Author Archives: Nick

Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes pulled off an impressive feat back in 2008. They debuted with a self-titled album that notably put folk music on the map, and by “on the map,” I’m referring to the fact that the album was sold in retail giants such as Target and Wal-Mart. With their debut came a strong sense of nostalgia and innocence, but it was at a distance. There were narratives, locales, and characters, but none of it came off as personal. Their new album Helplessness Blues, changes that in the first line of the opening track where Robin Pecknold (the band’s leader) sings: “So now I am older than my mother and father when they had their daughter / Now what does that say about me?” From there the album takes off and never touches ground until the exhilarating closer “Grown Ocean.” With deeply personal lyrics, an expanded musical repertory, and the same folk influences from the last album; Fleet Foxes have overcome the “sophomore slump” with a “sophomore jump.”

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two by Beastie Boys

If the definition of “classic” is standing the test of time, then the Beastie Boys’ first two albums are nothing short of classic. Despite having been released before I was born, they have been in my iPod’s regular rotation since I first discovered them. Finally returning to the music scene after a 7 year hiatus, these fortysomething rappers prove that there is still some gas left in the tank. While certainly not nearly as fresh as their first four outings, this album’s beats and rhymes should put a stop to all the doubting. (See what I did there?). In “Make Some Noise” Mike D raps: “The roaches check in, but they never check out / I set the record straight, no doubt” displaying the same wit that propelled them to stardom, even if it’s a little seasoned in its old age. Their glory days might be behind them, but this album is still worth a listen.

This past weekend was a bittersweet one in the world of music. LCD Soundsystem played their last show at Madison Square Garden on April 2nd, 2011. Three studio albums may not seem like enough, but it’s hard to complain when all three albums were nothing short of perfection. Effectively blending themes of youth and aging throughout their career, LCD Soundsystem was a very adult band when it came to partying and growing old.

With their self-titled debut, LCD Soundsystem, James Murphy (the band’s leader, singer, and heart) was frantically worrying about “losing his edge,” and that was just his first single. The entire first album effectively emulates Murphy’s paranoia about joining the music scene he already feels leagues behind. So, by the time he composed his second album, Sound of Silver, it is no surprise that he is much more confident but pensively questioning the decisions he’s made in his life so far. My favorite song of all time, “All My Friends,” comes from this album and could not be a better embodiment of Murphy’s feelings on growing up while maintaining friendships, and the sad irony of how those two notions don’t fit together as well as they should. His final album, This Is Happening (one of my favorite albums of last year), can easily be described as his “morning after” album. Themes of change and redemption seep through, and it’s clear that Murphy’s evolution is completely genuine. In “All My Friends,” Murphy sings: “I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision, for another 5 years of life,” and by the third album we see that he means it, but also doesn’t let that stop him from wanting his future to be different, which ostensibly points to why he is calling it quits so early in his career.

Although LCD Soundsystem will no longer be making new music, it will continue to make new fans. Like other bands before them that defined a generation, LCD Soundsystem will not be forgotten, and this is only just the beginning of the influence they will have.

And now, a fantastic performance of my favorite song of all time: “All My Friends”

Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio

This band’s second album is proof that there is always something new to be made. It’s astonishing how unconventional Dave Sitek can make a normal rock song seem, but what else would you expect from a band with an oxymoron for a name? From the hypnotizing horns from the album opener, “I Was a Lover,” to the (appropriately) swirling chorus of “Dirtywhirl,” you might forget you’re listening to rock music. But, there’s no doubt you’ll ever forget the name TV on the Radio thereafter. 

 All in Good Time by Barenaked Ladies

On the opposite end of the conventionality spectrum are the Barenaked Ladies. Their first album without lead singer Stephen Page seemed doomed before it even began, but the end result is the same Barenaked Ladies we grew to love in the ’90s — just with less operatic choruses and more obscure references. “Another Heartbreak” is an excellent display of band member Kevin Hearn’s undiscovered songwriting abilities along with his rarely featured vocals. And even bassist Jim Creegan steps in to sing “On the Lookout” and “I Saw It.” Leave it to Barenaked Ladies to add two singers to the roster when faced with the loss of one.

The beloved listening station located at the end of the CD shelves is back! It was a long 10 months without it, so we wasted no time in getting it up and running with its first round of CDs. Come on in and listen to our selections.

Thanks to the Kara Foundation for underwriting the repairs.

Just to be clear, you don’t get to actually hold the listening station when you’re listening to the CDs. That’s too uncomfortable and would inhibit your dancing.

 These songs are sure to give you Spring Fever!

If you watched the Grammys at all this year or heard about them through passing conversations, there was bound to be one story that was mentioned everywhere: Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs won Album of the Year. This was both an incredibly shocking and triumphant moment for the band and music fans alike. It is extremely rare for the Grammys to actually acknowledge Indie albums in any category except Best Alternative Album, and who better than Arcade Fire to be the underdogs in this Cinderella story?

If you don’t know by now, Arcade Fire is a Canadian alternative rock group that has churned out some of the best anthems of this last decade. They have produced three albums so far, and although they have yet to top their perfect debut Funeral, no one is really expecting them to. This is a band that has evolved by not repeating themselves, only their themes. The most prominent recurring theme interwoven throughout their catalog is the complexity of childhood emotions. It’s no wonder their song “Wake Up” was featured in the trailer for the film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, a film that is equally adept in its capture of childhood feelings.

If you are just starting out with Arcade Fire, I recommend their latest album The Suburbs, which is easily their most accessible. Give it a couple of listens to really sink in. Arcade Fire’s music is like a classic novel: it may seem slow-moving at first, but patience is rewarded with emotionally satisfying payoffs. If you like that album, then move on to their fantastic debut album, Funeral, arguably their best. Their second album, Neon Bible, is only for fans of the other two albums as it is not as realized as their others, but is still a step above most other artists’ works.

You may click on any of the album covers below to check our catolog, where you can check their availability, or place a hold on them:

               Funeral                                                                            Neon Bible                                                                             The Suburbs 

In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra

Although the title of the album refers to a specific time, nothing can keep this album from feeling timeless. Only Frank Sinatra could make such depressing subject matter sound so elegantly beautiful. He mixes loneliness, longing, and lost love into one of the most intoxicating albums ever made. His singing on this album has yet to be matched by anyone due to its sheer perfection.

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman

Don’t let the generic album title fool you, Tracy Chapman is one of the best songwriters of all time. She writes songs for the dreamer in all of us. The song “Fast Car” (arguably her most famous song) is a first person account on not being able to escape the life you’re trapped in. “Behind the Wall” is a vivid narrative about a domestic dispute that ends tragically. Through all this despair however, is a clear sense of hope that comes out in every song. 

Love Letter by R. Kelly

Just looking at the cover of R. Kelly’s latest album gets me nostalgic. His posture, expression, and attire all resemble R&B artists of the ’50s and ’60s, which is why it is not shocking to discover that Love Letter is Kelly’s homage to all the great R&B acts before him. Hints of Sam Cooke and The Temptations ooze out of his songs showcasing Kelly’s impressive range. Despite whatever feelings you have about the man’s personal life, there is no denying the raw talent on display here.

The King is Dead by The Decemberists

The Decemberists’ return to the music scene is far less ambitious than their previous efforts, and mediocre has never sounded better. Whoever came up with that concept (or lack thereof),  deserves a raise.  Gone are the lengthy narratives, intricacies, and epic scales of their last albums, and replacing them are harmonicas, acoustic guitar riffs, and “tra-la-la” choruses. It might only be January, but this album will undoubtedly be brought up later in the year as a “Best of 2011″ contender.

2010 was a big year in music. Kanye West made a brilliant comeback, Taylor Swift perfected her songwriting, and Kings of Leon did not disappoint on their long-awaited follow up. With all this fantastic music, it was easy to overlook some of 2010′s other fantastic albums. Here’s a list featuring some albums that went overlooked or under-appreciated.

Contra by Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend are slowly but surely becoming the kings of underground pop. Their frenetic game of “spot the influences” never ceases to amaze first time listeners. From electro-pop to African tribal drums, and auto-tuned vocals followed by bouncing surf-rock; it’s all in here. Fortunately, it’s all good too.

High Violet by The National

Nobody does melancholy better than The National. Lead singer Matt Berninger writes songs for these times, and it’s evident with lines like: “I still owe money, to the money, to the money I owe.” But even better than the lyrics is the music itself. With Berninger as one of the few baritones left in the business, and Bryan Devondorf displaying some of the best calculated and rhythmic drumming in years, The National prove that they’re only just getting started.

The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man on Earth

Kristian Matsson gets his name The Tallest Man on Earth from a line in a song that appeared on his debut album: Shallow Grave. The Wild Hunt took every aspect of his superb debut album, and made it even better. The songwriting is more defined, and the melodies are much more varied this time around. Comparisons are being made to Bob Dylan, but ultimately it’s a compliment. He evokes the spirit (and occasionally the voice), but Matsson is too original to be seen as a knockoff.

This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem is what happens when you throw disco, electronica, punk music, and the mentality of a classic singer/songwriter into a blender. On paper it shouldn’t work, but James Murphy obviously haven’t seen those papers. This is Happening marks the band’s third and final album (so Murphy says), and it only leaves us wanting more. Nobody wears their heart on their sleeve as visible as Murphy, but his music is all the better for it. The song of the year comes in the form of “All I Want.” A song that doubles as a homage to David Bowie, and a showcase of Murphy’s best lyrics to date when he desperately sings: “All I want is your pity/All I want is your bitter tears” over a wave of drowning guitars.

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe

Fusing R&B together with as many genres she could think of, Janelle Monáe has made her debut album airtight with no room leftover for weak material. This 18 song masterpiece is a thrill ride from the overture to the last song. If the radio took more time to acknowledge songs that exist outside of the Billboard charts, you definitely would have heard “Tightrope” and “Cold War” by now. These two fantastic songs are microcosms of the album itself: sporadic, fun, and begging to played.