Best of 2010...Volume Two

February was mostly a slow month for new music (as usual), but in some ways it was a nice calm before the storm that the next few weeks and months will bring. It allowed me to fill in some back albums in catalogs that I had been missing (Eels, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club most notably).

All that being said, my favorite album of the month is probably going to turn out to be in the top three for the year...

Tony Sly - 12 Song Program

http://www.myspace.com/tonyslymusic

There has been a trend in the last couple years for front men of punk bands putting out solo material, often times acoustic. Trever Keith (face to face), Kevin Seconds (7 Seconds, etc.), Joey Cape (Lagwagon, Bad Astonaut), Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio), Greg Graffin (Bad Religion), and Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music) are among those that have gone this route. Now "No Use For A Name" leader Tony Sly throws his hat into the ring in a big way. It's probably not groundbreaking at all, but it is easy to listen to, lyrically great, and musically just difficult enough to be better than I could play it. Solid, solid album from start to finish.

Check out: Capo 4th Fret, The Shortest Pier, Toaster in the Bathtub

Best of 2010...Volume One

As a way to keep the creative-writer part of my brain from complete atrophy, I'm going to do my award-winning "Favorite Albums" thingy a little different this year. Toward the beginning of each month, I'll post my favorite album(s) of the preceding month. Without further adieu...

January 2010
I guess the popular thing is to vote for the Magnetic Fields, but honestly, I haven't heard it yet. Even if I had, I guarantee it wouldn't top "Legion of Doom vs. Triune".

http://www.the-legion-of-doom.com

To quote Legion of Doom's website, "strange, dark and densely layered, this is not a typical hip-hop record." That couldn't be more accurate. There is a lot going on musically (it ain't a Lil Wayne album, let's put it that way). Triune (who I was only partially aware of) hits a lyrical home run (more Common/NOE than Weezy or Jeezy). Sadly, it is only available via digital download (I'm still an old school, "like to open the album and flip through the liner notes and absorb the artwork" kinda guy and I hope that never changes).
Check out: Cipher Sounds, Inner-City Renewal Program, This is Your Police Department.