The Grammy Awards Get It Right February 14, 2011
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010, music.Tags: Arcade Fire, Bob Dylan, Grammy Awards, Mumford & Sons, Neil Young, Neil Young and Pearl Jam got screwed, Pearl Jam, thanks for reading my blog Grammy Award voters, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys
add a comment
I haven’t watched the Grammy Awards in years, mostly due to my dismissive attitude towards mainstream pop, and, though last night was no exception to that rule, I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see that my favorite album of 2010, Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, won the prize. To top things off, I also found out that two of my favorite newer bands, The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons, played with none other than the great Bob Dylan.
So, what does this mean? Well, the narcissist in me believes that the Grammy Award voters obviously read my blog. There is no other explanation for some of their choices this year. Just check out 3 of my top 4 albums of 2010, as posted in December:
4. The Black Keys – Brothers
Winner – Best Alternative Music Album
2. Neil Young – Le Noise
Nominated for Best Rock Music Album (lost inexplicably to Muse)
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Winner – Album of the Year
Pearl Jam’s Backspacer, my choice for best album of 2009, was also nominated in the Rock Album category.
The other album in my top 4, Kanye West’s My Dark Twisted Fantasy, missed the September 30 cutoff date for the year’s award show, but I fully expect him to be nominated for everything next year.
And, if you missed it like I did, check out this link to the video of Dylan, Mumford, and the Avetts before they take it down. You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for reading, Grammy voters. Feel free to laud praise on my music choices any time.
Best of 2010 Mix December 30, 2010
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010.Tags: Best of 2010, Mix CD
add a comment
My brother Jeff and I like a lot of same music, but, given his other interests, he devotes much less of his time and money on musical pursuits than I do. So, a few years ago I began a tradition in which I would give him a CD around Christmas with some of my favorite music from the past year. This is the playlist for the CD I compiled in 2010:
1. Kanye West – Power
2. The Black Keys – She’s Long Gone
3. The Hold Steady – Barely Breathing
4. Jamey Johnson – Lonely at the Top
5. Neil Young – Angry World
6. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – Money
7. Drive-By Truckers – Drag the Lake Charlie
8. Big Boi – Daddy Fat Sax
9. Carolina Chocolate Drops – Hit ‘Em Up Style
10. Justin Townes Earle – One More Night in Brooklyn
11. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
12. Cee Lo Green – **** You
13. The Whigs – Kill Me Carolyne
14. The Roots – Walk Alone
15. Sufjan Stevens – Get Real Get Right
16. The National – Sorrow
17. Dr. Dog – Unbearable Why
18. MGMT – I Found a Whistle
19. Magic Kids – Hideout
20. Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside
21. Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Best of 2010 – Music Edition (Top Ten) December 21, 2010
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010.Tags: Arcade Fire, Big Boi, drive-by truckers, Kanye West, Neil Young, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, The Black Keys, The Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady, The National, Top 10 albums of 2010
add a comment
Over the past two weeks we’ve been looking at my choices for the best music of 2010, beginning with ten honorable mentions, followed by those that I ranked 11-20. Today we continue our list with my top ten albums of 2010. Before we get started, though, here is a quick recap of the albums mentioned in the past entries.
Honorable Mentions:
Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues
The Whigs – In the Dark
Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse – Dark Night of the Soul
Magic Kids – Memphis
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Robert Plant – Band of Joy
Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard
Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart
20. MGMT – Congratulations
19. Weezer – Hurley
18. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
17. Cee Lo Green – The Ladykiller
16. Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song
15. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
14. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
13. Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away
12. The Roots – How I Got Over
11. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
The Top Ten Albums of 2010
10. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
Listening to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings is like stepping into a time machine and emerging in the R&B world of the 1960’s-70’s. The band has been around for nearly 15 years, but I was just introduced to them in 2010 – and let me tell you, it was a wonderful introduction. Combining funky horn-led arrangements with Jones’s outstanding soulful vocals, this is a welcome retro blast for those who enjoy sounds you might hear from Stax or Motown. From broken hearts to hard times on the poor side of town, Jones and her band tear through song after song with a mix of emotion and joy that is impossible not to like. Download: The Game Gets Old, Better Things, Money
9. The National – High Violet
Downbeat and moody, The National make dreary, rainy day music for those who choose to accept or even revel in the dark crevices of life, carrying on the gloomy tradition of late 70’s/80’s post-punk bands like Joy Division and The Cure. Matt Berninger’s rich baritone is the glue that holds these stories together and when he sings, “I live in the city sorrow built,” you believe him and your heart aches for him. The band is in great form on this work, which may be their best yet in a critically lauded career. Though it was released back in May, amid the sunshine and flowers, this is time of year for which it was meant, when the sun goes down early, the temperature drops, and the feelings of isolation and loneliness are magnified. Download: Sorrow, Anyone’s Ghost, Bloodbuzz Ohio
8. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
I first got into The Hold Steady with their 2008 album Stay Positive, my top pick for that year, so my hopes were high for their latest release and they did not disappoint. While I wasn’t that impressed the first time I listened to it, Heaven is Whenever grew on me quickly and by the time I saw them live over the summer it was among my favorites for the year. The album starts with the uncharacteristically slow, almost country music-like The Sweet Part of the City, before kicking into their normal, high-energy, bar band sound, tearing through track after track about the scene, a place characterized by street fights, parties, bars, and townies, but also where the beautiful happens. It’s a place where two music lovers can discover that, “Heaven is whenever we can get together, / Sit down on your floor / And listen to your records.” Download: Barely Breathing, We Can Get Together, Hurricane J
7. Big Boi – Sir Luscious Left Foot
Despite being one of the most talented and influential hip-hop collaborations in history, Outkast has been relatively quiet since their 2006 film project Idlewild, and have not released a proper album since 2004’s Grammy-winning Album of the Year, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, so the first solo release from Big Boi, one half of Outkast, was greatly anticipated by purveyors of intelligent hip-hop. Luscious kicks of with a short, funky intro before kicking into high gear and it quickly becomes apparent that Big Boi is in excellent form. He turns in a performance that reeks of dirty, George Clinton funk, with heaps of soul and old-school, Southern fried hip-hop added in for good measure. The songs are adventurous, inventive, and totally captivating. Now we just need a new Outkast album… Download: Daddy Fat Sax, Shutterbugg, Tangerine
6. Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do
I’ve been following just about every move of the Drive-By Truckers for nearly a decade, and though there have been some ups and downs, they are still, without a doubt, my favorite band of that time period. This latest release continues in the tradition of telling dark tales of life in Dixie through a three guitar, Southern rock avenue. Where their last release, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, displayed more of a country influence, To-Do is more of a straight-ahead rock album, blasting through tales of death, drugs, and depression with razor sharp lyrics and amps turned to ten. Co-leaders Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley sound great, as usual, with Hood’s storytelling abilities at full strength and Cooley’s guitar and one-liners ringing out strong and true. The band touches on real events like the Church of Christ minister murder in Selmer (“That Wig He Made Her Wear”), classic tales of women done wrong (“Drag the Lake Charlie”), and even one that took place in Memphis (“Birthday Boy”). I’ve had the opportunity to see them twice on this tour and I can assure you that the band sounds as great as ever. Download: Drag the Lake Charlie, Birthday Boy, Santa Fe
5. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
I was first introduced to The Gaslight Anthem with their 2008 work, That ’59 Sound, and I quickly became a fan of their style, one that I described as being “like Springsteen fronting The Clash.” Their latest release continues in the same vein, with the band’s Jersey-influenced songs and hard charging guitars taking center stage, yet it may even best that album that I loved so much from two years ago. The Gaslight Anthem should be a huge, household name, but still they toil away in relative obscurity, playing anthems that could fill stadiums in smaller venues to a growing base of fans. If there is any justice in the world, these guys will be huge someday. When vocalist Brian Fallon sings, “While you told me fortunes in American slang,” you hope that those fortunes turn out well for the band. Download: American Slang, Boxer, Bring It On
4. The Black Keys – Brothers
I’ve been a big fan of blues-rock duo The Black Keys for several years and it has been fascinating to watch the evolution of the band beyond their initial blues focus to something that borrows from a number of genres, combining them into a fun, rocking whole. This latest release borrows some style from their last album, the Danger Mouse-produced Attack and Release, and their older, bluesier recordings, while adding in a few new wrinkles, swinging from vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach doing his best Prince impression on “Everlasting Light” to their trademark riffage on “She’s Long Gone,” to the keyboard-dominated “Too Afraid to Love You,” and they have never sounded better. I saw the band in concert a few years ago and the show was incredible, so it is my hope that they will make another stop in Memphis sometime in the near future. If you like good music, you need this album. Download: Next Girl, Tighten Up, She’s Long Gone
3. Kanye West – My Dark Twisted Fantasy
Over the past ten years there is perhaps no artist in rap music, or for that matter music in general, who is more important and timely than Kanye West. Sure, he has a tendency to go off the deep end publically, but all can be forgiven and forgotten by those who allow themselves be lost in his ingenious vision. My Dark Twisted Fantasy is more than just your average hip-hop album, it’s a landmark on par with nearly anything ever produced in the genre. After the underrated minimalism of his last work 808s and Heartbreak, the dense orchestrations present on Fantasy represent a completely new and welcome direction, one that displays rap music as the art form that it can be. The songs are long and powerful, pulling in the listener and not letting go. In the anthemic “Power,” with its tribal chants and King Crimson sampling, ‘Ye makes the prophetic statement “I guess every superhero needs his theme music,” and this is the sound of him finding his. The real gem on this work, though, is the uncomfortably confessional 10 minute opus “Runaway,” where he reveals this really tortured soul, telling the listeners how he’s “so gifted at findin’ what I don’t like the most,” before delving into some of the roughest verbal self-flagellation in recent memory. This is a must-own. Download: Runaway, Power, Monster
2. Neil Young – Le Noise
Though the initial news that Neil Young was collaborating with mega-producer Daniel Lanois was intriguing, it had been years since I heard anything from Young that interested me and I wasn’t putting much stock into this latest work. Then I heard it on NPR and immediately was hooked by both the music and the story behind it. According to reports, Lanois approached the 65 year old legend with a custom built guitar and an idea, a simple project consisting solely of Young, the guitar, and some great production, and this incredible work is the fruit of that partnership. Young sounds great, his voice still in excellent condition and his grungy guitar work reminding us of his widespread influence across the gamut of rock music. The old man still has his finger on the pulse of society, particularly in songs like “Angry World” where he sings, “Some see life as hope eternal / Some see life as a business plan / Some wish some would go to hell’s inferno / For screwing with their life in freedom land,” and in the fantastic, perhaps even career-defining track, “Love and War,” where his acoustic guitar and soft, almost whispery vocals become an ethereal vessel through which a great prophet can speak his message, saying, “When I sing about love and war / I don’t really know what I’m saying. / I’ve been in love and I’ve seen a lot of war / Seen a lot of people praying. / They pray to Allah and they pray to the Lord / But mostly the pray about love and war.” This beautiful and timely piece of societal commentary is indispensable. Download: Love and War, Angry World, Sign of Love
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
The Arcade Fire dealt with some big issues on their first two albums, so on their third, the band turns to another slice of America, the lifeless and endless suburban sprawl. As one of the millions and millions of people living in this area of concrete, strip malls, and cookie cutter houses stretching past the horizon (“Oh this city’s changed so much / Since I was a little child / Pray to God I won’t live to see / The death of everything that’s wild”), this work strikes a chord with me. It’s the land of quiet desperation, of fear and of endless attempts to escape, moving farther and farther away from supposed danger, never settling and always vigilant (“The town’s so strange they built it to change”). In the album opener, “The Suburbs,” vocalist Win Butler laments, “So can you understand / Why I want a daughter while I’m still young? / I want to hold her hand / And show her some beauty / Before all this damage is done.” The band’s targets range from that hopelessly run rat race to the suburban megachurch-dominated religious scene with lyrics like, “You never trust a millionaire / Quoting the sermon on the mount / I used to think I was not like them / But I’m beginning to have my doubts / My doubts about it.” And, of course, there’s always the neverending sprawl (“Sometimes I wonder if the world’s so small / Then we can never get away from the sprawl / Living in the sprawl / The dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains / And there’s no end in sight / I need the darkness. Someone please cut the lights!”). This is, without a doubt, my album of the year. It touches deep down in my psyche, for I’ve struggled some time with our decision to live in the suburbs instead of the city, feeling like I don’t belong here, that there is no place here for me. The endless traffic and big box stores and chain restaurants, the fear and hatred and exclusionary tactics go beyond merely bothering me, they hurt me, they scar me, they leave me wanting to escape the clutches of the sprawl.
Yet all is not so terrible, no, everyone does not buy into the stories, not everyone finds themselves destroyed by the “businessmen that drink my blood.” As is true anywhere in any city or suburb or country town that you may find yourself in, there is a reason to go on and it is one that does not involve mcmansions or illusions of safety or churches that look like football stadiums. Friends. Love. Relationships. That is what matters. In the end, you may say as Arcade Fire does, “If I could have it back / All the time we wasted / I’d only waste it again / If I could have it back / You know I would love to waste it again.” Time with the ones you love, even time in which you do nothing at all, is never wasted. The new chapter of my story is a happy one so far, one in which relationships are being built and even if it happens in the endless sprawl, that is okay. The time will not be wasted.
Like I said before, this album really struck a chord with me. It has stuck with me and haunted me ever since I first listened to it. If there is one album you buy this year, make it this one.
Thoughts?
Best of 2010 – Music Edition (11-20) December 14, 2010
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010.Tags: Best Music of 2010, Broken Bells, Cee Lo Green, Jamey Johnson, josh ritter, MGMT, Mumford and Sons, Sufjan Stevens, The Dead Weather, The Roots, Weezer
2 comments
Last week we began our look back at the best albums of 2010, beginning with my 10 honorable mentions. Today we continue with those rated from 11-20. My tastes cover a wide range of styles and genres and I’ve tried to give a fair representation of everything I’ve enjoyed this year. Let me know what you think.
20. MGMT – Congratulations
MGMT struck gold with their 2008 debut Oracular Spectacular, so many fans of “Kids” and “Time to Pretend” awaited their sophomore release with bated breath, wondering how it might stack up. Though it received several mixed reviews upon its release, I actually liked it a good deal, probably even as much as their debut. What Congratulations lacks in hit songs, it gains in furthering the band’s trippy, psychedelic vision. This is much more akin to the Grateful Dead’s meandering space rock or the Flaming Lips utter weirdness than it is to something you might hear on the radio. It is the type of work you must listen to from beginning to end, rather than picking out individual songs, to truly grasp its magnificent scope. Their sound is full and shimmering with crazy colors, with ethereal voices permeating the strangely woven quilt of sound, holding it all together into a discernable whole. Download: the whole album, but if you must choose songs, get Its Working and the 12 minute opus Siberian Breaks.
19. Weezer – Hurley
I was once a huge Weezer fan, particularly of Pinkerton which came out when I was a college freshman and quickly became an integral part of my personal soundtrack for that year, but since then most of their work has been disappointing. Sure, they had a few great songs scattered about, but their albums always left me wanting. My hopes were not particularly high for Hurley, but I downloaded a copy not long after it came out, listened with skepticism, and came away a believer that Rivers Cuomo’s band still has it in them. This is, without a doubt, their best album since that mid-90’s masterpiece. This is the sound of the nerdy persona from “In the Garage” all grown up and dealing with being an adult, from ruminations on love (when we first met in the lunch room / my ocular nerve went “Pop, zoom”) to reminiscing about “playing hacky sack back with Audioslave was still Rage,” while still fretting about sex and the rock and roll life. This is a must own for all of you who have been waiting for Weezer to again reach the heights of their first two albums. Download: Memories, Smart Girls
18. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
Producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse garners a second entry on this year’s list with this collaboration with The Shins’ vocalist James Mercer. From the moment I heard of this pairing, I could not help but wonder how the pop styling of Mercer and the inventive hip-hop beats of Danger Mouse would mesh, but one listen allayed any misgivings and I quickly became a fan. Multilayered and moody, Broken Bells weave a tapestry of sound that envelops the listener, pulling them in with catchy rhythms and interesting instrumentation, and keeping them around with Mercer’s familiar vocals and shimmering harmonies. He sings things like, “Remember what they say / There’s no shortcut to a dream / It’s all blood and sweat / And life is what you manage in between,” and you can’t help but love it. Download: The Ghost Inside, October
17. Cee Lo Green – Ladykiller
Cee Lo has been around the music world for some time, first coming into the public eye in the 1990’s with Goodie Mob and then making huge waves over the past decade with Gnarls Barkley, his collaboration with Danger Mouse (Again!), and he again hits a home run with this solo outing. Cee Lo has a knack for old school funk and soul, mixing elements of George Clinton, James Brown, and Al Green, into a work of R&B greatness. Cee Lo takes on the persona of a potty-mouthed Stevie Wonder in what is probably the best song of the year, the hilarious and unavoidable “**** You” (which also includes one of my favorite lines of the year, “I guess he’s an Xbox and I’m more Atari / But the way you play your game ain’t fair”), he turns Band of Horses’ indie rock hit “No One’s Gonna Love You,” into a sultry, soulful piece of work that perhaps even tops the original version, and the rest of the album is a funky blast of joy. His voice is in great form and holds the entire work together as one of this year’s must-hear releases. Download: **** You, No One’s Gonna Love You
16. Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song
Once upon a time, I loved country music, but over the years it lost my interest. At some point I grew tired of the bland pop songs with a slight twang that filled every station’s playlist and, except for the older stuff, I gave up on the entire genre. Then I heard of Jamey Johnson. Johnson sets himself apart from the rest of the country music machine in almost every way, from his long-haired, scraggly-beard, mountain man look, to his gruff vocals, to his style somewhere around Waylon’s outlaw persona and Merle’s populist odes. The double album kicks off strong with “Lonely at the Top,” about a country music star complaining about life to a regular guy in a bar, who answers, “It might be lonely at the top / But it’s a bitch at the bottom,” then continues on for 24 more songs of good times, not-so-good times, and utter heartbreak. Being a double album, it does have its fair share of filler and probably a few too many slow moments, but when Johnson hits the nail on the head, he does it right. Download: Lonely at the Top, Can’t Cash My Checks
15. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
Given the number of years since his last release, 2005’s Illinois, it became quite clear to all but the most optimistic fan that Sufjan Stevens would not complete his ambitious 50 state project, but after a few listens to this latest release any disappointment will be forgotten. Age of Adz starts off like past Stevens’ work, with a fingerpicked guitar and his soft, almost childlike voice exuding hope and innocence, “And when I sleep on your couch I feel very safe / And when you bring the blankets I cover up my face.” With the second track, “Too Much,” it becomes clear that this is anything but an average Sufjan work. This time around the indie folk artist eschews his banjo and takes a very different path of sound, employing electronic beats on top of multi-layered orchestration, with a wide, almost indecipherable, variety of noises and strangeness. If the listener approaches Adz with an open mind and not with the expectation to hear Illionois, Part 2, they will be rewarded with one of the better releases of the year. Download: Vesuvius, Get Right Get Right
14. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
My good friend Smokey turned me on to Mumford & Sons earlier this year and soon the album became a favorite and a regularly played selection on my Ipod. They remind me at times of a folksy and more lyrically adept Dave Matthews Band with a large portion of the Avett Brothers thrown in for good measure. Who knew that an English folk band could do Americana as well as or better than anyone in this country? This is music with a spiritual aspect to it as well, not in a silly, CCM sort of way, but one that is authentic and real. Listening to Mumford & Sons, with lyrics like “You can understand dependence / When you know the maker’s hand,” makes me want to sit under the stars and contemplate my existence. It’s an album that sticks with you, haunts you, long after it finishes. Download: The Cave, Awake My Soul
13. Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away
I became a huge fan of Josh Ritter following his stellar 2006 release The Animal Years, and my devotion continued with the more varied but still excellent 2007 work The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter. I’ve long considered him to be one of the, if not the, best songwriters of my generation and having the chance to see him live a few years ago was a real treat. While this release may not reach the same heights as some of his previous releases and Ritter has a real gift at grabbing your attention, holding you close, with his words and a simple, fingerpicked guitar. From the opening words, “I had a dream last night / I dreamt that I was swimming / And the stars up above / directionless and drifting,” he reaches into your very soul, making you want to fall in love and run away and actually live. If you value wonderful, poetic songwriting and accessible melodies, you need to check this out. Download: Another New World, The Curse
12. The Roots – How I Got Over
Veteran hip-hop act The Roots may have had the biggest year yet in their illustrious career in 2010, continuing their gig as Jimmy Fallon’s house band and releasing two excellent albums – a collaboration with John Legend and the one listed here. In a genre often seen as being filled with mindless junk, The Roots are a beacon of hope. Their songs are intelligently written and speak of social issues with a call to action, rather than one of anger and violence. On How I Got Over the group is in excellent form, perhaps as good as they have been over their entire career, making this a must-have for fans of good hip-hop. Their knack for combining and creating sounds from genres as disparate as jazz and indie rock only augments their creative genius. Download: Walk Alone, Radio Daze
11. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
As a longtime fan, I will gladly take my place among the disciples of the greatest guitar god of this era, Jack White (who actually plays drums here), and this latest release from his other side band is yet another triumphant success. The Dead Weather is what might be called an indie supergroup, consisting of White (The White Stripes and The Raconteurs), Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age), and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs), and they flat-out rock. Their sound shares some similarities with White’s other projects in that this is riff-based blues-based guitar rock a la Zeppelin that violently bludgeons the listener’s eardrums with sounds meant to be played loud. Really loud. The synthesizers add a nice psychedelic cushion to the mix without going over the top, but they are merely a backdrop to the churning guitars and insane solos. This is some intense stuff. Download: Die by the Drop, Gasoline
Coming Soon: The Top Ten
Best of 2010 – Music Edition December 8, 2010
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010.Tags: Best Music of 2010, Black Mountain, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Danger Mouse, Dr. Dog, Justin Townes Earle, Magic Kids, Ra Ra Riot, Robert Plant, Sparklehorse, The Whigs, Titus Andronicus
4 comments
With 2010 quickly nearing its end, the time has arrived for us to take a look back at the year that was, the triumphs, missteps, and curiosities from the most recent journey around the sun. Today we will begin our retrospective view of the year in music. I collected about 50 albums released this year, mostly drawn from emusic and Amazon, and found most of them to be great listens, but for our list I have boiled the pot down to a top 20 and another 10 honorable mentions. My tastes are quite diverse, from alt-rock to hip-hop to old school country and beyond, so be prepared for a little bit of everything and let me know what you think. Today we will look at the Honorable Mentions.
Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River BluesI’ve been a fan of this progeny of the great Steve Earle ever since his debut album, The Good Life, came out a few years ago and this release continues in the same vein of excellence. Though his style is oftentimes distinctly different than that of his father, they share two major characteristics: a firm root in roots/country music and an adventurous spirit that allows them to transcend that respective genre. The sing-along chorus of the title track will draw you in (“Lord, I’m goin’ uptown to the Harlem River to drown / Dirty water gonna cover me over and I’m not gonna make a sound”) and the retro sounds are interesting and varied in a way that bests vintage contemporaries like M. Ward.
Download: One More Night in Brooklyn, Christchurch Woman
The Whigs – In the DarkPrior to this year I had heard of The Whigs and might have even caught some of their songs on the radio, but I never purchased any of their albums. But, when I saw that they were scheduled to open for The Hold Steady at their Memphis show back in the summer, I decided to check them out a little more. This latest album seemed like a good place to start and in almost no time I became a big fan of their catchy, garage rock sound. They remind me of an early, pre-fame Kings of Leon, a Deep South bar band with big dreams and, believe me, that’s a great thing. While their lyrical prowess may never win any awards, these guys know how to rock. Download: Kill Me Carolyne, Someone’s Daughter
Dr. Dog – Shame, ShameThese alt-pop veterans continue to churn out accessible, fun music, while continuing to lurk somewhere just below the public radar. Their sound is a bit conventional – perhaps evoking thoughts of The Shins and other purveyors of lightweight pop – while also containing psychedelic elements – a la My Morning Jacket – which combine to make an interesting whole. When vocalist Scott McMicken sings, “The good old days have passed and the good times after that,” you find yourself hoping he is wrong and that this dog still has some tricks up its sleeve. Download: Stranger, Unbearable Why
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro JigMaybe you’re like me in that you quickly grow tired of the same-old music and you want something exciting and different, a promulgation of styles that is totally out-of-the-ordinary. If this describes you, then you must take a look at the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an all-black, old-time string band with hip-hop sensibilities. There are few others with the ability, both musical and artistic, to mash-up styles that seem completely unrelated into an enjoyable whole. Of particular interest is their cover of R&B singer Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘em Up Style,” but there are plenty of other tunes, some traditional and some not so, for you to enjoy. Download: Hit ‘em Up Style, Cornbread and Butterbeans
Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse – Dark Night of the SoulDanger Mouse, whether as artist or producer, is one of those rare people who seems to have a veritable Midas touch, a characteristic that is shown again on this recording with the late Mark Linkous, aka Sparklehorse, film auteur David Lynch, and a host of guest vocalists. These ruminations on death and hurt are forever amplified by the untimely suicide Linkous before the album was even released to the public. Lyrics like “Distant bell ring / But steps echo / No one on these streets / Callin’ out your name / Where are you baby? / It’s a dream world / Dark dream world / Dark night of the soul” really bring home the mindset of Linkous as he composed this final, rather unsettling but altogether beautiful, work. Download: Just War, Jaykub
Magic Kids – MemphisWhen you think of Memphis, what sorts of music come to mind? Elvis? Blues? Three Six Mafia? How about sunny, retro pop? If you didn’t choose the last one, Magic Kids may change your mind. With the release of their bouncy debut earlier this year, the hometown band suddenly found themselves as darlings of the indie pop world. They often echo past bands like Herman’s Hermits and twee pop legends Belle & Sebastian, paying homage to those who prepared the way. Check it out. It will no doubt put a smile on your face. Download: Phone, Candy
Titus Andronicus – The MonitorLooking for something different to listen to? How about a band named after a Shakespeare tragedy who released a concept album loosely based on the American Civil War? Titus Andronicus burst on the scene in a big way in 2010 with their angst-filled indie punk sound. One of the fun things about this work is trying to pick out the different artists and things this hyper-literate band alludes to, whether it be fellow New Jersian Bruce Springsteen (Tramps like us, baby we were born to die!), singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, or a host of others, all of which somehow come together into a cohesive whole. Download: A More Perfect Union, Theme from “Cheers”
Robert Plant – Band of JoyPlant, the legendary vocalist of Led Zeppelin, seems to have caught a second career wind over the past few years, beginning with his collaboration with Allison Krauss and continuing with this new solo work. He is in fine vocal form again on this folk-rock album, but this time he avoids what I saw as the major pitfall of his Krauss work: too many downbeat songs. On Band of Joy (his original, pre-Zep band) Plant seems to be a bit more energetic and the vibe rubs off on the listener in a good way. Download: Angel Dance, House of Cards
Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard I enjoyed Ra Ra Riot’s 2008 debut, The Rhumb Line, pretty well, but it is their second release that truly turned me into a fan. This indie pop outfit wears their 1980’s influences on their sleeves, but in a good way, much like their contemporaries Vampire Weekend. The songs are catchy and fun and I dare you to try and sit still while listening to them. They make for a great antidote to a dark day. Download: Boy, Too Dramatic
Black Mountain – Wilderness HeartThis Canadian psychedelic band burst onto my radar in 2008 with their second album, In the Future, and I was hooked almost immediately. Their sound may be classified as something akin to the trippy, stoner rock of the late 60’s and 70’s, like a modern version of Blue Cheer or Mountain, with the expansiveness of Pink Floyd. This is big music, with plentiful keyboards and stadium-filling guitars that cannot be ignored. Download: The Hair Song, Old Fangs
Thoughts?
Coming Soon: The Top 20
The Best of 2010…So Far – Part 2 June 30, 2010
Posted by Matt in Best of 2010.Tags: Best of 2010, Broken Bells, Carolina Chocolate Drops, drive-by truckers, josh ritter, MGMT, music, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, The Black Keys, The Dead Weather, The Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady
5 comments
10. Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
As you are probably aware by now, I like a lot of music that resides somewhere outside the mainstream, whether that be the return of an old style or the creation of a new one, so when I heard about the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an all-black, old time string band that plays a wide variety of music – from traditional tunes to hip-hop favorites – I was intrigued to say the least. When my dad gave me a copy of this, their latest album, I quickly became a fan. Needless to say, you won’t hear anything else like this anywhere else.
Download: Hit ‘Em Up Style, Cornbread and Butterbeans, Your Baby Ain’t Sweet Like Mine
9. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
There aren’t very many producers that can induce me to buy an album, but Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) is one of them. I’ve been intrigued with his work ever since his strange and very cool mash-up of Jay-Z’s Black Album with The Beatles’ White Album, and since that time he has worked on fantastic albums by Gorillaz, The Black Keys, Beck, and others, not to mention his own great project, Gnarls Barkley. So, with everything he touches seeming to turn to gold, this collaboration with The Shins’ James Mercer was a must-get, and let me tell you, it was worth it. Mixing Mercer’s voice, which fits so well in the melodic context of The Shins, with experimental hip-hop beats was a stroke of genius. I’ll be returning to this one far more than I will The Shins’ albums that I own.
Download: The High Road, The Ghost Inside, Vaporize
8. MGMT – Congratulations
MGMT’s debut album, Oracular Spectacular, was a gargantuan success, spawning several hit songs (“Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” etc.) and breaking the band into the mainstream in a big way. While their sophomore release does not have the recognizable singles of its predecessor, it may be an even better overall album. Their sound is a trippy, psychedelic ride that flows with ease from one song to the next for the entire duration of the album. It is truly an experience not to be missed.
Download: It’s Working, Flash Delirium, and really just download the whole thing. It’s worth it.
7. Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away
Josh Ritter’s prior two releases, Animal Songs and The Historic Conquests of Josh Ritter, have been among my favorites in the respective years of their release. His songwriting ability is superb, placing him near or at the top of my generation, and earning him comparisons to other greats like Bruce Springsteen. Though I cannot say I like his latest release as much as the past two or three, but it is still very, very good. His easy voice and fingerpicked guitar make for the perfect accompaniment in a stressful work environment.
Download: The Curse, Southern Pacifica, Folk Bloodbath
6. Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do
Every album release from DBT is an event for fans like me, who collect all of the works of this greatest among Southern rock bands and make a point to see them each and every time they play a nearby show (next one: September). Though the band has undergone a few personnel changes over the years, core members Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley remain and continue to produce some of the best music coming out of Dixie. Their songs tell tales from the dark side of life in the South, with tales of people suffering in a floundering economy, death, and a certain Tennessee preacher’s wife who shot her husband dead. It’s another triumph for the band and I’m really looking forward to seeing this fall for the 6th time.
Download: Birthday boy, Drag the Lake Charlie, The Wig He Made Her Wear
5. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
I became a huge fan of The Hold Steady following their incredible 2008 release, Stay Positive, and have been ever since, picking up the majority of the back catalog and listening to it incessantly. Though this one sounds a bit cleaner and less bar band-like, than their past releases, it still makes for one heck of a listen. From their slower-than-normal, almost country sounding opener, through the rest of the album, the band utilizes frontman Craig Finn’s gift for storytelling to weave tale after tale of real life, creating a Springsteen-esque (the 2nd of 3 Bruce references in this blog entry) tapestry of regular people struggling to get by. Oh, and I’m planning on going to see them at the Hi-Tone next month. I have no doubt it will be awesome.
Download: Hurricane J, The Weekenders, We Can Get Together
4. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
It is quite interesting that we can point to so many artists today as having been greatly influenced by Bruce Springsteen, but that is probably no more apparent than with The Gaslight Anthem, whose sound I described in 2008, following the release of the fantastic That ’59 Sound, as a “young Springsteen fronting The Clash.” Their latest release is another incredible work, melding the blue collar ethic of The Boss with their punk sensibilities into something that you just can’t put away. It’s a catchy blast of New Jersey garage rock that you can’t help but love.
Download: American Slang, Stay Lucky, The Queen of Lower Chelsea
3. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
All hail Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, for they come to us bearing a wonderful gift, one that we may not have even realized we were missing. Jones & company have resurrected an Aretha-like soul and R&B sound, and they’ve done it in a suberb way. The Brooklyn-based band reportedly shun modern digital recording equipment in favor of analog, to ensure their retro sound. I absolutely love this album and when I start playing it I just can’t stop. Believe me, you need to check this out.
Download: The Game Gets Old, I Learned the Hard Way, Money
2. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Let me be up front about this: I will be a lifelong fan of Jack White and everything he touches. This album is the best non-White Stripes recording he has been a part of. The entire work rocks from beginning to end, with heavy blues-based guitar riffs, pounding drums, and some killer songs combining into an excellent whole. White and Alison Mosshart (of The Kills) share vocal duties in a howling, shrieking morass of awesomeness. My favorite line by White: “All the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.” Awesome. Now I only wish I had been able to see them when they played Memphis a few months ago…
Download: Die By the Drop, Blue Blood Blues, The Difference Between Us
1. The Black Keys – Brothers
Psychedelic blues-rock duo The Black Keys have done it – they’ve created a masterpiece. I love everything the Keys have done, from the heavy blues of Thickfreakness and Rubber Factory to the Danger Mouse-produced Attack & Release and everything in between, but this album is just flat-out incredible. They retain some of their blues sensibilities while continuing to expand their sound far beyond anything that seems humanly possible for just two people, one with a drum set and one with a guitar. To add to the coolness, my 7 year old daughter thinks vocalist Dan Auerbach sounds like Prince on some songs. Just turn this one up loud, and I mean loud, and enjoy it.
Download: Everlasting Light, Next Girl, Tighten Up, She’s Long Gone
Thoughts?
