Night Zombies and Butchers....What?

Well, as you may know, I'm an aboslute music nut. I listen to so much music, I have an new favorite band every week. Since I like all types of music, its easy to find different albums to obsess about. My obsession this week is Sufjan Stevens: Illinoise and The Decemberists: The Crane Wife. I can't stop listening to them. I'm pretty big on the indie rock scene and these two albums are major reasons why. When it comes to being creative and different, these artists help raise the bar.

Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise is a series of interesting songs, follewed by even more interesting interludes. Even the song titles are interesting, such as songs titled Decatur, Or a Round of Applause for your Step-Mother; The Predatory Wasp of Palisades is Out to Get Us and Lets Hear that String Part Again Because I Don't Think They Heard it All the Way Out in Bushnell. This album is great, no matter what kind of mood you're in. The songs on this album range from, sad and depressing, to upeat, happy and hopeful, to just dark and disturbing. His voice is one-of-a-kind, and his use of orchestral background is genius. Some of my personal favorites off of this album are Chicago, They Are Night Zombies!!! They Are Neighbors!!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!!! and Prarie Fire That Wanders About. Although, I absolutely love this entire album, so I can't really pick a favorite.

As for The Decemberists' The Crane Wife, they bring about an entirely different sound then Sufjan. The Decembereists have Irish sounding roots that gives thier music a folk-y type sound. These guys (and girl) have a unique sound when thier voices blend, the harmonies can be harsh and brazen, but in a completely good and different way. The song Yankee Bayonet is about a soldier going off to fight in the Civil War, leaving his lover behind. It's a tragic tale, but the sound of the song is upbeat, hopeful and shows how in love the couple really is. The song Shankill Butchers is a dark and depressing song about the Shankill Butcher Massacre, which was a group of men who inebriated themselves and slaughtered people in the night. Many of The Decemberists songs have historical roots suchs as both Yakee Bayonet and Shankill Butchers, and also, O Valencia, the song about star-crossed lovers, who eventually meet thier fate, very Romeo and Juliet, I know. However, this album is great to throw on whenever, and once you learn the words, it's a bunch of fun to sing along to.

I highly recomend both of these groups to anyone and everyone. You got iTunes? Use It!