Greg Bartalos’s Top Ten — September 7

by Greg Bartalos
7 September 2008

1. Love Story (DVD) – (Start Productions)

   Excellent new documentary about Love and Arthur Lee. This fortunately includes extensive interviews with Arthur who sadly passed away a year later.

2. The Nuevos – On the Brink of Overnight Obscurity

   Great power-pop. Download the album for free on the band’s site. Standouts include “Astronaut on Earth” and “Hope and IVs.”

3. The Mutton Birds – Flock: The Best of the Mutton Birds (Virgin)

   Melodic pop confections from New Zealand that melt in your ears, not in your hands. Standouts include “Thing Well Made,” “Dominion Road,” “Nature,” “While You Sleep,” and “She’s Been Talking.” Vastly underrated.

4. The Pillbugs – Monclovia (Rainbow Quartz)

   Think Beatles, Dukes of Stratosphear, Wondermints….Like Caribou’s ‘Andorra,’ this new album credibly evokes the late sixties through a modern framework.

5. The Libertines US – Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (Libertines Music)

   Twenty-one gritty and raw high-velocity ditties including the excellent “Her.”

6. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Vagrant)

   I was a big fan of 2004’s “Almost Killed Me” but didn’t take as much to their more recent work. That said, this one is doing the trick for me, especially tracks like “Slapped Actres,” which has a meaty and expansive chorus that takes flight near the song’s end.

7. For Against – Shade Side Sunny Side (Words on Music)

   “Glamour” is one of my favorite songs of the year. “Aftertaste” and “Game Over” also are essential. Oh hell, since the album has nine songs you might as well get the whole puppy.

8. The Damned – Strawberries (Castle)

   The Damned’s best? Maybe. Or maybe it’s Machine Gun Etiquette or The Black Album or Damned Damned Damned. In any case, this 1982 release showcases all of the Damned’s skills in one package. You’ll hear their usual stellar musicianship, as well as the aggressive playing they are known for but you’ll also hear their slower side too and performed with just as much feeling and authority. Incisive lyrics and stellar production by Hugh Jones round out this amazing album.

9. Rob Dickinson – Fresh Wine From the Horses (reissue) (Sanctuary/Fontana)

   I hope to post a review of this sooner than later. Well worth owning and be sure to buy the reissue that includes the bonus live disk.

10. Ulrich Schnauss – A Strangely Isolated Place (Domino)

    Schnauss is sometimes compared to Boards of Canada. However Schnauss offers inspiration and transcendence whereas BOC’s profound music has a far more sinister bent. Also, Schnauss’ beats are not nearly as crunchy or as prominent as BOC’s are.