Top 10

So here it is, the end of 2011 and it is time for everyone to do some type of top 10 list for the year. This being a music blog, I decided to share my favorite albums released this year, and my favorite song off each one. Without further ado, here it is.

1. Flogging Molly - Speed of Darkness

This album was written while Dave King was living in Detroit and deals with the collapse of the American Auto industry and how it has impacted the lower level employees of the big companies. In a time when companies are cutting employees in order to justify large bonuses for executives, Speed of Darkness speaks out against this greed. It took me a couple of listens to truly digest, but this is one of my favortie albums by Flogging Molly.

2. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Wild Flag's debut album is a blast to listen to, and even better to experience live. Carrie Brownstein is a monster on the guitar and they do a great job reviving the Portland punk sound.

3. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

This album is one I listen to after a long day at work and I just need to decompress. M83 has a way of centering me when I really need it.

4. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

Great blend of hardcore vocals with melodic instrumentation. My favorite track is Queen of Hearts, the contrast between the male and female vocals is fantastic.

5. Dodos - No Color

I saw the Dodos open for The New Pornographers last year and I have been a fan ever since. No Color didn't let me down. Using only an acoustic guitar, simple drum kit and xylaphone, the Dodos manage to create simple, beautiful music.

6. Beirut - The Rip Tide

I am a sucker for horns and non-traditional instrumentation and Beirut delivers on both counts. This combined with Zach Condon's sleepy voice, I have a hard time not listening to this album.

7. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

After only listening to the first track on England Keep My Bones, I was hooked. Turner has a way with words that I particularly love and his general philosophy on music is one to be admired.

8. Dainumo, Jeesh, P SUS - Three Flaovrs of 8-bit

These three artist take turns on the album exploring 8-bit techno, playing around with sounds from iconic video games, that makes me feel like I'm standing in an arcade. One track in particular starts off with general noise in an arcade that reminds me of the game room of the Putt-Putt I worked at in high school.

9. Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Zonoscope is a tribute to 80's new wave without being a sloppy makeout with the genre.

10. Old 97's - Grand Theater, Vol. 2

This Dallas rockabilly bands ninth studio album is an all around fun listen. The standout track on Grand Theater, at least for me, is the sea shanty, White Port. It even has yodeling.

also, I was there when this was recorded

I was driving up to Tennessee a few years ago when my mp3 player battery ran out and I was forced to listen to the radio. Normally the only radio station I listen to is NPR, but I decided to channel surf when I came across this song. What really hooked me was the chorus. I can't really put my finger on it, but I enjoy it a lot. The Fratellis first album, Costello Music, is pretty good. The same can't be said for their second album. Anyway, here is Flathead by The Fratellis.

Merry Christmas

Here is a Christmas song by The Dandy Warhols to brighten your Christmas day.

I was out at a bar with a friend of mine the other night when I met a couple of interesting people. My friend had gone to the bathroom and two people approached my table in order to put their drinks down. We got to talking and sat down with me. When my friend came back, we talked about music, what we were listening to, our all time favorites and then one of them did something I plan on doing when I meet someone new. She asked my friend and I to each recommend a band that we really liked. I recommended The Low Anthem, and my friend recommended Into It. Over It. I then asked her to do the same and she told me about Dax Riggs. I have to say, I really enjoyed the music, so here is one of his songs.

I think I have mentioned before that the music I listen to tends to reflect the mood I am in. I also use music to try and change the mood I am in. I have a play list of music to listen to when I am in a bad mood, and the songs I picked for that list are ones that put me in a better mood. One song in particular is Street Spirit (Fade Out) by Radiohead. It manages to bring me back to center every time I hear it. Thom Yorke's vocals along with Johnny Greenwood's guitar have the ability to calm me down and bring me back to where I need to be.

I had this song pop into my head yesterday, so I thought I'd share it. I love the line "may your organs fail before your dreams fail you."

Today's song is by a band a friend of mine at work told me about. I love the instrumentation and the vocals are fantastic.

This song cracks me up.

Every once in a while I feel the need to listen to Hip Hop. Tonight at work after close I listened to Danger Doom's The Mouse and the Mask. Made up of MF Doom and DJ Danger Mouse as well as guest appearances by Cee Lo Green, Talib Kweli and others, they rap about Adult Swim shows like ATHF and Harvey Birdman. This is one song that I particularly like.

Here is another Christmas song I wish they would play at work. This would totally make my day.

It has been raining all day, and that tends to put me in a mellow mood. Today's song is my favorite Primus song.

Blast from the past

Every once in a while a song I haven't listened to in several years pops into my head. This happened tonight with a band that was a brief flash in the pan (at least in the US) when I was in high school. Quarashi is a rap/hip-hop group from Iceland that works in funk, techno and rock melodies into their music. They really aren't particularly great but what really made me pay attention to them was this music video. Sadly I can't find it on youtube, but here is the song anyway.