Whew, almost done…
Jamie Kohns on December 29th, 2005
September:
After the incredible month of August, it seemed that the music pool suddenly just dried up, and the only thing I coul dfind worth nominating in that month was the track below. This could just be because some of the music I got in August was pre-release material, or it could just be that the industry slows down in September so that the kiddies (the segment of the population that has the greatest amount of disposable income, but also starts classes in September) could save their money for pencils. Either way, it still leaves me with only one nomination:
Switchfoot - Lonely Nation
Yeah, so they’ve got ‘christian metaphoric’ lyrics, and are lauded by bible-thumpers everywhere, but I stil think they’re cool. The band can write a good hook, that’s for sure. While Stars was their single from this album, I think Lonely Nation is a better track with a stronger verse, and equally strong chorus. The dynamic between the two really highlights frontman Jon Foreman’s incredibly powerful voice. For those of you who might think that this is their second album (therefore, it was the first album that spawned Meant to Live), this is the bands fifth album, and they’re all crackin’ albums.
October:
So, only one nom in September leaves me two extras for October, which is necessary because October was another realy good music month. Not because there was an unusual number of new releases really, but more becuase the ones that we did get were quality. A couple were the US releases of UK artists that I’d been waiting for, and there were some new discoveries for me that have become almost instant favorites. Oh, and I’m gonna borrow one from December.
Augustana - Stars And Boulevards
I saw this album on the “Breaking Artists” rack at Target early in the year, but didn’t pick it up until almost the end of the year. Don’t know what I was thinking, but I missed almost a full year of listening to Augustana! This track blends flavors of Counting Crowes and the Wallflowers all wrapped up in a finely tuned package by producer Brendan O’Brien (recorded in the ATL!).
Jamiroquai - Feels Just Like It Should
This one was out early summer in the UK, but wasn’t available Stateside until fall. Classic Jamiroquai, Jay Kay delivers with his blend of 70’s funk and soul and 80’s synth music. The intro sounds like a vocal sample that’s been meddled with, but makes an incredibly effective bass line, and the floating synth parts over a driving funk beat (speaking of driving Jay Kay was banned from driving for six months after he was caught travelling at nearly 160 kilometres-per-hour (100 miles-per-hour) in Scotland last year - nearly double the speed limit. He was driving a Mercedes G-class Wagon at the time, not one of his Lambos or the Aston).
The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket
Tracks from The Go! Team are so healivy laden with samples that it’s hard to find a moment in the entire album that isn’t layered with at least two different things going on. The unique, yet affable sound won them nomiation for the Mercury Award in the UK this year (only to be beat out by my pick for worst new artist of the year: Antony and the Johnsons). The bands moniker is uniquely fittin to their music, as most of the lyrical presentation is done a la cheerleader chanting. The one downside to the Go! Team is that in the midst of so many sounds blending together on each track, many of their tracks seem to belnd into each other with little variety to the album.
The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost
The Magic Numbers - Don’t Give Up The Light
I’ve heard all kinds of praise for bands like the Arcade Fire and Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah on ‘popular’ music sites like Stereogum and Pitchfork (’popular’- i.e. sites people actually read), but these critics seem to largely ignore the Magic Numbers. This is a grave error, as Magic Numbers combine the artistic values of these other bands, but still hold elements of classic songcraft form the likes of the Mamas and the Pappas. The incredible harmonies of Romeo, Michelle, and Angela are mezmerizing. The doo-woppie vocal arrangements fall neatly into place with the simple guitar-bass-drums rock. While difficult to describe, the music is indeed magical, and easy to love.
Corinne Bailey Raye - Just Like A Star
Corinne Bailey Raye has a smokie, smooth voice that just sinks right through your skin, and straight to the soul. This pre-release single from her upcoming UK release is simply amazing. With the first listen, I was completely hooked, and look forward to much more from her.
November:
Alex Lloyd - Brand New Day
Alex Lloyd - Outside
Alex Lloyd - Sometimes
Ah, a taste of Lloyd’s new album, how could I not include them on the Best of 2005 list? It’s a bias, I agree- Alex Lloyd has been a favorite of mine for years now, and I have all of his albums, even if they’re not available in the US. But this is my list, and November was another slow month for music in other places. Besides, did you really think I’d actually include Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on my list? Not on your life. More organic than his breakthrough solo album Watching Angels Mend the material form the new self-titled album on Sony/BMG Australia is very strong out of the gates, and as soon as I can get a copy, I htink the rest of the album will follow suit. Lloyd’s songwriting voice is dark and broody, but the music maintains a level of optomism and bright melody that is the reason I think Lloyd is such an amazing talent.
December:
Nizlopi - JCB
This track was one of the entries for the Christmans Number One in the UK, and unfortunately lost to the likes of an X-Factor (UK Idol) winner. The JCB song is just a warming story-song told from the viewpoint of a five-year-old whose gone to work for the day with his father, and is proclaiming the overall greatness of his dad (as most five year-olds would) by singing “I tell all my mates my dad’s BA Baracus / with a JCB and Bruce Lee’s nunchuck-a’s / I’m Luke, I’m five and my dad’s Bruce Lee / Drives me around in his JCB” (notes: 1- JCB is a type of construction truck sold mostly in Europe, simlilar to Catepillar in the US. 2- BA Baracus was the name of the character that Mr. T played in the A-Team television series, which is still dearly loved in the UK).
KT Tunstall - Under The Weather
More form KT Tunstall, and another amazingly beautiful song. More melodic than Black Horse, like Other Side of the World. I’m pinning my hopes for a big US effort on KT in the next year, and she is on the top of my list of can’t-miss live shows.
So, that’s it- twelve months worth of songs. I’ll put them all into an ordered list, as well as deciding my top ALBUMS of the year, and post it sometime over the holiday- i hope.
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