Once again, we’ve reached the midway point to another year, and the staff’s going through what’s simply “Ah-maze-balled” us to date. Obviously, I’ve written reviews on the types of albums that have intrigued me, but if you need a ranked order – I’d probably put the albums listed below in my current Top Five. There’s been a mix of introspective chamber pop, an experimental album from the desert’s greatest band, a fine return by synth-rock legends, and some indie pop […]
Posts tagged "The National"
The National, Trouble Will Find Me: Album Review
Drama and Discovery – these are two essential tenets to my history as an audiophile. I admitted to my facebook friends and colleagues here at Popblerd that I’d missed the boat for the past 13 years on The National. My bad. I’m making up for lost time and have immersed myself in their discography over the past couple of weeks. My listening and journey can be summed up in this arc — U2’s The Joshua Tree (1987), The Cure’s Disintegration (1989), Depeche […]
Spin Cycle: Of Monsters and Men’s “My Head is an Animal”
As I hinted when reviewing Of Monsters and Men’s Into the Woods EP a couple of months ago, the pop and indie universes seem to be on a collision course. This isn’t an entirely new phenomenon – remember all of the hullabaloo surrounding Modest Mouse embracing Top 40 with “Float On” back in ’03? – but we’ve reached a point, culturally, where the dividing line is almost nonexistent. Arcade Fire and Bon Iver have Grammys now, and Gotye and Florence + The Machine are […]
Popblerd Staff Presents: Sam’s 2010 Top Tens
Popblerd! staffer Sam lists his top albums, singles and discoveries for 2010, and also lists his top hopes for the new year!
Chart Stalker 5/20/10: We've Had Better Weeks
Dubious distinction time: the total that sends Justin Bieber back to #1 on this week’s Billboard album chart is the second lowest since Soundscan began collecting data in spring 1991. In a week especially light for new releases, the Bieb reclaims the top spot with only 60,000 units sold. The only #1 album to have sold less is the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack, which topped the charts with a slightly smaller number a little less than four years ago. Four albums debut […]