Strand of Oaks - Pope Killdragon

So I finally got around to posting this! Sorry it took me a lifetime. Anyway, bottom line is this is a wonderful listen, and one of the most replay friendly albums I've heard. Nothing hear sounds particularly foreign, but the at the same time it is unlike any other 'sad' folk album I've ever heard. The lyrics especially strike me as original for this type of music, despite being perfectly fit.

One thing I've found with this one is that while some tracks jump out right away (my personal favorite, 'Last to Swim', being the main culprit) all of these tracks have something to offer, and this album has a way of revealing itself slowly. Which is great, because I kept on wanting to go back, and I just ended up liking it more and more. Hopefully it has the same effect on you.

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Tim Buckley - Starsailor (1970)

I know an album will become one of my favourites when I'm always in the mood to listen to it soon after discovering it. This is the case with Tim Buckley's Starsailor. From looking at the album cover, you'd expect a pretty laid-back, feel-good folk album from the 70s. Looks, however, can be deceiving.

From the first few seconds of the album you know it's going to be weird. Tim has a very unique voice that can sound haunting or batshit insane, but always beautiful. Songs like "Monterey" and "Jungle Fire" revolve around repeating guitar riffs mixed with frantic, jazz-like drumming. The title track is probably the weirdest thing here, a primarily vocal piece that sounds like something Can would do. The record's most famous song is "Song to the Siren" which you might recognize since it's been covered by many artists including This Mortal Coil and John Frusciante.

While more avant-garde than most singer/songwriter fare, Starsailor is an album that instantly grabbed me despite being much different than I expected. I still haven't heard Jeff Buckley's Grace yet, but when I do it will have this album by his dad to live up to.

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Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light

I really like this album. Some of the songs don't really go anywhere and are a bit of a bore, but the good tracks (Epilepsy is Dancing) are fantastic. Some really beautiful music, with a really unique voice.

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Ocean Beach - Red House Painters

In my opinion a severely underrated album by them. I easily like it as much as there first two (and most acclaimed) albums, and it has one of my favorite RHP songs, Shadows. Not as dark as the first two, but still has a melancholy edge.

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Lost Verses Live - Mark Kozelek

This guy is an awe-inspiring songwriter, and this album is proof. I can drift away to this like nothing else.

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The Antlers - Hospice (2009)

This one's really good, and as you saw it's my favourite album of the year behind MPP. Most of the songs here are quite beautiful, and it has a pretty neat lyrical concept too if you're into that kinda thing.

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Elliott Smith - Either/Or

Been listening to this constantly lately. It's amazing.

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I See A Darkness - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

The first Country-ish album I found myself really enjoying. Might be a new thing. Damn this guy can write a dark tune.

Edit: Changed link, hopefully works now.

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