The Franze: Top Ten
< author: The Franze >This year has been long and eventful for myself. While the events have not always been good or bad it was definitely a growing year. Part of that growing was finding a new job (here at Relative Theory) which has been fantastic. In my musical wanderings throughout the year these are a few albums that stuck out to me, and why they stuck out…
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1. The Mars Volta Amputechture MP3 | Viscera Eyes |
| *The Mars Volta are the best band to come around in the new millennium, and Amputechture just continues to prove this. In my opinion some of the bands best work, the album features John Frusciante playing all of the guitar parts while Omar - Rodriegez directs and produces the musical direction. Unbelievable timeless psych rock. |
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2. The Psychic Ills Dins MP3 | January Rain |
| *I picked this up back in February and it has not left the rotation since. Shoegazy psychedelic rock with a strange mid-east influence. Beautiful, and perfect to zone out to. |
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3. mewithoutYou Brother, Sister MP3 | Nice & Blue Pt. 2 |
| *mwY is one of my favorite bands, the passion and conviction in the lyrical content is unsurpassed by any lead singer i have ever heard. The music is intricate and fresh. Yes, they may be on Tooth and Nail, but do not write them off until you have given them a shot. |
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4. Mastodon Blood Mountain MP3 | Wolf Is Loose |
| *The best metal band around in my opinion. Aircraft may slap me for that, but when it comes down to it metal is not my scene, so when i hear a band like Mastodon doing progressive metal that carries a story-line while avoiding the cliche ’s of heavy metal music (see loose high hats and china cymbals) i realize that this is perfect for me. Incredible musicians and structured, beautiful music. |
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5. Sunn0))) / Boris Altar (2 disc edition) MP3 | mp3 N/A |
| *I had been waiting on this for quite some time. Everything about this album is fantastic, the bonus disc with the 28 minute prelude to the album featuring Dylan Carlson (of Earth) the packaging with he extra sleeves, and the beautifully dark and gloomy tones and feelings that come from the entire album. |
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6. Red Sparrowes Every Red Heart Shines… MP3 | Like The Howling… |
| *Easily the best post-rock album to come out this year. Jerome and I could not recommend this enough when it was a new release. The movements in this album get the theme across more than i think the band ever thought they could accomplish with instrumental music. This is not the cookie cutter Explosions in the Sky epic stuff that seems to have become so popular, this is dense, well constructed rock. |
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7. The Big Sleep Son of the Tiger MP3 | Murder |
| *Psychedelic Post-Rock from NYC. Not only are they some of the nicest people i’ve ever had the pleasure to be around, but they will rip you a new one with their energetic live show. Fresh post-rock that is not overdone or outplayed. |
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8. Kaada Music for Moviebikers MP3 | No Man’s Land |
| *Im pretty sure i will be the only one with this record on my list. I received this album before i worked at RTR for review purposes and absolutely fell in love with it. Minimalist Norwegian pop that is absolutely gorgeous. Each song was made as the soundtrack to a short film (none of which we will ever know about) but each stands alone in its beauty and simplicity. |
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9. Akron / Family Meek Warrior MP3 | Meek Warrior |
| *Acid-folk, this short album is mind-blowing. If there is any theme throughout my top ten (there is not) it would probably involve the word psychedelic. I love oddities and breaking new ground, that is exactly what this record does. It moves from chants and electric guitars, to intimate acoustics and harmonies. |
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10. The Black Keys Magic Potion MP3 | Your Touch |
| *Honestly i was not a huge fan of this group until their performance at the NorVa a few months back. At which point Magic Potion became a regular stint in my rotation of music. I was absolutely amazed that so much sound and energy could come from two people, i am now a believer. |
Honorable Mentions:
Film School, Blood Brothers, Beck, Decemberists, My Morning Jacket - Okonokos, Grizzly Bear, Brightblack Morning Light, Sonic Youth, Boris, Black Angels.
January 4th, 2007 at 4:33 am
Very surprised to see Amputechture that high, but Red Sparrowes rocked my face off.