DadCentric Presents — 2010: The 5 Best Albums You Probably Didn't Buy
Do you know what Dads need? Music. They need the kind of music that reminds them that beyond their roles as fathers, husbands, colleagues and/or leaders of men... they are dynamic, complex individuals capable of appreciating art that steps out of the mainstream and reflects their individual aesthetics and sensibilities. There's plenty of "kid music" in the world, but personally I've found that my kids get a lot of enjoyment out of the music I listen to — and that by exposing them to a rich and wide array of musical styles, they're developing an appreciation for music that far exceeds anything I knew at their age... even as that appreciation helps me see music I already know and love through their eyes, and enjoy it even more. That's not to say my kids love everything listed below, but they've heard it all... and while it might surprise you, they've found something to love in almost every case.
With that in mind, check out the following 5 extraordinary albums. You probably don't own 'em - hell, you've probably never heard of most of these folks - but for my kids and me, they played a big role in defining the year that was.
5. Geneva - Russian Circles
Okay... technically, it came out in '09, but I didn't get my hands on it until early this year. Subsequently: this is my post-rock album of 2010. Russian Circles is a post-rock trio from Chicago that brings a more aggressive, metal-based approach to the soaring, epic all-instrumental workouts generally associated with bands like Explosions in the Sky... and on Geneva, they introduce a new element that raisea their already-exceptional music to new levels: strings. They're not on every song, and certainly some of the non-string songs (the title track in particular) blister and rage like the the best music Pelican never recorded, but when Russian Circles seamlessly blends that aesthetic with the slow ache of cellos and gentle horns to create the kind of gradual build and ecstatic release you find on the closing "Philos"... honestly, it's tough to imagine anything more gorgeous.
4. Ecailles de Lune - Alcest
Everyone's favorite French shoegaze/black metal hybrid is back! *crickets* Alright, so... maybe this isn't for everyone. But as someone who was completely blown away by their debut Souvenirs d'Un Autre Monde, I have to say that my expectations were very, very high for this follow-up — and Alcest did not disappoint. The black metal background of band mastermind Neige is much more at the forefront of this effort, but his throat-shredding screams serve as an arresting counterpoint to his otherwise surprisingly lovely singing voice, and couple with a remarkable range of towering, gorgeous guitar melodies to create something truly unlike anything else I've heard. Crushingly beautiful music.
3. Black Cascade - Wolves In The Throne Room
Just a staggeringly heavy and dark piece of work. Wolves in the Throne Room is a black metal band from Washington State who, over the past few years, have crafted a growing catalogue of some of the most blisteringly intense and emotionally bleak music you'll ever hear. Black Cascade may be their masterwork — 4 songs covering nearly 50 minutes of deafening guitars, machine-gun fire drums, screaming/moaning vocals that blur the lyrics but leave no doubt as to their emotional heft, and thick ribbons of atmosphere and rainfall that echo the album's title. I completely appreciate that music like this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those with an appreciation of really heavy music... this album achieves a kind of true, dark beauty that deserves to be heard.
2. Isolation - The Brother Kite
Flying largely under the radar, The Brother Kite has quietly released two of the finest albums of the past five years — and while Isolation may not soar to quite the same dizzying heights as the preceding Waiting For The Time To Be Right, it's still miles beyond anything most other bands might dream of generating. Across the span of an even dozen songs, The Brother Kite craft an astonishing array of gorgeous melodies that cover the gamut from intricate chamber pop ("Martyr For The Cause") to frenzied, melodic strumming ("Searching For The Light") to touches of synth-pop ("Isolation," which ultimately evolves into something far beyond synth pop) to the yearning, aching finale of "The Pasture," which recalls nothing so much as the spirit of The Band's "The Weight." Heady praise, but entirely deserved. Outstanding.
1. Go - Jonsi
If you're a fan of Sigur Ros, you're already entirely familiar with the otherworldly voice and musical sensibilities of band leader Jonsi. This year marked his first formal solo release (not counting last year's lovely and largely ambient collaboration Riceboy Sleeps) — and while it's certainly an infinitely sunnier work than most of Sigur Ros', it's no less rich an aural experience. From the hyperkenetic beat and lyricism (in English!) of "Animal Arithmetic" to the slow, elegiac build and cathartic release of "Grow Till Tall," the album covers an immense range of emotional territory, leaping from strength to strength without ever losing power, focus or resonance. When this first came out in May, I immediately declared it my album of the summer. In this last week of December, it's clear that it's my album of the year.
