Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2011

One more year has come and gone.  Reflecting on 2011 can leave a person feeling estranged and severely disoriented.  From Occupy Wall Street, all the way back to Middle East uprisings, to the death of Osama Bin Laden….it was definitely a strange year.  But, what a year for music!  Hell, even the big whigs at the major record companies saw some improvement (of which at least one should be kissing Adele’s ass hard).  But, when Arcade Fire took home the bacon at the Grammy’s, it became pretty obvious that the indie crowd would come out on top.

Although this is the first “end of year list” for Trainwreck’d, anyone who has seen a list I have created in the past, will see some very familiar faces.  Not so ironically, he whole stole the top prize this year, was also top dog last year.  This is my third list I’ve created in my tenor as a music blogger.  And some of these artists are making their third appearances.  Maybe I’m scared of change, but I’m leaning more towards the idea that they are awesome and extremely dedicated artists.  We also have a very broad range of music here!  Everything from garage rock, hip hop, electronic, folk, and good old fashioned indie rock.  Very few stones are left to gather moss this year.

And all that rambling being said, let’s get this show on the road.  I present to you, Trainwreck’d Society’s  Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2011.  Enjoy!

 

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37.5 Golden Bloom – March To The Drums EP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37. Coffin Collectors – Leopardskin Tales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36. Jackie O Motherfucker – Earth Sound System

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35. Black Pussy – On Blonde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34. Typhoon – A New Kind Of House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33. Liebot – Come Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32. Atmosphere – The Family Sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31. White Orange – White Orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30. The Seldon Plan – Coalizione Del Volere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29. Bright Lights Big Zombie – Bright Lights Big Zombie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28. Magnuson – Crash of Cassini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27. Roch – BiPolar Light Weight Mania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26. Sunbeam – Sunbeam & The Lonely Ghost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25. Beneath Wind And Waves – Non-Etre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24. Portugal The Man – In The Mountain In The Cloud

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23. Gasoline Monk – Dislocated Joints Vol. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
22. The Handcuffs – Waiting For The Robot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21. Stephanie Schneiderman – Rubber Teardrop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20. The Memorials – The Memorials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19. Starfucker – Jupiter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18. Jack James – Leave Town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17. St. Frankie Lee – Girls Say No

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. Axemunkee – Vortex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15. Guilt Monkey – Crash & Burn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14. Dream The Electric Sleep – Lost and Gone Forever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Sadistik & Kristoff Kane – Prey For Paralysis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Poor Boy’s Soul – Burn Down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Captain Nowhere – Party Time Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Ezra Holbrook – Save Yourself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09. Andy B – Letter Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08. Sergius Gregory – Sounds Like People

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07. Simon Bish – All Aboard With Simon Bish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06. Sophie Madeleine – The Rhythm You Started

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05. Jared Mees & The Grown Children – Only Good Thoughts Can Stay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

04. Thom Carter – Strange Dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

03. Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02. Lotte Kestner – Stolen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01. Robin Grey – The Nearest Door

Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2010

37 1/2.  The Fenbi International Superstars: The Fenbi International Superstars EP

37.  Andy Gassaway – Hellfire

36.  Jews and Catholics – Who Are?  We Think We Are!

35.  J Minus – Devil Music

34.  Jack James – Quarter Life Crisis

31.  We Read Minds – We Read Minds

30.  A Fine Day For Sailing – Sand Box

29.  Menomena – Mines

28.  Trances Arc – TA

Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2009

***Disclaimer:  It’s that time of year folks…..end of year list season!  2011 has proved a fairly tough year to gauge, as I am still grueling over tough choices that will have to be made.  Even with two weeks left in the year, choosing who makes the list is still extremely hard.  So, while I continue to try and hammer out the details for this year’s list, I thought I would share with you fine folks, my first two lists originally published at the TART Productions Word.  I started this music blogging thing at the tail end of 2008, so this was the first time I really got to complete my first list.  

Tune in next week for 2010’s list, and of course 2011 will be right around the corner.  But, for now, check out what I loved way back in 2009!***

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I wasn’t going to number these at all.  I think too much hype is thrown into what number the album lands on.  I believe in a redux version of the Ricky Bobby philsophy, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”  I would say:  “If you’re not in the Top 5, you still made the list”.  Therefore, everybody is a winner!

I’m pretty happy with the list.  You know it’s been a good year when you can drop 37 1/2  names quickly(Why 37 & 1/2….I am a massive Kevin Smith fan.  Hopefully that doesn’t stir you instantly away.  And the 1/2 is for an EP I just couldn’t leave out).  And it doesn’t hurt to have your favorite band release a double album during the year and it’s their best yet.  That secures one spot.  I know there will be conflicts with my choices.  That’s just part of the end of year routine I guess.

You will notice the albums are also links.  Most of them are links to Fensepost.com posts that myself or Fense (editor/creator), or other contributors have already written.  Others will be to either ComfortComes.com pieces I wrote or their Myspace page (yes, I’m still trying to keep that alive).  So, without further ado, the top 37 1/2 albums of 2009:

37 1/2.  MONOSON – THE THERAPY SESSIONS EP

37.  IT’S ELEPHANTS – GETS ALONG

36.  ST. VINCENT – ACTOR

35.  FIELDHEAD – THEY SHOOK HANDS FOR HOURS

34.  CAGE THE ELEPHANT – CAGE THE ELEPHANT

33.  MENHIRS OF ER GRAH – MOURNING DOVE

32.  MOTHER NATURE’S SON – MOTHER NATURE’S SON

31.  WAR TAPES – THE CONTINENTIAL DIVIDE

30.  MAMMOTH LIFE – KALIEDISCOPE ART POP

29.  JACK JAMES – LIGHTS OFF HEADPHONES ON

28.  CURSIVE – MAMA I’M SWOLLEN

27.  HOTPANTS ROMANCE – IT’S A HEATWAVE

26.  VIVA VOCE – ROCK CITY

25.  ALAN COHEN EXPERIENCE – EAT THE PEACE

24.  GARY B & THE NOTIONS – THE NEW TWIST & SHOUT

23.  TRESPASSERS WILLIAM – THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS

22.  ALEXIPHARMIC – AMERICAN BEAUTY

21.  FRUIT BATS – THE RUMINANT BAND

20.  BEL AIR – POLE TO POLE

19.  THEM CROOKED VULTURES – THEM CROOKED VULTURES

18.  ELVIS COSTELLO – SECRET PROFANE AND SUGAR CANE

17.  DAVID PEACHEY – IMAGINARY PEOPLE

16.  GRYNCH – CHEMISTRY 1.5

15.  YARN OWL – TINY DOTS

14.  FATHER ABRAHAM – I AM NOT A SAILOR I AM THE CAPTAIN

13.  THE ATLANTIC MANOR – SLOW DRUGS AND OTHER SORROWS

12.  WE LANDED ON THE MOON – THESE LITTLE WARS

11.  1990S – KICKS

10.  THE WALKING – WANDERINGS AND DISTRACTIONS

9.    KAGERO – JAPANESE GYPSY ROCK

8.    THE FLYING CHANGE – PAIN IS A RELIABLE SIGNAL

7.    ADOLFO LAZO – ON TAPE

6.    CORY CHISEL & THE WONDERING SONS – DEATH WON’T SEND A LETTER

5.    PORTUGAL. THE MAN – THE SATANIC SATANIST

4.    SOUL DISTRACTION – TICKET TO PARADISE

3.    THE REST – EVERYONE ALL AT ONCE

2.    BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS – TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS

1.     NO GO KNOW – TIME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

There you have it folks.  Hope you dig.  If you don’t, well, that’s a shame.

Behind Children of Mercy: Part III: Pre-Production [Exclusive]

I was sitting in the Spokane Airport early in the a.m., fumbling with my very first smartphone and waiting for my flight to Denver to arrive when I received an e-mail from said phone.  And then another.  And then another.  Christopher B’s influence was spreading like a fire in East Texas.  I don’t rightfully remember who the e-mails came from, but I do remember the shock and awe factor of trying to conceive the idea that I might have thunk up something people might give a damn about.  I wasn’t built with a strong ego.  When any sense of anything resembling pride builds up within me, my mind shuts down, and the fear sets in.  I was about to spend two weeks in what I considered the dead center of American hell (Wichita Falls, Texas), my career was in danger of a serious culture shift, yet here I was thinking it was a good idea to embark on a journey far beyond anything I had ever considered.

I arrived in Texas with a couple more offers from contributors.  And during my stay in desert land, I made a few more acquaintances.  I was there for a class of some sort, but I spent most of my time behind my laptop sending and replying to e-mails about this project I was so entirely frightened by (in between marathon sessions of Man Vs. Food, which in turn helped me gain 10 lbs).  And little did I know, four different amazing things would happen during these two weeks, that would create a no hold’s bar attitude, we are doing this, sort of feel.  Let’s count them down:

1.  A Portland Mercury contributor I decided to randomly contact had recently agreed to join the team, and he mentioned something about a new thing out entitled Kickstarter.  Apparently you can raise money for projects such as this one, through a severely creative way of offering free shit for every donation.  It seemed strange, but I put it in the back of my mind, and told myself to remember this in case it might come in handy.  (As most of you know, Kickstarter some became the platform in which we were able to make this whole damn thing happen financially.  So, yeah, Ryan Feigh pretty much saved our ass on that one.)

2.  Through a random British source, I had decided that I would go out on a limb to try to get one of my favorite female vocalists, Anna-Lynne Williams of Trespassers William, to write.  I had known the former TW drummer during high school, and he was a close friend of some close friends of mine.  But, I really didn’t see myself reaching out to him for help for personal reasons.  But, there was hope across the pond, and I managed to get in contact with Anna and nearly pissed myself to learn that she would love to help out.  So, in a severe stroke of luck, we acquired the talent of an indie rock sensation who jammed out on a Chemical Brother’s Grammy winning record.  Things were truly getting strange.

3.  The idea to make this project a charity based collective was always the main idea.  The problem was finding a charity to donate to.  So I did the simplest cop-out idea I could muster….I asked everyone else.  This is when I received the now infamous e-mail from Swedish based musician, Ola Nyberg, informing me about his son Gordon who has Cystic Fibrosis.  I have to admit, I was only vaguely familiar with CF.  I though it to be just another health issue some deal with.  I would soon realize this was not just another illness.  This was insane, and serious.  Most important to note was the fact that it affected children of young ages.  The average lifespan of a person with CF is 37 years old.  And this age is actually a major improvement from original studies.  Improvements are being made, but there is still a lot of work to do.  It was with this information, and a few tears in my eyes, that I decided to skip out on any VH1’s Save The Music time charity, and go right for a source that would be more than worthy to donate to.  And alas, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The Cystic Fibrosis Trust became our sources of charity.

4.  It was a Friday night I believe.  I didn’t have class in the morning, and I found myself up far too late.  The stench of whiskey on my clothes, and fingertips stained from cigarettes.  I was an utterly drunken mess.  I decided that it was time to lay down and sleep off the misery.  As I often do, I loaded up a large batch of Menhirs of Er Grah songs onto an iTunes playlist, and allowed Thom Carter to sing me to sleep.  And just before I fell to the Sandman, I heard a song I hadn’t noticed before.  I’m certain I had heard it, but never like this.  That song was “Child of Mercy”.  Now let me tell you, I had been listening to Menhirs of Er Grah for years, and I’ve always been moved by Thom’s tracks.  But, something about this song got to me in a special way.  And in a epiphany like state, I yearned to be a child of mercy myself.  Then it struck me.  Children of Mercy.  Perfect!  The subtitle came instantly.  And I never felt more sure about anything in my entire life!

And although I would be the first to agree that not a whole lot comes out of Texas (save for some damn fine musicians, and SXSW), I think it was destiny that I was to live in solitude on Wichita Falls for a little while.  I had a bit of focus time this strange project I was working my way into, and some very crucial elements were mixed into the batch.

So what now?, I thought.  Well, there was promise of an album.  It was time to make that happen.  And then the essays would start pouring in.  And what is this Kickstarter thing?  I again felt in over my head, but so damn excited about the progress of it all that I quickly forged my way through the nervousness, and continued to move forward.  I’ll save the suspense by  letting you all know, for those who don’t know already, things ran pretty damn smoothly in retrospect.  The speed bumps were minor, and mostly unnoticed.

Read more in Behind Children of Mercy Part IV: Production,  coming soon!

Behind Children of Mercy: Part Two: Direction [Exclusive]

I returned from the Qatar shortly after the Jenny Boyle interview and immediately went on a 6 week vacation across the beautiful Northwest.  Somewhere in between cities and sea towns I found myself meeting in person the man I consider to be my greatest boss to date.  I finally met face to face with Andy Fenstermaker, founder and editor of Fensepost.com.  Fensepost has been, and continues to be, my main base and terminal for most of the writing I have done since the winter of 2008 when I dropped this cat an e-mail with a couple of reviews for two of my favorite band’s releases (Westfold & No Go Know), and I began to feel the itch, and the rest is history.  Somewhere between crab quesadillas and local draft beers in Mt. VernonI presented the rough draft circling in my brain about this book that would soon be known as Children of Mercy.  His reactions were directly on par with what I was hoping for.  He seemed enthusiastic and supportive.  This was definitely a push in the right direction considering how much I looked up to this cat.  I decided somewhere around that moment that this might actually be plausible.  But still, being pessimistic by nature is a hard thing to avoid.  I still wasn’t entirely sure.

It wasn’t until I returned from said vacation that I finally got the spark I had been looking for.  It was a late August night, the kids were all in bed and the wife and I were rocking our respected laptops.  I had just received a massive bag of promo’s from Fense during our visit, and I was trying to wrap my mind around where to start.  And just like any true professional writer would do, I had Facebook up as well.  Little did I know that an instant message conversation with my good friend Chris Eaves would really kick things into gear.  He asked me if I had ever considered doing a collection of album reviews and features I had written over the last two years.  I said no…but….and the idea came again.  He was ecstatic and also extremely supportive.  I decided then and there that this was worth a shot.  This was also when I decided that this would be a charity based project for two main reasons: (1) I seriously enjoy doing things for others, as corny as it sounds, it’s true and (2) How in the hell else could I get a shit ton of starving artists, writers, dj’s, etc to contribute to a project in which they will not be getting paid?  It was settled, the beginnings were in motion.

I sat down that very night and dug through my digital Rolodex looking for interested souls.  A bit of nervousness started to develop when I realized that I might be in over my head considering I don’t exactly know as many folks as I thought I would need to make this thing work.  But, after a quart of whiskey, anything began to seem possible, and I jumped for it.  And let’s just say that several of the folks I wrote are either actually featured directly in the book, on the album, or in a roundabout way still directly related to this project.  Some expressed interest, but never showed up to the big show.  But, someone everyone managed to contribute in their own way.  A whole lot of love has to be given to Andy Fenstermaker once again.  I wouldn’t have even heard of several of these fine artists and writers had it not been for him hiring me on at Fensepost.  And in even greater retrospect, Christopher B of Series II Records seems to be one of the most influential figures in independent music!  Once Chris should interest in the project, and relayed the news on his Myspace page, shit hit the fan in an amazing way.  Offers for contributions where coming in all over the damn place from people I had never even heard of, or only heard their music indirectly.  And again, several of the folks he mentioned this project, are in there as well.  I could go on for an entire series of blogs thanking each and every individual involved and what they have done to make this project a success.  And I might just do that here at Trainwreck’d.  But, later.

When the e-mails sent, I shuffled off the bed with whiskey and dreams rattling through my head.  I still had no idea what I was really going to do.  I didn’t have any real direction.  All I had was a headful of scattered ideas and a very vague e-mail asking people to write some essays about something that could be anything, for a charitable cause that was still unknown.  Moments before passing out from the world, I realized that I might be in over my head, and these silly pipe dreams might have to be saved for another day.  But, then I woke up.  And I received some amazing news.  Nearly everyone I had written in the wee hours of the night was on board.  Of course, they had some serious questions and concerns about what exactly the hell I was REALLY looking to do with this.  Nonetheless, they were responsive, and that was all I really needed.

 

Over the next couple of weeks, I began receiving e-mails from Denmark, Croatia, England, Missouri, Nebraska, California, Portland, Italy, England, and more.  People were digging it.  Soon enough, a real direction was developed, and the suggestion of doing a companion compilation album was introduced.  We were a go.  I really couldn’t believe it.  Some old friends like Robin Grey, Thom Carter, Elsa Faith, Michael Phillips, and more were on board as well!  It was going well.  I will admit here to you the fine reader(s) of Trainwreck’d Society.  I was indeed looking for a “name” to be included in this project.  And in a look for somebody who know’s somebody who know’s somebody who knows a guy that once knew…..kind of way, I was close to acquiring at least one member of a well-known Portland based band who may or may have not been featured in the film Dig!  Again, a pipe dream that I am actually glad didn’t happened.  I couldn’t imagine who would have been worthy of replacing in the end to include Mr. Two Last Names.  I can’t think of one who I would want to.

Obviously there were some issues that still needed to be ironed out.  Money being a big one.  We also needed a title, maybe?  And how about getting that damn charity picked?  All things that seemed entirely miniscule after I received our very first submission submitted by one of my favorite singer/songwriters and net label sensation Thom Carter.  For those of you who have already tuned into the book, you know his essay was terrific and very intelligent.  You may also know how crucial his songs would be to this project.  And just how all around awesome it has been to have him as a part of this team.  And yes, he was also the first feature on this lovely website.

And with offers still flooding in, and a real mailing list created that was loaded with so many great artists, things were looking up.  But, things wouldn’t truly kick into gear until mid September when I was whisked away for work down to Wichita Falls, Texas.  It was in a shabby motel room that Children of Mercy: Tales and Teachings From The World of Independent Music and the Children of Mercy Compilation would truly begin full-fledged production.

Two weeks in Texas would prove to provide some very nice updates.  Including a few more fine folks being included to the roster (two before I even got on the first plane ride out of Spokane!) including the lady we all know and love…Anna Lynne Williams.

More on this in Part Three: Production.  Coming Soon!

Behind Children of Mercy: Part One: Conception [Exclusive]

For most of you out there, you are probably aware of the charity based book and compilation project I created entitled Children of Mercy:  Tales and Teachings From The World Of Independent Music.  It’s still a relatively new project, and I know I would be a fool to believe that most of you are checking out Trainwreck’d Society simply because I am such a profound writer, and I surround myself with geniuses from all directions that deserve to be read.  Hopefully time will show that the latter is definitely true.  For those unfamiliar with the project, this will definitely be new.  For the rest of you loyal fans and readers out there, this is just a bit of inside scoop on the development of a project that I still hold very dearly to my heart.  I love everyone who was involved with this project, in any way shape or form.  I can never thank them enough.  But, I will definitely keep trying.  So here we go…..

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Shortly before Trainwreck’d Society was becoming a reality, I received an e-mail from a very nice journalist from College Magazine requesting an interview about my involvement in the creation of Children of Mercy.  It turned out great, and written very elegantly.  (Check out that interview HERE)  In doing this, I realized there are so many little details about this project that either made me laugh externally, or were such prime examples of just plain great luck that I really wanted to share so much more than a questionnaire that only required 5 answers could ever really give.  I got to say a bit more for an interview with Jarkartabeat.com and TRAX Magazine a few months ago, but, the story is so damned interesting to me that I wanted a free forum to tell all the small details that might be of interest to others.  Or just to get them all out there for my own personal amusement.  That in conjunction with my desire to showcase my friends and their talents, was what made Trainwreck’d Society come to life.  I guess that is Fun Fact #1.

The idea for Children of Mercy came around about a year ago, in July of 2010.  I was at the tail end of a tour in in Qatar.  Right around the 4th of July, a little known singer/songwriter was touring the desert with a traveling band of Baltimore based indie rockers and jazz musicians.  Her name was Jenny Boyle.  I had been writing for Fensepost for almost two years at this point, and decided it would be fun to contact her via e-mail for an Independence Day special for the site (see article HERE).  To my surprise, she answered right away, and we set up an interview.  Within this interview.  I was surprised to actually have the table turned towards me when it came to additional questioning.  I began to be prodded about whether or not I had any plans of writing a book or starting my own blog.  I explained to her that I had no desire to EVER start my own blog because I enjoyed the freelance aspect of the music writing world much better than the idea of running something (which is still true, even though this site now exists).  But as far as a project was concerned, I did actually have an idea in mind that I couldn’t quite explain.

A few months earlier, I stumbled upon a book that was free for the taking at the Al Udeid Base Library.  Somewhere among the mass gathering of DVD’s and Magazines, there were actually books!  And some of them were looking for homes.  The book I came across was entitled Heavy Rotations:  Twenty Writers on Albums That Changed Their Lives, edited and with an introduction by Peter Terzian.  It seemed like a great read.  And in retrospect it really was.  There were some strange choices to say the least.  Abba?  The Jacksons?  Kate Bush?  Some very strange choices, yet they came with very sensual tales.  But, after reading a few essays, I soon realized, that I could do this.  And not only did I think I could do this, I could do it better!  But why limit it all to just one album?  What about experiences?  Granted, the writers in this book were just that, writers.  They weren’t musicians in the regular sense, just writers who loved an album or two.  Where I had the advantage – so many of my fellow musician friends and colleagues were also amazing writers.  It all just made sense.

I began to think of all the fine musicians/journalists/bloggers/promoters etc. that I have had the fortune pleasure to get to know over a couple of years as an amateur (still am) music blogger.  I knew this fine people would definitely have something worth wild to say.  I just had to get them together.  What I wasn’t expecting, was how many amazing folks I have never even spoken to would jump eventually jump on board, and within the short period of one year, would become friends I could never imagine not knowing.

But still the whole concept seemed like a pipe dream of some sort.  Money was an issue.  Time and even bigger one.  But, where there is a will there is a way I guess.  And as history would show, we made it happen.  Through a series of fortunate coincidences and possible acts of fate, it happened.  And this our story………

Stay tuned for Part Two of this Exclusive series.  Coming up next: Direction.