Polyeuphony

2011 Fundraising Appeal

2011-04-27T17:12:00.003-04:00

Why donate to the Polyeuphony Blog? Here at the Polyeuphony blog we intend to give exposure to artists who would otherwise not be heard of. Sure, there are other music websites tracking independent music like Pitchfork Media etc. However, a lot of those sites don't follow the bands that we have written about. Vessels, Gospel, Audiocaneat! etc. We intend to change what people are listening to in our image and likeness and give a voice to the obscure. Small contributions can make a big difference! Writing about and monitoring musicians on the periphery is time consuming and there is no other way to say it, but maintaining a site that is worth paying attention to requires funding . Help make this blog stronger. Donation links are to the side. Thanks for thinking about the Polyeuphony blog!

Pinback - Information Retrieved Pt. A

2011-04-22T15:51:00.003-04:00

2 New songs by Pinback. Both are reminiscent of their older style that fans were accustomed to and loved. A full length album will be released in the near future. I have to say that Pinback has some fantastic songs, but a lot of their albums are kind of spotty. Picking out some of the very best from each would make a 19 song 5 star album, which I did and here's my track list. Pinback - "Sherman" (new!) by Marco Collins

Audiocaneat! - Red Sessions (2010)

2011-03-30T16:59:00.008-04:00

Audiocæneat! hails from Dresden, Germany. The town that was burned down in the infamous air attack by allied bombers in the second World War. It's a mix between post-rock, shoegaze, and some heavier moments that Oceansize fans will appreciate. Sometimes the vocals remind me of My Bloody Valentine, or Smashing Pumpkins.

Great stuff!

RIY: Immanu el, Oceansize,post-rock, Mogwai, Shoegaze

Check out their album in full here http://audiocaneat.bandcamp.com

Audiocæneat - Painting The Earth With Night Flares by Spektrum Nachtklang

Vessels - Helioscope (2011)

2011-03-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

Vessels is from Leeds,United Kingdom. They kind of sound like a blend between Broken Social Scene, Battles, and Explosions in the Sky. As a matter of fact I'm liking this album much more than the new Explosions in the Sky album. Helioscope holds something for everyone. Those who like post-rock and the band Battles will enjoy the intrumentation. Those who like Broken Social Scene will certainly like the third track "Recur". There is plenty of ambience that is reminiscent of The American Dollar on tracks like "Meatman,Piano Tuner,Prostitute". The vocals on that track are splendid also. Do yourself a favor and check them out. It'll probably be one of the better albums of this year. Solid stuff.

Meatman, Piano Tuner, Prostitute (feat. Stuart Warwick) by Vessels

Active Child

2011-03-17T07:52:00.000-04:00

Dream pop, Shoegaze

Pat Rossi choir boy turned indie artist. Pat played with Philadelphia Boys Choir, and plays the harp. Interesting stuff.

Active Child - Im In Your Church at Night by LifeBoxset.com

Passengerca - Passenger 2011

2011-03-15T06:26:00.000-04:00

Not much is known about the L.A. based Passengerca besides their album is short and ferocious. Their new album is streaming for free on their bandcamp which I would highly recommend. Give them a try if you like Gospel(mentioned below), The Mars Volta, or post-hardcore.

The Velvet Teen - Elysium

2011-03-15T04:46:00.000-04:00

It may be saying a lot, but The Velvet Teen's Elysium may quite possibly the most perfect, cohesive album that I've listened to as to date. Front man Judah Nagler's voice is authentic, heart warming, and captures emotions or invents new ones as the music flows into his lyrics. The album can be listened to concurrently song by song or perhaps is best to experience it in its entirety. Elysium is defined as "any place or state of perfect happiness; paradise", most bands who would attach such an ambitious title to an album would fail miserably, the title itself necessitates a sublime quality to the music. In previous and recent years to Elysium, The Velvet Teen strays far from the music they create, Cum Laude may not even be recognizably TVT, yet it remains apparent through their albums that it is them. Never quite taking the music to the point of absurdity as to lose what makes them, them.

Try out their song No Star from their new EP released late in 2010.

Gospel - The Moon Is A Dead World

2011-03-14T04:59:00.001-04:00

Amongst the most rejuvenating albums I've heard in a very long time. Something profound is woven into The Moon Is A Dead World that can not be easily described. From the first track on the record is massive. Hybrid rock music that is tinged with progressive/mathcore/post-hardcore. They remind me of The Mars Volta at times but by far more ferocious. I suppose a certain kind of conditioning, a certain kind of listening apparatus must be ascertained prior to listening to something of this magnitude and complexity. They know exactly when to transition the music from one portion to the next. And leave me feeling that something inhuman is at work while Gospel plays. Possibly why they named themselves after something so significant for hundreds of millions of people, because they have an equal spiritual effect. Gospel is just as significant or more to me than any of the four gospels can be to those people. Fantastic mathematical trickery is involved with the drums and guitar. I catch myself sometimes only listening to the splendor of the drums. While at other times being mesmerized by the sheer power of the guitar work that just drive me crazy. Amen.

Oceansize - Effloresce

2011-03-14T04:56:00.000-04:00

A few songs on the album are somewhat mediocre to me, namely Amputee. Regardless, Oceansize's debut stands the test of time. The high moments are too excellent in my opinion to let a few very minor moments ruin classic status. The album flows very well together. I really wouldn't want to do without the range of music and the most sentimental moments Effloresce creates for me. I am the morning brings me back home, I feel comfortable saying Effloresce has now ingrained itself into the supreme ranks of my music collection and fused itself into who I am. The best thing about the opening track is that it doesn't reveal what the rest of the album contains and leaves the album a mystery. Catalyst can be an immediate favorite for everyone. The intro is amongst the most memorable, guitars crunching, cymbals splashing. Vocalist Mike Vennart howls over a whirling guitar riff "But I am so fearful of the future, Ignorant of the present, And wary of the past." This immediately transitions to a ballad like melody of vocals over a drum beat while a guitar gently follows in the background. "And through the door I shuffle quietly down the hall, Identical corridors and artificial lights." Showing off how dynamic their sound can be. It can be surprising that "One Day All This Could Be Yours" sounds nothing like the first two tracks. The riff towards the end can be likened to TOOL's Aenima. This is also memorable. And the mathematics in the song and throughout the album are worth praise. My personal favorite track has to be "Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs" it seems to be a fan favorite, and for good reason. The post-rock sound would seem alien to a band who starts of an album with slamming alternative metal sound. With waves of sound, to sound dissolving into the most serene minimalist guitar lines, layered over by a bass that follows appropriately. The song erupts halfway through with intensity that is sure to induce anyone with warm blood into having goosebumps. This then falls apart once more into a lovely melody and the multi-layered sound that the track started with. "Saturday Morning Breakfast Show" exhibits a similar motif that the previous track I mentioned delivers. The "fragile beauty" as some fans have mentioned these tracks to have are up there with the most sentimental sounding post-rock bands. Effloresce is a tour de force that requires multiple listens on multiple occasions to truly appreciate its modern genius. Those of you that don't appreciate it and say it's a "standard" alternative rock album are fucken stupid.

Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (2011)

2011-03-14T04:03:00.000-04:00

Explosions in the Sky returns after their 2007 album "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone". The post-rock genre that Explosions is king of has been for a long time now showing signs of stagnation. Almost every other instrumental rock band has imitated the "post-rock" giant, now they are just imitating themselves.

On 2011's Take Care, Take Care, Take Care Explosions have turned away from the "total silence, to total violence" formula that typifies their previous releases. It has been noted that the albums tone is joyful but underwhelming. Most of the album sounds like a cheezy cover band trying to play Explosions in the Sky. It's just okay.

Trembling Hands by Explosions in the Sky

Jeniferever - Silesia (2011)

2011-03-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

Silesia takes off where Spring Tides left off. Jeniferever have returned again, and again have proven that they can not outdo what was captured by their first record Choose A Bright Morning. After getting a promotional copy of the record I was very excited to give it a spin since the 2 songs they released prior to listening to the album seemed promising. The album has its moments. I am still expecting that I will enjoy listening to Silesia for a while. It's an above average album in my opinon, and I'm glad that they've returned, but ultimately the album lacks the original quality and intangible something that Choose A Bright Morning had. The Beat of Our Own Blood is a weak single, a typical 80ish sounding song . The rest of the album doesn't tread any new ground that Spring Tides didn't already cover. Deception Pass has a pretty typical post-rock crescendo, much like the rest of the album's typical style that is known by people who have listened to Jeniferever.

Best Songs: Silesia,Dover

3.5/5.0

Anathallo - Floating World (2006)

2009-12-04T17:13:00.000-05:00

If you've spent a lot of time with the indie scene, you've probably become acquainted with the standards of the genre and it's sub-genres. Anathallo redeems the banal spectrum that is indie today. The freshness of Floating World deviates from the indie cliches of lo-fi, poorly put together vocal harmonies and the limited scope of indie-pop, with soaring male/female harmonies, ecclectic lyrics and the atypical linear progression to writing a song. Verse Chorus Verse isn't in the musical vocabulary of Anathallo , and ought not to be.
Anathallo delivers their music through seven (or more) multi-intrumentalists. Glee club rock without being overtly and overly annoyingly Broadway music. Quality production yet reeking of anti-commercialism. But, nonetheless songs like A Great Wind More Ash could still easily be accepted by a wider non indie audience. Such a shame that the masses won't experience what extraordinary musicianship is about and are too myopic to find out. Dokkoise House adopts the Japanese language in a segment of the song, which is charming to the ear. The music is diverse enough to keep one's interest and acceptably coherent to not lose the listener.
Recommended to anyone who likes Sufjan Stevens, Broken Social Scene.

The Evpatoria Report - Golevka (2005)

2009-11-23T18:00:00.000-05:00

I am having a difficult time putting Switzerland’s The Evpatoria Report into words. They do for me what many other bands fail to do. 2005s Golevka can not be put into any of my standard categorical niches. Unlike many records that I would consider amongst my most cherished, Golevka; since I lack any appropriate words to describe it, is a miracle.
I’ve listened to plenty of musicians who employ violins and other traditional string instruments. Yet many fail miserably at the atmosphere and texture that The Evpatoria Report creates on Golevka.
At first the music can sound underwhelming. A formidable tolerance for lengthy compositions is required. But once understood; the effect is extraordinary. The violins in Prognoz alone can send you into a sense of desolation or an intimate moment to realize how lucky we are to be able to wonder in awe at the life and universe we live through, and the awe and wonder that the opening track delivers.
Tajin Kyofusho is easily one of the most stupendous tracks ever recorded. The highlight of the album reveals itself layer by layer. A winnowing of several sounds are incorporated into the formation to leave a coldness on your skin that is sure to give you goosebumps. Melodies develop by the congruence of two forlorn guitars and a ferocious depth is created . Cosmic call is also littered with violins, guitars and drums. Optimal regional selector’s ambience is splendid. But, Golevka is far too intricate and ambitious to give a play by play critique, it’s edifying experience is for the listener to behold. Undoubtedly an album of this grandeur will outlive plenty of other contemporary post-rock albums.

Frightened Rabbit -The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)

2009-10-09T17:22:00.000-04:00

For this genre, for music like this I found it surprisingly enjoyable, especially Old Old Fashioned and Floating in the Forth. The vocal schemes and melodies are nice. Boring but pleasant.
Indie-pop,folk-pop

Closure In Moscow - First Temple (2009)

2009-06-24T00:15:00.000-04:00

So The Mars Volta has returned with their newest album this year , First Temple. Actually The Mars Volta's newest album is called Octahedron, this debut album is by Equal Vision's Closure In Moscow. I was pretty excited in hearing what this would turn out like after hearing their EP The Pennance & The Patience. I was suspecting this release was going to have a lot of potential after hearing the EP. And guess what? It became reality. I'm pretty accurate when it comes to things like that. Which is why I recommend reading my reviews more frequently ;).
First Temple starts out with two post De-loused In The Comatorium Mars Volta-esque songs. By the third song Sweet#heart it turns into an upbeat typical screamo song with of course high pitched yelling vocals. I still can't get myself not to believe that this isn't a new Mars Volta album. A bit overly derivative, with accompanying bizarre lyrics. The other parts of the album lie somewhere between the eclectic and the standard. Regardless the album is worth the spin but I doubt it will pass the test of time. 3/5 Stars

Maserati - Inventions For The New Season (2007)

2009-06-23T19:28:00.000-04:00

A "different" approach to instrumental "post rock". By far more upbeat and uplifting then the overly slow-mo sympathetic sound that other instrumental rock bands produce. Not to say that the album does not have its grandeur and melodramatic moments. But, the album is far more lively in it's tone. Especially during the intro track Inventions, and Synchronicity with weaving guitar rifts and up tempo drum beats. Rather than being an Explosions in The Sky clone as many are they still have an essence of about their music that they are still themselves. They use electronic elements that border on being progressive trance music more then progressive instrumental music. Yet Maserati lets you know that they are clearly a rock band. 4.5/5 Stars

The Boxer Rebellion - Union (2009)

2009-06-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

So this album is growing on me. A lot of the music sounds a bit of a hybrid between Radiohead(Thom Yorke falsetto), U2, and Editors. I've seen people trying to compare tracks like Evacuate (the band's single which was fairly successful on itunes in spite of not being released on a major record label) to what Radiohead accomplished on OK Computer (classic tracks like Paranoid Android). To me that's a bit of a far cry. The vocals are not nearly comparable in effect on me as Yorke's vocals are. The drums stand out for sure, probably over all the other instruments. Some great moments but hardly an OK Computer or anything as compelling as the Editors have put out. The record is however one of the better of 2009. I'd recommend it. 3.5/5 Stars

Dance Gavin Dance - Happiness (2009)

2009-06-20T16:24:00.000-04:00

Dance Gavin Dance is an American post-hardcore band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005
So far one of the best albums of this fairly uneventful year. Dance Gavin Dance third record Happiness is their first album without former lead screamer Jonathan Mess and former bassist Eric Lodge. The album includes lots of "post-hardcore" elements without being overly aggressive. It balances nicely between melodic hooks and catchy choruses to nimble guitar work and growls.
NASA the second track on the album starts with guitars strikingly similar to something Minus The Bear would execute. An almost aggressive Minus The Bear song with yells and cursing included. Carl Baker loads a number of different catchy melodies into one song with enough progression that it won't let the listener lose attention. I'd highly recommend this to fans of Minus The Bear, Circa Survive, Ever We Fall, and The Fall of Troy

The Mars Volta - Octahedron (2009)

2009-06-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

Always something a little different should be expected with each release The Mars Volta puts out. This is no exception. Let me start by agreeing with a lot of people that it fails in comparison to previous releases. Even after the masterpiece De-loused In The Comatorium, TMV were overly self indulgent and seemed unable to control themselves. Yet, each one was relatively exceptional in its own right. Octahedron conversely is a bit underwhelming and lacks "layers", leaving the impression that the album is restrained but simultaneously is even more inconsistent then prior records. Some songs have potent moments while others flop. This time around a lot of the buffoonery is cut out(which made the music interesting on prior records). It would be nice to see them with some influence in the studio besides themselves. I'm sure it would enhance the more relevant sections of their music and bring some coherency to it. Instead of sounding like a long winded EP. Nonetheless this being album number 5 The Mars Volta will be around for awhile and it should be interesting how they sound 5 or 10 years from now.

Jeniferever - Spring Tides (2009)

2009-06-19T20:53:00.000-04:00

Jeniferever's sophomore album was on my list for being a highly anticipated release. Spring Tides is the best album I've listened to this year (so far). The title track really stands out to me and is amongst the prettiest songs I've heard in a very long time(maybe ever). "The Hour Glass" seems to be a slightly new direction the band has taken. It has a definite post-punk aura and left that impression on me immediately. Though the song differs it does not stray from the Swedish quartets sui generis . The album has a pretty melodramatic atmosphere(in a good way). As was expected from the band.
Compared to the groups previous release Choose A Bright Morning, this record has a bit more cohesion with song transitions. It is probably more accessible to a first time listener of the band. Since it generally lacks the static of the drawn out ambient moments. Nonetheless Choose A Bright Morning holds a special place in my record collection. And as of now I still consider it slightly superior to Spring Tides. But it is quickly gaining momentum to rival it. I'd recommend to the listener to give a lot of the songs a bit of growing time before you "get it".

Jeniferever's - MySpace

Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)

2009-06-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

During The Willing Well II I pictured myself skipping down the street to the local candy shop (which gave me an awkward feeling, Try listening to that song and picture yourself doing that) . Possibly the worst Coheed song ever done. Definitely one of the worst songs I've had the misfortune to listen to. The rest of the album is of little value to me also. Ten Speed was also a humorous song to listen to, especially the background vocals. (Reminded me of a poor Michael Jackson song or something along those lines). I remember when this album came out and how large of a disappointment it was(Being a fan of there previous albums). I never regained my interest in the band after this album. Crossing the Frame was fun, though if I want a fun Coheed song I might as well listen to A Favor House Atlantic. Such a shame.

Explosions in The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)

2009-06-19T20:35:00.001-04:00

The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is a conscious awakening to the subtle shades of color that exist in our grey world, that so many few but extremely privileged peoples get to appreciate. One of the few albums that I've ever owned that made me think that humanity still has so much going on for itself(artistically, culturally).
I walked in a shop today to get my haircut. The girl was so plain and started discussing American Idol with me. I can barely tolerate frivolous small talk sometimes. I don't even watch American Idol! But, from the small portions that I have watched; they were not worth mentioning at all. How boring are some people? That their lives surround vacuous forms of entertainment and other activities that represent our culture which is suffering from a massive substance deficit.
Explosions in The Sky's music transcends so much and offers plenty to fill the black hole that is pop culture. I would regard it more valuable then some individuals who have fallen into the trap of pop culture that I've met (including her).
The Only Moment We Were Alone for me is the most interesting of the 5 pieces of the album. New patterns develop, rise to there maximum and dissolve immediately and begin coalescing off a new arrangement of sound. This trend is prevalent through out the album.
So much is captured by this piece of art that I can not describe it adequately. Triumph,love,glory,victory, peace, warmth,beauty,despair,hope, awe, romance, breathtaking and spellbinding. Are among some words that can begin to give it justice. Indeed it is their finest hour. A masterpiece. Their magnum opus. One of the finest hours for mankind.

Explosions in The Sky's - Myspace

Round 2

2009-06-19T20:28:00.000-04:00

Haven't made a lot of posts in a really long time. I actually never really put the effort into this blog that I should . I have some new album reviews that I wrote. Some are older some newer. I'll be trying to post more frequently on here so check back regularly!

P.g.lost - Yes I Am (2007)

2009-06-19T20:24:00.000-04:00

Excellent EP. Just when I've thought I've had enough of the "post rock" genre and it's numerous clone musicians, Yes I Am is one of those performances that keeps me staying. I can tell you that "post rock" has the sympathetic/nostalgic warmth to it that no other genre that I am familiar with has. It isn't very ground breaking or original (as most post rock isn't these days) yet it is a decisively compelling . The title track Yes I am is the stand out, maybe stand alone track here. It thankfully happens to be in the beginning of the record to catch the listeners ear immediately. Plenty of the derivative musicians in the comparable genre that can relate to Pg.Lost fail to make more persuasive melodies that the title track fulfills. The rest of the album is solid but can not compare to track 1.

P.g.Lost's - MySpace

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (2009)

2009-06-18T16:21:00.000-04:00

It's Blitz! is an alright record(but not all right), nothing mind blowing or innovative. Just a decent spin. I don't know why people consider Yeah Yeah Yeahs to be "indie" what's indie about them? Not even there sound is "indie", more like synthesizer corporate drivel pop. They're owned by Universal Records which is in turn owned by General Electric. Which has defense contracts with the United States military. Buying a Yeah Yeah Yeahs record is like dropping a bomb on innocent people. I wouldn't buy it. The implications in doing so are far too sinister.

Dave Matthews Band - Crash (1996)

2009-05-20T16:17:00.000-04:00

So, after many years I finally have given this album a full spin. Crash sounded nice, as did Two Step, for about 20 seconds a piece. The album is relative garbage, when comparing it to the rest of my impeccable music collection. The vocals are excruciatingly painful to listen to. There are some pleasant moments but very minor. It is as others have pointed out an extremely overrated generic product. I'm sure for those who have a limited scope of musicians they listen to, it must sound like some kind of revelation. But in no way is this album amazing. And the lyrics are atrocious also, yep.

Best Albums of : 2008

2009-01-01T11:55:00.001-05:00

16.[artist]MGMT[/artist] - Oracular Spectacular

15.[artist]Say Hi [/artist]- The Wishes and the Glitch

14.[artist]Adebisi Shank[/artist] - This Is the Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank

13.[artist]The Helio Sequence[/artist] - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

12.[artist]Bloc Party[/artist] - Intimacy

11.[artist]Sigur Ros[/artist] - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

10.[artist]The Reign of Kindo[/artist] - Rhythm, Chord and Melody

9.[artist]The Music[/artist] - Strength In Numbers

8.[artist]The Mars Volta[/artist] - The Bedlam In Goliath

7.[artist]City And Colour[/artist] - Bring Me Your Love

6.[artist]Miaou[/artist] - All Around Us

5.[artist]M83[/artist] - Saturdays = Youth

4.[artist]Protest The Hero[/artist]- Fortress

3.[artist]This Town Needs Guns[/artist]- Animals

Grade: A+

2.[artist]Russian Circles[/artist] - Station

1.[artist]Foals[/artist] - Antidotes

Grade: A++

The Reign of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord and Melody

2008-07-18T01:44:00.000-04:00

This Day And Age has disbanded. But no worries some of the remaining members have gotten together to create The Reign of Kindo. After releasing The Reign of Kindo EP
they have something even more special up their sleeves.
This band from blue collar Buffalo, NY has just dropped every other album on my forthcoming "Best of list" a notch down with their upcoming album Rhythm, Chord and Melody (Aug 26)(Maybe not Foals' new one just yet). The rock fused jazz melodies of this band will be releasing one of, if not the most breath taking albums of the year. Sure to gain mass attention in no time, a band that will not stay underground for much longer.

I can honestly say this record to me has even put the high profile, excellent releases of even Coldplay to shame. Rhythm, Chord and Melody, The Reign of Kindo's debut, has a similar style throughout the album. Yet, with so much wonderful piano work and constant changes in tempo it remains diverse. I swear I can hear a slightly deeper toned Brandon Boyd of Incubus?(maybe doing one of his ballads) Joseph Secchiaroli, lead vocalist has the ability to have swift and nimble vocal schemes and also digress to smooth ambient toned melodies (listen throughout to his falsetto being thrown around with ease, awesome range). So much passion seems to have been poured into the album. Amazing. Do yourself a favor and get a hold of this.

The Reign of Kindo's - Myspace

Track list:

01 The Moments In Between
02 Breathe Again
03 Great Blue Sea
04 Let It Go
05 Nice To Meet You
06 Till We Make Our Ascent
07 Something In The Way That Your Are
08 Rhythm, Chord & Melody
09 I Hear That Music Play
10 The Mystery Of Our Day
11 Morning Cloud
12 Hold Out

2007: Top 25 Albums Review

2007-11-12T01:47:00.000-05:00

25. Tiger Army- Music from regions beyond

Grade:C

Highlight Tracks: Afterworld, Forever Fades Away, As The Cold Rain Falls

24. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81

Grade:C

Highlight Tracks:Berlin, Weapon Of Choice, Cold Wind, Need Some Air

23. [Smashing Pumpkins- Zeitgeist

Grade:C+

Highlight Tracks: Doomsday Clock, Tarantula, Starz, Bring The Light

22. The Fall Of Troy - Manipulator

Grade:C+

Highlight Tracks: Quarter Past, Semi-Fiction, The Dark Trail, Seattlantis

21.Chiodos - Bone Palace Ballet

Grade:C+

Highlight Tracks: Is it progression If A Cannibal Uses A Fork?, Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered, A Letter From Janelle

20. Minus The Bear- Planet of Ice

Grade:B-

Highlight Tracks: Dr.Llling, Double Vision Quest, Knights

Comments: Preety good album unfortunately had a few filler tracks. Wasn’t happy with that and definitely dropped them quite a bit down on my list for that. Although the songs that were good were outstanding.

19. Of Montreal- Hissing Fauna

Grade:B-

Highlight Tracks: Suffer For Fashion, Gronlandic Edit, A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger, Cato As A Pun

18.Paramore - Riot!

Grade:B-

Highlight Tracks: When It Rains, That’s What You Get

17. Maxïmo Park- Our Earthly Pleasures

Grade:B

Highlight Tracks: Books From Boxes, Russian Literature, By The Monument

16. Elliot Smith- New Moon

Grade:B

Highlight Tracks: Angel In The Snow, All Cleaned Out, Georgia, Georgia, First Timer, Thirteen, Going Nowhere

15. Radical Face- Ghost

Grade:B

Highlight Tracks: Welcome Home, Son , Winter Is Coming, Wrapped In Piano Strings

Similair Artist:The Shins, Elliot Smith, [artist]Death Cab For Cutie[/artist]

14. Anberlin - Cities

Grade:B+

Highlight Tracks: *Fin, The Unwinding Cable Car, Uncanny, There Is No Mathematics To Love And Loss, Godspeed

13. Aereogramme- My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go

Grade:B+

Highlight Tracks: Conscious Life for Coma Boy, Barriers, Exits, The Running Man

12. Editors - An End Has A Start

Grade:B+

Highlight Tracks: An End Has A Start, Bones, Smokers Outside The Hospital

11. Armor For Sleep- Smile For Them

Grade:B+

Highlight Tracks: Run Right Back In, Chemicals, My Saving Grace

---------------------------------------Top Ten-------------------------------------

10.Daphne Loves Derby- Good Night, Witness Light

Grade:A-

Comment Review: Excellent indie pop album. Wasn’t really expecting me to like this album so much as I did.

Highlight Tracks: The Best Part About It Honey, That’s Our Hero Shot, Iron In The Backseat

9. DAMIERA - M(US)IC

Grade:A-

Comments/Review: Home town musicians from Buffalo,New York. Damiera is yielding high energy songs interlaced with unorthodox musical timing signatures. With this freshman release Damiera brings it to the fucken wall. Drive fast to this album : )

Highlight Tracks: Immure, I Am Pulse, Via Invested

Similair Artists:[artist]Brazil[/artist], Minus The Bear

8. Kaddisfly - Set Sail The Prairie

Grade:A-

Comments/Review:Kaddisfly’s SSTP leaked nearly 9 months before its official release date. Could be why such a great up and coming band like Kaddisfly only made it to numero 8 . Also for me this album lacked the tremendous effect their previous album Buy Our Intention; We’ll Buy You A Unicorn had on me. This album no doubt brought the boys from Kaddisfly an ample amount of success touring during the Take Action Tour, and Warped Tour. Selling more than their previous album. Plenty of wonderful tunes on this puppy. Can resemble [artist]Incubus[/artist]and[artist]dredg[/artist] yet remaining uniquely Kaddisfly. Hopefully we will be hearing more of them for years to come.

Highlight Tracks: Campfire, Empire, Waves, Clockwork

7. Arctic Monkeys- Favourite Worst Nightmare

Grade:A-

Comments/Review: Fun band for sure. Some say they are overrated I like them just fine. Don’t really have a very comprehensive review for this one either. But I like it!!

Highlight Tracks:Teddy Picker, Fluorescent Adolescent, If You Were There Beware

6. Deas Vail[/artist]- All The Houses Look The Same

Grade:A

Comments/Review: Coming out of left field this freshman effort by little heard of Deas Vail will inevitably reach and be favored by fans of bands such as [artist]Mew[/artist], [artist]Copeland[/artist], and [artist]The Format[/artist]. Catchy but not cheesy dreamy and at times soft but also soaring and agile with smooth vocals. Most likely the best new band to come out this year. Check them out!

Highlight Tracks: Anything You Say, Surface, A Lover’s Charm, Shadows And City Lights

5. Radiohead- In Rainbows

Grade:A-

Comments/Review:What can be said about Radiohead? They released an enormously popular album based on the last.fm charts with no support from a record label (how bad ass is that?)

Highlight Tracks: 15 Step, House Of Cards, Reckoner

4. Circa Survive -On Letting Go

Grade:A

Comments/Review: A preety ambitious effort by Circa’s sophomore album. Happy to see they didn’t release a “pile” and is hard to determine if this album is better than the previous Juturna. Lots of meandering. I’m sure this album takes a jab at religion lyrically or is definitely open to be interpreted that way. Love it.

Highlight Tracks: Kicking Your Crosses Down, Mandala, Travel Hymn, Close Your Eyes To See, Living Together

3. Blaqk Audio- CexCells

Grade:A

Comments/Review:Davey Havok and Jade Puget from [artist]AFI[/artist] are doing something quite different and preety risky since not many bands have made such a drastic turn of musical style. CexCells is reminiscent of some 80’s pop such as [artist]The Cure[/artist],[artist]Depeche Mode[/artist], early 90’s techno, and even borders close to resembling some current trance artists like [artist]Paul Van Dyk[/artist] . Very pleased that they have pulled it off and should deserve more credit for still releasing an album which isn’t anything like their previous work in AFI. Davey Havok in my opinion is still one of the best vocalists out today and really shines on this album.

Highlight Tracks:Stiff Kittens, Snuff On Digital, Semiotic Love, Where Would You Like Them Left?

2. Bloc Party- A Weekend In The City / B-sides

Grade:A+

Comments/Review: Incredible sophomore album from Bloc Party. Previous album Silent Alarm had plenty of danceable upbeat and math rock like moments. AWITC dives a little deeper and towards the more melancholy, ethereal, and sublime. Yet have not given up on asymmetrical guitar patterns in some songs such as Hunting For Witches which is by far one of the most memorable intros and guitar riffs of any song I’ve heard. Also an entire b-side album was leaked which is more reminiscent of Silent Alarm it is also a fantastic collection of songs and holds one of my favorite Bloc songs ever “Vision Of Heaven“ . Most songs remain tinged with that Bloc Party dance style but delve towards the duskish sounds of music. Beautiful album from probably my favorite band.

Highlight Tracks: I Still Remember, Hunting For Witches, Sunday, Uniform, Vision of Heaven, The Once And Future King, Version 2.0, Cain Said To Abel

Album Of The Year

1. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

Grade:A++

Comments/Review: Wonderful, joyous and melodious. Entire album is easily listenable from start to finish and the songs are perfectly arranged for a great listening experience. Easily accessible. Resembles 60’s bliss pop or some shit haha. Wonderful vocal schemes on Phantom Limb, Australia, and Spilt Needles. Must have for any avid music fan.

Highlight Tracks: Australia, Sea Legs, Phantom Limb, A Comet Appears

Honorable Mentions:

Blonde Redhead - 23

Digitalism

Stateless

Angels &Airwaves

Strata - Strata Present The End Of The World

Stars Of Track And Field

Klaxons- Myths Of The Near Future

!!!- Myth Takes

Tegan And Sara - The Con

Highlight Tracks: The Con, Floor Plan

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

Highlight Tracks: Cleanse Song, Hot Knives, Make A Plan To Love Me, Middleman

Ayin - The Persistent Divide

Highlight Tracks: Chemical Dependence(feat. Chris Ruff of Kaddisfly)

Dissappointments:

The Academy is - Santi

Coheed and Cambria