[[Congregation -- Afghan Whigs]]
Cincinnati locals may remember this pulse pulsing favorite from old 97X broadcasts, The Afghan Whigs spent most of their career tiptoeing on the brink of popularity. And this album, Congregation, shows their indie influences. Screaming guitar placed against crashing drums, and grungy vocals create a very garage-band like alternative rock sound. Congregation is a very well crafted album for a lesser known cult band like The Afghan Whigs.
Recomended tracks:
I'm Her Slave -- Perfect opening song, introduces the Afghan Whigs sound.
Conjure Me -- Rolling drum beats, streaming bass line, and soft(ish) vocals create a circular hum throughout this song.
Congregation -- The title track has a thumping bass line that ties the song together with an intense vigor.
[[The Moon and Antarctica -- Modest Mouse]]
This experimental, atmospheric, and vigorous album is Modest Mouse's first on the Epic label and really showcases their brilliant and unique musicality. This album takes you on an ethereal journey through the cold and dark places in the world, almost as if your on a spaceship exploring the moon above us. The Moon & Antarctica combines dirge-like melodies with that "happily deranged" sound that MM fans have grown to love. This album is one of MM's best work and details their view of the world:
A Different City -- "I want to remember to remember to forget you forgot me"
The Stars are Projectors-- MM leads you into an elaborately expressive breakdown of how the stars are both simple and complex, and compares it to the way people are and act. Teeters between insane pulse-pounding mechanics and simple vocal-driven melodies.
Life Like Weeds --A melodic soundscape showcasing the beautifully written lyrics and chorusing guitar work.
