Anna’s Extensive 2010 Reflection

Now that 2010 has ended, I finally feel ready to throw a few lists on here of what I dug music-wise during those 365 days. None of these are in order, the number of each is completely arbitrary because I loved so much this is just what I managed to extract from a year full of musical madness. So here it all is – better late than never, right?

Kevin’s Top 25 Albums of 2010

So finally I’m at the end of my lists that have explained my lack of constant posting in the past month. We’re in for a ride.

Kevin’s Top 50 Songs of 2010

Getting close to the conclusion of my lists. Top Albums will be up tomorrow, but for now, here’s the songs that I found to be memorable in 2010. I tended to pick ones I have some sort of nostalgic memories with.

1. Kanye West – “Runaway”

2. LCD Soundsystem – “Pow Pow”

3. Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill”

4. Future Islands – “Inch of Dust”

5. Sufjan Stevens – “I Want to Be Well”

6. Beach Fossils – “Daydream”

7. Beach House – “Take Care”

8. Panda Bear – “Last Night at the Jetty”

9. The Radio Dept. – “Heaven’s on Fire”

10. Here We Go Magic – “Collector”

11. LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”

12. Vampire Weekend – “Cousins”

13. The Drums – “Lets Go Surfing”

14. Lisbon – “Stranded”

15. Dr. Dog – “Shadow People”

16. Double Dagger – “Pillow Talk”

17. Toro Y Moi – “Blessa”

18.The National – “Terrible Love”

19. INEVERYROOM – “EM E GEE”

20. Girls – “Heartbreaker”

21. Gil Scott Heron – “New York is Killing Me”

22. Titus Andronicus – “A More Perfect Union”

23. Beach House – “Norway”

24. Deerhunter – “Helicopter”

25. Yeasayer – “Ambling Amp”

26. Sufjan Stevens – “All Delighted People”

27. Avey Tare – “Laughing Hieroglyphics”

28. The Tallest Man on Earth “King of Spain”

29. Best Coast – “Boyfriend”

30. MGMT – “Brian Eno”

31. Dum Dum Girls – “Baby Don’t Go”

32. Lonnie Walker – “Love Turn”

33. Winks – “She Cums in Colors”

34. Panda Bear – “Alsatian Darn”

35. Wild Nothing – “Summer Holiday”

36. Twin Sister – “Lady Daydream”

37. Highlife – “F Kenya Rip”

38. Javelin – “Vibrationz”

39. Wavves – “King of the Beach”

40. Twin Shadow – “I Can’t Wait”

41. Wolf Parade – “Little Golden Age”

42. Avey Tare – “Lucky 1″

43. Double Dagger – “Sleeping with the TV on”

44. Cee Lo Green – “Fuck You”

45. Javelin – “Moscow 1980″

46. Future Islands – “The Ink Well”

47. Raindeer – “This is my Last Transmission”

48. Daniel Higgs – “Hoofprints on the Ceiling of Your Mind”

49. Lower Dens – “I Get Nervous”

50. Dustin Wong – “Talking Walking Cloud”

 

Listen: Daniel’s Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Albums of 2010 (UPDATED!)

Today at 4 p.m. I’m going to be counting down my Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Albums of 2010 on WMUC. It’s yet another year-end list so I admit it’s going to be something that you’ve heard before, but I think I’ve thrown in some surprises to make it worth your while. Like my Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Songs of 2010, this list will be a little different than my final Top 25 Albums of 2010 list because there are some albums that I couldn’t find a radio friendly track from. So don’t be too surprised when that list is a little different. After the show, I’m going to publish the list below and have the two-hour extravaganza available for download, so be sure to hit that up as well.

Head on over to wmucradio.com at 4 p.m. to stream the show or directly stream it here.

Check back after the show for some updates!

Enjoy.

EDIT: Download the show here!

UPDATE (6:41 p.m.): The show went well, and all around and away we go:

Daniel’s Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Albums of 2010

Marc’s Top 10 Songs of the Year

Alright. I give up. I will now finally attempt something totally impossible and create a list of my favorite 10 songs of the year. 2010 was not just a year marked by totally unprecedented musical consumption for me, but it was also probably the most important year of my entire, short, 22 year old life. All of these songs mean more to me than any top 10 from previous years, because as I am so fond of saying when it comes to appreciating music: context is everything. What’s really funny after completing this list, is that despite spending half of this year in the bubble of the blogopshere, none of my Top 10 songs would be out of place on any NPR staffers list. Weird. My Top 10 Tracks after the jump!

Listen: Daniel’s Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Songs of 2010 (UPDATED!)

Today at 4 p.m. on University of Maryland’s WMUC, I’m going to be counting down my Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Songs of 2010 on “In Afternoon Air.” This list will be a little different from my Top 50 Songs of 2010 list, seeing as how there are some songs out there (“Younger Us” by Japandroids, anything by Kanye or Big Boi) that are not suitable for FM radio play. So for now, it’s just those songs that can be played on the radio. I think I have a pretty solid list put together, so definitely take the time to head on over at 4 p.m. to WMUC to check it out.

You can head over to wmucradio.com or directly stream WMUC here. Either way, it’s going to be a great show.

EDIT: Download the show here!

Afterwards, I’m going to post my Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Songs of 2010 here along with a link to download the show for your later listening pleasure.

Enjoy the show.

UPDATE (2:38 p.m.): Tune in at 3:30 because Denver’s Tennis is going to be in the studio on Victory Sweater, the show before mine. So stoked to see Tennis play in the studio because I’m missing them tonight at 9:30 Club. Listen here!

UPDATE (7:21 p.m.): So Tennis was late and didn’t actually get to play, which was a bit of a disappointment. However, they did sit down with Youth Orientation‘s Reese and seemed like some of the nicest people ever, which was awesome. And also, my Top 25 (Radio Friendly) Songs of 2010:

Virgin Festival Preview: Dance Forest

The Dance Forest, featuring Chromeo, Sharam, Maximum Balloon, Sleigh Bells, Wolfgang Gartner, Modeselktor, & Neon Indian.

Kevin’s Take: We decided to condense this section for the preview because frankly, we’ve been procrastinating this (so many things happening in the lives of the Fresh Heirs, its unbelievable). Personally, I’m rather excited for this part of the festival, because I have a feeling it will be a more intimate venue as opposed to the large stages of the other two. Not to mention, its a little indie supershow going on. Chromeo should definitely appeal to some, but not really me (never listened to them that much). Frankly, I’ve never heard of Sharam.

Maximum Balloon sounds rather exciting though seeing as I first fell in love with TV on the Radio back with Return to Cookie Mountain and went head over heels for Dear Science,. With notable band member, and only white bro in band David Andrew Sitek’s debut album coming out soon, the show should feature a lot of guest stars and its sounds a lot like the “party record” he described a while back. Also, we’re collectively very excited for Sleigh Bells. Their new video for “Infinity Guitars” is quite amazing, and apparently, they can put on an amazing live show every now and then (though that means that they have bad ones now and then too). Don’t really know anything about Wolfgang Gartner, other then he’s friends with the rapidly rising progressive house artist deadmau5 and he’s more “proggy” then that. Or so I’ve heard, might have that wrong. I really liked Modeselektor’s album Happy Birthday thanks in part to Thom Yorke’s guest vocals on a track. I really am looking forward to Neon Indian the first time since I saw them with Wild Nothing a while back. Wondering what the post-chillwave is gonna sound like.

Daniel’s Take: I’m pretty pumped for this dance area. I saw Neon Indian at Sasquatch in the Rumpus Room and now I get to see him (for the third time this year) in the Dance Forest. It’s a pretty blissful plan. I’m pretty excited to see what Alan Palomo and the gang are up to know. I really, really like “I Really Didn’t Need You Anyway,” a song unveiled on a Sirius XMU session earlier this month.

Along with Neon Indian, I’m stoked for Sleigh Bells, as my plans to see them this summer never really panned out. I’m bringing extra pairs of ear plugs for the barrage of noise I’m expecting. The more I listen to songs like “Infinity Guitars” and “Rill Rill,” the more infectious the rhythms become and the more I’m excited just to dance to this music. I’m so stoked.

The third act at the Dance Forest I have a legitimate interest in is Maximum Balloon, which Kevin gave you a little synopsis of earlier. I’m most interested to see what collaborators come out to Merriweather for this show. I haven’t heard the album or even looked at any information about it so I have no idea who could even be there, but I’m really excited to find out.

As for all the other acts, I’ve heard bits and pieces and I’m sure they would be fun, but I just have too much invested in the acts not in the Dance Forest to really stick around try them out. I’m sure Chromeo would put on a good show and be really fun, but I just don’t have that much an urge to spend some time to see them. I was really, really pumped to see Die Antwoord, but they aren’t on the bill anymore. Which I think is tragic and a deprivation to all people at FreeFest.

Kevin’s Forecast: A lot of these are gonna be difficult I’m guessing, scheduling wise, but I’m definitely going to try to see Maximum Balloon, Sleigh Bells and Neon Indian for at least a bit, especially with the latter. Here’s hoping the schedule is getting released soon!

Daniel’s Forecast: Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian, and Maximum Balloon. I want to see them. That’s the order I want to see them in. This preview series is over. I want to schedule. Now.

Get Down With Jay Bells

If there was anything I learned from living next door to a houseful of bros during my last year of college, it was to love Jay-Z.

2010 Recap: Kevin’s View

With Fresh Heirs starting halfway through the year, recapping everything that has happened so far in 2010 would be a little unreasonable and a little tedious. So instead, we’re bringing you recaps from the staff that show what caught each writer’s eye so far in 2010, providing a little snapshot as we move into the future. Here’s Kevin’s view:

2010 Recap: Marc’s View

With Fresh Heirs starting halfway through the year, recapping everything that has happened so far in 2010 would be a little unreasonable and a little tedious. So instead, we’re bringing you recaps from the staff that show what caught each writer’s eye so far in 2010, providing a little snapshot as we move into the future. Here’s Marc’s view: