Parasolarians'
Top Picks of 2004
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PARASOL
STAFF TOP PICKS OF 2005
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| ROY
: Parasol Mail Order buyer, Inventor of Emo, Tidy
Office Award Winner. |
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1.
Lenz,
Frank - VileLenz & Thieves (A Hidden Agenda Record)
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2.
Gonzalez,
Jose - Veneer (A Hidden Agenda Record) |
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3.
Unbunny
- Typist (Important) |
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4.
VanGaalen,
Chad - Infiniheart (Sub Pop) |
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5.
Pelican/Mono
- Split (Hydra Head/Temporary Residence) |
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6.
Jesu
- Self-Titled (Hydra Head) |
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7.
Smith,
Sean - Self-Titled (Isota) |
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8.
Perishers,
The - Let There Be Morning (Nettwerk) |
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9.
Stevens,
Sufjan - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty) |
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10. Hum at Rockfest: Champaign reunion show |
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| STEFANIE
: New Parasol Mail Order worker bee. |
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1.
Rogue
Wave - Descended Like Vultures
I looooove this entire album. Each song is unique, catchy,
and well done. I christen this my favorite album of the
year because of its extra crunchy freshness to my ears.
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2.
Jose
Gonzalez - Veneer
A mere one-hundredth of a point behind Rogue Wave as my
favorite album of the year. Awesome guitar playing, fantastic
songs. An exceptional record. |
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3.
Moonbabies
- War On Sound Mini Album
Interesting sounds, infectious tunes. I like-it-a-lot. |
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4.
Depeche
Mode - Playing the Angel
A taste of the old DM. As a gimongous fan of this band,
how could I ask for more? |
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5.
Ok
Go - Oh No
A more mature effort than their first album. Proves that
they know how to have fun, but when it comes down to it
they've got the chops to back it all up. Solid. |
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6.
Shipwreck
- Origins
Local yokels Shipwreck dish out an awesome "aquatic
rock" record. Great melodies, a unique sound. |
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7.
Orange
Peels, The - Circling the Sun
Candy-coated pop-rock with a vitamin or two. I don't know
what I mean by that, but this album won't get out of my
bloodstream and I don't mind that at all. |
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8.
Chad
VanGaalen - Infiniheart
This took me a couple rotations to get used to, but once
it sunk in a bit, I was rewarded handsomely. C'est si
bon. |
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9.
Elsinore
- On Display
A live album from the one and only Elsinore, a talented
local band sent down from the heavens. Take your shoes
off and tap your toesies, Elsinore's in your living room!!
Sweet Jesus!! |
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10.
Low
- The Great Destroyer
Speeding up the tempo a bit never hurt anybody. I love
this album. I seem to always come back to it when I'm
tired of everything else. |
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11.
Dungen
- Ta Det Lugnt
This is a really great album. It's not overly psychadelic,
just retro-tinted rock with a guy singing in Swedish.
Go Sweden! |
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12.
Architecture
In Helsinki - In Case We Die
Okay, I love this album. It makes me happy. Ãœber-catchy
and kind of like a grade school band making awesome
pop-rock music. Recess, word. |
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| ANGIE
: Parasol Distribution/Direct Retail Sales, Storyteller.
|
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1.
New
Pornographers – Twin Cinema
A local writer claimed this cd is the RUMORS of the 000's....nowwwww.....I
don't know if I would go that far, but I do appreciate
his enthusiasm. I just love an A.C. NEWMAN pop song...especially
when Nico Case is singing!!! **SWOON** |
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2.
M.I.A.
– Arular
BA-NA-NA! I love it! |
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3.
Maria
Taylor – 11:11
Fell in love with this one at first listen...it has gotten
a lot of road trip mileage in the iPOD!! Sad songs, happy
songs..wonderful vocals...like she's singing to you. |
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4.
Coral
Sea, The - Volcano And Heart
Brother to last years favorite Gina Villalobos, Rey Villalobos
and his band the Coral Sea do something so well...I can't
really pinpoint it yet...some say Radiohead, but I was
never really a fan....listen to samples on our site!!
I LOVE IT!!! |
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5.
Fiery
Furnaces – Rehearsing My Choir
Just because I love Grandma's...especially when they let
their FREAK FLAGS FLY!!! and I love Matt and Eleanor too.
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6.
Field
Mice: Snowball / Skywriting / For Keeps (re-issues)
FINALLY!!! ok...I admit it...I've only listened a few
times, but I feel much more complete with them in my collection!!!
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7.
Bettie
Serveert: Attagirl
Loved this cd the minute we put it in the cd player...BS
is one of the best live bands I've ever seen.
And real nice folks!! |
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8.
Jose
Gonzalez – Veneer
Jose....geez...what can I say about the Parasol golden
boy!!! I guess I've never hear any Jose I didn't like
either....
when I listen to the classic rock station, I envision
Jose covering some of the songs... |
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9.
Chad
VanGaalen – Infiniheart
We've listened to this cd so much at PARASOL, we could
all air drum, air guitar, sing it through it's entirety...
A brilliant self produced cd. |
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10.
Kathleen
Edwards - Back to Me
Love Kathleen Edwards too...her voice mixed with the
lyrical content...BUTTER.
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HONORABLE
MENTIONS!
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11.
Aimee
Mann – The Forgotten Arm |
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12.
Josh
Rouse - Nashville |
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13.
Pernice
Brothers - Discover a Lovelier You |
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14.
Knitters
– The Modern Sounds of The Knitters |
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15.
Ryan
Adams and the Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights
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| LISA
B-K : Co-op queen, rediscovering music since October
2004 |
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1. Frida
Hyvonen - Until Death Comes |
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2.
Jose
Gonzalez - Veneer |
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3.
Orange
Peels - Circling the Sun |
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4.
New
Pornographers - Twin Cinema |
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5.
Sleater-Kinney
- The Woods |
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6.
Various
Artists - Fading Yellow Vol 7 |
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7.
Eskju
Divine - Come Join Close Your Eyes... |
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8.
Chad
Vangaalen - Infiniheart |
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9.
Animal
Collective/Vashti Bunyan - Prospect Hummer
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10.
Gorillaz
- Demon Days |
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JIM
: Parasol Publicity, Centaur drummer, Scandinavian Music
Obsessive
|
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1.
The
Chrysler - Cold War Classic |
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2.
Frida
Hyvonen – Self-Titled |
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3.
The
Bear Quartet – Saturday Night |
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4.
Hip
Whips – Self-Titled 2005 |
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5.
Eskju
Divine – Come close your eyes... |
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6.
Celestine
- Between Bedtime & Sunrise |
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7.
The
Soft Eyes - Let's Dance to Our Own Beats |
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8.
22-Pistepirkko
– Drops & Kicks |
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9.
Bjorn
Olsson – The Lobster |
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10.
The
Soundtrack of Our Lives - A Present from the Past |
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| BILL
: Retired Parasol. |
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1.
Illinois 90 - Arizona 89 |
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2.
Stars
- Set Yourself On Fire (Arts & Crafts) |
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3.
The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity (Universal) |
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4.
Bright
Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (Saddle Creek) |
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5.
Moonbabies
- War On Sound (A Hidden Agenda Record) |
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6.
Mellow - Perfect Colors (Atmospheriques) (2003!) |
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7.
Hum at Rockfest: Champaign reunion show |
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8.
The
Jan Martens Frustration - self-titled (A Hidden Agenda
Record) |
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9.
Dan Zanes - All Around The Kitchen (Festival Five) |
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10.
Saint Etienne - Tales from Turnpike House (Sanctuary) |
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11.
Sufjan
Stevens - Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty) |
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12.
Mew
- And The Glass Handed Kites (Epic) |
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13.
Bobby Conn and The 1900s live at the Illini Union |
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14.
The Melody Unit - Songs for the New American Century |
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15.
The Lionheart Brothers - ColourContrastContext (Chewin
Pine) (2004!) |
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16.
The life and times of Anita Crawford, maverick. Rest in
space. |
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17. The life and times of Amalie Johnson, drama queen.
Please let me rest. |
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GEOFF
: Fearless Leader
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1.
Black Bonzo - Self-Titled (B&B) |
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2.
Blackouts,
The - Living In Blue (Lucid) |
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3.
Fridlund,
David - Amaterasu (A Hidden Agenda Record) |
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4.
Gonzalez,
Jose - Veneer (A Hidden Agenda Record) |
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5.
Orange
Juice - The Glasgow School (Domino) |
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6.
Orange
Peels, The - Circling The Sun (Parasol) |
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7.
Phoenix
- Live: Thirty Days Ago (Astralwerks) |
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8.
Tihista,
Kevin - Home Demons Volume One (Parasol) |
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9.
Unbunny
- Typist (Important) |
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10. Various Artists - Complete Motown Singles Series (from
HippoSelect) |
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| PARASOL
CUSTOMERS' TOP PICKS OF 2005 -
COME ON PEOPLE, SEND 'EM IN! |
| See
our top picks for 2004 Maybe
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