So I have been writing this site now for a little over 6 months and figured like everyone else in the world, I will go over some of my favorites things over the last year.
Top 20 Records of the Year.
1. Beirut – the Gulag Orkestra: Beirut – Mount Wroclai (Live On KEXP).
2. Two Gallants – What the Toll Tells: Two Gallants – Las Cruces Jail.
3. Tapes n’ Tapes – The Loon: Tapes N Tapes – Cowbell.
4. Man Man – Six Demon Bag: Man Man – Spider Cider.
5. Detektivbryan – Hemvagen EP: Detektivbyran – Dansbanan.
6. Thom Yorke – The Eraser:
Thom Yorke – The Clock (Live on the Henry Rollins Show)
Radiohead’s lead singer ventures out into solo territory with his concrete wasteland of an album. It’s predominately an electronic collaboration with producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, Travis). The effect of the album is cold and sterile, black and grey, but in it’s lack of warmth there is a beauty of structure and it’s feeling of confinement. The songs are crafted impeccably with Yorke’s political commentary, but they have the sentiment of love songs. (Dan, I’m on FIRE!)
7. the Gossip – Standing in the Way of Control: the Gossip – Your Mangled Heart.
8. Mars Volta – Amputechture: The Mars Volta – Frances the Mute
9. Tiger Lou – The Loyal: Tiger Lou – The Loyal.
10. Grizzly Bear – Yellow House: Grizzly Bear – Shift (acoustic)
Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear follow up their lo-fi electronic folk album (and subsequent remix album) with an organic, transcendent album that mixes intricate folk based compositions with many layers of all four members vocals. The songs on this album creep up on you and once they get a hold of you they won’t let you go. (Dan, I’m on FIRE!)
11. Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards:
Cold War Kids – We Used to Vacation (Daytrotter Session)
After a series of EP’s and incessant touring, California’s Cold War Kids put out the catchiest and most rewarding album of the year that is a collection of re-recordings from the EP’s and a couple new songs. The stories that lead singer Nathan Willett croons and yelps frequently touting his perfect falsetto, are at times haunting and cold while still finding a positive light to view his characters. The rest of the band backs him up with energy and a raw sound that emulates their live show to a tee. This album is timeless. (Dan, I’m on FIRE!)
12. A Hawk and A Hacksaw – The Way the Winds Blows
A Hawk and A Hacksaw – God Bless the Ottoman Empire.
13. Clap Your Hands say Yeah! – s/t:
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah – Upon the Tidal Wave of Youngblood (BBC VERSION)
14. White Magic – Dat Rosa Mel Apibus: White Magic – Katie Cruel.
15. Midlake – The Trials of Van Occupanther: Midlake – Roscoe
16. Soft Circle – Sundrenched FADER 7inch: Soft Circles – Sundazed.
17. Friska Viljor – Bravo!: Friska Viljor – Gold
18. O’ Spirits – Ms. Housewatcher UUAR 7inch: O’ Spirits – Mrs. Housewatcher
19. Russian Circles – Suicide Squeeze 7inch: Russian Circles – ReEnter
20. Crictkets Club – s/t 7inch: Crictkets Clubs – Cian .
HONOR ROLE (released in 2005): Jose Gonzalez – Veneer and Pelican – The Fire in our Throats.
Please note the lack of the hip hop records in my list. Here are some noteworthy records that didn’t make my top 20:
Ghostface Killah, Cadence Weapon, Arecee (where’s that mixtape, kid?), Lupe Fiasco, Lady Sovereign, and the new Clipse.
BEST NEW TV SHOW: HEROES, Move over LOST!
TOP 5 NEWER MUSIC BLOGS (THAT AREN’T MY FRIENDS):(IN NO ORDER)
1. GETECHO
2. EAR FARM
3. REWRITEABLE CONTENT
4. CAN YOU SEE THE SUNSET FROM THE SOUTHSIDE
5. GIMME TINNITUS
MOST UNDISTURBING PICT POSTED ON THEPUNKGUY:
MOST DISTURBING PICT POSTED ON THEPUNKGUY:
BEST BLOG I FOUND THIS WEEK: HERE.(Bout time we got really obscure!)
DAN, I’M ON FIRE!’S TOP TEN:
01: Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards
02: Grizzly Bear – Yellow House
03: Bonnie Prince Billy – Then the Letting Go
04: The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
05: Sunset Rubdown – Shut Up I Am Dreaming
06: Liars – Drums Not Dead
07: Thom Yorke – The Eraser
08: Xiu Xiu – The Air Force
09: Band of Horses – Everything All the Time
10: Tv On The Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
KEVIN’S LISTS: will be featured soon. check back.
TOP 5 GOOGLE / MSN SEARCHES THAT LEAD PEOPLE TO THEPUNKGUY:
1. Any 8 Ball Cocaine Reference (read here.)
2. “Funny Djing Cat Picture” (read here.)
3. “Tyler Montreal Stripper” (read here.)
4. “Jokes Handjobs Cabs” (read here.)
5. “figure skaters are treated like shit†(read here.)
6. “porn pictures of queen latifah” (last minute add) (ick)
TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS:
Beirut at Mercury Lounge:
CSS at the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago:
Two Gallants at Bowery Ballroom:
Cold War Kids at the ANNEX for CMJ:
Jose Gonzalez at Bowery Ballroom:
CHECK OUT SOME OTHER TOP TEN’S LISTS HERE AND HERE.
BUY ALL OF THESE RECORDS HERE: click here.
FIND MORE MUSIC BY ANY OF THESE ARTISTS: HERE.
I want to really thank a few people because without them, I wouldn’t be able to run the site quite so smoothly. Thank you Justen, for your web mastery. Dan B and Kevin B, for your recent submissions, beards and interest. Domino records, John Furnari, Derick G, Chris at EMI, Joe Labisi, Chris Milk. Wes Lang, Dave Leto, Patrick from World Without Magic, Joel Dugan, Jason F. from Retisonic, the Diggs, Shelby Cinca, Jason Hamacher, Cara at Cornerstone, Andy DeMars, Eon McKai, Dana Dearmond, Gram Pontante, Vivid Alt, Fleshbot, Brian Lowitt, everyone and anyone who reads this site and all my friends for not snickering when I say “I write a music blog”
