The seasonal remix nobody knew they needed.
♫ Tell Em (Now With 110% More Real Sleigh Bells Remix)
Merry Christmas to YOU and YOURS.
<3 Trials & Tribulations
Filed under: Music
Thought this article was great, pointing out all the albums released this year featuring circles in their artwork.
Yesterday ceo aka Eric Berglund of The Tough Alliance released a new video for his single “Illuminata.” He bowed out of flashing illuminati signs in favor of a tennis match against himself. Fair enough.
On the single he decided to tackle Beyonce’s “Halo” to great effect.
As the last post indicated, I’m pretty excited about the Decemberists‘ new album The King is Dead. I liked Hazards of Love but it wasn’t a very repeatable record. So their turn towards short Americana-tinged songs has me all worked up and ready for them.
Yesterday they released, in conjunction with the Record Store Day people, a new 7″ with two new songs. The A-side “January Hymn” is from the upcoming album, while on the b-side sits a cover of Grateful Dead’s “Row Jimmy.” The greatest thing is that the records are only $2! So run down to your local independent record store and grab one before they’re all gone.
The King is Dead is out January 18th. You can preoder it on their website, including a very fancy box set with lots of cool extras.
Korallreven released one of our favorite singles this year “Truest Faith” which had some great remixes from CFCF, Sail a Whale, and more. And now their newest song “Honey Mine” (which features Victoria Bergsman of the Concretes, Taken by Trees) has been remixed by famed Swedish producer Dan Lissvik. He strips away the lyrics and gives the tune a little more bounce.
You can get the Honey Mine 7″ from Acephale.
Here’s a cover made in cover heaven, from Small Black’s new “Photojournalist” single, out now on Jajaguwar.
♫ Sun Was High (So Was I) [Best Coast cover]
10. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
Nobody knew they needed this record this year. Most people assumed Sufjan might come back with folksy banjo tunes to please the post-O.C. crowd. But his sometimes jarring song structures and instrumentation set the stage for his revealing honesty which shines through at every moment.
9. Beach Fossils – S/T
This was my go-to summer album this year, and I love spinning it to remind me that summer will be back again. Everything about this album shimmers.
8. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Maybe my most anticipated album this year? After hearing “Power” I knew Kanye was back in full-force, and his album is one of his best. The samples are thoughtfully chosen and his lyrics are so open-hearted and honest that it’s hard not to love him, even with all of his faults.
♫ Lost in the World (ft. Bon Iver)
7. Twin Shadow – Forget
I was a late-comer to this record, but was struck by George Lewis Jr.’s beautiful voice and the perfect 80s-harking guitars and keyboards.
6. Delorean – Subiza
One of the most eagerly-awaited albums of the year, Delorean came through with track after track filled to bursting. Each song is so joyous and moving, and the drumbeats and samples and guitars are so perfectly sewn together to make this a fun record to put on when you’re home alone and need to dance.
5. Small Black – New Chain
I was genuinely surprised by this album at first spin. Album opener “Camouflage” is a gorgeous tune, and they keep it going on the whole album. The hazy ambiance is poppy enough to put a spring in your step without making you think too hard about how you’re moving. It’s easy to just sway and bob your head a lot while listening to this one.
4. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
This album was a lot more cohesive, stylistically speaking, compared to Hot Chip’s previous efforts. It’s an easier listen, and gels together as a whole instead of some songs sticking out in good or bad ways. Again, some of their most heartfelt songs to date, and their sound just keeps getting tighter and better year after year.
3. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
I don’t know how many times I’ve sat through this two-hour album listening enraptured as Joanna strings these tunes together, sometimes plucking, at other times cutting entirely. Have One on Me has some of her most beautiful songs yet, all wondrously orchestrated and arranged.
2. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
With all the hubbub about this being LCD’s final full-length album, it seems like people actually ignored the album itself. They were too busy worrying about the future of James Murphy’s pet project that they didn’t cherish what we have right now. From opener to finish, This is Happening is a joyful, funny, intelligent dance record better than any other put out this year.
1. Beach House – Teen Dream
What more can be said about this album? Every song is as near perfect as anything Beach House will ever do. Although I wore the album out early on in the year, going back and listening to it I love it just as much as when it first came out.
Fool’s Gold signees The Suzan all the way from Japan threw together this mix for International Tapes, and it’s a really fun mix to get your weekend started. Unless you’re writing papers and reading half of Moby Dick over the weekend like I am. Still haven’t found the right soundtrack to that sort of weekend. Anyway, definitely check this out. Lots of great tunes.
1. Liquid Liquid – Optimo
2. The Suzan – Home
3. Count & Sinden f. Mystery Jets – After Dark
4. Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
5. Telepathe – So Fine
6. El Guincho – Palmitos Park
7. 2NE1 – Try To Follow Me
8. f(x) – Nu Abo
9. Frank Chickens – We Are Ninja (Pizzicato 5 Remix)
10. The Go! Team – Lady Flash
