Bands That Broke Our Hearts Live

(thanks for the idea!)

Broken Social Scene: the encore that was longer than the show.

Delta Spirit: they revealed themselves as the callow youth they were.

Radio Dept: they may as well just have plugged their ipod into the speakers.

Julian Assablancas: why i have any hope for the new strokes disc is beyond me. i am still filled with loathing for J.C.

Church: maybe i should do drugs, but meh to the endless jams.

Pinback: Only show i ever left before the encore.

Beth Orton: this is maybe unfair, cos she wasn't terrible and i had fried my back, but her unrelenting shushing of the audience was annoying. as was the "i've got a tiger on me bum."

oh, i could go on, but it's your turn.

This Sucks/Good for Him

Grrrr

welcome to 2011

couple quick hits.

decemberists-the king is dead: ok. all is forgiven. i've got a couple favorites, songs 1, 3 and 10, but i'm not sure if i have the order right.


wire-red barked tree: awfully conventional for a band that never was. plenty of pop fun (they always have known their way around a hook or two) and i like it, but other than "two minutes" your blood pressure isn't in any danger. "bad worn thing" and "please take" stand out so far.

2010 In Review: Top Ten Singles

#10 Russian Futurists "Hoeing Weeds, Sowing Seeds"
#9 Radio Dept "Heaven's on Fire"
#8 Villagers "Becoming a Jackal"
#7 LCD Soundsystem "Dance Yrslf Clean"
#6 Hot Chip "Take It All In"
#5 Jonsi "Boy Lilikoi"
#4 Dr. Dog "Shadow People"
#3 Delta Spirit "Salt in the Wound"
#2 Broken Bells "The High Road"
#1 National "Bloodbuzz, Ohio"

i really loved the "Teenage Dream" cover from glee. it was knocking on the top ten. Katy Perry is a great songwriter. there i said it.

2010 In Review: Top Ten Albums

#10 Vampire Weekend Contra (this wasn't on the list until i saw shawn bopping to the commercial that used "Holiday," then i re-listened and realized how fun it is. This kicked Caribou off the list)

#9 Sleigh Bells Treat-hated the show, but this disc gets better each time i listen

#8 Atmosphere To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP- it may just be an EP, or a collection of eps, but this is really good, music and lyrics.

#7 Twin Shadow Forget- i just keep playing this, damn the influences

#6 Frightened Rabbit Winter of Mixed Drinks

#5 Broken Bells

#4 The Drums

#3 Yeasayer Odd Blood

#2 Menomena Mines

#1 National High Violet (this would have been #1 regardless of the bonus disc, but every one of those b sides could have been on this album.)

We Interrupt This Program for the Following Announcement

Sorta kinda new year's resolution to cut back on the cheapo/fetus picking. i really don't need to go every week. maybe once a month is enough...and gad knows the amazon selling is getting time consuming (albeit quite profitable...think i made 1600 bucks off a 2700 investment...better than the market, plus the music!)

but the resolution is so tomorrow. today we feast:

a couple fuzzy warbles from andy partridge (vols 3 and 6)
david holmes let's get killed (dunno why i dig him so much)
belle and sebastian write about love (super cheap, i couldn't pass up a cd copy)
slowdive pygmailion (this completes my recent slowdive binge)
slade keep your hands off my power supply (reliable seller for $7)
men without hats collection ($5!!!)

2010 In Review: The Shows

Now onto the main selections of the year.

First off, is worst show of the year. and no, it's not going to be mumford and sons. nor is it going to be broken social scene (i was loving them right up until they decided to give us a little extra)

My worst show is easily the Julian Casblancas show at First Avenue last spring. I don't want to relive my ire and get worked up all over again by rehasing. Bad show. one of the worst i've ever seen. i'm so glad you were there to share the pain with me, ben.


Now on a happier tone, top five shows of 2010

#5. Crowded House. Minnesota Zoo. gorgeous night. wonderful setting. great songs and performers who genuinely seemed to enjoy the moment.

#4. National. First Avenue. 3rd time seeing them. great show as usual (and the antlers were awesome too) Bon Iver guested (and grabbed matt's ass, shocking matt a little). highlight was having 1200 people sing along to "conversation 16"

#3 Menomena. Varsity. I could rave more and rail about how they deserve a bigger crowd (i could say the same for frightened rabbit) but hopefully, they will put out one more album and tour before everyone finds them so i can enjoy another stellar show.

#2 Yeasayer. First Avenue. My da passed away shortly before this show. and of course, we had the memorial on the same day as this show. It wasn't really a question of not going, although the whole evening is a blur. I know the lyrics meant something else entirely, but i almost started bawling during the "...stuck in my mind, all the time" part of "One".

#1 Fanfarlo. Cedar Cultural Center. an utterly charming band. great songs, wonderfully sympathetic playing by a band on the verge who seemed thrilled and amazed that the audience was so into them. Trust us, it was we who were the delighted.