#9 Gire & Gimble by The Narwhal Crisis

Coming in at number nine is an excellent album from some local talent from Kaysville, UT. I might have a bias regarding this band since I know all the members personally, but I believe they have a some awesome music. I'm also certain that 90% of the readers of this blog (if any exist out there) will not have heard of The Narwhal Crisis. Unfortunately, the band has broken up. However, it has been for a good cause. Three out of the four band members have left recently to go fulfill their 2-year LDS missions (and I'm sure the 4th will leave sometime soon). I know the band because they are some of my younger brother's best friends.

The reason I like this indie-rock band and album so much is for its unique sound. The band consists of your regular lead guitarist, keyboardist, and drummer, but they also have a cellist. That definitely brings some flavor into a rock band. Now, it took me a little while to actual get hooked on this album. I listened to it once and liked really only two tracks. Then after sticking with it and listening to it repeatedly, it has become one of my favorites. These kids seriously have some great talent. It's too bad that they'll probably never make any more music together as a band.

Some things I really enjoy about this album is the sound (like I mentioned before), the rhythm, the variety of songs, and the lyrics aren't too shabby as well. Since it’s a pretty short album I feel like I can talk about each of the tracks individually.

1. Recapitulation: This is a great opener. It gets the blood pumping. From what I gather it’s just a great song about an individual that realizes his life is turning into something undesirable as he has made some poor decisions in his life. He then decides to make a course correction and to live to his full potential. A great message and a great song.

2. Diaphorous Interior Mystery - This is a weird title that I don’t understand, but it has to be my favorite song on the album. It’s a sweet song about sleeping and dreaming – put into poetic verse. It has some rocking guitar as well with some beautiful cello work. My favorite lines: “Always hoping that I’ll go to places I wouldn’t dream of going if I were not asleep…but luckily, I’m asleep”

3. Channel Four - I believe this is the first song the NC wrote…at least it was the first song I heard from them. What album wouldn’t be complete without a love song? Well this is the Narhwal’s. It’s a sweet song about how that certain someone always makes it seem that the weather is beautiful – even if it’s raining, freezing cold, or just plain miserable.

4. Je M'ai Abimé – Then after the love song comes a bitter break-up song. Ha ha. This title is in French and means something along the lines of “I hurt myself”. This was written by one of the band members reflecting some of his feelings while breaking up with a certain young woman. My favorite line: “Your rejection infects me like a pestilence”. I especially like the funky interlude with the guitar, drums, and keyboard.

5. Opaque Alumni - This song is just awesome. The guitar and cello melodies are sweet and it just makes me want to rock out. The message, though, is a dark one. It’s a story (hopefully, not a true one) about a boy who is often abused by his father. One day he runs away into the woods and falls down into a well. In this well is a demon that basically takes the boy’s soul. Not very happy, huh? I’ll have to hand it to them – it is very original.

6. Red Turkish Rug: I think this song has some of my favorite music off the album. The instrumentation is pretty sweet. As for the meaning I’m not exactly sure. Part of it makes me think it’s about how sometimes thinking of all the “giants” (great leaders, inventors, etc.) that have gone before us and how it makes us depressed to think that we might not ever match what they have done.

7. Pulp – this is an awesome finale. There is some amazing guitar and cello solos in this track. It reminds of some Lynrd Skynyrd solos. The lyrics and message are amazing to boot as well. This song is about how we should avoid materialism/worldly things and how we need to focus on what is most important in life before we’ve wasted our life away. And that most important thing is family.

Well, there’s my two cents for another great album. Let me know if you want access to this album and I can probably hook you up.

#10 - Places by Canoe

With this album being their debut it looks like there are only good things ahead for Canoe. I believe they are possibly my favorite (and in my opinion the best) indie-folk musicians. I almost hesitate to call these guys "indie" because they're music is so refined. Sometimes in the indie genre it's difficult to find a well-accomplished singer. Matt Hoiland's voice definitely the best voice indie voice out there that I've heard (Next would be Rolf Klausener of The Acorn). He has a great range and his voice is very refined and calming. A great addition his voice is his wife’s voice (Sofia Hoiland). Just listen to “Sing”. It’s amazing.

The definitely have a unique and great sound. You'd have to be completely devoid of a soul if you didn't find their music enjoyable. There is so much emotion in this album. That's one of the things that excites me about indie music - these people are performing for the sake of music - not for fame or glory. The amazing and contemplative lyrics they include are just the perfect compliment for their sound.

Speaking of the band members, the readers of this blog will find it interesting that at least 3 of the 5 band members are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think the other two might also be members, but I'm not sure. In a few songs they drop a few LDS terms such as "second estate" and "temple". It's kind of cool.

Now some comments about the album itself. If you want an absolutely chill album you can just listen to and relax, this is it. Also, if you want a very diversified album, you found it. Some of the songs are just short one-minute snippets while some are longer drawn-out ballads. You have some nice quiet music and then you have some songs that have some nice “rocking” moments. Also thrown in a couple songs is a little country-twang (I’m really not a fan of country, but the way Canoe pulled their twang off is forgivable).

The topics they touch upon are also diversified. Of course you have your expected love songs thrown into the mix (The Vineyards, Portrait). But you also have a song about the European immigration to America during the 1700/1800's, a absolutely beautiful road-trip song (The Redwoods – this makes me just want to lay down wherever I’m at and go to sleep), and not to mention a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's (the pioneers of indie music) Holland, 1945. This is an amazing cover song (supposedly about Anne Frank), and as of today, my most played track in iTunes. This is the song that sold me on the album. I admit I'm not a huge fan of NMH (they're alright), but I have to say this cover song is many times better than the original.

All in all, this is a nice little album that's definitely worth a listen or two and I feel anyone would find it enjoyable. In fact, after two listens you'll probably be hooked. My little sister is absolutely crazy about this album. She stuck it in the family vehicle CD player and now even my mom has become a fan.

Go check it out.

The Beginning of the End

So...I've decided to create a blog. I really don't have an exciting life but hopefully someday I will and the pages of this blog will literally blow your mind. In the meantime I've just decided to write about one of my passions: music. And more specifically, the best kind of music: Indie music. I figure I'd just use this space to write reviews/analysis of my favorite bands and albums. It won't probably ever be read, but I couldn't care less. The only people that I discuss this type of stuff with (that are actually interested in it) are all on missions right now in various parts of the world. Well, except one...but she hasn't listened to ALL of the good stuff because of her busy life. Anyway, the point is that I don't think anyone wants to listen to me talk about this amazing music (I at least know my roommates don't) so I'll do the next best thing after talking to myself (because that's a sign of insanity): writing to myself.

I've always been a fan of music...rock 'n roll mostly. It probably comes from my upbringing. I grew up listening to my parents play some of the best music: Eagles, Styx, Billy Joel, Steve Miller Band, Pink Floyd, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Three Dog Night, ...the list goes on. Once I started into Jr. High and High School, I started getting into the mainstream music of the day: 3 Doors Down, Matchbox 20, Eve 6, and (shudder) Good Charlotte. While all those are fairly respectable bands (except maybe for G.C...I really don't know how/why I used to like that...Girls don't want boys, they want cars and money - I mean COME ON!), I didn't know what I was really missing out on until I returned from my mission in mid-2006. During this time, my younger brother, Skyler ,had found a new type of music, a better type of music - indie music (for the lay person - this is short for independent music ). In my opinion, this music is MUCH better than 90% of the "mainstream" music of the day (The other 10% would include Coldplay, Ben Folds, Guster, Death Cab, etc. - all of which are very talented groups).

Now, it took me a little while to get warmed up to this new type of music. At first I didn't care for it. Then once I got past the fact that it may have sounded a little weird, I actually started listening to it and I fell in love. What impresses me most is that these artists put so much emotion and creativity into their songs. You don't hear this stuff on the radio. In my opinion most of the music played on the radio today is mindless garbage. Okay...that may be a little biased and offensive, but it's what I think. Unadulterated refuse. Yuck. That's why I never listen to the radio... it makes me nauseous sometimes.

Some of this lesser-known music I've discovered is pure poetry. There is so much talent out there that people don't know about and so much that is being missed. I mostly listen to the indie rock/folk-rock genre. There is some indie pop that's pretty good as well.

Now, the purpose of this blog right now is to review of my top favorite indie albums to date. These are albums that I can listen to from beginning to end and virtually not get tired of the songs. I'll get to the other stuff after - that is if I keep myself entertained long enough with my writing.

I intend to write a quick review for each album and describe why I like it so much. In doing so I hope to more fully explain why Indie music is absolutely amazing and maybe get a few people that might find this to open their minds and try something new. And if somebody is already into this music, I hope to get some recommendations of music that you like.

Here's my top ten:

1. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
2. Menomena - Friend & Foe
3. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
4. Rocky Votolato - Suicide Medicine
5. The Decemberists - Picaresque
6. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
7. The Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain
8. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
9. The Narwhal Crisis - Gire & Gimble
10. Canoe - Places

As "installments" to this note, I will post a short review of each album as I get around to it.
I will start with #10 and move up. So...coming soon: "Places" by Canoe.

Disclaimer: Okay...I admit that some (very few, actually) of the songs I listen to have some unsavory words. Don't judge me, ok? But really, I recognize that some people might get a hold of some music I recommend and be startled by the language in a song or two. I've made it a priority in my life to edit all inappropriate words from the music I own immediately after hearing it. I use CoolEdit Pro - a nice little sound file editor. Now, these songs and words are very few and far between. I hardly ever have to edit a song. So, if you want a song edited that you like, let me know and I'll help.