well - it is that time of year again. where bloggers blog and list makers list and everyone gets all self important and wants to know what everyone thought were the best ten records to come out in a twelve month period ... last year i did a top forty for pop-zap.com, but since then i haven't written for them and they have removed everything i have written from their archives. i did a top ten for uptown magazine last year as well, that was nicer. ANYWAYS i suppose i will say that this year's top ten records was a tough call, lots fell in and out of the ten, but overall these are records i enjoyed thoroughly throughout the year. also, i saw many of these artists live and were blown away, thus giving more appreciation to their recorded output. so here it is -
#1 SHOTS by LADYHAWK
this is a record i will probably never tire of, and the show that accompanied it at the pyramid was incredible. a fight broke out, pictures were taken, darkness. rock. beer soaked and beautiful. 'fear' and 'night you're beautiful' and 'sthd' are all standouts.
#2
REAL EMOTIONAL TRASH by STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS
nothing is better than pavement, but this is the next best thing. long jams and beautiful pop numbers, 'we can't help you' has the prettiest 'da da da da da' in years. do it.
#3
NOUNS by NO AGE
this one didn't leave the player for a long time. filled with dirty pop songs and no wave feedback. love love love it.
#4
MOUNTAIN BATTLES by THE BREEDERS
Kim Deal continues her love affair with Steve Albini, the band return to form and break the moulds they made years ago all at the same time. 'it's the love' is a great pop song, while 'istanbul' is the most quoted song all year (for me anyway).
#5
LUCKY by NADA SURF
mellow and pretty and thoughtful, the grown up sap record for kids who used to be all emotional and worry and still need that warm blanket. plus, they step it up live and actually rock. if the last record was the 'fuck it, let's have a party' one, this is the day after, beautiful and nostalgic.
#6
PARALLEL PLAY by SLOAN
continuing where they left off with the 30 song epic NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT, sloan churn out manic pop songs that are catchier than ever. growing up with their fans and not trying to fit into what is happening now is a good move, best line is on "i'm not a kid anymore" - "scariest thing about my halloween is that november rent is due"
#7
AT MOUNT ZOOMER by WOLF PARADE
ah, the almost fabled follow up to APOLOGIES. yes, they coulda been a one-off band. yes, this record sounds much cleaner and focused than the first. yes, the songs sound much better live. but the songs themselves are quite good. worth the wait? not at first, but with a few months to digest it, yes, yes it is.
#8
AFTERPARTY BABIES by CADENCE WEAPON
yes. THE dance record of the year. one of THE best live shows of the year. THE best pop culture references in a rhyme - too many to name. GREAT, GREAT ... GREAT!
#9
CHRISTMAS ON MARS (SCORE) by FLAMING LIPS
the fact that this exists FINALLY makes it make the list. i can't even tell you how weird and beautiful and classic it sounds. just go listen to it. then watch the film. then eat the popcorn.
#10
WALK IT OFF by TAPES & TAPES
dave fridmann again here (he produces the lips) works his magic. bass heavy and raw sounding, a rock record for the indie kids. a classic. lived up to the hype. congrats! love it! beautiful!
there's my ramble deal with it?
my favourite songs of the year were 'royal canadian lovers school' and 'keewatin arctic' featured here. each week a different group of musicians got together and worked on some tracks, not knowing who they would be paired with. these two feature jay churko and john k samson, respectively. there were lots of other great records out this year that i cannot even remember because ... well, i don't know. itunes is weird for me so i cannot look. consumer goods and tiger beat both put out neat records, as did ken mode (the loudest band in north america).
i can't tell you a lot of movies i liked this year. so maybe i'll make a list at some point.
g'bye.
No comments:
Post a Comment