Best albums of 2010
Massive Attack plays internet station KCRW
Massive Attack recently played KCRW. It was the first time these guy ever played on U.S. radio, according to the folks at the internet station. Here are a couple of clips, both songs from this year’s awesome Heligoland.
By the way, the station is in the midst of a fund-raising drive.
Happy birthday Punks!
My little blog is a year old today. In my first half month last May, I got 229 clicks, a number I easily passed my first day this month. My very first post was a take on Wilco’s then just-leaked album.
So here’s my take on 2010: We’re only a few months into this year but there are a number of strong albums already. While it’s a little early to declare best-of lists, my two favorite albums so far this year are Massive Attack’s Heligoland and Besnard Lakes’ The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night.
The list of my other top albums is pretty lengthy. I like releases by the National, the Hold Steady, Beach House, Titus Andronicus, Surfer Blood, Los Campesinos!, the Soft Pack, Golden Triangle, Liars, Caribou, Shearwater, Drive-By Truckers, Yeasayer and Charlotte Gainsbourg. I’m sure I’m forgetting at least a couple of others.
And This Is What We Call Progress – The Besnard Lakes
Girl I Love You (She is Danger Remix) – Massive Attack
A More Perfect Union – Titus Andronicus
Lollapalooza gets it wrong again
Maybe this is too obvious to point out but Lollapalooza’s headliners mostly suck. Can this festival that once championed new music become any more of a clueless, corporate money-making machine?
Lady Gaga? Really? Green Day? Soundgarden?
The Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot reports Arcade Fire and Strokes also may headline. It’s hard to say what the reunited Strokes will sound like. The Arcade Fire is the exception and is always amazing live.
Granted, Pitchfork snagged Pavement, and it’s not as though Lolla has been pure with indie spirit in recent years. But the Billboard chart-topping Lady Gaga is antithetical to what I thought Lollapalooza is or used to be about.
Just for the sake of comparison, look at the Sasquatch! headliners for that Memorial Day weekend festival: Pavement, Massive Attack and My Morning Jacket. The full line-up is unbelievable.
To be somewhat fair, we don’t have the full Lolla lineup yet.
And on the bright side: According to Kot, there are a few other non-headlining Lolla bands that we like here at ATYP. That list includes Yeasayer, Dirty Projectors, xx, Hot Chip and Cut Copy. All of this is unofficial so far.
Massive Attack leads strong release day
Massive Attack’s Heligoland is my top pick for new albums out Tuesday, a big day for strong releases.
I’m a little surprised at my own recommendation because I’ve never been a super huge fan of trip hop, but I can’t stop listening to Heligoland. It’s that good.
I also recommend Yeasayer’s Odd Blood and Hot Chip’s One Life Stand.
