One Sentence Album Review Via Wine Descriptors – The Antlers

The Antlers – Burst Apart

Well-balanced and fairly well-structured by virtue of its lively acidity and fruit flavors without being syrupy or over the top.

Grade:  B+

Listen to this while:  scrutinizing that basal cell on your forehead.

GW: Favorite Albums of 2009

I know little about music – just that I like to listen to it and that it has caused me to develop a mild case of tinnitus.  I also like to rank things.  Two interests collide and spawn this list of my favorite albums for 2009:

(Quick Disclaimer – Many times it takes me a year or 4 before I hear about (or listen to) certain albums.  For instance, I still haven’t heard the new Flaming Lips, although I’m not sure if they would threaten this list considering I haven’t really got into their work for the better part of a decade.)

20. The Dead Weather – Horehound: This is my favorite of Jack White’s “side projects.”

Delorean - Ayrton Senna

19. Delorean – Ayrton Senna (EP): I just really like the track “Seasun.” Takes me to a nice July evening on Fire Island.

18. The Mountain Goats – The Life of the World to Come:  A little more subdued, with less folksy guitar, but still pretty standard. This means it’s good.

17.  Phish – Joy: Along with Billy Breathes, I would argue this is one of the band’s best studio efforts.  Well-done, hippies.

16. White Rabbits – It’s Frightening: Good album.  That’s about all I got.

15. Mos Def – The Ecstatic:  I’m clearly multicultural. Of course, my favorite Mos Def reference is from a prime time network sitcom catering to white 35-year olds:  “Who would ever know there were so many words? It was like a Mos Def CD!”  HaHaHa.  There ARE a lot of words. Good stuff.

14.  Magnolia Electric Co. – Josephine: Um. Let’s just keep going.

13.  Drummer – Feel Good Together: This is a pretty fun album.  Check out Harpoon Harbor for some video.

12.  Sin Fang Bous – Clangour: My first exposure to the “Scandinavian Sufjan.”  I like pickled herring as well.

11.  The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock:  At points, this album sounds like it’s from a different era.  This is nice because, let’s be honest, this decade has blown.

10.  Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion: Like Feels, I thoroughly enjoy this album.  However, if I’m going to listen to Animal Collective I’m probably going to play one of their live shows.  Yet unlike some of the other critically acclaimed 2009 albums (Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors), this one stays inventive and enjoyable throughout.

9.  The Heartless Bastards – The Mountain: Erika Wennerstrom’s voice carries an otherwise above-average  album into the realm of “pretty solid.”  What’s the difference?  You’ll just have to listen.

Iron Lemonade wash my friends away.

8.  Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us: Hard to explain, but I’ll try: Sound unique. Music good.

7.  The Phenomenal Handclap Band – (self-titled): I heard “You’ll Disappear” on some NPR podcast and was immediately hooked.  While I initially wore the album into the ground, certain tracks remain unescapably catchy and fantastic.  2 tall, swell-looking tambourine girls should encourage you to catch them live.

6.  The Antlers – Hospice:  You have to listen closely to understand the lyrics. If you’ll do, you may experience a few minutes of depression, followed by a sense of achievement for discerning the words.

5.  Karen O and the Kids – Where The Wild Things Are (Soundtrack): For my money, this is more enjoyable than anything put out by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

4.  Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Summer of Fear: This guy follows up his excellent self-titled album with another stellar “downer.”

3.  Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly: I had never heard of this band and was immediately impressed with their experimental take on straight-laced folk.  Despite their unique take on the genre, “The Longest Day,” a traditional-sounding tune, may be my favorite song on the album.

2.  The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You:  I was one-and-done with their previous album – Emotionalism, but this one is pretty fantastic from beginning to end.  Critics say it’s over-produced.  I’m not sure if I even know what that means.  It sounds good in your ears.  Also recommended is their All Songs Considered set from SXSW.

1.  Neko Case – Middle Cyclone:  From the cover art to the first track, to the awesome cover of Harry Nilsson’s “Don’t Forget Me,”  this is Gratuitous World’s favorite album of the year.  Of course, this site is predisposed to be in favor of anything Neko-related.  If her next album consists solely of her singing in-flight safety instructions, it will probably reach top-5.  That being said, I think Middle Cyclone has a slight edge over the uber-acclaimed Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.

Hope you’re enjoying the closing acts of 2009. Be well.

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One Sentence Album Review Via Wine Descriptors – The Antlers

The Antlers – Hospice

 The nose is bright and seducing with cranberries, rhubarb, cedar, forest floor, and lilacs…and whatever.

Grade:  B+

Listen to this while:  Walking home from Whole Foods on a Tuesday night.

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