Jan
Lost in the Shuffle
in Music
We recently read an interesting article in Under the Radar entitled “Houses of Hype?: Music Blogs and Websites Race to Find the Next Big Thing.” In the article, the authors observe that in this post-Pro Tools world there are untold numbers of unheard new (and old) artists and a buzzillion blogs and websites competing with each other to be the first one to hype/break these artists and/or their songs. Then the article gets to the heart of the inquiry: “In the race to find new bands, are too many bands being hyped up? Once something is hyped up on one notable blog/website, all the other blogs/sites pick up on it and the thing goes viral. But what about the listeners who can only listen to so much music and can only afford to buy so many albums? How do they filter through all these new bands being hyped?” And, we would add, after the initial hype of a band, what do the listeners and the hyped-bands do when that band’s second or third release doesn’t get the continued huzzahs and hype from the media (in certain instances despite qualitatively deserving continued praise, but in other instances because the band’s talents and creativity have played out)? The net result may be disservice to listeners and the hyped bands alike (we can’t wait to read the blogs when the next record by the over-hyped, undeserving Sleigh Bells comes out–we predict the silence and/or derision will be “deafening,” so clap your hands and say buh-bye Bells).
These are conundra that currently confront every music lover and band. For the music fan specifically, how do we find the new music we must have to maintain our souls and sanity now that the old musical levees have broken and the metronomiacal floods are upon us (which reminds us of the appropriately-named UK blog “Drowned in Sound”)? And how do we do this with so many demands on our attention and time in this digital age? Some give up and beach themselves, bloated on familiar musical shores where the soundtrack consists only of music they grew up with (Sinatra, Presley, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Marley, U2, Nirvana, Death Cab–pick your particularly pleasing audio anodyne). While we agree that there is much great old music that merits re-visiting and re-examining (or, for the youngers and uninitiated, discovering for the first time), we hope that you won’t sink beneath the floodwaters or become beached and bloated while the new musical shooting stars flair all around us and go unseen/unheard against the brilliant and burdensome backdrop.
Come on! Continue the quest. Don’t give up the fight. Untold rewards await.
Having said the foregoing, we confess that we may have been guilty of rushing to judgment and raving on these pages about a new song by one new artist or another, but then later (given more time and a more thoughtful assessment of the artist’s output) we have cringed after realizing that the artist’s long-term artistic prospects were on par with, oh say, Flock of Seagulls, The Buggles, A-ha, or some other one-hit hacks. So we hereby resolve to not rush to judgment and renew our vow to only tout the best music that will stand the test of time. At the same time, we vow not to praise a band and ignore their subsequent praise-worthy efforts.
To this end, the following are songs that have stood the test of a couple of months at the top of our playlist, but seem to have gotten lost in our year-end shuffle. We hope you find them worthy of your attention and limited time.
First up is yet another song, Queen Black Acid, from Menomena’s fine album “Mines” (causing us to regret not including it in our Top Albums of 2010 list). This is a beautiful, but harrowing, pop song replete with Justin Harris’ world-weary lead vocals, a perfect, intriguing bass line, a majestic chorus, and seriously dour lyrics (set forth below) to match Harris’ vocal. Given the band members’ recent personal histories and the personality-histrionics within the band (Brent Knopf just quit the band to focus on his side-project, Ramona Falls), the lyrics convey the weight of a relationship, whether regarding a lover or band member. Long live Menomena.
“I get so caught up in my ways
sometimes I overlook the simple plains
I feel like certain times in my life
are met with certain times for pain to thrive
you’re five foot five, not a hundred pounds
I’m scared to death of every single ounce
and worst of all is when it’s calm
cause I know the sea won’t be calm for long
you bring me down
I walked right in through the rabbit’s door
and walked right into the rabbit’s hole
I made myself an open book
I made myself a sitting duck
I don’t know how I missed the signs
I must have passed by them a hundred times
you barely notice what I say
you’re busy looking round the room instead
I get so caught up in my ways
I walked right in through the rabbit’s door
and walked right into the rabbit’s hole
I made myself an open book
I made myself a sitting duck
I’m walking down this rabbit trail
my feet grow heavy with every step
I stop to eat and take a nap
and now I can’t find my way back
you bring me down
so down.”
Menomena–Queen Black Acid
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Queen-Black-Acid.mp3|titles=01 Queen Black Acid]
Another band that has proved its worth repeatedly is Athens, Georgia’s Deerhunter, who are fronted by savant terrible, Bradford Cox. Their latest record, “Halcyon Digest,” dominated the Top Albums of 2010 lists, and for good reason. The record is filled with varied and dense pop songs. In addition to the ubiquitous pop of Helicopter, the sax-infused Coronado, the heartfelt, driving lament of He Would Have Laughed (written for the late punk-genius, Jay Reatard), and the chiming jangle of Revival, there is the great psych-rocker, Desire Lines, which simply defines the album. We love how the guitars take over the song at minute 3:00 and take the song to another level, reminding us a bit of seminal band, Television. Magic.
Deerhunter–Desire Lines
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/06-Desire-Lines.mp3|titles=06 Desire Lines]
Speaking of bands that were unfairly cast adrift by the blogs after their much-hyped first record, Tapes N’ Tapes deserved much better. They recently released their third record, “Outsider,” and it is further proof of this band’s worth. Following their debut, “Loon,” they lost some media momentum, but bounce back strong with aggressive songs on the new record, as evidenced by Freak Out.
Tapes N’ Tapes–Freak Out
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Tapes-n-Tapes-Freak-Out.mp3|titles=Tapes ‘n Tapes – Freak Out]
But we have to also keep trying new bands and their songs, and the following songs by newer bands have also stood out on our year-end playlist. If they continue at this quality level, we will continue to sing their praises. If not, we will dutifully warn you. Check ’em out.
Austin’s Voxhaul Broadcast have followed up their 2008 debut, with a great, driving song, Leaving on the 5th. Bodes well for their future. Time will tell.
Voxhaul Broadcast–Leaving on the 5th
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Voxhaul-Broadcast-Leaving-On-The-5th.mp3|titles=Voxhaul Broadcast – Leaving On The 5th]
England’s Stornaway brings its folk-infused Brit-pop to the world with its latest record, “Beachcomber’s Windowsill.” The band falls somewhere between James and Belle & Sebastian, leaning more to the latter. Check out the horns and delivery on their catchy song, Zorbing.
Stornaway–Zorbing
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/zorbing.mp3|titles=zorbing]
Finally, we give you St. Louis band, Jumbling Towers. The Towers mix the vocal sounds of Destroyer’s Dan Bejar with a melodic, electronica wash to great effect. Though the jury is still out on this band, their EP, “The Ramifications of an Exciting Spouse,” has been on repeat the last month. Amongst our favorite tracks is Typecasting in Eugene, with its allusions to “Oregon shores,” and lyrics telling of a “vintage store that Melanie owns, she’ll give you a job, you can manage the floor.” While the song states that “It all feels right to dream, it’s your dream, a dream you had since you were 17,” we’re not sure if this is designed to comfort or deride. Time will tell about the composition and the band. We wish them well.
Jumbling Towers–Typecasting in Eugene
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Typecasting-in-Eugene1.mp3|titles=Typecasting in Eugene]
Jan
Even More Music From San Francisco
in Music
Last, but certainly not least, of our Bay Area discoveries, we have the more widely known Thee Oh Sees, who have garnered pounds of positive pixels and ink from critics in recent years. Sporting an interesting mix of garage vibe and pysch-pop sound, Thee Oh Sees continue to evolve. Check a couple of their songs out below, along with a video of Denied from the Fillmore.
Thee Oh Sees–Denied
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/theeohseesdenied.mp3|titles=theeohseesdenied]Thee Oh Sees–Ghost in the Trees
Jan
The Real Country–No. 11 in 2011
in Music
After having made great country music since 1958, Waylon Jennings was one of the central figures (along with Willie Nelson) of the self-dubbed “Outlaws” movement that saved country music in the 70s. At that time Nashville smugly controlled commercial country music and dictated a pop-inflected sound using its sterile studio musicians and strings. Waylon, Willie, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and few others led the charge to overcome the dictates of Nashville and take back Real Country music. In so doing, Waylon re-introduced stripped-down, Telecaster-telecasting, honky-tonk country music, and won back the hearts of those with hearts for real country music, and gave needed authenticity and renewal to the genre.
Waylon was at his creative and commercial best during the 70s with his albums “The Taker/Tulsa,” “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean,” “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “The Ramblin’ Man,” “Dreaming My Dreams,” “Live,” and “Ol’ Waylon.”
One of our all-time country favorites is Waylon’s “Luchenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” with assist from Willie.
Waylon Jennings-–Luchenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2-12-Luckenbach-Texas-Back-to-the1.mp3|titles=2-12 Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the]
Jan
We Heard the News Today, Oh Boy
in Music
We were listening a couple days ago to Menomena’s fine album, “Mines,” which they released in mid-2010. Mines is the usual Memomena magic, but with an extra dose of harrowing lyrics that limn the upheavals and events that transpired in the band members’ lives in the interim between Mines and their prior record. So while we were listening, up came the great first single off the album, Five Little Rooms. The song begins with a heavy, fuzz-laden bottom end, drops in horn-sounds and piano penumbrae, and all the while the vocals are ominous and foreboding. As we were listening, having only moments before heard the news about the shootings in Arizona, the following lyrics from the song came on:
“Hung on a pole,
right next to a McDonalds,
in a suburban shopping mall,
at half mast again,
between shootings.
All this could be yours someday,
All this could be yours someday,
All this could be yours, someday.”
—
To hear those lyrics at that time was an unsettling coincidence and evinced the power of art.
All this could be ours someday? No thanks.
Menomena–Five Little Rooms
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Five-Little-Rooms.mp3|titles=02 Five Little Rooms]
Jan
More New Music from San Francisco
in Music
As mentioned in a prior post, we ventured up to The City and came back with some musical finds to pass along. We continue here, starting with some more SF pop-garage-magic (the Magic Bullets) before segueing into the more challenging, but worthy, Bay Area noise-pop bands: Weekend, Thee Oh Sees, Grass Widow and Young Prisms.
The Magic Bullets are foremost great songwriters. We hear, at the forefront, influences of the oft-ignored Orange Juice (where is the justice?) and the followers thereof, namely the Smiths, etc. Magic Bullets take the standard three (maybe four) minutes and fill that span with pop magic. They get in, deliver the jangly goods and get out. Check ’em out.
Magic Bullets–Lying Around
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/magic-bullets-lying_around.mp3|titles=magic bullets lying_around]Magic Bullets–The Book is Closed
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/MagicBullet-TheBookIsClosed.mp3|titles=MagicBullet-TheBookIsClosed]
Moving on to the wondrous San Francisco noise-pop thread, we give you Weekend (who we missed when they opened for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Soho recently and wowed the Santa Barbara crowd). Weekend came out with its first record, “Sports,” on Slumberland this year, managing to perfectly meld the noise and the pop while lyrically shining their shoegaze with the gray fog of San Francisco. The band falls into the My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain camp, but manages to make the sound and the atmosphere their own.
Check out their songs End Times, Coma Summer and Youth Haunts.
Weekend–End Times
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/WeekendEndTimes.mp3|titles=WeekendEndTimes]Weekend–Coma Summer
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/weekendcomasummer.mp3|titles=weekendcomasummer]Weekend–Youth Haunts
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Weekend-Youth-Haunts1.mp3|titles=Weekend-Youth-Haunts]
Next up is Grass Widow, the all-female band that had its major-indie debut in 2010 on Kill Rock Stars with “Past Time.” The album is filled with deadpan harmony vocals, while sinewy bass lines and garrulous guitar riffs intertwine and frenzied drumming propels the songs along. The harmonized vocals remind us at times of the great band Heavenly, and at others of Exene and John of X, while the music is a bit like Pinback at times and like Pavement at others. And throughout there’s sweetness to go with the sour.
Grass Widow–Shadow
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Grass-Widow-Shadow.mp3|titles=Grass-Widow-Shadow]
Finally (for now), we give you the Young Prisms, who continue to quickly evolve, age by age. They have pressed forward to further refine their melodies and musicianship, while building on their noise (and pop). We expect to hear much more from The City about this band.
Young Prisms–I Don’t Get Much
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Young-Prisms-I-dont-Get-much.mp3|titles=Young-Prisms-I-dont-Get-much]Jan
Local Natives on Fallon
in Music
More on more great San Francisco bands soon, but in the meantime if you don’t “get” the huzzahs for Local Natives, you owe it to yourself to check out their performance on The Jimmy Fallon Show two nights ago below. Between the vocals and percussion, a stunning performance.
Jan
So This is The New Year
in Music
Following a brief hibernal hiatus, we are finally back for the New Year, 2011. A quick jaunt up to San Francisco rejuvenated us and got our (musical) juices flowing again. The City never fails to re-ignite and particularly in these halcyon days with a justly-deserved World Series Championship under its belt and a musical resurgence that is drawing international attention (turns out there’s music outside of Montreal, Brooklyn, Portland and Los Angeles–who knew??).
Following on the heals of the nationally acclaimed Dodos, Girls and Morning Benders are a host of up-and-coming SF garage rock bands to check out. A few you may not be aware of are Geographer, The Fresh & Onlys and Sonny & The Sunsets. In the coming days we’ll tout some other great new music coming out of San Francisco for you to check out. Following the music below are some more pixelated pixie sticks from The City.
First up is the great new find (for us), Geographer, which released its second recording, “Animal Shapes,” in 2010. Geographer is a guitar-cello/synth-drums trio making sweet noise around the Bay. Mike Deni’s impressive vocals, personal lyrics and intimate melodies are coupled with the instrumental acumen of Berklee-trained bandmates Nathan Blaz (cello, electronics) and Brian Ostreicher (drums) to great effect. Geographer falls somewhere between The Antlers and XX, and what could be better? Check out their well-mapped single, Kites.
Geographer–Kites
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Geographers-Kites.mp3|titles=Geographers–Kites]
Next check out The Fresh & Onlys and their flavorful fluid of a song, Waterfall, in both MP3 and official video iterations. The Fresh & Onlys have quickly grown and evolved as a band, and released their second record, “Play It Strange,” in October of 2010. Waterfall melds a meaty mix of musical influences with its jangle and reverberations. We hear early Shins, R.E.M. and others, but the band makes the sound their own and delivers a sweet song.
The Fresh & Onlys–Waterfall
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/freshonlyswaterfall.mp3|titles=freshonlyswaterfall]
Finally (for now), check out Sonny & the Sunsets and their sweet song, Too Young to Burn. Sonny & the Sunsets have a swell throw-back sound that combines doo wop and Beach Boys influences with the fun-zone ambiance of Jonathan Richman. Led by Sonny Smith, they have had a musical chairs lineup that now permanently includes, amongst others, the great Kelley Stoltz. Their debut record, “Tomorrow is Alright,” hits on all the right notes with great melodies and Sonny’s lyrics entertaining with their storytelling ways.
Sonny & the Sunsets–Too Young to Burn
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sonnytooyoungtoburn.mp3|titles=sonnytooyoungtoburn]Photos by Lefort:
North Beach Sunset
Banksy on Commercial Street in Chinatown
Banksy at Broadway and Columbus
Lemon Sorbet–Caffe Macaroni Style
Fort Point–Hallway to Enlightenment
MLK Day Approaches–Due Respect Please
Our Favorite Photographer—SF MOMA
Pae White–Smoke Knows (2009, Cotton and Polyester)–SF MOMA
How Wine Became Modern–SF MOMA
Santa Surfs–Grounded Aerial
Sew What and How Many?
Dec
The Year in Music, The Year in Song (Part III)
in Music
Top 12 Concerts of 2010
With respect to the concert scene in 2010, it was an embarrassment of riches, and we got out to a couple or two shows this year. Not surprisingly, many of the best concerts were delivered by musicians that we had yearned for years to see live, but had not managed to see before. The following were the highlights of this habitual adrenalized, soul-seeking anodyne known as “the concert.”
1. Thom Yorke at the Santa Barbara Bowl
Thom, Flea and the lads lit it up (literally and figuratively) in April at our great Bowl, once again making Santa Barbara Yorke-town. Yeah, we’d prefer a whole Radiohead, the best live band extant on the planet, but we’ll “settle” for Thom Yorke’s tantalizing musical trills and dance tantrums any day of the year.
Here’s a glimpse of the Bowl show (Videotape, solo piano), and below it a representative segment (Cymbal Rush from Coachella). But perhaps best is the video at bottom of the title track of his solo album, “Eraser,” done live at the “secret” Echoplex shows from 2009. Check out Nigel Goodrich’s fine harmony vocals. Yorke (together with Goodrich and the rest of the Radiohead regality) is simply the creative musical titan of the last decade (at a minimum). We’ve yet to witness a false musical move.
2. Arcade Fire–Berkeley Greek Theater
We had never seen Arcade Fire live before this show at the Greek, which fulfilled all our expectations and then some.
Check out their show-stopping (literally) performance of Wake Up below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGdyG_83nX4&feature=player_embedded
3. The National–Wiltern Theater (Hollywood)
In May we were Nationalized once again. The National delivered their best album of their careers and continue to evolve as a band live (which we thought impossible after their shows in prior years).
4. Pavement–Fox Theater (Pomona)
We had waited forever to see Pavement, and they did not disappoint at the Fox Theater despite the built up expectations. The reunited Pavement gave it their all, and we were mesmerized.
5. Avett Brothers–Arlington Theater
We caught the Avett Brothers at the Arlington in April, and were blown away by the power and poignancy of their live act. Not to be missed. These boys have heart and soul for days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7rkSELM3I&feature=related
6. Sufjan Stevens–Paramount Theatre (Oakland)
We traveled to Oakland to see Sufjan for the first time and were not disappointed (sure, we would have liked a couple more of the banjo-and-hush era songs, but hey). Sufjan and his entourage of sprites and merry men filled the Paramount with glorious sound. All hail the new Sufjan!
7. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros–Lobero Theater and Soho (in that order)
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros doubled up on Santa Barbara, and we benefited greatly from the other Musical Manson and his band of beatific beauties. We were introduced to their live show at Soho in March and then, as hard as it was to imagine (and overcoming our skepticism), they took their act to a higher plane in July at the Lobero. Don’t miss ’em next time.
8. Joanna Newsom–Lobero Theater
Joanna Newsom brought her jaw-drop-inducing talents to Santa Barbara at the end of July. We caught the show with our family members that hail from Newsom’s Nevada City, but who had not seen/heard her previously. We were all impressed and moved by this enfante terrible.
9. Randy Newman–Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (San Francisco)
In a year of firsts, this was the first time that we had seen national-musical-treasure, Randy Newman. He had the Hardly Strictly audience (including the Felice Brothers and many other musicians) in the palm of his hand the whole time with his majestic flood of songs from the last 40 years.
10. Fruit Bats–Soho
We caught the Fruit Bats at Soho on January 27th and their mega-melodic ways held sway with us. It was a great way to kick off the concert year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NepqfHeqXrs&feature=related
11. Local Natives/Love Language at Soho
Local Natives and Love Language brought a great one-two punch to Soho. The Love Language softened us up with the surprise jab, and Local Natives knocked us out with the confirmatory roundhouse hook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfweH8yQC2Q&feature=related
12. Hosannas at Muddy Waters
We had heard rumblings about this Portland band. When we first saw them as a full band on May 28th we realized what all the huzzahs had been about. We also caught them as a duo when they came through this fall, and while the Laws brothers’ talent is undeniable, we missed the full band sound, which had floored us in May. Here’s to hoping the Laws add some additional players in 2011 to fully realize the power of their live show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPrsKfFgpQA&feature=player_embedded
Honorable Mention Concerts (in no particular order): Tokyo Police Club–Velvet Jones; The Antlers/Phantogram–Troubadour; Avi Buffalo–Jensen’s; The Lonely Forest/Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin at Muddy Waters; Conor Oberst/Felice Brothers at Soho; Yo La Tengo–Velvet Jones April/2010; Chief–March 14th; Chief/Dawes–Soho; Brendan Benson at Velvet Jones Feb. 2010; Dan Zanes–Campbell Hall; Les Shelleys–Soho; Carolina Chocolate Drops–Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival; Gillian Welch–Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival; Trombone Shorty–Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival; Delta Spirit–Velvet Jones; Built to Spill–Velvet Jones; Woods/Real Estate–Jensens’ Main Stage; Freelance Whales/Watercolor Paintings.
Most Disappointing Concert: Beach House at Soho
Word to the wise: all you computer/machine-based duets out there, hear ye! You have a world of indifference to overcome if all you’ve got is a computer and some gadgets to regale, and you don’t come out from behind or rise above your keyboards, and find some way to better lift us with your act. Beach House fell into this category at Soho, and we won’t waste our time on them live again until they return with a full band. Their stifling act was D.O.A. in the wake of full-throttle, full-instrument openers, Middle East. Hear ye, hear ye!
Dec
The Year in Music, The Year in Song (Part II)
in Music
The Top 40 Songs of 2010 With Soul
The following were the songs that dominated our playlist in 2010. Except for two exceptional cases, we purposefully limited bands to one song on the list in order to spread the wealth and under the theory that many of the bands whose other songs might have warranted inclusion had already received world-wide recognition via our Top 11 Albums of 2010. That’s a joke, son, but them’s the guidelines.
1. The Suburbs—Arcade Fire
You could pick just about any song off of Arcade Fire’s Album of the Year, “The Suburbs,” whether it be Suburban War, Deep Blue, We Used to Wait, Sprawl II, or The Suburbs (continued), or whichever song sent you running from the suburbs. We’ll go with the piano-driven title track, which set the tone for all that would follow. The Suburbs came delivered in the cool new and inventive player below. All hail Arcade Fire.
Inspirational Verse (in homage to the self-dubbed “Dean of American Rock Critics,” Robert Christgau, though he overlooks Greil Marcus) : “Grab your mother’s keys, we’re leavin’…I’m movin’ past the feeling and into the night.”
2. Terrible Love (Alternative Take)–The National
Here again, you could have taken virtually any song off of their fine album, “High Violet.” But we’ll gloss over Afraid of Everyone, Anyone’s Ghost, England, Bloodbuzz Ohio, Lemonworld, England and Conversation 16, and go with the alternate take of Terrible Love that was released well after the album’s release. They got it really right this time and better-conveyed the sound of the song live. Check out the video below of the song, which gives a good flavor for the band and their live show. And then listen again while not watching. Powerful stuff.
Inspirational Verse: “It takes an ocean not to break!”
3. Vesuvius–Sufjan Stevens
From an album (“Age of Adz”) that gave us so many great songs (yes even the 25-minute Impossible Soul), including I Walked and Too Much, we’ll go with Vesuvius. Sufjan Stevens 2.0 is conveyed perfectly in this song. It starts sounding like the old “banjo-and-hush” Sufjan, and then slowly moves into the new Sufjan motif, along the way tossing in Paul Simon-esque flutes and eventually blazing the repeated choruses and the singer’s new battle cry. Levitation then follows.
Inspirational Verse: “Sufjan, follow your heart, follow the flame, or fall in the floor.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/08-Vesuvius.mp3|titles=08 Vesuvius]4. When We Were Young–Hosannas
We raved about this song previously and we’re sticking to rave. The band and producer John Askew nailed the updated-Joy Division-meets-Go-Go’s gestalt. It’s all there: the Joy Division synth, drum and bass backdrop, slathered with Brandon Laws’ glorious, first-chair guitar. Hosannas in the highest.
Inspirational verse: “When we were young we would move to this beat; I guess we would move ’cause we needed release.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/When-We-Were-Young.mp3|titles=When We Were Young]
5. Fireplace–Lost in the Trees
This is another great song that we hailed earlier by Lost in The Trees, the up-and-coming Chapel Hill band. We’re adhering to our earlier accolades. The jury’s still out on this band long-term since not every song on their first album can carry the weight and worth of this song, which is an anthem for the ages.
Inspirational Verse: “Cut the weight of what is too sharp to hold. So surround yourself with good people. I know it’s painful, but we can stand.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Fireplace.mp3|titles=Fireplace]
6. What Did My Lover Say?–Wolf Parade
This Wolf Parade song came blasting into our ears in September and stayed in replay rotation for months. And still it persists. And to think we originally thought this was a Killers/Brandon song. As we said in October, we loved the chorus and the stanza which Spencer Krug ends at 2:53 with his mocking “la la lala la la lala!!” That’s voracious verve.
Inspirational Verse: “I got a friend who’s a genius, nobody listens to him, I got some friends that got famous, la la lala la la lala!”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/07-What-Did-My-Lover-Say-It-Always-Had-To-Go-This-Way.mp3|titles=07 What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way)]
7. Numbers Don’t Lie–Mynabirds
This song by The Mynabirds kicked off summer for us with its throwback piano, soul, a bit of grit, and vocals that recalled Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Gentry and other 60s singers. And all of it was given the perfect setting by rising producer Richard Swift (Damien Jurado, etc.).
Inspirational Verse: “You said, ‘One and one and one and one is three,’ But I know my lines and my graphs and my math, Honey that ain’t me.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Numbers-Dont-Lie1.mp3|titles=Numbers Don’t Lie]
8. Camera Talk—Local Natives
Local Natives have escaped and gone world-wide this year, receiving huzzahs from around the indie globe. We agree and had confirmation when they came to town in September. Camera Talk is just one of many great pop songs off of “Gorilla Manor.” But it’s the first that caught our intention. We loved the inventive song structure and harmonized chorus.
Inspirational Verse: “We’ll all be leaving with a broken heart, wallets empty and we’re back at start.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Camera-Talk1.mp3|titles=02 Camera Talk]
9. Love More—Sharon Van Etten
We’ll admit that we didn’t catch on to Van Etten until November. But this epic song grabbed us by the lapels and compelled us to listen. Anything even remotely related to The Antlers is alright by us.
Inspirational Verse: “And she took the time to believe in, to believe in what she said, and she made me love she made me love she made me love more.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/LoveMore.mp3|titles=LoveMore]
10. You’re Not Alone–Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples got hold of Jeff Tweedy (or vice versa) and the two lifted each other on a great record this year. The title song, written by Tweedy, is emblematic of the worth of this joint venture.
Inspirational Verse: “A broken home, a broken heart, isolated and afraid, open up, this is a raid, I wanna get it through to you, you’re not alone.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/You_Are_Not_Alone.mp3|titles=You_Are_Not_Alone]
11. Baby Birch–Joanna Newsom
This year we received a majestic three-disc album from Joanna Newsom and then caught and were enraptured by her performance in July at the Lobero. Newsom’s talent, compositions and delivery are awe-inspiring. She is this generation’s enfante terrible. She’s also not the first you think of when you think of songs of the year because of her song-lengths and complex and difficult compositions. But we couldn’t keep her off the list. Baby Birch is representative of Newsom’s great songs and at 6:22 takes off and cries pop-song wolf.
Inspirational Verse: ““When it was dark, I called and you came, When it was dark, I saw shapes, When I see stars, I feel, in your hand, and I see stars, and I reel, again.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/1-06-Baby-Birch-1.mp3|titles=1-06 Baby Birch 1]12. Odessa–Caribou
Caribou offered up post-modern, re-imagined disco with aplomb this year. Their song, Odessa, set the standard in that genre despite its downcast lyrics. On Odessa we hear their updated disco with added squawking-vocal effects, scratch- guitar, and polyrhythmic triangle/cowbell/wood playing, and all anchored by a bounteous bassline.
Inspirational Verse: “Taking it slow, saving up, before she knows it, all I ask before she goes home, she’s tired of crying, and sick of his lies, she’ s suffered him for far too many years of her life.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Track17_Caribou_Odessa.mp3|titles=Track17_Caribou_Odessa]
13. The Mermaid Parade–Phosphorescent
Phosphorescent delivered a phenomenal album this year, and though there were some other song contenders from “Here’s To Taking It Easy,” the song, The Mermaid Parade, paraded its wares more than the other song-floats.
Inspirational Verse: “Now our hearts were on fire, Only two weeks ago, And our bodies were like live wires, Down on the beach in Mexico, But I came back to this city, And you stayed home in LA, And then our two years of marriage, In two short weeks somehow just slipped away.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/The-Mermaid-Parade.mp3|titles=The Mermaid Parade]
14. Blood--The Middle East
We were presently surprised when we caught Australia’s The Middle East open at shows on consecutive nights in April. Their live act throws strikes right down the middle, and we were duly impressed. Especially impressive is their song Blood and it’s tales of lives and loss and resolve. But Blood must be seen live to fully appreciate it. There are moments in the song when they even match Arcade Fire’s grandeur with their horns and strings blazing. We especially like the spectral chorus beginning at 3:24.
Inspirational Verse: “And you’ll find somebody you can blame, and you’ll follow the creek that runs out into the sea, and you’ll find the peace of the Lord.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/17-Blood1.mp3|titles=17 Blood]
Check it out live:
15. Starting Over–Typhoon
This large and dynamic Oregon band came out of nowhere this past summer and stormed onto our jukebox. Opening song, Starting Over, started the proceedings well with its sparseness, harmonies (at 1:21 for example), entry of the horns (at 2:06) and build, and then abrupt back-off. Dynamism.
Inspirational Verse: “I left the car running, in the case that I hear, the cavalry coming”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Starting-Over-Bad-Habits.mp3|titles=01 Starting Over (Bad Habits)]
For added effect, check out the video of the band performing the song below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tP9f4CCH38
16. What’s In It For?–Avi Buffalo
We caught the young and inventive band, Avi Buffalo, in April at the late, great Jensen’s Main Stage. Their songs feature complex, extraordinary chords and key changes, with Shins-esque vocals thrown in intermittently and superb musicianship that belies their young ages. There are a bevy of great songs on their eponymous debut record, but What’s In It For? gives a great glimpse of this band and into its future.
Inspirational Verse: “I can read but I won’t if I’m sleeping here without you.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Whats-In-It-For_.mp3|titles=02 What’s In It For_]
17. Change of Time–Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter riddled the musical ranks with another round of well-wrought songs with the release of his album, “So Runs the World Away.” Change of Time is our pick of the Ritter song litter from that record.
Inspirational Verse: “I had a dream last night, and when I opened my eyes, your shoulder blade, your spine, were shorelines in the moon light.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Change-Of-Time.mp3|titles=02 Change Of Time]
>18. Don’t Do It–Sharon Van Etten
As we said above, we were smitten by Van Etten in between courses at Thanksgiving. We love this epic song from her album “epic.” Van Etten holds great promise for the future, and we will be sure to keep track of her. Don’t Do It smacks of a desperate plea to a downtrodden soul (“Look me in the eyes, say you can’t do it”). Van Etten sings well of the pain and frustration, ultimately ending in resigned resolve (“I wish I could make you right”). And all the while, the song builds and builds.
Inspirational Verse: “Want to take you outside, want to show you the sky, to remind you why you shouldn’t.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/dontdoit.mp3|titles=dontdoit]
19. Hannah--Freelance Whales
We are partial to all things Hannah, and so were immediately drawn to this musical confection. We caught Freelance Whales at Jensen’s Main Stage earlier this year, and though they had good stage presence, they’ve got some originality yet to invent. But it’s hard not to like the bouncy gem of a song, Hannah.
Inspirational Verse: “And if you’re partial to the night sky, if you’re vaguely attracted to rooftops.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Hannah.mp3|titles=02 Hannah]
20. Cloudy Shoes–Damien Jurado
We treasured this year’s Damien Jurado record, “St. Barlett,” which was produced with authority by Richard Swift. And the opener, Cloudy Shoes, kicked things off perfectly. We love the Flaming Lips-meets-Lennon musical landscape.
Inspirational Verse: “One day you will be taller, taller than the sky, until that day you will be, here with us below.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Track-01-5.mp3|titles=01 Track 01 5]
21. Dance Yrself Clean–LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem put out probably its best album, “This is Happening,” with the threat that it would be their last. We’ll see about that. The album had a bountiful song list, but we favored the comparatively open and spare Dance Yrself Clean that segued into a great dance song.
Inspirational Verse: “Every night’s a different story, it’s a thirty car pile-up with you, everybody’s getting younger, it’s the end of an era, it’s true.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Dance-Yrself-Clean.mp3|titles=01 Dance Yrself Clean]
22. Mixtape–Tift Merrit
Tift Merrit merits serious musical attention. She’s delivered great records and songs for a decade and gone somewhat unsung recently after an early round of notoriety. Her latest record, “See You On The Moon,” is filled with great songs, her veritas voice, and a warm sound provided by Producer Tucker Martine (not to mention Jim James’ harmony vocals on a cut or two). We naturally glommed onto the song Mixtape from the record. What music-geek wouldn’t love a song relating a relationship to a musical mix-tape? Merrit and Martine give the song a Muscle Shoals sound that is rolling, gentle and soul-infused. Bravo!
Inspirational Verse: Because the whole song smacks of our lives, we couldn’t isolate just one verse, so below is the entire song.
“You, how did you get so wise?
I take the advice I find in your eyes.
Me, I’ve been waiting outside
Most of my life,
Oh like a rare b-side.
I’m just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we’re lovers,
And here under the jacket folds inside,
I’ve taped my heart for you to find.
To find the perfect way,
Which album to say,
I la la love you.
With this plastic cassette,
It’s not finished yet,
It’s gonna tell you slowly.
I’m just making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Strings and drawings show we’re lovers,
When you’re driving around in the summertime,
To hear again, just press rewind.
Rewind, the world comes to an end,
Turns over again,
Another 1000 times.
But me, I’ll be the same.
No, I never change,
Oh, like a rare B-side.
I’ll be making you mixtapes with homemade covers.
Analog to show we’re lovers,
So much rock and roll love in a plastic case,
Play it loudly, see my face.
I’m just making you mixtapes with homemade covers,
Mazzy Star, Donovan’s “Colors”,
Just an audio love letter painted blue,
I spent all day making for you.
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/05-Mixtape.mp3|titles=05 Mixtape]
23. Further–Correatown
We have known the talented Angela Correa for a decade, first encountering her in duet with the equally talented Tom Brosseau and in their collaboration, Les Shelleys. Correa has also produced some great songs solo (Paper Airplanes, etc.) and under the rubric “Correatown.” In October, Correatown released the song Further, which is the first song off of a phenomenal new album (“Pleiades”) that will be released in 2011. Angela and Les Shelleys have previously played in the folk/country/standards space so Further caught us off-guard. Correatown has gone back to the analog-synth sound of the 80s (think The Sundays) and crafted a great song and record that pays tribute and elevates anew the genre.
Inspirational Verse: “We have a fascination with the darkness, although we’re standing in light, we have the strongest sense of kindness, but still we can’t treat our own selves right, we have so much love but we need so much more.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/02-Further.mp3|titles=02 Further]
24. Heart to Tell–The Love Language
We caught The Love Language when they opened up for Local Natives, and were immediately in love with their live language. They put on an emphatic show live and introduced us to an entourage of fine songs, not least of which is the song Heart to Tell.
Inspirational Verse: “I need a flame and she’s a water bearer, now I’m rubbing sticks out in the rain, well it’s just trial and error.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Heart-To-Hell.mp3|titles=01 Heart To Hell]
And check out a gratuitous video of the song live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0SCBuMwzMg&feature=player_embedded
25. Open Your Doors–Hosannas
We couldn’t keep an additional Hosannas song off our Top Songs list, and this song is a bookend of sorts to our #4 song, the Hosannas’ When We Were Young. Instead of the Joy Division gestalt of that song, Open Your Doors opens with Satie-like piano notes that also echo Debussy’s “Preludes.” And then the direct, haiku-like lyrics and the Laws brothers’ harmonies are added. And then the glorious horns enter. And finally Pinback-like guitar work is added to the mix. A beauty.
Inspirational Verse: “Now I am sure, our future here requires you endure, I have always been inspired by your never-ceasing fire.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/08-Open-Your-Doors.mp3|titles=08 Open Your Doors]
26. Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix)–Florence and the Machine
Florence and her Machine have had their way with the musical world this year, diving deep into the Kate Bush/Bjork source. She wowed us with her performances on the awards shows and elsewhere, and her song, Cosmic Love, which was given a great twist by Short Club on this version. Check it out.
Inspirational Verse: “The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out, you left me in the dark, no dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight, in the shadow of your heart.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Cosmic_Love_Short_Club_Remix.mp3|titles=Cosmic_Love_Short_Club_Remix]
27. On Melancholy Hill–Gorillaz
Gorillaz ganged up on the musical world this year with their great and garrulous record, “Plastic Beach.” Though it was hard to pick our favorite song off the album, we’ll go with the soulful melancholy of On Melancholy Hill.
Inspirational Verse: “Up on melancholy hill, there’s a plastic tree, are you here with me? Just looking out on the day of another dream, where you can’t get what you want, but you can get me.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/10-On-Melancholy-Hill.mp3|titles=10 On Melancholy Hill]
28. Coquet, Coquette–Of Montreal
Of Montreal wowed as usual with their stellar album, “False Priest,” their 14th. Our pick of the song-litter was the coquettish, bass-cavalcade, Coquet, Coquette. Turn up the bass and let ‘er rip.
Inspirational Verse: “I don’t want to catch you with some other guy’s face under your eyelids, something must be wrong, you give me emotional artifacts that can find no purchase.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Coquet_Coquette.mp3|titles=Coquet_Coquette]
29. Tom Cruz–Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals released their album “La La Land” this year, resulting in our being planted in our musical chair a good part of the year with this album on repeat. Record opener, Tom Cruz, is a fine introduction to this record, with its slow rise to anthem proportions. If this band can find a lyricist or seriously hone their wordsmithing skills, Plants and Animals will grow big. Their music and vocals are that good.
Inspirational Verse: “My enemies are helping me, my enemies are changing me.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Tom-Cruz.mp3|titles=01 Tom Cruz]
30. Norway–Beach House
We caught Beach House live in Santa Barbara in mid-April, and felt the band was beached and bloated despite their only being a duo. Until they add other members, we recommend they stay at home and continue to write stellar songs, such as Norway, off of their critically acclaimed “Teen Dream” album. We love the woozy guitar and drums sound.
Inspirational Verse: “Where you thinking that you gotta run to now, with the beating of a tiny heart? Hang on to the things that you’re supposed to say, billions of stars they open to your fate.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/18-Norway.mp3|titles=18 Norway]
31. Big Jet Plane–Angus and Julia Stone
Siblings Angus and Julia Stone delivered a soulful album this year with “Down The Way”. One of the catchier songs off that record was Big Jet Plane, which featured a rare (for this duo) bounding bass line that properly propelled and relayed a jet-fueled relationship.
Inspirational Verse: “Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/04-Big-Jet-Plane.mp3|titles=04 Big Jet Plane]
32. Self!–Deep Cotton
Deep Cotton took us by surprise with their hilarious and poignant song Self! that led off this year’s Believer Magazine Music Issue. With a tip of the musical hat to the Tom Tom Club, the Wondaland crowd delivered yet again.
Inspirational Verse: “Self! Extra points if your shadow hasn’t put in for a transfer…Self! Extra points if you thought this game was going to end differently now, with two children, a house, and an electric car.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/01-Self.mp3|titles=01 Self!]
33. The Weekenders–The Hold Steady
2010 marked the first time we succumbed to the hold of The Hold Steady. Their fine record, “Heaven is Whenever,” was released and the subtle maturation of the band and its sound on the record finally took us in. We particularly liked The Weekenders with its tale and big chorus and harmonies.
Inspirational Verse: “So if it has to be a secret, then I guess that I can deal with it, God only knows it’s not always a positive thing, to see a few seconds into the future, and if you swear to keep it decent, then yeah I’ll come and see you, but it’s not gonna be like in romantic comedies, in the end I bet no one learns a lesson.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/03-The-Weekenders.mp3|titles=03 The Weekenders]
34. And the World Laughs With You–Flying Lotus (with Thom Yorke)
Flying Lotus dominated the electronica genre this year. Thom Yorke of Radiohead joined the proceedings for And The World Laughs With You.
Inspirational Verse: “I need to know you’re out there, need to know you’re listening.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/07-…And-the-World-Laughs-With-You.mp3|titles=07 …And the World Laughs With You]
35. I Think Ur a Contra–Vampire Weekend
We had the misfortune of catching Vampire Weekend live in a small club late last year. Simply put it was amongst the most disappointing shows of this or any other year. We, like everyone, loved their first record and its worldly pop sounds. Unfortunately, the vampires had clearly had their way with this band live, and the lifeless show left us deadened to the band and predicting a slumping sophomore record in 2010. And for the most part we stand by that prediction. Their second record, “Contra,” was for us a re-tread and mere shell of the first record (Horchata? Really, guys? Come on!). No matter how much we dis-liked the record, however, we couldn’t dismiss the song, I Think Ur a Contra, which got stuck in our craws.
Inspirational Verse: “My revolution thoughts, your little arrows of desire, I want to trace them to the source, and the wire.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/10-I-Think-Ur-A-Contra-1.mp3|titles=10 I Think Ur A Contra 1]
36. Away from Home (live on State Street)–Honey Child
One of the most enjoyable and uplifting performances of the year was the seemingly impromptu version of LA band, Honey Child’s, Away from Home, performed live on State Street. This rave version, done live with just piano and group vocals, was sensational.
Inspirational Verse: “You can’t embrace my call, break my heart and break my soul tonight.”
37. I Heart California–Admiral Radley
We loved this ode of sorts to California by the newly formed Admiral Radley (consisting of Jason Lytle of Grandaddy and other bands’ refugees).
Inspirational Verse: “I am California… yeah, ice tea in my hair, drugs fall out of diaper bags, as Midwesterners stare.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/04-I-Heart-California.mp3|titles=04 I Heart California]
38. Swimming–Breathe Owl Breath
We had not heard this Michigan band until this year, but are thankful to finally meet Breathe Owl Breathe’s acquaintance thanks to their new record, “Magic Central.” We loved their song Swimming, with its arresting musical anodyne and sigh for simpler times. It also hearkens back to one of our favorite bands, Little Wings, and its leader, Kyle Field.
Inspirational Verse: “Somewhere in the well-kept secrets, I’ll never tell where the rope swing is, where to hold on, where to let go, you’ll never hit bottom, you’ll never grow tired, of this wonder, you’re underwater.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/17-Swimming.mp3|titles=17 Swimming]
39. Fuego–Bomba Estereo
Smokin’ five-piece Colombian band, Bomba Estereo, fired up the airwaves this year (though their album, “Blow Up,” was technically released in 2009) with their mix of traditional Caribbean rhythms, Brazilian and Jamaican music. Fuego is an excellent example of this band’s multiple layers and influences, with reggae featured prominently and Liliana throwing American hip-hop lyrics over the top. It’ll get you movin’.
Inspirational Verse: “Que aquí viene Bomba Estéreo, viene con too’, chapeta reggae music, cumbia y folclor, ¡C’mon!, que es un poder que, es una bomba atómica, un poco de folclor con música electrónica.”
[audio:https://www.thelefortreport.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Fuego.mp3|titles=Fuego]
40. Tightrope–Janelle Monae
Saving one of the best for last, Janelle Monae lit America up this year with her album “The ArchAndroid.” With assists along the way from Outkast and Diddy, Monae has developed into the shining light in the current pantheon of American soul music. Check out her stunning performance of Tightrope on the Letterman Show.
Dec
Janelle Monae and Wondaland
in Music
We’ve been off compiling and compressing to weed the unwieldy Top Songs and Concerts of 2010. Soon came as they say…. In the meantime, if you’ve looked at any of the other Top Music of 2010 lists, you undoubtedly have seen mention of the supremely talented Janelle Monae. We wrote about her phenomenally talented and philanthropic Wondaland Arts Society earlier this year in the context of Believer’s 2010 Music Issue.
And now we thought we’d pass along some instant gratification, courtesy of the mega-talented Ms. Monae. She’s got it all folks. Check out her performance on Letterman (and in particular her voice, her dance moves beginning at around the two-minute mark, and the James Brown cape act that closes things out). After the Letterman video, check out her impressive cover of Smile . She is going to light it up for years to come.
