I decided to add a second end of 2010 list (because I see how much everyone loved and felt compelled to comment on my book list! :). I was going to do a music, movies, and tv list because the music list is short but then I decided to add videos (awesome, I know) and that made the post long. It's January 2nd people and these lists can only go on so long, so maybe you will not get my movies and tv lists and that's probably ok because a) lisa b. has the definitive movie list and b) recording my tv-watching, as I've said before, may be too embarrassing.
Music
I didn't purchase or listen to much new music in 2010. Much of what I did purchase was not new in 2010, so you'll have to go elsewhere for your definitive view of the year in music (I know, it's disappointing).
- Richard Hawley, Truelove's Gutter. This came out at the end of 2009, but I am counting it here because I love Richard Hawley and I think you should too.
- The Swell Season, Strict Joy. Also a late 2009 entry. While my sister saw the Swell Season perform multiple times in 2010, I was stuck listening to the album, but I'm not complaining.
In These Arms from banjo bandstand on Vimeo.
- Josh Rouse, The Besk of the Rykodisc Years. I bought this because there is this song of his, "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," that I bought randomly when Will and I were making a state-by-state playlist for our long drive to the cold, cold north. I love that song. I didn't love this album as much. But that's ok.
- Purple Rain. After three years of watching Purple Rain (the movie) on Christmas Eve with Will, I decided I needed the actual album. Everything about it is awesome, which sort of goes without saying.
- A couple of other purchases in the nostalgia category: Aztec Camera, Stray and the Very Best of the Human League. I bought the Human League album because of something my sister posted on Facebook. Damn that Facebook.
- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Up From Below and Arcade Fire, The Suburbs. (These were technically Will purchases). I love Edward Sharpe--hippy, dippy but I don't care. Neither Will nor I cared for the Suburbs. pretentious much?
- Some music for Miss Imogen: Woody Guthrie's Songs to Grow on For Mother and Child and Dan Zane's Catch That Train. Dan Zanes does "family music" that kids like and parents won't want to kill themselves listening to. American-roots' inspired. Imogen is dancing to it right now and that's pretty adorable.
- Finally, a couple of end of the year Christmas music purchases: A Colbert Christmas and A Xmas Postcard from Willie (that's Willie Nelson).
7 comments:
Purple Rain = one of the best purely listenable pop albums of all time. I love Prince. Even his worst albums have great stuff on them.
Willie Nelson has a Christmas album? How did I not realize this?
I cannot get over how much I love the Swell Season. That big passionate voice!
I will have to check out Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
Also, please please do post your movie/tv viewing. I need to hear about this.
Seconding (thirding, actually) love for the Swell Season.
Other stuff I've listened to a lot this year, though not actual new 2010 music: Townes Van Zandt, Live at the Old Quarter. Also, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Clem Snide. And a random song that right now, today, I can't stop listening to: Brand New Key by Melanie ("I've got a brand new pair of rollerskates, you've got a brand new key...").
If you like roots-inspired kids' music, have you checked out Elizabeth Mitchell yet? She does a great cover of one of the Woody Guthrie "Songs to Grow On..." tunes. You might even find yourself listening to her when Imogen isn't around.
And, if you think your TV habits are embarrassing, let me just say this: Mark's gag gift to me this Christmas was Snooki slippers. Just putting that out there.
Since you are in Canada, I thought I'd give you a best of Canada list:
1) Dan Mangan "Robots" (Ok it is 2009 but it got hot in 2010)
2) The Arcade Fire "Suburbs"
3) The New Pornographers "Silver Jenny Dollar"
4) The New Pornographers "Crash Years"
5) Plants & Animals "À l'orée des bois" (Ok it is 2008, but I don't give a damn.)
Canadian music rocks.
Clint, I did not like the Suburbs, but I do like Arcade Fire in general. I like the New Pornographers, esp. when Neko Case sings with them.
The Suburbs wasn't the top form for Arcade Fire, that's for sure, but I thought the were digging around the basement a bit to come out with something different from their other stuff.
Oh wait, one other kids' album I must recommend: Let's Go Everywhere by Medeski, Martin & Wood. Stella rocks out to it. Good times.
Tara, my SIL just sent me an Elizabeth Mitchell cd. Imogen likes it, but I think she likes rocking out to Dan Zanes a bit more. I will check out the other one too. She also likes opera and all types of classical music. Good kid.
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