Early Whitlams: Undeniably brilliant

It's been way too long since my last post. Sorry, I've been pretty flat out at work and haven't had a lot of spare time. I'll try and post more regularly but I'm not promising anything.

Some of you may have heard of the Whitlams, an Australian piano-based pop/rock band led by Tim Freedman. They were relatively unknown until 1997, when their breakthrough album Eternal nightcap was released. I got into them after hearing a few tracks like You sound Louis Burdett and Buy now pay later in a friend's car. I was immediately impressed with the catchiness of their music; Louis Burdett was (and still is) a gem of a song, a great jazzy toe-tapper that sounds so familiar you swear you've known it your whole life. Buy now pay later was (and still is) a thing of beauty with a heartfelt Tim Freedman vocal and deeply sad lyrics. It seemed like they had all the bases covered, and they were Aussie! So the patriot in me went out and bought that album, and it is still one of the great albums of all time (even if it doesn't get as many spins as it used to).

Since Eternal nightcap, the Whitlams have faded into complete insignificance. The Whitlams is no longer a cohesive unit, but merely a moniker for Tim Freedman and whoever happens to be in the band at the time. They have released 3 post-Nightcap albums - Love this city (1999), Torch the moon (2002) and Little cloud (2006). While each album has had some decent moments, they have lost so much of the spark that made them so good to start with that they truly don't deserve to trade under the Whitlams name. Some of my friends have even given them the name the Shitlams, just as a hint of where they're at nowadays.

Prior to Nightcap, the Whitlams represented the musical trio of Tim Freedman, Stevie Plunder and Andy Lewis (with a few mates joining them now and then). Stevie Plunder (real name Anthony Hayes) was found dead on Australia Day 1996 at the bottom of Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, shortly after the release of their second album Undeniably the Whitlams. It was suspected to be a suicide. He was still a core member of the Whitlams at the time of his death, and after a period of mourning Tim Freedman decided to continue on with the band without him. Many of the lyrics of Eternal nightcap had themes of death, suicide and depression -- indicating the state of mind of Tim during the recording of the album. The brilliant Charlie song trilogy on the album was supposedly about Stevie.

Andy Lewis had left the band in 1995. In 2000, he committed suicide while apparently battling a gambling addiction. Tim wrote the song The curse stops here (originally a B-side of Blow up the pokies and later included on Little cloud) about the deaths of Stevie and Andy, indicating that he's the only surviving member of the original Whitlams lineup.

Now to the point of this post. I need to draw your attention to the musical brilliance of the original Whitlams lineup. If you have only heard their post-Nightcap music, you are truly missing out on one of the great Australian bands of the early 90's. Early Whitlams had passion and soul, which is everything the Shitlams are missing with their overpolished commercial schmaltz. On those first two albums, they sounded like they were having fun. They could make you laugh one second, but were also never afraid to get deep lyrically.

Stevie sung about half of the songs on the early Whitlams recordings, and while his vocals lacked the sheen of Tim's, he made up for that with his honesty. You believed what he sung - he was a heavy drinker, a larrikin and a real character. And those are the kind of things he sung about! Just give a listen to Happy days (from their first album Introducing the Whitlams). If this is the first early Whitlams song you've heard, you wouldn't even think in a million years that it is the same band. Also listen to I'm different, a Tim-lead cover of the Randy Newman song (also from their first album). Sure, there are differences between these two songs vocally, but they also share something in common that is missing from so much of today's overproduced music. Fun. Passion. Honesty. Soul.

In my opinion, the Whitlams peaked on their second album Undeniably the Whitlams. Introducing was a great taster of their sound, but at only 27 minutes it merely whet the appetite. And while that first album was pretty solid, it did sometimes approach novelty music territory to be truly taken seriously. They kept all the musical elements of their sound on Undeniably, but Stevie injected a lot of lyrical depth into his songs which elevated it considerably above its predecessor. Following my own tracks is damn spooky in hindsight, knowing that Stevie would be found dead within less than a year. Listen to the lyrics and you'll see what I mean. It's still my favourite Whitlams song, because it has the perfect mix of melody and deep, meaningful lyrics.

But early Whitlams was more than just the individual achievements of Stevie and Tim. It was also about the chemistry between the two of them, and no song illustrates this better than I get high from Undeniably. It starts with a [in hindsight once again] spooky answering machine message left by Stevie to Tim after a big night out, before the piano kicks off a toe-tapping gem of a song where Stevie and Tim trade vocals like they are going out of fashion. Not a lot different in sound to some of the more upbeat songs from Eternal nightcap, except that it's got Stevie in there and that elevates it into the realm of brilliance.

If you have only heard later period Whitlams, do yourself a favour (thanks Molly) and give early Whitlams a go. They may not have the semi-high profile of later period Whitlams but they are oh-so-much-better, and their first two albums are hidden gems which deserve to be discovered and cherished by more people.

iPod war - Some Meat Pete

In case you missed it, Pete finally contributed his bit to the war in the comments of the previous post. Just to draw attention to it, I thought I would copy his songs (and comments) as a new post. I have some things to say which I will add to the comments of this post in due course.

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Alright, at long last, here's my attack (sorry for not having it as a new post):

1. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming

First up, it's not looking good. To be honest, I didn't even know this was on the iPod, but I must have liked it somewhere along the line.

2. Oasis - Alive

A B-side from Jiggy, don't even really know the track. I'm beginning to feel like Napoleon invading Russia...

3. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Biomusicology

Might need an aspirin after this one.

4. Jebediah - Star Machine

Forgettable song from their patchy sophomore effort. Kev Mitchell is certainly producing far more worthy material these days.

5. Something for Kate - The Killing Moon

A decent cover of the classic Bunnymen tune, but nothing extraordinary.

6. Belle & Sebastian - Night Walk

From their disastrous "Storytelling" soundtrack. Not anywhere near as bad as the film, though.

7. The Go-Betweens - Spring Rain

Finally, something with a bit of iPod-war firepower! Opening cut from the great "Liberty Belle..." album.

8. Manic Street Preachers - ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart

Probably the most ridiculously titled song of all time, coupled with incorrect usage of an apostrophe. Not a bad cut, though, from a top album.

9. Split Enz - Bon Voyage

David Stratton writing in the Australia described it as "utterly shithouse."

10. The Go-Betweens - Finding You

The live version from their 2005 dvd/cd release, "That Striped Sunlight Sound." Nice track, but here's further evidence for the major flaw in the iPod shuffle, namely that particular artists seem to crop up early time and time again. Oh well, could be worse, could have been Travis or Nik Kershaw.

So there you go. I wholeheartedly surrender, and leave you wondering whether it was worth the wait. Clearly not. Looking forward to the next war, hopefully I'll fair a bit better! Thanks guys.

iPod war - Jiggy

Here's my random selection of 10 tracks from the 12,230 I currently have on the iPod:

1. Super Furry Animals - Download

A song which I originally considered to be one of the lesser tracks on Radiator, this haunting tune could even be one of the highlights. A great Gruff Rhys vocal, great piano...a great driving at night song.

2. The Kinks - Everybody's Gonna Be Happy

A bit "flower power" for my liking, as it's quite a bit dated. Not one of my favourite Kinks songs, but there's no denying that it's catchy, and the handclaps add a lot to the song.

3. Bob Dylan - New Morning

One of the least cynical and most positive songs in the Dylan catalogue, this is a pretty straight-forward love song, and one of the highlights from his 1970 album of the same name. A great melody, and feel-good lyrics. By 1975 he'd release his divorce album "Blood on the tracks".

4. Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A Changin'

A coincedence to get two Dylan tracks in a row. Everyone knows this song, one of his early folk classics. Not my favourite Dylan era (I prefer when he went electric), but there's no denying the power of this song.

5. Spiritualized - I Want You

Not a huge Spiritualized fan (despite the fact that I have 3 of their albums), this is pretty standard mid-90's psychedelic space-rock. It's okay but I don't think I'll ever really love this sort of music.

6. Menswear - Piece Of Me

A bit embarrassing that I have a Menswear album in my collection, as these guys are real Britpop "has beens". Not like Blur, Pulp and Oasis who survived the Britpop era intact (although some would argue against this). I'd like to be able to say I bought this album in the mid-90's, which is why I have it, but I actually bought it second hand in 2003. In all honesty this is a pretty good tune, although the lyrics are a bit cringe-worthy. Sample:

Sex is a secundary thing doomed to come dumb and king
What's your preference? Come on now and talk some sense

7. Simpsons - Dancin' Homer (Medley)

Hehehe. The "Capitol City" song by Tony Bennett from the season 2 "Dancin' Homer" episode of Simpsons. Brings back lots of memories from when Simpsons truly was a really good show, and not the abomination that it is now.

8. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)

A true Radiohead classic, this closer from their 2nd album "The Bends" was one of the first songs which really made me fall in love with them. Despite the fact that they have progressed musically since this, this is an amazing song, and makes be long for another album like "The bends".

9. The Lemonheads - Mrs. Robinson

A cover by the Lemonheads, which was a bonus track on their excellent 1992 album "It's a shame about Ray". A good, if predictable, early 90's American rock version of the classic Simon & Garfunkel tune.

10. The Shins - Mine's Not A High Horse

Appropriate that this should come up in the mix, as I only just purchased their new album "Wincing the night away". This song is from their last album, "Chutes too narrow" from 2003. This album is one of my favourites from the past 5 years, a truly excellent album of indie pop done remarkably well. James Mercer is a brilliant songwriter with great vocal delivery, and it's minor classics like this which make CTW so brilliant.

So who won?

iPod war - Wally Raffles

Wally Raffles just bought himself a brand new 80GB iPod. I'm jealous!

He's just ripped all of his music and challenged myself and The Blogger Formerly Known As NoMeatPete But He Has Now Started Eating Meat Again to an iPod war. For those who don't know the rules, you can read them here.

Here's Dean's selections, together with his commentary:

1. Powderfinger - Already Gone

Choice track, although I used to hate this song when I first heard it.

2. Split Enz - Walking Down a Road

A bit of an epic track, but quite enjoyable, I love that recurring piano beat/riff/tune (my lack of musical knowledge is showing here).

3. Rolf Harris - Football Crazy

Hehehe...one from the novelty collection. It's actually an alright song, pure novelty though, although I suspect it will get beaten today. The other interesting thing is that it has nothing to do with Australia at all (Harris' usual targets) - it's about English soccer.

4. The New Main Street Singers - Never Did No Wandering
(From "A Mighty Wind" soundtrack)

Despite being part of a mockumentary, this is actually a good song - I am still undecided on whether I prefer this version or the Folksmen version.

5. Tim Rogers - Up-A-Ways

Hehehe - I know you guys hate this track, but I actually don't mind it.

6. Paul Kelly - Everything's Turning to White

Choice - probably the pick of the list so far. Such a powerful song, such a great story, fantastic....

7. The Beatles - A Day in the Life
(From "Love" - but not dissimilar to the original)

Another great track, very true to the original. I think there is a little bit of subtle mashup at the end, but on the noisy train that was a bit hard to hear, so it was virtually like listening to the original version.

8. The Cruel Sea - It's Alright (Cos she loves me)

Great rocking track - I love that sound that the Cruel Sea get - like it's kind of intense, but feels really laid back at the same time...strange....

9. Amiel - Lovesong
(From "New Music from the Panel" compilation CD)

Hehehe - for a pop song, I actually like this song, despite the fact that it has been done to death on the radio. This version however, she replaces the word "stupid" with the word "F^$". Its actually a little bit over the top to be honest.

10. INXS - Bitter Tears

Typical solid INXS track.

I'll put my selections in the next post.

Top 10 albums with better 2nd halves

Top-heavy albums are one of my biggest pet hates when it comes to music. You know the type of album I'm talking about. They're the ones that have all the singles front-loaded, and by the time you get to the back end of the album, you've got nothing to work with. They annoy me so much because most of the time they are so obviously a product of a record company executive decision rather than a creative one.

The temptation to front-load an album with all the good songs must be tempting one; after all, you don't want to put your listener off too early in the proceedings. And if your listener dies halfway through listening to your album, you want to make sure that the last sounds they hear will be sweet ones.

I'm of the opinion that if an album has to have a few dud tracks on it (and I'd prefer it didn't at all), then please scatter them throughout the album. Don't leave all the duds at end please! One dud track may not be enough to kill the momentum of an album, especially if the next track is a killer. But put a few dud tracks in a row and there's a great chance that my attention will be lost.

This list spins the top-heavy album around -- all of the albums here have a better second half than the first, in my humble opinion. For albums which were released in the vinyl era, the second half equates to side B of the original record, or the second record in a double album. For albums which were released in the CD era, I'll divide the album in half to create a "virtual side B".

An important note: I have excluded albums from this list which have obvious thematic differences between the sides -- e.g. one side is a standard album, the other side is a mini concept album where songs segue into each other. The reason for this is that often with albums like these, my mood dictates which side I like better. With Abbey road, side A is better if I'm in a rockin' mood, and side B is better if I'm up for a bit of fun with Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam. Some other examples of albums like this are Hounds of love and Aerial (Kate Bush) and Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (The Small Faces).

Any omissions? I await your comments.

10. The Wrens - The meadowlands
[2nd half: Boys, you won't - This is not what you had planned]

There are some stunning moments on the first half of this album, but there are also things which annoy me about it. Some lyrics approach generic emo territory (Happy and Hopeless), and other songs are a bit too "generic rock" for my liking (This boy is exhausted and Faster gun).

The second half is one I just get lost in. From the siren-like sound throughout Boys, you wont, to the fantastic melody of Ex-girl collection, to the sheer craziness of Per second second; this side never lets me down. The album ends very emotionally with the epic 13 months in 6 minutes and the almost a capella (with minimal piano accompaniment) quirky piece This is not what you had planned, where the vocalist just explodes with all his built-in tension. It feels like the end of an emotional roller-coaster.

MP3: The Wrens - 13 Months In 6 Minutes [Link Removed]

9. Doves - Lost souls
[2nd half: Melody calls - A house]

The first half of Lost souls is all about mood and atmosphere. There are some absolutely beautiful compositions there, from the opening instrumental Firesuite, to the catchy Here it comes and epic Sea song.

However, it's the second half where Doves find the perfect mix of atmosphere and melody. Their unique sound is still present, but there's a pop sensibility as well. Melody calls and Catch the sun are pop confection, The man who sold everything hints at what they would achieve on their second album, and The cedar room is simply epic. Then we come full circle with Reprise and the minimal A house.

MP3: Doves - The Man Who Told Everything [Link Removed]

8. The Replacements - Let it be
[2nd half: Unsatisfied - Answering machine]

In a previous post on the 'Mats, I commented about how they have yet to release a truly consistent album. But side B of what is widely considered to be one of their best albums is, in my opinion, the closest they have come to encapsulating their brilliance on a side of vinyl.

Unsatisfied is one of the most emotionally brilliant rock songs ever recorded, with one of the finest vocal performances in rock history. 'Nuff said. Seen your video is just pure adrenaline -- the first time I heard it, I had it picked for an instrumental, until the vocals eventually kicked in. Gary's got a boner is a trademark 'Mats throwaway -- even on their best run of songs they couldn't avoid one. Sixteen blue is a great pop song about being young and hormonal; a commonly recurring theme in their lyrics. Finally, Answering machine is one of the saddest songs they released -- just Paul Westerberg strumming a solo electric guitar, playing it like an acoustic, asking how is it possible to say goodnight to an answering machine. Brilliant stuff.

MP3: The Replacements - Sixteen Blue [Link Removed]

7. The Strokes - Is this it
[2nd half: Last nite - Take it or leave it]

There was a time when the Strokes really were an exciting band, and the whole "saviours of rock" term wasn't overused music critic hyperbole. Is this it was and still is a fantastic album; despite its obvious influences it felt strangely fresh then and still holds up well now, almost six years later.

Side A is not without its fair share of classics, from the killer rocker The modern age, to the catchy Someday. But side B is where the shit's really happening. Kicking off with Last nite (still a timeless rock nugget), it continues on with Hard to explain (still probably their best song to date), the bitter New York City Cops (unfortunately cut from the US version of the album after the 9/11 attacks), the underrated melodic gem Trying your luck and finishing off with the all-attitude anthem of Take it or leave it. You'd be hard pressed to find a better run of songs on any rock album released in the past ten years.

MP3: The Strokes - Hard To Explain [Link Removed]

6. R.E.M. - Murmur
[2nd half: Catapult - West of the fields]

This album (and to a slightly lesser degree, Fables of the reconstruction) is all about mood and atmosphere. Even though R.E.M. have been recording albums for 24 years now, they have yet to top Murmur, their debut album from 1983. There really isn't a sub-par track throughout (Moral kiosk would come closest if I had to choose), and side B is where they really hit their perfect recipe of burying Michael Stipe's haunting mumbling vocals so deep in that mix where it just becomes another instrument amongst the guitar, bass and drums.

It hurt me to pick out the second half of this album, as it meant ignoring the absolute beauty of side A closer Perfect circle, in additional to other early highlights like Talk about the passion and Laughing. But from Catapult onwards, it's got the mood, it's got that undeniable vibe, but more importantly it's got that toe-tapping thing happening that is so addictive that this album is illegal in some countries. Try to sit still during Sitting still; try to stop shaking when listening to Shaking through. We walk adds a dose of quirk to the mix, and while West of the fields isn't the strongest closer (I'd have saved Carnival of sorts from debut EP Chronic town for this prestigious position) it all works so amazingly well that you know these Athens lads would never have a hope in hell of topping this album.

MP3: R.E.M. - Shaking Through [Link Removed]

5. Pink Floyd - The wall
[2nd half: Hey you - Outside the wall]

This is the only double album on this list, but I feel that it deserves a special mention. The first record in this set is a pretty standard rock album for most of the time; it juxtaposes some excellent rockers with more introspective numbers like Goodbye blue sky, interspersing bits of the Another brick in the wall trilogy throughout.

The second record is where Roger Waters' world comes tumbling down; it's a mighty weird record, with only the immensely popular Comfortably numb and Hey you breaking the "I think he's gone crazy" vibe. I find it hard to follow the story on the first record, and while I admit that I still don't really know what's going on during the second record, I also feel that I don't need to know; in a strange way, the music speaks for itself.

MP3: Pink Floyd - Nobody Home [Link Removed]

4. The Cars - The Cars
[2nd half: You're all I've got tonight - All mixed up]

A strange choice -- at first glance, the debut album from The Cars seems like an incredibly top-heavy album. Just look at those first three cuts: Good times roll, My best friend's girl and the sheer bloody classic Just what I needed. All classic songs from the new-wave era. Unfortunately, the album loses a bit of traction in the middle with the dated and under-developed I'm in touch with your world and Don't cha stop.

Luckily, the four tracks from side B are utter gems, and they carry this album to an impressive finale. They're catchy, they're slightly glammy, they remind me of a less flamboyant Queen. Moving in stereo is also another absolute classic from the era. Best of all, all four songs blend together into a seamless whole; there's no thematic unity between these tracks that I'm aware of (which is why they are eligible entrants in this list), but to separate them would simply feel wrong.

MP3: The Cars - Moving In Stereo [Link Removed]

3. Elvis Costello - This year's model
[2nd half: Hand in hand - Night rally]

It's not very often that you can say a run of six songs straight can make you fall in love with an artist. This year's model was the third album proper of Elvis Costello's that I purchased; I started with The very best of, then moved into album territory with the superb country-tinged King of america (from 1986) and highly underrated All this useless beauty (from 1996). All of those albums made me want to get more of man they called Declan, and then I thought it was time to get one of his earlier albums with The Attractions. Some research indicated that his second album This year's model (from 1978) was the one to get, and to date this is still probably my favourite Elvis album.

It's a solid effort all the way through, but the run of six songs from Hand in hand to Night rally encapsulates everything that is brilliant about early Elvis: caustic and bitter lyrics (Lipstick vogue), undeniable melodies (the handclaps of Lip service, the riffage of Living in paradise), social statements ((I don't want to go to) Chelsea), and failed romance (Hand in hand). It may have been released in the first punk era, but calling this punk music is doing it an injustice; it's intelligent rock music that is sometimes too smart for its own good. Although he has come very close, Elvis has yet to match the consistency and quality he achieved on this album.

MP3: Elvis Costello - Living In Paradise [Link Removed]

2. The Cure - Disintegration
[2nd half: Prayers for rain - Untitled]

The first half of this album can be a bit of a red herring for the uninitiated listener. The dark and gloomy textures which dominate most of the album are still there, in the brilliant opener Plainsong, sparse Closedown and eerie Last dance. But then there's Pictures of you, which sounds like a pop song in comparison and was even used in a TV advertisement here in Australia! And Lovesong is a love song! What is Robert Smith doing putting a song like this on what is commonly considered to be one of The Cure's darkest albums and a favourite of Kyle from South Park?

The second half of the album is where the album starts to live up to its name; from Prayers for rain onwards, Robert Smith literally starts to emotionally disintegrate. The same deep water as you is the album's emotional centrepiece, a song which is so dark yet so utterly beautiful at the same time. He starts to fall apart on the title track, Homesick has the feeling of resignation, and the beautiful melodies of Untitled reprise some of the positivity of the first half of the album, with the man finally reaching the point of acceptance.

MP3: The Cure - The Same Deep Water As You [Link Removed]

1. The Beach Boys - Pet sounds
[2nd half: God only knows - Caroline no]

I've always considered this album to be pretty overrated, and I think the hit single cover of traditional folk song Sloop John B is partly to blame for this. It was a record company decision to put this song on the album, and they decided to put it right in the centre of the album, destroying all the thematic unity that Brian Wilson had built up on the first half of the album.

In all honesty, there are also some songs from the first half which have never really struck me as being anything brilliant -- for every romantic masterstroke like Wouldn't it be nice there's a less memorable song such as the Mike Love led That's not me that aren't exactly bad songs, but aren't exactly brilliant either.

Luckily, there isn't a single misstep on side B of this album. God only knows was and still is (over 40 years later) one of the most beautifully written and performed songs of all time. I know there's an answer and I just wasn't made for these times are some of the most personal songs that Brian Wilson has recorded; they feel like diary entries from a man who was simply too smart for his own good. Here today sounds to be like their Phil Spector/Ronettes tribute; it's got that wall-of-sound thing done perfectly. The title track is a fascinating instrumental, but it's only a lead-in to Caroline no which seems to act as a romantic bookend to opener Wouldn't it be nice.

I don't think even the Beatles released a side of vinyl as brilliantly consistent as the seventeen and a half minutes which make up side B of Pet sounds. That, my humble reader, is saying something.

MP3: The Beach Boys - I Just Wasn't Made For These Times [Link Removed]

UPDATE: MP3 samples added.
UPDATE: Song links removed.

2006: A Year in Music [Part 6: Re-evaluation of 2005 list]

Time to look back on my top albums of 2005 post to see how my opinions have changed over the course of the year. Since lists are very much a product of the time they are written, I think this is a great way of keeping the analysis of the year a bit more open-ended and allow opinions to be re-evaluated. Sometimes albums are initially overrated, and after some time I get sick of them. Other albums may be growers and they didn't have enough time to "hit" me yet.

This was my top 10 albums of 2005, as published at the end of last year:

1. Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
2. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
3. Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft
4. The Eels - Blinking Lights And Other Revelations
5. Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary
6. The Drones - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By
7. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
8. Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
9. My Morning Jacket - Z
10. The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart

And here are the 2005 albums I have purchased/acquired since I made that list:

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Supergrass - Road To Rouen
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
Mike Noga - Folk Songs
The Rosebuds - Birds Make Good Neighbors
M. Ward - Transistor Radio
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Machine Translations - Wolf On A String (EP)
The Polyphonic Spree - Thumbsucker (Soundtrack)

Out of these more recently-purchased albums, there are some solid albums in there and also some underwhelming ones. The Thumbsucker soundtrack was only a very recent purchase and I've only had one listen of it so far. It may eventually make the cut but it's too soon to comment.

I have already mentioned the Rosebuds and Mike Noga albums in my previous post, so no need to repeat myself here. Needless to say they are great albums which come highly recommended. Of the others, the Bloc Party album is another pretty solid album although maybe not quite the masterpiece I was expecting.

The self-titled debut album from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a solid effort with a similar sound to the Wolf Parade album of 2005. Think quirky indie pop with a whiny David Byrne-esque vocalist and you get the drift. The new album from Supergrass, Road to rouen, was a surprisingly mature effort from these Britpop veterans; quite mellow and subdued overall, but still not losing sight of what makes them who they are.

Broken Social Scene's self-titled album was a bit of a disappointment for me after the brilliance of their previous album You forgot it in people. There's some great songs on it but it all blends into one long track for me, and I miss the eclecticism of their past work. However, it is still growing on me with each listen, so not all is lost.

M. Ward's album Transistor radio was a real disappointment for me. Initial spins seemed promising but I have grown incredibly bored with it on subsequent listens. The Machine Translations EP Wolf on a string was also a disappointment, especially after the brilliance of their previous albums.

Having said all of this, this is my updated top 10 albums of 2005 (old positions are in brackets):

1. Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now [1]
2. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois [2]
3. Mike Noga - Folk songs [New entry]
4. Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft [3]
5. The Eels - Blinking Lights And Other Revelations [4]
6. The Drones - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By [6]
7. The Rosebuds - Birds Make Good Neighbors [New entry]
8. The Go-Betweens - Oceans Apart [10]
9. Spoon - Gimme Fiction [7]
10. Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth [8]

Summary of changes:

• The Mike Noga and Rosebuds albums are the only new entrants in the top 10, as I only bought these in 2006 and they are incredible albums which deserve a place in the list.
• The Wolf Parade and My Morning Jacket albums have been kicked out of the top 10. While Wolf Parade is a decent album, I haven't listened to it for a long time and I think a lot of the magic of the album has been lost for me. My Morning Jacket seems to be one of those albums that becomes less impressive with each listen, which is disappointing.
• The Go-Betweens album has moved up a bit in the list, and the Spoon and Oasis albums have moved down a bit. Just some minor tweaking here.

And that concludes my 6-part series on 2006, the year that was. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Remember to grab the MP3s on the other posts as soon as you can, as they will be taken down in a few weeks.

Happy new year!

2006: A Year in Music [Part 5: Musical discoveries]

Here's where I give you a quick rundown of some of my musical discoveries of 2006. I won't include albums which were released in 2006 in this list as they have been covered in previous posts. But these albums have rocked my world in some way or another this year.

To make this post more interesting, I'll also include a sample MP3 from each album listed. Download them immediately, as they'll only be up for a few weeks!

Rosebuds - Birds Make Good Neighbors (2005)

There's nothing particularly innovative about this album on the surface. Dig a little deeper, and...well it's still not particularly innovative. It's just an indie-pop album, but it's an indie-pop album done particularly well. It's a male/female duo who record music in a similar vein to The Arcade Fire. Some songs remind me of a more upbeat version of Melbourne's Art Of Fighting. Catchy music, some great tunes. Nothing more, but they aren't pretending to be anything more either.

MP3: Rosebuds - Boxcar [Link Removed]

Mike Noga - Folk Songs (2005)

Mike Noga is the drummer from Melbourne-based blues-rock band The Drones. The Drones are an excellent band, but on this album Mike has provided the perfect retaliation to all those stupid drummer jokes by releasing an album of incredibly accomplished self-penned folk songs. What amazes me about this album is that despite the mellow nature of the songs on this album, every song is different enough to make it interesting enough in its own right. Mike is never afraid to let his accent shine through, resulting in an excellent folk album with an Australian twist.

MP3: Mike Noga - The battle [Link Removed]

The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003)

This album has been an indie critics' darling since its release in 2003. All sorts of superlatives have been used to describe it, with many critics not afraid to call it a masterpiece. It took me many listens to warm to this album -- a few of the songs are lyrically a little too close to emo territory for my liking -- but when it works (like on most of the songs from the second half) it does take you along on an emotional rollercoaster in the catchiest way possible.

MP3: The Wrens - Ex-girl collection [Link Removed]

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Barafundle (1997)

I had a few GZM albums before I got this one -- Spanish dance troupe (1999) and How I long to feel that summer in my heart (2001). While I enjoyed those albums in their own right, they are in their essence very simplistic albums when compared with this amazing work. Before I got this album, I always considered GZM to be a bit of a hybrid band that combined the experimental work of fellow Welsh countrymen Super Furry Animals with the melodic songwriting skills of Belle & Sebastian. Judging by the sound of this album, the roots of GZM stem more from the progressive bands of the 70's and the psychedelic bands of the late 60's. This is an amazingly complex album that deserves some overdue recognition. How many bands reached their peak in 1997? A great album from a great year in music.

MP3: Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Sometimes the father is the son [Link Removed]

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace (1985)

I love discovering musical gems from the 80's. That decade has such a bad reputation, but you only have to discover a band like the Smiths to realise that not everything from that era sounds like dated synth-pop. The Fall's music fits into the post-punk category, with leader Mark E. Smith providing all the attitude through his snarling vocals. What makes this album more interesting to me than traditional punk is the groove that the band manage to work each song into; it's addictive stuff.

MP3: The Fall - My new house [Link Removed]

Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story (1971)

Yes, this is that Rod Stewart. No, he wasn't always a publicity-hunting sellout. This is actually a really solid album from a remarkable vocalist. Proof that even the most daggy artists can be traced back to real talent. Released in 1971, a great year for music, this is the album that contains his hit single Maggie May (which was originally a B-side before a DJ flipped it over and turned it into a hit). Rod Stewart has real soul on this album -- the only sole [sic] he will find thesedays is on the bottom of his shoe.

MP3: Rod Stewart - Mandolin wind [Link Removed]

Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)

It's great discovering incredibly talented artists many years later. I already had this duo's swansong Shoot out the lights from 1982, and this year I picked up this, their debut album. This is a folk-rock album, alternating between the vulnerable vocals of Richard and the stunning traditional folk pipes of Linda. Richard is also an incredibly talented guitarist. Add some great songwriting into the mix, and you have the makings of one of those classics which never got as much recognition as it should have. The end of the rainbow is quite simply one of the most beautifully melancholic songs I have ever heard.

MP3: Richard & Linda Thompson - The end of the rainbow [Link Removed]

Shack - Waterpistol (1995)

Considered a bit of a "lost classic" from the Britpop era, this is also quite a difficult album to find. I was therefore pretty ecstatic when I found it at a HMV store in London when I was there earlier this year. This is a great British pop album, nothing more, nothing less. Similar in sound to the Stone Roses and the La's, it's a record that is both of its time and timeless.

MP3: Shack - Walter's song [Link Removed]

Bright Eyes - Lifted (or...) (2002)

Bright Eyes (basically a moniker for singer-songwriter Conor Oberst) is an artist that has attracted many critics. I can see why; on the surface he can give the impression of being a fairly self-obsessed whinger. But his critics are missing a very important detail; he is an incredibly accomplished songwriter. He has crafted an album of immaculately written folk-pop songs here, and if it wasn't for an overlong and whiny opening track, this album would be approaching masterpiece territory for me.

MP3: Bright Eyes - Laura Laurent [Link Removed]

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Tyranny of Distance (2001)

This is an incredibly top-heavy album, but the first five songs are so fantastic that they almost compensate for the quality of the rest of the album (there are some exceptions on the 2nd half, but there's no doubting that the start of the album is where the shit's happening). So while I wouldn't completely recommend this album, some of those melodies on the first half are so sweet that my list of musical discoveries of the year wouldn't be complete without mentioning this album. Under the hedge is one of the best pop songs I have heard all year -- a great example of a fantastic vocal-driven melody.

MP3: Ted Leo - Under the hedge [Link Removed]

The Libertines - Up The Bracket (2002)

I had the Libertines bundled into the same category as other "nu-rock" bands like the Strokes and the White Stripes, which meant that they really didn't interest me in the slightest. After doing a bit more researching, I realised that many of their fans thought that they deserve better than that. After getting this album, their debut, I have to agree with those fans. What this album has that elevates its over those of their peers is rock swagger. You know that intangible coolness factor that the Clash had on London Calling? This album has that in spades, and maybe having Mick Jones as producer had something to do with that. There's a surprising amount of depth to this album, and its charms reveal themselves over multiple listens. Even if Pete Doherty's life has gone to shambles lately, this album is living proof that the man has genuine talent when he applies himself.


MP3: The Libertines - Up the bracket [Link Removed]

Johnny Cash - American Recordings (1994)

This is the first album in the "American" series that the Man in Black recorded with producer Rick Rubin. It's basically Johnny and an acoustic guitar, and the album is predominantly made up of cover versions (only five of the thirteen tracks are Cash originals). What is apparent in such a minimalistic setting is how powerful the man's voice is -- he is able to convey so much emotion just through his enunciation and tone. I'm not normally a fan of "cover" albums, but this is a special recording.

MP3: Johnny Cash - Redemption [Link Removed]

Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance (1978)

You know how Amazon has that ListMania feature where customers can recommend some of their favourite albums? I saw Pere Ubu come up quite a few times, with their fans calling them one of the more influential art-rock bands of the late 70's. When I saw this (their debut album) at JB Hi Fi, I took the risk. It's a fascinating album with an incredible vibe; the best way to describe it would be a band from the original punk era with a heavy Captain Beefheart influence adding a major avant-garde element. It's weird shit but all the more fascinating because of it.

MP3: Pere Ubu - Over my head [Link Removed]

Camper Van Beethoven - Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart (1988)

My only previous knowledge of Camper Van Beethoven was that Manic Street Preachers had covered their popular song Take the skinheads bowling. I did a bit of research on them and this seemed to be the most popular choice for their best album. Considering my love for discovering lost classics from the 80's, I decided to give it a go. I can now honestly say that it's a gem of an album -- the best way to describe their sound would be a cross between the Go-Betweens and the Pogues. Strange mix? Indeed. This is quirky American underground pop at its best, with not a wasted note on the whole album.

MP3: Camper Van Beethoven - One of these days [Link Removed]

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms (1980)

"Caffeinated pop" is the term that many people use to describe the sound of the Feelies on this album, and it's a very apt description. This album is now out of print and is therefore very rare, but I was lucky enough to snag a copy of it on eBay recently. This is tense pop music that always keeps the listener on edge, with a definite Velvet Underground influence in the vocals (the singer definitely has the Lou Reed thing happening on many of the songs). It's a fascinating listen from an underground band who were apparently a big influence on Peter Buck from R.E.M.


MP3: The Feelies - Loveless love [Link Removed]

UPDATE: Song links removed.

2006: A Year in Music [Part 4: Top 5 albums of the year]

Without further ado, these are my top 5 albums of the year. Let's start the countdown!

5. Yo La Tengo - I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass

If this was a best album title award, this one would easily get the top gong. I'm not a huge Yo La Tengo fan -- I have what is considered their best album (I can hear the heart beating as one from 1997, which I really like) and one of their later-period efforts (And then nothing turned itself inside out from 2000, which doesn't do a lot for me).

This album shares the pop eclecticism of I can hear the heart, while mixing in some of the more ambient textures of And then nothing and 2003's Summer sun. It's a long listen at almost 80 minutes, bookended by two distorted guitar freakouts (Pass the hatchet and The story of Yo La Tengo), with the beautiful instrumental Daphnia being an excellent centrepiece.

Overall, there's enough diversity on this album to make it an interesting listen despite its long running time. It isn't quite the classic album that I can hear the heart was, but it's impressive nonetheless.

4. Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis

I don't think anyone was expecting this album to be as good as it is. Even though it is Jarvis Cocker's solo debut album, it's pretty much another Pulp album in all but name (erm, and the fact that Richard Hawley is the only other member of Pulp who plays on the album). For Pulp fans, this is a godsend.

It took me a few listens to warm to this album, but its charms have revealed themselves to me over time. It mixes the various facets of the Pulp sound, from Britpop (Don't let him waste your time, the political From Auschwitz to Ipswich) to brooding Scott Walker-esque ballads (I will kill again, Disney time). And if the hilarious profanity-laden hidden track "[Cunts are still] Running the world" doesn't bring a smile to your face, you don't have a sense of humour.

3. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

The 2nd album from B&S since they turned their back on their early melancholic sound, opting for a more indie pop sound. While previous album Dear catastrophe waitress was transitional in all senses of the word, this album (with the exception of Dress up in you) pretty much sounds like it's from a different band than the one who released If you're feeling sinister.

I was a little worried when I heard how pop this album was, as this term usually implies something that sounds pretty good for the first few listens but (like feta cheese) doesn't have a very good shelf life. But this is a strange pop album, as it has quite a bit of depth and reveals more with each listen.

Not all the songs do it for me (White collar boy and Sukie in the graveyard being the biggest culprits) but there is an embarrassment of riches on this album -- from the T-Rex swagger of The blues are still blue, perfect pop of Another sunny day and Funny little frog, and the stax pastiche of Stevie Jackson's To be myself completely. And the two Act of the apostle songs tie the album together, making the whole album a little more than the sum of its parts.

Where they go from here is anyone's guess. B&S are still releasing interesting albums 10 years into their career, and that itself is something to be proud of.

2. Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir

Let me start this entry by saying something incredibly controversial. This album was, and still is, a disappointment for me. Yet it's still my 2nd favourite album of the year? It's all relative. Sunset studies and Strange bird were idiosyncratic masterpieces and easily the best albums of the year they were released in (2000 and 2002 respectively). We waited four years for this one, and the expectations was definitely raised into the red zone.

On the surface this is a bloody impressive album. I could also see how many fans could consider this to be their best album, as it is easily their most consistent and polished effort to date. To make an analogy with Brisbane band The Go-Betweens, this album would be their 16 Lovers Lane. Every note seems to be in the right place and every melody is pretty much perfect. But while 16 Lovers Lane is my favourite Go-Betweens album (and one of my favourite albums of all time), this album is my least-favourite Augie March album.

Why? Everything seems a little too polished, a little too perfect. I guess I like my Augie March a little rough around the edges, and their previous albums often had a left-field oddity like Angels of the bowling green and There's something at the bottom of the black pool to up the quirk-o-meter when required. This album feels a bit too much like their shot at commercial glory -- I wouldn't go so far to call it a sellout (that's way too unfair) but it's missing a lot of the magic for me.

All that being said, One crowded hour, Bottle baby and Victoria's secrets are some of the finest Augie March tracks to date. I'm glad that they are finally getting some more commercial success, because these lads deserve it. Who knows? Maybe it's just sour grapes, and I preferred when they were "my" band and not getting songs played on commercial radio.

1. Joanna Newsom - Ys

I caught up with a few old friends Adam and Leora for a coffee today. I asked Adam if he liked Joanna Newsom, and he said Ys is a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the year. As you can see from its position in my top albums of the year, I tend to agree with him.

This is not an album for everyone. And I don't mean that in an elitist sense; I'm not saying that if you don't like it you aren't as good as me. To use a movie analogy, some people would be quite happy watching an Adam Sandler movie, getting a few belly-laughs, and having a good night's entertainment. I have nothing against Adam Sandler movies, but every now and then I like to watch something deeper with more meaning. This is one of those albums. Nice segue?

I honestly can't think of a precedent for this album. I guess the closest comparison (and I don't mean musically) is Van Morrison's Astral weeks, in that this album creates its own world in which you as a listener get lost in. The constants throughout the 5 epic songs on this album are Joanna's otherworldly voice, her gentle harp playing and Van Dyke Parks' beautiful string arrangements (with the exception of Sawdust & diamonds which just contains voice and harp).

The lyrics are archaic poetry, but at no point does this album feel pretentious. The songs are long, but they don't feel that way because each song is made up of multiple movements where different musical textures and lyrics are explored. And just look at that album cover. In this age of commercial pop designed to make a quick buck, who takes risks like this?

Her debut album The milk-eyed mender didn't even hint at what Joanna Newsom has achieved here. She has come from out of nowhere and shoved a red hot poker up the ass of almost every other artist releasing music nowadays (with the exception of Tom Waits, another innovative genius).

The benchmark has been set; I look forward to another Beatles/Beach Boys ante-upping contest, a fight to the end in the name of musical genius.

2006: A Year in Music [Part 3: Cutting room floor]

Here's the albums which didn't make the cut of my top 5 list this year, together with appropriate explanations. Some clearly deserve to be on the cutting room floor, but in my re-evaluation of 2006 next year maybe they will crack the top 5? Who knows, stranger things have happened.

Sorted alphabetically by artist name, as there is no order to these.

Bob Dylan - Modern times

High expectations can be nasty things. This is an album I had very high expectations for, so the most likely scenario would be that it would disappoint. Critics were raving about this album, calling it one of the highlights of his almost 50-year career. My skepticism radar needed servicing, because I didn't see through these rave reviews.

Truth is, it's a decent album. But c'mon, one of the highlights of his career? I don't see how any of the critics can sleep well at night comparing this album to his earlier masterpieces like Highway 61 revisited, Blonde on blonde and Blood on the tracks. There's simply no comparison. Even his two albums before this one, Time out of mind and Love & Theft were more interesting than this one.

My biggest gripe with this album is that so many songs follow generic blues structures, and the non-bluesy ones are just repetitive ballads. There are some exceptions, in particular Nettie Moore, Workingman's blues and When the deal goes down. But half of this album doesn't excite me, and that's disappointing.

Gomez - How we operate

My, my, my -- what has happened to my beloved Gomez? They used to be such an interesting band, and so different to many of their peers. On this album they've taken such a simple path, and to be blunt, this is a mighty bland album.

This is one of those albums that sounds pretty good on the first listen. It's their most polished and accessible album to date. For some bands, this approach works. All it does for this album is make each subsequent spin less rewarding than the last.

The originality of Gomez was in their ability to fuse blues influences with modern production techniques. It was their shtick, and they did it so well. But they've lost it here. For those who are new to the music of Gomez, I highly recommend checking out their debut album Bring it on. Then you'll realise how boring they have become.

Guillemots - From the cliffs

I bought this EP by the London band Guillemots after hearing the excellent single Trains to Brazil on the radio. Unfortunately, the rest of the EP doesn't live up to the quality of that song. There are some moments that get close: Made up love song #43 is a beautiful ballad with a passionate vocal performance by Fyfe Dangerfield. Guillemots need to develop a more unique sound, and it looks like they are still finding their way around the studio here.

Something For Kate - Desert lights

Initial reviews of Something For Kate's 5th album Desert lights called it their rockiest album since Beautiful sharks. While there is no denying the raw power of this album, there is also no rocker on this album up there with Hallways either. It's actually the ballads on this album which are the highlights for me, with Down the garden path and Washed out to sea up there with some of the best of SFK. All in all, this is their least impressive album since their debut.

Kelley Stoltz - Below the branches

Kelley's Stoltz's 2nd album Antique glow was one of my lucky discoveries of 2003. While the man had his influences, he managed to weave them into an album in which his own formula of quirky whimsy still managed to take centre stage.

Below the branches is his major label debut, and it's a perfect example of where injecting more money doesn't always yield better results. My biggest issue with this album is that Kelley seems to have lost a fair chunk of his originality here -- just listen to Ever thought of coming back, which could easily be confused with a Beach Boys song circa Friends.

There's still some great songs on this album, in particular the great sequence from The rabbit hugged the hound to Prank calls. It's just missing some of the magic from the previous album.

The Strokes - First impressions of earth

The Strokes managed to dodge a bullet with their 2nd album Room on fire, cleverly avoiding the dreaded "2nd album syndrome" (or as the Yanks love to call it, the "sophomore slump"). They managed to do this by pretty much releasing the same album as their debut. They realised that they probably couldn't do this again on their 3rd album, and I have to give them kudos for branching out and trying different things.

There are several problems with this album. Firstly, it's way too long. At 52 minutes it's way too long to sustain my interest over the course of the album. Their first two albums combined added up to only 68 minutes, making their new one almost as long as the both of them. Secondly, it's too top heavy. If they had edited this album by removing some of the average tracks from the second half, they could have turned this into a lean album under the 40-minute mark. And they could have done this without losing some of the tracks which take them in interesting new directions like Juicebox and the bizarre Ask me anything. This would have allowed them to miraculously dodge another bullet, but unfortunately they became a bit too self-indulgent on this album.

Thom Yorke - The eraser

I only purchased this album a few days ago, so unfortunately I can't really give a meaningful review yet. Standout tracks from the first few listens are Atoms for peace, Harrowdown hill and Cymbal rush.

Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards

I only purchased this album today, and haven't had a chance to listen to it. But I'm very excited about this purchase as I am a huge Tom Waits fan and this has been getting rave reviews. This is 3 discs of rare previously-released material and new songs. Brawlers contains mostly bluesy rockers, Bawlers contains his trademark weepie ballads and Bastards contains the experimental stuff. Tom Waits is a genius, and I don't use that word lightly. Just writing about this album makes me want to listen to it!

Albums Yet (Or Never) To Purchase

Here's some of the 2006 albums that I may consider purchasing, but I haven't gotten around to getting them:

Beatles -Love
Camera Obscura - Let's get out of this country
The Drones - Gala mill
TV on the Radio - Return to cookie mountain

And here's some 2006 albums by artists and bands who I like, but based on reviews and feedback from friends, I'm unlikely to purchase them:

Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the UK
Ben Harper - Both sides of the gun
The Flaming Lips - At war with the mystics
Muse - Black holes and revelations
The Sleepy Jackson - Personality
Sufjan Stevens - The avalanche
The Streets - The hardest way to make an easy living
The Whitlams - Little cloud
You Am I - Convicts

Coming next, my top 5 albums of 2006!