2010 Music Recommendations
Yesterday, I was marveling at how many great* albums have dropped already this year. ("Dropped" being the cool, in-the-know term for "went on sale" or "were released". Just wanted to be sure you noticed how super hip I am.) So here's my guide to new, exciting music in 2010. I'll try to keep this short.
So much for keeping things short. I figured that would happen, but seriously, those have all come out this year. I don't know if 2010 can continue at this pace. (Maybe it can. MGMT, BNL, Usher, Wu-Tang, Sharon Jones, The Apples in Stereo, Caribou, and Hole (!) are all releasing albums in the next month.) But as far as I'm concerned, it's already been a stellar year. I will put a mix of some of this material together for the crust. reunion and play it incessantly whether you like it or not.
* Actually, it's probably more accurate to say "albums I expect to be great" since the sheer volume of new music has kept me from getting too familiar with most of this stuff yet.
- My favorite group over the past 2-3 years has been Frightened Rabbit, a Scottish band. Their new album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, is primarily about recovering from a big blow, re-prioritizing, and moving on (a break up in the singer's case, to be sure, but it translates pretty well for blows of other natures as well). The first single is "Swim Until You Can't See Land", but my favorite song so far is the opener, "Things", which I have adopted as one of my theme songs for the time being. Also, if you ever watch Chuck on NBC, chances are you have heard Frightened Rabbit, because they show up repeatedly in the last five minutes of that show playing over a poignant moment. Think they've been on Scrubs, too.
- What do you get when you cross The Shins with Dangermouse? It's called Broken Bells and it's pretty cool. Here's "The High Road", which has a strong Shins vibe, but with a healthy dose of extra funk.
- The drummer for local (well, Athens-based, but I'm counting it) band The Whigs was just called the best drummer in rock by Esquire magazine. Not as cool as hearing that from Rolling Stone, but still, it's something. This version of "Hundred/Million" isn't great, but it does start with a nice close up of the drummer, which kind of pulls this all together.
- The sophomore album from Vampire Weekend, Contra, might not live up to their debut, but it probably isn't fair to expect it to. It's pretty good, though. Giving Up the Gun, for example, is as good as anything they have ever done. (Although I will say I liked the song better before seeing that video, RZA cameo notwithstanding. So maybe open the window and put it behind something so you can just listen.)
- MuteMath, Armistice - nothing on this album packs quite the punch of "Typical" or "We All Break the Same" from their first album (which, check those songs out if you aren't familiar), but the entire album works well as a whole.
- Rogue Wave, Permalight - Apparently some people were put off when the first single, "Good Morning (The Future)", sounded like a big departure from the previous Rogue Wave sound. I can kind of see it in the chorus there with the heavy synthesizer, but it's still a fun song and the rest of the album seems to fit just fine with other stuff they have done.
- Shout Out Louds, Work - If I ever finish my "Best Ever ______" mix, the Shout Out Louds will be on there for "Best ever song sung by a guy with a lisp" (the song "Normandie" from their last album). This album is up there with the best music they have ever made. Check out "Walls" (don't know if the free download still works or not) for starters.
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - I haven't even listed to this one yet, but a new album from the band I would most like to provide the soundtrack to my life has to be a good thing.
So much for keeping things short. I figured that would happen, but seriously, those have all come out this year. I don't know if 2010 can continue at this pace. (Maybe it can. MGMT, BNL, Usher, Wu-Tang, Sharon Jones, The Apples in Stereo, Caribou, and Hole (!) are all releasing albums in the next month.) But as far as I'm concerned, it's already been a stellar year. I will put a mix of some of this material together for the crust. reunion and play it incessantly whether you like it or not.
* Actually, it's probably more accurate to say "albums I expect to be great" since the sheer volume of new music has kept me from getting too familiar with most of this stuff yet.
And in case that wasn't enough, over the course of the day, I realized that I had forgotten new material from Cold War Kids, Citizen Cope, Yeasayer, and one or two others that I have now forgotten that I remembered (or something).
Great list...gives me lots to check out. I recommend:
1. The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You (poppy americana with clever lyrics)
2. Slow Club, Yeah So (twee pop)
3. Brandi (not Belinda) Carlile, Giving up the Ghost (radiohead-esque joplin singing)
4. The Dead Weather, Horehound (loud Jack White side project with a great cover of Dylan's New Pony)
Cool, thanks. Love the Avett Brothers - Murder in the City and Will You Return are two of my favorite songs from the last few years. Haven't heard of the middle two, but will definitely check them out.