Alter The Press!: records of the year

Showing posts with label records of the year. Show all posts

Exclusive: Manchester Orchestra - Albums Of 2009

Currently wrapping up a long and strenuous touring cycle for the year, our good friend Jeremiah Edmond of Manchester Orchestra/Favorite Gentlemen Recordings was more than kind to contribute his favorite albums of 2009.

Since the release of the band's new record, 'Mean Everything To Nothing', the five piece have been on the road constantly, which has included a US/UK headline tour, playing this years Reading and Leeds Festival and even supported Brand New at the 18,000 capacity Nassau Coliseum in New York.

Jeremiah Edmond's Ten Albums Of 2009 (in no particular order):

Wilco - 'Wilco (The Album)'

I am not sure if Wilco can make an album I won’t love. This is a perfect springtime album to me. I love listening to it while driving around or relaxing at the house with the windows open. Sunday afternoon music.

Exclusive: Kevin Devine - Albums Of 2009

Next up, singer/songwriter Kevin Devine was more than gracious to contribute his top ten albums of 2009.

Besides releasing the incredible 'Brothers Blood' this year, 2009 saw Kevin tour the UK with Brand New, Manchester Orchestra and going on to support The Get Up Kids on their recent US reunion tour.

Kevin Devine's Top Albums of 2009:

1) David Bazan - 'Curse Your Branches'

Beautiful, meaningful, adult, uncompromising. A record about a believer deciding he doesn't believe and saying a complicated goodbye anyway to the God he's realized isn't real. The most musically and lyrically accomplished and diverse album of Bazan's/Pedro the Lion's/Headphone's already-excellent career. My clear-cut #1.

ATP'S ROTY: #4 Forgive Durden - Razia's Shadow:A Musical

At Number 4 on my countdown of my Records of the Year is "Razia's Shadow: A Musical" by Forgive Durden.

At the start of the year, it was announced 3 of the four members of Forgive Durden had left the band. The sole remaining member was frontman Thomas Dutton, who went on to create one of the most surprising and somewhat unusual releases of the past 12 months.

"Razia's Shadow: A Musical" is a very ambitious record from an ambitious person. However Dutton; along with his brother Paul, have managed to create a record that stands out from its other Fueled By Ramen releases.

There are many characteristics that make the album great. First of all it has a story that captivates the listener, as well as a wide array of guest appearances including Max Bemis, Chris Conley, Brendon Urie, Danny Stevens and narration is done by Mewithoutyou's Aaron Weiss. Like every musical, "Razia's Shadow" has it uplifting and dark songs which takes the listener on a well-written journey, based around a love story between Nidria and Ahrima.

I recently spoke to Thomas Dutton about the making of "Razia's Shadow", musicals, taking the musical out on the road and more.

ATP:I understand at the moment Forgive Durden is just you. Is there any plans to become a full band again?
Thomas Dutton: Forgive Durden has always been my vision. I started writing songs in high school and assembled friends together to play and record them. Eventually it became a permanent lineup and we released Wonderland. After years of tours, the other guys decided to leave and pursue different things. I’m totally happy with the band and its status right now. I don’t want to put together a permanent band just to have one. I’d love to have full-time players again, but I’m in no rush.

ATP: Tell us a bit about the making of "Razia's Shadow - A Musical"?
TD: It was a long process. My brother Paul would come down on the weekends and write with me and I would spend weekdays writing lyrics. We slowly but surely built up the songs from nothing into these magical epic things. It was a great but tiring experience.

ATP: In other interviews you have said musicals clearly influenced the album. What musicals in particular have influenced you and what else influenced the record?
TD: I grew up loving Willy Wonka and Disney movies. I knew every word to Aladdin and would perform the songs in my family’s living room. More recently, Moulin Rouge really re-piqued my interest in musicals.

ATP: Was the plan to do a musical made before or after the old members left?
TD: Before, but it was always to be my vision.

ATP: "Razia's Shadow" is very much a different album to a lot of records within "the scene" at the moment. Were you worried about the kind of reaction the record would get?
TD: Not really. I was excited about it, actually. If I had been on the other side, I would be freaking out over the whole concept behind this record, so I was making it for those kids.

ATP: What is your favorite song off the record?
TD: Life Is Looking Up and It’s True Love.

ATP: Did you have an idea of what guests you wanted before making the album?
TD: Some of the casting choices were very obvious to me. Brendon Urie was the first person I cast as my evil brother. He has such a beautiful low register that I knew he would be perfect for it.

ATP: How has it been adapting the new songs to your live show?
TD: It’s been interesting, that’s for sure. We obviously don’t have the means (yet) to tour with an orchestra, but I still wanted the live show to sound as close as possible to the record so I got two other singers to fill in the other characters’ parts, piano and keys to recreate some of the orchestration and a sampler to play the remainder.

ATP: Are there any plans to have a show with the full cast and orchestra?
TD: That’s the biggest thing we’re working on now for next year.

ATP: You recently released the video for "Life Is Looking Up". What was the concept behind the video?
TD: The video is supposed to look like a movie trailer for what Razia’s Shadow: The Movie would look like. I love movie trailers, and I really wanted to go in that direction. We had to play with the storyline a bit because of our resources but I’m very happy with how it turned out. It’s meant to draw people into the story and bigger-than-life concept.

ATP: What does the future hold for Forgive Durden? Any plans to write a follow-up musical?
TD: I’d love to write another musical if the demand was there but we’ll see what happens. It’ll probably be a while before I sit down and really start to map anything out

ATP: Any plans to come over to the UK?
TD: I loved the UK when we went before and I would be so happy to go back, it just depends on finding a tour that makes sense for it happen.

ATP :What will you remember 2008 for?
TD: The year my musical finally came out

ATP: What music have you personally enjoyed?
TD: Good Old War, Sigur Ros and Kanye West.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?
TD: World Domination. Or something close.

ATP'S ROTY: #5 Girl Talk - Feed The Animals

I'm at the half way point and at Number 5 is Mashup artist Girl Talk with "Feed The Animals".

What do you get if you blend Procol Harum with Kanye West and Radiohead? Well you'd get just one slice of this 50 minute mashup masterpiece. The track in question is "Still Here", just one of many highlights.

Other highlights include "What It's All About", which incorporates Busta Rhymes with The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", whilst "Give Me A Beat" see's Girl Talk aka Gregg Gillis, momentarily slowing things down untill he get's the party going again.

In one way this is the definitive party album, as it has a mixture of old and modern hits and unlike Gillis's earlier work, "Feed The Animals" is a more structured and thought- out affair. The songs flow seamless from one track to the next, almost unoticed and they're are simply layered, which in the long run give indivdual tracks to have a life of their own and not just part of a 50 minute mashup mixtape.

ATP'S ROTY: #6 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Today I am going to write about my 6th favourite Record of the Year and it comes from Washington Indie Rock four-piece Death Cab For Cutie.

"Narrow Stairs" is more or less the same Death Cab we have came to know and love after 6 albums with this being their 2nd major label release. The record contains all the usual elements; haunting lyrics, sweeping guitars and songs with multiple layers.

Nevertheless the record has both sombre and upifting songs, with highlights being the 8 and half minute long "I Will Posses Your Heart", as well as "No Sunlight" and "Grapevine Fires".

On the whole "Narrow Stairs" shows Death Cab For Cutie are a band who have emerged from the underground with a strong following and have remained to keep their feet on their ground and have not forgot their roots, as this record showcases a Indie Rock band with both Indie and Pop ideas.

ATP'S ROTY: #7 Hey Monday - Hold On Tight

Hi Sean here and today I am continueing my Records of The Year. At Number 7 is a band that at first I wanted to hate, Hey Monday. However their fun, catchy brand of Pop-Rock managed to win me over.

"Hold On Tight" is nothing ground-breaking but it's addictive. With highlights such as the poppy "How You Love Me Now" and the sweet ballad "Candles". It's an album that is filled with radio-friendly songs and catchy hooks.

As I said in my review, Hey Monday are a band you can expect to hear big things from in 2009, especially with their upcoming tour support slot with Fall Out Boy

ATP'S ROTY: #8 Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger

Today I give you number 8 in my Records of The Year. Jack's Mannequin is supposed to be a band but it is better known as Andrew McMahon's solo project. "The Glass Passenger" is the former Something Corporate singer's second album. In the time since the first Jack's Mannequin album, it's been well documentated that McMahon suffered from Leukemia.

Now McMahon has recovered and has written a record that sounds beyond his 26 years. "The Glass Passenger" is a mature piano pop rock record, with a mixture of radio-friendly songs like "The Resolution" and "American Love" and sweet ballads like "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)", "Annie Use Your Telescope" and "Swim", songs where you feel the pain in McMahon's straining voice.

ATP's ROTY: #2 The Banner - Frailty

Coming in at number two was the latest installment from one of the best hardcore punk bands to ever come out of New Jersey, The Banner.

'Frailty' is the bands best record to date. It showed the bands metal influences but still stuck to their hardcore punk roots at the same time.

I managed to speak to frontman Joey Southside recently who told me how 2008 was for him and what we can expect next year from The Banner:

Alter The Press: How would you describe 2008 for The Banner?

Joey Southside: I suppose it was great due to the release of Frailty. We toured the whole summer but the end of that sucked due to sheisty people, bad communications and a lack of help. Still bad touring is better than good work.

ATP: Your first trip back to the UK since 2006, how was it?

JS: Amazing. I love the UK. Especially London, Manchester and Bournemouth.

ATP: Would you say 'Frailty' is The Banner's best record to date?

JS: Without question.

ATP: Who's choice to press 'Frailty' on vinyl?

JS: I begged. I also begged for 'Each Breath Haunting' on vinyl but I think thats only close to happening now.

ATP: What does 2009 hold for The Banner?

JS: Well "The Banner" as the touring entity is essentially finished. Im not saying i wont take a really good tour if offered but being the kind of band we are and the amount of kids into it. Its really just impossible to keep touring at any full clip. Unfortunately we dont get offered too many tours where I think we might really reach an audience that might be into us and at this point in the game its pretty much moot. We will be releasing more music as EPs and playing locally and day trips occasionally but its time for the next thing.

ATP'S ROTY: #10 The Morning Of - The World As We Know It

So we're nearly at the end of another year and like a lot of people, I have been deciding my favorite records over the last 12 months. After much deliberation, I have managed to figure out my Top 10 albums of the year.

At number 10 is Newburgh, New York Pop-Rock band, The Morning Of who this year, released their debut album, "The World As We Know It". An album with a mixture of soft melodys, catchy songs and rocking guitars. In addition the front duo 0f Jessica Leplon and Justin Wiley sharing vocals throughout the album, makes "The World As We Know" an album that's charming and from a band with plenty of potential.

I recently spoke to bassist Abir Hossain about The Morning Of, touring and the year 2008 in general.

ATP: Who are you and what is your role in the band?

AH: My name is Abir Hossain, and I play bass in The Morning Of.

ATP: For those who aren’t familiar with your band, tell them about The Morning Of?

AH: The Morning Of is my best friends and I doing what we love- playing music, hanging out with new friends on tour, and spreading love.

ATP: So this year you released your debut album “The World As We Know It”, tell us a bit about whole the album came together?

AH: Haha, the album took FOREVER to come together. Chris Rob and I had recorded it once, then scrapped it, made lineup changes, and then we found Justin and Jessica, and from there we were able to make The World As We Know It, the way we intended it to be. We're super happy with it, it's been out for 10 months now, and I still love it to death.

ATP: Who or what influenced “The World As We Know It”?

AH: I named the album "The World As We Know It" because the album was influenced by EVERYTHING around us. Whether it be relationships, the current state of the world, friends dealing with problems like drug addictions. The album touches on so many different facets of life.

ATP: Throughout this year you’ve toured extensively throughout America with bands such as The Secret Handshake, Breathe Carolina, Just Surrender, Every Avenue and The Higher. Which tours have you enjoyed the most?

AH: I couldn't tell you which tour is better, because while we were on every one of those tours, we were having the time of our lives. All those bands have become our best friends. We actually hung out with Breathe Carolina yesterday, and Just Surrender the other day. Its awesome seeing friends even when you're not on tour!

ATP: You are about to tour with My American Heart and Artist V Poet. Are you looking forward to it?

AH: The tour is My American Heart, Danger Radio, and Artist V Poet. It starts Dec 2nd. I'm super excited for the tour, we have a lot of friends who know the MAH guys really well and they've been saying we're gonna have an awesome time with them. It's gonna be our first West Coast tour where we hit major cities, so I'm really excited.

ATP: How would you describe your live show?

AH: We have a lot of fun while we're playing. Come see it, and tell me if you're having fun too haha!

ATP: What do you when your not out on the road?

AH: Right now we just got our biggest break from touring in about a year. Its 3 weeks! So we're all trying to find little jobs. But we hang out, write, go see our friends bands when they come kinda close (cough driving 2 hours to see Breathe Carolina haha), and just see our friends and family.

ATP: Any plans to come over to the United Kingdom in the future?

AH: We want to really bad. We had a British merch guy for like 3 months, it was so much fun. I know we all really want to go overseas, its really just a matter of us getting the right tour to do it. So hopefully soon.

ATP: What will you remember this year for?

AH: I will remember this year for making so many new friends who I hope we'll have forever, and getting to finally put our first album out in stores and tour behind it!

ATP: What music have you enjoyed this year?

AH: Too much! I know that some of our standout records for this year are the Jack's Mannequin album, Conor Oberst, Death Cab For Cutie, and a couple other awesome records I can't remember! But we listen to everything. Between all of us you'll find some really crazy music.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?

AH: We hope to tour A LOT, and to record a new album and put it out sometime later on in the year!

Thanks to Abir for doing the interview.

More Information about The Morning Of can be found here.

ATP's ROTY: #3 Kaki King - Dreaming of Revenge

As 2008 comes to a close, Sean and myself at Alter The Press, will be compiling our favourite records from the last twelve months.

I managed to narrow my selection down to a final three.

In at three was Kaki King's latest record, 'Dreaming of Revenge'. Kaki revealed her true vocal abilities on this record and managed to conjure up some incredible stand out tracks such as 'Montreal' and 'Life Being What It Is'.

I managed to catch up with Kaki and she told Alter The Press how 2008 had been for her:

Alter The Press: 2008 has been a very busy year for you. What has been your highlight?

Kaki King: I must say that 2008 was by far the most exciting and most exhausting

year of my life thus far when it comes to touring. Even now that I've been off the road for a few weeks small memories will zap into my head that I haven't thought of in months, like buying tiny model planes at the new Luxembourg airport or crying after my 15th Japanese interview of the day. I must say that one highlight has to be playing with Dave Grohl in front of 10,000 Australians each night for two weeks and having him give me the most massive hug after every performance. Not much tops that one.

ATP: What are you personal favorites to play from 'Dreaming of Revenge'?

KK: I really love to play Montreal--when it kicks in with the band onstage

it's a total joyride for me. 2 O'Clock is always a highlight as my drummer Matt takes the most incredible drum solo in the middle of that song followed by me throwing my guitar across the stage. It's my one indulgence in rock 'n' roll decadence. Still haven't managed to break the guitar yet.

ATP: If you could scrap one song from your tour setlist, which would it be?

KK: Ha. Sometimes I just hate playing Pull Me Out Alive. It's a decent enough song, but it's kind of too poppy for what I usually do. It got me a lot of exposure in various parts of the world this year, but we can't seem to get it right live. I expect we won't play it too much on future tours, which means the people who discovered me only through that song will be disappointed, so we'll probably have to play

it anyway.

ATP: What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

KK: It's now December. Right now I'm scoring a really fascinating documentary about homosexuality and the bible called 'Fish out of Water.' I know people have been hearing about this topic almost ad nauseam recently but this film is incredibly researched and really well made. It was a labor of love for the filmmakers and I'm honored to be adding music to it. After that I'll take a road trip down to Georgia and have a proper Southern Christmas.

ATP: What are your plans for 2009?

KK: Read, write words and music, and speak to people every day. That was

the equation for happiness according to Francis Bacon, and I don't plan on stopping that anytime soon.

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