"We Have Their Bones to Comb Our Hair..."

So I got my hands on a copy of "Hungry Bird," the new CD by Clem Snide. I wasn't expecting to hear another CD from Clem Snide, as I had read last year they were breaking up. That was further supported by last year's solo record by the band's leading creative force Eef Barzelay. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to find this, what I understand to be, final capstone record.

"Hungry Bird" is full of the literate, melodic word pictures I've come to expect from the group. Clem Snide makes the kind of music I gravitate to: folkish, beautiful, sometimes delicate, but confident and often haunting, with a streak of irony and darkness. This CD is less overtly rocking than Barzelay's solo work of last year (which gave "Could Be Worse," one of may top 120 songs of 2008), but that's okay. This music has an calm urgency all its own. The tunes are evocative and raise the question of why this music isn't a part of some moving indie-type film--it would be perfect!

While songs like "Our Time Will Come," "Beard of Bees," and "With All My Heart" are right up there and ready for repeated listens, the first track "Me No" is instantly captivating. I've listened to it now about 15 times, and I've had the CD only a couple days. That track has a strong undercurrent of irony and a darkly subversive, almost apocalyptic tone. Still, it's simply arresting, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's on my 2009 list of favorite songs.

Thank you, Clem Snide, for releasing another set of excellent songs. Those of you looking for something for a hungry mind that you can sink your musical teeth into, look no further. Check out "Hungry Bird."

Album of the Year (so far): "FURR"

For the past month the album "Furr" by Portland, Oregon's Blitzen Trapper has been ceaselessly playing in my home, in my truck, on my computer, and in my head. It's become my favorite album of 2008. This was only further reinforced by a chance to see them live in Fargo, North Dakota, on Oct. 28. They were awesomely excellent!

I had downloaded a free promo mp3 of the title track in early September from the SubPop website, and that song immediately floated to the top of my singles list for the year. But when I got a chance to listen to the whole album, it seemed to me like this one would be an instant classic. Each track was better than the last. I have had a hard time finding a song on it that I don't like, and that's an accomplishment.

There are traces of Dylan, Neil Young, Pavement, 70s classic rock, a flourish of synth, a few electronic burbles, some neo-folk, even a Lynyrd Skynyrd lick here and there.

Of the songs, "Furr" and "God + Suicide" are my top two, but "Gold for Bread," "Sleepytime in the Western World," "Fire + Fast Bullets," and "Saturday Nite" are worthy as well...and then there's "Not Your Lover" and "Lady on the Water" too. Like I said, of the 13 songs it's been hard to find a song I don't like... And with each listen to the entire CD, I like all of them more and discover additional touches of interest.

Buy the album! Go see them live! You won't be disappointed.
www.myspace.com/blitzentrapper

Top 40 Favorite Songs of 2007

For some reason a list of my 40 favorite songs is a magic number. (Although, I do have a list of 100 that fits nicely onto 5 CDs). Here are my favorite songs of 2007 in relative order...

01. Phantom Limb – the Shins
02. Sewn – the Feeling
03. Plus Ones – Okkervil River
04. Hey Momma – Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
05. Dirt and the Body – Hello Dragon
06. You Bring Me Down – Travis
07. Kookaburra – John Vanderslice
08. Chariot – Page France
09. Boyscout’n – Menomena
10. 1234 – Feist
11. The One – Trabant
12. Red Rabbits – the Shins
13. It’s Not True – William Fitzsimmons
14. Sing Like the Sun – Rotary Downs
15. Home – Great Northern
16. Die Alone – Ingrid Michaelson
17. Colors That Lie – Meowskers
18. Heart It Races – Architecture in Helsinki
19. Ghosts – Siobahn Donaghy
20. The End of the World – Hello Dragon
21. Halloweenhead – Ryan Adams
22. Broken Arm – Winterpills
23. Fire It Up – Modest Mouse
24. Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs
25. No Cars Go – Arcade Fire
26. Challengers – the New Pornographers
27. Fool That I Am – Kula Shaker
28. Wild Mountain Nation – Blitzen Trapper
29. Typical – Mutemath
30. Good Night – La Rocca
31. How Low – Jose Gonzales
32. Dark Matter – Andrew Bird
33. Strange – the Feeling
34. Candylion – Gruff Rhys
35. Stephen Hawking – Hello Dragon
36. July – Winterpills
37. Rotten Hell – Menomena
38. X’s Are Forever – Scissors for Lefty
39. Slow Show – the National
40. Sugar – Dan Wilson with Sheryl Crow

Four new bands you should know...

In my enduring quest to discover cool new music, I've come across four new bands that I really like. They are complex, yet tuneful! Check 'em out. I've included a link to the pages on MySpace, where you can stream a few of their songs.

Menomena - might be my favorite of these four... the CD cover/package for their latest release "Friend and Foe" gets bonus creativity points.

The Procession - are poppy and fun, vaguley reminiscent of the Beatles. Very tuneful and catchy -- and that's NOT a bad thing!

Future Clouds and Radar - have one of the coolest, strangest names for a band I've heard in a while. Their sound is very indie rock with interesting sonic flourishes.

Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground - another interesting name, another interesting band. I love the strings!