Daniel's Top 10 of 2010

While trying to compile a list of my top 10 album releases for the year, I actually had a difficult time doing it. I downloaded A LOT of albums this year, but mostly older music. Some of my favorite bands put out new music this year and most of it, quite frankly, was disappointing. In past years I would expect Senses Fail, A Day to Remember, etc. to easily be at the top of my top 10, but I had a hard time even getting them squeezed in to it this year.

The whole year definitely wasn't all bad though, as I was introduced to a lot of new, great music so here we go with this top 10 list:



1. Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
It truly was love at first listen with this disc. It's the perfect pop rock album, and I can put this on at any time, and it never gets old. One of MCS' best records, and by far, my favorite album of 2010!
Fav. Tracks: Her Words Destroyed My Planet,
@!#?@!





2. The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - The Wages
My favorite new (to me) band of the year. These guys put together a great album from start to finish, and they are also the most fun you'll ever have at a concert.
Fav. Tracks: Clap Your Hands, What Go Around Come Around





3. Zac Brown Band - You Get What You Give
I really like whatever this band puts out. They aren't your average "country" band, as they use so many different elements of music. During their 10+ minute song Who Knows they even point out "This ain't ever gonna get on country radio"
Fav. Tracks: Let It Go, No Hurry






4. Murder By Death - Good Morning, Magpie
Another band that I'm glad I was introduced to this year. After downloading all of their old albums, they have become one of my favorite bands to listen to.
Fav. Tracks: As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World, Yes

5. The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights
Technically there is no new music on this album (released March 16, 2010) from the White Stripes, it is just the soundtrack to their 2009 film with the same title. With that being said, I listened to this album more than almost any other album this year. Seeing Jack White perform live has also been added to my list of things to do before I die.
Fav. Tracks: The Union Forever, Prickly Thorn But Sweetly Worn




6. A Day To Remember - What Seperates Me From You
To be honest I listened to their old albums more than this one the past year, but I still really enjoyed this release. Although claiming to always "make the music they want to make" this new cd seems to be fairly radio friendly.
Fav. Tracks: 2nd Sucks, All Signs Point To Lauderdale






7. Hank III - Rebel Within
This is my favorite album by Hank III so far. No doubt the best drinking album I've heard this year. "Damn good time" is how I would describe this album.
Fav. Tracks: Gettin' Drunk & Fallin' Down, Tore Up & Loud







8. Senses Fail - The Fire
I like Buddy when he's angry. That's all I really need to say about this album.
Fav. Tracks: The Fire, Landslide









9. Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave
A very eerie album, and it's almost like Johnny Cash was speaking to his fans from beyond the grave. He knew this would be his last recordings and the songs he picked were very appropriate.
Fav. Tracks - Redemption Day, Ain't No Grave, Satisfied Mind






10. Eminem - Recovery
Eminem at his best. He admits it himself that his last couple of albums weren't great, but he really does makes up for it with this one.
Fav. Tracks: You're Never Over, Going Through Changes







SOME OTHER GOOD STUFF FROM 2010:

Four Year Strong – Enemy of the World

Courtyard Hounds – Courtyard Hounds

Drake – Thank Me Later

Gaslight Anthem – American Slang

Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Ryan Bingham – Junky Star

Top 10 of 2010.

2010 seemed like a weird year to me; the Saints won the Super Bowl, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup!!!!!, and we saw a World Series that did not feature the Yankees or Phillies. We also saw the rise of the neo-conservative Tea Party in politics, and Pat Robertson said the laws on Pot were to harsh! Ah what a year. As far as music went 2010 saw some great album releases and saw some pretty shitty ones, many of my favorite bands released albums this year as well. Now I give you my top 10 albums of the year that was 2010.

1. Diamond Eyes-Deftones. This was the easiest choice for the number one album of the year, I think it is one of the Deftones best albums since Around the Fur.Favorite Track(s): Beauty School, Sextape



2. Blue Sky Noise-Circa Survive Yet another great release from these guys who are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. Favorite Track(s): Get Out, I Felt Free



3. OMNI-Minus The Bear. Just a great feel good album by one of my favorite bands, if your feelin' down just pop this disc on and you will be feelin' good in no time! Favorite Track(s): Dayglow Vista Rd., Excuses



4. Exoplanet-The Contortionist. Anyone who knows me knows that first and foremost I am a metal head and Exoplanet is hands down my favorite metal album of 2010. Favorite Track(s): Expire, Primal Directive



5. Brothers-The Black Keys. Another great album by the duo, I dont think these guys could make a bad album if they wanted to. Favorite Track(s): Tighten Up, She's Long Gone



6. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell-A Plea For Purging. Another one of my favorite metal albums of the year, just a great album to play at 11! Favorite Track(s): The Fall, The Eternal Female



7. Weight of the World-This is Hell. In my opinion this is THE hardcore album of the year, an amazing, fast-paced, balls to the wall hardcore record. Favorite Track(s): The Death of the World Class, Snake Eyes



8. The Wages-The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band. This album just puts a big smile on your face, makes you wanna clap your hands and stomp your feet. Favorite Track(s): Clap Your Hands




9. Rebel Within-Hank Williams III. Favorite Track(s): Lookin' For a Mountain, Drinkin' Ain't Hard to Do








10. Based on a True Story-Sick of it All. Favorite Track(s): Death or Jail, Dominated
















Honorable Mentions:

Collisions and Castaways-36 Crazyfists
Contagion-Oceano
Contra-Vampire Weekend
Deep Blue-Parkway Drive
The Fire-Senses Fail
Good Morning, Magpie-Murder by Death
I Am What I Am-Merle Haggard
Lost Boy-Mychlidren Mybride
Marée Noire-Beneath the Massacre
Mechanize-Fear Factory
Meridional-Norma Jean
Ø (Disambiguation)-Underoath
Option Paralysis-The Dillinger Escape Plan
There Will Be Violence-Impending Doom
Wormwood-The Acacia Strain

My Top 10 Live Albums & More!

So its been a while since my last last post so I figured I'd try to come back with a vengeance so now I give you my top 10 live albums plus some other live albums that I dig.
Tweed

10. Cannonball Adderley & John Coltrane - Quintet in Chicago
9. The Smiths - Rank
8. Waylon Jennings - Waylon Live
7. 311 - Live
6. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
5. Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
4. Miles Davis - At Newport 1958
3. Led Zeppelin - BBC Sessions
2. Sick of it All - Live in a Dive
1. Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club

Now here are some other Live Albums that I dig:

August Burns Red - Home
B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail
Between the Buried and Me - Colors Live
Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Drinkin' TNT & Smokin' Dynamite
Bury Your Dead - Alive
Dropkick Murphys - Live on Lansdowne, Boston MA
Killswitch Engage - World Ablaze
Lamb of God - Killadelphia
Marilyn Manson - The Last Tour On Earth
Nirvana - From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
Old 97's - Alive & Wired
Protest the Hero - Gallop Meets the Earth
Queens of the Stone Age - Over the Years and Through the Woods
Rage Against the Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Rammstein - Live Aus Berlin
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live Magik
Social Distortion - Live at the Roxy
The Tossers - Gloatin' & Showboatin' Live on St. Patrick's Day

PLAYLIST: Garth Brook's Top 10

I thought I would kick off our playlist series with an artist I have liked for as long as I remember. I will also be scratching “seeing Garth live” off my bucket list next month, so I have been re-listening to a lot of his hits, and wanted to share what I consider his “top 10”.

10. The Night I Called the Old Man Out

9. Papa Loved Mama

8. Ain’t Goin Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)

7. Somewhere Other Than the Night

6. American Honky-Tonk Bar Association

5. The Change

4. The Red Strokes

3. Learning to Live Again

2. The Thunder Rolls (Long Version)

1. Friends In Low Places

MUSIC MONDAY - 7-26-10

I haven't posted anything in awhile and just wanted to put up a bunch of new stuff I've downloaded.

SONGS

The Thespian - Alesana

Alejandro - All Time Low (Lady Gaga cover)

Stick Up Kids - Bad Rabbits

American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem

Power - Kanye West

No Bed of Broken Glass - This Time Next Year

ALBUMS

Nightmare on Providence St. - Blind Witness

Born on Flag Day - Deer Tick

Emarosa - Emarosa

Recovery - Eminem

DISCOGRAPHY - Every Time I Die

Settle The Score - Fight Fair

Enemy of the World - Four Year Strong

Let It Roll - George Harrison

Rebel Within - Hank III

Inception (Official Soundtrack) - Hans Zimmer

3D - I See Stars

The Hearts of Lonely People - Isles and Glaciers

Mean Everything to Nothing - Manchester Orchestra

I Am What I Am - Merle Haggard

Cheating at Solitaire - Mike Ness

Selfish Machines - Pierce the Veil

The Wages - Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band


- Daniel

Kurt Donald Cobain: February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994

I forgot to post something last week when it was the anniversary of Kurt's death, so I'm taking the time now to throw up a couple of my favorite pictures and videos.

311 and I

Before the summer of 97’ , I was just a typical kid and never really paid attention to any music except for whatever my mom and step-father were listening to at the time stuff like; Phill Collins, Sting, Billy Joel, and The Eagles just to name a few. That all changed one summer day when I went skateboarding with some of my buddies, we ended up going to our friend Nick’s house for a skate session and he put the cd that would change my life in his stereo and cranked it up. The cd was “311” by 311 also known as “the Blue Album” to die-hard fans, and it just blew my 13 year old mind. I knew from that moment on that music would be one of my passions. The next day I remember making my mom take me to the record store to by the cd and poor old her she never expected that after that she would have to buy my hundreds more cd’s before I got a job to waste my own money on them.

Well before I go into detail about the album let me give you a little background on the band. They formed in the late 80’s in Omaha, Nebraska then they moved out to LA to get a record deal in which they did. Their first album came out in 93 and was titled “Music” , their second album came out in 94 and was titled “Grassroots” , then they released their third album “311” in which I am going fill you in on. 311 mix a lot of different genres into their sound including; metal, punk, reggae, ska, hip-hop, and funk. I believe that because of the many sounds they incorporate into their own style is the reason that I myself am a fan of many different genres.

Now let me tell you a little about the album that changed my life and made 311 my favorite band of all-time. The album starts off with what is their most popular song “Down” a fast-paced, highly energetic song that is a great start to a great album. The second and third tracks on the album are “Random” and “Jackolantern’s Weather” these two songs are probably my favorite on the whole album. The forth track on the album “All Mixed Up” was another popular single off the album and is the first change of pace for the album with a more reggae and funk sound. Track five “Hive” is probably the heaviest track on the album and is a die-hard fan favorite. “Guns” the albums sixth track is a somewhat anti gun song and is also bound to get anyone’s head boppin’ to the beat. Track seven “Misdirected Hostility” is a bit of break from the albums mostly fast pace, with its slow but heavy guitar. “Purpose” the eighth track is another gem, a slow paced, feel good song that has a good reggae beat to it.

Track nine “Loco” is a catchy sing-a-long song that makes for a good road trip song. “Brodels” the albums tenth track that is like a clash between hard rock and hip-hop. The albums first single track eleven “Don’t Stay Home“ was not as successful as the albums other two singles but is a very upbeat catchy song. “DLMD” is the twelfth track on the album and has a very personal touch on it that came from an event in singer Nick Hexum’s life that comes through pretty clear. Probably my all time favorite song on the album is track thirteen’s “Sweet” and is a good example of all the sounds they incorporate into their style, oh and it has a killer guitar solo in it. “T & P Combo” is the albums last track and is a very fast paced closer for a great album.

by Tweed

DANIEL'S MUSIC MONDAY 1/11/10

Not a whole lot to report from the past week in music. Susan Boyle and Ke$ha are still at the top of the charts, so I feel like this year/decade isn't off to a real good start.

I just went on my last.fm page (tasteofink24) and took my top artists.

1. Flogging Molly (finally downloaded the rest of their discography)

2. NOFX (Cokie the Clown fuckin rules)













3. Bob Dylan

4. Incubus (downloaded Moments and Melodies)

5. Dance Gavin Dance

6. U2 (downloaded Joshua Tree and their greatest hits)

7. The Tossers (coming to Champaign in March!!!)

8. Jay-Z

9. Ben Folds

10. Thursday

Failure in Five Songs

Failure was a highly underrated band that was around in the 90's and they still are underrated and not well known. The band started in 1990 and was done by 1997 and in that short span they released three great albums. The first album was Comfort (1992), the second was Magnified (1994), and their third and best album (in my opinion) was Fantastic Planet (1996). So now I give you five songs to get to know the band to.

1."Submission" off the album Comfort when the band had a more grunge sound to them.
2. "Undone" off the album Magnified shows the band growing out from the grunge sound into the more "spacey" alt-rock sound they are known for.
3. "Saturday Savior" from the album Fantastic Planet is the bands best work with a perfect combination of grunge, alt-rock and their signature "spacey" sound.
4. "Sergeant Politeness" also from Fantastic Planet.
5. "Stuck on You" also from Fantastic Planet which has been covered by pop-punk band Paramore.

Well there you are Failure in five songs hope you like, and stay with us for more getting to know bands in five songs. by Tweed

Daniel's Music Monday 01/04/2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

I've been watching a lot of movies lately (it's freezing outside! what else am I going to do???...plus baseball isn't in season)

So I thought this MM I'd just present you with a couple of soundtracks I downloaded after seeing the movie.
















Favorite Tracks: The Bioluminescence Of The Night, "You Don't Dream In Cryo. ....", and War


















Favorite Tracks: Here Comes Your Man - Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Us - Regina Spektor, and You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates















Favorite Tracks: Going Up the Country - Canned Heat, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag - Country Joe McDonald, Elliott's Place - Danny Elfman

















Favorite Tracks: Stu's Song - Ed Helms, Ride the Sky II - Revolution Mother, Three Best Friends - Zach Galifianakis