BEST ALBUMS - 2010
The Vaselines
Sex with an X
July 24, 2010
Prior to now, The Vaselines’—essentially the duo of Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee—years as an active entity amounted to about one-sixth of the length of time that has passed since they first disbanded, yet what other band has ever experienced a more remarkable and sustained population explosion within their fan base during two decades of inactivity following their initial, unheralded demise? Of course, these cult heroes would be shepherding a much smaller flock if not for the well-documented adoration of superfan Kurt Cobain at a time when 1) he was still alive, and 2) people still paid even a little attention to things that rock stars said. Sixteen years since he laid himself out, though, and the subject still comes up every time the band is written about (even if it’s to decry the continued practice).
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July 24, 2010
Prior to now, The Vaselines’—essentially the duo of Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee—years as an active entity amounted to about one-sixth of the length of time that has passed since they first disbanded, yet what other band has ever experienced a more remarkable and sustained population explosion within their fan base during two decades of inactivity following their initial, unheralded demise? Of course, these cult heroes would be shepherding a much smaller flock if not for the well-documented adoration of superfan Kurt Cobain at a time when 1) he was still alive, and 2) people still paid even a little attention to things that rock stars said. Sixteen years since he laid himself out, though, and the subject still comes up every time the band is written about (even if it’s to decry the continued practice).
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Saving History From Itself, No. 1:
Brighten the Corners: Reconsidered and Reconfigured
July 23, 2010
This handwritten list will look familiar if you have the 2008 Nicene Creedence Ed. of Pavement’s 1997 album Brighten the Corners: a reproduction of someone’s (my guess is Malkmus, based on the “Transport is a range” wordplay, but maybe not) embryonic track order for the incipient album. Not really all that different from the final product; the order’s a bit jumbled, and the two tracks bookending the set would ultimately be dropped, but otherwise everything is in place. [According to my research—i.e., various search engine queries—“Werewolves” is likely a reference to “Starlings of the Slipstream,” and “Tusk” refers to the song “Fin.”]
I’ve long held the opinion that Brighten the Corners never really gets the respect it deserves—call it the Rodney Dangerfield of Pavement albums...
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This handwritten list will look familiar if you have the 2008 Nicene Creedence Ed. of Pavement’s 1997 album Brighten the Corners: a reproduction of someone’s (my guess is Malkmus, based on the “Transport is a range” wordplay, but maybe not) embryonic track order for the incipient album. Not really all that different from the final product; the order’s a bit jumbled, and the two tracks bookending the set would ultimately be dropped, but otherwise everything is in place. [According to my research—i.e., various search engine queries—“Werewolves” is likely a reference to “Starlings of the Slipstream,” and “Tusk” refers to the song “Fin.”]
I’ve long held the opinion that Brighten the Corners never really gets the respect it deserves—call it the Rodney Dangerfield of Pavement albums...
READ MORE...
Absolutely, Without-A-Doubt The Single Greatest Song EVER Recorded,
No. 1: "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room" by Rev. F.W. McGee
July 22, 2010
[The first part of an ongoing series in which I make outrageous claims in praise of a particular song, only to turn around shortly and make very similar claims about an entirely different song.]
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July 22, 2010
[The first part of an ongoing series in which I make outrageous claims in praise of a particular song, only to turn around shortly and make very similar claims about an entirely different song.]
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BEST TRACKS - 2010
Beach House – “10 Mile Stereo”
Woods – “Blood Dries Darker”
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Bright Lit Blue Skies”
The Fall – “Bury Pt. 3” [not so much Pt. 1, though]
Gil Scott-Heron – “I’m New Here”
Spoon – “I Saw the Light”
Joanna Newsom – “Soft as Chalk”
Janelle Monáe – “Locked Inside”
Tame Impala – “Solitude is Bliss”
The Hold Steady – “The Sweet Part of the City”
Panda Bear – “Tomboy”
LCD Soundsystem – “You Wanted a Hit”
Beach House – “10 Mile Stereo”
Woods – “Blood Dries Darker”
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Bright Lit Blue Skies”
The Fall – “Bury Pt. 3” [not so much Pt. 1, though]
Gil Scott-Heron – “I’m New Here”
Spoon – “I Saw the Light”
Joanna Newsom – “Soft as Chalk”
Janelle Monáe – “Locked Inside”
Tame Impala – “Solitude is Bliss”
The Hold Steady – “The Sweet Part of the City”
Panda Bear – “Tomboy”
LCD Soundsystem – “You Wanted a Hit”
