Here’s a few albums that make me feel smarter to be listening to.
NB: Planning to hold these tunes over anyone? You’re not welcome here. I’ll get some of my barista friends to “meh” stare you the hell out of here if you don’t leave.
Battles: Gloss Drop 
How smart? Brooklyn smart.
Instant smarty-pants. But be careful, it’s not actually good music. I mean, these guys are doing the work and really sweating out this music, so they’ve got that going for them. But, it’s just… not… good… to listen to. However, you will feel smart.
Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record
How smart? Canada smart (i.e., knowledge, hey?)
Yes, yes, yes. I can’t tell if these guys just shit awesome or if they have to try. However, not sure if you’ll get a masterpiece on here. But good to listen to.
Chicago Odense Ensemble: Chicago Odense Ensemble
How smart? Groovin’ smart.
Good groovin’ stuff. Like chillout jazz. Doin’ the good work.
The Cinematic Orchestra: every fuggin’ album, i mean c’m on?
How smart? How what?
Just read this to find out how awesome the Cinematic Orchestra are.
The Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
How smart? Sunrise amphetamine arpeggio smart, man.
Dirty Projectors are to music as playgrounds are to… shit. See, this is why I need this playlist. These guys are very thumbs up.
Gorillaz: Plastic Beach
How smart? Mos Def smart, like whoa.
It’s not a new album, but its grooves are legend. When I listen to it I feel like some super smart kid in the seventies who never got good grades or fit in at school ‘cause he was inventing a drug or an internet or something.
Jaga Jazzist: Every goddam album, man
How smart? Ja da drar smart.
One of my all time favorite bands. So unbelievably musical. They sound like the NES Mario Brothers on acid, and I’ve never even tried hallucinogens. But they hold the melodies together, they appreciate the listener and have no problem bringing the good down to our level, like laughing at fart jokes with Einstein.
James Blake: James Blake
How smart? Pffft.
So smart. Likely too smart. Also likely this will have been an important album, so, do your homework.
Jono McCleery: Darkest Light
How smart? Smart like the wind.
This song is amazing. The rest are really thoughtful. This guy’s good for that Annie Dillard kind of feel.
Loka: Fire Shepherds
How smart? Smart enough for 6/4 and strings.
In the same vein as Cinematic Orchestra, though I’m not as familiar with these guys. Their music feels heavy, dense, like some box you pulled out of the attic and begin to get really excited about what could be in it. I like.
The National Bank: Come On Over To The Other Side
How smart? “Fuck you, dance with me” smart.
Top 10 band for me, easily. Top 10 album too. You’ll dance, you’ll cry, you’ll say, “holy shit, was that a dulcimer??” It’s smart too. Also, this band is part Jaga Jazzist, part Thomas Dybdahl. It’s The Police of tomorrow!
Panda Bear: Tomboy
How smart? “I know I know I know I know I know I know” smart.
Panda Bear always has this great vibe… he’s spacey, but with heart and a little bit of this glorified Africa thing he slips into hear and there – like if Peter Gabriel had only a weird old korg synth and a shit ton of reverb… lots and lots of reverb. Buckets of reverb.
Punch Brothers: Antifogmatic
How smart? “Banjo Bach” smart.
Incredibly talented, and coming out with all kinds of crazy compositions, as if to mock all the other vest-wearing, bearded-toting, banjo-clicking acoustic groups. Maybe too smart for good listening though. Also, heartache and sorrow in these albums… at least where you can see it through the jostle of key and time changes.
Radiohead: The King of Limbs
How smart? “Thom Yorke” smart.
You know the drill.
Skalpel: Konfusion
How smart? Polish jazz redux smart.
More in the vein of The Cinematic Orchestra and Loka… that downtempo jazzy chillout thing. More very good. It’s like DJ Shadow got stuck in the 60s jazz scene, which is all awesome.
Thomas Dybdahl: Science and Waiting for that one clear moment
How smart? Smart.
Science is probably a top 10 album for me. The production on it is likely perfect. I would, in all likelihood, be this guy’s girlfriend. Thoughtful lyrics and music that ranges from comfy to soaring… It’s like it shouldn’t be this good. But the net effect leaves is magic.
Tortoise: Beacons of Ancestorship
How smart? “ALL FUZZ PEDAL EVERYTHING” smart.
Oh, nothing much, just some krautrock dub minimalism electronica jazz. You do your best, kiddies. It is good, though.
TV On the Radio: Nine Types of Light
How smart? “From Brooklyn with heart” smart.
One of the only bands to hold down the indie scene with heart. I mean that: these guys are smart and thoughtful and do their thing with heart, which, to me, is noteworthy. Also, they make some great tunes.
