December 24, 2008

AZLTRON Top 30 Albums of 2008 (10-1)

Filed under: 2008,best of,boo hoo,Brian Eno,David Byrne,longwave,M83,Mason Proper,the faint,The Killers,The Notwist,thieves like us,Walter Meego,year end list — AZLTRON @ 10:10 am

This year has been a surprising one for music. After last year I thought to myself, “How could this year possibly be better than last year for music?” And you know what? Album after album I was shocked, no musical lull in sight. Nothing but quality as far as the eye could see. Well, quality in terms of the albums I was looking for. In particular, bands that released somewhat unimpressive sophomore albums came back this year with some intense and riveting releases. Bloc Party, The Stills, The Killers, and Longwave all regrouped and recalibrated to create releases that will please initial fans as well as fans of their new directions.

Without further ado I bring you the AZLTRON Top 10 Albums of 2008.

10. The Notwist – The Devil, You & Me

The Notwist released their first album since their 2002 stylistic breakthrough Neon Golden this year. This album features a more linear song structure, less blips and clicks, and it is all the better for it. The best songs are built off of acoustic guitar chords and Marc Acher’s saccharine voice. Added into the mix occasionally are emotionally charged tremolo strings and minor key flourishes. A listen to the album from beginning to end runs a full emotional gamut from uncertainty, to sadness, to elation. The Notwist have done it again.

The Notwist – Gloomy Planets



The Notwist Myspace

9. M83 – Saturdays = Youth

M83 came back this year in a big way. Anthony Gonzalez continues to plug away after the departure of Nicolas Fromageau and the towering sound of M83 has never been more accessible. Emotionally charged piano instrumentals to full on 80′s pop songs surge and percolate throughout the entire album. If there is a director out there trying to ellicit intense emotion from viewers using only music, there’s not an album out there that can reduce a listener to tears and then convert those tears to joy by the end of the album.

M83 Myspace

8. Boo Hoo – Hypermarché

Boohoo has crafted an album that combines two of my favorite genres, delicate indie pop as well as touching electro pop. Normally you’d think that bleeps and blips next to glockenspiel and acoustic guitar and heavenly melodies wouldn’t normally work. Normally, you’d be right. Boohoo combines them together in such a way where it makes sense somehow that solo acoustic guitar song should come right after an electro twee jam. It’s a further testament to the album that the topics of the songs revolve around television shows, tabloid magazines, and of course grocery stores. Fans of Peter Bjorn & John and Jens Lekman will find a lot to love here.

Boo Hoo – Gokutensoku

Boo Hoo Myspace

7. The Killers – Day & Age

The Killers hung up their Vegas suits and synths and grew moustaches. Their music morphed into christian country tinged post punk imitations of Bruce Springsteen in an attempt to prove that they weren’t a one trick pony at the new wave revival ranch. They accomplished this mission with their sophomore release Sam’s Town and even unleashed an epic single to rival anything they’ve done in When You Were Young. But where were the sleek synths and dance rhythms that drew so many people into their music in 2004? They were present, but with about a pound of sawdust draped over them. On Day & Age, they haven’t abandoned their new found dusty direction, but they’ve enhanced it with everything that they know they do well with a pinch of a spicy something new. Now, not only huge guitars, smooth synths, and dancebeats mark the album but saxophone and steel drums make an appearance as well. The Killers have reabsorbed their best influences and show of some new influences to make an album that is undoubtedly all killer and no filler.

The Killers Myspace

6. Mason Proper – Olly Olly Oxen Free

Mason Proper had a busy year this year; releasing not only their Shorthand EP, Jonathan Visger’s North South EP, but also a brand new full length entitled Olly Olly Oxen Free. The first song The Fog is a great rallying point for the rest of the album because it seems as if all the musical elements in this release are floating around in the atmosphere as a phosphorescent gas that they’ve somehow managed to capture and contain in a magical cauldron of musical goodness. Every element in their songs seems buoyant somehow, guitar riffs ring in the air and the vocals increase the precarious altitude of each song like helium in an untied balloon. Like riding in a glass elevator, Olly Olly Oxen Free is meticulous, utilitarian and spine tingling. Look down all you like.



Mason Proper – Point A to Point B

Mason Proper Myspace

5. David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Where else are you going to find two artists who are not only veterans of popular music but legends in thier own right, who continue to redefine the boundaries of what their music entails? Nowhere. David Byrne and Brian Eno have crafted a masterpiece here. Christening this new work as electric gospel. The term fits perfectly, the work here is largely uplifting major chords and David Byrne somehow manages to create an uplifting message out of lyrics like “I heard the sound of someone laughing, I saw my neighbor’s car explode”. Rife with bass percolation, soothing harmonies, and clever lyrics, you’ll be hard pressed to find an album this diverse that can please so many people.

Everything that Happens Will Happen Today Official Site

4. Walter Meego – Voyager

Walter Meego’s Voyager is a cornucopia of electronic pop goodness. The first track Forever acts as the guy who starts the wave at a big stadium concert. It makes a big feel good splash that carries through till the end of the album. Justin Sconza’s helium tinged vocals accent perfectly the heavily phased bass processed synths. This album feels good to listen to. This isn’t just a feel good party starter, undoubtedly if you’re looking to get a party started you won’t find a better primer than Walter meego but, just as much attention is paid to the atmosphere and melodies as it is to beats. I’ll leave you with this: listen to Keyhole, it will blow your mind.

Walter Meego – Keyhole

Walter Meego Myspace

3. Longwave – Secrets Are Sinister

Longwave came back in a big way this year. Longwave was previously dropped from RCA after the departure of two of their band members. Even when they were unsigned and the future of the band was uncertain, Steve Schiltz and company strove to continue recording and playing. The Indie Label Original Signal

intelligently picked up Longwave and put out their latest album Secrets are Sinister which is such an incredible return to form you have to hear it to believe it. All the shoegaze elements from The Strangest Things are not only present, they are turned up to eleven. The guitars soar, the bass grinds with foundation shaking ferocity and Schiltz’s uplifting lyrics in the face of certain doom and gloom makes this one of the best releases of 2008.

Longwave – Satellites

Longwave Myspace

2. Thieves Like Us – Play Music

Few artists these days can transport you to other worlds through just a few notes. Thieves Like Us does just that. We as the listeners are transported, after just a few finely produced arpeggio notes, into a world of not only late night debauchery and good times but also a land of neon grids and nobility. There is a majesty to the way that the electronic elements combine here. The synths just don’t play over the beats. They crash over them like waves on a rocky shore. The songs play out like an epic play. At times the beats kick in with reckless abandon, but the song after will masterfully describe the cost of living that way. The persistent bass throbs like a hangover after a heavy night of drinking or it pounds in your mind like a guilty conscience. It’s the songs that come after the more heady dramatic ones that stand out though, the songs of reconciliation, of coming to terms with what has transpired and making the best of it. These songs make Play Music an intensely emotional album and a collection of songs that I would be proud to have score the soundtrack of my life.

Theives Like Us – Miss You

Thieves Like Us Myspace

1. The Faint – Fasciinatiion

It’s been four long years since The Faint released a new full length album. But, luckily as soon as the bass on Get Seduced kicks in, you know the Faint are back and we are in for a treat. Todd Fink’s astute observational lyricism is this time directed at all kinds of sociological structures. From tabloids to religion, to the origin of the universe, to arguments with others and even arguments within yourself. Whenever I describe The Faint to people who have no idea what electronic/indie/punk is, I always say that their songs are very direct, very confrontational but also extremely intelligent, and Fasciinatiion has undoubtedly solidified that notion inside my skull. The Faint pick up right where they left off with Wet From Birth and without warning surge into uncharted territory like the rap-esque Fulcrum And Lever, to the razor sharp ballad Fish in a Womb. Every note of Fasciinatiion has been looked over, every effect finely tuned after endless tweaking. The album is wrapped in a warm blanket of sonic experimentation that will make it a gem for decades to come.

The Faint – Machine in the Ghost

The Faint Myspace

For More Top Albums of 2008 Click Below



AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

AZLTRON Top 30 Albums of 2008 (21-30)

Filed under: Beck,best of,Black Kids,Bloc Party,Cut Copy,desmond tutus,Flight of the Conchords,indie,My Dear Disco,ruby isle,The Kindness Kind,tuckshop,unicycle loves you,year end list — AZLTRON @ 9:27 am

Well here it is, the wrap of the best albums of 2008. Here are the links to part one and part two.

30. Black Kids – Partie Traumatic

Black Kids were kind of the Gnarls Barkley of this year, except… without the high powered up and coming producer and and dependable veteran performer. They did however come out of nowhere with a killer single named I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, despite the title being ridiculously long and well… ridiculous as well, it caught on like wildfire and the kids ate it up like hot cakes. The band uses a bag of tricks including funky guitar solos, warbly synths, cowbells and a Robert Smith-like warble. The rest of the album is full of rich pop tunes and a Robert Smith-esque warble detailing tales of adolescent woes and throes of passion. If you’re looking for a non-stop androgynous dance party look no further than Jacksonville Florida’s own Black Kids.



The Black Kids Myspace

29. Beck – Modern Guilt

Speaking of Gnarls Barkley, Beck teamed up with that prodigious producer DJ Danger Mouse for his latest release Modern Guilt. The atmosphere that Danger Mouse brings to the album fits perfectly with the multi-layered stylings of Beck. In fact, many are calling this album Beck’s first album that’s moved forward stylistically since his seminal release “Sea Change”. While “Guerro” and “The Information” did look back back for inspiration I felt that there was some innovative work there that marked progression. The fact that Modern Guilt doesn’t use too much superfluous instrumentation or loops and for the most is composed with ample reverb and less is more composition makes the album Beck’s most raw and intimate release since Sea Change.

Beck Myspace

28. Bloc Party – Intimacy

Bloc Party’s latest release Intimacy is something of a return to form for the band from their experimental conceptual sophomore album A Weekend in the City. Its like the catchy tunes off of Banquet fused with the jarring emotional content from A Weekend in the City with a pinch of electronic wizardry that can be traced back to the Chemical Brothers and even the Bravery in some spots. There are arpeggios fueling ultra fast ticking drum beats, and even keyboard horns fueling stuttering vocals. There are a few songs where the formula works out a delicate balance of ferocity and melody like the perfect song for the subway Your Visits are getting Shorter and the Cure influenced melody of Letter to My Son. This is the most aggressive collection of songs Bloc Party has ever released. I could see many of these songs playing over loudspeakers during heated UK Soccer games.



Bloc Party Myspace

27. Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

Think “Tenacious D” for the indie rock crowd. Brett and Jermaine bring something special to the table here with their high low harmonies and clever songwriting. All the songs here have been played before on their hit HBO series, but they’re here with renewed vigor. Some songs even have new parts. Like on the homage-hit “Bowie” the end of the song explodes in a “Let’s Dance!” fashion. Likewise, “Robots” puts on it’s dancing shoes for a “Robo-Boogie” segment. They rifle through a lof different genres and crazy ideas and are talented enough to pull them off musicall and lyrically. If you’ve never heard of the before, prepare to listen to nothing but them for an entire month. For real.



Flight of the Conchords Myspace

26.

Ruby Isle – Ruby Isle

Ruby Isle is the flagship property of the Kindercore record label. The lineup is composed of the all-star cast of former beat maker for “We are the World Trade Center”, Dan Geller, rock wild man Mark Mallman, and drummer Aaron Lemay. If you’re looking for an album to get the party started regardless of the crowd Ruby Isle has something for everbody. It’s true it’s dance music, but the ever present guitar riffs and and crazy synth is enough to even get grandma to do the twist. There’s a couple uses of great guest vocals, like the uber low voiced youtube phenomenon Tay Zonday, and the powerful reworking of “Solsbury Hill” featuring Amy Dykes. If you’re looking for a band to play a kicking set during the apocalypse, look no further than Ruby Isle.

Ruby Isle – How it Hurts

Ruby Isle – Hey Hey Hey (That Kid’s Okay) La Chanson Remix

25.

Desmond & The Tutus – Tuckshop

I recieved Desmond & The Tutus album “Tuckshop” in my inbox and was immediately intrigued. First off they are named after a famous African holy man that I was not aware of (Thanks Wikipedia!). Secondly, the band is from South Africa. Although all the members are white. This was kind of a let down until I listened to their music. There are few releases that I listen to all the way through beginning all at one time, but the uplifting nature of their guitar rock compositions and borderline satirical lyrics made me listen to this thing the whole way through. From criticizing electro loving geeks (hm) to the best song about swimming I have heard ever. There’s a lot to love here.

Desmond & The Tutus – Peter

24. The Kindness Kind – The Kindness Kind

The Kindness Kind is a new band out of Seattle, Washington who employs careful guitar work over beautiful piano melodies topped off with the excellent vocals by Alessandra Rose and a pinch of electronica to make some of the most listenable indie pop this year. The Highlight of their self titled album “Houndstooth” starts off with gentle feedback before the jazzy keys and bendy synths are rocketed forward by the paced drums, that navigate the song through several soaring melodies. If you’re looking for a complex but extremely listenable new indie rock band to love, The Kindness Kind should be first on your plate.

The Kindness Kind – Houndstooth

23.

Unicycle Loves You – Unicycle Loves You

If you’re looking for an album released this year that was as filled with youthful elation as much as it was filled with talented instrumentalists and vocalists, look no further, Unicycle Loves You is for you. Each one of their songs explodes in catchy accessible pop with layers of guitars and keyboards atop bangin’ beats. If I had to use other bands to describe their sound I would say they’re like all the fun songs by the Arcade Fire, channeled through The Cars and the Stokes all peppered with a pinch of Lou Reed. That said, there are so many rocking pop songs here that it would be a crime if these guys didn’t get more popular. Long live Unicycle Loves You!

Unicycle Loves You – Highway Robbery

22. Microfilm – The Slingshot Orchestra

The Slingshot Orchestra has made a distinct progression from their previous release. This time opting for a more lush sound rather than the minimalist german techno sound that people might know them better for. But fear not, there are beats and synths galore here. In addition to those glorious tones, there are also strings, piano, and plethora of other instruments that might sound completely natural but are actually synthesized and played by the band, but you’d be hard pressed to know that just by listening to them. In short, if you’re looking for a tasty slice of electro/synth pop pie, you better order up The Slingshot Orchestra.

Microfilm – Teenage Symphonies

21. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours



Cut Copy’s 2004 release “Bright Like Neon Love”, became one of the sleeper hits for me in the year following. Which led me to be really anticipating their new release “In Ghost Colours”. On “Neon Love”, they showed that they were capable of combining garage rock and electro in a powerful way, but on “In Ghost Colours” they’ve somewhat abandoned that idea in favor of some really poppy electro songs. It marks their progression as a band that they use guitar more for melody than for a slamming riff. All this talk about style changes and guitar might confuse you as to whether or not you can dance to the album. The overwhelming answer is “Yes!”.

Cut Copy – Far Away (Ruby Isle Mix) <-- A Convenient Tie In!

Cut Copy Myspace




AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

December 19, 2007

AZLTRON Top 40 Albums of 2007 Part 3 20-11

Filed under: ambient,best of,Chromeo,dance mix,Electronic,garage rock,Good Music,indie,indie pop,win,year end list — AZLTRON @ 7:20 pm

Well, here we are, at part 3 of my year end blow out. I’m coming into the home stretch here with the albums that I continually came back to over the course of the entire year. Without further ado I’ll escort you through yet another list of ten superb albums from 2007.

20. All Teeth and Knuckles – Club Hits to Hit The Clubs With

If there were ever a perfect ironic, post-hipster, club ready album released, All Teeth and Knuckles would already be two steps ahead of it. The beats border on indie, punk, rap, and electro while still retaining the feeling of those crazy guys who lived down the hall from you sophomore year, who’ve since moved out, but still invite you to their rocking parties off campus. What I’m trying to say is that the music is as much hilarious as it is badass. From the interludes of the squeaky voiced guy from the P-Funk, to a song literally titled “Fuck Your Jacket”, “Club Hits to Hit the Clubs With” is a Win.

All Teeth and Knuckles – The Real San Francisco

19. White Williams – Smoke

Another artist that has popped up in the category of almost dance, almost pop this year is White Williams. You can hear influences all throughout his music. Often times his rhythm section takes on a Bowie-like syncopation pattern, or his bass will chug not unlike an LCD Soundsystem bassline. Made from island rhythms, off note guitar melodies, aural soundscapes and an undeniable white boy funk, White Williams has crafted one of the most fascinating albums of the year. From the moment you hear the spacey sounds and driving bassline of New Violence you’ll be hooked, and when the sighs hit around 0:41 you’ll be as satisfied as Mr. Williams sounds.

White Williams – New Violence

18. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga

Several things happened as Bright Eyes progressed as an artist from my perspective. First off, he did the Digital Ash/Digital Urn album that drew me into his songwriting world and I figured out that while overtly emotional there was nothing annoying or whiny about most of his work, and that it was actually smart. Then, I got into Son Volt and Wilco and other Alt. Country bands. Lo’ and behold, Cassadaga is Bright Eyes’ best realization of alt country aspiration yet. The only thing I’d question is that “Reinvent the Wheel” was left off the LP. Songs like “Four Winds” and my personal favorite “If The Brakeman Turns My Way” buoy the album, but “Reinvent the Wheel” is undeniable.

Bright Eyes – If The Brakeman Turns My Way

17. Digitalism – Idealism

I have to admit it took some warming up to Digitalism for me, I think I wasn’t impressed with the singles off the bat and that impression stuck with me. It wasn’t until I heard the driving guitars of “I Want I Want”, that made me go “Woah, guitars? Who are these guys?” and I dove through the rest of their album finding other gems like, of course, “Idealistic”, “Anything New”, and the best song to listen to in a convertible while speeding, “Pogo”. Of course I’m going to like the songs with vocals better than the instrumental, sample based, and ambient works, but the fact that there is a wide variety gets more respect from me than if they just released 12 pop songs.

Digitalism – Pogo

16. People Noise – Ordinary Ghosts

People Noise is a welcome suprise, composed of Zeke Buck formerly of VHS or Beta and Matt Johnson formerly of Boom Bip, joined together they made one of the best rock albums of the year. Drenched in reverb and washes of keyboards every note is tangible and rewarding to listen to. It kind of cracks me up that when Zeke Buck left VHS or Beta all of the mystique and addictive riffs left too, leaving “Bring on the Comets” sounding like a clunky hybrid of the two Killers albums. That said, the lush soundscapes that were once hidden behind French house riffs are now in the forefront. From the absolutely thrashing rock riots to the beautiful ballads “Ordinary Ghosts” will make you wish Zeke had left VHS or Beta earlier.

People Noise – Harrison Bergeron

15. Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release

Taking their album name from the settings on an analogue synthesizer, SMD shows you what a good Moog can do. Several of the year’s most banging singles came off of this album as well as one of the most talked about music videos of the year (Hustler). Guest vocalists like Ninja from the Go! Team and Barry Dobbin from the the discontinued Clor make some of the albums highlights really shine. I’m sure half of the reason I listen to “Love” is because I want to hear some new Clor tracks and the other half is that great slap bass sound. The pinnacle though, is the hard hitting electro ballad “I Believe“. After listening to this record you will believe too, in Simian Mobile Disco.

Simian Mobile Disco – I Believe

14. Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia

With all of the retrofitting of catchy synthesizers to fit funked up French fried beats, it seems impossible that anyone could pull off anything like that in a truly live performance. Australia’s Midnight Juggernauts prove that it is possible. With a sound that’s one part David Bowie, one part Justice, and one part Gary Numan’s Minimoog synthesizer from 79, the basslines and roaring synth will have you begging for more in 45 seconds flat. If anyone out there was going to make a remake of the Rocky series, except it was a musical on acid, they might want to consult the Midnight Juggernauts because they have a lock on the otherworldly dance sound that floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Midnight Juggernauts – So Many Frequencies

13. Chromeo – Fancy Footwork

Everybody’s favorite Montreal based synthfunk band returned this year and proved to be in better form than ever. There literally was not a better album to have in your car in this summer. The majestic electro soul of the intro captures the greatness of the album yet to come. Once the hits start rolling the just don’t stop. The song structures from their last album have been juiced up and the choruses are so insanely catchy that they’ll be there until next year’s best of lists. From “Tenderoni”, to “Fancy Footwork”, “To Bonafied Lovin’” Chromeo will make you believe in a place where Jheri Curl never went out of fashion and everyone still wears asymmetrical sunglasses and neon jackets.

Chromeo – Opening Up (Ce Soir On Danse)

12. The Rakes – Ten New Messages

The thing that keeps bringing me back to The Rakes is that their music is so urgent. Vocalist Alan Donohoe perfectly ascribes the feeling of being intelligent and out of control at the same time. It’s the idea of the emotional versus the logical and the Rakes’ music is dripping with that give and take. The ballads highlight this unique approach to the love song, “Little Superstitions” and even more so “Leave the City and Come Home” lay out a relationship situation perfectly, and the protagonist knows what he should do, the logic, but his emotional side won’t let him. For as much as I’m talking about the cerebral, there are definitely brash rock outs on this album, some are even a little angry. The best of them is the unstoppable “Time to Stop Talking”, which is a shock to The Rakes’ cerebral system to end contemplation and begin fevered action.

The Rakes – Time to Stop Talking

11. The Octopus Project – Hello Avalanche

The smörgåsbord of sounds offered up on this album are more than enough to make it the instrumental album of the year, even though not all tracks are instrumentals. From tremolo vibes to fuzzed out electronic beats to perfect garage rock riffs, this album has something for everyone. There’s even a theremin all throughout! A theremin! When was the last time any band, any band, used a theremin? We’ve probably got to go back to the 60′s for that one. The genre bending tendencies of this album soar through ambient, easy listening, indie pop and IDM. If The Octopus Project ever scores a movie, I’ll be the first in line to see it. Until then they’ll have to remain the soundtrack of my life.

The Octopus Project – Ghost Moves

AZLTRON MUSIC BLOG

December 17, 2007

AZLTRON Top 40 Albums of 2007 Part 2 29-20

Filed under: 2007,best of,christmas,dance mix,Good Music,indie,Rock,year end list — AZLTRON @ 3:41 am

Again, it’s been a little while since my last post. Now that finals and papers are all done I can finally devote my attention to what has been garnering a great deal of attention all around the blog-o-sphere, year end best of lists.

29. New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom

Sales of ice cream in the U.K. were in record numbers this summer due to the sweet dance/pop of New Young Pony Club. OK, so maybe I have no idea about the sales of ice cream products in the U.K. but if the people over there are aware of New Young Pony Club, they should immediately buy the album, and then get a hot fudge sundae, a sure fire way to bliss. Wait, it gets better, imagine the hot fudge sundae in one hand, CD in the other and now click here to watch the video for “Ice Cream”. Dance bands with attractive female keyboardists, singers and drummers can do no wrong in my book. Especially those keyboards, yowza.

New Young Pony Club – Ice Cream

28. Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero

One of the best surprises of the year, Trent Reznor is finally comfortable with all of his influences and is pushing the boundaries of his own music. No more do we get empty angst and mindless E-string riffs, we get a fully thought out and programmed concept album. The arsenal of sounds that Reznor uses are hit and miss, but when they hit, you better be in a military bunker a mile underground.

Nine Inch Nails – God Given

27. Au Revoir Simone – The Bird of Music

This is the perfect album for a Sunday morning or sitting by the fireplace watching the snow come down. The three part harmonies, keyboard melodies and heartfelt lyrics combine for a rapturous effect that will lower your heart rate, in a good way. Like I said earlier, if a band has one female keyboardist, they can’t go wrong, if they have three, can world domination be far behind?

Au Revoir Simone – Night Majestic

26. !!! (Chk Chk Chk) – Myth Takes

This is a monster of a dance album, a little darker than their previous work, !!! offer up their hypnotic rhythms in a variety of songs. All the quirky dance songs are still here, but what shoots them into the stratosphere are song like “Must Be The Moon”, where they take all they learned from grooves, raps, and builds and put it together into one monster track. If people have hips that are able to move side to side and they have functioning eardrums the must dance when they hear this song.

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) – Must Be The Moon

25. Calvin Harris – I Created Disco

If “Myth Takes” is about dancing till you completely lose it, then Calvin Harris is about being the coy wallflower that the girls can’t get enough of. Calvin Harris exudes a seemingly effortless cool that echoes his surprisingly simple song structures that despite being repetitive, are always entertaining. Whether it’s reminiscing about an era that you barely remember or going to Vegas, listening to this album is almost as good as actually getting all the girls. Almost.

Calvin Harris – The Girls

24. The Broken West – I Can’t Go On I’ll Go On

The title of the album is misleading, there’s never a doubt from the opening salvo of “On The Bubble” that the album will ever beak down or be subject to paralyzing melancholy. It shoots forth, full blast full of pure of indie rock songs that are as catchy as they are poignant. They’ll get you on the third and fourth listens. Especially the heartbreaking “You Can Build an Island”. My favorite track is “Big City” for it’s piano groove, the lines “We Think We’re going somewhere but we’re really spinning out of control”, and of course what I like to call the “Car Commercial” part around 2:31. Seriously, why hasn’t this been licensed yet?

The Broken West – Big City

23. Billy Harvey – Bearsick

I usually dislike acoustic rock by sensitive singer songwriter types just because their accessibility and vague lyrics results in a lot of bro doofs and stephanies mindlessly blaring Jack Johnson at a frat barbecue. Billy Harvey is not such frat fodder, his clever word play, unconventional production and honest voice make him stand above the rest. There’s such an earnest quality to his songs, even when you can tell what the next verse is going to be, it’s still endearing.

Billy Harvey – When I Say Go
22. The Minor Canon – No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

If there is a grower on my year end list it’s Minor Canon’s No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. I had the chance to get acquainted with this album on a few long drives at night over the summer. The rich instrumentation creates a soothing world somewhere between easy listening and damn good songwriting. Quiet enough so that it makes good background noise to keep you awake, but as you go on listening you find yourself enthralled with the masterfully constructed lyrics. I dare you to listen to the album and not come away feeling validated and a little inspired.

The Minor Canon – The Rockets

21. Greg Summerlin – All Done in Good Time

Greg Summerlin’s latest album has some shockingly bouncy and upbeat singles about being unfortunate in relationships. Now wait a minute, upbeat? Bouncy? Relationships gone bad? That’s a recipe for not only musical genius, but also for AZLTRON to absolutely love it! You get the sense that even if Greg Summerlin was trapped in one of those constricting rooms with spikes on the walls he would find some way to escape through pure optimism. I think his happy thoughts would melt down the gears and reshape the room into neon colored ballroom where you and your friends could have the ultimate dance party.

Greg Summerlin – Unlucky In Love

20. Maximo Park – Our Earthly Pleasures

Maximo Park’s second album shines with all of the class, intelligence and raw energy of their debut while still exploring a few new musical avenues. like the synth loop driven “Our Velocity”, but don’t worry there’s the same introspective anthems present that we’ve come to expect of Paul Smith and company. A shining example is the Marr influenced “Books From Boxes” that is at once hypnotizing and heartbreakingly beautiful. The song is truly cinematic. When Smith sings “The rain explodes at the moment the cab door closed” not only can you imagine it brilliantly but you feel the chill of that rainy day run down your spine.

Maximo Park – Books From Boxes

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