I know I just posted this years top 10, but I'm not quite finished yet. I would just like to mention a couple of albums that was really close to making it into the top 10 this year.
Ira Lee and mattr. Collectively known as Little Eskimo Jesus literally blew my mind this year with their debut album Never Trust the People. This was exactly the kind of album that I'd been waiting for the last few years. The true combination of amazing, strong and human lyrics combined with the best production in a long while. Ira Lee really rips his heart and soul out on this album and talks about family, human weaknesses at the same time as he can kick the most absurd and entertaining lyrics on other tracks. It's great to see a guy who is the complete antithesis of a braindead emcee with nothing but boring macho braggadocio to show off. And mattr.s production is simply amazing. He is one of those guys who can invoke all kinds of emotions with just a few notes, and on this album he's doing it over and over again. He is without a doubt my absolute favourite producer of 2010. The follow up to Never Trust the People comes out in the beginning of 2011, and if it's anywhere half as good you'll be reading about it in my countdown at the end of next year.
Ira Lee:
"My top musical event of the year: The squat we played in Paris had a red carpet. It is the 'first show in Paris' experience every young musician dreams of.
Album of the year: The Die Antwoord and Jónsi albums. Really great stuff.
Favorite song: anything by Canadian rapper Drake. Pure comedy.
Favorite video: the Big Booty Bitches YouTube video by the two middle aged black guys. Link"
This is probably one of the records that I've listened to the most this year. Ever since I discovered The Tallest Man on Earth last year, he's been part of my daily soundtrack. I loved his debut Shallow Graves and didn't really think he could top that one. But with The Wild Hunt, this years follow up he did. And in a big way. I know all about the likeness to Bob Dylan and others, but I don't really care. You know why? Because The Tallest Man on Earth is unique in so many ways and makes amazing music whenever he picks up the guitar. He's released 2 albums and 2 EPs now under this moniker, and he has yet to release one single bad song. How many artists can say that? This Dalecarlian is someone I know I will keep following throughout my life.
Here is one album that in some ways easily could have been number one on the list. And most years it probably would have been. But 2010 has been an amazing year when it comes to albums so unfortunately for Ceschi, he ended on on number 3. But that doesn't take anything away from either him or the album The One Man Band Broke Up. It is one of those albums that you listen to from beginning to end every single time and every song is a masterpiece in itself. Of course I have some personal favourites such as Half Mast, Hang Man and Bad Jokes, but like I said, every single song on this album holds its own. I won't get tired of either hearing Ceschi or The One Man Band Broke Up for a long long time.
Ceschi:
"My top musical event of this year would have to be the Guided By Voices reunion with Tobin Sprout. I feel privileged, never thought I'd see all of those classic songs from Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes performed live."
Without taking away too much from the artists in places 5-10 this year, but I must start off by saying that the top 4 this year was by far the best albums if you ask me. I wrote about this album back in June when he released it simultaneously with the album Picking Flowers Next to Roadkill. And while the later is a good record also, Hunting for Father have continuously kept growing and growing throughout the year and I keep loving it more and more. This record is not your typical hip hop album, and it's all the more beautiful for it. It doesn't matter if Kristoff Krane flows fluently to great beats or if he picks up the guitar and sing for us. The result is still very good and I don't seem to get the least bit tired of it. He could easily have made both a very good indie pop album and a smashing hip hop album. Instead he combined them two to one amazing one. Even though he's been around for a while, it feels like he's just keep getting better and better, and I love to follow his on that journey.
When asked about his own musical highlights of the years, he says:
"My top musical event of the year was being part of the benefit for Micheal "eyedea" Larsen at
1st Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
My top album of the year is Eccee Beast by Kill The Vultures.
Favorite video of the year, Smile by Eyedea & Abilities."
cars & trains album The Roots, The Leaves was probably the first album this year that I felt at once was going to end up as one of the best this year. There was something about it that really struck a chord with me the first time I listened to it, and it still has the same effect on me every time I listen to it. Tom Filepp, the man behind the name, makes beautiful frail music that really gets into your bones and has kind of the same effect as drugs. On me at least. And when I say drugs, I mean that I always want to listen to this album, even when I listen to others. The music is quirky, far from polished and I love it. cars & trains are the only artist coming remotely close to WHY? without sounding like a rip off. I can't think of a greater compliment to give to an artist.
I first got aquainted with zoën a couple of years back through his and JamesPHoneys record Volume 3. After that he has kept popping up from time to time. On Noah23s Rock Paper Scissors, on 2nd Class CititzensOne by One EP and on the various installations of Goose Bumps. Early this year came his solo debut zoën. I liked it but it quite soon slipped into the back of my memory. His follow up One Night Between didn't. Here it felt like this French emcee and producer really found his place completely. Even though this is more of a production album, none of the guests take away the feeling of this being zoëns album. soso, Ceschi, Astronautalis and Andromeda Subvert as just a few of those who blessed the album with some real fine work. But it wouldn't be a great album if it wasn't for zoëns productions. Beautiful, sad and inspired melodies all throughout makes this a really high quality musical experience and the ride is not ready to stop yet.
zoën was nice enough to share his personal favourite albums of the year.
otem rellik is a guy who I've been following a bit for a couple of years now. He has never really impressed me that much though, until this year. And with Elephant Graveyard he did so in a big way. I think I have to thank my friend Kristian for really sitting down and listen to this album, and I haven't stopped listening since then. What I like about otem rellik, or Toby Hendricks as he is known by his loved ones, is that he doesn't just make hip hop for the year 2010. His music transcends those boundaries and make music for all ages with his futuristic, yet earthy sounds. This is genres blending into the kind of music that I want to see more of in the future.
otem rellik:
I think my favorite song this year has to be Safe and Sound by Electric President off their album The Violent Blue. So good.
Never really been a big fan of Sigur Rós. I remember back in 2002 when their album ( ) came. I thought that the album was quite boring and I began ignoring them. In January this year the band announced that they would take a break and focus on solo careers and spending time with their families. I'm glad they did. Because that meant that their singer Jón“Jónsi” Þór Birgisson released his album Go this year. The album is a great work of art seducing me with it's layered sounds and beautiful melodies. Every time I want to listen to something soothing and hopeful, I put on Go. I get the feeling now that I need to give the albums by Sigur Rós that I skipped a new chance. Maybe I've missed something.
Factor have been a favourite producer of mine for a couple of years now. He's always delivering great productions and solid albums. But this year he raised the bar a bit when releasing Lawson Graham. Here he really produces both great indie pop and laidback hip hop. And the guest list on it is both awesome on paper and on record. Gregory Pepper, sole, Myka 9, cars & trains, Ceschi and Josh Martinez are just a few of them, all doing a great job. But even if the album is filled with guests, it never feels like a mix tape. Factor manages to string it all together to a classic and great album. Fake Four Inc. is delivering as usual.
I asked Factor about his personal musical highlight of 2010, and here's what he said:
RickoLus is one of those guys who just popped out of nothing for me. I think I heard him for the first time on the Circle into Square Compilation vol. 1 and I got a bit hooked at once. There was something about his sound that really appealed to me. I then decided to check out his album Youngster, and boy was I in for a treat! It's was a perfect mix of lovely lo-fi and sweet melodies. Since I first heard it, the album have never left my iPod and I'm sure it will stay there for a while longer.
What was his highlights of the year then?
"First was seeing Jónsi ( from Sigur Rós and Rice Boy Sleeps) at The Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado. It was truly amazing, like nothing I've ever seen before. Jónsi is an icelandic angel wizard.
The second event is kinda hard to pin down to a specific moment. It is something a bit more... on a personal tip. Some time over the course of this year I became reacquainted with cassette tapes and making mix tapes. It's had a big impact on me, introducing this forsaken format into my music listening habits. There is nothing like a cassette."
Just like last year, the award for best label goes to the same label that released the compilation of the year. It was a close call this year between last years winner Fake Four Inc. and a label I discovered this year, namely Milled Pavement. Fake Four Inc. have continued to drop bombs all through 2010 and could easily have taken the trophy this year too. But they didn't. Milled Pavement stands as the winner and here's some reasons why. First off, they have released some awesome albums throughout the year. Little Eskimo Jesus, zoën and MC Homeless amongst others have all released great albums. But I think that the main reason that I give the award to Milled Pavement is their heart. They release exactly what they want without giving too much thought to if it will work commercially or not. And I totally dig that! Who else would release a compilation album spanning over 4 CD's and that consists of 66 tracks from 96 artists? Talk about a beautiful way of giving the greedy, celebrity obsessed music industry the middle finger. And to also have the heart to release music from a lot of different countries in a lot of different languages. I thank them for serving up a whole new smorgasbord of artists to bless my everyday existence. And for releasing Goosebumps 4.0 that will continue to be a compilation which I will find new favourites on for quite a long time ahead.
I asked label owner and artist Moshe and his labelmate BRZOWSKI about their favourite label and highlight of the year.
"BRZOWSKI:
Insofar as label of the year, and I hate to be redundant,but I have to say Fake Four Inc. They are impossible to miss, as there are so few progressive hiphop (or whatever you want to box-it-as) labels doing it. They didn't release a ton of stuff, but the quality of records and the push behind each was quite apparent. Common Grackle, Ceschi, and Factor albums all completely floored me this year, coupled with great releases from cars & trains, Dark Time Sunshine, Mike King and Moka Only (oh sorry- "Ron Contour"). Ceschi has also been a pleasure to rock shows+hang out with when we are in the same zip-code. Not to mention he wants to build with people that are building. Refreshing. We come from similar heavy-music backgrounds, so I think that laid its own unspoken groundwork. My homies k-the-i???, Noah 23, Awol One+Factor and sole & the skyrider band are all up to bat in 2011, so watch for those releases to clean your helmet.
MOSHE + BRZOWSKI:
Musical highlight of the year would be difficult to pinpoint, but we will go with the 2am slot at the Electric Avenue Festival this past October in Central Maine. Over 1000 fairly-wasted young folks in a muddy field with glowsticks and bonfires, despite a raging rain storm. We hit the stage with a fairly improvised "dubstep-and-rapping/singing/growling" set, decked-out full rain-gear, and people went totally apeshit for the next 70 minutes. Horns up. \m/"
