20-16

20) Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position

Something made little Patrick happy. My guess is he got laid. What’s hilarious, methinks, is that while the title track and the following one, ‘Accident and Emergency,’ are decidedly upbeat a shadow gradually is cast over the rest of the album. You can almost hear the internal demons creep back into his voice.

The way he battles against them makes this album intriguing.


Favorite Track: Overture


19) Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala

Because I like to pretend that I’m deep, I prefer obscure poetry to something like, say, Billy Collins and most MFA students would agree. But really Collins has powerful, touching material—why obscure it?

Jens Lekman’s lyrics may be overly simple, bordering on corny (admittedly sometimes he jumps over that line) but that doesn’t mean they lack emotional impact. He deals with conflicted sexuality, taking oneself too seriously and country bingo over insanely catchy, and danceable, music. How do you not like this?

Favorite Track: Kansk Ar Jag Kar I Dig

18) Fall Out Boy – Infinity On High

A conversation with myself:

This may negate my entire list and I definitely feel guilty about it but…don’t pretend to feel bad about this…what…you unabashedly like this band and their borrowed, factory-made music…well you have to admit it takes a certain craft to patch together such pitch perfect pop with a splash of soulful vocals…it just takes good producers, a million vocal takes, and healthy dose of low musical morals…okay, look you don’t have to like it…who said I didn’t like it?

Favorite Track: I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears and None On My Fingers

17) Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals

They somehow take musical elements I appreciate separately—accordian, Indian drums, international flute type things —and melt them into unclassifiable, yet infectious music. And then they put early Beatles-esque harmonies over the top? Yes, please.

I feel like more time spent with this album would have translated to a higher spot, but alas.

Favorite Track: Sunrise

16) Iron & Wine –The Shepherd’s Dog

Around this time two years ago I wrote that Iron & Wine should only release EPs, because his sound and unaffecting voice can’t support the weight of a full-length LP. Thankfully, Sam Beam has proved me wrong. He finally harnessed the energy and immediacy of his Woman King EP and his work with Calexico and, with some training, gave it endurance.

I kept waiting for this album to get old and it never did. It definitely has staying power.


Favorite Track: Boy with a Coin