This video pretty much sums up the whole year for me:
2010-12-31
United State of Pop 2010
Super-fun mashup of the year's hits by one of the best mashers out there, DJ Earworm:
I actually think the 2009 one was much better...
I actually think the 2009 one was much better...
2010-12-29
The A-pop-alypse and other thoughts
As described by Patton Oswalt. Excellent read here.
This touches on something I've been thinking about lately, as sort of a New Year's Resolution (the concept of which is utter bullshit, but bear with me). We recently went through the great year-end pop culture holiday known as Listmas. Every publication puts out a list of their favourite whatever of the past year. So what inevitably ends up happening in December is that we experience a whole year's worth of stuff in one month.
For me, I'm exposed to more new music in December than in any other month, just because everywhere you go you're shown something you missed back in April or May that everyone else has been digging since then. This replaying of the entire year makes me a bit depressed about my music consumption for a couple reasons. One is that I feel like I missed out on so much great stuff. The other is that in the time I spend sifting through all the new music, I could be listening to music that's really great that I love and music that's really great that I already know I don't spend enough time with.
So for my New Year's Resolution, I'm going to make an effort to listen to less new music... there's a concept I never thought I'd be buying into... if only so I can take the time to really enjoy music that I already have in my collection.
One of the ways I might do this is to sign up for a service like emusic. I think that a service like that would cause me to be more selective with my music choices, and I'd be able to enjoy more music because I'm getting rid of all the fat. CDs are still a viable option to me. Though I loathe to pay $17.99 for a god damned plastic disc, the sound quality is far superior to what you can find on the web, and by giving myself a CD budget, I'll probably pick nothing but 'the best' music.
The library is a great way to get your hands on CDs you might never listen to, except that it may take you a few months to get stuff. For example, back during the Polaris Prize buzz in the summer, I put pretty much every album that I didn't have on the short list on hold. The copies finally came in, and I picked two of the albums up yesterday. You can get great stuff for personal use, but you have to be patient. That's the trade off.
Like most 'resolutions' this one also has a chance to evaporate a bit by the spring, and almost certainly in its entirely by next Listmas.
This touches on something I've been thinking about lately, as sort of a New Year's Resolution (the concept of which is utter bullshit, but bear with me). We recently went through the great year-end pop culture holiday known as Listmas. Every publication puts out a list of their favourite whatever of the past year. So what inevitably ends up happening in December is that we experience a whole year's worth of stuff in one month.
For me, I'm exposed to more new music in December than in any other month, just because everywhere you go you're shown something you missed back in April or May that everyone else has been digging since then. This replaying of the entire year makes me a bit depressed about my music consumption for a couple reasons. One is that I feel like I missed out on so much great stuff. The other is that in the time I spend sifting through all the new music, I could be listening to music that's really great that I love and music that's really great that I already know I don't spend enough time with.
So for my New Year's Resolution, I'm going to make an effort to listen to less new music... there's a concept I never thought I'd be buying into... if only so I can take the time to really enjoy music that I already have in my collection.
One of the ways I might do this is to sign up for a service like emusic. I think that a service like that would cause me to be more selective with my music choices, and I'd be able to enjoy more music because I'm getting rid of all the fat. CDs are still a viable option to me. Though I loathe to pay $17.99 for a god damned plastic disc, the sound quality is far superior to what you can find on the web, and by giving myself a CD budget, I'll probably pick nothing but 'the best' music.
The library is a great way to get your hands on CDs you might never listen to, except that it may take you a few months to get stuff. For example, back during the Polaris Prize buzz in the summer, I put pretty much every album that I didn't have on the short list on hold. The copies finally came in, and I picked two of the albums up yesterday. You can get great stuff for personal use, but you have to be patient. That's the trade off.
Like most 'resolutions' this one also has a chance to evaporate a bit by the spring, and almost certainly in its entirely by next Listmas.
2010-12-26
Saigon Sunday
This is my attempt at tying in Boxing Day to a band... it's Anything Box with 'Living in Oblivion'... It's weird because it sounds like the guy from Postal Service before that band even existed. Add to that this track sounds like it came out in 1984 when in fact it came out in 1990. So, the lyrics are eerily prescient, as the band is not just living in oblivion now, but in fact living outside the space-time continuum.
Definitely a sonic artifact though. I actually bought the CD at Sam the Record Man back when it was still open... I found this one in the discount bin for a buck. I'd never heard of any of the other tracks, but I figured that the one track alone was at least a dollar, and the rest of the album they were practically giving away at that point.
Definitely a sonic artifact though. I actually bought the CD at Sam the Record Man back when it was still open... I found this one in the discount bin for a buck. I'd never heard of any of the other tracks, but I figured that the one track alone was at least a dollar, and the rest of the album they were practically giving away at that point.
Labels:
saigon sunday,
tracks,
video
2010-12-24
Best of 2010 week: Lack of posts
I had a grand plan to do a post every day of the week, but it hasn't turned out that way, has it?
Anyway, if it's alright with you, I'm going to make next week part of this week for the purposes of extending 'Best of 2010 week'... then likely I will be adding another week after that... nah... never would happen...
It's almost like... we're all busy with some kind of holiday season...
Anyway, if it's alright with you, I'm going to make next week part of this week for the purposes of extending 'Best of 2010 week'... then likely I will be adding another week after that... nah... never would happen...
It's almost like... we're all busy with some kind of holiday season...
Labels:
random
2010-12-22
Canadian indie rock Xmas
Compilation here [via Torontoist]
Labels:
audio,
free stuff,
tracks,
xmas songs
2010-12-21
6 Reasons Why The Album Format Died
Bobby Owsinski's Big Picture Blog: 6 Reasons Why The Album Format Died:
I think it's safe to say that we're at the end of the "album age," and although the format will hold on for a while, it's clearly waning in popularity. I've given this a lot of thought and have come up with what I think are the reasons, but be aware, they're not all exactly what the popular wisdom assumes.
Labels:
article
Best of 2010 week: Most visited posts
To clarify, it's most visited posts on this blog this year. Some, there's no rhyme or reason, I just got lucky with some keywords, I suppose... here are the ten most popular:
Song in the Resident Evil: Afterlife trailer
Caribou concert review: solid
Kanye West samples King Fucking Crimson
Devo interview
The library: Still awesome
Brian Eno doc from BBC: Must watch [video link now dead]
Broken Social Scene-G20 fan mashup
Secret of the 'Inception' soundtrack
Brian Eno funk mix
Pretty Hate Machine re-issue!!
Song in the Resident Evil: Afterlife trailer
Caribou concert review: solid
Kanye West samples King Fucking Crimson
Devo interview
The library: Still awesome
Brian Eno doc from BBC: Must watch [video link now dead]
Broken Social Scene-G20 fan mashup
Secret of the 'Inception' soundtrack
Brian Eno funk mix
Pretty Hate Machine re-issue!!
Labels:
best things of 2010,
links,
list
2010-12-20
Best Of 2010 Week: Tracks
Here's my two cents, mostly gleaned from my '2010 Top Played' playlist in iTunes. I have a bit of trouble using this method, cause the best I stuff I end up buying on CD and thus the play counts are not recorded in iTunes. Oh well.
For this list, I'm limiting myself to one track per artist, mostly for variety.
So here they are, a bunch (not a top ten) of tracks I really dug this year, in alphabetical order by track title:
"Angel Echoes" - Four Tet
---I've never been crazy about Four Tet, but this album really does it for me... this opening track is just awesome, I love the way the vocal sample is chopped and looped. It's kind of a bridge between dubstep and electronic pop, a very fresh sound.
"Dance Yrself Clean" - LCD Soundsystem
---Opening track from the album that might be the group's last. Definitely stands up to the other two album openers, and the title recalls "Yr City's a Sucker", another track with a chugging groove... Except this track kicks it up a notch. Awesome production trick of starting you off small... narrow range of frequency and sound field for three minutes to lull you in, then BOOM goes the dynamite, and the track just explodes. Then you know you're in LCD territory.
"I Feel Better" - Hot Chip
---Just watch the video.
"Odessa" - Caribou
---Hypnotic and pulsating, Caribou never fails to deliver. I don't think there has ever been a catchier and more layered dance song...
"Round and Round" - Ariel Pink
---My friend Matt called this one back in April as the track of the year, and with the highest play count for 2010 in my iTunes, he was pretty spot on for this one as well.
Great song that recalls songs from one of those late night Time-Life 1970s CD compilation infomercials, mixed with contemporary rock.
"Shine Blockas" - Big Boi ft. Gucci Mane
---"Shutterbug" gets all the glory, but I guess I'm a sucker for a smooth R&B sample, Blockas just edges it out for my list. Great production, great use of the sample source... You can't beat this for a hip-hop ballad.
"Superfast Jellyfish" - Gorillaz
---Catchy and fun as hell, and sort of the thesis of Plastic Beach, an album about our disposable culture (to oversimplify)
The album is filled with great cuts, this one's my fav though.
"Walk in the Park" - Beach House
---I love the vibe of this whole album, it takes you to a space. The rhythm on this track is great, and the chorus is killer.
"We Used to Wait" - Arcade Fire
---I can't believe this one didn't make so many of the top tracks of the year lists. If I had to pick three to be the top, this one would be there... maaaybe the best one of the year. Just amazing. I can't help but think of Steve Reich when that first piano riff comes in, regardless of how much of a stretch that reference would be.
Great song, ground-breaking video, amazing production, what else can I say?
"Written in Reverse" - Spoon
---I love the rhythm of the whole thing, the way it snaps and jerks and stays melodic. That bass line is pretty damn funky too.
For this list, I'm limiting myself to one track per artist, mostly for variety.
So here they are, a bunch (not a top ten) of tracks I really dug this year, in alphabetical order by track title:
"Angel Echoes" - Four Tet
---I've never been crazy about Four Tet, but this album really does it for me... this opening track is just awesome, I love the way the vocal sample is chopped and looped. It's kind of a bridge between dubstep and electronic pop, a very fresh sound.
"Dance Yrself Clean" - LCD Soundsystem
---Opening track from the album that might be the group's last. Definitely stands up to the other two album openers, and the title recalls "Yr City's a Sucker", another track with a chugging groove... Except this track kicks it up a notch. Awesome production trick of starting you off small... narrow range of frequency and sound field for three minutes to lull you in, then BOOM goes the dynamite, and the track just explodes. Then you know you're in LCD territory.
"I Feel Better" - Hot Chip
---Just watch the video.
"Odessa" - Caribou
---Hypnotic and pulsating, Caribou never fails to deliver. I don't think there has ever been a catchier and more layered dance song...
"Round and Round" - Ariel Pink
---My friend Matt called this one back in April as the track of the year, and with the highest play count for 2010 in my iTunes, he was pretty spot on for this one as well.
Great song that recalls songs from one of those late night Time-Life 1970s CD compilation infomercials, mixed with contemporary rock.
"Shine Blockas" - Big Boi ft. Gucci Mane
---"Shutterbug" gets all the glory, but I guess I'm a sucker for a smooth R&B sample, Blockas just edges it out for my list. Great production, great use of the sample source... You can't beat this for a hip-hop ballad.
"Superfast Jellyfish" - Gorillaz
---Catchy and fun as hell, and sort of the thesis of Plastic Beach, an album about our disposable culture (to oversimplify)
The album is filled with great cuts, this one's my fav though.
"Walk in the Park" - Beach House
---I love the vibe of this whole album, it takes you to a space. The rhythm on this track is great, and the chorus is killer.
"We Used to Wait" - Arcade Fire
---I can't believe this one didn't make so many of the top tracks of the year lists. If I had to pick three to be the top, this one would be there... maaaybe the best one of the year. Just amazing. I can't help but think of Steve Reich when that first piano riff comes in, regardless of how much of a stretch that reference would be.
Great song, ground-breaking video, amazing production, what else can I say?
"Written in Reverse" - Spoon
---I love the rhythm of the whole thing, the way it snaps and jerks and stays melodic. That bass line is pretty damn funky too.
Labels:
best things of 2010,
tracks
Counter-culture Xmas
Have Yourself a Counter-Culture XMas: Red-Nosed Misfits, Elven Outlaws & Bearded Marxists
This one is definitely worth a read. You will never watch the famous Xmas specials the same way again....
This one is definitely worth a read. You will never watch the famous Xmas specials the same way again....
[One] could argue that while the domestic Christmas of invented tradition becomes the face of the season, the real heart of Christmas rests not in a placid still-life of carolers, sleigh rides, and easy listening music, nor even in a devout, pious, and formal religious ceremony, but rather in the tension-filled class struggle of chaos and rulebreaking
Labels:
article,
xmas songs
2010-12-19
Saigon Sunday
This one came on the sound system at the pub the other night, and it instantly took us back... great tune. You haven't experienced this track until you've heard it in a club setting. It's like you're hearing it for the first time. And whenever I hear this song I'm transported back to that space...
Blur - "Girls and Boys"
Blur - "Girls and Boys"
Labels:
saigon sunday,
tracks
2010-12-18
John Oswald & Plunderphonics
John Oswald - Plunderphonic & Discosphere [Unheard Music]
Definitely worth reading up on if you're unfamiliar with Mr. Oswald's work.
Oswald distorts, compounds and chops recordings into bits, sometimes rendering them unrecognizable. His work isn't for everyone and much of it would probably be labeled noise by those who don't appreciate the avant garde, but for those with an appreciation for the different or bizarre, Oswald's works are considered genius, and I strongly agree with that belief.
Definitely worth reading up on if you're unfamiliar with Mr. Oswald's work.
Labels:
avant garde
2010-12-17
2010-12-15
My mind has just been blown
10 Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs Hidden in Famous Albums
The article starts off cool, but then we get to this part about Radiohead, OK Computer & In Rainbows:
Consider that In Rainbows was meant to complement OK Computer, musically, lyrically, and in structure. We found that the two albums can be knit together beautifully. By combining the tracks to form one playlist, 01 and 10, we have a remarkable listening experience. The transitions between the songs are astounding, and it appears that this was done purposefully.
My first reaction: WHOA
Second reaction: Must verify before continuing to freak out... could this be just another Dark Side of Oz phenomenon? I just made a playlist with the sequence, this will have to be play-tested....
Ok I just got back from play-testing it. I'm not really sold, but it's a cool concept to think about.
This was a pretty astounding article, kudos to the writer!
Link via Recordingformation
The article starts off cool, but then we get to this part about Radiohead, OK Computer & In Rainbows:
Consider that In Rainbows was meant to complement OK Computer, musically, lyrically, and in structure. We found that the two albums can be knit together beautifully. By combining the tracks to form one playlist, 01 and 10, we have a remarkable listening experience. The transitions between the songs are astounding, and it appears that this was done purposefully.
My first reaction: WHOA
Second reaction: Must verify before continuing to freak out... could this be just another Dark Side of Oz phenomenon? I just made a playlist with the sequence, this will have to be play-tested....
Ok I just got back from play-testing it. I'm not really sold, but it's a cool concept to think about.
This was a pretty astounding article, kudos to the writer!
Link via Recordingformation
Labels:
awesomeness,
links
2010-12-14
FRUITCAKE!!!
Here are some kitschy holiday tunes from a group fronted by Fred Schneider of the B-52's, The Superions...
The whole thing feels pretty mailed in... but I guess it's pretty good for a $36 budget...
The whole thing feels pretty mailed in... but I guess it's pretty good for a $36 budget...
Labels:
humour,
tracks,
video,
xmas songs
A dubstep track...
...that has nothing to do with the film of the same name.
Winning comment from YouTube: A man driving a 1963 impala across the brooklyn bridge at night in the year 2044
An apt description. This is definitely smoother and more melodic than some of the other tracks I've heard from this artist. Definitely worth a listen:
Winning comment from YouTube: A man driving a 1963 impala across the brooklyn bridge at night in the year 2044
An apt description. This is definitely smoother and more melodic than some of the other tracks I've heard from this artist. Definitely worth a listen:
2010-12-13
2010-12-12
2010-12-11
2010-12-10
2010-12-07
Aminals, yes Aminals
Check out this track, the artist is somewhere between Flying Lotus and chillwave (if you're into that sort of thing)
This definitely falls under "things I missed this year"
This definitely falls under "things I missed this year"
2010-12-05
Saigon Sunday
Morbidly beautiful track from the kings of de-evolution:
Labels:
saigon sunday,
tracks,
video
2010-12-04
And so we enter one of my favourite phases of the music year...
...When I get to catch up on all the music I was too busy to pay attention to throughout the year.
I'm hoping to scoop some of the bigger publications and have my favs of the year lists up some time this month. A few ideas I'm going to go with:
Best albums
Best concerts
Best singles
Most overrated (this might be a whole essay)
Favourite musical moments
Best videos
Top blog posts (of my own of course!)
etc etc
So yeah keep an eye out for that stuff, it'll be coming soon. Hopefully.
Exclaim.ca is already into year-end mode, as is the mighty Pitchfork (don't bother entering their reader poll if you're not in the 50 states). Hipster Runoff did a fucking hilarious decade review in 2k9, hopefully the 2010 review is as good, though that's a tall task.
Popmatters does excellent year end reviews on all strains of pop culture, so check that out. I usually fill up my library queue pretty quick after their year end run downs.
Other than that, watch this space for my own bloggy blog commentary on the year that was (and wasn't)... if, you know... I get around to it. :)
I'm hoping to scoop some of the bigger publications and have my favs of the year lists up some time this month. A few ideas I'm going to go with:
Best albums
Best concerts
Best singles
Most overrated (this might be a whole essay)
Favourite musical moments
Best videos
Top blog posts (of my own of course!)
etc etc
So yeah keep an eye out for that stuff, it'll be coming soon. Hopefully.
Exclaim.ca is already into year-end mode, as is the mighty Pitchfork (don't bother entering their reader poll if you're not in the 50 states). Hipster Runoff did a fucking hilarious decade review in 2k9, hopefully the 2010 review is as good, though that's a tall task.
Popmatters does excellent year end reviews on all strains of pop culture, so check that out. I usually fill up my library queue pretty quick after their year end run downs.
Other than that, watch this space for my own bloggy blog commentary on the year that was (and wasn't)... if, you know... I get around to it. :)
Labels:
random
2010-12-03
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