SONG: New A.A. Bondy

Hey all! I'm back from my trek across Europe and all I can say is I'm tired, happy, and enjoying the ability to make bacon and eggs in the morning if I want to. Ah America.

On the music side of things, I am utterly and completely out of the loop. And that's a good thing. It's refreshing to step back every now and then, re-focus a bit, get outside the hype. I listened to almost no music over the past month, and when I did it was mostly old favorites - a lot of Bob Dylan and Mason Jennings. Well I guess that's a lie - I listened to tons of music on the trip, it just wasn't on my ipod. I heard everything from an Alleluia Band from Malawi to a Wagnerian opera in Vienna, to street performers playing Ave Maria in Munich. All of it was either free or cheap, and all of it was tremendous.

Well now I'm back and I'm not even going to worry about what I missed (my Google Reader was pretty overwhelming, so I just clicked "Mark all as read"). Two great bits of news though - I was so excited to learn that Grand Archives are set to release their follow-up to our favorite record of 2008 (Logan's got that covered HERE). I was also so excited to find that one of my most favorite artists of late, Mr. A.A. Bondy, also has a new record coming out at the end of summer, called When The Devil's Loose. I've got the title track below to get you all excited.

It's good to be back.

mp3: A.A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose
from the album When The Devil's Loose (out Sept. 1st)

WIAC's Top 15 Albums of 2008

So here it is. Whale In A Cubicle's Favorite 15 Albums of 2008. We know you've probably all been waiting for it with bated breath, wondering what on earth we would finally choose. Well, the wait is over.

Note: This is purely a list of our favorite albums of the year, not necessarily the best albums of the year. If we had to pick what we thought were the very best albums critically, it would be a slightly different list. But we're no critics, so that's not what we're gonna do. These are our favorite albums of the year - the ones that made us laugh, cry, dance, smile, press repeat, wet our pants, etc. These are what we'll remember when we think back on the year.

So.

Here we go:

15. Ode to Sunshine
Delta Spirit
(iTunes)
mp3: People C'mon

I love the bands that take me totally by surprise. I had never even heard of Delta Spirit before I saw them open for Matt Costa but I immediately fell in love with the clangy piano, chunky acoustic guitar, and the joy they exuded as they sang and performed. There are some obvious standout songs, but in the end you'll find yourself falling in love with the more subtle almost soulful tracks. All in all, what a pleasant little surprise. -Logan

14. Unfamiliar Faces
Matt Costa
(iTunes)
mp3: Mr. Pitiful

Speaking of Matt Costa. This is an album that only seems to get better and better with time, I find myself listening to it more now nearly a year after its release than I did when I first bought it. I can't wait to revisit this album 20 years from now. The whole thing is a pleasure; nothing more, nothing less. I can't help but think the world isn't such a bad place while listening to this album. -Logan

13. The Rhumb Line
Ra Ra Riot
(iTunes)
mp3: Dying is Fine

After completely falling for these guys when we saw them back in May, this became one of my more anticipated releases of the year. A short and straight-forward indie rock record; each member of the group contributes just enough to carve out a full, churning sound on just about every track. Though we're also fans of Vampire Weekend's debut, Ra Ra Riot's offering just resonated with us more. It may be due to their more thoughtful lyrics - tackling topics like death and friendship, rather than frat parties and grammatical arguments. Or maybe we just like it better. -Chris

12. Volume 1
She & Him

(iTunes)
mp3: Sentimental Heart

Right from the opening lines of the very first track, Sentimental Heart, this album hooked me. Zooey Deschanel's simple songwriting and rich vocals paired with M. Ward's quirky arrangements made one of the all-around most likable albums of the year - it's a pure AM pop delight. While the second half of the disc has a few minor miss-steps, the first half is nearly flawless, and Zooey is never anything but incredibly lovable throughout. -Chris

11. The Odd Couple
Gnarls Barkley
(iTunes)
mp3: Going On

Ok, this album is just too much fun. I don't even know what else to say about it. -Logan

10. Honeysuckle Weeks
The Submarines
(iTunes)
mp3: You, Me and the Bourgeoisie

It's sheer feel-good music sung by two people who've got a lot to feel good about. They're each married to their sweet-heart (each other) and their song You, Me and the Bourgeoisie, was the official tune for Apple's iPhone this entire year - which may or may not be ironic considering the song bemoans our society's focus on excess and consumerism. Either way, every song is buoyant and fun, always feel-good, never sappy - it's basically a single shot way to feel great about the world. It may only take our number 10 spot, but it's highly recommended. -Chris

9. Re-Arrange Us
Mates of State
(iTunes)
mp3: Get Better

Trading in their straight organ/drum formula for a more textured, piano-driven sound, Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner may have re-invented themselves, but all the best stuff is still here. The opening track, Get Better, has been known to make me cry on occasion. Just putting that out there. -Chris

8. Keep Color
The Republic Tigers
(iTunes)
mp3: Fight Song

In a previous post I described the Republic Tigers as electro-folk and it is that unique blend of acoustic guitars and synthesizers that made this one of my most listened to records of the year. Even with standout tracks like Buildings and Mountains and The Nerve you'll find yourself never wanting to skip a track. It's a solid debut from a band that has found an amazing sound. -Logan

7. Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
(iTunes)
mp3: Kids

Very few things in this world make me want to dance. IRS refund checks, showering, and MGMT are the only things that come readily to mind. I don't know how to dance and I don't actually know if one can even dance to MGMT, but all I know is I sure want to when this is playing. It's really kind of a quirky album, but I think that's why I love it. -Logan

6. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Sigur Rós
(iTunes)
mp3: Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

Translated as "With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly", words cannot describe what I've felt while listening to this album. Arguably their most accessible record to date, it's the first one that's hooked me completely from start to finish. It was my soundtrack during many many long nights at the library this spring, and it only snuggled itself deeper into my heart after I saw them play in Denver. A simply beautiful record. -Chris

5. Narrow Stairs
Death Cab for Cutie
(iTunes)
mp3: I Will Possess Your Heart

I fell in love with this album exactly 1:39 into the first track, it is precisely when the drums come in hard and the guitar distorts. It felt like I had just sunk my teeth into something initially familiar but which became an altogether new sensation to me and frankly, I loved it. I'm a sucker for Death Cab for Cutie and a sucker for rock music and maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I'm hearing, Death Cab with a little more rock. Each song still retains that Death Cab feel, but tracks like Bixby Canyon Bridge and Long Division have made me fall in love all over again. -Logan

4. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Coldplay
(iTunes)
mp3: Violet Hill

One of the reasons this is so high on our list is the fact that it came out of left field for me and Logan. Neither of us have ever really been Coldplay fans, and we weren't anticipating this album almost at all. But after hearing the whole thing streamed before its release, I can honestly say it floored me - I must have listened to it 4 or 5 times at work that first day. It's a near-flawless album as a whole - a tribute to the band's talent and producer Brian Eno's ability to bring out a group's best. -Chris

3. For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver
(iTunes)
mp3: The Wolves (Act I and III)

I finally stumbled on this gem late in the year, and am I ever glad I did. Spare, honest, powerful writing and performing. One of those rare examples of music as poetry - a catharsis caught on tape. I really can't stress enough how much you need this in your life. -Chris

2. Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
(iTunes)
mp3: White Winter Hymnal

One of two records on our list to sport fine art on its album sleeve (it's by Bruegel if you're wondering), this has probably been the most consistently listened to album for us this whole year. It's good from beginning to end, top to bottom, through each and every song. From the choral rounds of White Winter Hymnal to the resounding swells on Your Protector to the spare closer Oliver James, there just isn't a weak song on here. As a record it's incredible - as a debut it's mind-boggling. If you haven't already heard it, don't put it off any longer. -Chris

1. The Grand Archives
Grand Archives
(iTunes)
mp3: Sleepdriving

To me, there could be no other choice for our top pick. No album this year, or in recent years past, has demanded the amount of attention I have given to Grand Archives. The harmonies, the melodies, and the orchestrations create an almost tangible feeling of peace and warmth. The standout track (among a flawless album I should add) Sleepdriving is simply epic. The strings, the guitars, the grandiose buildups, it all just works so perfectly and although this may seem a little extreme, life is better having this album in it. -Logan

Individual Top 10 Lists (in case you were wondering):

Chris:
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
3. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
4. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust - Sigur Rós
5. Re-Arrange Us - Mates of State
6. Grand Archives - Grand Archives
7. Narrow Stairs - Death Cab for Cutie
8. Honeysuckle Weeks - The Submarines
9. Volume 1 - She & Him
10. The Rhumb Line - Ra Ra Riot

Logan:
1. Grand Archives - Grand Archives
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Narrow Stairs - Death Cab for Cutie
4. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
5. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
6. Keep Color - The Republic Tigers
7. Honeysuckle Weeks - The Submarines
8. Unfamiliar Faces - Matt Costa
9. The Odd Couple - Gnarls Barkley
10. Ode to Sunshine - Delta Spirit

A couple of honorable mentions: Mason Jennings' In The Ever, Ryan Adam's Cardinology, The Mountain Goats' Heretic Pride, The Helio Sequence's Keep Your Eyes Ahead, and The Little Ones' Morning Tide. They're also worth checking out.

CONCERT: This is why I love music II

Friday encompassed everything I love about music.
Powerful music and fantastic musicians.
Chris and I saw the Grand Archives for the second time this week (first was at Sasquatch in Washington) and if all goes well in life it will not be the last time we see them. We also got the chance to see Sera Cahoone and her band open for them, who despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, put on a good show. Please check her out, she's fun.

They played to a fairly sparse crowd (about thirty) and due to a scheduling mix-up played in a venue that can comfortably hold a couple hundred.
But the show went on and the Grand Archives put on a spectacular one, their music is flawless.
The dynamic of the group as a whole is incredible with every member contributing to the harmonies creating that unique sound I've come to love from the Grand Archives.
Most exciting was the inclusion of two new songs (Crazy and Liberty Bell) that gave us a glimpse at what the Grand Archives have in store for us in the near future. A bright future indeed.

I can only imagine great things from this band. Keep an eye out.

(I love that you can see dusk setting in through the open balcony)

Grand Archives - Sleepdriving
from the album Grand Archives (Amazon/iTunes)

ARTIST: We're reeling together

I've been on a horse once in my entire life and it was not pleasant. Something about sitting on a 1200 lb animal that I had no control over and could kill me with a kick to the head. I imagined it would be like driving a car, but with the fun sound of two coconut shells hitting together. Not so. Just painful. (Do saddles really make a difference?)

But I love Band of Horses.

So in review:
Individual horses: Not a fan.
A Band of Horses: Big fan.

This is the second album from Band of Horses and the first since co-founder and guitarist Mat Brooke left to focus on his group Grand Archives.
Break-ups are always a sad event, but in this case we're reaping some pretty fantastic benefits.
Cease to Begin is Band of Horses latest release and it's something else and Grand Archives have released my favorite album of the year to date.
Sometimes people need to spend some time apart.

Listen to the way Ben Bridwell's voice casts a morose shadow over some gorgeous other-worldly music. (And yes, I looked up 'morose' to make sure I was using it correctly)

Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
from the album Cease to Begin (Amazon/iTunes)

Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake
from the album Everything All the Time (Amazon/iTunes)

NEWS: Physics sucks. The Grand Archives don't.

Okay, so I know Logan already posted about these guys, but here's the deal... I figure the whole point of this little blog-thing is for us to say "Hey! This is what I'm listening to right now - and I think you should too!"

So... that being said. I am listening to the Grand Archives right now - and I think you should too! Really. You should just go out and buy this album right away - there's no time to lose! The longer you wait, the more minutes of your life will be spent without this being a part of it.

Yesterday I was feeling pretty crappy as I drove home from failing a physics test (the degenerate half-bred ugly step-child of all subjects, in my opinion), and even after cursing the professor and the subject fairly profusely, I still didn't feel much better. But as I listened to this album I slowly started to feel more and more at ease, so that by the time I got home I was in much better spirits. Ah, the power of music.

This song in particular helped me forget my hatred of all things 'physical' - it's a re-working of last years demo version, which finds new life in the beautiful production behind this album. It switches from very pretty to just plain mesmerizing at about the 2:20 mark when the violins become the only accompaniment for Mat Brooke's airy vocals - all before plunging back into the thick of the song with an appropriately grandiose guitar riff and a dream-like closing refrain. It's just a great song, and a good representation of what you'll find all over this album.

Grand Archives - Sleepdriving

from the album The Grand Archives (Amazon/iTunes)

(Apparently our music player is being difficult, but you can still download the song from the link above.)

ALBUM: Do it yourself

In an effort to allow you to participate in the wonderful world that is "whale in a cubicle" I'm going to let you write your very own post!

Its not super hard, you really just follow a pretty standard formula. Difficulty comes in being creative, original, and liberal with your adjectives. Not every artist can be "cool."

So just go ahead and fill this out, Mad-Lib style, with the adjectives and whatnot I've provided and consider yourself a special contributor to this crazy little musical experiment.

I am currently____________ (in love/in lust/enamored/obsessed) with Grand Archives.
Mat Brooke, formerly of Band of Horses, has such a _______________ (captivating/smooth/enchanting/god-like) voice.

His ____________ (celestial/rapturous/delightful) voice is backed by some of the finest ____________ (orchestrations/musical styling/Beach Boy-esque harmonies) I've heard in some time.

I've committed myself to ____________ (buying this album/attending a show/tattooing 'Grand Archives' on my left arm) as soon as possible and you should too.

Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch
from the album Grand Archives (Amazon/iTunes)