11.14.2006
2006: Plugged in or tuned out?
Voting for this year's Plug Independent Music Awards is open, and at first glance, it seems to indicate that things were a bit off this year. Perhaps you can chalk it up to the fact that 2005 music has had an extra year to burrow its way into my consciousness, but the nominees for last year's awards seem to be a stronger bunch than those for this year.Take a look at the Album of the Year nominees for 2006 (for albums issued in 2005):
Animal Collective - Feels (FatCat)
Antony And The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now (Secretly Canadian)
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (Vice)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Self-released)
Dangerdoom - The Mouse And The Mask (Adult Swim/Epitaph)
Devendra Banahrt - Cripple Crow (XL)
The National - Alligator (Beggars)
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (Matador)
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (Sub Pop)
Spoon - Gimme Fiction (Merge)
Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
And the nominees for 2007:
Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time (Sub Pop)
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar (Ba Da Bing)
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (Matador)
Cat Power - The Greatest (Matador)
Girl Talk - Night Ripper (Illegal Art)
Grizzly Bear - Yellow House (Warp)
J Dilla - Donuts (Stones Throw)
Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City)
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (Anti-)
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Dangerbird)
The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America (Vagrant)
The Knife - Silent Shout (Mute)
Maybe it's a matter of personal taste, but beyond Band of Horses, Belle & Sebastian and Grizzly Bear, I'm not pulling these out for a listen much any more. Some, like Newsom, I just don't get, and others, like the Silversun Pickups, seem hopelessly bland at best. Contrast that with last year, where those last six nominees alone still garner significant spins around chez TIRBD.
Then again, perhaps it's more a matter of nominations than overall quality. Yo La Tengo, Midlake, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Califone, etc., all were nominated in other categories. Add them to the Album of the Year list, drop a few over-hyped entries, and you'd have the makings for a pretty good year.
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i hear you. Grizzly Bear get's my vote
but I think Band of Horses and beirut were also strong.
and the Knife
+Tis true though I can't say I'm all that excited about the national, clap your hands or bloc party over say the hold steady or joanna newsom. all just goes into the category of "music I don't like"
but I think Band of Horses and beirut were also strong.
and the Knife
+Tis true though I can't say I'm all that excited about the national, clap your hands or bloc party over say the hold steady or joanna newsom. all just goes into the category of "music I don't like"
PERMALINK posted by 
: 2:38 PM
: 2:38 PM
I love Joanna Newsom, she's the best thing to happen to my musical universe this decade.
Unfortunately, the list is more populated by buzz than talent. I was even pretty disappointed by the new Hold Steady after their incredible first two efforts (as well as the Lifter Puller back catalog). I do agree about Grizzly Bear, what a great album.
Unfortunately, the list is more populated by buzz than talent. I was even pretty disappointed by the new Hold Steady after their incredible first two efforts (as well as the Lifter Puller back catalog). I do agree about Grizzly Bear, what a great album.
I've heard so much positive buzz about Newsom that I picked up her new disc. I'm content to admit that there are artists that others like that I don't, and those that I love that others shun. But I'm willing to give her another chance to see what I'm missing.
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