(cont.)
07. Jenny Hoyston and William Elliott Whitmore - First Of A Thousand Beasts
Not from the album on the list, but from a EP-ish thing he made with Jenny Hoyston. Six songs, mostly duets. This also means that it's not quite as minimalistic as Whitmore's other albums. His raspy graveyard-voice and banjo is still present, but it's contrasted by Hoyston. Oh, and it's not quite as much about death either. (His three own records are very much recommended.)
08. TV On The Radio - Hours
This was probably the first thing I heard by them. Later that evening a friend told me to get their first one as well as that one is better. I have, sadly, not done this yet. But I really should.
09. The Black Keys - Strange Desire
A lot of blues this year, but no one does it better than the Black Keys. People have been giving this album so-so reviews. I think it's because they let their influences from late 60s/early 70s heavy metal shine through and that's just not proper(tm). I however loved it.
10. Sparklehorse - Mountains
This is basically the same thing as TV On the Radio. Same friend, same words. Except that he said Sparklehorse instead of that other group.
11. Frank Black - If Your Poison Gets You
A highly uneven record, I don't get why Frank Black feel the urge to do each third album as a double. But on the other hand, it's not really bad either. The song "You Can't Crucify Yourself" has a brilliant chorus, but this song has a better groove.
12. The Zutons - It's The Little Things We Do
While the surface is like any other rock band -- a bit better though as it isn't quite as Pro Toolified -- the lyrics are darker than you expected. There's a stalk-someone-and-keep-them-in-the-basement-out-in-the-cabin-in-the-woods and well, other things such as that. And this hangover tune.
13. (bonus) The Lost Patrol Band - Safety Pin
The singer started out in the Swedish hardcore band Refused. Since then he's done some singer-songwriter under the name Lost Patrol. This however is more pop-punk in the vein of Buzzcocks.