I've found that writing album reviews is a nice outlet for sharpening my literary axe. That said, feel free to share your review of your favorite album of the year so far.

Here's mine:




LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver
5 stars

There are certain moments in life that seem to stop the world spinning- their magnitude is such that they usurp all focus and filter out all distractions. I've had a lot of those moments in the past few years- the death of my father, immigration to another country and my blissful wedding day are among the most notable. Usually these moments are reserved for events of grand proportion, but sometimes something much less significant can trigger a heightened awareness or, hell, an epiphany of sorts. I was fortunate enough to have one such moment grace me this year, and that it came from a source as unexpected as LCD Soundsystem makes it all the more special. While I had enjoyed the panache and intellectual foreplay of the eponymous debut record, I in no way expected the sequel to be so emotionally charged and viscerally vital to my being. Sound of Silver, indeed, is an album of many moments.

In spite of the fact that Sound of Silver reveals a definite evolution, the album still retains the wry swagger and cunning dialogue of the debut. The project was launched with "North American Scum", a paranoid rant about anti-imperialism and a half-hearted acknowledgment of its validity, all to the backdrop of some killer dance swashes. Don't believe me? It's groovy enough to have inspired me to post an embarrassing clip of my own rendition of the song online- don't ask. "Time to Get Away", meanwhile, chugs and grunts along to a sassy beat that meanders into a distorted synth utopia complete with wild Princely yelps. "Watch the Tapes" buzzes along to a perfect new wave theme, percolating along with to the dissatisfaction with fickle critical vicissitudes. "Us v Them" continues this theme, starting from a mild drone and building to an effervescent funk workout. All of these songs are fantastically executed, incorporating a bevy of influences and styles. Plenty of ass-shaking, coolly calculated moments here. However, their real value is found in their relative sparsity and placement among the tracks of a more emotional tilt which form the heart of the record.

What makes this album a bona fide classic is the way in which it subtly draws the listener into the scene before unexpectedly unleashing an emotional avalanche. The title track inserts a rather embarrassing repeated chorus into a beautifully crafted dance opus in which it is clear that Mr. Murphy has found some new tricks up his sleeve, enveloping the groove in increasingly intricate layers, capping it all with a floating xylophone whimsy for a moment of sheer ecstasy. The opening cut "Get Innocuous!" drenches Kraftwerk's "The Robots" in liquid metal for a good few minutes before wielding a harrowing blow of paranoia with some haunted, almost indecipherable vocals about the horrors of adhering to a life of normalcy. "When once you had believed it, now you see its sucking you in!", he pleads. The track is pure fire with its inspired mixture of electronic and organic percussion, and when the guest vocalist reels me into her rhythmic "You- can- normalize, don't it make you feel alive" chant, I lose all sensibility. Its impetus is so overwhelming that a slowly warping and chillingly stretched string note that ushers the song out completely goes off kilter in a moment of awestruck chaos. In a great display of parallelism, the album is closed with a track of a similar, but more direct theme, as "New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down" sees Murphy lament the loss of the spark that makes New York so great in what can be best described as a piano-driven power ballad. While he wallows in his criticisms with disarming vocal vulnerability, it is clear that he loves the city, as it is "still the one pool where [he'd] happily drown". As the desperation grows in his voice, so does the instrumental backdrop, culminating in a blistering guitar solo bursts forth with frustration, ending the album in epic fashion- a chest-beating moment of invigoration, if you will.

The true heart of the album, fittingly, is in its center. The brutally honest "Someone Great" captures the feelings associated with the loss of a loved one. The propulsive, thick synthetic haze that opens the song captures the fractured mental state of shock that comes with the news of death perfectly. The lyrics here are outstanding, from the recollection of how awful it is to hear such news over the phone to the commentary on how irrational the mind becomes, as he becomes angry that the weather has the nerve to be lovely while he is mourning. That the cavalcade of catastrophe "keeps coming 'til the day it stops" is a lesson well-learned. Perhaps the greatest display of lyrical brilliance here is the way in which he reveals how much he has built up the image of the person he has lost, by admitting "you're smaller than my wife imagined- surprised you were human". A mesmerizing moment indeed. What follows is the subject of that "moment" described in the first part of this review. A frenetic piano loop acts as the engine for the juggernaut of "All My Friends", the album's behemoth of a centerpiece, whizzing the listener through the twists and turns of life. The instrumentation slowly builds with a melodic bass line that would make New Order proud and some starry percussion that conjures the magic of Bowie's "Teenage Wildlife", before setting the stage for this heartfelt tale of the ache of aging. The story starts innocently enough with blissful nostalgia, but gradually evolves into a manic concession of how quickly life slips away. A wide emotional breadth is cast, with healthy doses of glee, dejection, desperation, defiance, majestic grandeur, charmed reminiscence and self-deprecation churning in the cauldron. Five years spent trying to get with the plan are mirrored by five more in attempts to reconnect with friends, which quickly become ten years dropped "as fast as you can" and a midlife crisis fomenting a 3-month trip to France. Every lyric here is a winner, succinctly cutting and as visceral as the searing guitar wails that intensify the mood. There is no catharsis to be found here and the exasperated pleas of "if I could see all my friends tonight" are left unresolved as the locomotive percussion slowly chugs to a halt. And that, my friends, is a moment that can be better described by the vision of my jaw agape than by any words that could emanate from it. Wow.

As I have grown older, I have found that it is much more difficult for new music to galvanize my emotions into an uncontrollably fevered pitch. As such, I appreciate such moments much more now at my ripe age of 27. Reviewers are generally taught to strive to give an unbiased appraisal, but I'll be damned if it doesn't delight me to the tips of my toes that an album can generate such a rebirth of wide-eyed, teenage, blind fanaticism that I am rendered helplessly unable to muster any semblance of objectivity. "Sound of silver talk to me, makes you want to feel like a teenager. Until you remember the feelings of a real-live emotional teenager." Sorry James, no need to think again.

My favourite album of 2007:

Yoko Ono - Yes, I'm A Witch

My review:

It's fucking crazy! I love it.

windmill "puddle city racing lights"

IstenSzek said:

strong songwriting with good lyrics and beautiful melodies.

the vocals either catch you at the first phrase or put you
completely off.

think thom yorke, anthony, bjork etc. they all have very
distinct vocals and you either love them or hate them and
i usually love those type of vocals.

windmill is top of the bill stuff imo and apart from the
new radiohead album i don't think many come close to it's
beauty and class.

IstenSzek said:

That's an awesome album cover!

Moonbeam said:

I love it already just for that alone!

I loved singles this year more than albums, although mika, maroon 5 and rihanna had average albums.

GangstaFam said:

That's all you have to say?

Moonbeam said:

What? I know nothing about it. It's just a groovy image.

GangstaFam said:

I mean about my review!

Moonbeam said:

What are you doing up so early on a Sunday morning?

I just saw Moz last night. You'd be ill.

GangstaFam said:

What.

Do.

You.

Think.

Of.

My.

Review.

Moonbeam said:

I don't understand it as I don't know the music.

It's well written though.
[Edited 10/20/07 14:26pm]

Moonbeam, you have exquisite vocabulary , although there's no doubt I'd understand the review better if I was familiar with the music.

Still, you have the skills of a pro.

GangstaFam said:

What didn't you understand?

And how was the Moz show?

squiddyren said:

Thanks! The album has gotten rave reviews since its release, so I don't seem to be the only one loving it.

Moonbeam said:

You're definitely not the only one, it is fantastic.

Brilliantly written Ian, you certainly did it justice.

GangstaFam said:

You need to listen to it Nay Nay!!! (Ian made me say that! ) ...

No seriously, it really is an awesome album, you should give it a listen, I don't think you'd regret it.

Nathan

The first song I heard from this album was "Young Modern". Silverchair's big comeback single. It hit me the first time I heard it. It's a powerful, uplifting, positive song. As soon as it hit the airwaves it was everywhere. Every radio station and music TV channel was planning it constantly and it was the background music for every commercial. It's definately the single of the year, atleast in Australia, and it's one of Silverchair's best. A very good effort. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=79DrGah0GuY

After hearing "Straight Lines" I HAD to buy the album. The opener is a cool rockin number called "Young Modern Station". It's great live. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9IkCM9Gq8b4

The first impression of got of "If You Keep Losing Sleep" was how weird it is. It's very cool. I love how different it is. It's definately not traditional. It music video is great too: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xgb9iqO_pv4

"Reflections of a Sound" is great Beatle-esque tune. Not my favourite. But still a nice song. It also has a decent video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tW7JKgTtKdE

And now I come to one of the greatest pieces of music I have ever heard. A 3-parter known as "Those Thieving Birds (Part 1)/Strange Behavior/Those Thieving Birds (Part 2)". It's beautiful. I've heard very few songs better than this one. Seriously, it's definatley one of the best songs I've ever heard. I couldn't find a video of the studio version, but here is a live version: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2R4uy3173eg

"The Man That Knew To Much" was song obviously made for live shows. It's awesome live. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bamOvNj-IP8

"Waiting All Day" is a great song. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=D9z8ifAXc7k

"Mind Reader" is the rockinest song on the album. A great live number. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nUPlYXFuBNs

"Low" is another great one. These guys are incredible. I definately didn't expect an album this good. Every Silverchair album has been pretty average because I've only ever liked a few songs. But this one is golden from start to finish. These guys got good. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OchuaSADwnw

"Insomnia" is another fun song that's great live. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=56ymtRzf3h8

The closer, "All Across the World" is just more perfect pop fun. I love this record so damn much. Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CIBSuuL549U

In closing, this is the best record of the year, the best record of Silverchair's career and one of the best records I've ever heard.

Not much of a review, but it gives you an idea.

my favorite?

ok, so it is probably american doll posse by tori. it could be the world has made me the man of my dreams by me'shell. it might also be radiohead's in rainbows.

can i let you know around 1 january 2008?

sassybritches said:

Sure, but I did put "so far" in the initial post. I should have put it in the title, come to think of it!

DarlingDiana said:

My wife loves that album.

I don't know if I have an essay in me, but my favourite album of the year is Robert Wyatt's Comicopera. It's an ambitious, sprawling mess of a record that falls apart in places, but possesses lots of great melodies and weird sounds.

Moonbeam said:

oh, i don't think its too soon to tell, in general. its just that i haven't had the chance to fully digest radiohead's and me'shell ndegeocello's new stuff. i have a long (december - january, west to east coast) trip planned and i'll know by the time i get to wherever i'm going which is my favorite.

I was just about to write about Feist's album, but I just found out that Cobra Starship is supposed to release an album on Tues. so I'll have to hear that first

It will be a toss up of Matchbox Twenty or Seal.
I'll get back to you in November once Seal's new stuff is out.

Moonbeam said:

This is from www.morrissey-solo.com:

How Soon is Now? / Tomorrow / Sister, I'm A Poet / London / The Loop / Jack The Ripper / Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself? / Stretch Out And Wait / I Like You / The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores / Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me / Billy Budd / All You Need Is Me / Death Of A Disco Dancer / I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris / One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell / Shoplifters Of The World Unite / Irish Blood, English Heart / You Have Killed Me / Life is a Pigsty / Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before // First Of The Gang To Die

7 Smiths songs in total!

damosuzuki said:

What genre is it?

Moonbeam said:

that was my 1st thought as well.

GangstaFam said:

Awesome. I'd LOVE to hear "Life Is a Pigsty" live.