Category Archives: 2010

2010

Mixes By Year: 2010 Most Recommended Albums

2010 revisited.  Top 20 albums remain unchanged except for swapping in the great Australian psych-rock band Tame Impala’s “Innerspeaker” for the still really good “Plastic Beach” by Gorillaz.  2010 still really shines for me and I will say that I think it was an overall stronger year than 2011.  My five favorite albums- Kanye’s “MBDTF”, Deerhunter’s “Halcyon Digest”, Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs”, the late LCD Soundsystem’s “This Is Happening” and the should be world conquering pop star Robyn’s “Body Talk” still sound just as good if not better than they did last year.  The great tracks in 2010 are seemingly endless.  I still had to cut ridiculously good stuff at volume 8 so eventually I’ll re-revisit 2010 and just keep going.

After a few years in the gutter rap music seemed back in 2010 and it still shows no signs of stopping.  Big Boi, Drake, Kanye & Rick Ross are still some of the music’s leading lights.  Looking very forward to the sophomore releases from Surfer Blood & Best Coast, the next Beach House record & the 3rd from Vampire Weekend all coming in 2012.

Rock On!!





TITUS ANDRONICUS- THE MONITOR

Buy The Monitor – Titus Andronicus

Buy The MonitorAmazon





NO AGE- EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Buy Everything In Between – No Age

Buy Everything In BetweenAmazon







BEACH HOUSE- TEEN DREAM

Buy Teen Dream – Beach House

Buy Teen DreamAmazon






LCD SOUNDSYSTEM- THIS IS HAPPENING

Buy This Is Happening – LCD Soundsystem

Buy This Is HappeningAmazon





DEERHUNTER- HALCYON DIGEST

Buy Halcyon Digest – Deerhunter

Buy Halcyon DigestAmazon





BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE- FORGIVENESS ROCK RECORD

Buy Forgiveness Rock Record – Broken Social Scene

Buy Forgiveness Rock RecordAmazon






KANYE WEST- MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY

Buy My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

Buy My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [Explicit]Amazon






DRAKE- THANK ME LATER

Buy Thank Me Later – Drake

Buy Thank Me Later [Explicit]Amazon





SLEIGH BELLS- TREATS

Buy Treats – Sleigh Bells

Buy TreatsAmazon





ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI- BEFORE TODAY

Buy Before Today – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Buy Before TodayAmazon





VAMPIRE WEEKEND- CONTRA

Buy Contra (Bonus Track Version) – Vampire Weekend

Buy ContraAmazon






ARCADE FIRE- THE SUBURBS

Buy The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Buy The SuburbsAmazon






SURFER BLOOD- ASTRO COAST

Buy Astro Coast – Surfer Blood

Buy Astro CoastAmazon






TWIN SHADOW- FORGET

Buy Forget – Twin Shadow

Buy ForgetAmazon






JANELLE MONAE- ARCHANDROID

Buy The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monáe

Buy The ArchAndroid Amazon





FLYING LOTUS- COSMOGRAMMA

Buy Cosmogramma – Flying Lotus

Buy CosmogrammaAmazon





BEST COAST- CRAZY FOR YOU

Buy Crazy for You – Best Coast

Buy Crazy For YouAmazon





TAME IMPALA- INNERSPEAKER

Buy InnerSpeaker – Tame Impala

Buy Innerspeaker Amazon   *Import Price





BIG BOI- SIR LUCIOUS LEFT FOOT: THE SON OF CHICO DUSTY

Buy Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty (Deluxe Edition) – Big Boi

Buy Sir Lucious Left Foot…The Son Of Chico Dusty [Explicit]Amazon






ROBYN- BODY TALK

Buy Body Talk – Robyn

Buy Body Talk [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet]Amazon

Mixes by Year: Best of 2010 Volume 1

Best of 2010 Volume 1 (1/29/11)

1.  The Drums- Let’s Go Surfing

Buy Let’s Go Surfing – The Drums

Buy Let’s Go SurfingAmazon


2.  Japandroids- Younger Us

Buy Younger Us – Younger Us / Sex and Dying In High Society – Single

Buy Younger Us B/W Sex And Dying In High Society Amazon


3.  Best Coast- When I’m with You

Buy When I’m With You – Crazy for You

Buy When I’m With You Amazon


4.  Robyn- Dancing On My Own (Radio Version)

Buy Dancing On My Own (Radio Version) – Body Talk

Buy Dancing On My Own Amazon


5.  Kanye West (Ft. Pusha T)- Runaway (Radio Edit)

Buy Runaway – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Runaway [Explicit]Amazon


6.  LCD Soundsystem- All I Want

Buy All I Want – This Is Happening

Buy All I WantAmazon


7.  Sleigh Bells- Rill Rill

Buy Rill Rill – Treats

Buy Rill Rill Amazon


8.  Deerhunter- Helicopter

Buy Helicopter – Halcyon Digest

Buy HelicopterAmazon


9.  Erykah Badu- Window Seat

Buy Window Seat – New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh

Buy Window Seat Amazon


10.  Arcade Fire- Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Buy Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) – The Suburbs

Buy Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) Amazon


11.  Yeasayer- Ambling Alp

Buy Ambling Alp – Odd Blood

Buy Ambling Alp Amazon


12.  Aeroplane- We Can’t Fly (Radio Edit)

Buy We Can’t Fly (Radio Edit) – We Can’t Fly – Single

Buy We Can’t Fly (Radio Edit) Amazon


13.  Flying Lotus- Do the Astral Plane

Buy Do the Astral Plane – Cosmogramma

Buy Do The Astral Plane Amazon


14.  Janelle Monae (Ft. Big Boi)- Tightrope

Buy Tightrope (feat. Big Boi) – The ArchAndroid

Buy Tightrope [Feat. Big Boi] (Album Version) Amazon


15.  Big Boi (Ft. Gucci Mane)- Shine Blockas

Buy Shine Blockas – Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Shine Blockas [Explicit] Amazon


16.  Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti- Round and Round

Buy Round and Round – Before Today

Buy Round And Round Amazon


17.  Beach House- Norway

Buy Norway – Teen Dream

Buy Norway [Vinyl] Amazon


18.  Twin Shadow- Slow

Buy Slow – Forget

Buy Slow Amazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 2


Best of 2010 Volume 2 (1/29/10)

1.  Arcade Fire- Ready to Start

Buy Ready to Start – The Suburbs

Buy Ready To Start Amazon


2.  The Black Keys- Tighten Up

Buy Tighten Up – Brothers (Deluxe Version)

Buy Tighten Up Amazon


3.  Sleigh Bells- Crown on the Ground

Buy Crown On the Ground – Treats

Buy Crown On The Ground Amazon


4.  No Age- Fever Dreaming

Buy Fever Dreaming – Everything In Between

Buy Fever DreamingAmazon


5.  Twista (Ft. Raekwon)- The Heat

* Not Available via iTunes or Amazon


6.  Curren$y (Ft. Trademark & Young Roddy)- Roasted

Buy Roasted – Pilot Talk

Buy Roasted [Explicit] Amazon


7.  Wavves- Post-Acid

Buy Post Acid – King of the Beach

Buy Post Acid Amazon


8.  Lindstron & Christabelle- Lovesick

Buy Lovesick – Real Life Is No Cool

Buy Lovesick Amazon


9.  Gorillaz- On Melancholy Hill

Buy On Melancholy Hill – Plastic Beach

Buy On Melancholy HillAmazon


10.  The National- Bloodbuzz Ohio

Buy Bloodbuzz Ohio – High Violet

Buy Bloodbuzz Ohio Amazon


11.  Deerhunter- Desire Lines

Buy Desire Lines – Halcyon Digest

Buy Desire Lines Amazon


12.  LCD Soundsystem- I Can Change

Buy I Can Change – This Is Happening

Buy I Can Change Amazon


13.  Robyn- Hang with Me

Buy Hang With Me – Body Talk

Buy Hang With Me Amazon


14.  Vampire Weekend- Holiday

Buy Holiday – Holiday

Buy Holiday Amazon


15.  Surfer Blood- Anchorage

Buy Anchorage – Astro Coast

Buy Anchorage Amazon


16.  Cee Le Green- F**k You

Buy F**k You – F**k You – Deluxe Single

Buy F**k You [Explicit] Amazon


17.  Kanye West (Ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver)- Monster

Buy Monster – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Monster [Explicit] Amazon


18.  Drake- Over

Buy Over – Thank Me Later

Buy Over [Explicit] Amazon


Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 3


Best of 2010 Volume 3 (1/29/11)

1.  Titus Andronicus- A More Perfect Union

Buy A More Perfect Union – The Monitor

Buy A More Perfect Union Amazon


2.  Los Campesinos!- Straight in at 101

Buy Straight In At 101 – Romance Is Boring

Buy Straight In At 101 Amazon


3.  No Age- Valley Hump Crash

Buy Valley Hump Crash – Everything In Between

Buy Valley Hump Crash Amazon


4.  Surfer Blood- Floating Vibes

Buy Floating Vibes – Astro Coast

Buy Floating Vibes Amazon


5.  Robyn- Indestructible

Buy Indestructible – Body Talk

Buy Indestructible Amazon


6.  Kanye West- Power

Buy Power – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Power [Explicit] Amazon


7.  Nicki Minaj- Did It On ‘Em

Buy Did It On’em – Pink Friday

Buy Did It On’em [Explicit] Amazon


8.  Big Boi (Ft. Cutty)- Shutterbug

Buy Shutterbugg – Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Shutterbugg [Explicit] Amazon


9.  Flying Lotus- Mmm Hmm

Buy Mmmhmm (feat. Thundercat) – Cosmogramma

Buy MmmHmm ft.Thundercat Amazon


10.  Joker- Tron

Buy Tron – Tron – Single

Buy Tron (Original mix) Amazon


11.  Deerhunter- Memory Boy

Buy Memory Boy – Halcyon Digest

Buy Memory Boy Amazon


12.  Vampire Weekend- Cousins

Buy Cousins – Contra (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Cousins Amazon


13.  LCD Soundsystem- Home

Buy Home – This Is Happening

Buy Home Amazon


14.  Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

Buy The Suburbs – The Suburbs

Buy The Suburbs Amazon


15.  Cults- Go Outside

* Not available via iTunes or Amazon


16.  Beach House- Walk in the Park

Buy Walk In the Park – Teen Dream

* Not available via Amazon


17.  Broken Bells- The High Road

Buy The High Road – Broken Bells

Buy The High Road Amazon


18.  Crystal Castles (Fr. Robert Smith)- Not in Love (Radio Version)

Buy Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) – Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) – Single

Buy Not In Love (feat Robert Smith) Amazon




Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 4

Best of 2010 Volume 4 (1/29/11)

1.  The Besnard Lakes- Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent Pt. 2: The Innocent

Buy Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent, Pt. 2: The Innocent – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Like the Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt. 2: The Innocent Amazon


2.  Free Energy- Dream City

Buy Dream City – Stuck On Nothing

Buy Dream City Amazon


3.  Kanye West- All of the Lights

Buy All of the Lights – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy All Of The Lights [Explicit] Amazon


4.  Das Racist (Ft. Lakutis)- Amazing

* Not available via iTunes or Amazon (on Free Mixtape)


5.  Rick Ross (Ft. Styles P)- B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)

Buy B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) [feat. Styles P] – Teflon Don

Buy B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) [Explicit] Amazon


6.  The-Dream- Yamaha

Buy Yamaha – Love King

Buy Yamaha [Explicit] Amazon


7.  Rihannna (Ft. Drake)- What’s My Name?

Buy What’s My Name? – Loud

Buy What’s My Name? Amazon


8.  LCD Soundsystem- Drunk Girls

Buy Drunk Girls – This Is Happening

Buy Drunk Girls Amazon


9.  Robyn- Call Your Girlfriend

Buy Call Your Girlfriend – Body Talk

Buy Call Your Girlfriend Amazon


10.  Best Coast- Crazy for You

Buy Crazy for You – Crazy for You

Buy Crazy For You Amazon


11.  Caribou- Odessa

Buy Odessa – Odessa – Single

Buy Odessa Amazon


12.  Flying Lotus- Computer Face//Pure Being

Buy Computer Face / Pure Being – Cosmogramma

Buy Computer Face//Pure Being Amazon


13.  Girl Unit- Wut

Buy Wut – Wut – EP

Buy Wut Amazon


14.  The Roots (Ft. Joanna Newsom & STS)- Right On

Buy Right On – How I Got Over

Buy Right On [Explicit] Amazon


15.  Hot Chip- One Life Stand

Buy One Life Stand – One Life Stand

Buy One Life Stand Amazon


16.  Arcade Fire- We Used to Wait

Buy We Used to Wait – The Suburbs

Buy We Used To Wait Amazon


17.  Deerhunter- Revival

Buy Revival – Halcyon Digest

Buy Revival Amazon


18.  Broken Social Scene- Texico Bitches

Buy Texico Bitches – Forgiveness Rock Record

Buy Texico Bitches Amazon


Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 5

Best of 2010 Volume 5 (2/10/12)

1.  Sleigh Bells- Tell ‘Em

Buy Tell ‘Em – Treats

Buy Tell ‘EmAmazon


2.  The Soft Pack- Answer to Yourself

Buy Answer to Yourself – The Soft Pack

Buy Answer To YourselfAmazon


3.  Spoon- Got Nuffin’

Buy Got Nuffin – Transference

Buy Got NuffinAmazon


4.  Superchunk- Crossed Wires

Buy Crossed Wires – Majesty Shredding

Buy Crossed WiresAmazon


5.  The Black Angels- Bad Vibrations

Buy Bad Vibrations – Phosphene Dream (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Bad VibrationsAmazon


6.  Liars- Scarecrows On a Killer Slant

Buy Scarecrows On A Killer Slant – Sisterworld

Buy Scarecrows On A Killer SlantAmazon


7.  Zola Jesus- Night

Buy Night – Stridulum – EP

Buy NightAmazon


8.  The Black Keys- Howlin’ for You

Buy Howlin’ for You – Brothers (Deluxe Version)

Buy Howlin’ For YouAmazon


9.  Beach House- Lover of Mine

Buy Lover of Mine – Teen Dream

Buy Lover Of MineAmazon


10.  Kendal Johansson- Blue Moon

Buy Blue Moon – Blue Moon – Single

Buy Blue MoonAmazon


11.  Sade- Soldier Of Love

Buy Soldier of Love – Soldier of Love

Buy Soldier of LoveAmazon


12.  Glasser- Mirrorage

Buy Mirrorage – Ring (Bonus Track Edition)

Buy MirrorageAmazon


13.  Robyn- Cry When You Get Older

Buy Cry When You Get Older – Body Talk, Pt. 1

Buy Cry When You Get OlderAmazon


14.  Janelle Monae- Cold War

Buy Cold War – The ArchAndroid

Buy Cold WarAmazon


15.  The Radio Dept.- Heaven’s On Fire

Buy Heaven’s On Fire – Clinging to a Scheme

Buy Heaven’s On Fire Amazon


16.  Kanye West- Hell Of A Life

Buy Hell of a Life – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Hell Of A Life [Explicit]Amazon


17.  Big Boi (Feat. T.I. & Khujo Goodie)- Tangerine

Buy Tangerine – Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Tangerine [Explicit]Amazon


18.  Deerhunter- Fountain Stairs

Buy Fountain Stairs – Halcyon Digest

Buy Fountain StairsAmazon


19.  Gonjasufi- Sheep

Buy Sheep – A Sufi and a Killer (Bonus Track Version)

Buy SheepAmazon


20.  James Blake- I’ll Stay

Buy I’ll Stay – CMYK – EP

BuyI’ll StayAmazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 6

Best of 2010 Volume 6 (2/10/12)

1.  Yeasayer- O.N.E.

Buy O.N.E. – Odd Blood

Buy O.N.E.Amazon


2.  Tame Impala- Solitude Is Bliss

Buy Solitude Is Bliss – InnerSpeaker

Buy Solitude Is BlissAmazon


3.  Surfer Blood- Harmonix

Buy Harmonix – Astro Coast

Buy HarmonixAmazon


4.  Male Bonding- Year’s Not Long

Buy Year’s Not Long – Nothing Hurts

Buy Years Not LongAmazon


5.  Arcade Fire- Month of May

Buy Month of May – The Suburbs

Buy Month Of MayAmazon


6.  The New Pornographers- Crash Years

Buy Crash Years – Together

Buy Crash YearsAmazon


7.  Broken Social Scene- World Sick

Buy World Sick – Forgiveness Rock Record

Buy World SickAmazon


8.  Flying Lotus- Zodiac Shit

Buy Zodiac S**t – Cosmogramma

Buy Zodiac ShitAmazon


9.  Crystal Castles- Celestica

Buy Celestica – (II)

Buy CelesticaAmazon


10.  CEO- Come With Me

Buy Come With Me – White Magic

Buy Come With MeAmazon


11.  Twin Shadow- At My Heels

Buy At My Heels – Forget

Buy At My HeelsAmazon


12.  Gorillaz (Feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)- Stylo

Buy Stylo (feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack) – Plastic Beach

Buy Stylo (Album Version) (feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack)Amazon


13.  Rick Ross (Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michelle)- Aston Martin Music

Buy Aston Martin Music (feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele) – Teflon Don

Buy Aston Martin Music [Explicit]Amazon


14.  Kanye West (Feat. Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Rick Ross)- The Joy

*This version not on iTunes or Amazon


15.  Free Energy- Bang Pop

Buy Bang Pop – Stuck On Nothing

Buy Bang PopAmazon


16.  Vampire Weekend- Giving Up the Gun

Buy Giving Up the Gun – Contra (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Giving Up The GunAmazon


17.  Robyn- Love Kills

Buy Love Kills – Body Talk

Buy Love KillsAmazon


18.  Girls- Heartbreaker

Buy Heartbreaker – Broken Dreams Club

Buy HeartbreakerAmazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 7

Best of 2010 Volume 7 (2/12/12)

1.  Nicki Minaj- Super Bass

Buy Super Bass – Pink Friday (Deluxe Version)

Buy Super Bass [Explicit]Amazon


2.  Robyn- Fembot

Buy Fembot – Body Talk

Buy FembotAmazon


3.  Rihanna- S & M

Buy S&M – Loud

Buy S&MAmazon


4.  Big Boi (Feat. Sleepy Brown & Joi)- Turns Me On

Buy Turns Me On – Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Turns Me On [Explicit]Amazon


5.  LCD Soundsystem- Dance Yrself Clean

Buy Dance Yrself Clean – This Is Happening

Buy Dance Yrself CleanAmazon


6.  Kanye West (Feat. Rick Ross)- Devil in a New Dress

Buy Devil In a New Dress – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Devil In A New Dress [Explicit]Amazon


7.  Azari & III- Reckless With Your Love (Tensnake Remix)

Buy Reckless With Your Love (Tensnake Remix) – Permanent Vacation (Selected Label Works 3)

Buy Reckless (With Your Love) (Tensnake Remix)Amazon


8.  Kingdom (Feat. Shyvonne)- Mind Reader

Buy Mind Reader (feat. Shyvonne) [Original] – Mind Reader

Buy Mind Reader (feat. Shyvonne) [Original]Amazon


9.  Sleigh Bells- Run the Heart

Buy Run the Heart – Treats

Buy Run The HeartAmazon


10.  Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti- Little Wig

Buy Little Wig – Before Today

Buy Little WigAmazon


11.  Spoon- Trouble Comes Running

Buy Trouble Comes Running – Transference

Buy Trouble Comes RunningAmazon


12.  Surfer Blood- Swim

Buy Swim – Astro Coast

Buy SwimAmazon


13.  Wavves- King of the Beach

Buy King of the Beach – King of the Beach

Buy King Of The BeachAmazon


14.  No Age- Glitter

Buy Glitter – Everything In Between

Buy GlitterAmazon


15.  Local Natives- Airplanes

Buy Airplanes – Gorilla Manor

Buy AirplanesAmazon


16.  The Tallest Man On Earth- King of Spain

Buy King of Spain – The Wild Hunt (Bonus Track Version)

Buy King Of SpainAmazon


17.  Deerhunter- He Would Have Laughed

Buy He Would Have Laughed – Halcyon Digest

Buy He Would Have LaughedAmazon

Mixes By Year: Best of 2010 Volume 8

Best of 2010 Volume 8 (2/12/12)

1.  Kanye West- Dark Fantasy

Buy Dark Fantasy – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Buy Dark Fantasy [Explicit]Amazon


2.  Freddie Gibbs- National Anthem (F**K the World)

Buy National Anthem (F*ck the World) – Str8 Killa

Buy National Anthem (F*ck The World) [Explicit]Amazon


3.  Big K.R.I.T.- Country S**T

Buy Country Sh*t – Country Sh*t – Single

Buy Country Sh*t [Explicit]Amazon


4.  Erykah Badu- Umm Hmm

Buy Umm Hmm – New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh

Buy Umm HmmAmazon


5.  Janelle Monae- Faster

Buy Faster – The ArchAndroid

Buy FasterAmazon


6.  Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings- Better Things

Buy Better Things – I Learned the Hard Way (Bonus Version)

Buy Better Things

Buy Better ThingsAmazon


7.  Drake (Feat. Lil Wayne)- Miss Me

Buy Miss Me – Thank Me Later

Buy Miss Me [Explicit]Amazon


8.  Arcade Fire- Empty Room

Buy Empty Room – The Suburbs

Buy Empty RoomAmazon


9.  Deerhunter- Don’t Cry

Buy Don’t Cry – Halcyon Digest

Buy Don’t CryAmazon


10.  Twin Sister- All Around and Away We Go

Buy All Around and Away We Go – Color Your Life – EP

Buy All Around and Away We GoAmazon


11.  MGMT- I Found a Whistle

Buy I Found a Whistle – Congratulations

Buy I Found A WhistleAmazon


12.  Beach House- 10 Mile Stereo

Buy 10 Mile Stereo – Teen Dream

Buy 10 Mile StereoAmazon


13.  The Morning Benders- All Day Daylight

Buy All Day Day Light – Big Echo

Buy All Day Day LightAmazon


14.  Jamey Johnson- Macon

Buy Macon – The Guitar Song

Buy MaconAmazon


15. Girls- Carolina

Buy Carolina – Broken Dreams Club

Buy CarolinaAmazon


16.  Titus Andronicus- The Battle of Hampton Roads


Buy The Battle of Hampton Roads – The Monitor

Buy The Battle Of Hampton Roads Amazon

Top Albums of 2010: Albums 41-50

50.  GIRL TALK- ALL DAY

Free Mix Tape- Download at http://illegal-art.net/allday/

I had no idea how to rank Girl Talk on a list so I put them right at number 50. How do I rate an album completely based on samples of other songs? Well “All Day”, Pittsburgh DJ Greg Gillis’s fourth full-length release as Girl Talk is a blast from start to finish. It’s a free mixtape, to avoid the zillion dollars in lawsuits he would no doubt acquire, and takes old classic rock, metal, new indie rock, 90’s R&B etc.. etc… and mashes it up with mainly rap vocals. If you’re into this sort of thing Gillis is the best in the business at it and the album is perfect for the weight room, a party, a long car ride or getting ready to go out. Or hell if you’re down in the dumps, it’ll cheer you right up as well. This is longer than his previous two but just as fun. Black Sabbath, 2Pac, Jay-Z, Ludacris, T.I., Jane’s Addiction, The Doors, the Ramones & Missy Elliott- and that’s just track #1.

Best Tracks   Oh No                                        Get It Get It


49.  BESNARD LAKES- ARE THE ROARING NIGHT

Buy The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (Bonus Track Version) – The Besnard Lakes
Buy The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring NightAmazon

Slowcore-shoegaze. Low meets Ride. The Besnard Lakes second straight excellent album is filled with shimmering sheets of beautiful feedback, sometimes unintelligible high harmonies- like latter day Beach Boys on even more drugs. Any fan of Spiritualized, My Bloody Valentine, Sigur Ros or very early Pink Floyd should check these guys out- long, epic and majestic.

Buy Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent, Pt. 2: The Innocent – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (Bonus Track Version)
Buy Like the Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt. 2: The Innocent Amazon

Buy Land of Living Skies, Pt. 2: The Living Skies – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night (Bonus Track Version) Buy Land Of Living Skies Pt. 2: The Living SkiesAmazon


48.  LIARS- SISTERWORLD

Buy Sisterworld (Deluxe Edition) – Liars

Buy Sisterworld [+Digital Booklet]Amazon

These L.A. (by way of Berlin, by way of Brooklyn) experimental rockers change it up on every album. Their latest “Sisterworld” is an album about their current city- and it focusing on the dark side of L.A. rather than the sunshine, beaches, beauty & glamour. The music sounds paranoid, claustrophobic, droney & angry- pissed off music for a pissed off time, all about survival in a city (world) with increasing threats, population density and crumbling infrastructure. Happy happy!

Buy Scarecrows On A Killer Slant – Sisterworld Buy Scarecrows On A Killer SlantAmazon

Buy Scissor – Sisterworld Buy ScissorAmazon



47.  RADIO DEPT.- CLINGING TO A SCHEME

Buy Clinging to a Scheme – The Radio Dept.

Buy Clinging To A SchemeAmazon

One of the album covers of the year. What the hell is that? The Radio EDpt. Are yet another great band from Sweden, who have kicked around for the last decade and have finally gotten around to releasing a full length. The whole album works as a synthy-dream pop vibe but several great tracks like “Heaven’s On Fire”, “David” & “This Time Around” got the album into the countdown over other similar good bands like Toro Y Moi & Wild Nothing.

Buy Heaven’s On Fire – Clinging to a Scheme Buy Heaven’s On FireAmazon

Buy David – Clinging to a Scheme Buy DavidAmazon



46.  THE ROOTS- HOW I GOT OVER

Buy How I Got Over – The Roots

Buy How I Got Over [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet]

Another very solid outing from Jimmy Fallon’s house band, who have become the most consistently good group in rap over the last decade and a half. The Roots work for both rap’s modern detractors (they play real instruments, kick ass live & have socially conscious lyrics) as well as current rap fans (their music is still dope & they have very little in common with annoying backpacker rap). “How I Got Over” contains several standouts including “Right On” (with Joanna Newsom!), the title track & The Day and no bad songs. It’s under 50 minute running time is a study in editing that I wish more rappers would adhere to. Whether or not you gave up on rap in the mid 90’s you should check these guys out if you like(d) the genre whatsoever.

Buy Right On – How I Got Over Buy Right On [Explicit]

Buy The Day – How I Got Over Buy The DayAmazon



45.  THE BLACK ANGELS- PHOSPHENE DREAM

Buy Phosphene Dream (Deluxe Edition) – The Black Angels

Buy Phosphene Dream [Exclusive Version]Amazon

Austin’s drone-merchants The Black Angels sound like a breath of fresh air amidst all of the neo-synth pop & folk-rock so prevalent in today’s indie scene. Their psychedelic squall is a throw back to various sixties garage rock “Nuggets” bands like the Thirteenth Floor Elevators and Count Five as well as being Jesus & Mary Chain inspired. Bring your earplugs- not for the faint of heart!

Buy Bad Vibrations – Phosphene Dream (Deluxe Edition) Buy Bad VibrationsAmazon

Buy River of Blood – Phosphene Dream (Deluxe Edition) Buy River Of Blood Amazon



44.  THE MORNING BENDERS- BIG ECHO

Buy Big Echo – The Morning Benders

Buy Big EchoAmazon

Definitely one of the best named new bands! “Big Echo” is actually their second and from what I understand quite a bit more produced than their lo-fi debut. The band also left their home in Berkley and went cross country to Brooklyn but they didn’t leave the sunshine behind. The Benders is indebted to the sunny pop of the Shins and Beach Boys as well as fellow Brooklyn-ites Grizzly Bear- their music is full of orchestration but their hooks are still able to shine.

Buy All Day Day Light – Big Echo Buy All Day Day Light

Buy Excuses – Big Echo Buy ExcusesAmazon



43.  MGMT- CONGRATULATIONS

Buy Congratulations – MGMT

Buy CongratulationsAmazon

Though “Congratulations” lacks the hits of their big selling debut, it is not the incoherent mess that its detractors think it is. In fact the album is at least twice as good as the debut- plenty weird and plenty psychedelic- no “Kids” or “Time to Pretend”, but the title track, “Flash Delirium”, the punchy “Brian Eno”, “I Found a Whistle” and “It’s Working” are all songs that have lots to love. The album’s weirdness and experimentation is a benefit to MGMT and “Congratulations” is a big step forward for the band who could have easily been pegged with the one hit wonder tag had they not taken this kind of risk.

Buy I Found a Whistle – Congratulations Buy I Found A WhistleAmazon

Buy Congratulations – Congratulations Buy Congratulations Amazon



42.  SUPERCHUNK- MAJESTY SHREDDING

Buy Majesty Shredding – Superchunk

Buy Majesty ShreddingAmazon

Late forty-something veteran indie-rockers take a break from running the venerable Merge records to record their best album release in at least a decade and a half. If you liked the 1990 version Superchunk of “Slack Motherf**ker” you will like this. The band sounds identical to how they sounded in the early nineties. You would think they’re still in their twenties- no artistic growth but plenty of great punk jams with uber hooks.

Buy Crossed Wires – Majesty Shredding Buy Crossed WiresAmazon

Buy Digging for Something – Majesty Shredding Buy Digging For SomethingAmazon



41.  DAS RACIST- SIT DOWN, MAN

Free Mixtape – Download http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/das-racist-sit-down-man//

“Sit Down, Man” is a free mixtape, the second of the year from Das Racist, a deconstructionist rap trio from Brooklyn & Queens who are growing in stature with each passing month. Though it’s clear the guys have a deep love of rap, they enjoy taking it a part as well- they are unafraid to discuss racism & the state of the world while at the same time (and often in the same time) goof on smoking weed and referencing the cartoon network. They are smart, provocative, hilarious and quirky as well- using obscure indie groups like Keepaway, Chairlift & the Very Best to play on their songs, sampling the Doors and Jay-Z, while giving him a featuring credit at the same time. They could be rap’s next big hope and are an antidote to the sameness of the materialistic rap, gangsta rap and coke rap of the last decade and a half.

Best Songs                         Amazing                             Ha Ha Ha Ha JK?