Wow, how can I possibly summarize what all my favorite bands/shows/albums of the year? This year was full of incredible new music and unforgettable live shows. I can only imagine what 2011 has in store.
So here it is... K-Spot's 2010 Year End Review-
Favorite Live Shows:
-Local Natives at SXSW... These guys have amazing chemistry with each other while they play and this performance definitely solidified them as a breakout band for SXSW. My favorite thing about Local Natives is how they switch instruments during a set and how they have such a gift for making each singers voice complement the other. "Gorilla Manor" is definitely one of my favorite albums this year.
-Spoon at SXSW and FFFFest... I totally geeked out to the max at both of these shows. Their performance at FFFFest was, well... I already wrote about it how much I was blown away by this show. Freaking idolize Spoon. And their 2010 album, Transferrence, is pretty darn close to my favorite Spoon album ever. Awesome awesome awesome.
-Beach Fossils at SXSW and again at Emos... amazing peformances both times, but I have to say I like the SXSW show better because I think there was only a few other people at the show that knew who BF was. And with that said, they are my FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes... I could go on and on about how much I love them, but I won't because it might come off as annoying or dorky. I just can't help but obsess over how much I am in love with their sound. I have listened to all of their songs on repeat this entire year and I never get tired of it. Such a great band.
-Beach House at ACL... they decided to add a few extra members to the band and I have to say, it really made a difference. The addition of these new members really created a different sound for them. Their album Teen Dream, released this year is so beautiful and great.
-Millionyoung... the PERFECT show to end a year full of greatness. Gosh, these guys are amazing. I'm still so impressed by the fact that the frontman recorded everything by himself, but then on tour had a full band playing the songs that were artifically made on a computer. Incredible...
Favorite NEW bands of 2010:
-Wild Nothing (still waiting to see them)... SECOND FAVORITE BAND OF 2010. Yes, again just like Beach Fossils, I have been listening to their songs obsessively all year. Their sound is unique and liquid. I still can't comprehend how they come up with the different elements and effects in each song. Wild Nothing has an amazing ability to intertwine the drums, synth, and guitar... it's stupid awesome. I just love them.
-The Drums (haven't seen them yet)... 2010 was the year for subgenres of indie rock (aka chill wave, lo-fi, etc.). So many bands came out that were lumped into "indie rock", yet all sounded different. One of my favorite bands to make this statement is The Drums (even though I'm still trying to put a sub-genre on them, but can't seem to place it). The lead singers voice is incredibly beautiful and makes my knees go weak.
-Best Coast (saw them at FFF)... finally some good chick rock that's not Rilo Kiley. She has such a pretty, un-annoying voice. Very simple guitar, but it's all about her voice and the perfection of Cali-rock!
-Lower Dens (saw them with Future Islands twice).... BEST new band this year (Even though Beach Fossils are my fav band this year, Lower Dens is my favorite NEW band this year). Their album, Twin Hand Movement, is incredible. Lo-wave to the max!
-Twin Shadow... wow, beautiful song writer and perfect 80's dance party magic.
-Palmbomen... I wonder if these guys will ever come to Texas? If they did, I'd drop everything I was doing to see them. Perfect Dance Party music.
Favorite albums of 2010:
-Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"... I really could go on and on about Deerhunter, but I think I already have in another post. I can't tell you how much I like this album and how much I love them.
-Future Islands "In Evening Air"... this band actually goes into all 3 categories for my 2010 favorites. Whenever I'm having a bad day, all I need to do is listen to this album and I will completely forget whatever was bothering me. Best stage presence out of any show I've seen this year. Such great dance beats.
-Girls "Broken Drums Club"... beautiful. Completely in love with Christopher Owens and his lyrics.
-Harlem "Hippies"... saw them twice this year, the first time was weird, real weird. The second time was good, even if some dude stage dove on top of me. In any case, this album is incredible and they are super talented. Such good garage rock.
2010 really was a great year for new music, great music festivals, and memorable shows. I only wish that I would have started this blog in January 2010 so I could remember everything better! With all the craziness of this year and all the stresses that life brought, the music of 2010 sure did help me great through some tough moments. It's amazing to think that 1 song can make everything better and make you think differently about something. I guess that's why music continues to evolve and change and why people are continuing to make music... because it will forever carry on and will continue make an impact on someone's life.
Until next year, K-Spot out.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
My "iTunes waste of money list" 2010
Nothing is worse than spending $9.99 for an entire album on iTunes, listening to it, then realizing you just made a HUGE mistake. This happens more than it should... you hear a few songs from a band, and think "Hey, I'll buy the whole album. Surely all the songs are good." It's so easy to spend money on iTunes. With 1 click, you've just spent 3 beers worth of money and didn't even have to sign a receipt. Wasting $10 on an entire album that sucks, sucks.
So, rather than start my year end reviews with my "Top 2010 list", I've decided to come up with my "iTunes Waste of Money List" first. Don't get me wrong, the list below is not bashing the bands nor discrediting their muscial abilities... I obvisiously liked them enough to buy the album. This list merely represents the albums I should have thought twice about and only bought the songs I KNEW were good.
Here is it... K-Spots "iTunes Waste of Money 2010 List":
1. Bear in Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"- Alright, alright. I know it's a somewhat good album, but total waste of iTunes funds. I think I bought this after seeing them at SXSW this year because I was on a high from seeing them. Don't get me wrong, they were great live... but I just don't REALLY like this album enough to burn to a cd and listen in my car OR suggestion to someone. I tried real hard to get into this album, but just never did.
2. Broken Bells "Broken Bells"- completely dissappointed. I DO like about 4 songs on the album, they are pretty catchy BUT there is no really consistency in their sound and quite frankly I could do without it. By the time SXSW came this year, I was already over them and had no desire to see them. I almost want to delete it completely from my library, but just can't do it.
3. The Dead Weather "Horehound"- Not enough rock for me. I expected WAY more from a Jack White/The Kills side project. Huge bummer.
4. Fang Island "Fang Island"- Pitchfork gave them a great write up and rating so I was very hopeful that this album would be good, but I don't really get it. Fang Island is more of an instrumental band, but this album sounds more pro-rock than anything. There is only 1 good track: Absolute Place, which is a Yeasayer Remix.
5. Chromatics "In the City"- So I heard a few songs from them on blog radio, and thought this would be another group to add on my "Dance Party in my Head" list.... saddly, this album didn't hold up to it. A few songs are totally worth downloading, but not the whole album. Actually, now that I think about it... after listening to the album a few times, it got a little annoying. The beats are all the same in every song, except 1 which is weirdly enough a super slow ballad. Oh well.
6. Diamond Rings "Special Affections"- I just can't seem to like the guy's voice. I try. But there's just something that turns me off about his voice. I can't seem to get past it and focus on the music. Sorry DR.
7. and by far the biggest mistake... Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"- I'm not even sure I can really talk about how disappointed I am in this album. I know it did make a few "best new music" lists, but it sucks. NOTHING at all like what I was expecting. Terrible.
I could go on, but to be true to the title of this list, these are all the albums I purchased that I wish I wouldn't have. Feel free to add... if there is anyone out there reading this lame blog.
More to come on year end lists!
K-Spot out... and not downloading anything else this year!
So, rather than start my year end reviews with my "Top 2010 list", I've decided to come up with my "iTunes Waste of Money List" first. Don't get me wrong, the list below is not bashing the bands nor discrediting their muscial abilities... I obvisiously liked them enough to buy the album. This list merely represents the albums I should have thought twice about and only bought the songs I KNEW were good.
Here is it... K-Spots "iTunes Waste of Money 2010 List":
1. Bear in Heaven "Beast Rest Forth Mouth"- Alright, alright. I know it's a somewhat good album, but total waste of iTunes funds. I think I bought this after seeing them at SXSW this year because I was on a high from seeing them. Don't get me wrong, they were great live... but I just don't REALLY like this album enough to burn to a cd and listen in my car OR suggestion to someone. I tried real hard to get into this album, but just never did.
2. Broken Bells "Broken Bells"- completely dissappointed. I DO like about 4 songs on the album, they are pretty catchy BUT there is no really consistency in their sound and quite frankly I could do without it. By the time SXSW came this year, I was already over them and had no desire to see them. I almost want to delete it completely from my library, but just can't do it.
3. The Dead Weather "Horehound"- Not enough rock for me. I expected WAY more from a Jack White/The Kills side project. Huge bummer.
4. Fang Island "Fang Island"- Pitchfork gave them a great write up and rating so I was very hopeful that this album would be good, but I don't really get it. Fang Island is more of an instrumental band, but this album sounds more pro-rock than anything. There is only 1 good track: Absolute Place, which is a Yeasayer Remix.
5. Chromatics "In the City"- So I heard a few songs from them on blog radio, and thought this would be another group to add on my "Dance Party in my Head" list.... saddly, this album didn't hold up to it. A few songs are totally worth downloading, but not the whole album. Actually, now that I think about it... after listening to the album a few times, it got a little annoying. The beats are all the same in every song, except 1 which is weirdly enough a super slow ballad. Oh well.
6. Diamond Rings "Special Affections"- I just can't seem to like the guy's voice. I try. But there's just something that turns me off about his voice. I can't seem to get past it and focus on the music. Sorry DR.
7. and by far the biggest mistake... Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"- I'm not even sure I can really talk about how disappointed I am in this album. I know it did make a few "best new music" lists, but it sucks. NOTHING at all like what I was expecting. Terrible.
I could go on, but to be true to the title of this list, these are all the albums I purchased that I wish I wouldn't have. Feel free to add... if there is anyone out there reading this lame blog.
More to come on year end lists!
K-Spot out... and not downloading anything else this year!
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