Bachelor No. 2
or, the last remains of the dodo


I have most of Aimee's albums, and in my opinion, this is still her best work. I love the two before this one (and still do) maybe that's why this one took a while for me to like. I remember not even caring for it at first, but after repeating listenings, the mastery behind the songcraft started to become apparent. Red Vines is just well seasoned and in the pocket writing and playing, just one of the songs on here that makes the whole thing addictive after this album starts to grow on you. The Fall of The World's Own Optimist sees another fabulous writer, Elvis Costello, team up with Aimee and produce another great song. Satellite is incredible Aimee at her best, and Deathly from the movie Magnolia pulls you in, especially when the gusty guitar solo starts up, reminiscent of her earlier works.
"How Am I Different?" She asks on the first song. She's different because she has talent and makes real music instead of mindless corporate fluff. This song was written to address the record label execs who kept blowing her off because she didn't fit their mold. Thank God for that.

www.aimeemann.com






Ágætis Byrjun


I first heard this band's music when I was at a job that was miserable. On the internet radio came two songs off this album which just took me away from the reality of my current drudgery. If I could pronounce or even remember the titles on this album, it would be amazing in itself. The first I heard was this high haunting voice singing "It's you... It's you..." which of course is Svefn g englar. It took me a while to find who the band was, then I had to go out and find the album. The huge spacey sound instantly captivated me and one of the biggest guitar sounds I've ever heard is prevalent of several of the songs. My favorite on this album is Hjartad hamast. I still sounds great. Note: The packaging on this CD is also quite unique.

www.sigurros.com






A Rush of Blood to the Head


Around the same time I first heard Sigur Ros, I also heard a song called Yellow off Parachutes which I liked a lot. A few years later, out came this album. I haven't heard a song played so much on the radio in a very long time as much as Clocks was. For good reason, it was just one of those songs that comes by every once in a while that has "the magic". I went out and bought this one after reading Aimee Mann saying "Coldplay Coldplay Coldplay" when asked what she was currently listening to. Why am I writing about an album that's so mainstream and well known that it's sickening? Because every song on this album is great, there is no filler. From the first song trying to wake people up from ignorance, to the second to last song which is the title track, this is just a great listening experience.

www.coldplay.com






Hail to the Thief


If the first song in the review above in which Coldplay is trying to get people involved in the world around them, Radiohead makes it a little more direct and to the point. The album title and the magical 2 & 2=5 leave no doubt about what they are talking about. That first song starts off with moody subdued anger and then explodes in a sex-pistol sounding tirade lambasting people for not paying attention to the obvious.
My other favorites on here are There There, which clicks into a great groove more than half way through the song with Thom's voice put through something and then Johnny Greenwood starting in with the perfect riff, A Punch Up At A Wedding and the drifting Sail To The Moon.

www.radiohead.com






Thrak


I have had many of King Crimson's older albums, but decided to get a newer one for a change to see what they were up to. This is an album of a band who could still make a great album years after coming on the scene. The songs are good, the creativity is still strong, and it's great to listen to. Crimson is noted for being gentle and quiet one moment and then suddenly bursting into a wall of noise. It happens in several place on this and it always brings a smile of satisfaction to my face when it does. There are also two drummers on this album and a back and forth between them on B'Boom which is great. I'm a Dinosaur is actually well written pop with hooks included but done in Crimson Style, and the same goes for the funkish People. Fripp's effects abound on this album, and it all works great.

http://www.dgmlive.com/kc






Twilight In The Opal Atrium


This is one of those albums I thought I'd go out on a limb and get for the heck of it after hearing Ananda somewhere on internet radio. It's a beautiful soaring new-agey type of song but I was surprised to find other styles on here yet they somehow all mesh together perfectly to form this album. This artist has a unique sound which I love and upon repeated listenings it grows on you even more. The sound collage in the second half of Enter Here is magical not to mention the way it just cuts and falls into Aquamarine. Been Here Before has a one of a kind uniqueness to it and I also like On The Eve Of Loxic Streams for it's ability to send me away to a different reality.

www.yuminale.com





Violator


I remember seeing World In My Eyes on MTV but never thought about the album until someone let me borrow theirs from work. I liked it so much I went out and bought it. I've had two other Depeche Mode albums, but this one still stands above the rest. The songs are catchy pop songs, but the synth work and production make it all interesting and never boring. The Sweetest Perfection with it's hypnotic groove ends with a distorted electronic drum sound which goes perfectly into Personal Jesus. The production and synth work on the ending of Personal Jesus is well, genius! Most of the songs on this album are addicting, and I still like World In My Eyes.

www.depechemode.com







Distance


Upon first hearing this album I thought it sounded like boring soundscapes but after listening to it many times, it really started to take hold. The album is pretty coherent, there isn't a radical shift in styles half way through the album or anything like that, it's very peaceful and calm all the way through without being boring. There are no annoying vocals or voice overs, just music. The whole album can be thought of as ambient but not a new age type ambient. It has a mature modern sound but with traditional instruments including guitar, bass and soft percussion on many tracks. The first track Sleepless is memorable since it's in my head right now as I'm writing this. This album would be perfect to play for a long relaxing drive.

http://www.dotca.co.uk/marconiunion.html






Kin


This is one of those albums that I keep going back to even after buying many electronic albums. There's a lot of groove on this including several voice overs that sound different than many of their peers which keeps it interesting. The sound is great on the whole album. Loaf has a Reggae rhythm to it but is still electronic - brilliant! The Irish girl's narration over Pearl is great as is the tune and the soundscape they produce for it making you feel as if you're sitting at the edge of wooded stream with this girl talking to you. Where The Wild Things Were has a great driving groove and some cool gritty synth work near the ending. There are eight songs on this album and I love them all.

http://www.soundsfromtheground.com/





World Machine


You may remember this group from the mid eighties. They had a hit off this album with Something About You. Maybe thought by some less knowledgeable as a one hit wonder, but these guys are far from it. Of course many may know them from Mark King, who at the time was already a renowned funk bassist. You hear his great playing on here but also some great tracks, some cool funk and unlike most very accomplished players, King's vocals are excellent to listen to. Besides the hit track to transport you to the 80s, check out Hot Water and The Chant Has Begun. Drummer Phil Gould also shines on this album. Superb musicianship and good songs.

http://www.level42.com






The Seeds of Love


I first heard this while watching MTV or VH1 in 1989. It was the psychedelic Sowing The Seeds of Love that really got me and I think on the same night I saw something off of XTC's Lemon's and Oranges. Two bands going 60's psychedelic heading into the 90's right before Grunge, I think bands were figuring out where the music was going next. It is a great weird song, but you can't use that as a gauge for the rest of the album, there is a lot of flavor on this. Great songs, great sound, great engineering and production. Even Phil Collins is playing on a track (maybe two). Oletta Adams was a seasoned Jazz Piano player and soulful singer the guys discovered in Kansas City while she was a virtual unknown. It's just a great album that you should definitely check out.

http://www.tearsforfears.net




The Royal Scam


You can tell that Steely Dan always put in their best effort on every album, but one that is still one of their best is The Royal Scam. It came out in 1976 at the height of their creative period. The mix of rock, funk and jazz all put to great songwriting and playing is very satisfying to listen to. There's some great guitar work on here also. The beginning of Don't Take Me Alive is classic. Larry Carlton guests on here and I'm thinking that is his playing but I'm not positive. My favorites on here are The Caves of Altamira and The Royal Scam. Be sure to get the new re-mastered version, they did an excellent job on it; the drums are tighter and clearer and the bass has more warmth and bottom.

http://www.steelydan.com