Some Favorites of the 00s

Butane Variations: Love Five Songs (EP) The second and final release from Butane Variations – the leftovers from their debut self-titled LP – Love Five Songs is the EP as mini-album; as an extremely strong collection of songs. While some of us still value the LP, the widespread availability of [free] digital music leaves some attention spans at thirty seconds. This makes the EP’s length impressive, but not indomitable.

Butane Variations were a band of songwriting – these songs have verses with lots of words, choruses just as long, bridges, more words – and the structuring of all of these writings within the rock band’s live abilities. That Songs achieves such climaxes as ‘Switch’ and ‘Little Debbie’ without forgoing the limitations of the band is wonderful to hear. (Co-songwriter Phil Weinrobe was partial to ‘The sound of a band in a room.’) It’s guitars, drums, bass, vocals & harmonies. Songwriters coming of age and expanding their mastery of the form; and their interest in styles outside their own. As the piece closes, ‘I want to thank you for that mix tape, honey….’

Dandy Warhols: Odditorium Or Warlords of Mars
‘People got more baggage than JFK / And I’m talking ’bout the airport, man.’ On the Dandy’s fourth LP – the follow-up to their least eventful Welcome to the Monkey House – the will for a good time is let loose in the long, jammed out ‘Love Is the New Feel Awful,’ album best ‘Easy,’ and the thundering closer ‘A Loan Tonight.’

The ability for concise craft it not lost, however. ‘All the Money or the Simple Life Honey’ and ‘The New Country’ are elegantly compact tunes in the spirit of Thirteen Tales‘ foot-stomper ‘Country Leaver’ and early pop gem ‘Lou Weed.’ Dark and fun, upper and downer, it is not a transition album but an achievement at perfecting the Dandy’s sound[s] – Your Cheatin’ Heart to Sister Ray.

Brian Wilson: SMiLE
Hardly overlooked, but the finest thing of the decade, and perhaps in rock n roll. That the longest-lost album in our mythology was resurrected and recorded is a gift perhaps inappreciable. Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson’s ode to and indictment of their beloved US of A is psychadelia and seemingly limitless talent splashed all over the home of the brave, and its tunes.

‘Rock, rock, roll Plymouth Rock roll over / At Haggerty’s and Swami’s (Inside, outside USA) / Pacific Palisades . . . ‘