Top 20 of 2010 – Bill’s Picks
2010 was a great year for music. There was so much good stuff released it was very hard to figure out what belonged where. I’ve been pondering over my list for a few months actually and really had a hard time figuring out who went where. This list is by no means definitive. There were a lot of albums released this year that could probably be on this list, but then again, I didn’t have time to listen to everything. Jake and I share similar taste so we’re going to have some of the same picks. Enough of the chitter chatter, on with the list.
20. Zed – The Invitation – I “liked” these guys on Facebook by mistake. I thought they were a Russian band called Zoe. It’s funny how a mistake can turn into a good thing. I discovered a great album, wrote the first review of it for them and I get to kick Mark’s ass in Words with Friends from time to time. He’s pretty good at it too. This album is one of the best independent releases of 2010 and I can’t wait to hear what 2011 and beyond holds for these guys.
19. Sea of Air – Sea of Air EP – Until I ordered the Night Horse 45’s that were released earlier in the year I had never heard of this band. They’re not real active online, I don’t think they have Myspace page either. Heck, when I wrote about their EP, it took them a few weeks to notice it on their Facebook page. Anyhow, these guys have stuck with me since.
Review Anglo Jackson – The White Elephant EP
This EP caught me completely off guard. I had no idea the band was working on more material although I would assume they were since they haven’t had a release since 2008’s self titled album. The band isn’t the most active as far as social networks are concerned as they only use Myspace and don’t post updates on any regular basis. When I read a recent All That is Heavy newsletter update, I had to do a double take. Sure enough, Anglo Jackson was back. It was a great day indeed.
I have to be honest with one thing here. This EP isn’t much of a departure from 2008’s self titled or 2005’s Bison. They haven’t changed any directions or added or subtracted anything to be different. While that would normally be a bad thing with a lot of bands, it fits Anglo Jackson quite well. They don’t stray far from what makes them, them. There’s a winning formula that fits them well and they’re sticking to it.
What this EP does is provide you with some of the best 20 minutes of Southern California desert rock. It’s fast, heavy, fuzzy, catchy and is something that you can get your groove on. It’s a great listen to and from work, the store, sitting around getting fucked up or just because it fits your mood. Think some Fatso Jetson, Dali’s Llama or even a little Yawning Man and that’s the sound you’ll hear. This EP may not be set on repeat to often but it’s still a great one to keep in the rotation and keep nearby when the mood strikes.
The Soda Shop 