And, away we go!
Here’s the first annual “WhineWithYourCheese” CD picks for the year, all lovingly picked and commented upon by your favorite blogger.
Here’s the first annual “WhineWithYourCheese” CD picks for the year, all lovingly picked and commented upon by your favorite blogger.
Oh, what...you have another? ;p
My criteria for choosing these selections go as follows:
There isn’t a CD on this list that I haven’t spent a lot of time with. Like you, I also suffer from “buyer’s regret”; what sounded great in, oh, say, March ain’t making the cut in October just because something bigger and shinier came along.
So, there’s no Bruce on my list for that reason.
Let’s go, and start the conversation!
1 – “In Rainbows” – Radiohead
I’m a true Radiohead and Wilco fan, and I was thrilled to pieces when both of my favorite bands released new CD’s this year.
Thom and the boys are getting the first “thumbs up” from me for how they decided to release their new music.
Even better, this is classic Radiohead. From the typical clattering drums of “15 Step” to Thom almost crooning “I don’t want to be your friend; I want to be your lover” to the lovely (and entirely underrated song, IMHO) "Jigsaw Falling Into Place."
Wouldn’t it be nice to see them at VMF next year?
2 – “Sky Blue Sky” – Wilco
You can always count on Jeff and his ever-changing band to do something different, and they do it beautifully with this one.
Just forget the sonic noise from “A Ghost Is Born”, and rejoice in how Jeff Tweedy remembers how to play a guitar on “Impossible Germany”, or how to write a really great song in “Walken”.
If you’ve ever seen them live, Tweedy does a very awkward soft shoe shuffle to “Hummingbird”, and it’s hysterical. He can’t dance, he knows it, the audience expects it, and it’s just great.
3 – “Kill To Get Crimson” – Mark Knopfler
About thirty years ago (gulp!), was the first time I ever heard “Sultans Of Swing”, and I’ve been a Knopfler fan ever since.
Granted, this is not everyone’s cup of tea; it’s very low-key.
But, it’s Mark at his finest, crafting his amazing songwriting around his guitar work.
Every song is a little British short story wrapped around music, and it’s not to be missed.
Sure, “Punish The Monkey” is all about what you’d expect to be, but “The Secondary Waltz” is just a lovely little low-key waltz about learning how to dance when you're ten.
4 – “Grand National” – John Butler Trio
The JBT are from Western Australia (Fremantle is their home base), and they’ve been compared to the “Dave Matthews Band”.
No, no, no…first of all, while Dave Matthews is making videos with Julia Roberts and shooting photo sessions, these guys are playing around the world, and trying to save the world in the process.
Paul and I have seen these guys four times in the past three years, and I’m thinking these three put on the best live show we’ve ever seen, four times over.
They’re still sort of a cult/jam band act, but “Better Than” and “Gov Did Nothing” are standouts for me.
5 – “Passing Stranger” – Scott Matthews
Now, here’s someone new!
A great young singer/songwriter from Northern England that sounds like a combination between the late Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake, but not nearly as depressing.
And, to paraphrase a “Dire Straits” song…oh, yes, this man can play.
“The Fool’s Been Fooling Himself” is the single off of the CD, but “Dream Song” and “Passing Stranger” ain’t nothing to sneeze about, either.
My criteria for choosing these selections go as follows:
There isn’t a CD on this list that I haven’t spent a lot of time with. Like you, I also suffer from “buyer’s regret”; what sounded great in, oh, say, March ain’t making the cut in October just because something bigger and shinier came along.
So, there’s no Bruce on my list for that reason.
Let’s go, and start the conversation!
1 – “In Rainbows” – Radiohead
I’m a true Radiohead and Wilco fan, and I was thrilled to pieces when both of my favorite bands released new CD’s this year.
Thom and the boys are getting the first “thumbs up” from me for how they decided to release their new music.
Even better, this is classic Radiohead. From the typical clattering drums of “15 Step” to Thom almost crooning “I don’t want to be your friend; I want to be your lover” to the lovely (and entirely underrated song, IMHO) "Jigsaw Falling Into Place."
Wouldn’t it be nice to see them at VMF next year?
2 – “Sky Blue Sky” – Wilco
You can always count on Jeff and his ever-changing band to do something different, and they do it beautifully with this one.
Just forget the sonic noise from “A Ghost Is Born”, and rejoice in how Jeff Tweedy remembers how to play a guitar on “Impossible Germany”, or how to write a really great song in “Walken”.
If you’ve ever seen them live, Tweedy does a very awkward soft shoe shuffle to “Hummingbird”, and it’s hysterical. He can’t dance, he knows it, the audience expects it, and it’s just great.
3 – “Kill To Get Crimson” – Mark Knopfler
About thirty years ago (gulp!), was the first time I ever heard “Sultans Of Swing”, and I’ve been a Knopfler fan ever since.
Granted, this is not everyone’s cup of tea; it’s very low-key.
But, it’s Mark at his finest, crafting his amazing songwriting around his guitar work.
Every song is a little British short story wrapped around music, and it’s not to be missed.
Sure, “Punish The Monkey” is all about what you’d expect to be, but “The Secondary Waltz” is just a lovely little low-key waltz about learning how to dance when you're ten.
4 – “Grand National” – John Butler Trio
The JBT are from Western Australia (Fremantle is their home base), and they’ve been compared to the “Dave Matthews Band”.
No, no, no…first of all, while Dave Matthews is making videos with Julia Roberts and shooting photo sessions, these guys are playing around the world, and trying to save the world in the process.
Paul and I have seen these guys four times in the past three years, and I’m thinking these three put on the best live show we’ve ever seen, four times over.
They’re still sort of a cult/jam band act, but “Better Than” and “Gov Did Nothing” are standouts for me.
5 – “Passing Stranger” – Scott Matthews
Now, here’s someone new!
A great young singer/songwriter from Northern England that sounds like a combination between the late Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake, but not nearly as depressing.
And, to paraphrase a “Dire Straits” song…oh, yes, this man can play.
“The Fool’s Been Fooling Himself” is the single off of the CD, but “Dream Song” and “Passing Stranger” ain’t nothing to sneeze about, either.
6 – “Back To Black” – Amy Winehouse
I know…why do I have this here?
Because it’s a great CD, and because the first time I heard ”Rehab”, I thought it came out of some lost London soul sessions from the ‘60’s.
Yes, she’s a mess, but you can’t deny the talent that she has.
Or that voice.
7 – “Wincing The Night Away” – The Shins
This is the first CD I bought this year, and I still love it.
This is why I like to go back and listen to things “way back when” in the year, and see if they still make my ears happy, and this one does.
No, one song hasn’t “changed my life”, but this CD still makes me happy, especially “Australia”.
Oh, and of course, the wonderfully fuzzed-out “Phantom Limb”. I have absolutely no idea what James Mercer is singing about, but does it really matter if the music makes you happy?
8 – “Two Shoes” – The Cat Empire
There isn’t anything that made my ears happier this year, since this CD is simply a party waiting to happen.
It’s funk, it’s rock, lots of soul, a touch of reggae and rap and if this band doesn’t get you dancing around the kitchen in your socks while singing to your dog or cat, you may want to get your pulse checked.
This Australian funk-rock-jazz combo recorded “Two Shoes” in Cuba, in the studio where the legendary Ry Cooder produced “The Buena Vista Social Club”, live, and the result is a joyous noise.
Two double platinum releases in Australia, BTW...I'm just saying!
9 – “Sound Of Silver” – LCD Soundsystem
Okay, can you tell that I like to dance? Believe me, “Daft Punk” has been playing in my house for years!
James Murphy pulls it all off here; it’s house, it’s dance, it’s a bit punk, some trance, a tiny bit disco with all shades of Euro club music thrown in for good measure.
If you spent any time dancing around in skinny ties and Chuckie T’s in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s…you’ll love this one.
“Us. Vs. Them” is the ultimate dance rave up of the year.
“Bells”, James said, and it will be so.
10 – “The Good, The Bad And The Queen” – s/t
Once again, this came out very early in the year, and I still love it.
Let’s see…we’ve got Albarn, Simonon, Tong and Allen with Danger Mouse producing.
Sweet.
And, it still is. “Herculean” will probably end up being one of my favorite songs of all time, and there’s a good possibility this CD will, too.
Make no doubt about it; this is one dark, moody piece of work, but in the hands of these incredible musicians, you’ll want to hear it again and again.
9 – “Sound Of Silver” – LCD Soundsystem
Okay, can you tell that I like to dance? Believe me, “Daft Punk” has been playing in my house for years!
James Murphy pulls it all off here; it’s house, it’s dance, it’s a bit punk, some trance, a tiny bit disco with all shades of Euro club music thrown in for good measure.
If you spent any time dancing around in skinny ties and Chuckie T’s in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s…you’ll love this one.
“Us. Vs. Them” is the ultimate dance rave up of the year.
“Bells”, James said, and it will be so.
10 – “The Good, The Bad And The Queen” – s/t
Once again, this came out very early in the year, and I still love it.
Let’s see…we’ve got Albarn, Simonon, Tong and Allen with Danger Mouse producing.
Sweet.
And, it still is. “Herculean” will probably end up being one of my favorite songs of all time, and there’s a good possibility this CD will, too.
Make no doubt about it; this is one dark, moody piece of work, but in the hands of these incredible musicians, you’ll want to hear it again and again.
1 comment:
Well, these are some great picks & thanks for the mentiojn, BTW. I have to give LCD Soundsystem another isten I think, because they didn't make it to my list. "Two Shoes" is one of the catchiest CDs of the year.
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