Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

2. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

You may recall me referring to my man-crush on Jens Lekman, and nothing has really changed since then. Lekman’s sage-like wisdom about life and relationships always comes across with the utmost earnestness (and comedy). Lyrically, NFOK is certainly interesting, with the situational “Postcard to Nina” or the comically romantic “Your Arms Around Me”. Discopop tracks (”Sipping on the Sweet Nectar”) combined with funky fresh tunes (”Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig”) make for an album that has only one rival from the entire year. Cheers, Jens. More on Jens Lekman here.

Listen to “Your Arms Around Me” (5/5)

3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

What an amazing year it has been for His Birdness! While not touring around the country for his incredible Armchair Apocrypha, Bird has been busy taking with his violin. Complete with lush stringed instrumentation, Bird’s lilting vocals, and the addition of Martin Dosh’s stylings, Armchair Apocrypha lends for music that (as some have described) may cure some forms of cancer. Bird also finally tackles the various analogs between himself and the namesake of his last name–he seems to have embraced his birdness in the end. Click here for a really great post on the album.

Listen to “Dark Matter” (5/5) [via Sound of Marching Feet]

4. The National - Boxer

I know everybody and their mother has put this album pretty high on their albums of the year, but the bottom line is that it is justified. Matt Berninger’s vocals conjure up images of an earnest poet who has plenty of worthy things to be said. Berninger throws around such vivid, subtle imagery ( ‘Standing in an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth’), that it often takes a keen listener to pick them out over the symphonic, horn-glazed tracks. Boxer is a collection of emotive and dynamic songs that uniquely find a way of coming together as a document of the everyman’s conscience. More on The National here.

Listen to “Ada” (5/5)

5. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog

The Shepherd’s Dog seems to take influences from everywhere, from the dusty trails of ghost towns to the asphalt paths of boisterous cities. It’s an album that celebrates the extroverted and the reserved, one that appeals to the ears but sings to the soul. Each track has a sparseness to it, but yet the multi-layered richness of Beam’s voice and his plethora of instruments add an incredible voluminousness each song. This album simply doesn’t miss. More on Iron & Wine here.

Listen to “The Devil Never Sleeps” (5/5)

I figured that I would post a couple of tracks that I’ve been listening to lately, which have been floating around the world wide web over the past week:

Feist-1234 (VanShe Technologic Remix)

A well-produced remix that really reinterprets Feist’s cutesy 1234 as a legitimate synth heavy party anthem.

Jens Lekman-You Can Call Me All (cover)

Covering the well-known song by Paul Simon, Lekman does quite well with “You Can Call Me All.” Nevertheless, I still think this cover leaves something to be desired. But what’s average for Lekman is better than a whole lot else.

Jose Gonzalez - Four Forks Acre

A sparse acoustic (what else!) instrumental from the quiet, reserved Swede who can’t seem to do wrong. I can see why it’s a B-side, but he certainly could’ve added on to the 10-track In Our Nature!!
————————————
642-642 series is usually considered an asset in an applicant for 70-526. Advanced credit like 70-296 does well too.

————————————

Man crush–this might be the best way to explain my adoration for Mr. Jens Lekman’s music. I admit it, but at least let me elaborate why you should have one too for Sweden’s best musical export. Lekman’s third release Night Falls Over Kortedala is a dreamy Scandinavian collection of songs that wakes you up, delights and entertains, and carefully tucks you in at night. It’s coherent, profound, comical, and intriguing.

From the lyrical component of Night Falls, Lekman conveys his sage-like wisdom about life and relationships with the utmost frankness and comedy. He possesses the story-telling ability of a Bob Dylan, as seen by the doo-wop big band “Postcard to Nina” which has him dazzling the listener about an awkward (true) visit to a friend’s house (for explanation, check out this video). Or have a listen to “Your Arms Around Me”, a charming ode to a woman who surprises him while he’s cutting avocados and cuts his finger–he goes to the hospital with her only to have her “arms around [him]“. It’s Lekman’s ability to make a point without being preachy that makes him the esteemed lyricist that he is.

But from a musical perspective, there is nothing lacking here either. “Sipping on the Sweet Nectar” is a discopop delight that meshes beautifully with the funked-out “Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig” that breaks into a full out chorus of falsetto from Lekman. There’s certainly a good deal of growth on this album from Oh You’re So Silent, Jens, and it has resulted in an album that is incredibly consistent and enjoyable. It seems that Sir Lekman is not so silent anymore.

Go and get a copy of Night Falls Over Kortedala (already out in Europe, due out Oct. 9 in US)
Listen to “Postcard to Nina” (5/5)!!!!!!!
Listen to “Your Arms Around Me” (5/5)!!!!!!

That’s right, everybody. Soon the leaves will resemble the machinations of a children’s coloring book, and then fade to the ground. But don’t despair! We’ve got football, and I’ve got my Chicago Bears.

What’s that? You want to hear my predictions? Well, let’s say the Bears ought to get to the Super Bowl and win 72-3. Case closed.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t include some tracks to commemorate the beginning of the season:

The Who–Eminence Front
It’s not about style, it’s about winning the game folks. As Dustin Hoffman says in Confidence, “Style gets you killed.”

K-Os–Sunday Morning
Every day is like Saturday night, but I can’t wait ’till Sunday morning.

Jens Lekman–Sipping on the Sweet Nectar
…of victory, that is. Go Bears.