Thursday, January 13, 2011

What I listened to in 2010, Part One: New

I usually spend the first few weeks of the new year every year toying with the idea of doing a post about the music of the last year. And I usually end up giving it up because I start to realize some of my favorite albums that I listened to over the year were actually, technically, from the year before and that all these end of the year lists (on sites like emusic and Pitchfork) have a bunch of stuff on them that I haven't had a chance to listen to yet. But this year I'm thinking Why not? I'll just post about some of my favorites from my listening this year regardless of their actual release dates. Part One focuses on artists that were pretty much new to me this year, in no particular order. I tried to find links to online streams of the full album where I could, though I don't know how long those will be available, so listen soon! If I couldn't find that I have a link to the band's site instead where you should at least be able to find some samples of their music.

 
Breathe Owl Breathe - Magic Central  Stream Here
Last time I saw my aunt she was talking about enjoying Breathe Owl Breathe live, and mentioned their campaign over on kickstarter. We have their EP Ghost Glacier, so I wasn't entirely unfamiliar with them, but I really got into them with this album. It appeals to me for the same reasons I am a big fan of Bill Callahan/Smog.

Karaocake - Rows & Stitches Stream Here
I was convinced by an interview on e-music, the cover art and the title, seemingly very crafty-ish.  Also helpful was the suggestion that they were similar to Au Revoir Simone and the fact that they are from Paris, France.

  
Blue Giant - Blue Giant Stream Here
When I heard Portland locals Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson of Viva Voce had a new project, right around the time we moved here, I looked into to it as soon as I could! We saw those two live at least twice when we lived in Seattle and just like their music, they are a lot of fun.

Lykke Li - Youth Novels Website (there is a pop out audio player on the upper right)
I take it this actually came out all the way back in 2008, but I only got around to listening to it last year. Well...I don't have all that long to wait then for the next album from her, which should be coming out this March.

 

The xx - xx Website (a player at the bottom of the page)
I'm actually not sure there was anything in particular that prompted me to make this one of my emusic downloads other than the fact that it was showing up high in their charts and I liked the previews. It's one of my favorites now though, though technically released in 2009. I guess they won the Mercury prize this year, which as I recall Antony & the Johnsons won right around when I was first hearing their music.

Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here Stream Here
The title comes from a cover of on of Bill Callahan/Smog's songs...and even though the original is also very close to spoken word, something about Heron's presentation makes me think about the meaning differently. But even excluding that track, this album from the Chicago poet/musician is definitely worth several listens.

 

The Mynabirds - What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood 
Website (the music section has a few tracks & videos)

Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks Stream Here
These two albums are a little similar in my mind, perhaps a slight vintage feel. On Karen Elson's Album you get the distinct Jack White sound since she's his wife. She does draw in some cabaret influences (she had a cabaret group in NYC) and was much better than I expected. 

 
Veviter - Tight Knit Stream Here
This is from 2009, but we listened to it a lot early this year. We saw Devandra Banhart for my birthday in 2009 and a few of the songs from this album were performed at that show. And again with the crafty title. I think it got a few extra listens just for that. No, it's a good album, and I like it more because that show was a particularly good one.

Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now Website (see LISTEN in the upper left)
I was looking forward to this because I really like Jenny Lewis, but I'm not quite as crazy about it as I hoped I would be. It's alright, but can't help but wishing for more Jenny and less Johnny every time we listen to it.

 
Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid Stream Here
I've read about some shows she did in Chicago this year, and I heard she's great live, I would like to see here. As I recall there was a comparison of her performance to Grace Jones, David Bowie and a few other really great people. Every photo I see of Janeele Monáe, her style clothing, hair, etc. is just so cool. I'm still enamoured of everything about the video for Tightrope, love the dance moves. But I also really love the fact that her tuxedo pants and black and white shoes remind me of some clothing I had as a kid.

The Living Sisters - Love to Live Website on facebook (a few tracks, scroll down, see left)
3 musicians I already liked: Inara George of The Bird & The Bee, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond and singer Eleni Mandell sing harmony on this album. I have to admit I haven't actually given the album itself a listen yet, but I was quite charmed by their performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic (a program from L.A.'s KCRW which I've been listening to online while I work since 2002.) and I've given it a few listens.

Tomorrow I was planning on posting about some the albums that came out in 2010 from artists I already knew and like quite a bit, but I don't think it will be quite as extensive as this post was! Whew!

50 comments:

Leslie said...

Yeah Breathe Owl Breathe. We got to see them in Tucson 2 months ago touring "Magic Central"--it was great.

Unknown said...

I was just reading that they played a Portland event called the Pickathon wearing capes! They must put on a fun live show. http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2010/03/breathe_owl_breathe_is_charmin.html

Unknown said...

Here's that link again:Oregon Live Article

Anonymous said...

tramadol online pharmacy tramadol dosage migraines - tramadol rx purchase

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol dosage extended release - tramadol otc

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol dosage dogs 50mg - tramadol 50 mg price

Anonymous said...

xanax online what xanax pills look like - xanax 1mg half life

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100 mg tramadol online cod payment - buy tramadol online mastercard

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol hcl muscle relaxer - tramadol hcl 50mg get you high

Anonymous said...

buy carisoprodol cod carisoprodol and weed - carisoprodol soma uses

Anonymous said...

cialis tadalafil buy generic cialis online australia - get cialis online

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis 80 mg price - cialis coupon offer

Anonymous said...

xanax online can i buy xanax online legally - generic xanax ( by gador - alplax)

Anonymous said...

cheap cialis cialis and viagra - generic cialis kopen

Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax buy online mastercard - xanax withdrawal can't sleep

Anonymous said...

cialis online pharmacy viagra cialis online order - buy cialis without doctor prescription usa

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis online prescription - buy cialis mississauga

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online generic cialis canadian - cialis 72 hours

Anonymous said...

xanax online onax 2mg xanax quality - xanax withdrawal medication

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis online paypal - cialis online+toronto

Anonymous said...

cialis 20mg cialis 40 mg - order cialis online mastercard

Anonymous said...

xanax online pictures generic xanax bars - xanax withdrawal librium

Anonymous said...

cialis online cialis daily for men - buy cialis generic online cheap

Anonymous said...

cialis online buy cialis online usa - buy cialis sydney

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online safely buy viagra cialis online - buy cheap cialis no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight shipping tramadol addiction in gaza - tramadol hcl powder

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol cheap no prescription tramadol iv - tramadol overdose damage

Anonymous said...

learn how to buy tramdadol 50 mg tramadol lot - kind medicine tramadol hcl

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol 100mg - tramadol online no prescription needed

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online purchase klonopin online no prescription - klonopin how long does it last

Anonymous said...

klonopin buy klonopin euphoria dose - complications of klonopin overdose

Anonymous said...

cheap tramadol online tramadol 50 mg is equal to - tramadol hcl usa

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online generic equivalent klonopin - klonopin dosage panic

Anonymous said...

buy generic klonopin can you overdose klonopin die - klonopin dosage dosage

Anonymous said...

order tramadol no prescription generic tramadol extended release - tramadol dosage nz

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg half life - ok take 2 tramadol 50 mg

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online high effects of klonopin - roche klonopin 2mg

Anonymous said...

http://www.integrativeonc.org/adminsio/buyklonopinonline/#use 6 mg klonopin erowid - possible buy klonopin online

Anonymous said...

tramadol 100mg can you buy tramadol in usa - tramadol and ibuprofen

Anonymous said...

ativan medication ativan overdose management - can you buy ativan online

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg what is carisoprodol 350 mg tablet for - carisoprodol pregnancy

Anonymous said...

alprazolam drug generic xanax orange round - alprazolam 0.5 mg tablet color

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online reviews - tramadol withdrawal thomas recipe

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol ultram hcl - can i order tramadol online legally

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg soma carisoprodol 350 mg - listaflex carisoprodol 350 mg para que sirve

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg carisoprodol usa - order carisoprodol online no prescription

Anonymous said...

http://ranchodelastortugas.com/#72895 xanax dosage dogs weight - street cost 1mg xanax

Anonymous said...

When I originally commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox
and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove people from that
service? Thanks a lot!

My webpage; opticanueva.com

Anonymous said...

Quality content is the important to interest the users to
pay a visit the web site, that's what this site is providing.

Look into my homepage: prophetuebertangel.me.uk

Anonymous said...

Youг oωn wгite-up feаtures eѕtablished helpful to mysеlf.

It’ѕ quіte useful and уou really are
naturаlly reallу knowledgeable in this aгеa.
You get ορenеd up our eyes to numerous opinion of this ѕubject matter
using intriquing, notablе and sound artіclеs.


Mу web site :: rls.se