Friday, June 05, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Back When I Can...
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
B-Side Of The Week: Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees - "Wasted Time"Buy Screaming Trees music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, Screaming Trees
Friday, February 29, 2008
Cover Of The Week: Matt Nathanson does James
Matt Nathanson - "Laid"Buy Matt Nathanson's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Matt Nathanson
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
B-Side Of The Week: Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams - "Words"Buy Ryan Adams music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, Ryan Adams
Friday, February 22, 2008
Cover Of The Week: Magnet & Gemma Hayes do Dylan
Magnet & Gemma Hayes - "Lay Lady Lay"Buy the single here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Gemma Hayes, Magnet
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
B-Side Of The Week: Ash
Ash - "Burn Baby Burn (acoustic)"Buy Ash's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: Ash, B-Side Of The Week
Friday, February 15, 2008
Cover Of The Week: Travis does The Band
Travis - "The Weight"Buy Travis' music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Travis
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
B-Side Of The Week: Feist
Feist - "We're All In The Dance"Buy Feist's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, Feist
Friday, February 08, 2008
Cover Of The Week: Dar Williams does Pink Floyd
Dar Williams - "Comfortably Numb"Buy Dar Williams' music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Dar Williams
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
B-Side Of The Week: U2
U2 - "Luminous Times (Hold On To Love)"Buy U2's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, U2
Friday, February 01, 2008
Cover of the Week: Paramore does Foo Fighters
Paramore - "My Hero"Buy Paramore's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Paramore
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
B-Side of the Week: The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes - "Last Time Again"Buy The Black Crowes' music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, The Black Crowes
Friday, January 04, 2008
Cover of the Week: Stereophonics does The Stones
Stereophonics - "Gimme Shelter"Buy Stereophonics music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Stereophonics
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
B-Side of the Week: Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter - WildfiresBuy Josh Ritter's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, Josh Ritter
Friday, December 28, 2007
Cover of the Week: Oasis does The Rolling Stones
Oasis - "Street Fighting Man"Buy Oasis music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out previous Cover Of The Week posts by clicking the "Cover Of The Week" label below and the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion".
Labels: Cover Of The Week, Oasis
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
B-Side Of The Week: Juliana Hatfield
Juliana Hatfield - "Make It Home"Buy the soundtrack here and Hatfield's music here.
-------------------------------------------
Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.
Labels: B-Side Of The Week, Juliana Hatfield
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Best of 2007
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the "guy" and "girl" from the film, created one of the more moving, engaging collections of songs I've heard in a while. And it's hard for me to separate the way I feel about the music from the way I feel about the film itself because the two exist in beautiful symbiosis. The emotional ride I got from the movie will forever influence the way I hear the songs, and each time I see the film I enjoy the songs in a slightly different way. Who can hear "Falling Slowly" without reliving the goosebump-inducing scene at the piano in the music store? When "If You Want Me" starts, it's impossible not to see Marketa strolling the streets of Dublin at night in her slippers. And the build up in "When Your Mind's Made Up" is like a tidal wave crashing to the shore - such sweet release, with visions of Glen and the band making their record over the course of one triumphant weekend in the studio.
I could go on and on, track by track, scene by scene. The film and its soundtrack somehow managed to capture the passion, heartache, indecision, frustration and joy that goes into making music, while telling an honest, genuinely touching love story along the way. I can't recommend Once more highly to anyone who loves music.
Now that you've heard about the best of the best, here's the rest of the best, in the form of the requisite "best of" list that's every blogger's pseudo-obligation. Like last year, I've included the annual mix that I make for friends and family at the end of the post. If you like some of the music I've posted on this blog then chances are you'll find something you like on the mix. And away we go...
Sweet Oblivion's Essential Albums From 2007
(Alphabetical by artist)
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
The prolific Adams made a concise musical statement for once, and this may be his strongest album yet. All the good stuff we love in his songs without any wasted space. (Oh, and by the way, he released an EP too. It was outstanding as well.) Buy it here.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
BRMC put together a tour de force in Baby 81, managing to combine the sounds of their first three records into something awesome and new. A cohesive musical statement with a plethora of single-worthy tunes to boot. Buy it here.
Brandi Carlile - The Story
Last year's "little singer that could" is now a full blown star, and her sophomore effort is simply stunning. I can't get enough of her voice, and if this record is any indication of the depth of talent this young woman has, then she's in for a long, impressive career. Buy it here.
The Frames - The Cost
Irish rockers The Frames produced a fantastic album in The Cost, successfully riding the wave of singer Glen Hansard's current creative epoch. If you were taken by Once's music, this album will treat you right. Buy it here.
Matthew Good - Hospital Music
It's a challenging listen, but it's emotional darkness and brutal honesty are right up this listener's alley. Matthew Good continues to make compelling music year after year, and it still amazes me that he's not as famous on this side of the US-Candian border as he is in his home country. Buy it here.
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Once (OST)
I've said it all above, but in case you missed the memo - go buy this album and see this film!!!
Idlewild - Make Another World
These Scottish rockers continue to do what they do, and each time they do it it gets better and better. Some of the most interesting music of the band's career. Buy it here.
Jason Isbell - Sirens Of The Ditch
Isbell was always my favorite songwriter in The Drive-By Truckers, and now he's made the DBT album I've always wanted to hear. Heartfelt, soulful southern rock. Buy it here.
Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope
I've been a longtime fan of Matt Nathanson's concerts, but his studio work has never been consistent enough for me to supersede his live show. With Some Mad Hope he's made a great pop rock record that begs for repeated listens. Finally! Buy it here.
Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall...It's The Way You Land
Absurdly long title aside, this is an awesome album. It may be unusual, dark and moody, but Mark Lanegan sings the songs. Need I say more? It's a more fully realized "Lanegan album" than 2004's Bubblegum. Buy it here.
Stereophonics - Pull The Pin
I couldn't put together a best-of list without including at least one import-only release. I'd all but written off the Stereophonics, thinking they'd lost the plot after their third LP, 2001's stellar JEEP. With Pull The Pin it feels like they've regained the form they had back in the good ol' days. It's worth the extra coin to order this one from overseas. Buy it here.
--------------------------------------------------
Noticeably absent (at least to me) from this list is Radiohead's In Rainbows. I've made an executive decision to claim that one for 2008, when it's been released to the masses on CD. However, I will say that the limited edition box set that I finally have in my grimy little hands is one of the sweetest packages a collector could hope for. Grab one now before they're sold out.
In terms of the other artists on the mix below, Turin Brakes are finally back on track with Dark On Fire, although the companion EP, Something Out Of Nothing, is a more concise and impressive piece of work. A few other old standbys like Steve Earle, Wilco, Centro-Matic, Foo Fighters and Son Volt all made good albums. Though Chris Cornell's second solo effort just doesn't sit that well with me as a whole, his live shows this year were simply unbelievable. Buffalo Tom came out of retirement to make a solid record with a few outstanding songs on it. Feist's second record is good stuff too. Eddie Vedder's music for the film Into The Wild is really compelling - his voice seems the perfect complement to the visuals in the movie. Charmparticles and Dala are my "little secret discoveries", the former from a couple years ago and the latter from this year. And I've finally come around to the Manic Street Preachers. Their new one is a solid, rocking set of tunes.
--------------------------------------------------
Sweet Oblivion's Best of 2007 Mix
(in multiple parts due to Savefile's size restrictions)
Tracklist:
Volume I
Jason Isbell - "Brand New Kind Of Actress"
The Frames - "When Your Mind's Made Up"
Brandi Carlile - "The Story"
Buffalo Tom - "Bottom Of The Rain"
Ryan Adams - "Two"
Chris Cornell - "No Such Thing"
Son Volt - "Action"
Idlewild - "Finished It Remains"
Matthew Good - "The Boy Come Home"
Soulsavers - "Paper Money"
Eddie Vedder - "Hard Sun"
Matt Nathanson - "Bulletproof Weeks"
BRMC - "All You Do Is Talk"
Volume II
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly"
Manic Street Preachers - "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough"
Stereophonics - "It Means Nothing"
Turin Brakes - "Brave New World"
Feist - "1 2 3 4"
Charmparticles - "Rarest Numbers"
Ryan Adams - "My Love For You Is Real"
Dala - "Marilyn Monroe"
Wilco - "What Light"
Centro-Matic - "Operation Motorcide"
Foo Fighers - "But, Honestly"
Steve Earle - "Come Home To Me"
Bonus Tracks:
"Missed in '06"
8 songs that I didn't get into until 2006 had passed us by.
Download the mix here.
Labels: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Brandi Carlile, Glen Hansard, Idlewild, Jason Isbell, Marketa Irglova, Matt Nathanson, Matthew Good, Ryan Adams, Soulsavers, Stereophonics, The Frames