fever ray: fever ray

oh, karin dreijer, we knew you were creepy, but we had no idea just how scary you could possibly be. for those of you who don’t know who this remarkable lady is, karin is one half of the ultra-cool swedish electro-pop band the knife. since 1999, karin and her brother made some of the most skin-crawling electronica i have ever heard, and after 2006′s acclaimed album <i>silent shout</i>, karin has decided to go it alone under the guise of fever ray. you know, i was really hoping for a new knife album this year, but i will settle for fever ray’s self-titled long player. the music is even creepier than the knife’s, if that’s even possible, with karin crafting dark electronica that is paired with primal, almost tribal-sounding vocals on most of the tracks. karin has really outdone herself with this, and i think it’s insane that i have two albums in the same week that could easilly end up on my best-of-the-year list. as fever ray, karin really shines with songs that that are addictive upon the first listen. i didn’t know what to make of this album when the first single, “if i had a heart” was released, but i still bought the album first thing last tuesday when it was available for download and i don’t regret it at all. that is not even close to being the high point of the album and this is a neccessary addition to anyone’s library who loves the knife or electronica.

antony and the johnsons: the crying light.

alright, well, we all know how excited i have been for the release of this album. i have been waiting for new antony and the johnsons since i am a bird now graced my ears almost three years ago. and now my dreams have finally been answered. yes, i know, antony i have downloaded a totally pirated copy of this masterpiece, but don’t you ever mind. i’ll still be first in line to get my real copy come january 20, but how could you possibly expect me to wait until then to download it and give it a listen? this album is the first one of the year that will definitely be a contender for album of the year. the crying light is everything i expected and more from my favorite contemporary artist. the delicacy is there. the exquisite lyrics are there. the longing and the yearing is there. the ache of wanting so much more is held so delicately in the vibrato. this album is perfect in every way, shape, and form. i really was quite worried that it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but it honestly blew them away. how can one person possess such emotion? it’s amazing. it’s mind-blowing. it’s antony. i usually name the best tracks, but they’re all good. don’t download the pirated copy. just buy it. please. support such a great artist of our time.