Ray LaMontagne – Trouble (2003)
When Trouble came out it was hard not to become overwhelmed by the power and depth of Ray LaMontagne. The title track is entirely timeless, instantly bringing on comparisons to Van Morrison and Otis Redding, with Ray’s rich and impassioned vocals rising above perfectly nuanced guitars and strings, echoing his quietly devastating meditations on life and love which is the soul of this release.
mp3: Ray LaMontagne – Trouble
mp3: Ray LaMontagne – Forever My Friend
mp3: Ray LaMontagne – How Come
Download Trouble
MySpace | Website
The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
This album is quintessentially The Shins. Cryptic lyrics filled with poetic imagery, overlapping guitar and vocal melodies, and mountains of hooks, pervade their inventive and challenging style of pop music, creating an entirely unique piece of art.
mp3: The Shins – Mine’s Not A High Horse
mp3: The Shins – So Says I
mp3: The Shins – Gone For Good
Download Chutes Too Narrow
MySpace | Website
Modest Mouse – The Moon And Antarctica (2004)
The tracks on The Moon and Antarctica are groundbreaking, hypnotic, sublime and expansive. Modest Mouse is able to successfully instill even the most desolate musical climates with warmth and emotion. Here they achieve an album, not solely a collection of songs.
mp3: Modest Mouse – 3rd Planet
mp3: Modest Mouse – Gravity Rides Everything
mp3: Modest Mouse – Wild Packs Of Family Dogs
Download The Moon & Antarctica
MySpace | Website
Rilo Kiley – More Adventurous (2004)
This album captures the essence of Rilo Kiley – introspection, humor, and defiance all riding on sweet melodies and raging superbly executed guitar. It’s gorgeous, textured indie pop with singular, yearning vocals from a saucy albeit wise Jenny Lewis riding on exceptional musicianship.
mp3: Rilo Kiley – It’s A Hit
mp3: Rilo Kiley – Portions For Foxes
mp3: Rilo Kiley – A Man/Me/Then Jim
Download More Adventurous
MySpace | Website
Metric – Live It Outt (2005)
The smart, fierce pop rock of Metric is sophisticated, gusty, and filled with razor-sharp social commentary. Their 2nd album powerfully showcases it all. Emily Haines viciously glimmers.
mp3: Metric – Empty
mp3: Metric – Handshakes
mp3: Metric – Police And The Private
Download Live It Out
MySpace | Website
My Morning Jacket – Z (2005)
When Z came out all I wanted was wrap myself in the sonic blissfulness of “Wordless Chorus”. MMJ’s 4th album sees the band proceeding forward without fear or shame, shaping a sound distinctly their own. Fiery guitar, folk-inspired melodies, soaring rock passages, and psychedelic flashes marry sublimely with Jim James’ legendary vocals.
mp3: My Morning Jacket – Wordless Chorus
mp3: My Morning Jacket – It Beats 4 U
mp3: My Morning Jacket – Off The Record
Buy Z
MySpace | Website
Thievery Corporation – The Cosmic Game (2005)
My favorite of Thievery’s releases, The Cosmic Game, incorporates flawlessly fused collaborations from vocalists such as David Byrne and Wayne Coyne atop lush, down-tempo beats, dub, and sounds, melodies and instrumentations from around the globe.
mp3: Thievery Corporation – Satyam Shivam Sundaram (featuring Gunjan)
mp3: Thievery Corporation – Warning Shots (featuring Sleepy Wonder and Gunjan)
mp3: Thievery Corporation – Holographic Universe
mp3: Thievery Corporation – The Heart’s A Lonely Hunter (featuring David Byrne)
Download The Cosmic Game
MySpace | Website
Band of Horses – Everything All The Time (2006)
From the opening chords of Everything All The Time to the final honeyed melodies, this album is a true beauty. Ben Bridwell’s voice penetrates each song, riding on the dense, textured layers of Band of Horses enchanting rock reverberations.
mp3: Band of Horses – The First Song
mp3: Band of Horses – The Funeral
mp3: Band of Horses – St. Augustine
Download Everything All The Time
MySpace | Website
Thom Yorke – The Eraser (2006)
The pulsating beauty of Thom Yorke’s solo debut is dazzling. Dark, hopeful, and glitchy, The Eraser washes over you like a sonic storm.
mp3: Thom Yorke – The Eraser
mp3: Thom Yorke – Black Swan
mp3: Thom Yorke – Atoms For Peace
Download The Eraser
MySpace | Website
Tags:
Band of Horses,
Metric,
Modest Mouse,
My Morning Jacket,
Ray LaMontagne,
Rilo Kiley,
The Shins,
Thievery Corporation,
Thom Yorke
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