Bad Santa

December 15, 2010, 13:33 -05 by chris
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“A post-industrial alcoholic Xmas anthem for the disillusioned and damaged.”

Sounds festive!

“Why I Drink”, the first track released from the upcoming release by The Loyal Opposition (a side project of Jason Bazinet from SMP and Garrick from Doll Factory) is now available for download exclusively through CDBaby.com.

Go here to get it:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/loyalopposition

Top Five Albums of 2010 According to Us…

December 3, 2010, 13:23 -05 by chris
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There’s still another month left in the year, but along with the too-soon Christmas music, trees, lights, and advertisements, everyone from NPR and KEXP to Spin, Paste, MTV, and The Quietus seem to have concluded that the year now ends on December First (note to self: don’t release an album in December). Whatever. We’ll play along. Here are our Top Fives of 2010.

My Darkest Days s/t
Ke$ha Animal
Susan Boyle The Gift
The Black Eyed Peas The Beginning
Selena Gomez & The Scene A Year Without Rain






Ha. We are the funny. Please to be laughing now. Seriously, though, folks…

GARRICK:
Not an easy one for me. There were several albums that I was really wanting to like more than I did, and some that I probably should have given more of a chance but didn’t get around to giving them more listens (Hot Chip, Interpol).

LCD Soundsystem This is Happening
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Zola Jesus Stridulum II
Crystal Castles Crystal Castles
Sleigh Bells Treats

Honorable Mentions:
The National High Violet
Underworld Barking
Yeasayer Odd Blood
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti Before Today
Die Antwoord $O$

CHRIS:
I guess I can see how the magazines and radio stations might hope to attract more audience share (and ever so slightly boost album sales) when the “Top Albums of 2010” come out while it’s still 2010 (and while people haven’t finished their Christmas shopping), but shouldn’t these things come out on New Year’s Eve or something?

Initially, I had The Suburbs in my Top 5 as well, until I remembered the These New Puritans album came out this year. The Arcade Fire album is probably stronger as an album, and may stand the test of time better (in the end “unforgettable songs” often trump “novel arrangements”), but Hidden edged it out by a nose for me for its strikingly innovative production, arrangements, mood, and sense of drama. Even if I did have “Ready to Start” stuck in my head more than any other song this year.

LCD Soundsystem This is Happening
The Dead Weather Sea of Cowards
These New Puritans Hidden
School of Seven Bells Disconnect from Desire
Zola Jesus Stridulum II

Honorable Mentions:
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Devo Something for Everybody
Interpol s/t
Jonsi Go
Maximum Balloon s/t
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings I Learned the Hard Way
UNKLE Where Did the Night Fall
Wolf Parade Expo 86

With a little help from my friends…

December 2, 2010, 18:52 -05 by chris
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Rock the vote! Well, midtempo ethereal alternative atmosphere the vote, anyway. Please help give a couple deserving local bands a spin on the radio and bullet points for their press kits, and vote for our friends C’est la Mort and Fading Collection in KEXP radio’s Top 90.3 of 2010 countdown!

http://kexp.org/events/toplists/Default.aspx