Forum. As in MB. Anywho I guess I never filled this questionaire out.
Best:
1. My Morning Jacket, "Z" - Lots of (unfair) comparisons and carnival noises. They learned how to squeal and shout, but this album seemed less seriously folky, and more confidently rock. The song "what a wonderful man" really made this album fly, the whole thing is good but that song was the song that catapulted it to the level it is. Also, I love "off the record" because any song with the line "ill make it up to you right now at the penny arcade" has to be good
2. The White Stripes, Get Behind me Satan - I was hesitant to put this because its going to look like im doing it to be a prick, but their my favorite new badn right now, and while not their strongest effort, it was still solid. White Boy funk, Mountain Music, 70's Rock, country folk, GBMS has it all, and the lyrics are still right there. More piano for me is always a good thing, but what really struck me about the Cd is how much more swagger jack packed into this album. His voice swoons and dives, dances, and tip toes around the music on the album. The whine is still there, but nowit has companey. When to comes to Jacks voice, to me, the more the merrier.
3. Kings of Leon, "Aha Shake Heartbreak" - A banner year for rock. in some varation, every idiot publication said this about either 04/05. The truth is, if they have to tell you that, it isn't. A lot of bands these days are getting a free pass on the coattails of some other amazing bands, and they can all thank KOL. They don't seem to vary much in their formula on albums (everything I found that breaks stride is a B side, or not on an LP) but they work with what they have. Rasied on the stones with an Ac/Dc work ethic (if it ain't broke don't fix it) if any band keeps its rock dirty its these guys. Just be thankful the Drive-by Truckers didn't release anything this year.
Worst:
1. SOAD, Hyp/Mez: If it weren't for Hyp, they might have made the best of, but the fact is, I was promised an even better album, instead I got one with less dimensions. Mezmerize's versatility was handed in to placate the throngs of 13 year olds who demanded harder rock to look more extreame. They sold out intellectual avant garde for monosylabic everyday. They'll be back on the right track again, but not soon enough for my liking.
2. Fiona Apple, Extrondary machine: Whole lotta...hype for nothing. "Studios were scared to release her album because Fiona is so...fearless" one well-paid advertiser said. Too left of center said Rolling Stone. All lies. If anything kept this thing on the shelf, it was the fact that it out right sucked. Emotive lyrics? Good singing? Fine, thats great but we buy music for the music folks, lets not have the same sedated piano on all tracks except for the one where we got a rap producer to put a hip-hop beat behind a vocal tracking that couldn't match any less. She's have done well to be the new Axl Rose.
3. Arcade Fire, Funeral: So many big named musicians said this was the most mind-blowing labum of the year that I thought I'd give it a shot. I mean, they had a ****ing accordian. You always give a band using the squeeze box a try...except the arcade fire. This wasn't music, it was an aural hemorage. I did end up hearing "Cold Wind" on the Six Feet Under Sountrack and thatw as decent but bland. The rest sounded as if At The Drive-In did all their track with acoustic instruments. Screaming, scrreching, feedback...on acousitcs. It was like garage punk unplugged in the worst way humanly possible.
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