It's far enough away from 2010 now to make a reasonably balanced decision about that year's best music. Sure, most lists come out in December or January but I say that's far too soon. Albums need time to sink in and take effect. It's a rare album that hits you straight away. Also, I'm lazy and have just gotten around to it.
Firstly it's worth mentioning 2 albums that are not eligible to be the best albums of the year. One is live and the other a compilation. I only count studio albums as contenders because I'm a pedantic bastard. Clearly Allmusic Guide doesn't agree, listing live albums under their 'Main Albums' category - that shits me to tears.
Bill Callahan's live album Rough Travel for a Rare Thing contains the eternally brilliant Cold-Blooded Old Times, possible my favourite song of the 90s (Jesus, was it that long ago?) as well as several other gems from his unique back catalogue. It's worth a little listen.
The video is of a pretty crappy nature but it's a good version of the song. I've always wondered why Bill Callahan does not have a beard. I feel he should have a beard. And it's not just beacuse they're cool these days, for he always should have had one. Even when he was 9:
Also released in 2010 but ineligible was the tribute compilation Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox, which contains 36 covers of Kiwi Chris Knox's songs by a range of great artists such as Jeff Mangum, Lambchop, Bill Callahan, Lou Barlow, Will Oldham, The Mountain Goats, Yo La Tengo and Stephen Merritt as well as some lesser known New Zealand indie acts.
Here's a fan-vid of Jay Reatard's version of Pull Down the Shades:
Now into (some of) the best music of 2010. I'm not doing it in any particular order, not because I'm totally ball-less, but because it changes weekly. It's actually quite random, based on the quality of the album, the song and the video, as well as whim and fancy.
This is Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti with the surf-rock Bright Lit Blue Skies which takes me back to the 1970s, Chico Rolls and The Sandman:
Woods are great. 2 brilliant albums in 2 years. They seem to just fuck around in someone's bedroom and accidentally produce great music:
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck got together in 2010. Musically that is. If they got together sexually let's hope their baby has Gainsbourg's looks. Beck is from the Noah Taylor gene pool.
This looks like a fan-vid but is actually the official Subpop video for Beach House's fucken ace Zebra:
This is probably my (and my 5 year old son's) favourite video of the year:
I've posted this Black Mountain video twice before but, you know, it's cool. And what's wrong with repetition? Interpol has released the same album 4 times:
Helicopter by Deerhunter is one of those songs where the singer, Bradford Cox in this case, and at least for some of the time, sings the same melody as the instrumentation. Paul McCartney did it in I Want You (She's So Heavy), probably Abbey Road's best song.
Damon Albarn. We can't go under him, we can't go over him, we'll have to go through him:
Broken Social Scene released best album of the year, and one of the best videos:
While we're waiting for the next Fleet Foxes album, we'll have to make do with Local Natives:
This song makes me wanna punch the air. And then shout. And then have tea and bikkies with Bruce Springsteen.
Just discovered this ripper little video by the New Pornographers. Laugh? I nearly went to Ethiopia:
This guy probably isn't the Tallest Man on Earth:
I've always dreamed of a Perth-based George Harrison:
I think The Walkmen are underrated. Unless there are lots of people rating them:
Finally, Twin Shadow, straight from 1984:
Didn't much like: Cold Blooded Old Times, Meet Me In The Basement, Blue As Your Blood, Slow
ReplyDeleteVery very much like: Pull Down the Shades, Bright Lit Blue Skies, Death Rattles, Drunk Girls, The Hair Song (I can't remember whether I said I liked it when you first posted it, but I like it now and that's what counts), A More Perfect Union, Moves, The Wild Hunt, Solitude Is Bliss
Thought was ok: Heaven Can Wait, On Melancholy Hill
Took me a while to get into, but then I loved it: Zebra, Helicopter, Airplanes
Phew. Dude. That was epic.
Wow EMS, I didn't expect anyone to watch every clip - great work. Although I can't believe you didn't like Cold Blooded Old Times.
ReplyDeleteI'd been waiting all week for Friday night to come along so that I could sit there with a cold beer & check them all out. And what a brilliant way to spend some time after school. Loves it.
ReplyDeleteI just listened to Cold Blooded Old Times again just to check - and - ah, no. Not a fan. But the ones I said I really loved, I mean that, I really loved them! That has to count for something?
Ok, ok. I accept you don't like it and that not everyone agrees with me. Maybe it's because it's the live version.
ReplyDeleteForget it Bob, she doesn't like it!
Most of these are from your downloadable mix-tape thingy, hey? Sadly, while I tend to like the music, I'm not so enamoured with much of the vocals. "Meet Me In The Basement" is therefore my favourite by default (I also adore the fact that their video uses clips from "Shark Attack 4: Megalodon").
ReplyDeleteAnd "The Wild Hunt" stands out because I find myself humming it all the time. Catchy.
Yeah, lots of overlaps Alex.
ReplyDeleteI guess so called 'indie' music isn't know for its vocalists.
Hey Bob, now that we're almost half-way through 2011 (can you believe?), any stand-outs for music released this year so far?
ReplyDelete