Indie Dispatches: Ten Most Enjoyed Albums of 2010 (And Then Some)…
Sharon Van Etten, Epic, indeed
The torrent of those year-end lists is still coming thick and fast from all corners of the media, with some of the latest being Amazon’s best of, Rhapsody’s picks, Drowned In Sound and Stereogum’s top 50. Scanning through many of the lists, the big question doesn’t seem to be, “How many places will pick Kanye West as album of the year?” but more likely “How many places won’t?” Well, I can tell you, as much as Indie Dispatches appreciates the record, and definitely got our money’s worth buying the digital album for 99 cents on Amazon.com, it’s (not so) sad to say the opus didnt make our short list. Instead here are ten picks we enjoyed an awful lot during 2010 – some you may have listened to and others you may well have not…
Sharon Van Etten – Epic (Ba Da Bing) – One of those ‘word-of-mouth’ records that has benefitted from the new frontier of the internet and the marvels of social media. Friends espousing their love of this Brooklyn artist on Facebook, an album purchase, and instant love. Further posting on Facebook about the glorious nature of this album – its engaging songwriting and classic feel – and the word spreads. Pure magic.
Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner (Ghostly International) – Ah, the joys of laptop electronica. This record seemingly came out of nowhere and set itself apart from its contemporaries (such as Four Tet, Baths, etc) with its progressive sounds, catchy melodies and infectious beats.
Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo (Sub Pop) – A bunch of teenagers from LBC form a band, make a record, sign to one of the coolest labels around and capture the attention of music fans across the world, all led by a diminutive (and naive) guitar meastro after whom the combo is named. The lyrics express (at times in a raw fashion) the angst of being a teen, but the songs are for the ages.
Sally Seltmann – Heart That’s Pounding (Arts & Crafts) – I recently rediscovered this album, marvelling at its brilliance all over again, and ended up listening to it 10 times in a row. As great as some of the much praised artists in this ‘girl singer over electro beats’ genre (read Annie, Saint Etienne), I have a feeling the sales were terrible (probably the ‘best, worst selling record of 2010′), which is criminal, despite Seltmann being the spouse of a member of Avalanches and the writer of Feist’s monster hit.
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal (Domino) – See SVE… but from Dublin, Ireland. People who ‘got’ this record fell in love and were enthralled by its majesty. Some of the best lyrics around, and coming from a country that is known for its A-grade balladeers. And whether it was just leader Conor O’Brien on stage solo, or with his band, the live shows were jaw dropping.
Dylan LeBlanc – Pauper’s Field (Rough Trade) – Alas, I think this release was lost amongst the blogger frenzy for label mates Warpaint and Morning Benders, which was a crying shame. LeBlanc is steeped in the whole country-soul canon with personal ties to the Muscle Shoals/Fame recordings family of musicians, which set him apart on this album from the rest of his singer-songwriter contemporaries.
Superchunk – Majesty Shredding (Merge) – A bunch of old(er) folk make their first album in nine years, and at the same time, show all the youthful pretenders half their age how it is done. Great energy, super songs and reminding the world why Superchunk was one of the best bands in the 90’s (and still are). Come back of the year and a record that more than holds its own with anything in 2010.
Best Coast – Crazy Like You (Mexican Summer) – 2010 was a bleak year to be an American, with high unemployment, economic troubles, housing traumas, political turmoil… what better time would there be to throw all the cares away with an album of summery beach pop. Pure escapism, and quintessentially Californian.
Phantogram – Eyelid Movies (Barsuk) – An album that might have been more at home on Warp or Modular, rather than the house that Death Cab for Cutie built, but it’s 2010, so who’s discriminating. See Gold Panda… with vocals.
Holly Miranda – The Magician’s Private Library (XL) – Who knew that the mantle of Jeff Buckley would be taken up by the former singer of a relatively average NY indie rock band, with help from a member of TVOTR? The album got made and sat in limbo for an age, before XL Recordings stepped in (thank goodness)… Anchored by Miranda’s entrancing vocals, seemingly swooping down from heaven.
And worthy of notable mention for providing great listening pleasure at various times during 2010, in no particular order… Fences Fences , Fitz & The Tantrums Picking Up the Pieces, Glasser Ring, The Head and the Heart The Head and the Heart, Surf City Kudos, Owen Pallett Heartland, Magic Kids Memphis , Local Natives Gorilla Manor, Surfer Blood Astro Coast.
- Cool Hand Luke
11.11.10Indie Dispatches: Nostalgic for the 90’s, 2010 Was a Year of Returns
Superchunk was among the many 90's acts to return in 2010
There is no disputing that 2010 can be seen as the year that the 90’s have returned with a vengeance. Is it because we have hit the “ten years on from the turn of the decade”, meaning it is now acceptable to reflect on the past in such a manner? Or is it a commentary on the new crop of underachievers, in a “well, this was how it used to be done” fashion, from the Gen-X and so-called slacker generation?
Early in the year came the return of Pavement, firstly with a mighty fine ‘best of’ album, Quarantine the Past, and then an endless global series of tour dates, including a great pre-Coachella set at the Fox Theatre in Pomona. Sonic Youth got into the act, releasing a (vinyl-only) compilation for Record Store Day, and their ‘back to being a four piece’ slots at the Hollywood Bowl & Matador 21 in Vegas were nothing short of blistering. Meanwhile Liz Phair unearthed her legendary Girly Sound tapes, and issued them a bonus disc with her latest album, Funstyle. Guided by Voices were back, complete with their classic band line-up, still toting the coolers of beer on stage and singer Robert Pollard’s legendary high leg kicks, meanwhile the Matador Records redux continued with a long series of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion reissues via Shout Factory.
Books have popped up waxing lyrical about the decade, such as Sara Marcus‘ treatise Girls to the Front on the Riotgrrrl movement. Later in 2010 Dean Wareham hit the road with his …plays Galaxie 500 live shows, a tour that he brings to the West Coast this week, with a Troubadour date tonight (11/11) in Los Angeles, complementing a set of Galaxie 500 deluxe reissues on Domino Records too. Orchestral pop pioneers Cardinal popped up in reports that they were making a new album. The 90’s invasion was trans-continental even, with a host of participants from across the Atlantic. Everyone’s favorite Glaswegians, Teenage Fanclub, came supporting a new album, Shadows, but peppered their live sets with a host of their past classics from The Concept to Sparky’s Dream (much to the crowds’ delight). And then there were fellow Scots The Vaselines, who released a new album and toured (and yes, we know really they were a product of the tail end of the 80’s). Meanwhile, British dance titans weren’t to be left out, as The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Massive Attack all released new records (Further, Barking and Heligoland respectively). And most recently chatter has started about a reunion by Britpop favorites Pulp.
But let’s not forget Superchunk, whose latest album Majesty Shredding is on a par with the best moments of their 90’s output, showing that they are still one of the best rock bands around, putting on a stream of live shows that a lot of acts 20 years their junior could learn something from. The term Loser may have been emblazoned on t-shirts (Sub Pop) and on records (Beck), but twenty years on, amidst this year’s 90’s resurgence maybe the question is, “Just who is the loser now?”
- Cool Hand Luke
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Indie Dispatches: New Superchunk, A Toast to Best Coast & Fitz on Fire
Lost in the warm fuzzy glow over the Arcade Fire topping the charts last week, one rather important item was neglected, which is that amidst all of their efforts to create the landmark 2010 Merge is having, the label owners Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance also found time to record a new album. Yes ladies and gentlemen, reason to rejoice, as there is a new Superchunk album on the way! It’s entitled Majesty Shredding and is due for release on September 14 – on Merge Records of course! A number one record and a new Superchunk album – now that really IS a banner year.
Speaking of landmark years, the same can be said for Best Coast who surprised more than a few people with their #36 debut (with one industry rag leaving them out of their charts altogether!) for the album Crazy for You. But kudos to the Mexican Summer label for a superb job of artist development, and it just goes to show that in amongst all the clutter of the ‘long tail’ music biz in 2010, the same formula of great songs, a good build up and a masterful job of marketing can achieve results! Alas, not so fortunate were WAVVES, whose latest album King of the Beach only trickled to a #168 chart position first week, despite some great reviews and a ubiquitous presence amongst the blogs.
Also benefitting from a nice job of development and marketing is Los Angeles act, Fitz and the Tantrums, who are riding a great word-of-mouth wave leading to the August 24 release of their album Pickin’ Up the Pieces on Dangerbird Records. After a glowing review in the LA Times, a “you had to be there” jam-packed performance at the Hammer Museum, an exclusive streaming preview of the album on KCRW, and an instore performance at Amoeba Records in LA scheduled for release day, the buzz is becoming rather deafening. Which makes it hard to believe it was barely a year ago that the retro-soul combo was playing to a small scattering of early adopters at the 3 of Clubs…
- Cool Hand Luke
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Indie Dispatches: Merge’s Milestone
Back in May of 1990, a spunky four piece group from NC released a 7″ single, entitled “Slack Motherfucker”, on their own record label. Who would have thought just over 20 years on from MRG 007 that very same label – the mighty Merge Records – would not only be still in existence, but helping a combo from Montreal hit the #1 slot in the charts? And still doing it with what may be the best set of ethics in the business! This is a home where 360 deals are not part of the vocabulary, and the relationship the label has with their artists is a true partnership. This is not a world of miniscule royalty rates, as with some other noted independent labels, or of suspect accounting. 50-50 split profit deals and artistic control are set in stone. Maybe it’s due to the label owners’ tenure in a rock band themselves, the venerable Superchunk, or just that they felt this was the right way to do business. Whatever the reason, it’s a label where decisions are made on artistic merits, not dollars and cents, and it has led to Merge amassing a catalog of almost 400 releases, which range from the critically acclaimed Neutral Milk Hotel, to more underground, but no less worthy, acts such as Wye Oak and many others in between that no self-respecting record collection should be without. And in 2010, Merge has had not two, but three albums that have reached the upper echelons of the charts, culminating in the Arcade Fire’s top billing this week. Following the sales success of She & Him’s Volume Two and Spoon’s Transference, the chart topping Suburbs from Arcade Fire puts the label in rarified company – a room in which none of their fellow indies such as 4AD or XL or Sub Pop have stood, and has until recently only been the domain of the major labels. It even had the scrappy upstart label with a market share for the week larger than Warner Brothers, Columbia and Epic Records. So Merge, we salute you! Slack Motherfuckers? We think not…
- Cool Hand Luke
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