Time to analyze the bottom half of the bracket. The Flaming Lips region had a number of solid first round match-ups, and the second rounders are just as good, if not better.
(1) Fleet Foxes vs. (8) The Mountain Goats
Winner: (1) Fleet Foxes
Simply... The Mountain Goats have no mo'. John Darnielle and co. continue to make solid record after solid record, but honestly, a lot of it sounds the same. That's not to say that their output, most recently Heretic Pride, isn't worth listening to. It definitely is, and they have a pretty impressive track record. But you have to be in the right mood to listen to albums about child abuse (The Sunset Tree) and failed relationships (Get Lonely). Fleet Foxes burst on the scene this year with their Sun Giant EP clearing the way for Fleet Foxes to completely dominate the landscape. With an ethereal sound, Fleet Foxes offer deftly layered vocal arrangements on top of the expansive, open sound of their Pacific Northwest brethren. "Americana" might be an inaccurate description of the sound, but it sounds distinctly "American," and without question, it will be playing at some point on any extended road trip I have in the near-to-distant future.
(4) Beirut vs. (5) Wolf Parade
Winner: (4) Beirut
This was probably the easiest pick of the Round of 32 so far. I applaud what Wolf Parade are doing, but I have to reiterate how impressed I've been with Zach Condon and his bandmates in Beirut. They have managed to create a diverse discography that draws from a number of international sounds. It feels like I should be listening to Beirut on a gramophone, and their music has an overwhelming sense of antiquity, seemingly from a completely different time and place. And yet, it fits perfectly into our current musical landscape (especially if that landscape is "coffee shop"). For their most recent album, Beirut left the Eastern European influences at home and traveled south to Oaxaca, Mexico. As a result, March of the Zapotec sounds distinct from each of its predecssors. Probably the most exciting thing about Beirut is that Condon is only 23. How many more terrific albums are we in store for??
(3) Andrew Bird vs. (11) M.I.A.
Winner: (11) M.I.A.
I just changed my winner from Andrew Bird to M.I.A., and the reason is simple. Who else sounds like M.I.A.? Maybe Santogold a little bit, and Lil' Mama might be leaning in her direction, but both of those artists developed that sound after M.I.A. hit the scene. I've had quite a few discussions with people, most notably my brother, about whether M.I.A. is as good as everyone says she is. I was skeptical at first, but I'm coming around. That's not to say I can listen to either Arular or Kala all the way through, but both albums offer something that very few artists can these days: listenable experimental music. As opposed to The Fiery Furnaces, who lost in the first round of the tournament, M.I.A. (and producer Diplo) experiment with rhythm, sample, vocal inflection, sound, and probably a dozen other things over the course of an album. The success of those efforts are varied, but the resulting product is never boring. Andrew bird has a unique voice, but can easily be dropped into a genre. Try doing that with M.I.A. and you'll be left scratching your head.
(2) Of Montreal vs. (7) M. Ward
Winner: (7) M. Ward
This is really just an excuse to get Of Montreal out of the tournament. But let's sing a few praises for M. Ward, folksy guitar balladeer extraordinaire. From Transfiguration of Vincent to Transistor Radio to Post-War, M. Ward had about a 3 year streak of just top-notch output. He transitions seamlessly from honky-tonk romps to quiet, solitary love songs, and his seeming loud whisper of a voice fits both styles perfectly. Why his newest album, Hold Time, seems to be a drop in quality is hard to explain. Maybe he's more focused on side project She & Him. Maybe he's relying too much on a formula for his sound, not taking chances on different styles (although I'm not sure which direction he would go if he wanted to). Regardless, he's more enjoyable to listen to than Of Montreal. Contrary to the music elitist mindset, sometimes a guy with an acoustic guitar can be a good thing.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
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