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album: Ships
artist: Danielson
label: Secretly Canadian / 2006
score: 87 < click to learn more

by Tim Mathiesen

Much hype has surrounded Danielson's new album, Ships. Three separate EP's have been released earlier this year in support of its upcoming release. Danielson's friends have joined him again, but this time, dropping the word "Famile" from his name, he gets all the credit. Sound selfish? Well, it's actually a humble act on his part. "It has been a dilema, because in the past I've wanted this to be a band, but it's really not anyone else's dream" (Under the Radar: "Danielson And a Boatload of Friends" Spring 2006)

The idea of the Danielson Famile began in art school and has brought him here, in 2006, to Ships. His most accessible album to date, yet, I am sure, it is best. His strange music has been fine-tuned and shaved down to its real purpose and he sounds the most confident that he ever has in his creation. With help from Sufjan Stevens, Half-Handed Cloud, Serena Maneesh, and Deerhoof, this album is sure to not only impress his fans, but win new ones, as well.