Album Review: Dark Was the Night

The folks at the Red Hot Organization somehow managed to get an amazing collection of artists together, including David Byrne, Jose Gonzalez, Feist, Ben Gibbard, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, The National, Yeasayer, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Arcade Fire, Beirut, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, Yo La Tengo, Stuart Murdoch (from Belle & Sebastian), Cat Power, Andrew Bird, Conor Oberst, Blonde Redhead and Kevin Drew, to form a “dream team” charity album of sorts called Dark Was the Night. I imagine that a lot of planning and back-and-forth file swapping went into their final product, but their hard work pays off. It’s as if you made a really great tape on a day when you were sitting on the floor surrounded by a bunch of your random indie records. Only not only are you dubbing the tape, you’ve also found a way to donate money to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS at the same time.

Favorite tracks so far are “Feeling Good” by My Brightest Diamond, “Tightrope” by Yeasayer, “So Far around the Bend” by The National, “Brackett, WI” by Bon Iver, “Happiness” by Riceboy Sleeps and “Lua” by Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch. But there really isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Well, except for the Sufjan song, which, clocking in at a long 10 minutes and 14 seconds, is a little self-important and droning. But overall, it's a really great album for an even better cause.

Album Review: Animal Collective

When I first heard Merriweather Post Pavilion, I didn’t quite know what to do with it. It was almost like when I listened to Radiohead for the first time: strange, involved, complex music that was unlike anything that I had heard in a while (or ever) and I wasn’t entirely sure that I liked it. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t say that Animal Collective’s sound is like Radiohead (they remind me more of Sgt. Pepper’s or Pet Sounds ::but maybe that’s just the similar-name-factor::). But, much like Radiohead, I have come to absolutely adore this album. It's upbeat and the perfect thing to listen to while you are dancing around your apartment in the morning. Plus, optical illusion album covers are almost always a plus in my book. Favorite songs: In the Flowers (this is probably my favorite song of 2009 thus far), My Girls and Summertime Clothes.

Album/Concert Review: Andrew Bird, Noble Beast

After seeing Andrew Bird perform on Tuesday night at the 9:30 Club, I was slightly disappointed. Almost all of the songs that he played were from his new album and there were annoying request-shouting-fans that I would expect to see at Hannah Montana shows, not AB shows. For about 15 seconds I pulled the classic hipster move and bitched about how I think Andrew Bird is now more focused on pleasing fans and finding mainstream success than making the quirky music that I so love. But that’s just crazy. On second (and third…fourth…37th…) listen, the songs that he played were from an album that is as adventurous as any of his other ones. I do think that the whistling has gotten a bit out of control (likely due to the fact that fans really do eat it up), but this is a solid album that is perfect for any mood. Also, the deluxe version is 100% worth the extra money. The artwork is gorgeous, the extra instrumental album is hypnotic, and the lyric book is worthy of the finest of coffee tables. Andrew, I still love you and think that you can do no wrong. Favorite tracks are: “Not a Robot, but a Ghost,” “Anoanimal,” and “Effigy.”

Album Review: She & Him

I was introduced to She and Him (she=the actress Zooey Deschanel, him=collaborator extraordinaire M Ward) when I saw their show in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago. I fell in love with their simple songs and Deschanel’s slighty-off vocals. A combination of original songs and covers, their album Volume One is definitely worth checking out.

Perfect for: dancing around your apartment, half-full wine glass in hand, while your dinner is baking in the oven; background music as you read in bed on a rainy Saturday.

Favorite tracks: Sentimental Heart, Change is Hard, You Really Got a Hold of Me.