Music You Should Be Listening To v2

:::The latest in the MYSBL series, v3 continues our effort to bring you the best in new music. Pure, un-tainted recommendations for the real music lover.

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Modest Mouse :::The World At Large [from Good News For People Who Love Bad News, 2004] Ten years as the reigning indie princes of the northwest, Modest Mouse has finally dropped the jaws of the Abercrombie crowd. Oh, and pop music critics too. This one's in the lead for record of the year by ten lengths.

Stars :::Elevator Love Letter [from Heart, 2003] Lately the Toronto music scene has been turning heads, largely in part to the Stars and Broken Social Scene. Sharing members and chic, it's no wonder. Pop clarity and melodic precision from our northern neighbors. Burr.

Iron & Wine :::Naked As We Came [from Our Endless Numbered Days, 2004] Iron & Wine's Sam Beam has been making quiet, folky masterpieces on his bedroom 4-track for years. His hushed voice and delicate strumming hold a power that Sub Pop couldn't resist sending to the masses.

Sufjan Stevens :::All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace [from Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State, 2003] In his quest to write a long player ode to each state, Sufjan Stevens nailed the first one. Michigan is a powerful, commanding take on chilly midwest everydayness. Supposedly Rhode Island is next.

Franz Ferdinand :::Take Me Out [from Franz Ferdinand, 2004] Labeled as the saviors of the dancing rock & roll crowd, these four Scots have shimmied into the U.S. on waves of good press. Well deserved, this one is worth getting on the dance floor for.

Sarah Harmer :::New Enemy [from All of Our Names, 2004] Her debut impressed the coffee shop crowd with its tough as nails gracefulness. This, her second, continues her slide towards singer-songwriter perfection of the relationship doldrums.

The Postal Service :::Such Great Heights [from Give Up, 2003] Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello have taken laptop rock to a unique and astounding place. Addictive and transcending, this one defies gravity and all previous assumptions about rock music.

The Wrens :::Everyone Takes Sides [from The Meadowlands, 2003] Waiting 7 years for release their second album, The Wrens smoked everyone in last year's batch of year-end Top Ten lists. Well deserved, their noisy pop overdrive likely blew tiny car speakers all over the country.

Paul Westerberg :::What a Day (For a Night) [from Come Feel Me Tremble, 2003] Life in a rock & roll band has been rough on Paul Westerberg. Thankfully he's still making amazing, ragged pop nuggets in his basement. Follow-up to 2002's stellar Stereo, this one is more of the same. And that's a good thing.

Ryan Adams :::Love Is Hell [from Love Is Hell, Part 1, 2003] Everyone's favorite sour grapes scapegoat, Ryan has so much music his label isn't sure what to do with it all. Amidst last year's average Rock N' Roll, this one was overlooked. Less Morrisey, more whisky.

Super Furry Animals :::Hello Sunshine [from Phantom Power, 2003] Possibly the prolific Welsh cousins of the Flaming Lips, the Animals churn out one pop epic after another. Famous for their live shows with bigfoot costumes, they've delivered their most down to earth and user-friendly record to date.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs :::Maps [from Fever to Tell, 2003] New York City's art rock trio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, have impressed as many NPR listeners as indie kids. On the map as the latest NYC product to wear lots of black and churn out blistering, smart pop.

Drive-by Truckers :::Heathens [from Decoration Day, 2003] Dusty shit kickers, the Drive-by Truckers are southern rock gentlemen who could pass as Lynyrd Skynyrd's smarter little brother. Decoration Day digs with down on the farm rock, but this one is a delicate ode to a proud man's past.

The Polyphonic Spree :::Light & Day/Reach For the Sun [from Beginning Stages of..., 2002] The Polyphonic Spree make themselves easy targets for the love'em/hate'em debate. Regardless of which camp you're in, this one is part Volkswagen spot, part Broadway musical finale, all mind blowing.

The Beatles :::I've Got a Feeling [from Let It Be… Naked, 2003] Ironically released the same week that Phil Spector was indicted for murder, this version of the classic Beatles swan song is stripped of its gooey orchestral weight. Proving once again that great songs need no finishing touches.

Wilco - An American Soundtrack

:::By now you’ve heard the story of Wilco. They were born from the fallout of alt-country genre setters, Uncle Tupelo. Their record company booted them right before the biggest release of their career. Members of the band have dropped like flies. Singer/songwriter, Jeff Tweedy, has been in and out of rehab for various reasons, some self-imposed, some not. But despite it all, they keep impressing critics and fans alike with music that plays like an American soundtrack to an ever changing American landscape. Wilco is, without a doubt, one of the most significant bands of the last ten years. This is a modest career retrospective.
 

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Wilco :::I Must Be High [from A.M, 1995] Wilco's debut blasted onto the alt-country scene picking up where Uncle Tupelo left off. Not a far departure in direction, but clearly something was different this time.

Wilco :::Casino Queen [from A.M, 1995] Still a fan favorite, this was the quintessential early sound of Wilco... and many, many bands to follow.

Wilco :::Misunderstood [from Being There, 1996] Afraid to stay too alt-country for too long, Being There marked the beginning of a continuous metamorphosis for a band that got bored easily.

Wilco :::Monday [from Being There, 1996] Even with the avant garde in tow, the band wasn't quite ready to stop rocking old school.

Wilco & Billy Bragg :::California Stars [from Mermaid Avenue, 1998] Wilco found time to collaborate with English folk-rocker Billy Bragg. Mermaid Avenue was a critically acclaimed take on Woodie Guthrie songs that were never completed. Volume 2 followed shortly after.

Wilco :::I'm Always In Love [from Summer Teeth, 1999] With alt-country nowhere in site, Summer Teeth marked a new era of pop song craft for the band. Less Woodie, more Lennon & McCartney.

Wilco :::Shot In the Arm [Alternate Version] [from Summer Teeth, 1999] Word on the street is that singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy has spent some time there. Battling drug addiction through much of his career, A Shot In the Arm could be heroin's finest anthem.

Wilco :::I Am Trying To Break Your Heart [from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2002] Yet another career defining moment, Wilco forgets all they've learned in the past and reconstitutes their music into an electro-pop fantasy that no one could deny. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot may possibly be one of the best records of the decade.

Wilco :::Kamera [from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2002] Perfectly depicting the sound of a band that doesn't know how to contain itself, Kamera was reportedly recorded 9 different times.

Wilco :::I'm the Man Who Loves You [Demo] [Unreleased] Possibly recorded with former drummer Ken Coomer, this version harkens back to a younger, less eclectic Wilco. Originally on YHF, fans of the early stuff may like this version better.

Jeff Tweedy :::Sunken Treasure [Live] [Unreleased] During the great record label debacle surrounding Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Jeff Tweedy kept himself busy by touring solo. Sunken Treasure was originally released on Being There.

Jay Bennett & Edward Burch :::Talk To Me [from The Palace at 4 A.M., 2002] In case you didn't see Sam Jones' fine documentary, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, we'll tell you now. Co-songwriter Jay Bennett was essentially kicked out of the band during the recording of YHF. Unfortunate for us, he wrote some of Wilco's best hooks.

Wilco :::Shakin' Sugar [Demo] [Unreleased] Need more proof? Bennett's Shakin' Sugar was included on The Palace at 4 A.M., but Lobetoxy.com was able to snag this demo version recorded by the band before Bennett's last supper.

The Minus 5 :::The Family Gardener [from Down With Wilco, 2002] Members of Wilco joined The Minus 5's Scott McCaughey for an album of co-written, co-played pop gems. This one features Tweedy on lead vocals.

The Autumn Defense :::Some Kind of Fool [from Circles, 2003] Not to be outdone by his current (or former) band mates, bassist John Stirrat got in on the side project action himself. Adored by fans and critics alike, Circles is an unexpectedly beautiful pop statement.

Wilco :::Theologians [from A Ghost Is Born, 2004] And now, the latest in a dizzying career, A Ghost Is Born has the unfortunate task of following YHF. With the jury still out, this one may take a little longer to sink in. Read Lobetoxy.com's review of it here.