BuzzSugar

EW Picks the Best 25 Indie Rock Albums - Do You Agree?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:30:52 -0700

Ah, top 25 lists. I know some people hate to list music in this way because it's so hard (I know this first hand) to compare albums and favorite songs much less pick favorites. A wise first step for any list maker is to narrow the field by genre, which is what EW recently did to choose the best indie albums from each year, from 1984 up until the present.

They also gave themselves some rules for which albums are eligible, including defining "independent" as "the bands had to have been signed to an independent label for the given album" (so, Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirt doesn't count because that album was released on Geffen Records) and they have to be bands, not individual artists, which is why you won't see Elliott Smith or Sufjan Stevens in there.

Here are the picks for the past five years:

2008: Radiohead, In Rainbows
2007: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2006: The Hold Steady, Boys and Girls in America
2005: Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
2004: Arcade Fire, Funeral

I have a nit to pick with their 2006 choice and probably would have chosen Band of Horses, Everything All the Time for the best of that year. What do you think? Anyone missing? To see the rest of the list, read more.

2003: The White Stripes, Elephant
2002: Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights
2001: The Shins, Oh, Inverted World
2000: Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out
1999: Sleater-Kinney, The Hot Rock
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1997: Modest Mouse, Lonesome Crowded West
1996: Belle and Sebastian, If You're Feeling Sinister
1995: Archers of Loaf, Vee Vee
1994: Guided By Voices, Bee Thousand
1993: Built to Spill, Ultimate Alternative Wavers
1992: Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted
1991: My Bloody Valentine, Loveless
1990: Fugazi, Repeater
1989: The Pixies, Doolittle
1988: Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
1987: Dinosour Jr., You're Living All Over Me
1986: R.E.M., Life's Rich Pageant
1985: The Smiths, Meat Is Murder
1984: The Replacements, Let It Be

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 9/26

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:37:31 -0700

"Nashville" is the first new series to be yanked from the TV schedule this fall, writes Zap2it, though Fox claims it will be rescheduled down the line.
Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon are looking to finance The Human Factor, the Nelson Mandela film starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela, writes ComingSoon. Eastwood would also direct the film and Damon might star in it alongside Freeman.
Reba McEntire is enjoying the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for the first time ever with her album Reba Duets, Billboard reports. She beat out both Kanye and 50 Cent.
Set your TiVos for Bravo's mini-marathon of six "30 Rock" episodes on Sunday afternoon! The Futon Critic has the details.
According to Variety, The Nielsen Company is looking to launch an "online social network" where TV enthusiasts can discuss what they think is working and not working - with studios and networks listening in.
Bright Eyes has been working hard to prepare for the concert this weekend in which he'll play with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, writes Billboard.
"Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy has a new show headed for Fox, Zap2it reports, while the Hollywood Reporter says the network also has two cop series in the works.
Meanwhile, over at NBC, a new reality show called "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" will soon be in the lineup, and all the details are at the Futon Critic.
Kevin James will write, produce and star in a comedy titled Mall Cop, writes Hollywood Reporter.
Jay-Z's Rocawear brand is among the bidders for naming rights to the New Jersey Nets' arena, the Associated Press reports.
And finally: Remember that whole thing where Apple claimed it wouldn't sell new NBC shows on iTunes? Curiously, "Chuck" and "Journeyman" are available there now anyway.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Song of the Day: Bright Eyes, "Big Old House"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0700

Yesterday I told you about The Hottest State, the movie written and directed by Ethan Hawke that opens later this month. What I didn't mention was the movie's awesome soundtrack, which consists of 18 songs by some of my favorite artists, including Bright Eyes, Feist, M. Ward and more.

All of the songs are written by singer-songwriter Jesse Harris, who won a Song of the Year Grammy in 2003 for the Norah Jones hit "Don't Know Why." I'm not familiar with his solo work, but I'm really liking "Big Old House," the song of his that Bright Eyes performs on the soundtrack. The bells and electric guitars in the background give it the epic feel of a soundtrack song, and Conor Oberst's voice is perfectly suited for nostalgia-fueled lyrics such as "I'll love you if you've changed." I've listened to a few of the soundtrack's other tracks on the soundtrack's MySpace page, but this one is my favorite so far. To listen for yourself, read more

Source

Song of the Day: Bright Eyes, "Trees Get Wheeled Away"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 06:01:04 -0700

Lest you forget how ridiculously prolific Bright Eyes is, I've just discovered a B-Side called "Trees Get Wheeled Away" that's so good, I can't believe it's never surfaced on album. (Thanks to I Guess I'm Floating for compiling such a great round-up of rarities.)

With its light and airy mandolin, triumphant electric guitar, and poignant lyrics, "Trees" would easily have been at home on this year's Cassadaga album or 2005's more twangy I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. Tell me what you think when you read more

Source

Music Video: Bright Eyes, "Hot Knives"

BuzzSugar — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

After spending some more time with the latest Bright Eyes album, Cassadaga, I've grown very fond of the song "Hot Knives." Thought it wasn't initially one of my favorite tracks, I like the way it combines the irreverence from Conor Oberst's younger years with a mature, full-bodied sound. Now, it's gotten the music-video treatment, courtesy of the award-winning director Patrick Daughters.

The video isn't embeddable, but I highly recommend watching it online at the Directors Bureau. Clad in a white suit, Oberst is looking like John Lennon circa 1969 without the beard, and the psychedelic visuals certainly don't hurt. I particularly love the effect where the image of the singer is projected onto his own torso. Give it a look and let me know what you think.

Source

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:37:20 -0700

If you could recast Ferris Bueller's Day Off with new actors, who would you pick?
This week, I really enjoyed Bjork's new song "Earth Invaders" and Bright Eyes' new album.
Well, I don't know about "genius," exactly, but it's shear something. Also, "Notes From the Underbelly" got to an underwhelming start. "Underbelly" is an icky word, don't you think?.
The trailer for Superbad, starring "Arrested Development"'s Michael Cera, looks so good, while Adam Brody is the only good-looking thing In the Land of Women.
If you could vote one of these scripted shows off the air, which would you vote for?
If you're interested in seeing one of the many thrillers this weekend, Disturbia is good, First Snow is chilling, and Perfect Stranger is a failure.
Check out Al Gore's impressive musical lineup for his Live Earth concert.
The "Friday Night Lights" season finale had me in tears this week. And then I discovered that they'd filmed two different halftime speeches! Sigh. I'll miss you, Panthers.

CD Review: Bright Eyes, Cassadaga

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:00:38 -0700

If you're a regular BuzzSugar reader, you know how much I've been looking forward to the new Bright Eyes album - that is, very much, for months. Each new track that trickled out only heightened my anticipation. If the whole album was as well-crafted as the fiddle-laden "Four Winds," I thought, then Cassdaga would do nothing but rule.

You might argue that no album can live up to those expectations, but in its best moments, Cassadaga is brilliant. When it suffers, it's merely a matter of misguided ambition. After the personal and folksy I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, much has been made of this album's political bent. But actually, this Bright Eyes is more spiritual than political - at once rejecting established belief systems and trying to figure out what to follow in their absence.

Fittingly, the CD is packaged in gray-patterned paper that, when viewed under the enclosed "decoder," reveals a myriad of messages and shapes invisible to the naked eye. Inside, we get some of Bright Eyes' grandest sound to date. To hear a track from the album and more about what I think,

Recorded with an orchestral assortment of Conor Oberst's friends and collaborators - including M. Ward on guitar, vocalist Hassan Lemtouni, and Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss - the eclectic songs on Cassadaga range from triumphantly defiant to just plain mopey. On "If the Brakeman Turns My Way," Bright Eyes follows the path blazed by Bob Dylan to prove that loaded messages can also rock, as a roving piano chugs alongside a subtle Hammond organ that faintly echoes "Like a Rolling Stone."

But while the multi-layered sound works well on the more frantic numbers like "Classic Cars," Cassadaga derails on several down-tempo numbers, which have too many elements and not enough oomph. The string section only weighs down the plodding "Lime Tree," making me long for the younger, angsty Oberst rather than this drearier version. And though the bass clarinets on "Middleman" give the forlorn lyrics - "the in-between, the absentee / is a beautiful disguise" - a more sinister air, the trance-like chant that comes in at the end is only a distraction.

It seems a silly gripe for an album that contains some of Bright Eyes' most riveting songs to date - including "Brakeman," below - but the best tracks on Cassadaga deserve better company.

Link Time! 3/29

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:48:11 -0700

Idolator gets its hands on two leaked Bright Eyes tracks from Cassadaga, one of which is excellent, if a little too Dylan-esque.
Best Week Ever has the frightening footage of Karl Rove rapping.
Pop Candy finds out about the soundtrack to Showtime's "This American Life."
Buddy TV writes about the rise and fall of "Punk'd."
ScreenGrab rounds up the 10 most important nude scenes of all time. (NSFW)
TVgasm gawks at Chris Sligh's lame "Idol" exit excuse.
I Guess I'm Floating posts three Magnetic Fields covers, including one from Arcade Fire.
TV Squad wonders if YouTube will save Jon Stewart's failed pilot.
Popwatch says George Clooney might have leaked those Huckabees videos.
Film Experience pays tribute to The Lookout star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The TV Addict chats with Krysten Ritter about "Gilmore Girls," "Veronica Mars" and "'Til Death."
Courtesy of Defamer: how Michael Bay screwed up The Transformers, told in verse.

DJ Bright Eyes to Rock NPR

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:38:44 -0800

It's probably clear to you by now that I like Bright Eyes - a fact that I am sometimes embarrassed to admit. I am proud, however, to be a fan of All Songs Considered, NPR's very cool online radio show featuring set lists and concerts from both beloved and obscure artists. So imagine my delight when Pitchfork informed me that Bright Eyes singer/songwriter/egoist/jack-of-all-trades Conor Oberst will be a guest DJ on this afternoon's show.

We've already heard one great track off the new Bright Eyes album, Cassadaga, coming out April 10. But you can bet Conor will shed some more light on the subject during his interview with host Bob Boilen, as well as with his set list, which will likely include his own songs and his favorite tracks from other musicians. I'll be listening to the show for sure, so if you tune in, tell me what you think.

Music Video: Bright Eyes, "Four Winds"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 07:43:23 -0800

I've been so busy blogging about the bright spots of the 2007 Oscars that I haven't had time to talk about the new Bright Eyes video that premiered last week on Spinner. Called "Four Winds," it's the second track I've heard off the forthcoming EP of the same name, and I like it even more than "Tourist Trap."

"Four Winds" will also appear on Bright Eyes' new album, Cassadaga, which comes out April 10. It's a folk-rock ditty with twangy violins and an infectious melody, and the matte black-and-white video has a cool old-timey feel. To watch the video for "Four Winds," read more

Source