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Top 10 Albums of 2010

2011/01/01

It was good year. I had a tough time picking out this list and I also just downloaded a number of albums that are probably contenders, I just haven't listened to them yet. I reserve the right to amend or replace this list later, but if this list helps you find some new music, then my work here is done!

Here are some of my favorite albums from 2010, but you be the judge:

1. Arcade Fire – "The Suburbs"

After seeing them live in August 2010, I went on an Arcade Fire bender. The Suburbs still ring out in my mind. Rococo!

2. Junip – "Fields"

Junip's album, headed by lead singer José González, is thoughtful, and perfect for a cloudy day.

3. Sleigh Bells – "Treats"

Abbrasive and yet you can dance to it? Good for when you're feeling pissed off or bouncing happy? More noise pop please!

4. Aloe Blacc – "Good Things"

The bit of Soul we'll all need for the year that has passed, and the year yet to come. Hey hey!

5. Girl Talk – "All Day"

Raising the bar for mashup artists everywhere, Girl Talk has taken 350 of your favorite songs mashed into one brilliant song. You have been informed.

6. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)

Funky, then soulful, dancing then some blues. Janelle is all over the place in a good way!

7. Vampire Weekend – "Contra"

Paul Simon (or at least the "Paul Simon" of the album "Graceland") would approve. I approve too!

8. Jónsi – "Go"

Songs from a boy from another world. Beauty with a beat, and feathers at times.

9. Neon Trees – "Habits"

Pop + Post-Punk. Keeps the blood flowing. Oo… oo! I want some more!

10. Broken Bells – "Broken Bells"

The Shin's singer, James Mercer, and Danger Mouse's collaborative and solid album, and one that will certainly grow on you.

As I mentioned a year ago, I was likely going to amend/update the 2009 list. Rather than change it and make some painful cuts, here are 10 more from 2009, that I didn't fully appreciate until 2010:

1. Florence + the Machine – "Lungs"

2. The Bird and The Bee – "Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future"

3. The Temper Trap – "Conditions"

4. La Roux – "La Roux"

5. Mumford & Sons – "Sigh No More"

6. One EskimO – "One Eskimo"

7. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – "Up From Below"

8. Miike Snow – "Miike Snow"

9. Phoenix – "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"

10. Meaghan Smith – "Wish Upon A Star"

If you're curious, here is my original 2009 list, though I think perhaps The XX deserves a higher number!

1. Franz Ferdinand – "Tonight"

2. Metric – "Fantasies"

3. Röyksopp – "Junior"

4. Coconut Records – "Davy"

5. The Sounds – "Crossing The Rubicon"

6. Owl City – "Ocean Eyes"

7. Grizzly Bear – "Veckatimest"

8. Matt & Kim – "Grand"

9. Animal Collective – "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

10. The xx – "xx"

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Album of the Week: The Cure – "Disintegration" (1989)

2010/01/31

Track 4: Lovesong:

The Cure's "Disintegration" is the all purpose album for those in the dumps. Regardless of your source of solace or depression, whether it be loss of love, self-esteem, hope, or worse, you will find a companion in "Disintegration". It is better to embrace the gloom to work through it and to put your focus on a movie or an album, than your own life sometimes. If not now, it will happen in the future. When it does, you can pull this one off the shelf and let The Cure heal your wounded soul as a sympathetic presence.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Lovesong" being my favorite.

Track 1: Plainsong

Track 2: Pictures of You

Track 4: Lovesong

Track 6: Lullaby

Track 10: Disintegration
http://www.viddler.com/explore/cere_ale/videos/2/

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on The Cure – "Disintegration".

The MP3 album may be purchased here:

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Album of the Week: Cut Copy – "In Ghost Colours" (2008)

2010/01/24

Track 3: Lights & Music:

Since I found Cut Copy about a year ago, their album "In Ghost Colours" has become a staple in my life. It is an easy choice when I don't know what I want to listen to at the moment. Energetic yet relaxing. Turn it up and you can sing and dance. Turn it down low and it'll soothe you to sleep. Perfect music to put on the soundtrack to your life.

It is a solid album too, including songs morphing into one another and no single song sticking out as so much better or so much worse than the rest. I think any New Order fans out there, or New Wave in general will delight in this album. Listen for yourself and you decide.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Lights & Music" being my favorite.

Track 1: Feel the Love

Track 2: Out There On The Ice

Track 3: Lights & Music

Track 5: Unforgettable Season

Track 9: Hearts On Fire

Track 10: Far Away

Track 12: Strangers In The Wind

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours.

The MP3 album may be purchased here…

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Album of the Week: The Beatles – "Help!" (1965)

2010/01/18

Track 1: Help!:

Thus far I've refrained from posting any Beatles songs. They get enough attention and probably always will. I've decided though to point out a particular album I keep coming back to. For reasons I cannot fully comprehend, when I reach for an album by "The Beatles" I tend to grab "Help!". It is early enough in their career that they haven't been experimenting with music or substance excessively, but late enough as to not be unpolished. "Help!" strikes a balance being made near the mid-point of their career. Anyone new to The Beatles and looking for a starting point should start here and work in both directions. Otherwise you're likely to favor only the early works or only the later works.

Are "The Beatles" the greatest band in history? Perhaps. But music is art and art is subjective. Their success, influence, and continued popularity are all hard to deny. They certainly left a giant musical crater while most other musicians and composers barely scratch the surface. On the other hand they are but one band. There are so many other flavors of music that have nothing to do with "Rock" or "Pop" that eventually The Beatles are bound to be surpassed in popularity and influence by someone. Being early to the party of "Rock" and "Pop" will make it VERY difficult for any other "Rock" or "Pop" band to compete, but then again who knows? It may happen. Mozart came after Bach. Or maybe it has happened? Michael Jackson has the the bestselling album of all time, "Thriller", with over 100 Million copies sold and that is more than double the albums in 2nd place and 3rd place, neither of which are "The Beatles". Then again just 3 of The Beatles' albums ("Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), "1" (2000), and "Abbey Road" (1969)) combined reach 93 million.

For me I cannot fully comprehend anyone who says "they do not like anything by The Beatles". It does not compute for me. I would not say they are my favorite, but then again bread is not my favorite food yet I would be very very sad without it in my life. Now if "The Beatles" are musical bread, I wonder who is butter? A question to be pondered another day I suppose.

Here are my 7 favorites from the album, with the title song "Help!" being my favorite.

Track 1: Help!

Track 2: The Night Before

Track 3: You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

Track 5: Another Girl

Track 6: You're Going To Lose That Girl

Track 7: Ticket To Ride

Track 13: Yesterday

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on The Beatles – Help!.

The CD album may be purchased here:

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Album of the Week: Röyksopp – "Junior" (2009)

2010/01/08

Track 2: The Girl and The Robot:

Röyksopp. Many of you probably have never heard of them, but have likely heard their music. e.g. That song that plays in the Geico Caveman commercials when he is in the airport on the moving walkway… That's Röyksopp. The music for the startup video for Mac OS X 10.3… That's Röyksopp too. But those are on older Röyksopp albums. I'm here to talk about their 2009 album "Junior".

I already geeked out about the first song "Happy Up Here" and included the album at #3 on my "Top 10 Best Albums of 2009" list. Now I am adding "Junior" to my "Must Own Album" list.

In "Junior", Röyksopp combines the energy of dance or techno with the meditative calmness of ambient, all in a way that still seems accessible and pop-like. Perhaps that is the definition of "house" music, that they are frequently categorized as, and they fit well. The album has a playful quality in the lyrics and the videos too that only adds to my appreciation. I have to believe they do not take themselves too seriously. They are having fun and have produced something fun for us to listen too. I suggest watching the videos for "Happy Up Here" and "The Girl and The Robot" (below).

Also I love their use of electronic slurs and rasp sounds in several of the songs. Those sounds are more akin to sounds heard in video games or sound effects than music. I belkieve any kind of sound is eligible to be an "instrument" and experimenters are to be commended for ever expanding the notions of what is an "instrument" and what sounds can be used in "music". Bravo.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Happy Up Here" being my favorite and "The Girl and The Robot" being a very close 2nd.

Track 1: Happy Up Here

Track 2: The Girl and The Robot

Track 3: Vision One

Track 4: This Must Be It

Track 6: Miss It So Much

PS: I know I've been slacking on my album of the week selections. Hopefully with the holidays being over I will return to my weekly stride.

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on Röyksopp – "Junior".

The MP3 album may be purchased here:

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Top 10 Best Albums of 2009

2009/12/31

The end of a year. The end of a decade. The end of an era perhaps. I anticipate a year of change. "Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically"… well, maybe not ecumenically, but definitely musically …and grammatically.

This past year has had several songs and abums I loved. I would say these are my "Top 10 Best Albums of 2009":

1. Franz Ferdinand – "Tonight"

Franz Ferdinand's "Tonight" is the winner in my mind. I still am gushing over it months later.

2. Metric – "Fantasies"

Metric's "Fantasies" is not too far behind and has really inspired some of my drumming.

3. Röyksopp – "Junior"

Röyksopp's "Junior" is like a shiny new toy you cannot help but play with and show off to your friends.

4. Coconut Records – "Davy"

Jason Schwartzman's music is good. I don't think he should stop acting because I like his work in that medium too, but Coconut Records is quality.

5. The Sounds – "Crossing The Rubicon"

I have been a little obsessed with these post-punkers this year so of course I had to include their latest album on this list!

6. Owl City – "Ocean Eyes"

Adam Young totally seems like the nice guy who cannot sleep and writes awesome Postal Service influenced songs in his basement.

7. Grizzly Bear – "Veckatimest"

These guys have a mesmerizing quality and I still cannot put my finger on it. Heads blowing up perhaps?

8. Matt & Kim – "Grand"

The album is good, but "Daylight" is genius in my opinion. So simple, and yet so complex. I still am working on Kim's drum line.

9. Animal Collective – "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

I kept hearing about these guys and finally gave them a listen. I like. I like.

10. The xx – "xx"

The xx is the only "new" band on this Top 10 list, and I only *just* got their album, but I like what I hear so much they are on the list!

Now to be fair, there are still a lot of albums on my "to do" list from 2009 so I reserve the right to add to this list. I'm still discovering music from over 10 years ago, so I am serious. Also I only recently aquired the "Animal Collective" and "The xx" so I reserve the right to rearrange it too if they sink in and I find myself all a twitter.

(Huh… I just realized Twitter has ruined the phrase "a twitter". Maybe it is apropos though. People do seem to be "a twitter" about Twitter. I am still betting eventually the tweeters out there will realize it is just microblogging… blogging with severe restrictions… and thus probably not going to last the test of time. People tend not to favor the thing that has severe restrictions. Microblogging = severe restrictions. And yes, I realize I am a user too, but I really only use it as a channel for my RSS feed. I digress.)

Check out the Top 10 and report back here. I want to know if you like them or not. Let me know what your top 10 (or top 3 or whatever) are too!

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Album of the Week: Six Degrees Records – "Christmas Remixed" (2003)

2009/12/13

Track 1: Happy Holiday (Beef Wellington Remix) featuring Bing Crosby:

I believe a remix should pay tribute to the original work(s) it samples from, but also creates something new and different. Simply adding a techno or dance beat is rarely sufficient to please me, and yet that is usually the case. I usually discard most remixes as either to similar to the originals or too simple a modification, and usually always inferior.

In this case, I was most impressed with this collection of remixed Christmas songs. The originals are spruced up with some more modern or contrasting instruments, making them quite unlike their original versions. The original Christmas classic samples are the focus though. If you're looking for retro Christmas tunes, this is the album to get. It has become a favorite compilation album of mine for Christmas.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Happy Holiday (Beef Wellington Remix) featuring Bing Crosby" being my favorite.

Track 1: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (a shrift remix) featuring Andy Williams

Track 2: Happy Holiday (Beef Wellington Remix) featuring Bing Crosby

Track 4: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix) featuring Kay Starr

Track 6: Winter Wonderland (Rise Ashen's Brazilian Beach Mix) featuring Johnny Mercer

Track 8: The Nutcracker Suite (Baz Kuts Breaks Mix) featuring Berlin Symphony Orchestra

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on Six Degrees Records – "Christmas Remixed".

The MP3 album may be purchased here:

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