recommend one album from 2004 [that may be below the radar]

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...the album for me that comes to mind would have to be MÄRZ "wir sind hier". for those like me that were left cold by the postal service,this may be what you were really hoping to hear.

― william (william), Monday, 18 October 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Saint Etienne present Songs From Mario's Cafe.

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 18 October 2004 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Hermitude - Alleys To Valleys

― mentalist (mentalist), Monday, 18 October 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Hermitude have a very nice website with some of the tracks available for listening. thanks for the tip!

― william (william), Monday, 18 October 2004 04:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Dijf Sanders - Mating Season

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 04:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Nadine Goellner, Sing It to Me Anyway. NYC artist who plays the Living Room a lot and will draw comparisons to Norah Jones -- but I find her style more lively, her voice warmer, and her pop instincts playing in as much as her jazz ones. Currently reviewing the album for AMG tonight. Outside chance of it making my P&J top 10.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 18 October 2004 04:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Sagor & Swing's "Orgelplaneten." Wonderful accordion/organ instrumentals. Made me feel doubly stupid when I discovered I already had another album by them I'd never gotten around to listening to.

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 18 October 2004 07:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Got a lot of time for that Richard Bartz album (which I can't remember the name of) - don't think it's been talked about much, at least not here...

Makes hard, minimal techno sound good again.

― Jacob (Jacob), Monday, 18 October 2004 07:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, also

The Guild League - Inner North

Musically, it's not really anything spectacular (mostly acoustic guitar, cello and drums), but the songs within are quite lovely.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 07:55 (twenty-one years ago)

The Comas - Controller

― Nancy Boy (scottkundla), Monday, 18 October 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 18 October 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

that Richard Bartz album (which I can't remember the name of)

midnight man! that is one loevly album. (but what do yuo mean, "again".)

i recomend raiders of the lost arp 4, which is smoothe elegant detroit sound done rihgt for the first time since "lifesytles of the laptop cafe".

― :|, Monday, 18 October 2004 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Call & Response Winds Take No Shape

I've delurked to glow about this album on at least one other thread, but it's still my favorite album this year. It's not at all like the ba-da-da-da sunny pop of their first album, so if you passed over it thinking it'd be too twee, dig it up and give it a play.

― mikef (mfleming), Monday, 18 October 2004 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue

How is this under anyone's radar?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Sagor & Swing's "Orgelplaneten"

Really interested in this. I love a lot of Scandanavian folk-derived music, especially when it manages to integrate folk into more modern textures without sounding corny (bands who do this well are Samla Mammas Manna and Varttina).

For this thread, I'd recommend Felix Kubin's Matki Wandalki, which is mostly short, bouncy electronic instrumentals - kind of like Raymond Scott with new, German drum machines.

― Dominique (dleone), Monday, 18 October 2004 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Beulah's Yoko

― Louie Strychnine, Monday, 18 October 2004 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

is anything reviewed on Pitchfork automatically disqualified?

― hehe beavis, Monday, 18 October 2004 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

For the purposes of this thread, I'd say "yes." The ILM masses are quite familiar with PFM.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Hem - Eveningland. I'm going to make this record sound like the best Starbucks coffee drink ever made if I go w/ the first set of adjectives that came to mind ("smooth, gorgeous, warm, sumptuous" - bonnnnng). So - somber, demurely orchestral songs of love & such things written by Bacharachian svengalis & given voice by a beautifully mournful woman.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 18 October 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

"Presence" by Weeping Willows. Some of it sounds like what Morrissey would do if he actually wrote proper love songs.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 18 October 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't given the Hem record enough time yet to know for sure, but I don't think it's as good as Rabbit Songs.

x-post

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

My new Microdubstep record I just finished is definitely under the radar.

But yeah, you should hear Stina Nordenstam's "The World Is Saved".

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 18 October 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Has that actually shown up on the radar yet Michael (btw I picked up "This Is Stina Nordenstam" and am digesting)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't read pitchfork so i have no idea what gets reviewed there until an ilxor starts a thread about it.

― Cynthia Nixon Now More Than Ever (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

If you're an ilxor, it's almost unnecessary to read PFM at all. Any thing they publish which may cause a stir will get its own thread before the day's over.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i just checked and two of my favorite "under the radar" indie recs were reviewed there -- fuck's those are not my bongos and the beauty pill's the unsustainable lifestyle.

― Cynthia Nixon Now More Than Ever (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I've mentioned it on other threads but I would recommend the Up-Tight album Five Psychedelic Pieces. Really spaced shoe-gazey, speed-freaky, psychedelic, chewy, Japanese sonic Rorschach blotches. Also, the Antena reissue Camino del Sol, swaying sparse French bossa electro pop, but I think it's been reviewed by the Fork so I'll shut it now.

― mcd (mcd), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Johnny, I thought so @ first, too (re: Hem's new album), but it sounds to me like the newer album is more consistent than Rabbit Songs (which had some fantastic high points - "When I Was Drinking", "The Sailor Song" - but also some long dry patches).

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

It might be on the radar Tim, but Stina needs all the extra endorsement she can get, being that she never tours and rarely gives interviews. It is a fascinating album: one part grimey gloom (reminiscent of "Dynamite"), one part lo-fi pop, one part chamber/neoclassical. I've been meaning to write something about it on SN thread but I haven't got the chance yet.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 18 October 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I just meant had it come out yet. That description sounds enticing though.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

It came out last week

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Although I think there was a one week delay in the Australia release.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

It's being released in Australia????

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:16 (twenty-one years ago)

is it coming out in Canada? No one had it when I searched yesterday.

xpost

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't recommend the Maxi Geil and United State Of Electronica albums enough. Those are probably the two most slept-on quality pop albums of 2004.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Tim, there is a Australian member on the Stina board who says he has just found a local copy of the album on Festival Mushroom Records.

And Matthew - Stina's Swedish (hint fluxblog hint) !

I don't think USE has been slept on here on ILM though. Matos and Ned are constantly mentioning them.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll check up on Stina. USE have some vocal fans on ILM, but are virtually unknown outside of the northwestern US. I was answering the question in general terms. I am very confident that they and Maxi Geil could attract big audiences if they had more media exposure.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 18 October 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh wow, I just got a couple Stina songs and they sound great - thanks, Michael!

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 18 October 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

for me its the new album by King of Woolworths - rediffusion on Lo Recordsings. seems very low profile after his previous stuff on Mantra. the music itself moves away from the pop collisions that he tried on Musicale. while i loved the songs/collabs, this new album has slowly crept up on me now. all weird analogue synth soundtrack stuff.
perfect working sounds ..

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 18 October 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! - Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!
Communiqué - Poison Arrows
The Real Tuesday Weld - I, Lucifer

― Talent Explosion (Talent Explosion), Monday, 18 October 2004 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

aporpos volcano: the last volcano the bear album, "idea of wood", is thier best so far, and overlooked. came out december 03 though.

― :|, Monday, 18 October 2004 15:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Maxi Geil, really? I thought they were just a laugh. That's great if the record's really that good. That's good to hear,

― danh (danh), Monday, 18 October 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd recommend King Cobb Steelie's Destroy All Codes.
So far it's come under pretty much everyone's radar.
I don't think any description I could give would do it justice but there's a thread about it somewhere.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 18 October 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Great undiscovered (in the USA) indie pop:

Bearsuit - Cat Spectacular

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 18 October 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm really impressed with the KingCobb Steelie album. If it doesn't make my top ten list for this year, that's good news because it'll mean that I'll hear some great stuff in the next 2 and half months.

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 18 October 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

bark psychosis - codename dustsucker. i don't know the 1st bp album but this one is timeless. it takes time to get into but that time is very well spent.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 18 October 2004 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

eluvium - accidental memory in case of death (under the radar?)
julian fane - special forces

― matt2 (matt2), Monday, 18 October 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

It was reviewed on pfm but to my knowledge it receives little to no hype:
Noxagt - The Iron Point (Load)

Righteous, Norwegian, thrashy (but not afraid to groove), bass-viola-drums trio's second lp.

― Reed Rosenberg (reed), Monday, 18 October 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

All I See Is Red.....a band I've just been turned onto

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 18 October 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I second Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!. Great record.

I suppose it's a little too early, but I'd bet that the new Giant Sand record will qualify.

― cdwill, Monday, 18 October 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought about mentioning the giant sand record, but i'm not sure how "under the radar" they are.

― Cynthia Nixon Now More Than Ever (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 18 October 2004 17:36 (twenty-one years ago)

voxtrot - start of something (ep or sp)

― theophilus jones (theophilus), Monday, 18 October 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

how is the giant sand, jbr? the usual weird chaotic hodgepodge of jazz improv, desert indie rawk and poetic surreal love songs? i got a little bit tired of howe. he plays with some people from aarhus in denmark on the new one. without his two sidemen from calexico.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Monday, 18 October 2004 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

the usual weird chaotic hodgepodge of jazz improv, desert indie rawk and poetic surreal love songs?

exactly. it's easy to get tired of, but it's also easy to come back to after you've taken some time away from it.

― Cynthia Nixon Now More Than Ever (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 18 October 2004 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Great undiscovered (in the USA) indie pop:

Bearsuit - Cat Spectacular

I love Bearsuit!!!!

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 18 October 2004 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Hah, I knew you would!

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 18 October 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to mention the Stina Nordenstam album or the Keak Da Sneak album (which is 2003 but so good that it NEEDS to be mentioned here!).

― adam. (nordicskilla), Monday, 18 October 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.discmedi.com/db/cd/portadas/FA20357.jpg

― Huk-L, Monday, 18 October 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't give a shit what y'all say, George Michael's Patience is below your radar and is fucking awesome.

― frankE (frankE), Monday, 18 October 2004 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

cut copy - bright like neon love

― alfalfa romeo (natepatrin), Monday, 18 October 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Haruomi Hosono, Mix Form

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 18 October 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

especially Yoshihiro Hanno's "oval"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 18 October 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Toog - Lou Etendue. Also on Karaoke Kalk, but better than the new Marz album.

― Omar (Omar), Monday, 18 October 2004 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, check out American Watercolor Movement, from Jersey City, NJ.

www.americanwatercolormovement.com

Note that I am NOT in this band, nor do I know them. They're fantastic, though.

― cdwill, Monday, 18 October 2004 19:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I was hoping to see on this some below the radar ideas for hiphop, or country,or afropop, or salsa, or rock en espanol, or r'n'b...

― steve-k, Monday, 18 October 2004 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

racine - number one.

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 18 October 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Wall, How To Be A Player

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 18 October 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

harper lee, "everything can be mended"

― gerardo francisco, Monday, 18 October 2004 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I was hoping to see on this some below the radar ideas for hiphop, or country,or afropop, or salsa, or rock en espanol, or r'n'b...

Keak Da Sneak-Counting Other People's Money

― adam. (nordicskilla), Monday, 18 October 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

countryish, heavy on the "ish": Gram Rabbit - Music to Start a Cult To

cumbia/vallenatoish: Very Be Careful - El Grizz

vaguely 20's inspired jazzy pop tunes: Ditty Bops - selftitled

r'n'b: Peven Everett

― Thea (Thea), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

also Soul of John Black self-titled is great soul

― Thea (Thea), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Teedra Moses - Complicated Simplicity
I will write more about this soon, but in sum I'm incredibly pleased to find an R&B singer so determined to bring to light what I had assumed would remain the secret history of aquatic modern R&B (Ashanti's "Voodoo" and "Rescue Me", Tweet's "My Place", Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat", Missy Elliot's "Xstacy", Brandy's "Apart", Destiny's Child's "Bills Bills Bills (Trackmasters Mix)", Amerie's "Float" etc.)

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Great undiscovered (in the USA) indie pop:
Bearsuit - Cat Spectacular

I love Bearsuit!!!!

I hate Bearsuit - they drank all my wine and wouldn't eat the pizza my friend cooked for them (he put on a show in Edinburgh). And they didn't even apologise about the wine! I was looking for it, and they went "is this yours?" and held up an empty bottle.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

they drink wine in Scotland?

― Thea (Thea), Monday, 18 October 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Marissa Nadler, "Ballads of Living & Dying" LP on Eclipse. Beautiful folk.

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 00:24 (twenty-one years ago)

seconded. (weirdly reminds me of neko case's blacklisted at times tho)

― ryan (ryan), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

it's only under the radar cause it just came out but the projects cd is fantastic, like saloon mixed with kicker? stereolab playing 'shoot the ridiculant'?

bearsuit still reminds me too much of Bis.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:02 (twenty-one years ago)

"glass floor" by maritime (on desoto) - fairly standardish indiepop set up but with really lovely songs.

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Vetiver - S/T

Great indie folk album featuring Devendra Banhart and some other people I've never heard of. Sorry if it was 2003.

― Mickey, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)

under AmeriKKKan radar anyway: Deep voice folkie charisma Australia: Cyndi Boste SCRAMBLED EGGS:THE ROSE ST. SESSIONS. Hiphop rap singing guitar orchestra beats tunes beats tunes guest Rokia Traore English Spanish French Wolof Senegal Daara J: BOOMERANG. Self explantory planetary RIO BAILE FUNK: FAVELA BOOTY BEATS. Yet another "re"discovered post punk band barely known back in the day but oh mi god instrumental but not math rock n roll combo through the Link Wray gate of past 50 years Link Ventures VUbu MX-80 Theoretical Girls solo Rhys Quine Sharrock RayBeats Sonic Youth solo Thurston (who also exec produced this comp) but actually "whatever's on our turntable" Notekillers:S/T.

― don, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Also, check out American Watercolor Movement, from Jersey City, NJ.

www.americanwatercolormovement.com

Note that I am NOT in this band, nor do I know them. They're fantastic, though."

I really hate to dis on a local band, but after all I'd heard, I didn't see what the big deal was when I caught them at the Artist Studio Tour a couple weeks ago. The films they showed were more interesting than them.

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

i have lots of love for this philly band called trouble everyday. saw them twice. once in front of two dozen bored state collegians and later in philly playing on the waterfront before the yeah yeah yeahs. since then they've opened for hot snakes on the west coast and they're opening for killers down south now. i may have went a little overboard in my review but sometimes we get excited.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 03:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, that's really an enticing review, Anthony. The Comment below asks if they weren't named after a vampire movie, but seems at least appropriate that "Trouble Every Day" is one of the best political/self-expressive songs ever.Not that there's much competition, rockwise anyway.

― don, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Ray Lamontagne - Trouble

― Velveteen Bingo (Chris V), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard any discussion anywhere about the Washington Social Club album 'Changing Looks.'

It's a cheeky little pop-punk album with chord progressions that don't get any more difficult than I-V-IV. I know in my jaded little heart that I shouldn't like this because I've heard it all before, but I'll be damned if I don't break into a goofy grin whenever I play it.

― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

wash. soc. club is even better live! first time they played here was the same week they got in robert christgau's consumer guide. i would have gone to see them this week but they were opening for the presidents of the united states of america and, well...

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't blame you for not seeing them because of POTUSA. They had played Portland about 3 months before I got the album. I probably would have gone even though it was on a Monday at a crappy venue with four other bands.

I can't imagine they're better live 'cuz it sounds like they were jumping around in the studio the entire time!

― righteousmaelstrom, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

i've only played random tracks off the album (it's at the radio station) and i thought they were more spirited live. i'll definitely give the full-length a deeper listen though. and while i don't like to engage in this kind of objectification, the bass player is hot hot hot hot.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

people who miss kim coletta need to check them out

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Seelenluft-The Way We Go

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

kim coletta still works at the label, no?

― Thea (Thea), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

adam, that keak da sneak record, is it worth giving its own thread? (or has their been one? i'm honestly too lazy right now to search). i love love love him on that hyphy remix, but see his style being the kind of thing i'd get REAL tired off over the length of an album (maybe even a whole song!)

― m. (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

kim coletta still works at the label, no?

yup, though desoto is now catalog only, I believe. She's not doing the hair-tossing, bass swaying thing though. *drool*

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

heh. i promise not to give her your real name when i email her tomorrow but i'm sure she'll enjoy the ego boost.

― Thea (Thea), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 22:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Mitch, it is good but if you think you might tire of him over a full-length, approach with trepidation. There was THIS:

KEAK DA SNEAK-"LOVE DA KIDS"

Also, I just got the Federation record, but I haven't heard it yet (if we're talking about Hyphy).

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 22:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Total xpost: if any bay-area ILXOR wants a copy of Bearsuit /Cat Spectacular/, mail me. I ended up with two, and the fool at Mod Lang wouldn't buy the unopened one from me.

― mikef (mfleming), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

The person who said Dijf Sanders - Mating Season is right on this one

Incredible LP

― stomp (+dancefloor), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i like that one well enough. clone have been alright this year.

― bulbs (bulbs), Wednesday, 20 October 2004 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Girl Nobody - The Future Isn't What it Used to Be

Probably Canada's best unsigned band.

― a. begrand (a begrand), Wednesday, 20 October 2004 03:17 (twenty-one years ago)

The Ex - Turn

(not necessarily below the radar, but definitely not covered as much as it deserves)

― experimental grandma (deangulberry), Wednesday, 20 October 2004 03:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Klang - No Sound Is Heard needs to get some more pub. It's a fine album, ex-Elastica bassist Donna Matthews' new project.

― Riot Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 20 October 2004 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Plant Life - The Return of Jack Splash

― Star Hustler, Wednesday, 20 October 2004 03:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I would like to thank all those whom brought Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! to my attention. This is great stuff.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 22 October 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

""Presence" by Weeping Willows. Some of it sounds like what Morrissey would do if he actually wrote proper love songs.""

Hmmm...Music ok but I find the lyrics cloyingly predictable and cliche. I can almost sing along without knowing the words. Maybe I'd like it better if I didn't speak English.

― Thea (Thea), Friday, 29 October 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I was hoping to see on this some below the radar ideas for hiphop, or country,or afropop, or salsa. . .

Most of my salsa purchases this year have either been obvious major label acts or high-profile acts on small labels. There has been lots of activity at the margins as well, but I haven't heard most of it.

I do like this 2004 Ali Aldik CD I've mentioned before, Aloush. He's Syrian and it's a partly electronic take on debka, with a very varied palate of tone colors. I haven't heard anything exactly like it, although I've heard a lot of the same sort of sounds and rhythms arranged differently.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 30 October 2004 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

fabricate: charles atlas's "worsted weight" album remixed (by pram, casino vs japan, isan, tele:funken, sybarite, magnetophone, and others). I know I am always plugging friends but it really is very good.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 30 October 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

These would all be in my top ten for the year and I don't see much love from others for them:

Wagner PA & Brazuca Matraca "El Imparable Transeunte"
Sergent Garcia "La Semilla Escondida"
Bebo & Cigala "Lagrimas Negras"
Trio Mocoto "Beleza Beleza Beleza"
Lhasa "The Living Road"
Espers "Espers"
Norman & Nancy Blake "The Morning Glory Ramblers"
Nicolai Dunger "Here's My Song..."

― billy, Saturday, 30 October 2004 04:30 (twenty-one years ago)

John Smith "Pinky's Laundromat"

One of the most pleasant hip-hop releases of the year.

― Rollie Pemberton (Rollie Pemberton), Saturday, 30 October 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

it would be creepy if morrissey starting writing 'proper love songs'.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 30 October 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

castanets - cathedral

hazy, lumbering, psychedelic folk. kinda like the bastard child of olivia tremor control and mazzy star.

― arjun (arjun), Thursday, 4 November 2004 17:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Si Soy Llenaro.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 4 November 2004 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

billy I've been trying to convince other people about the awesomeness of sergent garcia for months now!

i also want to nominate
BEST DANCE ALBUM: Daniela Mercury, Carnaval eletronico
BEST BRAZILIAN TRADITIONAL ALBUM: Cris Aflalo, So xerem
BEST BLUES ALBUM: Little Axe, Champagne and grits (Little Axe is headed by Skip McDonald, the Sugarhill and Tackhead guitar player...he plays with Wimbush and Leblanc on several cuts...and produced by Adrian Sherwood! and Chris Difford writes a song! OMG!)
BEST ALBUM I HAVEN'T HEARD: The Ike Reilly Assassination, Sparkle in the finish, probably tied with Charlie Robison, Good times

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 4 November 2004 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

im surprised the dominik eulberg album doesnt get mentoined more.

― :| (....), Thursday, 4 November 2004 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

x-post

(Oh no, he's got a Best Brazilian Traditional Album category. I'm falling behind.)

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Thursday, 4 November 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Rachid Taha, Tekitoi?
(Don't know whether it's under the radar, or where the radar is for that matter.)

― Vornado (Vornado), Thursday, 4 November 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Oren Ambarchi- Grapes from the Estate
first few listens, it seems to be too abstract for the post-rock folk, and too post-rock for the abstract set. should really draw in both though, moreso than Fennesz. it's more daring with chancing and expanding its earmarked sound than Venice though.
Oren's crackling guitar cycles, screwdrives in real deep, more Lucier and Feldman, than say, Tortoise. the space woven into it is beatific though. he really lets you steep in the sonics of it, and every little detail and nuance is lucid and expertly rendered. probably the best album on Touch this year, even counting the intense Jeck and Biosphere competition.

― Beta (abeta), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Born Heller's s/t CD on Locust Music is pretty sweet. I'm pretty sure I've talked about it on other threads, but it's beautiful boy/girl folk stuff. Vaguely Appalachian in feel, but with sparse, sometimes dissonant melodies. Stand-up bass and mandolin, mostly. Awesome vocals. Mostly modern subject matter. Mostly bleak and not catchy, but there's some definite pop in there too. Just need to find it.

― Ian John50n (orion), Friday, 5 November 2004 01:50 (twenty-one years ago)

the lack of fuzz over the emperor machine album is distressing. their stuff sounds like neu playing the theme from airwolf. cmon people.

― :| (....), Sunday, 14 November 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

the ema derton cd is about to be released, it will be fantastic.

― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 14 November 2004 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I second Vetiver, absolutely beautiful
Fennesz, O'Rourke, and Reberg - Return of Fenn O'Berg, might be my favorite recording this year
So Young but So Cold: Underground French Music 1977-83

― tremendoid, Monday, 15 November 2004 01:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Leak Bros - Waterworld

I'm shocked i couldn't find a thread about this album (maybe my search skillz are just poor)

Cage and Tame One team up and spit a concept album completely about smoking dust...and it turns out sharp, smart & funny...best album i've heard all year.

― Jimmy_tango, Monday, 15 November 2004 02:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't Return of Fenn O'Berg come out in 2002?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 15 November 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

July 2002.

Here's the album's site:

http://www.mego.at/mego054.html

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 15 November 2004 02:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I went by the allmusic entry, says released 2004, recorded in 2001 but the review referred obliquely to 2002. I like it is all!

― tremendoid, Monday, 15 November 2004 02:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Levy- 'Rotten Love'

― cdwill, Monday, 15 November 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The Progressive rock community have spoken:
http://www.misterpoll.com/results.mpl?id=1724849044
Congratulations to Norway's White Willow! #1 Progressive Rock Release of 2004

[Poll connected with Gagliarchives radio show: http://www.gagliarchives.com/]

White Willow - Storm Season

Selected Review
http://www.prog-nose.org/engels/albums_2004/white_willow_storm_season.htm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 25 November 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

the moth masque cdr on hand/eye. stone breath guy and a girl doing some pretty neat things with just a banjo and voices... to my ears beats the hell out of most of the folk stuff we're supposed to be excited about these days.

― el sabor de gene (yournullfame), Friday, 26 November 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.papperstiger.nu/ingenting/images/ingenting_duger_liten.jpg

Ingenting duger by Beach Boys/Pixies influenced Swedish band [ingenting]. Sweeeet pop.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Friday, 26 November 2004 10:06 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Beth Hart - Leave the light on

― Gilad Barash, Friday, 31 December 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus-Tech Squeeze Box - Cartooom!
In short, they steal, slash, filter, smaple and process the magic, style and sound of every genre, then fuck it up the ass and represent it in beautiful stereosound and Warner Bros technicolour. They are young, bright things from Tokyo and deserve every success. And between my efforts here and the Spongebob s/t, they may just get it.

― Captain GRRRios' Giggletits (Barima), Friday, 31 December 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

the new baskervilles mini-lp

― keith m (keithmcl), Friday, 31 December 2004 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Beatles - red album

― Anthony cunningham, Friday, 31 December 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

n.lannon

― jenn K (satellitesynth), Friday, 31 December 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

the usher album!

― christopher (WHO), Friday, 31 December 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

may not be below the radar but I've heard nary a mention on ILM:
Skygreen Leopards - "One Thousand Bird Ceremony" - rises above yr usual psychedelic/Elephant Six affair by interweaving timeless melodies that are instantly comforting and forever glorious...probably the best melody-related project from Glenn Donaldson

― Space Is the Place (Space Is the Place), Friday, 31 December 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter- Oh My Girl. Better than her first cd too.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Saturday, 1 January 2005 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Thou "I Like Girls In Russia." Produced by John Parish and apparently unavailable anywhere but Belgium. Mixes pop songs, neat guitar (kind of along the lines of Graham Coxon at times) and aspects of Portishead's production. One of the better bands I know of that are pretty much completely unknown in the US at this point. Unless you live in Belgium, it's probably best to download it.

― dlp9001, Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

brazilian girls!

― bnw (bnw), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

julian fane - special forces

this, yes

― Rizz (Rizz), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Air Conditioning - Weakness

Combines the 1st 2 Sightings rekkids with Mainliner's 'Mellow Out' for an all out thermonuclear assault on yer cochlea that truly must be heard to be appreciated. I'd say the needle was all the way over in the infra-red.

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Saturday, 1 January 2005 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

yes, the n. lannon album is really good

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 1 January 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Cut Copy - 'Bright Like Neon Love'

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Saturday, 1 January 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Cut Copy has got plenty of exposure.

NO ONE has talked about Neotropic's fab "White Rabbits," an incredible mix of epic dub and ambient freedom.

Also Andrea Parker's awesome ghetto/bass/electro-funk mix "Nobody's Perfect" (only 3 pounds at Boomkat.)

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Sunday, 2 January 2005 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The Breakup Society - "James At 35." Catchy guitar pop from Pittsburgh's best songwriter, Ed Masley (formerly of the Frampton Brothers); up there with "Pinkerton" in my list of favorite "single guy" albums.

― John Fredland (jfredland), Sunday, 2 January 2005 05:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Just got around to:

Yuka Honda - Eucademix
Engineers - Folly

Both sound perfect at 2am.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 2 January 2005 09:22 (twenty-one years ago)

brazilian girls!

Yes!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Sunday, 2 January 2005 09:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Telefon Tel Aviv - Map of What is Effortless

― Tannenbaum Schmidt (Nik), Sunday, 2 January 2005 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

is it too late for me to nominate "tiger my friend" by psapp? Best pram album since "dark islands"

― fernando, Saturday, 19 February 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

but that was the last pram album.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 19 February 2005 05:03 (twenty years ago)

Blist -- Endl Karticon

― Aaron A., Saturday, 19 February 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

okay I made that up

― Aaron A., Saturday, 19 February 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

90 Day Men - Panda Park

why doesn't anyone like them (besides me)?

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Saturday, 19 February 2005 07:32 (twenty years ago)

Thee Nitengals - Blue Park Murder

This is an excellent group, a sort of grimy, more bluesy Headcoatees, or punkier Detroit Cobras, with better vox than either (though it's doubtful there's a Holly Golightly in the bunch). If you can find an MP3 of their song "Mission Patrol", grab it asap.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Saturday, 19 February 2005 07:54 (twenty years ago)

Plus-Tech Squeeze Box (still)

― Deerninja B4rim4, Plus-Tech Whizz Kid (Barima), Saturday, 19 February 2005 12:13 (twenty years ago)

but that was the last pram album.

exactly

― fernando, Saturday, 19 February 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

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