New music

Fall is the time for new music for me. I buy stuff pretty much year-round, but for the past few years I've splurged on new albums at once. Yesterday further confirmed the pattern (it's sooo easy with iTMS).

To find new stuff, I consult my musically similar friends, browse All Consuming, and read Pitchfork Media's Best reviews. I've found the later to be quite excellent. This year it was:

• Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better...
• Sufjan Stephens: Illinois
• Clap Your Hand and Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah
• Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better...
• Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
• Wolf Parade: Apologies to Queen Mary
• Third Day: Wherever You Are
• Liz Janes: Liz Janes & Create(!) - EP

The later two not from Pitchfork... I'm a sucker for Third Day, and Liz Janes leads worship at this new church in Indy The New Deal, a project started by my good friend Jason Dorsey (head pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian).

Among the above, the Sufjan Stephens album is really sticking out for me. It makes you feel happy and alive. The music is diverse and multi-faceted. It's a musical cornucopia. Seeing Sufjan live in concert must be amazing because he practically needs an entire orchestra. Highly recommeded!