Favorite Non-Heavy Records of 2015

Yesterday was the heavy records, meaning metal, stoner rock, doom,  psychedelic, etc etc. Today I am going to do the comparatively mellower stuff. So this will be power pop, indie rock, alt country and that sort of thing.

The way I cull these down to ten is by thinking "If I could only listen to ten from 2015, which would they be?" So with that as the basis I narrow it down. I'd rather have this than that, even though I really like that.

Again, no order to these. Scratch that. My #1 of the album actually isn't on the list, because it is my band Braddock Station Garrison's album: A Hint of Recognition. Shameless self promotion. In fact, unlike the other list, these are bands that I would love to open for. In fact, we have played with one of them before!

The Dark Beautiful Sun by William Duke: Jangle-pop goodness. Has a real Byrds' flavor, if they stuck to playing their poppy stuff. Opening track "The Golden Ring" has a tempo change in the middle that I swear I am going to steal.

1989 by Ryan Adams: Sure, it is his Taylor Swift cover album, but that doesn't stop it from being amazingly good. I have a lot of respect for Taylor Swift. This album shows that she is a good song-writer; a cover can be well done and interesting, but the song needs to be strong or the whole thing falls apart. Ryan just puts his stamp on each of the songs, and it works. When Taylor decides to record a stripped down record, Ryan Adams should be behind the board.

Laugh In The Dark by Tommy Keene: I took my guitar player Tom to see him at Iota and he was impressed. The song-writing is just a clinic. Every track, both old and new, was fantastic. Tommy's new record is more of the same. Just great power pop songs, perfectly written and executed. I tried desperately to get on the bill when he played Iota, but to no avail.

Parking Lot Regrets by The Silverites: Disclaimer, these guys are friends. But that doesn't stop them from making the list. Again, great melodic, smart power pop songs.  Out of all the bands we play with, they are the ones I hate to follow, because it is damn hard to be as good as they were. That said, I will play with them any time, any where.

Lessons From A Shooting Star by Rene Bo: I heard this guy on a Swedish power-pop podcast that my band was honored to be included on. The thing about power-pop is that when it's done well, it really affects me musically. It makes me want to pick up a guitar and play, and write, and borrow. HA! And hearing this makes me want to write songs.

Monterey Canyon by John McAteer and Gentleman Firesnakes: Disclaimer 2, John is a friend from high school. And if his band ever got out of Little Rock and played DC I would beg to play with them. This record has a bunch more keyboards on it; has a positive 80s vibe to it.  John has a very strong vocal style that works very well with the songs. And the songs, they are great!

Earthquakes & Tidal Waves by Dot Dash: Another local band that I think are just great. These guys have an edge to them more than the others, power-pop mixed with punk in a good way, not in a cheesy Green Day way. They were the other band on the bill with Tommy Keene I was desperate to get on to, to no avail.

Kintsugi by Death Cab For Cutie: Knowing that Ben Gibbard broke up with Zooey Deschanel, you can hear where that seeps into the songs.  When it was about to come out, I read interviews where he said this would be a different DCFC album and fans might not dig it. That is true, but if you don't like it, then you really aren't interested in seeing the band evolve. It's not a drastic evolution; it feels natural for them.

California Nights by Best Coast: This record I was most torn about putting on my list, because it is very simple lyrically.  One of the things I like about the other records is that they are all smart. Clever. That isn't happening here, and that is not meant to be a swipe at them. It is what it is. But the music and the melodies and the performances are fantastic. I keep coming back to this record because it's great to listen too.

The Traveler by Rhett Miller: This record was the last to make the list and had to fight it's way out of a very good crop. But Rhett always does great stuff. Another of his power-pop records he gets to make when not with the Old 97s. It's more of that and it's just plain good.

Favorite Albums of 2012 - Number 1

I find that I contemplate my mortality more as I get older. I understand that is not a unique proposition but it is there. Most times I think on it and understand there is nothing I can do about it, that it is inevitable, that we all must face it, that we do the best we can to be ready. I do not believe one can face it without regrets; regrets are a part of life and being human. What we can do is remember those regrets but not let them hold us back.

Sometimes though, usually when I am awake at night, I have an overwhelming fear of this unknown. So much that I pace the floor and do all I can to stop from crying out. It is an immense void. As someone who was brought up Catholic, went to parochial schools, and spent 4 years at a Jesuit prep school, I find myself now with a shattered faith. The concept of an all powerful and all seeing god simply does not resonate to me anymore. I do not believe in any afterlife. I believe that the life we have is the one life we have, that there is not a heaven or hell waiting for us. We are here not for a higher purpose but simply because we are here. And that we must do everything we can to cherish all the moments and all the people we come in contact with, because even though there have been so many of us, are so many, and will be so many more, we are still the only one of us, and are special beyond words in that regard.

Anathema - Weather Systems

Anathema are a progressive rock band from England. Their latest record is Weather Systems. And I bring up the concept of mortality because in this record Anathema confront it through some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. The interplay of acoustic and electric guitars with piano and string and the vocals of the Cavanagh brothers and Lee Helen Douglas, when coupled to the themes of facing life and death both and ultimately of accepting it and the gift life is, it makes for some heavy listening. Anathema do not approach it heavy handed or with fakeness; the record to me at least is a wonderful reminder of the power of music, the beauty of music, and how music can touch you to the core. Songs like "Lightning Song" bring tears to my eyes, even after the 20th listening.

I do not know what happens when we die. Anathema do not know either. But what I do hope for is that whatever happens, mother nature will take care of us, accept us back where we came from, and I hope makes us part of whatever grand plan she has. Maybe that is God; maybe that is enough to believe in.

The only way to appreciate this record is front-to-back, but here is the aforementioned "Lightning Song" in case you want to take a listen. I recommend it as a voyage well worth taking.

To all my loved ones and friends and to everybody out there, I wish you the Merriest of Christmas. To you and yours, nothing but the best.