[Best of 2011] Eli’s List

Tag Archive: Cass McCombs

[Best of 2011] Eli’s List

Written on December 19, 2011 by Eli in Music

Editor’s Note: This morning starts our rundown of our writers’ favorites of 2011. We didn’t give them any real guidelines – just that each one would get a post with which to talk about what they liked over the previous 12 months. A couple of writers are voting “present,” but between Dave and I and the rest of the guys, there will be a bunch of different takes on what was the best of the preceding year. We think it presents a good picture of how diverse our assembled group is in taste.

We’ll be interspersing normal posts as well throughout the week, with the results of our Reader Poll coming at some point as well, but this week might be a bit lighter as we wind down the year and enjoy the holidays. Please feel very free to leave comments, criticisms, etc. as you see fit, and we hope you all enjoy the lists and your holidays as well.

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What follows are currently my favorite 10 albums of 2011, presented alphanumerically by band name with unhelpful and yet totally tweetable explanations. If your favorites didn’t make the cut it is likely because I haven’t heard them yet. If I had, I think they’d probably be listed here, don’t you?

Akron/Family // S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT
A slash, a colon and a Roman numeral, and that’s just in the first six characters of the album title!

Akron/Family // So It Goes [mp3] from S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT

Ben Sollee // Inclusions
Cello? You’ll have to speak up, I’m wearing a towel.

Brett Dennen // Loverboy
A tall glass of pure joy with splashes of Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Stevie Wonder.

Cass McCombs // Wit’s End
Ditto the previous comment, except the opposite.

Cass McCombs // County Line [mp3] from Wit’s End

Eleanor Friedberger // Last Summer
The Fiery Furnaces by any other name still sounds just as ~~weird~~ sweet.

Eleanor Friedberger // My Mistakes [mp3] from Last Summer

In the Country // Sounds and Sights
This spot, reserved for the yearly release by the Bad Plus is occupied in their absence by another incredible genre-busting piano trio.

Iron and Wine // Kiss Each Other Clean
Sam Beam’s farts smell like roses.

Roadside Graves // We Can Take Care of Ourselves
An album based on the novel The Outsiders; its inclusion here is based on its novel excellence.

Roadside Graves // Love Me More [mp3] from We Can Take Care of Ourselves

White Denim // D
If an album was judged solely by the volume at which it was listened, this one would probably be tops.

Zun Zun Egui // Katang
If only it were possible to listen to this music with more than two ears at a time.

Zun Zun Egui // Fandango Fresh [mp3] from Katang

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[mp3/stream] Cass McCombs // The Same Thing

Written on August 26, 2011 by Dave in Music

l [mp3/stream] Cass McCombs // The Same Thing

Cass McCombs has been busy. Already having released Wits End, one of 2011′s finest records, the California centered musician has completed his second record of the year, entitled Humor Risk, for release on November 8th. Long a musician’s favorite, it feels as though the Domino recording artist has been mentioned as a favorite act by roughly half the bands ever asked the question. Perhaps 2011 will be the year he breaks into the indie-mainstream. In many ways McCombs is the epitome of the 21st century folk musician. While strong songwriting and traditional forms are embedded in everything he does, the sounds and textures with which he develops his reflective, introspective songs varies greatly.

With his pair of 2011 LPs, it would seem that McCombs is continuing to aim at a constantly moving sonic target. Wits End was released in the middle of spring, but its sound was solidly rooted in the darkest depths of winter. It is a moody, somber record that is well represented by the lead single “County Line” provided for streaming below. Throughout the record McCombs references the smooth sounds of 70s AM radio that have become a growing trend in today’s independent rock music. However, where many of his contemporaries become lost in the schmaltz of that scene, McCombs creates a warm inviting sound-scape. I have a feeling I’ll be revisiting this record often during the long cold Rochester winter.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9652233"]
Cass McCombs // County Line

“The Same Thing,” the first song released off of Humor Risk, is downright jubilant by comparison. The track is a far more an upbeat affair, with a driving drumbeat and mildly psychedelic organ sounds. In the center of it all is McCombs richly textured voice and acoustic guitar. I’m not implying that you are going to hear this song playing out at the clubs anytime soon, but judging by the lead single, it would seem that Cass McCombs has once again taken his superb songwriting to a new creative space.

Cass McCombs // The Same Thing [mp3] from the forthcoming Humor Risk

Connect with Cass McCombs // Website | Label | Facebook

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[video] The Voice Project: Andrew Bird // Meet Me Here At Dawn (Cass McCombs Cover)

Written on December 10, 2010 by Andy in Cover, Live, Music

This is a cool project that I’ve been spending a lot of time taking in over the past couple of days. It’s called The Voice Project, whose basic mission is to bring peace to the African nation of Uganda. As a part of their service, they enlist various artists to cover their favorite songs, and The Voice Project puts them online for viewers. This particular video is of one of our favorites – Andrew Bird – covering a track of Cass McCombs’. Please make sure to check out the rest of the available videos, and support the project if you can. There are some excellent covers available – including Parts & Labor doing a track from No Age, and Jesca Hoop covering Bon Iver. Head over to voiceproject.org to check out the project as a whole.

Andrew Bird » Cass McCombs from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

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Cass McCombs

Written on October 14, 2009 by Dave in Music

61Hq Fu6wrL. SL500 AA280 Cass McCombs Many themes are familiar throughout the world of music. That love and companionship provided by a particular someone – ultimately as he so puts it – will save one’s life is certainly somewhat common. This song along with the rest on this record are reportedly about Cass McCombs’ wife. You can easily feel the emotion put into the words and music, while the sentiment prevents itself from devolving into something overly sappy. It remains a poignant ode to love in addition to being an excellent song.

Cass McCombs – You Saved My Life (mp3) from Catacombs

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