Monday, May 10, 2010

What I'm Listening To April 30 - May 6, 2010




1. Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo (Sub Pop)

2. Helen Stellar - If The Stars Could Speak, They Would Have Your Voice... (self release)

3. Helen Stellar - Prayer To Myself (self release)

4. Wailing Walls - 2 Song EP (self Release)

5. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night (Jagjaguar)

6. Broken Bells - Broken Bells (Columbia Records

7. Walking Sleep - Measure (TFTO Music)

8. Rogue Wave - Descended From Vultures (Sub Pop)

9. Whispering Pines - Family Tree (self release)

10. Rogue Wave - Permalight (Brush Fire Records)


Nothing can knock Avi Buffalo out of the number one spot. When I reviewed the album for Radio Free Silver Lake (here) it was simply the disk with no packaging, so the credits were unknown to me. Here I will call attention to the amazing contribution made by Aaron Embry in the production of the recorded Avi Buffalo sound. The dense twinkling landscape he puts behind each song is reminiscent of my favorite album from 2008, Amnion's Amen Namo, and so appropriate to the atmosphere that this band creates, it is a natural fit. Avi's beautifully written liner notes describe the creation of the album with refreshingly honest matter-of-factness, and that corny old emotion, love. There is much to learn from these people.

Helen Stellar remain an obsession, while the 2 song EP from Wailing Walls is a real find. They opened spectacularly for Avi Buffalo at The Troubadour and have a full length on the way. Everything else has been discussed in previous Top Tens, but I will say I'm really looking forward to the upcoming shows by The Besnard Lakes and Broken Bells.

whrabbit

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