Part 3 our Vine Critics Poll, in which our writers offer up their "Ten Best Things" pulled from the musical landscape of 2010.
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Dan Rule
Top 10 Musicky Things, 2010
Best Record:
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma (Warp/Inertia)
A rare thing, but in the case of
Cosmogramma – Steve Ellison’s third full-length as Flying Lotus – the morass of hype was well and truly justified. Composed in the wake of the death of his great aunt and musical confidant, free-jazz matriarch Alice Coltrane, this record wielded future noise with an ear for black music’s abundant past. A meld of snarling sub-bass, post-IDM intricacy, hip-hop groove, soul timbres and free-jazz experimentalism, Cosmogramma dramatically re-plotted the peripheries of the hip-hop diaspora. Intensely challenging, but infinitely rewarding. Honourable mentions: Strong Arm Steady, In Search of Stoney Jackson (Stones Throw/Fuse); Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh (Motown/Universal); My Disco, Little Joy (Shock); Aloe Blacc, Good Things (Stones Throw/Fuse).
Best Video:
Erykah Badu - ‘Window Seat’
While it grabbed headlines for the fact that it involved Badu’s naked body and a disorderly conduct charge, there was something genuinely powerful about the clip for ‘Window Seat’, the lead single from second chapter in Badu’s brilliant
New Amerykah series. Playing out on Dallas’s Elm Street – the site of the JFK assassination – the video depicts Badu gradually disrobing as she strolls the boulevard. When she finally removes her last piece of clothing, she is abruptly gunned down. The iconography seems clear enough. The individual will not be tolerated; a female body not marketed toward male titillation will not be tolerated; the person of colour will not be tolerated. Whether you agree with it or not, this video was far more than just a stunt.
Best Gig:
A Tribe Called Quest - Festival Hall, Melbourne (review, photos)
A fantastic experience for long-suffering Tribe fans, the trio’s first ever show in Melbourne didn’t disappoint. While Phife laboured a little, still suffering the effects of a recent kidney transplant, Q-Tip was a picture of charisma and wild, boyish energy. He ended the night in the crowd, dancing with the throng. Brilliance. Honourable mentions: Mayer Hawthorne @ The Corner; Autechre @ The Hi-Fi; Tujiko Noriko @ The Empress.
Best Remix:
The Bug - ‘Skeng’ (Autechre Remix) from Ninja Tune XX: 20 Years of Beats & Pieces
A heaving, brutally economised reworking one of the toughest cuts of 2008. Killa P and Flowdan sound fucking amazing over a popping, gunshot snare and the kind churning, industrial underlays that just scream Autechre.
Best Comeback Record:
Gil Scott-Heron - I’m New Here (XL/Remote Control)
He may be in his seventh decade, but Gil Scott-Heron’s incredibly succinct new record, produced by XL Recording boss Richard Russell, proved he is as relevant as ever. A grit-scarred snapshot of a decaying contemporary America, as much as an emotive eulogy to grandmother who raised him,
I’m New Here reminded us of the importance of Scott-Heron’s proto-rap spoken-word to the lineage of both street-based music and the art of social and political critique.
Best Label:
Stones Throw
Curated by Peanut Butter Wolf, the Los Angeles imprint continued its fascinating explorations of hip-hop, soul and electronic music’s contemporary and historical threads with a host of banging records. Searing joints by Strong Arm Steady, Madlib, Aloe Blacc, DaM-Funk, MED, James Pants and Guilty Simpson complemented a bizarre clutch of historical reissues and compilations, including a jarring collection of Minimal Wave music from early 80s New York and a bizarre compile of 70s pop material from vocoder inventor Bruce Haack.
Best Interview:
Kool Keith, interviewed by Katie Olsen for Lifelounge (link)
Brilliant interview by Katie Olsen under the kind of challenging circumstances that only the presence of the Kool one can conjure. Choice quote: “My music attracts creative people. People might make a polka dot suitcase and give it to me, with something inside. A cat inside the suitcase. And I have to take it home and figure it out.” Brought me back to an interview I did an unhinged Keith in 2007, in which he fell asleep mid-sentence while driving around the Bronx with his entourage, leaving me to listen to monotone instructions of his GPS and the proffering of street prostitutes, only for him to wake up five minutes later and continue the conversation as if nothing had happened. My favourite exchange from that night: “I just say things that people are scared to say. Like, ‘Your pants, they don’t fit right’. That’s the most dangerous part about me as a rapper, you know, that I say things that other rappers are scared to attack… Hold on man, I’m in a store, grabbing some milk. I don’t see no milk, but what do you expect.”
Best Magazine:
Wax Poetics
Still the finest, most vibrant and in-depth music journal by a long shot. Michael A. Gonzales’s account of the rise and fall of neo-soul iconoclast D’Angelo (in this year’s July/August issue) reaffirmed my faith in the art of music journalism.
Best Book:
Andrew Mueller - Rock and Hard Places (Affirm Press)
This collection of equally hilarious and insightful music journalism and foreign correspondence from Sydney-raised scribe Andrew Mueller affords intimate access to anyone from a young, burnt-out Eddie Vedder and churlish Robert Smith, to a pre-9/11 Afghanistan and a Sarajevo rock scene in the midst of the Balkan War.
Best Answering Machine Message:
Phife Dawg - A Tribe Called Quest
The best thing about being temporarily stood up for an interview by one of your musical heroes is catching their answering message. In Phife Dawg’s case, it was a fresh rap ditty over the bouncing, Karriem Riggins-produced Erykah Badu cut ‘Fall in Love (Your Funeral)’.
Dan Rule
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Everett True
A List of 10 Things from 2010 - and a short list of two thing I secretly love from 2010
1. eternalsoundcheck.blogspot.com
Every city needs its underground, and every underground needs its documentation. And every documentation needs its people who are totally involved in the entire process. The problem with Brisbane appears to be an overload of the creative process - there are too many folk being creative and not enough people satisfied with being consumers. This is not a bad problem to have, far from it. And yet, does performance exist without an audience to give it validity?
2. My Disco, Gareth Liddiard, kyu
Every country needs its musicians who are unafraid enough, scornful enough or naive enough of the commercial process, that they just go ahead and create. It's a pleasure to realise that Gareth's album exists, even if I don't want to listen to it. It was a real treasure to witness kyu perform live at the Old Museum in Brisbane a few months back (
review), and watch them taking risks that only come with youth: the beating of the breasts, the strange trembling noises in between the silence. That they have talent is undeniable - what is more worrying is that they might become successful. My Disco have simply created a monster of a dance record, with one eye on sales. That's more than enough.
3. Pavement, Lemonheads, Pixies
I didn't see any these reformed 'bands' perform live. Why would I want to, when they can't even be bothered to push at their own meagre boundaries?
4. Velociraptor, Feathers, Blank Realm, The Stress Of Leisure, Sky Needle
Five of my favourite bands from Brisbane. The first three because they're great live bands and know how to rock in the face of Vampire Weekend and the legions of Smashing Pumpkins fans, the fourth because they''re literate, articulate, sardonic and melodic and remind me of The Cannanes. And the fifth... Bangs wept.
5. Daniel Johnston
He played Melbourne and Sydney early in 2010 - and I supported! We chatted, drove around Brisbane, looked at comic books - and fell out. One day, I will finish the book I'm writing on this supremely talented, troubled singer. At time of writing, it's only 20 months overdue.
6. The Thin Kids, The Deadnotes
Happy. Almost the only time I venture out in Brisbane at night was to see these bands - what with the ridiculously late licensing laws (having an early curfew never stopped London from being a major centre of music) and looking after two small kids. The singer, in particular, seems to really understand and (in)articulate the way I feel.*
7. Ari Up - R.I.P.
Sad. I moved up to London because of a song on the first Slits album,
Shoplifting. Their singer was younger than me when she died a few months ago. I'd be hard put to find another band that have influenced and directed and cheered me as much as The Slits. Their three albums and various singles and live recordings and Peel sessions and bootlegs are still...damn, I'd be hard put to find another group as much on the side of the angels. Try me.
8. Agent Ribbons, The John Steel Singers, Lanie Lane, Fabulous Diamonds
The first is the best fucken live band in America right now: two ladies with chutzpah, a love for show-tunes and an ability to rock as hard as the Dirtbombs. The second (from Brisbane) is prime Triple J fodder, but y'know... I like pop music. The song 'Overpass', in particular, refuses to leave my iPod alone. The third is one of Sydney's biggest hopes for the future. And yes, I would like to see Kitty, Daisy & Lewis perform live once more. And the fourth (from Melbourne) just rock, pure and simple.
9.
Beyonce - 'Crazy In Love',
Soda Fountain Rag - 'Don't Kill The Clowns',
Byron Lee And The Dragonaires - 'Dumplins',
Viv Albertine - 'Home Sweet Home (...At Christmas)',
The Psychedelic Furs - 'We Love You',
The Loves - 'December Boy',
The Distractions - 'Black Velvet',
Bitch Prefect - 'Bad Decisions',
Dolly Mixture - 'Remember This',
The Monster Women - 'Bang Bang',
Johanna Buccola - 'Stockholm Syndrome',
Lido Pimienta - 'Mueve',
Althea & Donna - 'Up Town',
Top Ranking, The Unthanks - 'The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw',
Kate Nash - 'Mansion Song'
Not all these songs were released during 2010. But why would you feel the need to listen to music tied to a particular year?
10. Femme-pop
Woom. Neverever. La Sera. Miu Mau. Super Wild Horses. We'll be here all day if I start typing out all my loves. Trash Kits. Pikelet. She And Him. Ill Ease. So. Femme-pop. 'Nuff said, surely?
Two Secret Loves from 2010
1. Angus And Julia Stone - 'And The Boys'
2. Anything by Washington... NOT!
Everett True (*is the singer -Ed).
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Luke McKinnon
The Year in Hip-Hop
The Surprise Packet:
Illy
Young Melbourne MC Illy’s debut album
Long Story Short was a solid release that demonstrated glimpses of excellence. His 2010 follow up,
The Chase, however, blew expectations vertically out of the water. Backed by the eclectic production of long time collaborators M-Phazes and Jan Skubiszewski, Illy delivered an album that was mature, lyrically diverse and that saw him naturally crossover into the position of mainstream popularity.
The Unsung hero: Noam Dishon
Noam Dishon aka Hattori Hunzo may be the best producer you’ve never heard of. Yet, he has unequivocally been a major contributing factor to the rise and rise of Bliss N Eso. This year he musically masterminded Running on Air creating the backdrop for the majority of the albums best songs. Whilst other big name producers have been receiving critical acclaim, Dishon has been content sitting back letting his intricate, musically diverse, standard-setting production do the talking for him.
The Come Back Kid: Eminem
Of course, the obvious choice here is Kanye West; anyone that can create
808s and Heartbreak and follow it up with
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy would normally be a certainty for the ‘Come Back Kid’ title. Yet, Eminem’s pop-heavy
Recovery, his follow up to 2009’s decidedly ordinary
Relapse, proved once again that he is one of the most lyrically savvy, tenacious and talented MCs on the planet.
Don’t believe the Hype
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj must have the best publicist money can buy. If you did believe the hype, you’d think that Minaj was a cross between Lauryn Hill, John Lennon and, well, Jesus. Yes, she’s an OK rapper and yes, she has some big name backers, but seriously, enough with the angst-ridden, I’m-the-best-mc-none-of-you-compare-to-me-and-I’m-from-Trinidad bullshit. That is all.
Top Three Australian Hip Hop Songs of the Year:
Bliss N Eso – Addicted
Illy – Diamonds (ft. Wren)
Mantra - 'Fall Guy'
(
Listen)
Top Three International Hip Hop Songs of the Year:
Talib Kweli - 'Cold Rain'
Atmosphere – 'To All My Friends'
Atmosphere - To All My Friends by Hypetrak
Kanye West – Blame Game
Australian Hip Hop Album of the Year:
Bliss N Eso – Running on Air
At the time of its release
I wrote the following of Bliss N Eso’s
Running on Air:
“This is a career defining album; an album by which every new hip-hop release in this country will be judged, and deservedly so.”
Six months later these sentiments still ring true.
Running on Air will be historically recognized as one of the albums that changed the game. For a generation that has grown up on Australian hip-hop music, it will function as the album that smashed down the gates of popular culture, blowing open accessibility for others to follow.
Special Mention:
Mantra – Power of the Spoken
International Hip Hop Album of the Year:
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
If you’ve heard the album then this choice needs no explanation. If you haven’t, do yourself a favour and go and buy it. West has taken all the good bits from his previous four records, added a very healthy dose of “I can’t believe he just did that” and created a musical opus of utter awesomeness. There are simply no crap songs on this album. Welcome back Mr West.
Special Mention: Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute
Best Mix-Tape:
360 – Please be Seated One
Somehow, in between days of prolific tweeting, 360 managed to drop a number of mix tapes –
Please be Seated 1 was his - and the year’s - best. Sampling the likes of Lisa Mitchell, Justice and Tinie Tempah, 360 combined his renowned humour with a mix of introspection and straight-up pop and further demonstrated why his is the album to look out for on 2011.
Best Video
The Roots – The Fire (Rik Cordero)
Flying Lotus – Kill Your Co-Workers
Ok, I couldn’t split these two. And by pure coincidence, both are grounded in nonsensical violence. The Rik Cordero directed 'The Fire' is a brutal piece of short storytelling that offers the perfect juxtaposition for Black Thought’s effortless flow, whilst Beeple’s animated visuals for 'Kill Your Co-Workers' provides spectacular pixelated landscape for Flying Lotus’s 8-Bit flecked production.
The Roots (w/ John Legend) - 'The Fire'
Flying Lotus - Kill Your Co-Workers from Warp Records on Vimeo.
Luke McKinnon
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Ariel Katz
Top 10 Things in Chronological Order
Florence and the Machine at Laneway Festival (review, photos) - January:
Despite being very close to a lot of sweaty people, this was a pretty great gig. The spectacle of a full moon was eclipsed only by her excitement, bounciness and vocal ability. See also,
this interview I was lucky enough to do with her this year.
The xx at The Corner (review, photos) - February:
The bass, their eyes, the intensity in ten cities vibe they conjured - I didn't know who to crush out on more.
Lady Gaga at Rod Laver - March:
Easily the most epic event I have ever been to. She played a piano that was on fire! She dropped below the stage and bounced back up in an entirely new outfit! The tears! The triumph! She was fierce and 'Alejandro' is a really good song.
Splendour in the Grass (review, photos) - August:
Camper vans make five days of camping okay - it's as simple of that. Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, The Drums, The Strokes, the Coopers Clear. Wait, what?
Kate Nash at Splendour in the Grass and The Corner - August:
The combination of her musical talent (she slays keys and guitar), her political and social commentary ('Homophobia is dogshit') and her beauty (she's a total babe, let me tell you) she's a triple threat out there on stage.
Ke$ha on Sunrise - November:
This was equal parts incredibly awesome and incredibly bad. The fact that it occurred during Movember and Kochie looks the way he does, just makes their couch interaction exponentially more awkward. I love it. Lyrical highlight:
"Got Jesus on my neck-a-lass-uss-uzzz."
Girls at Meredith (review, photos) - December:
Christopher Owens made pop feel poignant. The melancholy moved me.
Romy and Washington at Women of Letters, Melbourne - December:
These two ladies brought me to tears, tears that I couldn't turn off. Watching them read their missives was very, very special.
*tips hat / weeps*
And the gifts that keeps on giving, all year around:
Jerry's Vegie Burgers:
They saved my life at Splendour, they saved my life at Meredith and I miss them dearly.
Carles:
<3 u Carles.
Ariel Katz
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PART 1 OF THEVINE'S 'TOP THINGS' CRITICS POLL FOR 2010
PART 2 OF THEVINE'S 'TOP THINGS' CRITICS POLL FOR 2010
THEVINE'S YEAR IN MOBILE PHONE PHOTOS