Best Albums Of January 2008

2008 started out with a busy month full of strong releases. Here are my favorites:

1. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend | buy it at amazon

   Vampire Weekend self-describes their music as “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “Upper West Side Soweto.” The band is a foursome that connects with the upscale, liberal areas of Cape Cod or Upper West Side Manhattan and the South West Townships of South Africa that is known for an uprising against apartheid in 1976. They play indie rock that is influenced by African pop, like the Conga dance rhythm kwassa kwassa. You can read what you want into this band, but they play intelligent, syncopated rock that swells with its guitar and keyboard melodies and drives with its percussive rhythms.



2. The Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Open | buy it at amazon
   Download “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” (mp3)

   Every time I listen to this album, it sounds like a combination of Band Of Horses and Modest Mouse. There are layers of resounding guitars, mellifluous keyboards, benevolent reverberation, and dexterous rhythms. Beneath the production, however, you can hear the roots of folk songs that developed into resonant pop songs.



3. Jeffrey Lewis – 12 Crass Songs | buy it at amazon

   Anti-folk singer-songwriter and comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis released the best cover album of the month. Originally released in the UK in October 2007, 12 Crass Songs finally came stateside. Adapting 12 songs by the anarchic punk band Crass, Lewis breathes life into the songs with his acoustic guitar. The simplistic production of this album highlights the intelligence and despondent pragmatism of Crass’s lyrics.



4. Thao Nguyen – We Brave Bee Stings And All | buy it at amazon
   Download “Beat (Health, Life And Fire)” (mp3)
   Download “Bag Of Hammers” (mp3)

   With a sultry voice, Thao Nguyen presents her hypnotic take on folk rock. “Bag Of Hammers” is one of my favorite songs of the month with its rollicking, repetitive rhythms and tuneful melody. The songs on this album are rooted in Thao’s voice and acoustic guitar, but are backed by driving but controlled drums and well placed compliment of banjo, mandolin, piano, and more.



5. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular | buy it at amazon

   This electronic rock duo has found a way to mix the sounds of The Verve, Muse, and Big Star with the mock earnestness of The Flaming Lips. “Time To Pretend,” the opening and standout track, records how the band “pretends” they became the big hit. “This is our decision to live fast and die young./ We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun// Yeah it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices and wakeup for the morning commute?”



6. Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea | buy it at amazon

   This is a relaxing release. It makes complex compositions sound simple. His voice bears a strong resemblance to Neil Young and Ben Bridwell, Ramsey’s Band Of Horses band mate, while being padded with mollifying and skillful acoustic guitar playing.



7. The Spectacular Fantastic – Consume / Reward | buy Consume at 75orlessreocrds | download Reward here
   Download “Limitless And Free” (mp3) from Consume
   Download “Feelings” (mp3) from Reward

   This is a combination of 2 EPs, one to purchase (Consume) and one to download (Reward), that bring together 10 tracks for a total of 25 minutes worth of indie power pop. Consume demonstrates more of the diverse elements of The Spectacular Fantastic. For example, within the first 1:30 of “I Don’t Want To Live,” which is only 2:31 long, the guitar tones switch from propulsive clean tones to overdriven, darker ones, before turning back to cleaner, more subdued picking. And it works!



8. Times New Viking - Rip It Off | buy it at amazon
   Download "(My Head)" and "R.I.P. Allegory" (mp3)
   Download "DROP-OUT" (mp3)

   This lo-fi trio from Columbus, OH, released 2 previous records that lead to their signing with Matador Records. Moving to a more prominent indie label did not change the sound of the band’s recordings. The short punk songs were recorded with harsh, clipped sounds, much like The Paisley Reich, but somehow this noisy rock is mesmerizing and abrasively haunting.



9. The Motion Sick - The Truth Will Catch You, Just Wait... | buy it here
   Download "30 Lives" (mp3)

   This album puts the vocals front and center. The lyrics are full of existential and potent subjects, but with whimsical hedonism. There are references to revenge and murder mixed with quips about mood rings and Nintendo cheat codes and a Joy Division cover.



10. Black Mountain - In The Future | buy it at amazon | buy the limited edition version at amazon
    Download "Tyrants" (mp3)

    Full of psychedelic, prog, and stoner rock, Black Mountain returns for their sophomore release. In The Future it’s still the 70’s. Anthemic and epic songs full of classic rock guitar virtuosity will apparently still be the main aural pleasure.

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Comments

[lester]

You've quoted the MGMT lyrics incorrectly: It's "get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute." All lyrics are posted at MGMT's myspace.

[The Wheel's Still In Spin]

Thanks, Lester. I fixed the quote. And was pleased to be turned on to the lyrics. Thanks!