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Armchair apocrypha |
So much pop rock music is principally driven by electric guitar that artists who shift focus to other instruments - for example, the piano of Tori Amos and Ben Folds, or the synths of Depeche Mode and Devo - often garner cult audiences based on the appeal of a fresh twist to an old formula. Chicago artist Andrew Bird was classically trained on violin as a child, and that instrument helps define the sound of all his work, including his lush seventh studio album Armchair Apocrypha. A warm mix of vocals, violin, an increasing use of electric instead of acoustic guitar, and the occasional use of Bird's trademark whistling lend the album an air of relaxed elegance. As if Bird weren't gifted enough as a composer of catchy melodies, he's also a strong lyricist known for his wordplay, and this set of songs satisfyingly captures a range of moods and concerns from the playful to the philosophical. Standout tracks include album opener "Fiery Crash," the driving "Plasticities" and the more reflective "Scythian Empires." |
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Graduation |
Kanye West walked away with four Grammy awards (including best rap album) for Graduation. Known mostly for his talent as a producer before his debut album College Dropout, Kanye has garnered much praise for his contributions to Hip-Hop as a rapper, and deservedly so. His latest record, only his third, offers an almost perfect collection of songs. West has a good ear for mixing styles and is smart and playful with the lyrics. He's not afraid to poke fun at himself and the industry despite appearing to be all ego in his public persona. He took home the statues for the synthesized 'Stronger' and the more melodic 'Good Life,' but with many other excellent tracks on this disc it is near impossible to walk away without one or two gems stuck in your head. Chicagoans are sure to appreciate the nostalgic "Homecoming." |
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Meat is murder |
Morrissey and Marr were a near perfect pairing; the mordant wit and the brilliant pop guitarist wrote some of the best independent music of the 1980's, and this is one of their best albums. The dramatic, desperate and morose track "How Soon is Now?," a wrenching song about alienation reflected in both the lyrics and Marr's infectious guitar riffs, was originally a B-side, but is possibly the most recognized Smiths' song and a pop masterpiece. The playful "Rusholme Ruffians" delights with it's overtones of rockabilly, and the overtly political title track "Meat is Murder," which lacks some of the acute pop sensibility of other songs, still stings with Morrissey lamenting, "a death for no reason is murder." Abundant in angst and keen sarcasm, the album is sinister, stirring, and a standard in any indie music collection. |
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Night falls over Kortedala |
In the last few years, Swedish pop has experienced a comeback in the States as witnessed in the success of groups such as the Hives and Peter Bjorn and John. Another darling Swedish crooner, Jens Lekman, should not be overlooked. Jens's latest, Night Falls Over Korteldala, is a melodious album of well-constructed songs, with an ample use of sampled music. Often compared to both Morrissey and Stephen Merritt, Lekman's songs are ironic, sweet, and wistful and display the same charming pop sensibility of the aforementioned artists' most tender songs. An older, world-weary brother's laments that "all his metaphors fall flat/ down on the rocks where we sat" while attempting to impart some wisdom to his sister in "The Opposite of Hallelujah." "A Postcard To Nina" humorously recounts an evening spent impersonating the boyfriend of a lesbian friend for the sake of her father. Although some may find the album to be a bit too adorable, Lekman's earnestness shines through on this lush pop gem. |
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Schubert Lieder |
Austrian composer Franz Schubert is probably most famous for his magnificent unfinished symphony, but the greatest achievement of his short life may be his lieder, the more than 600 songs that display his celebrated gift for lyric melody. The songs are simply beautiful to listen to, magically interweaving music and lyrics in a way that evokes the pastoral imagery of their Romantic texts (many by Goethe)--the trickling water, blowing breezes, the flowers and woods. "An den Mond" ("To the Moon"), for example, evokes Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata in its story of lost love. Singer Ian Bostridge is one of many artists to record these songs, but his light warm tenor suits them very well. He's especially good at shifting between characters in songs which require it, such as the darkly gothic "Erlkonig," the most popular of Schubert's songs in his time, in which a father races through the night on horseback, carrying his dying son who claims the mysterious Erlking is trying to spirit him away. |