15 Dec

10 for ’10

Here’s a secret:  I haven’t updated the underlying structure of this post since I marked it up originally in 2008 – and even then, I think it may have been a take off of an old ARoB post.  [I’m lazy.]  However, this method also gives me a chance to review what I posted the year before – and I have to say, 2009 is a hard year to beat.  But I think 2010 can rally for a win!  Without much (more) ado, I’m going to give you a list of the 10 albums that really epitomized 2010 for me.

10. Robyn – Body Talk
Robyn’s new album launched in November and I somehow managed to miss it until Monday of this week. I found it thanks to the Nobel Peace Prize concert, so there could be worse introductions.  In any case, I was aware of awesome tracks like “Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do” and “None Of Dem” – and let’s not forget “Fembot” – from the Body Talk Pt. 1 EP but the new single, “Indestructible” is pretty fantastic and I can’t wait to see the videos for “Love Kills” and “Time Machine.”

9. Fol Chen – Part II: The New December
Driving down to Maryland after a summer visit home, I happened to catch “In Ruins” on XMU as I neared Chestertown. And I was smitten in a way that I can’t even describe. I mean, listen to it! It’s insane – and the post-apocalyptic video doesn’t hurt the cause. The album opens with “The Holograms“, a truly jarring mess of a track that is an experience you’ll want to repeat and repeat. Until you hear the serenity of the title track and decide you want to curl up there for a nap.

8. Alphabeat – The Beat Is…
Look, I’m just going to level with you: this album came out in 2009. But I can play a technicality of international music sales: it launched here with a different name during this calendar year. And why am I going through such loopholes? Well, how about the unabashed Euro 80s throwback sound of “DJ“, “The Beat Is” or “Heat Wave“? Thank you, Denmark.

7. Blonde Redhead – Penny Sparkle
I didn’t think this band could utter a more disaffected sound than “23“, but they somehow managed with “Not Getting There“. And the joyous parade continues with “My Plants Are Dead“, “Oslo” (which is trying desperately to contain a nearly pop beat) and “Spain“. Blonde Redhead: music to stare listlessly to since 1993.

6. The National – High Violet
This is probably on every indie best of list this year and I really do think it deserves to be there. I was reluctant to care about this album, but an acoustic performance of “Anyone’s Ghost” absolutely lured me in. Some others worth a listen: “Lemonworld“, “England” and the radio hit, “Bloodbuzz Ohio“.

5. Delorean – Subiza
“Warmer Places” has become my go-to walk into work track so far this winter.  The rest of Delorean’s album has been equally sparkling from my first listen over the summer on.  Every song drips this effortless Spanish cool, and calls to mind the beach-y scenes you see in the video for “Stay Close“.  I’m not usually into such in your face optimism, but Subiza has won me over.

4. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
Proving that it’s often a good idea to look again, “Ambling Alp” initially annoyed the shit out of me but I’m glad I stuck around to watch the video for “O.N.E.” because it immediately converted me to a Yeasayer fan. Which is great, since “Rome” is a song I cannot live without and “Madder Red” (warning: most depressing video) is not to be missed.

3. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Back with an album by the same name as 2008’s release – and with a vocalist looking like a Shirley Manson-esque cyborg with plastic skin – Crystal Castles stormed my eardrums and eyeballs with “Celestica” before leading me to tracks like “Birds” and the sublime “Not In Love” with Robert Smith.

2. Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels
With a starkly strange video and sound all its own, “Mowgli’s Road” instantly won my heart this year.  And then there’s this pared-back version of “Hollywood“.  And “Oh No!“, which could be the catchiest track that also has the most poignant lyrics of the whole release.

1. The Golden Filter – Voluspa
“How did this make the top of the list,” you ask. “Surely you listened to the number two album many more times?” Probably, but I waited for this album since April 2009, checking my music acquisition favorites nearly daily for most of those months. It all started with “Solid Gold“, still one of the most alluring videos I’ve ever seen. And just when I had given up on this release ever happening, “Thunderbird” appeared. I don’t even remember what day marked my first with Voluspa but I know it gets played at least weekly now that it’s mine. Other great tracks: “Frejya’s Ghost“, “Hide Me” and “Dance Around The Fire“.

Next year, I’m not doing eleven, so we will have to end the gimmick this year, I’m afraid.

3 Feb

Listen: IRM by Charlotte Gainsbourg

The acting of Charlotte Gainsbourg was only made known to me after watching The Science of Sleep in 2007.  (Kate tells me that I saw her in an earlier role when we watched Jane Eyre but I really cannot remember doing so…and it would have come after, regardless.) While I find her acting compelling, I really had no compulsion to explore her musical career.

Which was – as my decisions sometimes are – a mistake.

To paraphrase Wired‘s brief review of the newest album, Gainsbourg is essentially the singing equivalent of tofu: she takes on the sonic qualities of the collaborator with whom she’s working.

On IRM, Charlotte has partnered with Beck, who served as producer, musician and vocalist. Happily, she doesn’t just sound like a female singer channeling Beck, though.  Instead, Gainsbourg absorbs all of what makes Beck spectacular, kooky and somewhat foreboding and then effortlessly pours it out again with her own (decidedly French) style.

So what’s to like on this recording?  Let’s start with the single, “Heaven Can Wait” and its delectable, disturbing video:

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Heaven Can Wait from Charlotte Gainsbourg on Vimeo.

My other favorites:

• “Le chat du café des artistes” (the strings!)
• “Trick Pony“
• “Greenwich Mean Time“

(I apologize if these videos vanish – her record label, Because Music, seems to be throwing a bit of a fit.)

Update: How I missed this fact is beyond me, but the album name IRM actually comes from MRI, a machine that Charlotte Gainsbourg spent much time in after having a cerebral hemorrhage.  She thought the sounds of the MRI would “make a great music.”  I had the exact same thought after being scanned myself two summers ago.

8 Dec

Listen: In This Light and On This Evening by Editors

Sometimes I’m completely caught off-guard by the presence of a new album by a favorite band.  After listening to SiriusXM’s XMU the other day, I found myself in this position.  The band was Editors and the album was titled In This Light and On This Evening.

More surprising was the song that brought me to the new album realization, “Papillon.”  Opening with a menacing synth and snappy drum machine, the song sounds as far from “Munich” as one could expect within the range of the same band.  Tom Smith is just as monotone as ever as lead singer, but his vocals now seems to seethe and threaten. This is not “Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors,” good sirs.  This is a whole new beast.

After downloading the rest of the tracks, I was further surprised and delighted by the Kraftwerk meets Joy Division nature of the album.  The title track is stark. Maybe even with a capital “s.”  My absolute favorite at this early stage of acquaintance is far and away “The Big Exit.”  Creeptastic.  The Blade Runner synth is impeccable and if it doesn’t end up with a Noir video, I’m going to be surprised.

“Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool” will bridge the gap between what Editors has become and the material that made their name.  And, for those less in favor of dramatic change, “Bricks and Mortar” should make you feel sonically safe.

Welcome back Editors.  Glad to have bumped in to you.