My Favorite Records of 2004 - #10 - AC Newman The Slow Wonder (Matador)
Before we begin the top 10, it must be said that this order could be reversed quite a bit without too much complaining from me. This has been a fantastic year with a shitload of terrific releases, so by this point, feel free to start your counterarguments below.
Song-for-song, this is possibly the strongest release of the year and, from my list, the one most likely to get the Death Cab for Cutie fans moving a bit deeper into the indie-pop rosters of labels like Matador and Sub-Pop. It seems that The Slow Wonder functions most impressively as a particularly cohesive singles compilation. Each song stands on its own as an amazing A-side. In fact, this album reminds me a lot of The Cars' self-titled record, in quality of songs if not so much in composition (though from time to time...)
This album has the same unstoppable 1-2-3 punch right at the beginning with "Miracle Drug", "Drink to Me, Babe, Then", & "On the Table", of which my personal favorite is "On the Table" - a triumphant gem of a pop song. And, though the rest of the album is still A-side material for most any other band, the other songs that hit those peaks are "Come Crash" and "The Town Halo" - which has a delightful little cello line.
Indeed, if you're looking for a straight-ahead power-pop album, The Slow Wonder is right up your alley. It's the best pop album I've heard in some time, and, indeed, it inspired me to go out and pick up a real copy of the aforementioned Cars album. With a bounce in its step, AC Newman's The Slow Wonder strolls to #10. Effortless.
Song-for-song, this is possibly the strongest release of the year and, from my list, the one most likely to get the Death Cab for Cutie fans moving a bit deeper into the indie-pop rosters of labels like Matador and Sub-Pop. It seems that The Slow Wonder functions most impressively as a particularly cohesive singles compilation. Each song stands on its own as an amazing A-side. In fact, this album reminds me a lot of The Cars' self-titled record, in quality of songs if not so much in composition (though from time to time...)
This album has the same unstoppable 1-2-3 punch right at the beginning with "Miracle Drug", "Drink to Me, Babe, Then", & "On the Table", of which my personal favorite is "On the Table" - a triumphant gem of a pop song. And, though the rest of the album is still A-side material for most any other band, the other songs that hit those peaks are "Come Crash" and "The Town Halo" - which has a delightful little cello line.
Indeed, if you're looking for a straight-ahead power-pop album, The Slow Wonder is right up your alley. It's the best pop album I've heard in some time, and, indeed, it inspired me to go out and pick up a real copy of the aforementioned Cars album. With a bounce in its step, AC Newman's The Slow Wonder strolls to #10. Effortless.
posted by P at 3:22 AM
1 Comments:
I agree. Good album. Thanks to Canada.
Muscle Shoals
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