2010 Comparison

So, I was listening to satellite radio in my father's car while on the way home from visiting Marquette for the New Year and the channels I listen to XMU and Alt-Nation were each counting down their top songs of 2010. I became slightly aroused and very excited. As I was listening to their tracks, it hit me that over the course of the year, I had sent you all music by many of the artists featured on these "best of" lists. I've been wanting to dedicate a post on the topic. Below is XMU's top 41 tracks of 2010 and attached is the month I first sent you the song or told you about the artist. If the song is highlighted that means that exact track made it to a playlist.

1. BEACH HOUSE – 10 MILE STEREO - Introduced on: July 2010 (Song: Better Times)
   
2. ARCADE FIRE – SPRAWL II - Autumn Honorable Mentions (Ready to Start)
   
3. BEST COAST – BOYFRIEND - November 2010 (Crazy For You)
   
4. LOCAL NATIVES – WIDE EYES - Spring HM (Sunhands)
   
5. ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – BRIGHT LIT BLUE SKIES
6. THE NATIONAL – ANYONE’S GHOST - December 2010 (Terrible Love)
   
7. SLEIGH BELLS – RILL RILL - December 2009 (Rill Rill)
   
8. BLACK KEYS – NEXT GIRL - April 2010 (Tighten Up)
   
9. YEASAYER – O.N.E. - Winter HM 2009 (I Remember)
   
10. TAME IMPALA – SOLITUDE IS BLISS
11. ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – ROUND AND ROUND
12. ARCADE FIRE – WE USED TO WAIT (see above)
    
13. CARIBOU – ODESSA
14. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – DANCE YOURSELF CLEAN - Autumn HM 2010 (I Can Change)
    
15. DEERHUNTER – HELICOPTOR - Autumn HM 2010 (He Would Have Laughed)
    
16. SLEIGH BELLS – TELL EM
17. VAMPIRE WEEKEND – CALIFORNIA ENGLISH - October 2009 (White Sky)
    
18. CULTS – GO OUTSIDE - March 2010 (Go Outside)
19. GORILLAZ – RHINESTONE EYES
20. SUFJAN STEVENS – TOO MUCH - September 2010 (I Walked)
21. ALEXANDER – TRUTH
22. THE NATIONAL – BLOODBUZZ OHIO - see above
    
23. LYKKE LI – GET SOME - Autumn HM 2009 (Knocked Up: KoL cover)
    
24. MORNING BENDERS – EXCUSES - March 2010 (Excuses)
    
25. OF MONTREAL – COQUET COQUETTE - January 2009 (First Time High)
    
26. GAUNTLET HAIR – I WAS THINKING
27. BROKEN BELLS – HIGH ROAD
28. M.I.A. – BORN FREE
29. SURFER BLOOD – SWIM (TO REACH THE END) - December 2009 (Floating Vibes)
    
30. BESNARD LAKES – ALBATROSS
31. BLACK KEYS – TIGHTEN UP
32. NO AGE – GLITTER
33. WARPAINT – UNDERTOW
34. DOM – JESUS
35. MGMT – FLASH DELIRIUM - January 2009 (Of Moons, Birds & Monsters)
    
36. WAVVES – POST-ACID
37. DAS RACIST – HA HA HA HA HA JK
38. INTERPOL – BARRICADE
39. GAYNGS – GAUDY SIDE OF TOWN
40. DR DOG – SHADOW PEOPLE - Spring HM 2010 (Jackie Wants a Black Eye)
    
41. TWIN SHADOWS – CASTLES MADE OF SNOW

January Playlist

Hey Team! Discs went out on Friday. Some of you will receive only 1, some 3, some 5, and I think the person receiving the most is up to 7 (that's how far behind I was). In any case, I am looking to staying on top of the ball here for the remainder of 2011. Stay tuned for the February list and if you are interested in the Winter Honorable Mentions discs, make sure you contact me throughout the month.

January
1. Shake the Baron - Zodiac Name
2. Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
3. Yellow Ostrich - Hahahaohhoho
4. Yuck - Get Away
5. Sunnybrook - Water You
6. The Decemberists - January Hymn
7. Family of the Year - Chugjug
8. Wakey!Wakey! - Light Outside
9. Jonquil - I Know I Don't Know
10. Surfer Blood - Take It Easy
11. Walk the Moon - Anna Sun
12. The Naked And Famous - Girls Like You
13. Coma Cinema - Her Sinking Sun (Atlantic At Pacific Remix)
14. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - How Can U Luv Me
15. We Landed on the Moon! - Boats
16. Long Walks On The Beach - I Didn't Want To Make Out
17. Geographer - Kites
18. Lettercamp - Fool For Long
19. The Weepies - Be My Thrill
20. Pre-Raphaelites - Foley Mountain
21. The Head And The Heart - Down In The Valley
22. Little Light - Shutter Speed

Zach's Notes
2. I swear these guys are one break away from a radio hit.
3. Easily has my vote for band to watch in the near future.
4. Reminds me of an early Weezer and, oh, how I love it!
6. These guys just know how to craft a song that speaks to me.
7. Featured on an Advil commercial already.
8. I think this is their most radio-friendly song I've featured
9. What an awesome riff. I love this song.
10. A great start to their sophomore attempt.
11. Catchy as hell. Currently touring with Tokyo Police Club and putting out awesome music videos.
12. Don't you know they write songs about girls like you?
15. Finally, a chance for the women to shine.
16. I wanted to kiss.
20. Love the shifts in genres.
21. Lord, have mercy on my rough and rowdy ways.
22. I always seem to fall for artsy girls...this song is for them.

December Playlist

So, CDs WILL BE MAILED on FRIDAY! This comes after 1. not being rich enough to send out music 2. leaving my November and Autumn Honorable CDs in the Midwest over Christmas and 3. falling incredibly behind.

I know there are plenty of you out there not even expecting a CD that will get one or not even knowing that I've missed a few months. But, I don't care. I get such a kick out of sharing the music I find and love that I just don't care. I feel bad, almost guilty, when I don't get them out in time. It's odd.

In any case, most people will be receiving at least one, but no more than 5 CDs and as I have tried to recall who has contacted me when, I may have messed up. If you would like a copy of a mix you didn't receive, then let me know and I'll rectify the situation. For the rest of you, enjoy! Here's December's long-awaited playlist:

December
1. Pomplamoose - Up On The Housetop
2. Lelia Broussard - Satellite
3. Elizabeth & The Catapult - You & Me
4. Freelance Whales - Kilojoules
5. Guilty About Girls - Candy Candy
6. Slow Club - Giving Up On Love
7. Dead Trees - Back to L.A.
8. Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love
9. The Decemberists - Down By The Water
10. Adele - Rolling In The Deep
11. Frightened Rabbit - The Loneliness And The Scream
12. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
13. Forest City Lovers - If I Were A Tree
14. Horse Feathers - Drain You
15. Iron & Wine - Biting Your Tail
16. Beat Radio - ...And In The End Shoot Back (Diggs Cover)
17. The Russian Futurists - Golden Years
18. Mr. Little Jeans - Rescue Song (RAC Remix)
19. Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic
20. Kyle Andrews - You Always Make Me Smile
21. Gregory and The Hawk - Olly Olly Oxen Free
22. The Cave Singers - Swim Club
23. The National - Terrible Love [Alternative Version]

Zach's Notes
1. Yes, I am still totally in love with Nataly Dawn. And yes, you did hear (at least the beginning of) this song on a car commercial. Unlike most indie folks, I love it when my favorites hit it big.
2. I told you...All it takes is clapping and a sweet, sexy voice
3. See above.
4. More clapping! Woo! I love how cool this song is and how the words only kinda make sense.
5. Another chill, cool song. "Follow me, I know where I'm going. I'm not messed up like all those hoes."
6. Much punkier than their other singles I've heard
8. Almost didn't make it cause I don't care for the Mamas and Papas song it reminds me of, but the lyrics are so clever, I fell in love.
9. I love how this guy can craft a story with his lyrics. The Decemberists make music they love.
10. English girl belts in the Southern tradition.
11. These guys have been on so many mixes it isn't even fair, but their talent warrants it again.
12. I hate pulling a single out of a concept album like this, but I did it earlier and it is great.
13. Lots of female singers this time around...
14. Saw these guys live in Boulder (thanks Meg Hamilton) and was rather impressed. This single made a lot of "best covers of 2010" lists. It's a Nirvana cover.
15. They've gone electric!
17. Song's got swagger
19. Crisp, clean indie pop with cellos
20. Surprised I didn't write this song first.
21. Loved so much of her earlier stuff and am impressed by this newer direction.
22. I think it would be an incredible amount of fun to be in a band like this.
23. Yes, yes. I do like a The National song and here it is.