Now it can be said that my taste in music may be labeled "eclectic" to say the least. I have been called many things, from "Music Snob" and "Music Elitist" to "Baldy" and everything in between. However, I have to say that I stand by my theory that the radio still does not play the best music that is being released today. With that being said, I don't believe that this artist would ever be very widely received via mainstream media. The Album Leaf (aka Jimmy LaValle) needs to be absorbed in a secluded location. It needs to be provided your uncompromising attention so you can hear all of the nuances, the bleeps and blips, that are intricately arranged in Lavalle's compositions. I fell in love with The Album Leaf this way and it began with IN A SAFE PLACE.

IN A SAFE PLACE is not the first Album Leaf disc (I believe it is the 3rd depending on how you view his previously self-released material). I came upon it via an endorsement by a band that I trust, Sigur Ros, because he recorded the album in Iceland. I thought it was worth a try and I was greatly rewarded with my purchase.

LaValle is the main composer of all of his work but his music has many layers that are added by others (namely drums, violin, some vocals on select tracks). There is really not one track on IN A SAFE PLACE that stands out to me as being above the rest (some might say Twentytwofourteen or Streamside are the highlights but I believe they are just colors in the picture that LaValle paints on this listening experience).

The Album Leaf is not for people who enjoy lyrics as they are missing from the majority of the music. It is pure instrumentation that typically is classified as neo-pop or post-rock. I don't like to put labels on music so I just call it one of the best albums I have bought in my short time on this planet.

Give The Album Leaf a shot when you have an hour to devote to them. And if you do like what you hear, get out and see them live. The visual displays that are done for the live shows compliment the music so well it is kind of scary.

Check out some of LaValle and The Album Leaf below

http://www.thealbumleaf.com/index.php?showMovies=true&movieNum=0

I just found this today but I'm sure it is relatively old (as the date on it is back in 2006). Regardless, it should be checked out as I found it beyond fascinating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqumbhfxRo

For all of you hipsters out there that still enjoy a good Trent Reznor song, he has made his entire new album available via a free download on the Nine Inch Nails website.

Check it out and happy listening.

http://nin.com/

Happy Friday to everyone.

Throw the Ipod on shuffle for my first random 10:

1) Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
2) Foreign Bedrooms by Matt Pond PA
3) Jonathan David by Belle and Sebastian
4) Airport Disco by Athlete
5) Searchin by Kruder and Dorfmeister
6) Flamenco Sketches by Miles Davis
7) Sluttering by Jawbreaker
8) The Bitch is Back by Elton John
9) Joy of Life/Trout in the Water by The Corrs
10) Nancy by Troubled Hubble

Word!

Every once in a while I come across an artist that I enjoy but most of my friends despise. Jill Barber would most likely fall into this category. She surprised me as I typically don't like a typical "folk" sound and her sound really has a lot of country influences in it. There really isn't a single song on her debut FOR ALL TIME that could not be used as a slow dance a high school prom either. Despite all of this, I still like her and I can see why she has been such a huge hit in Canada.

I would compare her voice to a younger version of Stevie Nicks. Now that is why my wife says I like her because I have an unhealthy obsession with Stevie Nicks' Fleetwood Mac songs. However, Jill's voice has something else to it that makes it a bit warmer. It is almost like she wraps her voice around you like a blanket and you are enveloped in her musical goodness.

Most of Jill's songs on her debut would not be labeled "uplifting" by any means. But in her defense, I couldn't picture myself slitting my wrists to her music like I would with maybe an album of Lucinda Williams songs (Lucinda is a GREAT songwriter but she doesn't write HAPPY songs by any means). Miss Barber has some quality harmonies provided by her back-up singers on most of the songs ("Don't Go Easy and "Just for now") and she offers a variety of folk styles ("When I'm Making Love to you").

The standouts that you should check out to get a good feel of what Jill Barber has to offer are 'Hard Line" and "Legacy." I believe that she will be writing some quality albums in the future as well.

http://www.jillbarber.com