This month has been very merry merry. August saw so many good releases that I’m having a hard time picking the one that stood out the most, so like the parent of a spoiled kid at a toy store, I decided to stop crying about it and let me pick two of my favorites. So I start and end this month’s post with the albums that impressed me the most. I even came up with an excuse for picking two this month. See, the albums are like night and day, so I couldn’t possibly pick between two polar opposites, because there’s simply no comparing the two. Sounds almost like it could be true, no?

Seasick Steve-endorsed Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir comes really close to what I imagine Gogol Bordello would sound like if they had their roots in Kentucky rather than Eastern Europe. Like the gypsy-punk band, this band mixes traditional sounds with a punk spirit. Even at their most jubilant, their take on old-timey country has a sinister undertone, underscored by Judd Palmer’s raw, guttural voice. The end result is breathtaking. Their third album, Ten Thousand proves that, in spite of horrifying Frankenstein-type hybrids like rap metal, when the boundaries between genres are crossed beautiful things can happen. At times, they play around with the darker pits of blues as in “Dark Holler”, other times they’re punky, but they’re always doused with a good helping of bluegrass.

   Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir – Go Back Home

Canadian duo Human Highway’s debut features gentle vocals and equally mellow guitar-play, which makes for a very sweet record indeed. With the poppy exception of “The Sound”, Moody Motorcycle never picks up speed, but manages to keep your attention thanks to the beautiful harmonies reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel and the Beach Boys. So very pretty, pretty, pretty, but it could do with just a tiny little bit more oomph. A smidge more bite. A bit less Hannah Montana, a bit more Hurricane Hanna … except without the fatalities, I’m sorry that was a horrible, horrible analogy.

I finally get it. I always thought The Walkmen were a good band, but I didn’t really get why certain music snobby snobs fawned over them. I have to admit the snobs were right in this case. The band holds fast to old ways and You And Me is filled with songs that have the feel of time gone by, but I never get the feeling that I’ve heard it all before. And yet, as a whole, this album has a strong sense of nostalgia. It is their fourth release and is aimed to move us; move us to smile or cry or tap our feet. Their deeply soulful songs are seductive and sophisticated but never stuffy. If you weren’t a fan before, you will be halfway through this album, I’m living proof of that.

It makes sense to me now that Conor Oberst put this album out under his name. This album feels more personal but is also more upbeat than his previous work. His songwriting is exceptional as always, but his familiar introspective pessimism is layered with a wit and joy that’s so refreshing. Last week, The Bean and I caught him live – we had seen him play before, but we agreed this was the best we’ve ever seen him. He played with the crowd and seemed genuinely excited to play with the amazing Mystic Valley Band. I didn’t set out to give a live review, but if you get the chance to see him on this tour you should, because this beautiful album seems to have revived a previously unseen and unheard playful side in him that’s endearing and fun to watch and listen to.

Kele Okereke has called Intimacy Bloc Party ’s ‘break up album’, and there is a hint of sadness alternated with a healthy dose of vengefulness throughout, but specked with the intimacy announced in the title. We’re used to them sounding like they write the soundtrack to a busy city landscape; Intimacy pulsates in a high speed and even when it takes a breather it still has the familiar Bloc Party urgency and angst we know and love.

Though Peaceful The World Lays Me Down is their debut, Noah And The Whale have already dished out two exceptional artists with Laura Marling and Emmy The Great. The remaining members don’t seem to have suffered from their absence. The album is beautiful, moving, and uplifting and as perfect as a first album can get. Whereas Arcade Fire’s full orchestral sound reveals a sweet melancholy tragedy, Noah And The Whale merrily celebrate life with their multi-instrumental outfit. Oh and, though it’s only 0.746% of the reason why they’re one of my picks of the month, have a look at their site and check out the page called Urby’s Greats if you’re into music themed lists. Plus, it looks like it was made by Wes Anderson. So fun!

   Noah And The Whale – 5 Years Time