Tag Archives: Indie rock

#457 – Z, ‘My Morning Jacket’

My Morning Jacket (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
My Morning Jacket (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 4 October, 2005
Label: ATO
Genre: Psychedelic rock, art rock, indie rock
Producer: John Leckie, Jim James

Well. If the last album was a surprise, then My Morning Jacket is, well, it’s whatever the superlative of surprise is. I’m amazed. I hadn’t heard of Z prior to this, except for recently in an episode of American Dad

But straight away I loved this album. For one thing, it’s modern, which is something to note in going through this list (just sayin’). This is seriously beautiful music – futuristic and soaring. It’s rock and roll, but it’s interstellar. Kind of like what I expect Pink Floyd or Brian Eno to be like. A brilliant combination of styles and genres and it shoots straight to amongst the best that I’ve heard from this list.

Top tracks: The whole thing, but the more moody “Wordless Chorus” and “Gideon” rise above as the standouts. 

This week: This week I started in Melbourne and ended back home in Perth. I haven’t been back to Perth properly in over 15 months so I was really excited to see what was happening, and she sure didn’t disappoint. Big sky and roads and space and sun abound, there’s a lot more happening in the city and there’s more of a cultural heart beginning to beat. And low and behold, the big move back is well and truly back on the cards. Well, less back on the cards and more those cards have been dealt. Now it’s a matter of when (and where – we’re looking to buy Andy’s Sister’s apartment). So then comes matters of timing and jobs and packing in everything we want to do in Melbourne while we can. 2014 is going to be big.

On a side note, I have some seriously awesome and fun and special friends. We’ve grown up so much since I moved away, but when I’m with them it’s like we’ve never been apart. For that I’m really grateful.

#493 – Wilco, ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’

The cover artwork of Wilco's 2002 album Yankee...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: April 23, 2002
Label: Nonesuch
Genre: Alternative rock, indie rock, psychadelic rock
Producer: Wilco

If nothing else (though a lot else) this list has already introduced me to bands which I clearly should have been accross, but had never heard of. Which is pretty sad because (a) I really like Wilco, and (b) they’re apparently huge and it’s really lame that I didn’t know who they are.

This is just really solid modern rock; I’m not so sure about the songwriting and I didn’t really connect emotionally with the lyrics, but Wilco have good songs and a well-produced, rounded sound. As a side-note, Wilco released this electronically in 2001, on their website, for free, which I think is pretty cool.

Top track: ”Heavy Metal Drummer” maybe or “Kamera” if I was feeling upbeat. “Radio Cure” is terrific moodiness. “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” is probably my favourite.

This week: Back. To. Work. But it’s not all bad, or really bad at all. New year and all that.