Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Alternative, Indie & Punk Editor, Tod Nelson The artists that made Amazon.com's list of the 10 best alternative, indie, and punk albums of the year shook things up by either adopting the revolutionary spirit of experimental innovation or by delving deep into the rebellious heart of stripped-down, revved-up rock & roll. Sometimes they did both. 1. "The Soft Bulletin" The Flaming Lips http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JC6C/entertainmentsit The crazed genius of the Lips comes to full flower on the sonically massive and majestic "The Soft Bulletin." Head Lip Wayne Coyne compounds the band's penchant for freak-outs with symphonic excess; the result is nothing short of magnificent, making it not only the best album of 1999, but among the best albums of the past decade and a blueprint for future generations of musical provocateurs. 2. "Let It Bomb" Zoobombs http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000296VM/entertainmentsit If you're not a part of the Zoobomb army yet, enlist as soon as possible. This rocked-out and funky Japanese quartet (Don, Matta, Moo-Stop, and Bukka) throw down the most enervating, rump-shaking grooves set to wax. Think Jon Spencer whacked with a rhythm stick or James Brown on punk-rock overdrive--only better. 3. "Pedals" The Aluminum Group http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JPDE/entertainmentsit When producer-du-jour Jim O'Rourke encouraged the Navin brothers to explore "new areas in pop music," they set off on a musical journey of discovery to rival the exploits of Arctic adventurers. "Pedals" is a revelation, with elaborate, breezy, and moody compositions epic in scope and effervescent in execution that manage, somehow, to be like everything you've ever heard and unlike anything you've ever heard. That's quite an accomplishment. 4. "Come On Die Young" Mogwai http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I6EE/entertainmentsit Moody, bombastic, brooding, loping, thunderous, austere, chaotic: heap on the adjectives as the young boys in Mogwai sidle their way through a mostly instrumental set of guitar-heavy songscapes. "Punk Rock" is anything but--instead loopy and delicate--while "Christmas Steps" unlocks the dark creepiness of the winter holiday. Not easy, but entirely, utterly original. 5. "Trance State in Tongues" Zen Guerrilla http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K2CD/entertainmentsit They've got the guerrilla part right, but these musical thugs are about as Zen as a Mack truck. Zen Guerrilla's "Trance State in Tongues" shows off the strong-armed, revved-up, R&B-infused smash-your-head-on-the-punk-rock tunes that make other hard-rock revivalists like the Hellacopters and Queens of the Stone Age sound like girl-school choirs. 6. "The 3 Way" Lilys http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IAGA/entertainmentsit The Lilys hit a treacly jangled groove that sounds like the Kinks and Zombies channeled through Belle and Sebastian. Fey vocals, lilting melodies, dirty-water guitar, trash-can drums, and charmingly decadent lyrics all make "The 3 Way" one of the year's most infectious releases. 7. "Social Dancing" Bis http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JPXY/entertainmentsit It's a revolution you can dance to. The kids in Bis--Manda, Sci-Fi, and Disco--put the disco back in discordant on "Social Dancing," combining fresh beats, punk-rock rage, and savage political rants to create a heady mix sure to incite the masses to riot or dance--take your pick. 8. "Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World" Supersuckers http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JPCU/entertainmentsit What other punk-rock band can hang with Willie Nelson? The Supersuckers make the ballsy claim that they are the world's greatest rock & roll band. Can it be true? This compilation, which culls a stunning 27 cuts from their Sub Pop catalog, makes a strong case that no punk-rock judge could overturn. 9. "I Want Some" Make Up http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I8YE/entertainmentsit If you can imagine Prince fronting a gospel-punk-rock combo, you'd be close to envisioning the spectacle that is Make Up. With DIY ethics intact, Make Up forge a funky and danceable alloy from gospel shout-outs, James Brownish jams, and three-chord rave-ups. 10. "Simple Pleasures" Tindersticks http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001R3LI/entertainmentsit The Tindersticks' formula is unique and deceptively simple: a combination of Stuart Staples's heart-on-sleeve, Leonard Cohen-on-Quaaludes vocals, the Tindersticks' rainy-day orchestral lushness, a small dose of R&B swagger, and a whole lot of sexual angst. "Simple Pleasures" doesn't depart from that potent concoction at all, adding to the overall greatness of their oeuvre. Imagine their albums as lovely seashells: they are all recognizably the same thing, but the particular shell you hold in your hand is singular and beautiful. ****** And you'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Alternative Music section at Alternative ******
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