The Goodish – Music Blog -

Right now, my playlist is so last year. Here are four slippery albums that I somehow missed in 2008. All are recommended.

Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
To record this album, Conor Oberst set up a temporary studio in a mountain villa in Tepoztlán, Morales, Mexico–the perfect location for an album that champions the freedoms and friendships found on the open road. Much like on Bright Eyes’ Cassadega, Oberst employs magical realism in his lyrics, backed by sometimes-hushed, sometimes-spirited folk-rock to tell stories of escape and mortality.
Stream the entire album.

Blitzen Trapper - Furr
On their MySpace page Blitzen Trapper categorize their music as indie/country/electro. All are fair descriptors, but still don’t sum up the Portland band’s expansive sound. Furr, their fourth album, comprises sparse piano, country strumming, adventurous indie rock and even a funky synthesizer-driven instrumental. Though its personalities may seem scattered, Furr is more focused than anything I’ve heard from Blitzen Trapper.
Stream songs from Furr.

Bob Dylan – Tell Tale Signs
What can you say about Bob Dylan. The latest in his bootleg series is a collection of rare and unreleased songs from 1989 to 2006 and it’s just as captivating as anything Dylan has done. Many of these alternate takes, including a haunting acoustic rendition of “Mississippi” from Love and Theft, are stronger than the album versions. Tell  Tale Signs is further proof of the significance of Bob Dylan’s later works.
Stream songs from Tell Tale Signs.

The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
The ‘59 Sound is the Born to Run-inspired album that so many other bands have tried to pull off over the past few years. But even though The Gaslight Anthem wear their influences on their sleeves, they have their own youthful spirit. Their songs are full of energy and catchy as hell. Despite the almost tiresome lyrical references to everyone from Counting Crows to Miles Davis, The ‘59 Sound has held my attention.
Stream songs from The ‘59 Sound.

The Walkmen – In the New Year

With the new year upon us, here’s a look at my hasty list of favorites from 2008. I’m looking forward to more great music in 2009.

Best New Music:
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Dr. Dog – Fate
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
Joe Pug – Nation of Heat EP (review)
The Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Grave (review)
The Walkmen – You & Me
Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel – Dual Hawks

Best Shows:
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band - American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Bob Dylan – House of Blues, Dallas, Texas
Okkervil River and Black Joe Lewis – Granada Theater, Dallas, Texas
Fleet Foxes and Frank Fairfield – Lola’s Saloon, Fort Worth, Texas

Joe, our designer and contributor, adds these shows as his favorites from 2008:
Ryan Adams – Arlington Theater, Santa Babara, Calif.
Flobots – Downtown Brew, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Leon Russell – Downtown Brew, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Lost Highway

How come the bands that kill it on stage have so much trouble in the studio?  Bottom line, the latest release by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals is “OK.”  A couple stand out songs, but overall a bit of a letdown.

The album opens with “Born Into A Light” a hum drum opener with a catchy little guitar riff and things do not get much better until the rock parody “Magick” wraps up and the opening chords of “Cobwebs” begin to sing.  The first person lyrics on “Cobwebs” are the kind of lyrics only Ryan can get away with and not come off as pretentious (it is expected from Ryan…).  The next 3 tracks (”Let Us Down Easy”, “Crossed Out Name” and “Natural Ghost”) sort of meander along not offending but not impressing either.  ”Sink Ships” is saved by the prowess of John Graboff on the Pedal Steel but the tune never crosses over into anything memorable.  ”Evergreen” shows the boys starting to put things together and is maybe the “best” song on the album.  The pedal steel, guitar and soft drumming seem to come together on this number.  With hopes elevated the listener is brought down once again by “Like Yesterday” with some rays of hope shining through on the final “Adamsesque” piano ballad “Stop” which is a beautiful number that closes Cardinology.

Don’t underestimate these studio versions.  Live, some of the numbers are already amazing.  ”Fix It” lets Ryan open up his vocals while the rest of the band hammer along (with Neal Casal making it work with his harmonies and guitar) and “Crossed Out Name” slowly builds into a rollicking number that is worth the ride.

Because of their prowess on the stage and their devotion to their fan base “The Cardinals” remain one of the most revered live bands around currently.  The inability to put together a great album tosses their studio efforts to date onto the pile along with the Grateful Dead.  Some great album tunes here and there, but save your energy for the live shows because nobody does it better than the Cards right now!

Cardinology is worth picking up and adding to your collection so you will know the tunes when they kill it live on stage, but as a stand alone product Cardinology leaves the listener a bit confused and searching for something more…

Bless the crew at RAA for giving us the more in their librabry of live shows:

Fix It – 2008-11-17, Birmingham, England

Crossed Out Name – 2008-09-30 Palace Theatre, Cleveland, OH

The Tallest Man On Earth is Kristian Matsson, a young Swede with more aptitude for American-style folk music than most Americans. He released his debut full-length album, Shallow Grave, in March to much critical acclaim.

Shallow Grave is a low-fi fury. Rapid-fire finger-picked acoustic guitar and vivid lyrics delivered in a cracked staccato provide an urgency that sets Matsson apart from many of his neo-folk counterparts. Shallow Grave’s recording feels live and raw, with many blemishes left in the mix, like it was recorded in some attic or barn or cabin on the quick.

Following the folk tradition, the lyrics play the lead role in these songs and Matsson proves his strength as a songwriter. This is evident on “The Gardner,” a twisted love song whose hero turns to murder to hide his inadequacies from his lover (”I know the runner’s going to tell you/There ain’t no cowboy in my hat/So now he’s buried by the daisies/So I can stay the tallest man in your eyes, Babe”).

But Shallow Grave’s highlights don’t end there, and despite the tendency to compare Matsson to Bob Dylan or any number of his folk forefathers, it deserves it’s own distinction. Shallow Grave has definitely made it’s way onto my list of favorites for 2008.

For more of The Tallest Man On Earth, check out the great videos over at Shoot the Player. The Tallest Man On Earth is opening for Bon Iver this month.

The Tallest Man On Earth – “I Won’t Be Found”

Portland’s Blitzen Trapper played “Furr” last night on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. After watching this for the eighth time in a row I can safely say that this is a great song. I never really got into last year’s Wild Mountain Nation, but Blitzen Trapper is definitely growing on me.

And as a bonus this episode of Conan also featured Snoop Dogg.

Blitzen Trapper’s latest release Furr (the album) has been out since September on Sub Pop. The band is on tour now.