vfk's Favorite 10 Albums of the Moment
1.
Plants and Animals
Never heard of these guys, saw the cover, gave it a shot and now I cannot get it out of my player. Fantastic songcraft; hard to describe, have to hear it.
Overall Rank: 9
Also appears on
2.
Bill Frisell
As most know, Frisell is a master jazz guitarist and composer who has played with an alphabet soup of soul, rock, blues and jazz artists over the years. This album is 2 CD's of new material of a personal nature that ranges from quiet ballads to full-on improvisation. Beautifully crafted, I highly recommend this.
Overall Rank: 43
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3.
Hercules and Love Affair
A very interesting album my GF listened to on a total lark and it is hauntingly beautiful...mostly singing with acoustic or orchestral support. Very talented and well put together.
4.
My Morning Jacket
This is getting panned left/right by the media. This made me like the album more as the media usually dislikes being suprised by artists and takes out their wrath like idiots. Sure MMJ has some weaker songs on here, but there is alot of quality too and I love artists who stretch themselves and never settle for the same ole formula.
Overall Rank: 6
5.
Fleet Foxes
Wow...ok let me gather myself...wow...seriously this is a ridiculously good album and is their debut as well. I loved the Sun Giant EP, but the album is even better. This is vying with Plants & Animals for my #1 of the year so far. Really creative, innovative, fun, musically sick stuff.
Overall Rank: 7
6.
Tea Leaf Green
The new TLG! Nice...if anyone heard Taught to be Proud, they will like this one as it stays true to roots folk and blues tradition they are well known for. This is a band growing their wings and starting to fly - originally from the Bay Area, they have toured with Trey, DMB, Gov't Mule, MMJ, Wolfmother among others. This was produced by David Lowery who has done Guster, Camper VB, Cracker.
Overall Rank: 351
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7.
Death Cab for Cutie
Been mostly a closet fan of this band over the years and never seen them live, but I really like this album and think it shows a fun direction they are going in. Ben is very talented and I really like the themes running through the lyrics here--thought provoking.
Overall Rank: 12
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8.
Port O'Brien
Thanks stevemc! On a tip from my friend, I checked this out and have really grown to enjoy it immensely. Drawn mostly from personal experiences like "Stuck on a Boat" discussing time spent on the song writer father's fishing boat in Alaska, the songs have an immediacy that resonates. This is their debut studio album of new material and I see bright things on the horizon.
Overall Rank: 404
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9.
Zappa Plays Zappa
I do not need to say much here. Zappa's son Dweezil leads an all-star band including many Zappa vets through a tour of Frank's incredible music. Stunning.
Overall Rank: 514
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10.
Hymns
More poppy and quiet than some of the other albums on my list, but this has some quality tracks on it especially during the first half before the pop-focus takes over too much.
Overall Rank: 582
This album only appears on this list
Last updated by vfk on Jul 24, 2008 07:11 PM
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Thanks Vin!
Vin, can you add The Hymns album Travel in Herds and Pat Metheny's Tokyo Day Trip Live EP to the db? Thanks
Port O'Brien supposedly released a bunch of earlier material last year (The Wind & the Swell). Great story as the one guy does his music but takes off each summer to work on an Alaskan fishing boat. Since M Ward named them his favorite band of '07,.they have obviously been busy. "All We Could Do Was Sing" comes out next month.
Two songs available on stereogum
http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-port-obrien-stuck-on-a-boat_007992.html
By the way - check your white board!
The tune I like (and I think sounds similar to the Canadian sound you like) is called "I Woke Up Today". You can hear it here at their myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/portobrien
Two songs available on stereogum
http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/new-port-obrien-stuck-on-a-boat_007992.html
By the way - check your white board!
The tune I like (and I think sounds similar to the Canadian sound you like) is called "I Woke Up Today". You can hear it here at their myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/portobrien
Thanks Steve; I have never heard of Port O'Brien, but will check them out. Do they have a 2008 release?
VFK & Betty - both of you have mentioned you like Fleet Foxes. Either of you listened to Port O'Brien? They seem to have a similar sound (from the limited amount I've heard from both) and I'm liking the Port O'Brien sound.
Vin-I did not like Avalanche. Not sure why, but after Illinoise it just fell flat for me.
Check out my raves on my top 3 albums. I'll send you the email, thanks
Check out my raves on my top 3 albums. I'll send you the email, thanks
vfk - do you have Avalanche? the outtakes?
I need some context on the first two albums in your list. What are they all about? How about some raving...
send us an email at feedback@favorite10.com with the albums you can't find. we'll add it to the db if possible.
I need some context on the first two albums in your list. What are they all about? How about some raving...
send us an email at feedback@favorite10.com with the albums you can't find. we'll add it to the db if possible.
Glad to hear Jenny Lewis is working on a new album-like Vin I have worn the current one out.
Illinoise was my #1 the year of its release and I have never really stopped going back to it. It is really really good. I keep waiting for his next state one or even anything, but I guess he works slow. He may be 80 by the time he finishes all 50 states.
BSP in my view touches on shades of The Who & Kinks and U2, especially Bono, have expressed those two bands heavily influenced them as the Who also did with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. The Kinks, even though they do not get as much acclaim as the Who, Stones, Led Zep etc. are routinely mentioned as influences by musicians of all stripes. Similar to VU, some fans/media overlook them, but people who know music well do not.
I am still in the learning curve with that album; some of it I like alot, but others need to grow on me more.
Others are Atlas Sound, Hercules and Love Affair and Lilac Time, but unfortunately they are not in the database for F10 yet so I cannot post them.
Illinoise was my #1 the year of its release and I have never really stopped going back to it. It is really really good. I keep waiting for his next state one or even anything, but I guess he works slow. He may be 80 by the time he finishes all 50 states.
BSP in my view touches on shades of The Who & Kinks and U2, especially Bono, have expressed those two bands heavily influenced them as the Who also did with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. The Kinks, even though they do not get as much acclaim as the Who, Stones, Led Zep etc. are routinely mentioned as influences by musicians of all stripes. Similar to VU, some fans/media overlook them, but people who know music well do not.
I am still in the learning curve with that album; some of it I like alot, but others need to grow on me more.
Others are Atlas Sound, Hercules and Love Affair and Lilac Time, but unfortunately they are not in the database for F10 yet so I cannot post them.
Vin - Jenny Lewis is already working on a follow up.
VFK - Illinoise almost made my top 10 of all time. What a great album!
I've heard some British Sea Power. Alot of reviews say they are knocking off old school U2. Would you agree?
VFK - Illinoise almost made my top 10 of all time. What a great album!
I've heard some British Sea Power. Alot of reviews say they are knocking off old school U2. Would you agree?
That Jenny Lewis and the Watson twins albums was on constantly rotation for me a while back. I hope she releases another solo album soon. I like Rilo Kiley but a Jenny Lewis solo album is due.
Not sure yet, Steve, if it has the staying power or is just a good album, but it is definitely not the flavor of the month IMO. I like psychedelic electronica pop/rock which you can see with my love of Super Furry Animals, Dungen etc. I bought the album and normally do not do that unless I think it is worthwhile.
I also bought Black Mountain, but have not bonded with it very well since. It sounds like pseudo-MMJ and I usually like prog rock. Dead Meadow I just found last week and am digging very much. It could be the best of the 3 eventually.
I also bought Black Mountain, but have not bonded with it very well since. It sounds like pseudo-MMJ and I usually like prog rock. Dead Meadow I just found last week and am digging very much. It could be the best of the 3 eventually.
VFK - is MGMT that good? I'd imagine you'd say "yes" but wondered if you think it has staying powere or is it simply the flavor of the month? I really like "Time to Pretend" & "Electric Feel". Is the rest worthwhile?
I'm very fond of Hold Your Fire. I have it in shrink wrapped vinyl and I'm waiting for Rush to be recognized as the best export out of canada.
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