Neil Young

On my way to work one recent, misty morning I heard this track on the radio. Still half-asleep and bleary-eyed, my mind was entirely focused on the road ahead until this song appeared. Somehow, it all came together wonderfully.

Neil Young "After the Gold Rush" from After the Gold Rush (1970)

HHDC Mix EP #4

"The joy of music should never be interrupted by a commercial." - Leonard Bernstein

Morcheeba "A Well Deserved Break" from Fragments of Freedom (2000)

Sam Amidon "Wedding Dress" from All is Well (2008)

Mark Mallman "Knockout on 22nd St." from Between the Devil and Middle C (2006)

Voxtrot "The Start of Something" from Raised by Wolves EP (2005)

The Gray Brigade "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Fanfare (2007)

David Gray

Although entirely adequate for any season, this record lends itself best to quiet winter moments. In the midst of summer, the somber melodies appear slightly out of place - yet ultimately still inviting. Unquestionably Gray's finest work to date.

"Slow Motion" from Life in Slow Motion (2005)

Santogold

According to an interview on MTV, Santogold indicated the goals she had established for her self-titled debut album:

"I hope that I help break down boundaries and genre classifications. (People think that) If I’m a black woman I’m just about singing R&B. I guess with those producers (Timbaland, Mark Ronson) I’m supposed to be making club music. I’m not one dimensional and my music isn’t. I want the most people as possible to connect to it."

She needn't worry. Santogold, while often compared to contemporary M.I.A., is solidly within a league of her own. "Lights Out" will unquestionably factor within most (if not all) year end song-of-the-year lists.

It's already on mine. . .

"Lights Out" from Santogold (2008)

Frightened Rabbit

2007 was a banner year for new music. There were outstanding releases from the likes of Architechture in Helsinki, The Arcade Fire, The National, Andrew Bird, Rilo Kiley, Dolorean, The White Stripes, Interpol, Feist, Maroon 5, Eluvium, The Frames, Spoon, Josh Ritter, Jens Lekman, The New Pornographers....I could go on for quite some time.

Near the tail end of that year, a re-release raised quite a few eyebrows on the independent scene. It was Frightened Rabbit's first effort Sing the Greys. There was promise in the songs, but it did little for me and I moved along.

Now comes The Midnight Organ Fight, a record light years beyond their previous effort. There have been scant few heart-achingly beautiful albums released this year, Sun Kil Moon and Headlights leap to mind - and now Frightened Rabbit takes the lead.

Don't miss this one.

"Backwards Walk" from The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)

Over the Rhine

File Under: Music for an Overcast Day, Hopeful for Spring, The Picnic Beneath a Willow Tree or the Room with a View

"Born" & "I Want You To Be My Love" from Drunkard's Prayer (2005)

Neon Neon

Acts as diverse as Pacific! to The Killers have proven that adding an eighties edge to modern pop/rock arrangments can be highly successful fusions. It is a refreshingly original trend, despite that implicit fact that the bands are merely taking their influences to a literal extreme.

Neon Neon, for instance, utilized many instruments manufactured in the eighties to create the sound on their debut effort Stainless Style. The record is a unique concept album conceived around the high-profile playboy lifestyle of John DeLorean.

The eighties tribute theme is noticably prevalent on the album's strongest tracks: "I Lust U", "Raquel", "Belfast", and "I Told Her On Alderaan".

Unfortunately, the other half of the record is constructed with more pedestrian fare. Tracks like "Trick for Treat", "Luxury Pool", and "Sweat Shop" tread typical modern R&B blueprints with yawn-inducing results.

"I Told Her on Alderaan" from Stainless Style (2008)

Aphex Twin

"Avril 14th" from Drukqs (2001)

Classic Film Collections: Part 1.5

As a small addendum to the previous post, I've provided a couple of photos to illustrate the particular attention Warner Bros. paid with the period-authentic cover artwork for their classic dvd releases.