Yup, I still obsess about music.

So, every year I latch on to like, 5 to 10 albums and listen to them all the time. And luckily, I get to see almost all those bands this year. And I thought I'd enlighten the whole lot of you, and it won't even be that long of a post.

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast (http://www.insound.com/Surfer_Blood_Astro_Coast_LP/productmain/p/INS68489/)

So good! The show is $12 and is coming up in October. And I got this album at Amoeba Music in San Francisco during Record Store Day, and it's on white vinyl. It's a pretty young band, really fun to listen to and all that. They've clearly taken the whole gamut of influences from the indie rock pantheon, but they still sound like their own. They were my soundtrack for late nights in the industrial design workshop during winter semester. '

Review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/5135/surferblood-astrocoast-2010

New Pornographers - Together

http://www.insound.com/The_New_Pornographers_Together_LP/productmain/p/INS72970/

I'm listening to this right now. I saw the NPs at Twilight two and a half weeks ago, and it was easily the best show of the series thus far, at least in my opinion. I love Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema, but I think this is more listenable. And underrated. Its strongest tracks don't match the best of Mass Romantic (Letters from an Occupant) or Twin Cinema (Bleeding Heart Show, Stacked Crooked), but its strength is that it is very strong all the way through. And the Dan Bejar tracks rock. He was the best at the concert! I highly recommend. I can't put this one down. And no, they aren't pornographic. It's just a dumb name. Like Spoon. What kind of name is Spoon (and that was a freaking great concert, holy cow)?

Concert review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/feature/5552/concert-newpornographers-2010

Album review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/5388/newpornographers-together-2010

The National - High Violet

http://www.insound.com/The_National_High_Violet_2xLP/productmain/p/INS73407/

I have the album with me in my office. Gorgeous! Purple LPs, beautiful print and layout. I love the way it looks, and it's my favorite National album thus far. Which is saying something, because I loved Alligator and Boxer quite a bit. But man, this album has some seriously sky-high moments, especially England and Conversation 16. My brother got me hooked on this when I went to visit him (and Thom Yorke, of course) in California. We listened to two songs on repeat on the drive up to San Francisco, and that got me hooked. Super good.

Album review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/5416/national-highviolet-2010

Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

http://www.insound.com/Flying_Lotus_Cosmogramma_LP/productmain/p/INS73788/

So good! Oh my gosh. I usually end up listening to this at least twice in a row every time I hear it. I mean, I think the packaging for Los Angeles is a little prettier, but whatever, this album is so amazing. FlyLo has such an ear. I saw him open for Thom Yorke in April, and it was so sweet. I even have the man's autograph, which I cherish. Flying Lotus is the future. You can hear the J Dilla influence, and I love love love this album. I don't really know how to describe it. I'm not much of a writer. But it is super good.

Album review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/5414/flyinglotus-cosmogramma-2010

Menomena - Mines

http://www.insound.com/Menomena_Mines_2xLP/productmain/p/INS77490/

Oh my gosh this is good. I downloaded it because I heard it was pretty solid, and they're coming in October. I was in for a crazy delicious treat. The lyrics are so deep and relatable, and it is great. In the couple of weeks I've had this album I've probably listened to it 10 or 12 times, and now I'm getting Friend and Foe (2007) to get ready for the concert I will definitely be attending. I'll buy the album at the show and get them to sign it, I think. Super good.

Album review:

http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/5540/menomena-mines-2010

So, I'd say these are my top 5 of the year thus far, but I can't narrow it down to a particular order. I don't listen to every new album, and I'm just starting on Arcade Fire's Suburbs. But these albums are worth the time. I've listened to every one at least 10 times, and some 20 or more, which I don't do unless it's a sweet album. Screw anything Pitchfork says, they didn't BNM Menomena or New Pornographers, but I doubt you'll find albums as fun to listen to anywhere else. Screw you, Vampire Weekend, Neon Indian, Girls, et cetera. I'm sure people love that music. But this is better! Promise! And the only band I won't be seeing out of these this year is The National. I think my older brother has seen them 2 or 3 times. The blessings of living in Bay Area.

Buy these albums! See these bands! If you like that kind of music, at least. AND SONIC YOUTH IS COMING!!!