Album of the Year: High Violet

Instead of a top 10 or 5 or 20 albums of the year, I thought I'd simplify and write about what is far and away, for me, the best album of the year: The National's High Violet.

It's an easy, stand away pick. I loved Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, but have not enjoyed listening to it as much as High Violet. No other record has spent nearly as much time on my iPod queue. I have returned to it again and again.

I wrote about the record when it first came out in May this year. Since that time, my enjoyment  of the record has not waned but I find I have a much broader view.

High Violet is more than a melancholy record of symphonic indie rock. Oh yeah, it has its melanholy moments, but it is also funny, smart and insightful. Like great records it's a snapshot of the times, a contemporary barometer of mood and culture. The album has my favorite lyrical moments on any record this year. Consider the connection to our times:

Why Kanye is king. (An explanation to non rap fans who don't get it)

Sorry I've been away for so long. It's been a busy few weeks (almost a month, now) for me. Launching a new website at the Local has pretty much kept me from this awesome blog.

Of course, I haven't really had any good inspiration. Was toying with a piece about Deerhunter, but couldn't work up much enthusiasm for it. Thought about taking a look at reissues by NIN (Petty Hate Machine) and Weezer (Pinkerton) but didn't have anything worthwhile to say about either.

So, I thought, why not weigh in on Kanye West? 

If you read this blog, you're probably not a big fan of hip hop. Chances are you're a rock fan. Well, I'm not a huge fan of hip hop, either. I was 20 years ago, though. There was a time in high school when Public Enemy, Run DMC, Boogie Down Productions, De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest were everything to me.