Sound Obsession

Well, it's that time of year again - time for album lists!  I've compiled a few lists that I plan on posting in the next few weeks.  Today it's "Duds, Disappointments, & Overrated" albums of 2013.  Next will be "Honorable Mention," then my "Top Ten" favorite albums of 2013. All the albums listed below are ones I actually anticipated, bought (or in some cases streamed on Spotify), and spent solid time with.   Some of them I initially enjoyed but grew out of.  Some of them just didn't click, but could suddenly break through at some point in the future.  Unlikely, but I have been known to change my mind about these things.  Note, for scale, the number "1" spot is the most   disappointing .* Enjoy. . . .             1.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Mosquito (3.5/10) The Yeah Yeah Yeah's are among the best bands to come out of the garage rock revival of the early 00's.  Karen O is a powerhouse, and the...

The Dismemberment Plan Date:  October 19 & October 20, 2013 Venue:  930 Club, Washington, DC Local indie rock heroes The Dismemberment Plan just came out of decade-long retirement, released new album Uncanney Valley, and played a couple shows at the 930 Club this past weekend.  Between 2000 and 2003, during the band's popular and critical peak after releasing their seminal  Emergency and I and around the time they put out Change , I must've seen 'em live at the Black Cat or Fort Reno over a dozen times - even a rad secret show they put on as "Last Train to Marseilles" (from the lyrics to their early tune "If I Don't Write").  This wasn't exactly Phish-levels-of-frequency, but at that time (and really, to this day) The Plan were the single band I saw and relished live the most.   Left to right:  Eric Axelson, Travis Morrison, Joe Easley, Jason Caddell Despite holding the crown as DC's best-loved hometown band at the time (Fugazi...