2010: The Year in Music

Ahhh...  2010...  A fresh decade of new and exciting music possibilities.  The year rounded out with some fantastic discoveries on my part, and I can’t wait to see what direction music takes over the next few years.  I tried to incorporate a range of different artists in this year’s list, but since I’m partial to the early ‘80s new wave sound of my youth, you’ll find that a lot of the artists incorporate that particular influence (or some derivative of it).  However, there’s some rock, there’s pop, there’s indie, and there’s electronica, so I’ve got a little somethin’ for everyone.  As always, the title of the track is hyperlinked with its respective YouTube video.  Also, since Myspace seems to be morphing into more of a music center than a social network, I’ve included the artists’ Myspace pages for more information.  Enjoy!

For blog posts featuring previous years:
2009:  The Year in Music
2008:  The Year in Music
2007:  The Year in Music
2006:  The Year in Music

Other blog posts:
Top 100 tracks of the 2000s
I Love the 2000s!
I Love the ‘90s!



teenagersintokyo - “End it Tonight”
    http://www.myspace.com/teenagersintokyo

It was a very difficult decision when choosing between “End it Tonight” and “Peter Pan.”  Both  tracks are pure deliciousness.  The Austrailian quintet fled Sidney in 2009 to record in the UK under Bat for Lashes producer David Kosten.  They were soon signed to Backyard Recordings, and have since released their debut full-length, Sacrifice.  What I love about teenagersintoyko is that while they echo new romantic/new wave/post-punk sensibilities from the early ‘80s, they still have a very fresh and modern sound.  For a more in-depth review, click here for a post on my tumblr.

 

Kele - “Tenderoni”

http://www.myspace.com/iamkele

Kele Okereke, Bloc Party’s rowdy vocalist, released his solo debut The Boxer back in June with the dancey “Tenderoni” as the first single...and I have to tell you...  This track is phenomenal, and was absolutely my summer jam.  Departing from Bloc Party’s post-punk sensibilities, Kele embarks on a journey into electronic dance music, and transforms his usually choppy accented vocals into a more cohesive sound with boundless range.  Hmmm, what inspired such change?  I’m not quite sure, but Kele did come out as gay in Butt Magazine last March.  Maybe he is unleashing the diva within.

 

Bright Light Bright Light - “Love Part II”
    http://www.myspace.com/brightlightx2

Like Kele, Welsh folk singer Rod Thomas has taken a bit of a hiatus from his musical trajectory and dabbled in a bit of electropop under the moniker Bright Light Bright Light.  By doing so, he has unleashed an intoxicating layered track in “Love Part II,” with a dimension and range we haven’t quite seen over the past five years in his previous work.  The track has a very powerful element to it that I can’t quite put my finger on...  But then again, with Boom Bip as one of your creative forces (see my “2008: The Year in Music” blog post under “I Lust U” by Neon Neon), it’s no wonder you’d turn out a absolutely fantastical product.  “Love Part II” will be on the forthcoming album Make Me Believe in Hope, and will hopefully be available in the states sometime next year.

 

 

Oh No Ono - “Helplessly Young”
    http://www.myspace.com/ohnoono

Danish quintet Oh No Ono have been a favorite of mine for the past few years, but the release of the their sophomore effort Eggs early last spring captured my full attention.  The album is pure new wave pop bliss with catchy “Helplessly Young” as one of the signature tracks.  The band was also featured in Marc Jacobs’ Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2010 RTW line.  Hopefully, their catchy hooks and looks will get them a bit more exposure state-side in the coming years.

 

 

Chappo - “Come Home”
    http://www.myspace.com/chappomusicnyc

Alex Chappo and Chris Olson are from Baton Rouge and Seattle respectively.  They currently reside in Brooklyn, and released a gem of an EP this year called Plastique Universe.  When Pitchfork asked them what the CD is about, Alex Chappo replies "it’s about a pair of bandits who figure out how to shift into a parallel universe and decide to wreak havoc on their doppelgangers."  They’ve also described their sound as a "cross pollination of indie pop and space rock. It's The Rolling Stones in space, and like The Flaming Lips without gravity. They've got space shoes, phantasmagorical adventures, confetti six-shooters and diamond powder-filled hourglasses."  Their wildly successful single “Come Home” served as song bed for a recent Apple iPod Touch campaign, and CMJ sites them as one of the top ten bands to watch.

Dom - “Living in America”
    http://www.myspace.com/imfur

For full review of Dom, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Naked and Famous - “Young Blood”
    http://www.myspace.com/thenakedandfamous

Thom Powers, Alisa Xayalith, and Aaron Short are the creative force behind the New Zealand quintet The Naked and Famous, and their creative genius catapulted their second single “Young Blood” to debut at number one in New Zealand (the first artist to do so in three years).  The single also won the APRA Silver Scroll Award for “Song of the Year 2010.”  Their debut album, Passive Me, Aggressive You has been quite successful in New Zealand, Austrailia and Europe, and will most likely tackle the States with little difficulty in 2011.

 

The Golden Filter - “Hide Me”
    http://www.myspace.com/thegoldenfilter

Penelope Trappes from New South Wales, Australia and Stephen Hindman from Ohio make up the New York City-based electro sensation, The Golden Filter.  While producing a string of fantastic singles over the past two years (including one of my favorites, “Thunderbird”), they’ve also lent their remixing abilities to the likes of Little Boots, Yeasayer, Empire of the Sun, Peter Bjorn & John, and Cut Copy to name a few.  They also played no less that seven times at SXSW 2009, as well as toured with The Presets that same spring.  I look for more masterfully-crafted musical delights from The Golden Filter in the year to come.

Lindstrøm & Christabelle - “Music in My Mind”
    http://www.myspace.com/lindstromandchristabelle

When Hans-Peter Lindstrøm (the Norwegian electro producer who has remixed for LCD Soundsystem, The Doves, Franz Ferdinand, etc.) teams up with Norwegian-Mauritian vocal seductress Christabelle Sandoo, the product is one smooth chilled-out collaboration.  Real Life is No Cool proves that downtempo sensibilities are not dead, and that slow is just as cool as fast...so cool, in fact, that Cadillac used their track “Lovesick” in an ad campaign this past summer.

 

 

Freedom or Death - “Lost in Dances”
    http://www.myspace.com/freedomordeathmusic

A Canadian duo whose name echoes the Grecian war-cry of independence in 1820 seems to do just what their name suggests.  Steve Fernandez and Sway met while working for a major label, and believe that there is no substitute for having full creative control to make the artistic choices they wish in their music.  They conceptualized, wrote, produced, recorded, and performed every track on their self-titled debut EP, and Spike Jonze himself took notice and produced the (er, disturbing) video for their first single, “Lost in Dances.”  Enjoy.

 

Male Bonding - “Year’s Not Long”
    http://www.myspace.com/malebonding

British punk lives!  The London-based “noise-pop” trio released their debut full-length Nothing Hurts on the legendary Sup Pop label last May, and their single “Year’s Not Long” is largely successful due to it’s video which features straight indie hipster dudes making out...with lots of tongue.  As with most punk and punk-inspired albums, Nothing Hurts rounds out at just under an hour, with most tracks lasting an average of two minutes...which is great for someone with A.D.D. like me.

 

Pearl Fiction - “The Ruby Fever”
    http://www.myspace.com/pearlfiction

Swedish musician Pearl (formerly of the electro band Zeitgeist) has decided to go it alone, and became Pearl Fiction this past year.  His debut single “The Ruby Fever” will be showcased on his upcoming full-length in early 2011, and features Kitty Jutbring (of Kitty and the K).  As you may have guessed, Pearl Fiction’s sound is heavily ‘80s influenced and features layers of synthy-pop goodness.

 

Arcade Fire - “Month of May”
    http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial

Y’know, there’s something to be said of bands that start out fairly strong, but seem to get better with age...like a fine wine.  Take Radiohead, for example:  I venture to say that Radiohead's work in the early ‘00s surpassed much of what they did upon introduction in the early ‘90s.  I kind of think Canadian import The Arcade Fire is the same way.  I mean, we all went gaga for Funeral back in ‘04 which featured the inescapable track “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out),” but The Arcade Fire of today is a more mature, dimensional, and...well...dang good Arcade Fire.  “Month of May” incorporates a ‘50s rockabilly-esque sound combined with ‘70s stage-band presence....and a dash of punk rock.  I really, really dig it.  There’s a very different element to the song than what’s currently floating around out there.

 

Miami Horror - “I Look to You” (featuring Kimbra)
    http://www.myspace.com/miamihorror

The Australian-based foursome Miami Horror was conceptualized by it’s front man and producer Benjamin Plant, and is heavily influenced by disco, house, and pop.  The sound most closely resembles early ‘90s house with both modern electro elements, and as well as a bit of ‘70s/’80s retro.  Plant first dubbed himself Miami Horror when he lent his remixing abilities to the likes of Midnight Juggernauts, The Presets, Datarock, Bloc Party, and Tegan & Sara.  Miami Horror’s debut Illumination was released in August, and features the single “I look to You” in collaboration with the gorgeous and ultra-stylish indie-soul New Zealand vocalist, Kimbra.

 

Delorean - “Stay Close”
    http://www.myspace.com/delorean

The Spanish quartet has been tantalizing audiences with their version of alterna-dance for ten years now.  In 2007, they met mainstream success when they created their own club night in Barcelona entitled Desparrame (after tiring of the local dance scene), and remixed tracks for The xx, Cold Cave, and Franz Ferdinand.  Shortly after, they landed gigs at SXSW and toured with Miike Snow in 2009.  Their third album Subiza features the delicious track “Stay Close,” which incorporates the repetitive beats that made mid ‘90s dance music so popular (echoing bands like Underworld).  Maybe Delorean will bring back raving in the new decade (not to be confused with late ‘00s “new rave” in Britain).

Comments

[Djinc]

You're so hipster... I've barely heard of any of these bands. Will check 'em out tho!

[.:p o p s c e n e]

HAHA. Ryan, most all of them are electronic-based! Check out their YouTube videos. ;)

[Djinc]

kinda diggin' the Chappo.

[.:p o p s c e n e]

Yeah, that track is totally kick-ass.