In Pursuit Of

Three Hundred Nineteen

Artist - Belle and Sebastian
Album - The Life Pursuit
Released - 2005
Label - Rough Trade/Matador
Genre - Indie Pop

Tracks:
Act of the Apostle
Another Sunny Day
White Collar Boy
The Blues are Still Blue
Dress Up In You
Sukie in the Graveyard
We Are the Sleepyheads
Song for Sunshine
Funny Little Frog
To Be Myself Completely
Act of the Apostle II
For the Price of a Cup of Tea
Mornington Cresent

I love Stuart Murdoch and his style of music.  Not only is Belle and Sebastian one of my favorites, but his other acts such as God Help The Girl (which was previously listed on this blog) is also my favorite.  This album is great and very relaxing.  Funny Little Frog is my favorite song on this album!

Enjoy!

EP'n

Two Hundred Seventy-Eight

Artist - Caspian
Album - You Are The Conductor
Released - 2005
Label - Dopamine Records
Genre - Post-Rock

Tracks:
Side A
Quovis
Further Up
Further In
Side B
Loft
For Protection

I love records that come in different colors.  Not only that, EPs are, to me, a shorter, more intense abridged version of what is to come and this EP by Caspian is magnificent.  My roommate loves Caspian and I believe this is the first time I've heard them.  Let me mention that my boyfriend likes them as well.  I would have to listen to more of their stuff to make a determination of how this album proceeds the rest, but for now, I like this.

Enjoy!

One, Two

Two Hundred Thirty-Two

Artist - Dirty Three
Album - Cinder
Released - 2005
Label - Touch and Go Records
Genre - Instrumental/Folk Rock

Tracks:
This Side
Ever Since
She Passed Through
Amy
Sad Sexy
Cinders
That Side
This Might
Flutter
The Zither Player
It Happened
Other Side
Great Waves (feat. Chan Marshall)
Dream Evie
Feral
Doris
Rain On
Last Side
Ember
Michele
Too Soon, Too Late
Last Dance
In Fall

Dirty Three is a band from Australia who have definitely slipped under my radar.  Thank you to my lovely boyfriend for introducing me to this band and much to my surprise, after listening to this record, I discovered Chan Marshall sang on one of the tracks.  After I heard that, I had to look up who this band was and how I have managed to go so long without acknowledging their existence.  I immediately Google'd the name and when reading about the members in the band, I was instantly surprised.  WARREN ELLIS!!!  Though it's not Warren Ellis the Writer, because after seeing that I went to his Twitter which stated Not Australian Musician.  I instantly laughed at that.  Anyway, this album is Dirty Three's ninth studio album and by doing a little research, it was recorded in 10 days.  

Enjoy!

With Much Delight

Two Hundred Twenty-Five

Artist - Sound Team
Album - Marathon
Released - 2005
Label - St. Ives Records
Genre - Indie Rock

Tracks:
A
The Fastest Man Alive
Your Eyes Are Mirrors
Orange Bird
In The Dark No One Can Hear You Sweat
B
Back in Town
Shattered Glass
Afterglow Years
Don't Turn Away

A rarity to find, I thank my friend Brian for sharing this pick.  Sound Team is a local Austin band that I've stumbled upon (through the recommendation through friends) a little too late.  Even though they broke up 5 years ago, it seems to me that that has not been the case.  Maybe because I play their music a lot and still enjoy it, maybe because Matt Oliver and Jordan Johns have now formed another group called TV Torso, who knows?  But what I know is is that this album is amazing.  The Fastest Man Alive, Back In Town and Shattered Glass are probably my favorites on this track.  The possibilities could have been endless for this band, but I think with record label woes and conflicts of interest/personalities, the end was inevitable.  If you ever come across any Sound Team tunes, they are definitely worth a listen.  Let me not forget to mention they are A-OK guys, though I can only speak for one.

Enjoy!

Animal Instinct

Two Hundred Four

Artist - Okkervil River
Album - Black Sheep Boy
Released - 2005
Label - Jagjaguwar
Genre - Indie/Folk Rock

Tracks:
Black Sheep Boy
For Real
In A Radio Song
Black
Get Big
A King and a Queen
A Stone
The Latest Toughs
Song of Our So-Called Friend
So Come Back, I Am Waiting
A Glow

The third album by Okkervil River, Black Sheep Boy is an emotional and sensitive record, at least that's what I gathered. Hailing from Austin, Texas (w00t w00t), the cover art is quite interesting and the songs are just as good.  One could say that this is their best album to date and I would agree.  When I was listening to this album, I felt that to fully feel an album, sound and lyric wise, you have to relax and take in what the ears are receiving.  Often times one might thing they are listening to a record when, in reality, they are just hearing it and not listening.  To put effort into a good listen, you have to appreciate all the album has to offer.  So this record, being as in depth and intense as it is amazes me with the quality of how amazing it is.  It's beautiful!

Enjoy!

A Little Bit of an Obsession

One Hundred Eighty

Artist - My Morning Jacket
Album - Z
Released - 2005
Label - ATO
Genre - Psychedelic/Progressive/Indie Rock

Tracks:
Wordless Chorus
It Beats 4 U
Gideon
What a Wonderful Man
Off the Record
Into the Woods
Anytime
Lay Low
Knot Comes Loose
Dondante

Z is My Morning Jacket's fourth studio album and when doing a bit of research on their background, it lists them as psychedelic rock.  I don't think I, myself, would classify them as psychedelic, but I could understand where that genre label comes from.  More of a spacier sound using synthesizers and incorporating reggae/dub, I feel this album has a lot more depth, especially when listening to each track and seeing how different they sound.  It Beats 4U and Gideon are two of my favorite tracks on this record because the vocals just captivates throughout.  As of late, I've been on a MMJ kick and this album has been on heavy rotation. Off the Record is another great track even though I feel it has a Thievery Corporation sound to it.  Regardless of the fact, when I re-listen to this album as I write this, I love all these songs.  It's almost as if each song puts you in a different mood.  One to be happy to, one to dance to, one to be nostalgic to and one that makes you think of a special person in your life.  Yes, that is exactly why I've kept this album on heavy rotation!!

Enjoy!

A Team of Sound

One Hundred Sixty-One

Artist - Sound Team
Album - Work EP
Released - 2005
Label - Capitol Records
Genre - Indie Rock

Tracks:
The Fastest Man Alive
It's Obvious What's Happening Here
Orange Bird
In The Dark No One Can Hear You Sweat
Don't Turn Away

I wish I lived in Austin, Texas when this band was still together.  Now I have the remnants of what used to be, which is now TV Torso.  We are here to talk about Sound Team, which a six man band who had a lifespan of 7 years, but their sound definitely lives on.  A band with an amazing drummer (yes, I am a lover of Jordan Johns), Work EP has one of my favorite songs on it, The Fastest Man Alive.   After the release of Work EP, they released a few more albums and even two on cassettes.  I absolutely love that about bands.  On another note, as I was listening to this, I was overly excited with The Fastest Man Alive and Don't Turn Away.  It's something about Matt Oliver's voice that and also his hair, though you can't really tell unless you see it in person.  He is a tall, slender man with the curliest hair.  Ahhh, I love that.  But yes, this record is great, one to definitely appreciate.

Enjoy!

10, 11

One Hundred Sixty

Artist - El Ten Eleven
Album - El Ten Eleven
Released - 2005
Label - Fake Record Label
Genre - Post Rock

Tracks:
My Own Swerving
Sorry About The Irony
Lorge
1969
Central Nervous Piston
Thinking Loudly
Fanshawe
Connie
Bye Mom

The self-titled debut album by El Ten Eleven, a post-rock band from Los Angeles. Something I was recommended from a friend that I was surprised even liked post-rock, but I'm glad she gave me the heads up.  This duo is known for combining guitar/bass double-neck.  You know what experiencing that is like live?  It's pretty entertaining, in my opinion, and if one with skills can play it well, even better.  

Enjoy!

You are a Runner

So here goes indie, my seventy-eighth pick

Artist - Wolf Parade
Album - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Released - 2005
Label - Sub Pop
Genre - Indie Rock


Tracks:
Side One
You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son
Modern World
Grounds for Divorce
We Built Another World
Fancy Claps
Same Ghost Every Night
Shine A Light
Side Two
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
I'll Believe in Anything
It's a Curse
Dinner Bells
This Hearts on Fire

The first full length album by Wolfe Parade, this is a favorite of mine.  One band I never had the pleasure of seeing live, I can only live through it listening to this record.  Besides every song being great, my favorite on this album is I'll Believe in Anything.  The way it sounds, it almost sounds like an anthem.  I don't know why I say that, but I guess when I hear it, I always think of a bunch of people in a group roaming down the street singing it from the top of their lungs, each word of that song as loud as they can.  Because nobody knows you and nobody gives a damn anyway.  With that said, give it a listen.

Enjoy!