2010 First Quarter Review

With 25 percent of the year come and gone, I've listened to some pretty solid music (even stuff I haven't taken the time to memorialize on here, which I should do, because it helps keep me sharp on the writing and gives you all something to mock me over).

So in no particular order, here's a list (with some minor commentary) of some of the better music I've picked up from January 1 to March 31, 2010. For the most part, these are new releases. But I'll denote those that aren't (not that it matters, but it does for EoY lists and things like that).

• Surfer Blood's Astro Coast - I'm still not sold that this album is the second coming of whatever. It's good, and the more I listen to it the more I like it. But it kinda grinds on me afterwhile. But it's happy and poppy enough, so that's worth something.


• Ted Leo and The Pharmacists' The Brutalists Bricks - Anthems and energy galore. Start your day here


• Young Mothers Come On, The Cross 7"


• Vampire Weekend's Contra - I'm officially a full on lover of this album. And I've also started dropping the redic term Contra into conversation to describe a hottie.


• The Rosebuds' Daytrotter Session


• Shearwater's The Golden Archipelago


• The Bird and The Bee's Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1 (A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates)


• Aziz Ansari's Intimate Moments For A Sensual Evening - A comedy album shouldn't count. But geez, if he isn't HYSTERICAL.


• The Soft Pack's s/t album - Of all the shitty surf music that seems to be leaking onto the indie scene right now, I'm in love with this band. Punk, not too aggressive, fun.


• Spoon's Transference - I was lukewarm to this album, but it's definitely hooked me. A sparse classic as always.


• Shout Out Louds' Work - This will come up and I'll go, who is that? And I'm always surprised at how good it is.

And here are the previous releases:

• Asobi Seksu's Citrus


• Spoon's Girls Can Tell


• Kid Sister's Super High Shine EP


• Various Artists' Sub Pop Cybersex Digital Sampler v. 2.10

The DP's Top Music of the year so far...

So I've been lollygaggin since I put out the request to my fellow gang of bloggers about this. But below you will find what I think is some of the best music so far this year. There are some surprises, but for the most part, what you see here is stuff I have either written about here or on the Twitters (you follow me right???)

Nevertheless, here it goes.

1. Death Cab For Cutie's "The Open Door EP."
What a perfect album. Or EP. whatever. Leaps and bounds better than Narrow Stairs, with some of Gibbard's best songwriting to date.

2. Dark was the Night, Various Artists.
I listened to this again today to make sure I wanted to put it on here. It seems like a copout. Like an indie record buffet, everyone is sure to find four or five tracks they love. But sample it all. You will fall in love again and again as you listen to it.

3. Technicolor Health by The Harlem Shakes
This snuck up on me. Yes, Shelby's played them on his show a bazillion times, but seriously, that Strictly Game song is the best feel good song of the year. But the album is full of good music, witty lyrics ("I don't even get your t-shirt's pun"), and just a good time. This will be on your summer playlist.

4. Adult Nights by Wild Light
You will get hooked by the chorus of the first song. You wil stay for the Arcade Fire lite tunes. Backed by a major label (and an awesome promo team), this will be a strong contender at the 2009 Grammys.

5. Colonia by A Camp
Dream 70's schmaltz pop by Swedish chantreuse. Yeah it works. And works and works and works again. Oh, what's that, you don't own it? You must have been absent in the crazy media build up for it. (Note: Publicity companies: Take a hype machine note from Stunt Publicity)

6. Telekinesis!
I'm genuienly excited about seeing this band at Merge XX. His album is just a well produced treat. The Tokyo song is another party starter this summer.

Remainders: M Ward's Hold Time, Discovery's LP, Major Lazer's (aka Diplo/Switch) Guns Don't Kill People, Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Cut Off Your Hands' You and I)

You know where to find this stuff.