Emily's Albums A to Z

Listened: Thursday July 8

I’ve learned another new term, from the Ned’s Atomic Dustbin Wikipedia entry – Grebo Rock. I didn’t know that was a thing, I guess because it was a UK-centric subculture.

Ned’s is another band I saw way back in high school at BFD 2. I remember them being quite good, and I have a tape somewhere of their performance, which was re-broadcast over the radio.

Ned’s definitely have an unusual sound – they had two bassists, one playing the high end, one the low end, which might have had something to do with why it seems special.

This album has great energy and makes for good work music. It’s like a wave I jump on and ride until the end.

Listened: Wednesday July 7

Young Scottish men with heavy accents singing like 60s girl groups over rock music. This describes Glasvegas to a tee, and that might sound weird, but it’s awesome. I defy you to not sing along. Especially to a line like “Here we fuckin’ go-o-o-o-ooooo”.

Glasvegas are on my top 5 biggest Coachella disappointments list – they were one of the bands I wanted to see in 2009, but the singer was deathly ill and they canceled. Bad luck becauseI really wanted to see how the album translated to the live show. Unfortunately, they aren’t touring at this point, so I can’t find out!

Listened: Wednesday July 7

Give Up is another classic “driving to Coachella” jam we would always put on in the early years. Hearing it never fails to take me away to flying down Interstate 5 through miles and miles of farmland, shooting the shit with my friends, on the way to a weekend of fun.

It’s also a really touching album backed with unexpected music. It’s sometimes difficult for real emotion to come through a structure of so much computer-generated music, but The Postal Service succeed effortlessly. I actually prefer these songs to alter ego band Death Cab for Cutie, who play much more traditional “rock” music. The electronic music makes it complete, I guess. I wish they would release a second album, but it sounds like it was never intended to happen and won’t happen. Bummer.

Listened: Wednesday July 7

I like early Smashing Pumpkins, before Billy’s ego got out of control and when other people were actually playing the instruments and helping to write the music. Gish has palpable life in it – unlike some of the later works. Sure there are some great songs in the later SP canon, but no tight albums like this one.

Highlights include Crush (so beautiful and dreamy), Bury Me (sweet guitar work), and I really enjoy the obvious Fleetwood Mac homage of Day Dream. Well done.

Listened: Wednesday July 7

Gettin’ Wise is more twisted cheerleader rap (and I mean that in the best way possible) from Brassy. I prefer their debut to this album, but this still gets me going. “Bring it down to the sound of the druuuuuuuums”. Good work music.

Listened: Wednesday July 7

I love Get Behind Me Satan and also hate it, because after I listen to it I can’t get “I’ve been thinkin’ about my doorbell, when you gonna ring it, when you gonna ring it??” out of my head. And “Little ghost, little ghost, One I’m scared of the most, Can you scare me up a little bit of love?” sticks in there pretty good too. Jack White, get outta my braaaaaain!

Listened: Wednesday July 7

I have wonderful memories of The Futureheads album that come to mind every time I hear it. One of the early years we went to Coachella, we got horribly stuck in the parking lot on the way out after the show had ended. Earlier in the day we had forgotten our CDs back at the hotel, so the only CD we had was the one already in the car’s CD player – The Futureheads. It played over and over again as we were stuck in traffic for hours (not an exaggeration). It made the time a bit more bearable.

This album is very catchy in the first place, but due to hearing it so many times back-to-back, for the rest of the festival we kept breaking into rounds of  “Le garage, le garage-rage…” I also fell in love with their version of “Hounds of Love” – it’s brilliantly done.

Now whenever I hear this album, I’m transported back to being young and having fun. I don’t even care about the fact that we were tired and pissed off at being stuck in traffic – all I remember is the great times and the infectious spirit.

Listened: Thursday July 8

“Omigod – he’s singing in English!” That was the first thing I said as soon as I put Go on. It was so weird to hear someone I had always heard singing in Icelandic busting out his English skills.

This album is really uplifting, catchy, and pretty. Much less romantic and arty sounding than Sigur Ros – you can actually sing along with it.

Jonsi did a great job at Coachella this year. He was in the top 3 performances I saw. He and the band were totally into it and they were  entertaining to watch. Plus Jonsi had his fashion diva going on.

Looking forward to more!

Listened: Wednesday July 7

I don’t like Further Complications as much as Jarvis’ self titled solo debut, but it’s still pretty good. Particularly all the bad puns in Leftovers (“I met her in the museum of Paleontology, and I make no bones about it… if you wish to study dinosaurs, I know a specimen whose interest is undoubted”) and the long groove Discosong. It certainly is a disco torch song of the highest degree.

When Jarvis was touring for this album, I had the pleasure of seeing him at the Fillmore, where he spontaneously broke out in “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, which the band and the audience immediately went with, transforming it into an actual song instead of a joke. (Imagine my joy when I found that moment on YouTube afterwards.)  The man exudes charisma, and seems actually quite mellow and good-natured in person, despite what his songs might lead you to believe.

Listened: Tuesday July 6

Further is one of those famous “I bought it used, very cheaply, because I heard it was really good” albums. It sat around for years unplayed, but about a year ago I decided to check it out, and immediately it became a favorite.

If a band could be described as soaring, Geneva certainly is that. The music is a bit 90s sounding, but is of high quality. The music reminds me of Travis or early Radiohead. The singing is quite unique – I’ve seen it referred to somewhere as choir boy, which is an apt description, in the best sense of the word.

It’s great to sing along to, good for working, and immediately mood-boosting. This album has gotten me through some miserable times.