My daughter on Christmas morning

2010 was a great year for music.  Instead of compiling a list of favorite holiday songs like I have in years past (Merry Xmas Mix and That Was The Worst Christmas Ever), I decided to make an album with 18 of my favorite songs from the year.  To qualify for my Merry un-Xmas Mix, a song only has to meet two standards: 1) I enjoyed listening to it in 2010. 2) It is family-friendly.  Cee-Lo, Jonsi, Kanye West, and Mumford & Sons all had songs disqualified for failing to meet the second standard.

The songs, and how and why they made my list follow.

1. Arcade Fire: “City With No Children” from The Suburbs

I love the entire album because it is direct and passionate and purposeful; the songs are powerful and the lyrics meaningful.  I picked “City With No Children” because the seamless transition from borderline pretentious pleading to self-doubting introspection in lyrics like:

Never trust a millionaire

Quoting the Sermon on the Mount

I used to think I was not like them

But I’m beginning to have my doubts, my doubts about it

2. Band of Horses: “Compliments” from Infinite Arms

Pandora introduced me to Band of Horses. Lots of friends are fans possibly due to the band’s Atlanta connections.  I’ve not become a big fan, but I do enjoy the album and I like this song in particular.  It’s comfortable, anthem-light southern rock.

3. Beach House: “Zebra” from Teen Dream

Beach House is a dream pop band that is new to me. In fact, the term “dream pop” is new to me but it is just what it sounds like.  ”Zebra” is my favorite song from the album, equal parts angelic and daydream-inducing.

4. Broken Bells: “The High Road” from Broken Bells

A guy famous for mashing up the Beatles’ White Album and Jay-Z’s Black Album collaborated with the lead singer from The Shins to make an album.  Natalie Portman’s character in The Garden State says their song “New Slang”, which has one of my all-time favorite lyrics: “Good teeth and the curse for this town / All in my mouth”, will change your life.  My favorite part of the Broken Bells song, and the reason I love it, is the reprise, where he repeats “It’s too late to change your mind. / You let loss be your guide.”

5. The Decemberists: “The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)” from The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists is another band I discovered via Pandora.  The Hazards of Love is a rock opera that culminates with the lovely “The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)”.  It is a sad tale, beautifully told, that ends in death.  Happy New Year!

6. Jars of Clay: “Eyes Wide Open” from The Shelter

This was a tough choice because The Shelter is my second favorite album of the year.  The album is a collaboration of modern worship songs written by Jars of Clay, performed by Jars of Clay and friends.  The lyrics are honest and thoughtful.  One of my favorites, from “Eyes Wide Open”: “It’s so hard to win this fight and love you at the same time.”

7. Jonsi: “Go Do” from Go

What is a compilation without some Icelandic artistry?  Go, a solo effort by Jonsi from Sigur Ros, is a fun, upbeat album with a couple standout songs.  My favorite is “Animal Arithmetic” but that song sneaks in the F-bomb in a couple of spots.  ”Go Do” is a good second choice.

8. Kanye West: “Amazing” from 808s & Heartbreak

One thing about moving from Atlanta back to the Maryland/DC area I really looked forward to was being able to go to more high quality soccer games.  My dad and I attended Maryland’s last two tournament games at Ludwig Field, where I discovered “Amazing” using SoundHound on my iPhone.  It’s a strange choice for a pre-game song, but it is very catchy and my daughter and I love dancing to it.

9. LCD Soundsystem: “Dance Yrself Clean” from This Is Happening

I do not like LCD Soundsystem, and I do not like this album.  It made many “best of” album lists and most people who have similar musical taste as me love this one-man “band”.  I just haven’t been able to get into the electronic/funk/digitized sound; not to mention I have a very hard time getting over the spelling of “yourself” in the song title.  All that said, this song is very good and I listened to it often not just because lyrics like the following really resonated with me:

Talking like a jerk

Except you are an actual jerk

And living proof…

that sometimes friends are mean

10. Lou Reed: “Perfect Day” from Transformer

During the Olympics, the soundtrack of an AT&T commercial was “Perfect Day”.  Being a fan of The Velvet Underground and John Cale, I was surprised I hadn’t come across this song or album before.  Even if it can’t provide reasonable coverage for my phone, at least it can broaden my musical horizons.  Thanks, AT&T.

11. The Low Anthem: “Charlie Darwin” from Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

I solicited musical recommendations when I was sitting on some amazon mp3 credits and a friend said if I wasn’t listening to “Charlie Darwin” I wasn’t experiencing life.  What seemed like extreme hyperbole at the time now, in hindsight, rings true.  The entire album is awesome, tremendously diverse and wonderfully constructed.  I could’ve chosen “Ticket Taker”, “The Horizon is a Beltway”, or “To Ohio” and been equally happy, but decided to go with the haunting hymn “Charlie Darwin” because it is a tad more accessible.

12. Mumford & Sons: “Winter Winds” on Sigh No More

Another great album.  I got it shortly after my daughter was born in January and we spent many nights pacing around the kitchen singing (i.e. me singing, her screaming) along with the English bluegrass/folk Indie rockers.  The album is unabashedly literary, even to go so far as to quote Shakespeare in a couple of songs.  It gets a bit dark in spots, but has very good balance.  I would not hesitate to stand up any of the songs from the album on its own.  I chose “Winter Winds” for its lovely poetry and accessibility.  What some might call cheesy or lame, I find raw, unpretentious, and endearing.  For example, “Winter Winds” opening:

As the winter winds litter London with lonely hearts

Oh the warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms

Was it love or fear of the cold that led us through the night?

For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt

13. The National: “Bloodbuzz Ohio” from High Violet

High Violet is my favorite album of 2010.  The National has perfected its craft as far as I’m concerned: it produces the most musically cohesive rock songs. The lyrics are esoteric ramblings of a semi-coherent singer, intertwined with clever quips like “I still owe money to the money, to the money I owe.”  I had half a mind to buy my family and friends High Violet and call it a day, but where’s the fun in that?

14. Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs : “New York City’s Killing Me” from God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise

I’m a big fan of Ray’s simple, whispered songs.  That’s just what this song is: Ray soulfully sings about his longing to get out of the city.  It was particularly fitting to me that my favorite character from my favorite television show (Adam from “Parenthood”) is also a big fan.

15. Rufus Wainwright: “Martha” from All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu

Rufus airs his family’s dirty laundry in a typically dramatic Rufus way.  This album is a bit more manufactured glitz than I like.  ”Martha” is about as simple as it gets.  For me, for Rufus, the less accompaniment there is, the better.

16. Sleigh Bells: “Rill Rill” from Treats

I love the story of how Sleigh Bells was formed.  It is a two person dance punk/noise pop band that formed after a waiter at a Brazilian restaurant in Brooklyn waited on a kindergarten teacher and her mother. He mentioned he was looking for a female vocalist to work with on a musical project and the teacher’s mother immediately volunteered her.  ”Tell ‘Em” is a great, foot stomping, shake your booty single, but my favorite song from the album is the interminably catchy “Rill Rill”.

17. Sufjan Stevens: “Heirloom” from All Delighted People EP

I decided to pick only one song per artist and my favorite Sufjan song of the year came on the surprise EP released before the full-length The Age of Adz.  It is the simplest song from the two albums, one wonderfully crafted and beautifully delivered.

18. Vampire Weekend: “Holiday” from Contra

If I’m being honest, Contra disappoints me.  None of the songs from Contra grab me like “Oxford Comma”, “Mansford Roof”, and “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” from their self-titled debut.  Regardless, I couldn’t resist including a catchy, poppy song named “Holiday” on a decidedly un-holiday album, even if Honda ruined it.

Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3; David Bowie: Best of Bowie; David Gray: Draw the Line; Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest; Andrew Bird: Noble Beast; Owl City: Ocean Eyes; Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon; The Bird and the Bee: Please Clap Your Hands; The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D.; U2: No Line on the Horizon

My favorite album of 2009 was undoubtedly Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix which I previously wrote about.  Of the albums listed above–and previously unmentioned in this space–none quite captivated me in a way that inspired me to write about it until I wanted to solicit recommendations after receiving a bounty of amazon gift cards for Christmas. I am probably to blame for this phenomenon because my selections over the last two years have overwhelmingly been indie/arty/folk/chamber pop type selections. To earn the recommendations I seek, I will post some brief thoughts on each of the albums pictured above.

Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3

“Empire State of Mind” is an awesome song, probably my favorite of the year.  The piano, the beat, Alicia Keys, Jay’s rapping, they are all perfect.  Stephen Colbert tried to give Jay a run for his money with his own version of the song with Alicia Keys and the performance is hilarious, but just doesn’t compete.  “D.O.A. [Death of Auto Tune]” is another great song, one that I particularly appreciate because I only like auto-tune when the Gregory Brothers auto-tune the news. Honestly I can only stomach three or four Jay-Z songs at a time before I get bored.  The third song that I usually choose from this album before finding something else to listen to is “Run This Town” which features Rihanna and Kanye West and is fun and catchy.

David Bowie: Best of Bowie

How weird is it that I went to a U2 concert and saw Muse and U2 and yet walked away not able to get “Space Oddity” out of my head?  U2 walked onto stage to the song, and it intrigued me.  I’ve been meaning to check out Bowie ever since Nirvana covered “The Man Who Sold the World” on Unplugged in New York, and it only took me another chance encounter and 15 years to do it.  I’m glad I finally did, and not just because I learned “Heroes” was not written by Jakob Dylan.  The songs are rich and diverse, and make me want to explore Bowie further.

David Gray: Draw the Line

I’m a big David Gray fan and while I enjoy this album, I was not immediately grabbed like I was when I heard White Ladder and Life in Slow Motion.  It may take a couple more listens to grab me and that’s just fine.

Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest

What strikes me funny about this album is that I only ever remember one song from it, “Two Weeks”.  I never regret listening to the album, but it is too easy to forget.  It’s possible that I’m just not hipster enough (at all) to appreciate chamber pop.  Maybe next year.

Andrew Bird: Noble Beast

Armchair Apocrypha gets better with each listen.  I hoped Noble Beast would also, and it does.  It is a very polished album: I need to listen to it more.  I never thought I would appreciate onomatopoeia, but I do.  Bird is very creative with every part of his music from the instruments he uses, the way he turns a phrase, to his lyrics, and timing.  I am really impressed.

Owl City: Ocean Eyes

Owl City is not my cup of tea.  The lyrics are inane and the music is bland.  If it’s not auto-tune, it is a poor imitation of auto-tune.  I got talked into buying this album and I regret having it.  It reminds me of bad music I listened to in high school and early college like Something Corporate and Stroke 9.

Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

I bought this album because it was available for just $5 when it was one of amazon’s daily deals.  It seems like it’s one of those albums that I should own so it was too hard to pass up at that price.  I’ve listened to it twice, and it’s good.  Maybe someday I’ll understand why it is such a profound album.

The Bird and the Bee: Please Clap Your Hands

For some reason I am drawn to male-female duos.  I like The Bird and the Bee mainly because of Inara George’s voice, but also because of the excellent keyboarding and programming by her partner in crime Greg Kurstin.  It’s like a delicious mixture of Regina Spektor, Andrew Bird, Luscious Jackson and M Ward/Zoey Deschanel.   “Polite Dance Song” is my favorite song on the EP: it borders trite like The Gourds’ cover of “Gin and Juice” or “Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Travis where the singer’s voice and the music doesn’t fit with the lyrics, but on this occasion it works well.

The Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D.

The Black Eyed Peas know how to make me want to shake my moneymaker.  I’m not a fan of Oprah, but this was cool.  The album has a lot of filler, but just having the songs “I Gotta Feeling” and “Boom Boom Pow” available to play when I crave something fun and upbeat makes this purchase worthwhile.

U2: No Line on the Horizon

I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, for U2 to make one song as good as any of the songs on their albums pre-1991.  That may not be fair.  For me, when I want to listen to U2 I am not going to choose this album.

Happy New Year!

Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix; The National: Alligator; Jars of Clay: The Long Fall Back to Earth; Dark Was The Night (Red Hot Compilation); Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha

Five of my more recent acquisitions are listed according to how much I’ve listened to the albums, which is not to say the order of their worth because that can certainly change over time.

I got my hands on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix April 1, nearly two months before the US release.  I knew nothing of Phoenix and didn’t even know the album wasn’t released when a friend gave me the CD to listen to on the drive back to Atlanta from Nashville.  From the first listen I was captivated.   At some points the sound reminds me of Modest Mouse and My Morning Jacket, but not the vocals.  A lyrical pattern in the songs is persistent repetition of a word or phrase that goes on longer than I would expect, but never too long; it’s unique.  It won’t be long before I start checking out the band’s earlier albums.

I bought Alligator on the strength of the album that followed it, Boxer.  I wasn’t immediately hooked, but the album grew on me like a woman’s short haircut: my first impression is always negative but when I really give it a chance I see the beauty.  I may even come to appreciate Alligator more than Boxer.  It’s more direct and thus seems more honest.  I’ve always appreciated deadpan delivery–my favorite comedian is/was Mitch Hedberg–and apparently that extends to music because the lyrical delivery over piano and guitar-driven rock interspersed with violins could not be much dryer.  There are some great songs on this album: “Karen”, “Mr November”, “Baby, We’ll Be Fine” and “Secret Meeting”  are my favorites, songs I play for those who are not yet fans.  Like with Phoenix, I was late to the game with The National and need to check out their first two albums.

The Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay’s latest album, was released April 17.  Jars is one of my favorite bands, for sure.  I’ll typically listen to their new stuff every day to every other day the first month after a release.  That wasn’t the case with The Long Fall.  If I’m honest, a couple of the songs strike me as a bit campy.  There are standouts too, namely “Closer”, “Safe to Land”, and the opener/prelude “The Long Fall”.  For me, the depth just isn’t there.  The sound is similar to past albums but where past lyrics are well-crafted, the lyrics on songs like “Headphones” and “Boys (Lesson One)” are too contrived for this cynic.

Dark Was The Night is a 31 original song indie-rock compilation produced by The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dressner to benefit the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for HIV and AIDS through popular culture.  It’s like a great soundtrack, featuring pitchfork’s favorite artists: The National, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Feist, Spoon, Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, etc.  The best song on the album and my favorite song at the moment is “So Far Around the Bend” by (surprise, surprise) The National.  There is a flute solo on it that is so darn pretty it makes me want to play the flute.  Sufjan’s 10+ minute contribution is also noteworthy as is a song in which Ben Gibbard and Feist team up.  Though the contributing artists are all indie darlings, the album is a great variety and a fun listen.  Go do your part in raising awareness and buy some good music.

Finally, Armchair Apocrypha.  I’d probably listen to this album more if I hadn’t heard Bird interviewed on Fresh Air with Terry Gross.  He was aloof to the point of being a prick and it made me recoil.  Pretentiousness is not becoming on anyone nor is it inspirational.  Nonetheless, this album is very solid.  Bird is a super-talented musician and whistler (not sure if they are separate talents).  He also knows how to craft wonderfully textured songs by using a bevy of instruments and looping techniques.  The songs aren’t catchy per se, but they are very well done and make for good listening.

Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans || The National: Boxer || Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant EP || Jars of Clay: Closer EP || Beck: Mellow Gold; Modern Guilt; Midnite Vultures; The Information; Sea Change || Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago; Blood Bank EP || The Black Crowes: Warpaint || Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot || Iron & Wine: The Sheperd’s Dog || Rufus Wainwright: Poses; Rufus Wainwright

Album I’ve Listened to the Most

For Emma, Forever Ago

I can’t quite put my finger on what makes this album so good.  It drew me in with its quiet, emotional, stirring lyrics and delicate harmonies.  One day in the middle of three weeks off work I listened to it three times straight through and enjoyed every second.  One thing I liked about the one-man band was that I had not heard anything about it before I previewed its album and bought it from amazon.com’s list of 50 top sellers.

Favorite new to me Beck Album

Sea Change

The saddest, most depressing album was always the front-runner for this category due to my temperament.  The depth of the introspective lyrics and Beck’s crafty delivery and arrangements made for good music to be bummed to.

Best Depressing Song

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Way to put it all on the table dude.  Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the first Wilco album I’ve listened to; I like it.  It’s still growing on me.  This song was my favorite.

Best Semi-Depressing Song

For Emma

A very catchy Bon Iver song that is good to hum along to without ever understanding the lyrics beyond knowing someone is getting broken up with.

Best Upbeat Depressing Song

Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk

Rufus Wainwright wails about his cravings casually, comically and tragically.  I can relate to some parts (Everything it seems I like is a little bit sweeter, a little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me); others not so much (I’m just a little bit heiress, a little bit Irish, a little bit tower of Pisa).

Worst Decision

Warpaint

I go hot and cold with The Black Crowes.  Sometimes I’ll listen to the greatest hits album and think they really are awesome; other times I can’t even get through one song.  I thought I’d like Warpaint because I don’t change the radio station when “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution” comes on.  Perhaps I can’t get into this album because it is a little too country and I just don’t respect Chris Robinson as much since he separated from Kate Hudson.

Album that Sounded Just Like I Thought It Would

The Shepherd’s Dog

With the purchase of my first Iron & Wine album I began to grow tired of the whispery Indie rock sound which is a shame because the album itself is solid.   The sound falls somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and Ray LaMontagne.  I’m sure I’ll grow to appreciate it more in a few months.

Album I Did Not Think I’d Like But Do (a lot)

Boxer

I love the matter-of-fact delivery and the lyrical style of this album.  It is probably the album I’ve listened to most since Christmas behind For Emma, Forever Ago.  If understated catchiness is possible, The National achieves it here.

Album(s) I’m Still on the Fence With

Sun Giant EP (and the self-titled debut purchased earlier this year)

The songs on these albums are pretty good, but too often remind me of a poor man’s Arcade Fire.

Worst Song/T.I. Impersonation

Woods

Listening to this song on the Bon Iver Blood Bank EP for the first time was surreal.  It is as bad as Kanye West’s new album.  It’s synthetic, awkward and just plain bad.   12/13 Bon Iver songs are winners so I won’t dwell on the hideousness of this song.

Best EP that has me Excited for the to-be-released Full Length Album

Closer EP

I could listen to Jars of Clay all day.  A new single “Closer” was packaged with new versions of “Love Song for a Savior” and “Flood”as well as new songs “Safe to Land” and “Prisoner of Hope” in a precursor to a spring album.

Album Most Like Another Album I Like

Seven Swans

I bought this album because I liked, Illinoise, the album that came out the year after it so much.  Sufjan didn’t mix it up too much, which is ok.  I’m more likely to tire of both albums sooner, but having two good, similar albums is better than one good, one bad.   

Albums that Deserve More Attention in this Post Because of their Awesomeness

Modern Guilt, The Information, Mellow Gold, Midnite Vultures

What can be said about Beck?  He is an enigma wrapped in a pig in a blanket.  His albums vary widely in their sound but not their greatness.  Many days I spend only listening to Beck.  And they are good days at least as far as the music is concerned.   

I love Christmastime.  Three ways this love is manifest:

1. I tie an awesome small wooden Santa around my neck with a green string.
2. I watch four movies: It’s a Wonderful Life, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, and Love Actually.
3. I listen to a lot of holiday music.

The main purpose of this post is to discuss the third point, holiday music. When it comes to finding quality holiday music, I find myself on the fence that separates festive from compulsive.  The search began in the days of free napster when I had no scruples about downloading and distributing pirated music.  Though financially strapped I had blank CDs, a CD writer and a lot of time so I decided to spread holiday cheer by making a delicious compilation of Christmas songs from contemporary artists for my family and friends.  The aptly titled Merry Xmas Mix was a hit; five years on and we’re still listening to it while eating Chex mix and chocolate covered coconut balls and playing Scrabble around the dining room table.

The first album I think of when I think about Christmas music is A Christmas Together, the timeless classic that features John Denver and The Muppets.  What can be more jolly than singing along with Miss Piggy as she wails “FIVE GOLDEN RINGS” on Twelve Days of Christmas?  So the bar is set pretty high.  On the other end of the spectrum is Michael McDonald’s album Through the Many Winters which listening to made me want to shoot myself in the face.  Rest assured I did not purchase the album: I won it along with Kenny G’s Holiday Collection and Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas Celebration at a work holiday party three years ago.  I believe I trashed the McDonald CD but the mp3s still find their way into itunes’ shuffle playlist way too often.    So far none of the albums I discussed were actually purchased by me.  The artists who put out albums that I sampled and purchased, in order of preference are: Jars of Clay, Jewel, Barenaked Ladies, Harry Connick Jr, and James Taylor.  I posted a brief review of the Jars album Christmas Songs last year and stand by it: it was the first album I listened to this year and one I doubt I will ever tire of.  Several years before Christmas Songs, Jars of Clay released “Little Drummer Boy” as a single and it remains my favorite holiday song.

Jewel’s album Joy: A Holiday Collection is beautiful in its simplicity.  No matter your opinion of her as an artist, poet or lyricist, there is no denying she has a lovely voice.  Her rendition of “O Holy Night” is my favorite track.  I could do without the yodeling though; fortunately it only shows up in one track.  Barenaked Ladies’ album is a typical, up-tempo, goofy collection of songs. The band teams up with Michael Bublé on the hilarious track “Elf’s Lament” which documents one elf’s attempt to organize his fellow elves.  My two favorite parts:

Toiling through the ages

Making toys on garnished wages

There’s no union

We’re only through when we outdo the competition

…

We’re used to repetition, so we drew up a petition

We, the undersigned, feel undermined

Let’s redefine “employment”

If you’re in the mood for James Taylor or Harry Connick Jr and it happens to be Christmastime, their albums are fine.  For me the arrangements deviate too far from tradition.

Last year Starbucks released a compilation, Stockings by the Fire, which has several excellent songs.  Sarah McLachlan’s version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is beautifully done.  Other favorite songs are “Carol of the Bells” by The Bird & The Bee and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hem.  Rufus Wainwright steals the show though with the ballad “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”.

I’d be remiss if I did not mention A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.  ”Christmas Time is Here” is a song that immediately transports me with warm thoughts to happy times.

Two singles I have and immensely enjoy are the timeless “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan and a relatively new song by Regina Spektor called “My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year)”.  I’ve heard so many versions of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and it is Lady Ella’s unmatched skill and understated coquettish mastery that makes her version stand above the rest.  Spektor’s song is simple and hopeful, a good song to listen to while making resolutions for the new year.

Two albums I added to my collection this year are Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens and Silent Night by Red Mountain Church.  Songs for Christmas is actually a collection of EPs.  According to amazon.com Stevens began making annual EPs of traditional carols and songs mixed with his own holiday-themed tunes to combat “that creepy Christmas feeling” that typical Christmas music stirs, probably the same music that I am singing the praises of above.  Regardless, the lo-fi folk songs are wonderfully crafted and a delight to listen to.  My favorite tracks are the original composition and unapologetic downer “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever” and the classic “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (which appears three times).  Silent Night is another terrific album from Red Mountain Church.  On the inside jacket cover it says “We tried to stay out of the way and honor these timeless melodies as best we could.  We hope you like them, and we hope they remind you of Advent.”  Without question the album accomplishes its goal.

I’d be interested to hear about your favorite holiday song or album.

David Crowder Band: Double Take, The Velvet Underground & Nico, Sandra McCracken: The Builder & The Architect, George Michael: Ladies & Gentlemen – The Best of George Michael, Coldplay: Viva la Vida, My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges

After an itunes Christmas I was left with a healthy itunes balance.  I made it all the way to June before exhausting the generosity of family and friends.  This post will serve as part review, part confession.  See: Michael, George

The six selections pictured above are the purchases I’ve made since my last music post.  Double Take is the first album pictured and it really isn’t an album at all; it is a special deal Apple does that combines two albums and sells it for the price of one and a half.  I am a sucker for sales so I was unable to resist the package of the Can You Hear Us? and Collision albums by the David Crowder Band.  The songs are upbeat, fun worship songs that the more cynical person might find cheesy.  Not me though, I’m a fan.

I was compelled to buy The Velvet Underground & Nico (pictured second) and My Morning Jacket albums (pictured last) because of the law of three.  On three separate occasions I heard or experienced positive things from reputable sources about the Velvet Underground and My Morning Jacket.  The three Velvet Underground occasions are more interesting so I’ll share those.

1. A few years ago when David Gray walked on-stage at the Fox Theatre to a brilliant John Cale song, Big White Cloud. Cale was a founding member of the Velvet Underground.

2. ‘I’m Sticking With You’ featured on the Juno soundtrack that I thoroughly enjoy.

3. ‘Heroin’ was rated the 77th best song of the 1960s by Pitchfork.

So you see I had no choice.  I have listened to the album three or four times through and I enjoy it but I do not know enough about music to truly appreciate the album.  Similarly, if I am not an early adopter I am reticent to fully embrace an artist and that is my problem with MMJ.  I’ve gotten over this petty pathetic-ness in the past and probably will again thanks to great songs like ‘Smokin from Shootin’ and ‘Librarian’ which kind of reminds me of the Velvet Underground.  What I especially appreciate about the album is the diversity of songs and sounds that remain distinctively MMJ.

I’m not overly impressed with Sandra McCracken’s album of worship songs, The Builder & The Architect.  One of my favorite songs to sing in church is ‘I Boast No More’; it is on the album with the same arrangement we sing but McCracken’s version leaves me wanting more.  Red Mountain Church’s similar projects are much more gripping.  Not a terrible album and certainly easy to listen to, but nothing I’d recommend.

I bought the best of George Michael after his appearance on American Idol.  I confessed the purchase with a facebook status update.  Obviously that confession did not do the trick since I am confessing it again.  Who can deny the catchiness of ‘Faith’, ‘Father Figure’ and ‘Freedom’?  George also won points from me for making fun of himself on a hilarious episode of The Extras.

Viva la Vida, the new Coldplay album is solid.  It is undeniably Coldplay but branches out into new, deeper sounds enough that I am not bored.  There is not a bad song on the album; Violet Hill is my favorite: the pounding piano, Chris Martin’s falsetto voice, the mix of quiet and loud…who can turn away from that?

Apparently turning 30 and having a couple of kids has motivated Johnson to share some of his fatherly wisdom. I first noticed this in his adaptation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Johnson wasn’t comfortable with how quickly Rudolph let the other reindeer off the hook when Santa found a use for him. Johnson sang:

“No Rudolph, he didn’t go for that; he said ‘I see through your silly games. How can you look me in the face when only yesterday you called me names?’ All of the other reindeers, man, they sure did feel ashamed: ‘Rudolph, you know we’re sorry, we’re truly going to try to change.’”

Similarly, in the standout, title track of Sleep Through the Static Johnson takes on war with a stream of consciousness flow before ironically singing: “Who needs keys when we’ve got clubs? Who needs please when we’ve got guns?” Also, in the liner notes Jack notes that the album was recorded using 100% solar energy, printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, and carrying the 1% For The Planet logo.

The album is not groundbreaking, nor adventurous but it is classic Jack and that is good enough for me.

Ellen Page plays Juno and is undoubtedly the star, though all the film’s actors performed excellently. JK Simmons is particularly funny as Juno’s father; Jason Bateman is a convincingly pathetic yuppie in the midst of 2/5-life crisis, married to a suburban stereotype well portrayed by Jennifer Garner. Juno’s brazen words and actions provide most of the humor. When Bateman’s character first meets Juno and innocently asks, “Juno, like the city in Alaska?”, Juno simply replies “No,” and offers no platitudes to soften the moment. Not all the humor is uncomfortable or abrasive. It comes hard and fast and will make the film worth watching a second and third time.

The depth of the film that kept me captivated was found in Juno’s sometimes masked emotional frailty and the unspoken frailty of the plot. Simmons does a great job of exhibiting unconditional love for his daughter while carefully communicating his disappointment with her choices. Juno’s relationship with her step-mother is strained, but Juno certainly comes to understand that her step-mother ultimately is on her side. The coming together of Juno and her baby’s daddy is warming and cute if not altogether predictable.

The quirky folk/anti-folk soundtrack seamlessly meshes with and adds to the ambiance of the film. I had never heard of the anti-folk movement before seeing Juno; I still don’t know much about it but I do enjoy the songs by Kimya Dawson and two bands she’s in: The Moldy Peaches and Antsy Pants. The success of the soundtrack is proving to be quite a boon for Kimya and she has Ellen Page to thank: when asked, Page told Reitman that Juno would probably listen to The Moldy Peaches. There are a couple of other worthwhile tracks on the album like Sonic Youth’s ethereal cover of The Carpenters’ Superstar, the catchy All I Want is You by Barry Louis Polisar and Dearest by Buddy Holly.  The Juno soundtrack is fun to listen to because it is eclectic and it reminds me of the pleasurable experience of watching the movie.

Sufjan Stevens: Illinoise, Red Mountain Church: This Breaks My Heart of Stone, Red: End of Silence, The Shins: Wincing the Night Away

My favorite gift to receive is an itunes gift card. I love buying new music and having an itunes gift card gives me no choice but to do just that. Thanks to my generous friends and family I am able to start 2008 checking out lots of good music. The fun is often in the search. I came across the four enjoyable albums pictured above in four different ways.

Sufjan Stevens: Illinoise – Apple’s marketing machine worked its magic. I downloaded Sufjan Stevens’ free holiday song ‘That was the Worst Christmas Ever’ and enjoyed it so much that I checked out his other albums. After reading some reviews and sampling songs, I decided to purchase Illinoise. Stevens has promised to release an album for all 50 states; so far he has covered Michigan and Illinois. Stevens plays more than 20 instruments; he has an artsy, pop-folk style. The songs are written and arranged nicely; they often start slowly and build to an anticipatory crescendo. I may yet use my surplus to purchase a second album.

Red Mountain Church: This Breaks My Heart of Stone – though available on itunes, my sister attends Red Mountain Church in Birmingham, Alabama so she actually bought me the physical CD. Last year she bought me two Red Mountain albums that I have come to love: Help My Unbelief and Depth of Mercy. If I had to guess I would say that I listened to Help My Unbelief more than any other album in 2007. The albums are comprised of old hymns set to often original arrangements that can best be described as an intersection of folk, acoustic rock and bluegrass.

Red: End of Silence – I’ll often solicit the advice of my friend Bill who I attended many concerts with in college. He is on the road a lot and has XM radio so he’s exposed to lots of music.  When I solicit his advice, he tends to take the opportunity to remind me that I’ve gone soft and weak in my musical taste especially when I tell him that his recommendation sounds too hard. He likes to remind me that some of my favorite performances were by Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Staind and Our Lady Peace. His latest recommendation was End of Silence by Red. While the album is not terribly original–it often sounds like a perverted mix of Linkin Park, Evanescence and Chevelle–there are several intense songs that get my lips humming, feet tapping and body moving. Adding to the album’s value are the insightful, transparent lyrics sung with contagious passion.

The Shins: Wincing the Night Away – I bought The Shins album Oh, Inverted World after watching Zach Braff’s movie Garden State. It didn’t quite change my life like Natalie Portman’s character said it would, but it was still a solid album with clever lyrics and an understated catchiness. Wincing the Night Away is another good album; it has an added depth that differentiates it from Oh, Inverted World and gives it an interesting, edgier quality. As solid as The Shins are, they remind me of crabcakes: I always remember them better than they actually are. When actually listening or eating, the experience is good but I expect more.

Thanks for reading. If you have recommendations for how I should use my remaining itunes balance, please post them.

With each subsequent listen I am growing to love this album more and more. The tone of the album is set with the first song, an original Jars of Clay composition called “The Gift of St. Cecilia”; it is a deliberately haunting, yet undeniably holiday tune. Standout songs on the album are a cover of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and the classic “Christmastime is Here”. The songs are almost somber, not in a dark way but rather in a way that reveals the careful, contemplative crafting that was undertaken in their composition. It is this care that makes the album a joy to listen to and a new treasure in my Christmas collection.