FAVORITE MUSIC OF 2010 An Annual Report By Dave Ratzlow |
Friends: Here are a few lists of my favorite music released this year. Like last year, you can sample the songs and videos directly from this page. Click the "play" buttons to play the entire track. More controls and the complete playlist are available by selecting the "pull-out drawer" on the lower left corner of this page. If your company blocks websites such as YouTube.com, the page may not load entirely and you might not be able to see videos or hear songs. |
| TOP EIGHT FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR | ||
| 8. |  |
FOL CHEN -- Part II: The New December Quirky and interesting with enough melody and sweetness to prevent it from being pretentious and annoying. Fol Chen - "In Ruins" www.myspace.com/folchen
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| 7. |  |
DARK DARK DARK -- Bright Bright Bright (EP) Passionate vocals with a folksy feel. Dark Dark Dark - "Flood" www.myspace.com/darkdarkdarkband |
| 6. |  |
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS -- Together Neko Case. 'Nuff said. The New Pornographers - "Crash Years" www.thenewpornographers.com |
| 5. |  |
QUADRON -- Quadron I bought this album without hearing a single note, simply because I liked the cover. I just knew I would like it. The font and the hexagon signal that something electronic will be heard. The girl and the peacock feather signal that something intimate and maybe a bit melancholy will be heard too. Quadron - "Slippin" www.myspace.com/quadronquadron |
| 4. |  |
THE LIVING SISTERS -- Love To Give Featuring three of my favorite singers, Becky Stark from Lavender Diamond, Inara George from The Bird and the Bee, and Eleni Mandell, this was a sure bet. Sweet and wholesome. The Living Sisters - "Cradle" www.myspace.com/thelivingsisters |
| 3. |  |
FRAZEY FORD -- Obadiah Formerly of The Be Good Tanyas, my favorite bluegrass group, Ford has a distinctive voice that continues to fascinate me. Frazey Ford - "Blue Streak Mama" www.myspace.com/frazeyford |
| 2. |  |
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS -- Family Jewels Pop genius. I first heard some of these songs on a music blog in 2009. So happy to finally have this full suite of silly delicious pop gems. Marina & the Diamonds - "Shampain" www.marinaandthediamonds.com |
| 1. |  |
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM -- This Is Happening Sure, half of the riffs and sounds are lifted from Brian Eno circa 1977, but if you're going to steal, you might as well steal from the best. Murphy's honest and modern lyrics make this an instant classic and a marker of these strange times. LCD Soundsystem - "I Can Change" www.lcdsoundsystem.com |
| HONORABLE MENTIONS |
| ARCADE FIRE -- The Suburbs Arcade Fire - "We Used To Wait" |
| THE CONCRETS -- Wywh The Concrets - "My Ways" |
| JOHNNY CASH -- Ain’t No Grave Johnny Cash - "Aloha Oe" |
| MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD -- Some Place Simple Martina Topley-Bird - "Poison" |
| SHE & HIM -- Volume Two She & Him - "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tradi-Mods Vs Rockers - Alternative Takes on Congotronics Deerhoof vs. Kasai Allstars - "Travel Broadens the Mind" |
| WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMS -- Retina & Iris (EPs) Wildbirds & Peacedrums - "Fight For Me" |
| ALBUMS FROM 2009 THAT I HAD MISSED OR THAT GREW ON ME |
| LIGHTING DUST -- Infinite Light Lightning Dust - "I Knew" |
| KATIE MULLINS -- Pastoral Katie Mullins - "Start Your Engines" |
| EDWARD SHARP AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS -- Up From Below Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes - "40 Day Dream" |
| SUPERCUTE -- Supercute Supercute - "Supercute" |
| TUNE-YARDS -- Bird-Brains Tune-Yards - "News" |
| FAVORITE CONCERTS OF THE YEAR (in chronological order) |
| WILDBIRDS AND PEACEDRUMS @ MERCURY LOUNGE – 2/26 |
| MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS @ LE POISSON ROUGE – 3/15 |
| LITTLE DRAGON @ WILLIAMSBURG MUSIC HALL – 3/25 |
| ALICE SMITH @ THE BLUE NOTE – 6/2 |
| ARCADE FIRE @ MSG – 8/5 |
| JAYMAY @ ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL – 9/24 |
| LUISA MAITA @ THE CONGA ROOM, LOS ANGELES – 11/19 |
| ONES TO WATCH IN 2011 | |
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LE CORPS MINCE DE FRANCOISE http://www.myspace.com/lecorpsmincedefrancoise |
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FURACOCO http://www.myspace.com/furacoco |
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THIS FRONTIER NEEDS HEROES http://www.myspace.com/thisfrontierneedsheroes |
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TONDRAE KEMP http://www.myspace.com/tondraemusic |
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CLASS ACTRESS http://www.myspace.com/elizabethharper |
| MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR | ||
Thanks for reading. Let me know if there's anything else you think I should really hear. Happy Holidays, |
| PPS (Any audio files found on this site are used for promotional purposes only. Please purchase the songs that you like. The Ratzlow does not promote, advocate or approve of piracy. If you hold the copyright and would like us to remove your song file, please contact: dratzlow -at- yahoo -dot- com.) |