After repeated efforts to maintain the blog, it just doesn't seem to happen. If I was actually busy, I'd use that as an excuse, but for the most part, I haven't had this much free time since college. I'm home most days at a very reasonable time, spend some time with the fam, work in the garden for a few minutes, mix a cocktail and watch an episode of the Wire. There is plenty of time in there for a blog, but it just doesn't seem to happen.
Anyways, you are probably wondering what CD's I'd recommend this year. By in large, this year has been pretty ho-hum. Nothing I've listened to has really blown me away. Tori Amos, Franz Ferdinand, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Green Day have all released albums in recent months. Now I love Tori and will always be on top of anything she puts out, but this most recent album just didn't grab my ear. Maybe I'm just not in Toriville anymore, who knows.
I've been looking forward to a Franz Ferdinand album since their last release but I sort of expected to be let down. My theory is that you can't become that famous, score a bunch of hot chicks, do loads of drugs and expect your follow up album to be in the same realm as your last one. True to form, this album is much more mainstream and isn't something I'd recommend unless you really like top 40.
My favorite thing about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs CD's have been that they sounded like they were recorded in front of a live audience. They were always ripping and screaming their heads off. There new album, "It's a Blitz" is okay. Well worth picking up if you dig the YYY's, but it's not like their last two. Too processed and preciously vocal.
The Green Day album just came out the other day. I heard "21st Century Breakdown" on "All Songs Considered" and was instantly impressed. I've never really been a fan. I've just never been 'pop' or 'punk' and GD has always primarily been both. I've got to say, this got me rolling a lot more than I expected. Maybe it was the anti establishment lyrics or the simple guitar riffs and rough vocals that brought me back to my youth. Either way, they are leading the way for CD of the year.
