The Pelican’s Perch

You know you’re super busy when completely forget you didn’t finish your year end list. Everyone thank Michael in Ireland for getting me off my lazy behind to finally finish my list. Let’s get this puppy finished already.

20. Welcome Wagon – Welcome to the Welcome Wagon

My obsession with all things Sufjan faded a while ago with a lack of anything new on his front, so the excitement just wasn’t there when I heard he produced a new album for his married couple friends in Welcome Wagon. Of course, my buddy Dylan told me it’s basically Sufjan’s Seven Swans rehashed, and I became a little more curious. Multiple listens later and I’ve got an album that does its part as Sufjan filler for now, but definitely gets me excited to finally hear more new Sufjan. Whenever the heck that’s going to be.

Sold! To the Nice Rich Man [mp3]

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19. The Envy Corps – Dwell

It seems like I’ve been putting songs by the Envy Corps in my Perch Mixes forever now. This Iowa quartet sounds straight out of the UK, and released an EP in 2006 that got them an opening gig for the Killers and opened a lot of people’s eyes. 2007 found them releasing another EP with songs that eventually made it onto Dwell, but a stroke sidelined their guitarist and the band and forced them to delay the album to 2008. So, it’s no wonder I feel like I’ve been posting their songs in mixes forever. Songs from Dwell have been floating around on EP’s since 2006. Either way, I was glad to finally see the full-length released and it sure didn’t disappoint.

Wires and Wool [mp3]

Rhinemaiden [mp3]

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18. Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles

Langhorne Slim was one of those grab bag artists for me that arrived in the mail and made it onto the promo pile, waiting patiently for me to listen. I finally gave it a chance, and from the violin riff on the first song, I knew I would like this album. It feels like music from a fun bar band you look forward to dancing to at the end of every week. Langhorne’s voice is unique sounding with that carefree wail I identify now only to him. This wasn’t an album I expected to hear and put on my year end list, but there’s always those few suprise picks that throw a wrench in your normal listening routine.

Spinning Compass [mp3]

Hello Sunshine [mp3]

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17. Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons – Cabin Ghosts EP

The problem with EP’s are that when they’re really good, you’re left eagerly waiting for more than the six or so songs you’re given. And it’s even worse if half of those songs are live performances. Such is the case for Cory Chisel’s EP. It’s a great introduction to probably my favorite singer/songwriter of 2008, and I can’t wait for his upcoming full-length. While he doesn’t exactly sound like Joshua Radin, I can see him all over shows like Scrubs and other prime time shows’ slow scenes. His songs simply have that feel to them. If you’re looking for good rainy day music, or even just another great singer/songwriter to add to your collection, Cory fits that bill perfectly.

Home in the Woods [mp3]

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16. Dodos – Visiter

If I had to imagine what kind of music dodo birds might play, I think it wouldn’t be too farfetched to say it’d sound a lot like the songs on Dodo’s Visiter. A strange mix of energetic acoustic guitar with all kinds of percussion that comes together in some kind of controlled chaos that have me picturing a band of dodo birds playing wild and carefree as they march right off a cliff none the wiser. That could just be my crazy imagination, but listen to this album and tell me you don’t at least kind of picture that. Dodos have a sound unto themselves and as hard as I tried, I really couldn’t find any other band to compare them to. But that doesn’t really matter in the end finding comparisons. It’s unique and it’s great. ‘Nuff said.

Fools [mp3]

Jodi [mp3]

Ashley [mp3]

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15. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into

Our local indie DJ crew, Black Box Revue, played “We Are Rockstars” all the time during their Friday night weekly indie dance party, but I never knew who it was. Once I found out it was Does It Offend You, Yeah?, I looked further into them, never expecting more than a decent dance album from a band with a ridiculous name. What I found was an album, that besides the opener and “We Are Rockstars”, was not what I expected at all. If anything, it sounded more like Chk Chk Chk meets the Cure, or any 80’s sounding indie dance band. I was a great surprise that was only diminished by the fact that I wished they would have just made up their mind. Either be super beat heavy dance tunes, or do the dancable Cure route. I’m hoping for the latter for their next album, but as far as dance albums go, this one took over our dance parties and is still a frequent player even today.

Dawn of the Dead [mp3]

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14. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

This gentle, other-wordly album came out of nowhere for nearly everyone and if someone says otherwise, they’re probably lying. Holed up in a remote cabin in Wisconsin for three months, Justin Vernon crafted For Emma, Forever Ago in complete isolation. It’s a story most bloggers and industry pros could only dream about, and one of the main reasons it took so long for me to finally look into Bon Iver. It’s not his fault everyone jumped on that isolation story and ran way too much with it. That’s one of my main turn-offs as a blogger; blogger hype. But having friends that loved the album made it impossible to ignore, and after plenty of listens, I can safely say it’s an amazing album. It’s just a damn shame bloggers nearly wet themselves about the backstory and don’t focus mainly on the music. Maybe I’m just bitter about all the follow the leader blogger stuff, but push that aside for a second and you have For Emma, Forever Ago. The year’s best album for road trips, naps, reading, Sundays, and damn near any other relaxing situation you may find yourself in.

Skinny Love [mp3]

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13. Sunfold – Toy Tugboats

Sunfold is the side project of Annuals’ guitarist Kenny Florence. Most of you know of my love for Annuals, so when I found out their guitarist had a side band, which also was made up of nearly all the members of Annuals, my curiosity definitely peaked. It was basically a new Annuals album under a different name, right? Not quite. The range of genres Kenny covers throughout the album is pretty amazing. From Annuals sounding rock to laid back piano lounge jazz, you never really know which direction the next song will go the first time you listen through the album. This hurts the album a little in consistency, but I got over it. I honestly thought this side project may outshine Annuals upcoming album to be released later in ‘08, but alas, that new Annuals album barely edged it out. Which, when you think of it, means we got two special albums from the Annuals crew last year, and that’s never a bad thing.

Sara the American Winter [mp3]

Shrinking the Sphere [mp3]

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12. Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s – Animal! / Not Animal

The back-story and rumors surrounding the release of this double album make it interesting enough to make the list regardless of the music. If you haven’t heard the story, basically the band wanted to release one set of songs and their new label wanted another set. Rumor has it the lead singer marched to the main offices of the label and threatened to leak the album if they didn’t find a compromise. That’s all rumor I can’t prove, but regardless, the compromise ended up being this double album in which the label released the songs they wanted, which the band cleverly titled Not Animal, meaning not the songs we wanted, and the band’s selection of songs was released on vinyl and for download as Animal!. I think having to digest all these songs hurt it in the end for me, as the stand-outs for each are great and would’ve been better suited as just one album. But, it’s right up there with their other releases and remains vintage Margot, which is a sound I’ll never grow tired of.

A Children’s Crusade on Acid [mp3]

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11. Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight

Frightened Rabbit took the crown with this release as my new favorite rabbit band, which used to be White Rabbits. That may be the only two rabbit bands I know, but they’re still both great none the less. The thing I like most about Frightened Rabbit is the fact that they’re Scottish and there’s no denying it. Scott Hutchison’s voice is Scottish through and through, but their music doesn’t really have a set sound to it. The combination really works for them. “Modern Leper” was the first song I heard from this album, and remains one of my favorite songs of the year. I didn’t know if the rest of the album could match up with that first song, but it does a pretty dang good job of it. If you’re looking for a different take on the usual rock song, then Frightned Rabbit do the trick.

Modern Leper [mp3]

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