It finally happened. Winter arrived. Snow fell and we woke up this past Sunday with about three inches of the stuff. I’m glad it didn’t arrive earlier, as Friday saw me at KSVR for a four hour stint of music.

The first two hours flirted with folk music and the latter half was full-on garage rock, garage pop and psychedelic pop. Much of the 10 to midnight show came courtesy Finest Kiss, who posted some great 2011 lists.

Taking a week off from radio this Friday, as in appreciated for covering Stuarto’s show on the 13th he’ll be covering mine on the 20th. Here’s the list. Get ready, it’s a long one!

“Sunset Tulips” by Night Genes off Like The Blood
“What Never Comes” by Crooked Fingers off Forfeit/Fortune
“Cavern In A Square” by Ham 1 off Let’s Go On And On And On With Ham 1

“Valhalla” by Jack Wilson off S/T
“End of Days” by Brown Bird off Salt For Salt
“Can’t You Tell” by Vetiver off The Errant Charm

“My Pillow Is The Threshold” by Silver Jews off Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
“The Stations” by The Gutter Twins off Saturnalia
“Be Invited” by The Twilight Singers off Dynamite Steps

“Sixteen, Maybe Less” by Iron & Wine with Calexico off In The Reins
“Changing” by The Moondoggies off Don’t Be A Stranger

“The Wrong Light” by Kasey Anderson and The Honkeys off Heart of a Dog

“Close My Eyes” by Ólöf Arnalds off Ólöf Sings
“Smoke Will Rise” by The Lower 48 off Where All Maps End

“Wings Won’t Behave” by Whistle Peak off Half Asleep Upon Echo Falls

“Alphabet” by The Twilight Sad off No One Can Ever Know
“The Jessica Numbers” by The New Pornographers off Twin Cinema
“Yoshi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1″ by The Flaming Lips off Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

“Here Comes Success” by Royal City off 1999-2004
“No Reply” by Giant Sand off Chore of Enchantment
“October Boy” by Mick Harvey off Sketches from the Book of the Dead

“Dance” by Astrid Williamson off Pulse

“Moon See, Day See” by The Heligoats off Live Free & Let Loose
“Golden Friends” by Leopold And His Fiction

“Don’t Wait” by Bears off Greater Lakes
“Summer Gang” by Afternoon Naps off Summer Gang 7″

“If You Choose To Stay” by The Webelos off Shadow Seasons
“(I’ve Got) Trouble In Mind” by The Limiñanas off (I’ve Got) Trouble In Mind 7″
“Israeli Blues” by Index off Black Album + Red Album + Yesterday & Today [Disc-1]

“As Times Change” by Sea Lions off Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask
“Can You Feel The Backwash” by A Classic Education off Call It Blazing
“Pretty When You Smile” by Sweater Girls off Pretty When You Smile 7″

“Pretty Ballerina” by Left Banke off There’s Gonna Be A Storm – The Complete Recordings 1966-1969
“Like Dylan in the Movies” by Belle & Sebastian off If You’re Feeling Sinister
“Conventional Lullabies” by Young And Sexy off Panic When You Find It

“Roosevelt Island” by Eleanor Friedberger off Last Summer
“Dour Percentage” by Of Montreal off Paralytics Stalks
“The Golden Age” by The Resonars off Bright And Dark

“Catamaran” by Allah-Las off Catamaran b/w Long Journey
“Malkaus” by The Panthers off Pakistan: Folk and Pop Instrumentals 1966-1976
“Where You Gonna Go” by People’s Temple off Sons Of Stone

“Invitations” by Puberty off Invitations 7″
“Shari Vari” by The Dirtbombs” off Party Store

“Tuscaloosa Bar” by Indian Wars off Walk Around The Park

“Sycamore Tree” by Crystal Stilts off In Love With Oblivion
“Raspberry Thighs” by The Mantles off Raspberry Thighs 7″
“Bad Feeling” by Veronica Falls off Veronica Falls

“Give Me Back My Man” by Boyracer off Little Darla Has A Treat For You [Vol. 24 Disc 1]
“Blowing Kisses” by Exlovers off Blowing Kisses 7″
“So High” by Ringo DeathStarr off Colour Trip

“Plastic Disaster” by Little Cuts off Plastic Disaster 7″
“I Wanna Join The Army” by Dan Sartain off Too Tough To Live

“The Start of Something” by Voxtrot off The Start Of Something

In a way, I kind of miss the days when Of Montreal gave us songs like “Disconnect the Dots” and “The Party’s Crashing Us” and even “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal”. Paralytic Stalks seems a different beast entirely, filled with further psychedelic pop experimentation than we’re used to from Kevin Barnes and company. The more I listen to it, the more I get it. This album is not supposed to be an easy listen.

“Dour Percentage” is the first single from the new album, and as singles go it’s a little catchier and a little more accessible than the rest of Paralytic Stalks. There are elements here that are a bit new to Of Montreal — the inclusion of woodwinds, the sheer complexity in song composition, and the intensely personal nature of songwriting. We’ve heard these before from time to time, namely in more recent years Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? to now.

Of Montreal continues to demonstrate they are a band to be reckoned with, one to be taken seriously, and one capable of intricate musicianship and songwriting. To sum it up, “Dour Percentage” may not be the easiest Of Montreal song to listen to. This continues throughout Paralytic Stalks. But some of the best albums begin this way; they grow on you, get under your skin, are well ahead of their time, and ultimately become genius works of art in their own unique way.

I strongly believe this will be that type of album.

Paralytic Stalks arrives February 7 via Polyvinyl Records.

Download: “Dour Percentage” by Of Montreal

Stuarto Glasser, host of the All Around the World Music Show, called me up a little after 5pm Friday and asked if I could fill in for him. Thinking it would be a great way to attract a few more listeners I agreed. I headed home and put together a playlist of some of my favorite indie artists from around the world.

The first half of the list below aired as the split show: The Indie Music Show from All Around the World. I began with some lovable indie pop and transitioned into something a bit more energetic and beat-heavy. This was good, as 4 hours by myself in the booth is a bit exhausting, especially for someone with a fairly early bedtime (around 10:30pm).

“Orienteering” by Little Name off How to Swim & Live
“The Ground Falls Away” by The Zebras off New Ways of Risking Our Lives
“Smokers In Love” by The Lucksmiths off Staring At The Sky

“When Sun Falls On My Feet” by Starlet off When Sun Falls On My Feet
“Mad World” by The Snowdrops off Mad World
“A Lighthearted Lovesong” by The Pets off Love & War

“Boat Behind” by Kings of Convenience off Declaration of Dependence “Piazza New York Catcher” by Belle & Sebastian off Dear Catastrophe Waitress
“My Maudlin Career” by Camera Obscura off My Maudlin Career

“Where Have We Been?” by Acid House Kings off Music Sounds Better With You
“Slapp Inb Solen” by [ingenting] off Labrador 100 “Soviet.se” by The Lovekevins off Max Leon

“Velveteen” by Still Corners off Creatures of an Hour
“Waving Surface” by Anois off Foreign Tragedies

“Shed Like An Hour” by Snails off Shed Like An Hour b/w Daylight Ends
“Drover” by Bill Callahan off Apocalypse

“Western Hospitality” by Club 8 off The People’s Record
“Your Cover’s Blown” by Belle & Sebastian off Books
“1517″ by The Whitest Boy Alive off Rules

“Only Love Can Break Your Heart” by Saint Etienne off Foxbase Alpha
“Verdens største land” by Casiokids off Topp stemning på lokal bar
“Unessa” by Regina off Soita Mulle

“Bad Street” by Twin Sister off In Heaven
“What Became of You and I?” by Treefight for Sunlight off A Collection of Vibrations for your Skull
“Olio” by The Rapture off Echoes

“Another Heaven” by Pallers off The Sea of Memories
“Raise Me Up” by Hercules And Love Affair off Hercules And Love Affair
“Eyes Be Closed” by Washed Out off Within And Without

“Our Own Dream” by Keep Shelly In Athens
“Honey Mine (feat. Victoria Bergsman)” by Korallreven off Honey Mine 7″ Single
“Good Evening” by The Concretes off WYWH
“Who Do You Love” by Museum of Bellas Artes off Force Majeure

“New Violence” by White Williams off Smoke
“Courtship Dating” by Crystal Castles off Crystal Castles
“In Heat (Javelin Remix)” by Health off Disco2

“Guys Eyes” by Animal Collective off Merriweather Post Pavillion
“Photojournalist” by Small Black off New Chain
“Walkabout (with Noah Lennox)” by Atlas Sound off Logos

“17″ by Youth Lagoon off The Year Of Hibernation
“Natural” by Okay off Huggable Dust
“While We’re Young” by Inspired And The Sleep off Teenager

“Run Through My Hair” by Oneida off The Wedding
“The Wayward Granddaughter” by The Fiery Furnaces off Rehearsing My Choir
“I Was Never Young” by Of Montreal off The Sunlandic Twins

“The Messiah Is Falling” by Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters off Underrated Silence

Let me tell you a story. In 2007 some notable things happened. I attended the annual music festival SXSW (the image above is of myself and The Lovely Sparrows’ Shawn Jones, taken by Abandoned Love Records/Virgin Of The Birds’ Jon Rooney), I grew a mustache, and I met a beautiful girl named Andi at the Capitol Hill Block Party. We hit it off and ditched the after-party to get a sprite (her) and coffee (me) at Denny’s in Ballard (sadly no longer there) at 1:30am. I still have the mustache and I’m still dating Andi. A lot of pretty notable things happened that year, and a lot of great releases came out…

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Ooops: Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On New Paint by The Lovely Sparrows

We begin tonight with an error, an accidental and tragic omission from 2006 as it was ultimately one of my favorites from the year; that being The Lovely Sparrows’ phenomenal EP Pulling Up Floors, Pouring On New Paint. 2007 was the first time I heard it live and it absolutely blew me away, just as the EP had many times over. Here it is, a track from my favorite show from 2007 (well, from their EP that is):

The Lovely Sparrows: Chemicals Change [mp3]

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1/3. Wizards Of Ahhhs by Black Kids

Black Kids were my #1 hype band of 2007. Shunning label and any released material, with exception to this here digital EP, the group took off with astounding force. Their debut LP didn’t quite live up to the hype, but was still pretty good. This year (2009) the album finally got a physical release, and it happened during the famed Record Store Day. The 10″ EP is sitting in my collection right now.

Black Kids: I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You [mp3]

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33. The Bird Of Music by Au Revoir Simone

You can view this band in two ways. At first glance, Au Revoir Simone’s make up is of three attractive nerdy women with Casio keyboards and an affection toward Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure. But the deeper you look into their music, the more you find that these three women are sirens and muses ready to swallow your soul in the most delightful of ways. You’ll practically beg for them to take it.

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32. The Stage Names by Okkervil River

I really love how The Stage Names concludes with “John Allyn Smith Sails”, a song that channels The Beach Boys’ classic “Sloop John B”. The Stage Names was part one of a conceptual pair of albums, the second of which, The Stand Ins was released in 2008.

Okkervil River: Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe [mp3]

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31. In Stormy Nights by Ghost

The experimental Japanese classical group Ghost is an interesting collective of artists. In Stormy Nights is, without question, among their more accessible releases. With sole exception to the 28 minute “Hemicyclic Anthelion”, the album was pretty cohesive in its piecing together of full songs. It wasn’t a musical rant of avant garde as found in that lone lengthy track. “Motherly Bluster” and “Gareki No Toshi” and “Caledonia” were actually catchy, a term not likely included in any prior mention of the band.

You can stream the entire album over at Drag City.

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30. For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver

Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago is an album of insurmountable beauty. Soft acoustics fronted by Justin Vernon’s pleasant falsetto made tunes like “For Emma” and “Flume” stand out. While not necessarily bedroom pop, the album included many of that subgenre’s sensibilities yet defied its true nature. Bon Iver is much too folky to be that.

Bon Iver: Skinny Love [mp3]

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29. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is my favorite Spoon album since Kill The Moonlight. “Don’t Make Me A Target” and “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” hinted at that earlier album’s greatness yet took the band’s progression of the years between into account. Absolutely wonderful!

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28. Cold City by Eux Autres

Their sophomore release, Eux Autres continued to pump out quality lo-fi, French-influenced pop music. Raw and at times minimal, the brother-sister duo began to expand into a trio and add keys to the guitar/drums/vocals mix. “Molly”, “When I’m Up” and “Anne Boleyn” were early favorites, but “The City All To Himself” topped them all.

Eux Autres: When I’m Up [mp3]

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27. In Camera by Arthur & Yu

Hardly Art’s first release as a label, In Camera is an album that references Summer of Love and a decade’s old style of San Francisco folk-pop. There’s plenty here to love.

Arthur & Yu: Come To View (Song For Neil Young) [mp3]

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26. Red Bloom Of The Boom by Bear In Heaven

With Red Bloom Of The Boom, Bear In Heaven followed in the footsteps of freak-folk and pop artists such as Animal Collective, but their music is also likely to find itself in the crowd with AC spinoff Panda Bear. For fans of more avant-garde indie, Red Bloom Of The Boom is a must have for your collection.

Bear In Heaven: Bag Of Bags [mp3]

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25. The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations’ Millennium General Assembly by Le Loup

When I saw Le Loup live at CMJ in 2007, I knew I needed their debut album from Hardly Art. Somewhat of a concept album, The Throne delves into the psyche and psychosis of Sam Simkoff. Spirits are at work here—light versus dark—and the result is a miraculous journey into a brilliant mind.

Le Loup: We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! [mp3]

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24. Autumn Of The Seraphs by Pinback

Slightly more rock-centric with a bit higher production value and a little less orchestration is how Autumn Of The Seraphs came to us. Pinback continued their pointed and oft angular sounds that has always made them a wholly unique band. I’ve been kicking myself for not picking up their albums before this one, as Seraphs was ultimately my introduction to the band.

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23. No Shouts No Calls by Electrelane

The last Electrelane album before their (hopefully not) eternal hiatus is without a doubt my favorite. From the singles “The Greater Times” and “To The East” to the epic post-rock “Saturday” and “Cut And Run”, No Shouts No Calls is truly a remarkable album.

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22. The Flying Club Cup by Beirut

Condon’s voice continues to mature, though one would think it impossible. Deep and rich, his vocals and trumpet alike fill the air with boisterous glee. The album also found Condon relinquishing some of his domination on the album (as Beirut’s entire debut was put together by Condon himself) to other artists, which was a welcome feature. The Flying Club Cup is a definite must-have from 2007.

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21. The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse by The Besnard Lakes

…Are The Dark Horse eluded me in 2007; I listened to it for the first time within 24 hours of publishing my original Best of 2007 list and was devastated I wouldn’t be able to include it. There are infectious pop moments thanks to Beach Boys-like harmonies, but the instrumentation is thick and atmospheric. This band is one of a kind.

The Besnard Lakes: And You Lied To Me [mp3]

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20. Parades by Efterklang

Parades blends the orchestrated pop sensibilities of Sigur Ros with a massive experimental orchestral pop sound. With emphasis on multiple vocal parts, immense percussion, and an intense horn section, Efterklang’s Parades took a sound similar to that of Anathallo and expanded it to epic proportions.

Efterklang: Cutting Ice To Snow [mp3]

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19. Everything Is A Miracle Nothing Is A Miracle Everything Is by Kickball

This pristine 10″ LP found Kickball outdoing themselves. Previously, ABCDEFGHIJ saw them capitalizing on a math-y, in-your-face style of lo-fi gritty emotive puck rock. Everything Is A Miracle Nothing Is A Miracle Everything Is took this sound to the next level, from opener “Underground Husbands” to epics like “Hotelsmotels” and “Sometimes”. It’s a truly beautiful piece of work, this album.

Kickball: Pocketknife [mp3]

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18. Eulogy For Evolution by Ólafur Arnalds

One wouldn’t expect classical music to make a list like this, but here it is, Ólafur Arnalds’ outstanding Eulogy For Evolution. As the album builds from the pleasantries of “3055″ into “3326″, it goes from a calm hypnosis into tense strings. Then the album bows out with “3704/3837″ hitting hard with an anthemic electric guitar. Arnalds is truly the modern king of classical composition.

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17. In Our Bedroom After The War by Stars

Stars always lag a bit when it comes to me. There’s a progression here that’s a bit strange, yet it’s consistent with all of their recent releases. At first, I’ll dislike the album completely. It’ll sit on my shelf for some time, possibly as long as a year or more. Then I’ll pick it up and it’ll blow me away. In Our Bedroom After The War was nowhere to be found on my original 2007 list, and I mistakenly added it toward the end of my 2008 list (oops!) and was called on the error. Yet here it is, now within the top 20. It makes me wonder what one, maybe two more years will do to it.

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16. Let’s Drag Our Feet by BOAT

D. Crane will likely remain at the forefront of my list of friendliest musicians. There’s something about his demeanor, party enhanced by his continual slight smile, that makes you simply know he’s a fun guy. It’s like he finds the world and life in general flat out amusing. And he injects that outlook on life directly into the heart of his music. “Period. Colon. Backslash” from this album was once dedicated to my mustache at a show in Seattle. Totally awesome.

BOAT: (I’m A) Donkey For Your Love [mp3]

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15. Voxtrot by Voxtrot

I often say that nothing will top Voxtrot’s debut EP and so far nothing has, simply because of the power behind the two singles, “The Start Of Something” and “Raised By Wolves”. Their debut self-titled LP is a lovable album that includes many single-worthy tracks, bringing the band forward in indiepop with a broader, slightly more produced sound.

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14. Fleeting Frequencies by Patience Please

I love these guys; it’s no secret. Their songs fill me with joy, whether it’s the tribute to your parents’ sale of your childhood home in “Exclusively Windermere” or the choo-choo drums by Chris at the beginning and end of “Coal Enough For Steam”. Jordan and Ray’s lyrics are thoughtful and clever, and Keegan’s work on keys and backup vocals round out the quartet perfectly. It was sad they disbanded a few months after Fleeting Frequencies hit stores.

Patience Please: If You’re Sure [mp3]

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13. Challengers by The New Pornographers

Twin Cinema never caught on for me. Neither did Mass Romantic. There were several tracks off Electric Version that I fell in love with, but the album was never on constant repeat. Challengers changed all that. God this is a great album!

The New Pornographers: Myriad Harbour [mp3]

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12. Andorra by Caribou

“Melody Day” continues to be one of the top songs from 2007. Andorra was somewhat of a gracious tribute to 30th anniversary of The Summer Of Love, and it fits the 70s sound of psychedelic folk-pop beautifully. Fronted by Dan Snaith, who has a Ph.D. in mathematics, it’s obvious that this album is quite a trip!

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11. In Rainbows by Radiohead

The hottest of hot bands and most hype-driven and noteworthy artist of the past decade is Radiohead. Snubbing their record label and the following hurrah’s of a pay-what-you-want model, the band knowingly found themselves in the eye of a faltering industry. They shunned all ties to create a pave their own path with In Rainbows, favoring the aforementioned consumer friendly model with added promotional elements in various web-casts. In Rainbows was, obviously, like virtually the entire Radiohead library: an instant classic.

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10. Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

Sound of Silver is a more than viable follow-up to the self-titled release from a few years ago. This is obvious thanks to one of the best songs of the decade, “All My Friends”, as well as opening power trio “Get Innocuous”, “Time To Get Away” and “North American Scum”. Even the slower, more emotive tracks like closing tune “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down” were awe-inspiring.

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9. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? by Of Montreal

I remember first hearing “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal” – at a hair under 12 minutes, it was hard to miss. The song is one of Kevin Barnes’s most introspective and personal tracks yet, and the rest of the album compliments it well. “Suffer For Fashion” and “Cato As Pun” and “She’s A Rejecter” remain among of my favorites by the band. This furthered Barnes along the path toward icon status.

Of Montreal: Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse [mp3]

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8. Person Pitch by Panda Bear

Panda Bear’s relation to Animal Collective is obvious beyond the group’s makeup. Added to the bizarre nature of AC’s eclectic experimental folk sounds are Beach Boys-esque vocal patterns that make Person Pitch that much more unique. “Bros”, “Comfy In Nautica”: beautiful.

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7. Cryptograms by Deerhunter

It’s amazing to think how far Deerhunter has come since Flourescent Grey. Cryptograms found the experimental band solidifying their sound with some of the year’s best tracks, including the title track, “Lake Somerset”, and “Strange Lights”.

Deerhunter: Cryptograms [mp3]

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6. 23 by Blonde Redhead

23 is a tight-knit album, but it’s to be expected from a band as solid as Blonde Redhead. It works both as a cohesive unit and as individual songs. From “The Dress” to the title-track “23” to the album favorite “Publisher”, with 23, Blonde Redhead put yet another phenomenal album under their collective belts.

Blonde Redhead: 23 [mp3]

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5. Invitation Songs by The Cave Singers

Discovering great music is a wonderful feeling, but doing so by mistake is even better. I wanted to be in the front row for Grand Archives’ Capitol Hill Block Party performance so I showed up a performance early. And that’s when I was introduced to The Cave Singers. Invitation Songs is a glorious album of semi-religious folk tunes, dusty and gritty like a dust bowl-era wanderer.

The Cave Singers: Helen [mp3]

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4. All Hour Cymbals by Yeasayer

Likened to a barbershop quartet gone eclectic indie rock, Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals drew a lot of hype upon its release at the tail end of 2007. “Sunrise” and “2020″ were instant favorites. Word on the street is that they’ve got a new one slated for early 2010; it’ll be interesting to see how the two albums stack up. All Hour Cymbals will be a very difficult one to top.

Yeasayer: 2080 [mp3]

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3. Friend And Foe by Menomena

I didn’t understand what was so fascinating about Menomena until I saw them live at Bumbershoot in 2007. The group added a choir in their backline, and the songs that made up Friend And Foe became instantly recognizable as awe-inspiring anthems. After that, I was absolutely hooked and I have been ever since.

Menomena: Wet And Rusting [mp3]

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2. Night Falls Over Kortedala by Jens Lekman

Night Falls On Kortedala took me by surprise. Lekman’s prior albums were strong with tunes about getting arrested, naughty words that begin with F, a few spanning a movie featuring Cher and Eric Stoltz, and the cool taxis of London. But none are as powerful as a whole as that of Night Falls On Kortedala. “Postcard to Nina” and “And I Remember Every Kiss” and “Sipping On The Sweet Nectar” and “Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo” are all vastly memorable tunes. Add to it plush orchestration and you have Fense’s top album of 2007.

Jens Lekman: The Opposite Of Hallelujah [mp3]

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1. Albatross by Fishboy

Theif! Fishboy stole best album of 2007 from Jens Lekman. It was close to begin with, but it’s really no contest. Concept albums can be brilliant and Albatross is a prime example, perhaps the optimum example. The album tells the story of how the protagonist “failed to save the lone star state with the power of rock and roll.” Touring the country, Fishboy plays their so-called Rock Opera in its entirety from start to finish in what I hail as one phenomenal phucking performance! The story is fodder for a low-budget indie film. The day that film is made will be the day my life is complete.

Fishboy: Half Time At The Proper Name Spelling Bee [mp3]

2005 opened my eyes to a world of new music. I joined the crew at KZUU over the summer, my first summer back in Pullman working toward my Masters in Business. I’d spend my two-hour show pouring over thousands of obscure albums, looking for anything that might spark my interest. While music had always been a borderline obsession, until now it was just that – borderline. In the days that passed, it became a full-fledged consumption of everything me. There are turning points in all of our lives, and DJing at KZUU was absolutely one of mine.

I’ve once again expanded the list, this time to 25. Eventually we’ll get to the top 33 and 1/3 albums, which debuted on FensePost in 2008. Will it be 2006 or 2007? Who knows? Certainly not me at this point in time. My focus right now is 2005. Here are my favorites…

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UPDATE: 2009.12.15

It was bound to happen – I’d forget an album somewhere on this list and unfortunately it was one that would have not only made the top 10, but should have chimed in at around #3 or #4. Here’s a retrospective for my A Retrospective…

A Late #3 or #4. Public Radio by The Legends
Their debut album, Up Against The Legends, was my top album of 2003 so it’s only natural for this one to come close. It was a change from that first album, which was ahead of its time with the fuzzy pop that’s become so popular this year (2009). Instead, Public Radio was dark and filled with reverb. Still, it was no less mesmerizing. Listen and hear for yourself:

The Legends: He Knows The Sun [mp3]

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25. Silent Alarm by Bloc Party
A hype band of a more mainstream sort, Bloc Party‘s Silent Alarm was, in its day, quite good… and it remains so to this day. Songs like “Helicopter”, “Banquet” and “Blue Light” are what carried this album, and this band, to the mainstream. And it was worth it – these songs are catchy, and full of a powerful punch.

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24. The Wedding by Oneida
Boy do I love “Lavender”, the second track on this album. In their extensive time as a group, Oneida come to define experimental rock, slipping ever further into its abyss. The Wedding was by no means their first foray into experimentation, and it was far from their last (see their most recent works for that), but it did find a comfortable balance between a sound somewhat accessible and enveloped in avant garde.

Oneida: Run Through My Hair [mp3]

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23. Strange Geometry by The Clientele
The opening track, “Since K Got Over Me”, was by far the most powerful on The Clientele‘s Strange Geometry. When I think of this album, I always go straight to that song, but others hold weight as well, like “My Own Face Inside The Trees” and “Geometry Of Lawns”.

The Clientele: E.M.P.T.Y. [mp3]

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22. The Mysterious Production Of Eggs by Andrew Bird
Two words, one song: “Fake Palindromes”. I never really thought much of Andrew Bird until I heard this song, mainly because I hadn’t really spent the time to listen to his post Squirrel Nut Zippers solo work. This song alone was impressive enough to spark my interest and make me seek out his back catalog. Again, the rest of the album was pretty good as well.

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21. Tales From The Turnpike House by Saint Etienne
Still a far cry from their glorious 1991 release Foxbase Alpha, 2005 saw Saint Etienne giving us Tales From The Turnpike House, their best album in a very long time. Other releases were pretty good, but they outdid them with tracks like “A Good Thing” and “Slow Down At The Castle”. Blending their signature 60s pop sound with more modern electronic dance, Saint Etienne once again succeeded at producing excellence.

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20. Cripple Crow by Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart‘s Cripple Crow has become the ideal album when it comes to the clash of modern folk with world music. It found Banhart collaborating with countless musicians across many lands, and it became a masterpiece in its own right. At times a bit strange, with 22 tracks in total, there were plenty of songs to make up for those that were a bit too far out there.

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19. The Exquisite Death Of Saxon Shore by Saxon Shore
With epic, screaming heights and soft dulcet lows, Saxon Shore is instrumental post-rock at its best. Following the path of artists like Explosions In The Sky, this band has a full and dreamy sound, whether loud or soft, that is impossible to ignore.

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18. Disaffected by Piano Magic
The music Piano Magic creates is part dream, part uncanny and supernatural. The guitars echo shoegaze, while the vocals in songs like “Your Ghost” find a comfort in their similarity to masters like Leonard Cohen. “Deleted Scenes” and “Disaffected” give the album an electronic presence, also dark, mysterious and hypnotic. Disaffected is truly a beautiful album.

Piano Magic: Disaffected [mp3]

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17. LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem
I’d always thought the hype surrounding LCD Soundsystem was a bit of an overkill. Then select songs like “Tribulations” and “Great Release” would pop up on my iPod and I began to realize that it was I that couldn’t see beyond my own pretentiousness. There’s plenty of merit here. Plenty.

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16. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Alec Ounsworth’s vocal whine is instantly recognizable and quite unique. Paired with the poppy beats that back Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on their self-titled debut, and it’s a match fit for success. “Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away” and “The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth” have once again entered my playlist; like Give Up, I’d forgotten how great these songs were.

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15. Hello, Dear Wind by Page France
Before Page France released Hello, Dear Wind, the name Michael Nau likely meant little to anyone outside friends and acquiantances of the man himself, but upon its release began a trail to Nau’s installment as one of indie-pop’s most promising individuals. His ability to craft the most lovable of melodies is, in terms of the pairing of psychedelic-folk and indie-pop, virtually par none, as demonstrated in “Chariot” and “Windy” and “Elephant”.

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14. Gimme Fiction by Spoon
Yet again, Spoon achieves. With each new release, the band gains more attraction from the masses and Gimme Fiction was no exception. The funky beats in “I Turn My Camera On” and the catchy swagger in “I Summon You” near pop-rock perfection.

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13. Tanglewood Numbers by Silver Jews
I didn’t really get into Silver Jews until late last year, but since then they’ve become quite regular in my playlist. Thanks to tracks like “Punks In The Beerlight” and “Sleeping Is The Only Love”, David Berman has shown here that he’s capable of being one of modern-day’s most appreciated and praise-worthy folk-rockers.

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12. Picaresque by The Decemberists
I thought for sure that The Decemberists wouldn’t remain in these lists past those first few albums, but revisiting Picaresque, I knew I was kidding myself. I remember watching the band play “The Infanta” and seeing Chris Funk run through the crowd with a large pair of cardboard whale jaws in “The Mariner’s Revenge”. This album is packed with excellent tunes in the vein of The Decemberists’ signature educated, melodic nerdy theme.

The Decemberists: The Engine Driver [mp3]

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11. Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens
Nontraditional instruments, full orchestration, and a blend of folk and pop sensibilities, Sufjan Stevens has made a name for himself as one of indie’s most appreciated and unique modern artists. Illinoise was the album that truly ballooned his trajectory to independent music fame with songs like “Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL” and “Chicago”.

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10. Feels by Animal Collective
Yet another strong release by Animal Collective, with each new release the band gets better despite insurmountable prior greatness. “Grass” was an early favorite, as well as “Bees”. Feels opens strong with “Did You See The Words” and continues as such through “Turn Into Something”, what remains their most gripping closing track yet.

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9. Horses In The Sky by A Silver Mt. Zion
Opening opus “God Bless Our Dead Marines” is an ode to the anti-war movement – an exposé to the horrors of post-war personalities, the harm that comes from witnessing and committing atrocities. And Silver Mt. Zion conveys it with heavy post-rock orchestration in the vein of their brothers and sisters Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

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8. Before The Dawn Heals Us by M83
There’s something entirely great about the spooky track “Car Chase Terror” that I absolutely love. M83‘s Before The Dawn Heals Us differed from that which came after (Saturdays=Youth) in that it’s not an album concerned about generating hype. It’s mysterious and really quite good, but it’s not one that will ultimately get overplayed by the masses; and that’s what makes it better than Saturdays=Youth. Before The Dawn Heals Us is almost a concept album, flowing from beginning to end with an electro-version of a horror movie soundtrack. It has staying power outside of the hipstery ballyhoo, and you can hear it throughout the album, from the mostly instrumental opener “Moon Child” to the lengthy epic closing track “Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun”.

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7. And The Glass Handed Kites by Mew
Mew‘s Frengers didn’t really do anything for me, but boy did my opinion of these guys change when they released And The Glass Handed Kites! Such an interesting album, filled with epic rock that strays between prog, psych and art. The album works well as a whole, from the flawless transition from “Circuitry Of The Wolf” into “Chinaberry Tree” to the catchy “Special” and the amazing “The Zookeeper’s Boy”.

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6. Max Léon by The Lovekevins
Max Léon is one of two EPs to make the top ten. Sure, an EP isn’t necessarily an album, per se, but both warrant their inclusion in this list. In Max Léon, The Lovekevins (who after this release shortened their name to The LK) pulled together four exceptional tracks.

The Lovekevins: Soviet.se [mp3]

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5. Apologies To The Queen Mary by Wolf Parade
God, when I first heard “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son”, the opening track off Wolf Parade‘s Apologies To The Queen Mary, I was absolutely floored. And then the album continued… “Modern World”, “Grounds For Divorce” – these are tracks that continue to possess a special power. And it just moved forward from there, with greats like “Fancy Claps”, “Same Ghost Every Night” and on through “This Heart’s On Fire”.

Wolf Parade: You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son [mp3]

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4. The Loon by Tapes N Tapes
Whenever I hear select tracks off The Loon by Tapes ‘N Tapes, I can’t help but think of Clell Tickle, the fictitious record promoter played by Aziz Ansari, the pretentious French blogger played by Paul Scheer, and the bouncer played by Rob Riggle. All have gone on to fame, and Tapes N Tapes continues to pump out great music. Still, it’s a tough one to beat with tracks like “The Insistor” and “Jakov’s Suite”.

Tapes ‘N Tapes: Insistor [mp3]

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3. The Sunlandic Twins by Of Montreal
Capturing yet another top five spot, Of Montreal matched Satanic Panic with their 2005 release The Sunlandic Twins. I remember the first time I heard “The Party’s Crashing Us” and despite nearly five years between then and now, the song still wows me. And despite the Bonus EP’s understandable folly (“Everyday Feels Like Sunday” being lent to Outback Steakhouse ruined the song for me, but ultimately helped out the band – I’m not above giving them the nod for that), it has the excellent “Art Snob Solutions”. And the rest of the album is just as great, with tracks like “Oslo In Summertime” and “I Was Never Young” to name a few.

Of Montreal: So Begins Our Alabee [mp3]

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2. Raised By Wolves by Voxtrot
True this is an EP, but it warrants the number 2 spot. “The Start Of Something” by Voxtrot is my second favorite track of 2005, coming very close to topping a track off my #1 album of this year. Songs like title track “Raised by Wolves” and the band’s first (and quite rare in 7″ form) single “The Start Of Something” have come to be givens in my continuing playlist of best songs. Rounding out the EP are “Missing Pieces”, “Long Haul” and “Wrecking Force”, all viable tracks.

Voxtrot: The Start Of Something [mp3]

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1. Sing Along With The Acid House Kings by Acid House Kings
A hair’s difference is what splits Acid House Kings‘ “Do What You Wanna Do” and Voxtrot’s “The Start Of Something” as my favorite song of the year. Easily one of my favorite songs of the decade, in Sing Along With… Acid House Kings created an album packed with pure pop genius. As the band prepares their follow up to this album, they’ve been critiquing their past songs on Twitter. In my opinion, “Do What You Wanna Do” get a full five stars, as do “7 Days”, “Tonight Is Forever” and “Will You Love Me In The Morning”. The remaining songs are close behind.

Acid House Kings: Do What You Wanna Do [mp3]

What a decade it’s been. 2004 was my first year in the so-called Real World; jobs, car payments, instability everywhere. Things weren’t all happy and seemingly upbeat like the mid 90s. After eight months in Seattle, I found myself unemployed and decided it was time for more education. I moved to the greater Portland area and began prep to enter a Masters in Business Administration program, taking night classes at WSU Vancouver and making a frequent trip out to Pullman, where I’d soon attend graduate school. The overall instability and open-your-eyes wake-up calls of 2004 seemed to extend beyond me. Two of the most honest and disturbing albums I’ve ever heard were released this year – another strong one in music overall.

Here are my favorite albums of 2004. Leave a comment if you have a favorite I didn’t include here, and feel free to let us all know why it would have made your list.

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20. Blueberry Boat by The Fiery Furnaces
From one that can tolerate some pretty out-there music, The Fiery Furnaces have always been a hard pill for me to swallow. Their harmonies are sometimes a bit too crazy, or their abruptness catches me off guard in the wrong way. EP, for me, was a bit more accessible with songs like “Single Again” and “Here Comes The Summer”, but there are some excellent tracks here as well, like “Blueberry Boat” and “My Dog Was Lost But Now He’s Found”, despite their sometimes 90 degree turns.

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19. Bright Like Neon Love by Cut Copy
Like many, I wasn’t familiar with Cut Copy when this album was released, nor was I in the years that followed. It wasn’t until In Ghost Colours was released in 2008 that this album came into view. “Time Stands Still” and “Saturday” are the album toppers here, and they channel the 80s electro-synth-pop and a Pet Shop Boys sound that’s become so popular today.

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18. On Vacation by The Robot Ate Me
Odd that Anacortes is a hot spot for some of the best truly underground music around. On Vacation by The Robot Ate Me is one of the most disturbing albums I’ve ever encountered. With subject matter on holocausts and mass genocide, and backed by sampled music from the 1920s and 1930s, this double disc is more than capable of creeping you out. Songs like “The Genocide Ball”, “Crispy Christian Tea Time”, and “Oh No! Oh My! (1994)” reminisce on old children’s tunes, a dance number your grandparents may have listened to, or the feel-good tunes of a long-forgotten yesteryear. Hearing that last number, “Oh No! Oh My! (1994)”, recounts the largest failure of the Clinton Administration – the refusal to do anything during the genocide in Rwanda. On Vacation is a masterpiece with shock value that will have you tapping your toes and singing along while you cry for humanity’s lost soul. It’s a portrayal of the civilized world at its worst – a political plea for us all to open our eyes and take a renewed look at the world in which we live. And it works.

The Robot Ate Me: On Vacation (Pt. 2) [mp3]

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17. Smile by Brian Wilson
The infamous Smile; the album that should have followed The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds decades earlier (Brian Wilson began work on Smile in 1966). Smile is a far cry from Pet Sounds , but Brian Wilson does his best in capturing the sound of that day, minus his then decaying mental state and the internal strife of his band. That Wilson resurrected the legendary lost Beach Boys album and finished it nearly forty years after initiation is astonishing, and listening to “Good Vibrations” and “Heroes And Villians” and even “Roll Plymouth Rock” – I for one am glad he did.

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16. In A Safe Place by The Album Leaf
In A Safe Place was my introduction to The Album Leaf, and it remains a favorite by Jimmy LaValle. Recorded with a few members of Sigur Rós in their studios, the album is a captivating instrumental dream. When vocals are added in tracks like “On Your Way”, the songs come full-circle for a truly affecting presence.

The Album Leaf: On Your Way [mp3]

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15. Our Endless Numbered Days by Iron & Wine
I tend to like Iron & Wine when their folk takes on a pop edge, as it did here on Our Endless Numbered Days. There’s more melody; a fuller overall sound. From the slide guitar in “On Your Wings” to the pure beauty that is “Love & Some Verses”, this is Sam Beam’s strongest album yet, with possible exception to his collaboration with Calexico for In The Reins. Some of the EPs and singles come close but they just don’t hold the overall power of this album.

Iron & Wine: Naked As We Came [mp3]

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14. Wild Like Children by Tilly & The Wall
Boy do I love multiple vocals and the hand-claps, knee-slaps, and foot-stomps (and even the tap-dancing!) in “Fell Down The Stairs”, and how they made a zombie-themed angsty teen-romance pop song with “Nights Of The Living Dead”. And the piano/percussion masterpiece “You And I Misbehaving” and “Reckless” and the list goes on! Wild Like Children by Tilly & The Wall is an album that will absolutely have you singing at the top of your lungs, clapping along, and slapping your knees in delight. The songs are indubitably catchy, and it’s hard to not get caught up in their glorious pop power.

Tilly & The Wall: Fell Down The Stairs [mp3]

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13. Fabulous Muscles by Xiu Xiu
Like On Vacation, Xiu Xiu‘s Fabulous Muscles is among the most disturbing of albums I’ve ever heard. Definitely in the top five. But it’s also one of the more accessible pieces of work by front-man Jamie Stewart. Songs like “I Luv The Valley OH!” and “Clowne Towne” are almost radio-friendly (we’re talking late-night college radio-friendly here). Yet songs like “Fabulous Muscles” and “Support Our Troops OH! (Black Angels OH!)” are almost painful to hear, not because of Stewart’s sometimes abrupt shrieks but because of their lyrical content about the tragedies of rape and war.

Xiu Xiu: Clowne Towne [mp3]

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12. Grab That Gun by The Organ
Channeling an 80s jangle sound, but swept away in the darker side of that era, this girl-group is fit for comparisons to The Smiths/Morrissey, The Cure, and Joy Division. Fronted by Katie Sketch’s powerful deep vocals, and backed by clever guitar and synth hooks, The Organ‘s short-lived existence is one that saddens by all who lay ears on their songs. Why did this band call it quits after just one album – an album that is so unbelievably good? In Hornby’s High Fidelity, Barry asks if it’s better to burn out or fade away. Had The Organ given us a disappointing second album, I doubt Grab That Gun would hold the power it does today. Now you know my answer to that question.

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11. Riot On An Empty Street by Kings Of Convenience
Not nearly as powerful as Quiet Is The New Loud, Riot On An Empty Street is still a more than worthy album. It differed from its predecessor slightly in that it the songs contain a hint more production, and the harmonies are a bit more refined. Many songs are just as good as that earlier album, like “Homesick” and “Misread”, and when they harmonize with female vocals on closing track “The Build Up”, pure bliss is experienced. Kings of Convenience are among the best folk-pop musicians in the world, and it shows in virtually every song they write.

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10. Good News For People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse
Let’s face it: when “Float On” came out, it remained on many of our playlists for some time. Even after that excellent video hit MTV and was subsequently overplayed by mainstream radio. While some of their earlier tracks (“Dramamine”, “Cowboy Dan”, “Dark Center Of The Universe”) will always maintain a higher level of greatness in our minds than most songs on Good News For People Who Love Bad News, Modest Mouse was still able to capture some of their early greatness despite major label treatment for this album. It was good back then, and it remains good to this day.

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9. A Grand Don’t Come For Free by The Streets
Some of the best concept albums have plots that span the album’s entirety. A Grand Don’t Come For Free absolutely fits that statement, and The Streets‘ hip hop sensibilities fronted by that immense British white-guy accent make it even better. “It Was Supposed To Be So Easy” properly conveys the stress of losing a grand, while “Blinded By The Lights” plants the listener in the protagonist’s mindset as the drugs take hold and club lights begin flashing. “Fit But You Know It” is the perfect wacko post-break-up, looking-for-a-rebound track. And “Dry Your Eyes” makes you want to weep like it was your heart that she broke.

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8. Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes by TV On The Radio
God “Staring At The Sun” was a great song. TV On The Radio has always been able to create an entirely dark song, conjuring mystic beasts of old, without being overly doom-oriented. They’ve proven it over and over again with tracks like “Wolf Like Me” and “Halfway Home”. And “Staring At The Sun” follows suit; sure, they may not be about such creatures but there’s something incarnate about these songs, a possession that isn’t entirely positive. TV On The Radio’s ability to create unique music further enhances their greatness.

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7. Summer In Abbadon by Pinback
This is easily one of Pinback‘s greatest works, as a whole and singularly. This band has mastered the staccato rhythm – that pointed, edgy, angst-filled riff – and it shines brightest on Summer In Abbadon. Their smooth rock vocals heighten that punch in the guitar, as does the consistency in percussion. I never truly loved this band until I heard “Syracuse”, even after fully enjoying some of their earlier work.

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6. Your Blues by Destroyer
My love of Dan Bejar’s Destoryer project didn’t really take hold until one night when my friend Andy (yes, I have quite a few that bear the name, including my girlfriend) made a mix-tape for his friend Katrina. We were at this ancient tiny turquoise one-bedroom in Belltown (Seattle’s downtown neighborhood). It was her place and she was having a party. I didn’t know anyone but her, Cassie and Andy, and I just sat around and drank red wine, which is what I tend to do in such situations, and which I am doing now. “Notorious Lightning” came on, and from there I was hooked. Those synth patterns were and are perfect, and when Bejar jumps in front of them yelling And someone’s gone too far before someone goes freeeeeeeeeee as a trumpet mimics his vocal pattern… it’s totally freakin’ breathtaking. Oh yeah, and the rest of the album is pretty decent too.

Destroyer: It’s Gonna Take An Airplane [mp3]

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5. Bows + Arrows by The Walkmen
For the time, Bows + Arrows by The Walkmen was about as good as it got. Those excessive unceasing percussive rhythms provided by Matt Barrick, namely in “The Rat” but also in “Little House Of Savages” as well as elsewhere on Bows + Arrows, were damn near perfect. Then there was that smokey haze of a vocal tenor provided Hamilton Leithauser was too, and the drone-ridden noisy guitars made it all the better. The lyrics When I used to go out I would know everyone I saw / Now I go out alone if I go out at all from the bridge in “The Rat” described perfectly my transition from college to the real world, and would eventually describe the same from grad school to my so called Real World Season 2.

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4. Set Yourself On Fire by Stars
What I like about doing these Retrospective thingies is that it allows me to include the “sleeper albums”; those that didn’t catch on right away. For me, Stars have always been such a band. I’ll give the album a listen, and be entirely disappointed. It’ll sit on the shelf for a month, three months, half a year, sometimes more. Then I’ll pick it up again and it’ll blow my f*ing mind. Set Yourself On Fire took a very long time to enter this realm, probably not doing so until nearly 2006. But man, whenever I hear that intro sample in the opening track, or that wild solo in “He Lied About Death”, or the beautiful arrangements in “Celebration Guns”, I come a hair closer to dying a happy man.

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3. Sung Tongs by Animal Collective
Each time I listen to Sung Tongs, I shuffle between “Leaf House” and “Who Could Win A Rabbit?” a few times before continuing. The tracks are just that good. Every time; never fails. Aside from the super strong introduction, Sung Tongs was really the introduction to Animal Collective for many of us who now consider the band among our favorites. And while it wasn’t really the first to enter this experimental electronic folk arena, I would absolutely credit AC with inspiring the current movement of artists that fit this realm, of which there are plenty.

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2. Satanic Panic In The Attic by Of Montreal
Psychedelic pop never sounded so dreamy as it did on Satanic Panic In The Attic. Of Montreal has always been a bit out there with their concepts – after all, they did release an entire album in which each song had “Dustin Hoffman” in the title. Satanic Panic, in my opinion, was the beginning of the Of Montreal heyday in which some of their best music was made. As a whole this kicked off a trio of genius psych pop. It’s hard to find a collection as strong, before or since.

Of Montreal: Disconnect The Dots [mp3]

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1. Funeral by Arcade Fire
Any other year between 2000 and 2009, I would say it would have been near impossible to beat Funeral (with exception to 2000 thanks to Kid A). But 2004 was packed with so many great albums. Still, Arcade Fire reigns supreme. Funeral is a brilliant album, and this band will have a very hard time topping it. The tracklist was superb, from the “Neighborhood” tracks to “Rebellion”. No weak points, whatsoever.

Arcade Fire: Rebellion (Lies) [mp3]

Written by Fense

So, Id Engager by Of Montreal (MySpace) isn’t necessarily an album, though it will be categorized as such. It’s a single. And boy was I excited to see it in a small pile of singles when I was at Everyday Music in Bellingham last week. There it was, sitting precautiously on the counter top as I picked up $50 for selling them a bunch of old crap. I turned right back around and dished out four bucks for the orange-ish wax.

“Id Engager” finds Of Montreal, for the most part, continuing where Hissing Fauna left off, but adding a descent dose of disco. In many ways, I find the song more intriguing and honest than several tracks off their last album—and the B-side follows suit. Then again, I felt the same about “She’s A Rejecter” when I picked up that single in the days before Hissing Fauna originally hit stores.

“Id Engager” may have some similarities to that last album, but it is an overall departure from much of their library—including much off Fauna—including Sunlandic Twins. By all means, this is not a bad thing; a band without dynamic progressions as time passes quickly becomes stale and Of Montreal would never be that.

The transition into the B-side, “Alter Eagle”, is flawless. But “Alter Eagle” is an obvious B-side, though a viable accomplishment nonetheless. The song follows “Id Engager” in the electronic and disco fashion, but has a bit more of the awkwardness Of Montreal likes to throw into their non-singles. Still, toward the end where the song dives into some drone-y guitars, the single concludes on a massive high point.

Yes, it’s another goodie from Of Montreal—and we only have another month to wait for the LP, Skeletal Lamping, hits stores. That album will arrive on October 7.

Of Montreal: Id Engager [mp3]

Polyvinyl [7" Single, 2008]

1. Id Engager
2. Alter Eagle