:Album of the Year (The Good Life album)

The album is a concept record chronicling the end of a relationship and the emotions that come with it. The first track begins in April. The entire story is summarized in the first track, "Album of the Year." The main male character is dating a bartender, as referenced in the songs "Album of the Year" (She got a job at Jacob's/serving cocktails to the local drunks) and "Night and Day" (Night and day she tends to her bar/She pours the drinks, they pour out their hearts).

The first three songs talk mainly about the main character and his girlfriend, at the beginning of their relationship. "You're No Fool" is a glimpse into the ridicule the main character's girlfriend faces, as others speculate about her boyfriend's fidelity, and "Notes In His Pockets" lists several instances of his assumed unfaithfulness, as he cheats on her with ex-girlfriends and girls met in bars. These two songs do not explicitly say whether or not the infidelity actually occurred, leaving it to the listener to determine. "You're Not You" and "October Leaves" document the growing dissatisfaction with their relationship, from the point of view of the woman and the man, respectively. The relationship, at this point, is falling apart. At the end of "October Leaves", there is spoken word conversation between the man and woman, starting with the female's voice:

-Hey?

-Yes?

-Are you sleeping?

-No.

-Can I ask you something?

-Yes.

-Are you cheating on me?

-No.

-Are you lying?

"Lovers Need Lawyers" has the main character defending his actions, claiming that he did not cheat on his girlfriend, and drawing metaphors to feeling like he is 'on trial'. "Inmates" is primarily sung by the girlfriend character of the album, and constitutes the end of their relationship. (Well guess what? I'm leaving./I can't be your prisoner.). The last three tracks deal with the male protagonists's life, post-breakup. We learn that the female protagonist has moved on ("A New Friend") and that the main character hasn't spoken to his now ex-girlfriend in two years ("Two Years This Month").

1. "Album of the Year"  – 5:10
2. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar
3. * Ryan Fox – guitar, twelve string
4. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
5. * Roger Lewis – drums
6. * Mike Mogis – mandolin, wurlitzer, keyboards, optigan
7. * Seth Stauffer – djembe, tambourine
8. * Michael Opoku – djembe
9. "Night and Day"  – 3:29
10. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar, accordion
11. * Stefanie Drootin – organ
12. * Roger Lewis – drums
13. * Mike Mogis – mandolin, wurlitzer, organ
14. * Dan McCarthy – stand up bass
15. "Under a Honeymoon"  – 4:52
16. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar, accordion, organ
17. * Ryan Fox – slide guitar
18. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
19. * Roger Lewis – drums, djembe, congas
20. * Mike Mogis – finger cymbal, cabasa, wurlitzer, guitar
21. * Seth Stauffer – djembe, doumbek
22. * A.J. Mogis – tympani
23. * Nate Walcott – trumpet, flugelhorn
24. "You're No Fool"  – 3:50
25. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar
26. * Ryan Fox – piano, guitar, feedback
27. * Roger Lewis – drums
28. * Mike Mogis – wurlitzer, stomps, guitar
29. * Dan McCarthy – stand up bass
30. * A.J. Mogis – tympani, electric bass
31. * Nate Walcott – trumpet, flugelhorn
32. "Notes in His Pocket"  – 3:42
33. * Tim Kasher – vocals, piano
34. * Ryan Fox – guitars
35. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
36. * Roger Lewis – drums
37. * Mike Mogis – wurlitzer, keyboards, guitar
38. "You're Not You"  – 5:38
39. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar, accordion
40. * Ryan Fox – guitar
41. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
42. * Roger Lewis – drums, djembe
43. * Mike Mogis – guitar
44. * Seth Stauffer – djembe, congas, doumbek
45. * Michael Opoku – talking drum
46. * Amy Huffman – vocal chorus
47. "October Leaves"  – 4:57
48. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar, synth bass
49. * Ryan Fox – guitar
50. * Stefanie Drootin – electric piano
51. * Roger Lewis – drums
52. * Mike Mogis – keyboards, glockenspiel, optigan, loops, wurlitzer
53. "Lovers Need Lawyers"  – 2:40
54. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar
55. * Ryan Fox – synths, piano, guitar
56. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
57. * Roger Lewis – drums, tambourine
58. * Mike Mogis – keyboards, optigan, mellotron
59. "Inmates"  – 9:39
60. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar, organ
61. * Ryan Fox – guitars
62. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
63. * Roger Lewis – drums
64. * Seth Stauffer – djembe, congas
65. * Mike Mogis – loops, keyboards, optigan, guitar, tambourine, shakers, dobro
66. * Tiffany Kowalski – violin
67. * Jiha Lee – vocals
68. * Jenny Lewis – end vocals
69. "Needy"  – 3:52
70. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar
71. * Ryan Fox – guitar, synth lead, backward guitars
72. * Stefanie Drootin – bass
73. * Roger Lewis – bass
74. * Mike Mogis – loops, guitar, keyboards
75. * Amy Huffman – vocal
76. "A New Friend"  – 3:29
77. * Tim Kasher – vocals, guitar
78. * Ryan Fox – guitar
79. * Stefanie Drootin – organ
80. * Roger Lewis – drums
81. * Mike Mogis – wurlitzer, loops, keyboards, sleigh bells
82. "Two Years This Month"  – 2:12
83. * Tim Kasher – vocal, guitar, arrangement
84. * Mike Mogis – arrangement

• Tim Kasher – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Accordion, Bass, Arrangement
• Ryan Fox – Guitars, Keyboards, Synths
• Stefanie Drootin – Bass, Keyboards
• Roger Lewis – Drums, Percussion, Bass

• Amy Huffman – Vocals
• Tiffany Kowalski – Violin
• Jiha Lee – Vocals
• Jenny Lewis – Vocals
• Daniel J. McCarthy – Bass
• A.J. Mogis – Percussion, Bass
• Mike Mogis – Keyboards, Guitars, Percussion, Loops, Mandolin, Dobro, Glockenspiel, Arrangement
• Michael Opoku – Percussion
• Seth Stauffer – Percussion
• Nate Walcott – Trumpet, Flugelhorn

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Category:2004 albums

Category:The Good Life (band) albums

Category:Saddle Creek Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Mike Mogis

Category:2000s concept albums