2011 Music Sampler

Hey there music fans.  Another great year of music is in the books.  Once again, way too many songs to fit on this silly CD format, but once again that was part of the fun in picking this list.  This year is high(er than usual) on energy and retro sounds.  There are some old friends and many new artists on this list.  I hope you enjoy this music as much as I have this past year.  Well wishes and blessings to you all.

Track 1: "Get Fresh With You" by Teddybears
My job making samplers is made easy by these guys.  This Swedish band never disappoints for a few solid options for a high energy lead-off song.  This is off their sophomore release "Devil's Music".  Like their first album it's full of collaborations with huge hitmakers (CeeLo Green, Robyn and The Flaming Lips to name a few).  If you like this song, checkout "Rocket Scientist" as well.  If you don't - stop listening now.

Track 2: "Booty City" by Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Sticking with the bear theme is the soulful retro sounding Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.  This is has a great Detroit garage rock sound reminiscent of some cleaned up MC5 or the Stooges.  They are part of a retro blues and boogie rock revival scene that includes Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse (RIP), and a few other artists appearing later in this list.

Track 3: "Different" by Ximena Sarinana
This catchy little number comes courtesy of Mexican actress and musician Ximena Sarinana.  This song got pretty heavy rotation on The Current this fall.  She did a great interview while in town where she described the meaning behind this song.  It's about being from a different place and not fitting in or always completely understanding what people are saying to her.  This song was co-written by Tim Armstrong of the old punk band Rancid.

Track 4: "Bad Street" by Twin Sister
I'm a sucker for dream pop.  Must be because it brings me back to the Sundays in college.  Twin Sister is a band from Long Island that makes music in that same mold.  To make things better for me, in some of their songs you can hear the Peter Hook(TM) baseline present.  This is from their debut album, "In Heaven" which is full of several songs that recall a bunch of my favorite late 80's and early 90's music.

Track 5: "A Forest" by Ping Trace
Another year, another Cure cover.  "A Forest" has always been one of my absolute favorite Cure songs.  It's spooky and defines that early 80's underground dance sound.  This remake by Colorado outfit Ping Trace is a fresh update.  Plus, how could I not go for the great geek name of this band.

Track 6: "Up Up Up" by Givers
Another new act from 2011 is Givers, a quintet from Lafayette, LA came out with their debut release, "In Light" in June.  It was met with relatively positive critical reviews.  Their sound is somewhat reminiscent of Vampire Weekend.  They made a big splash at the SXSW music festival in Austin this year being profiled in Time magazine.  This song is featured in FIFA 2012.

Track 7: "Make Some Noise" by The Beastie Boys
My inability to absorb rap and hip hop into my music collection continues this year.  If not for the grace of the old-school hit makers, the Beastie Boys, this list would once again return to being devoid of anything from one of the most popular genres in modern music.  It feels a bit guilty counting this as a rap selection.  Its sort of akin to picking a Johnny Cash tune as a country song.  Alas, it's still a great song and they are still a phenomenal band.  Plus, I'm lovin' them rockin' the cowbell again in this one.  Thank you Beasties.

Track 8: "Don't Gotta Work It Out" by Fitz & The Tantrums
Andy Warner turned me on to this new, old-sounding band.  I'm sorry I didn't join him at The Cabooze to see them this year.  There's something familiar in these songs for sure.  It could be the Daryl Hall sound-alike vocals?  Could it be the retro-soul sounds of the melodies?  This is one of several very tight numbers on their debut release "Pickin' Up the Pieces" to be featured on the Current this year.  Next time they come through, I guarantee I won't pass up the chance to see them.

Track 9: "Go Outside" by Cults
Cults is yet another new band with an outstanding debut release this year. Cults are the duo of Brian Oblivion (great name) and Madeline Follin from Manhattan.  Start to finish, this was one of my favorite albums of the year.  "Abducted" was another big indie hit from this album.  When they came through Minneapolis this fall, they recorded some excellent live tracks at the Current studios.  Check them out at thecurrent.org.

Track 10: "Under Cover Of Darkness" by The Strokes
The Strokes have been one of those bands whose existence I was aware of, but I'd never really taken the time to listen to.  With the release of their fourth LP, "Angles", this year, I finally corrected that.  This is a very strong rock album that highlights the great song-writing and musicianship of these NYC post-punk revivalists.  Now it's time for me to revisit the rest of their back catalog.

Track 11: "Don't Sit Down 'cause I've Moved Your Chair" by Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys also released their fourth LP this year, "Suck It and See".  Allegedly the tagline of a candy commercial in the UK, it class tongue and cheek innuendo for the Sheffield quartet.  It's another solid release for this guys, marking the third time in four years they've made an appearance on this sampler.  Jonah cracks up every time he hears the title of this one sung.

Track 12: "Techno Fan" by The Wombats
This and the song "1996" were two of the heavy rotation songs by the Liverpudlian Wombats on the Current this year.  I like both, but have a stronger affinity towards this one considering the topic.  It's about a guy who get's dragged to a techno show .  While there he realizes that he truly enjoys the music and doesn't want to leave early like his date (although it sounds like it may simply be out of frugality).  Hearing this song inspired me to go research the term techno as I realized that it was often thrown around to describe a wide range of electronic music.  It was interesting to learn about the true techno movement in Detroit during the early 80's.  I still maintain that second to Manchester, England, Detroit is the home to some of the most interesting and revolutionary music around.  I guess I always new I was a techno fan.

Track 13: "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People
This is, far and away, the biggest hit on this list.  I've got to say that it's very well deserved.  I remember first hearing it on the Current thinking, "man that's one catchy tune". I missed the chance to see them at the Fine Line this summer and of course now they come through as one of the hottest tickets in town.  It's a song that provides a rare case of overlap between my radio station and the kids'.

Track 14: "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys
Is there a hotter band right now than Ohio's Black Keys?  Released just in time to make the sampler, this was a very last minute add.  Intense pressure from Marc and Amy pushed me over the top on this one.  They've picked up right where they left off on Brothers.  Be sure to catch the video for this one.  For those counting at home, this is track three of the retro blues/garage sound.

Track 15: "Bizness" by Tune-Yards
Four out of Five Current DJs agree - WHOKILL, the new album by Merrill Garbus (AKA tUnE-yArDs) was the best album of the year.  I'd been blissfully unaware of it until reading the Current's year end DJ favorites column.  Within the span of a week I'd listened to it about 2 dozen times and run into some enthusiastic supporters (Bob and Julie) who raved about her performance at First Avenue earlier in the fall.  I agree with the Current DJ's.  The album is outstanding.  She's definitely one to watch out for her next album.  If you like this song, get the album ($5 on Amazon!).

Track 16: "Weekend" by Smith Westerns
The Smith Westerns are a band from Chicago who released their second LP this year, "Dye It Blonde".  They toured opening for the Arctic Monkeys.  Not much else to say other than I really enjoyed this song and album this year.

Track 17: "Get Away" by Yuck
This song by indie newcomers Yuck brings me back to the year 1991 - my sophomore year in college.  Their sound is reminiscent of noise rock pioneers like Sonic Youth and the Pixies.  1991 was such a big year in music that the Current featured an entire weekend profiling the music of that year.  Often labeled as the year punk broke (a documentary with this title chronicles this), it featured music that originated from the punk spirit but due to numerous factors achieved more critical success.  The most obvious success story being Nirvana and Nevermind.  Anyway, Yuck really captures the spirit of this era and was a fun edition to the world of alternative music in 2011.

Track 18: "It's Real" by Real Estate
Real Estate, another band issuing their sophomore release this year, put out what became my favorite album of the year, "Days".  This group has a wonderful jangly dream pop sound that recalls the Smiths, the Sundays, and even early REM.  They are a quartet from New Jersey.  There's a risk with this music that it falls into the background because it's so smooth and soothing.  If you like this song, you should definitely checkout "Days".  You won't be disappointed.

Track 19: "My Mistakes" by Eleanor Friedberger
Eleanor is half of the Fiery Furnaces.  This is from her first solo release, "Last Summer".  It's a collection of songs she wrote about spending the summer of 2010 in her native NYC.  There are some great lines in this song like "he's ignoring me like it's 2001" and "I do my best thinking when I'm flying down the bridge".  I love the subtly driving rhythms in this song as well.  It was my favorite driving song of the summer.  The rest of the album is quite good as well.

Track 20: "Ritual Union" by Little Dragon
Little Dragon is a Swedish group (#2 on this list) who released their third album this year.  I first became acquainted with them on the last Gorillaz album where lead singer, Yukimi Nagano, guest sang on two songs. It's quite the international affair with this band.  They are classified as an electropop band by Rhapsody, but I think this song is good example of Drum N Bass.

Track 21: "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey
Grand finale.  Many of you won't like this song.  I'm sorry for that.  Let this song transport you to another era with it sound and ground you firmly in the present with it's lyrics.  This artist was beginning to be quite a sensation towards the end of the year and I expect her to become even more of a big name in 2012.  Or, your suspicions may be right and no one else will like it either.  Either way, it's not boring.  It's the IT song of the moment for me as I write this up.

Best wishes, happy holidays and the rest.  Thanks for listening.

2010 Music Sampler

Hit it…

2010 was a terrific year for music.  Lots of old favorites releasing really good music, some great new bands, and, of course, some not-so-new bands that are now new to me all blessed us with new material.  In fact, over a third of this sampler is from bands who released their first music in 2010.  Despite the economic conditions and the rapidly changing structure of economics of music, artistic people continue to be inspired and inspire us.  For that, I’m so grateful.  On to the music

Track 1: “Right On” by The Roots

My difficulty to embrace rap and hip hop music is well documented.  I thought it might be like sushi – if I tried it enough I’d get used to it and eventually love it.  It’s proven to be a tougher nut to crack than sushi.  However, there is the occasional band and song that provides me an easy entry into the genre.  The Roots are such a band and “Right On” is such a track.  The house band for Jimmy Fallon teams up with artsy critic favorite Joanna Newsome.  I love the beat and some of the rap lines are really great (“people are counting on me like a digit” being a personal favorite.  This is a great way to start off a playlist.

Track 2: “One Day” by Kings Go Forth

Three things surprise me about this song – it was released this year, the band it from Milwaukee, WI and I love it.  The retro-soul outfit sounds like it was plucked right out of smack dab the middle of the 1970’s.  The drums, the horns, the bongos – oh my!  It makes me pine for the days of Watergate and A Clockwork Orange (which of course I don't remember very well, but hey - what the heck).

Track 3: “Sinister Kid” by The Black Keys

The new album by The Black Keys, “Brothers” was one of the best of the year.  Without a weak song on the album it was tough to pick just one song for this list.  Tracks like “Tighten Up” and “Everlasting Light” were staples on alternative radio.  My cousin Anthony helped me truly appreciate the quality of this album on our visit to Miami this summer.  I even got to go “totally retro” by buying the actual CD at Specs on US 1 reliving so many years of CD purchasing on trips to Miami to visit family.  The CD even changes color when exposed to heat!  I’d be hard pressed to come up with a better soundtrack for my summer than this album.

Track 4: “In Sleep” by Lissie

Some songs haunt you – you just can’t shake them loose from your skull.  You hear them in your head when you wake up, when you’re in a boring meeting, when you’re trying to fall asleep.  “You Make It Easy” by Air comes to mind as one of these songs.  What I find odd, is that often these songs are not typically what you’d consider music that you identify with or like.  There’s just a particular intonation or key that strikes a chord.  “In Sleep” is just one of those songs.  It got pretty heavy rotation on the Current despite the fact that it sounds like it would be like a mix of Stevie Nicks and something that might be found on one of those Starbucks compilation CDs.  I find the lyrics incredibly heartfelt and honest.  The music makes me feel as though I’m sneaking around on tip toe to avoid making a sound.

Track 5: “Cameras” by Matt & Kim

This track sounds a little more like my usual taste.  What surprises me is that I hadn’t heard them before this year.  Their album Sidewalks released this year is their third.  Matt and Kim are a couple from Brooklyn.  They’re like a sweeter, sing-songy version of the White Stripes as Kim takes on drumming duties.   Their playful sound is pretty easy to get into if you’re a child of 80’s alternative like me.  Matt and Kim – it’s nice to meet you.

Track 6: “Boyfriend” by Best Coast

I’m a sucker for female vocalists.  I’m also a sucker for retro-surf sounds often found in songs by bands like the Breeders.  Best Coast fits neatly with this sound.  The lyrics from this solid album seem to have been ripped right out the diary of a California teenage girl.  The sounds are based on a variety of genres that I really enjoy like garage rock and girl groups.  “Boyfriend” got pretty heavy rotation on the Current this year and for good reason.  It’s a great song from a promising young band.

Track 7: “Wide Eyes” by Local Natives

Local Natives is another new band in 2010.  Despite they formed in 2008 and recorded much of it the same year, their first release, Gorilla Manor, was not released in the US until this year.  Their sound is very prototypical of a certain brand of alternative rock by bands like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear.

Track 8: “Let’s Go Surfing” by The Drums

Continuing the section of new artists are The Drums.  Their self-titled debut released this year is a tight record full of catchy tunes – many of which would have made great selections for a sampler.  The Drums are another act from Brooklyn.

Track 9: “Love Doesn’t Just Stop” by Standard Fare

I love serendipitous moments.  Like when you’re driving your son to drum lessons and the radio plays a song that’s super catchy and then you never hear them play it again - EVER.  Luckily, you have your phone with you at the time and you can look up on the Current’s website and see that it’s some band called Standard Fare (or is that the name of the song?).  This was my random prized introduction to Standard Fare.  For a couple of weeks I listened to little else.  “How can we stay in touch when you don’t talk”.  Strange.  Lucky.

Track 10: “Tightrope” by Janelle Monae

Everyone’s favorite new artist from Prince to many of the critics best of 2010 lists is Janelle Monae.   Her sold out show with Of Montreal this summer at First Avenue was one of the hottest tickets of the year.  On this track she gets help from Outkkast’s Big Boi (who had his own good album this year).  I suspect Ms. Monae won’t be opening for anyone for very long.  I also doubt she’ll be at venues the size of First Avenue much longer either.

Track 11: “Stretch Your Face” by Tobacco

For the first time ever, this sampler does not include a song by Beck.  It does include a song very influenced by Beck.  In fact he guest sings on two songs from the same album (the fabulously titled “Maniac Meat”).   The album is chock full of short, synth-driven tracks like this one with great titles like “TV All Greasy” and “Motorlicker”.  While I’d never heard of Tobacco or the band he fronts Black Moth Super Rainbow, this is his third solo album to date.  He’s obviously been listening to Beck.

Track 12: “Take It In” by Hot Chip

Small miracle this is the first time Hot Chip has been on one of my samplers.  Their sound is very inspired by New Order.  This year I had the chance to see them live and that sealed the deal for me.  These guys are good.  Very good.  Their lyrics can also be very humorous.  “The Wheel of Fortune starts at six o’clock, so what am I to do till midnight?” starts this track as an example.  One Life Stand is their fourth album and it seems like they are really hitting their stride.  This band is from London.  As a side note, they collaborated with Bernard Sumner (New Order lead singer) this year on a song for a Converse compilation that’s quite good as well.

Track 13: “Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith)” by Crystal Castles

Who’s that on lead vocals and why do they sound just like Robert Smith from The Cure?  Why it is Robert Smith guesting on this remake of an obscure 80’s alternative song.  In fact, it’s the best sounding thing he’s sung on in years.  When the word “fascination” rolls out of his mouth its hard not to be transported to 1989’s “Fascination Street” in wistful reminiscing.  This song was a great little treat this year.

Track 14: “Pow Pow” by LCD Soundsystem

Touted as the swan song for the band, their album This Is Happening was a musical highlight of the year.  True to form, it’s full of 9 very long songs that are heavy on beat, physicality and repetition.  Of course I loved it.  I had the chance to see LCD Soundsystem this year at Roy Willkins (boo) with Hot Chip (yay).   This song has basic structure, few instruments and hardly any lyrics.  It’s lyrics have a funny way of speaking to dynamics in Amy and my relationship (“you being tired and me being wired, there’s advantages to both” and “me being uptight and you being alright, there’s advantages to each”).  The version here is abbreviated from the full version on the album, but gives an idea of the effect.  It was my favorite song of the year.

Track 15: “Rhinestone Eyes” by Gorillaz

Another longtime favorite and another alleged swan song album, Gorillaz (the animated band) released Plastic Beach this year.  True to form it included many guest artists from Snoop Dog to Lou Reed to Bobby Womack to The Clash.  The best show of the year for me was going to see the Gorillaz live at Target Center with Amy and the boys in October.  It was their first show and I felt I was setting them up with a very respectable first show.  It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.  Damon Alburn was terrific leading many of the guest artists in front of Jamie Hewlett’s impressive animations projected on massive LCD screens.  It was really quite a site.

Track 16: “The Ghost Inside” by Broken Bells

Danger Mouse (producer extraordinaire) and James Mercer (Shin’s front man) teamed up to make Broken Bells this year.  It’s a very well-produced album of modern alternative songs that arrived in early 2010.  Mercer’s falsetto on this track has almost a Prince sound to it.  The rest of the songs on the album are also of very high quality.  This band was a staple on altenative radio this year.

Track 17: “I Want the World to Stop” by Belle and Sebastian

Has it really been 4 years since the last B&S album?  Wow – seemed like those guys were releasing things every year back in the late 90’s and early 00’s.  They didn’t disappoint on Write About Love.  It fits in very nicely alongside their terrific catalogue of albums.  I was bummed they didn’t come through the Twin Cities on tour this time, but perhaps there’s still hope for 2011.  To promote the album, the band filmed an endearing little 20 minute video where they and their manager talk about the album, the music business, and have a few performances.  It’s very well done and very Belle & Sebastian.  Check it out on their website.

Track 18: “Albatross” by The Besnard Lakes

The opening of this track sounds like it could have come off of Loveless by My Bloody Valentine.  That grabbed me immediately.  As the track progresses and the dramatic bass and drum lines come in the track builds in majesty and beauty.  Later in the song the horns add to the atmosphere.  It’s definitely a song to sit and chill to.  The Besnard Lakes are from Montreal and this is their third album.  If you don’t like this on first listen, give it a few chances.  I get that music like this is definitely not for everyone, but I loved it too much to leave it off.

Track 19: “Warpaint” by Undertow

My dad always told me “Mike, nothing’s free”.   Well, how I came across Undertow and this song in particular was something for free.  I had made a purchase on Amazon for some MP3s and after completing it I was offered this song for free.  “What the heck” I thought give it a spin.  I’m glad I did.  It turned out to be one of my favorite songs of the year.  The rest of their first album The Fool is also right up my alley.  One more interesting new band this year.

Track 20: “Thieves” by She and Him

She and Him are actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward.  This was their second release as an act together appropriately entitled “Volume 2”.  Upon first hearing the lead single “In the Sun” I found myself really annoyed by the sound.  But as I heard it over and over on the Current, there was a strange point when it flipped and I really liked it.  Her voice just really started to grab me.  This album was another dedicated 2 week listener for me this year.  I was bummed to miss their sold out show at First Avenue this summer.

Track 21: “Leleklato Sugar” by Stereolab

Last song.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for listening.  Stereolab announced last year they were indefinitely going on hiatus but they had one more album’s worth of material to release.  That gave us possibly their final release, Not Music, this year.  It’s been bitter sweet to listen to Not Music knowing it may be the Groop’s last work but I was certainly happy to have it as a musical highlight of the year.  This song has so much of what makes Stereolab great to me: the Moog, the dramatic tempo transition mid-song, the horns, the incredible vocals by Laetitia Sadier, and of course a completely undecipherable name.  You will be missed, Stereolab (solo work by Sadier this year was outstanding and will help make up for your absence).  Thank you for all the great music and inspiration.  I hope you enjoyed this play list.  Have a great 2011.  Keep listening to music and supporting the great artists that inspire you.