5 Coolest Things I Did at SXSW

Ok, so pretend I posted this a month ago, when SXSW was still relevant.  But my band booked a gig down in Austin, TX during our spring break so we'd have an excuse to go to SXSW.  Turns out Austin is a kick-ass city and we came out with some pretty cool stories.  Here are the top five things that happened that made the 34 hours of driving to and from Austin worth it:

5. Watch Jack White play from outside of a bar

The cool thing about SXSW is that you don't necessarily need to buy a badge to enjoy lots of great shows.  The not so cool thing is that nearly every show is at a bar, which makes it difficult for us almost-21-year-olds to see all the cool shows.  However, we wouldn't have gotten into this show anyway, as the line for badge holders was far out the door.  Luckily, the stage was very close to some of the bar windows, so we could kinda sorta watch the almighty Jack White from outside.  Needless to say, his set was incredible.  Jack White was accompanied by an all new, all female band that added some fresh instrumentations and arrangements to classic songs such as "Hotel Yorba."  Not bad for a free show but hopefully I'll have better seats for Lollapalooza.

4. See M. Ward and the Shins for free

When we found out that one of the highest-profile shows of the week was absolutely free, we had no other choice but to go to see M. Ward and the Shins.  The concert was located on the opposite side of the river from Austin with the stage facing away from the city.  The Austin skyline definitely made for a spectacular background for the concert as the sun set.  While I hadn't listened to much of either's music beforehand, I quickly became a fan as both concerts were amazing.  I was especially impressed with M. Ward's style of guitar playing and the way he commanded your attention onstage.  Badass is the only word I can think of that adequately describes him.  The Shins show was super chill until a mosh-pit inexplicably broke out during the band's final song.

3. See Mumford & Sons for FREE

Are you sensing a theme here?  We discovered that Mumford was also playing a free show with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes on the UT campus in Austin.  The concert was in support of a  documentary, featuring both bands touring the Southwest in a train, called Big Easy Express.  The movie was shown before the start of the show and if you get the chance, I recommend you check it out.  The show itself was incredible and the chemistry between the two bands great to watch.  Members from each band would often join the other band during their sets to provide extra vocals or instrumentation.  At the end of Mumford & Sons' set, they brought out a local high school band to accompany the band.  Too bad my high school band never did anything that cool.

2. Participate in Tom Morello's Occupy SXSW Rally

I won't pretend to know all the details of the Occupy movement, so I'm not trying to make a statement one way or another.  But if it means I can see one of my favorite guitarists up close and personal, then it's got my support!  Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine fame) played a stunning set inside of a bar featuring Wayne Kramer from MC5.  Of course, we could not get into the bar to watch the show, but they projected a live feed of the set on the side of the building so those without badges could watch.  After playing some of the best electric guitar work I have ever seen inside, he came out with his acoustic guitar and led the Occupy mob in "This Land Is Your Land" and his own "World Wide Rebel Song."  While there were police all around the rally, the crowd was very calm and no riots broke out.  But I still would have flipped a police car if Tom Morello had told me to.

1. Meet Freaking Arcade Fire

I haven't stopped bragging about this.  So we were at some random venue that we were watching some random band play at.  We just happened to be walking out when I saw some faces I had seen before.  After a few seconds, I realized that it was Win and Regine Butler from Arcade Fire.  "Pretty cool!" I thought.  Then I realized that "Holy shit Arcade Fire just walked by us!!!"  Naturally, we ran after them and proceeded to freak out as we shook Win Butler's hand.  He politely wished us a happy SXSW and then walked off into the distance as I wet myself and called all of my friends.

So, yeah, I met one of my favorite artists of all time.  What did you do over spring break?

Best Albums of 2011

Two posts in one day?  You lucky dog, you.  I feel like I've prepared all year to make this year.  I hope it was worth it!  Anyway, here are five albums that just missed the cut:

Underneath the Pine - Toro y Moi
Angles - The Strokes
Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West
Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio
The Fall - Gorillaz

And now the moment I've been waiting for...

10. Belong - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Pretty much every song on this album could be a pop single.  Hooks this good would normally be a guilty pleasure, but the music packs such a punch that it doesn't even matter.  Sonically, Belong is somewhere in between The Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine.  The wispy vocals and catchy synth lines are contrasted by pounding drums and driving guitar.  It's indie rock without the irony...at least I think.

9. Goodbye Bread - Ty Segall
I used to think that all garage rock sounded the same, and well, I still do.  But Ty Segall stands out from the pack because he has actual songwriting chops and he proves in on Goodbye Bread.  The songs are much slower than on last year's Melted, but he uses the slower tempos to show off his melodies and arrangements that would normally be too loud and fast to notice.

8. The King is Dead - The Decemberists
I've never hated the Decemberists' sound, I just always felt like I was listening to an Anglo-Saxon fairy tale.  Fortunately, the scaled back their flair for literature in The King is Dead.  It's much more American roots rock than previous efforts, and has a distinct Neil Young influence in the harmonies and harmonicas.  The songs range from bright and sunny ("Calamity Song") to dark and moody ("This is Why We Fight") and makes for one of the years most interesting records.

7. El Camino - The Black Keys
After seeing what Danger Mouse did with last year's "Tighten Up," I was excited to see what he could do with a whole album.  The result is a punchier, sleazier album driven by dirty guitar riffs.  It's a party album for sure, and it ends up sacrificing some of the quirkiness that made Brothers so interesting, but that's not a bad thing.  The unique arrangements (surely thanks to Danger Mouse) help push the Black Keys into thrilling new directions.

6. Circuital - My Morning Jacket
What impresses me most about My Morning Jacket is their ability to pull off so many different styles while still being distinctly My Morning Jacket.  "Outta My System" could have been a Beach Boys song, "Movin' Away" is a sensitive piano ballad, and "Holdin' On to Black Metal" feels like a parade with its brass band and female choir.  They make sure to use a fair amount a restraint on this album, however.  The songs are often epic, but they benefit by not rocking all out when they easily could.  In doing so, they highlight the quirks that make MMJ one of the best bands around today.

5. Neighborhoods - Blink-182
I'll admit, I was skeptical that this album would be a let down.  I was worried it might sound too much like Angels and Airwaves or that Travis might show off too much on the drums.  But the result was even better than I could have imagined.  Tom's melodies make the songs a little bit bigger, Travis' drums are virtuosic but never overwhelming, and Mark keeps the band in its punk roots.  "Snake Charmer" and "This is Home" are some of the album's highlights and show that the band is tighter than ever.  Blink is back.

4. The King of Limbs - Radiohead
Only Radiohead could release an album this eccentric.  It's album that takes multiple listens just to figure out what you're listening to.  But once you get inside it, you can feel all the little details and interweaving parts.  And once you're inside it, you can't get it out of your head.  It's a short album, but it's perfectly self-contained experience into a weird and majestic place.

3. The Big Roar - The Joy Formidable
This is probably the best album for tricking pop fans into listening to metal.  Songs can instantly change from sweet and dreamy melodies to pounding double bass drum breakdowns.  Ritzy Bryan's guitar work is always driving and unexpected, and I have no idea how she gets those sounds out of her guitar.  The Joy Formidable create a ferocious wall of sound when they cut loose, as shown by the instrumental jams on "Whirring" and "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie," but they also can create tightly constructed power pop songs such as "Cradle," and it's fresh and exciting every time I listen to it.

2. The Hunter - Mastodon
If Crack the Skye was Mastodon's Sgt. Pepper, than The Hunter is their White Album.  After mastering the metal concept album, the band had no where to go but everywhere else.  From psychedelic sludge ("Stargasm"), to quiet acoustic picking ("The Sparrow"), to full on heavy riffage ("Spectrelight"), The Hunter is the band's most diverse record yet.  My favorite track, "Bedazzled Fingernails," even throws in rockabilly-style influences from Brent Hinds' side band, Fiend Without a Face.  Mastodon proves that they can expand their style in multiple directions without sacrificing their brutal force.

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
This album had a lot of hype to live up to.  For Emma, Forever Ago raised a lot of expectations, but Bon Iver exceeded all of them.  Every track is outstanding, from the sweeping "Perth" to the best 80's song ever recorded, "Beth/Rest."  Other highlights include "Holocene," "Towers," and "Calgary."  Bon Iver is a work of art.  It's intimate and epic.  It's spontaneous yet carefully orchestrated.  It's like nothing I've ever heard before, and that's why it gets my pick for best album this year.




I'd say that was a pretty good year in music.  I'm excited to see what 2011 has in store.  Unfortunately, I won't be doing a top movie list because I only saw like two new movies this year.  But in case you were wondering, my favorite this year was X-Men: First Class.  Betcha didn't see that coming.

Happy New Year!

Best Songs of 2011

Here I am up late on Christmas Eve, blogging and playing Age of Mythology like a cool kid.  At least I've finished all my wrapping for tomorrow.  Now, as my gift to you, I'll present my completely arbitrary and self-indulgent Top 20 Songs from 2011.

20. You Are A Tourist - Death Cab for Cutie
Contrary to myth, Death Cab is capable of writing good songs even when Ben Gibbard is happily married.
19. Mein Land - Rammstein
This song reminded me why I loved Rammstein in the first place.
18. Hank is Dead - Red Fang
A surprisingly catchy sludge metal song with a classic Sabbath feel.
17. Second Song - TV on the Radio
I feel like I'm listening to Funkadelic and the Bee Gees at the same time.  And it's awesome.
16. Make Some Noise - Beastie Boys
The Boys made be growing old, but their music hasn't aged a day since License to Ill.
15. The Floor - Ty Segall
This song is all about opposites.  Loud vs. soft, fast vs. slow, acoustic vs. electric.  "The Floor" is always switching up something, making for one of the most interesting garage rock songs this year.
14. Machu Picchu - The Strokes
The Strokes' comeback packs power into their signature sound with some ferocious guitar work.
13. Otis - Jay-Z & Kanye West
Two of the most successful rappers of all time rap over an instant-classic Otis Redding sample about how successful at rapping they are.  Not bad.
12. Don't Carry It All - The Decemberists
The Decemberists take a less literate approach and add some vintage Neil Young vibes to create a folk-rock masterpiece.
11. Revolving Doors - Gorillaz
Expanding on Plastic Beach's more electronic sound, "Revolving Doors" is a bouncy, techno gem.

10. Belong - Pains of Being Pure at Heart
An excellent mix of fuzzed-out guitars, synthesizers and pop hooks.  It's indie rock with a punch.

9. Sammy Davis, Jr. - Movits!
So fresh.  The Movits mix swing and hip-hop seamlessly and create one of the most unique sounds I've heard this year.  The horn section adds a funky vibe to the stompin' groove.  Who knew Swedes could have so much swag?

8. Ghost on the Dance Floor - Blink-182
Blink-182's return signaled that they haven't lost their touch, and "Ghost on the Dance Floor" kick starts the album and keeps the momentum going.  It's got one of the best harmonies I've heard in the verses and the main riff packs a major punch.  Travis, as usual, is on fire and puts power behind a more complex song structure with a stadium sized chorus.

7. Circuital - My Morning Jacket
On Circuital, MMJ takes prog-jam rock and puts it on an epic stage.  It builds from a murky guitar riff and eerie vocals to a triumphant fanfare, and back again.

6. Yonkers - Tyler, the Creator
Shut up about the lyrics, cus the shock value will wear off.  What's important here is Tyler's new production style.  It's dark, it's scary, it's creepy.  But most importantly, it's fresh.  The staggering beat, raw vocals and inventive production have paved a new path for underground hip-hop.

5. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
The Black Keys and Danger Mouse make a formidable team.  After last year's "Tighten Up," I was excited to see what else they could come up with.  They struck gold again with "Lonely Boy."  The Black Keys still pack in all of their quirkiness even in a stadium-sized song.  Thrown in a devastatingly catchy chorus, and they've got another hit on their hands.

4. Black Tongue - Mastodon
All the brutality and proggyness of Mastodon packed into a 3 minute song.  Troy's vocals have really grown and become a monster of their own.  "Black Tongue" has everything: powerful riffs that punch your face off, trippy prog sections, and a twin guitar solo to top things off.  It seems that Mastodon can do no wrong.

3. Codex - Radiohead
Though not the obvious hit single from King of Limbs, "Codex" has my vote for most mesmerizing song on the album, if not the whole year.  The atmosphere of the song is so surreal and it takes you to a place where all the sounds and instruments are organic and part of the world around you.

2. Perth - Bon Iver
I had a hard time picking just one song from this album, but the opening track seemed to possess everything that made Bon Iver great.  It's intimate, epic, majestic, and has an inventive guitar lick.  It's a carefully orchestrated song that is always throwing something new at you.

1. The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade - The Joy Formidable
I'll give this song the edge over "Whirring" simply for that monster synth line.  This song is one of the few this year that seemed to be pushing into a new and undiscovered territory.  The Joy Formidable nails the arrangement on this song.  The verses keep the song brewing, the smoldering choruses and the epic coda that builds until the song explodes.  I chose "The Greatest Light" as the song of the year because its had the most impact on my songwriting and guitar tone.  Though I still can't figure out how Ritzy plays guitar, this is one of the most powerful songs to come out this year.


So I'm a little behind schedule, but if you're lucky, I'll give you my top albums of the year as a second Christmas present for you all.

Best Concerts of 2011

For my first 'Best of' list for the holiday season, I'll go over the best concerts I saw this year.  I definitely stepped up my concert game this year, attending 3 music festivals and numerous shows.  All of the photos (except #9) were taken by yours truly.  

10. Mumford & Sons (Bonnaroo)
I was only a mild fan of Mumford before Bonnaroo, as I was with a lot of bands.  But despite a crowd probably 50,000 people, their set was extremely intimate and almost spiritual.  They managed to pack so much power into a show without a single electric guitar or drum set; what other band could do that?  (Also, if you look closely enough, you can see Ron Jeremy off stage.)

9. Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Rhino's)
Finally, an indie band with some balls.  The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, unlike most indie bands, didn't just focus on recreating their records live on stage, but rather on rocking out and putting on an exciting live show.

8. Kylesa (Pitchfork)
Though technically this is the third time I've seen Kylesa, once outside of the Bluebird and the second half of their set at Bonnaroo.  But Pitchfork Festival was the first time I saw them in their full, up-close, glory.  From just outside the mosh pit, I saw one of the best metal bands around kick some major ass...even with a chick in the band.  The best part, however, was their use of the theremin, which added an aesthetic not present in most live metal shows.

7. Best Coast (Bonnaroo)
Best Coast has certainly stepped up their live show since I saw them two years ago.  At Culture Shock, they were a mere timid indie band.  The success of 2010's Crazy for You must have boosted their confidence, because Bethany Cosentino absolutely dominated the crowd.  She led the audience in sing-a-longs and performed like a genuine rock star.  Marry me, Bethany?

6. My Morning Jacket (Bonnaroo)
My Morning Jacket was born to play the headlining stage on Bonnaroo.  They were completely in their element, playing long jams to a field full of fans as the sun set.  They made their album tracks even better than I could have imagined and are one of the best and most unique bands that I have seen.

5. Blink-182 (Verizon Music Center)

Okay, so Blink-182 might not be the best live band in the world.  In fact, you could say that Travis Barker is the only actual musician in the band.  But damn, if it wasn't a fun show.  Clearly having a blast playing, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus drunkenly traded fart jokes throughout the show.  The show was all about having a good time.  And it didn't hurt to have some of the best pop songs of the past decade, too.

4. Deerhunter (Bonnaroo)
Don't let Deerhunter's studio albums fool you, they know how to rock out.  The show was more shoegaze-metal than dreamy, ambient, indie pop.  They often switched between trippy soundscapes and banging the hell out of their instruments.  The show made me a huge fan and was definitely one of the unexpected highlights of Bonnaroo.

3. Movits! (Lotus Festival)
Who knew white guys from Sweden could be so good at rapping.  The Movits mix of swing, jazz and hip-hop was not only unique, but made for the most exciting show at Lotus Festival this year.  Going to Bonnaroo must have boosted my crowd navigating skills, because I managed to get a front row spot and high-five every member of the band during the show.  A band from Sweden probably didn't know what to expect from a small town in Indiana and seemed extremely grateful to have such an overwhelming crowd response, and that just made the show even more fun.

2. Arcade Fire (Bonnaroo/Pepsi Colosseum)
Arcade Fire was another band that I saw twice this year.  The first show at Pepsi Colosseum was incredible, and they even featured members of the National, who opened for them, in a few of their songs.  But the show that took the cake was by far at Bonnaroo, where I got a third row spot for the biggest show at the festival.  The magic of the show was that everyone in the crowd knew every word to every song and sang them at the top of their lungs.

1. Mastodon (Egyptian Room)
I've been waiting since the greatest metal band on earth since Blood Mountain came out in 2006, and I'd been kicking myself ever since I had to miss them on their Crack the Skye tour.  But my time finally came when they played at the Egyptian Room in Indianapolis last month, and it was better than I could've imagined.  These guys are in their peak live form.  I was particularly impressed with Troy's bass playing and his lion-like roar.  I was lucky enough to get a second row view right in front of Brent, where I witnessed his increasingly virtuosic guitar playing.  The show spanned their whole career, playing at least 3 or 4 songs from every album.

Best Dance Band: Toro y Moi (The Bishop)

Best Hip Hop: Odd Future (Pitchfork)

Best Classic Rock Reunion: Buffalo Springfield (Bonnaroo)

Show I should have seen: Bon Iver (Murat)

I could go on to list all the other bands I saw this year, but I won't brag.  Instead, stick around for my top songs and albums of the year!

Best Albums of 2010

Hey folks,

It seems I put out my favorite movie list a bit too early.  I saw True Grit last night, and along with Black Swan, definitely would have made my list.  I may have even had enough movies to fill out a top 10 instead of just a top 5.  Oh well, too late for that.

Today I'll continue my year in review with my favorite albums of 2010.  And it's in list form!  Everyone's doing it these days.  

Best Albums of 2010

10. Brothers - The Black Keys
I'm always a tad skeptical whenever the Black Keys release a new album.  Six albums in, is there really anything new they can do in the world of blues rock?  However, they never fail to put out a good album.  The Black Key's are great at incorporating new sounds and textures while still keeping the spirit and grit of blues rock.  This album is full of great songs, including "Everlasting Light," "Tighten Up," and "Never Gonna Give You Up."  No matter how skeptical I may get, The Black Key's just get better with every album.

9. Crazy for You - Best Coast
One important aspect of music for me is the way it sounds.  This may seem obvious, but music with smooth tones and such is more pleasant to listen too.  Even with their minimalistic approach to music, Best Coast manages to create one of the best sounding records I have heard in a while.  Bethany Cosentino has a gorgeous voice that lends itself well to the album's reverby production.  And as a guitarist, I thought the guitar tones on Crazy for You were to die for.  All that combined with simple, yet effective songwriting that anyone can get into.

8. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Every song on this album might as well be a hit single.  James Mercer definitely has an ear for great pop melodies and Danger Mouse's production always brings something new and interesting to the table.  I've yet to find anything done by Danger Mouse that I don't like.  I was genuinely impressed by this collaboration and songs like "The High Road" and "The Ghost Inside" make for an extremely fun album.

7. Love - Angels & Airwaves

I really am a sucker for guitar effects and soundscapes.  There's one between nearly every track on this album and, frankly, I thinks its awesome.  Angels & Airwaves' Love is one of the few guitar albums that caught my attention this year (metal doesn't count) and this album is filled with huge stadium rock songs with great guitar riffs and noises.  I think Tom DeLonge's lyrics are a tad too broad in scope as evidenced by the album's very title (Love? *gag*), but nonetheless he creates an exciting album.

6. Congratulations - MGMT

I'm not going to lie, it took me half a dozen listens to this album before I could get a good grasp it.  But that's kind of the whole point of Congratulations.  To me, there aren't any obvious hit singles such as "Time to Pretend" or "Kids" from MGMT's last album.  Instead, the album is filled with sprawling songs with subtle melodies and complex structures.  This album shows off how much the band's song writing has evolved.  Comparing Congratulations with Oracular Spectacular, I felt a huge difference in overall sound and texture, yet both albums are written in the same spirit.  It almost makes Congratulations seem like an acoustic album, as the songs are sonically focused on the band as a whole, as opposed to big synth melodies.  It's not that the synth isn't there, it's just not as in your face.  Rather, it blends with the band's overall sound.  On Congratulations, MGMT manages to build epic and advanced songs without sacrificing their great hooks (I still can't get "Brian Eno" out of my head).

5. Taste the Sin - Black Tusk
Black Tusk is another great sludge metal band thats currently making music.  While probably not as well known as Kylesa or Baroness, these guys can be every bit as brutal.  The vocals are reminiscent of Black Cobra and the riffs are heavy and intricate, not unlike Mastodon.  At the same time, Black Tusk brings a certain amount of hardcore energy that isn't always seen in sludge metal.  Taste the Sin has some awesome tracks on it including "Embrace the Madness" and "Red Eye" that prove that Black Tusk deserves as much attention as their fellow sludge metal bands.

4. Hurley - Weezer
I can feel your eyebrows raising for putting this album this high on my list.  Pretty much every review I've read for Weezer's latest album has been negative.  But in my opinion, Hurley is one of the most fun albums I've listened to.  Every song on here has a great melody and is easy to get into.  Even though Weezer's songwriting can be pretty wacky at times, their songs are still fantastic.  I've essentially grown up with Weezer, so listening to Hurley is like listening to a bunch of friends having a great time.  I love the production on "Time Flies," with distorted drums and acoustic guitars, and "Ruling Me" (as I've previously noted) is one of the best feel-good songs of the year.  Weezer has definitely been throwing some curve balls lately, but Hurley shows they've still got it where it counts.

3. Snakes for the Divine - High on Fire
I told you I wasn't going soft.  High on Fire reclaims their title as the heaviest band in the world with Snakes for the Divine.  This album is every bit as good as Death is this Communion or Blessed Black Wings.  Th album's eponymous opening is an 8-minute epic that just keeps building, and the album never lets down from there.  Every song has thundering riffs and crushing drums that create one of the most brutal albums of the year.

2. Plastic Beach - Gorillaz
From the moment Snoop Dogg starts rapping on the Plastic Beach's first song, I knew this was going to be a great album.  Plastic Beach is full of funky and electronic beats that create one of the most diverse and unique records of the year.  This certainly album widened my perspective on how electronics and synthesizers can be used to make great music.  This record is not as focused on rapping as the Gorillaz' previous albums, but when the rapping is there, it's still fantastic.  Instead Damon Albarn, focuses on creating a world that sounds completely organic, even though the majority of the sounds are electronic.  Songs like "Empire Ants," "On Melancholy Hill," and "Pirate Jet" have made me come to the conclusion that Albarn is one of the most versatile songwriters of my generation.  A bold statement, but there, I said it.

1. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
For me, the number one album of the year was always an obvious choice.  Everything Arcade Fire releases is no less amazing and I'm always impressed that they continue to live up to the high expectations set by their previous albums.  The Suburbs is an album that manages to address growing old without being cliche or overstated ("I hate you dad!" was always so childish).  Arcade Fire paints a picture of the way things used to be and how they have come to change.  Every song builds off one another to create a mood that's depressing but somehow hopeful and the same time.  And as usual, Arcade Fire continues to write some of the most beautiful music around (geez, I'm overdramatic).


Well, there you have it.  It took me a while  to decide on the order but I did my best.  But while we're at it...
Extra awards! (that don't quite merit a whole countdown)

Favorite Video Game:
Halo: Reach

Most Anticipated Album of 2011:
Radiohead's new album (seriously, just release it already)

Favorite TV Show (New):
The Walking Dead

Favorite TV Show (Returning):
Tie between Metalocalypse and The Office

Most Fun Song to Play on Guitar:
Circle of Cysquatch - Mastodon


That's all for now.  I can't wait to see what 2011 brings.
Happy new year!

Best Songs of 2010

Welcome back, 

Today's year in review continues with my favorite songs of 2010.  Here we go!

10. Radioactive - Kings of Leon
Even though Only by the Night had some of Kings of Leon's best songs on it (Closer, Sex on Fire), overall it left me disappointed because of its general mediocracy and because it abandoned the unique sounds of their previous album.  So when KOL's next single, Radioactive, came out, I was a bit skeptical.  But to my surprise, it was more than just a radio friendly sing-a-long hit.  While not as raw as their first few albums, Radioactive had the energy and warmth that had been missing from their past few singles.  Come Around Sundown might not be their best effort yet, but i think Radioactive shows that they're at least headed in the right direction.

9. Tighten Up - The Black Keys
I almost went with TBK's "Everlasting Light" for this spot.  Both songs have excellent feels with undeniable grooves (whatever the hell that means).  But what made my final choice was Tighten Up's downtempo coda.  The Keys took a song with a great sing-a-long guitar lick and then turned it into a super-heavy jam for the last minute.  It was kinda like when metal bands go into half-time for breakdown sections, only it's there for different reasons.  Tighten Up proves even further that the Black Keys are the kings of modern blues rock.

8. The High Road - Broken Bells

It seems like everything Danger Mouse touches is pure gold and his collaboration with the Shin's James Mercer is no exception.  The group's lead single, The High Road, immediately caught my attention.  The melody is so catchy you feel like you've know the song for years.  Danger Mouse's production is impeccable as usual and I quite enjoyed his use of computer noises that sound like they're straight from an old-school Nintendo game.  And as a side note, nearly all of the tracks off the Broken Bells album were good enough to put on this list, so choosing just one was a close call.

7. When I'm With You - Best Coast
Best Coast's lyrics may seem numbingly simple at first, but that's kind of the point.  Through very few and simple words, Best Coast provokes exactly the feeling they intend to, and do it so well that anyone who listens to the song can relate and feel the exact same way.  This song shines in it's simplicity.  Catchy as hell, too.

6. F*** You! - Cee Lo Green

What a brilliant perfect hook.  It attracts attention to itself with obscenity that would normally make the song seem like a gimmick.  Yet the song holds it itself up with a chorus so catchy and infectious that you're left singing it for hours.  I could listen to Cee Lo say absolutely anything and I'd hang onto every word.  His voice is so soulful and soothing that he's essentially the Morgan Freeman of singing.  What's so great about this song is that Cee Lo doesn't beat around the bush.  He tells you exactly what he means.  He's not f***ing around.

5. Ruling Me - Weezer
A friend of mine once said, "Weezer is not incapable of writing a great song, but they are incapable of knowing which of their songs are great ones."  In my opinion, "Ruling Me" proves at least the first half of that.  A truly great pop song, I can't help but feel good when it's infectious chorus kicks in.  I can't for the life of me figure out why Weezer hasn't released this as a single yet.  Hell, it should have been Hurley's lead single, rather than "Memories."  Nevertheless, this is one of the most well-written songs to come out this year, in my opinion.  Even though Weezer has been doing whatever the hell they want lately, the definitely still know how to write a good pop song.

4. Frost Hammer - High on Fire

High on Fire never fails to melt my face with their brutality.  I have been getting into High on Fire a lot this year, so much so that I tried sneaking into a bar to see them (see my last post).  They are definitely one of the heaviest bands around.  Matt Pike's Lemmy vocals roar over thundering drums and lumbering guitar.  Throw in one of Pike's best guitar solos in High on Fire's catalogue and you have one the best metal songs in 2010.

3. Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi
Who knew hip-hop could be so sensitive?  I actually studied the symbolism of the two music videos for this song in my Design & Production class for Telecomm.  This is a rare hip-hop song that catches my attention for a few reasons.  First, the lyrics are much more mature than the majority of rap songs out there, showing concern for consequences of living the high life.  But that's lame, the main reason I can't get it out of my head is the insane beat and music featuring none other than MGMT.  I've always thought that rap was better with actual music behind it (which is why I like Jaydiohead so much), and Pursuit of Happiness' combination of a trippy synth-line and backwards guitar solo make for a truly unique track and surprisingly one of my favorite songs of 2010.

2. Suburban War - Arcade Fire
Every song off The Suburbs was flawless.  "Suburban War" just seemed to sum up the whole album in so many ways.  It's a bit of a retrospective song, and is a bit of a turning point for the album.  The beginning has the soft, tender lyrics describing what used to be matching the lyrical nature of the first half of the album.  As the song picks up, everything falls apart and nothing is as it was.  "All my old friends, they don't know me now," describes how now everything is different.  This song manages to wrap up all of the emotions from one of the best albums of 2010.

1. Rhinestone Eyes - Gorillaz
I chose this song as the best of 2010 because it was probably the most crucial in my changing perspective on electronic-influenced music.  Even though Kid A introduced me to electronic-tinged music first, this song made me appreciate how synth-lines and electronic beats can make songs that aren't limited to dance club music.  The synth in this song functions as a guitar by providing riffs, atmosphere and chord changes.  It may sound obvious, but the presence of a synth in music used to mean that it was just techno to me.  But because of this shift in thinking, I have become a fan of artists such as The Knife, The Postal Service and Kraftwerk.  I certainly would have thought the Gorillaz's newly released The Fall was rubbish if i hadn't heard and love a song such as "Rhinestone Eyes."  And after all, that's what good music should do: introduce you to new sounds and show you how they can be used to create music.


Wow, only one metal song on this list?  I must be getting soft...Ha!  I actually was introduced to dozens of awesome metal bands this year, but only a couple had albums come out this year (and unfortunately, I never got around to getting Kylesa's Spiral Shadow).  However,  I am pleased with the outcome of this list.  It may be a bit mainstream for some, but I feel like its a pretty diverse list nonetheless.  If you have any objections, I would love to hear them.

Next up are the best albums of 2010, and I promise to get it out before 2011 rolls around, cus that'd be lame.  I'm just about done narrowing down my choices, so I'll just need to get off my lazy rear and write it.  (I should probably start writing before 2:00 AM, but hey, old habits die hard.)

Stay tuned!