Five and Alive

1.) Alexander The Great – Faces Change --- It’d be petty of me to spit on you for something as small as not knowing a band. And it would be even pettier (that’s a word, so suck it) if said band was on some tiny Bloomington, Indiana label, since let’s face it, even with the Internet and all, nobody thinks about Indiana. But maybe we should. ATG make Manchester Orchestra look like wide-eyed beginners. Faces Change is packed with the emotion of real life, which is more rare than it sounds: songs about divorce, drunken walks home with one-night stands, snow! It’s the sound of Americana’s future.
RIYL: Manchester Orchestra, whatever else you like that is, ahem, “brooding”

2.) Years – Years --- I guess Years is my favorite instrumental record of 2009. However, that title feels too constrictive. The way “Are You Unloved” jumps from simple-sounding looped acoustic guitar into stutter stepping electronics can make any self-assured critic run home to their Sigur Ros records, if only to understand something for a second or two. Being that this is the side project of Do Make Say Think’s Ohad Benchetrit, you are right to expect quality. Just don’t expect Years to hang its hat on that powerhouse’s signature whatever-it-is-they-do sound. This is almost a pop record (see the undeniably catchy horn section on “The Major Lift”). And lately it seems that almost-pop records are always the best.
RIYL: Do Make Say Think with a bit more glitchiness

3.) Junius – The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist --- I look good draped in purple. And while that may be irrelevant to anything ever in the history of the world, it’s still the first thought that pops into my brain when Junius start playing. (Writer’s Tip: Always use your first idea.) We had to wait too long for Martyrdom, but if such a lapse in releases is par for the course, at least we’ll have time to learn how to both say and spell Martyrdom. This break is also necessary, though, because the group’s Depeche Mode-on-Godspeed! manifestations require more than a passing thought or two. Eerie found recordings, bellowing vocals, and guitars that have this crazy tendency to rocket upward without leaving the grime behind make Martyrdom incessantly interesting. Each 6-minute song reveals new, exciting nooks for exploration. I’m still not sure what’s actually going on, but I’m starting to think that’s kinda the point.
RIYL: Depeche Mode, Interpol, long songs

4.) Why? – Eskimo Snow --- I met Yoni Wolf two days after my 21st birthday. He was sitting alone before a show in some shitty town that you’ll never visit. I’m super straightedge, but it was Flag Day so I took the night off. Looking terrified as I ambled up to him and sat down, Yoni proceeded to patronize me until my slurs of, “When your music comes on, it just speaks to me,” and, “I hope this isn’t weird, but you’re my soul mate,” ceased to vomit from my gin-soaked mouth. All he said was, “Thanks for listening.” And that’s all I needed. I was happy that this man of one million words needed only three to send me on my way. On the standout “This Blackest Purse,” Yoni asks, “Mom am I failing or worse?” And if I had heard that song when I met him last year, I would have simply bear-hugged him. Nobody else makes hip-hop on pop pills like the Wolfs and Co. But really, nobody takes the inner psyche and twists it into something so instantaneously breathtaking like Mr. Wolf. You don’t care and that’s fine. But isn’t it cool that I care so much?
RIYL: Doseone, Themselves, 13 & God

5.) Gray Young – Firmament --- A man who is now a ghost told me about Gray Young. And only after this man disappeared did I find it apt to indulge in the band’s emotional ambience. For songs at a time, the group let benign guitars ring and ring, but before the lull is permanent voices or tricky percussion hit the spotlight switch. It makes for some pretty involved listening. To be honest though, I know very little about that which makes Gray Young tick. But I do know that those old fogeys The Appleseed Cast are bald with jealousy somewhere in the Midwest.
RIYL: The Appleseed Cast, Moving Mountains, etc

I can't recommend this album enough..I know people have heard of this band, but they've improved so much since 'Monster' was on MTV. Do yourself a favor and check out Here, Here, and Here by Meg & Dia.

Definitely "The Things We've Grown To Love" by All The Day Holiday.

Junius' Martyrdom is so freaking good. Comes highly recommended.

Originally Posted by SheLovesMeNot

Definitely "The Things We've Grown To Love" by All The Day Holiday.

This.

Why? is one of the shittiest things I have ever, ever listened to.

Fans of The Postal Service, this album is almost as good:

Plushgun - Pins & Panzers

Beautiful record, check it out!

Originally Posted by SheLovesMeNot

Definitely "The Things We've Grown To Love" by All The Day Holiday.

High Five, great great CD.

Originally Posted by gr33ndayfr3ak

I can't recommend this album enough..I know people have heard of this band, but they've improved so much since 'Monster' was on MTV. Do yourself a favor and check out Here, Here, and Here by Meg & Dia.

i would definitely agree.

Alexander the Great is just phenomenal. Probably my AOTY, though Weatherbox, Person L, and Surrogate are all fighting it out...

Originally Posted by anamericangod

Why? is one of the shittiest things I have ever, ever listened to.

take notes, this is exactly what this thread is about, people!

also, i guess myspace links would help

www.myspace.com/alexanderthegreatin
www.myspace.com/junius
www.myspace.com/whyanticon
www.myspace.com/grayyoung
www.yearsmusic.ca

Everyone should check out Murder By Death's instrumental album Finch, for the soundtrack of the book Finch by Jeff Vandameeri.