Best Of 2010: Honorable Mentions - Part 1

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!

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Part 2 :: Part 3 :: Part 4 :: Top 25

The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Purchase The Suburbs here.

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.



The Arcade Fire - We Used To Wait

Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea

Purchase Small Craft on a Milk Sea here.

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.


Brian Eno - 2 Forms Of Anger

Caribou - Swim

Purchase Swim here.


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.




Caribou - Jamelia

Delorean - Subiza

Purchase Subiza here.

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.



Delorean - Grow

Delorean Release New Single + Remixes, Announce Tour Dates

Coming off a triumphant set at the Pitchfork Festival just a few scant days ago, Barcelona boys Delorean drop a new single with some new interpretations for your listening consumption.The new single "Real Love" is available via Matador imprint True Panther on the new LP Subiza. However, the true gift comes from the offered remixes. Standouts include the on-repeat microsamples of The Field, the festive elasticity of Tiedye and the French-Disko grooves of Narcisse. In addition, Delorean announce their North American tour to include a date back in Chicago at Lincoln Hall on November 17.

Buy the "Real Love" mixes here.  Check out the tour dates here.

Purchase Delorean - Subiza here.

My (Satur)Day At The Pitchfork Festival

I go to Pitchfork each year choosing one day that I feel has the best potential live lineup. I hit the artists I want to see while discovering the ones that I may have overlooked. I feel the Pitchfork Festival offers much more with less by keeping simple while never choking the ticket buyer with too much advertising or overpriced goods and services. First realization: I should have gone to all 3 days.

Best Show Of The Day
Thanks goodness I got down there just past 2:30. Delorean had just began to play and it was the perfect choice to start my day. This band from Barcelona has the perfect soundtrack for the neverending nightlife that city has to offer. They are equal parts sunny beach and evening breeze, bouncing in the summer heat but could easily have been headlining a old school warehouse rave. These sounds are straight out of the Madchester scene in 1980's filling the void left by Happy Mondays, New Order and Primal Scream. Using Latin rhythms and House piano, Delorean have crafted a fresh take on a comeback genre that keeps on sprouting again. Live dance music is here to stay and Delorean have carved out the beginnings of a solid groove.

Purchase Delorean - Subiza here.

Delorean - Stay Close


Biggest Surprise
One of the best parts of major festivals is the secondary stage where lesser known bands can ply their wares, make their underdog role work for them and convert the masses. This is the perfect spot for a band like Bear In Heaven. This trio brought their brand of throbbing prog-rock to the stage with good attitude and enthusiasm. Highlights include the machinery grind of "Casual Goodbye", the energetic and to the point "Wholehearted Mess" and the offered below "Lovesick Teenagers".

Purchase Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth here.

Bear In Heaven - Lovesick Teenagers


Biggest Disappointment
This blurb should be prefaced by the following disclaimer: I am not a huge fan of Noah Lennox. Whether it is the blissed-out drone of Panda Bear or the primitive psych-trip of Animal Collective, their music is best consumed in small doses in a well planned playlist in a low key setting. In addition, bands heavy on studio tricks tend to feel out of sorts on tour. Nevertheless, Panda Bear's co-headlining status warranted a high expectation, but brought a messy, buzzy drone that never developed into a distinguishable song. Next time, I will try whatever caused the aging hippie chick to twirl around to the dissonance.

Buy Panda Bear - Person Pitch here.

Panda Bear - Tomboy


Obligatory LCD Soundsystem Post
Since myself and most of the folks at Pitchfork on Saturday, their primary motive in ticket purchasing was to see the headliners. In fact, the crowd seemed to double at about 7pm with the well-washed and clean-clothed. Most of these concert goers surely missed the opportunity to see LCD Soundsystem at the Metro. For the majority of the crowd, they did not disappoint. James Murphy and company was definitely reliable as the closer playing the hits from the past and faves from the new album. If anything, the reliability slipped into predictability for those who have caught them on this tour already. There was not one song I had not heard at the previous Chicago show, right down to the closer/mashup tribute to New York. For all I know, James Murphy could have been wearing the same Fruit Of The Loom v-neck tee. For fear of sounding hateful, I will digress. LCD Soundsystem are easily one of my favorite groups and I will mourn them if James Murphy decides to take his toys and talents and go home and didn't get it. As a dedicated fan, I wanted more. How about opening with the song below?

Purchase LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening here.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean


Final odds and ends

• Jon Spencer Blues Explosion started a bit rusty playing a medley of a few hits that was lost in the lack of synchronicity with the band members. However, once the kinks came out, they sounded as off the rails fun as they did fifteen years ago. Bellbottoms!
• Maybe I was a bit surly after waiting for 20 minutes, but Dam-Funk was not good. No real instrumentation and his ghetto grooves by way of Prince failed to inspire the crowd. In fact, the whole set reminded me of that gag band Sexual Chocolate that Eddie Murphy fronted in Coming To America. Simply put, no one got it.
• Titus Andronicus was enjoyable. These New Jersey boys are surely showmen, but fall prey to taking themselves way too seriously.
• Wolf Parade was fine, but uninspired. They still have not recaptured the power in their first album. They played  "I'll Believe In Anything", one of my favorite songs from the past decade, which was good enough for me.