MOVED TO AUDACIFY.COM

BAM BAM BAM and its done!

I've switched over to Wordpress and I bought my own domain name.

www.audacify.com

Top 100 songs of 2009

C is for "Correct"

Click the image above to see the artist's work.

Ok, so my most anticipated exams and projects for the semester are done. I still have 2 exams and one [small] paper. While I'm cramming studying, I am also cramming some last minute music listening. I'm compiling some "best(or worst)-of 2009" lists and I am trying not to miss listening to anything tremendously notable.

Here are some of the lists you should be expecting to see from me:

In no order:

• Best Albums of 2009
• Best Songs/Singles of 2009
• Best Remixes/Covers of 2009
• Best Bands/Artists of 2009
• Best Album Artwork of 2009
• Best Engineered/Produced Albums of 2009

& a list of my favorite music i've been introduced to in 2009

& a write-up with results from last.fm / iTunes' play counts talking about what i've listened to the most in 2009.

and here is a band you should check out if you haven't done so already!

Ramona Falls - Melectric

VAMPIRE WEEKEND'S "WHITE SKY"

Listen here:

http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

:D

Last minute Listens! Bibio - Lovers Carvings

Has it really been 11 days since my last post??? Eeeeek! Ah, college. After finals the blog posts are gonna be rolling, and after christmas the 2009 lists are gonna be dropping! But as of now, while I'm busy finishing last minute papers and studying for exams (which start thursday), I am also getting to those last-minute albums that need to be listened to - that I have put off listening to - before I finish my 2009 music lists.

One of my last minute - or maybe second/third/fourth chance - listens was Bibio's Ambivalence Avenue. I listened to the album a couple times about two months ago but it really didn't do much for me. However, I'm a firm believer in not judging an album of its type after just a couple listens. Alas, on one of my most recent listens I have grown quite fond of a few tracks especially "Lovers Carvings." The tune is a rather simple - totally "indiesque" - tune that just feels so right when the groove kicks in and changes the pace halfway through the song.

Bibio - Lovers Carvings

I've also heard some other good stuff during my last minute album listening for '09 albums... "Lovers Carvings" was just the lucky one to get some blog-post respect.

winter's beautiful welcome: Jónsi -Boy Lilikoi

Jónsi - lead singer of the icelandic post-rock band named Sigur Rós - has released the first song off of his second solo project album. The album, entitled Go, is set for release, through XL Recordings, for March 22, 2010.

Boy Lilikoi, on first listen, was an instant beauty in my mind. The song begins quietly with soft ambient noises... the song then quickly blooms into a beautiful arrangement of vocals backed with a dazzling variety of instruments, all somewhat related to Sigur Rós' signature ethereal sound. I can't discern the lyrics but the song feels like a nostalgic tribute to childhood. This definitely causes me to add Jónsi's Go to my list of albums to look forward to in 2010. Enjoy!

Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi

You can download the song at the artists' website as it is a free song.

Thanks to @svaneerden (twitter) for sharing this with me!

Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind EP [ALBUM REVIEW]

It pains me that some people are incapable of loving this music; the stereotypical idea of what a song or what music should sound like limits the possibilities of what we can understand and perceive when we hear sounds. To learn to appreciate and love this music is of the most rewarding experiences in life. I remember at one point Animal Collective and all of their glory sounded like garbles of nonsensical, melody-lacking, noise – but I was determined to find what the rave was about. To learn to understand and find the beauty of this music is to be enlightened.

Animal Collective - Graze

The first piece of the album, “Graze,” kicks the album off almost as if it is the resonance of a glorious sunrise... “Let me begin; feels good 'cause it's early…Ease open my eyes and let light in…” This first half of the track is Animal Collective ambience at its utmost brilliance; it is the slow dreamy sunrise of a new day… but then around halfway through the song, Animal Collective bridges over into what is possibly the trippiest thing Animal Collective has ever done in a song: a pan flute solo; only Animal Collective could pull off such a thing – and they do so brilliantly. I hear colors.

“Graze” smoothly transforms into the second piece on the EP: “What Would I Want? Sky.” Its pretty much common knowledge and pretty much a big deal that Pitchfork gave this track a “10/10” ranking which crowns it immediately as one of the best songs of the year in their books… and I would not argue. “What Would I Want? Sky” demonstrates Animal Collective’s dazzling complications of layers and ambient effects; but then, halfway through, the piece bursts into pure, clear, and chilled out song – it feels as if the clouds open up after days of rain. The vocals whirl around blissfully repeating “What Would I Want? Sky.” It is calming to the inner soul.

Like almost all of Animal Collective’s transitions, the transition from “What Would I Want? Sky” to “Bleed” is absolutely smooth and perfectly executed. “Bleed” provides the listener with a psychedelic and dreamy ambient Animal Collective experience… and right when the listener begins to drift off… the fourth piece from the 5-track EP fades in… In “On A Highway” Animal Collective manages to do the logically impossible. In the same way that some songs are “bitter-sweet,” Animal Collective’s “On a Highway” is “epic-chill” ; literally. I am amazed by how the band can create a piece of music that is urgently intense but completely chilled out at the same time… listen to it and you might understand what I mean.

Then the final piece of the EP, “I Think I Can,” shows Animal Collective’s mastery at its greatest peak… This song contains my favorite moment on this EP and one of my favorite AC moments, if not my favorite. "I Think I Can" starts out hauntingly and grows into chaotic yet logical sequence of layers… but then… around the 5 minute mark… a new tinkering of seemingly scattered random notes begins… but swiftly the notes all fall into place and the results quickly turn into a gorgeous melody that is joined with the angelic host of vocals from the band members of Animal Collective giving one last magnificent moment before the EP fades into silence.

Artist: Animal Collective

Album: Fall Be Kind - EP

9.3/10

Buy at Amazon!

testing

Standout Tracks: Fall Be Kind - EP

Where the Wild Things Are

Besides those Mario and Donkey Kong tunes from back in the day the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack is indeed the music of childhood. Karen O's voice beautifully fronts the album as xylophones and tinkering bells chime through the album. "Worried Shoes" is a song that will put a child to sleep - yet someone older can relate to the song as well. Throughout the album, chorus's of children dominate the iTunes equalizer making you feel like a kid again - putting your worries behind you. Carter Burwell contributes a tingling instrumental making my hairs on my neck prickle. The album is overall very enjoyable.

Artist: Karen O and the Kids

Album: Where the Wild Things Are (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

8.0/10

Standout Tracks: All Is Love ; Worried Shoes ; Lost Fur ; Sailing Home

Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane

Prior to Switchfoot's Hello Hurricane, I could not help but think to myself - are the days of Relient K and Switchfoot over? Since Relient K has definitely let me down, will Switchfoot do the same? The answer is a resounding "no." It is true that I don't think Hello Hurricane is quite the same caliber as Nothing Is Sound, however, I still will back the album up as being a definite comeback from the lopsided and disjointed Oh Gravity. A definite album highlight would first be seen in the opening track, "Needle and Haystack Life" which is essentially the soundtrack of the sunrise of a new day... or perhaps the parting of clouds opening up the heavenly expanses. "Your Love Is A Song" and "Enough to Let Me Go" are just as gorgeous as Switchfoot favorites like "On Fire," "24."The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)" was my favorite Switchfoot-rocker song the album had to offer - though nothing on the same level as Nothing Is Sound's "Polititians." "Red Eyes" said a spectacular "good-night" featuring a beautiful closing arrangement of chimes... perhaps the best closer to a Switchfoot album? It is close at the very least.

Artist: Switchfoot

Album: Hello Hurricane

8.2/10

Buy it here!

Standout Tracks: Your Love Is a Song ; Needle and Haystack Life ; Hello Hurricane ; Red Eyes

Weezer - Raditude

This album is... all about perspective to me. You can either listen to it and think, "wow, this blows; Weezer is just trashy pop music now." Or you can listen to it and think, "oh, they are so spontaneous!" Sure, this is critically crap... but, much like Discovery's LP, this album was probably fun to make... and it was outside their normal... "mold." Songs like "Can't Stop Partyin'" which features a verse from Lil' Wayne, is one of those hate it or love it tunes. "Love Is the Answer" is a comic, and almost insulting, attempt at "world music" - but on the flip-side it is undeniably catchy. I feel that someone could give this album one star out of five & it would be justified. At the same time I feel that someone could give this album a four out of five and it would be justified as well. For example, if I said "Weezer's Raditude is indeed full of catchy hooks & keyboard riffs, and overtly produced beats - essential ingredients in modern-day pop music - stuff pop radio will coon over." <-- that statement could be taken as either a positive thing, or a negative thing, depending on your viewpoint. A definite crusher for this album is the lack of musical passion. Music, in my opinion, is the strongest channel for communicating our deepest emotions and feelings - the album - except for a couple songs - flat out lacked passion, care, or meaning. It sells me for a couple listens, but it won't be remembered in years to come... or even months, save for perhaps one or two songs.

Artist: Weezer

Album: Raditude

5.4/10

Standout Tracks: I Don't Want to Let You Go, Love Is the Answer, Can't Stop Partyin'

Vampire Weekend - Cousins [MUSIC VIDEO]

While I still prefer "Horchata" over Vampire Weekend's new single, "Cousins," I think this music video is a boat-load of fun! It has that same flare as A-Punk - however I find it a tad more exciting! Watch it and see for yourself... how much do you like it?