DELTRON 3030′S MID-YEAR TOP TEN ALBUM LIST…
We’re a little more than half way through 2010 and it’s safe to say it has been a pretty incredible year for album releases so far. As you know, I love making lists so I decided to put out a quick top ten list of my favorite albums so far. If you haven’t made sweet ear love to these albums DO IT NOW!
10.) Janelle Monae – “The ArchAndroid”
An amazing ambitious debut of genre jumping tracks
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9.) Delorean - “Subiza”
They shimmer and dance on your soul like a pool’s magical healing waters on a hungover summer day. Dive in and let the warm glow fix what ails you
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8.) Tame Impala – “Innerspeaker”
The Lennon-esque vocals are married to trippy psychedelic guitars and drums that definitely time warp the listener back to an era when people dropped acid like it was their job
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7.) Titus Andronicus – “The Monitor”
The Civil War spun as an analogy for suburban doom and gloom by a bunch of disenfranchised post punk rockers from New Jersey
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6.) Jonsi – “Go”
Jonsi’s ethereal voice will brighten any sky and push the clouds out of your mind and leave you in a warm happy place. This album is like Zoloft for your ears.
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5.) The Radio Dept – “Clinging To A Scheme”
Delicate textures and melodies wash over the tracks in a waves of emotion that are enhanced by the lost love crooning vocals
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4.) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
They shift gears from new pop leanings (“Round and Round”) to low fi chill-waves (“L’estat”), 80’s sweet cheese (“Can’t Hear My Eyes”) to drugged out fuzz attacks (“Butt-House Blondies”). …and I’m a sucker for all of it.
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3.) Gorillaz – “Plastic Beach”
I love this album. I love it because of what it is. I love it because of what it isn’t. I’ll be honest though, I didn’t love it right away. In a way that’s the beauty of it The different soundscapes, the variety of guests, and the “newness” of it all combine to create a sound that welcomes you to revisit the world over and over again.
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2.) Phantogram – “Eyelid Movies”
Two unassuming Up-State New Yorkers throwing down sexy vocals and psychedelic melodies on top of hop hop beats. A pretty simple formula…but there’s so many more layers to their sound. Fifteen seconds into the lead track and I knew I’d be a huge fan.
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1.) LCD Soundsystem – “This Is Happening”
As the lead track “Dance Yourself Clean” started up with its slight downer vibes I wondered where the LCD party was. I was sure I was destined to sing “LCD I Love You, but you’re bringing me down”. Then at the 3:08 mark the drums kicked in, shaking off the bad mojo with them, and I haven’t looked back since. If “This is All Happening” is truly his last album it is one epic swan song. This album is is full of amazing tracks. I’m only on my second spin of it but I feel confident in saying this might very well might be your soundtrack to the summer. I want to say so much more but my mind is swimming in the beats and layers. This album has altered my ability to think straight.
LCD, it’s a helluva drug.
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WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: DELTRON 3030′S JULY SOUNDTRACK
DELTRON 3030′S July “WHAT I’M LISTENING TO” SOUNDTRACK to ease you back into the work week after the long holiday weekend!
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: Wavves- King of the Beach
Last year was a whirlwind year for Nathan Williams, a.k.a Wavves.
He released a homemade LP full of frantic fuzz that was critically praised for its energy and originality, highlighted by the lo-fi ode to suburban loserdom, “No Hope Kids.”
He had an epic meltdown in Barcelona which resulted in his drummer pouring a beer on Nate’s head mid-set and quitting the band all while the Spanish crowd pelted him with bottles.
He got into a war of words with the Black Lips who accurately stated “I’ve heard stories from others that he’s like a real dick. And just like a baby, thought he was really cool.” Of course this quote led to a fight between “The Lips” and Wavves…in of all places Williamsburg. Classic Jets vs Sharks shit right there.
All of this was to be expected. He was a mere 22 years old and given the keys to the hipster kingdom. What did you people expect. Not helping matters was he looked like the raven-haired twin of Joey from the Real World Cancun, a supreme ass clown of epic proportions. Some people just give off a vibe that makes you want to punch them. In Nate’s defense, if people ran around documenting the kind of shenanigans I was getting into at 22 I’m sure I’d be stamped with a similar “dickhole” label.
Exactly one year after the Barcelona incident, Wavves is ready to outgrow that label and release his new album, “King of the Beach.” From the looks of it he seems all grown-up. Musically speaking that is. I’m sure he’s still an unbearable jerk-off, but people will be more willing to let him slide now. (more…)
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: KELE – THE BOXER
Today, we have the highly anticipated solo album from the lead singer of one of my favorite bands. No, I’m not referring to Ed Kowalczyk’s recently leaked solo LP. I’m talking about Bloc Party’s Kele. I have loved Bloc Party ever since Silent Alarm and the equally awesome Silent Alarm Remixed LP. Sure, I felt like a sucker paying for an album of remixes but it was 2005. Those were simpler times. Plus those albums rocked so hard. “Helicopter” and “Banquet” were “rock out with your cocks” out mix cd staples.
Since those albums, Bloc Party has hung their hat on the recurring themes of failed relationships and breakups…mostly because their lead singer, Kele, suffered from an agonizing breakup from his long time boyfriend. Yep, he likes men. Whenever I tell anyone this they seem shocked. ..even though the album “A Weekend In the City” is full of man on man love clues.
“Rock out with your cocks out” indeed.
As the band has gone on, they’ve left their original sound of a straight (musically speaking) guitar rock and leaned towards a more electronica sound. Take a look at their first single “Mercury” from 2008’s “Intimacy”. Poor guitarist Russel Lissack wasn’t given much room to shred at all. After watching this, it seemed inevitable that the band was going to take a break. Sure enough a week later they officially called for a hiatus. Since then the only Bloc Party output has been the “Intimacy” remix CD, which failed to capture the magic of the “Silent Alarm” remix LP, and a single, “One More Chance” that was left off “Intimacy” but definitely shouldn’t have been. Besides being a pretty solid track, “One More Chance” offered up a clue to where Kele’s head was. Dance halls. It was definitely a different direction for the band.
I found myself torn with the announcement of Kele’s solo album after this. Could I handle a disc full of Bloc-ish tracks that weren’t actually Bloc Party but a bastardized dance version? Furthermore, what if it got big? Would that spell the end of any thoughts of ending the “hiatus”? Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you guys about this album. By pushing this album on you I’m a walking talking self-fulfilling prophecy!
As much as I hate to aid Kele in distancing himself from Bloc Party for fear of them never returning from their Kele imposed hiatus I can’t help but champion this album. My fears of losing Bloc Party were quelled by the fact that the heart and soul of Bloc Party is still very much alive on this album. One track makes me feel this way. One track brings me back to those days of “This Modern Love.” That track is “Everything You Wanted.” It feels like classic Bloc. Mind you this is “This Modern Love” sung by a guy who is still mourning a huge personal break-up and now it is compounded by the breakup of his band…oh and it is devoid of buzzing guitars. Um…so maybe it’s not Bloc Party…but it’s close. You just have to trade in the occasional guitars (Unholy Thoughts) for handclaps and synths.
What you should really take from this is that the band was going on hiatus no matter what…so to get a quasi-Bloc Party sounding LP is a blessing. It is found money. Remember The Strokes’ hiatus gave birth to f o u r great LPS and TV on The Radio’s hiatus gave birth to one (soon to be two) great LPs.
I guess if I’ve learned anything it’s to embrace breakups. Lets try and go Bloc free for a little longer.
Highlights: Everything You Wanted, Unholy Thoughts, The Other Side, The New Rules, Rise
Go see Kele August 10th @ The Troubadour (tickets) …where he is sure to play some Bloc tracks.
Bonus: Download the remix of “One More Chance” here
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: QUADRUPLE THREAT, HAIKU STYLE
This is a big summer for album releases. Besides the onslaught of awesome indie albums that have come out or are coming out we have some good hip-hop releases to spend our summer with. I’d ask my two rap experts to give us their take on a few of these hot hip hop albums but it would seem like a waste of time. If you don’t know what to expect from MIA, The Roots, Big Boi, and Eminem then you should probably go ahead and pass on these albums and go spend your hard earned money elsewhere. Might I suggest Magic Mountain?
I shan’t pretend to be a rap expert here. You’d see right through that…and it would be a rambling mess. Instead I’ll go ahead and provide my quick take of each big album, haiku style:
MIA - “Maya”
“Gal is so earnest
smoking the pineapple express
look in the mirror”
Highlights:”Born Free,” “Teqkilla,” “Lovalot,” “Tell Me Why”
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The Roots – “How I Got Over”
“Fallon laughs a lot,
the Roots are hardly a joke
The fire burns so bright “
Highlights: “Dear God 2.0,” “The Fire,” “Right On”
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Big Boi – “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty”
“Outkast is over
No Dre makes for a weird world
Stank is forever!”
Highlights: “Follow Us,” “Shutterbug,” Be Still,” “Turn Me On”
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Eminem – “Recovery”
“Recovered? Hardly
Please stop guessing who is back
Mathers don’t matter”
Highlights: “Not Afraid,” “No Love,” “Cinderella Man”
DELTRON 3030 RECOMMENDED: Steel Train -Steel Train
This weekend is going to be a nice time for free good music in Los Angeles.
Saturday in Pasadena you can go see Warpaint, The Antlers, and Matt and Kim…all for the price of nothing.
More acts and info here: http://makemusicpasadena.org/
In Santa Monica you have two opportunities to catch free music:
Sat: Minus the Bear, Ra Ra Riot, Yela Wolf, and As Tall as Lions
Sun: Hey Champ, Steel Train, Neon Trees, Matt and Kim (again), and B.o.B.
More acts and info here: http://shop.pacsun.com/content.jsp?pageName=ballyhoo
Obviously I’ll be trekking to Pasadena on Saturday as I can’t ever turn my back on the Antlers…even though the Santa Monica Pier show is a short bike ride away. The Antlers are worth the extra effort. Out of the 
two Pier days Sundays lineup is more promising anyway – specifically the inclusion of Steel Train. I saw them play an early set @ Coachella and they rocked it pretty hard. Besides playing a ton of tracks from their upcoming album Steel Train also honored their New Jersey roots by playing a kick ass cover of The Boss’ “Dancing In the Dark” which led to people doing the inevitable Adam Sandler as Springsteen dance…and by “people” I mean ME. Good times.
Their new album comes out at the end of the month, but I have it now (thank you Internet) It won’t be making any Year End “Best Of” lists but it is a good time. Sadly I don’t have the companion cover album, “Terrible Thrills“. Yep, this band that you mostly likely never heard of already compiled a group of artists to cover these mostly unheard indie pop tracks. Pretty ballsy huh? They didn’t just rope in some unknowns to do quick karaoke style covers either. How does hearing Teagan and Sara belt out “Turnpike Ghost” sound? Pretty good right? Or how about Scarlet Johanson’s smoky croon on “Bullet”. Not as appealing? Agreed. How about Maeby from Arrested Development? Yep , she’s on there too.
You know, maybe it was a good thing I didn’t get the cover album. Let’s just focus on Steel Train’s version for now. Turnpike Ghost” and “You and I Undercover” are perfect introductory songs. I don’t normally suggest jumping around on albums during your first listen…but if you get the album go check those tracks out first..and then start the album again. Be warned: They’re shamelessly poppy…but I’m OK with it. I hope you are too. That said, I’m sure I’ll be hating myself weeks from now when “You and I Undercover” is the featured track during an intense heartfelt montage on ABC’s new suckfest, Rookie Blue (hey kid put that gun down! It’s her first day don’t please make her shoot you!)
Highlights: “Turnpike Ghost,” “You and I Undercover,” “Behavior,” “Bullet,” “Fall Asleep”
If you can’t hop on your beach cruiser and make it to the Santa Monica Promenade go catch them at the El Rey on July 6th