CLAPTRAPPED BEST TRACKS OF 2009

2009 ended the decade on a high note and these are the songs Claptrappers found to be the best of the year.

Playlist below is what will be on the Claptrapped officially released CD

(Some songs omitted due to streaming restrictions) 

CLAPTRAPPED BEST TRACKS OF 200...

Giles McVay

The Mercury Program - "Chez Viking"

Animal Collective - "Guys Eyes"

RX Bandits - "It's Only Another Parsec"
John O’Connell

M. Ward - "Stars of Leo"

White Rabbits - "Percussion Gun"

Portugal. The Man - "The Sun"

Bryan O’Donnell

Grizzly Bear - "While you Wait for the Others"

Animal Collective - "What Would I Want? Sky"

The Dodos - "Longform"

Kurt Marquis
Camera Obscura - "French Navy"
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "Beware Your Only Friend"
Wilco - "You and I"
Armondo Rodriguez
Monsters of Folk - "Dear God"
Eels - "The Longing"
Eels - "Prizefighter"
Jeff Totsch
The Flaming Lips - "Evil"
Matt and Kim - "Daylight"
Pearl Jam - "Unthought Known"
Danny Haas
Andrew Bird - "Fitz and the Dizzyspells"
Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - "40 Day Dream"
Tracy Johnson
 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"
Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"
The xx - "Islands"

TOP 5 CLAPTRAPPED ALBUMS OF 2009

1. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast (6 votes, 21pts)

 
2. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist (5 votes, 19pts)

3. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing (4 votes, 13pts)

4. Passion Pit - Manners (4 votes, 12pts)

5. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (3 votes, 12pts)

Claptrappers Lists:

Bryan O’Donnell
1. Passion Pit - Manners
2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
3. The Antlers - Hospice
4. Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
5. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest   

Kurt Marquis
1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
2. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
3. St. Vincent - Actor
4. Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
5. Volcano Choir - Unmap 

Michael Reband
1. Regina Spektor - Far
2. Kings of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
3. Tor/Sufjan Stevens - Illinoize
4. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
5. Apostle of Hustle - Eats Darkness 

Giles McVay
1. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
2. Rx Bandits - Mandala
3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
4. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
5. Amazing Baby - Rewild 

John O’Connell
1. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
2. M. Ward - Hold Time
3. Eels - Hombre Lobo
4. The Antlers - Hospice
5. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing 

Armando Rodriguez
1. Eels - Hombre Lobo
2. Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen
3. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
4. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
5. The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built 

Danny Haas

1. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist 

2. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

3. Pearl Jam - Backspacer

4. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

5. Passion Pit - Manners

Jeff Totsch

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

2. Pearl Jam- Backspacer

3. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

4. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs

5. The xx - xx

Nicolette Stach

1. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

2. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

3. Islands - Vapours

4. Passion Pit - Manners

5. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Adam Kosecki

1. Phish - Party Time

2. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

3. Eminem - Relapse

4. Lonely Island - Incredibad

5. Eels - Hombre Lobo
 

Michael Waszkowski
1. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

2. Passion Pit - Manners

3. Dan Auerbach - Keep it Hid

4. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

5. Brother Ali - Us 

Katie Edwards
1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

2. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

3. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

4. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

5. Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day 

Tracy Johnson
1. Mike Snow - Mike Snow

2. White Rabbits - It's Frightening

3. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

5. Eels - Hombre Lobo

My Top Ten Albums of This Crazy Decade (Mondo)

 feel like I've come so far musically in the last ten years. If I made a top ten of the 90's it would have been mostly Biggie and Tupac. If I could of go back in time, I think I would probably punch myself in the stomach and hand myself an instrument.

10. Elliott Smith - From a Basement On the Hill (2004)



9. M.Ward - Post-War (2006)



8. Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (2005)



7. White Stripes - Elephant (2003)



6. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)



5. Beck - Sea Change (2002)



4. Postal Service - Give Up (2003)



3. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)



2. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)



1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)




After completing this list, I cannot help but notice that the majority of the albums fall in the early part of the decade. I don't think that is because they had more time to soak in. I think it is because I was in college then and had countless hours to listen to them over and over.

With technology where it is currently, I am constantly being exposed to new music. As of late, most new music falls off my playlist in two weeks or less. If it makes it a month, it is probably a pretty decent album. It makes me wonder how am I possibly going to do this again in ten years.

My Top 10 Albums of the Decade (jmoc)

#10 - Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Belle ans Sebastian (2003)











#9 - Post-War - M.Ward (2006)











#8 - Cease to Begin - Band of Horses (2007)











#7 - Give Up - The Postal Service (2003)











#6 - The Satanic Satanist - Portugal. The Man (2009)











#5 - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips (2002)











#4 - You in Reverse - Built to Spill (2006)











#3 - Cast of Thousands - Elbow (2003)











#2 - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco (2002)











#1 - Kid A - Radiohead (2002)

My Top 10 Albums Of The Decade ($G.00)

Drum roll please....

#10- It's All Around You- Tortoise (2004)

A wickedly atmospheric album that got me through a weird time in my life. I'm pretty sure post grad blues mixed with a broken heart would sound a lot like "On The Chin" were they made into a song. Plus the cover art kicks ass, so there's that...

#9- When It Falls- Zero 7 (2004)

One of the most chill albums you can possibly find, When It Falls is the audio equivalent of Calgon.... It takes you away.

#8- The Dirty South- The Drive By Truckers (2004)

A gritty Southern epic that harkens me back to my roots, complete with a backstory centered around Sheriff Buford Pusser, made famous by the movie Walking Tall. If "Danko/Manuel" doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you aren't human.

#7- Quebec- Ween (2003)

One of the most weird/awesome albums I own. This was my true introduction to Ween and all their disfigured glory. The gag songs are hilarious, but the serious ones really soar. "Chocolate Town" remains one of my all time favorite tunes.

#6- Skalpel- Skalpel (2004)

What do you get when you mix old polish jazz records and hip hip style breaks? Magic.... That's what. Polish DJ's Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudlo weave a seductive web of what i like to think of as grandpa- hop, complete with the pops and hisses of old vinyl records. An interesting and unique work to say the very least.

#5- Hammerstrike- Lotus- 2008

Probably my favorite album from last year, Hammerstrike is without a doubt the strongest of all of Lotus' efforts. The band fully embraces their rock aspect a lot more on this one, all while paying homage to their electronic roots. A great little abum from start to finish. Just ask Kolmin.

#4- Grand National- The John Butler Trio (2007)

From top to bottom this is one of the most playable albums in my collection. Ever the consummate showman, JB gives it his all here. "Used To Get High" is a song I can listen to over and over again.

#3- Songlines- The Derek Trucks Band (2006)

Bluesy and worldly altogether plus that signature balltingler of a slide guitar Derek Trucks plays makes this one a heavy hitter. This album reaches in deep and holds you firmly in its grasp. If "This Sky" doesn't give you chills, you aren't human.

#2- Artifact- STS9 (2005)

A true testament to how an album should flow, the boys from ATL create their swan song that makes them ever harder to classify. As a die hard fan, I doubt STS9 will ever come this close to perfection again. Musical Story? Yes....... Yes indeed.

#1- Every Day- The Cinematic Orchestra (2002)

Words don't do this album justice. Sometimes It scares me how good it is at creating an ominous mood, and then shattering it all with soaring vocal tracks by Fontella Bass. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up if you haven't already. You don't listen to this album, you experience it.

And there you have it, folks.... Hope my list wasn't too 2004- heavy for you. Apparently that was a good year for my ears. Hope someone out there finds something to enjoy if they get to delvin' into my top ten sometime.

Animal Collective, "Fall Be Kind" EP review

Apparently Animal Collective wasn't quite finished with 2009. After releasing one of my favorite albums of the year in Merriweather Post Pavilion in January, they recently put out a five-song EP -- Fall Be Kind. It is available now digitally, and will be released on CD and vinyl December 14.

As a whole, the EP is fairly average, with a couple impressive standouts. The first song, "Graze," starts off kind of slow, but then ends up with a circus-type feel. I like this song -- its repeating "Why do you have to go?" ending is catchy.

AC strikes gold with the second song on the EP. "What Would I Want? Sky" also has kind of a multiple-personality song structure. It begins ominously, with chanting and a building undertone. Nothing new from the band here. But then the song changes directions completely, playing off a Grateful Dead sample (the first time a Grateful Dead song has been legally sampled). "What Would I Want? Sky" is infectious. I've probably listened to it 30 times in the past week since I downloaded it. Might be my favorite song of the year.

The rest of the EP is OK. Some slower, meandering stuff, but nothing that is unlistenable -- which you can get from AC sometimes. So I'd say the EP is worth a listen -- if nothing else for "What Would I Want? Sky".

The Top 10 Albums of the Decade (Kolmin)

The task of summing up a decade in 10 albums was almost a weight too great for me to carry, and depending on the day and hour you asked me there were a great number that had cracked into the picture at least briefly. So I'm taking the easy way out and listing them anyways, the runners up included:

Damien Rice - O
The National - Boxer
Kanye West - College Dropout
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
Rage Against the Machine - Renegades
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Unclassified
Royksopp - Melody A.M.
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
The Zutons - Who Killed the Zutons
The White Stripes - Elephant
The Black Keys - The Big Come Up
Jurassic 5 - Power in Numbers
John Butler Trio - Grand National
Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Artifact

I know, I know. What's the point of a top 10 if you list every album made in the past decade? Well to those of you that agree with that sentiment: Bite me. And just think, I could have easily doubled that list if I included multiple albums from any band i.e. Radiohead, Wilco, Beck...

Tired yet? Just wait it gets good here...

Number 10 - Shadows on the Sun - Brother Ali (2003)

Brother Ali's debut studio album. Soul, gospel, jazz, blues, folk, rock, reggae all seemed to come together in Brother Ali's debut studio album. Highlights include Forest Whitaker and Prince Charming.

Number 9 - Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing (2009)

Manchester Orchestra's sophomore effort did not disappoint. The album is solid from beginning to end, with varying emotion and tempo. The band set the bar for albums in 2009 and has much to live up to in the rest of their very young career.

Number 8 - Elbow - Leaders of the Free World (2005)

My favorite album from one of my favorite bands. Leaders of the Free World showcased Elbow's ability to convey emotions and statements beyond the somberness of their first two albums. Hightlights include Mexican Standoff, Forget Myself, and Station Approach.

Number 7 - Beck - Guero (2005)

Some may argue for Beck's Sea Change but I was much happier with his return to Odelay with his 2005 release Guero. Make sure to include the bonus tracks when obtaining this album.

Number 6 - Give Up - The Postal Service (2003)

Ben Gibbard of DCFC and Jimmy Tamborello created quite possibly the greatest "side project" of all time. The electronic pop album manages to come off as classical and forward thinking all at the same time.

Number 5 - The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

The Lips' follow up to their award winning The Soft Bulletin (1999) was bound to disappoint. Problem is nobody bothered to tell little Yoshimi. Anxiously awaiting the rumored musical.

Number 4 - Tool - Lateralus (2001)

Five years in the making Tool's 3rd studio album was truly a work of art. More an album than a collection of songs, Lateralus, contains unusually long tracks that explore various timing signatures. Possibly the most complete album of the decade.

Number 3 - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001)

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I'm not sure if there's ever been a bigger album by a smaller band. It changed so much for so many, or so I've heard.

Number 2 - Spoon - Kill the Moonlight (2002)

Why do you hate Spoon? This album is amazing and everyone needs to listen to it again and again and again until they get it. No forgetting Spoon.

Number 1 - Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

One of the first great albums released in the decade was never surpassed and most likely responsible for inspiring many other great albums through out the rest of the decade.

Blind Pilot at Lincoln Hall

On Wednesday I went to see Blind Pilot at the new Lincoln Hall. I felt like this was a step up from the solid Lollapalooza set back in August. The great sound quality at Lincoln Hall definitely contributed. The sound was very crisp and clear from a few different locations throughout the venue. Blind Pilot played all of their songs on the first and currently only album 3 Rounds and a Sound. I think they did a nice job of peppering in the more upbeat songs throughout the set. I would suggest anyone to check these guys out next time they're in Chicago, they do not disappoint. I brought my handheld camcorder along to catch some of songs. Below is "One Red Thread." You can see two other live songs "Paint Or Pollen" and "Go on say it" on our YouTube channel youtube.com/claptrapped. If you're in Chicago, I would look at upcoming shows at Lincoln Hall, it's a great venue and one of my new favorites.

Happy Thanksgiving from Claptrapped

Turkey for me, turkey for you...

Lincoln Hall, A Great Place to See a Show

The last two Friday's in Chicago I spent my evenings at a newer venue in Chicago called Lincoln Hall. It's owned an operated by the same guys who own Schuba's and is the old location of the 3 Penny movie theater. The completely renovated building is a great place to catch smaller, emerging bands. I saw The Walkmen and Brendan Benson. First off, doors generally don't open till 10pm and the headlining band doesn't go on till 11:30 or so giving you plenty of time to get there or pre-game. The beers are reasonably priced with $3 PBR's to boot. Inside there is a bar when you walk in, and behind that a room that holds about 500 at best guess. Above the room is a balcony with tables and chairs if you get there early enough to find a spot. The stage is propped high enough that there really isn't a bad spot in the house. Tickets are usually about $20 and are all will-call to avoid ticket-bastard charges. All in all this place is a very economical place to catch shows and I think I will be going there a lot more.

My Top 10 Albums of the Decade (Haas)

Before I start, I would just like to say how hard it was to narrow this down to 10 albums. I am sure I will get ridiculed for some of my selections but I was honest to myself and its what I came up with. The 10 spot was up in the air, so if I could I would like to list some honorable mentions before we get into the meat and potatoes.

Honorable Mention:

Robbers and Cowards, Cold War Kids

Rabbit Fur Coat, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

American Idiot, Green Day

Illinois, Sufjan Stevens

Sea Change, Beck

Here is my 10 favorite albums from the 2000s:

10. Farmhouse, Phish
People say Phish's albums suck and you gotta hear them live to really appreciate what they do. Well that may be somewhat true, but the Farmhouse CD was probably played hundreds of times by myself the year I graduated high school. It will always have a special place in my heart and I can't leave it off this list. The dreadful "Heavy Things" aside, this album plays straight through on my stereo to this day.


9. The Swimming Hour, Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
Admittedly I listened to this album about 7 years after it was released. It is probably one of the most beautiful records I can think of. It is influenced by so many different kinds of music its amazing how it all came together. It has a song for everyone and transcends time. Andrew Bird's masterpiece.



8. Funeral, Arcade Fire
This high energy debut from one of the best emerging bands hit me right away with the song "Wake Up". Then I listened to "Rebellion/ Lies" and didn't look back. The lyrics, diversity in instruments, and just plain emotional rollercoaster that this album takes you through never gets old. I see Funeral as the ultimate coming of age record of the decade.



7. Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem
At the start of the decade I would have never seen myself listening to any sort of electronic synth dance music. LCD Soundsystem is the group that changed all that. They brought me into the fold and opened up my ears to something new. Sound of Silver is a great party CD, and the title of the single "All My Friends" could not be more fitting.



6. Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis' studio experiment with synth may have upset some of their most hardcore fans, but it won me over. This album sounded so strange to me at first listen and I really couldn't tell if it was good or bad. Over time it grew on me and songs like "Arc of Time" and "I Believe in Symmetry" were ingrained in my head. After that the rest of the songs fell in line and I was hooked.

5. A Ghost is Born, Wilco
When this album came out I went to see Wilco at a bar near NIU. My face was melted. The extended guitar solos and experimental jams were refreshing and play great live. Jeff Tweedy plays guitar on Ghost more than any other Wilco record. This was Wilco's last great album and marked the end of Tweedy's addiction to painkillers. Hmm? correlation? Songs like "Handshake Drugs" and "Spiders/Kidsmoke" will never be composed again.

4. Elephant, The White Stripes
When "Seven Nation Army" got massive radio play The White Stripes blew up. While they probably gained fair-weather fans based on that single alone, I could not stop listening to Elephant on the whole. Elephant is just absurdity raw at times and then you get hit with a country jingle. Jack White is basically saying take it or leave it, hate it or love it, this is what I'm giving you. Simple and catchy songs are littered throughout.

3. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips
When Yoshimi came out I was told by a friend that I HAD to listen to it. It was like nothing else out there, he said. "The 'she don't eat jelly' band?" I replied. Well I gave it a listen and saw how far that weird band from the 90's had come. Yoshimi is epic, its weird, and trippy. Yet it has so many songs to sing along with Wayne Coyne too. One of the best concept albums to date.

2. I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, Bright Eyes
This is one of the greatest albums from one of the greatest modern songwriters. Its like a modern day The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The sweet country folk on this record turns out classic song after classic song. They are intense and emotional and no one could do this except Conor Oberst. Its an everyman CD and a real piece of Americana.

1. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco
To quote a fellow Claptrapper, "My favorite album from my favorite band, this was really a no-brainer." Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was a game changer for me. It made me realize what great bands who try something different and challenging can create. Take the simple folk song and then blow it up. At first listen it was chaos, but eventually it all came together. The lyrics and voice of Tweedy on top of the mixing of Jim O'Rourke and the late Jay Bennett make this album the best of the decade. I know every word and still hang on every note. When this claptrapper gets drunk, this is the first album he goes for. And this claptrapper gets drunk a lot.

Lala.com Review

Forget about any music you currently download for free before you read. This more about a legit music site that I think has moved in the right direction. Lala.com is one of my favorite new websites out there today. It blows away any music provider on the web. The founder believes that almost everything lives in the browser and I agree. Just think all the times you listen to music at home or at work. Instead of paying for those songs through iTunes for .99 a song or a monthly fee subscription based site like Napster. For Lala.com, the first listen is free, then all you need is 10 cents a song and you can listen any time you want in your browser. For the songs you want to download and listen on your mp3 player for your travels to the job or when your working out, you can buy a DRM-Free download for .89. You can also upload any mp3 you currently own to your Lala account for free and again since this lives in the browser, you can access it at any computer. It also has all the social aspects of the site if you want it, you can be given recommendations to artists and follow other members to see what they're listening to and all that jazz. There is no software, no advertisements, and you can access your music if you have an internet connection. I think giving the option to buy a web album or the mp3 and being able to upload anything you already own was a fantastic idea for music fans.

This is not a public service announcement for anyone who downloads pirated music. It's just an FYI for those who don't choose that route. This seems to be the best option out there. Below are some quotes from the press.


"This unique, inexpensive model enables Lala to do something nobody else can: offer an encyclopedic, licensed, on-demand music service that doesn't include a single advertisement."


"Lala May Have Just Built The Next Revolution In Digital Music. The company has the best streaming music product on the Internet today, and a business model that doesn't burn cash... It's the joy of using products like Lala that keeps me excited about startups."

Lala.com

My Top 10 Albums of the Decade (OD)

Over the next few weeks, members of Claptrapped will be posting their top 10 albums of the 2000s. Stay tuned for our Top 10 albums of 2009 sometime in December.

Here is my 10 favorite albums from the 2000s:

10. It Still Moves, My Morning Jacket
I really like this album top to bottom. “Magheeta” sets the tone right from the beginning. Heavy reverb on vocals throughout the album provides an eerie, but pleasant, sound. This is the album that turned me onto My Morning Jacket, and it’s probably my favorite album from them.



9. A Ghost is Born, Wilco
I’m not the biggest Wilco fan, but I love this album. It features a good mix of tight, solid songs and extended, experimental songs. While Yankee Hotel Foxtrot might be more well-known and have more allure, A Ghost is Born is a better album in my opinion.



8. Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem
This punk-dance album is just plain fun. It features songs that build in energy to the point of explosion, the best of which being “All My Friends” – a song that begins with a simple piano part that builds throughout the entire 7.5-minutes. Other favorites on this album include “Us v. Them” and “Watch the Tapes.”



7. Apologies to the Queen Mary, Wolf Parade
My favorite aspect of this album is the way lead singers Spencer Krug (keyboard) and Dan Boeckner (guitar) alternate songwriting duties. It provides such a good balance, yet doesn’t sound disjointed. I love “Shine a Light,” and then two songs later comes a truly great rock and roll song: “I’ll Believe in Anything.”



6. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips
Although not as good as Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi holds a special spot in my heart. (Soft Bulletin was released in 1999, or else it would definitely be in my top 10 list.) The album is trippy and nostalgic, and it has a ton of songs that are fun to sing along to when you see the Lips live.



5. In Rainbows, Radiohead
Not only did Radiohead break waves by releasing this album early in an online format with a “pay what you want” option, but they managed to come out with a very solid album in In Rainbows. This album features one of my favorite Radiohead songs of all time – “Reckoner.”



4. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
My No. 1 album of 2008, Fleet Foxes was a breath of fresh air with an old-time sound. The vocal harmonies of the group and the songwriting skills of Robin Pecknold make this a must-listen album.




3. Funeral, Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire shows off its strong suit right from the start of this album – high energy, multiple instruments, thoughtful lyrics. The album flows wonderfully, especially “Wake Up” > “Haiti” (my favorite song on the album) > “Rebellion (Lies)”. Funeral is moving and uplifting, and it’s an album I can listen to over and over again and not get tired of it.


2. Boxer, The National
I don’t think I could count the number of times I have listened to “Fake Empire,” the first song on The National’s Boxer in the past couple years. The way the song builds with the piano and culminates with a swirl of guitars and horns sums up The National perfectly. I love the way the three songs in the middle of the album – “Slow Show,” “Apartment Story,” and “Start a War” – tell a story, and I think it’s the highlight of the record. Boxer plays with your emotions in an ultimately satisfying way.


1. Kid A, Radiohead
My favorite album from my favorite band, this was really a no-brainer. Kid A was way ahead of its time. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 10 years since it was released. I think part of what made this album so great for me was the surprise of it. I hadn’t read much about it before its release, and I was expecting something similar to the band’s previous release, OK Computer. The difference was shocking, and it showed why this is one of the most talented bands making music today.

2010 Lollapalooza suggestions

Today, the Lollapalooza mailing list sent out an invitation to suggest 5 bands that fans would like to see at next year's festival. Unfortunately, I can't find a link to the voting, so I think you have to access it from the fan email list.

I think this will be my 5 suggestions:

1. Arcade Fire
2. Beck
3. Wolf Parade
4. Yeasayer
5. M83

Who would you vote for?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Claptrapped.

There are several Halloween shows going on in Chicago this weekend. I am going to see The Monster's of Folk but all I can think about is what musical costume Phish will be wearing out in California. The band is playing Festival 8 out there and has promised to cover one of the following albums. What album do you think they should do? Something old? Something new? Something weird? Just please not something by Michael Jackson!

Past Phish Halloween "costumes" have included the Beatles ('The White Album'), the Who ('Quadrophenia'), the Talking Heads ('Remain in Light') and the Velvet Underground ('Loaded').

UPDATE: THEY PLAYED THE ROLLING STONES: EXILE ON MAIN STREET

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

A few months ago I opened an issue of Rolling Stone and saw a two page picture of whats posted to the right. It was the "Artist to watch" section. The picture alone had me intrigued because I have always had an affinity for what I guess I would call family bands. Its mostly groups that seem to eat, sleep, and live together at all times, but its really more about harmonizing and hitting joyous climaxes in songs...in unison. You know groups like The Beach Boys, The Jackson 5, The Mamas and Papas, The Grateful Dead, and even The Everly Brothers. Confusing lineup eh? Anyway, these guys looked like relatives of Devandra Banhardt but slightly-less weird. They look like your average run of the mill hippies instead of far-out cultist freaks. In other words not scary hippie. I continued to read and was even more perplexed to find out that there is not an Edward Sharpe in the band. The lead singer used to be the lead man of a punk/dance band called Ima Robot. This band did not look like they used anything with electricity besides a microphone. I had to listen to this. Their debut is called 'Up From Below'. At first listen I loved it. They are basically a psychedelic folk band reveling in the old styles of the aforementioned family bands. Its a bit 'chanty' and over joyous but is no doubt a record even your Mom might like. The first track "40 Day Dream" is very Motown and before you know it you are singing along to the chorus line " the magical mystery kind"! There are some who would discount Ed Sharpe and the Mag Zeros as a group making nostalgic music as a gimmick, especially given the lead singers background, but I dare you to not let this record grow on you. It seems like it was meant to be listened to on whole, but if you want a quick pick me up try out songs like "Home" and "Jangling".


They are playing at Lincoln Hall on November 27th.


MP3 "40 Day Dream"

Portugal. The Man - Schubas

Last Saturday was a day I was looking forward to for some time and it did not disappoint. Finally we were able to see Portugal. The Man at a small venue -- Schubas on Belmont and Southport. They had a hell of a performance at Lollapalooza in front of a much larger crowd, so I could not wait to see them at Schubas. Since they were playing to their core fans, I definitely felt a difference in music style. They seemed to experiment a bit more with their sound while still sounding tight. John Gourley came on stage of course with the patented hooded sweatshirt and his usual small talk in front of the sold-out crowd. They started the concert off in a way that would make any jam band proud. Portugal also pulled out some out-of-the-blue transitions to MGMT and Three Dog Night. They had a pretty good mix of songs from their four albums, which I was thrilled to hear. By the end, the four members from Alaska went through their set flawlessly and then came back on stage for the encore and rocked out to"Chicago" from their first album "Waiter: You Vultures!" It seemed to be a perfect way to come back from an encore. Overall the show had a ton of energy and emitted soul, rock, and psychedelic influences. I thought they really impressed the Chicago crowd.

The band afterwords hung around and took some pictures with us, which you don't see every day. Thanks for the great concert, Portual. The Man!

Below is a video from the sold-out show on Sunday at Schubas performing "1989" and "Our Way."

Zero 7: Yeah Ghost

I discovered this little band about 4 or 5 years ago just on a whim. I was just getting into downtempo electronic stuff at the time and happened upon Zero 7's The Garden. I had never heard a note of these guys and the cover looked interesting so, I picked it up. What I heard can only be described as infectious, warm, tight little songs just oozing out of my speakers. I later found out that this band was featured heavily in the movie Garden State. I have been a huge fan ever since. On their most recent Yeah Ghost, Zero 7 makes new inroads into their musical style. While mostly being known for Sneaker Pimps-like droning, catchy tunes, this time around they go for a more upbeat poppy sound. The core of Zero 7 is England's Henry Binns and Same Hardaker who have a flair for switching back and forth between acoustic instruments and electronic ones.

Sia Furler, an ever constant contributor is absent from this effort, however, newcomer Eska Mtungwazi lends her voice to a couple of tunes on the album. The first being "Swing", a song that seems taylor made for an ipod commercial, along with "Ghost sYMbOL", and aptly-named, haunting ditty that plays tricks with her voice. The high point of the album for me is "Everything Up (Zisou)", a track where Binns is credited as the vocalist. Something about the way his voice mixes with the foot tapping pace of the song has made it one of my most replayed songs currently.

Zero 7 always has a way of creating works of art that stay in my head and my stereo for large amounts of time and I think it would do most anyone lots of good to give these guys a listen. I do suggest however starting with their older stuff and going from there so you can follow the evolution a bit closer. This album on its own is probably the weakest effort by Zero 7... But that doesn't necessarily mean it has any less impact.

EDIT: Zero 7 will be playing at Metro on December 4th.

ALL of you should go.

Sunset Rubdown: Dragonslayer

I was pretty excited when I bought Sunset Rubdown's latest album, "Dragonslayer," earlier this summer (still can't get over that summer is over). It had received solid reviews from many sources, and I was already a pretty big fan of their album "Shut Up I am Dreaming." However, I just could not get into this album the first few times through. It couldn't grab my attention.

As you may or may not know, I am a big Wolf Parade fan. Spencer Krug -- keyboardist/co-frontman of Wolf Parade -- heads Sunset Rubdown, and I think this may have been where my initial disappointment originated. I wanted to hear Wolf Parade, but I wasn't getting it.

"Dragonslayer" is not Wolf Parade. It's a little magical, almost giving me a "medieval" feel -- like the music could accompany a story of kings , and knights and serfs and (yes) dragons. It does feature the classic Krug "Oh's" and "Ah's," as well as some strikingly visual lyrics. ("Hope that you died in a decent pair of shoes./You got a lot of long walking to do.")

This album has really grown on me in the past month. Once I stopped wanting it to be something it wasn't, it really set in, and now I find myself listening to it in entirety -- multiple times in a row. There are only 8 tracks, but each is a decent length, and each kind of tells its own story. The one song I don't dig all that much is the 10-minute final track -- "Dragon's Lair" (but I do love the word play of the song title).

So I'd say give this album a shot. It might not stick at first, but can definitely grow on you.

You can listen to the album on the band's Myspace page.

You're All Idiots

Craig's right. We're all idiots; any other way you choose to look at this would just be wrong. How else do you explain the Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, Britney Spears, The NOW Cds, Daughtry, U2, Kelly Clarkson? Crap all of it. Has music or musical taste always been this bad? Growing up I can remember my 'sister' listening to jokes such as MC Hammer and NKOTB, and I'm sure there was a bit more crap floating around those days. Going back further I'm not going to touch the 70s and 80s, and corporate boy bands have always existed or at least as early as The Monkees, but lately it seems to be coming at exponential rates. I get a chill up my spine when even considering where we might be without the Internet giving life to independent labels. Without it would we be forced, even more so, to consume the likes of American Idols, Light Rock, and Disney Channel chastity rock? This is a problem, I can't just be imagining things.

The questions keep coming. Who's responsible for this? Is censorship winning? Illegal downloads: helping or hurting? Pearl Jam at Target? Wilco teaming up with the Chicago Blackhawks? Starbuck's Cds? Super Bowl Halftimes?

Okay I realize the last paragraph or so may have been a little if not completely confusing, but my question is simple: Is music decomposing in front of us? If so, whose fault is it and how can it be stopped?

Put Your Hands Together and Welcome Brother Ali

Brother Ali will save us, or at least independent rap. He was born legally blind as a result of a unique genetic condition known as Albinism, which also causes the eyes, skin and hair to lack their color. This condition, combined with his teenage conversion to Islam, give Ali a unique message and view of the world that he relates skillfully within his lyrics. Brother Ali's words combine with the motownesque instrumentals and beats laid down by his producer Ant (of Atmosphere fame) to create a complete sound I have rarely been able to find in a rap album.

Ali has released three full-length albums and two EPs under the Rhymesayers label. His first, and in my opinion his best, Shadows on the Sun, was followed by his Champion EP, then The Undisputed Truth and his follow up EP The Truth is Here, which was accompanied by a DVD. His latest album Us was released September 22, 2009. Over these albums Ali raps about and takes inspiration from R&B and Soul greats such as Donny Hathaway and Al Green, he discusses his youth, political and social issues, love and hate, and delivers a passion that makes his music truly one of a kind.



His latest album Us has allowed Brother Ali and Ant to experiment, rapping over gospel choirs, trumpet blasts, and xylophones. Ali has yet again given us a solid album but has shown an exciting progression that shows he won't rest on the laurels of his former success. It's no Shadows on the Sun but I give Brother Ali's Us a favorable nod and a eager anticipation of things to come.

The dance rock trend

After buying Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, a few weeks ago (I love it, by the way), it made me think about all of the enjoyable bands out right now that play a brand of dance rock. 2009 has already seen at least two outstanding releases from this category with the Phoenix album and Passion Pit's Manners.

2008 also saw its fair share of great dance rock albums. M83, Cut Copy and Hot Chip all released solid records combining dance beats with guitars, bass and keys. You might even be able to throw TV on the Radio's Dear Science in this category as well. And would MGMT's debut have been anywhere near as popular as it was if it wasn't for "Electric Feel" and "Kids"?

The trend is even showing up in unlikely places. Animal Collective's 2009 release Merriweather Post Pavilion is practically all electronic with a full-out raver ("Brother Sport") as the final song. Even the likes of My Morning Jacket got in on the action on their latest album, Evil Urges, with "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2."

I'm not going to say we're experiencing an "electronic dance rock" era or anything. But it seems like there are so many good options out there right now. (Let's not forget probably the best option from this category -- LCD Soundsystem.) So I'm wondering if people agree with me, or if this maybe is just a type of music that I have gotten into recently, and that I wasn't paying attention as much before.

The Best Show Ever

Possibly a bit of an overstatement, but given the circumstances I don't believe I could have been more pleasantly surprised.

Dan Auerbach guitarist from the super duo The Black Keys and his new band the Fast Five were playing with the young, up and coming Kentuckians known as Cage the Elephant in a Lollapalooza aftershow at Schuba's. That venue, which barely holds 200, with either act has the potential to be a great show, but both of them together makes it a no miss, even when you consider that it came at the end of a long hot second day at Grant Park.

Or at least it sounds like a good idea, until you reach the end of Lolla that day and standing in a small room with poor ventilation and a hundred or so sweaty dudes seems only slightly ahead of throwing yourself into oncoming traffic. Maybe a little harsh but coming from the remember we used to be great set, known as Depeche Mode, my level of excitement and energy had just about run out.



Luckily Cage front man, Matt Shultz, would provide enough excitement and energy for the entire room. If you have never heard of Cage the Elephant you may want to check out Paul's Lolla preview to better prepare you for the young hard hitting southern rock band. The stage, or any for that matter, was much too small to contain the band's sound let alone Matt as he jumped on, in and through the crowd, hung from the rafters and frequently stared and screamed through the front row of people. I was now revived and ready to see what Dan and the Fast Five had to offer.

After a short break Auerbach and his band took the stage that was already teeming with there instruments, keyboard, multiple guitars, a bass, and two drum sets, while additional fans filtered in knowing that the main act was about to begin. Dan played a loud energy filled set that extended the excitement in the room set by Cage.

Photos taken by Kristen Waszkowski.

JT and the Clouds

In the spirit of "no show is too small," I thought I would fill Claptrappers in on a recent 8/27/2009 show of JT and the Clouds at the Empty Bottle with Moxie Motive and the Blueheels opening. The Blueheels (a Madison, WI based band) opened with a strong set to a fairly empty bar. Instrumentally the band was spot on, but the lead singer failed to provide any decent support vocally. Moxie Motive was preceded by a verse from Thax Douglas who we convinced to check out JT. As the crowd started to fill in and the Beam shots and Old Styles (due to the special of the night) started to flow, Moxie put on a terrific set. Though a small stage, the lead singer made terrific use of each spare inch, dancing, throbbing, and knocking into his string section. Moxie is a band that I would like to see more of in the future.

Coming into the JT and the Clouds set, I was expecting to hear more of their last soulful album "The City's Hot, Yeah the City's Hot" as opposed to their first album "Delilah"which tends to be more alt-county/folk rock. I was surprised to hear mostly new stuff from an upcoming album due out in November. Overall, the music was still a lot of soul and very upbeat, and the band had the crowd dancing. Though only hearing 3 songs that I knew (Lover's Prayer, Wildin' Blues, and Clouds Ain't Heavy), I will stell very pleased with the songs (could have been the Beam and Oldstyle's).

Keep an eye out for this band as they play in Chicago pretty often. You may also see them listed under the lead singer JT Nero and possibly performing with Po' Girl. For now, they are a lot of fun to see for tickets as low as $10. As they pick up on their touring and become more Bit Torrent popular, I expect them to become a harder show to see in the coming years.

PEARL JAM AT THE UNITED CENTER

The greatest rock band of my generation, Pearl Jam, played the United Center last Sunday and Monday. I attended the Sunday night show. Seeing Pearl Jam four times in my life, I can say that they are without a doubt one of the best touring acts you could pay money for. Playing for 2 1/2 hrs and covering 27 songs in their set, they did not disappoint.

They have a new album coming out, Backspacer, and like many huge acts nowadays they are going it alone without a major record label to promote it. A single, "The Fixer," is being played on the radio and in my opinion is one of the happiest songs Eddie has written in years. Without Ex-President Bush to complain about, the show was focused on the music and less on the political banter that was so common in the past decade. As Eddie sings in the new single, “When something’s gone, I wanna fight to get it back again.” It seems like he has come full circle and can now calm down and focus on the music once again. The new stuff is really fast, and really heavy, reminiscent of their earlier days.

At the beginning of the second encore Eddie dedicated a cover of Neil Young's “The Needle and the Damage Done” to Michael Jackson and talked about growing up in Evanston listening to the Jackson 5. He then went into "Rats" with tenacity which blew me away, as I have been waiting for them to play that rarity for years now. ( Thanks!)

The night closed out with the perfect, and what I think might be best closing song any band could ever play, Yellow Ledbetter. Eddie watched, smoking a cig, as Mike McCready played the song out into the Star Spangled Banner. Once again, Pearl Jam is always worth every penny.

SET LIST

1 Long Road

2 Corduroy

3 Why Go

4 God’s Dice

5 Dissident

6 Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

7 Sad

8 The Fixer

9 Given to Fly

10 Happy Birthday/Come Back

11 Even Flow

12 Save You

13 In Hiding

14 Man of the Hour

15 Insignificance

16 Got Some

17 Spin the Black Circle

First Encore

18 Love Reign O’er Me (Who cover)

19 Life Wasted

20 The Real Me (Who cover)

21 Alive

Second Encore

22 The Needle and the Damage Done (Neil Young cover)

23 Rats

24 Supersonic

25 Smile

26 Rearviewmirror

27 Yellow Ledbetter

DIGITAL VS. ANALOG / CD VS. VINYL

Last night I was browsing eBay looking up items I shouldn't be spending money on during this recession and came across several cheap vinyls by artists that I really dig. People had complete discographies of Bright Eyes, Wilco, Andrew Bird, and the like. It got me thinking about purchasing these and starting a nice little collection of stand-out albums by artists that I think deserve some of my pocket money. (Buying them secondhand from an eBay user still counts...right RIAA?) The question is, is it really worth it to buy vinyl?

Some brainstorming lead me to come up with these PRO's and CON's.

PRO's-

Nothing is cooler than flipping through an actual record collection.

Vinyl sound is crisper, cleaner, warmer, and supposedly just better than CD or MP3.

Most are released nowadays as 'Limited Edition'.

Artwork on case is larger and can be put on display.

CON's

Big and Bulky.

Hard, time-consuming, and pointless to RIP to an MP3 player.

More expensive when released.

After doing a little research I found the following article on Wired.com. It said in 2007, Amazon.com launched a vinyl-only section stocked with a growing collection of titles and several models of record players. Why would they do this if vinyls weren't making a comeback? A lot of indie bands release their records on vinyl now and there has to be a reason for it. San Francisco indie band The Society of Rockets, for example, releases its albums strictly on vinyl and as MP3 files. "Having just gone through the process of mastering our new album for digital and for vinyl, I can say it is completely amazing how different they really sound," said lead singer and guitarist Joshua Babcock. "The way the vinyl is so much better and warmer and more interesting to listen to is a wonder."

So I pose the question to you Claptrappers... should I start a vinyl collection? Or would that just be way too hipster of me and a waste of my time and money?

New Radiohead song

Radiohead released a new song this morning -- "These Are My Twisted Words." Jonny Greenwood made a post on the band's Dead Air Space blog, saying this was the first song the group has finished among its post-In Rainbows recordings.

"These Are My Twisted Words" is a spacey, jammed out song with no real chorus. I would say "twisted" or "twisting" would be a good word to describe it. Despite the title of the song, on first listen I thought it might be an instrumental, but Thom Yorke eases his way in around the 2:40 mark.

I feel like this tune will work well as a transition song. I could see the band heading into this song straight from another song -- something Radiohead doesn't do a lot of. The beginning of the downloaded track even sounds like the end of another song before the drum beat kicks in.

I'm looking forward to hearing more new material, and they can't come back to Chicago soon enough.

Download "These are My Twisted Words" here (it's free).

Lollapalooza recap

Leading up to the festival, Lollapalooza 2009 didn't appear to have the headliners of past years. And while this proved to be true, the midlevel acts certainly held their weight, making for a great three days. Here are some of my thoughts:


Day 1:

The rain had already started by the time I walked through the gates around 12:15. I was pleased to see a much shorter line for three-day wristbands. Last year's wait pushed an hour, but I was able to walk right in this time. First up was Manchester Orchestra. At one point, lead singer Andy Hull remarked that it was the most people ever together in one place enjoying their music. I don't think the large crowd affected the group's performance negatively, though. It looked like they were having a great time on stage throughout their solid set.

Next, I caught Amazing Baby on the Citi stage. I was half-expecting this band to disappoint me. After really getting into their debut album, Rewild, I was eager to see how it would transfer to the live setting. I'd have to say it sounded pretty damn good. The lead singer, however, needs to practice his microphone twirling -- or just stop doing it.

After a strong set by Heartless Bastards and an interesting performance by STS9, I navigated through some lake-size puddles to the Playstation stage to catch the last half of Fleet Foxes. As always, they were really good. Vocals were dead-on, just like the other times I've seen them. My only complaint was that I didn't hear them play anything new. I've basically heard identical setlists all three times I've seen them.

To finish off Friday, I saw Andrew Bird and Kings of Leon. Andrew Bird was a treat, and KOL was WHO I THOUGHT THEY WERE. They actually started off with 5 or 6 old songs, which was nice. But then once the newer stuff started trickling in, the show started to go downhill.


Day 2:

I was most looking forward to Saturday, but it ended up being kind of disappointing. Joe Pug took the BMI stage (which was awesomely in the shade) with a full band. This gave his music more of a country feel than I was expecting. It wasn't a bad set, but it just wasn't want I anticipated.

Gomez played to a sun-beaten crowd. I had never seen them before, and I enjoyed it -- especially their excellent version of Led Zeppelin's "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp." That's probably my favorite Zeppelin song, so it put a smile on my face.

Saturday night, I was pumped to see TV on the Radio. Unfortunately from where I was standing they did not sound good at all. When they went into "Golden Age" early in their set, I didn't recognize it for a good minute. I'm not sure if it's the wind or what, but it seems like the Budweiser stage has the most issues with sound.

A bit dejected, I told myself Animal Collective wouldn't let me down. For a year now, I've been talking up their outstanding performance at Pitchfork 2008. I figured Saturday night at Lolla would be a perfect opportunity to recapture that magic. However, Animal Collective decided to waste about 40 minutes of their 1-hour set. Instead of pumping people up with a song like "Peacebone," they meandered through an extended "Daily Routine." The set did eventually pick up, when they played "Fireworks" into "Brothersport." But with all the time they wasted in the middle, they were unable to bring "Brothersport" to a close before Tool took the stage at 8:00 sharp, drowning out Animal Collective.

I'm probably not the right person on Claptrapped to write a review of Tool. I will say that I enjoyed them, and that I think they were probably the best headliner of the festival. But I wish I could have seen the band better. The stage's screens played videos, rather than footage of the band. For such a "mysterious" band, I was hoping to get a better look at them.


Day 3:

Sunday was my favorite day by far -- and I had thought beforehand that it would be the worst day. Things started out with a rocking performance by Portugal. The Man. They effectively built up intensity to the point of all-out fist pumping. I was very impressed and look forward to seeing them again sometime.

The next highlight of the day -- and possibly the best performance of the festival -- was Dan Deacon. Accompanied onstage by the Dan Deacon "ensemble" (comprising four synthesizer players, three drummers, and a mallet section) and, later, a full marching band, Deacon (pictured right) got the crowd jumping, dancing, and smiling at will. His songs build and build, all over crazy, distorted vocals. Deacon orchestrated crowd participation unlike anything I had ever seen. He instructed the crowd to start a giant conga line -- something I would never think would work, as well as a large circle, where one of his crew members led the crowd in an interesting interpretive dance. The dance culminated with him launching empty water bottles into the air. Soon the entire crowd was doing the same -- all in time with the beat of the music. (Check out this video to see what the hell I'm talking about.)

After solid performances from Passion Pit and Dan Auerbach, I was really looking forward to Band of Horses. Lou Reed, who was playing on the Budweiser stage -- across from where Band of Horses would be going on -- started 15 minutes late, so that pushed BOH's start time back 15 minutes. I was pretty annoyed, figuring Jane's Addiction would end BOH's set early since they were the "headliner." But when Jane's took the stage at 8:30, BOH lead singer Ben Bridwell shouted they would "blow that shit out!" The crowd went crazy, and BOH finished off an amazing performance. They played every song I wanted to hear, plus one new song. It was a perfect ending for Lollapalooza for me.