Can you believe it's already going to be 2011 in a few days? I think of 2003 as if it was only a couple years ago. Anyways, I loved 2010 music-wise, so I want to share with you some of my favorite songs of the year (in no particular order). We've got some basic/obvious picks and some pretty random ones. Like F's, my list is a playlist so click on the arrows on the side to scroll through:
Celestica by Crystal Castles (there's something ethereal about this song I love) The Cave by Mumford & Sons (this song makes me want to smile and cry at the same time. Kairos memories) Years (Five-Eight) by Starscream (music made with gameboys? also featured on the Skins US preview) Excuses by the Morning Benders (when I hear this song I get nostalgic for some reason) Wasted Daylight by Stars (classic Stars, good build-up) Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce (catchiest song ever) Giving up the Gun by Vampire Weekend (perhaps the highlight of my summer playlist this year) Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine (originally released in '08 but re-released in 2010 so i'm counting it) Sunrise Projector by Tycho (soothing beats perfect for rest & recovery) I Am Not a Robot by Marina & the Diamonds (another re-release, I don't know where I first heard it but I always find myself singing it) A Funny Thing by Penguin Prison (dance music brought back, a la Michael Jackson before the creepiness) Like a G6 by Far East Movement (not even kidding i love this song, it's too catchy and brings back some crazy memories)
At the beginning of 2010, I thought there was no way to beat 2009's music. There were too many masterpiece albums--Phoenix's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Passion Pit's Manners, Bon Iver's Blood Bank, Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, Girls' Album, Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest, The XX's self titled debut. Release after release, however, I realized 2010 had overcome the previous year.
These few releases changed my mind. (I've linked the album covers, check out some sales on iTunes.)
1. Cerulean-Baths: This album proves that you can make art out of bleeps and glitches.
2. Crystal Castles II-Crystal Castles: The complexities of their second release barely fit into one album. Every single time I listen to it, the record feels new again.
3. Treats-Sleigh Bells: After a free release of a fuzzy EP in 2009, Sleigh Bells threw themselves out into the spotlight (also with the help of M.I.A.). Their full-length debut represents one of the most inventive sounds ever to be created.
4. Contra-Vampire Weekend: When listening to Contra, you can't help but tell that these guys are perfectionists. The album's just so crisp in its production, but not cheesy or overly pop. Vampire Weekend actually care about the music.
5. The Suburbs-Arcade Fire: This third full-length from the indie-all-stars, now pop-somebodies is a testament to the fact that these artists can tackle any topic, no matter how grandiose or elusive, and express it in music.
6. Cosmogramma-Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma just sounds like noise at first listen, but given all the shit out there that dies after a few replays, you have to give it a chance.
7. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy-Kanye West: You can criticize him all you want, but while you're joking about his latest public blunder he's in a studio somewhere makingreal music.
8. Forget-Twin Shadow: This album's so well crafted you wouldn't believe it's a debut.
9. Halcyon Digest- Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest is an irrefutable masterpiece, hands down.
10. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty- Big Boi: Whether solo or not, Big Boi knows how to make music inventive, catchy, and distinctive.
Honorable Mentions: The Wild Hunt- The Tallest Man on Earth, King of the Beach- Wavves, Teen Dream- Beach House, Love Remains- How to Dress Well, Eyelid Movies- Phantogram, The Age of Adz- Sufjan Stevens, Fang Island- Fang Island, The ArchAndroid- Janelle Monáe, Clinging to a Scheme- The Radio Dept., Subiza- Delorean, Black City- Matthew Dear, Gorilla Manor- Local Natives, Root For Ruin- Les Savy Fav, High Violet- The National, Avi Buffalo- Avi Buffalo, CMYK- James Blake.
(It's a playlist so just click the sides to see the next song)
The Morning Benders - Cold War
Lissie "Everywhere I Go"
Dry The River - Bible Belt
The Roots - The Fire (feat. John Legend)
Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
Land Of Talk - Quarry Hymn Jónsi - Go Do
The Cave - Mumford & Sons
Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs - Like Rock and Roll & Radio
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
Miniature Tigers - Gold Skull
Rill Rill - Sleigh Bells
Laura Marling - Rambling Man (I Speak Because I Can)
The National - England
RATATAT - MAHALO
I had a sudden, undying urge to share with you the songs "Celebration Guns" and "Sleep Tonight" by the Canadian band Stars. Both songs are haunting but calming, perfect for these rainy days (in the bay area at least) and stressful times. Stars blends story-like lyrics, soothing vocals, and instruments galore into beautiful indie rock that will make you want to listen to them over and over again. I know I always do. Anyways, here are the songs. Enjoy.
Sleep Tonight
Celebration Guns:
Also check out their other songs too, especially those from their album Set Yourself on Fire.
So goes "Apricot Jam" by the band Filligar. I love this song and especially this line so much it always pops up as my facebook status sometime during December. It's a line about motivation and hope, pushing you through that last stressful week of finals, work, crazy holiday shopping or visiting relatives, through that blizzard or rainstorm, to see the light.
Ok, enough with the cheesiness. Although I'm not ecstatic about their newest releases, Filligar is one of my favorite bands. They've been called college-rock revivalists and compared to The Black Keys and even Sufjan Stevens for some songs. Their sophomore album "Succession, I Guess" is definitely my favorite, with songs with amazing lyrics like those of "Sunflower Kid" (when it's all done, I'm gonna get some sun, I'm gonna get some sleep, I'm gonna get some cold drinks), the catchy "The Midnight Society" (you've never watched Snick on weekend nights) and the spunky "Trepador" (sweet conceit stirs the air).
Most of these songs had amazing videos, and for my top ten I've included them. Some didn't have official videos, but just the song instead. So here it is:
1. Crown on the Ground- Sleigh Bells. I think I first heard this song in 2009, but it was officially released this year. So many things that should make Crown on the Ground a bad song (the screeching guitar, the overbearing bass, the fuzzy quality) turn out make it the best song of 2010, at least for me. According to the band and evident in the title, the song's about humility, but Sleigh Bells has no reason to be humble.
2. Apologetic Shoulder Blades- Baths: Baths will take over the electronic music world some day. In his first testing of the growing genre, he has released an album that's nothing short of spectacular. Baths knows what makes good music, and he's got the dedication and skills to make something out of it. AND LOOK AT THOSE HANDS MOVE.
3. General Patton- Big Boi: In 2010, I tried to be less snotty and started to listen to rap. While there's some really shitty stuff out there in the genre, Big Boi separates himself from everyone else. He's creative in his beats (check out the opera sample a fews seconds after the intro in the video below) and masterful in his lyrics: "Speed it up like The Ballad of Ricky Bobby boy go fast, not a hobby this my life you disrespect it that's your ass, as one half of OutKast return like ghost of Christmas past, it's the son of Chico Dusty must be West Savannah bad."
4. Mouthful of Diamonds- Phantogram: So, so good. A true triumph of electronic and pop. This song was an instant favorite; the lyrics, the synth, the guitar, the memories beneath make it one of the best this year.
5. Monster- Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver: Just looking at the title you can tell there's some serious talent behind this song. But what makes it so good is that a rookie, Nicki Minaj, kills some of the most established rappers out there in her performance 3ish minutes in. "You could be the king but watch the queen conquer, OK first things first I'll eat your brains, then Imma start rocking gold teeth and fangs, cause that's what a muthafuckin monster do," a muthafuckin monster takes down the competition.
6. Castles in the Snow- Twin Shadow: There's no doubt that Twin Shadow has composed one of the best albums this year, and there's no doubt that Castles in the Snow most epitomizes the album. The song keeps you on your toes throughout, slowly building tension that was created in the tracks before it, all to be let go by the end of the song.
7. Clear Spirits- Les Savy Fav: In addition to exploring rap, I've tried out punk in 2010 and Les Savy Fav has led this experiment of mine. Further establishing themselves as one of the best indie-punk bands to live, Les Savy Fav returned with Root for Ruin this year. In the album, they tightened up their music-making skills while adding in subtle elements of electronic to create a truly amazing album. The last song Clear Spirits brings this great record to an even better close.
8. Real Love- Delorean: Like Castles in the Snow, this song was so special for me because it built up on tension that slowly builds in the song. I love how it's based on a simple sampling of voice that says no more than "ah ah," but the song's so much more than that. By the last minute, you'll know what I mean.
9. Baptism- Crystal Castles: You'd never expect the rowdy, dark Crystal Castles to create such a masterpiece like their second self-titled release earlier this spring. Baptism best captures the ability of the group, as they take a simple rave beat and turn it into a real song.
10. Barbra Streisand- Duck Sauce: Who can't love this song? Honestly, it's perfect for so many reasons, the funny reference to a random pop star, an undeniably catchy sound, pounding techno that you can't help singing along to. The best part is that the song is so apt for the time period and our generation in its masterly combination of pop and techno, but most kids from our generation don't understand the reference to the singer after whom the song's named. You've gotta love the humor of Duck Sauce. And you've gotta love Ezra Koenig and Kanye in the video.
And here's the rest, not in order.
11. Enchanting Ghost- Sufjan Stevens
12. Walk in the Park- Beach House
13. Heaven’s On Fire- The Radio Dept.
14. Who Knows Who Cares- Local Natives
15. Cameras- Matt & Kim
16. Ready for the World- How To Dress Well
17. England- The National
18. Art House Director- Broken Social Scene
19. Empire State Of Mind- Jay-Z
20. Zodiac Shit- Flying Lotus
21. Slowdance- Matthew Dear
22. Love Is All- The Tallest Man On Earth
23. Wasted Hours- Arcade Fire
24. He Would Have Laughed- Deerhunter
25. Enter The Ninja- Die Antwoord
The British house duo of Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton known as Basement Jaxx has just let out their latest single "Dracula" today. Described as a "twisted slice of bowel-shaking vampire house," it's dark and moody to say the least. Not my favorite by them, but I'd give it a 6 out of 10 and definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for some angry music.
Jk, our favorite Upper West Side-African fusion band hasn't sold out. But, if you haven't seen (or heard I should I say) it on TV yet, their popular song "Holiday" from their latest album Contra is featured on two new commercials: Tommy Hilfiger and Honda-Civic. Honestly, it's too catchy to not be. And as C mentioned, they're in the running for a Grammy for best alternative music album for Contra. If you ever have the chance to catch the band live, jump on it. They sound even better than they do on record!
Arcade Fire up for 3, Vampire Weekend for 1, Black Keys for a ton, Janelle Monáe for 2, Big Boi for 2, and Kanye West for 1. Surprisingly, Big Boi and Kanye West's albums aren't up for best rap album.
Awards to watch:
Album of the Year: Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, Eminem's Recovery, Lady Antebellum's Need You Know, Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, or Katy Perry's Teenage Dream
Best Alternative Music Album:Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, Band of Horses' Infinite Arms, Black Keys's Brothers, Broken Bells' Broken Bells, or Vampire Weekend's Contra
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: Arcade Fire's Ready to Start, The Black Key's Tighten Up, Jeff Beck & Joss Stone's I Put a Spell on You, Kings of Leon's Radioative, or Muse's Resistance
Best Urban/Alternative Performance:Janelle Monáe and Big Boi's Tightrope, Bilial's Little One, Cee Lo Green's Fuck You, Carolyn Malachi's Orion, or Eric Roberson's Still
Best Contemporary R&B Album:Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid, Chris Brown's Graffiti, R. Kelly's Untitled, Ryan Leslie's Transition, or Usher's Raymond V Raymond
Best Rap Solo Performance: Kanye West's Power, Drake's Over, Eminem's Not Afraid, Ludacris's How Low, or T.I.'s I'm Back
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Big Boi and Cutty's Shutterbugg, Drake, T.I. and Swizz Beatz's Fancy, Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz's On To The Next One, Ludacris & Nicki Minaj's My Chick Bad, or Young Jeezy & Piles's Lose My Mind
