The Music Maven's Music Monday #44: The Music Maven’s Top 10 Albums of 2015

By Tillie Elvrum aka The Music Maven

Where did this year go?! 2015 went by in a flash! Thankfully, we had some great music to get us through the year.  Here are my Top 10 Albums – these are the albums that sound tracked my 2015.

10. Stages by Josh Groban: This album is my guilty pleasure – it’s SO not rock n’ roll.  I love all kinds of music, and I love Broadway musicals and the classics from the American songbook. Stages is such a beautiful compilation of some of my favorite songs including two songs from Les Miserables, and a medley from Into The Woods and Sweeney Todd.  If you’re not a fan of Josh Groban now, you will be after listening to this album. Music Maven Approved Tracks: Bring Him Home, Children Will Listen/Not While I’m Around

9.  Dopamine by Borns: Borns had me with his first single Electric Love – I think I listened to it about a thousand times straight.  His EP was just as good and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his debut LP – Dopamine didn’t disappoint.  It’s synth-y, dancey, and harmonic. Music Maven Approved Tracks: 10,000 Emerald Pools, Electric Love, Dopamine

8. South/Bashful Creatures by Hippo Campus: Okay, I’m kinda breaking the rules here, but I’m obsessed with this band, and they just had to have a spot on this list even though their releases this year were EP’s and not full length albums. I love the interesting rhythms that are layered throughout their songs – it’s really difficult to sit still when you’re listening to Hippo Campus. I need a full length release from this band SOON! Music Maven Approved Tracks: South, Suicide Saturday, Little Grace

7. And the Wave Has Two Sides by On An On: I love this three piece band. The first time I saw them it was me and about 3 of my friends – that’s it – in the whole venue. Oh, wait, there was a random drunk guy…but I don’t think he had a clue who was on stage.  That kinda depressing show didn’t dampen my interest or love of On An On’s music, and I was so glad when I saw them again this year that there was a great crowd that showed the band a lot of love. I’m sure their latest album has a lot to do with their growing following – And the Wave Has Two Sides is moody, atmospheric, and a steady listen from start to finish. Music Maven Approved Tracks: Drifting, Icon Love, Wait for the Kill

6. Chaos and the Calm by James Bay: Longtime Nerdy Girlie readers know that I have a thing for UK singer/songwriters – I just can’t help myself.  James Bay’s debut album Chaos and the Calm is an incredible debut album. He sings with a lot of maturity that some of his fellow British troubadours just don’t have.  Music Maven Approved Tracks: Hold Back The River, Let It Go, Move Together

5. What’s Real by MisterWives: MisterWives just make me happy. Their singles Our Own House and Reflections were my jams this year – I cannot listen to those songs without starting a one woman dance party.  What’s Real was the album that I most frequently had on blast this year. Music Maven Approved Tracks: Our Own House, Reflections, Best I Can Do

4. Smoke + Mirrors by Imagine Dragons: This is an album that really didn’t become a favorite until I saw it performed live.  My first impressions of the album left me feeling like it was a victim of over-production, but beneath it all there’s still everything I love about Imagine Dragons: deeply personal lyrics, vulnerability, and solid musicianship. We saw the Smoke + Mirrors tour in Denver at the Pepsi Center, and even with a sold out crowd of 20,000, Imagine Dragons still managed to make it feel personal and intimate.  Music Maven Approved Tracks: Shots, Polaroid, The Fall

3. Story of an Immigrant by Civil Twilight: According to Spotify, Civil Twilight was my most played artist this year.  I love this band because they just don’t seem to follow a formula when it comes to their songwriting and arrangements – I feel like I hear something new and interesting every time I listen to Civil Twilight.  Music Maven Approved Tracks: Holy Dove, Story of an Immigrant, River Child

2. Hold My Home by Cold War Kids: It seems like 2015 was the year of Cold War Kids – I don’t remember hearing their music on mainstream radio more than I did this year. It’s about time that everyone woke up to the wonder of CWK – longtime fans are excited to see this band take off and get the recognition they deserve. Music Maven Approved Tracks: All This Could Be Yours, First, Hear My Baby Call

1. A Silent Film by A Silent Film: I know. I know. Nerdy Girlie readers were expecting this…A Silent Film owns our music loving hearts.  Despite our complete loyalty to A Silent Film, this self-titled album stands on its own merit. The opening songs, Something To Believe In and Lightning Strike, are radio-friendly – there is no denying Robert Stevenson and Spencer Walker know how to write a great pop hook.  The album is rounded out by the 80’s tinged tracks including Paralysed with a sing-a-long worthy chorus.  Lake Swimming is my personal favorite – I saw it performed live several years ago and I’m so happy to finally have a quality recorded version that I can listen to on repeat. And I really can’t talk about A Silent Film without talking about the ballads that they do so well – Lavender Fields and Where Snowbirds Have Flown just make my heart ache.  I was dying with anticipation for this album and A Silent Film didn’t let me down.  Music Maven Approved Tracks: Something To Believe In, Lake Swimming, Lavender Fields

And there you have it – my Top 10 Albums of 2015. It was a very good year to be a music lover!  Don’t forget to tell me your favorite albums of the year in the comments below!  See you in 2016!

Let's Rock, Let's Rock Today or Cold War Kids Bring Down The House

I have been wanting to see Cold War Kids perform live ever since The Music Maven gave me their vinyl Mine Is Yours for my birthday a couple years ago.  I love every song off of that album and Skip the Charades is one of my all time favorite songs.  

When I found out my long time friend Erin would be visiting from Pennsylvania the week of the show, I knew I had take her.  CWK performed at The Observatory in Santa Ana on Tuesday November 19th to a sold out crowd.

I have been to The Observatory's Constellation Room many times but never in the big room and have never had a hard time parking there.  That night was a whole new ball game and I was glad to see such an amazing turn out for such an amazing band who gives you a complete experience at their show.

I was so happy to acquire a photo pass to the show and was able to shoot the first three songs.  Of course one of them had to be one of my favorites Miracle Mile and I found it hard to not rock out!  CWK came out swinging right away and kept the energy and crowd hyped all night, almost two hours!

As a new fan to CWK I only knew three songs they played that night, but I loved everything I heard.  I love how much camaraderie they all have on stage and how much genuine emotion and love they give to their fans, who know every word of their songs and sing a long loudly.  Now that is what I call band love and it warms this music nerd's heart so see.

If you haven't already check them out.  The Music Maven just wrote up a review of their new album Hold My Home, which came out on October 21st.  You can check them out on tour until March 2015!

www.coldwarkids.com

The Music Maven's Music Monday #21: Cold War Kids, Hold My Home

by Tillie Elvrum aka The Music Maven

Music Monday is short and sweet this week.

If you listen to one album this week let it be Cold War Kids' Hold My Home.  It's their 5th studio album and it's everything that I love about Cold War Kids -- incredible harmonies, jangly guitars, and percussion/bass with a lot of bombast.

I love the single First from Hold My Home so much. It's the song that I have on repeat at the moment. Have I mentioned I love it?

Hold My Home is out Tuesday, October 21^st.  Give it a listen and make sure you get to a Cold War Kids show near you – one of the best live acts you’ll ever see!

www.coldwarkids.com

What We’re Listening To: Cold War Kids Edition

By The Music Maven aka Tillie Elvrum

So, last Tuesday I found out that Cold War Kids had released a very limited amount, 500 to be exact, of their new album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts.   I got on the phone to see if my favorite local record store, Independent Records, had a copy.  I knew my chances were slim, and when I called the person on the other end of the line didn’t sound like they knew what I was talking about, but she went to check and she said “we have one copy.”  I told her I was on my way and 15 minutes later I had this lovely piece of vinyl in my greedy little hands:

And, yes, I went right home, tore it open, and put that record on the turntable.  I know the collectors out there must be mortified, but vinyl is meant to be played, not sit in plastic for eternity.

From the very opening notes of Miracle Mile, the first song and first single off DMLH, I knew that Cold War Kids hadn’t lost anything since 2011’s Mine Is Yours.  If you were one of those people that thought Mine Is Yours was a huge departure for Cold War Kids (I wasn’t one of them – and love what they did with Jacquire King) you’ll be happy to know that CWK is back in familiar territory, but definitely not tired or formulaic territory.   

Stand outs:  The whole freakin’ album – it’s a complete package.  But if you’re looking for a few tracks as an introduction here are my suggestions:  Jailbirds, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, Bottled Affection, Fear and Trembling, Lost That Easy, Miracle Mile

After a week of listening to DMLH, I had the pleasure of seeing Cold War Kids open their tour last night in Denver at the Gothic Theater.  I was psyched for this show because Cold War Kids are so good live, but I was also excited to be taking J.D. aka The Gamer Geek to his first CWK show – maybe now he would understand why this band has such a special place in my heart.

We got to the Gothic EARLY…like we were the only people in line for hours, no one else showed up ‘til after 5 p.m.  We passed the time working on schoolwork and had a nice conversation with Cold War Kids’ bus driver…their bus broke down during the night, he had to do the repairs himself, and he was waiting for a taxi to get him to the hotel for some much needed rest.  He was a cool dude, who loved his job, and loves driving these guys all over the country.  All the while, the band was in and out of the venue, we would see them, they would see us – and I’m sure they thought we were crazy.

It was show time.  The electro-pop duo Houses opened.  Normally, when I see more than one Mac computer onstage I get a little twitchy -- but with the addition of a drummer and a guitarist that played the hell out of his Gibson -- all was well.  Their album A Quiet Darkness is due out on April 16^th – will be checking that out for sure.

Finally, Cold War Kids took the stage…it had been way too long since my last CWK show.  There was a lot of anticipation for me…I’d heard a lot of the new material they’d be playing online, but what else would they play?  Here’s the setlist – up until the encore.  Yeah, they wing the encore, unlike another band I know and love *cough*U2*cough*.

We were in for an almost two hour collision course with greatness.  Last year Cold War Kids and their longtime guitarist Jonnie Russell parted ways, and Dann Gallucci, formerly of Modest Mouse, took the helm at guitar.  Gallucci isn’t just a replacement for Jonnie – he has helped retain that unique CWK style, but he’s also left his mark on this album and to see how perfectly he meshed on stage with the rest of the band was joyful.  

So, I could write about this band, this album, this show forever…not enough words to explain how much this band touches my little music heart…lyrically, their music that’s altogether quirky and bluesy, they just speak to me on so many levels.  I’m so glad I finally got to share my Cold War Kids love with J.D., my number one concert partner.  And I just have to put this out into the universe…even though Matt Maust will never read this…THANK YOU.  He saw us in line and J.D. tweeted that he was the “one man line.” At the end of the show, Matt Maust walked out onto stage with a little paper package filled with postcard images of his artwork.  I knew right away what was in the package, because I have two of those packages myself.  He walked right over to J.D. and gave the package to him, and then Mister Mauster proceeded to give J.D. a big ol’ kiss on top of the head.  At that moment J.D. became the most popular person in the Gothic – everyone wanted to know what was in the package and why J.D. was the “chosen” one?  Why…I don’t really know…but I like to think that the bands that we love so much and in all their "stardom” really do appreciate their fans that will stand in a queue all day just to feel that much closer to the music they love.  My wish for all of you is to have just one moment like that in your music lives…a special band, a special moment, a lifetime of memories.

Cold War Kids:  Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, Matt Aveiro, and Dann Galluccii

Music Worth Nerding Out Over!