I dunno if I'm just in a generous mood today, but after the stillbirth of last week this is one of the best selections that I remember in any SotW iteration. Nicely done, guys!
1. Rome - A Legacy of Unrest
Top five band of the last decade or so. And they might have better songs than this, but not too many. 9/10
2. Kwoon - I Lived on the Moon
There's absolutely nothing groundbreaking about this but I can't help but love it anyway. It's really easy to slip into insipidness when you play this sort of post-dream chambergaze but this avoided that completely, to the point where I was genuinely sad when it ended. Sold. 8.5/10
3. Machinedrum - Come1
Wasn't expecting something this upbeat, for some reason. Beginning was more annoying than anything else, but it became way more accomplished as it went on. The vocals worked really well too. Album's added to my 2011 wishlist fo sho. 8/10
4. Modern Jazz Quartet - Django
There aren't many things in this world that I like more than vibraphones, but Django Reinhardt is one of them. Beyond the good will fostered by these two things and the excellent main melody, though, there wasn't much here for me. But that goes a long way! 7.5/10
5. Loreena McKennitt - The Mummer's Dance
If Dead Can Dance reunited to exclusively make music for commercials it'd probably sound pretty much like this. Really doubt I could stomach a full album of this stuff, but I enjoyed this! 7/10
6. Freezepop - Doppelganger
Almost fun enough to cover up the fact that this song has already been written a hundred times. Almost. 7/10
7. William Orbit - Who Owns The Octopus
This didn't really go anywhere, but god help me I just can't resist a dub bassline. Even when it means giving a Bartz track a high score. 7/10
8. Beastie Boys ~ Electrify
I don't like the Beasties very much. This didn't change that, by any means, but it was one of the better songs of theirs that I've heard. 6.5/10
9. Toro Y Moi - Thanks Vision
I only had my first experience with CHILLWAVE recently with the new Washed Out album (which I really enjoy), so I can't exactly compare this guy with his contemporaries. That said, this was pretty alright. Kinda all over the place, but I guess that's what happen when you basically invent a sound. 6.5/10
10. Bobbie Gentry - Seasons Come, Seasons Go
The week's stock pleasant-yet-forgettable song. This would have been top half last week but in this far superior one it just finds itself outclassed. 6/10
11. Nightwish - Over the Hills and Far Away
god this music is so silly. in four minute bursts I can't bring myself to outright hate it, but the thought of people sitting down and actively choosing to listen to this just seems utterly ludicrous to me. 3.5/10
12. Incubus - Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)
I really can't get down with this white man funk rock stuff at all. Sorry. 3/10
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