The Best of Times, The Worst of Times (Part 2)

Best Album Title of 2008:
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons...You Paint That Shit Gold!

While admittedly I have yet to hear a note (much less song) off the long-awaited album from this Minneapolis hip-hop duo, I am now more inclined to based on the record's title alone. Someone was handing out promotional stickers of this album's potty-mouth phrase, and I gladly swooped up as many as I could. Words to live life by.

Worst Album Title of 2008:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

If you were to judge Ryan Adams' latest offering solely based on the cover/title combo, this one would end up in the stinker. The artwork looks like it was designed for an 8th grade science project on Miscrosoft Paint circa 1993. Fortunately, the music does the talking here. Great album; terrible artwork and title choice. On a good day, Prince can get away with naming an album Musicology. Not so sure if Ryan's got the credentials just yet to add the "-ology" suffix to any of his.

Most Improved Player of 2008:
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

While this one was in the running for Worst Album Cover of the Year, I couldn't resist giving the award to MMJ (even though this one gives me a headache when staring too long). Ok, so let me explain this award. While the sports metaphor doesn't quite fit here (I understand that album cannot physically change/improve once released), this is the record that just got better and better the more I listened throughout the year. I was completely wrong when I gave this one the measly 6.5 in April. Although I still stand by the fact that "I Will Possess Your Heart" was a terrble first single selection (to go along with it 8+ minute length), the follow-up singles (and videos) were brilliant. Way to pick it up boys.

Worst Dropoff of 2008:
N*E*R*D - Seeing Sounds

Like Death Cab's rating, this one clocked in at a respectable 6.5/10. However, if I got a re-do, this album's score would be much lower. I can't think of a record that plummeted so fast off my radar (and consequently iPod) than N*E*R*D's third release. In fact, this one was so forgettable that I have to think twice to remember that Pharell and crew even released an album this year.

Best Surprise of 2008:
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip

Ok, so I'm talking about actual surprises here. Like having no idea about an album until it actually came out. This seemed to be a trend that got kicked-off last year with the now legendary In Rainbows experiement. Earlier this year, Trent Reznor gave us a freebie with the excellent single "Discipline." But little did we know that this was just the beginning. A couple of weeks later, he posted an entire album on his website as a gift to his fans with the simple message, "thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years - this one's on me." The most shocking part of all? This just happened to be his most focused effort since 1994's The Downward Spiral.

Worst Surprise of 2008:
Bloc Party - Intimacy

This one just goes to show that sometimes experiments don't always work out as planned. Bloc Party announced that they had entered the studio this summer with an expected 2009 release date for their third album. Then one day in August they surprised us all by announcing that the album would be ready for download by the end of that week. But unlike the Nine Inch Nails record, there were no freebies and apparently not much time thinking this through. Instead, we got a choppy record chock full of the experimental electronica bullshit that made A Weekend In The City so utterly dismissible. Sadly, this uber-talented band is now 1-2 in my book.

Best Album Hype of 2008:
Coldplay - Viva La Vida


I think I've made it abundantly clear that I didn't want to like the new Coldplay record. Considering how overrated and decadent this band has become, it makes it very easy to want to throw rocks at Chris Martin's head whenever he flamboyantly gallivants around the stage. But unfortunately, I gotta call a spade a spade and agree that this one lived up to the hype. Produced by Brian Eno, this one is better than anything U2 has put out in a very long time -- further proving that there's a new king in town. Rebounding from 2005's X&Y, Coldplay is a rare success story in the 2008 dismal realm that is mainstream music.

Worst Album Hype of 2008:
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III

Now I'll be the first to admit that there's a thing or two I can learn about hip-hop, but I just KNOW this album is utter garbage. When I hear about albums that are terrible yet get almost universal praise, I begin to question the sanctity of this industry (like I didn't already). Sometimes critics are lemmings, and this is just another example of it. Now Wayne is everywhere --- from Kanye West's album to the new Fall Out Boy. This stinks to high heaven.

A Thursday In The City

Chances are, I'm probably the last to know about this one too. Bloc Party is playing a free show at Roseland on Thursday. Doors open at 7:15, but you probably need to get there obscenely early to guarantee getting in. There is a site that advises you to RSVP, but I have my doubts about how legit it is. In any event, you might as well go HERE to put your name on this list. Awesome idea, but hopefully this just isn't a showcase of their new material.

Party Favor

Maybe they've come to realize that their most recent offering isn't exactly up to par. In any case, Bloc Party is already moving on with the second single off of Intimacy. The song, called "Talons," has been conveniently left off the digital release, but will be included on the physical version of Intimacy when it comes out in late October. The song is much better than the recent material I've heard so far, which means maybe there is hope after all. 

Party Foul

The good news is that we have unexpected new material from Bloc Party. The bad news is that it's just not very good. And while I certainly applaud their surprise promotional tactics, it's quite apparent that the band is trying too hard to overcompensate for the negative reviews it received from last year's second effort, A Weekend In The City. Unfortunately, the band has done more bad than good while valiantly attempting to cleanse themselves of last year's mess. Which is truly unfortunate when you consider how much potential this really band has. Rather than sticking to the post-punk formula that worked out tremendously for them on their debut, they've gone all Chemical Brothers on us -- the very pitfall that made Weekend a dud. But it gets worse; while last year's sophomore effort had its moments ("I Still Remember," "Kreuzburg") you'll be hard pressed to find a cut on this record that remotely reaches the caliber of Silent Alarm. The jarringly cacophonous first single, "Mercury," is just fast beats and noise. Mix this in with Kele Okereke's annoying looped whines, and you get something that sounds like a Fatboy Slim song on crack. It doesn't get particularly better from here. "Ares" is a drum and bass nightmare that would fit much better on an obscure remix compilation. The rest of Intimacy's content is, for the most part, forgettable, which makes it increasingly difficult to believe that these are in fact the A-sides. I'd hate to hear what got tossed out.

My Rating: 4.9/10

Party Time

I've said it once and I will say it again. It looks like surprise albums are all the rage these days. More so than those pesky Kanye West sunglasses. A month after surprising us with a new single (a bad one at that), Bloc Party have officially announced the release date of their new album. In a move that has one-upped even the mighty Radiohead, the new LP, Intimacy, will be available on August 21st. For those keeping record, that's in three days. But there is a catch. The physical version doesn't ship until late October, but you can get it digitally starting this week via the band's website. And no, none of that "name your own price" silliness. That's all played out. Intimacy will set you back $10. Last time I checked in with this band, the new album wasn't supposed to be ready until at least 2009. I guess pulling a fast one on everybody is the best way to avoid piracy these days.

**UPDATE** Here is the tracklisting for the new album:
Track Listing
01 Ares
02 Mercury
03 Halo
04 Biko
05 Trojan Horse
06 Signs
07 One Month Off
08 Zephyrus
09 Better Than Heaven
10 Ion Square

The List (Part 6)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.

50) Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (2004)
Halfway through the list, and we pick up with another legendary band in prime form. Last year, Thurston Moore confessed his belief that Sonic Youth's biggest faux-pas was never breaking up. After successful reunions by the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and now even My Bloody Valentine, he hinted that people don't appreciate what they have until it's gone. Thankfully Sonic Youth never threw in the towel because excellent albums such as 2004's Sonic Nurse would never see the light of day -- and this would just be tragic. Peaking at 64 on the Billboard 200, yet topping critics' end of year lists, this trend that pretty much sums up the band's career. At least they get lots of love from this guy.


49) Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)
Austin's Explosions In The Sky pack so much punch in their beautifully orchestrated catalog that they render useless the need for lyrical content. And that's fine with me, because quite frankly, these songs tell stories that voices simply cannot carry. Earth contains only five tracks, yet the shortest clocks in at a mighty eight minutes and seventeen seconds. So in summary, this one does not exactly fit in well with the pop-rock paradigm that is most associated with the TV show-watching audience it's oddly connected to (Friday Night Lights). Yet, Explosions seem to add that extra touch of glory that blends in perfectly with high school football, or any other menial activity for that matter.


48) Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill (2004)
Smith's first posthumous release, From A Basement On The Hill contained the remnants of what was supposed to be the singer/songwriter's studio follow-up to 2000's acclaimed Figure 8. It really is heartbreaking to hear how good this collection of songs is because it conjures up thoughts of all that could have been. This record was originally intended to be a double album, but contractual obligations from DreamWorks prevented it from being released as an independent extended disc. In any case, Basement was completed by Smith's former producer and ex-girlfriend and remains extremely unpolished due to fact that most songs hadn't gotten Smith's final seal of approval at the time of his death. This didn't seem to disappoint fans and critics alike who unanimously praised this one as a fitting swan song.


47) My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (2003)
My Morning Jacket had been around for over five years before experiencing the acclaim that It Still Moves brought them. Their perseverance has since paid off big time, and they've never looked back (and rightfully so). Their third studio album strengthened the band's reputation as being not only one of the best alt-country acts around, but one of the best live acts period. Jim James and gang have been known to rock out ISM favorites "One Big Holiday" and "Run Thru" at most of their gigs -- making them the front runners on even the jam band circuit. I had the privilege to see these guys play the 9:30 Club in D.C. back in 2005. Sucks to know that there is no turning back. Case in point -- they are playing MSG on New Year's.


46) Wolfmother - Wolfmother (2005)
Another potentially controversial pick. But sometimes you just gotta call out good old fashioned rock and roll music when you hear it. The debut from this Australian trio had quite the prolonged stint in my stereo system when it came out, despite having gone through iPod commercial treatment a la Feist and Jet. Some of the guitar riffs on this album are so complex, they will make your head spin. "Dimension" bears a striking similarity to some of the songs on Led Zeppelin II, and it doesn't hurt Andrew Stockdale to have a set of pipes that Robert Plant would be proud of. "Woman," put quite simply, is one of the best pure rock songs of the decade. It's been about three years since this record has come out, so I expect big things on Wolfmother's sophomore release.


45) Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
While we're getting a little mainstream, I might as well throw this one in here. Green Day will always get points in my book because I grew up on Dookie, and this remains one of the greatest albums of all time. Although their popularity waned over the years, Green Day's perseverance paid off handsomely a decade after the release of their smash. American Idiot is a concept album in the purest form and follows the rise and fall of characters "Jimmy," "Whatshername," and the infamous "Jesus of Suburbia". Think punk-rock version of Tommy. The accolades poured in, solidifying Green Day's stance as one of the greatest punk bands of all time. For those anxiously awaiting this band's follow-up, they recently released an album of garage pop rock under the moniker Foxboro Hottubs. Supposedly new material is on the way for Green Day, as Billie Joe has hinted at a potential 2008 release. With all these "surprise" albums popping up, who knows what's in store!


44) Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer's Block (2006)
For a country as cold, isolated, and homogeneous as Sweden is, it sure has its share of kick-ass bands. And while ABBA is experiencing quite the revival this summer, I am unfortunately not referring to them this time around. Stockholm's Peter, Bjorn, and John had been around since 1999, but only recently got some exposure in the States thanks to their excellent third record, Writer's Block. Who cares if this is pop music? And don't let the title fool you. This record's got more catchier hooks bass tournament. Yes...I went there. If you think these guys might be a little too obscure for your liking, I guarantee you've heard the whistly "Young Folks" used in a commercial or TV show -- it's gotten around. Peter left Bjorn and John this year temporarily to pursue a solo album which is actually very good.

43) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
Spawning one of the better debut albums of the decade, Britain's Bloc Party is post-punk band that has a penchant for piercing guitar riffs, jarring rhythms, and a political attitude to boot (just take a look at their name). This band borrows heavily from their predecessors, as indicated by singer Kele Okereke's sincere, Cure-like narratives on tracks like "Blue Light" and arrangements taken out of the book of Gang of Four (see "Helicopters"). This band made headlines recently for Okereke's recent backstage altercations with the Sex Pistols' abrasive (and apparently racist) frontman Johnny Rotten. When it was all said and done, Okereke left the scene with facial bruises and a split lip.


42) Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (2008)
Talk about getting better with age. This Southern rock/alt-country outfit has been cranking out albums for over ten years, culminating with their most recent 19-track opus Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Combining the wailing guitar work of Skynyrd with the songwriting pen of Waylon Jennings, the Truckers hit a home run on the first gem of 2008. Despite the departure of very talented songwriter and guitarist, Jason Isbell, these guys...well...kept on truckin'. Bassist Shonna Tucker fills in some of the gaps, and even lends her vocals to the heartwrenching "I'm Sorry Houston". The band really gets the led out on rockers "3 Dimes Down," and "The Righteous Path".


41) Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)
It's reassuring to know that Spoon have finally been experiencing some commercial success with their most recent effort. This Austin-based indie band has been around since 1993, and has been making fantastic albums since I can remember. Gimme Fiction is no exception to this. Although, at its core, this record is one that is brimming over the top with perfect pop, Spoon deftly incorporates an array of musical elements that makes Fiction equally complex. Synthesizers flirt with acoustic balladeering, strings, and the occasional guitar-driven numbers to make this one as cacophonous as it is harmonious. If this makes sense...

In Flux?

Bloc Party just premiered their new single "Mercury" on BBC Radio. It can be streamed HERE. These guys have always been into the remixes, but this might taking it a little bit too far. The whole thing seems a bit chaotic for me. Who knows, maybe I'll learn to like it. The band has a pair of shows at Webster Hall next month.