This in
www.dcist.com Cedars top 5:
Brian: Trentmoller -"The Last Resort"
Admittedly, one of my guiltiest pleasures is minimalist electronica - the kind of sound necessary for late night drives or cross country flights. Trentemoller's "The Last Resort" is an electronic record that embodies warmth, emotion, and beautiful instrumentation. Consider it the perfect soundtrack for the shores of Ibiza, or in my case, a warm, overcrowded train ride to Metro Center.
Ed: Junior Boys - "So This is Goodbye"
Very chill but layered record, great for dinner parties and sex. What else can you ask for?
Fico: Elbow - "Leaders of the Free World"
Along with Doves, Elbow is one of those bands we all look up to. Guy Garvey's voice is as honest as it gets in my opinion. I've heard them being described as a "drinking man's Coldplay", I can see some of that. Chockfull of fantastic melodies and lyrics that describe beautifully different scenarios such as the streets of Manchester, the self-doubt of meeting an ex-girlfriend's new beau, the post break-up bravado and subsequent vulnerability phase...and yes, even our idiot leader and his kin. This record has it all, a tour de force as pro-journalists like to say.
Luke: Youth Group - "Casino Twilight Dogs"
Pays proper homage to the notion of a "tune." Guitars, drums and vocals are rarely glossed over with walls of effects, yet the music still shimmers and soars as if it were meant for a higher calling. The music starts in the clouds- and dips into the canyons of isolation and simplicity. You can listen and not apologize for being a member of the bleeding hearts club. Youth Group does what U2 and James used to do with music and wordplay.
Collective Plug: Cedars - "Another Season"
It's our record and we luv it. It starts with "This Century" which was the first song we wrote as a 4-piece, a total stomper. "Holiday" follows with us at our most "U2ish" moment as some have said. Our collective favorite track is "Arrivals/Departures", it's different from most of the stuff we have done, the outro has some great atmospheric stuff and when we play it live we luv reaching that part of the song and just going with it and havin' it, know what I mean?
