06) The Violet Burning: This Is The Moment... A nice alternative rock album in the vein of U2. It's been a really constant player for the past number of months. The songs are solid and executed well. And there isn't a single filler track on the cd. Find it at www.thevioletburning.com or www.northernrecords.com
05) The White Stripes: Elephant... This is an album that I listen to and I think to myself, "Yeah, this just feels right." The only track I would not include would be "Seven Nation Army", as it is the weakest track on the album. Jack White completely controls the album flow, and his control is perfection.
04) Furthermore: She & I... So many rap fans would disagree with me about this pick. While it's a rap album, it's not a traditional rap album. There aren't many big beats. Just some layered keyboards, a male rapping, and a female singing. It's a rap album done more for the sake of making music, rather than selling records.
03) The Polyphonic Spree: Begining Stages Of...... This is seriously the happiest record I have ever heard. No one can listen to this cd and remain mad, sad, or whatever. This should be required listening in high stress situations, like dentists, meetings with the IRS, holiday shopping, and so forth.
02) Emmylou Harris: Stumble Into Grace... This is a great showcase for Harris' voice. She has the ability to just capture a listener. A great listen that will be one of Harris' best works.
01) The Blood Brothers: Burn Piano Island, Burn... This is the best hard album that I heard this year. It rides the line between hardcore and punk, yet has more creativity than either of those genres combined. It's chock full of energy and passion. And it's the best cd I heard that was released this year.
Top EP Releases
03) Evelyn Hope: Evelyn Hope... The first release from a band featuring a former member of the now defunct Element 101.
02) Iron & Wine: The Sea & The Rhythm... An alt.country/indie project that sounds like a more bare 16 Horsepower.
01) Eisley: Laughing City and Marvelous Things... Eisley made their national debut by touring with Coldplay without the support of an album. So they did two EPs to give their new-found fans something to enjoy. Both are spectacular. More computer-savy people will buy the two eps and then burn them both on to one disc for continuous enjoyment.
![She & I [CD on Demand]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41v1SPKJrAL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Theory, I think the differences in our views of the Mars Volta is fascinating. Check it out on my list. You couldn't get two more opposite reviews.
2 - The Theory
Nice nice. Just remember that I'm right. ;-)
3 - Mark Saleski
i still don't see how "Hey Ya" is a weak song.
let's see, me & tom like it...you don't.
that means you're wrong!
;-)
4 - Dew
We would have agree to disagree on Outkast. I think the Love Below was over and beyond the call of duty. Not to mention it is opening the doors for Outkast to enlightened a whole new audience. Although I despise Hey Ya! as well. ;-)
Beth Hart's Leave the Light On is an excellent CD also and currently I am loving Jet and The Darkness.
5 - The Theory
Dew: Most likely my main problem is my inability to appriciate that whole "R&B" genre. "The Love Below" is the only album from that genre that I can even remotely listen to without going into convultions. However, there is still too much filler on it, regardless.
My main problem with "Hey Ya" is that it reminds me too much of something The Flaming Lips might do, sound wise. And I'm not too fond of the Flaming Lips. Of course, Andre is double the vocalist that TFL's vocalist will ever be.
6 - BrownBoognish
I'll take a Flaming lips song over Hey Ya anyday.
I've listened to the Outkast release, and I can only find five or six actual songs worth noting. The amount of filler makes the album impossible to listen one's finger firmly fixed on the skip button.
De-Loused in the Comatorium is extremely pretentious, but in the best way possible. They took some of the biggest risks of the year, and it is a highly memorable album.
7 - Dew
The Love Below is not an R&B album.
8 - Tom Johnson
Comparing the Flaming Lips and "Hey Ya"? Don't see it at all. I love the later period Lips, but there are no traits shared between anything the Lips have done and that song.
And no, "Hey Ya" is definitely not r&b. It's more retro-pop, resurrecting the mid 60s era with a modern hip-hop slant to the music. And it's a pure joy to hear, too. It's easily the most inventive and exciting piece of music to come out of the industry this year. I can't think of another song that has so been able to cross nearly every musical boundary. I'm not saying you nay-sayers have to like it, but I think you need to give it more credit than you are. It's a powerful piece of music.
9 - Dew
Tom was walking around in my head and found the words I was looking for.
10 - The Theory
if you cut out Andre's voice from "Hey Ya", the backing music would fit very snuggly on "Yoshomi Battles the Pink Robots".
11 - Tom Johnson
Sorry, Theory, don't hear it. "Hey Ya"'s way too upbeat and boppy to sound anything like the spacey desperation of the Flaming Lips.
12 - Sabo
For how much Theory and I agree on music generally, I have to take Tom's view on "Hey Ya". It was my favorite song of the year.
13 - Mark Brandt
"Hey Ya" is a great song. Though The Theory doesn't like it I definitly see the Flaming Lips reference. It's the song that brought hip-hop to the indie rock kids and indie rock to the hip-hop kids. Priceless (minus the repetition of the word 'Alright')