Ladytron's Velocifero and their live show

Last night we went to see Ladytron at the Showbox and it was one terrific show. They had lots of lightning effects and played a really good mix of new and old songs. It really helped that their new album is fantastic, as that made up the bulk of their show. They did play some old tracks though, like Seventeen, Blue Jeans, and Play Girl to name a few.

Anyway, I wanted to spend the entry discussing their new record, set to release on June 3rd. It's a must buy! I started listening to it last weekend, and it was the soundtrack of my trip. I couldn't put it down; it was irresistible. From the opening Black Cat and its fresh beat to the closing few songs, Tomorrow, and Versus, the album flat out is a winner. From their original 604 record, which was a collection of synth sounds and funky beats, to their more refined Light & Magic, and to their guitar-heavier and all encompassing step forward on Witching Hour, you can see the band progress to really define their sound. This is next step, and it's called Velocifero.

They've refined their style even more and still have fresh music to put to the table despite using their winning formula of the past. Both Mira Arroyo and Helen Marnie share vocal duties on this record, and Mira even doing some solo tracks in english, which is a rarity (most of her previous songs are in Hungarian - side note, I just read that she has a Oxford PhD in Molecular Genetics?! wow).

I could go on and on but here's my fav. tracks from the record:
Tomorrow, They Gave You a Heart They Gave You a Name, I'm Not Scared, Runaway

And here's an old video, Evil, from their stellar Light & Magic record.

Ladytron

I forgot to mention: albums of the plane ride...

The Knife - Silent Shout
This is such a great album which I recently discovered thanks to recommendation from Genevieve. It was the perfect record for a plane ride, and it sounded great while riding down Upper International at Alpental on Saturday.

Ladytron - Velocifero
The new record from the UK electro-rock group is fantastic! I like it more and more with every listen. They're playing a show at the Showbox this coming Saturday night and I think I'm going to go see them!

Jens Lekman - the perfect stress reliever

It has been already a super stressful week for me and its only Tuesday. I've been overloaded in work, at work - today i was at work for 12 hours, been trying to manage somewhat of a social life, consulting on a few friends' personal issues, and at the same time going through my own, and finally... putting down an offer for a home.

Let me tell you, its not easier after you go through the 20+ pages of legal paper work and fax over that offer -- its only more STRESS! Not only am I awaiting the outcome of the proposed offer, but now I'm contemplating if I properly did my finances and expected expenses for the offer price. Ack! Total stress. total.... strain.

Arrrrrr...

But thankfully, I got to see a wonderfully entertaining and lively show tonight in the form of Jens Lekman, the indie pop singer/songwriter from Sweden. He has some amazing stage presence and has such a great voice. His music is just flat out fun, witty, and a blast to listen to. You can't help but sway to his music.

Tomorrow, back to the drawing board. Stress.

First Three Months of Music

The first quarter of 2008 is already coming to an end! I decided to share with you 5 of my favorite records of the year thus far:

The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust



The danish duo, Raveonettes, return to the studio for another Jesus & Mary Chain-like record and this is just one fantastic noise-induced pop album. Crank up the stereo, and blast this catchy rock record to the max!


Juno - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack



The Juno soundtrack is the perfect compliment to a great film. The music is very personal and full of simple yet powerful short songs. The final track features Michael Cera and Ellen Page singing the cover of the Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You" from the movie.


Mono in VCF - Mono in VCF



Tacoma, WA based band Mono in VCF puts a very cinematic epic sound to their music with feature very well arranged sounds that are dense and majestic and backed by vocals that are gorgeous.


Hot Chip - Made in the Dark



Dance group Hot Chip return with another hip hop/soul induced rockin dance record that'll make you wanna dance dance dance! This is some fine electro-pop dance stuff.


MGMT - Oracular Spectacular



MGMT takes a bunch of genres and mashes it up into a very interesting and somewhat unique sound. They take the electropop of new wave, stuff it with some disco soul, and run it through some traditional indie rock and blast you with an extremely catchy, dancey output.

Top 25 Records of 2007

I Present.... The Top 25 Albums of 2007!
(now completed!)

-- Sunday 12/09 --

#25 :: Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
#24 :: Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
#23 :: Explosions in the Sky - All of the Sudden I Miss Everyone
#22 :: Apostle of Hustle - The National Anthem of Nowhere
#21 :: The Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

The first batch of five records to make my countdown features triumphant returns from Spoon and Dinosaur Jr, two bands that make up a portion of the Toronto collective Broken Social Scene, and my personal favorite post-rock band Explosions in the Sky (pictured above).

Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga easily marks their most exciting and overall best record, while Dinosaur Jr's newest release shows that they still got it going on. Explosions in the Sky's latest record is a bit of a disappointment but they have quite a catalog to live up to. The two BSS-related bands, Apostle of Hustle and Stars had solid, though only steady albums; nothing revolutionary or anything that hadn't been seen in the past, but still very listenable and enjoyable albums.

Other albums that did not make the Top list, either because of pure ranking or because lack of listens to grant a ranking include: Kanye West's Graduation, Iron & Wine's Shepards Dog, Kevin Drew's ...Spirit If, The Hives' Black & White Album, Stars of the Lid's beautiful blissful record And Their Refinement of the Decline, and Bjork's Volta.

On a side note, the most disappointing records of the year? Tough to say what's most , but here's a list of some downers: Smashing Pumpkins' first record in forever... Zeitgeist, Interpol's Our Love to Admire (Turn on the Bright Lights may never be topped), Bloc Party's A Weekend in the City, and the Ken Thomas produced, iLiKeTRaiNs' Elegiest to Lessons Learnt.

-- Monday 12/10 --

#20 :: Britta Phillips & Dean Wareham - l'avventura
#19 :: Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
#18 :: Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
#17 :: Battles - Mirrored
#16 :: The Editors - An End has a Start

Battles, pictured above, lead the way with the #17 album of the year. Their brand of fast-paced, high energy and obscure music finesses the line between organic rock, prog-rock, and electronic dance. Luna-frontman Dean Wareham joined forces with singer Britta Phillips for a indie pop gem called l'avventura. The Editors' came back with a sophomore effort to their fantastic debut, The Back Room, with similarly sounding An End Has a Start. Finally, two Seattle bands round out the first wave of Top 20 records with Issac Brock-led Modest Mouse and their most radio-friendly and accessible record to date, We were Dead before the Ship Even Sank, and the second album from rising indie rock stars Band of Horses, and their much improved Cease to Begin record.


-- Tuesday 12/11 --

#15 :: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
#14 :: The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
#13 :: !!! - Myth Takes
#12 :: The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
#11 :: Okkervil River - The Stage Names

Following the massive acclaim and tribulation of their debut record, the Arcade Fire came back with a solid Neon Bible record. While it doesn't always have the high energy and emotion of the first record, it's still quite a release that only adds to their growing track record. Following their footsteps, actually ahead of them in this year's ranking, is fellow Montreal rockers, The Besnard Lakes. This husband and wife duo put together a moody, yet dreamy atmospheric rock record.

The fanatical dance-punk band, !!! (pronounced chk chk chk; pictured above), may have just broken the door loose after getting pushed up with so many other bands of the same sound. Their latest record, Myth Takes, is a stepping stone towards defining the band and it sounds wonderful; get ready to dance dance dance.

Two indie pop gems with a lot of catchiness round out the 12th and 11th spots on this year's countdown with Portland's Shins putting together another pop masterpiece, and Austin's Okkervil River and their latest lo-fi record, The Stage Names.


-- Wednesday 12/10 --

#10 :: Digitalism - Idealism
#09 :: Jens Lekman - Night Falls over Kortedala
#08 :: Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder
#07 :: Feist - The Reminder

The Top 10 records of 2007 kick-off with German duo Digitalism and their fantastic electronica-garage dance record, Idealism, which fuses the dancey culture of electronic music with some subtle garage band features. Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman blends chamber music with indie pop in a retro-sounding record with catchy hooks and tons of variety in his new album, Night Falls over Kortedala.

Elephant 6 darlings Apples in Stereo (pictured) return with a power pop New Magnetic Wonder. It's glossy, cheesy, and wonderously catchy. It's magic. Finally, at the seven spot is Broken Social Scene singstress Leslie Feist and her break-through album, The Reminder, which is most notable for having the "ipod nano song" and the "verizon chocolate song," with her hit song, "1, 2, 3, 4" and "My Moon My Man", respectively. While those songs are solid, they are not the best of the best in this record which really displays her vocal capability and her song writing ability.

-- Thursday 12/11 --

#06 :: Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
#05 :: LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
#04 :: Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block

Finally, we're nearing the home stretch! Well what can I say... the #6 album of 2007 comes from one of the most pleasantly surprising live shows I saw this year. Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird has had made many successful pieces of music, but his latest record, Armchair Apocrypha, puts everything together into a fantastic album. He also plays practically every instrument, including his famous violin and whistle. Yes, I did say whistle. Add that to his Jeff Buckley-style voice and you have some great music.

LCD Soundsystem put together their most complete work to date with the every so dancey Sound of Silver. While it's not a double disc bohemeth like their debut full-length, this one packs alot of punch in a smaller package. Songs like North American and All My Friends will keep you moving and bobbing all night long.

Finishing up at the #4 spot, with a very tough decision to drop a notch is Writer's Block by swedish pop band Peter Bjorn and John. This is anything from any sort of writer's block, as it does creative addition by subtraction. That is, every song is stripped to its core and played out with simplicity, while retaining all the catchy hooks, fun and great singing. Young Folks is an instant classic, while Up Against the Wall may instantly remind you of classic New Order or Joy Division with its pulsating and steady drum beat, killer bass riffs, and timely guitar. This is PB&J's best album to date, and one of my personal favorites of the year. Plus, they are extremely entertaining live! (actually all three of these bands listed in this block of records are fantastic live!)

Also note: PB&J's Writer's Block was actually released in europe in 2006. It made its North American debut in the Spring of 2007, so I was debating on whether or not to put it here or not. I ended up putting it on here, mostly because it was "new" to me and to many in 2007. But it's also a perfect lead into...

-- Friday 12/12 --

#03 :: The Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
#02 :: Radiohead - In Rainbows
#01 :: Blonde Redhead - 23

And then there were 3...
Last year, we saw a remaster of The Cure's Head on a Door make their ways to the shelves. Well let's say you remix the album, and perhaps strip its lyrics, and replace them with new ones, but keep the common theme... well you'd get something like Swedish group, The Shout Out Louds, and their newest album Our Ill Wills. Like the album title implies, its quite a depressing gloomer, but its sparkled with glossy upbeat melodies and beats that are so very reminiscent of Robert Smith and the Cure's 80's hey day. "Tonight I Have to Leave It" is the Shout Out Loud's rendition of "In Between Days" while "Normandie" shares a strikingly similar beat to "Close to Me." This latest SOL's record is a nice trip down new wave memory lane, with other standouts "Impossible" with its fun upbeat drums and well rather depressing lyrics, and the much different "Hard Rain" which is more like a Kevin Shields/Jesus and Mary Chain type song than a new waver. It's also interesting to note that Bjorn of PB&J (#4 on the list) produced this record.

Radiohead made a bold move this year with not only their first full-length album since Hail to the Thief 4 years ago, but decided to sell it on their own on their website. Better yet, they didn't have a fixed price; you pay what you want for it, and it was available for download at this interesting price option. A CD/LP package was also available for approximately $80USD (however, a CD-only option will now be available and mass distributed on Jan 1, 2008). That aside, Radiohead has yet again put together a fantastic work of art. In Rainbows takes the best of singer Thom Yorke's solo debut Eraser from last year, and blends it with sounds from their earlier work and put together a very nice organic/electronic sound that's got to be their most accessible record since The Bends. All the while, this album feels more like a soulful vocal-based album, than the previous texture heavy noise we've become more accustomed too. Thom Yorke sings beautifully throughout.... Yes. Radiohead wins again.

FINALLY.... the number one record of the year....

Two italian guys and a japanese girl. NYC's Blonde Redhead have put together not only their best overall record, but the best of 2007. Their previous albums, including 2004's Misery is a Butterfly, had a tragically epic melancholy to it that was outstanding yet emotionally distraught. All of that has been erased with 23, as Blonde Redhead are moving into the realm of dream pop, putting a slight electronic feel to it, and making sounds danceble and dramatically more uplifting. This is not to say that their sounds don't retain anything of the past; every song remains epic sweeping ballad-like rock anthems. The title track is an impressive rocking opening song which has a killer drum beat, swirling guitars, and vocals from Kazu Makino are off the charts. Amaedo Pace continues to sing in a few songs, including "Spring and by Summer Fall," which has so much texture and feel that you can imagine yourself floating on air and tumbling down to earth as the song progresses. "Silently" is a majestic pop song that has got to be the most simple and most accessible Blonde Redhead song to date. Good things can definitely come in simple packages. (actually the packaging on this CD is anything but simple...)

So there you have it... the Top 25 records of the year!!

I do want to note that there were two honorable EPs that were not added to the countdown since they were not really full albums. These were Sigur Ros' Hvarf-Heim double disc EP, and The Flight of the Conchords' The Distant Future. The former is a beautiful collection of rarities and live tracks, while the latter is actually a television show on HBO - two dudes from New Zealand who put together extremely catchy and comedic songs. :)

Also for those picky about the addition of Peter Bjorn and John to the list. If you don't like it, take them out, shift every prior album up a notch, and insert Field Music's Tones of Town into that 25 slot.

Thanks!

Unplugged. Out of Control. Depressing. Gloomy.

... These are the words to describe what I've been listening to and what I've been watching. No, I'm not sad. I'm not depressed, not really. It's the Holiday time of year and I can't wait to hang out with my relatives and eat eat eat...

but over the past couple of days, I've enjoyed the dark, gloomy side of life watching some rather depressing films of music icons; anti-heroes.

The first of which is the newly released Anton Corjbin film, "Control." The film was named after Joy Division's song, "She's Lost Control" which is terrifyingly what happened with Ian Curtis's life, the main character of the film, and lead singer and song writer for the influential post-punk band, Joy Division. For those who don't know of them, following Curtis' suicide in 1980, the three remaining members dissolved their band name, and started anew under the title of "New Order." Now, I'm sure you have heard of them....

Joy Division was the guiding light for the post-punk rock scene of the late 70s and early 80s, and the easily the main influences of today's popular alternative music from bands like Interpol, British Sea Power, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, and the Killers, who cover Joy Division's "Shadowplay" for the film's soundtrack...

but the film isn't all about the band. It's about the life and dreams.... and depression of Curtis. On the outside, he's got a rising rock star career, a legion of devoted listeners, and even has been on John Peel's BBC radio... but on the opposite side is a normal Manchester kid who's battling epilepsy, suffering through a falling apart marriage and an affair, and all the guilt that it brings...

It's an interesting story, and Corjbin films it in film noir style which makes it even more captivating. There's plenty of good music, and Sam Riley not only looks like Ian Curtis but plays the role very well. He even sings... :)

http://www.controlthemovie.com/

Sam Riley as Ian Curtis

Then there's the other DVD I recently purchased.... Nirvana's landmark MTV Unplugged performance in New York on November 18, 1993. Everyone's heard this performance before, I'm sure, but it was finally released on DVD this Tuesday. It features the set in its entirety and unedited.

It's freakin' brilliant. It's also painful, depressing, and heart wrenching to watch. I don't think I've been moved by any concert DVD this way. The Muse Hullabaloo DVD definitely made me excited and ecstatic, and the Flaming Lips DVD made me smile, but Nirvana's live performance just makes me want to weep.

The performance is uncanny. The side of Nirvana seen here, and mostly Kurt Cobain, is so raw and so powerful, but in a completely different way then their normal electric guitar, punk, grunge sound... we're talking unplugged, acoustic here. And its fantastic.

Yada yada, i'm sure this has been read about, heard of, and whatnot so many times, but I just have to say how great this set is.

And yea, during the performance of "Pennyroyal Tea" where Kurt decides at the last second to do it solo.... it made me almost shed a tear. Maybe I did. It was that powerful.

Kurt Cobain

Sigur Ros - Heima / Hvarf

While the first ever Sigur Ros official DVD isn't out til later this month in the United States, their new EP/Live record Hvarf/Heima is out and it's fantastic. It is worth every penny you pay for, and I recommend everyone to buy it now!

The Heima DVD, which means "at home" is slated for release in 2 weeks and looks like its packed with visual and aural pleasures that'll be incredible. It's already received critical acclaim at various film festivals, and I just can't wait to get my hands on it. The best thing is that most stores will carry this DVD, including Best Buy and Circuit City.

Please also check out Screaming Masterpiece, which is another great documentary on Iceland's amazing music culture.

Music Entry #1

A while back, in a previous BLOG, I started writing scattered entries on a particular song or theme revolving around my interest for popular music culture, which was a direct influence on author Nick Hornby's essays, "31 Songs." (Hornby has written famous books which later became screenplays - High Fidelity, About a Boy, How to be Good, Fever Pitch, etc.)

I think I want to re-look at a few shining moments in music past here tonight. Two things to be exact: 1. the amazing power of Portishead's music, in particular songs from their PNYC live show from 1998, and 2. the rise of Sub Pop records, who I believe is the forefront of good rock music for the past 20 years.


Portishead.



Shown above is a live video via YouTube of "Roads" from Portishead's live performance in the Roseland NYC, in 1998. With them is a backing orchestra which really delivers some sonic energy to the song, that is already backed with the impressive and beautifully shattered vocals of Beth Gibbons. One of the most impressive things I find about Portishead is that when you listen to them on a record, at first listen, or even many, you feel as if its just a bunch of well arranged samples and drum machines backed by vocodize vocals. Then you see them live and really gain a deep respect for the band, where you see that their entire score is organic, minus some samples here and there, which are top notch included with the scratch effects. There really aren't that many groups out there that have the uniqueness of Portishead, and while many have tried, they'll be difficult to surpass. This is because of their PERFECT blend of down tempo hip hop style beats, mixed with their hypnotic spy movie soundtrack and then the added eerie vocals of Gibbons - its a tough combination to beat. With Portishead, you are always in a new state of being, where the immensely depressing and sad overtures somehow give you hope. It's bizarre, but satisfying to its core.


Sub Pop Records



Sub Pop records has been at the music forefront of GOOD rock music for the past 20 or so years. Why do I say that? Because its obvious. Of course! What started out as a college project has now become the home to such current indie bands as The Shins, Postal Service, Iron & Wine, and others... It's pretty amazing that a local little record label could generate so much raw talent... Let's imagine three dudes who were childhood friends, two were musicians while the other just liked listening to music and making mix tapes. They move to Olympia for college, and all end up dropping out. The two musicians go on to form some band with a guy they met at school named Chris Cornell and make this band called SOUNDGARDEN. Their buddy, the mix tape dude, starts making "mix tapes" for a class project called "Subterranean Pop" and it becomes a quick success. While "Soundgarden" is gearing up with some original tunes, Sub Pop gets enough money to release some band called Green River their first EP.... Well that was the beginning of the Grunge era baby. Soundgarden soon followed up with a record of their own, and then shortly later, this Green River band breaks up, some of them join up with some former members of punk rockers Melvins, and form this band called Mudhoney and they sign on to Sub Pop. What happened to the other Green River members? Those guys were Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, other better known as the beginning of some band called Pearl Jam. Anyway, moving along, Sub Pop then finds their soul... a bunch of kids from Aberdeen, Washington named Nirvana. Well you know what happened next with these bands...

Sometime in the early 90s, when Grunge was hitting its high point, Sub Pop did not end there. They looked out and found another band to start a new rock trend. This band was Sunny Day Real Estate, and they were the perfect complement to the angry sounds of Nirvana and the other Seattle scene. SDRE filled in right as Nirvana went away with the passing of Kurt Cobain, merely weeks after his suicide was the release of "Diary," the beginning of the emo-core music scene. SDRE took the grunge sound, and combined it with vocals dearer to the heart and blew away an independent crowd with their debut.... I guess I should also throw in that when Nirvana broke up, their drummer (some guy named Dave Grohl) formed some no-name band called Foo Fighters with two of the guys from SDRE following their first implosion... After their second implosion, SDRE's guitarist worked some with dude named Chris Carraba in his solo project Dashboard Confessional... but no one's heard of these bands either.

All this time, Sub Pop kept signing great acts such as Afghan Whigs, Jesus and Mary Chain, etc. etc. And its funny because they also helped kick off the careers of Smashing Pumpkins amongst other bands...




Anyway, today Sub Pop is still a leader in the rock scene, as described above... Yay for independent local music!

Top 25 Records of 2006

It's the end of the year and here's my newly compiled list of my favorite records of this year:

25. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Fear is on our Side
A dark yet hopeful album which shows glimpses of Joy Division and Psychodelic Furs. If you're a fan of current day Interpol with a smidgen of Disintegration-era Cure, you'll probably enjoy this album.
Top Tracks: According to Plan, The Owl, The Ghost

24. Tap Tap - Lanzafame
This year's Arcade Fire wannabe that actually sounds good. Arcade Fire fans should feel real at home here because this band sounds very much like them, even down to the singing.

23. The Album Leaf - Into the Blue Again
San Diego's Jimmy LaValle came back again with another solid Album Leaf showing with this year's Into the Blue Again. With rich and full sounds and heavier bass - this record is at times more cheerful and other times more dark than anything in the TAL catalog. Red-Eye is a killer track.
Top Tracks: Red-Eye, Always For You

22. Blackpool Lights - This Town's Disaster
Jim Suptic formed this band near the end of the Get Up Kids' long life and didn't really make any change of direction from where TGUKs were going, so the Blackpool Lights debut full-length sounds like a Get Up Kids album. That's not a bad thing. If you're a fan of the emo-punk turned indie-core band, please check this one out.

21. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Still dishing out the guitar-heavy tracks are Sonic Youth. The latest album is on many levels a disappointment for the band following the extraordinary Sonic Nurse and before that Murray Street, as this record doesn't jump new boundaries as the other two did, but still is a solid rock album.

20. Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Featuring arguably the best single of the year, CRAZY, the duo of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo create a wonderful urban funk album that crosses many genres. Danger Mouse does not seem to be able to make a bad record and this album is yet another example of his ability to create pop magic with his production.

19. Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
As with the previous two Snow Patrol records, yes TWO of them, it took me a while but I grew into liking their album. Although this is probably the third best of the three records they have out (the best being their debut, Songs for Polar Bears), it still has enough pop catchiness that I can't resist the temptation to listen to it. It's evil yet satisfying.

18. Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Asobi Seksu move to a faster and lighter outlook on life with Citrus, their follow-up to their self-titled debut album. Songs like New Years and Thursday make this album wonderful. Fans of My Bloody Valentine, please take a listen.

17. The Rapture - Pieces of People We Love
This is the best pure house/dancey album of the year. The Rapture's second record is in my opinion a much more solid effort and puts them into the league for mainstream success. You gotta get yourself into it and listen to this record.

16. Jeremy Enigk - The World Waits
Sunny Day Real Estate and The Fire Theft fans have been waiting for this record for quiet some time but this is lead singer Jeremy Enigk's second solo album and is just what we've been waiting for. There's plenty of his vocal bliss around with more musical punch than his previous album. This is a very much Fire Theft-like record, and hopefully is an appetizer for more Fire Theft or, we pray, a Sunny Day reunion.

// more to be announced later //

Day 2 - Here's some more of my favorite records... This year hasn't been the most exciting year for new music, but these are still some good though not spectacular albums...

15. Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards
This little known band became a big hit in Seattle and I'm sure they'll make they've made their way around to the other parts of the country by now. With three EPs behind them, the Cold War Kids released their first full-length, which is almost like a compilation of some of their EP tracks and some new stuff. Hospital Beds still remains their best track to date, but theres plenty good indie rock songs here.

14. Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Ozzie Osborne and AC/DC are back.... ok not really. Australian's Wolfmother reminds us of the 70s and 80s metal rock with some powerful rock ballads that pack alot of punch. Usually this ain't my cup of tea, but I really do enjoy the energy of this record.

13. Sparta - Threes
The third album from Sparta since they broke apart from At the Drive-In is probably their least desirable yet most standard rock potential success maker. They've now mastered the arena rock sound and while it's not as hard edge as their debut or as exciting as their second record, this one still has that little potion of magic that only members of At the Drive-In can bring. This is also the first album since Paul Hinojos left to join the other guys, Mars Volta (the other half of ATDI).

12. Cut Chemist - The Audience's Listening
The Robots are coming!!! The first full record from former Jurassic 5 dj and producer Cut Chemist is a stellar album that shows why J5 was so diverse and exciting. It's noticeable the difference that the new J5 record sounds without Cut Chemist at the helm... Anyway, if you're a fan of RJD2 or DJ Shadow, you MUST check this out. If you like hip hop and electronic music, please be all ears. Thanks.

11. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Food
Neko's powerful voice and increasing popularity has pulled her away from her former full-time job as secondary vocalist for New Pornographers and this new record is more proof that her voice and songwriting are more than enough for her to move out on her own. This is a true singer/songwriter record and one that is fantastic.

10. Mogwai - Mr. Beast
Post-Rockers Mogwai have a new album that brings the intensity and anguish back to their sound after the lighter Happy Songs for Happy People. Killer tracks like Glasgow Mega Snake are so grippingly tight and powerful, it makes you just want to drive fast and shake your head. Of course, they'll fool you with lighter, fluffy tracks like Acid Food.

09. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Showbiz was their Radiohead wannabe record to get them in the door; Origin of Symmetry showed they could be so much more; Absolution showed that they could do something different and make a free standing album; Black Holes and Revelations, Muse's latest record helps elevate their sound to full arena rocking madness. Taking hints from Queen, Led Zepplin, and other classic rock, Muse punctuates ROCK with kickin' tunes like Knights of Cydonia which just makes you want to bob your head like a mad man. While this record is nowhere near Absolution for album flow, it's alot more like Origin of Symmetry for its track by track singles.

08. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
This new band from Los Angeles puts alot of noise into their sound for a scrawny little band. SSPUs mixes in pop rock with shoegazer noise in almost every track and create a very listenable and enjoyable song. Its unfortunate they didn't put their best track, Kissing Families, which is from their Pikul EP, but the album has many other tracks to cover for that one loss.

07. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Sons and Daughters is now my favorite Decemberists song. It's so simple yet so powerful. Colin Meloy and company have a tough problem - they just seem to not be able to make a bad record. I guess it's a problem that I'm happy to deal with. Crane Wife isn't the best Decemberist album but its so addictingly good! This is very much a Belle & Sebastian-influence album - at least that's what I get from listening to it.

06. Calexico - Garden Ruin
New Mexico's Calexico is more indie pop than ever with their latest Garden Ruin. It's crazy to think that they didn't have vocals on their albums in the past because Joey Burns' has a very elegant and soothing voice. It makes this album very comparable to the fantastic collaboration Calexico did with Iron & Wine in last year's In the Reins EP. If you like some semi acoustic rock with some southern twang to it, check out this indie rock band. You'll probably like what you hear.

05. Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
Kanye West's newest prodigee is Chicago's Lupe Fiasco. As with other Kanye records, Lupe has a whole cast of celebrity guests such as Linkin Park, Jay Z, Jill Scott, The Neptunes/Pharrell, and others. Lupe has a great combination of rap flow and a nice and easy to hear clear voice. His lyrics flow much like Kanye or Common and lyrics are much more mature than his young age would have you believe. Kick, Push is the best track on the record but there are plenty of good ones here.

04. The Roots - Game Theory
Maybe it's a bias, but I strongly believe this is the best rap group/band around. Nothing will top Phrenology but Game Theory goes back to the rockin' style that Phrenology had and away from the true hip hop roots of 2004's The Tipping Point. Game Theory also marks the return of original Roots MC, Malik B, who raps alongside current MC BlackThought on the progressive Here I Come, as well as the album title track, Game Theory.

03. Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning
Oh boy - get ready for this wildly entertaining band from Austin, TX because they will be famous. With an amazing live show full of fun and laughter, Ghostland Obsevatory have plenty of good songs to go along with their on-stage antics. Their music sounds like a modern day Depeche Mode, though I'm not totally sure how that works since Depeche Mode is still around. But think of an early 80's Depeche Mode, where it was synthpop gem after gem -- none of that dark stuff. Now add in some wickedly Ozzie Osborne/Freddy Mercury like vocals and you get something that sounds like Ghostland. Kind of.

02. 120 Days - 120 Days
This rather unknown band from Norway is awesome. Their music is electronic and its organic. They have a sort of trancey and atmospheric sound that's very electro, but also has its intense moments of guitar feedback noise. It's alot like Helio Sequence in a way, but not as cheesey pop but more progressive. Add in some Rapture or LCD Soundsystem like groove and you can imagine what this band is all about. I haven't purchased this one yet as I have not had luck finding it at any of the major retailers including Wherehouse Music. I will have to hit the local shops aka Easy Street Records or Sonic Boom, just haven't had time...

01. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
The Scottish indie pop darlings, Belle & Sebastian, have yet another successful album with the addictingly good, Life Pursuit. Continuing on their success of Dear Catastrophe Waitress, B&S add a bit more dance element to their songs with many of the tracks on Life Pursuit. Still, their best songs are their simplest -- Another Sunny Day and Dress Up in You. Of course, funky songs like Funny Little Frog and children's television sounding, Sukie in the Graveyard are plenty of entertainment. Mmm this album is good.

Top DJs in the World

Two charts from two big sites/mags. Check'em out.


DJMag Top 100 - 2006

1. PAUL VAN DYK – Non-Mover – Highest Trance DJ
2. ARMIN VAN BUUREN – Up 1
3. TIESTO – Down 1
4. CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE – Up 10
5. DJ DAN – UP 19 – Highest House DJ
6. FERRY CORSTEN – Down 1
7. SASHA – Down 3 – Highest Prog DJ
8. JOHN DIGWEED – Down 2
9. ABOVE & BEYOND – Up 10
10. DEEP DISH – Down 2

11. CARL COX – Down 1 – Highest Techno DJ
12. INFECTED MUSHROOM – Up 14
13. ATB – Down 4
14. PAUL OAKENFOLD – Down 3
15. HERNAN CATTANEO – Down 8
16. JUDGE JULES – Down 1
17. EDDIE HALLIWELL – Non-Mover
18. MARCO V – Down 2
19. MARKUS SCHULZ – Up 2
20. GABRIEL & DRESDEN – Up 9

21. JAMES ZABIELA – Down 8
22. JOHN ACQUAVIVA – Highest New Entry
23. FLASH BROTHERS – Up 43 – Highest Climbers
24. AMADEUS – New Entry
25. ERICK MORILLO – Down 7
26. BENNY BENASSI – Down 4
27. SANDER KLEINENBERG – Down 7
28. DJ YAHEL – Up 17
29. OFFER NISIM – New Entry
30. ANDY MOOR – Up 16

31. DAVID GUETTA – Up 8
32. SANDER VAN DOORN – New Entry
33. RICHIE HAWTIN – Down 21
34. GARETH EMERY – New Entry
35. PHIL KIERAN – New Entry
36. NICK WARREN – Down 1
37. DJ SKAZI – New Entry
38. STEVE LAWLER – Down 8
39. D-FORMATION – New Entry
40. RICKY STONE – Up 8

41. ASTRIX – Up 34
42. ROGER SANCHEZ – Down 15
43. BAD BOY BILL – Down 1
44. SVEN VATH – Down 21
45. THRILLSEEKERS – Re-Entry
46. DONALD GLAUDE – Up 22
47. DJ VIBE – Down 7
48. KYAU VS ALBERT – New Entry
49. CHRIS LIEBING – Down 16
50. TIGA – Down 6

51. MATT DAREY – Up 40
52. BOB SINCLAR – New Entry
53. JAMES HOLDEN – Down 16
54. LANGE – New Entry
55. WRECKED MACHINES – New Entry
56. DION MAVATH – New Entry
57. PETE TONG – Down 8
58. DANNY TENAGLIA – Down 22
59. GEORGE ACOSTA – New Entry
60. BLANK & JONES – Down 29

61. DJ SAMMY – Up 31
62. JOACHIM GARAUD – New Entry
63. TIMO MAAS – Down 11
64. MATT HARDWICK – Down 6
65. FRANK TRAX – Down 14
66. STEVE ANGELLO – New Entry
67. DANNY HOWELLS – Down 42
68. SIMON POSFORD – New Entry
69. JOHN GRAHAM – New Entry
70. DESYN MASIELLO – Down 16

71. MAURO PICOTTO – Down 43
72. MENNO DE JONG – New Entry
73. BT – Up 9
74. SCOTT K – New Entry
75. TALL PAUL – Down 32
76. M.I.K.E PUSH – Up 1
77. FILO & PERI – New Entry
78. DJ TARKAN – New Entry
79. ANDERSON NOISE – New Entry
80. FATBOY SLIM – Down 17

81. DJ SERGE DEVANT – New Entry
82. DJ UMEK – Down 3
83. VICTOR CALDERONE – Down 28
84. DARUDE – Re-Entry
85. FERGIE – Down 25
86. TALLA 2 XLC – New Entry
87. RONSKI SPEED – Re-Entry
88. LEE BURRIDGE – Down 12
89. MARIO PIU – Down 51
90. AXEL KARAKASIS – New Entry

91. STEVE PORTER – New Entry
92. YOJI BIOMEHANIKA – Down 60
93. AXWELL – New Entry
94. STANTON WARRIORS – Re-Entry
95. DAVE SEAMAN – Down 26
96. ROBBIE RIVERA – New Entry
97. ANDY C – Down 27
98. AGNELLI & NELSON – New Entry
99. LISA LASHES – Down 43
100. DAVE CLARKE – Down 64

Tranceaddict.com Top 250 DJs
Official 2006 Ranking
www.tranceaddict.com/top250

1. Armin van Buuren
2. Paul van Dyk
3. Tiesto
4. Above & Beyond
5. Ferry Corsten
6. Markus Schulz
7. Sander van Doorn
8. Gabriel & Dresden
9. Sasha
10. John Digweed
11. Eddie Halliwell
12. James Zabiela
13. Sander Kleinenberg
14. Menno De Jong
15. Eric Prydz
16. Andy Moor
17. Marco V
18. James Holden
19. Jonas Steur
20. Hernan Cattaneo
21. Carl Cox
22. John 00 Fleming
23. Steve Lawler
24. M.I.K.E. (Push)
25. Kyau vs Albert
26. ATB
27. Desyn Masiello
28. Deep Dish
29. Airwave
30. Blank & Jones
31. Rank 1
32. Steve Angello
33. Paul Oakenfold
34. Aly & Fila
35. Yoji Biomehanika
36. Danny Howells
37. Ronski Speed
38. John O'Callaghan
39. David Guetta
40. Christopher Lawrence
41. Jon O'Bir
42. Infected Mushroom
43. BT
44. The Thrillseekers
45. Sean Tyas
46. Nick Warren
47. Nu Nrg
48. Preach
49. Richie Hawtin
50. Lee Burridge
51. Adam Beyer
52. Kenneth Thomas
53. Cosmic Gate
54. Sven Vath
55. Johan Gielen
56. Max Graham
57. Mauro Picotto
58. Chris Liebing
59. Marcel Woods
60. Orkidea
61. Erick Morillo
62. Perry O'Neil
63. Mark Oliver
64. Luke Fair
65. Junkie XL
66. Nic Fanciulli
67. Danny Tenaglia
68. Niklas Harding
69. Axwell
70. Chus & Ceballos
71. Mathew Dekay
72. Benny Benassi
73. Judge Jules
74. Andy C
75. Ozgur Can
76. Bob Sinclar
77. Hybrid
78. DJ Scot Project
79. Satoshi Tomiie
80. Manuel Le Saux
81. Agnelli & Nelson
82. Steve Porter
83. Leon Bolier
84. Matt Darey
85. Sebastian Ingrosso
86. Matt Hardwick
87. 2ManyDJs
88. Astral Projection
89. John Askew
90. Moshic
91. Yahel
92. Talla 2XLC
93. Kai Tracid
94. Adam Sheridan
95. Deko-Ze
96. Tiga
97. Phynn
98. Dave Clarke
99. Shiloh
100. Randy Katana
101. Precision
102. Filo & Peri
103. Mark Norman
104. Roger Sanchez
105. Fred Baker
106. Gareth Emery
107. Dave Seaman
108. Fatboy Slim
109. Pete Tong
110. Ricardo Villalobos
111. Andrew Bennett
112. Anthony Pappa
113. Donald Glaude
114. Armand van Helden
115. Victor Calderone
116. Bad Boy Bill
117. George Acosta
118. Signum
119. Sean Miller
120. Cor Fijneman
121. Mikey Mike
122. Flash Brothers
123. Andy Hunter
124. Giuseppe Ottaviani
125. Darude
126. DJ Dan
127. Chris Fortier
128. David Morales
129. Umek
130. Adam Freeland
131. Chemical Brothers
132. Paolo Mojo
133. 16 Bit Lolitas
134. Dumonde
135. DJ Tatana
136. Simon Patterson
137. Antoine Clamaran
138. Abel Ramos
139. Blake Jarrell
140. Aphrodite
141. Alex M.OR.P.H.
142. Luke Chable
143. Airbase
144. Benjamin Bates
145. Ben Sims
146. Westbam
147. Firestorm
148. Victor Dinaire
149. Sandra Collins
150. DJ Shadow
151. Lady Dana
152. Laurent Garnier
153. DJ Dean
154. Dieselboy
155. D.A.V.E. The Drummer
156. Proteus
157. DJ Rush
158. DJ Vibe
159. Phil K
160. Jeff Mills
161. Martin Roth
162. Sash
163. Scott Brown
164. Remy
165. Timo Maas
166. Misja Helsloot
167. Lange
168. Felix da Housecat
169. Trentemoller
170. DJ Shah
171. Super8
172. DJ Zany
173. Chris Liberator
174. Mark Farina
175. Pendulum
176. Martin Garcia
177. David West
178. Miss Kittin
179. Anne Savage
180. Mistress Barbara
181. Wally Lopez
182. Terje Bakke
183. Technoboy
184. DJ Elusive
185. Ronald van Gelderen
186. Richard Humpty Vission
187. Lisa Lashes
188. The Tidy Boys
189. Ben Watt
190. Tomcraft
191. Solar Stone
192. Thomas Datt
193. BK
194. Fergie
195. Fabio
196. Tall Paul
197. Marc van Linden
198. Boy George
199. Robert Gitelman
200. Groove Eric
201. M.A.N.D.Y.
202. Miguel Migs
203. Graham Gold
204. Gigi D'Agostino
205. Kimito Lopez
206. DJ Luna
207. Behrouz
208. Jelo
209. Magda
210. Christian Smith
211. Nicholas Bennison
212. Nick Sentience
213. Mark Sherry
214. Josh Wink
215. Adam White
216. Joachim Garraud
217. Thomas Bronzwaer
218. Plump DJs
219. Lord Of Bass
220. Darren Emerson
221. Oliver Prime
222. The Prophet
223. Greg Downey
224. Stoneface & Terminal
225. Seb Fontaine
226. Ricky Ryan
227. Derrick Carter
228. Masters At Work
229. Suzy Solar
230. Galen Behr
231. Junior Jack
232. DJ Promo
233. John B
234. Demi
235. Relik
236. Stanton Warriors
237. Astrix
238. Woody Van Eyden
239. Michel de Hey
240. Miika Kuisma
241. Kristina Sky
242. Scott Bond
243. Ashley Casselle
244. Matthew Adams
245. Sultan
246. Chris Chambers
247. Andy Farley
248. Mike Foyle
249. Tiefschwarz
250. Marco Bailey