January/February 2009

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE > Merriweather Post Pavillion

On the heels of Strawberry Jam last year, Animal Collective underwent a change from overlooked techno-rati darlings of the critical elite to a name practically synonymous with fringe experimentalism.

ANDREW BIRD > Noble Beast

Depending on your perspective, Andrew Bird is either inching closer toward the mainstream or is still about a thousand miles away from it.

DEL MCCOURY: Time Has Come Today

Though it took him awhile to become a household name in Americana circles, throughout his career, Del McCoury has demonstrated time and again he has impeccable timing.

J.D. SOUTHER > If the World Was You

Souther’s Conltranesqueries strike the nuanced intimacy of Joni Mitchell’s best work.

THE DEAD TREES > King of Rosa

Though their names suggests something hollow and gone, their music is anything but.

THE POSTMARKS > By-the-Numbers

Those who don’t like their indie pop fronted by breathy, little girl voices can stop reading here.

THE BIRD & THE BEE > Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future

…a disorienting amalgam that is pure, lo-fi deliciousness.

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS > Dirt Don’t Hurt

…another 14 track slab of high lonesome, backwoods Americana.

RANDY OWEN > One on One

Randy Owen enlisted the services of Nashville’s hottest super producer John Rich, presumably in order to help the Hall of Fame vocalist update his sound…