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Best Albums of 2014 (so far)


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Really? This has been the album that's actually gotten me buy DBT tickets. I love Shit Shots Count and, especially, Primer Coat. Great tunes, hoping they play both when I see 'em next month.

 

It's a very good record.  It's not on par with their "Holy Trinity" (Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day & The Dirty South), but that's not a realistic expectation at this stage.  I was lukewarm (at best) with  the two previous albums, The Big To-Do & Go-Go Boots, but English Oceans is a much stronger release.  Both the songs you mention are top-tier Truckers material.  I'd also add "Grand Canyon" to that list.  They'll definitely play "SSC" when you see them.  I saw them a few months ago and, surprisingly, they did not play "Primer Coat."  I'll bet my life they close the show with an epic, feedback-drenched "Grand Canyon."  Enjoy the show!

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Metamodern Sounds in Country Music/Sturgill Simpson

English Oceans/Drive-By Truckers

Benji/Sun Kil Moon

Somewhere Else/Lydia Loveless

Turn Blue/The Black Keys

Dancin' With Wolves/Natural Child

Salad Days/Mac DeMarco

Do It To the Beast/Afghan Whigs

Strong Feelings/Doug Paisley

With Light and With Love/Woods

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Gonna check this one out.

 

LouieB

Me too

 

Any "country" album with these kinds of lyrics:

 

There's a gateway in our mind that leads somewhere out there beyond this plane 

Where reptile aliens made of light cut you open and pull out all your pain 

 

has my piqued my interest.

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There was an article about this record in the NY Times this weekend I think. I also got the newly released Hank Williams The Garden Spot Programs 1950. I figure this is a good pairing.

 

LouieB

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Beck - Morning Phase

The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream

Neil Finn - Dizzy Heights

Sun Kil Moon - Benji

DBT - English Oceans

 

I haven't spent enough time listening to THS' "Teeth Dreams" yet. Soon.

 

I tried Teeth Dreams three or four times and just couldn't get into it. I haven't really gotten into anything as much as Boys and Girls in America, and Stay Positive.

 

 

It's a very good record.  It's not on par with their "Holy Trinity" (Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day & The Dirty South), but that's not a realistic expectation at this stage.  I was lukewarm (at best) with  the two previous albums, The Big To-Do & Go-Go Boots, but English Oceans is a much stronger release.  Both the songs you mention are top-tier Truckers material.  I'd also add "Grand Canyon" to that list.  They'll definitely play "SSC" when you see them.  I saw them a few months ago and, surprisingly, they did not play "Primer Coat."  I'll bet my life they close the show with an epic, feedback-drenched "Grand Canyon."  Enjoy the show!

 

This is how they closed the St. Louis show. One by one each member walked off the stage with their instrument feeding back and looping; Jay Gonzalez first, with huge, swelling chords on the organ; then Cooley, followed by Patterson and Patton a minute or so apart, all of their guitars blasting; then Brad Morgan was by himself just pounding out the drum beat while all the feedback was showering over the place. He finally brought it to a head with a big, thundering, rapid-fire fill on the snare, crashed a couple of cymbals and walked off...with the guitars and organ still blaring. The whole coda lasted about another 5-6 minutes on top of the 8-minute song. It was unbelievable.

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I tried Teeth Dreams three or four times and just couldn't get into it. I haven't really gotten into anything as much as Boys and Girls in America, and Stay Positive.

 

 

 

This is how they closed the St. Louis show. One by one each member walked off the stage with their instrument feeding back and looping; Jay Gonzalez first, with huge, swelling chords on the organ; then Cooley, followed by Patterson and Patton a minute or so apart, all of their guitars blasting; then Brad Morgan was by himself just pounding out the drum beat while all the feedback was showering over the place. He finally brought it to a head with a big, thundering, rapid-fire fill on the snare, crashed a couple of cymbals and walked off...with the guitars and organ still blaring. The whole coda lasted about another 5-6 minutes on top of the 8-minute song. It was unbelievable.

 

They've done that with "Angels and Fuselage" before. Always a highlight.

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They've done that with "Angels and Fuselage" before. Always a highlight.

 

That's my favorite track off SRO. Wish I could have seen them play that live in that era. The first time I saw them the show had plenty of Dirty South and Decoration Day mixed in, with a little bit of SRO, but it was 2006 and they were touring behind Blessing and a Curse, so the setlist was predominantly stuff that just-ok record. Isbell was still in the band, but I'm pretty sure they were all fed up with each other at that point. It wasn't a very inspired performance. The two times I've seen them since (last year and this year) were far superior shows.

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"St. Vincent" by St. Vincent

And her back catalog is that great too!

With I've now heard from "Sukirae" it appears to be the one other I'd put up there with St. Vincent, but there's been lots of other cool stuff too...faves being Beck and Jon Langford & Skull Orchard too!

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I did check out Stugill Simpsons album and found it pretty good.  He is trying really hard to sound like Wayon Jennings, but I suppose that is a good thing.  The Old 97s has grown on me.

 

LouieB

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I did check out Stugill Simpsons album and found it pretty good.  He is trying really hard to sound like Wayon Jennings, but I suppose that is a good thing.  The Old 97s has grown on me.

 

LouieB

Just picked that up, myself. Digging it.

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These are the 4 I keep going back to over and over:

 

Real Estate – Atlas

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Wigout at Jagbags

Sun Kil moon – Benji

Survival Knife - Loose Power

 

New Parquet courts is really growing on me now too.

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not that strong as last year, that's for sure. some that are hitting the spot:

 

Hospitality - Trouble

Mogwai - Rave Tapes

Real Estate - Atlas

Agalloch - The Serpent and the Sphere

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell - Check 'em Before You Wreck 'em

Sleaford Mods - Divide and Exit

Warpaint - S/T

and at least one of the GBV records...still have to put more time into them.

 

i'm sure there are more I'm missing (and OM is due for a new one later in the Fall). 

 

 

edit - spurred by WRP's post, i forgot the excellent English Oceans as the Angel Olsen record. that's pretty good.

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My faves so far:

 

Hurray for the Riff Raff  Small Town Heroes

Sharon Van Etten Are We There

Doug Paisley Strong Feelings

Drive-By Truckers English Oceans

First Aid Kit Stay Gold

Hiss Golden Messenger Bad Debt (Reissue)

The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream

Sun Kil Moon Benji

Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

Lee Fields and the Expressions Emma Jean

 

 

Really excited for:

Hiss Golden Messenger Lateness of Dancers

J Mascis Tied to a Star

Tweedy sukierae

Reigning Sound Shattered

 

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