Z on Year End Lists

[wellfleet]

Keith Phipps (whom I adore) also put Z in his year-end top-10...

But what's up with this in the previous review?
..."The album unfortunately has really no standout tracks..."

[Dee.]

high-lonesome moan

I spot a song title by David Pajo.  ;)

That phrase is evocative, no?  Makes me think of a wolf.  

[LaurieBlue]

Filter's Top 10 of 2005, Day Eleven: The Like
by Staff | 12.15.2005

 Sure there were a bunch of boys making headlines this year, but no band has really come into their own and proven themselves worthy more than LA's trio The Like. Let's get the basics out of the way: all girls, all musicians, all daughters of music gurus, all rock n roll. The ladies of The Like released their debut on Geffen this year called Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?, and they are currently on tour with fellow LA based fuzz rock duo Giant Drag.

Hopefully you were lucky enough to snag a ticket to the girls' end of year performance in LA at the Indie 103.1 Office Christmas Party. If not, don't worrry, we got more Like for you right here. The girls bestowed their top 10 of the year for all you here:

The Like

1. The Double Loose In The Air (Matador)
2. Kanye West Late Registration (Roc-a-fella )
3. R Kelly Trapped in the Closet (Parts 1-12) (Jive)
4. Kasabian Kasabian (RCA)
5. Babyshambles Down In Albion (Rough Trade)
6. Giant Drag Hearts and Unicorns (Kickball/Interscope)
7. Gorillaz Demon Days (Virgin)
8. M.I.A. Arular (Interscope)
9. Emiliana Torrini Fisherman's Wife (Rough Trade US)
10. My Morning Jacket Z (ATO)

http://www.filter-mag.com/news/interior.2847.html

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.enidnews.com/cnhi/enidnews/entertainment/local_story_349220231.html

CDs to buzz about

By Cass Rains Commentary

With only 10 days of shopping left before Christmas, a CD is the perfect gift. Literally, it is the gift that keeps on giving, unless it gets too scratched.

Here are a couple choice albums from the year 2005 — one of which you've heard the buzz, and another that may have buzzed by you.

• The Eels "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations"

The April release of the Eels' only two-disc album in the group's nine-year history. An unusual collection of musicians ranging from a brass and wind orchestra to a drummer named Butch, the group is in a state of constant evolution, with only the leader, a man called E, staying at the forefront.

E's (Mark Oliver Everett's) 1996 debut "Beautiful Freak" captured listeners with the post Nirvana void filling "Novocain for the Soul." After developing a distaste for fame, the loss of his mother to cancer and the suicide of his sister, E has certainly had inspiration for his often morose, but sometimes giddy, music.

Still scratching your head? If you've seen either of the "Shrek" films, "Holes" or "Levity," then you've heard the Eels.

"Blinking Lights" is the culmination of the songs that built up. Recorded on and off in between two other albums and three tours, the double-disc set captures the full brunt of emotions, which comes from scarred musical genius.

E brings a few instrumental-only tracks, while offering a mixture of pure joy and deadening despair.

"Railroad Man" and "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)" are a couple of tracks that inspire jubilation. Whereas, "Suicide Life" and "I'm Going to Stop Pretending that I Didn't Break You're Heart" exemplify how sadness should sound.

You really can't go wrong with these 33 tracks. Don't let this one buzz by you.

• My Morning Jacket "Z"

After packing concert halls and beer barns through most of the United States, and five albums later, the southern jam band rockers have arrived at a crossroad, where their music has become captivating.

"Z" has as much, if not more potential, to do for My Morning Jacket what "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" did for the Flaming Lips.

The similarities between the two groups are too numerous to list. Let's just say if the experimenting and toe-dipping into the electronic sound pays off, their popularity will soar just as the Lips' did.

While the 10-track release may seem short, the band does pack a few five-minute songs, a special CD-ROM track (enhanced CD) a 10-minute plus track, that includes an encore after a few minutes of silence.

"Off the Record" has a memorable chorus, and the tracks "Knot Comes Loose" and "Lay Low" sport a psuedo-country tinge, having some fans calling it the Space Country sound.

This is an album sure to be used for comparisons for years to come, as well as for lessons in how changing you're sound can create success. If you've heard the buzz, it's time to get stung. This album can certainly grow on you.



Rains is a News & Eagle staff writer.

[LaurieBlue]

http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNews/view.bg?articleid=117263&format=text

 We asked our critics to name their favorite CDs of 2005. Whether that music lover on your holiday list loves rock or rap, country or classical, you're guaranteed to find some cool ideas here. And if you decide to grab a few CDs for yourself, we won't tell.
 
    Pop/Rock, Take 2
 
    1. Kings of Leon, "Aha Shake Heartbreak" (RCA). Provides "A Bigger Bang" for rock lovers than the Stones' not-so-shabby new CD.
 
    2. Clem Snide, "End of Love" (SpinArt). Worth getting for smart lyrics alone, but cool tunes and Eef Barzelay's improved singing make this a gem.
 
    3. My Morning Jacket, "Z" (ATO/RCA). The Kentucky guitar band gets more focused as its musical palette expands with keyboards and more.
 
    4. Living Things, "Ahead of the Lions" (Jive/Zomba). Inspired combination of rock 'n' roll an Aerosmith fan will understand and social and political critique Chomsky-ites can dig.
 
    5. Sly and the Family Stone, "Different Strokes by Different Folks" (Epic/Legacy). Available only at Starbucks at least for a few more weeks, Sly re-emerges to retool his music for the hip-hop age with everyone from the Roots and Chuck D. to Steven Tyler and John Mayer - and it works.
 
    - LARRY KATZ
 

[ratsprayer]

colin meloy from the decemberists & andrew bird dig Z.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/comments/12-16-05/

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/enduring-credence-of-pop/2005/12/15/1134500958957.html

[Easy Morning Rebel]

colin meloy from the decemberists & andrew bird dig Z.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/comments/12-16-05/

Oooh! That's two good boys!  ;D

[ratsprayer]

Oooh! That's two good boys!  ;D

yeah at the andrew bird show i saw a few weeks ago, i was doing my best to convince him to do a joint tour with the boys.  so if it happens, you know who to thank.   ;D

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.grimeys.com/index.html

Grimey's Staff Faves for 2005

OK here it is, your holiday gift giving guide for the music fan in your life, courtesy of the music-obsessed staff at Grimey's!  The following lists are compiled by each of us and we were free to speak our minds and make the kinds of lists we wanted to make.  So some chose to tip some sacred cows and highlight the most overrated albums of the year as well as focus on some fine local bands that need your attention.  Everybody at least gives up a basic top 10.  So without further ado...

 
Doyle "D-Funk" Davis

These are my favorite new albums, reissues and music DVDs, plus some live music I dug like the most.

 

New Albums:

1. My Morning Jacket – Z

2. Black Mountain – Black Mountain

3. Wilco – Kicking Television

4. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Naturally

5. A Band Of Bees – Free The Bees

6. The Selmanaires – Here Come The Selmanaires

7. Spinto Band – Nice & Nicely Done

8. Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel The Illinoize

9. Amadou & Miriam – Dimache A Bamako

10. The Budos Band – The Budos Band

 
Live Shows in Nashville:

1. The Dynamites featuring Charles "Wigg" Walker at The Basement

2. My Morning Jacket at City Hall

3. Neil Young at The Ryman

4. The Fiery Furnaces at Exit/In

5. tie: The Selmanaires & The High Dials at The Basement

6. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at Exit/In (May show)

7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at The Basement & Devendra Banhart at Exit/In (saw both shows in one night!)

8. Le Tigre at Exit/In

9. Teenage FBI at GBV DVD release party at The Basement

10. New Pornographers & Destroyer at Mercy Lounge

 
"Smokin'" Josh Walker

Smokin' Josh's (somewhat predictable, if you know me) Top 10 of 2005

 

1. Mew-and the glass handed kites

2. Kent-du & jag doden

3. Sigur Ros-takk

4. My Morning Jacket-Z

5. Low-the great destroyer

6. Selmanaires-here comes the selmanaires

7. Wilco-kicking television

8. Budos Band-self title

9. Sun Kil Moon-tiny cities

10. eels-blinking lights and other revelations

 

Smokin' Josh's Top 10 Local Artists (get out there and support all local music)

 

1. Brother-Sister- self title

2. Alcohol Stunt Band-gold paint

3. Heypenny- use these spoons

4. The Suns of Norway-self title

5. imagine asians-ep (shameless self-promotion)

6. Hotpipes-Deadly Poison

7. Cortney Tidwell-self title

8. Thompson-lonely and in love

9. Ik Ben- two eps

10. Lylas-Halloween 7"


Jonathan Rogers

Jonathan's top ten album's of 2005

1. Yesterday's New Quintet - Sound Direction

2. Go! Team - Thunder Lightening Strike

3. Broadcast - Tender Buttons

4. The Selmanaires - Here Come The Selmanaires

5. Of Montreal - Sunlandic Twins

6. Iron and Wine/Calexico - In the Reins

7. My Morning Jacket – Z

8. Angels of light/Akron Family - s/t

9. Earlies - these were the

10. Budos Band - S/T



Julee Duwe

Here are my album picks for '05

1. Sigur Ros – Takk
2. My Morning Jacket – Z
3. Black Mountain – s/t
4. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
5. Stars – Set Yourself on Fire
6. Kent – Du & Jag Doden
7. The Go! Team – Thunder Lightning Strike
8. Spoon – Gimme Fiction
9. New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
10. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm

 

Luke Schneider
Top Ten Records of 2005 (in no particular order)

 

1. Broken Social Scene---S/T

2. M. Ward---Transistor Radio

3. My Morning Jacket---Z

4. Budos Band---S/T

5. Broadcast---Tender Buttons

6. Spinto Band---Nice and Nicely Done

7. Edan---Beauty and the Beat

8. Gary Higgins---Red Hash

9. The Clientele---Strange Geometry

10. Devendra Banhart--Cripple Crow

 
10 Most Promising Local Bands

 

1. The Lone Official

2. The Privates

3. Jeff

4. The Hot Pipes

5. How I Became The Bomb

6. Imagine Asians

7. Coyote

8. The Clutters

9. Hands Down Eugene

10. Lylas.....(ok, ok, I admit, its my band)

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.filter-mag.com/news/interior.2854.html

I Love Josh Ritter - this is awesome!

Filter's Top 10 of 2005, Day Twelve: Josh Ritter
by Staff & Josh Ritter | 12.16.2005

 A singer songwriter with a taste for the Dylan/Cash classic "Girl From North Country", Josh Ritter, a former neuroscience major, decided to pursue music after hearing Leonard Cohen. Self funding his first release and tour, he later caught the attention of The Frames, who took him on tour with them in Ireland. As his song "Me & Jiggs" was featured on Six Feet Under, he was selling out Irish headlining tours and even inspired a tribute band, titled Cork. Now a notable figure in music in the US, expect to hear more musings of this Idaho fella in years to come. Check out his top ten.

Josh Ritter

1. My Morning Jacket – Z (ATO)
2. Spoon – Gimme Fiction (Merge)
3. White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
4. The National – Alligator <(Beggars)
5. Hilary Hahn & Natalie Zhu – Mozart: Violin Sonatas K. 301, 304, 376 & 526 (Deutsche Grammophon)
6. Sam Kassirer – Sitting on Buildings EP (web-only)
7. M. Ward – Transistor Radio (Merge)
8. Erin McKeown – We Become Like Birds (Nettwerk)
9. John Prine -- Fair and Square (Oh Boy)
10. Neil Diamond – 12 Songs (Sony

[wellfleet]

josh ritter is one cool dude... i saw him in montreal and we chatted after the show. he's very engaging on stage. love it when people love Z. also dig all the canadian bands making top-10 lists.

[thebear0284]

number 6 on rolling stone's

http://www.rollingstone.com/special/8952414

[wellfleet]

dudes... i got my rolling stone this morning. really glad it's number 6, really not glad that the rest of the top-50 are kinda watered down and lame. i can honestly say that i've heard 90% of those records and i can't believe they made it on there. it makes me sad. look at the difference between mojo's top lists, or the onion's, and rolling stone. even though RS has been supporting MMJ for a while now, i can't get behind their music reporting. their political stuff this year and the last few has been stellar, but i'm sorry, i don't think franz ferdinand is the second coming of anything...

[Easy Morning Rebel]

yeah at the andrew bird show i saw a few weeks ago, i was doing my best to convince him to do a joint tour with the boys.  so if it happens, you know who to thank.   ;D

Ah, I'll remember that!  ;)

[Easy Morning Rebel]

number 6 on rolling stone's

http://www.rollingstone.com/special/8952414

Wow, MMJ - Z is prior to Sufjan Stevens for once in a while of all these Year End Lists. ;D

[LaurieBlue]

Magnet magazine's top 20 of 2005

1. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
2. The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema
3. ...Trail of Dead, Worlds Apart
4. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire
5. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
6. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake...
7. BMRC, Howl
8. M. Ward, Transistor Radio
9. Queens of the Stone Age, Lullabies to Paralyze
10. National, Alligator
11. Black Mountain
12. Constantines, Tournament of Hearts
13. Decemberists, Picaresque
14. Spoon, Gimme Fiction
15. Hold Steady, Separation Sunday
16. High Dials, War of the Wakening Phantoms
17. Devendra Banhardt, Cripple Crow
18. MMJ, Z
19. Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins
20. Six Organs of Admittance, School of the Flower

[bilbo]

No Depression Year End Top 40

# 7

http://www.nodepression.net/

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.popmatters.com/music/best2005/cds4.shtml

13  
My Morning Jacket, Z (ATO/RCA)
My Morning Jacket seem to be peaceful guys, but they've waged war on the Flaming Lips. The title of Baddest Psychedelic Indie Rock Band in the States is now up for grabs, as Z proves the Kentucky band can transmit sunny atmospherics and lofty melodies through far more than just spectral country-rock. "Worldless Chorus" flavors the band's previous formula with a touch of dub; at its conclusion, frontman Jim James cries like Prince reborn. "Off the Record" employs fat, syncopated rhythm for bounce, heavily reverbed guitars for depth, and keyboards for an air of classic soul. "Lay Low" rocks unapologetically: two tireless lead guitars shimmy to a keyboard-laced groove, intermingling for three of Z's finest minutes. While this is not a perfect record, it succeeds by avoiding pretension despite banking on bliss-out, seamlessly fusing an array of impulses, and above all, being a vast pleasure to listen to.
 Nate Seltenrich  PopMatters review  Amazon  iTunes

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5054194

NPR

6. My Morning Jacket

    * "Wordless Chorus" from Z

jacket

My Morning Jacket: Z

The My Morning Jacket record is a masterpiece. I'm haunted by these songs, which have penetrated by consciousness like no others since Beck's Sea Change. The disc is jarringly beautiful. And it grooves and rocks, too. And thanks to All Songs Considered for the 9:30 Club broadcast of their October show. I couldn't make it to the concert, but listened live and was blown away. - Jeremy