Album of the Year (The Good Life album)
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| Album of the Year | ||
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| Studio album by The Good Life | ||
| Released | August 10, 2004 | |
| Recorded | August 2003-February 2004 | |
| Genre | Indie rock | |
| Length | 53:22 | |
| Label | Saddle Creek Records | |
| Producer(s) | Mike Mogis | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| The Good Life chronology | ||
| Lovers Need Lawyers EP (2004) |
Album of the Year (2004) |
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Album of the Year is the third album by The Good Life. The limited edition release included a second disc with the entire album acoustic. The enhanced CD comes with footage of videos recorded February 3, 2004 at O'Leavers in Omaha, Nebraska.
This album is the 64th release of Saddle Creek Records.
Contents |
[edit] Concept
The album is a concept record chronicling the rise and fall of a relationship. Each track represents a month (hence the title of the CD). The first track is April, and the others follow chronologically. The entire story is summarized in the first track, "Album of the Year." The main male character is dating a bartender, which is specifically referenced in "Album of the Year" (She got a job at Jacob's/serving cocktails to the local drunks) and "Night and Day" (Night and day she tends to her bar/She pours the drinks, they pour out their hearts), and indirectly referred to in "Notes in His Pocket" (My baby's home on her night off) and "October Leaves" (I woke up this morning/You were off to work and You used to call me on your break/But you've been so busy).
The first three songs are written in the first person, talking mainly about the main character and his girlfriend. The fourth song, "You're No Fool" talks, presumably, about a friend of the male main character. "Notes in His Pocket," the fifth song, is written in the third person about a man that cheats on his girlfriend with an old acquaintance he met at the bar (So I'm involved in a serious talk/with a girl I had known growing up./So we buy a six; decide to split./She has a downtown apartment./She opens the door, falls to the floor/Says "I'm bitter sick of sweet and pure, take me now I'm yours.). In the same song he presumably cheats again with his ex-girlfriend (She gives me a hug/Until our hips our flush./Says "Boy, you've hardly kept in touch/It's time for catching up"). However, due to the similar situations discussed in "Lovers Need Lawyers" it is clear that the "he" in "Notes in His Pocket" is the main character of the album. "You're Not You" then talks again about another woman. "October Leaves" brings us back to the first person narrative of the relationship we heard in the first three songs. The relationship, at this point is falling apart. There is spoken word conversation between the man and woman, starting with the female's voice:
-Hey?
-Yes?
-Are you sleeping?
-No.
-Can I ask you something?
-Yes.
-Are you cheating on me?
-No.
-Are you lying?
"Lovers Need Lawyers" is the main character defending his actions, claiming that he did not cheat on his girlfriend. However, the situation is very similar to the events described in "You're No Fool." He lies in this song about the acquaintance he met in the bar (Yeah, I was drinking./Yeah, she was drinking too./And yeah we made a connection we came from the same neighborhood. and then So there we were/outlasting last call). Mentioning that it was last call when he was with this girl in both songs is more evidence that the two situations are the same. "Inmates" is significantly different considering it is sung by the girlfriend character of the album. Council Bluffs, which is named as the town of their residence in "Album of the Year" is also mentioned in this song. At the end she says that she is leaving (Well guess what? I'm leaving./I can't be your prisoner.). The last three tracks are again in first person narrative form, but this time take place post-breakup. The last song informs us that he hasn't spoken to his now ex-girlfriend in two years. The song, "Two Years This Month," starts with a montage of the other songs on the album. The album art for this song implies that it's supposed to be a mix tape of the other songs on the album. The music then cuts out as Tim sings a cappella to close out the album.
[edit] Track listing
- "Album of the Year" – 5:10
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar
- Ryan Fox - guitar, twelve string
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - mandolin, wurlitzer, keyboards, optigan
- Seth Stauffer - djembe, tambourine
- Michael Opoku - djembe
- "Night and Day" – 3:29
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar, accordion
- Stefanie Drootin - organ
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - mandolin, wurlitzer, organ
- Dan McCarthy - stand up bass
- "Under a Honeymoon" – 4:52
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar, accordion, organ
- Ryan Fox - slide guitar
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums, djembe, congas
- Mike Mogis - finger cymbal, cabasa, wurlitzer, guitar
- Seth Stauffer - djembe, doumbek
- A.J. Mogis - tympani
- Nate Walcott - trumpet, flugelhorn
- "You're No Fool" – 3:50
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar
- Ryan Fox - piano, guitar, feedback
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - wurlitzer, stomps, guitar
- Dan McCarthy - stand up bass
- A.J. Mogis - tympani, electric bass
- Nate Walcott - trumpet, flugelhorn
- "Notes in His Pocket" – 3:42
- Tim Kasher - vocals, piano
- Ryan Fox - guitars
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - wurlitzer, keyboards, guitar
- "You're Not You" – 5:38
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar, accordion
- Ryan Fox - guitar
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums, djembe
- Mike Mogis - guitar
- Seth Stauffer - djembe, congas, doumbek
- Michael Opoku - talking drum
- Amy Huffman - vocal chorus
- "October Leaves" – 4:57
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar, synth bass
- Ryan Fox - guitar
- Stefanie Drootin - electric piano
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - keyboards, glockenspiel, optigan, loops, wurlitzer
- "Lovers Need Lawyers" – 2:40
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar
- Ryan Fox - synths, piano, guitar
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums, tambourine
- Mike Mogis - keyboards, optigan, mellotron
- "Inmates" – 9:39
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar, organ
- Ryan Fox - guitars
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Seth Stauffer - djembe, congas
- Mike Mogis - loops, keyboards, optigan, guitar, tambourine, shakers, dobro
- Tiffany Kowalski - violin
- Jiha Lee - vocals
- Jenny Lewis - end vocals
- "Needy" – 3:52
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar
- Ryan Fox - guitar, synth lead, backward guitars
- Stefanie Drootin - bass
- Roger Lewis - bass
- Mike Mogis - loops, guitar, keyboards
- Amy Huffman - vocal
- "A New Friend" – 3:29
- Tim Kasher - vocals, guitar
- Ryan Fox - guitar
- Stefanie Drootin - organ
- Roger Lewis - drums
- Mike Mogis - wurlitzer, loops, keyboards, sleigh bells
- "Two Years This Month" – 4:44
- Tim Kasher - vocal, guitar, arrangement
- Mike Mogis - arrangement
[edit] Credits
[edit] The Good Life
- Tim Kasher - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Accordion, Bass, Arrangement
- Ryan Fox - Guitars, Keyboards, Synths
- Stefanie Drootin - Bass, Keyboards
- Roger Lewis - Drums, Percussion, Bass
[edit] Guests
- Amy Huffman - Vocals
- Tiffany Kowalski - Violin
- Jiha Lee - Vocals
- Jenny Lewis - Vocals
- Dan McCarthy - Bass
- A.J. Mogis - Percussion, Bass
- Mike Mogis - Keyboards, Guitars, Percussion, Loops, Mandolin, Dobro, Glockenspiel, Arrangement
- Michael Opoku - Percussion
- Seth Stauffer - Percussion
- Nate Walcott - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
[edit] Miscellanea
- On May 24, 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska, the last tour date in promotion for Album of the Year, the band played all the songs from the album beginning to end.
- The limited edition release includes an acoustic versions of the entire album, performed by Tim Kasher.
- The enhanced CD version comes with bonus videos of Tim Kasher and Roger Lewis performing "The Beaten Path," "Leaving Omaha," and "You're Not You," as well as a song by his old band, Slowdown Virginia, "Whipping Stick." They were recorded February 3, 2004 at O'Leavers, in Omaha, Nebraska.
- There is also an acoustic album of the year
