Audio By Carbonatix
I listened to more than 3,000 songs in 2010, so I was asked to come up with a list of the best of the year. But you’ve probably heard “Swim” by Surfer Blood and “Boyfriend” by Best Coast and “Helicopter” by Deerhunter and “Hustle and Cuss” by the Dead Weather, so I came up with a collection of songs that might’ve gone mostly unnoticed. These are the lesser-known songs that were stuck in my head for a better part of the years.
“Resolution” by Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3: After creating one of the great indie rock records of all time in 1982, the former leader of the Dream Syndicate has had a steady if mostly unheralded career in the 28 years since The Days of Wine and Roses was released. I was hooked from the opening notes of this tension-filled droner.
“The Pan” by The Goodnight Loving: This Americana-garage band from Milwaukee broke up on the night of their record-release party for the very good The Goodnight Loving Supper Club. Too bad; they kept getting better with each new record. “The Pan” sums up the human condition in six short words: “And we’re all in the pan.”
“Summer Nights Lakeside” by Gospel Claws: These local dudes released, as my colleague Martin Cizmar put it, the “best song by any Valley band in any genre in 2010.” It could be the only thing related to music that Martin and I will ever agree on again.
Summer Nights Lakeside by NothingNotNew
“Time of the Season” by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan: The late, great Lee Hazlewood is one of my favorite artists of all time. Here, the former Belle and Sebastian and Screaming Trees frontpeople, do their best Lee and Nancy imitation. The whole record, Hawk, is fantastic.
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan by Oedipus
“I’d Rather Be Your Enemy” by Gemma Ray: Speaking of Lee Hazlewood, the British songstress Gemma Ray covered this Lee nugget on her fine It’s a Shame About Gemma Ray album. The record is mostly covers, by acts like Gun Club, Mudhoney, Sonic Youth, Elvis Presley, and others.
I’d Rather Be Your Enemy by NothingNotNew
“Bad Blood” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Never had much use for this band, but I can’t get enough of this song. I think it’s those woozy guitar bends that have me hooked.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – bad blood by cafe_magro
“Time Traveler” by Destruction Unit: This local band kicks off most of its shows with this 8 minute, 15 second hypnotic masterpiece. Go see them January 23 at the Yucca Tap and try not to be mesmerized.
Time Traveler by NothingNotNew
“Pure Shit” by Call Me Lightning: The band name lets you know they wear their Who influences on their sleeve. The Milwaukee power trio plays up the Who’s Next-era grandiosity along with Fugazi and Minutemen touches. The record is called When I Am Gone, My Blood Will Be Free. Get it and “release yourself from the shit you once believed.”
“Boss” by Screaming Females: I try to stay out of the prognostication business, but I’ll make an exception in the case of New Jersey’s Screaming Females. I think they could be big, mostly because of diminutive singer/guitarist Marissa Pasternoster, who should be a future guitar hero in the mold of J. Mascis. SF’s record Castle Talk is one of my faves of 2010.
“Don’t Love Fall in Love with a Lonely Girl” by Freedy Johnston: Guitar pop in its purest form. I don’t remember anything else about the album except this Nick Lowe-esque gem.
Don’t Fall in Love with a Lonely Girl by NothingNotNew
“Saturday Sun” by Crowded House: Yeah, more old-guy pop from a band you probably forgot ever existed. The chorus here is pretty addictive.
“Power” by the Green Lady Killers: The stock of this local power trio is on the rise: a walloping new record, a West Coast tour, and a recent label deal. Their 2010 Just Fine record features a radio-ready sound and a breakout vocal performance by leader Lady Van Buren. And they’re nice ladies, to boot. Rumor has it they’re setting their sights on the coast, so check ’em out while Phoenix can still claim them.
“Bounded Glory” by Tierra del Fuego: This outstanding local alt-country/Western swing/Americana band just released its Queen of the Rendezvous record, and it’s a must-hear. Pure harmonies, top-notch and tasteful playing, and reverent yet not-too-serious songwriting through and through. Check them out January 22 at Chopper John’s.
Bounded Glory by NothingNotNew
“21st Century” by Locksley: Who, or what, is Locksley? I have no idea, but I sure do like this timeless-sounding power-pop tune. I think they copped the first minute of the song from Luna’s “Malibu,” and I love that song, too.
“Our Whole Lives” by The Hold Steady: “Bang bang bang go the quarter notes . . . Sing sing sing every song we know / Blowin’ out the speakers on the stereo.” Of all the neo-Springsteenisms we heard in 2010 (and there was a lot), this is the best.
The Hold Steady: Our Whole Lives by NothingNotNew
Nothing Not New” is a yearlong project in which New Times editorial operations manager Jay Bennett, a 41-year-old music fan and musician, will listen only to music released in 2010. Each Monday through Friday, he will listen to one new record (no best ofs, reissues, or concert recordings) and write about it. Why? Because in the words of his editor, Martin Cizmar, he suffers from “aesthetic atrophy,” a wasting away of one’s ability to embrace new and different music as one ages. Read more about this all-too-common ailment here. The “Nothing Not New” Archives:
December 29 — Neil Young: Le Noise (B)
December 28 — Girl Talk: All Day (B-)
December 14 — Tierra del Fuego: Queen of the Rendezvous (A)
December 10 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Helmet, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ron Wood, and more
December 9 — Mini Mansions: Mini Mansions (B+)
December 8 — Sun City Mariachi: Funeral Mariachi (B+)
December 7 — Daft Punk: Tron Legacy (C)
December 6 — The Parting Gifts: Strychnine Dandelions (B)
December 3 — Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (D+)
December 2 — Sharon Van Etten: Epic (B)
December 1 — OFF!: First Four EPs (A-)
November 30 — Robyn: Body Talk (B+)
November 29 — Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3: Northern Aggression (A-)
November 16 — Stereolab: Not Music (B-)
November 15 — The Fresh & Onlys: Play It Strange (C+)
November 4 — Salem: King Night (B+)
November 3 — Matt & Kim: Sidewalks (C-)
November 2 — Gospel Claws: C-L-A-W-S (B+)November 1 — Elvis Costello: National Ransom (C)
October 27 — The 88: The 88 (B)
October 26 — Warpaint: The Fool (B+)
October 22 — Screaming Females: Castle Talk (A-)October 21 — Junip: Fields (B)October 20 — Kelley Stoltz: To Dreamers (B+)October 19 — Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown (C)October 18 — The Extra Lens: Undercard (B+)
October 15 — Sufjan Stevens: The Age of Adz (D)October 14 — The Corin Tucker Band: 1,000 Years (B-)October 13 — The Moondoggies: Tidelands (C)October 12 — Belle and Sebastian: Write About Love (B)October 11 — The Old 97’s: The Grand Theatre, Volume 1 (B)
October 8 — Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest (A)October 7 — The Walkmen: Lisbon (C)October 6 — The Gay Blades: Savages (C-)October 5 — Grinderman: Grinderman 2 (A)October 4 — The Vaselines: Sex with an X (B-)
September 30 — John Legend & the Roots: Wake Up! (B)September 28 — No Age: Everything in Between (A-)
September 15 — Superchunk: Majesty Shredding (B+)
September 9 — JP, Chrissie, & the Fairground Boys: Fidelity! (D-)September 8 — Interpol: Interpol (C-)September 7 — Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses: Junky Star (B)
August 31 — Sonny and the Sunsets: Tomorrow Is Alright (B)
August 26 — Ra Ra Riot: The Orchard (C-)August 25 — Dead Confederate: Sugar (D+)August 24 — Nothing Not New: Podcast #9August 23 — Magic Kids: Memphis (C)
August 18 — Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: Hawk (A-)August 17 — Street Sweepers Social Club: The Ghetto Blaster EP (C+)August 16 — Lissie: Catching a Tiger (B)
August 13 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Chely Wright, Tom Jones, Norman, and moreAugust 12 — Jimmy Eat World: Invented (C-)August 11 — Snake! Snake! Snakes!: Snake! Snake! Snakes! EP (B) August 10 — The Budos Band: The Budos Band III (A-)
August 5 — Arcade Fire: The Suburbs (B)August 3 — Wavves: King of the Beach (B+)
July 29 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Cowboy Junkies, Winnie Cooper, and moreJuly 28 — The Goodnight Loving: Supper Club (A-)July 27 — Menomena: Mines (B+)July 26 — Best Coast: Crazy for You (D+)
July 23 — Vitamin String Quartet: Performs Lady Gaga (C)July 22 — The Books: The Way Out (B+)July 21 — Francis and the Lights: It’ll Be Better (C)July 20 — Secret Cities: Pink Graffiti (D)July 19 — Sun Kil Moon: Admiral Fell Promises (C-)
July 16 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Liz Phair, Steel Train, Kylie Minogue, and moreJuly 15 — Mystery Jets: Serotonin (B+)July 14 — Authority Zero: Stories of Survival (C+)July 13 — Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse: Dark Night of the Soul (B+)July 12 — Crowded House: Intriguer (B)
July 8 — Ty Segall: Melted (B+)July 7 — Pierce the Veil: Selfish Machines (D-)July 6 — 13 Must-Hear Songs from the First Half of 2010
July 2 — Katzenjammer: Le Pop (B)June 30 — Wolf Parade: Expo 86 (B-)June 29 — Scissor Sisters: Night Work (B+)
June 24 — Foals: Total Life Forever (D+)June 23 — Pernice Brothers: Goodbye, Killer (A-)June 22 — The Roots: How I Got Over (B+)June 21 — Danzig: Deth Red Sabaoth (D)
June 18 — The Chemical Brothers: Further (B+)June 17 — Eyes Set to Kill: Broken Frames (C)June 16 — Devo: Something for Everybody (B+)June 15 — The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang (C-)June 14 — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojo (C)
June 11 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: The Dig, The Cringe, Delta Spirit, Stereo Total, and moreJune 10 — Gemma Ray: It’s a Shame About Gemma Ray (A-)June 9 — Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti: Before Today (B)June 8 — Against Me!: White Crosses (C)June 7 — Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void (B-)
June 4 — The Melvins: The Bride Screamed Murder (B-)June 3 — Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles II (B-)June 2 — The Cool Kids: Tacklebox (B-)
May 27 — What Cheer? Brigade: We Blow You Suck (D)May 26 — Stone Tempe Pilots: Stone Temple Pilots (C)May 25 — Karen Elson: The Ghost Who Walks (C+)May 24 — Damien Jurado: Saint Bartlett (B)
May 21 — Woven Bones: In and Out and Back Again (B-)May 20 — Band of Horses: Infinite Arms (B-)May 19 — Sleigh Bells: Treats (D-)May 18 — The Black Keys: Brothers (B+) May 17 — LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening (A-)
May 14 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: CocoRosie, Natalie Merchant, The Sadies, and moreMay 13 — Male Bonding: Nothing Hurts (B)May 12 — Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma (B-)May 11 — The Dead Weather: Sea of Cowards (A)May 10 — The National: High Violet (B+)
May 7 — Shapiro: Shapiro (C)May 6 — Gogol Bordello: Trans-Continental Hustle (C-)May 5 — Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record (A-)May 4 — The New Pornographers: Together (B-)May 3 — The Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever (A-)
April 30 — Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way (A)April 29 — Hole: Nobody’s Daughter (D+)April 28 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Toro y Moi, Merle Haggard, Freedy Johnston, and moreApril 27 — Unnatural Helpers: Cracked Love & Other Drugs (B+)April 26 — Harlan T. Bobo: Sucker (A-)
April 23 — Roky Erickson and Okkervil River: True Love Cast Out All Evil (A-)April 22 — Caribou: Swim (D)April 21 — The Apples in Stereo: Travellers in Space and Time (C-)April 20 — Jakob Dylan: Women + Country (D+)April 19 — Cornershop: Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast (C)
April 16 — Frightened Rabbit: The Winter of Mixed Drinks (B+)April 15 — Coheed and Cambria: Year of the Black Rainbow (D-)April 14 — Foxy Shazam: Foxy Shazam (D, later changed to a B)April 13 — MGMT: Congratulations (B+)April 12 — Odds ‘n’ Sods: Robyn Hitchcock, RJD2, Scorpions, and More
April 9 — Murder by Death: Good Morning, Magpie (B-)April 8 — Harlem: Hippies (C+)April 7 — Slow Club: Yeah, So (B)April 6 — Black Francis: NonStopErotik (B+)April 5 — Growing: Pumps! (F)
April 2 — Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs: Medicine County (B)April 1 — Dum Dum Girls: I Will Be (A-)March 31 — The Dillinger Escape Plan: Option Paralysis (B+)March 30 — Local Natives: Gorilla Manor (B)March 29 — The Bird and the Bee: Interpreting the Masters: Hall & Oates (C)
March 26 — Eddy Current Suppression Ring: Rush to Relax (C+)March 25 — Let’s Wrestle: In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s (B)March 24 — Goldfrapp: Head First (D)March 23 — She & Him: Volume 2 (A-)March 22 — Broken Bells: Broken Bells (C+)
March 19 — Locksley: Be In Love (B)March 18 — jj: jj no. 3 (C-)March 17 — Xiu Xiu: Dear God, I Hate Myself (D+)March 16 — Drive By Truckers: The Big To-Do (B-)March 15 — April Smith and the Great Picture Show: Songs for a Sinking Ship (C)
March 12 — The Morning Benders: Big Echo (C+)March 11 — Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Beat the Devil’s Tattoos (B)March 10 — Acrassicauda: Only the Dead See the End of War (C-)March 9 — Titus Andronicus: The Monitor (B+)March 8 — Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: The Brutalist Bricks (A)
March 5 — Liars: Sisterworld (A-)March 4 — Gorillaz: Plastic Beach (A-)March 3 — Johnny Cash: American VI: Ain’t No Grave (B+)March 2 — High on Fire: Snakes for the Divine (C)March 1 — Joanna Newsom: Have One on Me (C)
Feb. 26 — Freeway & Jake One: The Stimulus Package (D)Feb. 25 — Past Lives: Tapestry of Webs (B-)Feb. 24 — Shout Out Louds: Work (B)Feb. 23 — Brian Jonestown Massacre: Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? (B+)Feb. 22 — Shearwater: The Golden Archipelago (D+)
Feb. 19 — The Strange Boys: Be Brave (B+)Feb. 18 — Tindersticks: Falling Down a Mountain (A)Feb. 17 — Lightspeed Champion: Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You (C-)Feb. 16 — Adam Green: Minor Love (B-)Feb. 15 — Juliana Hatfield: Peace & Love (B+)
Feb. 12 — Massive Attack: Heligoland (C-)Feb. 11 — The Watson Twins: Talking to You, Talking to Me (C-)Feb. 10 — Hot Chip: One Life Stand (B+)Feb. 9 — You Say Party! We Say Die!: XXXX (B+)Feb. 8 — Allison Moorer: Crows (B)
Feb. 5 — Joe Pug: Messenger (C)Feb. 4 — The Soft Pack: The Soft Pack (A)Feb. 3 — Polysics: Absolute Polysics (B-)Feb. 2 — Pierced Arrows: Descending Shadows (A-)Feb. 1 — The Brunettes: Paper Doll (B-)
Jan. 29 — Basia Bulat: Heart of My Own (C)Jan. 28 — Priestess: Prior to the Fire (B)Jan. 27 — The Magnetic Fields: Realism (B)Jan. 26 — Four Tet: There Is Love in You (D)Jan. 25 — Delphic: Acolyte (C+)
Jan. 22 — The Hot Rats: Turn Ons (B+)Jan. 21 — Los Campesinos!: Romance Is Boring (A-)Jan. 20 — Midlake: The Courage of Others (D-)Jan. 19 — Laura Veirs: July Flame (B+)Jan. 18 — Beach House: Teen Dream (C)
Jan. 15 — Charlotte Gainsbourg: IRM (B)Jan. 14 — OK Go: Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (D)Jan. 13 — Eels: End Times (A-)Jan. 12 — Spoon: Transference (B)Jan. 11 — Editors: In This Light and On This Evening (D+)
Jan. 8 — Surfer Blood: Astro Coast (B+)Jan. 7 — Yeasayer: Odd Blood (C-)Jan. 6 — Cold War Kids: Behave Yourself EP (B+)Jan. 5 — Vampire Weekend: Contra (D+)Jan. 4 — Texas Tornados: Está Bueno! (B)
