Since I've had time on my hands, I've been making icons. They're not that great -none of them have any text and they were just the products of a few clicks here and there on Photoshop. I'm not that good... Hopefully, someone will like at least one of these. Please be courteous and leave a comment if taking because it would make me happy! Also, it'd be nice if I'm credited, so that's preferred; especially my Michael Jackson ones, even if they're a bit on the bland side. 

These are what you'll find:

• Alex Turner [1]
• Julian Casablancas [2]
• The Last Shadow Puppets [1]
• Beck [2]
• Cat Power [1]
• Feist [4]
• Jens Lekman [1]
• New Buffalo [1]
• The Most Serene Republic [1]
• Tokyo Police Club [1]
• Andrew Bird [3]
• Emily Haines [3]
• Final Fantasy/Owen Pallett [1]
• Patrick Wolf [1]
• Kevin Barnes [1]
• Michael Jackson [8]

( Here we go... )

2008 has been a pretty good year. Music-wise, its had good moments as well, like honorably mentionable of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping and the over-hyped Oracular Spectacular brought forth by MGMT. I'd even add Cajun Dance Party's The Colourful Life. My picks for the year's best albums:



When “Mercury” surfaced as Bloc Party’s newest single during the summer and received mixed reviews, I was excited to hear that they announced a new album. I’m not adding Intimacy because of my bias concerning my fangirlyness for this band. I’ll admit that this isn’t Bloc Party’s best, but it works really well. I still think that this album is exceptional, with some really great songs like “Halo” and “Trojan Horse.” For me, Intimacy shows me what Bloc Party is capable of, and how their willing to change their sound here and there. And I have to add that “Ion Square” is a perfectly captured moment in pop dipped in some electro-rock sound.

This is fun, and it’s poppy, and it’s dance-worthy, and it’s pretty good, too. Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colors is crafted well and a lot of its material is catchy. The band sounds a lot more confident than their debut, Bright Like Neon Love, but that’s understandable, this record is solid.

I think The Last Shadow Puppets were my favorite rising band in 2008. The Hollywood-esque, 60’s retro sounds that Miles Kane and Alex Turner bring forth is impressive. You don’t need to be a fan of either Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals to be obliged to listen to this. This is what you’d call ambitious.

Microcastles sounds like summer. Deerhunter deserves all praise necessary to offer for this effort. The album is a pleasing winner. I absolutely love “Never Stops.”

Sounding like The Strokes some times and other times, not, Little Joy has ventured on something great. This debut is bold and it’s consistent. The vocals are swell, the melodies are perfect, and the album as a whole is awesome.

I have no idea what’s being sung about when I listen to Sigur Ros, but I still thought this album was remarkable. In some parts, the record is fun and summery, and in others, the songs slow down a bit, but you’re still able to embrace what’s coming at you.

Since it's the summer and all, I decided to create a summer playlist, and as much as I tried to keep the tracks new, meaning songs from this year, that didn't quite work out seeing that Stars, Yeasayer, and Beck (always an exception) are on here with relatively recent, but old songs.

Beck – “Gamma Ray”
The Kooks – “Do You Wanna”
Julian Casablancas, Santogold, Pharrell Williams – “My Drive Thru”
Deerhunter – “Never Stops”
The Last Shadow Puppets – “In The Heat of the Morning”
Cut Copy – “Nobody Lost, Nobody Found”
Stars – “Bitches In Tokyo”
The Dodos – “Fools”
Envelopes – “I’d Like To C U”
Yeasayer – “Waiting For the Summer”
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Modern Mystery”
Beck – “Earthquake Weather"

Beck is a man of change. It’s hard to give a first time listener of him an idea for a starting point, although many suggest Odelay first. Each of this album’s is different than the prior, and this doesn’t change with his newest release, Modern Guilt.

We’ve heard some of the songs on this album before it got leaked today. “Orphans,” the starter to the album is a nice sounding song, and it’s not a boring intro that’ll make you turn to something else. I think one of the most vital parts of an album is the arrangement of the tracks. Beck never seems to have any problem with trying to hold his listener’s attention (see “Loser” on Mellow Gold, or “E-Pro” from Guero).

“Gamma Rays” is another song some fans have already familiarized themselves with. Its first few seconds is quite the groovy tune. Now, this song is definitely easy listening, you know, radio-friendly like “Girl.” It even has a great 50s vibe.

The first Modern Guilt song that surfaced the internet was “Chemtrails,” which is a different Beck sound, but it’s not too bad because of its more than decent tune. Named after the album, “Modern Guilt” has the Beck touch and a very good baseline.

So far, the album has been going very well, and you can tell that these songs took time and effort that Beck handled very graciously. These are some great catchy, retro-reminiscent songs that I think anyone will enjoy.

“Youthless” has a good groove, and “Walls” is quite the stark transition from this previous track. Danger Mouse’s touch is apparent in “Replica,” that’s for sure. Beck’s voice ends up being filtered in “Soul of a Man,” which was a nice effect for this particular song.

The only Achilles’ heel on the album is “Profanity Prayers.” Most songs on this record are structured on scruffy baselines, but the track is probably most attention grabbing on Modern Guilt. The last song, “Volcano” is more mellowed out than the rest of these tracks, and closes it quite delicately.

I have to say, this is probably Beck’s friendliest record to date. The evidence of older influences of the singer is prominent, and anyone who is not used to his changes or transformations will be able to enjoy this anyway. Modern Guilt is his catchiest, hip-swinging record. And of course, I’m not surprised: A

I remember during the beginning of last year, there were a few anticipated albums up for release like Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Feist, etc. 2008 doesn’t seem so interesting for me other than The Cure and a rumored album by The Vines. I haven’t really been up to date with any reviews, but I do have some new releases that I’ve given a listen to. I guess this is my review post in which I talk about them.

Foals – Antidotes
[download] Red Sock Pugie

When my brother recommended this band to me he described Foals as Los Campesinos! meets Bloc Party. He basically meant that the fun chants and seriousness is included in Foals’ debut album, Antidotes. This album shows boldness and is a contender for being one of the best releases of the year, I’m sure. Though not on heavy rotation at the moment, but will be soon enough, I’m sure, Foals have done a good job at presenting themselves as a promising group. A

Does It Offend You, Yeah? – Let’s Make Out
[download] Let’s Make Out (Original Edit)

This was my first listen of Does It Offend You, Yeah? and I have to admit, though Let’s Make Out was somewhat repetitive, which it ought to be, I was content with this EP. Their debut, You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into has already leaked, and I intend to pen my opinion on it once I listen to it thoroughly, but I think I kind of know what to expect after hearing this funky, dance-tempting single. B+


Cut Copy – Lights & Music EP
[download] Lights & Music (Radio Edit)

This EP by Cut Copy was similar to Does It Offend You, Yeah?’s single, not for its substance, but for what it contains: a radio edit and remixes done by other electronica acts. “Time Stands Still” found on CC’s Bright Like Neon Love will certainly be my favorite song by the band, but the songs found on Lights & Music is definitely charming, and does justice to a person’s ears. B


The Bird and the Bee – One Too Many Hearts EP
[download (m4a)] Come As You Are

I became interested in The Bird and the Bee when I learned that Greg Kurstin, one of the two members of the group worked with Beck and Lily Allen. On the band’s website, they describe One Too Many Hearts as “a new EP of love songs.” This EP is certainly witty and has a certain subtle charm that carries irreplaceable aesthetic beauty. A+

The title of this post states the obvious.

I'm really bored. I mean, this is my second post in the last two hours. I guess posting about my ten favorite artists will occupy me for a bit. I'll start from a ranking of 10 - 1.
Comment: No comment. I'd just be speechless if I ever got to meet Bloc Party.

Here's a varied list of songs, all about love. And even when they're not happy, they're still adequate for the list. And here's a scene from the movie, Love Actually, which is one of the sweetest.

Some good songs to listen to if you're lying on your bed alone, or if you're sitting in the backseat of your parents' car. In fact, you can just listen to these anywhere.