Gray Flannel Mixtape: The Best Songs of 2010

Yup, it’s that time again!  Before I roll out the annual year-end rundown of my favorite albums, let’s take a listen to some of the best songs from 2010.  I’ve included YouTube clips where possible, since I used Lala last year and got burned.

1. “Them That Do Nothing” by Field Music (from Measure) – I could probably populate this whole list with songs from Field Music’s third studio album.  Instead I’ll just highlight the first single from it and we can all revel in its pure pop perfection.  Well done, Brewis brothers, well done indeed.

2. “Doin’ It Again” by the Roots (from How I Got Over) – If there’s a case to be made for why sampling can work so well in hip hop it’s this track, which brilliantly weaves the Roots’ own composition with John Legend’s “Again”.  It’s the standout moment from an already very good album.

3. “Fuck You!” by Cee-Lo Green (from The Lady Killer) – Call it “Fuck You!” or “Forget You!”, this is one of those timeless songs that Cee-Lo seems to be racking up over the last few years.  Partially obscured by the “controversy” over the song’s title is the fact that this would’ve been a #1 in the glory days of Motown.  Great hook, wonderful vocal performance, and hilarious lyrics.  What more could you want?

4. “The Horn” by Midlake (from The Courage of Others) – While The Courage of Others was a disappointment for me (at least compared to The Trials of Van Occupanther), this is the best moment on it.  The group’s excellent vocal harmonies are still on display, but there’s a punch and propulsion here that is missing from too much of the record.

5. “Suburbia” by Trombone Shorty (from Backatown) – Heavy metal with swing?  Check.  Kickass guitar solo?  Check.  Top-notch frontline horn section?  Check.  One of the best songs from one of the best albums of the year?  You better believe that’s a check.

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2009 – The year in recorded musical performances

I swear that each year I have less and less time to spend listening to new music.  It seems like a losing battle anymore to keep up with all the new albums coming out, but I have to keep trying.  So rather than pontificate on the albums of the past year – as I’ve been known to do – I’m going for brevity in an attempt to get more done.  And I’m adding one new feature to this year’s year-end music wrapup (and future releases as well), by introducing a grading system.  Here’s the rundown:

  • Dig It – You can safely part with your hard-earned money for this and not feel like a sucker.
  • Download It – Still worth a listen, but you’ll probably want to just download it and cherry-pick the best tracks.
  • Ditch It – If you can find something of lasting value, you’re a better person than I.

Got it?  Good!  Let’s begin…

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Album reviews: Backyard Tire Fire & The Week That Was

A pair of new albums from both sides of the Atlantic have found their way into my rotation this week.  From the good ol’ U.S. of A comes Backyard Tire Fire‘s The Places We Lived (Hyena Records), the followup to last year’s excellent Vagabonds and Hooligans.  Stylistically, this album shares many traits with its predecessor but is definitely not a rehash.

Checking in at just over the half-hour mark, frontman and guitarist Ed Anderson and company (brother Matt on bass, Tim Kramp on drums) get right down to business with the deceptively simple title track.  It didn’t make a strong impression on me when I first listened to it, but days later the main guitar riff was still rattling around my head, a tribute to Anderson’s songwriting.  The integration of synths and chimes (not to mention a brief, Beatle-esque trumpet part) into the song is a welcome touch.

The album boasts other strong songs, my favorites being “Shoulda Shut It” and “How in the Hell Did You Get Back Here?”.  The former is a rich, mid-tempo Wilco-like number that sounds like it could’ve been part of the Vagabonds and Hooligans sessions, while the latter is balls-out rocker that will probably sound phenomenal live (should BTF choose to include it in their set).

In contrast to Vagabonds, The Places We Lived is heavy on slower, piano-driven songs, a creative direction that may alienate some fans.  That’s not to say guitars aren’t still a big part of the BTF sound, they’re simply a bit further down in the mix compared to past efforts.  What is undeniable is that due to their presence and also to the band’s devotion to analog recording methods, this album exudes a warm, down-home vibe.

What holds this album back from overtaking Vagabonds as the group’s best work is the inclusion of a couple of decent tracks that don’t feel fully formed (“Everybody’s Down” and “One Wrong Turn”), and a feeling of sameness on some of the tracks.  There is, however enough strong material here to make The Places We Lived worth getting, and getting into.

Track listing:

“The Places We Lived”
“Shoulda Shut It”
“Everybody’s Down”
“Time With You”
“Welcome to the Factory”
“How in the Hell Did You Get Back Here?”
“Rainy Day (don’t go away)”
“One Wrong Turn”
“Legal Crime”
“Home Today”

The second album up for review is the eponymous debut of Peter Brewis’s new project, The Week That Was.  Brewis is a name that should be familiar to fans of quality indie music.  He and brother David co-founded Field Music in 2004, and released two outstanding studio records.  They stopped being a band in 2007 and are now a brand, allowing the brothers to pursue their musical muses without the restrictions they felt being in Field Music placed on them.

David was the first to release a new album from the Field Music brand School of Language, the superb Sea From Shore.  Now it’s Peter’s turn with The Week That Was (Memphis Industries), released last week in the UK and this week in America.  It’s definitely a darker and more complex effort than I expected, but it is a totally satisfying one as well.

A lot of comparisons have been made between this album and early ’80s efforts from Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, and while I have never bothered with Kate Bush I can buy the Gabriel references.  The heavy percussion and guitar stabs of tracks like “Learn to Learn” and “Scratch the Surface” recall Gabriel’s third album right and Abacab/Mama-era Genesis away.  Field Music’s signature sound is all over this record, however, just in slightly skewed form.  Think of the moodier and denser tracks from Tones of Town and you’ll get the idea.

The Week That Was is actually a concept album, dealing with the twin strands of crime and our relationship with mass media.  It was inspired both by Brewis’s self-imposed one-week retreat from television and by the crime fiction of Paul Auster.  The problem is that with only a half-hour to tell its story, the album is more about ideas and impressions than a concrete story.  But that’s a minor inconvenience when weighed against the music, which is highly rewarding.

While there are not as many “wow” moments on this album as there are on Sea From Shore, The Week That Was is the rare album that actually does get better with subsequent listens – so those seeking instant gratification should look elsewhere (more immediate songs like “The Airport Line” and “Scratch the Surface” not withstanding).  Now that two excellent post-Field Music albums have been released, I can confidently declare that the future looks bright for fans of all things Brewis.

Track listing:

“Learn to Learn”
“The Good Life”
“The Story Waits for No One”
“It’s All Gone Quiet”
“The Airport Line”
“Yesterday’s Papers”
“Come Home”
“Scratch the Surface”
“A Waltz in the Park” (bonus track exclusive to eMusic)

Video bonus!  Check out the promo clip for “Scratch the Surface”, directed by (and starring) Peter Brewis:

The Killer Bs – two new albums worth checking out

From two completely different ends of the musical spectrum comes a pair of albums – one new and one upcoming – that both get the coveted GFS stamp of approval.

Build (2008)

First up is the self-titled debut EP from Build (New Amsterdam Records, 2008), a Brooklyn-based indie classical quintet formed in 2006.  Now I know what you’re thinking: “Classical music?  Boring!”  Stop thinking that, you’re wrong.  This are modern, tuneful compositions that bears precious little resemblance to your father’s classical music.

For those familiar with Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Build takes a similar approach to their music.  It’s never stuffy or rigid, although it’s far from poppy or light.  Composer/violinist Matt McBane has written five songs that are challenging enough to reward multiple listens, but aren’t complicated for the sake of being complicated.

You can listen to songs from Build either on the group’s MySpace page or on the New Amsterdam Records site.

Track listing:
“In the Backyard”
“Magnet”
“No Response”
“Imagining Winter”
“Drivin'”

The Places We Lived (2008)

Next up is one of my recent favorites – Backyard Tire Fire.  Ed Anderson and the boys are set to release the followup to the superb Vagabonds & Hooligans, The Places We Lived, on August 26.  I’ve only sampled the three streamable tracks on the group’s website, but I like what I’ve heard so far.  It sounds different enough from the last album to indicate some growth, but it still retains the BTF sound I really enjoy.  It treads some of the same alt-country ground as Wilco (a very good thing in my book), but it’s more straightforward.

Those of you in the Midwest can catch BTF live on tour starting in August (dates available from the band’s site).  But everyone can download the the title track from The Places We Lived on the Hyena Records website, or you can just listen to it here (sweet!).

Track listing:
“The Places We Lived”
“Shoulda Shut It”
“Everybody’s Down”
“Time With You”
“Welcome to the Factory”
“How in the Hell Did You Get Back Here?”
“Rainy Day (don’t go away)”
“One Wrong Turn”
“Legal Crime”
“Home Today”

2007 – The Year in Recorded Musical Performances, Pt. 2

OK, so we’ve reviewed what I believe to be the standout albums from the year that was. The second part of my year-end review reviews some of the best songs of the year. You likely wouldn’t have heard any of these songs on radio (at least not terrestrial radio). In fact, I couldn’t pick out any of this year’s most popular radio songs if my life depended on it.

Note – I tried to find official videos for these songs, but in some cases I could only find live versions (some better than others).

The Best of the Best (Songs)

“Melody Day”, Caribou (Andorra) – This track opens the very excellent Andorra like a fresh breeze from the mid-’60s. I would swear this was produced by Phil Spector in his prime, what with its heavy use of reverb, jangly guitars, and a soaring chorus. Sure there’s nothing terribly original here, apart from introducing more modern electronic elements into the mix, but a good song is a good song.

“Mutiny, I Promise You”, The New Pornographers (Challengers) – The Pornographers’ latest album has been taking a beating from a lot of fans since it came out, but I can’t see how anyone who likes the group wouldn’t think this song is a winner. And for the record, I really enjoy Challengers.

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