speed of dark

Wow! Indie Mom published our 100th post Friday! Amazing!

Favorites of 2006: 5 and 6

Clearlake: No Kind of Life from Amber
This British group has a sound that is dark and tough as nails while still managing to remind me of The Stone Roses at their best. This song's lyrics, while repetitive, have deep meaning for me, and I have played it over and over without ever getting tired on it. It isn't the only good song on Amber, which is their third album. I like "Good Clean Fun" almost as well as this one, and "Neon" sports a mean harmonica. Listen to that and also "I Hate It That I Got What I Wanted," another standout, on their MySpace page. Album Four will be delivered in 2007, and Clearlake have posted a demo song from it called "Summer's Over" on MySpace. Sounds good, and I'm looking forward to the rest.
Website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon or iTunes



Midlake: Head Home from The Trials of Van Occupanther
Denton, TX band Midlake is near the top of many best album lists, but for me it's the best example why I preferred to collect favorite songs instead of favorite albums. In an album rank, Trials of Van Occupanther ranks lower for me than Bel Auburn's Lullabies in A & C, which actually is my #5 Favorite Album of 2006. However, this song taken by itself comes out higher in listening pleasure than my favorite Bel Auburn song, Metropolitan (watercolor). Does that make sense?

The two are in such close competition with each other for similar reasons. Both albums are just lovely good listening. Most everyone else choosing favorite songs picks "Roscoe", and I like that a lot myself, and I liked "Gathered in Spring" and the title song as well. "Branches" and "Young Bride" never quite hit it with me, however. In the end, it's "Head Home" that comes out best, and playing it never fails to put me in a good mood. A good driving song, a good exercise song.
Official website | MySpace | Buy at Amazon or iTunes

Next week: My final four Favorites.