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Thread: Top Albums of September, 2012

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    Member camisadelgolf's Avatar
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    Top Albums of September, 2012

    Depending on the response, I might make this a regular thing. I'll just talk about albums that came out on a monthly basis and point out the ones I like a lot. Some I buy, some I stream, and some I download illegally with the intention of purchasing when I can. Anyway, here goes . . .

    The Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
    I've talked to some diehard Animal Collective fans who don't like it, but I think they just need a little time to warm up to it. If I had to sum up the album in a word, it would be "intense". I'd say it's neither their best nor their worst, but it leans more toward the former.
    Animal Collective - Today's Supernatural (Official Music Video) - YouTube

    The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter
    This was one of the most anticipated albums of the year. From what I understand, a lot of people are disappointed with it, which makes no sense to me. Granted, it's not as easily accessible as their last effort (I and Love and You), but it's already one of my favorite albums of the year.
    avett brothers - paul newman vs. the demons - YouTube

    David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant
    I must admit that my expectations were pretty high for this one. I'm both a huge David Byrne and St. Vincent fan. I question how long they spent on this album because it's not as good as any of their individual efforts. Still, they're two amazing artists, and this one's at least worth a listen.
    David Byrne & St. Vincent - 'Who' - YouTube

    deadmau5 - > album title goes here <
    The critics are destroying this album. It's getting all kinds of flack. A lot of that probably comes from his stupid comments in the media. Anyway, it's not that bad, but it would've been a lot better if about half of it were left off.
    deadmau5 ft. Gerard Way - Professional Griefers (Official Video) - YouTube

    Bob Dylan - Tempest
    Wow. That's really all about I can say about it. I'm a huge Bob Dylan fan, and this only reinforced that. It's his best album in over a decade, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's open-minded enough to put up with what's left of his voice.
    Bob Dylan - Duquesne Whistle - YouTube

    Nelly Furtado - The Spirit Indestructible
    I'll admit that I liked Whoa, Nelly!, but she hasn't released anything worthwhile since then. This is the worst album I've heard in quite a while. It was so offputting that I deleted it after one listen. She's going to need M.I.A.'s help if she wants to sound like she has a clue.
    Nelly Furtado - Big Hoops (Bigger The Better) - YouTube

    GOOD Music - Cruel Summer
    It seems like the album was released just to stroke Kanye West's ego. Sadly, his ego needs no help, and this release was kind of redundant. There are enough songs to enjoy to make it worth a listen, but Kanye sounds better when he sticks to what he normally does.
    Mercy (Explicit) - YouTube

    Green Day - ¡Uno!
    Green Day isn't punk anymore and haven't been for a longtime, but this is the closest they've gotten since their late '90s selves. If you're okay with that, you should like this album. It took a little growing-on-me, but now I would say it's the best album on this list (but not by a long shot). Just don't let the stupidity of "Kill the DJ" stop you from enjoying it.
    Green Day: "Let Yourself Go" - [Official Live Video] - YouTube

    Grizzly Bear - Shields
    This is an excellent record, but it's getting just a little bit more attention than it deserves imho. They're a typical Brooklyn hype-magnet, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check them out. And if you ever get a chance to see their live show, do it.
    Grizzly Bear - Sleeping Ute - YouTube

    Michael Jackson - Bad 25
    Predictably, we're seeing re-releases of Michael Jackson's albums. Bad was easily one of the better albums of the '80s, and I'm surprised at how well it has endured the test of time. The demos are an interesting listen, and the DVD is surprisingly good.
    Michael Jackson - BAD 25 ✬ I&#39;ll Be There ✬ - YouTube

    Carly Rae Jepsen - Kiss
    Everyone was talking about it, so I decided to give it a chance. I won't waste too much time on this. It sucks. I really don't understand why people like this crap--and I'm a big pop music fan.
    Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe - YouTube

    The Killers - Battle Born
    When they first came out, I was really excited about them. Unfortunately, they haven't evolved as much as I would've hoped. It's (much) better than Sam's Town but not as good as Day & Age. But if you liked either of those, you'll find enough to like about Battle Born.
    The Killers - Runaways - YouTube

    Low Cut Connie - Call Me Sylvia
    If I had to single out an album I thought the board would enjoy, it might be this one. They hold no punches and pack a ton of fun. They refer to themselves as a self-deprecating bar band if that gives you any idea of what to expect. They're a lot more than that, though.
    Boozophilia - LOW CUT CONNIE - YouTube

    Aimee Mann - Charmer
    This was highly recommended to me by a friend of mine. We have very similar tastes in music, so I figured I'd love this one like he does. It didn't happen, though. There are a few great songs, but that's about all this had to offer me. She has done worse than this before, but this is the worst it has been in a very long time. However, I love the inclusion of Tom Scharpling in this video.
    Aimee Mann - Charmer - YouTube

    Dave Matthews Band - Away from the World
    Although I'm not into this scene, DMB always found a way to play songs that I could appreciate. The album flows very well with impressive production. Dave Matthews aside, this is the best the band has sounded in a long time. It's a very good album that will seem even better if you liked Dave Matthews Band in the first place.
    Dave Matthews Band - Mercy - YouTube

    Mika - The Origin of Love
    It's more of the same from Mika, who you might remember from "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)". It's a decent pop album reminiscent of a modernized Freddy Mercury. It doesn't get my strongest recommendation, but if you're into catchy pop, it's worth a shot.
    Mika - Elle Me Dit (clip officiel) - YouTube

    Mumford & Sons - Babel
    One of RZ's favorites, they're back and as good as ever. I don't need to say much about it except that it's what you'd expect: a very good album.
    Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait - YouTube

    Ne-Yo - R.E.D.
    Ne-Yo's last couple albums were excellent, so I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately, he took a big step backwards on this one. It's not without its highlights, but for the first time, I heard songs from him that I would describe as "chaffe". Still, it's better than a lot of his peers' work, so if you're into it, check it out.
    Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) - YouTube

    No Doubt - Push and Shove
    This didn't sound as much like No Doubt as I would've hoped. It sounded more like Gwen Stefani throwing the rest of the band a bone. It's not bad, but I can't come up with many reasons to listen to it either.
    No Doubt - Settle Down - YouTube

    Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra - Theatre Is Evil
    Controversy over the most petty things has surrounded this album. The concerns over money are justified, but it apparently didn't stop them from making a very good rock album. This is one of my favorite albums on this list.
    Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra &#39;Want It Back&#39; (Official Video)(Uncensored) - YouTube

    Pink - The Truth about Love
    Say what you will about Pink, but she finds a way to separate herself from the other pop stars out there. I wouldn't say she's particularly talented, but she has enough self-awareness and taste to see that going the Britney Spears route isn't for her. This is a decent power-pop album with a few good singles. It's neither terrible nor great--just somewhere in the middle.
    P!nk - Blow Me (One Last Kiss) - YouTube

    The Sheepdogs - s/t
    They're Canada's answer to The Black Keys. Their self-titled 2nd album debuted at #1 up there. It's a solid record, but it's no Black Keys--that's for sure.
    The Sheepdogs - The Way It Is [Official Music Video] - YouTube

    The Vaccines - Come of Age
    What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? was one of my favorite albums from last year, and they're already back with another album that does it justice. This one's equally as good, so if you enjoyed the last one, you need to check it out. But if you're in England, odds are you already have.
    The Vaccines - No Hope - YouTube

    The xx - Coexist
    We've already talked quite a bit about this album. Their sound has gotten quieter, and the songwriting isn't quite what it was on their self-titled debut, but it doesn't seem fair to word it that way because their debut was so great. All in all, it's an impressive album that sounds great on rainy days.
    The xx - Angels - YouTube
    Last edited by camisadelgolf; 10-17-2012 at 01:44 AM. Reason: typo


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  3. #2
    Member texasdave's Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Excellent post. Thanks.

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    he/him *BaseClogger*'s Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    I'm really surprised I Bet on Sky didn't get a review...

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    he/him *BaseClogger*'s Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    I don't listen to as much music as camisa haha, and I'm pretty strictly an indie rock guy, but I've heard a couple random new albums not mentioned:

    The Whigs - Enjoy the Company
    I thought it was okay, but I couldn't stop thinking it sounded too much like the Foo Fighters. Not up to the standard of Mission Control.

    The Whigs - Waiting - YouTube

    Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
    I guess this was released earlier in the year in Europe but it doesn't seem like anybody was talking about it in the States until recently. Its effect on me is similar to Radiohead's--I like the pop songs but just don't dig on the experimental stuff.

    alt-J (∆) Breezeblocks - YouTube

    Tweak Bird - Under Cover Crops
    I find anything they've released since their Reservations EP a disappointment, but I still love their (admittedly unevolved) sound.

    Tweak Bird - The Weight - YouTube



    I haven't completely warmed to that new Sheepdogs album. We'll see...
    Last edited by *BaseClogger*; 10-18-2012 at 12:09 AM.

  6. #5
    Member camisadelgolf's Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Quote Originally Posted by *BaseClogger* View Post
    I'm really surprised I Bet on Sky didn't get a review...
    I was going to buy it at Midpoint, but I didn't feel like dealing with the crowd at the merch booth. I'll get it the next time I'm at Shake-It.

    Tweak Bird is an amazing live show, but their albums don't impress me all that much. They have a gong.

    I love The Whigs and like the new single, but a friend of mine is going to let me borrow the record when he's done with it. You shouldn't be surprised by them sounding more corporate. For starters, they clearly have a Ray-Ban deal in the video you posted.

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    Member kaldaniels's Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Great post Camisa. September was one of the most exciting months for new releases in a while.

    Not a big fan, but I'm surprised how little I have heard on the No Doubt album.

  8. #7
    Member camisadelgolf's Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Overall, I was disappointed. There were some very good albums that came out but only three great ones that I listened to, one of which was a re-release of an '80s album.

  9. #8
    Member kaldaniels's Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Quote Originally Posted by camisadelgolf View Post
    Overall, I was disappointed. There were some very good albums that came out but only three great ones that I listened to, one of which was a re-release of an '80s album.
    Yeah I can see that. I guess I was referring to more the anticipation of all the releases not the quality.

    The Killers album is growing on me after an underwhelming first listen. (Though they didn't sound good or interview well last night on Colbert IMO). And while the new album isn't bad, I can't help but feel like DMB has lost their mojo when it comes to song writing. I was looking forward to the Byrne/St. Vincent album but have heard enough so-so reviews that I have yet to pull the trigger.

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    he/him *BaseClogger*'s Avatar
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    Re: Top Albums of September, 2012

    Quote Originally Posted by kaldaniels View Post
    Yeah I can see that. I guess I was referring to more the anticipation of all the releases not the quality.

    The Killers album is growing on me after an underwhelming first listen. (Though they didn't sound good or interview well last night on Colbert IMO). And while the new album isn't bad, I can't help but feel like DMB has lost their mojo when it comes to song writing. I was looking forward to the Byrne/St. Vincent album but have heard enough so-so reviews that I have yet to pull the trigger.
    May I suggest I Bet on Sky then?

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    MLB Baseball Razor Shines's Avatar
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    I really like Band of Horses new album, Mirage Rock.

    And the more I listen to it I really think that Band of Horses is one of my favorite bands of horses.


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