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ROSS’ TOP 40 ALBUMS OF 2011
#6
BEIRUT The Rip Tide
Song-by-Song Rating: 7.42 (5th)
Last.fm Plays: 193 (12th)
Featured Song: “Vagabond”
Beirut’s Zach Condon got a little adventurous on 2009’s March of the Zapotec, adding electronic elements to his Old World sound.
The Rip Tide is sort of a back-to-basics album, serving as Beirut’s simplest and most straightforward record to date. The trumpet lines are more glorious than ever, often serving as the song-raising punch on top of Beirut’s beautiful, plodding rhythms.
Standout Tracks: “Santa Fe”, “East Harlem”, “The Rip Tide”, “Vagabond” and “Port of Call”
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ROSS’ TOP 29 ALBUMS OF 2009
#12
BEIRUT/REALPEOPLE March of the Zapotec/Holland
Featured Song: “The Concubine”
I guess this is technically a double EP and not an album, but I’ll include it anyway.
Zach Condon continues to produce high quality songs on a consistent basis. It’s almost like he can do no wrong.
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#34
Beirut “Nantes”
2007
One of my favorite songs of the decade relies on the melody of an accordion. Seriously.
It’s also a tribute to a city in France and features a mid-song sample for an unknown French film.
That’s Beirut: strange, beautiful and great all at the same time.
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#104
Beirut “Postcards from Italy”
2006
Beirut has been called the best indie rock band of the 18th century. Almost every song conjures up an image of Eastern European men playing traditional instruments while wearing dusty suits many, many decades ago.
The second trumpet line that takes over midway through this song gets me every time.
