unapologetic music

wilco, yankee hotel foxtrot -
i wasn't very happy with the wilco concert i went to last fall, because it was packed with frat boys and teeny-boppers who had never even heard of uncle tupelo... but strangely, it's the fact this album has something for everybody that makes it so great. it's classic pop: great melodies, great, slightly offbeat lyrics, catchy tunes - it's just lots of fun, but it's not sugar-coated, it's not watered down, it's complex and it's nuanced, and it's solid and consistent. and maybe, just maybe, that could be its fault - a little too consistent at times, jeff tweedy's voice a little too reedy at times, to where it all begins to blend together and almost fade into the background. almost.

of montreal, coquelicot asleep in the poppies: a variety of whimsical verse -
this is a very, very strange album. first, the sound is vintage, perfect sergeant peppers' era beatles; second, it's the most bizarrest sort of concept album. i can't quite tell how seriously to take it: is it horribly derivative, or is it an eerily good tribute? i'm not sure it's not art, but it is confusing - oh, yeah, and strange.

gomez, in our gun -an ok album, but nowhere even near the level of their first two efforts. gomez' blue-eyed, white boy blues vocals and poppy harmonies went much better with the more guitarry sound of liquid skin than they do over the amateurish electronic beats and beeps that are evident here.

kings of convenience, quiet is the new loud -
this album tends to be criticized for being too soft and quiet and gentle. i've heard it described as making simon and garfunkel sound like slayer. and to a certain extent, it does. and to a certain extent - actually a pretty good extent - that can be a really good thing. i don't know about you, but i need some quiet music every now and then, and the songs are pleasant and catchy and not depressing. very nice. and that's enough sometimes.

kings of convenience, versus - same album, re-mixed. most of the songs would benefit from a nice beat behind them, though unfortunately not enough of them are given that kind of support - there are lots of interesting effects, but some of them overwhelm or detract from the quietness of the original tracks... overall not too different from quiet - when it's better it's much better, when it's not, it's just different, really.
10:43 AM {l} {c}

allen is probably listening to, at any given time:
tom waits • uncle tupelo • r.l. burnside • son volt • belle & sebastian • massive attack • g.s.y.b.e. • mogwai • looper • pj harvey • johnny cash • deathcab • pavement • air • bjork • st.etienne • e.b.t.g. • neko case • built to spill • lucinda williams • rufus wainwright • radiohead • henry rollins • the old 97's • rainer maria • aesop rock • dj shadow • the magnetic fields • whiskeytown • kid koala • amon tobin • john coltrane • beth orton • victoria williams • the shins • kasey chambers • bright eyes • modest mouse • jeff buckley • the pixies • the jayhawks • jimmy smith • m83 • sage francis • iron & wine • beastie boys • the decemberists • the weakerthans • prefuse 73 • hem • songs:ohia • boards of canada• rachels • rjd2 • four-tet
...not that that narrows it down much.