As promised a double update:
08. Kaki King - Dreaming Of Revenge [2008]Anyone who has read any of my music related posts probably has seen me mention Kaki King. She is one of my favorite artists and her body of work just keeps getting stronger and stronger. This album is the peak of hers from the full band era. There is such a diversity of songs here ranging from great little alt. rock tunes to some of the most intricate and beautiful compositions around. All the music is layered and lush leaving behind the acoustic tracks of the first couple records. She also starts doing a bit more vocal work on this album.
Favorite Tracks: “Life Being What It Is”, “Sad American”, “Can Anyone Who Has Heard This Music Really Be A Bad Person?”, “2 O’Clock”, “Zeitgeist” (Bonus Track), “I Need A Girl Who Knows A Map”(Bonus Track with some crazy guitar work)
07. Incubus - Morning View [2001]I’ve owned this cd since its release in 2001 when Incubus was just a band that I heard of through word of mouth. This is a magnificent album with not a single weak track on it. To me in blends the elements of earlier work with what now has become the softer Incubus. This album contains an hour of non-stop great guitar riffs coupled with unique and catchy lyrics. Mike again truly shines on this album and really solidifies my belief that he is one the most underrated guitar players out there. It’s been 10 years since the release of this cd (fuck I’m getting old) and I still listen to this cd as often as I did back then because it never gets old.
Favorite Tracks: Every song is excellent.
06. Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream [1999]I discovered PT around 2006 with
In Absentia being my first listen to the band. I loved it, it was different, different like the first time I listened to DT only instead of being blown away with technical prowess, I was blown away by the great song writing. Despite playing IA over and over I never really explored the back catalog of music until a few years ago.
Stupid Dream was one of the last albums I heard but I deeply regret putting it off for so long. Just like Incubus from the above post, Stupid Dream seems to connect early PT and later PT wonderfully combining the strengths of each era. The songs, to put simply, are touching. They contain some of SW’s best lyrical content as well as some of the most interesting mixing I’ve heard.
Favorite Tracks: “Even Less”, “Slave Called Shiver”, “This Is No Rehearsal”, “Stranger by The Minute”, “Stop Swimming”
05. Fair To Midland - Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True [2007]I mentioned a few times throughout my Top 50 about some bands that took me away from one genre and exposed me to another genre, well Fables brought me back to the hard rock/metal genre. Upon hearing this album for the first time I was just taken back, it was just so unique with such a unique voice behind the band. Seriously, Darroh is an animal and is one of the main reasons I enjoy FTM as much as I do. The lyrics are drenched in metaphors, the chorus’ stick with you for days, and every song is as strong as the last.
Favorite Tracks: All of them.