[holden]

Cool thread, Dubman...let's keep it rolling!

It's been a slender buying year for me, as well, but what has made an impression:

Ghostland Observatory - "Robotique Magestique": Quirky electrorock band from Austin, known for their spirited live shows (think: skinny singer in pigtails wailing and writhing while curl-topped beat magician works the sequencers and drums from in front of a cape) and more than a little influence by Daft Punk. This is their third LP, and ups the analog/synthpop anty. Songs are still spirited (and Behren's vocals are an acquired taste, sometimes yelping at a high octave), but gone are much of the guitars from the previous LPs. Instead, more lo-fi synth intros, a little Depeche Mode-esque gloom. 7 outta 10.

M83: Saturdays=Youth: Well, i super-enjoyed "Dead Cities..." piles of sound and thunderous crecendos, and was wholly disappointed by "BtDHU", which offered cheesetastic lyrics and paved no new roads. Then i lost interest. Picking up the latest M83 was a welcome return to the nostalgia and warm fuzzy vibes of DCRSLG. Some aspects of the 80's i'd like to frget, but this music sort of distills the best parts. 7.5/10

Coldplay: Viva La Vida (or Death and All His Friends): It's gotten the most rotations for me this year, and is imho their best album. 9/10.
But let's move on!

Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs: So i'll admit to being a johnny-come-lately to Death Cab, only really getting into thewm with their last LP, "Plans" and enjoying "Transatlanticism" after everyone else had tired of it. Narrow Stairs is, for me, a let down. I think i expected more of the emotion and eclecticism of Plans, but with the exception of the first cut "Bisby Canyon Bridge", none of the songs grab me emotionally or melodically. It's a little less produced, more straightahead guitar-rock, but frnkly, Ben Gibbard's sentiments sound really cringeworthy if there isn't something interesting going on musically to distract me! 5/10.

Moby: "Last Night": After the downward slide from "Play" (which in retrospect, included a fair share of fluff), two crappy albums (18, hotel), a couple B-side collections that were less than stellar, a Voodoo Child release that made me think Moby forgot how to make dance music completely, i wasn't expecting much from this. So, i was somewhat pleasantly surprised...it's at least an upbeat set of quasi-retro dance. Rave piano, the ubiquitous Moby divas, a few so-so ambient instrumentals at the end, elements of his "classic" 90's records. Also, he hardly sings, which is a good thing. Well, Moby crtainly was there for the late 80's raves/summer of love, evolution of styles, and he obviously remembers it fondly. For me, it doesn't sound too exciting, the record breaks no new ground. But it does make me remember what i used to love about his music. A slight upturn. 6/10

looking forward to....later this year(?):
The Cure
Prodigy
Way Out West
Hybrid
Metric
Ben Folds
Franz ferdinand