Personal Top Five - Jenna Spinelle

2010 was a great year for new music and "new to me" music, mostly discovered through my part-time radio DJ boyfriend. I started tweeting about the things I was hearing; Andy Careaga noticed and was nice enough to ask me about contributing to this blog. I think you'll find that my tastes are a little different than some of the other critics, which is what makes this project so great. Here are my personal top picks of the year:

1. Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic

Chris Thile and his so-called "acoustic super group" push the boundaries of acoustic music and create some very unique and catchy sounds. It's a genre-bender spanning bluegrass, folk, jazz, rock, and more. Every person I've played this album for has loved it, regardless of what kind of music they liked. With tight playing, great harmonies, and creative songwriting, it's by far my favorite of 2010. Take a listen to "You Are" and you'll see why — I apologize in advance if it's stuck in your head from now until New Year's Day:



2. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More

These guys have so much energy; whenever I listen to this album, it sounds like they want to jump right out of the speakers and into my car, office, living room, or wherever else it's playing. Hopefully this is a promise of what's to come on future releases. These guys are also on my "must see live" list for 2011.

3. Preservation Hall Jazz Band - An Album Benefiting Preservation Hall and the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program

I first came across this album in a little Rolling Stone article and knew it wasn't one to miss. Tom Waits, Ani DiFranco, Jim James, and more contribute their vocals to New Orleans standards to benefit the city's legendary music venue, which The guest vocalists backed by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Great music made for a great cause, what more could you ask for?

4. Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away

I'd been a casual fan of Josh Ritter until my boyfriend took me to see him do a solo acoustic set in Lewisburg, WV in October. To say that I was blown away by the show is an understatement. Ritter's has an amazing stage presence and kept us on the edge of our seats for more than two hours as he chose songs from his extensive catalog. This album does a great job of capturing his live sound and is a nice return to a slightly softer sound after the more electric turn on "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter."

Josh is also really, really funny, as evidenced by this little story he told at the show I saw. Pardon the person with the annoying laugh:



5. Mose Allison - The Way of the World

Of all the "new to me" artists I discovered in 2010, no one struck me as much as this 80-something bluesman from Tippo, Missisippi. His piano playing is simple and every word he sings sounds like it's coming straight through his teeth, so he's definitely not for everyone. But, something struck me when I head "My Brain" on XM while driving to work one morning. Mose teamed up with producer Joe Henry on this album, his first in 12 years, and the result is a modern take on the sound he's been honing for the past 60 years. Here's "My Brain" (pardon the weird sheep):



Thanks again to Andy and the other higher ed music critics for the opportunity to contribute this blog. See you in 2011!
- Jenna

The Best of 2010: 50-26

In the first of two installments of our best-of series, we give you the bottom half of our collective top 50, with sporadic comments from various contributors, followed by our initials, when we remembered to include them.

50. Best Coast - Crazy for You

Ethereal, retro-inspired surf pop. Perfect background music for these long, cold, wistful winter days. - MD

49. The Black Crowes - Croweology

A great mix of Black Crowes tunes, old and renewed. - AC

I really enjoyed this. They didn’t do much with some of the songs, but some of the updates, like “Soul Singing” and even “She Talks To Angels,” are excellent. - CD

48. Tokyo Police Club - Champ

Sometimes indie groups lose their direction by their 3rd album, but Tokyo Police Club keeps growing with this one, following up A Lesson in Crime and Elephant Shell. Must Listen: "Breakneck Speed." - MP



47. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network Soundtrack

Fits with the film so well, but even without it, would still be a joy to listen to. If you have any interest at all in how this soundtrack came about, inside the studio and out, you must watch this 45-minute panel discussion. - SB

46. Laura Veirs - July Flame

45. Mavis Staples - You Are Not Alone

Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy produced this album for the woman who once formed one-third of the 1970s R&B band the Staples Singers. Now in her 70s, Mavis can still belt out great blues-inspired tunes that will make you want to get saved again and again. - AC

Overall the album was a little too gospel-y for me to make it into my top 25, but the collaboration with Tweedy does produce some stellar tracks. Best track: the cover of CCR’s “Wrote a Song for Everyone.” Better: this acoustic version (where Tweedy actually smiles).



44. John Legend and the Roots - Wake Up!

John Legend and the Roots artfully recast a handful of ‘70s-era soul tunes from the likes of Marvin Gaye and Harold Melvin. This album’s gem is the live-recording cover of Bill Withers’ anti-war anthem “I Can’t Write Left-Handed.” - AC



43. Of Montreal - False Priest

After the letdown that was Skeletal Lamping, I was afraid this band of freaks had lost their groove. With False Priest, they re-discovered the danceable beats and quirky lyrics that make them so much fun. - AC

42. Sade - Soldier of Love

Sade has remained relevant since 1984 (!) with soulful songs and sex appeal, and the latest disc works that formula well. The occasional new trick or two is OK, but it's rich texture of Sade's voice that always brings us back. - TN

I’d forgotten just how silky smooth this songstress’s voice is. Soldier of Love was a great reminder. - AC

41. Brandon Flowers - Flamingo

The rest of The Killers wanted to take time off, but their talented frontman decided to put out a solo album that offered a frank look at his hometown, including the masterfully written "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas." While not as good as the full band's output, Flowers' vocals + sharp lyrics = jackpot. - TN

Yeah, this is a Killers album. Maybe not a great Killers album, but it’s the same stuff. - CD

40. The Black Keys - Brothers

Pass me the whiskey. The Black Keys strip down their bluesy rock to the bone and create the best rock album of the year. - AC

I got this too late to put on my list, and I started to feel like I missed the boat a little bit... but it sorta falls flat after the first five songs or so. - CD

39. The Roots - How I Got Over

Must Listen: "Radio Daze." - MP



38. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Genuine Negro Jig

I love their modern take on old-time music. A standout is the cover of "Hit 'Em Up Style," a pop hit from the early 2000s, that sounds worlds better with a little fiddle and banjo in the mix. - JS

Great old-timey tunes presented with minimal production. As it should be. - AC

37. Stars - The Five Ghosts

Like most Stars efforts, this album combines brilliant flashes like the male-female storytelling of "Dead Hearts" with pedestrian filler, but enough haunting moments make it worth remembering.

I first heard this album performed live in its entirety at a concert, so I may be biased, but this is a strong addition to the Stars discography. “We Don’t Want Your Body” is a fun, dance-y track, and I find that there is a lot on this record to groove to. At the same time, appropriate to the title, there are some more grief-stricken moments, as well. That range, of course, is par for the course with Stars. - GC

36. Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo

35. Jonsi - Go

I’m not a big fan of Sigur Ros, so I was prepared to be let down by this debut from their front man, Jonsi. But freed from the dark, post-goth tones of his band, Jonsi releases an upbeat, poppy collection of tunes. - AC

I’ve never listened to Sigur Ros, so I had no expectations for this one. Other than that, what Andy said. This is just a fun album. - MD

34. Robert Plant - Band of Joy

The former Led Zeppelin front man surprised many a few years ago by teaming up wit bluegrass songbird Alison Krauss. This album, a collection of rootsy covers and traditional Americana, is an even more pleasant surprise. - AC

Similar to what Mellencamp did with “No Better Than This,” Plant has found a sound that is age appropriate and allows his voice to shine in its current state. - JS

Really? Boring as hell. I feel like this disc would be so much better with... say, either Alison Krauss or Jimmy Page. - CD

Really? Hell is boring? AC/DC lied to me. P.S. - This was the second-best album of the year, in my book. - AC

33. Beach House - Teen Dream

32. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

The closest I’ll ever get to a rave is this album. - AC

Party in a box. - GC

31. The Tallest Man on Earth - Wild Hunt

The Swedish Bob Dylan? - MD

30. Alejandro Escovedo - Streets Songs of Love

An underrated troubador, Alejandro Escovedo’s 2010 has some great tracks. A great comeback after his previous album, which was a bit of a letdown for even the most die-hard fan. - AC

This is a terrific album by the nearly 60 year-old Escovedo. The guitars rock, and the lyrics of songs like “Down in the Bowery” (written for his teenage son) resonate: “I hope you live long enough/to forget half the stuff they’ve taught you./And when it’s all said and done/I hope you’ve got your own set of rules to hang onto.”





29. Hot Chip - One Night Stand

This is more than a dance record. It has elegance and flair that carries well off the dance floor. Musically, it is a striking accomplishment.. - GC

28. Tame Impala - Inner Speaker

27. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

New Jersey’s heirs apparent to the blue-collar rock of Springsteen, the fellow New Jerseyans who make up The Gaslight Anthem are not afraid right into those big shoes and make some big music. - AC

I kept coming back to this one again and again. A solid rock album that is indeed reminiscent of some guy named Bruce. - MD



26. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

Guest post #2: Joel Goodman's Top 5

This blog features more cameo appearances than a Kanye West album. Today's guest post of five favorites from 2010 comes from Joel Goodman (@joelgoodman), who also shares this list (and a lot of other good stuff) on his blog.

Favourite Music of 2010
by Joel Goodman

I have heard some great music this year. In my recent memory I can't remember the last year I had a batch of personal favourite albums. It might have been in college. Usually only one or two really impress me. Cynical am I? Okay, maybe. But also really particular in what strikes my fancy.

So, top five, best records of 2010 (in my own opinion, as it were):

5. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid

Driving home from someplace on the Chicago toll roads, WBEZ’s “Sound Opinions” guys were featuring this record and it immediately caught my ear. It’s an amazing marriage of R&B, soul, electronic, rock, doo-wop, and cinematic sounds. Janelle’s voice is so powerful throughout each song and the music is even more infectious.

Interestingly enough, the story behind the album is even more interesting and eccentric than the fact that The ArchAndroid is a concept album about androids taking over the world and finding emotion, etc. The album itself was recorded in so many different ways – from your typical studio setup to middle-of-the-night bedside inspiration recordings. Even so, every song flows together like it was meant to be there. An “emotion picture” as they liked to market it…

4. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night

Man, what a great, powerful album. The minute I first listened to it, I was shot back to my college dorm room where I had Sunny Day Real Estate’s How It Feels To Be Something On cranked LOUD. This Besnard Lakes record combines all the charm and old-timeyness of beard folk with the crunch and sound layering of 90s Shoegaze producing an emotionally stirring sound scape that impressed me like nothing since SDRE has.

3. Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love

Write About Love is a pretty significant departure from B&S records of old, and while a few tracks resound with the somber melancholy of If You’re Feeling Sinister, melodically it’s more in line with The Boy With The Arab Strap, though significantly more joyful.

I remember a lot of longtime fans up in arms because of the use of synthesizers on this album. Are you kidding me?? With how spot-on the song writing is, I think the synths add more than some other instrumentation would have.

Through all of the great sounds and songs, I have a couple of minor issues with the record. As a whole, you can tell the band has been on hiatus. It doesn’t feel as complete as their past records, with some songs feeling completely out-of-place (not any less great, just odd). There’s the duet with Norah Jones on Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John, that feels a little off, but is a great song nonetheless. One of the B-sides sound particularly like a Jayhawks song (Last Trip) and I think it was wise not to include in the official mass-market release. Then again, there are tracks like I Want the World to Stop that make any of these qualms irrelevant.

2. Vampire Weekend – Contra

Amazing, amazing, amazing album in its own right, Contra was the perfect followup to Vampire Weekend’s first major release. It showed incredible growth, impeccable songwriting, and an all-around more mature package of work. I tend to be sceptical of second albums, and especially when it’s tailing an album that was so popularly lauded by the mainstream. Regardless, I think Vampire Weekend are talented guys with a lot to offer.

Contra retains the band’s signature African rhythms while adding in more synthesizers and a progression of music with catchy hooks, a song seemingly custom-tailored for the radio crowd, and a wide range of subject matter.

A good friend of mine who does remixes got a copy of the self-title release to me about a month before it hit anywhere else and I fell in love with it immediately, independent of the hype that surrounded the album on MTV and the festival circuit. I had a hard time imagining how Contra, a followup album, could be better. But it is.

1. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can

You know, it’s been a really, really long time since a single album has given me a full track listing of brilliant tracks that fit together so perfectly that I wake up in the morning craving a nice long listen. This is my absolute, #1 favourite album of the year.

One day on Facebook, I saw a recommendation that Ryan Adams (yes, the Ryan Adams) had made on his fan page. First of all, I was impressed that he maintains his own page, but second, DRA is probably my favourite artist of all time thus far, and any recommendation he gives is one I am going to check out. He had said this about the album:

this album has blown my entire mind. It’s making me work 10 times harder than I was. I can’t begin to imagine how a person could write these songs. This is surely the work of a genius. I needed to pass this along to you. DRA

And it really is. Instrumentation, songwriting, her incredible vocals. It’s just a brilliant album that everyone should own and cherish. I had it on rotation for almost three months. For a long time I would wake up in the morning with one of her tracks in my head and would listen to the album over and over again at work.



My wife got me the UK vinyl single of Goodbye England (Covered in Snow) for my birthday in September and the artwork is beautiful. In any case, you should really purchase this album.

Personal Top 5 - Andrew Careaga

So many good albums came out in 2010, it was tough to narrow my selections down to five favorites. So I had to employ the "desert island" test: Which five albums from this year would I load into my mp3 player if I were to embark on a three-hour tour and end up stranded on a desert island? (The underlying assumptions being that the island had a limitless supply of electricity, and that I would bring along a charger for the mp3 player.) Here are the five.

1. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

From the opening “Lake Shore Drive”-style piano rag of the title track, this album had me hooked. This, the band’s third album, is their most ambitious, although Funeral fans would likely and ardently disagree. Taking on the themes of identity and spiritual survival in our world of artifice, this project is as sprawling as the title implies. Bonus: this amazing video experience, The Wilderness Downtown (best experienced with the Chrome browser), is one of the most amazing interactive experiences of the year.

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) - live



Robert Plant - Band of Joy

The former Led Zeppelin front man surprised many a few years ago by teaming up wit bluegrass songbird Alison Krauss. This album, a collection of rootsy covers and traditional Americana, is an even more pleasant surprise.

Robert Plant - Angel Dance



Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

Here’s an idea: Create a concept album based on an ancient dystopian movie most people have never seen or heard of: Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Thankfully, someone in the music business saw something promising in the crazy idea, and in the zany but soulful style of Janelle Monae. For sheer ambition alone, Ms. Monae’s debut album deserves to make the list.

Janelle Monae - Cold War




Broken Bells - Broken Bells

A creative collaboration between the Shins' James Mercer and the man with the golden touch, Danger Mouse. The Broken Bells project turned out better than I thought it would. It is certainly better than any Shins output in some time, and Mr. Mouse adds just enough to not distract from Mercer's mellifluous vocals.

Broken Bells - The High Road (Live at The Boat)



John Mellencamp - No Better Than This

An amazing production. In order to capture a true old-timey feel for this album, Mellencamp and his band went to great lengths. Specifically, they took their instruments, single microphone and mono-recorder to three sites: the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia, Memphis’ legendary Sun Studios and the San Antonio hotel where Robert Johnson recorded “Crossroads.” The result is raw, rough songs of loss, sorrow, joy and longing. And life. No Better Than This is Mellencamp’s best.

John Mellencamp - No Better Than This

Personal Top 5 - Chris D'Orso

I always thought I was the musical black sheep in the group, but then I read Ron's list. So maybe not. Still, only three of these discs (Butch, Ben, and the Crowes) appear on our overall Top 50.

(Yes, I know we're only supposed to post the top five. Sue me.)

1. Butch Walker – I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart
I can't overstate the way I feel, musically, about Butch Walker. I discovered Butch about twelve years ago, during the waning days of the Marvelous 3. I love everything he's done, whether it be M3-styled rock, like his solo debut, or moodier singer-songwriter stuff, like 2008's "Sycamore Meadows." He's always doing the right things for me, and this year's disc has been an earworm since the day it was released, way back in January. He's an electric live performer, whether he's with the full band or sitting by himself at the piano. There isn't a bad song on here; this was the album of the year for me, hands down.



2. Ben Folds – Lonely Avenue (with Nick Hornby)
Part of me feels like Ben's been mailing it in since the "Suburbs" album. "Silverman" was good, but thin; and then the "fake leaked" version of "Way To Normal" was better than the real thing. The EP series captured bits of brilliance, however, and his a cappella "greatest hits" from 2009 was a stroke of genius. He got together with author Nick Hornby to write lyrics for this album, and the result is awesome.

3. Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
I was despondent over the fact that founding drummer Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater; I'm so thrilled that I finally saw them live two summers ago after twenty years of fan-hood, because I know that they won't quite be the same. Portnoy left to help A7X, whose drummer Jimmy "Rev" Sullivan passed away a year ago; he filled in here, playing the parts as written by Sullivan. Word now is that A7X has decided to move on without Portnoy, and Portnoy says that the DT door is closed as well. Fellas, cut the crap. You need each other the way Steven Page and Barenaked Ladies need each other.

4. Steven Page – Page One
Speaking of guys who left bands... I'll admit that I doubted Steven Page as a solo artist. I heard his dreck with the Art of Time Ensemble, and dreaded what "Page One" would sound like; but it's really a solid -- well, I'll say it -- Barenaked Ladies album, just without the Ed songs. "A New Shore" is great; so are "Marry Me" and "Monogamists." In fact, if you took the best tracks from this, and added the best tracks from

5. Barenaked Ladies – All In Good Time
this, you'd have a really solid BNL album. The thing with BNL was always the interplay between Ed and Steve in the songwriting process. Some will call it sacrilege to compare them to Lennon-McCartney, but they had the same dynamic; you had Ed songs, and you had Steve songs, but they worked so damn well together. They always threw a Jim song and a Kevin song or two on the records, and that was fine, because it added a little side flavor. My fear was that in the absence of Steve, the Ed songs would lose their pop sheen, and that the Kevin songs would be too high in the mix. And sure enough, that's exactly what happened. "Four Seconds" tries to follow their hit single formula, but falls short; it needed Steve in the studio. That said, there's genius here. "Every Subway Car" is brilliant, vintage BNL. "You Run Away," clearly a kissoff to Page, wouldn't have happened without the breakup. It's just... I wanted more.

6. Thunder – Live at the BBC (1990-1995)
My favorite rock band ever; they broke up last summer after twenty brilliant years. This set is a little bloated and way too expensive for the casual fan, but it came with an autographed print, so I pounced. I would have tried to mix up the setlists a bit; I don't know that I need five more versions of "Backstreet Symphony," but whatever.

This isn't a clip from any of these live sets, but it's a good intro to the band:



7. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days
I discovered MCR thanks to the McDonalds/Best Buy Monopoly promotion a few years back; I had a handful of dollars that were about to expire, so I picked up "The Black Parade" on a whim because I loved the single. MCR really bring it here; I'm surprised this didn't wind up on anyone else's lists. It's a solid continuation of what they've always done.

8. Black Crowes – Croweology
Cool reworking of their songs; like a greatest hits, yet somehow better.

9. The Union – The Union
This is where Thunder guitarist Luke Morley landed after the band broke up; he hooked up with young guitar slinger Peter Shoulder and put together a brilliant "slab of rock," as they say. "This Time Next Year" is their second single; go buy it and support Childline Rocks.



10. Slash - Slash
What's not to love about Slash? Saul Hudson wants you to sing on his album, you go sing on his album... and you know it's going to kick your ass. From Ozzy to Fergie, there really isn't anything on here that doesn't deliver.

tim's personal top 5.

I love listening to music, and love ranking top albums, but 2010's best offered many difficult choices. You can see the rest of the top 20 over on my blog, but here's a personal top 5:

5. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs: I keep thinking this album seems overrated, until I listen again and realize just how great it is. While perhaps only “Rococo” and “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” sit among the band’s greatest tracks, the consistently compelling material in a story arc critiquing our modern suburban life stands up to the hype.

4. Tracey Thorn, Love and Its Opposite: “Who’s next?” the voice of Everything But the Girl sings in opener “Oh, the Divorces”: “It’s always the ones that you least expect.” And who would expect Thorn to reappear with a masterpiece of an album about growing older? But with tracks such as “Long White Dress,” “Hormones” and “Singles Bar,” she imbues wisdom and memorable songs galore.

3. Rocky Votolato, True Devotion: Not quite as phenomenal as his previous effort, “Makers,” but still full of beautifully painted tales of lost love, lovable losers and lovingly lost causes. The well-turned depth he pours into simple refrains like “The less likely you survive” (from “Fragments”) or “Sparklers only burn for so long” (from “Sparklers”) is simply stunning.

2. Dust Poets, World At Large: There’s nothing flashy about this unassuming Canadian foursome: They merely created the best album this year almost no one’s heard. They often tackle issues such as greed (“Deceived by Gasoline”), homelessness (“Big World”), online privacy (“Skeletons in Your Inbox”) and xenophobia (“Border Town”) but always with folksy charm, wit and skill.

1. Girl Talk, All Day: Sometimes you just have to ask: “Was there an album I simply couldn’t stop listening to for weeks?” That would be this record, which drops hook after hook, beat after beat in sensational succession. While I could ponder how Gregg Gillis pushes the envelope of this (controversial) genre or the brilliance of “Jump on Stage” samples running from Portishead to Radiohead, it’s much easier to just dance — anytime, anywhere — to the excessively catchy music.

Personal Top 5 - Georgy Cohen

While travel, general life craziness and a busted laptop hampered my music enjoyment and discovery toward the end of this year, the bulk of 2010 luckily yielded enough awesome music to carry me through. It was a great year for my ears, and here's the best of the best:

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love

I was drawn to this album by the amazing and diverse list of contributors (Florence Welch, Steve Earle, Cyndi Lauper, Kate Pierson, Sharon Jones and Allison Moorer, to name a few) and was held rapt by the stories they told about the life of Imelda Marcos and the disco-infused beats and melodies that swirled around them. A fascinating project and an incredible collection of music, this is currently my favorite album of the year.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

From the moment I first heard the driving tour de force that is “Little Lion Man” on WERS, I was sold. The edgy amalgam of Americana-meets-UK folk rock is a galloping, emotional headrush. Their songs pulse with life and urgency and won’t be denied. This album feels essential, in part because the members of the band play and sing as if their lives depended on it.



Tracey Thorn - Love and its Opposite

Tim was raving about this album by the lead woman from Everything But the Girl, so I had to check it out. After listening through once streaming online, I had to buy it at the next available opportunity. Her voice is hypnotic, and these powerful songs are full of elegance and verve.



The Love Language – Libraries

The Love Language‘s “Libraries” recalls what I fell in love with about bands like The Kissaway Trail and Wild Light: earnest, melodic, and rich tracks, which founder Stuart McLamb calls “emotional fight songs.” One of my happiest surprises of the year.



John Shade – All You Love is Need

Shade, a Boston-area artist, approaches acoustic pop perfection. His songs ring true, seemingly coming from a genuine place without guile or malice. (Bonus: You can download his album for free, or name your own price.)