(No real order, but most of these were played far more than plenty…)
Moon Duo kinda just do one particular thing, but they do it sooooo good.
Gone are the guitar hysterics and instead we get the most-produced, sing-alongable album of the summer. Three words: headphones, headphones, headphones.
Esme Patteron / Woman to Woman
Glorious surprise of “answer” songs to guy-centered famous lady songs and that’s just the hook to get you in. Impeccable guitar playing and songwriting, but best of all; Esme sounds like she’s having a whole lotta fun…
Laurie Anderson / Heart of a Dog Soundtrack
I guess I should probably see this movie because I’m moved by the soundtrack nearly everyday. Meditations on the dignity of death, whether it be her mom, her dog, or Lou. I always associated Laurie with her avante-gardey kind of 80’s stuff. This is just someone telling you something you need to hear. Beautiful beyond belief.
Circus Devils / Stomping Grounds
Gotta have some Pollard right? He had solo albums as well as the Ricked Wicky thing this year, but the Devils are the best. Completely un-classifiable without being too weird to process. Not an easy thing to do…
Protomarytr / The Agent Intellect
We may someday reach a point where math-rock (or whatever you want to call it) simply exhausts all the tricks it can do. Protomarytr re-affirm a genre previously lost to me. Also, if you know someone named Stephen, they should buy this album and play Feast of Stephen really loud.
Sufjan Stevens / Carrie & Lowell
This guy always seemed a little too clever for me. He strips away all the ironic name-dropping literation-based shit and just makes a heartbreakingly lovely album about his mom. This record has consistently floored more than all the others this year.
Taco Jon’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1
Full disclosure: Taco’s a friend of mine. He’s somehow channeled an entire orchestra and big band to make songs about banana hammocks, nachos and drugs. Humorous at times, sure, but then other times, I listen to a song like “Better Lovin” and think this guy is the Burt Bacharach of our time.
Thanks for the tunes and writings Bol, I look forward to this every year! Merry Christmas Calhouns!
~ Bol
••••••••••••••••••••••• curtiserlinger.com 216 W. Smith St. Seattle, WA 98119 206.499.8062
>