I’m a man of peculiar taste when it comes to music. Much like my film watching, I’m less concerned about the genre, or anything external and more concerned with whether something is actually good. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 listens to an album before it clicks. (And I do listen to entire albums. Despite being part the digitally connected generation that can pick music ala carte through every channel imaginable, I believe there is a place in the marketplace for deliberate and meaningful albums. Nine Inch Nails “Year Zero” comes to mind.)
Not surprisingly, I’ve been wearing my quirky hat as of late and I’ve been listening to things across the spectrum. Here’s my list of music which I will playing through the holidays as I travel.
5. Thomas Dolby – The Flat Earth
Thomas Dolby hit it really big in 1982 with The Golden Age of Wireless and the chart topping single “She Blinded Me With Science.” Dolby’s folllow-up The Flat Earth failed to glow white-hot like Wireless, but it was a strong second outing and contains some of my favorite Dolby tracks. Favorite tracks: “I Scare Myself” is a great down-tempo calypso-like track with muted trumpets and loose fluid piano noodling. The title track, “The Flat Earth” is a great chill track with prominent backing vocals, perfect for long stretches of road at night. By far my favorite track is “Hyperactive!” partly because of its great music video, and partly because of the playful energy of the song – you can get really caught up in it.
4. Daft Punk – Alive
I said 5 months ago that “electronic and synth music has always held a dear spot in my heart, I love the complexity of sound, which is often complemented by less complex lyrics.” Alive is a live album that plays out more like a DJ Tiesto set, than traditional album. In fact, each track features anywhere from 2 to 4 different Daft Punk songs as bleed, cut, scratch and meld into one another. Add a healthy dose of enthusiastic audience members who cheer, chant and clap and you have an engaging, epic live album.
3. Emmerson, Lake & Palmer – Brain Salad Surgery
Most people pick up Brain Salad Surgery because of its cover. Rendered by H.R. Giger, the imagery packs a punch as an easily memorable cover. I, however, did it backwards. I listened to the album without ever seeing its fantastical cover. (Not only that, but I was really late to the Emmerson, Lake & Palmer game. When the album came out in 1973 and I wasn’t even born yet.) What actually inspired me to track down and listen to ELP was my interest in prolific Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu. He names ELP (along with other Western acts) as chiefly responsible for his influence. The centerpiece Brain Salad Surgery is a 3 act opus “Karn Evil 9″ which runs over a half an hour. Sit in a room with headphones on and loose yourself.
2. Various – A Colbert Christmas
The Comedy Central special “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All” has really been a gem of holiday comedy this year. The television special plays out like an early episode of “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” with special guests dropping by to move the story along. You can listen to an engaging Fresh Air interview about the special over at NPR. Every track on the album is toe-tapping, sing-along fun, (save for the Toby Keith track which is excruciatingly painful to listen to.) Despite being a comedy album, the music is actually well produced, making it perfect to sneak into the playlist at Mom and Dad’s.
1. Sam Sparro – Self Titled
Watch out folks, Sam Sparro is going to be big. Still a relative unknown in the U.S., he’s already taken Europe like a wild fire. Last January I was listening to BBC Radio 1’s “Annie Mac’s Mash up” when the I caught the hook for the absolutely infective “Black and Gold.” The eponymous first album from Australian born Sparro is a home-run. Infectious, Phat hooks complement a frolicking and fun attitude that glows through the entire album. The awesomely retro second single “21st Century Life” goes down easy, while the sythn-tastic “Sally” makes me long for 1989. A great album to groove to while hanging out with some friends back home.
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