Better Late Than Pregnant...2010 Top 10 CD's

Top 10 CD’s of 2010

1. Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do

2. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding

3. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

4. The New Pornographers – Together

5. Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer

6. Black Keys – Brothers

7. Jeremy Messersmith – The Relevant Graveyard

8. White Crosses – Against Me!

9. Teenage Fanclub – Shadows

10 – The Gaslight Anthem – Amreican Slang

Since y'all know my Top 20 of 2010...

...I'm posting all twenty:

Top 20 of 2010
a.k.a.
“The Year of Black”

1) The Black Keys - Brothers
2) Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
3) The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream
4) Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy
5) Spoon - Transference
6) Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
7) Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
8) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
9) The Whigs - In The Dark
10) Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band - Where The Messengers Meet
11) Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be
12) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
13) Icarus Himself - Mexico EP
14) Suuns - Zeroes EP
15) Trans Am - Thing
16) Hot Hot Heat - Future Breeds
17) The Creepshow - They All Fall Down
18) White Hinterland - Kairos
19) Interpol - Interpol (2010)
20) Yeasayer - Odd Blood

As always, subject to change.

- Mong

2010 Favs

1. Superchunk- Majesty Shredding. Buzzsaw guitars ripping out power chords. Next to The High Strung- this is the cd I listened to the most. Hence the #1 status.
2. Spoon- Transference. These guys don't know how to make a bad record. One of my favorite bands of all time. And they're from Austin, TX- coolest city in America.
3. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor. Stellar sophomore release. Punk-inflected indie rock at it's finest.
4. Dr Dog- Shame, Shame. What can I say- I love these guys. They're pop oddballs who blend unapologetic 1960's pop worship with lo-fi recording techniques and a disregard for current trends.
5. The National- High Violet. Another one I had a hard time getting off the turntable. A record you have to listen to a few times to expose the treasures within.
6. Paul Weller- Wake Up The Nation. One of my hero's! Mr. Weller has been making great music for 4 decades and he kept it going in 2010 with this gem.
7. Reckless Kelly- Somewhere In Time. Another great band out of Austin. Now this is what I call country!
8. Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record. This is a great Canadian indie-rock "supergroup", if you will. Any band with Emily Haines, Leslie Feist, and Amy Millan in it is super as far I'm concerned.
9. The New Pornographers- Together. With AC Newman and Neko Case in the band- they can't miss. Great pop music.
10. Avi Buffalo- Avi Buffalo. Great band from Long Beach, CA. Catchy hooks and quirky pop tendencies reminiscent of The Shins. Very cool stuff.

Last in- I think

Arcade Fire- 3.0
This is another one of those records full of thick and rich sound- the stuff you have to really listen to. I’m not really sure about all the hoopla around this cd- I mean it’s good but a “masterpiece”- not so much. I think it’s better when listened to in a single sitting than maybe taking songs on their own. It just kind of chugs along at mid-tempo filling some of the space between decent songs with some soaring atmospheric Abba-esque pop (I swear I heard Fernando in there). All in all, it’s a good record- but maybe they could have pared it down by a song or two because there are times when it’s a wee bit boring..

Creepshow- 3.0
They All Fall Down starts with a spoken word intro that sets the scene for what’s to follow. And it’s all good. AMG calls this stuff physicobilly. Whatever. I call it a record full of tight, upbeat melodies and an infectious melding of many different genres- ska, 50’s doowop, punk, rockabilly and who knows what else. This is a fun and energetic record and one that was a pleasant surprise.

John Eddie- 3.0
Move over Chris Issak- John Eddie’s in town. In fact, John Eddie is at the Iron Horse on 12/28 and we should all go. The guy gives all he’s got into his live shows. Thanks for this cd. I have no idea when this came out and I’m sure it’s long since out of print. Eddie also puts a lot into his songs. A lot of personal and professional heartache- but he’s at his best when he’s rockin out and you’ll just have to go and see him on the 28th for a taste of that. You won’t be disappointed.

The High Strung- 4.5
Wow! Hot on the heels of last months Superchunk and Whigs comes this gem from the motor city. These guys can lay it down. This is rollicking power pop, indie garage, psychedelic post grunge fun!!! Great songs with fun lyrics and lots and lots of catchy hooks that just make you want to turn that dial up a few notches. And what a great name for a record- These Are Good Times indeed. Great energy. Great hooks.

Leon Redbone- 1
My mom said if you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything at all.

Ghits- The Hives
This is why I love this music group. I have been exposed to lots of great stuff that I had no idea even existed. Swedes- imagine that. The Hives are very cool! Rowdy, irreverent, stompin’ garage rock with great frenetic punk energy to keep you grooving along. Thanks Mong.


Allman Bros
The Band
The Clash
Bob Dylan
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Fountains Of Wayne
Grateful Dead
John Hiatt
It's A Beautiful Day
Jayhawks
Kinks
Love
My Morning Jacket
AC Newman
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Phoenix
Queen
REM
Supergrass
Traffic
Uncle Tupelo
Velvet Underground
World Party
XTC
Neil Young- I put this in just for D'Arcy
Zumpano