spring hast sprung (top five)
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Artist:
even though it's still cold, overcast and generally gross outside in Ohio - it's getting mildly green outside again. after a single week of summer bliss (i actually wore shorts), we've taken a nosedive back into freeze warnings in Athens. the cherry blossoms down by the river probably won't last another week during this chill spell. but they're beautiful while they last. hopefully, spring will eventually get its ass in gear.
meanwhile, in the anticipation of warm weather, i'm digging through my music to find the albums to kill off the lingering frost:
1. Astral Weeks - Van Morrisonunbridled optimism; haunting without being harrowing; an exercise in the perfection of pop music. the fact that the words get jumbled in his jaw hardly matters. it's the tone of his songs that're important - the kind of joy that makes you believe you could be born again.
2. Coming to Terms With Gravity - Southeast Enginei really can't sing the praises of this album enough. they're a local band from Athens, but they just signed on with Mizra/Absolutely Kosher in February. i always thought of this album (their sophomore release) as an exercise in catharsis; making peace and moving on.
3. Happenstance - Rachael Yamagatai had the good fortune to see ms. yamagata open for ryan adams in 2005, when they both played promowest in columbus. the catchphrase for her music is "intoxicating." she uses key changes, dynamics and arrangement brilliantly - every song is tasteful; every syllable rings sultry. when it gets a hot outside, i'll probably languish in my lack of air conditioning with this cranked up.
4. Is This It? - The Strokesthis album just makes me want to drive; to vegetate in the sun; to lose myself. this album was a kick in the balls for me, back in high school. it sounds so stripped when compared to first impressions of earth, but there's beauty in that simplicity. even though they're from the big apple, this music seems perfect for driving through the hills in ohio. the boys from nyc will probably never be this good again - but it's a helluva high note.
5. Electric Version - The New Pornographerscacophonous, jaunty, bright and brilliant. vocal harmonies are spot on -- instrumentation is...joyous (for lack of a better term). and it doesn't hurt that "the laws have changed" may be my favorite song that these canucks have ever written.
Honorable Mention: I, Jonathan - Jonathan Richmanborrowed this album from my friend adam torres three days ago, and i'm enraptured by the song "that summer feeling." his songwriting is so earnest that it hurts - sometimes it lays me bare, and sometimes it's so cheesy that i laugh out loud. bonus points for "i was dancing in the lesbian bar." great stuff. i'll need to give it a few more listens.
the question is: what do you have for me?
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