It's Official: My Favorites of 2010

Well, this has been a work in progress, but I am ready to make it official: here are my 10 favorite albums of 2010.

1. The National - High Violet

I am an admitted late-comer to The National. I know they have a few albums under their belt (which I have subsequently gone back to and now love), but for some reason I was unable to grasp their music until High Violet. And actually, I wasn't crazy about the first single ("Bloodbuzz, Ohio"). It wasn't until I heard the track "England" that I was hooked. The way the piano builds along with the drums is mesmerizing, and when the drums fully kick in they provide a simple backbeat that is juuuust enough to take the music to the next level until the end of the song. The simplicity of interweaving parts throughout the album and the discipline of the drummer barely using cymbals makes everything sound tight. High Violet is a damn near perfectly crafted album, and I will be listening to it for years to come.

2. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

One day last summer I was out for a run, and "Burden of Tomorrow" came on my iPod. While some tracks by The Tallest Man On Earth might not be the best workout/running music, that song hit it right on the head. From there I explored the rest of the album and could not stop listening. Kristian Matsson's melodies are infectious and, despite it being your classic dude-with-a-guitar set-up, the entire album is compelling and will leave you digging deeper into his catalog. The Wild Hunt (along with another EP, Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird, released later in 2010) is an album that fits a variety of situations and moods, and am looking forward to more music down the road from The Tallest Man On Earth.

3. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Ever since their residency at LA's Spaceland in August of 2009 I have been excited to a) see this band live and b) get my hands on their debut album. I accomplished the former goal a few times (Holocene & Doug Fir with Edward Sharpe in 2009 and then a heading gig at Mississippi Studios in 2010), and their live show is stellar. Multiple harmonies, syncopated rhythms, lush guitars and accented keyboards are all blended perfectly on stage, and all five members are clearly having a GREAT time playing the songs. Fortunately, all of that translates into a great debut album - still full of the energy from their live show with a few added studio nuances to make it all the more enjoyable. These guys have been on the road since about September 2009, and I hope it continues to pay off. Check out their blog for road stories and pictures, and go listen to Gorilla Manor: it's terrific.

4. Tame Impala - InnerSpeaker

Thanks to Rachel Reynolds and KCRW for turning me on to this band in their Artist You Should Know series. These Aussies came through Portland recently and rocked Doug Fir - you can read my blog post below this one - but before that, InnerSpeaker immediately got my attention with the reverbed guitars, lazy vocal delivery and scratchy lead lines. Take "Lucidity" as an example. Vocals start in at the beginning, and they are layered over the top of a strong beat, washed out guitars and looooong drum fills. As soon as I heard this track I knew I was in for a treat, and I also force fed it to any of my friends who would listen. Fortunately, they all agreed: this band rules. Tame Impala manage to make music that sounds like it is from the 70's, but they update it with current effects and a laid back attitude of awesomeness. I'm hooked.

5. Delta Spirit - History From Below

Well, Ode To Sunshine was fantastic, and History From Below is the natural follow-up. The songs are crafted in much the same way, but Delta Spirit are heavier on the rocknroll this time around. A friend made the comment that it sounds like Delta Spirit made this album thinking about how the songs would be played live, meaning everything is unnecessarily just a liiiiittle bit louder, but I think it sounds great. There are tasty licks all over this album, and particularly on "Golden State," my favorite track. Delta Spirit played Doug Fir a few days after the release of this album, and not only did the show sound incredible, but the energy was just up up up up the whole time - a perfect compliment to a great album.

6. Gospel Claws - C.L.A.W.S.

This one caught me by surprise...in October. Thanks to my hosting a music block for opbmusic, I have access to a nice, concise list of new releases each week. Well, on October 26, 2010, Gospel Claws released C.L.A.W.S. and I thought it proper to play a track during my set. I want you to experience it the way I did, so do me a favor: go here and listen to "Walk Me Down." Then come back. ... I'll wait, go ahead. ... Okay. Is that not one of the more killer songs you've heard all year? I mean seriously. "Walk me down / doo doo doo doo doo doo walk me down / ooh ooh ooh." AWESOME. And the album maintains that strength through the remaining 10 songs. The vocals remind me of early Bono mixed with Band of Horses (in a good way), but the music has more balls. If you're in the mood for some solid, catchy rock, go for Gospel Claws.

7. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

This is another one that snuck up on me. A friend mentioned seeing them during the summer and said they were great, so I bought the album on that recommendation. Turns out it was a good move. Mumford & Sons sound as though they could be an American bluegrass band who secretly listened to rock and roll while totally digging on Irish jigs. The best tracks build to an epic chorus/ending full of four-on-the-floor bass drum, jangly banjo and soaring vocal lines, but all of the songs are good. "Little Lion Man" or "The Cave" are good places to start, and, as long as you're into that, you'll enjoy the rest of the album.

8. Boy Eats Drum Machine - 20 Beats

Jon Ragel IS Boy Eats Drum Machine, and I think he is one of the most creative solo artists I have ever seen. Not only does he play nearly everything you hear, but he also has a sweet live set-up: twin screens at the back of the stage onto which all of his hand movements are projected from the turntable & Kaoss pad he plays through. Oh, and there's a drum and a saxophone he plays live as well. And singing too. All of those musical elements - minus the singing - are presented on 20 Beats, and they showcase BEDM at his best. As you might have guessed, there are 20 tracks on the LP, and it's a great mix of the beat-based, synth-lead hip-hop Jon Ragel does best.

9. Garotas Suecas - Escaldante Banda

"Swedish Girls" is the exact translation of Garotas Suecas. And that has nothing to do with the band, really. Garotas Suecas were first put on my radar by Ms. Carrie Brownstein, and I have been dying to see them live and/or get some of their music ever since. 2010 was the year for both. Garotas Suecas played MusicFestNW this year, and I, along with about 40 other lucky people, watched this band turn Ash St. Saloon from a room full of I'm-going-to-stand-here-and-analyze-this-show into a room full of everyone-needs-to-be-shaking-their-ass-NOW! Their music is tough to categorize, but I would call it their own Brazilian style of funk/rock/pop you can't help but groove to. The band is relaxed on stage, but the output is...well...FUN. Like Carrie says in her blog post: "Garotas Suecas shouldn't merely be listened to or witnessed; they should be absorbed."

10. Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

Sun Airway is another group I discovered late in the year, and they arrived almost simultaneously via opbmusic and KEXP. "Shimmering electronica" is the way I would describe this album; there are certain effects that makes the songs shimmer, and the duo only uses electronic instruments. Almost every review or mention of this album makes an apt comparison to Animal Collective, but where Animal Collective tends to get too strange for me, Sun Airway keeps the song structures simple, the melodies basic and the music easy to listen to. There were a few other contenders for this #10 spot, but I picked Nocturne because it, moreso than others, has stayed with me ever since its release. Bottom line: if you liked Merriwether Post Pavilion, you'll love Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier.

What were your favorite albums of 2010?

Also, go submit your favorites for opbmusic's Listener Poll!

Tame Impala: Doug Fir Lounge, 12/11/10

For those who haven't heard Tame Impala, they are a fuzzed out, psychedelic rock band from Australia with atmospheric effects and dream-like vocal melodies. Their debut album, InnerSpeaker, was released earlier this year and it immediately drew me in. Seeing them live became the next test, and, after a bit of a slow start, they passed it successfully on Saturday night at Doug Fir. Some of the best shows I've seen this year - Delta Spirit, Jamie Lidell - have been at Doug Fir, and Tame Impala is now among them. Playing a majority of InnerSpeaker plus a totally rad cover of Massive Attack's "Angel" (see a decent YouTube clip here), the band sounded terrific and were musically completely satisfying.

I say "after a bit of a slow start" because the Aussie four-piece literally started the set a little slow. The first track from the album was the first song they played, but the tempo was about 2 clicks too slow; however, my worry that they would maintain the weed/beer-induced pace was quickly erased when they launched into Solitude Is Bliss. Immediately, the band was right in the pocket and kept the energy up through the rest of the hour and twenty minute set. Clearly impressed by the massive turnout - it was nearly sold out - the group constantly thanked the crowd and, once they were comfortable, looked like they were having a great time.

Lead singer Kevin Parker was even-keeled throughout the show except for a few drops to his knees to fiddle with pedals and a couple of guitar chops to accent some drum hits during Lucidity. Lead guitarist Dominic Simper had the mop-headed look of Jonny Greenwood and added lovely bits of flavor with his lead lines and effects. The drummer is aptly nicknamed "Gumby" due to the ease with which he finds his way around the drum kit. And the bass player looked a bit like Michael Cera, who just happened to be at the show.

The band didn't do much on stage, which would normally be frustrating for me, but the energy they put out fit perfectly with the attitude of the album. And sometimes it's just nice to hear the songs played perfectly, only with more energy and extending some bridges. All of the carefully crafted nuances from InnerSpeaker came through at Doug Fir, and, despite this being a relatively new band, these guys played like pros.

InnerSpeaker came in at #4 on my Favorites of 2010 list this year, and their show at Doug Fir only solidified that choice. Do yourself a favor and give Tame Impala a listen.

It should also be noted that Portland's Brainstorm opened the night, and easily won over the audience with their eclectic mix of raw indie rock and tuba. Yes, tuba. Brainstorm consists of two multi-instrumentalists: the drummer sings with a headset and plays synth on some tunes while the guitar player handles bass with the help of effects pedals, sings and also plays a tuba on a few tunes. They have a few shows coming up, and they are definitely worth checking out.

The Dears' New Album

For those who aren't familiar, The Dears are a rock band out of Montreal. Back in 2003 I was not familiar until my friend Gabi told me: "You will like this band. Go buy No Cities Left." I trust her taste, so I obeyed and, lo and behold, I LOVED No Cities Left. I was hooked.

The music is soaring, rocking, cinematic and atmospheric. The melodies are easily singable without being overly familiar. And the songs all combine to create incredible albums.

Well, The Dears have a new album coming in February 2011: Degeneration Street. To promote the album, they are doing a few things you should check out:

1) Free download of the song Blood. Click here, sign up and grab it.

2) The Dears are hosting weekly webcasts called Radio Degeneration. They are happening every Monday at 4pm PST on this website, and it is basically an hour or so of complete chaos with the band...in a good way. They play their favorite Dears tunes and preview new Dears tunes. Pretty cool.

Oh, and here's that single, Blood, performed live. NOW are you convinced?

www.thedears.org