Monday Morning Cover: Zebra

Yellow Ostrich:

Yellow Ostrich - Zebra (Beach House) by pandapop

The Original:

Beach House:

Beach House - Zebra (UK Radio Edit) by subpop

Saturday Night Remix: 10 Mile Stereo

Beach House - 10 Mile Stereo by scafarella

into:

Beach House-10 Mile Stereo (Tropic Thunder Remix) by Tropic Thunder!

You Can Argue but You Can't Win: Mr Shuffleupagus' Favourite Albums of 2010 (Part Two)

Time for my five favourite records of 2010. I'm telling you, as much fun as it is to do, ranked lists are tough. So feel free to put anything you think I missed or any lists of your own in the comments where I can judge appreciate them.

Or if you hate me personally, just go ahead and put that in the comments. It all brings extra site hits, so I win either way.

If you missed #11-#6 you can find them here. And #5-#1 are:


#5. Local Natives, Gorilla Manor
There is not a track out of place on this album-- it has a distinct, memorable sound and is confident as hell. After all, it takes balls to go toe to toe with Talking Heads, and even more talent to come out ahead.
And those drums, man. Those driving drums make every song impossible to turn off.

#4. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

Even a couple months ago, I thought this album was only alright and never would have predicted it being on this list. But for reasons beyond me, I kept pressing play and the more I listened to it the more I wanted to listen to it. It's not that it grew on me-- it's more like I began to get it.
And yes, I know that sounds really, really pretentious.

(For personalized video go here. Type in your childhood address, watch, cry, repeat.)

#3.Beach House, Teen Dream
Back in the summer my best friend announced that "this is the most beautiful album of the year."
"It's only August," I said. "Give it a bit."
Goddamn. He was right.

(I put this up, because the "official" video is creepy as fuck.)

#2. The Black Keys, Brothers
It doesn't matter what kind of music you listen to--everyone likes the Black Keys. So if you don't like this album you must be a tone-deaf Nazi. It's the only way.

#1. The Tallest Man on Earth, The Wild Hunt
You know an album is special when you stop a conversation to find out what's playing, which is exactly what I did the first time I heard Kids on the Run. And if I owned this album in a non-digital format, it would be worn out. It's honest without being hokey, upbeat without being inane, spare but not simplistic, wistful not moping, classic not tired...and all in Kristian Matsson's trademark warble that threatens to break your heart. Every. Single. Time.

I Do Not Care For the Holiday Songs: The Beach House Exception to the Rule

I never like holiday music. When the holiday singles come out, I don't even bother to listen, that's how much I dislike them.

Despite my small, cold heart, I'm actually not a Grinch. I just don't believe that anyone has such strong feelings about cookies, bells, and the scent of pine that they would write about it without a paycheque. Which explains why all these songs all suck so much

But I'm willing to make an exception in the case of Beach House. First, because Teen Dream easily makes my best of 2010 list, and second because I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun is not about presents, betinseled shrubbery, or--God help us all-- boots. It sounds like something they had already written that just happened to be seasonal.

Is it a holiday song that you'll look forward to hearing every year? Nah. But it will be, by far, the least annoying song on anyone's 2010 Christmas playlist.

And in the holiday spirit of giving, Beach House wants you to download it here for free. Santariffic.

I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun (Beach House) by Mr.Shuffleupagus

If You Like: Beach House, Blonde Redhead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

If You Like:

-Beach House
-Blonde Redhead
-Portishead

-Post-punk/New wave 

-Radiohead circa In Rainbows

-The Yeah Yeah Yeahs



Try:

LoveLikeFire



Though SanFrancisco-based, LoveLikeFire has a definite retro-British feel to them, with various bloggers and reviewers comparing them to everything from The Cure (kinda), to Siouxie and the Banshees (getting there), to Echo and the Bunnymen circa Porcupine (never would have thought of that one but bingo).

With rolling percussion, shimmery guitar reverb and Ann Yu's ethereal, Beth Gibbons-esque vocals, this band's dreamy-arty-post-punk revivalist sound is dead on trend, if not just ahead of the mainstream curve.

So the only question is: how is this not more popular?


From the just-released Dust:

In My Room (LoveLikeFire) by Mr.Shuffleupagus

Falling Asleep (LoveLikeFire) by Mr.Shuffleupagus

And from 2009's Tear Ourselves Away: