Rob's Top 5 Albums of the Year

As a frequent peruser of various music-related blogs, magazines, and podcasts I always find that I enjoy the inevitable 'Top 10 Albums of the Year' list that every entity feels obligated to provide. These lists can help you get clued into bands that may have  snuck under your music radar earlier in the year. Or sometimes they may simply justify your own particular obsession with a favorite group ( Yes! # 2!! )

Anyway, I thought that it would be fun ( for me mostly ) to do a year-in-review list of my own. I'm no music critic, not by a long shot, but I know what I like and I figured that I may as well put it out there.  Maybe someone else will get to enjoy the songs that have been particularly exciting to me this year, and to be honest, I am also hoping that I'll get some suggestions to supplement my own favorites. I decided to keep it simple and forgo the full 'Top 10' list and instead stick with a 'Top 5', with an additional 'Favorite Song of the Year' designation tacked on for good measure. 

I had hoped that with each album I would be able to include at least one MP3 sample to give you a taste of each band's music. Unfortunately, as I attempted to work this out I found that putting copyrighted material onto Blogger is a very difficult/ mildly illegal endeavor. Oh well. As a not-nearly-as-good alternative I put a link to each bands Myspace page along with my own description. They all have full length audio clips of a selection of songs, along with the occasional music video. It's a little more work, but believe me, I wouldn't take the time to write about this music if I didn't think that it was pretty worth while.

Ok, my preface is getting a little wordy so here we go...

#5 -She & Him- Volume 1

This band is a collaboration of actress Zooey Deschanel (who wrote most of the songs on the album), and singer/songwriter M. Ward.  Much of the record has a 50's/ 60's throwback vibe, but the combination of Deschanel's sweetly imperfect voice and Ward's hushed accompaniment is succesful in making it sound refreshing and new.

Favorite Tracks: Sentimental Heart, You Really Got a Hold On Me,  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

#4- Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

A new band this year, Fleet Foxes is a group that is both very talented and very bearded.  Their folky brand of pop music is somehow somber and catchy in the same moment. This album is an ideal soundtrack for the long winter months.

Favorite Tracks:  White Winter Hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasent song, Ragged Wood

#3- Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

 A band comprised of a group of friends who met at Columbia University these songs are less intelectual and more just plain fun.  This album is simple, clean and fresh sounding- a perfect antidote for some of the more melancholy music that I've enjoyed this year.

Favorite Tracks:  Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, M79, One

#2- Bon Iver- For Emma Forever Ago

Bon Iver, another new band, is really just one guy and his name is Justin Vernon.  This album is the end result of three months that Vernon spent in voluntary seclusion in a cabin in northern Wisconsin.  The sound is very low-tech, very intimate, very soulful, and very very good.

Favorite Tracks: Skinny Love, Lump Sum, Flume

#1- Mates of State- Rearrange Us

The fact that this husband and wife duo tours the country with their two kids and a diaper bag is enough to make me like them.  Add to that beautiful, soaring pop melodies, and lyrics dealing with the realities of marraige, kids and family and I'm about ready to swoon.  Along with being one of my new favorite bands, this is absolutely my favorite album of the year.

Favorite Tracks:  The Rearranger, Get Better, Blue and Gold Print, Help Help, My Only Offer

SONG OF THE YEAR...

This was a tough call.  

The front runners were: Tiger Mountain Peasent Song by Fleet Foxes, Rearranger by Mates of State, M79 by Vampire Weekend, Furr by Blitzen Trapper...

Ultimately the song that distinguished itself from the rest was Skinny Love by Bon Iver.  This track was good the first time I heard it, and seems to just keep getting better.  Simple, but layered with guitar and voice- I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to this song in 2o years.  Now that's pretty good.

Note:  Ok, my extra long self-indulgent post is over.  More Aiden related pictures, videos, anecdotes and posts in the near future.  Promise!