albums of 2008

Yesterday we brought you our list of Best Debut Albums of 2008, so today we thought we'd follow it up with our list of Best Non-Debut Albums of 2008, in no particular order. If you think we left something out, let us know what in the comments section! Or if you just want to add any thoughts on the albums we posted. Oh, but take note - there are still some lists yet to come (so much good music! We may have gone a little crazy with the lists this year...).

Best Non-Debut Albums of 2008

Nada Surf- Lucky
This seems to be the album that grows on people, slowly taking them over. At first listen, it seemed to be a collection of listenable and radio-friendly songs, but pretty soon we found ourselves craving to listen to those tracks again and again. The lyrics are great and each track has its own lovable element to it, whether it be the uplifting pulsing rhythm of Beautiful Beat or the sung narrated truth of "Everyone's right and no one is sorry" with perfect background "oohs" in See These Bones.
Beautiful Beat [mp3] - (iTunes)

Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Sigur Rós came out with their 5th album this year and it started off on the right orchestrated foot with the now ever-popular Gobbledigook. The band's made-up etheral language of Vonlenska once again proves to be a bewitching characteristic of the group, but they proved that they could create the same emotional experience in English for the first time ever in the track All Alright. While the album lacks the cascading genius that 2005's Takk contained (Festival is simply no Glósóli), the overall feeling of the album is that it is wiser, older and filled with more emotion and drama. More emphasis on keys and guitar progressions, Sigur Rós has learned a thing or two over the years, and this rich, sparkling album is a beautiful example of combining silver with gold.

Gobbledigook [mp3] - (iTunes)

The Dresden Dolls - No, Virginia

A more pensive, slightly less playful album than the "brechtian punk cabaret" duo from Boston has come out with in the past, "No, Virginia" continues to showcase their talent and versatility, taking subjects as dark as rape or as mundane as teen angst and taking them in musical directions that I'm not sure anyone else would ever think of or could ever get away with. The Dresden Dolls remain truly one of a kind.

Night Reconnaissance [mp3] - (iTunes)

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Not traditionally our style, we've gotta give credit to the classic rock sound when it's due. This Americana-alternative rock collection is filled with good tunes that satisfies many an ear, with old-school guitar improvisations, sing-along choruses and that sweet home alabama taste. Some songs sport a different sort of flair, such as the Prince-like vocals on Highly Suspicious or the James Taylor-esque laid-back Librarian or Sec Walkin. Nevertheless, the album is classic rock at its soul, and it the large range and perfection of acheiving the sound intended really makes this album different from the rest.

Librarian [mp3] - (iTunes)

Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornados)

We couldn't resist posting one of our favorite Minneapolis bands. While some people have said this album is not as strong as their others, we have to disagree. So many of the songs from this album have remained on our playlists since the album came out in April, which is proof of the band's staying power and we certainly hope that means the rumors of a break up are false. Cloud Cult's music is always emotionally powerful, lovely, and they have developed their own style very well. It would be ashame for it to end now.

No One Said It Should Be Easy [mp3] - (iTunes)

The Dandy Warhols - Earth to the Dandy Warhols

Is there a Dandy Warhols song that we dislike? Not that we can think of... This album is The Dandy Warhols' first self-released album, which is exciting as they have always struggled with the corporate side of the entertainment industry, some would say to their detriment, and they are the types of free spirits that probably work best when they feel uninhibited by "the man." This album is a highly enjoyable mix of their usual sounds - from psychadelic to country, and just about everything in between. One of our favorite things about them is that they can take any musical genre and make it their own.

The World Come On [mp3] - (iTunes)

Ladytron - Velocifero

When we think about this album, we think "Dance, baby, dance." Crunched drums, fast-tempo, synths, catchy club hooks flying every which way, this album is perfect for those nights that you just want to let loose, especially with the dark thumping drums featured on Predict the Day. The swinging rhythm of Ghosts became the hit track of the album and constantly on the rotation list at clubs, clothes stores and radios nation-wide. The whole album is a solid collection of dance hits that are sure to fit the bill for any night out.

Ghosts [mp3] - (iTunes)

Ane Brun - Changing of the Seasons

A positively haunting album, every song will make you shiver with how gorgeous it is. Ane Brun's effortless voice floats over her fluent music in a way that makes music seem as easy as breathing for her. The album also grows on us with each listen more and more, unlike some albums which you get sick of after repeat listening. Honestly, it's hard for us to describe how talented Ane is, so just listen to her music and hear it for yourself.

The Puzzle [mp3] - (iTunes)

The Hard Lessons - The Complete B & G Sides

Ok so technically it's not one album. But throughout the year, Detroit rock band The Hard Lessons has been coming out with 3-song EPs that they call "B & G Sides" (as in Boy & Girl - Ko Ko Louise writes one, Augie writes one and they write one together I believe). They released volumes 1-4, which is definitely a full LP's worth of songs, so we are still going to count it. Ko Ko and Augie have perfect rock voices and the rockstar attitudes to accompany them (in a good way). And their songs are catchy to boot. They put on a great live show, so if you have the chance to see them, do it.

See and Be Scene [mp3] - (iTunes)

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ

Wonderous, wonderous Scottish indie music, how we love thee, espeically Frightened Rabbit. You're honest, you're life is imperfect, you've felt tough pain - and you create smart indie lo-fi rock songs about it. Its hard to choose favorite lyrics of yours, whether it be the imagery of the hole in Keep Yourself Warm or the understandable "I'm not ready to see you this happy" in Good Arms vs. Bad Arms, but we know that any song of yours is practically perfect. Stellar sophmore album from this amazing group.

Backwards Walk [mp3] - (iTunes)


Best Re-releases

These albums are albums that were self-released by the artist before 2008 but re-released by a label in 2008. Or in a few cases, EPs were released before 2008 and the companion LP released in 2008 has most/all of the songs from the EP.

Meiko - Meiko

It seems like every time we posted Meiko here at GFP, fans would crawl out of the blogosphere woodwork and shout their praise for this artist. Indeed, when Lise first posted Meiko, she couldn't decide which mp3 to post because she loved them all and ended up posting an unprescedented 4 mp3s, so its no wonder that Meiko is on our list now. Technically, Meiko released her album in 2007 and met with tons of success - she landed at #35 for top 100 iTunes albums that year. In June 2008 she signed with a label and her album was re-released in August where it jumped to #14 on the list. Meiko is everything Lise loves- a folk/pop female singer-songwriter that has immense talent. This girl has just begun to outshine many, and we can't wait for her next album.

Boys With Girlfriends [mp3] - (iTunes)

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

This album was originally self-released in 2007 and re-released by the indie label 4AD in 2008. There's something about this album that is reminescent of the experience of listening to early Coldplay or Radiohead for the first time, and there is no other way to explain or describe it. There is something organic and natural about this music - something terribly sad and at peace all at the same time. Its a simply balanced work of art that easily creeps into the soul, and once it does, it circles around once or twice before hunkering down.
Flume [mp3] - (iTunes)

Locksley - Don't Make Me Wait

Locksley is shooting to stardom, opening for acts like The Bravery, Rooney and Ray Davies (of the Kinks). Now that they have a shiny new label behind them and a shiny new bass player (lead singer Jesse Laz-Hirsch's younger brother, Jordan), they've remastered the old tracks, added a few bonus tracks, changed the album cover and rereleased a shiny new version of their old album. Locksley is kind of like The Beatles reincarnate - screaming teenage girls and all. Or well, The Beatles before they went all psychedelic. You can't help but bounce up and down to they're obscenely catchy retro pop sound. And bonus points for the fact that they're all well-dressed, charming and handsome too.

Don't Make Me Wait [mp3] - (iTunes)

Frontier Ruckus - The Orion Songbook

Michigan folk band Frontier Ruckus self-released a six-song EP last year and it was quite a DIY affair in an 8.5 x 11" paper packet (no jewel case), with hand-written lyrics and hand-drawn album art. While that was actually rather charming and gave it a personal touch, they now have a label behind them and can afford jewel cases, which I think is a good thing. They re-released newly recorded versions of 5 of the 6 songs from the EP on an LP this year with a bunch of new songs too. Even though they now have a label, they're still the same old wonderful folk band, with their banjo, saw, harmonica and the arresting vocal harmonies that are some of the most natural I've heard of any band.

The Blood [mp3] - (iTunes)

Sounds of Summer

Lise already posted her top 5 summer songs, but I have been reluctant to admit that summer is over. I'm still not ready for it to end, but I think I can safely list the songs that topped my summer playlist (though picking 5 is too hard, but I've managed to narrow it down to 10). The songs tend to come from all different genres all over the place and were played on repeat for different reasons, which I think is indicative of the type of summer I've had. Well, and my eclectic music taste, in general. In no particular order:

Waltzing with Lady Dawn [mp3] - Matt Jones - "The Black Path" (iTunes unavailable)
That's Not My Name [mp3] - The Ting Tings - "We Started Nothing" (iTunes)
Polite Dance Song [mp3] - The Bird & The Bee - "Please Clap Your Hands EP" (iTunes)
Be Mine Everyone [mp3] - Sam Champion - "Heavenly Bender" (iTunes)
The Blood [mp3] - Frontier Ruckus - "I am the Water You Are Pumping" (iTunes unavailable)
Talk Radio [mp3] - The Dandy Warhols - "Earth To The Dandy Warhols" (iTunes)
Lonesome Organist Rapes Page Turner [mp3] - The Dresden Dolls - "No, Virginia" (iTunes)
This is Where We Are [mp3] - Ravens & Chimes - "Reichenbach Falls" (iTunes)
A Song for Ellie Greenwich [mp3] - Parenthetical Girls - "Entanglements" (iTunes)
Hold It In [mp3] - Jukebox The Ghost - "Let Live and Let Ghosts" (iTunes)

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Earth to the Dandy Warhols

Those of you who read this blog regularly are probably familiar with the Dandy Warhols and my obsession with them. They are one of my favorite bands of all time. There is not a single song on their many albums that I dislike, and their new/upcoming album - their very first self-released work on their own label - "Earth to the Dandy Warhols" is no exception.

Though the album doesn't officially come out until August, you can stream it (and supposedly you can download it in full with some b-sides and live recordings) on their website now. You can also download the opening peppy, groovy, head-bopping track The World The People Together (Come On) - which is listed as The World Come On on the album... - for free on their website by subscribing to their mailing list. So rather than posting it here, I'm going to let you go get it on their website and show your support.

If you've seen the documentary Dig! or if you just know enough about the Dandy Warhols, you're probably really excited for their first self-released album. They (particularly the "genius but he knows it" lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor) are not the type of band that gives in easily to corporate desires. Based on the fact that this album is not that different than the rest of their stuff, I'd say that they did pretty much what they wanted through the years, even when they were on major labels. However, I'm happy for them that they could produce this album on their own, without having to struggle against "the man" (or "mission control" as their new space-themed website jokes) and whatnot.

As usual, the album is a mix of many different sounds, with their trippy jam sound as an undertone that brings it all together. After the bouncy opening track comes the darker '80s synth-rock Mission Control, then the psychedelic but playful funky disco tune Welcome to the Third World. This is followed by a few songs that venture back closer to the core of the Dandy Warhol's sound - trippy, surreal jams with lots of distortion and feedback.

The last few songs of the album are just as varied as the first few. The Dandy Warhols get a little country/bluegrassy/folksy with the pleasantly laid back Love Song - guest starring Dire Strait’s Mark Knopfler and the Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell. Then they change tone a bit and go with a poppy rock number Now You Love Me, before moving on to a sunny, silly, tongue-in-cheek song, Mis Amigos, that (if you don't listen to the lyrics too closely) sounds like something hippie children would be singing around the fire at summer camp - but the bouncy, hint-of-Caribbean sound is contagious and soon I'm smiling and singing "da da da da da" along with the music. This is followed by a gritty country rock song with an absurdly long title in which the low, raspy Johnny Cash-like voice is barely recognizable as Courtney Taylor-Taylor. The title of the song is The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty.

The album then takes a sharp turn to the gentle, melancholy lullaby, Beast of All Saints, and then turns back for a grunge rock number called Valerie Yum that for some reason calls to my mind ZZ Top (except for the hilarious fact that they are singing "yum yum yum yum yum yum," particularly at the end of the song when this becomes a frenzy). This song segways into the obligatory "really long track to end the album" that the Dandy Warhols often seem to do. It's a quiet, ambient-like song called Musee D' Nougat, with a voice speaking softly in what I believe is a French accent in the background - so softly that I can't understand what it's saying most of the time. I would say of all their album-ending 10 minute plus songs, this is my least favorite.

To sum it all up: as always, the Dandy Warhols continue to rock my world with a rich, fun album. Go buy it.

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Lucky number Thirteen

Happy Friday the 13th everyone. I didn't end up making it to Ron Sexsmith last night (which is too bad because it was the perfect night for an outdoor concert, but I got busy... what can you do?). So I am not going to post about him. Instead, since it is Friday the 13th, I am going to post about one of my favorite albums of all time by one of my favorite bands of all time: "Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia" by The Dandy Warhols. (I was also going to post about The Pierces' "Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge" but since they had that concert yesterday I posted about it on Wednesday instead, so check out two posts ago if you haven't already done so because The Pierces rock).

If you don't know The Dandy Warhols, then you make me a little sad inside. In my opinion, they are one of the best bands of all time. I don't think there's a single song on all of their albums that I dislike (granted there are songs I don't particularly like, but I don't dislike them). "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia" is my favorite because it just happens to have the highest number of songs on it that I love from all of their albums.

The Dandy Warhols are from Portland, Oregon. Courtney Taylor (or Courtney Taylor-Taylor as he goes by now...) is the infamous lead singer/founder of the band. He has caused quite a bit of controversy at times by taking more credit for their music than he probably should. Definitely an egomaniac, but also a musical genius. Check out the documentary Dig! about The Dandy Warhols friendship turned feud with the Bryan Jonestown Massacre. It's really interesting and also kind of sad. The crazy antics of Courtney Taylor and BJM frontman Anton Newcombe make for a very entertaining movie. Well, all the band members of both bands are pretty entertaining characters actually and they're all extremely talented. I think my favorite person in the band was actually BJM's Joel Gion, who apparently (just found this out on IMDB) was on Gilmore Girls for an episode or two.

A third band worth mentioning, started by Peter Hayes who left BJM in the late 1990s, is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They play a lot of high energy rock music, with a little country/folk flavor thrown in. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands.

But getting back to The Dandy Warhols, the album "Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia," the third of six albums they've released since 1995, came out in 2000. It has their popular single on it: "Bohemian Like You." I totally love this song and it is so sing-a-long-able but I swear if I see it in another commercial (especially car commercials) or film, I might kill someone. As I know I've said before, I love albums/artists where every song sounds different. The Dandy Warhols are a great example of this and have many different sounds in their repertoire.

A lot of the album is great to just sit back, relax and daydream. It's total stoner music, which is kind of funny because I don't do drugs. "Neitzsche" is a great example of this kind of trippy, relaxed, jamming out sound. "Solid" and "Horse Pills" are more upbeat rock songs. "Get Off," my favorite track on the album, is also really upbeat, but in a different way. I don't know if I can explain what makes "Get Off" different. It's kind of... bouncy...? It's another great driving song like "Bohemian Like You." My second favorite song on the album is actually "Sleep." It's one of the most calming songs I've ever heard. It really is like a lullaby. I went through a phase where I listened to it every night before bed. Sometimes I still do. Everyone I've played it for will start to do the same. It's so beautiful and harmonious. I love how the instruments slowly fade out and are replaced by human voices singing the instrumental parts. It's really just such a pretty, calming song.

Buy the album on iTunes.

And just for fun, the "Bohemian Like You" video:

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