Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2010

December 24, 2011 by 2 Comments

Well, it’s Christmas Eve.  To some people, this means nothing.  I’m likely one of these people.  No matter, there is one thing we can all love and agree upon….a new year of music is on the way!  Which means we continue the process of recollecting on the years passed.  And in anticipation of a 2011 end of year list, I shall continue to showcase some of my favorite albums from the years passed.  So, here we have for you the best of the best in 2010.  Enjoy!

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The year seemed to kick off slow.  But, when summer finally hit, it became obvious that it was actually going to be a pretty decent year.  Of course, there are also 5 repeat offenders from last year’s list, (as well as a solo project of one member that was last year’s number one spot holder, No Go Know) who came back this year and rocked it even harder.  And maybe it was the recission, but 2010 seemed to be a great year for EP releases, (check out “Recission Proof Music” for my favorite EP’s at musicgeek.org) so the 1/2 spot was a pretty tough one to fill.  But, in the end, out of probably 100+ candidates, here are my official Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2010.

***Note:  The Band Name, Album Title is a link to my past reviews of said album (or a single or video from the album), My dear friend and editor Andy Fensetermaker’s review, fellow Fensepost contributor Cyndi Kimmel, or a website pertaining to that particular album.  Enjoy!***


37 1/2.  The Fenbi International Superstars: The Fenbi International Superstars EP


37.  Andy Gassaway – Hellfire


36.  Jews and Catholics – Who Are?  We Think We Are!

35.  J Minus – Devil Music


34.  Jack James – Quarter Life Crisis

31.  We Read Minds – We Read Minds


30.  A Fine Day For Sailing – Sand Box


29.  Menomena – Mines


28.  Trances Arc – TA

So there you have it folks!  What I consider to be the most glorious of the gloryful in the year of your Lord 2010.

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Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2009

December 14, 2011 by 2 Comments

***Disclaimer:  It’s that time of year folks…..end of year list season!  2011 has proved a fairly tough year to gauge, as I am still grueling over tough choices that will have to be made.  Even with two weeks left in the year, choosing who makes the list is still extremely hard.  So, while I continue to try and hammer out the details for this year’s list, I thought I would share with you fine folks, my first two lists originally published at the TART Productions Word.  I started this music blogging thing at the tail end of 2008, so this was the first time I really got to complete my first list.  

Tune in next week for 2010’s list, and of course 2011 will be right around the corner.  But, for now, check out what I loved way back in 2009!***

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I wasn’t going to number these at all.  I think too much hype is thrown into what number the album lands on.  I believe in a redux version of the Ricky Bobby philsophy, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”  I would say:  “If you’re not in the Top 5, you still made the list”.  Therefore, everybody is a winner!

I’m pretty happy with the list.  You know it’s been a good year when you can drop 37 1/2  names quickly(Why 37 & 1/2….I am a massive Kevin Smith fan.  Hopefully that doesn’t stir you instantly away.  And the 1/2 is for an EP I just couldn’t leave out).  And it doesn’t hurt to have your favorite band release a double album during the year and it’s their best yet.  That secures one spot.  I know there will be conflicts with my choices.  That’s just part of the end of year routine I guess.

You will notice the albums are also links.  Most of them are links to Fensepost.com posts that myself or Fense (editor/creator), or other contributors have already written.  Others will be to either ComfortComes.com pieces I wrote or their Myspace page (yes, I’m still trying to keep that alive).  So, without further ado, the top 37 1/2 albums of 2009:

37 1/2.  MONOSON – THE THERAPY SESSIONS EP

37.  IT’S ELEPHANTS – GETS ALONG

36.  ST. VINCENT – ACTOR

35.  FIELDHEAD – THEY SHOOK HANDS FOR HOURS

34.  CAGE THE ELEPHANT – CAGE THE ELEPHANT

33.  MENHIRS OF ER GRAH – MOURNING DOVE

32.  MOTHER NATURE’S SON – MOTHER NATURE’S SON

31.  WAR TAPES – THE CONTINENTIAL DIVIDE

30.  MAMMOTH LIFE – KALIEDISCOPE ART POP

29.  JACK JAMES – LIGHTS OFF HEADPHONES ON

28.  CURSIVE – MAMA I’M SWOLLEN

27.  HOTPANTS ROMANCE – IT’S A HEATWAVE

26.  VIVA VOCE – ROCK CITY

25.  ALAN COHEN EXPERIENCE – EAT THE PEACE

24.  GARY B & THE NOTIONS – THE NEW TWIST & SHOUT

23.  TRESPASSERS WILLIAM – THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS

22.  ALEXIPHARMIC – AMERICAN BEAUTY

21.  FRUIT BATS – THE RUMINANT BAND

20.  BEL AIR – POLE TO POLE

19.  THEM CROOKED VULTURES – THEM CROOKED VULTURES

18.  ELVIS COSTELLO – SECRET PROFANE AND SUGAR CANE

17.  DAVID PEACHEY – IMAGINARY PEOPLE

16.  GRYNCH – CHEMISTRY 1.5

15.  YARN OWL – TINY DOTS

14.  FATHER ABRAHAM – I AM NOT A SAILOR I AM THE CAPTAIN

13.  THE ATLANTIC MANOR – SLOW DRUGS AND OTHER SORROWS

12.  WE LANDED ON THE MOON – THESE LITTLE WARS

11.  1990S – KICKS

10.  THE WALKING – WANDERINGS AND DISTRACTIONS

9.    KAGERO – JAPANESE GYPSY ROCK

8.    THE FLYING CHANGE – PAIN IS A RELIABLE SIGNAL

7.    ADOLFO LAZO – ON TAPE

6.    CORY CHISEL & THE WONDERING SONS – DEATH WON’T SEND A LETTER

5.    PORTUGAL. THE MAN – THE SATANIC SATANIST

4.    SOUL DISTRACTION – TICKET TO PARADISE

3.    THE REST – EVERYONE ALL AT ONCE

2.    BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS – TELL ‘EM WHAT YOUR NAME IS

1.     NO GO KNOW – TIME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

There you have it folks.  Hope you dig.  If you don’t, well, that’s a shame.

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