2010 So Far

[nodep5]

Just curious about what everyone has been digging so far this year.

 

My two cents is that the album I have most connected with is Band Of Horses (Infinite Arms)

Not saying it is the greatest achievement ever, but they are my favorite band right now and there is stuff is easy for me to emotional resonate with.

 

Other records that I believe are really strong are

Spoon - Transference (my favorite Spoon album easily)

The Black Keys - Brothers (this is some cool stuff for sure)

The National - High Violet (I think this may be the best album so far this year, but I need more time with it) I get too depressed if I go for the whole thing at once.

 

Biggest dissapointment so far: Josh Ritter (So Runs The World Away) his new album has some strong moments but feels weighted down by long Bob Dylan type of story songs or something)

 

Actual biggest dissapointment that for me is unlistenable: DBT (The Big To Do) For a band that I usually dig their stuff, this one is a mess. I struggle to find one song that I would put on a DBT mix of great songs. just bad.

[PopTodd]

Let's see... these are the 2010 releases that I have picked up so far:

Jarvis Humby - Assume the Position

The Apples in Stereo - Travellers In Space and Time

Roky Erickson - True Love Cast Out All Evil

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Os Mutantes - Haih Ou Amortecedor

Damian Marley & Nas - Distant Relatives

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two

Hop On Pop - Chicken on a Bicycle

 

Best Coast - Crazy For You (pre-order... haven't heard it yet)

 

So far, my favorite of those are the Os Mutantes, Apples, Gorillaz, and Roky Erickson.

(I would list Hop On Pop -- which is actually my VERY favorite -- but that would be kinda obvious, methinks!)

[remphish1]

Gorillaz-Plastic Beach

Hot Chip- One Life Stand

Jonsi- Go

LCD Soundsystem- This is Happpening

[brianjeremy]

My Top Five:

 

Spoon - Transference

Beach House - Zebra

Wild Nothing - Gemini

Surfers Blood - Astro Coast

The National - High Violet

 

I really like Band of Horses' new one a lot too. And even though it doesn't count per se, I really am enjoying the Japandroids single series.

[Vacant Horizon]

I'm warming up to DBt it is too long for one sitting but the first 4 tunes rock.

[Moss]

So far the ones I seem to being going back to the most:

 

Beach House

The National

Ariel Pink

Black Keys

LCD Soundsystem

 

So many other good ones though: Besnard Lakes, Local Natives, Band of Horses, lots of others... it's been a great year for music so far.

 

Edit:

 

Next one I want to hear is Roky Erickson so thanks for the reminder PopTodd. By the way, there is an interesting video on Pitchfork of Roky playing for a bunch of school kids, like elementary aged. It's priceless.

 

http://pitchfork.com/tv/

[Vacant Horizon]

i have a feeling the new Los Lobos will be on my list. I also like Mojo by tom petty. looking forward to the second DBT album in the fall too.

[PopTodd]

Next one I want to hear is Roky Erickson so thanks for the reminder PopTodd. By the way, there is an interesting video on Pitchfork of Roky playing for a bunch of school kids, like elementary aged. It's priceless.

 

http://pitchfork.com/tv/

 

I LOVE this!!!

Thanks for the heads-up!

[lamradio]

In order of awesomeness:

 

1. Surfer Blood - Astro Coast - Definitely #1 best thing musically that happened to me this year. And seeing them live was the icing on the cake.

2. Dr. Dog - Shame Shame - Not their best work, but still a great album by a GREAT band.

3. Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms - Also not their best work, but a nice southern rock summer record.

4. Black Keys - Brothers - Absolutely obsessed with this record when it first came out. But I guess I wore it out because I haven't listened to it in a while. Plus I got bummed when their show in Asheville sold out so fast..

 

And coming soon: So Called Star - Title still TBD. My bands second full length album, will be out in a month or two .

[Kalle]

1. The National - High Violet

2. Spoon - Transference

3. Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away

4. Besnard Lakes - Are The Roaring Night

5. Black Keys - Brothers

6. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

7. Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat

8. The Acorn - No Ghost

9. Shad - TSOL

10. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

 

I'm pretty much the opposite with the new Josh Ritter album, I think it's wonderfully produced and really refreshing to hear good lyrics, as you seem to hear it less and less.

 

Disappointments:

Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer Of The Void (I'm not sure if a record could be more boring)

Drive-By Truckers - The Big To Do (Totally agree with everyone else, aside from a handful of songs it seems pretty thrown together, and also a terribly mixed album)

New Pornographers - Together (A really predictable New Pornographers album, with less immediate tunes and Dan Bejar really struggling it seems)

[Maggie]

My top four:

 

Band of Horses Infinite Arms

The Black Keys Brothers

The National High Violet

Phosphorescent Here’s to Taking It Easy

 

After that there's lots of good stuff that I'm having trouble ranking.

 

The worst album I've purchased this year was Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I wasn't a huge fan to begin with, but this album is terrible. Even at the low price of $6.99 I feel like I wasted my money.

[cooperissup3r]

my top four looks something like this:

 

1. Gayngs - Relayted

1a. The National - High Violet

1b. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

2. Beach House - Teen Dream

 

a VERY distant 3rd is The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit.

[Vacant Horizon]

1. The National - High Violet

2. Spoon - Transference

3. Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away

4. Besnard Lakes - Are The Roaring Night

5. Black Keys - Brothers

6. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

7. Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat

8. The Acorn - No Ghost

9. Shad - TSOL

10. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

 

I'm pretty much the opposite with the new Josh Ritter album, I think it's wonderfully produced and really refreshing to hear good lyrics, as you seem to hear it less and less.

 

Disappointments:

Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer Of The Void (I'm not sure if a record could be more boring)

Drive-By Truckers - The Big To Do (Totally agree with everyone else, aside from a handful of songs it seems pretty thrown together, and also a terribly mixed album)

New Pornographers - Together (A really predictable New Pornographers album, with less immediate tunes and Dan Bejar really struggling it seems)

 

 

well, i had some issues with the new DBT when it came out and got nothing less than lambasted for it. i guess it was because it was in that thread. i do like the first four songs. i hate to say it, but Shonna's songs really bring down the album. maybe one by her per album would work. there are too many songs, like most DBT records, so it's hard to get through. i also agree that it's produced/mixed horribly. too much treble and just has a garage sound to it. i guess that is what they were going for, but i miss the immediate, warmish production of decoration day. especially the drum sound. this new record has so much crash cymbal it's ridiculous. louder doesn't mean better. at the same time, i wouldn't know which songs to cut. i've given it some time and it plays well to me, despite my criticism. i spent money on it and really respect the band, so i forced myself to like it.

 

Just curious about what everyone has been digging so far this year.

 

My two cents is that the album I have most connected with is Band Of Horses (Infinite Arms)

Not saying it is the greatest achievement ever, but they are my favorite band right now and there is stuff is easy for me to emotional resonate with.

 

Other records that I believe are really strong are

Spoon - Transference (my favorite Spoon album easily)

The Black Keys - Brothers (this is some cool stuff for sure)

The National - High Violet (I think this may be the best album so far this year, but I need more time with it) I get too depressed if I go for the whole thing at once.

 

Biggest dissapointment so far: Josh Ritter (So Runs The World Away) his new album has some strong moments but feels weighted down by long Bob Dylan type of story songs or something)

 

Actual biggest dissapointment that for me is unlistenable: DBT (The Big To Do) For a band that I usually dig their stuff, this one is a mess. I struggle to find one song that I would put on a DBT mix of great songs. just bad.

 

 

but Ritter is the new Dylan, isn't he

[Killer Whales]

The Monitor by Titus Andronicus is easily my top album of the year. An incredibly dense and intelligent record, but also a really fun and incredibly rocking one.

 

The rest of my top 10:

 

2. Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt

3. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

4. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

5. The National - High Violet

6. The Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever

7. Vampire Weekend - Contra

8. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

9. Fang Island - s/t

10. Bonnie Prince Billy & the Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World

[Nobody Girl]

1. The National - High Violet

 

The rest, in no particular order:

Beach House - Teen Dream

Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night

Basia Bulat - Heart of My Own

Frightened Rabbit - Winter of Mixed Drinks

Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Glossary - Feral Fire

 

Things I need to listen to more:

Tallest Man on Earth, Sharon Jones, Titus Andronicus, Band of Horses, New Pornographers, Hold Steady

[Maggie]

well, i had some issues with the new DBT when it came out and got nothing less than lambasted for it. i guess it was because it was in that thread. i do like the first four songs. i hate to say it, but Shonna's songs really bring down the album. maybe one by her per album would work. there are too many songs, like most DBT records, so it's hard to get through. i also agree that it's produced/mixed horribly. too much treble and just has a garage sound to it. i guess that is what they were going for, but i miss the immediate, warmish production of decoration day. especially the drum sound. this new record has so much crash cymbal it's ridiculous. louder doesn't mean better. at the same time, i wouldn't know which songs to cut. i've given it some time and it plays well to me, despite my criticism. i spent money on it and really respect the band, so i forced myself to like it.

 

 

I kinda like Shonna's songs this time around. A big improvement on her contributions to the previous album, in my opinion.

 

I haven't been able to decide what I think The Big To-Do overall. It's not unpleasant to listen to (aside from the bad production, which I can live with). Still, it isn't terribly compelling. The songs are fine, but no single one sticks out for me.

 

There are too many other new albums I'd rather listen to. As a result I've only given it a handful of listens.

[Vacant Horizon]

I kinda like Shonna's songs this time around. A big improvement on her contributions to the previous album, in my opinion.

 

I haven't been able to decide what I think The Big To-Do overall. It's not unpleasant to listen to (aside from the bad production, which I can live with). Still, it isn't terribly compelling. The songs are fine, but no single one sticks out for me.

 

There are too many other new albums I'd rather listen to. As a result I've only given it a handful of listens.

 

interesting. i find shonna's songs on this album way subpar compared to the last. lyrics like 'we got a lot of love' just don't fit with patterson and cooley's mature songwriting. in addition, they just aren't good songs. the last album had houston and purgatory line which were excellent. my fear on the next album is that we're gonna hear the new keyboard guy sing a song of his own. i wish they'd just stick with cooley and hood. it is a dense album (both in length and content) and it is hard to give it attention when there is so much stuff to listen to. it's all a trade off.

[Maggie]

interesting. i find shonna's songs on this album way subpar compared to the last. lyrics like 'we got a lot of love' just don't fit with patterson and cooley's mature songwriting. in addition, they just aren't good songs. the last album had houston and purgatory line which were excellent. my fear on the next album is that we're gonna hear the new keyboard guy sing a song of his own. i wish they'd just stick with cooley and hood. it is a dense album (both in length and content) and it is hard to give it attention when there is so much stuff to listen to. it's all a trade off.

 

I liked Huston, the other two songs on Brighter than Creations Dark didn't work for me. And I think it's worth emphasizing I "kinda" like her songs. They're not great, but very pleasant to my ears. I'd definitely prefer the number of Cooley songs to be upped, and have Shonna skipped altogether. Come to think of it, that's a big part of why The Big To-Do doesn't do much for me - not nearly enough Cooley.

[myboyblue]

The Black Keys - Brothers - easily my favorite. Like most, I'm liking The National and Band of Horses. Unlike most, I really like the DBT album.

 

others that I like:

The Whigs - In the Dark

Eels - End Times

Deer Tick - Black Dirt Sessions

Spoon - Transference

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

Henry Clay People - Somewhere on the Golden Coast

Glossary - Feral Fire

Johnny Cash - Ain't No Grave

Otis Gibbs - Joe Hill's Ashes

Austin Collins - Wrong Control

Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love

Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever

[kathyp]

What I Liked:

 

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs - Medicine County

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

Goldfrapp - Head First (though not as much as Seventh Tree)

Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

 

What I Didn't

 

Joan Armatrading - This Charming Life

(I love Joan Armatrading, but this was a little disappointing. Listened to it one time and sort of forgot it existed.)

Mary Gauthier - The Foundling (See above)

She & Him - Volume Two

(I know M. Ward and Zooey have a lot of fans here, but I just can't get into her voice. It's kind of, um, awful.)

 

I give a grade of "Incomplete"

 

Rufus Wainwright - All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu

(Again, I really wanted to like this, but I find myself going back to Release the Stars and Want One more often than not.)

Bettye LaVette - Interpretations

(Is it possible for songs to be too iconic?)

[hardwood floor]

i am stunned to see the love for the Band of Horses record.

 

I've always liked them, but I honestly think this might be the worst record by anybody I've ever heard.

 

But it's cool. Glad ya'all dig it. Just surprising to me.

 

I will echo the Dr. Dog, Broken Bells, Spoon, Frightened Rabbit and Josh Ritter & add Magnetic Fields and Matt Keating

 

don't think it's been a great year so far or else i ain't looking hard enough

[Shakespeare In The Alley]

The Roots, the Nels Cline Singers and the Black Keys are my top three right now.

[auctioneer69]

Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"

Paul Weller "Wake Up The Nation"

Steve Mason "Boys Outside"

LCD Soundsystem "This Is Happening"

Foals 'Total Life Forever"

Gil Scott Heron "I'm New Here Myself"

Chemical Brothers "Further"

Broken Bells "Broken Bells"

[Synthesizer Patel]

ariel pink & joanna newsom are really the only 2 albums i've thought were great this year, so far that is! the national is alright - get's a bit much after a while, and i'd rather listen to the tindersticks musically whilst listening to that same kind of vocals. also, beach house is very good - but i do prefer devotion somewhat.

 

oh, deloreon - subiza is ok too. oh oh, and big echo by the morning benders - i liked that as well.

[nodep5]

Joanna Newsom should be given props (I think it is her best work)

However I struggle to engage at times, I'm not smart enough to wrap my brain around her lyrics