Continuing from yesterday and the day before –

16. Alberta Cross - Broken Side of Time

If this debut full-length by Alberta Cross had been released in the late 60s, it would have stood well against music that is now considered classic. These days, due to oversaturation of the music market, it is likely to be overlooked. One problem with this album is its lack of hooks–”singalongability.” Everybody and his sister can sing “Down By the River” and “Cinnamon Girl,” but the lyrics on Broken Side of Time are mostly too unintelligible to provide that kind of familiarity. Still, the lashing guitars provide ample thrill factor.

“Rise From the Shadows” brought my attention back to this album after I found it for my Halloween mix. I love the ending, where layer upon layer of builds over Petter Ericson Stakee’s haunting wolf howls. “ATX” is another great track.

Alberta Cross - ATX from Broken Side of Time

MySpace | Buy | Alberta Cross at Coachella 2009

17. Wye Oak - The Knot

Wye Oak’s second full-length presents Jenn Wasner as she plays onstage, banging out fat, chunky chords like the ones on “Take It In.” Wasner learned well the lesson in dynamics that Jimmy Page was trying to teach in “Ramble On” (watch It Might Get Loud), and she has made those flares of distortion more melodic this time than just noisy as they were on Wye Oak’s debut If Children.

As a whole, the slow pace of the album reflects the sad subject matter of a love gone south. Pretty melodies are a front for bitter words. The best songs are “Take It In,” “That I Do,” and “For Prayer,” and my favorite “I Want For Nothing.” I love the strings and how the song pauses before swelling out to full power again. I am disappointed that I can’t understand the lyrics, which like others on the album are far more sad and angry than the melody suggests.

Wye Oak - I Want For Nothing from The Knot

MySpace | Buy | Wye Oak Concert Review

18. Freelance Whales - Weathervanes

I confess that I haven’t listened to this album very much, as it is new for me, but I do like it even though I suspect the three pretty one-minute instrumentals are filler. The rest, however, seems right up my alley, sometimes sounding like a plugged-in Paul Simon (”Location”), sometimes like School of Seven Bells playing Fleet Foxes (”Generator^First Floor”), and sometimes like the folkish side of MGMT (”Ghosting”). I think I am going to like everything even more as time goes on.

Freelance Whales - Location from Weathervanes

MySpace | Buy | Band Blog

19. Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic

Luke Temple turns trippy with his new project Here We Go Magic, a big conceptual departure from his previous folk tradition. “Tunnelvision” and “Fangela” are such brilliant jewels that it’s hard to remember that the rest of the album is quite good too, although I don’t care much for “Nat’s Alien.” I hope HWGM will produce another album of fine songs in the future.

Here We Go Magic - Fangela from Here We Go Magic

MySpace | Buy

20. City of Satellites - Machine Is My Animal

An entire album possessed of crystalline beauty, Machine Is My Animal by Australian outfit City of Satellites is the perfect thing for peaceful chilling out. My Thanksgiving week album review (HERE) did not get much interest; I hope to get you to give this another try.

City of Satellites - Control from Machine Is My Animal

MySpace | Buy

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!

Filed under: Favorites of 2009, Engineers, Freelance Whales, Here We Go Magic, Stripmall Architecture, Wye Oak

• alt-gramma (370)
• indie.mom (395)
• Uncle T (7)