Feel Me Don't You

Ok, I have checked out almost all of the suggestions (haven’t gotten to all of The Decemberists yet) and I have enjoyed them all. Thanks gang! I’m currently listening to Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and am digging the delicious soul grooviness. Thanks to Big Daddy Hughes for hooking me up with them.

Thanks to Craig Williams for the additional list of artists to check out…

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)
This is actually from 2007 but I’m just now getting around to giving it the chance that it deserves. The story behind the creation of the album is just as fascinating as the music itself.
Suggested Track: For Emma

The Flaming Lips – Embryonic (2009)
These guys are awake from their nap and sound more alive than they have in a while. Easily their best album since ‘Yoshimi’.
Suggested Track: Watching the Planets

Lykke Li – Youth Novel (2008)
I don’t know anything about this girl, except that I would very likely mispronounce her name even after she’d told it to me twice. Oh yeah, I also know that she made an exciting, brilliant album. Warning: The “suggested track” is likely to mislead you, this album is all ovah duh map.
Suggested Track: Breaking It Up

Moby – Wait For Me (2009)
It’s very easy for me to be a closet Moby fan but the guy actually has some terrific songs. My initial reaction is to lash out at him publicly, but when I’m home with the shades drawn and the door locked…
Standout track: Study War

Ludlow Lions – No Stories (2009)
The lead singer is an old friend of mine and I designed the album cover, but no, I’m not biased.
Suggested Track: And You Lean Out

The Bad Plus – Prog (2007)
One of the most exciting things to happen to jazz in a long time. These guys are impressive.
Suggested Track: Tom Sawyer. (Yes, “that” Tom Sawyer!)

Built To Spill – There Is No Enemy (2009)
If you know of Built To Spill, you already know the protocol. Just hit “play” and enjoy. If you don’t know them, I’ll get out of the way so you two can get acquainted.
Suggested Track: Hindsight

The Brother Kite – Self Titled (2004)
I just found about these guys this summer from a friend of mine in Massachusetts. They’re from Providence, RI which possibly explains why they’re awesome. I said possibly.
Suggested Track: The Music Box

The Clientele – Bonfires on the Heath (2009)
Sounds like you just turned into an AM station, circa late 1960′s, but in a slightly altered universe. Perhaps it’s a world where the idea for a Hardee’s franchise was never conceived.
Imagine the horror! But seriously, these guys really do have an amazing vintage sound that I can’t quite pinpoint. It’s fresh, yet nostalgic?
Suggested Track: Jennifer & Julia

Maps – Turning the Mind (2009)
I think I may have given you this guys’ last album. Even if you weren’t impressed you might just want to check out the suggested track, it’s a doozy.
Suggested Track: I Dream of Crystal

Adem – Takes (2008)
This album consists of covers, so I know and some I do not, but I like his sound regardless.
Suggested Track: Loro (Originally by Pinback)

Jason Lytle – Yours Truly, The Commuter (2009)
The band Grandaddy is no longer, but the lead singer put out an album. Partially to prove that he still has it, and partially to pay some bills I would assume.
Suggested Track: Ghost of My Old Dog

Choir of Young Believers – This Is For The White In Your Eyes (2009)
I heard the “suggested track” somewhere and bought the album. The rest of the album was not really anything like that song, but that was not a bad thing at all.
Suggested Track: Action/Reaction

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (2009)
Heard these guys on NPR, proceeded to get goosebumps.
Suggested Track: Home

Lightning Dust – Infinite Light (2009)
Same as above, goosebumps and all.
Suggested Track: Antonia Jane

Crystal Stilts – Alight of Night (2008)
I guess I would call this psychedelic pop? Whatever it is, I like it.
Suggested Track: The Dazzled

Art Brut – Art Brut vs Satan (2009)
These guys are brilliant musicians with a flare for comedy. The songs are typically intense bursts of post-punk with the lead singer playing narrator.
Suggested Track:

Another piece of the puzzle that is Berwald now falls into place.

Have you heard anything by The Jonas Brothers? Sounds better if you have really good speakers or headphones.

Yes – Black Joe Lewis indeed rawks.

One more, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. A rythem and blues cd, reminds me of the Blues Brothers, James Brown and Booker T & the MGs.

Those are all seperate albums I might add. The Hazards of Love is their latest. Its a concept album. I saw them perform it live in its entirety a month ago in Columbia.

The Crane Wife, Her Majesty, & The Hazards of Love – The Decemberists

Jeff, perhaps I can get a flash drive to you to check out those you list?

Craig, I have that self-titled Fleet Foxes album you’re talking about and, in fact, am listening to it again now – in case I missed something when I originally listened to it. My first recollection was that none of the songs really connected, but we’ll see how a repeated listening goes. I have not heard of Steel Panther, but I’ll see if I can find them. Your library idea is somewhat reminiscent to what I used to do when hitting up the cut-out bin at Best Buy back in the day.

As I have discussed with Josh on several occasions, much of the music recently hasn’t been bad, but it hasn’t really resonated with me. Nothing has grabbed me by the wrinklies and said “you must listen to me over and over” – it’s been more like cotton candy.

I’ve been listening to the 2008 Fleet Foxes album.

Have you heard of Steel Panther? They have a single called “Death to all but metal”

Something else you could try is to go to your local library and go through the CD’s and pick something you have never heard of or something you might of heard of but never bought.

Doves – Kingdom of Rust is probably my favorite album of the year. Every album they release gets better and better. They have quietly become among my favorite bands of the decade.

I also like Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, although it’s not nearly as good as their album from 2 years ago.

Although it was released late last year, Sloan’s Parallel Play stayed in my rotation for the better part of the first 6 months this year.

Muse – The Resistance was ultimately a let down, but worthy of picking up if not for about 4 killer tracks on it.

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest took a bit of time to get into, but is a great laid-back record to play in the cube.

I know there are others but those are off the top of my head. I’ll relay more as I think about them. I do know for sure that this year was a pretty crappy one when compared to the last few years.