Albums of the Month (January)

Here are some of my favorite releases from January. And, expect for the Album of the Week's feature to start up again next week. Let's get started:

Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Of Montreal's lastest album is all primal scream therapy as singer/songwriter Kevin Barnes takes the listener on a journey of his past year full of resentment, heartache, depression, and divorce. Still, such subjects have never sounded this joyful. Along with their debut Cherry Peel, this is Of Montreal's second masterpiece.

Animal Collective People EP

Noah Lennox (or Panda Bear) just might be the most talented guy working in indie pop these days. Here is a four song EP to tide us over until the full length comes out from both Animal Collective and his solo record Person Pitch (which is already being labeled the best album of the year).

Radicalfashion Odoir

Odori means "dance" in Japanese, but don't expect to be busting out your best dance moves. Odori is a highly textured album combining samples, electronics, and piano to create something rather serene.

Ghost In Stormy Nights

Those Japanese psych/prog rockers are back with another strong outing with In Stormy Nights. I'm waiting for the tribute album to Ghost to emerge, highlighted by performances from Ian Anderson, Robert Wyatt, Rick Wakeman, and Robert Fripp. (Really, it's only in my mind, so don't start googling it.)

Exploding Star Orchestra We Are All From Somewhere Else

A jazz outfit led by Rob Mazurek of The Chicago Underground and Isotope 217 and containing such Thrill Jockey heavyweights as John McEntire, Jeff Parker, Jim Parker, and Nicole Mitchell. Now, there is an awe indusing reasoning behind each of these songs, somehow relating to our cosmic universe and electric eels and sting rays and rebirth. But, honestly, all that information really just seems to get in the way. So, forget the backstory, and take in the recording which, if it's not the best jazz release thus far, it's certainly the best post-rock.