And some other jibber jabber. All repurposed from the Matablog, of course.
Top 10 records
1. Sound of Guns – What Came From Fire – Distiller. UK guitar rock that would fit in perfectly in 1995. Which is obviously right up my alley.
2. Hurts – Happiness – RCA. Depeche Mode meets Spandau Ballet meets Human League? Super dramatic, super stylized ’80s-esque synthpop.
3. Dinosaur Pile-Up – Growing Pains – Friends Vs. Records. Some English lads listened a lot to Nirvana’s Nevermind and then decided to rock their own poppier version.
4. Union Sound Set – Start/Stop – Mighty Atom. Reminiscent of early Elbow, plus the singer is a United fan. So there’s that.
5. Makaras Pen – Makaras Pen – Projekt. First of three shoegaze records on my list. Like a FAR less creepy Cranes. Just be wary of the videos.
6. Exit Calm – Exit Calm – Sonic Unyon. Up the shoegaze revival. So ready for it. And so it seems, are Exit Calm. 1990 was never referenced so wondrously.
7. Film School – Fission – Hi-Speed Soul. More shoegazy and Lorelei Plotcyzk’s vocals sound like Shop Assistants/Motorcycle Boy’s Alex Taylor, whose voice is like gold to me.
8. Jonsi – Go – XL. I love Sigur Ros, so of course I love this. His voice is truly amazing.
9. Middle Class Rut – No Name No Color – Bright Antenna. Duo that sounds like Fugazi meets Jane’s Addiction. And from Sacramento, so they probably like Scandia.
10. The National – High Violet – 4AD. Brooklyn’s faves write another extra-dense record that rewards the listener for immersion with new layers to unwrap on each play.
Top 10 stuff
1. My wife. I know I gave her a shout in my Write About Love. entry, but just humor me. Anyone who puts up with my ass AND is as awesome as she is deserves another mention or 10. Also deserving of top billing in 2010: Monkey and Kitty.
2. The Tofu Delight at Paseo in Seattle. The best vegetarian sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Total game changer. Like go straight there from the airport game changer. Like take foodporn shots when you are there and taunt your friends who aren’t there game changer.
3. Matador at 21 party in Las Vegas. Are you kidding me? How could this weekend have been any better? Great bands, great shows, great hotel rooms, and great vibes. Lombardi, Gerard, and Patrick: congratulations. You threw the best party in the history of the world.
4. Cicada in London. Still as delicious as ever. Especially the chilli-salt squid and the chilli tofu.
5. The World Cup. Some of the matches may have been boring, but three matches a day for like two weeks? Make it happen every year! Watching video of the reactions to Landon Donovan’s last gasp goal in the USA-Algeria match still makes me tear up.
6. Blue Bottle, Stumptown, and Intelligentsia coffees. You make trips to SF, Portland, Seattle, LA, and Chicago so much better.
7. Eze, France. An amazing Medieval city perched high above the Mediterranean off the road connecting Monaco and Nice. A must visit on the Cote D’Azur.
8. Vampire Weekend’s Contra debuting at #1 on the Billboard top-200. First time for an indie band that had never been on a major. Such a great way to kick off the year.
9. The Ted Leo and the Pharmacists record release show/karaoke event. One of the most fun gigs I’ve attended in ages. And I don’t even like karaoke.
10. The recent(ish) upswing in the preponderance of proper cocktail bars, in NYC and around the country. Nice to know you can get a well-made cocktail in so many cities.
