Comments on: What CD do you currently love.

Question: What CD do you currently love.

captainscared — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:38:47 -0800

What CD are you currently in love with?

It need not be a new release. I'm really interested in a CD that you've recently discovered and now wonder how you ever lived without it.

By: Marquis

Marquis — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:40:11 -0800

Page France - Hello Dear Wind
Neil Young - Harvest

By: airnxtz

airnxtz — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:41:12 -0800

anything by Michael Jackson!!

By: roue

roue — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:43:34 -0800

The Ditty Bops are excellent. Also, can't live without my Xanadu soundtrack. Party all over the world, ah ah ah.

By: dflemingdotorg

dflemingdotorg — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:45:06 -0800

Stars - Set Yourself on Fire. Seriously, I have listened to this once a day since I got it, it is so frigging good.

By: FissionChips

FissionChips — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:48:45 -0800

I'll go first.
I came across Tumi and the Volume's album "At the Bassline" through a south-african friend. Their sound is a blend of hip-hop, instrumental and soul.

I like them for their powerful and original sound. What draws me back again and again though is the complexity of Tumi's lyrics.
You can listen to them here.

By: mhuckaba

mhuckaba — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:48:55 -0800

Notorious BIG vs Frank Sinatra mixtape

By: soundofsuburbia

soundofsuburbia — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:49:15 -0800

Vashti Bunyan: "Lookaftering"

By: misterbrandt

misterbrandt — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:51:28 -0800

Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

By: lbergstr

lbergstr — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:51:34 -0800

The Futureheads, self-titled. First guitar album that I've fallen in love with in a long time.

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:53:06 -0800

I'm currently cycling back through Blacklisted and Canadian Amp by Neko Case and Burn to Shine by Ben Harper. They're not newly bought, but I'm newly obsessing. And I keep getting Leonard Cohen songs stuck in my head, so given my general pattern, that's probably next.

By: philfromhavelock

philfromhavelock — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:53:58 -0800

>The Splendid Master Gnawa Musicians of Morocco with Randy Weston.

By: veronitron

veronitron — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:54:01 -0800

Most Secret Method - "Get Lovely"

By: Utilitaritron

Utilitaritron — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:56:37 -0800

Éthiopiques 8: Swinging Addis (1969-74)

By: atom128

atom128 — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:57:42 -0800

Wire - Pink Flag & Chairs Missing
Got reintroduced to it a few months ago after not liking it on first listen years ago. It's a staple now.

By: RoseovSharon

RoseovSharon — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:58:16 -0800

Auf Der Maur by Auf Der Maur. She's formerly from Hole and Smashing Pumpkins... both being bands I despise, but her solo release sounds nothing like either... and is AMAZING! We're talking a white hot rockout session that sounds like a clash between Black Sabbath, Heart, The Cure and a little bit of Stevie Nicks thrown in just for the heck of it.

By: annihilist

annihilist — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:01:07 -0800

Minesweeper Suite by DJ/Rupture. Sort of mashup of world, dub, rap, and sick jungle riddims.

By: jgee

jgee — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:01:32 -0800

Stevie Wonder's "Secret Life of Plants" recently rocked my world for months.

By: driveler

driveler — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:02:31 -0800

Hollertronix - Never Scared

Excellent mash-up CD, I had it on constant rotation in my car for weeks and my friends loved it. 'Elongated sections of southern crunk, throwback old-school jams (read: early 1980s, not early 1990s), new wave, smooth dancehall, and Baltimore and Miami-based ghetto house all sit easily next to one another.'

You'll most likely have to download it though, since it was only printed for a short time.

By: hopeless romantique

hopeless romantique — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:03:31 -0800

Jump - "Between the Dim and the Dark"
Streetlight Manifesto - "Everything Goes Numb"

By: evil holiday magic

evil holiday magic — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:04:30 -0800

Smashing Pumpkins - Gish
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
McLusky - The difference between me and you is that I'm not on fire.

By: rfordh

rfordh — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:04:37 -0800

I've been listening to three albums lately that push very similar buttons in terms of their style and moods.

Colleen - The Golden Morning Breaks
Fennesz - Endless Summer
and Julian Fane - Special Forces

All three. Very mellow. Kind of expirimental but very listenable. It's like wearing headphones while floating in warm water. Paired with the right book and beverage, it's bliss.

By: rabbitsnake

rabbitsnake — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:05:30 -0800

Feels by Animal Collective

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:05:52 -0800

Puccini, La Bohème.
Live recording, Teatro alla Scala, Milano, Mar 22, 1979. Conducted by Carlos Kleiber with Luciano Pavarotti, Ileana Cotrubas, Piero Cappuccilli

By: MsMolly

MsMolly — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:07:06 -0800

The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree.

I seriously can't stop listening to this.

By: wackybrit

wackybrit — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:09:33 -0800

One for the chart set.. Kanye West's new album. I'm not the hip-hop type, but Jon Brion has done such a great production job.

By: noahv

noahv — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:10:11 -0800

The Smooth Sounds of Josh Rouse (by Josh Rouse, duh). It's actually a live DVD, but I have the music on a CD that seems to live in my car. Great stuff - too bad he moved to Spain...no, really.

By: togdon

togdon — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:16:09 -0800

The National's Alligator, because they kicked Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's ass live.

Before that a big 2nd to The Sunset Tree, which will go down for certain as my album of the year, and is already jostling for a spot in the top five of the 2000's.

By: scody

scody — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:17:42 -0800

The Essential Electric Light Orchestra. Seriously. I cannot stop listening to it.

By: mewithoutyou

mewithoutyou — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:17:56 -0800

Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life
James Brown: The 50th Anniversary Collection
Anna Nalick: Wreck of the Day

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:18:37 -0800

Motorcase of Generosity by Cake - for about the billionth time.

By: glenwood

glenwood — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:18:50 -0800

Rogue Wave's new one (psss. it ain't out yet but you can hear chunks of it here.).

Amazing. If you like melancholy pop / great indie songwriting ala Shins and Grandaddy then this may do the trick.

By: cyphill

cyphill — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:20:09 -0800

Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

and also the Page France album (wierd, huh?)

By: sevenless

sevenless — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:20:48 -0800

I'm going to say Minus the Bear's Highly Refined Pirates.

At least that's what I keep sticking back into the car player.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:20:49 -0800

The Soft Machine- Vols. 1 & 2: Why the hell did I wait so long to pick this up?
Tokyo Jihen-Kyoiku: Shiina Ringo's new band. Fantastic.

By: Boo!

Boo! — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:21:17 -0800

Aberfeldy - Young Forever

By: jdroth

jdroth — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:21:42 -0800

fiona apple - extraordinary machine

By: holloway

holloway — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:22:25 -0800

Joanna Newsom 'cause she played here in Wellington last night.

And a mix by Modest Mouse that a friend gave me.

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:22:44 -0800

Elliott Sharp's The Velocity of Hue

By: leecifer

leecifer — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:24:46 -0800

Antony and the Johnsons - I am a bird now

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:26:28 -0800

Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs.

By: agropyron

agropyron — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:29:23 -0800

The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Black Mountain - Black Mountain

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:32:17 -0800

Galaxie 500 : Today

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:33:39 -0800

Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage Animation Music
Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk at Cubist Castle
John Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt
The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners

Ditto on NMH (!), Antony, Wilco, Mountain Goats, and Stars.

By: rafter

rafter — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:33:57 -0800

Second Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" but, for the love of god, find the leaked Jon Brion recordings, not the godawful Sony release. I had never really listened to Apple before the "Extraordinary Machine" controversy, but holy cow. It will change your life.

By: I Love Tacos

I Love Tacos — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:34:35 -0800

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds, Smiley Smiley, Wild Honey
Béla Fleck - The Bluegrass Sessions

By: Eothele

Eothele — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:37:41 -0800

"Insatiable" by the Stickmen.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:41:02 -0800

Rachel Tift - Best Of.

By: zerolives

zerolives — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:43:52 -0800

Darkbuster - 22 Songs You'll Never Want To Hear Again

By: eilatan

eilatan — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:46:04 -0800

Anything that's got Kelly Hogan singing on it.

By: googlebombed

googlebombed — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:51:44 -0800

Jesse Cook - Montreal

By: gorillawarfare

gorillawarfare — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:53:32 -0800

Ratatat by Ratatat.
And, the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack.

By: adamwolf

adamwolf — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:56:08 -0800

Nate Unplugged by Nate Alhgren.

I found this album through a long distance friend.

It's a collection of mp3s produced by a (then) undergrad at MIT.

It costs nothing, so there isn't any excuse not to go check it out!

By: trinarian

trinarian — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:56:18 -0800

Verve EP

By: Hlewagast

Hlewagast — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:58:24 -0800

Fiery Furnaces - Gallowsbird's Bark

By: VulcanMike

VulcanMike — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:59:01 -0800

I've been watching too much MTV J, so I have Trina's Don't Trip in my head at all times.

But the last CD I was very addicted to was A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets.

By: 5MeoCMP

5MeoCMP — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:00:07 -0800

Dead Can Dance - SpiritChaser (saw them live in Oakland last month, and they blew me away. Amazing)

Shpongle - Nothing Lasts ... But Nothing Is Lost (simply magnificent psychedelic dubby world trancey chilled fun stuff)

By: padraigin

padraigin — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:02:48 -0800

Rilo Kiley "More Adventurous", and Ryan Adams and the Cardinals "Jacksonville City Nights".

By: mookieproof

mookieproof — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:14:13 -0800

I love them all, except for those by Steely Dan.

By: ajp

ajp — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:14:25 -0800

I'll second Fennesz's Endless Summer. It's like a having benevolent bees in your ears. If you're not a fan of experimental noise then perhaps it's not for you - but you really ought to check it out anyway.

But if I had to chose 1 CD out of my entire collection as my "desert island disk", it would have to be "Court and Spark" by Joni Mitchell. I've listened to it for 16 years and it still amazes me. Lush orchestration, incredible vocals, imaginative and poetic lyrics, beautiful tunes... it's a masterpiece. All killer no filler, as they say.

By: ajp

ajp — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:15:16 -0800

Hmm... perhaps my Joni recommendation doesn't really count as "recently discovered" :-) But I stand by it :-P

By: First Post

First Post — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:17:49 -0800

Kanye "Late Registration"
Twista "The Day After"
My Morning Jacket "Z"
Sigur Ros "Takk"
Paul Wall "The People's Champ"

By: johngoren

johngoren — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:20:02 -0800

Deltron 3030

By: macinchik

macinchik — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:22:02 -0800

my special album of the moment is Illinois by Sufjan Stevens.

By: blackkar

blackkar — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:22:39 -0800

Human Wheels - John Mellencamp
In Between Dreams - Jack Johnson
Flutterby - Butterfly Boucher
Fly or Die - N*E*R*D
From the Choirgirl Hotel - Tori Amos
- a very interesting mix on full shuffle...

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:24:38 -0800

Cake - Comfort Eagle
Diana Krall - Love Scenes

By: mabelstreet

mabelstreet — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:31:00 -0800

I remember thinking a few days ago "how did I ever get along without Funeral by Arcade Fire?" (yes, I came to the party late; I saw them live last weekend, and as much as I didn't feel like liking them, they fucking rocked, and I've been listening to the CD ever since)

3 months ago it was Demon Days by the Gorillaz (warning, Flash, in case you're a stick in the mud)

6 months ago it was Thunder Lightning Strike by The Go! Team (playing this sunday in SF, by the way, with Smoosh).

And I second anything by N*E*R*D

By: TonyRobots

TonyRobots — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:31:13 -0800

I'm with Hlewagast, almost. Mine would be Fiery Furnaces, Blueberry Boat. That record is the best to come out of the 21st century thus far.

By: sien

sien — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:35:01 -0800

Sigur Ross Takk
Architecture in Helsinki In Case we die.
Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production of Eggs

Are all of us folk who are in love with more than one album cheating?

By: underer

underer — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:36:17 -0800

the Joggers "With a Cape and a Cane"
Chad VanGalen "Infiniheart"

Those are the two, right now, and they seem to compliment each other well.

By: Slimemonster

Slimemonster — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:42:39 -0800

Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast are the CDs that convinced me the hip-hop still has places to go. Been listening to them over and over for years now.

By: wackybrit

wackybrit — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:43:25 -0800

Second Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" but, for the love of god, find the leaked Jon Brion recordings, not the godawful Sony release. I had never really listened to Apple before the "Extraordinary Machine" controversy, but holy cow. It will change your life.

Totally. I think the original is probably the best album of the year. Sony's official version is quite possibly the worst.

By: Jon-o

Jon-o — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:43:54 -0800

Bjork: Medulla
and
A stock "Best of Motown" CD

By: vernondalhart

vernondalhart — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:44:48 -0800

Foetus - Love

Seriously, a great album. Jim Thirwell's output, now that he's actually learned how to produce an album, has become phenomenal.

By: ijoshua

ijoshua — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:47:56 -0800

The Dirty Projectors [self-titled]
Edan, Beauty and the Beat
Neil Young, Trans [constantly in rotation for what, 4 or 5 years now?]
The Ebb and Flow, Time to Echolocate
Brian Eno, Another Green World
Sientific American, Simulated D.I.Y.
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Who Is This America?
Bablicon, The Orange Tapered Moon
Dolly Mixture [no albums currently in print, but songs can be found on various web sites]
Faust, IV
Salvatore, Tempo
MF Doom, MM...Food & Metal Fingers Presents...

seconds on the Galaxie 500, NMH and Olivia.

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:49:04 -0800

The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Cinematic Orchestra - Motion
Herbert - Bodily Functions

By: jetskiaccidents

jetskiaccidents — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:51:14 -0800

Adding to the Fiona love...although, I like the cd release. Then again, I haven't heard the leaked version. I keep wondering if so many people like it better in part because they heard it first? But I suppose I should just download it already and hear for myself.

Other recent love interests:
-Illinois, Sufjan Stevens
-The Woods, Sleater-Kinney

By: NucleophilicAttack

NucleophilicAttack — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:01:51 -0800

Cowboy Junkies -- Black Eyed Man
Eva Cassidy -- Songbird

The love affair with Margo Timmins and Eva Cassidy continues...

By: Plutor

Plutor — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:03:48 -0800

Right now, it's Demon Days by Gorillaz and With Teeth from Nine Inch Nails. I spend so much time listening and re-listening to each album I enjoy that I'm always several months behind the "cool kids" and their new releases.

By: Lotto

Lotto — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:04:16 -0800

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon. It's just... wow.

By: megatherium

megatherium — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:05:01 -0800

Phish - Billy Breathes
Guster - Keep it Together

By: blackkar

blackkar — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:10:36 -0800

Ohhh - my car has Goldfrapp's Black Cherry. I could listen to Strict Machine about a million times on repeat. Also, I seem to keep going back to old Prince albums (mostly Purple Rain) and REM (Automatic for the People). They are the first two CDs I grab for a roadtrip.

By: crapples

crapples — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:11:08 -0800

Iron & Wine: Endless Numbered Days - I have been spinning it for almost a year now, at least a couple of times a week. I still love it every time.

By: jdroth

jdroth — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:19:40 -0800

I've been listening to the leaked Fiona for about a year. I bought the CD when it was released. I love them both equally.

By: melissa may

melissa may — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:25:10 -0800

Mike Seed: Songs For The Wintering Show Troupe
Jens Lekman: When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog
Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days
The Skygreen Leopards: Life and Love in Sparrow's Meadow

And Paul Duncan's record Be Careful What You Call Home is due out November 8, but Oil in the Fields assures that it will be an important record to me.

By: exceptinsects

exceptinsects — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:27:49 -0800

Una Volta by Devotchka.
It's kind of like Gypsy meets Ranchero in Indie Hipster Bar, but modern and not all Putumayo-style we-play-it-at-CostPlus world-musicky.

By: carsonb

carsonb — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:29:23 -0800

2nds
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
there are parts of this album that are holy-shit-fantastic. most of the rest of won't change your life, no matter what anyone says.
Edan - Beauty and the Beat
there are 2 sides to every hip hop album, the production and the rap. edan can do both with unique style, and he knows who he owes and he pays them back in spades.

3rds (or 4ths)
The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
album of 2005. I got hooked on the sounds of the songs first, Darnielle's voice reedy over such sweet pop tunes. then I listened to the lyrics. wow.
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
see also the Creek Drank the Cradle

If there's one album I couldn't live without, it would be
Streethawk: A Seduction by Destroyer
I'm not sure I trust myself to say anything convincing about this album. you should just hear it.

Albums of 2005 that just. won't. stop.
Z by My Morning Jacket.
Jim James voice is transcendent. the band breaks out of the alt-psych-country mold on this album and delivers something more whole and universal this time around.
The Mouse & The Mask by DangerDoom
head-nodding beats from Danger Mouse, the usual dense, funny bullshit from Doom, and the added bonus of AdultSwim characters chatting in the background. [We need food.]
Thunder, Lightning, Strike by The Go! Team
the go! team makes music with a thrilling abandon you don't see much of anymore. whether it's aging pop stars or the meticulous look of the current MTV genres, much music is too planned, too crisp, and too lacking in heart. thunder, lightning, strike makes up for every bit of heart not found elsewhere. handclaps and schoolyard chants are an added bonus.
Free the Bees by The Bees or A Band of Bees
also see their debut album Sunshine Hit Me. they're a bit down the family tree from the Beatles and the Super Furry Animals and The Beta Band, but the gene pool is strong as ever.
The Sunlandic Twins by Of Montreal

Other albums worth mentioning:
The Transfiguration of Vincent by M. Ward.
if you have a porch, use it. preferably during sunset.
Blue Screen Life by Pinback
many will dismiss this out of hand as being too emo. they might be right. however, they can't deny that rob crow is a musical genius.

when I think of how music has shaped my life recently, these are (some of) the albums that come to mind. all it takes is one, though.

By: lukemeister

lukemeister — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:32:45 -0800

Casa by Jaques Morelenbaum (cello), Paula Morelenbaum (vocals), and Ryuichi Sakamoto (piano). Sublime versions of Jobim classics.

By: jdl

jdl — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:33:29 -0800

Like MsMolly, I can't stop listening to the Mountain Goats, Sunset Tree.

By: poodlemouthe

poodlemouthe — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:45:06 -0800

Leela James, Fionna Apple, Gorillaz - 05 releases.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:04:21 -0800

Sigur Ros, Takk
Death Cab for Cutie, Plans

By: biscotti

biscotti — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:04:43 -0800

"Audioslave" by Audioslave (the first album, pretty much all I listened to over the summer. It's insanely good, except for the parts where Tom Morello just sucks so badly he's practically a black hole - when he's good, he's really good, but he needs someone to tell him when he sucks, so he can just stop)

"Salt Rain" by Susheela Raman (Indian, bluesy, rocky, just delicious)

"Arabesque Tlata 3" by Various Artists (loads of good modern Arabic music and the CD is criminally cheap)

"Cowboy Bebop Boxed Set" by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts (Yes, it's soundtrack music, but unusually good soundtrack music. Fun, energetic, interesting, soulful jazz and some very competent more basic rock as well, I like it a lot)

By: chocolatepeanutbuttercup

chocolatepeanutbuttercup — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:12:25 -0800

A Million Stories by Sara Ayers - creepy, lush, beautiful.

By: toastchee

toastchee — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:31:48 -0800

Death Cab For Cutie - "Plans". Really good stuff.

By: trox

trox — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:34:07 -0800

Whoa, Cyphill already beat me to the exact two albums I had in mind! Great minds and all that.

By: poweredbybeard

poweredbybeard — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 18:44:04 -0800

Ani Difranco - So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter. I've had it for what seems like a couple of years, but suddenly I can't get enough of it. It and I are in the same mood, I think.

Metric - Old World Underground. Apparently rock music is still managing not to suck. Good for it.

Venetian Snares - Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett. Devastatingly good.

Ratatat - self titled. Ditto.

By: thecjm

thecjm — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:00:39 -0800

The New Pornographers - Electric Version Not as good as their other albums but still amazing.
Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene The pretension makes me whince. But it sounds soooooo good.
Go CanCon!

By: signal

signal — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:00:52 -0800

I Oughtta Give You A Shot In The Head For Making Me Live In This Dump - Shivaree

By: Quartermass

Quartermass — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:07:13 -0800

I've been listening to bands featuring the singing of Al Burian - Hellbender "Footprint of the American Chicken", MileMarker's "Frigid Forms Sell" as well as Challenger "Give People What They Want in Lethal Doses," who reminds me of Husker Du.

Oh, and the new Propaghandi album. On repeat. (!!!)

By: ShawnString

ShawnString — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:23:39 -0800

mine are:
ANYTHING by The Shins (god they are the best thing to happen for me in a LONG time)
and The Decemberists -Picaresque (heard "The Mariner's Revenge Song" on a return trip from southern VA, late at night, on a small radio station in the middle of nowhere....as soon as i got home, bought the album. listen to it almost every day....BRILLIANT stuff)

By: crumbly

crumbly — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:37:20 -0800

I guess I'll have to give Fiona another listen.

Pieces of April Soundtrack - Stephin Merritt (in his various forms) makes some mind bendingly beautiful music.

Recently I can't seem to get enough of In Case We Die (Architecture In Helsinki) and Twin Cinema (The New Pornographers). Listening too long to one song, indeed.

By: rossination

rossination — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:39:21 -0800

Josh Roseman -- Treats for the Nightwalker. Josh Roseman is an excellent jazz trombonist, and the CD incorporates a bit of funk, a bit of electronica, etc. Bought it off of iTunes and found out about it via a forum which I am a member of. Great stuff.

By: easternblot

easternblot — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:56:40 -0800

Shostakovich: The Jazz Album

By: Kickstart70

Kickstart70 — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:00:20 -0800

Charlemagne

By: ferociouskitty

ferociouskitty — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:12:38 -0800

Sex Slaves, Bite Your Tongue

By: mygothlaundry

mygothlaundry — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:42:56 -0800

Tinariwen, Amassakoul. I've never really gotten into African music before, but I love love love this CD - it's Tuareg nomads with old electric guitars.

By: brandz

brandz — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 20:43:26 -0800

anything Ella Fitzgerald.

By: Botunda

Botunda — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 21:00:28 -0800

There are two that I can't believe that I've never heard of before just a couple of weeks:

1) Elbow - Leaders of The Free World

2) Lemon Jelly '64-'95

Holy crap are these albums the best!!!!

By: bendybendy

bendybendy — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 21:36:18 -0800

Haven't hear mention of these recent releases yet...my favorite loud stuff so far this year.

High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings. I'm not a huge metal fan, but these guys are hard as heck and seem to crossover with a lot of Metal fence-sitters like me.

The Ponys - Celebration Castle. I like it better than last years debut. It bobs and weaves between early CBGBs along the lines of Richard Hell and Televison, Early-80's post-punk like Cure and Joy Division and 60s Garage.

The Ex - Singles. Period. Never caught up with these guys until now. This comp shows starts as boot-to-the-head punk, and develops all the way to Kurt Weillish theatrics and Industrial throb. Then it ends with the cheerful pogo of "Keep on Hoppin'"

By: hellbient

hellbient — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 21:38:16 -0800

The Congos - Heart of the Congos (Discs 1 and 2)
Lee Scratch Perry - Arkology (Discs 2 and 3)
At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul

By: lukemeister

lukemeister — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:01:20 -0800

I second mygothlaundry's recommendation of the Tinariwen album. I'm usually not much of a blues fan, but Amassakoul is awesome.

By: bendybendy

bendybendy — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:10:59 -0800

hellbient-
Arkology is a desert island disc for me. One of the best box sets, evah.

By: lorbus

lorbus — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:11:50 -0800

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Television - Marquee Moon
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

...and anything by Elliott Smith.

By: Restlessavenger

Restlessavenger — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:14:54 -0800

Silent Alarm Remixed - Bloc Party
Agreed on Dangerdoom, Kanye, and Morning Jacket
However my current obsession would have to be The Magic Numbers. I have had the album on repeat since Saturday. I can't say enough good things about them. Without question my favorite album of the year (so far)

By: furiousxgeorge

furiousxgeorge — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:17:38 -0800

Matisyahu- Live At Stubbs
Lotus- Nomad

By: cloeburner

cloeburner — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:53:05 -0800

second carsonb on streethawk. so so good.

By: marsha56

marsha56 — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:58:11 -0800

If it has to be just one....

The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies

Haunting. Beyond mournful.

Best appreciated on long, hot, sleepless night with slow fan and anything on the rocks.

By: meech

meech — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:13:57 -0800

I get to the end thinking no-one had mentioned the Magic Numbers - and there they are just a few comments above...anyway a fantastic album. I've been playing the first two tracks over and over...

By: dhartung

dhartung — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:35:26 -0800

Ambulance LTD, LP (which is an LP), was a fairly recent discovery of mine, released last year. Very mellow, maybe too feel-good for some folks. I love it late at night.

Extraordinary Machine is a can't-live-without, definitely, and I concur that the Brion version is superior, song by song. That whole "I kept working until I had the album I wanted" line is PR.

I'll also give props for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah; I haven't seen them live. I also like Alligator but I wouldn't put it in "essential".

I'm still in love with the Kills' No Wow, for the punky garage rock fans.

And a late discovery, certainly, is the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs.

By: cactus

cactus — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:45:58 -0800

dada - How to be Found

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 00:44:55 -0800

I keep finding new layers and sounds in Boards of Canada's new LP, The Campfire Headphase, no matter how many times I listen. A lot mellower and peaceful than their previous two - fans of Fennesz will probably find much to like here.

Another nod to Oh, Inverted World and Chutes Too Narrow by The Shins, i've been enjoying them hugely.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 00:59:44 -0800

Jeff Buckley - Grace and the super mega-deluxe crazy loony version of Live at Sin E.

By: TheDonF

TheDonF — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:06:17 -0800

The Earlies - These Were The Earlies
Richard Hawley - Coles Corner
Sugar - File Under Easy Listening
Nickel Creek - Why Must The Fire Die?

By: hifimofo

hifimofo — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:29:56 -0800

M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days

Has anyone tallied the votes? Fiona Apple seems to be winning...

By: invitapriore

invitapriore — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:53:57 -0800

Books - The Lemon of Pink
Akron/Family - Akron/Family

...and basically everything by Tom Waits in the past few weeks. Both of the former two are kind of smallish folk/pop/experimental outfits that are soothing and interesting at once.

By: dogwalker

dogwalker — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 02:16:21 -0800

For some reason I went back to the first Self album, Subliminal Plastic Motives, this week.

Time travelling back 10 years. If you know self and have been listening to the more recent stuff, bootlegs and whatnot, I recommend going back to the beginning.

By: Substrata

Substrata — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 02:38:26 -0800

Nine Horses - Snow Borne Sorrow

By: Espoo2

Espoo2 — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 04:37:08 -0800

Animal Collective - Feels

Ice Cream Creatures - Everything I Touch Turns Into More Touches

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

By: palegirl

palegirl — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:06:04 -0800

The Blow - Poor Aim: Love Songs EP

By: NemesisVex

NemesisVex — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:10:03 -0800

Gang of Four, Entertainment!

I've heard about this album for years, but never had a chance to get to know it. The straw that broke the camel's back was Franz Ferdinand -- they sounded like they were totally ripping someone off, and the name that kept popping up was Gang of Four. So I listened to Entertainment! and wondered what my life would have been had I discovered this album when I was 13 instead of 33.

Sigur Ros, Takk ...

I asked a friend of mine familiar with Sigur Ros where to start with their music, and he loves the new album so much, he told me to work backward -- start with Takk ..., then () and finally Aegetis Byrjun.

By: Ikazuchi

Ikazuchi — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:20:45 -0800

Disillusion - Back to the Times of Splendor
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Insomnium - The Day It All Went Down

I've been jamming to what I refer to as 'Prog Death' for quite awhile now, and these are among the best that I've found.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:04:48 -0800

Low, The Great Destroyer. I love the guitar sounds. I love the way the voices blend. I love the song structure. I love the lyrical content. I love the drums. I love the emotional up-and-down of the album. I love the release of the final song.

I never really thought much of Low before this, but The Great Destroyer is sort of like someone reaching into my brain, finding all of the musical pleasure centers, and smearing them onto a CD.

By: lyam

lyam — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:43:52 -0800

Modest Mouse
-Good News for People who Love Bad News.

Awesome album, distinctly Modest Mouse, yet the rock influences are readily apparent.

By: Godbert

Godbert — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:46:30 -0800

Boston - Third Stage

I picked this up at a used-CD store a little bit ago because I recognized one song on it, and it quickly became something I listen to all the way through pretty regularly (it's on the short side, which helps).

Also:
Neil Young - Live Rust (some really good versions of songs I can't stand the original versions of, strangely enough)

By: grahamwell

grahamwell — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:08:39 -0800

Two mass market CD's that don't seem to have crossed the Atlantic (one in each direction).

James Blunt, Back to Bedam. Q magazine's Best new Artist and huge in the UK but I suspect little known outside of Europe. Played at low volume in the wrong mood, sounds like a cat being strangled, at the right time however each song opens up like a flower.

John Mayer, Heavier Things. Unknown in the UK, so I can enjoy what is probably considered naff in the US, but these are some of the finest songs I've ever heard.

By: altolinguistic

altolinguistic — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:12:52 -0800

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

By: pepcorn

pepcorn — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:19:59 -0800

Redneck Manifesto - I am Brazil
Deerhoof - The Runners Four
On!Air!Library!

By: Jaie

Jaie — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:25:13 -0800

This is distressingly mainstream, but I am really enjoying the new Rolling Stones CD, A Bigger Bang.

Hanging head and slinking away in shame for not being cool enough for Ask MeFi.

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 08:51:09 -0800

Twin Cinema (The New Pornographers). Listening too long to one song, indeed.

Hell yes.

By: punkrockrat

punkrockrat — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 10:16:15 -0800

NOLA - from Down.

By: angeline

angeline — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 10:29:22 -0800

I've been listening to Anna Nalick's "Wreck of the Day" for two months, pretty much without ceasing. It's really earwormy, for pretty-girl-pop.

I've also been addicted to "No Mermaid," by Sinead Lohan, and "The Bridge" by Shaye, neither of which are really recent discoveries for me, but they're very good.

All of these assume you like girl pop-rock, of course.

And now *I'll* slink away for being not even remotely cool or cutting edge.

By: mayfly wake

mayfly wake — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 11:01:59 -0800

seconding the animal collective - feels. it's fantastic.

also, joanna newsom's album (the milk-eyed mender) is pretty great.

some other things i've been listening to: wolf parade, phosphorescent, john vanderslice, and the iron and wine/calexico split.

By: rocketman

rocketman — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:08:59 -0800

I stopped listening to CDs years ago.

But as far as LPs, I've been addicted to Grant Green's super-funky "Green Is Beautiful", the self-titled album from the early 70s by Coke, and for some reason I can't stop listening to The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds".

By: poodlemouthe

poodlemouthe — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:53:49 -0800

Leela James

By: Lanark

Lanark — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:30:28 -0800

Another vote for Extraordinary Machine (both versions). Also Fiona's last album "When the pawn..."

By: brookedel

brookedel — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 01:54:46 -0800

Right now, it's OK Go - Oh No. It's boppy and catchy and bright, and so far it's been the only thing to draw me out of a surly, humorless October funk.

But if you had asked me this question a month ago, I too would've answered The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree. Just an amazing album on all fronts.

By: Joseph Gurl

Joseph Gurl — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:40:50 -0800

Digression/degression by Astronoise