JayeL Audio

I consume a massive amount of music each week.  My Google Reader count is constantly at 100+ and I can’t seem to catch up with the numerous blogs, reviews and Pitchfork information I read.  As a result, I’m much more selective in the music I purchase.

It doesn’t seem that long ago, when I would walk out of Circuit City, Best Buy or Wyatt Earp with 2+ cd’s a week.  Those were high school days, and all I had to spend my grocery store paychecks on was gas, fast food, clothes and fun.

Today, I am listening to a great deal more music and it would be impossible to purchase everything I hear.  And in today’s online ADD music society, if you wait until an album’s physical release, the music is almost obsolete. For example, Common’s foray into “Planet Rock” with Pharrell, “Universal Mind Control” leaked in January.  The album finally came out in November.  Can you imagine having the patience to hear that single and have to wait 10 months to purchase it?  Thankfully, I didn’t have to.

I know what you’re thinking: why buy music at all?  Isn’t it all free and there for the taking?  Well most of it is out there if you look hard enough, but that’s not really the best thinking.  As much as I hate the whole business model the industry uses, if everyone quits buying music, we really might not have any.  It would be completely unaffordable to buy everything I sample, but I purchase what I feel the need to.

I usually buy lesser known artists that are worth my money and probably need it.  The big names albums I buy because I like to say that I have their entire catalog (Jay-Z, Nas) or know I’m purchasing a decent product (T.I., Kanye).  I pretty much test everything online (blogs, Hype Machine, Largehearted Boy), so its not hard to see if an album is worth buying.  Its not like the old days of walking into Record Town, paying $19 for an album that has one hot single.

The other main reason I buy music is sound quality.  If I know an album is good, I don’t have to worry about scouring LimeWire for the new T.I. album with out DJ drops or an f’ed up track listing.  It might be that I’m getting older, but the difference between most music available on the internet and a 256kps song ripped from a CD is huge.  And if I ever decide to really DJ, the average listener would notice the quality over loud bar speakers.

Music Bought in 2008

Physical CD’s (Gifts or Purchases)

• The National – Boxer
• The Black Keys – Attack & Release
• Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
• Phoenix Jukebox – Grand Circus
• Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
• Zac Brown Band – The Foundation
• Mike Moran Music – Spaces
• Buff1 – There Can Only Be One
• Jessica Lea Mayfield – With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt
• Kanye West – 808′s & Heartbreak
• Elzhi – The Preface

Digital Albums

• Paper Route Recordz – Fear & Loathing in Hunts Vegas Mixtape (artist)
• Black Kids – Partie Traumatic (iTunes)
• “Once” Soundtrack (iTunes)
• The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Amazon)
• T.I. – Paper Trail (Amazon)
• Keane – Perfect Symmetry (Amazon)
• CSS – Donkey (iTunes)
• Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line (Amazon)
• Lil’ Wayne – The Carter III (iTunes)
• Passion Pit – Chunk of Change EP (Amazon)
• Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Amazon)
• The Killers – Day & Age (Amazon)
• Fall Out Boy – Folie a Deux (Amazon)
• Nas – Untitled (iTunes)

It may not be of interest to anyone else besides myself, but my purchases reflect that of the industry trend.  Again this year, record companies saw physical album purchases fall, while digital albums increased.  To the dismay of the labels, the digital increase was not enough to cover the decrease.  Also interesting is the fact that most of my online purchases were at Amazon.com.  This was due to the “Amazon DailyMP3 Deal of the Day”.  These albums were $3.99 at the most and DRM free.  Apple and major labels who scoffed at this model recently took note.

I’m still not a huge fan of buying mp3 albums because I need something to hold in my hands to validate my purchase.  Thats why I think Girl Talk’s method made so much sense.  I paid what I wanted for the high quality (256 kps) mp3 album in May and was sent the actual compact disc in October.  This way I got what I wanted immediately and Illegal Art only pressed what they needed.

Paper Route Records – Wood Grain (Emynd Remix)

Phoenix Jukebox – Mitas Touch

Keane – Spiralling

The Hold Steady – Constructive Summer

Elzhi – Motown 25 ft Royce Da 5’9″

In 2008, my concert viewing spanned 3 states and many stages.  Here is a brief run down of my favorites:
6. Jessica Lea Mayfield/An Horse – Pike Room, The Crofoot, Pontiac, MI – 10/29/08

Jessica Lea Mayfield put on one of the most intimate shows I’ve ever seen in October.  Unfortunately, I don’t think she had hoped it would be.  Mayfield showcased dark, contemplative songs from With Blasphemy So Heartfelt in impressive fashion.  She batted her smoky eyes, plucked her guitar and sang from the soul, but for fewer than 15 people.  I left the show impressed, but felt Mayfield would have been happier with a packed Crofoot audience.  Australian imports, An Horse, almost stole the show with a fervent opening set.  The energy the drummer/guitarist duo put forth had the small crowd drooling over indie pop hits like “Postcards” and “Company” that will make them stars in 2009.

Jessica Lea Mayfield – The One That I Love Best

An Horse – Postcards

5. Girl Talk – Eagle Theater, Pontiac, MI – 11/11/08

Girl Talk concert #4 was good, but paled in comparison to past show.  The audience was as amped as ever, the visual effects were entertaining, but sound problems plagued the entire show.  Openers CX Kidtronik (not really my style) and the Death Set (I was impressed by the nonstop approach) were barely listenable, while Mr. Gillis plowed through pushing the crowd into a frenzy, despite the troubles.  On the positive side, I noticed more new material featuring MGMT and a rendition of “A Milli”/”Say It Ain’t So” that stuck in my head weeks later.

Girl Talk – Play Your Part pt. 2

4. Vampire Weekend – Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI – 2/12/08

My caravan of fans and I almost died on the way to Ann Arbor for the Vampire Weekend show, but it was worth the 2 hour + drive (should have been 1 hour).  This concert was just after their debut album was released and the blog hype was nearly at its peak.  After we reached the Blind Pig, we waited in the standard line wrapped around Washington St. Snowflakes clung to skinny jeans and North Face jackets, as we overheard people had driven as far as Kalamazoo in hopes of scoring tickets for the sold out show.  Vampire Weekend played a short (11-12 songs), but crisp set to a crowd that nearly knew every word to hits like “Oxford Comma” and “A-Punk” and rowdy renditions of “Walcott” and “I Stand Corrected”.  The string section was clearly absent on “M79″ and the band admitted they didn’t have any songs left for an encore, but Vampire Weekend put on an all around good performance.

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Chromeo Remix)

3. Mates of State – Vinyl, Atlanta, GA -

I started my new move to ATL off right with the Mates of State show at Vinyl.  It was my first concert in ATL and I was glad I overcame the nerves of going to a show by myself in a new place.  Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel showed their near perfect chemistry throughout the night with spirited performances of a variety of tracks from their catalog.  Kori handled the electric organ and keyboard, while Jason manned the drums.  The married duo sang their hearts out while “making eyes” and playing off each others energy on songs like “My Only Offer”, “The Re-Arranger” and “Ha Ha”.  Brother Reade and Harrison Hudson helped close the show with extra drum work on “Goods (All In Your Head)”.

Mates of State – Now

2. Girl Talk – Metro, Chicago, IL – 1/26/08

This concert was the second time I had seen Girl Talk and it was probably the best.  Maybe it was being in a historic venue (Metro) I had never been to before.  It might have been the good Samaritan who gave someone in our group a free ticket in line.  It was most likely because it took place in the best city I’ve been to, Chicago.  We saw the second show of Girl Talk’s doubleheader at the Metro and it was everything you would expect and more:  A rowdy, sweat-filled, bass-pounding dance-fest with neon glasses, track suits and other ’80s Thrift store finds.  Mr. Gillis “shut the club down” with Journey’s “Faithfully” in what is now a staple of his shows.

Girl Talk – Pure Magic

1. Lollapalooza – Grant Park, Chicago, IL – 8/1/08 – 8/3/08

It might not be fair that my first trip to Lollapalooza is number one, but how could it not be?  I kicked myself constantly for missing Lolla ’07, combed over the line-up rumors and recruited anyone I could to go way before the early bird tickets were available.  I’ve already wrote at length about every sight and sound I consumed at Grant Park last August, so I won’t repeat myself too much.  All 3 days were great, but Day 3 had the most highlights.  Kid Sister started the day with a spirited and speedy run through of her early career, Chromeo played a fun, danceable hour, Flogging Molly brought their Irish Pub flavor to Grant Park, Kanye electrified his hometown and Girl Talk rafted through a sea of fans.  It was an all around fantastic event with more experiences than I can count.  Though unlikely with my recent move to ATL, I hope to be there in August ’09.

Girl Talk – All Points West ’08 album – Thanks to The Music.FM
Flogging Molly – Requiem For A Dying Song
Kid Sister – Control
Chromeo – Momma’s Boy

This is toughest list to make every year.  It is a lot easier for an artist to craft a break through song than a full concise album.  I don’t have an army of writers like Pitchfork to create a thorough detail of 100 songs, so here are my 10 favorites of 2008.

10. Mike Moran Music – The Difference
This cut from Mike Moran’s newly named project, Mike Moran Music, was my favorite off the solid effort, Spaces.  Moran’s rich, throaty approach is complimented by his knack for solid song-writing.  “The Difference” descriptively speaks to difficult decision making that can change your life profoundly.

Mike Moran Music – The Difference

9. The Hold Steady – One For The Cutters
The more I hear from Craig Finn and co., the more I believe the “best bar band in America” hype.  Featuring an entrancing harpsichord, this track gives an account of a girl who get mixed up with the wrong crowd.  Finn’s unique voice is the perfect narrator in this murderous story that could happen in any Little Town, USA.

The Hold Steady – One For The Cutters

8. Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
It might be the fact that my parents played Miami Sound Machine constantly when I was younger, but horns and steel drums mixed with electronic effects has always won me over.  That might be why Hercules and Love Affair’s dance ready record made such an impression on me.  Lead singer Antony Hegarty’s distinct vocals flow freely over the breezy house inspired beat with cryptic lyrics about changing views throughout life.

Hercules and Love Affair – Blind

7. Lightspeed Champion – Tell Me What Its Worth
With a bouncy organ and string backing, you might take Lightspeed Champion’s song as a light indie pop song.  A deeper dive reveals “Tell Me What Its Worth” as a defense against harsh racial stereotypes.  Not only is it a educating, subtle protest, it also features the ear-pleasing backing vocals of Emmy the Great.

Lightspeed Champion – Tell Me What Its Worth

6. Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone
Sweden’s top import in 2008, Lykke Li, caught my ear on a number of hits, but mostly on the piano-laced “I’m Good, I’m Gone”.  Lykke Li coos her way through hand claps, while subtly informing others she’ll eventually be a star (“If you say i aim too high from down below/Well, say it now ’cause when i’m gone/You’ll be callin’ but i won’t be at the phone”).  The inspired remix by the Black Kids is great as well.

Lykke Li – I’m Good I’m Gone

5. MGMT – Electric Feel
This single is finally getting some due spins on radio and rappers are starting the remix parade, good thing I didn’t get sick of it all year.  On the funkiest cut from Oracular Spectacular, MGMT made a ’70′s style love jam that even kids in skinny jeans could dance to.  The throwback sound of psychedelic synthesizers, distorted vocals and hallucinatory lyrics manage to make being stung by an electric eel sound like a good thing.

MGMT – Electric Feel

4. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
I don’t usually find songs with head-nodding bass in the indie music genre, but “Sleepyhead” filled the void.  Lead singer/creator Michael Angelakos’ intoxicatingly off key voice weaves cryptic lyrics about persuading a girl back to bed meld perfectly amid psychedelic chipmunk samples and a hypnotic beat. “Sleepyhead” could also qualify as one of the best music videos of the year in nearly the same spell-binding fashion.

Passion Pit – Sleeyhead

3. KiD CuDi – Day ‘n Nite
If his success in ’08 is any indication, 2009 will be a huge year for KiD CuDi.  “Day ‘n Nite” introduced this Cleveland MC to the underground and eventually got him signed to Mr. West’s G.O.O.D. Music.  CuDi’s sing/rap flow isn’t unique, but this track does something most rappers are afraid to do, show vulnerability.  Themes of insomnia, heartbreak and drug-based hallucinations, over a bass filled stimulating beat create a new anthem for creative Hip-Hop.

KiD CuDi – Day ‘n Nite

2. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
Who knew mountain men choirs would be so cool in 2008?  In what has to be the most basic song of the year, the bearded fellows of Fleet Foxes created one of the best.  Based off simple harmonies and minimal lo-fi instrumentation, “White Winter Hymnal” sounds as cheery as the change from winter to spring.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

1. Jessica Lea Mayfield – Kiss Me Again
At first I was entranced by Dan Auerbach‘s (of the Black Keys) reverberating guitar work, but the real star of the song is Jessica Lea Mayfield.  Mayfield’s chilling voice shines through in the same chanteuse style of Neko Case and Loretta Lynn.  This sorrowful track about an indecisive love affair with fluctuating come-ons showcases Jessica Lea Mafyield’s ability to tempt listeners with style and storytelling.

Jessica Lea Mayfield – Kiss Me Again

Honorable Mention: Lil’ Wayne “A Millie”, Sam Sparro “Black & Gold”, Matt & Kim “Daylight”, Blitzen Trapper “Gold For Bread”, Vampire Weekend “The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance”, Of Montreal “Gallery Piece”, Jamie Lidell “Another Day”, The Black Keys “Psychotic Girl”, Walter Meego “Forever”, An Horse “Postcards”, Death Cab for Cutie “Cath..”, Janelle Monae “Many Moons”, Human Highway “The Sound”