I am becoming more and more confident in talking on the radio. I am slowly developing my voice — my on-air personality. There is still room for improvement; namely in the transition from Stuarto’s show to mine, but I’ll get there eventually. Last Friday’s show was centered around indie-folk again, with plenty of psychedelic folk, orchestral folk, and folk-pop as well.

As started last week, two songs will be featured at bottom.

“Notorious Lightning” by Destroyer off Your Blues

“Shanty for the Arethusa” by The Decemberists off Her Majesty
“Share” by Meg Baird off Seasons on Earth
“Miriam’s Cake” by Robin Grey off The Nearest Door

“Flaming Telepaths” by Espers off The Weed Tree
“Red Light Bulb” by Madeline off Black Velvet

“Run From The Gun” by Dead Confederate off Sugar
“Swim Club” by The Cave Singers off No Witch
“Weight Of The World (Under Construction Mix) by The Explorers Club off The Californian Suite

“Leather Belt” by Bombadil off All That The Rain Promises
“Golden” by The Devil Whale off Teeth

“God Bless Our Dead Marines” by The Silver Mt. Zion & Tra La La Band off Horses In The Sky

“Own Stunts” by Breathe Owl Breathe off Magic Central
“Hungry Like A Tiger” by Jared Mees & The Grown Children off Only Good Thoughts Can Stay
“The End” by The Lower 48 off Where All Maps End

“Big Men In The Sky” by Mandolin Orange off Hard Hearted Stranger [Disc 2]
“The Silver Lining” by Gold Leaves off The Ornament
“Silver Hands” by Alameda off Seasons/Spectres

The first feature song is by Chapel Hill, NC band Mandolin Orange. Duo Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz create folk-country songs featuring acoustic guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, and (no surprise here) mandolin. Their new album, Haste Make/Hard Hearted Stranger, came out last week and is a double-LP filled with 18 songs. Check out “Big Men in the Sky” below.

Listen: “Big Men In The Sky” by Mandolin Orange

The second song is one I simply cannot get enough of these days. It’s the opening track off the new album by Minneapolis band The Lower 48, and it’s called “The End”. What does it for me is the vocal harmonies. They are intricate and interesting; the clash of male and female dual leads create unique patters, pleasant and endearing. “The End” is off the band’s new LP, Where All Maps End.

Download: “The End” by The Lower 48

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…

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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”.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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”.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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.

* * * * *

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”.

* * * * *

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”.

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

* * * * *

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]

The summer of 2003 was a hot one in eastern Washington, and my concrete bunker of an apartment contained the heat like no other. Granted, the above image wasn’t shot by yours truly until 2004, but it sure seemed hot enough to ignite even the least combustible of items. I wrapped up my undergraduate that December, which was cold as Antarctica, and upon that milestone I moved to Seattle. It was a good year for the Northwest; many of my favorite albums came from Seattle labels like Sub Pop and Barsuk. As for the list, I’ve expanded it to 20. Couldn’t help it.

Do you have an album from 2003 not included below that would have made your best of list? Feel free to add a comment and include what makes it special to you. As all of these Retrospectives go, we’re reminiscing on good times. Here is my list of favorite albums from 2003:

* * * * *

20. Mouthfuls by Fruit Bats
Folk-pop tinged with a hint of back-country with highpoints “A Bit Of Wind” and “Seaweed”, and Mouthfuls by Fruit Bats gets the number 20 spot on my top albums of 2003. You just can’t lose with lyrics like It takes mouthfuls of Niagara Falls. It seems this album is a bit more centered around folk than their newer stuff, and these sensibilities keep the songs on the verge of subtlety; soft and subdued, they were perfect for unwinding after a long day. Grab a glass of wine, and let the good tunes flow.

Fruit Bats: A Bit Of Wind [mp3]

* * * * *

19. Hate by The Delgados
As much as I liked Emma Pollock’s 2007 solo release, Watch The Fireworks, revisiting The Delgados‘ old albums it’s easy to hear that there’s no comparing them. Hands down, The Delgados win. “All You Need Is Hate” tops the group’s library as one of their best songs, playing off The Beatles “All You Need Is Love”, giving it a super catchy chorus and packing the instrumentation with beloved strings.

* * * * *

18. Dusk In Cold Parlours by Norfolk & Western
Dusk In Cold Parlours may not be as hard-hitting as its dual 2006 successors, A Gilded Age and The Unsung Colony, but it is good melodic orchestral folk. Looking back, yes I do miss those freak-outs, those forays into loud instrumental breakdowns (“Barrels On Fire” and “A Porch Destruction”) that really defined the persona of Norfolk & Western. Dusk In Cold Parlours just didn’t have them, at least to the extent of those which came later. Instead, we got real orchestral folk pop, and that in itself is worth of lauding.

Norfolk & Western: Impossible [mp3]

* * * * *

17. Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Belle & Sebastian
There’s a reason I consider Belle & Sebastian one of my all-time favorite bands. Dear Catastrophe Waitress is, as a whole, one of my least favorite albums by the group, yet it’s still in the top 20. This is in part due to the fact that few songs are mainstays on my playlist. Exceptions exist, like “Stay Loose” and “If She Wants Me” and “Piazza, New York Catcher”; it’s also in part due to the fact that I haven’t listened to it in its entirely with much frequency.

* * * * *

16. No Culture Icons EP by The Thermals
Is it wrong to include EPs in lists of so-called Best Albums? I could put in More Parts Per Million but that album wasn’t quite as taking as No Culture Icons. The song, “No Culture Icons”, is my all-time favorite by The Thermals. The lyrics Hardly art, hardly starving may be what gave the Sub Pop spin-off label Hardly Art their name. True or not, it doesn’t discount the fact that the song, and album, are a stunning display of social and political commentary in the form of lyrical poetry. Backed by punk-pop noise, The Thermals’ fuzzy guitars and basement drums are the perfect accompaniment. Their more recent works seem to lose some of that crude early production, which fit so well with the topics at hand. What really set this EP apart from their debut LP was “Everything Thermals”, a self-anthem that fit their brand of wild but cohesive punk rock/pop.

The Thermals: No Culture Icons [mp3]

* * * * *

15. Down With Wilco by The Minus 5
I never could tell whether this album was titled sarcastically or not, at least from the songs held within. Knowing that the album actually included contributions from Wilco (something not entirely unheard of from The Minus 5) made complete sense as Down With Wilco has a very Wilco-esque nature to it. It also includes collaborations with Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.).

The Minus 5: The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply [mp3]

* * * * *

14. The Concretes by The Concretes
There’s something truly special about that Swedish accent, namely the accent sung in a female voice; it’s enough to make you wonder if the sirens from Greek Mythology hailed from Scandinavia. In my world, they do. Former lead singer Victoria Bergsman coos like no other on “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Lonely As Can Be”. Revisiting this album, as well as others by The Concretes, it’s easy to hear why this band deserves inclusion in these lists; their music is romantic and sad and heartfelt, yet not overly sappy. It’s pop music at its finest.

* * * * *

13. Son by Jeff Hanson
I met Jeff Hanson a few years after this album was released, shortly after the release of his self-titled follow-up. And what I remember of him is contrast. His music was that of mystery; the pleasant falsetto vocals and acoustic guitar was surprising coming from a burly man with thick stubble. But this man was gentle and kind, and his songs were true to his nature. We lost a great musician this year (he passed a few months back), but he won’t be forgotten. Nor will his music.

Jeff Hanson: Hiding Behind The Moon [mp3]

* * * * *

12. Lesser Matters by The Radio Dept.
“Where Damage Isn’t Already Done” by The Radio Dept. is one of my favorite songs of 2003. It contains a rapid percussion that doesn’t quite rival that of The Walkmen’s “The Rat” which would come soon hereafter, but the concept is similar. Backed by fuzzy, jangly guitar pop and an up-close-and-personal vocal style, Lesser Matters remains among The Radio Dept.’s best work yet. Many would side on the newer, more electronic side the band is taking on, but this early stuff totally takes the cake for me.

The Radio Dept: Why Won’t You Talk About It? [mp3]

* * * * *

11. Naturaliste by The Lucksmiths
The Lucksmiths have always written song lyrics as though they were poems with plots. Staring At The Sky neared perfection for the band and that trait lent much to the EP’s greatness. Still, one of their most admired songs, a cross-section of falling in love, is “Camera Shy”, the opening track off Naturaliste. The album doesn’t stop there, going on to give us greats like “Midweek Morning” and “There Is A Boy That Never Goes Out” (a play off The Smiths’ “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, which the band covers on the Romantic & Square Is Hip & Aware comp).

* * * * *

10. The Long Goodbye by The Essex Green
The Essex Green have always put out great pop records, from the Kindercore release Everything Is Green (on wonderful green vinyl nonetheless) to The Long Goodbye. Where other artists rely on sad stories and homeless romanticism, The Essex Green always seemed to contain more purity. Those other things may have been there, but songs like “The Late Great Cassanova” and “Our Lady In Havana” just don’t sound like it. They’re upbeat and joyful.

The Essex Green: Our Lady In Havana [mp3]

* * * * *

9. Her Majesty The Decemberists by The Decemberists
For a very long time, “Shanty For The Arethusa” remained my favorite song by The Decemberists. Castaways & Cutouts was great, but this new theatrical element the group added in Her Majesty The Decemberists allowed their music to expand to new heights. As a whole, C&C may have been stronger, but Her Majesty had a few tracks that trumped their debut, like “The Bachelor & The Bride” and “The Soldering Life”.

The Decemberists: The Soldering Life [mp3]

* * * * *

8. Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone by The Unicorns
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone was an album ahead of its time. Case in point is the popularity of post-The Unicorns group Islands. The songwriting style is no more mature than found here, and only a hair more produced and refined. The Unicorns were truly unique when it came to wacko tracks like “I Don’t Want To Die” and “Jellybones”. Odd as they were, you couldn’t help falling in love with each and every one of them.

* * * * *

7. The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place by Explosions In The Sky
The name Explosions In The Sky bears is so undoubtedly fitting; they always live up to the moniker and The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is no exception. From the breathtaking gradual build in “First Breath After Coma”, continuing with “The Only Moment We Were Alone” and on through “Your Hand In Mine”, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place remains EITS’ best album to date.

Explosions In The Sky: Your Hand In Mine [mp3]

* * * * *

6. Chutes Too Narrow by The Shins
Oh, Inverted World was pretty damn great. No question about it. But boy Chutes Too Narrow came close to being just as powerful and noteworthy as its predecessor. I’d forgotten just how great an album it was until just now, revisiting songs like “Kissing The Lipless” and “Pink Bullets” and “So Says I”. This is an album that really should never be forgotten, and its a travesty I haven’t listened to it, or anything by The Shins for that matter, in well over a year. Seriously.

The Shins: Kissing The Lipless [mp3]

* * * * *

5. When I Pretend To Fall by The Long Winters
Such a straightforward pop record, When I Pretend To Fall was The Long Winters‘ second album and it matched their debut stride for stride. The Long Winters have always succeeded in creating unambiguous pop-rock music entirely accessible yet just escaping the dreaded “contemporary” label. John Roderick is a rocker with a soft side, an educated songwriter with a sense of humor and whit. And it shows throughout When I Pretend To Fall.

The Long Winters: Stupid [mp3]

* * * * *

4. Give Up by The Postal Service
I’d say 2007 was the last time I really gave Give Up by The Postal Service a good listen, maybe even 2006. In the time between its release and my last listen, I overplayed the album extensively. The hiatus in the time that followed is the curse of incessant repeat listens. Revisiting the album now, it’s easy to hear why it became such a regular for so long. Give Up really was a great album, and it is more than worthy of both praise and a high spot on any best of 2003 list.

The Postal Service: Such Great Heights [mp3]

* * * * *

3. Electric Version by The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers really outdid themselves on Electric Version. The album is jam-packed with solid tracks, from the awkward-ish, title-track opener to the Dan Bejar-fronted “Testament To Youth In Verse”. Many would credit Mass Romantic, the group’s debut, as an all-time favorite; in my opinion Electric Version trumps them all. “Ballad Of A Comeback Kid” and “From Blown Speakers” round out some of my favorite tunes by the supergroup (yes, I called it that, despite knowing they frown on the association). Really, they are. Not because their members make up some of today’s most appreciated artists, but because they pack their albums with stellar tracks and because each member’s contribution refuses to go unseen.

* * * * *

2. Echoes by The Rapture
When greatness occurs early on, it’s tough to live up to it in that which follows. That’s the curse of having a stellar debut. Echoes may not have been The Rapture‘s debut, but it was definitely great. Songs like “Olio” and “Sister Savior” were instant favorites, easily followed by “House Of Jealous Lovers”, “Heaven” and “I Need Your Love”. The inclusion of DFA, in hindsight, demonstrates perfectly the intricacies and influence this album possesses; and, in a way, you could almost say that early LCD Soundsystem gives Echoes a few healthy nods.

* * * * *

1. Up Against The Legends by The Legends
Few records have had more impact on me as a person than that of Up Against The Legends by The Legends. Coincidentally, another such album is Sing Along With The Acid House Kings by Acid House Kings, also of Johan Angergård’s collection of groups. With Up Against The Legends, The Legends debuted with a gritty, raw album of distorted fuzzy garage pop well ahead of its time. To this day, this remains one of my all-time favorite albums, and one 2009′s garage-y fuzz-pop obsessives should get to know.

The Legends: Call It Ours [mp3]

The third installment of A Retrospective, this time the focus is on 2002. The year of rebuilding, so to speak. It was the year I discovered Cider Jack (and did so plentifully) at the local Pullman bar Rico’s, and we all would rehearse Bill Brasky skits (from the SNL spots, and made up on the spot) as twenty feet away the university jazz combo performed excellent renditions of Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and various Motown favorites. As we see every year, 2002 saw several real great releases. Here are my favorites.

* * * * *

15. Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats
Tallahassee is a concept album of sorts, devoted to the fictional married couple always leaning toward divorce. The recurring characters receive tribute throughout the album, which sees The Mountain Goats‘ front-man John Darnielle further defining his pointed vocals and powerful acoustic folk melodies.

* * * * *

14. Spring Came, Rain Fell by Club 8
A diversion from their prior self-titled record which found the band dropping in more electronics and bordering on dance tracks, Spring Came, Rain Fell split the band’s loyalties between that sound and one much more along the lines of the indie-pop created by Acid House Kings, another of Johan Angergård’s groups. Club 8 does a good job bridging the two sounds in this viable follow-up. The album went out of print but was reissued last year on Labrador Records.

Club 8: Spring Came, Rain Fell [mp3]

* * * * *

13. Read Music/Speak Spanish by Desaparecidos
After several mopey records from Conor Oberst under the name Bright Eyes, it was good to hear him take on something more societal and political under Desaparecidos. Songs like the “Man & Wife” pair and “Mall Of America” fit well with the times. And backing the highly emotive social commentary which made up much of the subject matter of Read Music/Speak Spanish was loud distorted guitars that seemed more fit for Cursive than Bright Eyes. To this day, Read Music/Speak Spanish is, in my opinion, one of Oberst’s greatest works.

Desaparecidos: The Happiest Place On Earth [mp3]

* * * * *

12. The Execution Of All Things by Rilo Kiley
Like many, when I hear reference to Rilo Kiley‘s The Execution Of All Things, I immediately think of that one track – the stunning “With Arms Outstretched”. It found a welcome home on the first episode of Weeds: Season 1. On the album, Jenny Lewis strays between storytelling and folk-worthy narratives backed by pleasant folk-pop melodies that wouldn’t seem too out-of-place were they to be released this year. And that’s something that won’t likely change for years to come.

Rilo Kiley: With Arms Outstretched [mp3]

* * * * *

11. Don’t Fall In Love With Everyone You See by Okkervil River
Okkervil River always seemed a bit odd. At times barely in tune vocals were borderline awkward yet it has worked so well throughout the band’s library of work. With the power of folk-pop sensibilities behind them, and the powerful ability to write stellar lyrics, Okkervil River created an album with easy showstoppers like “Kansas City” and “Red”. And while the first two songs on Don’t Fall In Love With Everyone You See are the best, most recognized songs on the album, with repeat listens others effortlessly follow suit.

* * * * *

10. Songs About Leaving by Carissa’s Wierd
Songs About Leaving didn’t quite live up to its two predecessors as a whole. Instead, select tracks like “September Come Take This Heart Away” and “Sofisticated Fuck Princess Please Leave Me Alone” did with ease while other fell slightly flat. Here, Carissa’s Wierd shined brightest when they added the full instrumentation (in other words, ripe with strings) that made You Should Be At Home Here great.

* * * * *

9. Highly Refined Pirates by Minus The Bear
Highly Refined Pirates was a great album circa 2002 and 2003, and even beyond that. But even so, it paled in comparison to seeing Minus The Bear perform these songs live during the same time period. The band had yet to grow into their current fan-base and that being as it was, they created a masterpiece ahead of its time.

* * * * *

8. Mondays Are Like Tuesdays and Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays by Acid House Kings
I didn’t discover Acid House Kings until the release of their 2005 pop epic Sing Along With The Acid House Kings, but in the brief four years since finding them they’ve become one of my most listened-to bands. Mondays Are Like Tuesdays was an album filled with soft Swedish pop songs like “Sunday Morning” and “Brown And Beige Are My Favorite Colors”. And who could forget “Say Yes If You Love Me”? The band is currently working on their follow up to Sing Along With, claiming they’re working toward creating the perfect pop album. However, in their prior records, they’ve already accomplished that feat several times over, one of them being Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays.

Acid House Kings: Say Yes If You Love Me [mp3]

* * * * *

7. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco
Wilco, for me, is a band that makes an immense impression and then disappears for one, sometimes two years at a time. Returning to the Wilco of old, I’m struck by the senselessness of that statement, especially as it pertains to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. This is an album that should have continuous mainstay capabilities; one that should never really leave. I guess that’s why it’s #7 and not higher. Still, when it does return, it wows at full force.

* * * * *

6. The Beginning Stages Of… by The Polyphonic Spree
One of my all-time favorite movies is Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. It is beautiful in every way possible, from Joel and Clementine’s odd little quirks to unique use of minimal special effects (watch the commentary). It was with great excitement that I heard The Polyphonic Spree while watching this movie in the theater. Not often do you find a band that could very well be a cult, full with flowing colorful robes and an effervescent leader. Other bands have come close, but in numbers only (I’m From Barcelona, Dark Meat…). These songs all have a joyousness to them, a sunny demeanor. Haha, right? …many are about sun, love, happiness, and light.

* * * * *

5. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are a band capable of releasing one great album after another, and Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is just that. “Fight Test” and “Do You Realize??” had the ability to be album toppers, but that pinnacle spot was reserved for “Yoshimi Battles Pink Robots Pt. 1″. Two words to describe the power of this album? Very strong.

* * * * *

4. Neon Golden by The Notwist
Meshing electro-pop and a shoegaze-style hypnotism is nothing new; in Neon Golden, however, The Notwist gave it a refreshing makeover. Dark and mysterious, Neon Golden is an album that packs an emotional punch from the opening moments of “One Step Inside Doesn’t Mean You Understand” and on throughout. Even in the more upbeat of moments, The Notwist maintain a mesmerizing and entrancing style. Yet unlike a large chunk of music that fits the description, Neon Golden is also catchy and fully contagious.

* * * * *

3. You Forgot It In People by Broken Social Scene
Oh man, listening again to “KC Accidental”, it becomes immediately clear why this band is so great. One moment they rock your nuts off with legendary noise and the next it drops into beautiful and romantic lyrical poetry. The songs on You Forgot It In People are at times hardly cohesive, yet there’s an undeniable power behind the tracklist. “Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl” may remain the showstopper with its peaceful infectious melody, but each song Broken Social Scene writes holds weight.

* * * * *

2. Kill The Moonlight by Spoon
Kill The Moonlight by Spoon was a bit of a sleeper for me. It wasn’t until shortly after Gimme Fiction that it came to be my favorite album by the famed Austin band. Then again, several artists have fit the description, like Stars. Upon release they don’t necessarily hold the weight you expected, or just didn’t catch on right away. But a year, maybe two down the road, and suddenly … BAM … they strike. And the result is phenomenal.

* * * * *

1. Castaways & Cutouts by The Decemberists
Before all the theatrics and flare came to dominate and embellish The Decemberists music (which has ultimately allowed them to create and produce a unique and wonderful show), there was just a highly educated, smart folk album called Castaways & Cutouts. Sure, hints of the future dramatic stage presence existed in tracks like “California One / Youth And Beauty Brigade” and “A Cautionary Tale”, and even “The Legionnaire’s Lament” but it was also wholesome and, to an extent, the educated innocent. Their follow-up albums saw the band expanding into (more) bizarre tales of ghosts and lyrics seemingly pulled from book-like plots and expanding the instrumentation and group size in general, all of which has been great. But Castaways & Cutouts was not only an introduction, but an introduction to a band on the rise to fame and glory.

The Decemberists: Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect [mp3]