Time For Livin'

Time to Die - The Dodos

It took a few spins to see what was already before me, just set to a focus I didn’t know to see at first.

When I first let my eyes listen to Visiter I was drawn to the off kilter, almost catastrophic clambering of beats and sounds. The drawn came in the slightness of the sound; direct, hard hitting pop-rock thrown off by altered timing and tilted ambition. It was Califone meets Animal Collective stripped down to a bare bones duo and it is one of the best albums of 2008.
I struggled with Time to Die, but not for long.

The addition of a full-time third member of the band obviously changed the complexion in arrangements and angling of the soundscapes. Where the songs were wanting to wander off into the unknown and odd with previous material it is now syncing in and tightening up. It seem so many bands these days are finding ways to layer more, arrange more, fill voids, introduce depth and complexity (St. Vincent and Andrew Bird to Dirty Projectors and Grizzly Bear), here the Dodos do just the opposite. The easy way to introduce a new member would be to simply add more noise to your sound, needed or not. The opposite becomes the case.

What my eyes are hearing is a dynamic duo diggin deeper within themselves and their sound to deliver a bit of a post-punk new age pop rock on a grassroots, blues level. Minimalism through added experimentation, if you will.

Taking a note from the band, I’ll trim back the wordiness of this review to state what needs to be said.

The Dodos are fast positioning themselves as one of the more worthy bands in the next generation/direction of music. Theirs is a sound that will continue to grow and I look forward to keeping keen eye on their work.

Rating:

Time to Die, is right now apparently

Two months ahead of the scheduled Time to Die, we have are presented with the gift of early indulgence. That's right, the Dodos follow up to Visiter is available for stream via there website: http://timetodie.net/ . Haven't been able to get a great stream connection so things have been a little chopping in my listening efforts, but so far so awesome. The physical realease date is still set for Septemeber, but to avoid leaks etc. Dodos just want us to go ahead and hear it. Like Trent Reznor has put in so many words the last few days, bands do not make money off of album sales, so give them away if you are trying to make a name for yourself, grow a fanbase and then go on relentless touring. Fo now we get the tunes, hopefully next will be an exhaustive tour (please come to Charlotte!).

THE 12 ESSENTIAL ALBUMS OF 2008!!

Wow, I have once again slumped on my duties, sad but true. Life provides so many distractions these days the 'ol Bloggerman can hardly hop on here any more. It's been ready for a couple of weeks now and since everyone and their brother has already posted their's I'll slap mine up as well. Kinda surprised how much it mirrors Stereogum's 2008 Gummy Award Winners (No I did not copy).

I owe an explanation for 24-13 and I'll give and album breakdown for my fav's.

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
2. Dear Science – TV on the Radio
3. You and Me – The Walkmen
4. Visiter – the Dodos
5. Attack and Release – the Black Keys
6. In Ear Park – Department of Eagles
7. For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
8. At Mount Zoomer – Wolf Parade
9. Narrow Stairs – Death Cab For Cutie
10. Songs in A and E – Spiritualized
11. Nouns – No Age
12. Microcastle - Deerhunter

Thanks to those who submitted input!
Feel free to bitch and moan about my list all you please

Sing Me a Song, Your the Bloggerman

Before I unleash LTME Essential Albums of 2008 (which will look nothing like all of the other lists that come out this time of the year, mine will be in far more interesting order and Coldplay, MGMT and Kings of Leon are not on mine, which already makes mine better!), I'd like to know what songs rocked your world in 2008.

Give feedback and we'll post the readers Guide to the best of 2008 and Noah will provide everyone with a link to download the songs(he doesn't know about this yet).

Here are 12 songs (in no order) that struck me as amazing this year.

LTME Essential 12(+ 5, got carried away) songs of 2008

Murder in the City - The Second Gleam, The Avett Brothers




I Got Mine - Attack and Release, The Black Keys



Skinny Love - For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver





Bixby Canyon Bridge - Narrow Stairs, Death Cab For Cutie




Phantom Other - In Ear Park, Department of Eagles




Paint the Rust - Visiter, the Dodos




Kalise - Alegranza, El Guincho




Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes




Old Old Fashioned - The Midnight Organ Fight, Frightened Rabbit




Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part II - Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket



Eraser - Nouns, No Age



1,000,000 - The Slip, Nine Inch Nails



Creator - Santogold, Santogold



Donde Esta La Playa? - You and Me, The Walkmen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_fkop71wOc

Golden Age - Dear Science, TV on the Radio

Closing out the Essential 12 of '08 to date

Here we close in on LTME's Essential albums of 2008 at the midway point. The selection process was odd, slanted and took into account the amount of controversy surrounding a certain album that made it essential.

Without further delay, here are 6-1:

6. Mission Control - The Whigs

Fearless Rock is back. The Whigs exceed expectations with stellar follow up album that introduces new genres and influences. The material flows well as an album but more importantly is stellar live. I am biased on this band, but for good reason.

5. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket

Possibly the single most polarizing album of the decade, Evil shakes the very foundation of MMJ and launches itself into the headlines with a whirlwind of an album. In many ways the weakness of some of the songs and the near failure to present a cohesive effort makes this album so damn interesting. Just what the hell was the band trying to do? There are some brilliant songs on here, but they nestle up next to some of the worst MMJ has to offer. Essential to say the least.

4. At Mount Zoomer - Wolf Parade

Did I say controversy would help make the album Essential? Then Wolf Parade march right up. The most defining argument against the album is the dismay fans have with the inability of Dan and Spencer to reconnect as they did on the debut. The material is split, making the album choppy and move along as a mix tape of your favorite songs from the various side projects. That's too bad, because looking past the ability of this album to sound like it's predecessor you'll see some stunning craftsmanship. Dan steal the show on this one and that's the way I like it.

3. Attack and Release - Black Keys

The duo knows no fear! With DJ Danger Mouse in the drivers seat the Keys release an attack on the ears and soul. Their songs never disappoint and here they have a edge that takes them places that sound so so sweet. The album unfolds at a perfect pace and the arrangement of songs is perfect. A spectacular effort by one of the best bands out there.

2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Without a doubt the 'it' band of 2008. This is some of the most well displayed musicianship I have heard in a long time, just awesome in every aspect. Saw this band this past Sat evening and although I was in the very back of the venue and couldn't see, the songs were performance enough. This band has so much promise it is scary. I'll be listening to this album for some time to come.

1. Visiter - The Dodos

This album completely took me off guard and won me over with little effort. It's composition of folk, rock, experimental, indie and just plan simplicity overwhelms me. It is so bizarre at times that I cannot seem to resist it. So far this album have garnered the most respect and adoration for 2008, however, I would like to see it fall as I expect great things to come in the next 6 months.

Back on track. LTME's promises to get things going again in the second half of the year, sorry for the slow start.

You'd be a Fool to not dig this...

From their new LP Visiter, here's The Dodos with Fools...ya'll enjoy yourselves now ya' hear! And no I'm not taking credit for finding this on my own, I know Pitchfork drooled over it, but I think it sounds more like Annuals than Animal Collective...so there!



2008 Albums to date coming this week...at least that's what the word is from the front office, we'll see if they follow through or not.