50 Favorite Songs of 2010 (Part II)

Picking up where we left off yesterday with the final 25 songs, enjoy!

26. "Becoming A Jackal" - Villagers (from the album "Becoming A Jackal")

- "I was a dreamer
Staring at windows
Out onto the main street
Cos that's where the dream goes
And when I got older, when I grew bolder
Out onto the streets I flew"




27. "Footshooter" - Frightened Rabbit (from the album "The Winter of Mixed Drinks")

- Another excellent album from 2010, hard to pick between a handful of great tracks on the record but this is one of my favorites.

"Hold on to your thumbs, tighten your eyelids
Lock up your ears, my dear, I'm verbal when I am loaded
Duck under that desk, cover your neck
Thicken your skin as I begin to shoot myself in the foot again"




28. "Piece By Piece & Frame By Frame" - Deer Tick (from the album "The Black Dirt Sessions")

- This album didn't get a ton of press but it's one of my favorites of 2010, I typically love the Deer Tick releases. This one is a bit more stripped down than their other albums but I really like the songwriting on this record.

"So ask me again yes lets meet again
You know I’ve built a kingdom on second chances, yes I did."




29. "Runaway" - Kanye West (from the album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy")

- My favorite track from the new Kanye album, love the beat.

"And I always find, yeah, I always find somethin’ wrong
You been puttin’ up wit’ my shit just way too long
I’m so gifted at findin’ what I don’t like the most
So I think it’s time for us to have a toast"




30. "My Girl The Horse" - Fences (from the album "Fences")

- "Neither one of us will make it down this, hill alive"




31. "In The Dirt" - S. Carey (from the album "All We Grow")

- You might recognize S Carey from the group Bon Iver, this track is from his solo album.

"Don't leave
Cause I believe
We were meant to see
In the dirt"




32. "Harlem River Blues" - Justin Townes Earle (from the album "Harlem River Blues Country")

- "Good times come and they go, even a good man'll break
He'll let his troubles bury him whole even though he knows what's at stake
So I'm taking no chances, carrying over while I'm still good in His grace
I'm no fool, mama, I know the difference between tempting and choosing my fate"




33. "Change of Time" - Josh Ritter (from the album "So Runs The World Away")

- "I had a dream last night
I dreamt that I was swimming
And the stars up above
Directionless and drifting
Somewhere in the dark
Were the sirens and the thunder
And around me as I swam
The drifters who'd gone under"




34. "Too Afraid To Love You" - The Black Keys (from the album "Brothers")

- "All those sleepless nights
And all those wasted days
I wish loneliness would leave me
But I think it's here to stay
What more can I do
I'm wringing myself dry
And I can't afford to lose
One more teardrop from my eye"




35. "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons (from the album "Sigh No More")

- "Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be"




36. "Quarry Hymns" - Land of Talk (from the album "Cloak and Cipher")

- "How deep is this soul I feel I'm in?
Seen a lot of light and done a lot with it
How deep is this hole I feel I'm in?
Seen a lot of light and done a lot with it"




37. "Cards and Quarters and Green Lights" (Local Natives vs John Legend & Andre 3000) - The Hood Internet

- This is actually a mash-up but I had to include it, so damn good. Get this on your party mix.

The Hood Internet - Cards And Quarters And Green Lights (Local Natives x John Legend & Andre 3000) by hoodinternet


38. "We Used To Wait" - Arcade Fire (from the album "The Suburbs")

- "Now our lives are changing fast
Hope that something pure can last"




39. "No" - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (from the album "III/IV Disc 2")

- Another great tune from Ryan Adams, this song reminds me of his album "Rock N Roll" from 2003.




40. "Rambling Man" - Laura Marling (from the album "I Speak Because I Can")

-"let it always be known that i was who i am"




41. "Afraid of Everyone" - The National (from the album "High Violet")

- "With my kid on my shoulders I try
Not to hurt anybody I like
But I don't have the drugs to sort,
I don't have the drugs to sort it out, sort it out"




42. "Madder Red" - Yeasayer (from the album "Odd Blood")

- Probably the strangest video of the year yet I really like the song.




43. "Fistful of Mercy" - Fistful of Mercy (from the album "As I Call You Down")

- If you haven't heard this album, it's a collaboration consisting of Dhani Harrison, Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur, pretty cool stuff.




44. "Taxi Cab" - Vampire Weekend (from the album "Contra")

- "I remember
Remember well
But if I'd forgotten
Could you tell?"




45. "Precious Stone" - Pete Yorn (from the album "Pete Yorn")

- "I found a way to live forever
I found a place where no one cares"




46. "Swim Until You Can't See Land" - Frightened Rabbit (from the album "The Winter of Mixed Drinks")

-"Dip the toe in the ocean. Oh how it hardens and it numbs.
The rest of me is a version of man, built to collapse into crumbs.
And if I hadn't come down to the coast to disappear
I may have died in a land-slide of the rocks, the hopes and fears.

So swim until you can't see land."




47. "Twenty Miles" - Deer Tick (from the album "The Black Dirt Sessions")

- "Now if I had no boots, I'd trek through the mud
While mosquitos are racing to draw the first blood
If you're runnin' away, then I'm lookin' for you
And if you've lost your way, I'm seein' you through."




48. "Wide Eyes" - Local Natives (from the album "Gorilla Manor")

- "All the men of faith and men of science had their questions
Could it ever be on earth as it is in heaven?"




49. "Power" - Kanye West (from the album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy")

-"I’m livin’ in the 21st century
Doin’ something mean to it
Do it better than anybody you ever seen do it"




50. "The Immortals" - Kings of Leon (from the album "Come Around Sundown")

- "The open road, the path of greatness
It's at your fingers
Go be the one that keeps on fighting
Go be the stranger
Just put your foot in front' the other
Crow like the rooster
We are allowed to get us something
Free as a danger

I say

Spill out on the streets of stars
And ride away
Find out what you are
Face to face"



... and that's a wrap! Hope you enjoyed the list and found some new tunes for your library/workout mix/party mix/etc. Thanks for following along, here's to another year of great tunes in 2011!

50 Favorite Songs of 2010 (Part I)

I spent the last couple weeks going through tons of music, trying to find my favorite songs from the past year. I was finally able to finish my list last night, evened it out at 50 songs. Some of these you'll surely know (you may have even heard them on here earlier in the year) and others will probably be new to you, I think it's a pretty good mix of some popular bands along with some lesser known artists. I've split the list into two days of 25 songs, you'll find some repeat bands over the entries for my favorite albums from 2010 (and there's even one artist with three songs listed).

I think just about everything is available on Itunes so you'll be able to pick any of these up if you like something you hear. Hope you enjoy this, as always thanks for reading/listening along! In no particular order, here we go.........

1. "No One's Gonna Love You" - Cee Lo Green (from the album "The Lady Killer")

- Great cover of the original by Band of Horses..........




2. "Suburban War" - Arcade Fire (from the album "The Suburbs")

- "Now the music divides
Us into tribes
You choose your side I'll choose my side"




3. "You Wouldn't Have to Ask" - Bad Books (from the album "Bad Books")

- Very cool collaboration by Kevin Devine and members of Manchester Orchestra.




4. "Pyro" - Kings of Leon (from the album Come Around Sundown)

- "Little shaken babies, And drunkards seem to all agree,
Once the show gets started, Its bound to be a sight to see"




5. "Blue Beard" - Band of Horses (from the album "Infinite Arms")

- I got a text from my buddy Chuck one night earlier this year that read, "Is there anything more beautiful than "Blue Beard" by Band of Horses?" I don't think there is, he nailed it...... favorite song off this album, just a gorgeous tune.




6. "From Above" - Ben Folds & Nick Hornby (from the album "Lonely Avenue")

- A unique collaboration from Ben Folds and author Nick Hornby where Hornby provided the lyrics to the album with Folds providing all the music.




7. "Draw Your Swords" - Angus & Julia Stone (from the album "Down the Way")

-"So come on Love, draw your swords
Shoot me to the ground
You are mine, I am yours
Lets not fuck around"




8. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" - The National (from the album "High Violet")

- Love the tempo of this song, especially the driving snare drum.....




9. "Ambling Alp" - Yeasayer (from the album "Oddblood")

- "You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done
Stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done"




10. "Whirring" - The Joy Formidable (from the album "A Balloon Called Moaning")

- "All these things about me you never can tell........"




11. "Excuses" - The Morning Benders (from the album "Big Echo")

-This song sounds like it could have been released 50 years ago.... and it would still be great.




12. "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (from the album "Up From Below")

- "Ahh, Home
Let me come Home
Home is whenever I’m with you"




13. "Movielike" - Jimmy Eat World (from the album "Invented")

- "Nothing movie-like
Nothing magic
People just tire to fight the constant battle
Waiting to see a sign?
Then you've seen the best already"





14. "Who Knows Who Cares" - Local Natives (from the album "Gorilla Manor")

- Easily one of the best albums of the year, and this is probably my favorite track. Love the percussion that kicks in at 1:40 (the drumming on this whole album is phenomenal).

"you could let it down
jump into the river baby
easy as it sounds
it's never quite as easily done
the current has us now, it's ok
take into account that it's all about to change
who knows, who cares"




15. "Impressions" - Jarrod Gorbel (from the album "Devil's Made A New Friend")

- This is a pretty cool tune, kind of reminds me of something from the late 90s, maybe like "Dog's Eye View".




16. "Moneygrabber" - Fitz & The Tantrums (from the album "Pickin' Up the Pieces")

- This song is AWESOME, one of the most fun songs of the year. Put on your dancing shoes!




17. "Macon" - Jamey Johnson (from the album "The Guitar Song")

- I don't listen to a ton of country but really dig this song.




18. "You Do You" - Bear In Heaven (from the album "Beast Rest Forth Mouth")

- "To let the forces
Arm your heart
Don't let the rumors
Get you down

So what? Who cares?
You be strong"




19. "Something Good Can Work" - Two Door Cinema Club (from the album "Tourist History")

- "Took a little time to make it a little better,
it's only going out, just one thing and another,
you know!
You know!"




20. "Little Lion Man" - Mumford & Sons (from the album "Sigh No More")

- I may be cheating a bit on this one since it technically came out in 2009 in the UK but it didn't get released in the US until 2010 so I'm putting it on this list. Really solid album and this is my favorite song from a bunch of good ones.

"but it was not your fault but mine
and it was your heart on the line
i really fucked it up this time
didn't I, my dear?"




21. "These Days" - The Black Keys (from the album "Brothers")

- Amazing song from one of the best albums of 2010. Heavy, heavy tune.....

"These blood red eyes
Don't see so good
But what's worse is if they could
Would I change my ways?"




22. "Ultraviolet Light" - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (from the album "III/IV Disc 1")

- Late entry here, this album just got released about a week ago. Ryan released about 30 songs that he had stashed away and there's some real gems in there, this one included.




23. "In Sleep" - Lissie (from the album "Catching A Tiger")

- "Why am I so terrified of waking?"




24. "Born Again" - Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons (from the album "Death Won't Send a Letter")

- "I been feelin like my old self again
because momma didnt raise me to be no christian
and i been drinkin to my own health again
well raise another glass for the unforgiven
you know i will, you know i will"




25. "All of the Lights" - Kanye West (from the album "My Own Dark Twisted Fantasy")

- Where to start with this album.... my #1 for 2010. Awesome guest appearances throughout, so many great tracks, hard to even pick just a few but this is definitely one of my favorites.

"Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights"



That's a wrap for the first 25, the rest to follow tomorrow with Part II......

SOTD: "Santa Stole My Lady" - Fitz and the Tantrums

SOTD: "Christmas Song" - Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

Great version of "Christmas Song" from Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds...

SOTD: "Turn Around" - Chamberlin

Chamberlin will be releasing their first album "Bitter Blood" in February 2011. Love this single, can't wait to hear the rest of the album. You can catch them on tour with Grace Potter & The Nocturnals from Jan 13th through Feb 12th.
Tour dates below....

Dec 28 - Higher Ground - South Burlington, VT ***SOLD OUT*** -

Jan 13 - Madison Theatre - Covington, KY

Jan 14 - The Pageant - St Louis, MO

Jan 15 - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI

Jan 16 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN

Jan 17 - Redstone Room - Davenport, IA **SOLD OUT**

Jan 20 - Emerson Cultural Center - Bozeman, MT

Jan 22 - Knitting Factory - Boise, ID

Jan 26 - Knitting Factory -Spokane, WA

Jan 27 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA

Jan 28 - Wonder Ballroom -Portland, OR

Jan 29 - Venue - Vancouver, BC

Feb 1 - Soho Restaurant & Music Club - Santa Barbara, CA

Feb 2 - Martini Ranch - Scottsdale, AZ

Feb 3 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA

Feb 5 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Feb 9 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT

Feb 10 - Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO

Feb 11 - Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO

Feb 12 - Beaumont Club - Kansas City, MO

Jose Gonzalez - "Far Away" (Live)

Great version of Jose Gonzalez's "Far Away" from the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards....

SOTD: "Christmas Lights" - Chris Martin

Here's a cool Christmas video from Chris Martin of Coldplay....

Good choice Chevy.....

Recognize the song in the new Chevy Silverado commercial?....... it's Dawes' "When My Time Comes"! Good choice Chevy!

Check out a great live version from Daytrotter HERE.

SOTD: "Pyro" - Kings of Leon

New video for "Pyro" from the latest Kings of Leon album.....

Deer Tick - Europe Clips

Some clips/interviews of Deer Tick from their recent European dates, check out the video HERE.

SOTD: "Daydreaming" - Middle Brother

Really excited for this album featuring Lead singers John McCauley of Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matthew Vasquez of Delta Spirit.

From the newsletter I got last night, "The band will be playing a one-off show December 20 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles (an Invisible Children benefit). The show will also feature an acoustic McCauley set."

They'll be on a national tour in the Spring 2011 so keep your eyes peeled for that. Enjoy this one!

SOTD: "The Father" - Honeychild

Here's a great tune from the band "Honeychild". Stream it below and I've included a MP3 version HERE.

NYC Area Concerts week of 12/06

12/6 Diamond Rings @ Mercury Lounge
12/6 Rufus Wainwright @ Carnegie Hall
12/6 The New Pornographers, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists @ Terminal 5
12/8 Acrylics, Here We Go Magic, Amazing Baby, Nicole Atkins, The Rassle, Suckers, Class Actress, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson @ Glasslands
12/8-9 Keren Ann @ Joe's Pub
12/8-9 Old 97's @ Bowery Ballroom
12/8 Bonnie "Prince" Billy @ Town Hall
12/10 Keren Ann @ The Bell House
12/10 Old 97's @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
12/10 Phosphorescent @ Bowery Ballroom
12/10 Tricky @ Brooklyn Bowl
12/11 Violens, Light Asylum @ Santos Party House
12/12 Liz Phair @ Maxwell's

SOTD: "Darkness" - Ryan Adams

Here's a late Saturday SOTD (Should be Song Of The Night).... anyways, a new one from Ryan Adams, beautiful tune.

SOTD: "Lawless Lands" - The Sword