Megan's Top 70 0f 2010: #70 - Bellflur

Why I Decree it to Be So:

Seeing Bellflur at this past Summer's BIMA festival was a rather pleasant surprise, seeing as I'd always meant to yet never quite managed to see them live before that point. This DC ensemble crafts some fine swirly, cinematic dreamscapes, as fine as just about any you're likely to hear. "Insect Politics" has been a recurring song in my rotation for many months now, all shimmery, slinky sophistication. I like to think of asleep. asleep. as pure DC escapism, the perfect record to fend off a mean case of road rage to while sitting in traffic on 495. Or 395. Or 95. Or 66. Or 14th Street...

mp3: Insect Politics (Bellflur from asleep. asleep.)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: A Preface

If there's anyone around who says that 2010 was a down year for music, I'll emphatically beg to disagree. Heck, there was so much good music to be had that I'll be damned if I could whittle my list of most favorite records down much at all. Well, that and my terrible lack of decision-making skills.

You might be wondering why I went with 70. It's quite simple, really. Having lived in Richmond, and spent many many many hours driving up and down I-95, I was pleasantly surprised to notice on one of my trips back down that way, that a portion of 95 had been granted 5 extra mph under the law. As anyone who's ever been in a car with me knows, I have quite a hard time going the speed limit. So this extra boost of legal speeding made me rather happy. As do the 70 records I've chosen as my favorites of the fabulous year that was 2010.

As I'm sure you know, we here at LET don't really go for "best" when we're making our lists. So there's a lot you might see on other lists that isn't on my list. I went with what moved me the most. As for what's not on this list, I either didn't hear it (out of simple time constraints or on purpose), or didn't find it quite fit in my 70 record cap. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this here mammoth list. No license or registration needed.

Live Review: Eternal Summers @ Red Palace, 1/16/2011

As some of you may recall, I went to quite a few shows last year. I was pretty burnt out after all of that, so I took a few weeks off, mostly for the purposes of getting more sleep. But then, along came a show I realized would be pretty dang silly to miss. And so it was that I found myself at the newly-minted Red Palace (Palace of Wonders + The Red & The Black) for the buzzy Eternal Summers. And all was joyous and wonderful.

I'm beginning to think Roanoke, VA, might be a magical place, y'all. Every band I know of from there is dynamite. Eternal Summers is yet another offshoot of the Magic Twig Community, and features two of my favorite Young Sinclairs (Eternal Summers recently welcoming Sinclairs drummer John Thompson to the fold as bassist). After this set, I'm jumping firmly on the Eternal Summers bandwagon, and am hereby dubbing them my most favorite of the Roanoke & Rollers.

The set, as I had been alerted to beforehand, was peppered with new songs the band was trying out. "Prisoner," "Cog," "Pure Affection," and "Child's Mind" should be on the new Eternal Summers EP (due out Marchish), and there were a couple untitled jams to boot. Each and every song, new or not-so-new, was delectable. Their sound, which to me falls in some delightful ether between 80s synthpop and 60s psych revivalism, with a sprinkling of that trendy surf thing, translated ever so well to the Red Palace stage. Even with a bit of a sore throat, Nicole Yun's voice was adorably enchanting, and Daniel Cundiff's rapidfire, thoroughbred drumming was deliriously good. The addition of Thompson to the group added immeasurably, adding another level of awesome to the songs. When they launched into my favorite track from the Silver record, "Silver," I think I might have gotten a chill. They proved to be kicky, fizzy, and rather sassy up there on the stage, and as they played I got the feeling that I was seeing a rather special band.

And there you have it, dearest loves. Eternal Summers have my stamp of approval as one of the rootin'-est, tootin'-est, good time-est bands around. You will, without a shadow of a doubt, be infinitely happier once you've let Eternal Summers into your life.

mp3: Pogo (Eternal Summers from Silver)

From The Library: Bit of a Blur by Alex James

As I've no doubt mentioned here plenty of times, one of my fondest rock&roll memories involves Mister Alex James, bassist for that beloved bastion of Britpop, Blur. It was a crowded, sweaty night at the old Black Cat, and Blur was putting on one heck of a show. It was the height of the glory days of Britpop, and all the scenester kids were there. But what I will always remember above all else was Alex, glorious indifference coursing through his lanky body, head cocked to the side and trademark ciggie dangling from his slightly sneering lips. It was beautiful. Years later I would hear a rumor that James had spent over a million pounds on champagne over the years, a nod of sorts to the excesses brought on by worldwide success (and the desire to become an "alcoholic genius"). And naturally, who better to write an autobiography than a man who has a millionaire liver?

Bit of a Blur was even better than I could have hoped. Over the course of two days I only put it down to go to work and go to sleep (and fell asleep while reading). James proves a charming, captivating host, clever as you like and engaging as can be. His words are light, but earnest. I immediately was struck at how perfect it was to have such an enthusiastic musician write such an enthusiastic tribute to life as a rock star. In a sense, James is like a kid on Christmas morning while writing about his life with Blur, and it's endearing beyond belief.

Events happen chronologically, and most of the book is, as you would expect, devoted to the Blur years. Along the way you'll pick up many an unexpected nugget of James trivia (unless of course you're a total superfan, in which case you'll already know everything) such as where he met ace Blur axeman Graham Coxon, his most debaucherous, excessively scandalous evening (hint: it involves five ladies and some champers), and the fact that James has been known to fly a plane every now and again. That whole messy feud with Oasis? James barely acknowledges it, glossing over it with a scant mention hither and thither, which for some reason makes me like him even more. Prone to moments of insightful reflection, don't be surprised to come across a thought-provoking sentiment or two, though of course one is always sure that James has his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.

James is a terribly good spinner of yarns, and gives his recollections with a carefree panache. Even while describing the darker side of success, he remains always likeable, always the hero. Bit of a Blur is, without question, one of the best things I've read in quite a long time. There is so much good to be had within the pages of this book, I can't recommend it enough.

mp3: Country House (Blur from The Great Escape)

More Dilla, Please

One can never have enough Dilla. And who doesn't love jazz and Donuts? What if we could combine all three into one, gooey, sticky mess? It would sound exactly like this. That's right, Dilla's Donuts, covered in its entirety, but a funked up jazz band. You're welcome.

With Storm Siegel on skins, Dave Mainella on piano and Evan Crane on bass, the trio called Stray Phrases performed an instrumental set of the album on Sunday, October 17, 2010. Unfortunately, it's all crammed into one mp3, but once you have a listen, maybe you'll decide that's for the best. Some things are just meant to be listened to a certain way.

mp3: Donuts Live (Stray Phrases from Live Donuts)

And then Stones Throw just keeps giving and giving and giving...

From Madlib's latest Medicine Show (#11 Low Budget High Fi Music), a formerly unreleased track from Jaylib, the collab between Dilla and Madlib, originally slated for their second album, which, sadly and criminally, never came to fruition.

mp3: Louder (Blast Your Radio Theme) (Jaylib from Madlib Medicine Show #11 Low Budget High Fi Music)

Singles Club: Fergus & Geronimo

People have been yelling "Geronimo!" before plunging themselves into pools/other bodies of water for who knows how long. So in a way, I guess it's perhaps fitting that this here new ditty by Denton, TX musicos Fergus & Geronimo makes one feel like you're twisting the night away (and the early morning, too) at a crazy fun beach or pool party (or perhaps both, which would be crazy). Wherein, of course, somebody has to yell "Geronimo!" right as they take a dip in the drink, quite possibly induced by the good time vibes of said song.

"Baby Don't You Cry" is deliciously addictive, deceptively simple, deliriously delightful, and it can be all yours right this very minute.

mp3: Baby Don't You Cry (Fergus & Geronimo from Unlearn)

WEDIDIT Does It Again

Yes, yes, yes, all the blog love is going to OFWGKTA, and hey, those kids deserve it. That being said, the lack of love and respect being afforded to the WEDIDIT Collective blows me away. Yes, i realize one's a bunch of young'un rappers with a fresh sound and one's a bunch of young'un beat producers with dope skills, but c'mon, if we're talking straight talent against talent, i'm throwing my chips towards WEDIDIT every time. Hell, they have Shlohmo, Juj and Jonwayne. What more do you want, you greedy bastards?

As luck would have it, the WEDIDIT site has had some stellar examples of their work up lately, FOR FREE, no less, so you need to get on that.

Ground is Lava (possibly my new favorite name) just dropped his Book of Tech EP in anticipation of a full LP scheduled to come out on the Friends of Friends label this April. It's just a little bit of an 8-bit masterpiece, if you ask me. If Mario and Luigi smoked a lot more dope, i have a feeling this is what the soundtrack might sound like.

mp3: Book of Tech EP (Ground is Lava from Book of Tech EP)

And while i'm not 100 percent sure they're actual members of the WEDIDIT family, Shlohmo recently posted this damn tight mix. In his words: "From my dudes D33J and Mark Aubert...comes this under 20 minute long recently digitized cassette jumpoff. Recorded one night all live at Mark's house. 303's, 202's, toy keyboards, radios, drum machines, cassettes, and some itunes here and there."

mp3: Starbase #1 (D33J and Mark Aubert from Starbase #1)