Best Lo-Fi
Named Best Album of the 1990s by Magnet Magazine, Aeroplane gives us Jeff Mangum's powerful solo acoustic work, full horn-section marches, history, religion, & sex -- everything you hoped for and more!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've always loved this album and am happy to have it on vinyl!"
"It rapidly became a contender for my all time favorite album, and I still try to introduce Aeroplane to anyone who might appreciate it, though it is true that Aeroplane is not for everyone."
"Delivery was fairly quick, but the one thing I'd say is that the packaging wasn't great - the plastic on the album cover was quite badly cracked on both sides."
"I already knew how perfect this album was as I had it on CD upon its initial release."
"The CD arrived as described and on time."
"Saw them live at Markarth, amazing, moved me to tears."
"Bought this on a whim after reading all the positive reviews and it did not disappoint."
Contrary to most pop experimentalists, NMH songs stretch way past the two-minute mark: "Two Headed Boy" transforms from a Guided by Voices-ish romp into a New Orleans big band funeral march, "The Fool" is as catchy as anything Poi Dog Pondering ever produced, and "Holland" builds up to a crescendo of saw, Uillean pipes, a chorus of voices, and fuzzed-out guitar.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've always loved this album and am happy to have it on vinyl!"
"It rapidly became a contender for my all time favorite album, and I still try to introduce Aeroplane to anyone who might appreciate it, though it is true that Aeroplane is not for everyone."
"Delivery was fairly quick, but the one thing I'd say is that the packaging wasn't great - the plastic on the album cover was quite badly cracked on both sides."
"I already knew how perfect this album was as I had it on CD upon its initial release."
"The CD arrived as described and on time."
"Saw them live at Markarth, amazing, moved me to tears."
"Bought this on a whim after reading all the positive reviews and it did not disappoint."
Even Pavement looked relatively ordinary in comparison to the band's early releases like 1996's This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About and 1997's The Lonesome Crowded West. But on Good News for People Who Love Bad News, the frontman sounds like he's finally touching the earth, and the band--minus founding member and drummer Jeremiah Green--follows suit. On the follow-up to the group's 2000 major label debut, The Moon & Antarctica, big sloppy melodies battle it out with brass on punky epics like "Float On" and "The Ocean Breathes Salty."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have to say however, "The View" is my favorite song with its funk like guitar and the blend of the sounds of the synthesizer with the drums makes it sound like a electro song... Really this album has a variation of song styles that is over shadowed by its singles..."
"This is Modest Mouse on a whole new level and some of their fans don't like it but I think they're really rockin'."
"Not many groups have the lyrical talent to toss in references to Bukowski ("Who would wanna be such an [...] ), Prometheus, and God ("Who'd wanna be such a control freak? Problem with most bands with brains (and Modest Mouse clearly has some smarts) is that when the lyrics get too heady the band comes off sounding musically forced and impersonal (think of Rush, for example)."
"The vinyl record itself was in absolutely beautiful condition."
"The good news is that I love this record."
"Played the record in its entirety with no issues."
"I love this album and it would have been great, but The LP I received was badly warped."
Best General
Arctic Monkeys release their fifth album, entitled AM .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love this band."
"This was actually my favorite album of 2013.. which consisted of some really great and lesser known artists coming out with some really great albums."
"You sometimes forget that such talent exists in music now-a-days and listening to the album reminds me that there are true artists out there still."
"I have always loved the Arctic Monkeys - just got this CD to have a tangible copy."
"This album is addictive."
"But with "AM", Arctic Monkeys have finally produced a sound that is unique to them, and after this record, I believe most criticisms of this band trying to "rip off" other artists will cease."
"Good verging on great, I still prefer other artists in this genre, but the 'Arctic Monkeys' have earned a place on my playlist."
"Kicking it off with Do I wanna know and then goung on to tracks like R U Mine and Arabella ,this album just delivers . Going on to some later tracks it slows down a bit , then catches up again when "why do you only call em when you're high' which I had to replay a couple of times before moving on to the next song ."
Best Electronic Pop
Also includes covers by The Shins and Iron & Wine as well as the remixes from "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" single.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Postal Service's freshman album "Give Up" is nothing short of a musical tour de force. Take the lyrical honesty of Death Cab and marry it with Jimmy Tamborello's "Nintendo-esque" keyboard sensibilities. The result is an absolutely smashing record that harkens back to the days of Depeche Mode and Yaz but with a more modern bent. Starts off slow in almost a dream-like fashion then steadily increases, it's tempo culminating in a climax awash in keyboards and catchy drumbeats. Brand New Colony - Finally....The Super Mario theme song with added vocals!!!"
"Like a soundtrack to a 16-bit video game mixed with the sensibilities of a John Hughes movie, Give Up's beats chirp and hum along happily while the singer sings tales of love and love lost."
"Sounds amazing on vinyl!!!!!"
"Came fast, and listening to the album while cleaning, with the windows open and the rain falling?"
"One of my favorite albums of all time."
"The Postal Service truly gets to the heart of the matter by fusing together several different types of music into one gorgeous collection with velvety vocals and sweet, captivating melodies, this album provides something different in each track, giving the listener the ability to select as he or she pleases."
Best Shoegazing
No Description Available. No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: MY BLOODY VALENTINE Title: LOVELESS Street Release Date: 11/05/1991. Domestic Genre: ROCK/POP.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I finally listened to it as I was embarking on an evening walk through the streets of Leominster, MA. I had squeezed my dated portable CD player into my jeans pocket. Loveless is one of the most beautiful, enigmatic, and unique recordings I have ever had the pleasure to hear in my short life. It has that same warm sensation, feeling like hot water washing over my whole body. You hear two drum beats and then WOOSH, you're swept up in a mindblowing sonic storm of guitar riffs and drones. Maybe you like being cynical about hyped albums (I think a term commonly used is "sacred cow")."
"From the first notes of "Only Shallow", the music sounds fiery yet mystical, owing to the odd softness of Bilinda Butcher's vocals that actually propel the guitar and bass melodies forward in a manner that will never go out of one's mind even after a single listen: the effect is of so many melodic lines moulded perfectly into a single unit. Unlike many self-indulgent instrumentals, "To Here Knows When" find virtue in simplicity and soothingness, epitomised by Bilinda's beautiful "la la la"s. "When You Sleep" moved onto a new plain, but the shrill sounds in the intro were a perfect match to Shields' deep, haunting voice which benefits from being somewhat buried, as it does on the static yet so beautiful "Sometimes"."
"Kevin Shields, the genius behind My Bloody Valentine (who regained notorious status through his participation in the 'Lost in Translation' soundtrack), recorded in 'Loveless' not just the band's best album, one that almost fifteen years after still works perfectly well. 'Loveless' opened up a whole can of worms for me, since there's so much more where this came from... dozens of bands that were in the back, doing their own thing at the time when grunge was at the forefront of everyone's awareness."
Best Twee Pop
High quality gatefold sleeve.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After the brilliant landmark album, Trasatlanticism, Death Cab For Cutie made the big jump to Atlantic records and released the more lush record, Plans in the fall of 2005. As with every indie band, moving to a major label is often resented by many fans of the group and while some have still been critical towards the more balladesque atmosphere on Plans, I'm happy to see that others have been very welcome to it."
"As with many of their albums, I grow new favorite songs by listening to the entire album (such as Brothers on a Hotel Bed being my new favorite close to the two mentioned above, and Your Heart Is An Empty Room)."
"I strongly suggest purchasing this album for any record collector / vinyl enthusiast."
"I would say the sound of the album is more "open" than their other LP's, which leaves you with some contemplative lyrics, warm vocals, and soft strings and piano that creates a very peaceful, slightly melancholy atmosphere."
"Good album decent quality vinyl."
"One of my all time favorite albums ever."
Best Dream Pop
A Rush Of Blood To The Head is a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the cathartic rock of 'Politik' to the hushed tones of 'Green Eyes' without once breaking its mesmerizing spell.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love this song; I love the lyrics."
"This is where it all started."
"Would Highly Recommend."
"These cd is awesome."
"Great CD original recording."
"Super fast shipping."
Best Indie Rock
They're drawn by songs like "Ho Hey" and "Stubborn Love," Americana-inflected barn burners in the vein of the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm not very good at writing about music but if you like stuff like the Avett Brothers or Low Anthem or The Head & the Heart I'm pretty sure you will like this."
"If I had to characterize The Lumineers, I'd say they're similar to Bright Eyes, except 10 times better and a tenth as annoyingly self-infatuated."
"Submarines is what really caught my attention as well as Ho, Hey. If you, like me, sometimes want to find a new band/artist to stimulate your musical taste, I would not hesitate to recommend The Lumineers."
"Fame found them, but when you watch them or listen to their music, you appreciate how deeply they care about their music."
"I may never have bought it if wasn't that low. Yes, the stand out song is 'Ho Hey', but as much as I listen to that song, I find myself equally drawn to 'Submarines' with its upbeat warm feeling. Kind of gives me that warm feeling of being wrapped up in a blanket on a cold morning. Another song worth mentioning is 'Stubborn Love' with its haunting cello. While I do think it's somewhat of a sad sounding song, it somehow keeps drawing me in. In my opinion, if I had just bought one song, namely 'Ho Hey', I would have cheated myself out of an entire listening experience."
"They all have a catchy pure sound and make me smile; Flower in Your Hair is my 2nd favorite so far! I'm looking forward to playing this CD over and over during short trips to work, home, etc."
"Amazing album, amazing band!"
"Great CD!!!"
Best Jangle Pop
The sympathetic ballad "Everybody Hurts" must have prevented countless suicide attempts, while the Andy Kaufman tribute "Man on the Moon" (with Michael Stipe affecting an Elvis Presley imitation) and the rock-into-oblivion "Drive" are among the quartet's strongest hits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Just had to have this to replace a scratched CD."
"One of the best albums of the 90's!"
"Great CD."
"One of the top 10 albums of the 90s."
"vinyl records are hard to find."
"Of course I ordered this after watching the new Vh1 series, "Hindsight.""
Best Ambient Pop
French duo Air's debut album is a superlatively happy collection of experimental disco-mood sound nestled between ambient soundscape and breathy pop. Oh, and contrary to sampler fashion, Nicolas Godin and Jean Benoit Dunckel played the instruments themselves.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Accomplished painters have the innate ability to activate neural pathways to create a remarkably pleasing viewer experience that defies explanation or analysis."
"This is my introduction to Air and I bought it soley on the reviews on Amazon and the style of music."
"The French have always led the way in chill/ambient music since I first heatd French avant-garde in the mid 1970s."
"For any of you analog synth lovers out there, this is the album to get."
"The only thing that I don't like about it is knowing that this was a moment of inspiration for these guys: the rest of their albums are more like the rest of electronic music albums out there, they are just not worth the 15 bucks you have to pay for them."
"Highlights include: "La Femme d'Argent". "All I Need". "Talisman". "Ce Matin-La". "New Star in the Sky (Chanson Pour Solal)". "Le Voyage de Penelope" (parts of it)."
"I love it love it love it."
"I played this until I was sick of it, and then I played it some more."
Best Chamber Pop
Double vinyl LP pressing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you like the Decemberists, you like the Decemberists."
"I really love a few of the songs."
"Almost worth the price."
"This band incorporates both acoustic & electric guitar with other instruments to create their sound!"
"The Crane Wife is still my favorite (along with Hazards of Love which was so good that I went to 3 Hazards of Love concerts in 3 different states--that's when I found out that concert promoters add dates as they go along, so if a concert is not in your town initially, it may still be scheduled)."
"Mostly the music was pretty mellow compared to a lot of the things that I listen to. Overall, I really like the CD and enjoy listening to it."
"I keep searching my mind for some other act to which this group compares; I can find none."