Tag: she & him

listen up!, music musings, music suggestion

before the best… there’s the rest

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There were some massive albums this year. There were some massive singles as well. Unfortunately, not every album was as massive as a particular song might have been, and as such, it fell off of my list; but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve recognition for being great. Also, there were some fantastic albums that were released this year that didn’t meet the criteria for my year end list (EP, re-release, live album, best of collection), so, instead of just ignoring them, I thought I would compile a little “best of the rest list” before getting into the meat of my favorite 31 records of 2008. How does that sound?

Alright, here we go:
The Cardigans – Best Of: As much as I love the Cardigans (they are definitely amongst my favorite groups of all time), putting a Best Of collection amongst the other contenders kind of isn’t fair for the rest of the studio albums on the top 31 list; even if the record (a double record in this case) is amazing. That being said, it’s a great collection with a ton of songs that I hadn’t heard before, mostly because they were B sides or on soundtracks. If you love the Cardigans, it is a MUST have. It is a solid five star album.

Sara Bareilles – Between the Lines: Live at the Fillmore: What should I say that hasn’t been said before? Sara Bareilles is one of the most talented musicians out there right now, and she kills it on this live album. If you have seen her live, you know what I am talking about, and should already own this… if you haven’t seen her, get this, because the audio is amazing.

Robyn – Robyn: If this album would have been released this year, for the first time, it would have probably been number one (if not amongst the top spots) on this list. However, this CD was originally released in 2005, and there isn’t enough new here to make it a contender. That being said, IF this album had of been released this year, it would have fit perfectly; which is a testament as to how forward and amazing this record is… it can stand the test of 3 years, and do so effortlessly. I can’t wait for the next record from Robyn.

Antony and the Johnsons – Another World EP: I love Antony and the Johnsons, and if this EP is any indication as to what we have in store from his next full length release in January, well, you will see this name again next year around this time. The first song on this EP is breathtakingly amazing.

Kaiser Chiefs – Off With Their Heads: Here’s a great record that didn’t connect with me as much as their previous release, but it’s definitely a good record, and I am glad that it’s in my collection.

She & Him – Volume One: It was Paste Magazine’s number one, and while I do really love this record, it didn’t resonate with me on that level. Zooey Deschanel’s voice is amazing; I can’t wait for volume two.

M83 – Saturdays=Youth: And here’s our first casualty ladies and gents… if there were 32 spots, it would be on the list. Fantastic record throughout, it just waivers at the end with the ultra long track, and that is really all that hurts it.

Dave Barnes – Me + You + The World: Here’s another album that should have made the list, but didn’t because there are only so many days in December. It’s a great record in the same vein as Jason Mraz with a little bit more Marc Broussard. There are some eloquent and beautiful songs on this album that captivate me every time I hear them.

Jesse McCartney – Departure: A solid pop album, with some definite movers and dance floor shakers on there. There are a ton of singles on this record, so I don’t know why he has only released two. Either way, he’s maturing nicely.

Ben Folds – Way to Normal: Another solid, and hilarious, album from the great Ben Folds. Just missed the cut, seriously.

Matt Alber – Hide Nothing:This one is kind of a conflict for me, because there are some AMAZING songs on it, but there are more than a couple filler tracks that really drug it down. I am definitely happy to have this in my music collection though, because when Matt’s good, he’s GREAT, seriously, seriously GREAT.

My Favorite Highway – How To Call A Bluff: There are some stunning songs on this album, and they remind me a lot of last year’s top ten group Melee, but they just missed the mark for this year’s list. Note that you cannot by the physical CD on amazon, so the link is for the MP3 CD. If you must only get one song, you have to get Bigger Than Love. That song is amazing.

Aqualung – Words & Music: Lastly, I HAVE to mention Aqualung, not only because he made my top ten last year, but because he released possibly one of the most amazingly beautiful songs on this record, called Arrivals. It is the last track of a record that feels sort of hurried, but there is nothing about this song that isn’t beautiful, sweet, and oh-so elegantly constructed. This is a MUST have just because of that one song, I tell you; I only wish the rest of the album would have been as amazing.

Alright, I PROMISE that the next blog post will be your number 31 CD… stay tuned… it’s coming soon!

five song friday, hotness, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: august 8

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This week, I’ll be honest… had a hard time picking 5 songs. A part of me wanted to post only songs from the amazing Lady GaGa after hearing a bunch leaked tracks off of her upcoming album, because it is sincerely amazing. However, I didn’t want to overkill on GaGa, because as her record gets a real release, I am going to be screaming from the rafters about it then as well. So, I picked an amazing track of hers for this week, and then managed to scrounge up a few other gems as well.

Lady GaGa – Love Game
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_808_ladygaga-lovegames.mp3]
“Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick; I wanna take a ride on your disco stick.” Brilliant. Utterly. Fucking. Brilliant! Seriously, this song just has me moving and grooving, as does every track I have heard from the amazing Lady GaGa (especially the AMAZING track, Just Dance; which I cannot get enough of). It is REALLY rare when an artist comes out with a pop record that is as brilliantly put together as Lady GaGa’s The Fame, and I am incredibly excited about it’s eventual release. Until then, I have been grabbing at every bit of GaGa that I can get my hands on from the magical interwebs, and track after track has filled me with glee. This record is a serious contender for record of the year at this point for me… and it hasn’t even been released! Seriously, if you are a fan of fantastic pop music, come into the Haus of GaGa; because she knows how to create amazing pop, and track after track, she is proving that she is a pop force to be reckoned with. Lady GaGa is one the best things to happen to American pop in a long while.

Keane – Spiralling
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_808_keane-spiralling.mp3]
This week, Keane sent out an announcement that you could download their newest single, Spiralling, for free from their website. Well, being the curious cat that I am, I went ahead and downloaded it, and I have to say, that after several listens, I like it more and more each time I hear it. It is a funky track for Keane, and has me very interested in what they have in store for their upcoming release, Perfect Symmetry. I loved that song Somewhere Only We Know when it came out many moons ago, but I got a bit played out on it, and as such, lost interest in Keane. Well, I can definitely say that Spiralling has renewed that interest in hearing what they have to say.

She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here
This song comes from an amazing band that I have been enjoying for a few months now. It was recommended by a fellow amazing music blogger, and I have to say, I like the slightly unconventional take on pop-country that Zoey Deschanel has taken with her fellow band mate. The technical skill in her singing is very juvenile, but I think that is what makes me like it so much. Her voice is tender and sweet, and it almost sounds like she is singing each song with an ear-to-ear grin on her face. I have seen many movies with her that I have loved (most notably Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), and I love her bubbly spirit and her beautiful look. Much of that personality she exudes in her acting comes forth in the songs she helped create for She & Him, making for a lovely listening experience. If you enjoyed this track, be sure to check out the others. Even though the video is a bit gruesome, I love how tongue and cheek it is about it, especially considering how “sweet” the accompanying song is.

The Script – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_808_thescript-themanwhocantbemoved.mp3]
I was in the car with my buddy Deb yesterday, and this song came on the radio, and each of us instantly agreed that it was a great song. I ran home to try and get it, but low and behold, it isn’t on iTunes, but I was lucky enough to find it on the interwebs. Why is great music so hard to obtain sometimes? Based on how much I like this song, I am sure that I want to know more about the Script, and I will be doing whatever I can to get more of their music (I will definitely snag their album when it goes out on August 12). I love how the lead singer’s voice has a definite likeness to Sting’s beautiful voice; perhaps that is what I was drawn to initially. Either way, I really like this song, and the chorus is one of those that really begs to be played at a pivotal scene in a movie.

Kosheen – Hungry
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_808_kosheen-hungry.mp3]
I don’t know what brought this out, but the other day I was looking through my music, and I realized I didn’t have Kosheen’s CD in my collection anymore. I instantly had to have it, because I remember some of the amazing tracks that they had back in 2001 that just blew me away. The haunting vocals of the lead singer really match the electronic beats and fast pumping melodies in their songs. This song in particularly was a favorite of mine at the time, and really takes me back to many of those nights dancing in the club, having the time of my life. I checked their wikipedia page, and I see that they have a couple of other albums, so I will probably have to check them out at some point in the near future. I’m glad to have been reminded of this random piece of the past… this song is really amazing, isn’t it?

Well, there you have it, five new songs… How do I continue to do it? Well, part of it is from recommendations… so let me know what you are going gaga over these days too. I hope everyone has a smashing weekend!