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My top rock albums of 2013

Published by Adam on December 31, 2013

Wow, there goes another great year of music! There were some great comeback albums (Saves The Day) and at least one big disappointment (MGMT). Today, the last day of December, I thought I’d highlight my favorite LPs of the year.

Please keep in mind this is not a definitive “Best of 2013” list since there was no way I could have listened to every single album out there. Also, my tastes are mainly within the indie and alternative rock realm. In other words, just take these recommendations!

Saves The Day

This eponymous release was the Saves The Day album I had been waiting for. Combining the bright spunk of early 2000’s hit Stay What You Are with the mature soundscapes of its underrated followup In Reverie, this is 21st Century pop punk at its best. Read my full review here.

Cloud Control – Dream Cave

Cloud Control play sunny harmonies against dark grooves on their mesmerizing second album. That might sound heavy but rock anthem highs like singles “Scar” and “Happy Birthday” prove that this is a band that wants to have fun, too

Snowden – No One In Control

Haunting synths and echoing vocals take the listener on a journey. Hope shines through the gray in the catchy and immediate “The Beat Comes.” While the brilliance fades in the second half, the strength of the first five tracks more than cover the price of admission.

Minor Alps – Get There

Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) and Julianna Hatfield (Blake Babies, Some Girls) join forces to spellbinding effect on this excellent debut. Side projects often disappoint but Get There showcases a pair of rejuvenated musicians performing at the top of their game.

The Dodos – Carrier

While they have always showed talent, The Dodos demonstrate growth through control on their most recent LP. Carrier conveys tragedy and triumph through tight guitar-and-drum rhythms and powerful lyricism.

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Top Rock Tunes Mix 2012

Published by Adam on January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! This is the time to think about the people you’re most grateful for. But rather than do that, I’m going to tell you about my favorite rock songs of the year!

I don’t do top 10 lists* so instead I’m going to give you my 2012 mix. What’s the difference, you say? Well, they are ordered by flow rather than rank — the idea being this actually works as a mix!

But enough talk! Click the links to hear the tunes yourself, then let me know what you think in the comments below.

  1. Deep Sea Arcade – Girls
    From the first sha-la-la, this throwback to the ’60s/’70s simply rocks.
  2. Divine Fits – Would That Not Be Nice
    The guys from Spoon and Wolf Parade create a groove that sticks in your head all day.
  3. Walk the Moon – Shiver Shiver 
    Hit the dance floor and don’t feel embarrassed singing along: “Shall we get intimate, again?”
  4. Django Django – Default
    This song is catchier than is possible to describe. Just click the link above and see.
  5. Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
    A bass-heavy, retro jam from possibly Australia’s best young band. Get their whole LP, “Lonerism,” while you’re at it.
  6. Bleeding Knees Club – Lipstick
    Add a lot of sarcasm and sneering to ’60s beach tunes and you pretty much get this band. If you like Wavves, you’ll like Bleeding Knees Club.
  7. Green Day – X-Kid
    Green Day’s trilogy of albums this year was mixed to say the best, but this one is gold.
  8. Bloc Party – Real Talk
    The British band, known for mixing dance-y rhythms with spiky guitars, slows things down a bit. Oh, and there’s a joke about breasts at the end (on the LP).
  9. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
    So this one is technically from 2011, but most of us heard it in 2012. Indie finally broke into pop radio! Even Glee covered it!
  10. Hunting Grounds – In Colour
    Straight-ahead rock from Ballarat in the style of The Vines. Try not to bang your head.
  11. The Shins – The Rifle’s Spiral
    This track opened the Shins’ latest LP and sends you straight down a hypnotic rabbit’s hole. OK, not sure what I meant by that, but the song is really good.
  12. Snow Patrol – Called Out In The Dark
    Snow Patrol can occasionally get a little sappy, but this tune is pure fun; it’s got everything I like about them.
  13. Two Door Cinema Club – The World Is Watching
    The Irish outfit, known better for dancy rock, produces epic longing — and it works!
  14. Feeder – Quiet
    Just an all-around pretty song by the Welsh/Japanese veterans.
  15. Earlimart – A Goodbye
    Heart breaking, but in a good way.
  16. Rhett Miller – Marina
    The leader of the Old 97’s has written yet another catchy-but-simple acoustic number. How does he keep doing this?

*I sometimes do top 10 lists.

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The Year’s Best Songs (2010 Mix)

Published by Adam on December 28, 2010

Every year I create a mix of my favorite songs of the year. My rules are that (1) the songs must have been released Jan. 1 or later of the current year,  (2) only one song per artist, even if the entire album was genius, and (3) the tracks must flow together.  The last rule is more of a guideline — Since it’s a mix, not a Top 10, I don’t order them by most favorite to least favorite, or vice-a-versa.

Below is my mix for 2010, which I call “Psychedelic Grooves.” I’ve tried to include links to audio or video streams where I could find them. Post your own 2010 mixes in the comment section!

  1. The Acorn — Restoration
    The swirling acoustic guitar line hypnotizes in this alluring track by the up and coming Canadian indie folk band.
  2. Old 97’s — Every Night is Friday Night (Without You)
    The Texas alt-country rock band comes out fists swinging in this punchy send off to an ex.
  3. Broken Bells — The High Road
    By far the best song by the collaboration of Shins singer James Mercer and Danger Mouse, this song will have you clapping and singing along in no time. Read my review of the album here.
  4. Crocodiles — Sleep Forever
    Psychedelic rock is back, and it’s got teeth. Read my review of the album here.
  5. Ash — Dionysian Urge
    Thrilling guitar work from the great Tim Wheeler on one of my favorite tracks from Ash’s amazing A-Z series.
  6. Jimmy Eat World — Coffee and Cigarettes
    The Arizona band best known for “The Middle” showed they still matter on this year’s Invented, and this chugging rocker finds them in top form.
  7. Nada Surf — Love and Anger
    This underrated indie group released one of the best cover albums ever by ignoring all the standards and playing hidden gems instead.  This cover of Kate Bush marks the most haunting of the set.
  8. MGMT — Flash Delirium
    This cut from Congratulations is, like the album itself, a bit of a grower. But while it might leave you scratching your head after the first spin, it’s hard to deny this band’s talent for writing compelling music.
  9. Yeasayer — Ambling Alp
    Sure it sounds like the ’80s, but Yeasayer play it with such gusto you can’t not like it. Warning: may get stuck in your head. Read my review of the full album.
  10. Gorillaz — On Melancholy Hill
    Catchy in a depressing way, this one will have you bobbing your head with a frown. But it will be a really wonderful, “I’m having an epiphany” kind of frown. Review of the album here.
  11. Pete Yorn — Precious Stone
    This straightforward rocker shows Yorn at his best. If only all of his self-titled album was this good…
  12. Two Door Cinema Club — Something Good Can Work
    Fans of Bloc Party and Death Cab for Cutie should dig this great young Irish band. How does he sing that fast, anyway? Live show also recommended.
  13. Spoon — Got Nuffin
    Rockin’ and minimalist. Nuff said.
  14. Trashcan Sinatras — I Hung My Harp Upon The Willows
    A haunting ballad from the Scottish veterans. See this band live if you can.
  15. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club — Sweet Feeling
    This melancholy tune is sure to make you stare thoughtfully out the window.
  16. Wavves — King Of The Beach
    Sounds like a surfing outing with Green Day, Blink-182, the Beach Boys and the Violent Femmes. Better than a blister in the sun.
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Top Rock Albums of 2009

Published by Adam on December 30, 2009

I started reading High Fidelity by Nick Hornby a few days ago. It’s a clever British novel about a guy named Rob who owns a record shop and has an awful history with girls. One of the characters, Barry, is big on making top-five lists. In that spirit, I present my top five albums of 2009.

I make the disclaimer that I don’t like every genre and haven’t heard every album that came out this year. It’s quite possible you like five or more other albums more than my picks. These are just my fave five, and I highly recommend you give them a listen.

  1. Glasvegas – Glasvegas

    The debut LP for this great Scottish band has stayed on my iPod pretty much all year, and considering my Nano only holds 2GB, that’s saying something. This band convinced me that combining distorted guitars with a retro ’50s sound and nursery rhymes is a really good idea.
    (Video: “Geraldine”)

  2. Pete Yorn – Back & Fourth

    3. I always liked Pete’s music, but it wasn’t until Back & Fourth that he really became one of my favorite musicians. This somewhat obviously named fourth album ironically contains his strongest and most clever lyrics yet. It’s also his most focused, clocking in a tight 42 minutes. For more of my thoughts on this one, see this blog post from July.

    (Video: “Don’t Wanna Cry”)

  3. Peter Doherty – Grace/Wastelands

    4. The tabloids make him seem like a total waster, but listen to Pete Doherty’s music and you realize the guy’s got some serious talent. This excellent solo album teams the ex-Libertine with Blur’s Graham Coxon and producer Stephen Street.

    (Video: “Last of the English Roses”)

  4. Malajube – Labyrinthes

    5. Probably my most obscure pick for the top 5, this Québécois band plays apocalyptic…no, maybe post-apocalyptic…oh whatever, they’re good. They sing in French, but their music will hold you even if you don’t know what they’re saying.

    (Video: Porté Disparu)

  5. Brookville – Broken Lights

    6. Opening bands often disappoint, but when I saw Brookville open for the Trashcan Sinatras, my ears perked up like Mr. Spock (sorry, just watched Star Trek). The band’s latest is a mellow but constantly compelling album filled with equal helpings of rock and soul. Plus, how can you not like enigmatic break-up lines like “If you really love me, then you’ll let me make the great mistake of leaving you.”

    (Video: “Great Mistake”)

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Top Video Game of 2009

Published by Adam on December 18, 2009

At the risk of being predictable, I thought late December seemed like a good time to list some of my favorite things of 2009. First up is my favorite video game of the year: Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Available for Xbox 360, PS3 & PC; $50
For Xbox 360, PS3 & PC; $50

Before you spring off your computer chair in outrage, please keep in mind that I am a mere mortal who can’t afford (and doesn’t have time) to play every single great game that comes out. Another disclaimer: I’m a long-time Batman fan.

Then again, maybe my fervor for all things Dark Knight improves my credibility. You have no idea how long I’ve waited to play an actually good Batman game. I’ve played a lot of them, and this is probably the best one since the SNES game based on the animated series. And even that wasn’t really a classic.

So what makes Arkham Asylum different? The production value, for one thing. The story has a great comic book feel, including a plethora of Gotham’s supporting characters and dastardly villains, all while keeping the dark, brooding mood of the recent Chris Nolan movies. In addition, developer Rocksteady tapped the voice cast from the classic ’90s cartoon, including Mark Hamill as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman.  Add in some brooding music and a creepy atmosphere best described as BioShock Lite (in a good way), and you’ve got one heck of an engrossing game.

My biggest fear going into Arkham Asylum was the setting.  An entire game in a prison? I expected to be bored with my surroundings in an hour. However, Rocksteady proved me wrong, stretching the seemingly one-note setting to include monster vines and fear-toxin fantasies. I should also note that the Alcatraz-like prison is massive, rewarding exploration with Riddler trophies hidden throughout the island.

Of course, I was also worried about the gameplay itself.  Previous Batman games have failed mostly due to an overemphasis on hand-to-hand combat and clunky, button-mashing controls. But for Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady opted to go all Prince of Persia / Splinter Cell on us, providing Batman with an arsenal of moves and gadgets to take out criminals with stealth and style.  Oh, and by the way, they got the beat ’em up stuff right too, with an excellent combo system that really captured the smooth, no-nonsense fighting tactics of the caped crusader.

Really, my only complaint about Arkham is the camera system. It’s not terrible, and works most of the time, but it’s so closely zoomed in on Batman that the game world gets a little claustrophobic. I understand that, in most of the movies, Batman couldn’t turn his head without shifting his entire body, but come on! Here’s hoping they get it right in the just-announced sequel.

Even with its (minor) flaws, Arkham Asylum unleashed the fun more than any other video game I played this year. If you haven’t had a chance to visit Joker and his friends yet, I urge you to head up the river immediately.

Stay tuned for my top music picks of 2009.

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Adam Bender | adambenderwrites.com | watchadam.blog