OKAY, I know I already posted this once and that 2010 is already a distant hazy memory in these post-millennial times but I was just revising my Best Of 2010 list a little bit, plugging in a few more I forgot (thanks to the Permanent Records Best of 2010 zine for a couple reminders) and shuffling a couple other things around. Stay tuned because you know one of these days I'm gonna hafta add one more LP to make it an even 30....
1. SUN CITY GIRLS Funeral Mariachi LP (ABDUCTION)
2. CRAZY DREAMS BAND War Dream LP (HOLY MOUNTAIN)
2. CRAZY DREAMS BAND War Dream LP (HOLY MOUNTAIN)
3. MI AMI Steal Your Face LP (THRILL JOCKEY)
4. BALACLAVAS Roman Holiday LP (DULL KNIFE) This may not technically be the 4th best record of 2010, but considering its particular golden ratio between recorded excellence and public ignorance, this is where it ends up.
5. KURT VILE Square Shells 12" (MATADOR) This guy gets me every time.
6. ANIKA s/t LP (STONE'S THROW) Came out in November, didn't hear it until February 1st, have listened to it like 20 times since.
7. GRASS WIDOW Past Time LP (KILL ROCK STARS) I called this "progressive folk" on twitter and that's seriously what it feels like to me... with a sweet punk edge of course...
8. LOCRIAN The Crystal World LP (UTECH) Territories, also from 2010, was a definite "best one yet" and then they top it like three months later.
6. ANIKA s/t LP (STONE'S THROW) Came out in November, didn't hear it until February 1st, have listened to it like 20 times since.
7. GRASS WIDOW Past Time LP (KILL ROCK STARS) I called this "progressive folk" on twitter and that's seriously what it feels like to me... with a sweet punk edge of course...
8. LOCRIAN The Crystal World LP (UTECH) Territories, also from 2010, was a definite "best one yet" and then they top it like three months later.
9. LOCRIAN Territories LP (AT WAR WITH FALSE NOISE/BASSES FREQUENCES/BLOODLUST!/SMALL DOSES)
10. LA VAMPIRES Meets Zola Jesus 12" (NOT NOT FUN) Best chillwave and witch house record of 2010 was neither chillwave nor witch house.
11. CLOCKCLEANER Auf Wiedersehn 12" (LOAD) My favorite Clockcleaner record is their last one ever.
12. PUERTO RICO FLOWERS "4" 12" (FAN DEATH) John Sharkey of Clockcleaner also turned in quite a good solo record.
13. INTERNATIONAL HELLO s/t LP (HOLY MOUNTAIN) Monoshock reunites under a code name and lays down some of the most serious psychedelic heaviness of their career. Compared to other sporadic but currently active post-Monoshock bands like Bad Trips and Liquorball, both of which I've enjoyed quite a bit, that arcane original chemistry really leaps out of the grooves.
13. INTERNATIONAL HELLO s/t LP (HOLY MOUNTAIN) Monoshock reunites under a code name and lays down some of the most serious psychedelic heaviness of their career. Compared to other sporadic but currently active post-Monoshock bands like Bad Trips and Liquorball, both of which I've enjoyed quite a bit, that arcane original chemistry really leaps out of the grooves.
14. EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING Rush To Relax LP (GONER) So nice to hear a "garage" rock band with actual breathing room in their sound.
15. MOUNT CARMEL s/t LP (SILTBREEZE) Incredible no-scene time-capsule heavy-rock soul from Columbus, OH. This interview illustrates that yes, they are serious about this.
16. GROUP DOUEH Beatte Harab LP (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES)
17. OMAR SOULEYMAN Jazeera Nights CD (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES) This music is all about keyboardist/composer Rizan Sa'id to me, Omar Souleyman is like his killer hype man. But yet the words Souleyman sings are written by poets.
18. M AX NOI MACH In The Shadows LP (WHITE DENIM) Just the album I was hoping he'd come out with.
19. TIN MAN Scared LP (WHITE DENIM)
20. SWORD HEAVEN Gone LP (LOAD)
16. GROUP DOUEH Beatte Harab LP (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES)
17. OMAR SOULEYMAN Jazeera Nights CD (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES) This music is all about keyboardist/composer Rizan Sa'id to me, Omar Souleyman is like his killer hype man. But yet the words Souleyman sings are written by poets.
18. M AX NOI MACH In The Shadows LP (WHITE DENIM) Just the album I was hoping he'd come out with.
19. TIN MAN Scared LP (WHITE DENIM)
20. SWORD HEAVEN Gone LP (LOAD)
21. DAN PECK TRIO Acid Soil LP (HEAT RETENTION)
22. MARY HALVORSON QUINTET Saturn Sings CD (FIREHOUSE 12) Dan Peck Trio and this are tied for my #1 Jazz Album of 2010.
23. U.S. GIRLS Go Grey LP (SILTBREEZE) 2nd best chillwave and witch house record of 2010 was neither chillwave nor witch house.
22. MARY HALVORSON QUINTET Saturn Sings CD (FIREHOUSE 12) Dan Peck Trio and this are tied for my #1 Jazz Album of 2010.
23. U.S. GIRLS Go Grey LP (SILTBREEZE) 2nd best chillwave and witch house record of 2010 was neither chillwave nor witch house.
24. PURLING HISS Hissteria LP (RICHIE/TESTOSTERTUNES) This could be ranked higher, I just noticed it down here.
25. TOM SMITH & KEVIN DRUMM Mud CDR (KARL SCHMIDT VERLAG) Didn't know what to expect and it still took me by surprise.
26. KEN CAMDEN Lethargy & Submission LP (KRANKY) Solo cosmic improvisational electric guitar by member of Implodes. P.S. Implodes Black Earth comes out in April on Kranky and judging from an advance copy it's going to be on this list next year...
27. HAYVANLAR ALEMI Guarana Superpower LP (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES)
25. TOM SMITH & KEVIN DRUMM Mud CDR (KARL SCHMIDT VERLAG) Didn't know what to expect and it still took me by surprise.
26. KEN CAMDEN Lethargy & Submission LP (KRANKY) Solo cosmic improvisational electric guitar by member of Implodes. P.S. Implodes Black Earth comes out in April on Kranky and judging from an advance copy it's going to be on this list next year...
27. HAYVANLAR ALEMI Guarana Superpower LP (SUBLIME FREQUENCIES)
28. VOICE OF SEVEN THUNDERS s/t LP (HOLY MOUNTAIN)
29. SHAWN DAVID MCMILLEN Dead Friends LP (TOMPKINS SQUARE)
REISSUES/ARCHIVAL
DADAWAH Peace And Love (DUG OUT)
REISSUES/ARCHIVAL
DADAWAH Peace And Love (DUG OUT)
PHIL COHRAN African Skies (CAPTCHA)
PARSON SOUND box set (SUBLIMINAL SOUNDS)
LES RALLIZES DENUDES Heavier Than A Death In The Family (PHOENIX)
as usual all the archival stuff on Sublime Frequencies (OMAR KHORSHID, KOES BERSAUDARA, KOES PLUS, DARA PUSPITA, etc.)
BRAINBOMBS Urge To Kill LP (LOAD)
WITCH Introduction CD (SHADOKS)
SONG OF THE YEAR: Celebration "I Will Not Fall"
BRAINBOMBS Urge To Kill LP (LOAD)
WITCH Introduction CD (SHADOKS)
SONG OF THE YEAR: Celebration "I Will Not Fall"
I feel like I hardly bought or listened to any 7-inches this year. The only one I can remember enjoying this whole entire year is that BRAINWASHED YOUTH goofery on RICHIE RECORDS... what does that tell you? Actually, I enjoyed that same label's BIRDS OF MAYA WITH HARMONICA DAN 7-inch too... could it be that they are The Only 7-Inch Label That Matters (in 2K10)? (Answer: Probably not, I just have a bad memory.)
