Ten Best Albums of 2011

So, the thing with my list this year is that I’ve been fortunate enough to have either shared a stage, been on a movie soundtrack together, recorded an album with, spent many quality years as close friends, or at the very least, created some memories over some good times with all but two of the bands represented here. However, none of these disclosures swayed my opinion in naming their recordings as the best to come out this year, they’re just all that damn good, and I just happen to know them.

Sincerely,
Richard Parsons
http://goodshipmates.bandcamp.com/

Big Black Delta – LP1
Jonathan Bates, you might know him by his work under the name Mellowdrone, if you don’t then you should check that out too. This project is more electronic, slightly more experimental, and just as solid as anything else he’s ever put out. His voice slays me, but that goes for everyone on this list.

The Dears – Degeneration Street
Becoming part of the Dangerbird family seems to have been good for The Dears, I’d have to say this is my favorite release of theirs yet, and that’s saying a lot. If you’ve never seen them live, you should (and that, as well, goes for everyone on this list).

Fran Capitanelli – Kave Talk
If you missed The Tom Collins, then well, you’re shit out of luck. But hey, because of that breakup we have the songwriter/vocalist/guitarist left to record an album on his own, and personally, I think it all turned out for the best. Because of that, what we have here now is pure Fran at his best. This album will blow your mind even if you didn’t know that Fran played everything on it, through a Shure beta 57 direct to a Yamaha MT8X (that’s an 8-track cassette recorder, FYI). This just goes to show that so long as you’ve got great songs, great talent, and actually care enough about what your are doing to make the best of what you have to work with, then you don’t need to kill your vibe in some fancy pants studio with some tool that thinks he knows more than you do, sucking Benjamins out of your wallet.

Tristen – Charlatans at the Gate
Damn I love this girl. The first time I met her, we were going to the opening night of the Newport Beach Film Festival to see 5 Star Day. We were both on the soundtrack, there was a crazy after party with an open bar, Cirque du Soleil performers, strange conversations with Yeardley Smith and the Real Housewives of Orange County (I had no idea who they were, they had orange skin though and I found that very amusing, if not fairly disgusting), and for desert, Danny gave us a huge brownie to split that kept us both awake all night until I had to drive back to LAX to catch a flight the next morning.
Oh, I remember what I was saying, LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM, IT’S F#@*ING GREAT!

The Other Also – Fires
Boy did we have to wait a while for this collection of gems, and boy was it worth it. George Lewis III really shines bright with his songwriting, heart-breaking poetics and a voice as warm and cozy as your favorite winter blanket. Masterfully recorded, mixed and produced by Jake Gideon (The Breakups, The Californian), who also played many of the accompanying instruments on the album along with the help from other members of The Breakups, The Californian, and The Henry Clay People.

The Californian – The Californian
The voice, the reverb, the songwriting, the wonderful musically-incestuous west coast friends that I love (a Henry Clay person and a Breakup play in this band as well). Seriously, if John Graney’s voice doesn’t make your heart explode with love for what he’s singing and how he’s singing it, then you are dead inside.

John Vanderslice – White Wilderness
This album maybe should be illegal, because it is a beautiful trip with every listen, and you just want to listen to it again when it’s over. John’s approach to recording isn’t exactly the same every time, but it’s exactly perfect for the project. Every time. Just wait until you find out how he’s recording his new album!

HoneyHoney – Billy Jack
Suzanne’s voice is one that simultaneously makes you feel strong, and makes you weep. We both sing backup on the Breakups song Run From Rock & Roll, which is on their new album that’s not out quite yet, but you know, fuck it, I’m putting it on my list this year anyway…

The Breakups – Running/Jumping/Falling/Shouting
That’s right, it’s not out yet, but it’s one of the best albums from this year, and it will still be one of the best albums of the year, next year, when it has its official release.

Death Cab for Cutie – Codes and Keys
This album totally makes up for their previous lackluster release. Unlike a bunch of folks that did like DCFC, but don’t now (citing the change in their sound as the reason) I truly appreciate the growth that’s taken place due to studio experimentation. This album is a collection of really good songs stretched over a tight and intricate sonic canvas; it’s one that you definitely hear some nuance (that you’ve missed before), every time you listen to it.

The Breakups – Run from Rock n Roll
Big Black Delta – Betamax
Fran Capitanelli – My Favorite Jeans
Tristen – Eager For Your Love
The Other Also – Max
HoneyHoney – Turn that Finger Around

By Alex Brenner

[All the cool kids are doin' it, so we decided to do it too - the best albums of the decade.  We've called in our resident music maker and record reviewer to give us his perspective on this trending topic.  We dropped a couple sample tracks in there too.  Enjoy. - Rube]

Jets to Brazil – Four Cornered Night (2000)

From the ashes of the seminal punk band Jawbreaker; JTB’s second album is nothing but pure pop punk heart with some country flourishes as well. Front man Black Schwarzenbach is one of the most underrated songwriters of our time.

Gillian Welch - Soul Journey (2003)

So many great songs here, “Look at Miss Ohio”, “Wrecking Ball”…. Truly one of the only great talents Nashville has to offer right now.

MP3: Gillian Welch – Look At Miss Ohio

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)

Red House Painters singer Mark Kozelek reinvents himself with this debut album. Songs range from country shuffles to fuzzed out mayhem while still keeping that trademark “I wanna kill myself” feel to every song. Sometimes feeling bad never felt so good.

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

Jeff Tweedy is still one of the most amazing performers of our time. This record took me awhile but now I think it’s become a must have.

MP3: Wilco – Heavy Metal Drummer

Death Cab for Cutie - Plans (2005)

Okay yeah, this is their mainstream album but it has a lot of great songs on it that were not hits.  Despite their recent work, which I was not a fan of, this Death Cab record has shown they are an indie act that is built to last.

MP3: Death Cab for Cutie – Crooked Teeth

The Gaslight Anthem - The ’59 Sound (2008)

Spot on pop punk with heart, no one does the “we-gotta-get-outta-here-while-we-still-can” thing better than singer Brian Fallon. A punk classic in the making.

MP3: Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound

Hey Mercedes - Everynight Fire Works (2001)

From the ashes of post punk legends, Braid, came this band. With jagged chords and clock work drumming Hey Mercedes knew how to write great songs. Classics like “Our Weekend Starts on Wednesday” and “Eleven to Your Seven” still sound amazing today.

Nada Surf – The Weight is a Gift (2005)

No better way to bounce back from being a one hit wonder than with a string of great records. This record put them back on the map as a talented band with songwriting chops for miles.

MP3: Nada Surf – What Is Your Secret

Hot Rod Circuit – Sorry About Tomorrow (2002)

Another great indie band that put hooks and great songs at the forefront. With this release it just goes to show the third time is a charm.

David Bazan – Curse Your Branches (2009)

The first full length solo record for former Pedro the Lion front man David Bazan. Unbelievable songwriting and hooks that make you doubt your own existence.

MP3: David Bazan – Curse Your Branches

Here is the brand new song from Death Cab for Cutie previewed at the otherwise uninteresting MTV Video Music Awards show last night. The song is called “Meet Me on the Equinox” and it’s part of the sountrack for the forthcoming “Twilight Saga: New Moon” soundtrack.  Yes, we just referred to that series after referring to that channel (we can feel our indie cred slipping away…) but we really like this band so apologies in advance for the cheesy intro ad. Anyway, here it is.

Filibuster Free

In honor of the man who eventually may become the 60th member of the Democratic Senate Caucus in the 111th Congress, this week Atlanta’s A-List is going to take a page from the SNL playbook and give you our Deep Thoughts this week. There are 12 of them, but they’re not steps even if they feel that way (besides they’re ordered in reverse).

Twelve Steps to…upstairs at Smith’s?

12. If they keep making comic books into movies, can I start carrying graphic novels around at work and act like I am doing serious reading on my lunch break?

11. Gavin DeGraw is much cooler now that we know he will be playing 500 Song for Kids Tuesday night at 7:30. Get your advance tickets for tomorrow night at Ticket Alternative – it’s also the only place you can get an advance ticket to Saturday night’s Final 50 songs.

10. It seems that can’t stop listening to Carrie Rodriguez, Live at Louisville. Is it because she may be the best thing since Lucinda Williams? Is it because she blew the doors of the Variety when she opened for Alejandro Escovedo last summer? Or is it because she signed the CD with my name followed by “love, Carrie”? Hmmm, that must be it.

9. Speaking of obsessive behavior, 500 SONGS FOR KIDS is going on all week this week. You can still take a shot at free tickets courtesy of Atlanta’s A-List with a little help from Decatur CD (who should be having new release Tuesday again tomorrow). We will keep tweeting from the shows when we’re there, and updating you on the bands that will go on each night. Get in line early for Saturday night’s grand finale.

8. It strikes me as odd, in many ways, that the reason that guy from Minnesota may become the 60th member of the Democratic Caucus is because some guy from my Pennsyltuckey home who is 79 years old wants to keep working until he’s almost 87.

7. This weekend I saw where somebody scrawled “Eddie Van Halen” in the grime on the back of a tractor trailer. Either that rig hasn’t been washed (but has been garaged) for 20 years or there’s somebody out there with a wonderfully ironic sense of humor (which is possible). I cringe to consider any other possibility.

6. Is it really cool to spend hours each week on a blog that doesn’t even have a single picture? I mean, even the New Yorker has cartoons.

5. Wednesday night Death Cab for Cutie will be at the Fabulous Fox Theater, but it has been sold out for sometime. If you followed Atlanta’s A-List on Twitter, you would have had a second chance at the ticket release that happened last Thursday night. If you’ve got your tickets get there early to catch Ra Ra Riot.

4. Are two guys with a guitar and a Macbook really a band? Can they really tell girls they meet, “Yeah, I’m with the band”? Do they really get a full size tour bus like Motley Crue?

3. Is the Rolling Stones’ original Sticky Fingers (with the zipper), the best album cover of all time? Yes, Spinal Tap’s Smell the Glove runs a close second.

2. If you can still make it out after a week upstairs at Smith’s, then try The Asylum Street Spankers on Sunday night at Eddie’s Attic. Mom will love “God’s Favorite Band” as they run through instant classics like “Beer” and “Boogers” (yes, they are two different songs).

1. And finally, here at Atlanta’s A-List we’re wondering will the blog get extra traffic this week after we type Swine Flu, NBA Playoffs, Chrysler Bankruptcy, and MILF all in one sentence? (Anybody care to guess which one will get us the most traffic?)

That’s the A-List and some folks inherit star spangled eyes.

That Auld Lang Syne Thing

Live music is certainly an option for NYE but the show to see this year, Band of Horses at the Variety Playhouse, has long since sold out. There are several other shows going this year at the typical places, Smith’s, Eddie’s, The Earl, and even places named after animals instead of people, like the Fox. Col. Hampton (Smith’s) and Derek Trucks (Fox) are both cool if you like that classic sound, but I have no idea about the ticket availability for either show. Friends of the A-List, Bonaventure Quartet, will also be playing gypsy style jazz instrumentals at Feast in Decatur and Gringo Star is making yet another appearance at Star Bar to close out the year.

If you have waited this long to make plans for the waning hours of ought eight, then here’s to next year working out a little better for you (try to get an early start).

The Hangover Weekend

The truly hardcore among you now expect me to preview the first weekend of the year. Right. If you do have the stamina to make another go of it after New Year’s Rockin’ Eve there will won’t be much to choose from. The Earl will be officially closed until January 9th. The Variety Playhouse effectively will do the same. There just isn’t much out there worth spillin’ the pixels.

Here’s an idea though. Try something new. Check out the Atlanta Songwriter’s Series at Kavarna – that’s Czech (like the country) for cafe. This Oakhurst Village joint is a coffee house that serves middle eastern fare and PBR. Saturday nights feature local unknowns plying the trade in a largely acoustic format. It’s sort of a scene, in the good way. Wander east and check it out. Next week, the A-List will be making resolutions but this week it is the longest A-List ever.

Best of Oh-Eight

This is the part I have been waiting for and thinking about for weeks. I had a couple of drafts in progress and when I sat down tonight to read them, well, they sucked. So I am scraping that plan and I am just going to tell you what I have to tell you.

If you enjoy the A-List, it’s not because of polish or professionalism. (C’mon, what can you call a music blog with no pictures, no downloads, and no ads, other than lame?) If I can flatter myself for a moment, you keep reading because there is a glimmer of entertainment tucked in amongst the information (and if not, then you stopped reading before getting this far anyway). I love music and I like to write. I am terrible at the former and only relentless at the latter, but the A-List has become a ritual of sorts for me – one that I share with all of you (be thankful that is all).

Now before you get all teary-eyed for me, this is not going to turn into some cheap emo lyric (like “I want to hate you half as much as I hate myself” which you can find buried in a some song by this unmentionable band). Instead, I find my inspiration for my year-end review (and the A-List in general) in the words of Jack Black, one-half (I think I got the math right this time) of heavy rock powerhouse Tenacious D, in his movie role as Po: “There is no charge for the awesomeness…or the attractiveness.” Enjoy.

Best Shows

These are my opinions and there were dozens of shows that I wanted to see but missed – Black Keys, Black Kids, Cool Kids, Kid Rock (not really, but I sort of had a thing going on there) – and since nobody pays me to go to shows, the selections are limited to what I actually saw (and probably even paid for).

1. Alejandro Escovedo at Eddie’s Attic in the early Spring. This show was truly remarkable and in some ways had a hand in the creation of the A-List. I wanted others to have a chance to see a show like this. Al was hanging at the bar shortly before he started his set accompanied only his band mate – both on guitar. He opened the set by literally tearing the B string off his acoustic guitar while trashing it to “Chelsea Hotel ’78″. Two songs after restringing, he played the rest of the set in the crowd (without PA or microphone) bringing new meaning to “in the round” and delivering the kind of performance that could only happen at Eddie’s. The crowd was transfixed during the songs and ear-splitting with its applause. He filled that little room with incredible energy. You don’t often see an old man do that and that is a testament to his committment to the craft. I don’t exaggerate when I tell you that this was the best show I have seen in a decade. Transcendent.

2. Gnarls Barkley – The Variety Playhouse. This was not the first show of their summer tour but it was their only appearance in Atlanta this year. I didn’t bother much with these guys in the wake of “Crazy” – a very legitimate song but as well all know (and Cee-Lo admitted at the show) a bit overplayed. The Odd Couple really grabbed me when I first heard it and as I love the Variety, I decided this was the time to see them. It was sold out and justifiably so. There are many ways a band can impress, but none more satisfying than when they do not rest on the laurels of a million seller and actually come out playing with energy, excitement and fun. I walked away from this show convinced that this band deserved the sales figures and a bit disappointed when this album never really took off like it should have (maybe they’ll get a Grammy).

3. Ra Ra Riot in the Drunken Unicorn (isn’t in how you really feel when you are there?) – The night I was there it was like Plato’s cave – the pictures dancing on the walls where wondrous. This show is the perfect example of why live music matters (borrowing liberally from Eddie). I bought the ticket on a hunch (I think I had heard one tune and read an album review) and showed up late. I stayed until the very end, bought the CD and regretted that I had missed even a minute of the show. These youngsters from Syracuse, NY put on a fantastic show and introduced me to one of my favorite records of the year. The reason you will always find me at shows of relative unknowns like this instead of Coldplay or Weezer is not the gruesome ticket prices charged by the latter bands or the even more obscene service fees charged by Ticketmaster to buy said tickets. You will always find me at these shows because there is absolutely no substitute for enthusiasm. I think a girl said that to me once, but anyway I think you see my point. Young bands are excited to have you in the crowd, excited to play their songs, and most often are just having fun. There is no substitute.

4. Ha Ha Tonka – Somewhere in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Yeah, there’s really a town in PA named IN. Of course, if you drive from Chattanooga to Knoxville you will also pass Athens, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Decatur. I guess the point this time is that most founding fathers were not nearly as original as they may have thought. Oh yeah, the show…it was great. Again, a young band – one I was well familiar with at the time – but like Gnarls Barkley, I left the show liking them more than when I walked in. Look for their next release on Bloodshot Records in double-oh nine. If you don’t know the band check out their Monkees inspired video for “St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor.” (P.S. – they’re way better than the Monkees, they just have a sense of musical history is all.)

5. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – Variety Playhouse. Youth is king (or in this case queen). They might say that youth is wasted on the young but in Grace’s case she has grabbed it by the lapels and given it that kind of kiss that makes it simply give in. At 23, with three full lengths and hundreds of tour dates in her rear view (including two visits to our town this past year), you might think this Vermont vixen would be a bit worn down but not this night. Sporting a flying V and Bowie T, she delivered on the soul that she has put on vinyl. Check out “Treat Me Right” for a tame example of what I saw.

Best Live Covers

The cover song has become a staple of the live encore and personally I love it. Unless I have a friend in the band, I never go for cover band shows. But there is nothing quite as fun as hearing somebody put some new energy into a classic tune – new or old.

1. “Stronger” (Kanye West) as performed by Rebecca Loebe in The Atlanta Room at Smith’s Olde Bar. It’s two weeks in a row for Rebecca (I still heart you Bernadette) but she deserves it. I can’t do justice to her clever intro to this song that night (I think she said her grandmother sang it to her as a lullaby), but I did laugh out loud when I recognized the tune from the line “play secretary, I’m the boss tonight.” The single cut is suitably fun (with 20s rag horns) but it does not compare to solo little girl with the big hollow guitar version.

2. “Rockin’ the Free World” (Neil Young) as performed by Drive By Truckers with The Hold Steady at the Tabernacle. Nobody seems to have more fun on stage than Craig Finn and watching him wait in the wings for his turn to join DBT for this finale made it even more fun. Having seen Neil Young perform this tune many years ago, I have to say that this ensemble version compared quite favorably. Very simply, it rocked.

3. “Jet Airliner” (The Steve Miller Band) as performed by Grace Potter with The Wood Brothers at the Variety Playhouse. This classic was made unforgettable by Chris Wood (one half of The Wood Brothers (I know I have that math right) and one third of Medeski, Martin and Wood (pretty sure on that one too)) playing what must have been an aluminum pipe (because it was about six feet long and he was holding it over his head for at least three and half minutes) with a toilet plunger. With local boy Oliver Wood helping out on that classic opening riff, Grace just let go with the vocal. I couldn’t help but smile as my legs started moving.

4. “Sister Christian” (Night Ranger) as performed by Butch Walker (yeah, the audio is horrific after the first 3 minutes and that wasn’t me singing into the handycam – you had to be there, really) during 500 Songs for Kids at Smith’s Olde Bar. A nod to friend of the A-List – Josh Rifkind – for making this song number two in a remarkable and relentless countdown. This is without question the best recurring musical event in Atlanta. Great music for all the right reasons. Not to be missed. I have hyped it before and will again as it heads our way this spring.

5. “Beast of Burden” (The Rolling Stones) as performed by Alejandro Escovedo at the Variety Playhouse. After the Eddie’s show I had to see him again at the Variety, right? Another great show, not sublime like in March, but still very good. A Stones cover from my childhood (yeah, I’m that old) got me dancing (really, I do dance) and thinking of Bette Midler (okay, so that part wasn’t so good).

Best Recordings

I feel this section deserves some explanation (but again, if you have read this far it probably isn’t necessary except to satisfy myself). I have chosen to create a list of best songs of the year instead of albums for a couple of reasons. First, I will not declare the album dead, but it sure ain’t what it used to be. Thank God that vinyl is making a comeback (really it is) or the art form would be completely lost. Cover art is usually seen on a digital screen that is not even 3 square inches. While thematic records survive (maybe 808s and Heartbreak?), I do not expect to see a major artist release anything like Tommy or The Wall any time soon. iTunes is the future (I bought something there today) and digital clips have returned us to the world of music that my father (and his impressive collection of 45s) knew. Of course, those were all singles, pushed by growing record labels and guaranteed by payola. We have a little more freedom now and we can choose our own singles (though I expect that within five years somebody will find a way to manipulate that). Even if we do listen to one album at a time, it’s probably on shuffle. Did I mention that Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” (No, I will not link that!) is the greatest selling song of all time on iTunes? It wasn’t even the top selling single off that album (which was called Escape if you care), that was “Open Arms”. The point is that songs – in and of themselves – seem to matter more now than they have in a long time (I also think albums have suffered as a result – I have heard some bad deep tracks lately).

I understand that top ten lists are a function of our decimal (or denary) numeral system, but I have the same problems with convention that I have with authority, organized religions, and Republicans, so the A-List will go with a baker’s dozen and take a stand against triskaidekaphobia.

These are the ground rules. I have resisted the urge to repeat artists or include reissues in making this list (otherwise the list might be dominated by The Replacements – check out the TwinTone reissues). So to contradict everything that I just said about the album being dead (almost) there were several difficult decisions to make in selecting my favorite song from some really good records out there. I also noticed that many of my choices were sequenced at the beginning of those records (which is traditionally where the singles are) – another point for the continued relevance of the long play format and a mark against my shuffle theory. Maybe my theory is bunk and I just wanted an excuse to make a best of Y2K8 mix tape (playlist) for myself.

Finally, it is only fair to let you in on my criteria for selecting the songs. The standard is not that the song is well-crafted (though there are some of those) or inventive (maybe one of those) or expertly produced (probably two or three of those). I have abandoned critical snobbery (and I do sheepishly recognize that I am a music snob despite my shameless affection for DLR-era Van Halen). There effectively were two criteria and nothing scientific. These are songs I found myself listening to (and wanting to listen to) over and over, over the course of the year OR songs that I simply could not get out of my head. (The links are to Amazon which is certainly not the only place to buy music but certainly the easiest to link to – see my motive there?) Buy music!

1. “Sequestered In Memphis” from the album Stay Positive by The Hold Steady. I cannot get enough of Craig Finn’s stories. I get the Springsteen comparisons, but these tales are not so romantic and sentimental and thus, better. Maybe that’s just the generational gap showing up. As for this song, anyone who has ever been anywhere near a deposition has got to love the line “Man, they want to know exactly which bathroom / Dude, does it make any difference?” and I think we all understand what he means by “in daylight she looked desperate / that’s okay, I was desperate too.”

2. “Charity Case” from the recording The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley. This song excels in the nuance. The film projector. The snare and hi-hat. The hand claps. The whispered background vocals – the voices in the head of the lead vocal? I don’t know, but I do know that charity works and “If I help somebody / baby there’s mercy for me”.

3. “Always a Friend” from the release Real Animal by Alejandro Escovedo. Twenty-five years ago this would have been a top ten single. I know that might not be the most enticing endorsement you ever heard, but if you consider that the entire rotation of 97.1 (The River) is at least that old, there must be a market out there. This is a great rock n’ roll song in the classic tradition of The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Faces. I worry about my snakeskin boots too.

4. “One Two” from the EP The Bake Sale by The Cool Kids. Ah, hip-hop the way I grew up on it. Clever, funny, and absolutely, completely hook laden. The beats are infectious and the lyrics, instead of misogynistic, are actually positive – “Hmmm, let me think to myself. If I wasn’t me I would wanna be myself.” Impossible to resist. “I’m Annakin and I’m ramblin’, so blah da blah da blah to the chorus..”

5. “Ghost Under Rocks” from The Rhumb Line by Ra Ra Riot. I absolutely love the way the strings open this song (and I wish I could tell you what the technique is) but it is certainly something I never thought I would be saying about a rock n’ roll record. The vocal is so melodic and the songs so well constructed. This is irresistible pop music.

6. “Call it a Ritual” from At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade. I simply found this song infectious. It’s the hook, the stomp (without stomping), the naturally mellifluous vocal. It’s vaguely reminiscent of early prog rock Yes but certainly more modern. Again, I wish this is what I heard when I turned on the radio (and despite plugs by well-respected A-Listers, I haven’t heard it on AM1690 either).

7. “Lost Coastlines” from the album The Stand-Ins by Okkervil River. It may not seem like it to you but this is the last thing I am writing tonight (and gosh do I feel like mailing it in) but this song (and the record it is on) deserves the hype it gets from being on this list (??). Seriously, I believe great drummers make for great bands (and that doesn’t mean you have to be Neil Peart or Buddy Rich). The beat in this song allows the guitars to jangle and the vocals to wander without ever losing the feeling that you are engaged in a rock n’ roll song. Of course, “la la la” is the most versatile of all lyrics and it works here too.

8. “Nite Beat” from the LP The Air Salesmen by The Selmanaires. I don’t know if it is the drums or the soft Brian Eno-style production or what, but this reminds me of Talking Heads, and guess that is a good thing. These boys are local but have the potential to be so much more. Radio just doesn’t listen anymore.

9. “Strange Times” from the record Attack & Release by The Black Keys. I love the video on their website and want to replay this song every time it finishes (I had the same feeling with last year’s “Almost Ready” by Dinosaur, Jr.). I only wish I was as enthusiastic about the entire album (despite the Brian Burton production).

10. “Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!” from the album of the same name by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. I do not apologize for my preference for literary lyrics and my further affinity for biblical references (I love Josh Ritter and Bob Dylan for just those reasons). Nick Cave, poet, author, and the product of an Anglican boarding school, is well-suited to be the perfect foil for my songwriting bias – and is. The whole story is so good, I will not choose a line. I also like the obviously intentional overuse of the exclamation point. Emoticons beware – you have met your match!!!

11. “I Will Possess Your Heart” from the recording Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie – Despite the 4:34 intro, this song is perfectly captivating. In fact I think the intro perfectly parallels the lyrical story. The steady mounting intensity suggests that, as Ben Gibbard suggests, “you gotta spend some time love” and you just might come around. I don’t know why this album is being overlooked by so many of the real critics. Of course, I don’t know much.

12. “Paper Planes” from the release Kala by M.I.A. I usually don’t go for songs with gunshots but the rack of the magazine merging into the ring of the cash register is perfect commentary. This is everything that serious hip-hop can and should be. Of course, I am a sucker for the line “we pack and deliver like UPS trucks” too.

13. “Pray Enough” from the LP Loaded by The Wood Brothers – Finally, just in case we’re wrong about that unlucky 13 thing, “you can’t praaaay enough”.

Thirteen songs, whew.

Biggest Disappointments (*sigh*)

I don’t deny that I try to keep things positive here at the A-List. If I don’t like it or I’m not into it I just don’t mention it (e.g., OTP shows, Coldplay, Star 94, etc.) Nonetheless, I don’t think there is much credibility in offering musical selections for your entertainment without some kind of critical filter. The following are things that sucked. I will keep it short.

Live Shows
Manchester Orchestra – Despite the glimmering examples of Ozzy Osborne, Keith Richards, and Nikki Sixx, not everyone can play while wasted.
Rock City Drop-Outs – Nothing ruins a show like when the lead singer asks a 280 pound woman to get on stage and show the crowd the new tattoo on her ass.

Recordings
Song – My Morning Jacket – “Highly Suspicious” might be the worst song committed to audible media by a band of consequence since Queen cut “Back Chat” in 1982. Ugh.

Album – The Killers, Day & Age – I am embarrassed to admit that I spent money on this record and in the immortal words of Stan Lee that is ’nuff said.

Put a Ribbon on It

That is year one of Atlanta’s A-List. Her eyes are like champagne, they sparkle, bubble over, in the morning all you got is rain.