You may have been wondering why there has been a lack of posting going on this week. Well, the CMJ Music Marathon has taken over my life so I apologize for the lack of posts and columns. Expect a full recap in the next few days and some last minute Fest VI blurbs.
I just couldn’t let the one year anniversary of Late Night Wallflower pass without making an entry and celebrating in my own way (eating a cupcake). When Alfie, Matt, and I started Late Night Wallflower last year at our respective cubicles our goal was just to create something together but now we’re all very appreciative that other people have shown enough interest to contribute to the site and visit it on a regular basis. Thanks and expect more interviews, photos, essays, and random tidbits in the future.
Hey! So unless you are a crafty son of a gun, you probably didn’t notice the addition of a new name under the “Contributers” link. Regardless, my name is Jason and I will be contributing text and/or photos to this wonderful blog. I guess you could say I am a “long time listener, first time caller”, since I have read the site for a couple of months now, not realizing my acquaintance Alfie was one of the people posting! So we got in touch and after numerous Facebook messages back and forth, in which he promised me glory, riches, and a free six pack of PBR, I gave in and accepted his offer to write for Late Night Wallflower . Coincidentally, I just started blogging at Typical Indie Rock College Kid (tirck.blogspot.com for those of you that like acronyms) just last week. I will still be maintaining and running that site, while pulling double duty here. Yeah, I don’t really sleep much.
Anyway, some quick facts about me include that I am originally from Northern NJ, attend way too many concerts, am a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, think Dan Yemin is a musical genius, and love music and photography way too much. I promise I will bring you some sweet photos and awesome text in the near future. Be prepared, we’re just getting started.
So, Elona upon reading my top 25 albums of 2006 on facebook messages me and tells me about my awesome taste in music. She also asks if I would like to contribute to her music blog.
Now, whenever my ego is nicely stroked the least I can do is ask for more compliments and then do it up on latenightwallflower.com because now I have to live up to some expectations.
My inauqural post to the blog will be my top 10 albums of 2006 with blurbs written about each of them. 2006 was no 2004, but you know it is going to be a good year when Prince releases an album. Oh yes.
10) Joose Keskitalo - Kaupungit Puristuvat Puristimissa
“It is a shame you don’t understand Finnish. It is the most beautiful album ever released in Finland.” Upon hearing this from my friend, it annoyed me a great deal because 1) I don’t understand Finnish and 2) I totally believe her when she said it. Joose plays a makeshift guitar made out of a pesticide barrell with a homemade microphone input. Combining elements of traditional Finnish music and dub gives this album a truly compelling feel even if you cannot understand it. It is like listening to Caetano Veloso or Tom Ze; don’t understand a word, but you know it is beautiful.
9) Masta Killa - Made in Brooklyn
Initially listening to Masta Killa’s second album annoyed me because the track with the best production - Then and Now - was given to his son and his friends. But upon looking on the album, I understand why. Really, I don’t; but, even that creative decision does not take away from the rest of the album’s flow and sound. Jamel Irief’s signature relaxed flow takes over the album and the tight production with guest stars from other Wu-Tang members make this a solid album.
Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet
The coolest 16 year-olds you know. The sheer amount of energy on the album, which can be exhausting at times, reminds me of my goofy adolescence; messanger bag with Fugazi patches, awkward outbursts of affection for the opposite sex, reminding myself that playing the violin is cool and telling that to my friends, defending myself being a violinist at football practice and a general distrust of authority and anyone wearing a Cool Chamber t-shirt. Those were the days…
7) Justin Timberlake - Lovesounds/Futuresex
I overheard someone saying how JT’s latest album was “surprisingly” good. And I was baffled. I know pop music has taken a turn for the worse in recent years, but Timberlake has been unaffected by it. “Justified” was a great pop album with six easily bangable tracks. “Lovesounds/Futuresex” is awesome because it takes so many chances and sure, sometimes it flops a bit, but most of the time it succeeds because Timbaland’s production is so tight on the album. “Surprising?” Hell no. “Awesome?” Most definintely.
6) Mission of Burma - The Obliterati
There is one thing being an angsty teen, but being an angsty 40 year-old demands attentions. Mission of Burma is the only band who can take an almost decade hiatus, re-unite and still assure the american punk scene that they are just as relevant now with ‘ONoffON” and “The Obliterati” as they were in ‘82 with “Vs.”
5) DJ Drama & Lil’ Wayne - Dedication 2
W-E-E-Crooked Letter-Y and Gangsta Grillz return together for a mixtape that sets the precedent for how mixtapes should be: engaging, some goofy gunshot sound effects, repeated use of the “GANGSTA GRIZZLES!” sound, but also be an album that you can listen to in its entirety and play at a party. Lil’ Wayne with every release re-establishes why he is going to be the greatest rapper alive or if he is not already.
4) Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
There is only one knock on this otherwise awesome album by Mr. Tony Starks repping Theodore: NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO 3 SKIT TRACKS IN A ROW! I mean, having a theme to your album is one thing, but having those tracks follow each other is more annoying than enjoyable. You can take those tracks out and the album would not lose any of its punch. But, maaybe a rapper like Ghostface needs those tracks so “Be Easy” and “Jellyfish” and “The Champ” and nearly every other track on the album can come into fruition.
3) Shogun Kunitoki - Tasankokaiku
You can always tell if an electronic album is great when it can take the otherwise cold, computer sounds and drums and beeps and boops and give it a resonating feeling of vivid life and warmth. Fennesz and Brian Eno were and are still able to do this. Shogun Kunitoki is following the same path. The four-piece group from Finland’s first (!) album has such a poignant, layered sound that gives the listener an overwhelmed yet satisfied feeling when listening. From beginning to end, “Tasankokaiku” is a great first impression for a hopefully long career by this group.
2) Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury
Vicious. Nasty. Intelligent. Bangin’. Malice and Pusha T are the best rap tandem currently if not ever. I know, Birdman & Lil’ Wayne are good (seriously, they are) but these two brothers the VA take the Neptunes productions and make them fucking nasty and vicious and intelligent and bangin’. I usually don’t cop out, but you need to listen to this album if you haven’t yet. Go. Now.
1) Boris - Pink
I share the same sentiments for this album as I do Clipse’s album. I saw Boris live last fall and there is no better sound than Waka’s feedback surrounding you from her double-stacked Orange amps. You might hear from some people that rock is dead or is on its last foot. This may be true. But motherfucking Boris assures us that rock is not going anywhere fast as long as they are playing. It better be for a long time.
Next time I do something like this, I’m going to write about the top albums before the lesser albums. They are all great albums, but I definitely lost speed towards the end and those albums deserve my goo’ing more so than the later ones. Regardless, all the albums are awesome, worth listening to, all that jazz, yup. There are 15 others, but I don’t have the energy to go into detail with them; however, they all highlight the better moments of 2006:
11) T.I. – King
12) Prince – 3121
13) Birdman & Lil’ Wayne – Stuntin’ Like My Daddy
14) Om – Conference of the Birds
15) Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
16) Sway – This is My Demo
17) Yuichiro Fujimoto – The Mountain Record
18) The Thermals – The Body, The Blood, The Machine
19) Comets on Fire – Avatar
20) The Coup – Pick a Bigger Weapon
21) Mastodon – Blood Mountain
22) I’m From Barcelona – Let Me Introduce You to My Friends
23) The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls of America
24) Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
25) Morrissey – Ringleader of the Tormenters
R.I.P James Brown and also R.I.P Syd Barrett and Arthur Lee, who is responsible for delivering the greatest recorded album ever with Love’s “Forever Changes”
1. Fucked Up - Hidden World (Jade Tree)
What else can I say about this album? It lived it up to all of my expectations. This will definitely be one of those albums that will get better with age as well.
2. Man Man - Six Demon Bag (Ace Fu)
The most consistent, weird, yet immensely entertaining album I’ve heard all year. Probably one of the best live acts around too.
3. Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (Matador)
Ever become obsessed with an album, forget about it for awhile then put it back on and it’s still just as good? Yeah, that’s this one.
4. The Draft - In A Million Pieces (Epitaph)
HWM may be gone for the foreseeable future, but atleast both parties are still making excellent music. I probably listened to this record more then any other this year.
5. Toys That Kill - Shanked! (Recess)
This album is fuggin’ addictive. True pop-punk at it’s best.
6. The Hope Conspiracy - Death Knows Your Name (Deathwish)
Lead singer Kevin Baker wasn’t lying when he said his band made their best album yet.
7. Marked Men - Fix My Brain (Swami)
Everyone told me I’d love this album. Cheers to that.
8. Riverboat Gamblers - To The Confusion Of Our Enemies (Volcom)
This one kinda caught on to me late despite being released in May. Cleaner then their previous work but still good ol’ get drunk and break shit punk ‘n’ roll.
9. The Lawerence Arms - Oh! Calcutta (Fat Wreck)
First song = thumbs down. The rest = pure gold
10. Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
Please marry me.
Honorable Mentions: Armalite - Self-Titled (No Idea), Malajube - Trompe-L’oeil (Dare To Care), Fifth Hour Hero - Not Revenge..Just A Vicious Crush (No Idea) Converge - No Heroes (Epitaph), Pink Razors - Waiting To Wash Up (Robotic Empire), Sonic Youth -Rather Ripped (Geffen), Morrissey - Ringerleader Of The Tormentors (Sanctuary) Lucero - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers (East/West), Appleseed Cast - Peregrine (Militia Group)
Best Shows/Concerts
1. Dillinger Four - The Fest V (But honestly…the whole thing was amazing)
2. Morrissey - SXSW 2006
3. Man Man - Spiegeltent
4. The Weakerthans - Webster Hall
5. Girl Talk - Mercury Lounge/CMJ 2006
Most Anticipated
Dillinger Four C I V I L W A R (Fat Wreck)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Living With The Living (Touch And Go)
Bloc Party A Weekend In The City (Vice)
Against Me! TBA (Sire)
Also…The Ergs, The Stooges, Modest Mouse, Jesu
Copyright © 2008 Late Night Wallflower
graphics by lauren at blackandredeye | layout/coding by bill
