Tag: 2000s
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The Decemberists, Picaresque, 2005 on Kill Rock Stars
The Decemberists may be my single most favorite band of the new millenium. Colin Meloy’s lyricism can seem cloying or pretentious to some but I love it – perhaps having spent the 1990s in grad school myself prepared me well. Picaresque was their third studio album and the last on Kill Rock Stars before moving…
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Maria McKee, Peddlin’ Dreams, 2005 on Cooking Vinyl / Eleven Thirty
McKee was the front woman for Lone Justice, who put out two albums in the 80s, but has gone on to a solo career that has resurged in the new millenium. This is a really great and surprising record, including a cover of Neil Young’s “Barstool Blues” and “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”…
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Aqualung, Aqualung, 2002 on B-Unique Records
The first decade of the 2000 is not well represented in my vinyl collection. I was fresh out of grad school and not buying much vinyl, nor even really following much in the way of contemporary music. But Aqualung I could not miss – I loved this CD and Matt’s Hales’ appearances on shows like…
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Jeff Tweedy, Chelsea Walls (Soundtrack), 2002 on Rykodisc / 2022 on Omnivore
Wonderful soundtrack featuring Jeff Tweedy collaborating with Glenn Kotche, around the time of supergroup Loose Fur just before Kotche become Wilco’s drummer. There’s also two great covers: Jimmy Scott doing a somewhat unhinged but wonderful version of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” and Robert Sean Leonard doing Wilco’s “Promising” (a bonus track that was in the…
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M. Ward, The End of Amnesia, 2001 on Future Farmer Recordings
M. Ward’s sophomore album, following up Duet for Guitars #2 – and what a wonderful album it is. My copy is a 20th anniversary reissue on vinyl from Jealous Butcher Records which sounds amazing. Future Farmer did release a vinyl edition in 2009 but this one is remastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering. Liner…
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Various Artists, 89.3 The Current, 2005 on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR 116)
Great compilation of recordings made in the studios of Minnesota Public Radio. The Current is the branded name for KCMP, 89.3, and was created when MPR bought WCAL-FM, the college station at St. Olaf, in 2004. So I guess this release was partially celebrating the roll out of The Current. Lots of great things here,…
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The Magnetic Fields, i, 2004 on Nonesuch
All the songs on the album start with the letter i, a very Stephin Merritt thing to do. (Is this also related to the “i” in his first name?). The front page of the insert lyrics and credits sheet, which shows through the die cut “i” in the cover, is Fred Tomaselli’s Gravity in Four…
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Steve Earle, Townes: The Basics, 2021 on New West
As the back cover explains, the album Townes (a collection of Townes Van Zandt covers) was released in 2009 – but this LP collects the solo guitar and vocal tracks Earle originally recorded. This was issued as a bonus CD – The Basics – along with the CD release of Townes, but then issued for…
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Santigold, Santigold, 2008 on Downtown / Lizard King
My copy is the recent Vinyl Me Please reissue on “gold nugget” vinyl. This is a 15th anniversary edition with an “art print” by Isabelle Lumpkin (Narcissister) who designed the original cover. Originally released as a self-titled album by Santogold, she later changed her name to Santigold based on legal action – so the later…
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Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend, 2008 on XL Recordings.
Debut album from Vampire Weekend, including Oxford Comma and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. How could I not love a band with grooves like this and references to punctuation? For the English major (and PhD) to have an indie rock band come out of Columbia with a pedigree involving Dirty Projectors and touring with The Shins…
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Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca, 2009 on Domino (DNO217LP).
My copy is the 2020 reissue by Vinyl Me, Please (WIGLP229X-VMP), which is a 2xLP version with five live songs recorded by Dig for Fire for the series Live at Other Music in New York city and a cover of Bob Dylan’s As I Went Out One Morning (These tracks were also on other 2010…
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Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism, 2003 on Barsuk
Death Cab’s monumental breakout album. My copy is a 20th anniversary 2023 reissue by Vinyl Me Please on red marble vinyl, with listening notes by Sean Nelson (from Harvey Danger). Featuring Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla (who also produced), Nick Harmer, and Jason McGerr.
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Clem Snide, The Ghost of Fashion, 2001 on Cooking Vinyl
Originally released (on CD) by SpinART in the US and Cooking Vinyl in Europe, then released in 2011 on vinyl by Microfiche Records. My copy is a 2022 deluxe reissue on Dot Matrix that I got via Vinyl Me Please. (I think the color vinyl is exclusive to VMP, but the pressing is also available…
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Neil Young, Live at Massey Hall 1971, 2020 on Reprise
Dating this one is a bit tricky – recorded in 1971, released on CD unofficially in 2005 and officially in 2007, but on vinyl for the first time in 2020. Massey Hall on Victoria Street in Toronto was home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and seats under 3000. This release is the Volume 3 in…
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AIR, 10 000 Hz Legend, 2001 on Source/Virgin.
I’ve long been a huge fan of Moon Safari, AIR’s debut album. This LP came four years later, with the soundtrack to the Virgin Suicides coming in between. I can’t say it is as successful as the debut, which is just untouchable and hit the moment just right, but it is a very strong album…
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Neko Case, Live from Austin TX, 2007 on New West.
This was released on CD (and DVD) back in 2007, and discogs has an entry for a test pressing on vinyl back then, but I’m not sure it was actually released on vinyl before 2017. Either way, it’s a recording from Case’s first performance on Austin City Limits, August 9th, 2003. Includes a great version…
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Adele, 19, 2008 on XL Recordings / Columbia
Her massive debut album, originally released in 2008. My copy is a later reissue but I’m not sure what year it was issued. Included the hit “Chasing Pavements” as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” that many think is her own. Hard to believe how fully formed she came…
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Sia, Some People Have Real Problems, 2008 on Monkey Puzzle Records
Sia’s fourth album as a solo artist, and her first on Monkey Puzzle Records. This is right around when I first heard Sia – a version of “I Go To Sleep” ( a Ray Davies song) was on the Sounds Eclectic: Covers Project release (related to the KCRW radio sho Morning Becomes Eclectic). This copy…