The Mess

Since I am hoping to make blogging a regular occurrence, I thought I would create a proper one instead of using the one myspace gives you. I have no plan for what this thing is going to contain, I am just going to post shit I think is cool, disturbing, exciting, sad, or whatever other emotion can be felt by reading, watching internet videos, or listening to music.

Well since 2008 is obviously over, I figure my first post will focus on the thing I spend most of my free time on, music. Below is a list of the albums that I enjoyed the most last year. Not only new in 2008 but older stuff that just I discovered. So in no particular order.....well maybe in alphabetical..

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

I actually picked this one up over a year ago. I thought it was alright but I didn't quite understand what everyone liked about it so much. Whenever people describe this band they call it "freak-folk" or something containing the words freak and folk. I would listen to the track 'Peacebone' but couldn't get through much more than that. Slowly last year it grew on me though. There are some great songs on that album and if you can give it a chance you might like it. Highlights for me are 'Peacebone', 'Fireworks', and 'Chores'. They have a new record out too, Merriweather Post Pavilion but I haven't heard it enough to give a real opinion.

Beck - Modern Guilt

I've liked every record that Beck as put out, but this is another one that I wasn't a big fan of at first. A friend and I would talk about this record almost everytime I saw him. He loved it from the beginning but I wasn't sure about it. There was, and still is to a lesser extent, something about Danger Mouse's production that doesn't sit well with me. It seems empty in some way. I changed my mind eventually. It's hard not to like Modern Guilt and Gamma Ray.

The Dutchess and The Duke - Mary

Being the only song I have so far from this band, it is the only one I could talk about. They are a pretty great band and this song sounds like it could have been swiped off of a number of great 60's/70's records, put in a vault, and saved until now. I will be picking up more from these guys as soon as I'm less poor.

Jay Reatard - Blood Visions

Another one that is not new, but is aggressive as all hell, and I don't think there is a single song that is over 3:30. Although the tracks are loud, fast, and short, there are some great pop elements hidden in there too. I like this album in pieces though. Its a bit tiring to listen to it straight through but when the songs come up on shuffle they are great.

Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak

Before getting this album I heard a lot of interneters giving him shit. I personally think this is one of his best. It's minimal in terms of production, which I love. To me, when an artist can produce something great out of very limited instrumentation, their true talent is shown. Also, amazingly, the use of Auto-Tune doesn't drive me crazy. I know Kanye can't sing, and he never claimed to be a singer - which is amazing since he claims to be everything else. But the way it is used on this album seems less in your face than -insert horrible popular rapper-. Plus, he is creative with it, adding distortion on top of his voice, etc.

Pas/Cal - I Was Raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke, And Laura

Without a doubt the best pop album of the year. I have always liked this band, but they didn't release a lot of music. Now that this record is out, they can wait a while for another. I will be enjoying this for a long time to come. 'Summer is Almost Here' is just a masterpiece of popsmanship.




What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (Compilation)

Picked this up at the Canton Public Library. An amazing collection of Soul/Funk/Early R&B. I sometimes forget I have this, then listening to my iPod a song will come up. Almost every occassion that I have said to myself, "Damn, that's a good ass song. What album is that?" 80% of the time, it is this. Nothin' like a little Nuki Suki to cheer you up.