Day 10: The Sounds of Writing Part 2

January 5, 2010

Making lists has always been a major part of my life. Whether it be favorite movies, books, music, television shows, athletes, etc., I am always making them. Even having a to do list, is something that is part of my life. In my very organized/not so organized sort of way, the lists are a way of keeping my scatterbrained mind on the right track. Over the past week or so I have been working on a list of albums that I have enjoyed immensely over the past twelve months. I will keep the list to ten albums(or close to it) and my only criteria for the list, is that I had to have first listened to it in 2009. That means, the album could have come out twenty years ago and as long as I first heard it last year, it is fair game.

Now this list is not going to hold any big swings in genre or anything, so don't expect anything earth shattering here. Most of the albums are similar in sound and in some cases, could be confused with each other. Without any further adieu, here are my favorites of 2009.

10. Screaming Females: Power Move 2009
I saw this band warm up for Jack White's new band, 'The Dead Weather' in July and they just about stole the show. When my friends and I first heard their name we assumed the worst. When the lead singer walked on stage, she was this tiny thing, no more than five feet tall wearing an old school uniform and looking as plain as could be. We were all expecting the worst performance of our lives; but then she starting to sing. Out of this tiny little five foot nothing girl came this voice that I can only describe as overpowering. She was like a more pissed off version of Patti Smith and the most refreshing thing I have heard in years. The entire 45 minute show was filled with the same high octane energy and as soon as they left the stage, I ran to the merchandise booth and grabbed one of their albums. They have three I believe, so I bought their latest one.

'Power Move' the album translates their high energy live performance very well, especially the first track off of the album "Bell". The entire album is maybe 35 minutes long and for the most part, moves along with the same fast pace from beginning to end. If there is any downside(I don't happen to see this as a downside, but others may), it is that many of the songs are very similar to each other. This could be said for most artists out there with such a distinct sound, but I could understand it being a complaint. Other then that though, it is an album that sounds straight out of the New York punk scene of the mid to late seventies. A great disc and a near perfect live performance.

9. Meiko: Meiko 2008
I believe I first heard of Meiko from either "Gossip Girl" or "90210" last year and though she sounds similar to Sara Bareilles or Ingrid Michaelson, she still had something that made me want to pick up the album. The album is not overly showy or dramatic but it stands the test of repeat listens very well. I think this was one of the first albums I bought last year and just recently was I reminded of how much I liked it. Despite the comparisons to her other contemporaries, the person I liken to her the most would be a young Sheryl Crow. She is much more melodic than Crow, but there are more than one song on this album that could have been on Crow's 2005 album, "Wildflower".

My favorite track on this album is the very Crowesque "Hiding". Is has a very smooth and polished sound to it, without sounding overproduced in the least. The majority of this album is acoustic guitar heavy, especially the first couple tracks on the album. The rest of the album is filled with personal, not exactly dark/but not exactly happy either lyrics that I am always longing for in a song. "Boys With Girlfriends"(the one hit off of the album) and "Under My Bed" are the two upbeat, radio friendly tracks on the album. Not that I mean that in a bad way, as they are both very enjoyable songs. A good slow disc for those who like to actually listen to the lyrics that are being sung to them.

8. Mandy Moore: Amanda Leigh 2009
Laugh if you must, but in her ten years since first coming on the pop scene, Mandy Moore has finally made a disc that she should never have to apologize for. Not that she has always released stinkers, in fact her 2001 self-titled release was one of(if not the best), pop album of the late nineties/early 2000 era. She has sense made a name for herself in movies, which has undoubtedly given her the power to keep releasing albums. Which in this case, is starting to pay off. With her trading in her pop roots for a Joni Mitchell/James Taylor sound, she had finally found a sound that fit her voice. Her 2007 effort "Wild Hope" was a nice beginning to her transition, but it lacked any songs that would make her standout. With "Amanda Leigh", she no longer has to worry about that.

"Leigh" for me on the first listen was unlike anything I had ever heard. It was soft and melodic but also engrossing and epic at the same time. Her voice still sounds like a softer version of the early seventies Melanie, but musically she sounds more like "Seals & Crofts". I have had a couple of other people listen to this and other than them saying it sounds like it would have been on the radio in the early seventies, I still have not heard a direct comparison to it. For me, the sound is incredibly unique. It is soft and folksy but grand at the same time. My favorite track is "Fern Dell", one of only two upbeat tracks on the album. The song is full of life and the instrumentation on it almost feels scattered in its delivery. You don't know quite where it's going, which is part of it's thrill. The only track you may have heard off of it is "I could break your heart any day of the week". An uptempo late seventies pop treat that has a killer video to go along with it. If for no other reason, check it out to see Mandy herself, she looks more amazing then usual.

I don't expect everyone to like this album, as it is a far cry from anything popular these days. If you are looking for something a little different though, I would seriously recommend "Amanda Leigh". Proof that if given enough time, even a cheesy pop singer can make something worth while.

That is all for now, part 3 will be here tomorrow.