Circle of Ouroborus - Cast To The Pits (2010)

It's a bit unfortunate to do an end of the year list so early. Not only do we miss out on a month of records, but there are, frequently, records we miss, or don't let settle in by the time we need to write. That's partially the case with one of my favorite bands, the prolific Circle of Ouroborus, with one of their several 2010 outputs.

They've made serious progress throughout the years. Early, they were a rough band, mostly working as a sort of blackpostpunk sound. They spit droning vocals, sprawling bass lines and catchy drum patterns under a thick guitar and tincan production. As they moved on, they began to get more expressive, Antti Klemi became less monotone (though still keeping that distraught tinge in vocals), production cleared a bit (still rough, it couldn't be any other way), and guitar lines shaped a bit to match. 2008's acoustic diversion, Venerations, marked a subtle change in their atmosphere, as well as a hidden bit of range, and 2009's Tree of Knowledge signaled a band in maturation, a full sound that kept the sordid tone of the earlier, with lush composition including very atypical measures, including the use of horns occasionally, as well Antti straightening his growls and groans to heighten his emotional contribution.

And here, with Cast to the Pits, it continues. They're back to their acoustic sound, as with Venerations, creating more of a black-folk sort of sound, with it's tinge of post-punk, mostly casting out those notions of some sort of black metal. Antti has seemingly become even more confident in his ability to project emotions; his trademark groans no longer set in some "Love Will Tear Us Apart"-esque Ian Curtis. He bends and shifts with the music, as well as the occasional growls that join in, and, although it probably won't make many fans that disliked him before, it works to great advantage with the full, folk sound the band is working with here. With bright guitar passages, he has a more contemplative tone, he keeps a hush whisper in the mystic rhythms of "Wind Rhyme", and he throws an near spiteful gasp in the pounding, drum-and-chord heavy "You Are A Sleeping Ghost Like Me". Somewhere in-between a nihilistic blackness and a sanguine meadow rest Circle of Ouroborus with a sort of demonic presence. Equally menacing and inviting, there may be something to gain if you let them in, and as hypnotic they are on Cast in the Pits, it's hard to not be in a trace.

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Ice Bound Majesty - A Tomb To Erect (2008)

Again, True Sheffield. This one coming from the other half of Skultroll (the one not Black Vomit), with his own work, Ice Bound Majesty. This one, like Black Vomit strays from the more straight, punk sound of Skultroll, again throwing around samples and varying styles of music at will. Starting with the usual dark ambiance, slowing working into an acoustic folk-esque section, entering flute (or some other small woodwind), and then to a thick, ugly drone, all within the first two minutes of this ~35 minute EP. It really has no concern for expansion. While mostly contained within the usual dark atmosphere, somewhat dungeonesque, it variates into doomy ambient passages, into furious blasts, into a cleaner drone into a heavy electronic sound, and back in a manner both smooth and jarring.

That "dungeonesque" sound doesn't always permeate, however. It's occasionally somewhat angelic, as with the "choir" starting and jumping within Wardragon Bones, it's sometimes modern, and mechanical, the drone sometimes takes a sharp, electronic sound, and it's occasionally, unabashedly beautiful. Bright, again almost angelic passages, rise from the grit (again, much like the Black Vomit I posted earlier), doing it's best to warp the listener's mind. There is really no way to prepare for what happens next, no mood one can set oneself into to "fit" the record. It's a twisted universe.

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Skultroll - Skultroll (2007)

More True Sheffield. Although one shouldn't expect the outlandish range of the Black Vomit I posted earlier, this group, a side-project from the mind behind Black Vomit (or perhaps the other way around), this is a particularly good example of the general sound that ties this scene together. Guitar shreiks with a "blender" of effects, spiking and droning from one second to the next, and the drums again making a thunderous presence. No heavy use of samples and classical instruments, no lengthy ambient passages, this is much more of a punk-ish interpretation of the True Sheffield sound.

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The LPC Staff's Top Ten of 2010: A-Gorm

I need to stop neglecting this site. Apologies, again.

1. Devo - Something For Everybody
This album really took me by surprise. I enjoyed a lot of Devo’s classics, and when I decided to Something For Everybody a shot I immediately became entranced. The whole album is incredibly well done, original, and the lyrics are incredibly catchy. Devo’s first release in 20 years sounds just as good as their older work. I can’t get enough of this album.

2. Kanye West - My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West keeps displaying why he is one of the best rappers out there with MDBTF. The album has the beats that Kanye is known for, as well as some big named featured artists like Bon Iver, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, and John Legend. Kanye West is almost like David Bowie in a way, each of his albums seems to completely distinguish themselves from one another.

3. Vampire Weekend – Contra
Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album is very laid back and easy to listen to, with catchy songs like Cousins and Giving Up The Gun. Contra is an all-around solid album; as a matter of fact it was my most played album of the year for 2010.

4. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
I saw Deerhunter open up at a concert a few years back, and have been a huge fan of them since. Halcyon Digest is a bit on the experimental side, but great nonetheless.

5. The National - High Violet
The National’s first album since 2007 debuted to wide critical praise, the album itself is pretty melancholy. I found this album to be very well done and enjoyable.

6. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
I didn’t know what to expect going into my first listen of Age of Adz because I had not listened to Sufjan’s older work before. The album is very relaxing to listen to, some of the songs almost sound like they could be church hymns. I put it on while studying and found that it helped keep me calm.

7. The Black Keys – Brothers
Brothers is a very gritty, bluesy rock type album with a couple of songs that I absolutely love. “Howlin’ For You” was my personal favorite; I was surprised to hear it in Entourage and NHL 11. I absolutely love the use of the kazoo in the song’s background.

8. Childish Gambino – Culdesac
I did a write up of this album in the summer. Culdesac is an album that deals with pretty serious topics, but it feels very fresh and sincere. Childish Gambino uses a lot of different metaphors and is very clever in the way that he delivers his raps, he mixes humor and seriousness very well in this album.

9. Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
I listened to this album on a recommendation from my friend and actually enjoyed it, even though I was told that it wasn’t one of Frightened Rabbit’s better releases. Scott Hutchinson, vocalist and guitarist for the band, said that the album is a type of “storytelling album”, and that the lyrics often deal with some of life’s heavy issues.

10. Jimmy Eat World – Invented
Invented did not get amazing reviews from the critics, but I thought that it was a pretty solid album nonetheless. There are some typical catchy Jimmy Eat World songs on here, but a solid chunk of the album failed to stand out, which hurt the album in my opinion.

The LPC Staff's Top Ten of 2010: Omagunk

I have no opener.

10. OMNI - Minus The Bear
I had never heard of Minus The Bear before this album, and decided to check them out after seeing them on -of all places- 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'. The album is definitely worthwhile, the instrumentation (particularly the guitar) makes for a great listen and lead vocalist Jake Snider really shines. Any and all alternative rock fans are encouraged to check it out.

9. To The Sea - Jack Johnson
There isn't so much to say about this album. If you're familiar with Jack Johnson's previous attempts, you'll know what to expect on this album. If you aren't then you should know that this is 13 tracks of well-played and expertly-sung songs -mostly about love or the loss of it- that beg to be played through your speakers during a road trip or on the way to the beach. Definitely a goodie here, folks.

8. The ArchAndroid - Janelle Monae
Not being familiar with Ms. Monae, this album took me completely by surprise. It is a blend of soulful hip-hop and electronic music with a large helping of sonic weirdness mixed in. Its greatness is compounded by the fact that its wrapped up tidily in a neat, concept-album package. Janelle Monae is truly firing on all cylinders with this one both with her arrangement, production, composition as well as switching her style between soft, whispered raps and fantastic singing. Get this album!

7.Everything's Berri - A.G.
For a long while I thought this would be the best album of 2010, instead of just one of the best. Still, A.G.'s return after his 2009 album Oasis (with O.C.) is great. His cool, calm, collected flow works in perfect harmony with his deep voice and the fantastic production on the album. There are alot of earworms to be found here.

6.Sir Luscious Left Foot - Big Boi
Big Boi's first solo effort (unless you count Speakerboxx) is a rousing success. Every song is expertly produced to create a mood that precariously dangles on the edge between hip-hop and electronica, and maintains its balance excellently. Of course, it goes without saying that Big Boi's delivery, flow, and lyrics are of course in full effect, putting almost every track over the top. Fantastic guest appearances by Janelle Monae, T.I., and trap-music heavyweight Gucci Mane only seal the deal.

5. The Kardashev Scale - Greydon Square
Also known as "Best Album Nobody Listened To In 2010"

Greydon Square is one of my favorite rappers, and I've been following him since his debut album, "The Compton Effect." (This is his third album and best yet). Greydon square is the latest in the never ending stream of "conscious" rappers, most of his topics he raps about include atheism and inflammatory remarks against religion, as well as his life growing up in group homes. Expertly produced by Traumah and Greydon himself, this album is a must-listen.

4. Album Of The Year - Black Milk
In 2007, Black Milk released the great album Popular Demand, then produced all of Elzhi's The Preface in 2008. In 2008 he dropped an instant classic with Tronic. I think it is a testament to his ability that Album Of The Year is far and away his worst album, and still one of the best releases of the year. Its done in the typical Black Milk style of fast, machine-gun style raps tuned perfectly to the beat, and filled with appearances from other Detroit's MCs just when you think Black's voice is getting dangerously close to boring.

3. Curren$y - Pilot Talk
Curren$y has been on a huge roll in 2010 (get it because he raps about weed and you roll joints and...forget it) with his great mixtape Smokee Robinson, Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk's sequel album. However, Pilot Talk is head and shoulders above everything else he's released this year, and most hip-hop releases. As per usual Curren$y shows a fantastic ear for beats that fit fantastically with his slow rapping style which almost makes him sound disinterested. Great guest spots from Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Smoke DZA, and Devin The Dude only help his cause.

2. TSOL - Shad
Shad is probably my favorite rapper to come out recently, and I can count the songs he's released that I don't like on one hand. TSOL is his third album and best yet. The production is handled well, but the real shine of the album comes from the way almost every track is written perfectly. Shad makes fun and funny wordplay and multisyllabic rhymes ("I do enjoy some lychee ice-tea with pearls/find me on a nice beach doin' tai chi with girls") seemingly out of thin air; he makes hip-hop look ridiculously easy. If you'd like your favorite rapper to remain your favorite rapper, avoid this album at all costs.

1. Authenticity - The Foreign Exchange
This is the best album of the year, in my opinion. Soulful, thoughtful and fun to listen to. You should, -nay, need- to acquire this album if you enjoy R&B, Soul or anything else up that alley. You can see me gush more about it here: http://lovingpetercetera.blogspot.com/2010/10/foreign-exchange-authenticity-2010.html

aronrayzz. - карман для слёз (2010)

Among the lists, we've seem to forgotten to post album reviews, so I'll plan to supplement these lists with some relatively unknown 2010 albums, as well as some general favorites I've been meaning to post. So to start, an obscure trio post-rock band from Mother Russia.

And I can sense the grimaces from the mention of "post-rock", a genre so packed with artists I'm sure most of us prepared to hear nothing but mediocrity and cliches. Perhaps they do fall for some of the traps of the genre. For the 45+ minutes this album lasts, you'll hear plenty of remnants of all the classics that appear in the majority of these bands, but it's not strictly that. They have certain moments of deviation. Like within the fifth track, the guitar compositions become more riff-centric, falling into thick distortion and the drums come from the background to punch in furious blasts with quick snare rolls to break it up, even to the supplement of screams. And it's really in these moments where they gain strength. As strong as their more ambient moments are, it's highlighted from the contrast of intensity. It happens a bit too infrequently for my tastes, especially for a band I've heard described as "screamo", but when it's there, it hits.

buy... idk where.

download or on last.fm

The LPC Staff's Top Ten of 2010: JTRobertsNY

Apologies for the inactivity, here's another list. And it's ok, JT, I think a lot of us love Devo here... and I think there will be another list that has it *wink*

Number Ten: Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons
It’s not the most creative or diverse album ever made, nor is it the best written. But what it lacks in things reviewers look at, it makes up for in Soul and a good-time. Many people have just heard the radio hit “Little Lion Man”, which might be the catchiest folk song of all-time, but the album isn’t without its deep cuts. “Dust Bowl Dance” being a powerful piece that catches me off guard every time.
There are more than a few things to pick apart in Sigh No More, but I felt it deserved recognition for one thing, above all others, its ability to make me want to come back to it for more.

Number Nine: The Lady Killer – Cee Lo Green
There is really no good reason for this album to be here, other than it might be the toe-tappingist album of the year. Not without radio hits, like the outstanding “Fuck You” and “It’s OK”, The Lady Killer isn’t so much a complete album as it is a collection of fun songs for you to enjoy while you’re doing daily chores and the like. The album has gotten me through more than one tough day.

Number Eight: The Age of Adz – Sufjan Stevens
While this kind of music has never been my preference, the amazing quality of this album was hard to ignore, and was quite often on repeat on my iPod. I imagine this will be one of the albums people look back on in 30 or 40 years and mention how the ‘10’s weren’t such a bad decade for music, after all. I’ll be entirely honest; I had never listened to this album before a few weeks ago when it started popping up on Top Ten lists. In the last few weeks, however, it has been one of my favorites to go back to and re-listen. It’s almost like a new experience every time.

Number Seven: The Big To Do – Drive-By Truckers
When I was first putting this list together, I almost failed to include The Big To Do. It never really registered on my music radar, especially when I listened to 2008’s Brighter Than Creations Dark much more this year, but Drive-By Truckers’ newest effort absolutely deserves a spot on my list. Blending Alternative Rock and Southern Country isn’t an easy task, but it seems effortless on yet another great album from this Northern Alabama group. Even if you aren’t a country fan, I can’t recommend this album (and band) enough.

Number Six: Volume Two – She & Him
After finally listening to the incredibly moving and beautiful Volume One at the beginning of this year, my anticipation for Volume Two was very high. While it seems to lack the same charms as Volume One, this is still a damn fine Pop-Folk album, and really should have gotten more attention from the music-listening public as a whole, and not just Starbucks-Hipsters.

Number Five: Invented – Jimmy Eat World
After a disappointing effort a few years ago in Chase This Light, I had little hope that Invented would be more than just another cash in on the Jimmy Eat World name. However, I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this album for the first time. While it’s not Jimmy’s best album, it’s a step in the right direction, and another great release from an all-time favorite band in 2010.

Number Four: Hurley – Weezer
Now, my Username on IGN might suggest a bit of bias towards this band, but their placement on this list is not unwarranted. After a string of 3 or 4 disappointing albums (depending on who you talk to), which culminated in the absolutely miserable Raditude, many wrote Weezer off for dead. Thankfully, on the first effort with their new indie label, Weezer put together a collection of songs that felt more Pinkerton than Make Believe. Something most music fans had a hard time believing, until they listened.
It’s not without its faults, and to be quite honest, the spot on the list is partially because of what an overall improvement this album was for my favorite band. The thought of another new album in 2011 has me worried, but let’s hope they build on Hurley and give us another great effort.

Number Three: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
Another entry where I’m just the next in a long line of acclaim for this amazing album, but I can’t just throw 10 albums together that you’ve never heard at you just to be an exciting list. Hip-Hop’s greatest musician puts together another beautiful piece of art, for all of us to enjoy. While it might not be Kanye’s best effort, its damn close, and worthy of any praise it receives.

Number Two: The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
I could go on a five paragraph rant going over all the great things you heard about this album before. But instead, it seems like an easier task to praise the band as a whole. In a time when even “Indie” and “Alternative” bands are just putting out albums of hits to score a quick buck, it always seems like Arcade Fire sticks to making music they enjoy, evolving as a band, and thriving in an area that others have left behind. If I’ve got to wait 3 years for another classic from the best new band of the decade, so be it, if The Suburbs is any indication, it will be well worth the wait.

Number One: Something for Everyone – Devo
It’s unfortunate that I’ll probably be the only person to even consider this album for consideration (professional and otherwise). It’s everything a modern New-Wave album should be. It takes everything that you loved about Devo of 30-years-ago and morphs it into an album that feels more modern than other albums on this list.
The most redeeming quality of this album is that there are no bad or filler tracks. One after another, Devo pleases your senses with charming New-Wave synth-beats and catchy guitar hooks. It doesn’t strive to be great, or even try to put the band back on the musical map, but in its simplicity, it achieves what it set out to be and even more.