Making this list has been difficult. I played the hell out of some of these records (namely, Best Coast, Beach House and She & Him - the top three), and some of these albums I really liked, identified them as fantastic album but didn't overplay.
Does one make a top ten list based on playability and frequency of plays, or the artistic merit of the album itself? I guess I've gone for a combination of the two. True, my most loved albums from 2010 weren't exactly groundbreaking stuff (heck, the Brian Wilson album is basically comprised of covers), but as I grow older, I've found that I tend to stick to what I like (girl group sounds, 60's pop, harmonies). I think this list really shows that.
1. Best Coast - Crazy For You
2. Beach House - Teen Dream
3. She & Him - Volume Two
4. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
5. Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
6. Brian Wilson - Reimagines Gershwin
7. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
8. Wild Nothing - Gemini
9. Spoon - Transference
10. Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
Honourable mentions:
The Walkmen - Lisbon
Gigi - Maintenant
Black Angels - Phosphene Dream
Love Language - Libraries
Miles Kurosky - The Desert of Shallow Effects
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Missing in action.
It's been ages since I last posted - anybody miss me? I haven't been very motivated to blog in the past while and when I had some spare time, I didn't feel very inspired. Not sure if I should continue that 30-day meme as I've kinda lost interest in it.
At the moment, I'm really just posting to say that I'm still around! Lately, a lot of great bands have shown up on Conan O'Brien's new late night show, Conan. I'm a huge huge huge Conan fan and I've always been pretty certain that he has fantastic taste in music. I've been loving his new show and was thrilled when She & Him performed "I Put A Spell On You" on December 9th and Jenny and Johnny showed up a full week later (on the 16th) to perform "Big Wave"!
Oddly, I can't seem to get these videos to play for me, but as far as I know, they work for other people. Maybe it's because I'm Canadian. In any case, let me know if they don't work and I'll see if I can find alternates.
ALSO: go to the Team Coco website for more, web exclusive videos - She & Him do "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Conan himself, and Jenny and Johnny do another song ("Scissor Runner").
At the moment, I'm really just posting to say that I'm still around! Lately, a lot of great bands have shown up on Conan O'Brien's new late night show, Conan. I'm a huge huge huge Conan fan and I've always been pretty certain that he has fantastic taste in music. I've been loving his new show and was thrilled when She & Him performed "I Put A Spell On You" on December 9th and Jenny and Johnny showed up a full week later (on the 16th) to perform "Big Wave"!
Oddly, I can't seem to get these videos to play for me, but as far as I know, they work for other people. Maybe it's because I'm Canadian. In any case, let me know if they don't work and I'll see if I can find alternates.
ALSO: go to the Team Coco website for more, web exclusive videos - She & Him do "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Conan himself, and Jenny and Johnny do another song ("Scissor Runner").
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
secrets & lies.
Just kidding about the lies part! =)
I was tagged by Katrina over at The Demure Muse to share seven secrets about myself! So here goes...
1. I've never dyed my hair. Well, aside from two occasions in first year university when my friend put some red streaks in my hair. My hair is a chameleon-like shade of dark brownish-red, which looks black sometimes in low light and its true colour in sunlight/better lighting. I also have natural strands of red and gold hairs. True story!
2. The first concert I attended was.... Savage Garden. Yep, it's true. I liked cheesy pop and boy bands in my early teenage years.
3. I really can't wear tops with a v-neck. I hate them, think they're ugly and they look wrong on me. I used to make an exception for v-neck sweaters, but no longer. I hate v-necks!
4. I don't know how to ride a bicycle. I rode a bicycle with training wheels until I was about... 9? After that, all bicycle-involved activities came to a halt. I'd like to learn, though.
5. I can't whistle. I put my lips in the shape to whistle; no sound comes out.
6. My biggest dream is to start a 60's-style girl group band with a slight punk influence. Can someone make this happen for me? Be in a band with me?
7. I eat pretty healthily, but I love hash browns from McDonald's. This "secret" is in honour of the fact that I just gave into my cravings and polished off two hash browns from McD's.
I don't know who to tag! I'm supposed to pick seven people but I don't know who reads my blog AND has their own blog. Here's two, at least. DO IT GUYS!
Debra at Ate by Ate
Breige at Rare Opal
I was tagged by Katrina over at The Demure Muse to share seven secrets about myself! So here goes...
1. I've never dyed my hair. Well, aside from two occasions in first year university when my friend put some red streaks in my hair. My hair is a chameleon-like shade of dark brownish-red, which looks black sometimes in low light and its true colour in sunlight/better lighting. I also have natural strands of red and gold hairs. True story!
2. The first concert I attended was.... Savage Garden. Yep, it's true. I liked cheesy pop and boy bands in my early teenage years.
3. I really can't wear tops with a v-neck. I hate them, think they're ugly and they look wrong on me. I used to make an exception for v-neck sweaters, but no longer. I hate v-necks!
4. I don't know how to ride a bicycle. I rode a bicycle with training wheels until I was about... 9? After that, all bicycle-involved activities came to a halt. I'd like to learn, though.
5. I can't whistle. I put my lips in the shape to whistle; no sound comes out.
6. My biggest dream is to start a 60's-style girl group band with a slight punk influence. Can someone make this happen for me? Be in a band with me?
7. I eat pretty healthily, but I love hash browns from McDonald's. This "secret" is in honour of the fact that I just gave into my cravings and polished off two hash browns from McD's.
I don't know who to tag! I'm supposed to pick seven people but I don't know who reads my blog AND has their own blog. Here's two, at least. DO IT GUYS!
Debra at Ate by Ate
Breige at Rare Opal
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Like a shotgun needs an outcome....
I really dig this song right now. I don't care much for the video (though it reminds me of the album cover for Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain). Just have a listen and tell me that it doesn't make you want to dance.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Eighteen
Day 18 — A song that you wish you heard on the radio
I bet you're all sick to death of hearing about how much I love the Beach Boys. (An aside: I recently bought tickets to see Brian Wilson play Massey Hall in June 2011! I think I may die of joy several times during this show.)
This blog post isn't actually about the Beach Boys, but about a song that is reminiscent of any quintessential Beach Boys song (to me). If I had my own radio station, this song would most certainly show up on many playlists and wouldn't seem out of place sandwiched between the Beach Boys and like say, Buddy Holly.
Beulah! I love this band! Sadly, they are highly underrated and actually no longer exist. The singer, Miles Kurosky recently released a solo album called The Desert of Shallow Effects and it is as excellent as any Beulah album.
Honestly, if I were forced to compose a list of my absolute favourite songs (and I say "forced," because I don't think I would ever make such a list because it would be TOO DIFFICULT), "Burned By the Sun" would definitely be on that list. Back when I used to make mix CDs for friends, this song would almost always appear in the tracklisting.
I also get the same warm, fuzzy feeling I get hearing this song as I do with favourite Beach Boys tunes. And that's saying a lot, people. I LOVE THIS SONG. I'm not saying I'd want to hear it on real-life, mainstream radio but it would most definitely be played on MY imaginary radio station....
(also, yes, I know I've been severely slacking at being a good little blogger, especially at completing these meme! Breige over at Rare Opal has put me to shame and is nearly completed the meme in record time (well, compared to the rate I'm going at!).
I bet you're all sick to death of hearing about how much I love the Beach Boys. (An aside: I recently bought tickets to see Brian Wilson play Massey Hall in June 2011! I think I may die of joy several times during this show.)
This blog post isn't actually about the Beach Boys, but about a song that is reminiscent of any quintessential Beach Boys song (to me). If I had my own radio station, this song would most certainly show up on many playlists and wouldn't seem out of place sandwiched between the Beach Boys and like say, Buddy Holly.
Beulah! I love this band! Sadly, they are highly underrated and actually no longer exist. The singer, Miles Kurosky recently released a solo album called The Desert of Shallow Effects and it is as excellent as any Beulah album.
Honestly, if I were forced to compose a list of my absolute favourite songs (and I say "forced," because I don't think I would ever make such a list because it would be TOO DIFFICULT), "Burned By the Sun" would definitely be on that list. Back when I used to make mix CDs for friends, this song would almost always appear in the tracklisting.
I also get the same warm, fuzzy feeling I get hearing this song as I do with favourite Beach Boys tunes. And that's saying a lot, people. I LOVE THIS SONG. I'm not saying I'd want to hear it on real-life, mainstream radio but it would most definitely be played on MY imaginary radio station....
(also, yes, I know I've been severely slacking at being a good little blogger, especially at completing these meme! Breige over at Rare Opal has put me to shame and is nearly completed the meme in record time (well, compared to the rate I'm going at!).
Cover me, volume three.
My third installment of Wini-approved cover songs is timely in that I just saw Fran Healy (singer of the band Travis) perform this at his solo show in Toronto on Friday and also because it is somewhat Christmas-themed. I mean, we're starting to get snow around these parts and December is just around the corner, so... yeah.
The melancholy tone is so heartbreaking - I love the tiny break in Fran's voice when he hits the high notes (also see: impressive) and how sad and sincere he sounds. It's pretty faithful to the original, aside from the change of pronouns (from male to female).
The original is by Canadian legend, Joni Mitchell, duh. If you haven't heard it before, look it up. Oh wait, here it is:
Both songs give me chills. And rightly so. But I do apologize if they bum you out a bit. You have been warned!
The melancholy tone is so heartbreaking - I love the tiny break in Fran's voice when he hits the high notes (also see: impressive) and how sad and sincere he sounds. It's pretty faithful to the original, aside from the change of pronouns (from male to female).
The original is by Canadian legend, Joni Mitchell, duh. If you haven't heard it before, look it up. Oh wait, here it is:
Both songs give me chills. And rightly so. But I do apologize if they bum you out a bit. You have been warned!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Seventeen
Day 17 — A song that you hear often on the radio
I don't listen much to the radio, but when I'm in the car with my dad, he tunes in to various oldies stations with no complaints at all from me.
As I've previously mentioned, the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson are probably one of my favourite artists ever. And when listening exclusively to oldies stations, the Beach Boys tend to be a popular choice. There are so many songs to choose from, but I really do love it when I hear "Wouldn't It Be Nice" on the radio.
Also, while I'm gushing, I must say that it is the most perfect opening track on one of the most perfect albums (Pet Sounds, duh!). *happy sigh*
I don't listen much to the radio, but when I'm in the car with my dad, he tunes in to various oldies stations with no complaints at all from me.
As I've previously mentioned, the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson are probably one of my favourite artists ever. And when listening exclusively to oldies stations, the Beach Boys tend to be a popular choice. There are so many songs to choose from, but I really do love it when I hear "Wouldn't It Be Nice" on the radio.
Also, while I'm gushing, I must say that it is the most perfect opening track on one of the most perfect albums (Pet Sounds, duh!). *happy sigh*
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