50 CDs in 2011

[Rafe]

I get it, they suck.

Well it's not your fault, but mine

[Kwyjibo]

Well played.

[rva]

Man, I always listen to 50 albums but I never keep up with my list.

1)  Misty Miller-- Remember (ep) 

The next time you see a Target/Sears/Amazon/car commercial and you're like "Who is that chick singing?" the answer will be Misty Miller.
 
2) Ayano Tsuji--When the Rainbow Coloured Flowers Bloom

Breezy pop.  Think Japanese She & Him, with a bit more sophistication.

[Ella Minnow Pea]

You guys don't take me that seriously, do you?

Of course not. 

We just have completely opposite tastes in recent releases, it appears. Mumford & Sons, The Decemberists. Need I go on?  I think our compatibility is much greater if we go back to our high school years.

[Nate]

7. The Replacements - Pleased to Meet Me

Really late to the party with this.  Been a Westerberg fan since he was on the Singles soundtrack back in the day and have a lot of his solo stuff and one of Tommy's.  Sadly I've managed to not dip into the 'Mats stuff until now, a shame.  I will say though that not having years and years of love for this record behind me that it does sound a bit dated, at least production wise.  Still awesome though, obviously.

OMG!  Your next stop should be Let It Be, then Tim.  I've always had a soft spot for Sorry, Ma...Forgot To Take Out The Trash.  It's their 'hardcore' record, which by today's standards, is just a pop/punk album.  If you like the Westerberg solo stuff, the final two albums Don't Tell A Soul and All Shook Down are good places to go, though I think the latter is a great big ball of suck.

[rva]

Pleased to Meet Me is my favorite Replacements albumr.  Earlier stuff is just loud, often silly, and uneven, though the energy is good and there are plenty of brilliant moments.  Later stuff they started to swing too far the other way towards pop and then Westerberg's solo stuff is really not the same sound. 

I feel the same way about Husker Du and Candy Apple Grey and Bob Mould.

[rva]

You guys don't take me that seriously, do you?

Of course not. 

We just have completely opposite tastes in recent releases, it appears. Mumford & Sons, The Decemberists. Need I go on?  I think our compatibility is much greater if we go back to our high school years.

Mumford & Sons share a similar vibe to The Decemberists, though.  Or at least my disdain for both bands is for similar reasons.  I'm not saying you'd mistake one for the other but they have that minstrel-y old-time thing going on.  And it's a sound I really don't like so neither band really ever stood much of a chance with me.

But beyond that they are both sort of one-trick ponies; distinctive in their sound and no a lot of variation between songs.  So if you don't like them, you can get irritated with them really, really fast considering how much they are both played.  If you like them, they are quirky and offer something different and charming.  If you don't, you find them terribly affected.

FTR, I don't mind Castaways and Cutouts.  I used to actually like it before my hatred of the group consumed me.  Her Majesty was not bad, but rather similar.  It wasn't until Picaresque I think that the group started to take themselves way too seriously.  After that it wasn't trying to do the same thing over, but rather trying to continually best themselves in going as pretentiously over-the-top as possible.

[Kwyjibo]

If you like the Westerberg solo stuff, the final two albums Don't Tell A Soul and All Shook Down are good places to go, though I think the latter is a great big ball of suck.

I can imagine, his solo stuff can be pretty uneven.  I have a lot of it, but I can't say I listen to it much.  The Singles songs are the only ones that I listen to with any regularity.

[c-lando]

1. Sleigh Bells - Treats (gift)
2. War Tapes - The Continental Divide (used - Amazon)

[rva]

1)  Misty Miller-- Remember (ep)  *** 1/2
2) Ayano Tsuji--When the Rainbow Coloured Flowers Bloom ***

3) Anika -- s/t

Do you find Nico's singing overly sweet, tuneful, and non-Tuetonic?  Do you wish the Shaggs sounded more like Kraftwerk?  Were you disappointed to find out that Autobahn wasn't a real band?  Have I got the record for you.  Please note-- this is not humorous exaggeration, that is exactly what she sounds like.  I listened to this once out of curiosity.  It was more than enough. I'm not even going to bother to rate this.

4)  Surf City-- Kudos

Sweet 60's pop played in lo-fi, swirly, shoegaze style, plus the occasional jangly guitar.  Think maybe Manhattan Love Suicides with a male singer.  It's not particularly brilliant or unique, but it's fairly well done.  If you like that sound, you'll really dig this record.  ** 1/2 for me, **** for fans of the genre.

[Ella Minnow Pea]

Just for rva

1. The Decemberists: The King Is Dead - NPR First Listen. Still The Decemberists, but with a more American roots influence. "Calamity Song" starts off very much like an R.E.M. song - which shouldn't be too surprising as it features Peter Buck. I'll probably get this one when it's released.

[Nate]

Oh Great.  Colin Meloy's in his Neil Young phase.  :/

[rva]

By the end of the year, it was hard to escape the London quartet and it's angry little hit, "Little Lion Man."

How is that being "overlooked."

And another thing.  Did you ever wonder why we say "overlooked?"  It should be "underlooked."  Mumford & Sons were "overlooked" in the sense that it was impossible not to look at them.  We looked at them overly much, hence they were over-looked.  Let's face it, things were much better 50 years ago when I could go to the corner market without a piece of plastic telling me I was in a "club."  If shoppers are a club, I'm looking to join something a little more exclusive.  I also had something to say about Taylor Swift... but I must have "overlooked" it.  For 60 minutes, I'm Andy Rooney.

[Kwyjibo]

I used to have a friend that would spend far too much time trying to convince me that it should be "bring a shit" rather than "take a shit".

[Butter]

I used to have a friend that would spend far too much time trying to convince me that it should be "bring a shit" rather than "take a shit".

I bet that guy fucking LOVES Mumford & Sons.