Your musical education continues with Neon Filler's list of the top 100 indie/alternative albums of all time.This week: 60-51 (including Bon Iver and my favourite Modest Mouse album).
Fellow Canucks be proud: Spinner looks at the invasion of Canadian music at SXSW including Broken Social Scene, Feist, and The New Pornographers. But it's "aboat" not "aboot", Stuart.
The National has a new song Think You Can Wait, and it confirms my long-held belief that Matt Berninger just wants everyone to cry and moodily drink whisky all the time. Hear it at Stereogum.
My former flatmate's favourite musician was Joanna Newsom, and--swear to God-- she once casually uttered the phrase "I find dirt really interesting." So the suggestion that she may have once "considered befriending a squirrel" seems pretty dead on. Flavorwire will hilariously stereotype you, too, by your favourite indie band.
Dance-punk/ noise rock duo Death From Above 1979 has reunited, is rehearsing for Coachella, and is testing out a badass bass-cam video. As cool as that sounds, Dominic at This Moving Picture manages to make it sound even cooler.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sunnybrook a band who describes their sound as "your running through a field of dandelions laughing uncontrollably". Sunnybrook you need to come to my parties. And bring whatever it is that made you write that. (Universal Yellow Keys)
I've had a complicated, shitty week, so I genuinely appreciate Young Minds'Change of Pace (no pun intended). It'sa catchy lo-fi track that will make the world feel simple and upbeat for two and a half minutes. Thanks to guerolitomusic for the tranquilizer.
Weezer just covered the State Farm jingle. I don't think this is to sell out, so much as it is to rile up a bunch of nervous hipsters and watch them unravel. Like a sweater. (See what I did there?) (Stereogum)
The Brit Awards happened again: Rihanna beat Robyn, Tinie Tempah beat The Xx, and Justin Bieber beat The National. Also Take That apparently hasn't yet been struck down by sweet justice. Are you sure you even want to look? (Spinner)
The Grammys managed to be a little hipper. A little. Summary at Play On Daily.
Growing up, while my friends all cooed over Courtney Love, I thought Melissa Auf der Maur was the coolest chick alive. Guess which one of us is still right? Bearly Rambling validates me after a decade and a half.
PJ Harvey streamed an entire concert live, and you can watch it in its entirety at Their Bated Breath.
Two very romantic phrases for this Valentines week: "I Remember" and "The Morning After Pills". Yeasayer's new video for the former can be found at the latter.
As if the French needed help being moody, Sonic Youth is writing and recording the (francophone) soundtrack for a new French film. Both the songs and the movie trailer are thumbs up. See and hear at Sonic Masala.
Uh, The White Stripes have split. Full story at Artrocker.
We All Want Someone to Shout For has The National performing Conversation 16 on Letterman. And it's worth watching if only to hear Letterman say "acclaimed rock-and-roll band" like a great big square.
guerolitomusic does the new James Blake video. But more importantly, he uses "bad ass" and "smurftastic" in the same post. Not to be missed, all round.
Play OnDaily sums up British Sea Power's Valhalla Dancehall as "Modern English fronted by Alejandro Escovedo." That's not at all what I expected, but a bloody fantastic description, no?
Am I the only person who does not like Iron and Wine's new tune Walking Far from Home? Anyone else out there? No? Okay, well Stereogum has a Premature Evaluation of Kiss Each Other Clean, if you're more excited than I am. And This Moving Picture has the exclusive look at the Tree By the River video (a better song by far.)
And from the vault-- Electric Comic Book dusts off The Who's Quadrophenia to compare and contrast with American Graffiti And it's awesome.
I'd planned to give the Coachella lineup and then write a little something to go with it. Suffice to say, it would have been both hilarious and thought-provoking.
But then things in this city got a bit ugly today, and I really could not be bothered. Sorry guys.
Instead, I'm just going to post it:
Lots of amazing stuff, but no big surprises. I'm sure a lot of people were hoping for the Bowie rumour to be true.
Also unfortunate: you'll see that contrary to rumours, It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia is NOT going to be doing a live show. And that's all the excuse I need to post the following video. I know I could do with a laugh.
Let's make it very clear that this is a list of favourite albums. Not best albums--favourites. So yes, I know that Ariel Pink is awesome and Deerhunter did everything right, but at the end of the day, those albums just didn't give me a boner like like these ones did. And you can't argue with a metaphorical boner.
What follows are the first six of my eleven favourite 2010 albums**:
11. Girls, Broken Dreams Club
Techncally this is an EP, but I'm letting it in because as soon as you listen to it, you'll want to listen to it again. And then one more time. And then one more time, all the while thinking If I had a guitar I would learn to play every song on this album... Unless you have a guitar. Then you probably already have.
10. The Walkmen, Lisbon
This album makes me nostalgic. For my childhood, for my parents' childhoods, for emotions and ideals I can't put my finger on and don't even understand. Listening to it makes you feel wistful. And 100 years old.
9.The Morning Benders, Big Echo
This album does lose its way by the end, but it the first two-thirds go down so good, you'll barely notice. Recommended for sunny mornings when you can wake up slowly.
8. Yeasayer, Odd Blood
I've already discussed this album and the fact that it's not perfect (still can't get into Ambling Alp--no chance) But the more you listen, the better Odd Blood sounds. It's energetic, ambitious and interesting, all of which is way more important than perfect.
7. The National, High Violet
Ornate and deep, the only reason it doesn't rank higher is because I can't listen to it all that often--it has a way of sweeping you into a dark, dramatic world that's not always an easy place to be.
6. Sleigh Bells, Treats
It would be cheap and easy to play on the album title here, but screw it--I am cheap and easy. And from sweet, girly electronic beeps to riotous guitar riffs, this album is full of treats. It's been awhile since listening to a record was so much fucking fun.
**Eleven because I can't stand even numbers. No even numbers and no orange M&Ms. Deal with it.
Any music posted is for sampling purposes only. If you like anything you hear on this blog, please support the artist by buying their music. Then maybe send them an e-mail of encouragement because money can't give them the warm fuzzies like a nice letter can.
If you represent an artist on this site and would like a song removed, e-mail me. I'll tear the song down and buy you a beer. Then we'll become best friends, I just know it.
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