| 5.0 classic |
| Battles Mirrored |
| Best described as Dream Theater at summer camp, The Battles release 'Mirrored' will go down as one of the innovative greats. This CD is and never will be accessible. It is a difficult listen and will leave one a little grated. However, this is exactly what ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynch guitarist Dave Knopka, and Tyondai Braxton intended. The albums starts off with an eclectic and polyrhythmic Race:In and rushes the listener through a sea of discordance and technicality. One of the innovative techniques used by vocalist Tyondai Braxton is that of vocal sampling. Most noticeably in the song Atlas. The vocals come off somewhat similarly to a dwarf from Snow White. The guitar playing is unique and boxy. Both guitarists regular use hammer-ons with their left hand and simultaneously play the same melody on a keyboard with their right hand. The album is innovative beyond its years and will take a little time for the listener to become oriented with its multiple complexities. Like many classics that take awhile to fully digest, Mirrored will eventually go down as an album that shapes the music of the future. |
| Blindside Silence |
| Silence is the definitive album in the Blindside catalogue. The first big budget album saw an increased attention to Christian Lindskog's vocal range and style. Songs like 'Caught a Glimpse' and 'The Endings' showcase Christian at his best with multiple points where a beautiful melody falls in and out of blood-curling screams. Lyrically, Blindside did an excellent job of sticking with vibrant and somewhat dark imagery without being too cheesy. A must listen for any fan of hard rock. |
| City and Colour Bring Me Your Love |
| Clint Mansell and Kronos Quartet Requiem for a Dream |
| Gorgeous record. Lux Aeterna is seemingly played on every suspenseful trailer for good reason considering it's haunting melody. The use of electronics gives the vibe of something being a little off. This soundtrack is a perfect audio representation of what it was like to watch the movie. |
| Damien Rice O |
| This album will go down as one of my favorites of all time. The production is unbelievable. I love all the subtleties when listening to each track such as the voices talking in the back ground of Cheers Darlin', the reverb on the piano in Cold Water, and the sheer silence at the beginning Delicate. Damien's voice cracks with the emotion he wears on his sleeves. Most people who are passive listeners to Damien Rice only know him as the man who writes catchy and cute love songs. However, the best parts of O are the parts that are gritty and dark such as the end of I Remember It Well. A gorgeous record that is truly a classic. |
| Dave Matthews Band Crash |
| This album is truly a classic. Every song is catchy, upbeat, and radio friendly. Carter Beauford rips it up on the drums playing some of the most unique patterns and fills I have ever heard. Who cares if it is 'adult alternative,' Crash is the Dave Matthews Band's most consistent effort from track one to twelve. |
| Dave Matthews Band Live at Luther College |
| An excellent album to introduce one to the music of Dave Matthews. For reasons varying from thinking the music too busy to not liking the sax and violin, I have heard many tell me they do not like Dave. Live at Luther College is just the voice of Dave Matthews with two acoustic guitars. The music is mesmerizing, the chord structures and acoustic soloing are second to none. This album converted me into the ranks of the Dave Matthews army despite how much I can't stand his fans. A must listen if you like excellent guitar work and folksy song structures. |
| Five Iron Frenzy Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo |
| This album is fantastic in so far as it blends beautiful melodic vocal passages over a polyphonic instrumentation. Reece Ropers vocals have a majestic air to them in songs like 'Far, Far Away,' 'Farsighted,' and 'Eulogy.' The drumming is straight-forward but nevertheless a rock solid backbone. The guitar playing is decently simple but exceedingly intricate while the horn sections produce welcomed accents. Despite songs like 'Pre-Ex-Girlfriend,' 'Plan B,' and 'You Can't Handle This,' the album is lyrically much darker than previous Five Iron releases. Arguably this album is the paradigmatic Five Iron Frenzy release. |
| Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes |
| Imogen Heap Speak For Yourself |
| Iron And Wine Our Endless Numbered Days |
| Jars Of Clay Jars Of Clay |
| Jeff Buckley Grace |
| Jeremy Enigk World Waits |
| In a world where most music receives critical acclaim only if the guitarist can write riffs that are mind-bending and extremely technical, Jeremy Enigk shows off his chops as a songwriter. While almost anyone can write a catchy riff, the art of writing a beautiful and complete song is arguably ten times more difficult. Every phrase, note, and rhythm must be taken under intense scrutiny in order to produce something truly masterful. World Waits gives off this exact fragrant aroma. The piano, acoustic guitar, drums, and vocals in this album are interwoven into something that can truly be classified as more than just a song, it is an idea, a way of life, a portion of who Jeremy Enigk is, what he believes, and what he wishes to be. This album is truly classic. |
| Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV |
| mewithoutYou Brother, Sister |
| Mudvayne L.D. 50 |
| Muse Absolution |
| Nick Cave and Warren Ellis The Assasination of Jesse James |
| Nick Drake Pink Moon |
| Pedro the Lion It's Hard To Find A Friend |
| Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon |
| Radiohead The Bends |
| Radiohead OK Computer |
| Radiohead In Rainbows |
| Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine |
| Ray LaMontagne Trouble |
| Sigur Ros Takk... |
| Sigur Ros Heima (DVD) |
| Silverchair Young Modern |
| Sufjan Stevens Illinois |
| The Dillinger Escape Plan Miss Machine |
| I didn't like this album when I first heard it. Despite that fact, I knew the content of the album was extremely thick and innovative so I kept listening. Upon those further listens, I have concluded that Miss Machines is the best album ever in the metal genre. Each rhythm and note is calculated and precise. The band plays together with an amount of tightness I have never heard before, the guitar riffs are atonal and I am wildly impressed with some of the quick minor 2nd harmonies that sound like a power drill running against your head. I love this album. |
| The Fire Theft The Fire Theft |
| The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots |
| The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium |
| The Swell Season The Swell Season |
| Simply stunning in its simplicity, the Swell Season is an album that is pure butter to one's ears. The harmony is soft and ethereal and it gently glides over sparse instrumentation. The string arrangements are marvelous and a beautiful counterpoint to Glen Hansard's singer-songwriting prowess. These compositions are beautiful and Hansard is well-deserving of the Oscar he won. |
| The Swell Season Once: Music From The Motion Picture |
| Thrice The Illusion of Safety |
| Thrice Vheissu |
| Tom Waits Rain Dogs |
| Tool Lateralus |
| Weezer Weezer |
