Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

I hadn’t come across this until today, and I do think it’s pretty excellent.

Feist - “1 2 3 4 (Sesame Street Version)”

As we enter into the new year, and all the hooplah of 2008 comes to a close, I would feel remiss not to throw in a couple of tracks.  The first is from the one and only Ron Sexsmith, the ever youthful looking veteran singer-songwriter, whose Exit Strategy of the Soul released this year is certainly worth checking out.  The second is from contemporary up-and-coming freakfolk-’classical’ artist Nico Muhly, while the third track is from former Dirty Vegas lead singer Steve Smith.  Enjoy.

Listen to Ron Sexsmith - “Brighter Still”

Listen to Nico Muhly - “The Only Tune III. The Only Tune”

Listen to Steve Smith - “Late Nights and Street Fights“

As we approach the beginning of a new Gregorian year, I just wanted to remind you that it’s okay to let it all hang out once in a while.

Listen to The Hombres - “Let It All Hang Out“

The countdown is over! After poring over all the wonderful albums released this year, and analyzing their plusses and minuses in excruciating detail, we have arrived at our #1 album of 2008.  I present to you Ben Sollee:

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This is what I wrote about Sollee after initially listening to his album Learning to Bend: “If I had a dime for every Andrew Bird comparison made to your ‘run-of-the-mill’ esoteric singer-songwriter, I’d probably have something like $5.00.  But think about it, that’s a lot of dimes.  I was ready to add another 10 cent piece to my piggy bank when I heard the hype about the chamber/string folk-pop rock that artist Ben Sollee was pushing on his Learning to Bend.  I decided to give Sollee a try, intrigued by his Kentuckian roots and his interesting album title–I was immediately captivated.  Apparently, Learning to Bend is representative of a grand metaphor, as Sollee was inspired by the way in which the seemingly frail cattails near his home could survive the harsh winds of each passing day.”

In a year where everything from politics to the economy to my own personal situation has been in a state of near constant flux, Sollee’s album has taken on ever more pertinence.  Learning to Bend is not just an album title, but rather the mantra by which Sollee lives. And with his silky smooth voice and instantly gratifying banjo and violin, Sollee has the listener believe that learning to bend is indeed the only way to live.

Opening his album with “A Few Honest Words”, Sollee establishes himself as an earnest and politically motivated troubadour from the outright.  His voice gentle but not strong, his words pertinent but not pithy, his vocal talents must be heard to be truly appreciated.  But it’s also impossible to ignore Sollee’s mettle and skill with stringed instruments.  “Bury Me With My Car” features a rich, concerted violin over the fast-paced country-soul of the track.  “It’s Not Impossible” begins with the swaying of Sollee’s voice, that magically breaks out into a strumming banjo and a delicate saxophone–a strange concoction that becomes a tremendous elixir. “How to See the Sun Rise” is a waltzy pop number, irresistibly fun and engaging.  His remake of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” is beautifully and enchantingly reinterpreted through the eyes of a songwriter that sees the world through his strings. Thinking back to the album title, it seems as though he’s saying that if we, the audience, can learn to be as accommodating and flexible as his strings, surely we are affirming our existence.  But in the end, all it is really about is the artist connecting with his audience–he’s made a fan out of me, and certainly you will be next. It’s okay to lose those 10 cents once in a while.

Do yourself a favor.  Buy a copy of Learning to Bend.

Listen to “It’s Not Impossible”

Listen to “A Change is Gonna Come“

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the #1 album of the year (according to CSV of course), but today we have for you the albums that finish out the top 5.  Without further ado:

2.  Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

How the heck did this Wisconsinan achieve indie folk stardom? Well, mostly with a unique vocal range and wonderfully lush instrumentation.  Justin Vernon (the real Bon Iver) carefully laces his own vocals over rich guitars, imparting a sense of some contradictory calming urgency. Bon Iver rarely misses on this album–the album’s only real flaw is the sparseness in the number of tracks. But I have an inkling that this is not the last time that we’re going to hear of Justin Vernon.

Listen to Bon Iver - "Skinny Love "

3.  Emiliana Torrini - Me & Armini

Torrini’s (full name: Emilíana Torrini Davíðsdóttir) most obvious asset is her own unEarthly voice-a croon so exquisite and delicate (cute?) that surely she could not be from this planet.  Yet her lyrics focusing on love, nature, and the sea couldn’t sound more human.  On Me and Armini , Torrini takes her abilities to a new level, as she incorporates more instrumentation (basslines!!)  and contemporary folk sensibilities into her already developed lyrical style. No surprise here at #3.

Listen to Emiliana Torrini - "Big Jumps "

4.  The Weepies - Hideaway

There’s an indescribable charm and enchantment that The Weepies have. Both Tannen’s and Talan’s have elegant, soft-spoken natures to their voices that give these pop-folk tunes a real gentleness to them. The enchanting wordplay that has become characterisitcally their own, combined with achingly sweet melodies, makes Hideaway an album that you won’t want to hide away for too long.

Listen to The Weepies - "Antarctica "

5.  Coldplay - Viva La Vida/Prospekt’s March

Their shortest album yet is their most ambitious.  Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is as moody as Coldplay as have ever been-it’s bombastic and bold, outspoken and concise, much like a mission statement for the band. As if Viva La Vida wasn’t enough to satiate your appetite, Chris Martin & Co. managed to put out an additional EP Prospekt’s March that is equally as entertaining and captivating.

Listen to "Strawberry Swing "

Carl Sandburg’s Top 20 Albums of 2008 Countdown continues as we round out the bottom of the top 10.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for #2-#5 (there’s got to be some suspense, right?).  And so here we go:

6.  The Zutons - You Can Do Anything

You Can Do Anything builds on the progress from Tired Hanging Around, as the band has found a way to harness its own creativity and seemingly unlimited originality in a way that makes for an incredibly rockin’ album.  What I love most about The Zutons is the self-knowing kitsch–from the album covers to the lyrics to the instrumentation.  I was so pleasantly surprised by this album, and I think the optimistic mantra of the album proves that in truth, you can do anything.

Listen to The Zutons - “You Could Make the Four Walls Cry”

7.  She & Him - Volume One

Seriously, what can’t Zooey Deschanel do? Actress and now singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Deschanel seems to be excelling on all fronts.  Certainly the most dynamic traditional folk album released this year, Volume One promises many more volumes (and I can’t wait).  Deschanel and M. Ward have crafted a fine work of art, complete with an indescribable charm that will have you singing ’sweet darlin” over and over.

Listen to She & Him - “Sweet Darlin’”

8.  Greg Laswell - Three Flights from Alto Nido

Greg Laswell has woken from his sleepy coastal disposition and released a dazzling sophomore album.  As a body of work, it does seem to me that Laswell is trying to create a sound bigger than himself, that relates to an audience that is much wider than that of his first album.  In essence, this is what appears to be his ‘high nest’, and indeed it seems as though he’s well on his way.

Listen to Greg Laswell - “How the Day Sounds”

9.  the sea and cake - Car Alarm

The veteran Chicago collective is as musically sound as they are prolific, and boy they are prolific!  Aside from excellent musicianship, though, The Sea and Cake have single-handedly gradually created their own style of subtle, accesible rock that has far more to it than what may seem on the surface.  Behind the delightful soft rasp of lead singer Sam Prekop, it seems that this Windy City group has found a signature sound along with a level of comfort.

Listen to the sea and cake - “New Schools”

10.  Psapp - The Camel’s Back

It’s one thing when all your myspace friends are cats/kittens. It’s another thing when all the kitsch actually amounts to something. To use words like eclectic and quirky are not helpful in defining the songs on The Camel’s Back, and would ultimately overlook the amazing breadth within those classifications that Psapp fills. This won’t be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, that I promise.

Listen to Psapp - “Fix It“

We started our annual Carl Sandburg’s Top 20 Albums of 2008 yesterday (with a bang?), and today we continue with albums #11-#15.  Where as the first batch of contenders consisted mostly of folk oriented artists, I think you’ll find that the following bands/artists are a little more diverse.  And so here they are….

11.  Milosh - iii

Abstract yet disciplined, the electronic style of Milosh is unique in its own right.  Critics have found a need to personify this album, or give it some sort of subtler meaning in order to grant it greater importance.  This is ultimately the problem with electronic music - people haven’t figured out how to interpret it quite yet.  But there’s no bones about it.  This album is a goldmine of intricate rhythms, and Mike Milosh actually shows his penchant for songwriting here as well.

Listen to Milosh - “Remember the Good Things”

12.  Jamie Lidell - Jim

Jamie Lidell is as good a singer-songwriter as he is eccentric.  And he’s plenty eccentric.  Lidell’s Multiply flew under the radar but received critical acclaim (especially here on CSV!), and so my anticipation for this album was of course quite high.  Lidell delivers more catchy soulful funk that will harken the days of motown through your speakers.  If you’re not dancing along with Sir James, well then you’re crazy (still probably the good crazy).

Listen to Jamie Lidell - “Another Day”

13. Delays - Everything’s the Rush

This UK collective released two of the best things in ‘08: 1) The most infectious album and 2) The most infectious video (”Hooray!”).  The presence of this album on this list is perhaps the most surprising for me, because I somehow let this album go deep in to the abyss of my music collection, only to be miraculously retrieved and exposed for everyone to see now. Shame on me.

Listen to Delays - “Hooray”

14.  Amos Lee  - Last Days at the Lodge

Grade school teacher turned folk singer extraordinaire.  But this ain’t children’s music, my friends. Last raps in baseball or last wishes with genies-these are good ‘lasts’.  Amos Lee may not be a genie, but his Last Days at the Lodge is sure to be added to the list.  His silky smooth vocals and his smoky acoustic guitar accompany lush instrumentation make this album one of the best of the year.

Listen to Amos Lee - “Listen”

15. Jason Collett - Here’s to Being Here

His third LP and he hasn’t lost a step in his progression to becoming a folk-pop mastermind.  Building off the bombast of Idols of Exile, Here’s to Being Here shows Collett has his most comfortable.  He serves up delicious rolling guitars and Dylanesque vocals, allowing the momentum of the songs to carry the various ditties to their peaks. Cheers.

Listen to Jason Collett - “Out of Time“

Ladies and Gents, Gents and Ladies-

I’ve been in a little hiatus (theme of the latter half of 2008 for this blog), but this is for good reason.  I’ve been working out the annual CSV Top 20 albums of 2008!  I have to say that this year produced some very interesting results; whereas 2007 was ripe full of obviously excellent albums, I felt that 2008 was a little more subtle in this manner.  Nonetheless, I think you’ll be pleasantly pleased with the results.  So let’s begin!

16.  Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain

I’ve come to expect only the highest quality from Ray LaMontagne, and Gossip in the Grain is no different. That sultrous rasp and penchant for soulful folk music is at its best on Gossip in the Grain as both the production qualities and Ray’s charm are on full blast.  Take a listen to “You Are the Best Thing” and tell me that’s not foreshadowing for this album to be on the CSV Best of 2008 list.

Listen to Ray LaMontagne - “You Are the Best Thing”

17.  Dr. Dog - Fate

An exciting approach to folk-rock from the Philadelphian collective Dr. Dog, Fate forages into upbeat, foot-tapping superlatives that will have you questioning what the hell the term freakfolk actually means. Splendid choral harmonies and some good ol’ guitar pluckin and piano hoppin’ make this album one of the best of the year without a doubt.

Listen to Dr. Dog - “The Rabbit, The Bat, & The Reindeer”

18.  Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All

Nguyen’s gentle, petite vocals teeter on the edge of sounding cutesy and strained, but somehow she pulls it off with class. Perhaps that is a testament to her band, who supplies a fair share of lazy guitars (”Big Kid Table”), funky keyboards (”Geography”), and rolling drums (”Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)”). Ranging from off-kilter reggae (”Bag of Hammers”) to lifting sing-alongs (”Yes, Soon and Soon”), this album is a real pleasure.

Listen to Thao Nguyen - “Beat (Health, Life, & Fire)”

19.  Manishevitz - East to East

Chicago veteran alt indie-rockers Manishevitz have never made kosher food sound so good! Their new long player East to East is an entrancing collection of songs that span experimental rock, bluesy jazz, and some downright funk.  These songs are a collection of experimental rock symphonies, topped off with the delightful touch of a tenor sax.

Listen to Manishevitz - “Eiji”

20.  Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim

Moody and uplifting, Uk singer-songwriter Laura Marling’s voice floats effortlessly through various ranges on her debut Alas I Cannot Swim.  Marling seems to be connoting an ominous, pessimistic life-view, but each song seems to insinuate the very opposite. Each track is a proverbial wink from Ms. Marling, assuring us that in the end things really aren’t so bad.

Listen to Laura Marling - “Tap At My Window“

Here ye, here ye! I just finished up with quite a hectic week, and I can’t tell you how excited I am for this weekend! Plus it’s my birthday, but you don’t want to hear about that.

I thought I’d bring in a little holiday cheer with some tracks from the new Verve Remixed: Christmas collection.  Your favorite remix artists take on old jazz and blues standards by the likes of Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong, and infuse them with backbeats and ’strange’ new noises.  It’s more a winter collection than a holiday collection, I’d say, but take a look for yourself.  Buy a copy of Verve Remixed: Christmas.

Listen to Nina Simone - “Chilly Winds (Fink Remix)”

Listen to Count Basie - “Good Morning Blues (Real Tuesday Weld Clerkenwell Remix)“

Today marks the day that this website officially surpasses 100,000 unique visits! I used to do a little ‘thank you’ mix every 10,000 visits, but I’ve since curbed that trend.  Nevertheless, I think this is too important of a milestone to ignore.  Therefore, I’d like to offer you the following commemorative mix as a token of my thanks.  I am forever grateful for your continued support, readership, and helpful suggestions along the way.  I can’t begin to explain to you how fun this has been! If you’re a new or longtime reader, please consider donating (see the button on the left.  It’s paypal, so it’s safe!).  You’ll get a very special mix in addition to this one.

The 100,000 and Counting Mix can be downloaded here as a .zip file:

1) Tap Tap - 100,000 Thoughts

2) Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter

3) Beirut - Guyamas Sonora

4) David Gray - Caroline

5) Coldplay - Sleeping Sun

6) Andrew Bird - Dr. Stringz

7) Jason Collett - Brownie Hawkeye

8 ) Josh Ritter - Rumors

9) Barbatuques - Baiana

10) Nina Simone - Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat Remix)

11) Air - La Femme D’Argent

UPDATE: Our 100,000 reader logged on here aroudn 6:30 AM and reigns from Scottsdale, Arizona.  What a great state!