Ryan's Top 10: Number 5

#5 Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

I’d hate to use this forum as an opportunity to say I told you so, but I’m going to anyways. I mentioned back in September this album might challenge for Tops of the year, and I’d have say that coming in at #5 certainly fits the bill. Now, I realize, with the success that Band of Horses first album Everything All the Time achieved, that I was hardly going out on a limb, but the statement remains true. However, I’ll agree with Bryan’s analysis that Everything All the Time was slightly better than Cease to Begin. That’s not to say that Cease to Begin isn’t a damn good album, but I think its lacks a standout track. I feel Everything All the Time had two of these tracks: “The Funeral” and “The Great Salt Lake”. And where a few songs are definitely better than others on Cease to Begin, with “No One’s Gonna Love You” and “Is There a Ghost” being tops for me, there isn’t a song that makes me think, “Damn, that might be the best song I’ve heard all year.” There seems to be very little change in style from the first album to this one, and often many of the tracks are interchangeable. But I also come from the school of that that thinks that consistently changing one’s style is completely overrated. I’d rather a band be consistently consistent, and that’s one thing Band of Horses has going for them. If I want a different style, I’ll listen to a different band. If I want dreamy, reverberating, crisp guitars layered over higher pitched vocals…I’ll listen to Band of Horses. One thing I would’ve liked to hear more of, however, is acoustic arrangements. “Part One” and “St. Augustine” were two of my favorite songs on Everything All the Time but Cease to Begin lacks these songs. So, far I suppose I’ve used this as more a review of Band of Horses first record than their 2007 effort, and maybe there’s a reason to that. Maybe Cease to Begin just reiterated to me just how good Everything All the Time was. But if you ever listened to that and thought…”Man, I wish this album had more than 10 songs on it,” then Cease to Begin is for you. And that is reason enough to give it Top 5 status for 2007.

Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost

Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You

RR

Band of Horses coming to a town near you....

Unless you happens to be Gerdon....then, well, sorry. Nothing wester than Texas. (Wester...that's right.)

HOWEVER, Nashville and Cincy do seem to be on the ol' list. As well as a couple other nice dates (including some New Year's Eve nonsense in Hotlanta).

Just saw these dates, figured you might wanna see them too:

12-28 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
12-29 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
12-31 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
01-20 Charleston, SC - Music Farm
01-21 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
01-22 Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore at the TLA
01-23 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
01-24 State College, PA - State Theatre
01-25 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
01-26 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
01-27 Newport, KY - Southgate House
01-29 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
01-30 Memphis, TN - HiTone Café
01-31 St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle
02-01 Norman, OK - Meacham Auditorium (University of Oklahoma)
02-02 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
02-03 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
02-04 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
02-06 Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree
02-07 Tallahassee, FL - Beta Bar
02-09 Orlando, FL - Social
02-10 Orlando, FL - Social
02-12 Mt. Pleasant, SC - Village Tavern

That's all i gots for now.....

The Eagles Are Back!!

But unfortunately you won't find anything about that here. Instead, I offer a sampling of other great music that I've been digging on since I last commented. What can I say, I am one lazy dude.

The Dude is both lazy and hates The Eagles, just like me.

I'm heading more and more indie in the last few months. Two of these bands were brought up by Rutledge including one found here that he thinks could be the best album of the year. I thought I had this figured out, but then I get hit by all this new good music released in the last year, including the one Rutledge recommends above. Two more months to go and the Top 10 for the year is up in the air it seems. I doubt The Eagles will make that list though.

Band of Horses -- Ode to the LRC from Cease to Begin [buy here]
Modest Mouse -- Missed the Boat from We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank [buy here]
Peter Bjorn & John -- Start to Melt from Writer's Block [buy here]
Rogue Wave -- Lake Michigan from Asleep At Heaven's Gate [buy here]

I'm probably late to the game with these guys, but I am glad I finally discovered them.

BK

The American League Playoff Picture

Holy Crap!!! October is in like two days. Seriously!! You know what that means?? Playoff baseball!! Thank goodness its finally here. Now I shall admit, the failure on my beloved St. Louis Cardinals to qualify for postseason action will put something of a damper on this years festivities, but I shall enjoy it nonetheless. I'm ready to sit back with a beer and watch a whole lotta games. Nothing else goes together quite as well as Postseason Baseball and Sam Adams Octoberfest. Bring on the goodness.

So, in order to get each of us in the mood for the playoffs, I figured I'd indulge in a bit of shallow analysis of the teams involved. What you shall find below is the teams involved, my opinion on how they got here and their chances moving forward, and (since this is a music blog) one song that characterizes my thoughts on the team's chances of winning the World Series, or just my thoughts on the team in general.

We shall start with the American League today, since the four teams involved have already been determined. I shall return sometime after this weekend with a National League edition.

Probable AL East Winner - Boston Red Sox

Band of Horses - The End's Not Near

With a 2 game lead and only three games to play, its looking more and more likely that the Red Sox will hold off the surging Yankees for the top spot in the east for the first time since like 1995, and as the title of the song suggests, I think they've got quite a bit of baseball left to play. I think they are the most complete team in the playoffs with a steady lineup (Manny really makes the difference) and top rotation (Beckett, Schill, Dice-K, with Wake thrown in for good measure) and a great bullpen (Jima and Paps). The Sox are my second favorite team and they're also my pick to represent the AL in the Series.


AL Central Winner - Cleveland Indians

Dashboard Confessional - Bend and Not Break

Jonathan Papelbon, Mariano Rivera, Francisco Rodriguez, and Joe Borowski.....bwuaah?? Yes, Joe Borowski is a horrible closer. He of the 5.23 ERA isn't striking fear into the heart of anyone come the ninth inning. The Tigers proved last year you can make it to the World Series without having a good closer, but once in the WS, that terrible closer begins throwing the ball all over the infield. He's managed to get the job done 43 different times this season applying his 'bend and not break' method, but there's been quite a few rough patches. I suppose its not a long shot to say he'll screw up a very important situation at one point in the playoffs, but then again, i did say this analysis would be shallow. So there you have it.


AL West winner: Los California Angels of Anaheim Angeles

Sufjan Stevens - All Good Naysayers, Speak up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!


I'm now officially the 189,344th person to make a "the Angels have a stupid name" joke. Here's the thing about the Angels. No one ever talks about them. Be it they play on the West Coast, don't hit a lot of home runs, or whatever....you don't hear much about them. But I'll tell you what, they scare me. Probably more so than any of the other teams on this list. Here's why: Good starting pitching?? Check (Lackey and Escobar) Star hitting power?? Check (Vlad) Good bullpen?? Check (Shields and K-Rod). So, tell me a reason they can't win the whole damn thing? There isn't one. They don't hit many home runs, but who cares. They're solid, they hit a ton of doubles and play good defense. I really wouldn't want to play them, but I suppose you can say that for any of the AL teams. Good luck NL.


Wild Card: New York Yankees

Whiskeytown - What the Devil Wanted

If I'm not mistaken, the New York Yankees were something like 12 games out of first place at one point this season, and yet here they are back in the playoffs for like the 59th straight time. It was clearly what the devil wanted, and it appears he got his way. There can be no other explanation to their inclusion in this postseason. We can all take solace, however, in the fact that the Yanks pitching sucks. Their hitting?? Awesome. Pitching?? Not so much. You've never heard the phrase, "Hitting Wins Championships" and there's a reason for that. That being said, I wouldn't want to play them. Here's hoping Choke-Rod continues his choke-foolerly, and that Clemens continues his douchebaggery.

So, that's what I've got for the AL. The NL is too close to call in every division, so i'll be back Monday or Tuesday with a look at the NL playoff teams. Holla back now

RR

Caution!! Potential Best Album of 2007 Ahead

Back in August, I posted an mp3 from a band that I thought put out one of the best albums of 2006. That band was Band of Horses and that album was Everything All the Time. If you don't have it yet, drop everything you're doing and go buy it. Actually, just break out the credit card, go here, and just order it. You won't regret it. I promise. You can listen to a few of their songs from that album on their myspace page.



The reason I bring this up is that they have a new album coming out October 9 entitled Cease to Begin, and if this album is remotely as good as the last, then it'll challenge for tops of the year. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about it and you should be too. You can already preorder it at Amazon.com or you could just wait like I probably will.

So, just to get you in the mood, here's the first single off the upcoming album called Is There A Ghost. Its a quick little ditty that easily could've ended up on the last album. Also, I'll throw out one of the older ones. Hope you like them.

Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
Band of Horses - Part One

RR

Its's Indie Time Again

I realize that my past couple of posts have included songs that are very discernibly "not indie rock". Well, just to prove I haven't lost my way and still remember my roots, here's a post totally dedicated to a couple indie rock gems I've been enjoying recently. No more talk, let's get to the music.

You know.....maybe the hot dog's right :(

1. Pela - Lost to the Lonesome: This is from their newest album, Anytown Graffiti. Very quick sound, nice melody. They have a very unique sound, to my untrained ears. I enjoy this album a lot. You can get it here.

2. Sufjan Stevens - Vito's Ordination Song: Have I mentioned that I like Sufjan Stevens yet? Probably only in like the past 10 posts or so. Oh well, here's another. This is off the Greeting from Michigan album. Get it here.

3. The Twilight Sad - Cold Days from the Birdhouse: From their Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters album. You aren't likely to hear anything else like this all year. Get the album here.

4. Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake: Their album Everything All the Time just might have been one of the best albums out last year. Get it here.

5. Spoon - The Way We Get By: All this Spoon talk, let's go back a couple of years for this one. This is the first Spoon song I ever heard and liked. It's off 2002's Kill the Moonlight. You can buy it here.

Until next time.

RR