Featured Artist: The Thermals

 The Thermals

The Thermals formed in 2002 in Portland, Oregon by Hutch Harris on guitar and vocals, Kathy Foster on bass and Westin Glass on drums. They have added and subtracted members here and there and at the moment Harris and Foster recorded the latest album Now We Can See without a full-time drummer. In 2003 they released their outstanding debut album More Parts Per Million that displayed their raw post-punk sound. With fast uptempo bass lines, shattering guitar rifts, and simplistic drum lines they create an exciting and rhythmic tune. In 2004 the released their sophomore album Fuckin' A which was followed up in 2006 with their  breakthrough album The Body, The Blood, The Machine which blew some critics away. That includes me. It just straight rocked the shit. I was lucky enough to see these guys after The Body, The Blood, The Machine came out, and they were intense and loud and all kinds of badass. And Harris, the lead singer, was sick and he still screamed his high-powered, overloaded voice over the amps. I look forward to the new album and hopefully another live show.

Songs to check out:

-Returning to the Fold

-Here's Your Future

-At The Bottom of the Sea

-I Let It Go

Top 25 Albums Since 2000

These are the top 25 albums since 2000 so far.

25. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco (2002)

24. Return to Cookie Mountain by TV on the Radio (2006)

23. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips (2002)

22. Z by My Morning Jacket (2005)

21. In Rainbows by Radiohead (2007)

20. Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut (2005)

19. Everything All the Time by Band of Horses (2006)

18. Bitte Orca by The Dirty Projectors (2009)

17. Boxer by The National (2007)

16. Hail to the Thief by Radiohead (2003)

15. Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008)

14. Stankonia by OutKast (2000)

13. Boys and Girls In America by The Hold Steady (2006)

12. Embryonic by The Flaming Lips (2009)

11. The Blueprint by Jay-Z (2004)

10. Silent Shout by The Knife (2005)

9. Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros (2000)

8. Dear Science by TV on the Radio (2008)

7. Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear (2009)

6. Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem (2007)

5. Kid A by Radiohead (2000)

4. Turn On The Bright Lights by Interpol (2002)

3. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens (2005)

2. The Moon & Antarctica by Modest Mouse (2000)

1. Funeral by Arcade Fire (2004)

Featured Artist: Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts is a new, innovative indie rock band from Kendal, England. The band consists of Ben Little on lead guitar, Tom Fleming on bass and vocals, Chris Talbot on drums and vocals, and Hayden Thorpe on guitar and lead vocals. Thorpe is simply the freshest most mind-altering singer I've heard since Thom Yorke on Pablo Honey. He basically changes his singing style, range, tone, and harmony countless times throughout their debut album. By the way their debut album which came out in 2008 and made it to #5 on my Albums of the Year list, is stacked with songs that are new even to my ears. They are operatic, original, and outstandingly well structured. The debut album is called Limbo, Panto and contains such great songs as Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants, Cheerio Chaps Cheerio Goodbye, and my song of the year, The Devil's Crayon (badass song name of the year as well). In May 2007 NME magazine named them one of the top 10 bands "tipped for the top" and I most certainly agree. Wild Beasts is really the only band I've ever heard that makes the type of music they do, however it seems as if the music is set to a story of some sort which makes the album very enjoying. If you are looking for some original music then go no further then Wild Beasts.

Songs to check out:

-The Devil's Crayon

-Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants

-The Old Dog

-She Prrred While I Grrred

Best Films and Awards for 2008

10. Burn After Reading

9. Pineapple Express

8. The Wrestler

7. WALL-E

6. Doubt

5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

4. The Reader

3. The Dark Knight

2. MILK

1. Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director - Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor - Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

Best Actress - Kate Winslet for The Reader

Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress - Amy Adams for Doubt

Best Original Screenplay - Dustin Lance Black for MILK

Best Adapted Screenplay - Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire

Featured Artist: MGMT

MGMT

I plan on featuring some films and music that I like. I hope enjoy them too.

MGMT consists of the Brooklyn-based duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarde, who are both graduates of Wesleyan University where they originally formed a group called The Management. In 2005 this psychedelic pop duo put out the Time To Pretend EP and toured with Of Montreal, which is when they expanded the group to make the total to five members. They have such hits as Kids, Electric Feel, and the popular Time To Pretend, which was chosen for multiple shows, commercials and video game soundtracks. They worked with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann put out there first LP in 2007 to rave reviews making a few Best Album lists. The title is Oracular Spectacular which I like, however they have a weird album cover that through me for a loop. I really like these guys and I find their unique funkiness intriguing. I can't help but move to the rhythm of their electronic funk. MGMT have also played Coachella, Glastonbury, The Late Show with David Letterman, and are going to be at Bonnaroo this summer. I recommend them for anybody who likes Of Montreal, Justice, or even The Doors, or if they are just looking to have a good time listening to music.  

Songs to check out:

-Kids

-Time to Pretend

-Electric Feel

-The Youth