6) Isis—Panopticon

Why it’ on Line

I mention this one because I’m sick and tired of people com-
plaining that The Deftones aren’t as good as they used to be,
and that Tool only comes out with one album every five years.
Ok, maybe Panopticon isn’t QUITE as good as & nema. However,
for those of you out there who are salivating for music that is
aggressive, and massive in scope yet complex and emotional,
Panopticon delivers like few albums do these days. Like with
Tool’s releases, complex arrangements and lengthy track-lengths
adorn Panopticon. Unlike Tool, the singing is distorted, scarce,
and usually only appears during the crescendos, also the drum-
ming is complex yet reserved. Aaron Harris produces beats

that are more focused around a common theme in this album,
and rarely resorts to excessive tom-rolls and cymbal smashing.
Unlike Tool’s last album, Panopticon is fresh dynamic, and filled
with vibrant layers of guitars that pump out alien chords from
alternately tuned guitars.

5) Pedro the Lion— Control

  

This is an extremely under-appreciated record, most people don’t
know of Pedro the Lion, and if they do, it’s probably because
they heard their latest release, Achilles Heel. Howevet, it is with
Control, David Bazan proved, at least in my mind, that he is one
of America’s best living song-writers. Contro/ is a flawless concept
album, about the slow and steady decline of a marriage, which
eventually ends in tragedy. Every song is a gem, and they fit
together to form an ornate piece of jewelry. Control is probably
the best concept album since Pink Floyd’s The Wa/l, and though
it lacks the musical dynamic, and wealth of instruments that are
employed in The Wall, the charm of this album is in how guitar,
bass, drums, the occasional keyboard, and Bazan’s singing and
narrative come together to create such a wealth of feelings and
images.

4) Sunny Day Real Estate— The Rising Tide

Sumy fay Seal Sstate

 

s+), th jot:
The Rising Tide is a sweeping epic of an album, written in the
wake of lead singer, Jeremy Enigk’s religious rebirth, but don’t
worry, its not preachy. It doesn’t take quotes from the bible;
instead, it is filled with spiritually relevant themes and inspir-
ing compositions. Sunny Day Real Estate is the first, best emo
band, and this is by far their best album. Provided you’re not 18
and just out of high school. I know what you’re thinking: emo
sucks, right? Well, Pll put it in perspective for you; Led Zeppelin
was the first heavy metal band, yet much like Sunny Day Real

ace Io

Estate, they created music that was more passionate, complex,
and ingenious than anything that has been categorized under the
genre they created.

 

i >, .
If you have a heart, it will break every time you hear Either/Or.
This is hands-down, the late Elliott Smith’s greatest musical
accomplishment. It is a superlatively honest and melancholy
collection of intimate songs comprised mostly of Smith and his
acoustic guitar. The stripped-down arrangements of these songs
highlight Smith’s mature song-craft, soul-stirring vocals, and gui-
tar mastery. The songs Either/Or are deep, yet easy to enjoy and
restrained, yet immensely powerful. Provided I was in the right
mood, I could listen to this album on a loop for a week...come
to think of it, I probably have.

2) Calla— Televise

 

hy it’ ist:
I found a reference to this album on the Internet, which touted
it as the best album of 2003. Curious, I downloaded the only
two songs I could find. After many fruitless hours of listening to
those two songs in a loop, I eventually broke down and headed
off to Scratch Records to buy the album. For the past two years,
I have been pushing Te/evise on everyone I meet who claims to
have taste in music. In all that time, only one person I talked to
had heard of Calla, though he hadn’t actually heard anything by
them. Anyways, I’ve said every good thing I can say about this
album in the last two years, so Ill just say this: if you like rock
music with electronic influences, then go buy this album.

1) Neutral Milk Hotel—ZJn an Aeroplane Over the Sea

hy it’ t ist:
Why is it on the list? Because this is an un-disputed indie classic.
This is a perfect album, there is not one bad song, hell there is
not one song on this brilliant, underappreciated masterpiece that
isn’t fantastic. With his slightly twisted story-songs about love,
death, sex, and the afterlife, Jeff Magnum, grabs the listener’s
brain and emotions and takes him on an epic musical journey.
The beauty of this album is the amazing strength and quality
of the songs when stripped down to guitar and vocals, which is
the way many of the songs a recorded. The bass, drums, electric
guitar, brass, and keyboards on the album are all used with
masterful discretion; they highlight all the right parts, and retreat
to the background, or pull out completely, when beneficial to the
composition. In an Aeroplane Over the Sea is a memorable album
that anyone can enjoy.