// Category Archive for: Music

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!
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Best Of 2010: Janelle Monáe, The ArchAndroid

By Brenna Chase

There’s no need for a list. Devote all of your listening attention to Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid. It was conceived by a twentysomething theatre major from Kansas, executive-produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs and Outkast’s “Big Boi” along with members of Monáe’s own creative outfit, The Wondaland Arts Society, and released on Bad Boy Records. If this seems a bit of a random selection, know that nothing about this album is typical.

The ArchAndroid is the epitome of risk and eccentricity. It’s a schizophrenic experience of genres, moods, characters, and themes. And, I promise you, it’s the only concept album released in 2010 that truly matters.
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Win A Signed Copy Of Duffy’s New CD, Endlessly!

By Less Lee Moore

If you enjoyed our review of Welsh songstress Duffy’s latest release, Endlessly, you’re in luck.

We’ve got a signed copy of the disc to send out to one of you lucky readers. The contest has now ended.

Just be the fifth person to comment on this post telling us why you would like a copy . . . in a clever way, of course. (C’mon, it’s the holiday season and we’re feeling a little burned out on Christmas songs and crowded shopping malls.)

Contest Rules:

—Popshifter writers are not eligible.
—The contest is open until at least five comments are left in response to this Blog post OR Sunday, December 19, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. EST (whichever comes first).
—The fifth person to post a comment will win (EST). Personal attacks, spam, vulgar or otherwise unsavory comments will NOT be eligible to win.
— We reserve the right to choose a winner based on the above guidelines.
—Only residents of the United States are eligible.
—You must not have won anything from a Popshifter contest within the last six months.
—You must email us at editor@popshifter.com and provide a valid name and mailing address within seven days of us notifying you that you have won.

Christmas Songs For A Future Generation: The Superions, Destination . . . Christmas!

By Cait Brennan

Fred Schneider rarely gets his due as a rock legend. One of the most original voices and imaginative storytellers of the New Wave, Schneider brought weird and wonderful absurdist lyrics, a fearless outsider sensibility, and his unique sprechstimme delivery into the rock mainstream. The discrete charm of Fred’s voice and lyrical style are lost on some people, but despite an army of jokesters’ best efforts, Schneider is truly inimitable.

Sad, then, that despite a relentless touring schedule, in the past 18 years his groundbreaking band the B-52s have managed only one new studio release, 2008’s Funplex. The prolific Schneider has participated in dozens of other projects during those years, but none have captured his own brand of madness better than Destination . . . Christmas!, the new album with his band The Superions.
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Best Of 2010: By Danny R. Phillips

Hope you enjoy . . . following my advice on these picks is optional and I will not be held responsible for the damages.

Albums

The Black Angels, Phosphene Dream (more…)

Thirty Years

By Less Lee Moore

It’s been such a big part of my life for so long that often I am numbed to the sadness of it. But reading this article, including a timeline of John Lennon’s last day, makes me cry all over again. We’re so blessed to have had him as part of our lives, even for such a short time.

In some ways I hesitate to even mention the creepy photo in this article or the paraphrased conversations with Mark David Chapman because he deserves no glory for his actions. But I think it’s important to realize the details of what happened since so many current Beatles and Lennon fans were born after Lennon died. It makes the events of back then more than just common knowledge; it makes them personal and real.

As a kid I knew he was important and special because my parents thought so. Later, I realized what he meant to me personally. Even now, his significance and brilliance is revealed to me in more profound ways.

No, he was not a saint. But he was one of a kind and we’ll never see someone like him again.

Dragon King Remix Of La Roux’s Grammy-Nominated “In For The Kill”

Click for larger image.

By Less Lee Moore

There’s a new Dragon King remix of La Roux’s Grammy-nominated “In For The Kill.”

La Roux’s Elly Jackson also called into Cherrytree Radio’s Morning Orchard last week and chatted a bit about her reaction to hearing the news about her two Grammy nominations.

“We’re very, very happy. The news broke . . . in the middle of the night here, so I woke up to like four text messages just saying ‘congratulations, you’ve got two Grammy nominations.’ I was like, ‘What?’ It was literally the first thing I read when I woke up. It was a nice way to wake up.”

As far as whether she thinks they’ll take home any awards, Elly says, “I think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll get it. I’m not going to prepare a speech. I’m not really a speech person; I’ll probably just stammer, and say thank you, and then run away.”

The Grammy Awards will take place February 13 at the Los Angeles Staples Center. For more on La Roux, check out the band’s website.

Duffy, Endlessly

By Stuart Myerburg

Endlessly, the follow-up to Duffy’s hugely successful debut Rockferry, finds the Welsh singer in a bit of an identity crisis. Still mining the retro-sixties vibe that made her popular, Duffy this time collaborates with veteran writer and producer Albert Hammond.
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Bottom Ten: 2010 Deaths

By Matt Keeley

Man, the Grim Reaper sucks. I know, I know, he provides a valuable service and when he gets stuck up a tree, all sorts of bad stuff happens, but sometimes his aim sucks. Like seriously, Mister Rogers? Talk about all-time candidates for immortality. Anyway, here’s a list of the Ten Least-worthy Folks to have kicked the bucket this year.

Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen was awesome. Sure, he made a lot of crappy movies, but he also made ones so awesome that no one minded! Yeah, Mr. Magoo exists, but so does The Naked Gun. And, really, Spy Hard wasn’t that bad. But the cool thing is that Nielsen was also a renowned dramatic actor and even—in his youth—a heartthrob, which kinda messes with folks of the younger generation, just because we think of Lt. Frank Drebin. But, honestly, Frank Drebin was pretty hot.
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Doctor Ew: Best Of 2010

Brass Eye

Band: The Elwins

Albums:
Women, Public Strain
Mantler, Monody

Songs:
Hooded Fang, “Straight Up The Dial”
Marvin Gaye, “Anna’s Song”
Steven McKay, “Ignite”
Bad Yoga (Neil Fuckin’ Quin), “A Saturday in the Cold Sun”

Craziest comedy show of all time: Brass Eye

Musician: Sandro Perri

TV: The Walking Dead (first episode)

Doctor Ew, a.k.a. Drew Smith, has just released his first solo album, Gadzooks. He is also a member of The Bicycles.