Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Back in 2004, before internet buzz became ultra-instant, a young producer named Danger Mouse became famous by mashing up the vocals from Jay-Z's Black Album with the Beatles' White Album creating, you guessed it, the Grey Album. Ultimately, the Grey Album was more notable for it's concept than its execution (except for this badass version of 99 Problems, mixed with Helter Skelter). But the project launched DM's career into the stratosphere and he would go on to work with the likes of The Gorillaz, Cee-Lo, Beck, The Black Keys and many more, with the latest being the Shins' James Mercer. But we'll get to that soon enough.

Coincidentally, it was also 2004 when Natalie Portman's scripted recommendation was enough to create quite the buzz of it's own. I'm referring to, of course, the "indie" movie Garden State, in which Portman's character claimed that the Shin's would "change your life." That moment certainly changed the Shins' lives more than they changed mine (they didn't). (Oddly, several days after I wrote this sentence, I came across this article on that exact subject.)

So now here we are, 6 years removed from those two unconnected events that strangely found a way to come together (cosmic, man) in the form of Broken Bells, the latest collabo between Danger Mouse and __________. A lot of time has passed since DM splashed his name all over the internet with the Grey Album or even when he took over the airwaves with Cee-Lo as Gnarls Barkley. And much like the vegetables in my fridge right now, what was once fresh is now just old and soggy. Danger Mouse hasn't grown much as a producer these last few years. As documented in older posts, I found his recent projects with the Black Keys and Beck to be varying degrees of bland and uninspired. He took the funk out of Beck, and that is just plain wrong.

All that being said, Broken Bells still manages to be a solid album, probably on the strength of Mercer's voice. While DM's sounds are a bit vanilla, he doesn't take away from what the artists with whom he works are. That's great and all, but I feel that a good producer should push whomever they're working with into new creative heights.

Trying to pick out a favorite track isn't very easy, since they all sort of run together. This is an album you can play front to end, a rare feat, but not because it is so great, but because it's so plain. You probably won't skip any songs, but you won't be reaching for that 'repeat' button either.

Canadian Dominance To Continue Through May

It appears that the world will have to suffer Canadian dominance for a couple more months. On May 4th, the world will receive a one-two combo from Canadian heavy-hitters Broken Social Scene and The New Pornographers.  Check out the awesome 7 minute 'World Sick,' the first single from BSS's upcoming Forgiveness Rock Record. (I'll be seeing them in NYC in early May and will have a full write up.) I have high hopes for The New Pornographers fifth studio album, Together, which will hopefully be better than their previous effort.  Lank to their first single, 'Your Hands (Together).'

Fortunately, America will not let this aggression stand (man). On the same day, The Hold Steady will attempt to counter the Northern assault, but I'm just not sure one band can stand up to the awesomeness that is Canadian indie rock, especially short one member. 

Top Ten Albums of 2009

11. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It

'The Way I See It' comes in at number 11 because it actually came out in the fall of 2008 but I didn't find it until this, er.. last year. Rapheal Saadiq has a storied career, first as a member of Tony! Toni! Tone!, then as a producer and collaborator with ATCQ, D'Angelo, Joss Stone, The Roots, Snoop, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston and tons of others. But now he's stepped out on his own and crafted some truely wonderful r&b in the vein of Motown and Stevie Wonder. The album even features Stevie (and Jay-Z!).

10.5. Realpeople - Holland

So I'm cheating, but Realpeople's 'Holland' get's a half nod as it was only an EP. Realpeople is a not-so-secret pseudonym for Zachary Condon/Beirut. These lush electronic songs are full of grace, sorrow and blips.

10. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

Brooklyn Cool meets Southern Charm. The Avett Bros are hard to categorize, being an amalgamation of rock, folk, pop, country, bluegrass and more, but are easy to love. Opening and title track 'I and Love and You' begins with an 'Imagine' like piano riff but becomes more dynamic as it progresses. A lovely album.

9. Grand Duchy - Petits Fours

See here for my previous review of this terrific Mr. and Mrs. Frank Black album.

8. Fever Ray - S/T

Erie electo music from Karin Andersson, on half of The Knife. The lyrics are strange, the pitch-shifted vocals creepy and the music haunting, but it all combines to create a darkly beautiful experience.

7. K'naan - Troubadour

Somolian born and raised K'naan has a story to tell and on 'Troubadour' he tells it all. We hear about the slums and poverty, guns and warfare, friends lost and family left behind. But the travelling minstrel hasn't let life's hardships get to him. It's truly amazing and gratifing to witness someone remain positive while overcoming true hardship in order to lead a successful life.

6. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - S/T

Fuzzy, pop rock that's not quite twee. Think Los Campesinos! meets the fuzz rock of The Big Pink or The Magnetic Fields. Anyway, they craft tight little songs that rarely reach the four minute mark. Other than the not that bad Teenager In Love, this album is great from front to back.

5. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

This piano driven album sounds like Leonard Cohen inhabiting Sarah McLachlan's body, but its actually just the British Natasha Khan. 'Two Suns' drips with emotion and artistry and manages to be dark, sad, haunting, beautiful and grand all at once. As I've said earlier, this is definitely nighttime music.

4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

These French rockers broke through to the mainstream, getting solid radio play and hawking old people cars. 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' doesn't bring anything new to the table or push any sonic boundaries, but it is clear that is not what Phoenix are aiming for. Instead, they deliver eminently danceable pop influenced songs.

3. Vetiver - Tight Knit

While many critics were going gaga over Grizzly Bear's snoozefest Veckatimest, I was chilling to the folksy stylings of Vetiver. To me this whole album falls somewhere between two standout albums from last year: the folksier sections of Plants & Animals' 'Parc Avenue' coupled with the songwriting charm of Sub-Pop label mates The Helio Sequence 'Keep Your Eyes Ahead'.

2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

It was a big year for YYY's Karen O, with her band getting some well deserved air play and composing the soundtrack to some kids movie. 'It's Blitz!' is shimmery dance tracks delivered in a punk fashion.

1. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

At once arty and accessible, this unlikely album is so original but appealing its almost disgusting. Hailed by the most hipstery of hipsters to Kanye and Solange Knowles, Dirty Projectors struck paydirt with this poppy yet incredibly thought out album

:( of 2009

Most music that comes out sucks. Thats a fact. Look it up. An even harsher fact is that some of the music you look forward to will suck. Here are WRR's biggest disappointments of 2009.

311 – Uplifter

For a long time, I’ve been a big fan of 311. And as most fans would tell you, the band's output has somewhat declined in quality over the last few albums, but that is only natural for a band that has been putting out quality music since 1993. But ‘Uplifter’ lies within it’s own deplorable category. All 311 albums are going to share similar elements, but “Uplifter” sounds like it was made by a committee using a cut-and-paste function (or as my friend Zach put it, "There are only so many ways to make chicken noodle soup"). As should have been easily deduced from the “hit” radio single “Hey You,” this execrable album was quickly destined for the dustbin. It’s not clear as to whether the band’s creative juices are all dried up, but I wouldn’t put money on another good album. They’ve had a nice run.

Why? – Eskimo Snow

One of my favorite albums of 2008, Alopecia was a vivid and stark look into the bands mildly disturbed yet fascinating psyche. Naturally, when I heard Why? would be following up in 2009, I was excited, until I heard Eskimo Snow and my excitement melted quicker than real Eskimo Snow. You see, E.S. is comprised of songs recorded during the Alopecia sessions and there is a reason they weren’t included on that album. Still, Yoni Wolf’s strange musings are always worth a listen and the more rock-based structure may appeal to some.

N.A.S.A. – The Spirit of Apollo

David Byrne, Seu Jorge, Method Man, RZA, KRS-One, Karen O, Kanye West, George Clinton, Santigold, Del the Funkee Homosapien, and John Frusciante are less than half of the top notch names that lent their time and talent to The Spirit of Apollo. It’s not a bad album per se, but it is painfully mediocre. Painful, because you know it’s such a waste to have all these artists contribute and all N.A.S.A. can manage to do is create generic 90’s underground rap beats.

Peter, Bjorn & John – Living Thing

Like most of you probably were, I was excited for P, B & J’s follow-up to 2006’s superlative Writer’s Block (not to discount the cool instrumental Seaside Rock). And, again like most of you, all I needed was one listen to determine that Living Thing was a flop. The band eschewed their remarkable pop sensibilities in order to experiment; not an impossible task, but one at which they failed. Then, a couple of months ago I had the chance to see them (along with the wonderful El Perro del Mar) and was utterly blown away. They played songs from both albums with such energy and melody that, surely I was too dismissive of Living Thing. I eagerly went home and listened to the album again but nope, I was right the first time. It’s a bit confounding as to how the band could perform the songs so well, but lose that in the studio.

U2 – No Line On The Horizon

When U2 announced they were recording a follow-up to the terribly craptastic abomination known as How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, I didn’t really care until I heard that Rick Rubin (!!!), Def Jam co-founder, producer of AC/DC, The Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, LL Cool J, Tom Petty, Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, RUN-DMC and hundreds of others, would be helming the boards. “Awesome,” I thought. “Maybe one of the greatest producers of all time could help the band re-capture the magic.” But then U2 scrapped those sessions and recorded new songs that turned out to be the bloated and lame No Line On The Horizon. I can’t see how the Rubin-produced songs could have been any worse.

Noah & The Whale – The First Days of Spring

Another follow up, another disappointment. Noah and the Whale’s The First Day Of Spring is as boring, depressing and lifeless as Peaceful The World Lays Me Down was sprightly and life affirming. Apparently, this is due to lead singer Noah Fink being quite down about the breakup with his girlfriend/bandmate Laura Marling. Now we all know that heartbreak has been a catalyst for great albums. This is definitely not one of them. ‘Love of an Orchestra’ is the only song that comes close to achieving the highs of their first album.