David Comes to Life by "Messed" Up

Released:  June 7, 2011
Rating:  68.75

Okay, so that's not their name, but I just wasn't comfortable posting that.  It was a difficult-enough dilemma for this 51 year old father of a six year old girl to have an album with that on the cover.  It's not that I haven't used the term more than I should have, it's just, well, you know...

Anyway, the music won me over.  FU presents a fascinating mix of \music that reminds me of the driving mid-70s Springsteen stuff (think Rosalita or Born to Run), overlaid with really angry, ranting vocals.  I cannot unequivocally recommend this, but it is definitely worth a listen, especially of you're feeling a need to get your angst on.

The entire album is available for streaming at myspace.  Just click here if you have a myspace account.  If you don't, get one.  The access to music, new and old, is unparalleled.

The album is presented as a Rock Opera:  David has a humdrum life working at a light bulb factory, and finds an escape by falling in love with a communist rebel rouser, only to find out later that she has died in a terrorist bombing and that he has a lot of emotional turmoil to face.

Adding to the theatricality, the Toronto group's members all use pseudonyms, including Pink Eyes (aka Father Damien) on lead vocals, 10,000 Marbles on lead guitar, Concentration Camp on rhythm guitar, Mustard Gas on bass, and Mr. Jo (aka Guinea Beat) on drums, plus two guitarists who joined the band in 2006 and 200 respectively; Young Governor and Gulag.

Suck It And See by The Arctic Monkeys

Released:  June 7, 2011
Rating:  71.67

June was not a great month for new releases. However, there were a few bright spots, and this is one of them.  The Arctic Monkey's fourth full length album in 6 years takes a little work, but it's worth it.  This is my second album by the British quartet and it reminds me of Oasis, or maybe some of the late '50s rock acts trying to cross over from traditional pop to rock (try Black Treacle), but there's also a couple of serious rockers here too (click Brick By Brick for the official video.)

Codes & Keys by Death Cab For Cutie

Released:  May 31, 2011
Rating:  70.91

This is the 6th full length album for the band from Bellingham, WA.  I became a fan of theirs in 2005 with the release of Transatlantacism, and I have to admit that as they've continued to polish their sound, I've become less enamored of each subsequent releases.  Don't get me wrong, this is still a terrific album and well worth a listen.  It just seems there's less guitar and more precision here.  The songs are also more upbeat than I'm used to (which may be the result of singer/songwriter/guitarist Ben Gibbard's recent marriage to Zooey Deschanel.)  Check out the very pretty You Are A Tourist.

Circuital by My Morning Jacket

Released:  May 31, 2011
Rating:  76.00

This is the 7th studio album for the 5-piece from Louiseville, KY.  Although the band's leader, Jim James, also perfroms with the super-group Monsters of Folk, MMJ defies attempts at categorization.  They experiment with blues, folk, reggae, classic rock, piano ballads and even a Motown/metal mash up.

Their 2008 release Evil Urges, which was the first time I'd heard them, blew me away.  This is even better.  My favorite songs are the opener Victory Dance and Holdin' On To Black Metal.

Side note:   I've never thought of Kentucky as a hot bed of Rock 'n' Roll, but two of my favorite albums this year (this and Cage The Elephant) both come from the Bluegrass State.

The Secret by Vieux Farka Toure

Released:  May 24, 2011
Rating:  71.67

I don't know that my opinion of each song does justice the amazing guitar work here.  The rating is probably indicative of my lack of understanding of the languages of Northern Africa and my predilection toward vocals.  In any event, it's a great album, worthy of every music fan's time.  My favorite song on the album is number 3, All The Same, which includes a vocal by Dave Matthews (somebody I really like live, but not so much in the studio.)  Another amazing example of the "Hendrix of the Sahara's" guitar work is Lakkal (Watch Out) with support from Eric Krasno of Soulive.

This is my first World Music album this year. Guitarist, Vieux Farka Toure (pronounced Vyooh - the "ooh" having the same vowel sound as "should" - Farka Too-ray) comes from Mali and is the second son of the late, great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure (winner of two Grammys for World Music).

Demolished Thoughts by Thurston Moore`

Released:  May 24, 2011
Rating:  73.33

Not that it is in any way a preview of what this delivers, but the 53-year old Thurston Moore is a founding member and guitarist for the legendary art/punk band, Sonic Youth.  (He's also married to Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon.)

Produced by Beck, AMG describes it as "psychedelic chamber folk." I don't have anything better, so we can work with that.  This album is a much needed respite from a really confused world. Based primarily on Moore's acoustic guitar and voice, and supported by a variety of strings (and a few other things here and there) this is very mellow.

A couple of my favorite cuts include the beautiful Illumine and folkier Benediction.

While it's not in my top 10 for the year, it's still a wonderful album and I look forward to hearing it every time I see it pop up in my rotation.

Rome by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi

Released:  May 17, 2011
Rating:  76.33
Includes 3 bonus points (it's my prerogative) due to the overall brilliance of the album.

For those who've known me over the years, you know I have only a couple rules about music, and one of them is:  If Danger Mouse is involved, buy it! He's a writer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and performer.  Like some of my other favorites, he's always out to try something new and different.

Rome is a tribute the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960's (Fist Full of Dollars, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, etc) and it succeeds brilliantly.  Of the 15 songs, there are 3 "interludes of a minute or less and of the remaining 12 songs, Nora Jones and Jack White provide the vocals on three each.

My favorite song on the album is Two Against One featuring Jack White.  But don't miss Nora Jones on Season's Trees and it's worth listening to the instrumental  The Gambling Priest.