pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

This is sort of a precursor to my “official” Favorites of 2010 blogs. Up later this week, I’ll post my favorite vocal and favorite instrumental albums of 2010. Anyway, on with the music pimping…

Favorite EPs of 2010

• Holy Fuck – +Ghost (bonus disc with Latin)
• Auragami – Resistance (thanks, Michael)
• Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People
• Owen Pallett – Demo (with Shara Worden – FREE)
• Haftor Medbøe Group – Box of Monkeys (technically 2009, but I got it late)
   

Favorite Vinyl-only Release of 2010

• My Brightest Diamond & Dayna Kurtz – Gone Away / Postcards from Downtown 7″
• Erik Friedlander – Alchemy 10″
• Isis / Melvins split 12″
• Damien & Drake Jurado – Hoquiam 12″
• John Zorn’s The Dreamers – The Gentle Side 12″
  fave non-vinyl-only issue: Mike Patton‘s Mondo Cane 12″ (is luscious)
  

Favorite DVDs of 2010 (I didn’t really get any outside of music-related and an old H.Potter)

• Porcupine Tree – Anesthetize: Live in Tilburg
• Steven Wilson – Insurgentes
• Jónsi – Go Quiet & Go Live
• John Zorn & Richard Foreman – Astronome: A Night at the Opera

Favorite Internet Only Releases of 2010

• Kembwe – Kembwe
• Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 (monthly series)
• My Terrible Friend EP (a folky Pomplamoose spin-off)
• Celldweller – Wish Upon a Blackstar (a few chapters)
• Puya – Areyto EP
• Ty Tabor – Trip Magnet & Jelly Jam‘s Additives
• Asthmatic Kitty‘s Library Catalog Music Series (I think they also put some of these out as vinyl)
• Glen Phillips – Tornillo
• Kevin Moore – Shine (late, late 2010 – CD in early 2011)
• Rafter – Animal Feelings (maybe it came out on CD, too?)

Favorite Live Albums of 2010

• King’s X – Live Love in London
• Jónsi – Go Live
• Redbird (Peter Mulvey / Jeffrey Foucault / Kris Delmhorst / David “Goody” Goodrich) – Live at Café Carpe 2008 & 2009

Favorite Podcasts in 2010 (they’re free, yo! Search for them on iTunes)

• George Hrab – Geologic Podcast
• Keith Olbermann’s Countdown on MSNBC
• The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC
• Bill Maher‘s New Rules
• The Adam Carolla Podcast
• Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier – SModcast
• Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman – Hollywood Babble On
• Starfucking with Kevin Smith (OK, not free – proceeds for charity, though)
• SMoviemakers with Kevin Smith
• The Skeptics Guide to the Universe

Best Cover Art & Packaging in 2010 (all vinyl, but the CDs were cool, too)

• Mike Patton – Mondo Cane
• Jónsi – Go
• John Zorn’s The Dreamers – Gentle Side (vinyl, designed by Chippy)

Favorite Local Releases in 2010 (PacNW represent)

• Kembwe – Kembwe (Ashland-based ambient, vocal alchemy)
• I suck… that’s all the local-ish stuff I got this year…

Best Re-issues in 2010

• Carissa’s Wierd‘s first three albums (Ugly But Honest / You Should Be Home Here / Songs About Leaving)
• Mr. Bungle – California (on vinyl)
• Frank Zappa – Greasy Love Songs (deluxe re-issue of Cruisin’ with Rueben & the Jets)
• Elliott Smith – An Introduction to… (career spanning compilation)

Best Not-for-Profit Release in 2010

• Medeski Martin & Wood – The Stone Issue Four (for The Stone NYC)

Worst Music News in 2010 (for me)

• Cincinnati rock band Noctaluca broke up.  Here’s hoping Jason Ludwig goes on to do some more interesting stuff.
• Faith No More‘s reunion tour didn’t hit the U.S. proper.  Argh.

Best Late-Getter in 2010 (something that came out before 2010)

• Abagail’s Ghost – d_letion (from 2009)
• Fever Ray – Fever Ray (also from 2009)

Best Musical Novelty / Ingenuity

• Tristan Perich – 1-Bit Symphony
  

Best Music Videos

• Holy Fuck “Red Lights”
  
• Turf Fienz “Rain Dance”
  
• Cee-Lo Green “Fuck You” (original)
  
• The Gregory Brothers & Antoine Dodson “The Bed Intruder”
  

So, yeah, this was the catch-all post… check back later this week for the more traditional year end wrap-up festivities…

My Other Favorites of 2010 Recaps:

• Fave Concerts & Photos of ‘10 are recapped *HERE*
• Fave Vocal Albums ‘10 are coming soon
• Fave Instrumental of ‘10 are coming soon
• Old Years: Best of the Decade (1-10, 11-20, 21-25), 2009I, 2009V, 2009ep, 2009C, 2008I, 2008V, 2008ep, 2008C, 2007V, 2007I, 2007C, 2006, 2005

~Dan – np: Anakronic Electro Orkestra – Speak With Ghosts