Top 8 Albums of the Decade 2000-2009

Disclaimer: Above all this decade has defined and refined my taste in contemporary music. This is the music that has most effected me over the last ten years. These are the albums that have given me the most to chew on musically and bands that have proved their longevity (and by that i mean: no one-offs (”Muse”, i’m looking at you…)).

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Unruly Music Fall Festival

Do you wish Milwaukee had more of a post-classical music scene (and who doesn’t)? If “contemporary trends in chamber music, improvisation, and electronic sound” is your bag, you’re in luck. Beginning Tuesday night (Sept. 8), the Unruly Music Festival rolls into town. You can attend all three avant-cool compositions for just $36.

Dear God: It’s Over Between Us

It used to be a running joke: christian music was just regular music substituting the word “god” for “girls”. A lot of love songs, a lot of sentimentality, a lot of “praising” instead of “kissing”. David Bazan was never guilty of this. When he said God he meant God, and when he said girls he meant girls. As Pedro the Lion Bazan narrated the rawness of life, his songs populated with anonymous saints and sinners of all stripes. Their stories were our stories, but they weren’t directly his story. Bazan’s latest release is that most ancient of poetic convention: a personal break-up album. There are no tall tales or morality plays about others. This time, in no uncertain terms “Curse Your Branches” finds Bazan himself breaking up with God. Read the rest of this article…

SXSW 2009 – The Ultimate List?

From The Morning News, a webzine/log about interesting things well-written: Six-Word Reviews of 1,302 songs with links to the mp3s and a rating scale. Prepare to be awesomed out the door. I defy you to find a more complete list. Meanwhile NPR gets in on the action with a host of live recordings, interviews, exclusive downloads, &tc.

SXSW 2009 – More Music

I found another band that’s worth suggesting: We Were Promised Jetpacks

They’ve got the formula for success (Success = Scottish + Cool band name + Post-punkish sound). Wired has another free download here.