Best Of 2010: Ann Clarke

2010 was ridiculously limp regarding any newly released tangible media; I enjoyed older stuff much more. There were plenty of mediocre bands with new albums, boring reunion tours, and remakes of films . . . and I can’t even comment on books because the only ones I ever bother to read anymore are reference materials (travel, art, or kitschy humor).

However, here is some 2010 entertainment that I did enjoy!

Manorexia, The Mesopelagic Waters
A full explanation as to why I liked it can be found here.

Greie Gut Fraktion, Baustelle
This is a new project formed by Gudrun Gut and Antye Greie. They did many field recordings (mostly at a German construction site), and then assembled them into a neat and listenable package. Its not just noise; they actually made melodies out of the chaos. I usually have very low enjoyment threshold for stuff of this nature, but the fact that they added vocals and beats, but kept the field recordings raw, equals a good balance.

Foetus, Hide
Surprise, surprise. A Foetus album made it into my best-of list! Shocking! However, I will have to admit, I didn’t like everything about it. I could write a lengthy review of my nitpicking, but I won’t as I’ve already written enough about Jim Thirlwell to last a lifetime, and I doubt anyone (especially him) gives a shit about what I write! I’ll focus on the positive, instead. I felt the best tracks were: The Ballad Of Sisyphus T. Jones, Oilfields, Paper Slippers, You’re Trying To Break Me, and O Putrid Sun. The front cover art was fantastic, but the back cover and the liner notes were awful.

Mark Steiner, Broken
I think this technically came out at the tail end of 2009, but Mark sent me a copy last spring. I feel bad that I didn’t write up a review about it, because this was truly a magnificent album. I like Mark’s deep misanthropic voice and emotionally vulnerable lyrics. The actual music is very reminiscent of when the Bad Seeds were still good (e.g., when Mick Harvey & Blixa Bargeld were still in the band). Actually, this is the type of album Nick Cave should be doing, but he’s too busy shitting out garbage like Grinderman, wrapping his Jag around speed trap cameras, and petting his disgusting moustache! The Australian influence is definitely audible on Broken, but its also unique and stands on its own as a accomplished album released by a clever musician that I hope to hear more from in the future.

Wild Beasts, Two Dancers
Read this review for details.

Mike DeStefano, Ok Karma
This is actually a comedy album that has gotten more plays this year than any of the music I already mentioned. Mike DeStefano is an unflinchingly honest and brusque comedian that truly needs to be heard! I can easily put him in the same high regard as Bill Hicks and Lewis Black. He basically says all of the shit that we’re all dying to say, but cannot! Seriously, check him out!

Steroid Maximus, Live show at Celebrate! Brooklyn
Full details and photos can be found here.

Fado in Chiado, Live show in Lisbon, Portugal
This is one of the few things that is set up like a tourist trap, but there’s no trap. It’s a nightly show in a busy section of Lisbon called Chiado, and it consists of two guitarists and two singers (one male and one female). They perform traditional Fado music for those who are intrigued, but don’t know what it is. It also shows multi-lingual films before the performance to give you a history of this Portuguese musical tradition. It was truly one of the best concerts I’ve been to in years! I didn’t know the music, but it was just so well executed that it piqued my interest in the entire genre. More info can be found here.

Like I said, new films haven’t interested me this past year, but I have yet to see both Black Swan and The Fighter. Hopefully those don’t disappoint like the majority of 2010!