My Favorite 25 Albums of 2010: 10 – 1

And now, Part 2 of the best albums of 2010:

The Best 10 16 Albums of The 1st Half of 2010

We’ve just about reached the halfway point of the year, and with it comes the time for us to take a gander back at all the amazing new albums released this year. We had some great debut albums and  myriad later releases, in a year that has so far released few of the albums I was excited about (Radiohead, The Strokes, Arcade Fire) but still has managed to keep me highly entertained.

So here it is: my list of the best, the most interesting, the quirkiest, and the stuff I just love to listen to; all combined into a no-order-necessary and no-nonsense list. Check out the tracks, buy the albums, and as always – enjoy the music.

Going To California

If you’re reading this, then I’m already on my way to California (or maybe even there, if you don’t check your Google Reader as frequently as I do). But yes, Gilad chose to have his Make-A-Wish trip in California, so we’re all packing up for a well deserved weeklong vacation. It should be a blast, and I’ve set up posts for the entire week, including a few special guests.

So keep checking back, and keep listening to the music.

Led Zeppelin – Going To California

Joanna Newsom: Live in DC

I never got around to reviewing Joanna Newsom’s latest offering, Have One On Me, mostly because I couldn’t figure out where to start. It’s obviously an unbelievable album, but it’s so dense and difficult to comprehend that it makes the reviewer (me) a bit stumped as to how to properly review it.

And while there is a ton going on in the album that I still need to unpack, I’m happy to say that I found this recent Joanna concert to share with you. Surprisingly (at least to me), Joanna is able to replicate in her live show every one of the auras and atmospheres she swirls into each of the album tracks. The result is a magnificent live show that presents to us an young artist who is not only producing studio wonders, but has the ability to wow us onstage as well.

So please, I implore you to listen to this concert. Listen once, and understand that you may not fully get it at first. And then listen a second time. By then, your ears will convince you that subsequent plays are necessary, and that you must go out and purchase the album.  It’s that good.

1. Joanna Newsom – ’81