2010 was a banner year for indie electronica. Kieran Hebden and Dan Snaith, or more widely recognized as Four Tet and Caribou respectively, released amazing albums in There Is Love In You and Swim that expanded on the precedent set by their previous efforts. As the two artists hold each other in such high regard, they decided to collaborate on a new vinyl split single. There is no release date yet, but the hard copy will be available through Four Tet's own Text Records.
Normally, I try to focus on full LP's on this blog, but the individual tracks are undeniably first-class that sharing them is a necessity. Four Tet's contribution "Pinnacles" start innocently, but quickly dives head first into a funked-up shuffle that drops the club beat right around the two minute mark. The pulse is assertive and unyielding, yet the left turns of piano clatters are what rounds out this masterpiece. Caribou's track "Ye Ye", working under the moniker Delphi, starts grimly like a Swim outtake as it traverses through some seedy late night exploits. Not unlike "Pinnacles", the dance thump falls into place and as the track fleshes out it's synth accents and drum fills, it takes on a whole new guise. Still, the overall theme stays a bit creepy as the slinky beats wind down and crash into the finish, saving momentum for another day. Enjoy the music folks!
As is customary with the end of the year, bloggers get to wind down and phone it in by making lists entitled something like "Top ** of ****" or "Best Songs/Albums/Videos/etc. Of The Year". I am, of course, no different. Of course, we obsess and shift the positions of our list like it means something more to anyone else besides the list maker. However, we do not write about music for the money (if you make any) or the posterity (although getting compliments is always sweet), but for the undying gratitude we have for these artists who slog away at their craft for the same, intrinsically motivated reasons. You know that old saying/slap in the face that goes: "Those who can't do, teach"? It is always been my opinion that the real version of that saying should be "Those who can't do, critique" without being nearly as dismissive. Maybe a lot of critics tried to become musicians/filmmakers/chefs but couldn't make it happen in the end, so this is the best way to keep connected to their former labors of love. As for me, I am not blessed with the ability to play an instrument and could not carry a tune if I tried. Yet I have been a fan of music since I was a kid and, finally, I feel like I can give back to the artists and share with the world my...err..."well-aged" opinions.
Since this is my first year blogging, this is my first year end of the year list. Honestly, I liked a lot of stuff for different reasons. These are a grouping of my honorable mentions for the best of 2010 that I felt deserved some sort of a tip of the hat. The honorable mentions will be given in alphabetical order. My Top 25 of 2010 will be out next week. Enjoy!
A lot of people will have this album in their Top 10, but not me. This love/hate ode to a simpler life feels forced and heavy handed and many of the tracks make the album bloated and even more self-conscious than the band's other efforts. However, there are a few great tracks on The Suburbs and their earnest nature always gets me in the end. Also, this is Example 1 of "Artists in 2010 Who Will Never Match Their Best Effort, Despite Trying". Sadly, there are a lot of these.
A truly surprising return to form from this Godfather of Electronica, Chillwave, Indie, Glam and whatever else you got. Although coming off as theme music for muscle relaxers at times, this has enough variations on a theme to keep you listening and intrigued. The best moments are the breaks from the atmospheric expressions where Eno puts a left turn in to keep you on your toes. As all good albums, Small Craft is meant to be listened to front to back.
This album was in the early running for being in my Top 25, but just didn't make the cut. Dan Snaith's dark little trip is much different than his earlier efforts and that is why it is probably my favorite Caribou/Manitoba album. You can almost dance to a couple of these tracks. However, this album is best listened to on headphones while traversing the city making your way to the next late night adventure.
This Spanish group's first album is a perfect reminder of the summertime and it's carefree nature. As I am listening now, I am remembering their standout performance at this year's Pitchfork festival. Definitely under the influence of the joyful beats of Madchester and house genres, Subiza never tries to do too much or stretch to far from it's good time aesthetic. That is definitely a good thing.
After a groundbreaking decade for music in sound, production, distribution, listening devices and expanding community, such as the 2000's were, the 2010's have a hard act to follow. The stage is set for endless possibility, with new avenues to be explored, old roads to be rediscovered and endless combinations to be unlocked. Also, many questions are posed; what will be the new direction of Indie? Of Pop? Of Hip Hop? Of Electronica? How will these genres diverge and intertwine? Will the dinosaurs of music's past (major labels, open air radio stations, physical distribution of music) finally become extinct or reinvent into a more adept species? Will the savvy younger generation embrace the future of music or get suckered by new marketing techniques pushing the same old rubbish?
For the first six months of this year and decade, I feel the indie influence has regressed rather than progressed.That statement sounds wholly negative, but it is meant to express the sound of now as influenced by the past, with all of its steps forward and back. One example of what is getting pushed in indie circles is a garage revival, a stripped down antithesis to the qualities of the digital age. Although four track recordings of distorted, tin can vocals and unfiltered guitar riffs has its definite charms, the most important and universally agreed aspect is the quality of the songs. Bands like Male Bonding, Dum Dum Girls and The Smith Westerns have bright spots and some solid tracks, yet don't make me forget (or even reflect upon) the great heights of such bands as Sebadoh, Guided By Voices and early Dinosaur Jr.. Lately, there is lots of love for the sounds of the past. Beach Boys chamber-pop, neo-80's synthesized pop and the heavy percussive influence of world music has cross-pollinated with the indie aesthetic to make new subgenres. These upstarts still have not stamped their movements with the head-turning album that defines it all in one front-to-back listen. There are torch bearers that stand out (Japandroids comes to mind) but this new decade needs more groundbreakers.
So, my top albums of 2010 includes (save Avi Buffalo) artists established in the last decade (and two beginning in the 1990's) building on their well rooted foundation and branching into new directions. Some of my personal favorites (The National, Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, Broken Social Scene) were consistent or even emboldened, while artists Beach House, Tokyo Police Club and The Besnard Lakes released efforts that show the beginning of an intriguing future. Even though my heart lies in rock, three of my favorites albums so far this year are electronica, hopefully representing my unwillingness to be turned by the influences of indie tastemaking as well as the quality of their efforts. Hey, it is one guy's opinion. Enjoy it for what it's worth and debate away.
The list in alphabetical order is given below. I tried to eliminate make it a list-friendly ten albums, but could not break the ties. Again, my blog, my rules. All artists are available below for listening and download. Hopefully I will find the time to write more about these deserved albums.
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Beach House - Teen Dream
The Besnard Lakes - Are The Roaring Night
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Caribou - Swim
Chemical Brothers - Further
Four Tet - There Is Love In You
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
The National - High Violet
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Spoon - Transference
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Tokyo Police Club - Champ
Avi Buffalo - What's It in For
Beach House - Norway
The Besnard Lakes - Albatross
Broken Social Scene - World Sick
Caribou - Sun
Chemical Brothers - Full Album
Four Tet - Love Cry
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
The National - Sorrow
Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
Spoon -Written In Reverse
Teenage Fanclub - Sometimes I Don't Need To Believe In Anything
This week is all about Dan Snaith (aka Caribou). His third album Swim is released tomorrow. His first release since 2007's lush and joyous Andorra, Caribou's latest is a darker, slinkier feel with a stronger pull to the dance floor. Where Andorra was oft compared to an electronic version of a day at the beach, the setting of Swim is more along the lines of winding urban streets making your way to the next loft party. Make your own comparisons by giving the entire album a free listen below. The wonderful first single "Odessa" is also available for download.
In celebration of his new release, Caribou has sponsored the quickly-gaining-popularity remix contest. Offering us the separated high quality raw tracks from the new album's second and most dancable track "Sun". There are no other rules provided, so get to it all of you laptop sound engineers.
Click on the down arrow below for free version of "Odessa"
Listen to the full length album "Swim". Purchase the album by clicking on the down arrow, then the "Buy this set" button below.
Click on the down arrows to download each of the 14 tracks individually. All tracks are large (60,000 kb) .WAV files and will take time to fully download.
The Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park is truly a beautiful space with unparalleled sound for an outdoor arena. Now, don't get me started on how much the entire park cost the future of Chicago or that it was ultimately a prestige project leveraged by our Mayor-for-life King Daley in a unprecedented half-assed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now that I got that off my chest...
Since I, my children and their children's children are paying for it, I may as well enjoy it. In the past, the Pritzker Pavillion has featured critic darlings such as The Dirty Projectors and The Decemberists. After looking at this year's list, I think the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs may have set a new benchmark in cool and launched what may become a Chicago summertime tradition.
They are calling it New Music Monday. Covering sounds from punk, pop, alt-country, gospel, electronica, neo-tropical, space-rock, Afrobeat and hip-hop, this is a unparalleled collection of quality and variety this side of your $150 summer festival set. I think my Monday nights from late May to July are pretty much set. Check out the Millennium Park website for details.
