November 2010
88 posts
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MINUS THE BEAR WILL BE PLAYING RIGHT HERE IN NORFOLK TOMORROW and I cannot describe how hyped I am.
Seeing them in May was one of the most memorable shows out of the myriads I’ve seen this year. I recommend anyone come out if you’re in the Hampton Roads area tomorrow night and see an amazing performance.
So in honor of MTB and it getting colder outside…
Minus The Bear - Hooray
-Trey
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Andrew Bird is one of those artists that makes it so hard to even begin to fathom his musical abilities. He has one of the most vast collections of songs I’ve seen and they are all so amazing that it is just hard to jump into without feeling like you are missing out on another one of his songs because you don’t have enough time in the day to listen to them all. None of these are bad things, and in fact just go to show how talented this guy is.
(I really love the whistling throughout this song.)
“Oh the calcium mines are buried deep in your chest.”
Andrew Bird - Oh No
-Trey
*For the record, I did not tag this post as “sounds like Sufjan Stevens”, although, if you have a good ear, you can make countless comparisons and see that both are on another level of music.
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I have tried to stray away from posting every song Brand New has made, but to be honest, it is so hard not to. No matter how many artists I’m listening to now, or what type of genre I’ve been into lately, they always find their spot to linger in my catalog.
Limousine was written about a tragic accident that involved a little girl’s death after a family wedding when a drunk driver collided head-on with the limousine decapitating the daughter of the newly weds who were driving behind the limo. I remember walking by the tv while my mother was watching Oprah, and before I knew what this song was about, the family was actually on the show discussing the events of that unbelievably horrific night.
“Her signal was interrupted.
My baby’s frequency not strong enough.
Her head in my hands and smiling.”
Brand New - Limousine
-Trey
Big Dipper
Built to Spill
Upon Ryan’s suggestion, I downloaded Built To Spill’s album There’s Nothing Wrong With Love. Although I had a single by Built To Spill, I was happy I decided to explore them further. This song has not only become my favorite off the album, but one of my favorites songs I’ve heard recently, and now wakes me up as my alarm every morning
- I wish I could press the “love” button on our own posts. - Ryan
Built To Spill - Big Dipper
-Shannon
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Been on a 90’s indie kick lately, expect a playlist soon. But for now enjoy Pavement.
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
- Ryan
Derek Stone - My Top Ten Albums of 2010 That Are The Top Ten Albums of 2010
Appreciate the work put in with sample youtube videos and a bonus pack of the best music videos of 2010. My random thoughts: Solid top 3 for sure, I do agree Arcade Fire was too long winded, that’s what kept it out of my top 20. And I agree that The National is pretty much hit and miss as well. - Ryan
I love the idea of including the top videos of the year, too. Plus, some really sick choices - Hot Chip, Black Keys, Vampire Weekend and OK GO videos were awesome. - Shannon
by Derek Stone on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 11:34am
Random Thought: After hearing this, I have a new appreciation for “Teach Me How To Duggie” and the music behind Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA”. Also, it’s free, so you have no excuse for not checking it out. http://www.illegal-art.net/allday/
Random Thought: It’s a lot better than Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”.
8.The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Random Thought: Despite not being in his main band, Jack White is willing to drop some of the best lines he’s ever written (“Shake your hips like battleships / All the white girls trip when I sing at sunday service”).
Random Thought: Despite being a bit hit-or-miss, this album has a handful of my favorite songs of the year on it.
Random Thought: Sometimes it’s the parts of music that’s not played that makes music interesting.
Random Thought: This would be #1 if they cut five songs out of their 16.
Random Thought: This album makes me want to run through a brick wall.
3. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Random Thought: It doesn’t matter what you think of him as a person, there is nothing negative you can say about his craft.
2. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Random Thought: Perfect on rainy days.
1. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Random Thought: The entire album sounds like the soundtrack to the perfect John Hughes movie.
Second Random Thought: Seriously, Pow Pow is the greatest song ever
Also, the best music videos of the year are:
Charlotte Gainsbourg ft. Beck - Heaven Can Wait
mc_squared2's Top 10 Albums of 2010 + Honorable Mentions
And the lists keep coming in…I need more and more…I’m ready to see what the general consensus for the top 10 is. I have 15 lists including me and Trey’s and this one I’m posting now, I think I’ll need at least 20 to get this thing rolling.
As far as this list goes, it’s strong. I’m surprised to see How to Dress Well at the top; I like the idea of lo-fi R&B but it’s a little too lo-fi for my tastes. Can’t argue with the rest of the list, you know it’s quite competitive when Sufjan takes a #7 spot. - Ryan
http://mc-squared2.tumblr.com/
2010 as a whole has been an extraordinary year for me. One aspect that made it one of the best is all of the different music that I discovered and ended up loving. Here are my ten favorite albums of 2010, as well as a few other great albums that didn’t make the list but should still be mentioned.
1) How to Dress Well - Love Remains
2) Owen Pallett - Heartland
3) Jónsi - Go
4) The National - High Violet
5) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
6) Parades - Foreign Tapes
7) Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP / The Age of Adz
8) Beach House - Teen Dream
9) Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
10) Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Honorable Mentions:
Analog Rebellion - Ancient Electrons
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Caribou - Swim
Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
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Just found out about this band called Bear Hands. Didn’t read too much into them except that they’re real good friends with MGMT (and it definitely sounds like they’ve learned a thing or two from them). If you like MGMT, I’d give it a shot.
Bear Hands - Crime Pays
They’re not all falsetto either. Try another one if you’re not convinced:
- Ryan
Carlos Rodriguez's Top 10 of '10
A little different from the lists that we’ve been getting, but there are some serious contenders here. From what I’ve heard, Four Year Strong, The Wonder Years, A Plea For Purging and A Loss For Words all deserve their spots. - Ryan
Carlos Rodriguez 1.Pmtoday- In Medias Res
2.Oceana- Clean Head EP
3. Four Year Strong- Enemy of the World
4. The Wonder Years- Upsides
5. Such gold- Pedestals
6.Ugly Colors- Perfect as We Are
7.Tides of man- Dream House
8. A Plea for Purging- The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
9.Foxy Shazam- Self Titled
10. A Loss For Words - Motown Classics
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Ryan's Top 10 of '10
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This is also a reminder that we are still accepting top 10 of 2010 album lists from you, the reader, and I’m trying to get enough so I can merge the lists together. Is anyone interested in making top 10 songs of 2010 playlists? - Ryan
10. Four Year Strong – Enemy of the World
Enemy of the World is a pop-punk album. It’s the only pop-punk album to enter my top 10, but it more than deserves its spot. I’d go as far as to say that they released the best CD of the “scene” this year. They improve on Rise or Die Trying in every way: production wise, lyrically, and melodically. Really, it would be easy to point to Four Year Strong’s dual vocals and just stop right there. But closer listens reveal that each song stands out on its own, thanks to a little something different to each song.
9. Girl Talk – All Day
Girl Talk albums are like sound collages. Hundreds of samples are used as a reflection on the top 40 hits of the current year, songs of the old days, guilty pleasures, forgotten one-hit wonders, indie cult favorites, and left-field combinations that make you think, “Did he really do that?” The record starts off with Black Sabbath vs. Ludacris, for example, and later, ODB is rapping over Radiohead’s “Creep.”
If interested, you can listen to the entire album here, complete with a list of all the samples used.
8. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
“Went to her apartment, man you should have seen the look on her face,” sums up this album. It’s a personal record. It gives off many different vibes. Their sound is like Vampire Weekend covering Weezer covering The Beach Boys…which makes their sound very 2010.
7. Foals – Total Life Forever
It must have been hard for Foals to make this album. Their debut was so energetic, bursting with energy at every turn (check the nonstop dance of “Cassius” or “Balloons”). Making this album must have been like telling Michael Scott from The Office that he couldn’t shoot his gun during improv class. But even though Total Life Forever is less immediate than Antidotes, it’s even better. The songs have more depth, more focus, and more originality this time around.
6. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Honestly, he could have went with the original title “Good Ass Job” and it would have been a more fitting title. What he has done is simply a good ass job. At 13 tracks and over an hour in length, this record has a lot of space, with most songs over 5 minutes and with a long list of guest appearances. Every guest artist brings their A game (this includes a great performance from Nicki Minaj – I know right?). Of course, this record isn’t flawless, and these songs aren’t without their excesses and indulgences (the 9 minute track “Runaway” for example). But that’s the point: this record is a true reflection of Kanye.
5. Best Coast – Crazy For You
Well, there was one other 60’s revival band that really stood out to me, and that was Bethany Cosentino’s Best Coast. I won’t lie, every song sounds the same. That’s probably because Bethany recorded the album in two weeks, recorded all the vocals in a day, and did the drums in a day and a half. Who knows what they could have done in a month.
4. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
There is no real way to step into listening to this record halfway… once you take one step into the orchestrated intro, you sink into this quicksand of atmosphere until the record is over. Even though it’s an hour long, it flies by at high speed and it definitely takes more than one listen just to catch everything that’s going on. Though no two songs sound the same, every track is in place and flows into the next one, and every single second contributes to the whole album. Janelle has really pushed the boundaries of what R&B can be, and this is one of the most creative albums of the year.
3. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz / All Delighted People EP
When Sufjan makes an album, he goes all out. The All Delighted People EP is an hour long with just 8 songs. The Age of Adz clocks in at a little under 1:15 and ends with the 25 minute long “Impossible Soul,” which he’s been playing in its entirety on tour. All this alone speaks to Sufjan’s dedication to music, and all of his albums have been great because of that.
2. Warpaint – The Fools
Where do I begin…
Ignoring the whole Local Natives re-release, this is the best debut I’ve heard this year, hands down. These ladies have swagger that I haven’t heard in a long time. Their music is like this mix of post-punk/dream pop/shoegaze/grunge… I don’t know how they mix all of their influences together so well, but they pull it off. At 9 songs this is the shortest full length I’ve heard all year, but to use a cliché that has never been more fitting, it’s quality and not quantity. Can’t wait to hear more from this band.
1. Beach House – Teen Dream / iTunes Session EP
I don’t know how to convincingly explain Beach House at all. Their lyrics are simple and repetitive just like their music. Victoria doesn’t have the best vocals either. Somehow, it’s great – best album I’ve heard all year. The iTunes session EP shows a livelier side of them that we’ve never heard before, which is nice.
and finally…a playlist for all the albums mentioned in this post.
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This song just seems to fit the Thanksgiving vibe. So from the three of us here at Let This Colony Know, HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
“I said throw me in the fire now come on!”
The Tallest Man On Earth - Pistol Dreams
-Trey
Metal Heart
Cat Power
I think it’s safe to say Cat Power is a one of the strongest female figures in music today. Her songs have a raw power that put you in the exact mood she’s trying to convey through her words and melodies. This song’s no exception, and easily my favorite by her.
I think she’s one of Warpaint’s top influences, you can hear a lot of Chan Marshall’s sound in the latest Warpaint record. I like this a lot. - Ryan
Cat Power - Metal Heart
-Shannon
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Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945
-Shannon
Bitches Ain't Shit
Ben Folds
It’s rare when a song has a cover as classic as the original
Ben Folds - Bitches Ain’t Shit
-Shannon
