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mp3: The Soft Pack – Gagdad
mp3: King Khan & The Shrines – Welfare Bread

2010 has been a pretty fun year for music. Every year, I discover more music, better music, and sometimes it cracks me up to see how my music taste grows and differs as the years go by, but I think 2010 has been a great year for new bands and kickass albums. I’ve compiled my list of 10 albums that I really loved, 5 EPs that just got to me, and then 30 songs that I’ve called Top Songs, but they’re just 30 songs that I liked a hell of a lot and came to me as I thought about it and scanned carelessly through iTunes. It’s interesting to note that half of my favorite albums are from California bands.

Top 10 Albums of 2010

10 Ty Segall | Melted | Goner

mp3 :: Ty Segall - Melted

09 Woven Bones | In & Out & Back Again | Hozac

mp3 :: Woven Bones - I\'ve Gotta Get

08 Dead Ghosts | S/T | Florida’s Dying

mp3 :: Dead Ghosts - When It Comes To You

07 Heavy Hawaii | HH | Artfag Records

mp3 :: Heavy Hawaii - Teen Angel

06 The Strange Boys | Be Brave | In The Red

mp3 :: The Strange Boys - Be Brave

05 Fool’s Gold | Fool’s Gold | IAMSOUND Records

mp3 :: Fool\'s Gold - Surprise Hotel

04 Avi Buffalo | Avi Buffalo | Subpop

mp3 :: Avi Buffalo - What\'s In It For?

03 The Soft Pack | The Soft Pack | Mexican Summer

mp3 :: The Soft Pack - C\'Mon

02 Harlem | Hippies | Matador

mp3 :: Harlem - Friendly Ghost

01 Happy Birthday | Happy Birthday | Subpop

mp3 :: Happy Birthday - Girls FM

________________________________________________________________

Top 5 EPs of 2010

05 Monster Rally | Monster Rally EP | Self Released

mp3 :: Monster Rally - Maori Mai

04 Unouomedude | Marsh EP | Self Released

mp3 :: Unouomedude - Buildings

03 Caitlin Rose | Dead Flowers EP | Names Records

mp3 :: Caitlin Rose - Docket

02 Sex Beet | EP | TBA

mp3 :: Sex Beet - Sugar Water

(note: this is totally not the artwork, as this isn’t released yet, but the EP is too good to not be included on this list.)

01 The Growlers | Hot Tropics EP | Everloving

mp3 :: The Growlers - Graveyard\'s Full

________________________________________________________________

Top 30 Songs of 2010:

01 The Babies | Meet Me In The City | Listen

02 Happy Birthday | Perverted Girl | Listen

03 Sex Beet | Stay

04 Friends | Make It Better

05 The Meanest Boys | Strangest Things

06 Tennis | South Carolina | Listen

07 Spectrals | Leave Me Be | Listen

08 Family Trees | Dream Talkin’ | Listen

09 Cee Lo Green | Fuck You | Listen

10 Sonny & The Sunsets | Too Young To Burn | Listen

11 Beach Fossils| Sometimes | Listen

12 Woven Bones | Wanna Tell Ya | Listen

13 Ty Segall | Bullet Proof Nothing

14 Surfer Blood | Take It Easy | Listen

15 School Knights | Lunch Money

16 Happy Birthday | Subliminal Message | Listen

17 The Growlers | Sea Lion Goth Blues | Listen

18 Unouomedude | Buildings | Listen

19 The Strange Boys | Laugh At Sex (Not At Her) | Listen

20 Mind Spiders | World’s Destroyed

21 Fair Ohs | Hey Lizzy | Listen

22 Fergus & Geronimo | Girls With English Accents

23 French Kissing | You Just Don’t Know What Love Is For

24 Sweaters | Fruit On The Vine

25 Demon’s Claws | Fucked on K | Listen

26 Swampmeat | Brand New Cadillac

27 Gaoler’s Daughter | Meet You On The Other Side of the World

28 Shimmering Stars | I’m Gonna Try | Listen

29 My Pet Saddle | Il Fait Beau | Listen

30 Cults | Go Outside | Listen

It’s finally that time, y’all and we’ll start rolling out all our end of year coverage and this year we’re starting with my top 10 gigs of the year. I saw a lot of great music this year, and practically no shitty music, which I think is a decided improvement upon 2009′s showing. 2010 brought me to shows in four states, two countries, seven cities and while my list features predominantly California bands, not one of my favorite shows of this year happened in Los Angeles. Here’s to the greatness of 2010 and the probability that 2011 will put it all to shame:

10 The Entrance Band @ Red 7, Austin, TX | March 18, 2010

Crazy acid rain haze Friday of SXSW ended with a smoky, incendiary set that did half justice to anything Jimi Hendrix started and that’s probably the best compliment I could give. Real psychy.

mp3 | The Entrance Band - Lookout!

09 The Jim Jones Revue @ Komedia Downstairs, Brighton, UK | October 6, 2010

A too-small-for-them, but, perfect-for-the-gig room echoing with real, dirty, sweaty, down home blues rock with spastic keys and the most magnetic front-man I’ve seen in, well, maybe ever. Older dudes showing us young kids how to fucking do it.

mp3 | The Jim Jones Revue - Hey Hey Hey Hey

08 Pavement @ The Fox Theatre, Pomona, CA | April 15, 2010

Pavement. Two hours. Three encores. Everything I wanted to hear except ‘Harness Your Hopes’. Does anything more need to be said?

mp3 | Pavement - Shady Layne (LIVE EUROPATURNÉN MCMXCVII)

07 The Soft Pack @ The Freebutt, Brighton, UK | February 14, 2010

Some of LA’s best garage rippers came to Brighton to brighten (pun intended) the most horrible day of the year and cemented in my mind the fact that they get tighter and catchier every time I see them.

mp3 | The Soft Pack - C\'Mon

06 Happy Birthday, Residual Echoes @ Tin Can Ale House, San Diego, CA | August 10, 2010

Tiny bar on a beautiful San Diego night, 30 people jumping madly for some of the best pop songs of the entire year. Best Happy Birthday show of the year. Subliminal Message!

mp3 | Happy Birthday - Subliminal Message

05 The Strange Boys @ Emo’s Jr., Austin, TX | March 17, 2010

Was a little nervous about hearing material from the 2nd album, which is definitely a grower — The Strange Boys wowed me as usual, converting me to a fan of Be Brave, and played the best material off their perfect first album. Also, this was one of the greatest dance parties I’ve ever had in my life to ‘Woe Is You And Me’.

mp3 | The Strange Boys - Woe Is You & Me

04 Happy Birthday, Fergus & Geronimo, Sex Beet, Thee Oh Sees @ Santos Party House, New York, NYC | September 20, 2010

Gig that wins the award for furthest traveled to see. Fergus & Geronimo were a bit meh, but still have at least two excellent songs; Happy Birthday ripped through some of the most underrated, gold pop songs. Sex Beet converted the sizable crowd of their first ever US show with their noisy and fuzzy as fuck jams that refuse to leave my head. And Thee Oh Sees. Hardest working, if not best live, garage band on the planet ruled the night playing fast and furious through tons of their best.

mp3 | Happy Birthday - 2 Shy
mp3 | Fergus & Geronimo - Girls With English Accents
mp3 | Sex Beet - Stay
mp3 | Thee Oh Sees - Mega-feast

03 The Black Lips @ Village Underground, London, UK | October 29, 2010

Typical crazy Black Lips show featuring a rowdy moshpit, tons of shoving and about a million stage invasions causing the PA to be turned off atleast once. London’s hipsters couldn’t even manage to be a blight upon the Black Lips though, as their countrified new material was the star of the show.

mp3 | Black Lips - Best Napkin I Ever Had

02 tUnE-yArDs @ The Freebutt, Brighton, UK | February 9, 2010

There’s not many gigs where I know nothing of the artist, and end up walking up the wrong stairwell, grinning because of the fantastic showing. tUnE-yArDs wowed Brighton with her simulatenously tender and incredibly powerful voice, altogether homegrown brilliance, and intense and utter modesty. It was moving stuff.

mp3 | tUnE-yArDs - News

01 The Growlers @ Kung Fu Saloon | March 19, 2010

Even on the coldest day of South By, the Growlers set the brick patio of Kung Fu Saloon on fire after a spectacular 5 other showings at SXSW. ‘Sea Lion Goth Blues’, ‘Underneath Our Palms Blues’, ‘Mean People Suck’, fistpumping party, ski ball and cheap ass rum and cokes made this the only 12/10 showing of the entire year, cementing the Growlers are my absolute favorite band in the world.

mp3 | The Growlers - Drinkin The Juice Blues

November has been a really weird month, but I’m pretty sure this is the raddest mixtape that I’ve ever posted. Every single one of these songs pretty much fucking RULES and is at least an 8/10, with most of them being 10/10s. That’s a fact.

01 The Babies – Meet Me In The City
02 French Kissing – You Just Don’t Know What Love Is For
03 Shannon & The Clams – Warlock in the Woods
04 The Barbaras – Summertime Road
05 Chuck Berry – Blues For Hawaiians
06 Sonny & The Sandwitches – Throw My Ashes Off This Pier
07 White Fence – Lillian (Won’t You Play Drums?)
08 Velvet Davenport – Mystery Michael
09 Shimmering Stars – I’m Gonna Try
10 Dead Ghosts – When It Comes To You
11 The Castillians – Lovers Call
12 The Soft Pack – Gagdad
13 Tijuana Panthers – Crew Cut
14 Daniel Johnston – Urge

mp3 | Nu Rave Brain Wave – November 2010 Mixtape

The great dudes at FYF are throwing a Christmas Party on December 11th, if you can be fucked to drive all the way down to Pomona, you can expect to enjoy The Soft Pack, La Sera and Tijuana Panthers. Pick up your cheap ass tickets for all these bands via Ticketfly.

mp3 | The Soft Pack - C\'Mon

Sonny & The Sunsets with Tennis :: Buy Tickets

How is it possible that two of the best lineups are playing at practically the same venue on the same night? The last time this happened, it was in July and Harlem, The Black Apples and Audacity were playing the Echo and Ariel Pink and Magic Kids were playing the Echoplex. This time, the freaking incredible Sonny and the Sunsets are playing at the Echo with Denver’s buzziest, Tennis. You can check out the beatiful art above.

The Soft Pack w/ Kurt Vile :: Buy Tickets

Meanwhile, down below at the Echoplex, we have Los Angeles’ mighty The Soft Pack playing with Kurt Vile and Purling Hiss. This is the last date that these dudes are playing together, and it’s probably going to be epically beautiful. Guess this is a case of navigate the stairwell at the Echo/plex OR pick your poison. Good luck.

mp3 | Sonny & the Sunsets - Too Young To Burn
mp3 | Tennis - Baltimore
mp3 | The Soft Pack - C\'Mon
mp3 | Kurt Vile - In My Time

Yeah! One of our favorite Los Angeles bands from the past couple of years, The Soft Pack have announced they’re releasing a new single after the little break they took for the middle portion of the year. Pre-orders are now being taken by the great Mexican Summer which you can grab right here.

Side A: Gagdad / Side B: Gagdad (con’t)

The Soft Pack are going on a nice li’l US tour with the fabulous Kurt Vile, with a stop at the Echoplex on November 11th. Don’t miss that, so get your tickets here and see the rest of the dates below:

Nov. 11, 2010 2:00 PM Echo Plex w/ Kurt Vile Los Angeles, CA
Dec. 31, 2010 10:00 AM Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom Little Rock, AZ
Oct. 21, 2011 4:00 PM The Earl w/ Kurt Vile Atlanta, GA
Oct. 22, 2011 12:00 PM The Nick w/ Kurt Vile South Birmingham, AL
Oct. 23, 2011 3:00 PM Mercy Lounge w/ Kurt Vile Nashville, TN
Oct. 25, 2011 2:00 PM Mickey Finn’s Pub w/ Kurt Vile Toledo, OH
Oct. 26, 2011 12:00 PM Mad Hatter Club w/ Kurt Vile Covington, KY
Oct. 27, 2011 12:00 PM The Summit w/ Kurt Vile Columbus, OH
Oct. 28, 2011 12:00 PM Blind Pig w/ Kurt Vile Ann Arbor, MI
Oct. 29, 2011 12:00 PM White Rabbit Cabaret w/ Kurt Vile Indianapolis, IN

mp3 | The Soft Pack - C\'Mon

Just when I thought everything that was super fun, awesomely stocked with great bands happening on my birthday had been announced, here comes the Eagle Rock Music Festival. Another mini-festival happening on my birthday (October 2nd) which I cannot attend. Of course. It runs from 4pm-11pm on Colorado Blvd between Eagle Rock and Argus. There is a $5 suggested doanation, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Check out the great loca lineup below:

Featuring:
The Soft Pack * OFF! * Nosaj Thing * Darker My love * Gaslamp Killer * Geneva Jacuzzi * The Egyptian Lover & Arabian Prince * Nobody * Blank Blue * Lucky Dragons * Santa Cecilia Orchestra * LA Vampires * Sun Araw * Shinehead * The Submarines * Seasons * Rainbow Arabia * Ras G * Free The Robots * Ellen & Matt * Chicano Batman * SAMIYAM * Daddy Kev * Nocando * MAHSSA * Wait.Think.Fast * Walking Sleep * Monstre * Hi Ho Silver Oh * Dr. Who * Nervous Gender * Speculato * D-Styles * Earthworm Ensemble * Toys That Kill * Manhattan Murder Mystery * Downtown/Union * Radars To the Sky * Moses Campbell * DJ Hashim * Frosty * La Bestia * The Highbinders * Asura & Ana Caravelle * Tygerstrype * The Dustbowl Revival * matthewdavid * Take * Dibiase * Frankel * Teebs * Drunk on Crutches * Jonwayne * Bonee Musique Zydeco * Erik Ekstrand * Joe Johnston Band * Honeybreath * Pay The Man * ERHS Latin Jazz * Fidlar * Handski * Mut!ny * Driven * Vertigo Road * Ann Likes Red * Harvey Drive + 4SCoRE * Erica Lake & Paul Jacques * La Santa Cecilia * TIm Yalda * Wacko * SASSAS Sound Shoppe * The Funky Slippers * Remake/Remodel *

mp3 | The Soft Pack - C\'Mon

It’s getting very, very close to FYF Fest this year, and while most of these bands have been playing LA for quite some time over at the Echo/Echoplex/Spaceland, this still seems like a super dope event that, if I could, I would be attending. On this basis alone, I have concocted a schedule in which you can see the festival through my eyes. Though, why you would want to do that, I don’t know. Consider it our preview and listen to our recommendations and you’re guaranteed a good time.

12-O’clock Hour
Definitely get to the festival before 12:15 so you can catch England’s awkward, noisy lads, Let’s Wrestle 12:15-12:40 @ Sequoia Stage. Having seen them earlier in the year at Bootleg Theatre, I can tell you that earplugs are necessary, but their finely crafted pop songs sung in a completely distant, awkward tone really rule. Leave Let’s Wrestle a few minutes early to catch uber-buzzy, The Magic Kids 12:35-1:05 @ Oak Stage. Their debut album just dropped via True Panther and I’m loving their 60s pop, completely hook laced tunes.

1-O’clock Hour
You’re a complete fool if you miss The Growlers 1:20-150 @ Redwood Stage. You’ve been reading this blog long enough to know that I consider them to be the best band in the world and they have written some of the most perfect songs that I’ve heard. The kind where you hear it and go “Oh, I love this one!” after every single song. If I need to sell them to you any more, I’ve got an awesomely special post coming up which will introduce you to the best band ever.

2-O’clock Hour
The 2pm hour is a complete toss up. Well, no, I’d go see The Blow 2:15-2:45 @ Sequoia Stage. Khaela doesn’t tour very much, and I haven’t been able to see her since SXSW 2008, but her album ‘Paper Television’ is basically one of the best things ever. A truly intimate portrait of a tender, sweet singer with an incredible outlook on life and love. Although she won’t (probably) make this into the song-writing workshop that it was back in 08, where you could get a visual into what was going through her head as she wrote these songs, she won’t disappoint. Her voice is crystal clear and incredible live. If I wasn’t busy seeing that, I’d catch the weeded out Best Coast 2:15-2:45 @ Oak Stage.

3-O’clock Hour
PR’s Davilla 666 3:10-3:40 @ Oak Stage are guys I’ve been meaning to catch for ages now and just haven’t. Selling point: their on In The Red. That’s pretty much as strong of a recommendation I can give to a band I’ve never heard, but they rip, I’m sure.

4-O’clock Hour
I’m hoping Wavves 4:00-4:30 @ Oak Stage lacklustre performance at the Glasshouse a few weeks ago was just that — a one off. I’d still mosey down and try and catch his newly minted pop-punk, mall-rat stuff in the hopes that he’d play old timey stuff.

5-O’clock Hour
Ew! Super toss-up! I’d probably spring to go see The Soft Pack 4:50-5:25 @ Redwood Stage mainly because they’ve never, never disappointed live (and seeing them like 10 times would make me an expert, right?) and their album released earlier this year was excellent. The last set I saw on Valentines day ruled. LA pride, baby. However, The Oh Sees 4:50-5:25 @ Oak Stage were great at KSCR Festival down at USC earlier in the year, so that wouldn’t be a haphazard choice, either.

6-O’clock Hour
Off

7-O’clock Hour
Off

8-O’clock Hour
Off

9-O’clock Hour
Off

10-O’clock Hour
I have no clue how Panda Bear 10:20-11:15 @ Oak Stage sounds live, but Person Pitch has been on my stereo a lot this year and I’d wait my ass around FYF for four hours of boringness to see this cute little bear perform. Seeing ‘Carrots’ live would be an excellent highlight to the festival…

11-O’clock Hour
And finally, I’d probably stay for a little bit of my favorite weirdo hobbit Ariel Pink’s Haunted Grafitti 11:10-11:50 @ Sequoia set. His new album didn’t strike a super chord with me, but I love his old stuff.

mp3 | Best Coast - Our Deal
mp3 | Magic Kids - Superball
mp3 | The Growlers - Soul of Coral
mp3 | Wavves - Post Acid

Another favorite LA band who exploded, after their February 09 residency I might add, The Soft Pack are embarking on a fall tour of the US. Bringing with them crazy guy Kurt Vile, with a stop at the Echoplex in November. They’re also playing FYF Fest on September 4th in LA. Do not miss!

10-21 Atlanta, GA – The Earl *
10-22 Birmingham, AL – The Nick *
10-23 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge *
10-26 Cincinnati, OH – Mad Hatter’s *
10-27 Columbus, OH – Skully’s *
10-28 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig *
10-29 Indianapolis, IN – White Rabbit *
10-30-31 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle *
11-01 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club *
11-04 Seattle, WA – Neumos *
11-05 Vancouver, British Columbia – Biltmore Cabaret *
11-06 Portland, OR – Berbatis Pan *
11-09 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop *
11-11 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex *
11-13 San Diego, CA – The Casbah *

*w/ Kurt Vile