Who the fuck names a band “Hockey”? Regardless, Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones was on to something when he sampled their song, “Too Fake.” While Big Sean still comes very inconsistent with it, he manages to hold it together for a solid 16. Chiddy Bang’s strength continues to be their sampling, though 2010 was not as artistically fruitful for them as one might have hoped. See also, Big Sean’s “Bullshittin”.
9. Fuck You – Cee-lo
Some old school pop/soul with a chorus that any FCC-abiding radio station could never dream of playing, “Fuck You” was an instant hit. While Dangermouse appeared to be the mastermind behind Gnarls Barkley’s success, Cee-lo’s latest releases have made me question whether this is the other way around. See also, Cee-lo’s cover of Band of Horses “No One’s Gonna Love You”.
8.) No Hands – Waka Flocka ft. Roscoe and Wale
A sleeper pick for producing the hip-hop banger of the year, Wale took a break from making Seinfeld-themed mixtapes to unleash 16 bars on Waka’s first coherent song. Roscoe insists “DJ turn it up/ Ladies this yo jam,” and I am inclined to believe him.
7. Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco, king of organic originality, on a track to the melody of…a Modest Mouse song? I wouldn’t worry about it.
6. Dance Yrslf Clean – LCD Soundsystem
LCD brings the LOLZ before even dropping the beat, dropping the line “Acting like a jerk/ except you are an actual jerk.” HILARIOUS. But even better, the actual song is a jam! It may take a full eight minutes and fifty-eight seconds to finish the ordeal, but it’s well-worth it. I’m not sure if you can actually dance yourself clean, but the syncopated synths and constant percussion might help. If not, try showering. That always works.
5. Like A G6 – Far East Movement
Overplayed? Yes. Shameless? Yes. Nonsensical? Absolutely. But those aren’t the only reasons to listen to this song over and over and over again. Listen to that BASS. If you don’t like this song within the first 4 seconds, then you never will.
4. Otherside – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
The album of the year was, in fact, an EP. “The Vs. EP” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took lyricism and music production to a new level (Let’s forget that this EP came out in December, 2009. Please?). While artists like Chiddy Band and Hoodie Allen were content to rap over beefed up samples of other tracks, Ryan Lewis take the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Otherside” and flips it on its motherfucking head, then curbstomps it. The four bar sample of simply the guitar from the Chili Pepper’s track is enough to invoke Anthony Kedis’ tale of Heroin abuse, which Macklemore ties to the modern abuse of cough syrup. Take that, “California Gurls”.
3. Shutterbug – Big Boi
Overshadowed by Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” in success (but not length of title) Big Boi’s “Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty” was equally ambitious. While I wish I could put more songs from the album on this list, I won’t, because that would be boring for you.
2. Dark Fantasy – Kanye West
Ah, Mr. West. Ye once said, “it’s not bragging if you can’t back it up.” Translation: Kanye West is the fucking man, and will most definitely let you know. There are probably six or seven other tracks off his album that could substitute in at this spot, so the actual track is pretty arbitrary (but happens to be my favorite off the album, so I guess it isn’t too arbitrary). Kanye’s producing skills are so beyond anything else in the realm of mainstream music that it makes my head hurt.
1. Black And Yellow – Wiz Khalifa
The track to produce the largest quantity of shitty remixes also happened to be the best. This was a breakout year for Wiz, and while he had numerous other unbelievably hot tracks (see "Stuntin'" and "This Plane") "Black and Yellow" topped them all.
Honorable mention: Gorgeous – Kanye West, I Need A Dollar – Aloe Black, Talk Like A Hustler – Lil Wayne, Not In Love – Crystal Castles
"I used to encourage everyone I knew to make art; I don't do that so much anymore" - Banksy in "Exit Through the Gift Shop"
Movies
Yeah, this is music blog but because 2010 had such a bumper crop of movies, I felt like this short list was justified.
Honorable Mention:
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1
- Toy Story 3
- Iron Man 2
5.Despicable Me
Thanks to Toy Story 3, Despicable Me didn't really get the attention that it deserved. It's kind of a pity because this movie killed it. It has everything an animated movie should have. Ridiculous slapstick violence, a bit of sentiment at the end and a protagonist that is NOT voiced by Jerry Seinfeld. In an odd way it feels like it fits into the Pixar cannon right next to The Incredibles and Monsters Inc. The little yellow guys are hilarious too.
4.Inception
If you ignore all the hype surrounding it, it's easy to see that Inception was pretty damn good. The plot is pretty boss, the acting is solid and the special effects stay interesting for a whole 2 and a half hours. Making parallels to Christopher Nolan's life and analyzing the ending kind of ruin the crazy spectacle of the movie. It's a really exciting piece of work. Just enjoy it.
3.Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Michael Cera is the man. He's sarcastic, pathetic and a sweetheart all at once. He makes Scott Pilgrim downright fun to watch. I think we would be friends.
2. The Town
Maybe it's because I've spent some time in Boston recently but The Town came off as a really interesting cultural statement to me. Inside of the gritty crime violence (which is also pretty awesome) the depiction of Charleston as a breeding ground for armed robbers gave the movie a very real background. Exceptional acting and some sweet car chases helped make this one of the best of the year.
1.Exit Through the Gift Shop
The thing about documentaries is that it's really hard to make people care about something that they aren't involved in. Having watched more documentaries than the average person, I've seen quite a few that just don't draw me in at all and it makes them unwatchable. Exit Through the Gift Shop is the opposite of that. Even those who have never picked up a paintbrush or a stencil will be engrossed in the characters and visuals of Gift Shop.The movie teaches the audience the rules of street art and then proves to them that those rules don't mean shit. Since its release people have questioned the films authenticity but in the end it's not really important. Whether the story is true or a staged mockumentary, the artistic meaning is still there.
"We sing along, but the notes are wrong" - Matt and Kim "Good For Great"
Music
15. LCD Soundsystem - "Dance Yrself Clean" from This Is Happening
James Murphy goes from morose to funky in 8 minutes.
14. Akon - "Angel" from Akonic
Akon gets hyphy on the soundtrack for beating the beat up.
13. Spoon - "Written In Reverse" from Transference
One of the bright spots on a pretty disappointing album. They've still got it.... somewhere.
12. Fake Problems - "ADT" from Real Ghosts Caught On Tape
Change of pace from their last album but some real winners came out of it.
11. J. Cole - "Before I'm Gone" from Friday Night Lights
J. Cole's kickin' off a great career with this smooth jam.
10. The Chemical Brothers - "Dissolve (Bloody Beetroots Remix)" from Further
Damn yo. I do not listen to much electronica but this song is ridiculous. About half the song is buildup but when the beat drops it's all worth it. There are about 10000 synths and I hear a new one each time. Once I realized how hooked I was by it I listened to the original and Bloody Beetroots put the Chemical Brothers to shame on this remix.
9. The Hold Steady - "The Weekenders" from Heaven Is Whenever
As big a fan as I am of this band, I really couldn't get behind their latest album. Seeing them live this fall affirmed that they're still very good, despite the fact that Heaven Is Whenever didn't come together. The few bright spots though, are killer."Weekenders" reminds me why I listen to The Hold Steady in the first place. It's got clever and cryptic lyrics, background harmonies in the choruses and that gritty live feeling. Here's to hoping their next album sounds more like this.
8. The Naked and Famous - "Girls Like You" from Passive Me, Aggressive You
I have to thank Chiddy Bang for exposing me to this young band from New Zealand on their remix of "Young Blood". There are some great songs on the debut album by The Naked and Famous but this 6 minute closer is the real winner. It starts off quiet and minimal then builds into HUGE choruses. Recently there have been a lot of bands toying with the formula that Passion Pit made famous, but these guys are at the head of the pack.
7. The Roots - "Web 20/20 (Feat. Peedi Peedi & Truck North)" from How I Got Over
If you know me well, you know that I absolutely love The Roots. How I Got Over had some really great, smooth songs, but "Web" brings it back to what The Roots are known for. Shrugging the soulful R&B feel of rest of the album, the three MCs go in hard over a bombastic, funky beat. Showing that he is head and shoulders above the rest, Black Thought steals the track with his lyrics. He rhymes off the word "sarcastic" for 24 lines and spits gems like "Kings that pull strings like Dorothy Ashby / Jawns keep telling me I'm great like Gatsby". As one of the most underrated MCs he shows his chops while his band keeps the beat rockin'.
6. The Arcade Fire - "Suburban War" from The Suburbs
"Suburban War" is the conceptual and literal centerpiece of The Suburbs, coming halfway through the rather long album and standing as a reminder of why you started listening in the first place. It's the type of song that you get lost in while driving and then realize 5 minutes later that you've arrived. Winn Butler's calming voice is the perfect compliment to the lyrics about a suburban town. The haunting melodies and slowly building drumbeat fill out the picture. "Suburban War" embodies the vision that The Arcade Fire have been striving for. Mature, but not pretentious. Engaging to listen to, but not over dramatic. Now I can stop waiting for them to top "Wake Up".
5. Chiddy Bang - "Under the Sheets" from Air Swell EP
It seems like Chiddy Bang can do no wrong. They grabbed everyone's attention with their remix of MGMT's "Kids", then released a killer mixtape to back it up. Now this little EP comes along and continues to prove that they are in it to win it. Sampling the Ellie Goulding song of the same name, "Under the Sheets" is the standout. Xaphoon absolutely murders it with the beat and Chiddy flows like a seasoned veteran. Another little EP at the end of the year and their debut album set to drop next year mean that they aren't about to slow down. It's kind of funny that Chiddy raps "I keep it kickin n' pushin' like I was Lupe" on "Under the Sheets", because I don't see Lupe dropping tracks this hot.
4. The Gaslight Anthem - "We Did It When We Were Young" from American Slang
These guys have been my favorite band for a couple years now and their latest album just reinforced that feeling. It was hard to choose a favorite song from the album, but in the end "We Did It When We Were Young" stood out. The layering of vocal tracks and the quiet guitar give it an eerie aura that gives me the chills. A lot of nostalgic songs like this just seem cheesy to me, however, I think that the authentic feeling that the Gaslight Anthem produce here is a testament to their development as a band. Their sound is not for everyone, but in my mind Brian Fallon and company can do no wrong.
3. Titus Andronicus - "A More Perfect Union" from The Monitor
It's kind of hard for me to describe my relationship with "A More Perfect Union". I tried so many times to love this album, but I never got into it, except for this song. (Edit 1/5/2011: Just listened to the whole album again, and finally, I get it.) I can't really explain what distinguishes it from the other songs on The Monitor but it just feels like a near perfect rock and roll song to me. Over the course of 7 minutes it ebbs and flows, gets loud, then gets a little quieter, then stops only to start up again. The dynamic changes are accompanied by lyrics that are alternatively depressing and triumphant. Despite all the crap that they threw into this song, it somehow works. The Abraham Lincoln quote that starts the song out says: "We will live forever, or die by suicide". That's the way this song functions. There is so much going on and so much going against itself that it either sounds gritty, chaotic and incredible to you, or it sounds like shit. I am firmly in the former camp.
2. OnCue - "For the Moon" from Cuey Sings the Blues
From the sample of The Who's "Baba O'riley" to the humble, uplifting lyrics, "For The Moon" is the most epic hip hop or rap song that I've heard in a while. There's an obvious dynamic in the popular hip hop/rap industry that places being rich, famous and successful over being an artist who loves what they do. On this track OnCue speaks out for the hundreds of people who have never made it big but are still enjoying every second of it. He's definitely not the first to do it, but he does it damn well. The sincerity in his voice when he refers to himself as "the only kid who wouldn't turn his studio into a meth lab / growin' up bumpin' some Wu-Tang and Death Cab" makes it almost impossible to not be on the guy's side. "For the Moon" (along with the rest of the mixtape for that matter) feels refreshing in a scene where personal hype and meaningless lyrics are becoming more important than dedication and talent.
1. Matt and Kim - "Good For Great" from Sidewalks
I think that my favorite thing about Matt and Kim is their ability to make great music without any gimmicks. There are a lot of bands (including some on my list) that jam a lot of extraneous things into their songs. Esoteric concepts, instrumentation and lyrics don't necessarily make a song or album good. They don't make it bad either, they just need to have a backbone to support them rather than being a blind attempt to seem smart or worldly. Over the course of 3 albums Matt and Kim have never tried to be anything they are not. 2 people, a drum set and some synthesizers. That's all I expect from them and that's all I get.... and it's awesome. "Good For Great" illustrates this. The melody is so damn catchy and the beat is bumpin'. The lyrics are clever, but easily understandable; "I traced a few lines, misread all the signs, slipped many times / My blood's still red and I'm just fine". This is not my favorite song of the year because it helps me to reach some higher understanding of myself and the world, it's my favorite song because I want to listen to it over and over and over. I want to hear Matt sing about the books he hasn't read and the colors he's seen while Kim throws down on the drumset. It's hard not to love a song that is so catchy and such a pleasure to digest. I can only hope that Matt and Kim continue to be stoked about being alive and continue to write songs about it.
I consider myself to be a casual listener of both The Black Keys and Outkast. That being said, I haven't heard Brothers by the Black Keys or Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Song of Chico Dusty by Big Boi of Outkast, both released this year. Thus, this mixtape is pretty fresh to me. The beats are funky, the verses are smooth and it all works pretty well together as a cohesive project. Definitely worth checking out.
- Drip
"Black Bug" has been floating around the interwebs for a while. As a mashup, "Black Bug" is a solid work. I was surprised to find, however, that all of the tracks on The Brothers of Chico Dusty were equally engaging. Like Gene, I have not heard too much of Brothers, but I was a huge fan of Sir Lucious. The Black Keys' instrumentals provide a heavy backbeat for Big Boi's off-tilt arrangements. Additionally, the Black Keys' organic, nuveau-blues feel substitutes in well for Big Boi's eclectic beats. While this mixtape doesn't make the sort of statement that, say, The Grey Album did, it makes for a fun listen.
For those who are unaware of the reference, this blog is titled after a particularly ridiculous comment made by Tom Delonge (guitarist for Blink 182 and Angels & Airwaves), who said of his upcoming album: "it's a circular narrative, where it kind of sums up the human race in a time capsule."
It seems that Delonge isn't the only one that's into circular imagery though. Chad Hugo, 1/3 of funk/R&B/hip-hop/whatever band N.E.R.D. had something pretty profound to say about N.E.R.D.'s latest album Nothing. "It's a reflective circular representation of your blood and your naked heart and soul, ready for sale and distribution". Now, either he's making possibly the best tongue-in-cheek reference in the history of human existence, or he's also an asshole when it comes to talking about his own music. We may never know.
This post owes its content to the man, the myth, the legend; Jack Hatchett, who immediately notified The Circular Narrative upon reading this gem of music journalism. We are forever indebted to his unmatchable internet abilities.
Over here at the Circular Narrative, we can agree on one thing; if we have to hear another Kenny G Christmas song while walking through Target, there's gonna be hell to pay. In the spirit of giving, here are our 5 favorite holiday songs that are legitimately (at least ironically) worth listening to.
5. Blink 182 - "I Won't Be Home For Christmas"
Politically incorrect comments, violence against carolers and doing time?! Isn't that what the holidays are all about!? Maybe not, but who doesn't like Blink 182?
4. Jim Brickman - "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
While it's obviously a classic song, this one is a little more about the video. I mean, this dude is FEELIN' IT. There is nobody who has ever been this stoked about playing the Charlie Brown Christmas song, ever.
3. Mariah Carey - "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
Nothing gets us more amped up with holiday cheer than a power ballad like this. Kudos to Mr. Eric Wilburn for leading us to discover this jam by putting it on the Do Work 6 playlist.
2. Run DMC - "Christmas In Hollis"
"I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear
Looked at his dog, oh my God, an ill reindeer"
Can't go wrong with lyrics like that.
1. Jim Jones - "Dipset Xmas Time"
This was was an obvious pick for #1. Lyrics like "Livin' fast and ballin' at christmas time" bring back classic images of the Three Kings and the manger. Never before has the spirit of the holiday season been captured in such a beautiful way.
