Happy New Year!

This mix started out dark and depressing and somehow wound up just as happy as usual. WHAT?! Ah well, tis the season. Hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday. I, for one, spent Christmas in bed, recovering from a violent stomach illness. Ah well, back to life and having a blast.

I thought about posting a Best of 2010 list, but The Owl Mag already posted my favorite albums and you guys probably have all the songs already. If you’d like a year end list, just drop me an email and I’ll throw one together. In the meantime, I’ll be eating all the cookies I missed at Christmas :)

<3 | ∑>

1. Wildbirds & Peacedrums - “Bleed Like There Was No Other Flood”

I’m head-over-heels for Wildbirds & Peacedrums, and their new record has vocal support from a classical choir. Swoon.

2. Parlovr - “Hell, Heaven”

Man, some epic indie rock comes out of Montreal — Parlovr are the latest in long tradition that includes the likes of Arcade Fire, Tegan & Sara, Islands, and Wolf Parade. They seem to bring Islands’ songwriting to Wolf Parade’s energy and Arcade Fire’s massive sound. I’ll take it :)

3. Dirty Gold - “California Sunrise”

I’m not supposed to post this track (sorry Kramer! more on why in another post) but it’s been playing nonstop through my skull for the past two weeks. Don’t worry guys, I’ll post again when you have the chance to re-record. It’s that good.

4. Ernesto Djedje - “Golozo”

Ernesto hailed from Cote d’Ivoire and brought together his homeland’s Bete roots music with Congolese rhythms. This 1977 jam comes from what most consider his best record, Le Roi du Ziglibithy. Sadly, Djedje died six years later at the age of 35.

5. The Mamas & The Papas - “Go Where You Want To Go”

“Go Where You Want To Go” was the first single from The Mamas & The Papas, and while it lacks the songwriting maturity of their later work, it still has those enchanting vocal harmonies. Sadly, this track never made it to the charts.

6. Tennis - “South Carolina”

In a somewhat rare occurrence these days, a crazy-buzzy band came to town, sold out a club that didn’t know what a sell out was (they sold to a point where people with tickets physically couldn’t stand in the room where the band was playing), and totally lived up to the hype. That band was Tennis, and they impressed me mightily. At one point the lead singer was getting feedback in her monitor, and in a feat of strength that would destroy a band like Surfer Blood (last year’s comparably buzzy band at this time), she opted to forego the reverb. The results were incredible — she can really sing!

7. La Sera - “Never Come Around”

Holy crap I can’t wait for a full record of this.

8. GROUPLOVE - “Colours”

Los Angeles’ GROUPLOVE began on the lower east side of Manhattan, then met the rest of the band, who were from London and LA, in Greece. Crazy, right? Well so is their music, in an equally awesome and eccentric way.

9. Maps & Atlases - “Living Decorations”

Mathy folk pop from Chicago. That’s my story and I’m stickin to it.

10. Kids of 88 - “San Fran”

Well, I live here. Kinda have to love the romance of this song.

11. Keith Canisius - “The Beach House”

Danish bedroom version of Mew? Whatever it is, I’m groovin.

12. Long Long Long - “Mandarin Collars With Women”

It’s not about being liked. NO! It’s about being respected!

13. Cloud Control - “Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight”

More fun from these favorites from Down Under.

14. Warpaint - “Baby”

Oh god this song gives me shivers. Sounds little like the rest of the record, and I can’t find a live version anywhere, but I maintain this is one of the best songs of the year.

15. Cotton Jones - “Glorylight and Christie”

This record continues to be my most played of late. Not sick of it yet.

16. Bill Withers - “Ain’t No Sunshine”

The man who was a plumber, decided to sing some songs, and generated some of the best songs ever written disappeared near the peak of his success. He became disillusioned with the music industry and moved back home to live a humble life. Watch Still Bill. It’s an awesome flick.

17. Dark Dark Dark - “Daydreaming”

One of the most gorgeously unique voices of our generation, and an entrancing live show.