My 2010 Music Purchases in Review
Finally, I am finished with my list of music consumed in 2010. I only purchased 35 albums, and nearly all of that was before I moved to NY in August.
I've ranked the albums and made comments about most of them. Those with nothing written I didn't feel passionately enough about, good or bad, to really comment. Following that are the mixes I made--one song from each CD, separated into Evens and Odds by luck of the ranking (making for some eclectic mixes). As always, if anyone wants copies of the mixes or any of the albums listed below, let me know.
1. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
No surprise that this is tip top for me. I may be unhealthily obsessed with JTE.
2. Janelle Monae - Archandroid
Was blessed to see her perform live. She is just as good a dancer as she is a musician. Expect more wonderful, interesting, and unique things from her.
3. Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
This absolutely blew me away.
4. Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Gorgeous.
5. Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky
Starts off like early Swans. Continues in that vein, adding some of the vocals fans are used to from the later Swans years. An excellent mix and album. I was fortunate enough to see them live in October. Loudest show I've ever been to.
6. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
This received mediocre reviews. I thought it was incredibly catchy, well done, and right up my alley.
7. The National - High Violet
Another consistently strong album one just can't help singing along to.
8. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
I just adore James Mercer's voice and had this playing in my car on repeat for a few weeks after I bought it.
9. Delta Spirit - History from Below
Just can't stop listening to the song "Bushwick Blues" in particular. Lovely.
10. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
This makes me want to get all up into the face of some man who wronged me. :)
11. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Even when I don't want to like Arcade Fire, I can't help it. Catchy stuff, holy shit.
12. Menomena - Mines
The guys at Strictly Discs in Madison turned me on to this. Great tunes.
13. Lightspeed Champion - Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
Chris C. first introduced me to Devonte Hynes (figuratively). I saw a guy on the train today wearing a winter hat that looked like a teddy bear. It looked like something Devonte would wear. Happy music.
14. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Even without the video for Window Seat (which is stunning), this is an excellent album.
15. Crowded House - Intriguer
I didn't know what to expect when I bought this, but I was really impressed.
16. Great Lake Swimmers - The Legion Sessions
What I wish the Bonnie "Prince" Billy album sounded like.
17. Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle
Can't beat their energy and awesomeness.
18. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Brutalist Bricks
19. The Watson Twins - Talking to You, Talking to Me
20. Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
21. She & Him - Volume 2
Another album of torch songs, this one not as good as the first.
22. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago
23. Wovenhand - The Threshingfloor
24. Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
I adored The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, but on this album he sounds too much like Paul Simon and it really bothers me. Just couldn't get into it.
25. The New Pornographers - Together
Like most NP's albums, this one has some really strong songs and some forgettable duds.
26. Laura Veirs - July Flame
27. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Nothing special.
28. Betty LaVette - Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
I really wanted to love this. She is a talented singer, but I just didn't care for her versions of these classic songs.
29. Gayngs - Relayted
There are a couple knockout songs on this album, but the rest of it just bored the shit out of me.
30. Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be
Meh.
31. MGMT - Congratulations
This ain't no catchy Oracular Spectacular.
32. The Extra Lens - Undercard
I expected to love this, but I just don't care for it. The backing music is too heavy. The vocals aren't as spirited as they usually are. It just doesn't come together for me.
33. Bonnie "Prince" Billy & the Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World
There are only two songs on this album I like.
34. Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave
This is tough to listen to. JC just doesn't sound like JC.
35. The Magnetic Fields - Realism
The Magnetic Fields are one of my favorite bands, and I hate this. Stop with the concept albums already.
ODDS 2010
1. Rogers Park / Justin Townes Earle
2. Arkansas / Damien Jurado
3. Little Mouth / Swans
4. Bloodbuzz Ohio / The National
5. Bushwick Blues / Delta Spirit
6. Ready to Start / Arcade Fire
7. Marlene / Lightspeed Champion
8. Archer's Arrows / Crowded House
9. Pala Tute / Gogol Bordello
10. Harpeth River / The Watson Twins
11. In the Sun / She & Him
12. The Threshingfloor / Wovenhand
13. Your Hands (Together) / The New Pornographers
14. Compliments / Band of Horses
15. The Walker / Gayngs
16. It's Working / MGMT
17. Troublesome Houses / Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang
18. You Must be Out of Your Mind / The Magnetic Fields
EVENS 2010
1. Tightrope / Janelle Monae
2. You Are My Sun / Sun Kil Moon
3. Winter Winds / Mumford & Sons
4. October / Broken Bells
5. Better Things / Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
6. TAOS / Menomena
7. Window Seat / Erykah Badu
8. Palmistry (Live) / Great Lake Swimmers
9. Mourning in America / Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
10. When I'm Small / Phantogram
11. Black Eyes / Shearwater
12. Change of Time / Josh Ritter
13. Where are You Driving? / Laura Veirs
14. The Word / Bettye LaVette
15. Hard as Nails / Peter Wolf Crier
16. Ambivalent Landscape Z / The Extra Lens
17. Redemption Day / Johnny Cash
I've ranked the albums and made comments about most of them. Those with nothing written I didn't feel passionately enough about, good or bad, to really comment. Following that are the mixes I made--one song from each CD, separated into Evens and Odds by luck of the ranking (making for some eclectic mixes). As always, if anyone wants copies of the mixes or any of the albums listed below, let me know.
1. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
No surprise that this is tip top for me. I may be unhealthily obsessed with JTE.
2. Janelle Monae - Archandroid
Was blessed to see her perform live. She is just as good a dancer as she is a musician. Expect more wonderful, interesting, and unique things from her.
3. Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
This absolutely blew me away.
4. Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Gorgeous.
5. Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky
Starts off like early Swans. Continues in that vein, adding some of the vocals fans are used to from the later Swans years. An excellent mix and album. I was fortunate enough to see them live in October. Loudest show I've ever been to.
6. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
This received mediocre reviews. I thought it was incredibly catchy, well done, and right up my alley.
7. The National - High Violet
Another consistently strong album one just can't help singing along to.
8. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
I just adore James Mercer's voice and had this playing in my car on repeat for a few weeks after I bought it.
9. Delta Spirit - History from Below
Just can't stop listening to the song "Bushwick Blues" in particular. Lovely.
10. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
This makes me want to get all up into the face of some man who wronged me. :)
11. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Even when I don't want to like Arcade Fire, I can't help it. Catchy stuff, holy shit.
12. Menomena - Mines
The guys at Strictly Discs in Madison turned me on to this. Great tunes.
13. Lightspeed Champion - Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You
Chris C. first introduced me to Devonte Hynes (figuratively). I saw a guy on the train today wearing a winter hat that looked like a teddy bear. It looked like something Devonte would wear. Happy music.
14. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Even without the video for Window Seat (which is stunning), this is an excellent album.
15. Crowded House - Intriguer
I didn't know what to expect when I bought this, but I was really impressed.
16. Great Lake Swimmers - The Legion Sessions
What I wish the Bonnie "Prince" Billy album sounded like.
17. Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle
Can't beat their energy and awesomeness.
18. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Brutalist Bricks
19. The Watson Twins - Talking to You, Talking to Me
20. Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
21. She & Him - Volume 2
Another album of torch songs, this one not as good as the first.
22. Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago
23. Wovenhand - The Threshingfloor
24. Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
I adored The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, but on this album he sounds too much like Paul Simon and it really bothers me. Just couldn't get into it.
25. The New Pornographers - Together
Like most NP's albums, this one has some really strong songs and some forgettable duds.
26. Laura Veirs - July Flame
27. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Nothing special.
28. Betty LaVette - Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
I really wanted to love this. She is a talented singer, but I just didn't care for her versions of these classic songs.
29. Gayngs - Relayted
There are a couple knockout songs on this album, but the rest of it just bored the shit out of me.
30. Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be
Meh.
31. MGMT - Congratulations
This ain't no catchy Oracular Spectacular.
32. The Extra Lens - Undercard
I expected to love this, but I just don't care for it. The backing music is too heavy. The vocals aren't as spirited as they usually are. It just doesn't come together for me.
33. Bonnie "Prince" Billy & the Cairo Gang - The Wonder Show of the World
There are only two songs on this album I like.
34. Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave
This is tough to listen to. JC just doesn't sound like JC.
35. The Magnetic Fields - Realism
The Magnetic Fields are one of my favorite bands, and I hate this. Stop with the concept albums already.
ODDS 2010
1. Rogers Park / Justin Townes Earle
2. Arkansas / Damien Jurado
3. Little Mouth / Swans
4. Bloodbuzz Ohio / The National
5. Bushwick Blues / Delta Spirit
6. Ready to Start / Arcade Fire
7. Marlene / Lightspeed Champion
8. Archer's Arrows / Crowded House
9. Pala Tute / Gogol Bordello
10. Harpeth River / The Watson Twins
11. In the Sun / She & Him
12. The Threshingfloor / Wovenhand
13. Your Hands (Together) / The New Pornographers
14. Compliments / Band of Horses
15. The Walker / Gayngs
16. It's Working / MGMT
17. Troublesome Houses / Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang
18. You Must be Out of Your Mind / The Magnetic Fields
EVENS 2010
1. Tightrope / Janelle Monae
2. You Are My Sun / Sun Kil Moon
3. Winter Winds / Mumford & Sons
4. October / Broken Bells
5. Better Things / Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
6. TAOS / Menomena
7. Window Seat / Erykah Badu
8. Palmistry (Live) / Great Lake Swimmers
9. Mourning in America / Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
10. When I'm Small / Phantogram
11. Black Eyes / Shearwater
12. Change of Time / Josh Ritter
13. Where are You Driving? / Laura Veirs
14. The Word / Bettye LaVette
15. Hard as Nails / Peter Wolf Crier
16. Ambivalent Landscape Z / The Extra Lens
17. Redemption Day / Johnny Cash