Thursday, March 30, 2006

The Best Record Of 2005-Small White Town

Small White Town-Danielia Cotton
My top record of the year, it has been a constant in my CD player since September. What can you say about a woman like Danielia? This little gal with the powerful, soulful, rocking voice was the first XPN Artist To Watch in 2005. I just missed seeing her at the AATMF, although enough people clued me that I got some idea of what I was in for at her performances at Haddon Heights in August and the World CafĂ© Live Downstairs in October. While “Devil In Disguise” was the first single off the CD played by XPN, my favorite track on the CD is the rocking “Today”. But there is not a weak cut here, from the R&B-flavored “Pride” to the heartfelt “It’s Only Life”. If you ever see her, wait for her usual encore, a cover of AC/DC’s “Back In Black” that she and her band rip into with true gusto.

Best Records Of 2005-Fisherman's Woman

Fisherman's Woman-Emiliana Torrini
Haunting and atmospheric vocals from an Icelandic/Italian performer I knew mostly for "Gollum's Song" from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. A departure from her earlier, more trip-hop efforts, gorgeous melodies and a pleasant vibe are present throughout this record. "Sunny Road" is a very listenable pop tune; my favorite cut, "Nothing Brings Me Down", opens with a droning guitar, adds pensive vocals, then later, bass and light percussion. A beautiful record!

Best Records Of 2005-Some Lessons

Some Lessons: The Bedroom Sessions-Melody Gardot
Recorded by her bedside following a car accident that left her with broken bones and hearing and vision disorders, this EP is an inspirational testament to the strong spirit of Philadelphia-area singer-songwriter Melody Gardot. True, "Don’t You Worry Baby", a smoky blues song, shows off her fine voice. But it's in "Some Lessons" that she shines even brighter. For a woman of her age, she really does know quite a lot about life, and in a matter-of-fact way, she's dealing with it.

Best Records Of 2005-Attagirl

Attagirl-Bettie Serveert
Carol’s van Dijk's breathless, sexy cover of Bright Eyes' "Lover I Don't Have To Love" is a nice, rocking opening song. Her voice is the band's best instrument, and it's what pulled me back to the band for the first time since Palomino in the 1990s(along with Peter Visser's surf guitar) in the title song. I also liked the chill club-ready electro-pop of “Versaci”; Don't Touch That Dial" is fast-paced and rhythmic. Visser also has a bit of impressive slide work on "Greyhound Boy," maybe the catchiest track on the record.

Best Records Of 2005-Alligator

Alligator-The National
There are lots of nice tracks on this indie rock release, which admittedly, grew on me slowly. On "Lit Up", Matt Berninger confidently uses his baritone: "My bodyguard shows a revolver to anyone who asks" he states over jagged electric guitars, while his band rips into the chorus. The shouted chorus returns for the anthem-like "Abel". “Baby We’ll Be Fine” is a detailed, nuanced portrait of a struggling, even desperate couple.

Best Records Of 2005-Suit Yourself

Suit Yourself-Shelby Lynne
This record shows a more introspective and soulful Shelby Lynne; here she's more loose and relaxed than on previous outings. She opens the album with "Go With It," a track that begins with a brief rehearsal of the song's bridge, then rips into some rocking R&B. Other songs range from the funny falling-in-love ditty “You and We” to the heartfelt Cash tribute “Johnny Met June”. The emotional heartbreak at the heart of "I Won't Die Alone" is one of the finest songs she has ever written, just full of resilience.

Best Records Of 2005-The Cosmic Game

The Cosmic Game-Thievery Corporation
With a nice cast of guest vocalists and collaborators, this release features some nice, catchy songs, as well as interesting world music-type rhythms. "Marching the Hate Machines (Into the Sun)", with vocals by Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, leads off the record, it's just some awesome chilled trip-hop . I love "Holographic Universe". It's upbeat and funky, better than "The Heart's A Lonely Hunter" (with David Byrne), which got so much airplay during the year. Perry Farrell's echo-saturated performance on "Revolution Solution" is also quite cool.

Best Records Of 2005-Picaresque

Picaresque-The Decemberists
I was a little familiar with the Decemberists before this literate, crafty gem appeared. Led by Colin Meloy, truly a “writer of fictions”, this record is less theatrical than previous release, although more melancholy. There is heard a deep rumble of drums underneath a strummed guitar at the opening of "From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea)" and immediately lets the listener know something dark and foreboding has happened (it's a tale of star-crossed love & suicide). Although it is my favorite track, "The Engine Driver" and "16 Military Wives" are also quite good.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Best Records Of 2005-Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

Language. Sex. Violence. Other?-Stereophonics
There are some pretty good guitar riffs on here by Kelly Jones & co. and a good mix of different, catchy melodies. My favorite song is the up-tempo synth-heavy “Dakota” (which I believe they played at Live8) although I do rock out a quite bit to “Doorman”. “Superman” is also a great rocker and a fine way to start off the record.