anticipated 2010 albums ... get excited!

The 69 Most Anticipated Albums of 2010

I discovered this mid-December via another blog that I read called TristanEden and was immediately a billion times more excited for the New Year. The TristenEden blog explains that 2009 was full of new, blossoming or "baby" artists. However, 2010 will be the year for releases from well know and established artists. Although some of the bands are not incredibly well known, out of 69, you are bound to know one or two.
Vampire Weekend's album was released on January 11 and has already hit number 1 on Billboard's chart. Spoon, who will be playing at Workplay mid-March, released their seventh album, Transference, on January 19. It has not been quite widely accepted as their previous album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, but it was described by Rolling Stone as a "provocative blast."
I am also excited for the release of the Broken Bells album. They released a single at the end of 2009 but have yet to announce the album's date. Broken Bells is the collaboration of James Mercer from The Shins and Danger Mouse. Another greatly anticipated album of 2010 will come from The Strokes whose last release was in 2006, although members Albert Hammond Jr. and Julian Casablancas have worked on their solo careers.
The other albums I am super duper excited for include: MGMT, Panda Bear, Frightened Rabbit, Cat Power, Free Energy, and Wavves.

live music

An aspect of music in the 21st century that most interests me ... okay well i feel like whatever I say, i will be repeating myself.
Many topics we have discussed such as production, consumption and distribution seem to all fall under one category or concept. One of the articles stated "CD's have disappeared inside the iPod." So, my mind separates live music into a category of its own. I dont believe that live shows have increased in the 21st century, just become more important. It is an entirely different way of experiencing music's sound and feeling as well as the artist. Live shows are personal and intimate gatherings with 10 to 1,000 people who share a central passion or interest. More importantly, live shows are like that truth serum in Harry Potter. With today's technology, anyone can sound musically inclined. But not everyone can put on an outstanding live performance.
Live music is special. It sounds different. Raw and interesting and beautiful. Last night I went to Bottletree. The line up was The Potonicas, The Popheads and Onehundreds. I had never heard or heard of any of these bands before the show, but its a change i'm normally willing to take. The Photonicas opened and I was amazed. Their sound was familiar but not so much to bore or make me uninterested. Familiar in a comforting, nostalgic way. Low-fi indie rock is the best way I know to categorize them. A mix between Silversun Pickups, Explosions In The Sky, and The Strokes ... if you know who those bands are. Close your eyes and the sound changes. Magnifies.
Anyways, this is why live music is my favorite aspect of music in the 21st century. It means something different to everyone. It affects people differently. But nothing makes it less important.

The Potonicas

Garden State Soundtrack

This soundtrack is probably my favorite not just because of the music but because of the way it was put together and aids the story. Zac Braff wrote, directed, acted in the movie and executive produced the soundtrack which increases the continuity between the visual and audio. Braff obviously put a lot of time and thought into the music choices. The soundtrack mimics the highs and lows of the movie beautifully. Each song not only compliments the on screen images but becomes a vital element between the two main characters. One of Andrew and Samantha's first conversations involves music.
andrew: "what are you listening to?"
samantha: "The Shins. You know 'em?"
andrew: "no"
samantha: "you gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life. I swear."
Separately, each song on the soundtrack is magnificent in it's own right, but together they work as a unit expressing a range of emotions. Overall there is a sense of mixing romance and melancholy. Uplifting and hopefully yet bittersweet and dreamlike. Standing apart from the visuals, the soundtrack's artists and sounds are similar to a mixed CD i would make ... which is probably another reason I love it so much. It has great strength with and without the movie, but the movie's appeal, success and ability to captivate are deeply reliant on the music.

I think that music is becoming increasingly important in the retail industry. I can't think of a store that doesnt have some type of music playing in the background. or forground. Places like Abercrombie and Hollister have the music turned up so loud you are forced to experience it. While places like Bath and Body Works have more relaxed music. Think about it. Music is one of the most powerful tools that businesses have. We are subconsciously being emotionally influenced as we shop. Maybe sub-emotionally is a better word ...

Anyways, music as the ability to do what the employees or displays may not. It can excite, energize, relax, motivate and influence. Clothing stores now sell CDs as well. And I frequently (legally :) download music off urban outfitters website. I think that the way stores are using and will use music to facilitate buying, will revolutionize both industries. And i am totally in favor of this because they feed off of one another. It also most definitely makes shopping more enjoyable.

urban downloads

onetwothreefourfive

ok it stressed me out too much to label this top five. Its not the top. Its just five. And its really hard to fully explain why I like them without getting overly personal so...

1. "Blood Bank" by Bon Iver
This song, well really the entire album, marks last Winter. I listened to it almost constantly. This album was written by the lead singer in a cabin in the northwoods of Wisconsin and that is exactly what it sounds like to me. Absolutely beautiful. I love the line "you said ain't this just like the present to be showing up like this."

2. "Sun In An Empty Room" or "Night Windows" by The Weakerthans
Okay, yah I cheated. But these two songs go hand in hand in my mind. First of all, The Weakerthans are lyrical geniuses. Sun In An Empty Room Lyrics , Night Windows Lyrics It was one of the best live performances I have ever seen. And the simplicity of these two songs has allowed me to keep them on repeat for a few days at a time.

3. "Feet Asleep" by Thao Nguyen
I think I literally stopped breathing the first time I heard this song. Something about her voice. (The Youtube quality sucks and doesnt do justice) My friend put it on a mixed CD for me over Christmas Break. And although it is freaking cold outside, this song reminds me of summer. It sounds yellow and orange. Thats about the best reason I can come up with.

4. "Angels of the Silences" by Counting Crows
My junior year of high school I had to write a paper on this song analyzing the lyrics. It was subtitled A Metaphysical Exploration if that gives you any idea.. But, picking apart the lyrics and getting into Duritz's head really changed the way I listen to this song. Its intense. And I love it. "All my innocence is wasted on the dead and dreaming." true that, Adam.

5. "Rapture" by Pedro The Lion
David Bazan is incredible. It's pretty, well, very sexual but not like most current songs. It contains so many emotions beyond lust. Regret, passion, jealousy ... Plus, typical of Bazan, a reference to religion. Beyond the lyrics, its catchy, upbeat and captivating. I have listened to it 254 times on my computer alone.

musical distaste.

I don't know if i can use the word "hate" when referring to one artist are song. No, not even that damn Owl City song because he put time, energy and effort into it. And I respect that. I've never really been one to listen to incredibly main stream music, although it has become more frequent in the past couple of years. Around 9th and 10th grade I definitely had a very opinionated view on certain genres of music. I strongly disliked rap, r&b, any generic pop and most country. I wasn't a kid who sought out the unheard of artist just to claim "ownership" like i feel some teens do today, but I did take pride in the music I chose.
Today, I still listen to a lot of things most people havent heard of, but I have greatly expanded what I listen to as well as my views. I don't have a problem with rap or r&b and I will listen to pop (top 40 ish music) on the radio. Im still not a huge fan of country. In fact, there are a handful of country songs I like only from living in Utah where they play a great deal of it. Really, I can stand small amounts of anything. I guess as far as dislikes, I have a problem with overly processed, generic and generally talent lacking songs or artists. This is where I see a distinction between artist and musician versus performer or entertainer. Musicians who take the spotlight and media attention over the rest of the band intentionally become more like performers to me.
I guess regardless of the way i feel about the people creating the music, it is still difficult to choose. I may not be able to stand country music one day and be rocking George Strait the next. For me, it is all too relative to be decisive.

buying and selling

Today, there are so many means by which people accesses available music. CDs, radio and the internet. Within the internet, people are able to buy music through sites like iTunes, listen on Pandora and Last.fm, legally download on sites such as RCRDLBL.com, and illegally download on a variety of websites. Buying, selling and downloading (illegally and legally), basically production and consumption in the music industry is obviously a controversial topic. One that annoys me for this reason: so many people my age claim to have some moral or ... i dunno, some sort of objection to it. Yet, it makes no difference. The second they hear a new Panic! At The Disco song, it is instantly downloaded from LimeWire or their program of choice. I think that artists, whether considered good, bad, talented, or otherwise, deserve recognition and compensation for their work.
Understandably, money is the biggest reason that people download music illegally. CDs are not inexpensive. But there are many bonuses to owning them. I personally don't have any downloading software on my computer and make several trips to the CD store a month. It is something that I love to do so it is a little easier to pay for it. I recognize that many high school and college students are not in the position to do this, but most of the time, words and actions come across as incredibly hypocritical.

music and culture and art and stuff.

I've sort of grouped the way that I experience music into four categories. First being music in public place. Music can be heard in stores of all kinds, restaurants and office buildings. I heard enough "Felice Navidad" in the Caf to last me through next Christmas. Many places use it as background noise. Everyone has heard that generally terrible elevator music. But it is becoming more common for businesses to use music to define and expand themselves. For example, the Vestavia Starbucks is my kinda lifeline. Although it is a coffee shop, they sell CDs and play current and semi-popular music. This addition allows them to reach a little farther. They even have those nifty little "pick of the week" cards that get lost in my car.
Secondly, I experience music through the people around me. My room mate is fond of Mr. Dave Matthews while the girl across the hall enjoys Tool, apparently. Now that iPhones and iPods have external speakers, people are able to play music out loud, where ever. When turned up loudly enough, i can sometimes enjoy tunes from the car next to me. Or not.
Next is through the media and entertainment. These I normally experience via television and the internet. Cites like Pandora and Last.fm allow instant access to tons of music. On television, every show and commercial has their own annoying theme song. I can easily prank call Goldberg or sing you the Sponge Bob Square Pants jingle. My favorite are movie soundtracks. There are some movies that would be completely lacking without this. Garden State is one of my favorite movies and soundtracks. Zach Braff not only wrote, directed and acted in the move, he also put the soundtrack together. I feel like the movie is much more personal because of this.
Lastly, I experience the music that I am in control of. I have a waking up playlist, a going to sleep playlist and one for everything in between. I listen to my iPod to and from class and play music in my room. Like every other teenager on earth, I like to drive real fast while listening to something real loud. Songs and artists I am directly invested in play the most prominent roll in the way I experience music daily.
I think that music can be interpreted as a part of culture and as an art form together and separately. I believe that anything can be seen as art, all individually determined. Music loosely defines a culture. It creates a commonality and reference point among people. I think the way in which music is used within a culture and the extent audiences are willing and able to participate bring about its expression as an art form. Different nationalities have music that stem from various cultures and regions yet it still unites them. The way it is performed in each culture, through singing, dancing and playing is the form of art. Experiencing it in person also greatly changes the way the music is interpreted. I think it is the same for me on a much smaller scale. The places I see shows here in Birmingham definitely have their own culture. I see people I know and faces I recognize only through attending concerts. The style in clothing is recognizable as well. The live performances are undoubtedly forms of art. It allows listeners a more direct connection and the ability to see into the artist's culture and views as well as enhance their own.

music culture.

Although music exists as a single part that makes up my personal culture, it may be one of the most important to me. Music has become my way of expressing, feeling, connecting, coping, remembering and understanding. I have made friends, maybe even enemies, based on similar or differing, music tastes. In fact, music taste is normally one of the first conversations I have with someone. Music has occasionally influenced my style. Yes, I briefly and unfortunately fell prey to the evil punk-rock goddess, Avril Lavigne. Through music, I have learned things about myself, about others and about the world around me. Certain songs bring memories of places, people and events in my life. Even more than memories, music brings strong emotions, sometimes regardless of whether I know the song. Certain notes, chords or lyrics can be an emotional electrocution, if you will. You know that feeling, like sticking your fingers in an outlet. Sometimes a bad idea but still kind of cool. I guess to put it simply, in many ways the music I listen to and my music culture are a direct extension of myself.

The music I listen to comes from numerous locations. My dad raised me on Counting Crows. I also "inherited" music from his large selection of CD's that collect dust in the basement. Hello, Billie Holiday. I can't say I have ever taken much music from my mom. The Wicked soundtrack and Mannheim Steamroller make me gag. Up until recently, my younger sister has completely relied on my music taste to build her own. But this past year she discovered artists like Tokyo Police Club, Notwist and Albert Hammond Jr., to my benefit as well. A large amount comes from my friends. The music suggestions tends to travel in circles between us, and mixed CDs are in abundance. Some comes from the local music scene. Birmingham has some incredible young and talented musicians. A small portion of my music comes from the radio, television, and movie soundtracks. As for the rest, I spend a good deal of time, probably too much, seeking out new music and artists that are my cup of tea.