Nearly every mainstream media article we’ve ever read has attributed the past decade’s loss of over a thousand indie record stores to the rise in digital music. In our opinion, short-sighted, corporate-favoring, customer-be-damned decisions by the the major labels have been a far bigger factor in the demise.
Some things never change… and the poor major label decision-making continues with the new Kanye/Jay-Z release (in this case, exclusivity windows for corporate joints). As the video says, it’s not like we think things are going to change now… but we got a package in the mail this week that was just too stupid not to mock. I threw on the glasses and made it “Music 101″ because I’m a goof.
To those of you that have only shopped at our current location, and haven’t heard us speak out on industry issues, a small explanation:
We used to speak out all the time about crazy industry decisions and policies (some examples are still linked on our press page) . While our complaints and observations, and those of our fellow outspoken indie friends, often garnered attention and perhaps even slowed down the complete corporate takeover of our industry, they really didn’t stop any of the practices we opposed (inflated list prices, exclusive releases, multiple versions, suing customers, not monetizing file-trading, etc.)
At the time, we were a member of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), so we were more involved in the industry. When our ASU store closed, we were no longer in CIMS, so when reopened as a “coalition-less” indie, we were sort of “not in the industry”. That was totally fine, because as I said, the industry hadn’t shown any signs of sanity, and we had thrown our hands up in terms of trying to change things. We figured we’d just do our thing and take care of the customers in the store.
Three years later, we’re back in the Coalition (see the blog for more info). That puts us back in the industry. As our industry “reps”, our leaders at CIMS made us aware of the Kanye/Jay-Z hilarity, or I’m not sure we’d have even known, to be honest. Of course, we instantly said we were in agreement with the indie-store letter to the label and artists… but we didn’t have any plans to speak out directly.
Then we got that silly banner in the mail… and I couldn’t contain myself.
Have a great day.
Steve, Kristian, and the hoodlums at Hoodlums
Music: “Move on Up” by Curtis Mayfield. Available at Hoodlums.
One of the things that I love most about owning a neighborhood record store is making friends out of customers. Here’s how it’s done:
You start helping a guy or girl by asking questions, and you find out some info about them. You throw out some info of your own (usually more rambling than is necessary in my case), and they find out a bit about you.
Usually it’s music-based info, but you can find out a lot about a person by talking music. Hell, ever since I was a wee pup, one of the first things I did when I got to know someone was take a look at their record collection (or their CD collection, although I must note that I’ve never taken a look at someone’s hard drive… but that’s another blog). After all these years of record store geekdom, I’m like Sherlock Holmes in terms of tying personality traits to musical tastes.
Anyway, if a person likes your service, and your conversation, or whatever, they come again. And again. And you bullshit some more with each visit. You discuss the last purchases and play some music. Maybe the guy burns you something to listen to… or you bring something in from your house… and maybe you talk a little politics or sports.. and the next thing you know, a bond is built. A person that was originally just some dude (or dudette) that walked in to check out the store with the MUSIC sign has become your friend.
Since I write once in a while, and make videos more than I probably should, I sometimes think in terms of “you should write about this” or “you should do a video about that”. When our old customer-turned-friend Ben Erlandson graduated (see pic, congrats Ben) and headed for Northern Cal last year after shopping at our store for almost the duration of our existence, I decided to write a blog about how Ben had grown into a friend. How much he had gotten to know all of the main hoodlums, how we had a nickname for him (based on biking accidents), how much fun we had interacting with him online, and how much we were going to miss him… most of all how that missing went beyond the loss of a great customer.
A Tribute To One of Our All-time Champion Customer-Friends
So here I am with that my “customer-friend” blog, but it isn’t about Ben. Sorry pal, but there’s a good reason for it:
A few months before Ben left, I had already put another “I should do this customer video” thought in progress. I had the ol’ video camera in the store so I could record Record Store Geek: The Reason It’s Always Me in the Videos, and one our great customer-friends, Craig Pinson, happened to be in the store shopping (and bullshitting about music). In addition to helping spice up the RSG video with his fantastic and supportive laughter, he allowed me to turn the camera on him to make a testimonial about our special order service at Hoodlums. I told him I was going to edit it and put it up on the website next to our special order info. He loved it.
Of course, I didn’t get on it right away… meaning as I begin to write this it still isn’t on the website.
Craig kept coming, and the friendship continued to grow. Not only with me, but with Kristian and Andy as well. Every once in a while, I’d say “Eventually I’m going to get that special order video up”, and he’d say “no biggie” or something to that extent. It wasn’t like it was a big deal, and in our relationship the most important thing was the music. This is the Savoy Brown you should try next. When is that deluxe version of Derek and the Dominoes coming out? The new Drive-By Truckers is excellent, as is the Jason Isbell.
When the extra Elton John/Leon Russell tickets showed up on the day of the show, we knew who to call. And Craig (and his wife Mary) were ready. We were able to hook them up, and we all went to the whatever-it’s-called Arena to verify that Elton can still jam (he can).
Craig ordered the Vanilla Fudge box set through Hoodlums, even though it was a Rhino Handmade product (just like the Delaney and Bonnie in the video), and when we called to tell him it was in, he apologized and said he was laid up and that it might be a while. We assured him it was no big deal and we told him we hoped he would get feeling better. It took about a month, maybe longer, but eventually he came in and grabbed his stuff.
He said he was feeling better. We talked for a long time. About his purchases. About the music. And Craig did what he always would do… he’d finish up the discussion, and he’d say he had to go, and then somehow, someway, the thought of music would take over… and Craig would stop… and fire up the discussion again. I’d give him shit about it (no, not you, Steve) and we’d laugh. Eventually he would leave, awesome music in hand.
Then in early May, I received a call from Kristian. Craig’s wife had called to tell us that Craig had passed away during the night. She explained to Kristian that Hoodlums had played such a big part in Craig’s life, had provided him with so much enjoyment, that she felt we needed to be told.
She knew that we were friends. Through Hoodlums… but mostly, through the music.
Kristian and I were both able to attend Craig’s funeral. During the service, Craig’s love of music was mentioned prominently, along with his awesome kindness, his loving manner, and his terrific laugh. On the way home, we talked about how lucky we were that this was the first funeral we’ve had to attend during our 13 years of building relationships with customers, and how much we were going to miss our friend Craig.
I knew the video was at home in my Mac. I knew I had to at least finish it and post it. In honor of our friend, Craig. I checked with Mary, and she said it was O.K.
So here’s to ya Craig. I added Derek and the Dominoes for the music, and I listened to it while writing this. Lord knows I’ll think about ya every time it plays.
Hoodlums wondercustomer Mark McKeever recently went on this page and challenged us to provide him $100 worth of great new music. The three hoodlums (Andy, Kristian, Steve) got together and made up a list of stuff we dig… that we figured Mark might dig as well. Here’s what his $100 bought him:
Junip – Fields
Decemberists – King is Dead (used)
Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming
Fitz and the Tantrums – Pickin’ Up The Pieces
Danger Mouse/Daniele Luppi – Rome
Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other (used)
Ben Harper – Give Till It’s Gone
Strokes – Angles (used)
We based the list on stuff Mark didn’t already have (like the new Foo Fighters) and how close we could get to $100 without going over. The total on these items, most of which were brand new, was just over $95.
Mr. McKeever is going to weigh in as to how he feels about this stuff on our Facebook page. As the video mentioned, he’s not shy about his opinion. Either way, these are new albums that we dig… and stand behind.
Have a great day.
Steve, Kristian, and the hoodlums at Hoodlums.
As of June 1st, Hoodlums is proud to announce that we have officially rejoined our sisters and brothers in the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS).
CIMS is a group of the USA’s finest independent music stores, banded together for more than 15 years to successfully fight the giant corporate bean-counters, er, companies that infiltrated retail music (to the complete detriment of the industry, of course) in the mid-nineties.
Our fearless CIMS representatives have been out there every day for 15 years, reminding record labels and the public just how important indie record stores have always been, and still are, to music fans and musicians throughout the world. Reminding everybody, via sweet events like Record Store Day, that (even in a digital age) indie record stores are still one of the primary places where breaking artists are discovered, gain traction, and turned into established acts.
Most importantly, Hoodlums and the other CIMS stores promote new music via monthly listening stations and programs. Each month, we will be featuring over 60 different new titles each and every month. Major artists, breaking artists, multiple genres… the Coalition stores promote it all. The video will explain more about the CIMS listening posts (and let you know just how excited we are about having access to all this great new music).
As you can see from the list of this month’s titles, the same CIMS reps have been out there working with the record labels to make sure that plenty of their advertising budgets are going to support the industry’s most influencial stores, to promote the artists that this veteran group of music stores think our customers might dig.
The Hoodlums/CIMS “Back” Story
A looser way to describe the Coalition would be to say that CIMS is a bunch of record store geeks, just like Kristian and I, that get together to brainstorm about business, share our passions for music and film, and party (what the hell else did you expect?).
That’s the description we love the best. That’s the part we missed the most. The comraderie. The brotherhood. And yeah, the party. Because after all, we’re all just partying slackers at heart, posing as business people, so why pretend? That’s us in the picture on the right, at our 10 year anniversary in Seattle at the mighty Easy Street Records (Thanks again for the great event, Matt).
What do I mean by “missed”? Why is this a “rejoin”? Let me explain.
Hoodlums was fortunate enough to be a member of CIMS from 2002 – 2007. During that time, we made a lot of friends, and learned a lot about our industry, ourselves, and how to run a better record store. We talked, listened, debated a number of industry issues, and worked with our colleagues to develop some of the “think indie” strategies (including Think Indie Distribution, which peddles the limited-edition, indie-only titles that you love so much) that have helped keep many of the country’s indie stores cranking in today’s challenging competitive environment.
However, when a fire closed our ASU store in 2007, we were no longer CIMS members. Of course, at that point we were no longer a store… period. The developments at the Memorial Union had led us to the decision to move on to new challenges, and we did not intend to reopen.
Then we found this perfect new location and changed our minds. We formed a new store, with a new philosophy, and we moved forward. While we were still featuring cool new music, we put extra focus on making sure that we had the very best mix of classics and a phenomenal selection of used LPs, CDs, and DVDs.
The strategy worked. Our customers responded. But something was missing.
Then we got the call from our old friends at CIMS. Would we be interested in rejoining?
We met with our old comrades, took a new look at the programs, and decided to jump at the opportunity. We moved our old listening posts back in (much to the chagrin of my tired back), filled them with new music, recorded the video, and started listening. It’s gonna be great to have all that new music around.
But not as great as it’s gonna be to see the gang at the conference. After all, we haven’t forgotten our real priorities.
We are thrilled to report that our little Hoodstock festival raised over $3,000.00 for Broadmor Elementary School’s Intervention program! Thanks to everyone for the huge support! We are equally happy to report that Hoodlums will be rejoining the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) on June 1st. Click the video for a Record Store Recap of the changes and goings-on at Hoodlums.
Why do I get my own separate blog for my Top Tens when all the other hoodlums are smooshed together in the Staff Picks for 2010 blog?
Because once I get started, the listing fool in me gets revved up… and I didn’t want to cloud up the entire blog of their fine lists with my ramblin’ observations of newfound classics, challenging books, kids movies, or North Dakota alltime lists.
Anyway, below you will find my lists of the albums (both old and new), movies, TV shows, and books that crept their way into my entertainment world in 2010. Stop by the store and let me know how our lists compare. Have a great day, and thanks for reading. Steve
My 10 Favorite New Albums of 2010
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mojo. Mike Campbell shines in the best Petty album in years.
Black Keys – Brothers. They had lost me a bit, but this album is all-over-awesome.
What Laura Says – Bloom Cheek. Tempe boys continue to show growth on album #2, which is great.
Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now. It’s like musical candy, my friend. Pure tasty pop goodness w/sharp lyrics.
Budos Band – Budos Band III. Funky new album from a tremendous band, driven home by a great Sail Inn show.
Lissie – Catching a Tiger. Becky played it into my head and it stuck. Very catchy stuff by a talented girl.
Dr. John and the Lower 911 – Tribal. Another classic artist that is still jamming right along.
Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void. Lotsa different sounds from the Portland band… most of ‘em great.
John Legend and the Roots – Wake Up. I love Legend’s voice. The Roots can play their asses off. Cool songs.
Steve Miller Band – Bingo. This may not be on any other lists, and I wanted to poo-poo it, but it sounded great from the get-go.
10 older (catalog) albums that achieved my personal “Classic” status in 2010:
Chico Hamilton – The Master. Bought the LP used, then noticed that the band was Little Feat, including Lowell. Little Feat jamming with a jazz great? How could I resist. One gnarly search later, I had the CD.
Lee Morgan – The Cooker. I’m on a Lee Morgan bender, cause the man (although he’s only 19 year old here) can blow. With Pepper Adams on the baritone, I knew I was gonna dig it.
Hank Mobley – Peckin’ Time. Mobley jammin… with Lee Morgan on trumpet and Wynton Kelly on piano. Hard bop heaven.
Steven Stills – Manassas. His first solo album is so good, I went looking for more. This album delivered big-time. Like a souped-up, country-rock CSN.
John Mayall & Bluesbreakers – Crusade. I get on kicks that turn into guitar player worship. Mick Taylor be thy hero, and he be wanking well on this album.
Rory Gallagher – Calling Card. This little Irish rocker has turned into one of my faves, and this album is just as good as the self-titled one that I’ve played to death.
Rodriguez – Cold Fact. If only these Rodriguez albums were cheaper… we could sell ‘em by the boatload. I don’t know what “they” call it, but it’s sort of a “streetwise soul” to me.
Santana – Santana III. I’ve seen Santana seven times, but I hadn’t fully digested this entire album until this year. The expanded disc includes a full live show.
10 Albums I may have been listening to if you saw me walking my dog while playing air-guitar on College:
Tim Buckley – Weekend in L.A.
Laura Nyro – Eli and the 13th Confession
James Gang – Yer’ Album
Beatles – Abbey Road
Triumph – Allied Forces
Frank Zappa – Apostrophe/Overnight Sensation
Allman Brothers – Brothers and Sisters
Dave Mason – It’s Like You Never Left
Head East – Flat As a Pancake
Top Live Music Witnessed (or Purchased) in 2010:
Roger Waters – The Wall/Live at US Air Center
JJ Grey – Live at Hoodlums
Budos Band at Sail Inn
Hoodstock 2010 at Hoodlums
Bad Cactus Brass Band at Hoodlums
Elton John/Leon Russell at US Air Center
Tom Petty/Chuck Berry at US Air Center
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings at The Orpheum
Rolling Stones – Ladies and Gents… the Rolling Stones (real DVD, not just a boot)
ZZ Top – Live in Germany DVD (thanks Lloyd)
10 Catalog Albums I Aim to Turn “Classic” in 2011 (just bought ‘em)
Clarence Carter – Patches (w/Duane Allman)
Faces – 1st Step
J.J. Cale – Naturally (Senator Paul recommends)
Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour
Tommy Bolin – Teaser
Duane Allman – Anthology
John Hammond, Jr. – Southern Fried (w/Duane Allman)
Graham Parker and Rumor – Squeezing Out Sparks
Delaney and Bonnie – Home
Jimmy Dawkins – Fast Fingers
My all-time Top 20 Minot High School albums
I was back in North Dakota in November (meeting my first grandson), and while I was out walking in the cold, crisp air, I tried to dial up “Nodak” some of my all-time classics from my formative rock and roll years (High School; 1979 – 83). Doing this, of course, got me thinking about a Top 10 list. Not a chance. I just couldn’t cut it down.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Damn the Torpedos
Van Halen – Van Halen
Rush – 2112
Boston – Boston
The Cars – The Cars
John Cougar (no Mellencamp yet) – Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did
Led Zeppelin – Led Zep IV (or Zoso, or Ruins, or whatever you call it)
AC/DC – Highway to Hell
The Eagles – The Long Run
Nazareth – Hair of the Dog
April Wine – Harder… Faster
Steve Miller Band – Book of Dreams
Heart – Dreamboat Annie
Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic
Bad Company – Desolation Angels
Bob Seger and Silver Bullet Band – Night Moves
Journey – Escape (Evolution is a better album, but this was everywhere and the non-radio tracks are great)
Queen – Play the Game
Supertramp - Breakfast in America
ZZ Top – Tres Amigos
List notes:
- We didn’t get very good radio in Nodak, certainly not anything close to AOR, so we sorta relied on word of mouth from big brothers and sisters. Since a good portion of older siblings moved away after they graduated high school, it’s a bit time sensitive (notice the lack of sixties and early seventies heavyweights like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Hendrix).
- It isn’t all we listened to, myself and most of the boys dug the heavy metal of our day, like Ted Nugent, Scorpions, Michael Schenker, Thin Lizzy, and Triumph… but this is the stuff that you could play at the parties and not get the girls worked up, so it was in heavy rotation in my world.
Obviously, I discovered a ton of that older (’65-’75) rock when I moved away to college, and even more when I graduated, moved to a big city, and started managing record stores. I also found jazz, blues, and world music, and expanded my collection and range of taste considerably, but overall, when I look back, I still think this is a pretty solid list of rock classics.
I know this much: Every one of these albums still holds up for me. While my all-time Top 20 would look different, a lot of these titles would still make it. Maybe Minot wasn’t such a bad place for music after all.
12 totally recommendable books, movies, and TV shows that entertained me in 2010
I know – there’s multiple lists of music and I can only get together one list of books and visual media.
What can I tell you? First and foremost, I can listen to music while I work, drive, and type, but the other media require my full-blown attention. In addition, I own a small business and I have three 12 and under kids at home, so I don’t get to go to a lot of movies. Finally, thanks to the kids and their ability to magnetically gravitate towards the TV, I can only watch mature TV programs on DVD or late at night on-demand (of course, aforementioned kids suck the energy out of me during the day, so that “night window” isn’t as big as it used to be).
Nevertheless, I found some great stuff in 2010.
30 Rock (Seasons 1-3). Sometimes when I watch late at night, I wake up the family laughing out loud. That reminds me, I need to pick up Season 4.
Toy Story 3. To me, there’s no such thing as a bad Pixar movie, and this one didn’t disappoint. Being an emotional man, and a parent, I had to fight off “they grow up so fast” tears. Unlike all other kids’ DVDs, the Pixar movies are stored with my stuff so they don’t get toasted.
The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts. Even though my 2010 read was probably my fourth, the theory presented is so solid that it continues to challenge and pacify my mind on an almost daily basis. Whenever things get stressful and overwhelming, I think about the fact that security is an illusion and immediately go more with the flow.
Real Time with Bill Maher. If only real TV journalists could push the honestly envelope like Maher does. He continues to attempt to get conservatives (and while I don’t usually agree with their perspective, I always admire the ones that show up) to cover all the political viewpoints.
Inception. Lotsa hype, but the movie mainly delivered. I bought the DVD, which will help me scrutinize the concept further (kinda like the Matrix, or the Terminators, etc).
Simpsons (Seasons 4-11). My boys are old enough to see the the longest-running hilarity on TV, so we watch a few episodes every week. It’s great to see them start figuring out heavy sarcasm (although I still need to explain lots of stuff).
Hot Tub Time Machine. Pretty damn amusing for a guy that graduated from high school in 1983. I’ve been a Cusack fan since Better Off Dead (or Sixteen Candles, if you count his side role), and it’s always good to see him do comedy.
Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. My oldest son said, “Dad, I think you would like this book”. Three books later, he was totally right. I guess it was “written for tweens” but I loved it. Then again, I’m sort of a giant teenager.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians Books by Rick Riordan. Ditto the Hunger Games theory, although I don’t think this series was quite as good. Still, I’ve been a sucker for Greek Mythology since I was a kid, and it’s cool to read about all of these heroes and villains in a different context.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy by Stieg Larrson. Truth be told, I’m still reading the last one, but I really have enjoyed everything so far. You may have heard of these. That was sarcasm.
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. I grew up in an ultra-conservative household in terms of religion, so I’ve heard a lot from that perspective. As I expand my thinking, I’m looking at all perspectives. Recommended by Bobby at Changing Hands, this book blew me away. I’ve always loved the quote “healthy faith should not depend on ignorance”, and this book is so loaded with non-debatable facts that it’s hard not to affect your opinion. I don’t know even more after reading it than I didn’t know before.
People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. Will Hunting (from the movie) talked it up in his therapy session, so I found a used copy at Changing Hands. Like Christian Nation, this book pretty much challenges all the conventional stuff we were taught as kids. It’s a huge book, and I’m still reading it… but it’s eye-opening as hell.
2010 was a great year for Hoodlums. It didn’t hurt that 2010 was a great year for music. Even though we are excited about 2011, we’d like to do a quick recap of 2010′s best music, in case you may have missed a gem.
Below you will find the Top Ten of 2010 lists of the Hoodlums’ staff, or as we more commonly refer to ourselves, The hoodlums at Hoodlums. We always start with the the current employees, and then we give our Hoodlums’ Hall of Famers a chance to weigh in. If the hoodlum specified anything, or wrote anything, or included pictures, I left it in there. If they put ‘em in order, I left ‘em numbered. If they didn’t, I used bullets. If they made more than one list (thanks for the extra effort gang), I included ‘em all (except for my extra ones, which I’ll list separately in a Record Store Geek post). For me, half the fun is reading the 0ther lists.
Hopefully you’ll find some interesting stuff (I know I’ll be looking end up ordering stuff off of my colleagues’ lists), then come right on down to grab the LP or CD at Hoodlums. Don’t forget to check out the Customer Top 10 of 2010 Lists as well. Lotsa good stuff.
Top 10 Lists of 2010 – The current hoodlums at Hoodlums
Kristian’s Top 10 new releases of 2010
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues
Carolina Chocalate Drops – Genuine Negro Blues
Dave Rawlings Machine – Friend of a Friend
Trampled by Turtles – Palomino
Robert Plant – Band of Joy
Budos Band – III
Jenny & Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
Ray Lamontagne – God Willin’ and the Creek Will Rise
Jerry Garcia Acoustic band – Ragged but Right
Steve’s 10 Favorite New Albums of 2010
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mojo.
Black Keys – Brothers
What Laura Says – Bloom Cheek
Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
Budos Band – Budos Band III
Lissie – Catching a Tiger
Dr. John and the Lower 911 – Tribal
Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void
John Legend and the Roots – Wake Up
Steve Miller Band – Bingo
10 more albums Steve really enjoyed in 2010
BeachHouse – Teen Dreams
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
Junip – Fields
Aloe Blacc – Good Things
Robert Plant – Band of Joy
Gov’t Mule – Mulennium
Broken Bells – Broken Bells
Sharon Jones and Dap Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
Derek Trucks Band – Roadsongs
Spoon – Transference
In order to get on to the diverse lists of my friends/colleagues, since I am the self-imposed “blogger” (hated word alert) of this bunch, I put all of my other lists in a Record Store Geek Top 10 blog. I go deeper in that blog, including older music, movies, TV shows, and books… and I do a bit of descriptive writing on my Top 10 that you see above. Just a little FYI in case you are interested. (Steve)
Joe’s Top 10 releases from 2010:
Oval – “O”
Marcel Dettmann – “Dettmann”
Kylie Minogue – “Aphrodite”
Luigi Archetti – “Null”
Impetuous Ritual – “Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescense”
Lou Harrison – “Scenes from Cavafy”
Pan Sonic – “Gravitoni”
Mika Vainio – “Vandal 12″ EP”
Thomas Fehlmann – “Gute Luft”
Lindstrom & Christabelle – “Real Life is No Cool”
Joe – Other things that I listened a lot this year, even though they weren’t new releases, so we’ll call them recent discoveries:
Prefab Sprout – “Two Wheels Good” and all other Prefab Sprout
Morton Feldman – “Rothko Chapel” listened to in the actual Rothko Chapel in Houston!
Derek Bailey / Tony Oxley – “The Advocate”
Anton Webern – “Symphony/Six Pieces” on Naxos
Flamenco releases from Paco Pena, Tomatito, and Manolo Sanlucar
Xenakis reissues on Mode Records, particularly “Kraanerg”
Stockhausen – “Spiral/Pole” 2CD set reissued on EMI Classics
Eliane Radigue – “Triptych”
Andy’s Top 10 of 2010
1. AM Taxi – You Don’t Stand A Chance
Top Tracks: “The Mistake”, “Dead Street”, “Champagne Toast”
2. Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues
Top Tracks: “Christchurch Woman”, “Harlem River Blues”, “One More Night In Brooklyn”
3. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
Top Tracks: “The Diamond Street Choir”, “Bring It On”, “The Spirit Of Jazz”
4. Jakob Dylan – Women + Country
Top Tracks: “Smile When You Call Me That”, “Lend A Hand”, “Everybody’s Hurting”
5. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Top Tracks: “Awake My Soul”, “Little Lion Man”, “The Cave”
6. Jimmy Eat World – Invented
Top Tracks: “Invented”, “Coffee & Cigarettes”, “My Best Theory”
7. Alkaline Trio - This Addiction
Top Tracks: “This Addiction”, “Off The Map”, “Dead On The Floor”
8. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mojo
Top Tracks: “I Should’ve Known It”, “Running Man’s Bible”, “Good Enough”
9. Steel Train – Steel Train
Top Tracks: “Bullet”, “You and I Undercover”, “Touch Me Bad”
10. Bad Religion – The Dissent Of Man
Top Tracks: “Only Rain”, “Won’t Somebody”, “Cyanide”
Nine More that Andy Loved
Jenny & Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
Hanson – Shout It Out
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses – Junky Star
The National – High Violet
Josh Ritter – So Runs The World Away
Junip – Fields
Black Keys – Brothers
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
Robert Plant – Band Of Joy
Andy – Top Songs of 2010
Alkaline Trio – “This Addiction”
Bad Religion – “Only Rain”
Steel Train – “Bullet”
AM Taxi – “Champagne Toast”
Hanson – “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’”
The Gaslight Anthem – Bring It On
Justin Townes Earle – “Christchurch Woman”
Jakob Dylan – “Smile When You Call Me That”
Ryan Bingham – “The Poet”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “I Should’ve Known It”
Jimmy Eat World – “Invented”
Alkaline Trio – “Off The Map”
AM Taxi – “Fed Up”
Josh Ritter – “Lantern”
The Gaslight Anthem – “The Diamond Street Choir”
Motion City Soundtrack – “Her Words Destroyed My Planet”
Jenny & Johnny – “Big Wave”
Mumford & Sons – “Little Lion Man”
Street Dogs – “Hang ‘em High (Bernie Madoff)”
Ray LaMontagne – “Beg, Steal or Borrow”
Black Keys – “Next Girl”
Justin Townes Earle – “One More Night in Brooklyn”
The National – “Afraid Of Everyone”
Cee-lo Green – “Fuck You”
Robert Plant – “Angel Dance”
Andy – Other Good Records Released in 2010
The Weakerthans – Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre
Bruce Springsteen – The Promise
Daptone Gold
Nada Surf – If I Had A Hi-fi (Covers)
The Flaming Lips – Dark Side of the Moon
Kyle Kinane – Death Of The Party (Comedy)
Andy – Albums From 2010 I Bet I’d Like But Haven’t Quite Made It To Yet
Matt Pond PA – The Dark Leaves
Bad Books – Bad Books
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – III/IV (just started listening to it)
Andy – Most Listened to in ‘10
Graham Parker
Grateful Dead
The Weakerthans
Tom Petty
Lucero
Bad Religion
Alkaline Trio
Hanson
The Gaslight Anthem
Wilson Pickett
Andy – Biggest Disappointments of 2010
Guster – Easy Wonderful
Good Old War – Good Old War
Against Me! – White Crosses
Matt Skiba solo album delayed
Andy – Favorite TV Shows of ‘10
Community
Bored To Death
The League
How I Met Your Mother
Louie
Andy – Concerts I Saw in 2010
The Vandals
Lucero
Bad Religion
Matt Pond PA
Budos Band
Sharon Jones
Tom Petty / Chuck Berry
Alkaline Trio
NOFX
Mumford & Sons
Something Corporate
The Gaslight Anthem
Hanson
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Limbeck
John Mayer
JJ Grey
Steel Train
Jimmy Eat World
Kinchmas
Rx Bandits
Andy – Top 10 from 2009 If I Were To Do It Over Now:
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Ben Kweller – Changing Horses
Dave Rawlings Machine – A Friend Of A Friend
Tegan & Sara – Sainthood
NOFX- Coaster
Tinted Windows – Tinted Windows
Jerry Garcia Band – Let It Rock
P.O.S. – Battle Studies
M. Ward – Hold Time
Third Eye Blind – Ursa Major
Top 10 Lists of 2010 – The hall of former hoodlums
**Thanks to those of you that weighed in!!
Lloyd “Label Guy” Hummel (original partner)
1. FITZ & THE TANTRUMS/Pickin’ Up The Pieces I don’t think I’ve enjoyed an album more in the past 10 years. This band has Motown roots, but the interplay between Fitz and Noelle ain’t nothing like Marvin and Tammi’s duets. The songs are the amazing thing – lots of bands do soul-revue type stuff, but these originals already sound like instant classics – no boring extended jams, just tight vocals and harmonies, keyboards that complement the melodies, solid bass lines and just enough horns. No guitars either. Put this on and if you don’t love “Breakin’ The Chains Of Love” or “Don’t Gotta Work It Out” or really any of the songs on the album, I will be concerned about you. And if “Tighten Up” by the Black Keys can be a big hit, “Moneygrabber” is next in line. I can’t wait for this album to break big, everyone is going to love this record.
2. ARCADE FIRE/The Suburbs No doubt I can relate to the lyrics and the urgency of songs like “We Used To Wait” and “Modern Man”. But Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), with its lament of “dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains/and there’s no end in sight” and synth-pop backdrop, reminds me of driving into my hometown of Phoenix, on the west side of town and I-10. Growing up, out there was nothing but desert and you were miles from civilization and now the housing projects seem to stretch out into the horizon to where I think I’m hallucinating. I wonder if people really live out there now. Anyway, I used to know every corner of Phoenix and its suburbs and now when I’m home, I will find I get completely lost between the miles of stucco-brick walls that face the main streets and hold in those new cookie cutter homes’ tiny backyards, until I find a strip center with a Walgreens and an Applebee’s and a Bed Bath and Beyond, and an eerie sense of both calm and nausea overtake me.
3. KANYE WEST/My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Dude is a hot mess. But he knows how to make records. “Monster” is one of his best ever – with an absolutely ferocious Nicki Minaj feature to go with Rick Ross and Jay-Z takes, it’s like sitting on the edge of your seat (and oh the video should be interesting). “Power” and “All Of The Lights”, the latter of which features more famous people than We Are The World, are equally cool.
4. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM/This Is Happening I finally realized after the band’s third album in a row made my top 10 of the respective year, I think I like them a lot. Too bad it’s probably the last album. “Drunk Girls”…one of the most hilarious tracks of the year.
5. JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW/Early In The Morning Another artist who, with any justice, will break big in 2011, this beautiful understated album will resonate with fans of Fleet Foxes or Ray Lamontagne. Stellar harmonies, delicate production, a perfect early morning record, as it turns out. Relatively unknown outside of Ireland, this is a record that played in offices around our building this year, and caused many to stop, resulting in many “who’s that?!” moments.
6. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/The Promise How crazy is it that the guy makes two brilliant albums, and thirty years later he releases the excess material from between them, and it’s this good? And the remaster of “Darkness” was sorely needed and man, it sounds GREAT.
7. SHELBY LYNNE/Tears Lies & Alibis She told Nashville about 10 years to go piss off, and she’s made some great records and some not-so-great ones since then, picking up a Grammy along the way. This one falls into the “great” category, with bare bones production and her Dusty voice keeping you warm. “Alibis” takes on the story of a woman who sadly misses her cheating lover, wondering aloud if the other woman “has a fancy job / and works in an office like you”…breaks your heart.
8. CODY CHESNUTT/Black Skin No Value An EP of new material finally surfaces from this enigmatic character, who came to public consciousness eight years ago, mainly around his work with The Roots. “Do Better To The Young” sounds like it came from Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. Here’s hoping we get more music in 2011.
9. CHROMEO/Business Casual Fun, electro-squelchy pop that has me back hanging at the mall in 1986, rocking the Generras and looking for sales at Chess King. I am hoping for a Debbie Deb cameo someday from these guys and yes, I am serious.
10. TWIN SHADOW/Forget Channeling Morrissey and a whole lot of 80s new wave – feeling sophisticated and like a guilty pleasure both at once.
AND: ROOTS/How I Got Over, HOLD STEADY/Heaven Is Whenever, BAND OF HORSES/Infinite Arms, BLACK KEYS/Brothers, JAMEY JOHNSON/The Guitar Song, JENNY & JOHNNY/I’m Having Fun Now, SHOUT OUT LOUDS/Work, TAME IMPALA/Innerspeaker.
PLAYLIST FOR 2010
Don’t Gotta Work It Out – Fitz & The Tantrums
Moneygrabber – Fitz & The Tantrums
Howling At Summer – You Me & Iowa
We’re OK – The Rescues
Hold On – Holy Ghost!
I Need A Dollar – Aloe Blacc
Sprawl II – Arcade Fire
Coffee Spoons – Cold War Kids
Symphonies – Dan Black
Laredo – Band Of Horses
Night Work – Scissor Sisters
Inside Of You – The Maine
Used To Did – J. Roddy Walston & The Business
He’s Not A Boy – The Like
Crossfire – Brandon Flowers
Ruthless – Topher Mohr (unreleased)
The High Road – Broken Bells
Shaky Ground – Jackie Greene
Windstorm – School Of Seven Bells
All Over Me – Josh Turner
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
This Ain’t No Love Song – Trace Adkins
Tragedy – Peter Wolf & Shelby Lynne
Alibis – Shelby Lynne
Cousins – Vampire Weekend
Forced To Love – Broken Social Scene
Winter Passing – Taking Back Sunday
Pyro – Kings Of Leon
Let’s Go Surfing – The Drums
Power – Kanye West
AND…
Fitz & The Tantrums playing our conference room
My older daughter performing in two “musicals” and my younger daughter learning all the songs and moves too
Meeting Ian Mackaye and spending time with him at Dischord house in DC
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – 18 months, 185K sold and counting
The Rescues at NARM
Cold War Kids at Apple
Fistful Of Mercy at Easy Street
The amazing, never-ending parade of musicians from all walks of life coming through the doors at Fontana
Phineas & Ferb – making kids’ TV not only bearable but enjoyable
eMusic – helping me discover subgenres I didn’t know I liked
Live From Daryl’s House
TV: 24 (RIP), Weeds, Rescue Me, Parenthood and the cancelled Swingtown. And I pledge to watch Mad Men and Breaking Bad on DVD this year. I don’t have time for TV.
MOVIES: The Town, Inside Job, The Social Network, True Grit, Easy A, Unstoppable, Despicable Me, The Kids Are All Right, Ladies & Gentlemen…The Rolling Stones.
THINGS I DON’T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT: Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Wizards, Royal Families, Checking In, Katherine Heigl, movies in 3-D, whipping my hair, American Idol, reality TV, TV “news”, turning 40.
Maria Mejia (no sassy nicknames will be assigned for Ms. Mejia… for now)
1. Otra Cosa- Julieta Venegas
2. The Ghost who Walks- Karen Elson
3. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire
4. Lero Lero- Luisa Maita
5. Sale El Sol- Shakira
6. Pop Negro- El Guincho
7.Romancero- La Bien Querida
8. Wild Smile- Suckers
9. El Ultimo Trago- Buika
10.Brothers- the Black Keys
11. Treats- Sleigh Bells
12.The Lady Killer- Cee Lo Green
Heath “Philly lives in NYC” Raymond
The lucky 13 in no particular order:
Gorilla Manor by Local Natives
Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
Teen Dream by Beach House
Crystal Castles by Crystal Castles
Clinging To A Scheme by Radio Dept
Pilot Talk by Curren$y
Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty by Big Boi
Sit Down Man by Das Racist
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
Salem by Salem
Crush by Abe Vigoda
Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus
Bastard by Tyler, The Creator
Justin “Graham” Keefer
top 10:
missing monuments – black rainbow 7″
puerto rico flowers – 4 EP
masshysteri – s/t
decrepit birth – polarity
ariel pink – before today
nails – unsilent death
eddy current supression ring – rush to relax
purling hiss – public service announcement
acid witch – stoned
emeralds – does it look like i’m here?
top 10 reissue:
white boy and average rat band – s/t
german oak – s/t
abner jay – one man band
parson sound box
teenage filmstars – star
dwarr – animals
les rallizes denudes - heavier than a death in the family
brainbombs – urge to kill
earth – bureaucratic desire for extra capsular extraction
dadawah — peace and love
Here are the Top Ten of 2010 lists that we received from our wonderful, creative, opinionated customers. Just like our Hoodlums’ Staff Picks for 2010, if the list picker numbered ‘em, we left the numbers. If not, we used bullets. If our customer wrote comments, we left ‘em.
We hope you enjoy looking at ‘em as much as we do. We certainly do appreciate the participation from each and every one of you… and we absolutely appreciate the tremendous music that we had to choose from in 2010.
Congratulations to Ian Murphy, the winner of a $50 Hoodlums’ Gift Card in our Top 10′s of 2010 Contest. We’ll start with his Top 10 and then do ‘em in the order they were received. Please excuse the formatting “differences”, but just had to do a straight “cut and paste” to save time. As it is… it took long enough this way. Oh well, it’s great to get so many, and you live and learn (next year, they’ll ALL be Facebook comments).
Ian Murphy
1- Titus Andronicus: “The Monitor”
2- The National: “High Violet”
3- Sufjan Stevens: “All Delighted People EP”
4- Jonsi: “Go”
5- Mumford & Sons: “Sigh No More”
6- Gaslight Anthem: “American Slang”
7- Sufjan Stevens: “Age of Adz”
8- The Roots:”How I Got Over”
9- Gorillaz: “Plastic Beach”
10- Balkan Beat Box: “Blue Eyed Black Boy”
Kenneth Ballard
1. Ben Folds/Nick Hornby – Lonely Avenue
2. Good Old War – Self Titled
3. Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s – Buzzard
4. Jonsi – Go
5. The Black Keys – Brothers
6. The Coral – Butterfly House
7. Circa Survie – Blue Sky Noise
8. Guster – Easy Wonderful
9. Aqualung – Magnetic North
10. The Dear Hunter – The Branches EP
Dean Ballard
1) Harlem River Blues — Justin Townes Earle
2) Come Around Sundown — Kings of Leon
3) The Big To-Do — Drive-By Truckers
4) You Get What You Give — Zac Brown Band
5) The Guitar Song — Jamey Johnson
6) Sea of Cowards — The Dead Weather
7) Heaven Is Whenever — The Hold Steady
Country Music — Willie Nelson
9) The Promise — Bruce Springsteen
10) The Suburbs — Arcade Fire
Kerry Ann
10. Gaslight Anthem “American Slang”, only thing I don’t like about this album is that I can’t listen to it all at once, it starts to sound poundy and monotonous. As singles, it’s great. They really remind me of the Replacements (but not as good).
9. Florence + the Machine, “Lungs”, I agree she sounds like Bjork (who I think is tolerable) and Kate Bush (who I like a lot) and overall, I really like this album. Fun mash up of Florence with Dizzee Rascal (
8 Avett Brothers I and Love and You makes me want to get in the car and drive for a long time by myself, makes me feel twenty years younger. Now I have to go back to the beginning and get Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
7 Broken Bells: Broken Bells, electronic great beats, different from most other albums on this list. Just picked this up today after trying it out on Pandora ready to get to know it better.
6 Mavis Staples “You are not Alone” I don’t like to listen to it in it’s entirety, too much of the same thing but mixed up in playlists it is great. She performed with Jeff Tweedy at the Rally to Restore Sanity.
5 Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses “Junky Star” love the song Hallelujah the best. This is probably not his best album, but I want to learn more about this artist. He is talented and has qualities I love, country, spare, great lyrics, can’t put my finger on it with words but when I listen to Hallelujah the short story journey this song takes me on is unique, very cool and magical.
4. Glee 4: Love Gwyneth Paltrow’s cover of Cee Lo Green, Forget You, it’s still catchy and I can play it around my kids. Love “one love” love Glee
3. Kanye My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy listen to it from start to finish, love to hear an album as an album instead of a collection of singles
2. Vampire Weekend: Contra Love this group, love them, love the bits that remind me of Paul Simon, world beat and Talking Heads. Super group. Totally worth the hype.
1. Mumford and Sons “Sigh No More” this album has not gotten old. Love it. Play it all the time.
Garrett Neese
1. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
2. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot … The Son of Chico Dusty
3. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
4. Roc Marciano – Marcberg
5. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks
6. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
7. Ty Segall – Melted
8. Marnie Stern – s/t
9. Das Racist – Sit Down, Man
10. Ceo – White Magic
Gerald Schoenherr
1 – Grinderman “2″ LP
2 – Sparklehorse, etc “Dark Night of the Soul” LP
3 – Gospel Claws “C-L-A-W-S” (full disclosure, I was assistant engineer on this but that doesn’t stop it from being awesome) CD
4 – Neil Young “Le Noise” CD
5 – Budos Band “Cobra (III)” LP
6 – Sharon Jones & the Dapkings “I Learned the Hard Way” LP
7 – Various “Said I Had a Vision: Songs & Labels of David Lee 1960-1988″ LP
8 – Snake! Snake! Snakes! “self titled” (another full disclosure situation) CD
9 – LCD Soundsystem “This Is Happening” CD
10 – Boris & Ian Astbury – “BXI” CD
Zach Mitchell
10. Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
9. Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame
8. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
7. Bad Books – Bad Books
6. Vampire Weekend – Contra
5. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
4. Blitzen Trapper Destroyer of the Void
3. Good Old War – Good Old War
2. Steel Train – Steel Train
1. fun. – Aim and Ignite (technically came out in 2009…but it’s my favorite album ever)
Trevor Green
Top 10 Catchy-Ass Albums
Sleigh Bells “Treats”
Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”
Best Coast “Crazy For You”
Robyn “Body Talk”
Girl Talk “All Day”
The Roots “How I Got Over”
Black Keys “Brothers”
Erykah Badu “New Amerykah Part Two”
Bruno Mars “Doo-Wops and Hooligans”
Cee Lo Green “The Lady Killer”
Top 10 Worst Movies to Willingly Pay Money to See
Knight and Day
The Last Airbender
Jonah Hex
The Nutcracker 3D
Vampires Suck
Burlesque
Extraordinary Measures
Sex and the City 2
Prince of Persia
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Laura Wooster-Leyva
Brothers- The Black Keys
Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager – Kid Cudi
Sigh No More- Mumford & Sons
Have One On Me- Joanna Newsom
The Suburbs- Arcade Fire
The Colossus- RJD2
Habits-Neon Trees
…Featuring Norah Jones- Many artists
To The Sea- Jack Johnson
Transference- Spoon
Chris (of toddandchris4)
10. Fistful of Mercy “Fistful of Mercy”
9. Drive By Truckers “The Big To-Do”
8. Black Crowes “Crowology”
7. Heart “Red Velvet Car”
6. Black Country Communion “Black Country Communion”
5. The Gracious Few “The Gracious Few”
4. Robert Plant “Band of Joy”
3. Rob Zombie “Hellbilly Deluxe II”
2. Dave Matthews Band “DMB Live in New York City”
1. Tom Petty “Mojo”
-
Jeremy P.
1. Punch Brothers – Antifogmatic
2. Pain of Salvation – Road Salt One
3. The Black Crowes – Croweology (despite it being a compilation, I count it because the tracks are reworked)
4. Josh Ritter – So Runs The World Away
5. Oceansize – Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up
6. Robert Plant – Band of Joy
7. Johnny Flynn – Been Listening
8. Blue Giant – Blue Giant
9. The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
10. La Strada – New Home
-
Althea Pergakis
TOP TEN ALBUMS (Released in 2010):
10) My Best Friend Is You // Kate Nash
9) Fang Island // Fang Island
Something for Everybody // DEVO
7) B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
6) I’m Having Fun Now // Jenny and Johnny
5) My Dinosaur Life // Motion City Soundtrack
4) Romance is Boring // Los Campesinos!
3) Contra // Vampire Weekend
2) Scott Pilgrim vs the World OST
1) Sidewalks // Matt and Kim
-
TOP TEN ALBUMS (older but new to me in 2010)
10) Grand // Matt and Kim
9) The Con // Tegan and Sara
Far // Regina Spektor
7) Voxtrot // Voxtrot
6) Say Anything // Say Anything
5) It’s Never Been Like That // Phoenix
4) Sticking Fingers into Sockets EP // Los Campesinos!
3) Aim and Ignite // fun.
2) Rockin’ the Suburbs // Ben Folds
1) Leaving Through the Window // Something Corporate
-
Mason Thompson
1. Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest
2. LCD Soundsystem: This is Happening
3. The National: High Violet
4. Sleigh Bells: Treats
5. Beach House: Teen Dream
6. Twin Sister: Color Your Life
7. Morning Benders: Big Echo
8. Twin Shadow: Forget
9. Wild Nothing: Gemini
10. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
….Kanye wasn’t close, no matter what Pitchfork might have to say ….
-
Tammy H.
#1 Wolf Parade – Expo 86
#2 The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night
#3 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
#4 LCD Soundsytem – This Is Happening
#5 Autolux – Transit Transit
#6 Deerhunter – Halycon Digest
#7 Weekend – Sports
#8 Lower Dens – Twin Hand Movement
#9 Beach House – Teen Dream
#10 Women – Public Strain
-
Teresa Burstyn
Movies
1. Welcome to the Riley’s
2. The Kids are All Right
Albums
3 Need You Now; Lady Antebellum
4. Sigh No More : Mumford and Sons
5.30 Years Live: Bad Religion
6. Final Frontier: Iron Maiden
7.A Christmas Cornucopia : Annie Lenox
8. Laws of Illusion : Sarah MacLachlan
9 :Valley Neptune : Jimi Hendrix
10 :God Willing and Creek Rising: Ray Lamontagne
-
James Karcher
1. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
2. Brothers – The Black Keys
3. OMNI – Minus the Bear
4. Dark Night of The Soul – Dangermouse and Sparklehorse
5. Come Around Sundown – Kings of Leon
6. Sigh No More – Mumford and Sons
7. The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
8. This Is Happening – LCD Soundsystem
9. Treats – Sleigh Bells
10. High Violet – The National
-
Matt Rodgers
Menomena - Mines
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and The Cairo Gang – The Wonder Show of the World
Altar Eagle – Mechanical Gardens
Brian Eno – Small Craft on a Milk Sea
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Women – Public Strain
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock record
Neil Young – Le Noise
Carlton Metz
Inception (movie)
The Walkmen (show)
Gorillaz “Plastic Beach”
Sonic Youth (show)
Exit Through The Gift Shop (movie)
The Walkmen “Lisbon”
The Inbetweeners (tv show)
Arcade Fire “The Suburbs”
Broken Bells “Broken Bells”
The Black Keys “Brothers”
Shannon Hadley
1. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
2. Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest
3. Tame Impala, Innerspeaker
4. Best Coast, Crazy For You
5. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
6. Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Band
7. Abe Vigoda, Crush
8. Jonsi, Go
9. Foals, Total Life Forever
10. M.I.A., Maya
Matt Bradley
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Beach House – Teen Dream
Best Coast – Crazy For You
Wavves – King of the Beach
Zola Jesus – Stridulum II
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
Beach Fossils – Beach Fossils
Tony Pellum
1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Robyn – Body Talk
3. Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love
4. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
5. Wild Nothing – Gemini
6. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
7. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
8. Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
9. Love Is All – Two Thousand and Ten Injuries
10. The Walkmen – Lisbon
Jake Calegari
1. Sea of Cowards – The Dead Weather
2. Congratulations – MGMT
3. Under Great White Northern Lights – The White Stripes
4. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
5. Dark Night of the Soul – Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse
6. Treats – Sleigh Bells
7. Survival Story – Flobots
8. Astro Coast – Surfer Blood
9. Brothers – The Black Keys
10. Contra – Vampire Weekend
Marisa Calegari
1. The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
2. Sleigh Bells – Treats
3. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
4. The White Stripes – Under Great White Northern Lights
5. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
6. Robert Plant – Band of Joy
7. The Black Keys – Brothers
8. Kid Cudi – The Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
9. The Dirty Heads – Any Port in a Storm
10. Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy
Mitch Goyette
1. Breed 77 – Insects
2. Kamelot – Poetry for the Poisoned
3. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
4. Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
5. Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise
6. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
7. Anathema – We’re Here Because We’re Here
8. Menomena – Mines
9. Turin Brakes – Outburst
10. The River Empires – Epilogue
And a handful of Honorable Mentions for good measure:
Black Country Communion – s/t
CloverSeeds – The Opening
Mutiny Within – s/t
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Evelyn Evelyn – s/t
Michael Pang
Favorite New Albums of 2010
1. The Budos Band – The Budos Band III
2. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
4. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
5. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
6. Das Racist – Sit Down, Man
7. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
8. Sharon Van Etten – Epic
9. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
10. MGMT – Congratulations
“Papa” Fred Hill
Justin Townes Earl – Harlem River Blues
Black Dub – (Daniel Lanois, Trixie Whitely, and Darryl Johnson)
Robert Randolph & the Family Band – We Walk This Road
Christian Scott – Yesterday You Said Tomorrow
John Hiatt – The Open Road
Jason Moran – Ten
Lee Scratch Perry – ‘Sipple Out Deh’ The Black Ark Years
The Uniques – Absolutely Rock Steady
Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
Bob Dylan – the Witmark Demos: 1962-1964
Jr. Murvin – Police and Thieves Deluxe Edition
Buce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town box set
How Sweet It Was – The Sights and Sounds of Gospel’s Golden Age CD plus DVD
Plus a great read was ‘Just Friends’ Patti Smith’s memoir about her life with Robert Mapplethorpe I haven/t heard Le Noise by Neil I have it on order on vinyl, also I should have put on the vinyl issue of Tom Petty & Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes – ahh it just goes on & on so much good music to upllift the spirit.
Emma Ringness
1) Write About Love, Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian is such a reliably good band—they also craft some of the most timeless records I’ve ever heard. Write About Love is no exception and does not disappoint on any count.
2) Transference, Spoon
The album has a William Eggleston photograph on the cover. So, you know, if Spoon weren’t an amazing band they’d at least be really, really cool. Turns out they’re both. (If you couldn’t tell, this probably wins my vote for best album cover of the year.)
3) This Is Happening, LCD Soundsystem
On a whim I listened to this album on NPR as part of their exclusive first listen series. Then I had to hear it again. And again. By the third or fourth listen I was wondering why I hadn’t bought it already. James Murphy’s lyrics are unexpectedly smart and searing with honesty.
4) Record Collection, Mark Ronson and the Business Intl.
Once again, I heard this online first. I was instantly hooked and came to Hoodlums to buy it a few days later. It’s ridiculously catchy and vastly underrated.
5) The Boxer, Kele
Even more underrated than Record Collection, The Boxer is such a solid solo album from Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke—the power of his voice alone is enough to have me hooked.
6) Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens
Though many weren’t fond of the departure from “Mr. Strummy-Strum,” I think the Age of Adz shows Stevens’ true strength as a songwriter.
7) Contra, Vampire Weekend
I was not a huge fan of Vampire Weekend until this year (my friends finally broke me…who am I kidding, I was broken of my own volition). Contra made me reconsider writing off their self-titled debut…and for that matter, the band overall.
Champ, Tokyo Police Club
Frenetic, energetic, concise, indie, post-punk…there are a ridiculous amount of adjectives journalists use to describe this Canadian band. Honestly, they just make really fun records that my young heart goes crazy for.
Top 5 albums new to me in 2010:
It’s a little embarrassing that these were new to me this year, but hey, it’s never too late to acknowledge exceptional albums.
1) Kid A, Radiohead
2) The Boy with the Arab Strap, Belle and Sebastian
3) Is Is (EP), Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4) Modern Guilt, Beck
5) Underachievers Please Try Harder, Camera Obscura
Top 5 songs of 2010 that aren’t off my top albums:
1) “Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; or, Letters From Me to Charlotte,” Los Campesinos!
2) “Walls,” Shout Out Louds
3) “First Date Kit” Tokyo Police Club feat. Luke LaLonde
4) “Boy From School (Hot Chip Cover),” Grizzly Bear
5) “Heirloom,” Sufjan Stevens
Top 5 Music Videos:
This is really subjective—I’m not a connoisseur of music videos or anything, I just really liked these five (plus the songs that go with)!
1) “Last Leaf,” OK Go
2) “VCR,” the XX
3) “The Bike Song,” Mark Ronson
4) “Giving Up the Gun,” Vampire Weekend
5) “Do Wah Doo,” Kate Nash
Best Concert of 2010: Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens’ show at the Mesa Arts Center was, hands down, the best concert I saw all year and one of the best concerts (if not the best) I have ever seen in my life. I could sit and detail every way it was awesome, but you’d be here all day if I did. Just trust me on this one.
Runner up concert: Phoenix
If Sufjan Stevens hadn’t been so amazing Phoenix would have won out. I did not expect this concert to have the energy that it did; this band can really connect with their audience.
Jason Franz
Here’s my very conventional list:
1. Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz/All Enlightened People
2. Vampire Weekend, Contra
3. Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
4. LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening
5. Cee Lo Green, The Lady Killer
6. Junip, Fields
7. Spoon, Transference
8. The Black Keys, Brothers
9. The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards
10. Daft Punk, Tron: Legacy Soundtrack
Kerry Howe
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Frazey Ford – Obadiah
Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Herbie Hancock – The Imagine Project
Laura Veirs – July Flame
Janelle Monae – Archandroid
The Black Keys – Brothers
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
Rihanna – Loud (good gravy I know its pop, but that girl is taking over the world one single at a time!)
Russ Baurichter
State Champion – Stale Champagne
Cloudkicker – Beacons
Burzum – Belus
Max Richter – Infra
Matthew Dear – Black City
William Ryan Fritch – Music for Honey and Bile
Kammerflimmer Kollektief – Wildling
Maserati – Pyramid of the Sun
Olafur Arnalds – …And They Have Escaped The Weight of Darkness
Beach House – Teen Dream
Stefin Sun Hehman
Robyn – Body Talk
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son of Chico Dusty
MGMT – Congratulations
Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Marc Hansen
1. The National – High Violet
2. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
3. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
5. Beach House – Teen Dream
6. The Walkmen – Lisbon
7. Spoon – Transference
8. Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
9. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
10. Vampire Weekend – Contra
Cesar “Astro” Ruiz
No Age – Everything In Between
Infinite Body – Carve Out The Face Of My God
Taylor Swift – Speak Now
Owen Pallett – Heartland
Girl Talk – All Day
Grinderman – Grinderman 2
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Girls – Broken Dreams Club EP
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
Various Local Musicians – The Chronicles of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Bret Helm
10. Current 93 – Baalstorm, Sing Omega
09. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
08. Beach House – Teen Dream
07. Best Coast – Crazy For You
06. Brandon Flowers – Flamingo
03. Of Montreal – False Priest
04. Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin
03. Robyn – Body Talk
02. The National – High Violet
01. James – The Morning After The Night Before
Joshua Buckley
Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Minus the Bear – Omni
Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
Wolf Parade – Expo 86
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – I learned the Hard Way
Good Morning Magpie – Murder by Death
The Dark Leaves – Matt Pond PA
Los Campesinos! – Romance is Boring
Castevet – The Echo and the Light
The Extra Lens – Undercard
Joe Milanes
lcd soundsystem-this is happening
caribou-swim
gil scott heron-im new here
arcade fire-the suburbs
deerhunter-halcyon digest
menomena-mines
royksopp-senior
laettia sadier-the trip
sufjan stevens-age of adz
the black keys-brothers
Adam Studer
Band of Horses
Kings of Leon
The Roots
Ray LaMontagne
Black Keys
Widespread Panic
Tom Petty
Neil Young
She & Him
The Beatles Remasters
Keith Dellinger
1. Kirkwood Dellinger, Gold
2. Shakira, Sale el Sol
3. The Necronauts, Gauche et Droite
4. Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops and Hooligans
5. Gorillaz, Plastic Beach
6. Gin Blossoms, No Chocolate Cake
7. Juanes, P.A.R.C.E.
8. Dirty Filthy Mugs, All Yobs In
9. Elvis Costello, National Ransom
10. Devo, Something for Everybody
The following list contains Hoodlums’ Top 100 Selling CDs of 2010. We like to print up these sorts of lists and scrutinize on ‘em a bit. We figured just in case you like to see what you and your fellow Hoodcustomers were buying, we’d post ‘em for you as well. There’s some really great titles on the list… feel free to come down and grab some today.
Hoodlums’ Top CDs of 2010
Black Keys – Brothers
Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
Arcade Fire – Suburbs
Broken Bells – S/T
Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune
JJ Grey and Mofro – Georgia Warhorse (in-store performance)
National – High Violet
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mojo
Ray LaMontagne – God Willin’ and the Creek Will Rise
Florence & The Machine – Lungs
Spoon – Transference
Bad Religion – Dissent of Man (in-store performance)
Dry River Yacht Club – Ugliest Princess (in-store performance)
LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
She & Him – Volume Two
Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues
Jack Johnson – To the Sea
What Laura Says – Bloom Cheek (in-store performance)
Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street (cover artist autographed)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Vampire Weekend – Contra (special edition)
Vampire Weekend – Contra (not special edition)
Fun – Live at Fingerprints (Record Store Day)
Mgmt. – Congratulations
Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
Bruce Springsteen – Promise
Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz
Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Johnny Cash – American VI
Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
Norah Jones – Featuring Norah Jones
Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeroes – Up From Below
John Legend and The Roots – Wake Up
Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Ryan Bingham & The Mescaleros – Junky Star
Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Sade – Soldier of Love
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
Cee-Lo Green – Lady Killer
Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
Ray LaMontagne – Trouble (our highest charting catalog CD)
Drive-By Truckers – Big To-Do
Grace Potter and The Nocturnals – Live in Skowhegan (Record Store Day)
Robert Plant – Band of Joy
Jimmy Eat World – Invented
New Pornographers – Together
Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
Manchester Orchestra – Live at Park Avenue (Record Store Day)
Neil Young – Le Noise
Sleigh Bells – Treats
B. B. King – Indianola Mississippi (Blues Blog)
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals – S/T
Bob Dylan – Witmark Demos
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
Roots – How I Got Over
Dr. Dog – Shame Shame
Devo – Something for Everybody
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Rolling Stones – Exile Deluxe (Cover artist autogaphed)
Belle & Sebastian – Write About Love
Metric – Fantasies
Big Mama Thornton – With the Muddy Waters Blues Band (Blues blog)
Roky Erickson/Okkervil River – True Love Cast Out All Evil
Beach House – Teen Dream
Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back
Yeaslayer – Odd Blood
Budos Band – Budos Band III
Cage the Elephant – Cage the Elephant
Crazy Heart – O.S.T.
Jeff Beck – Emotion and Commotion
Jerry Garcia – Jerry Garcia Collection, Volume Two: Let it Rock
Lady Gaga – Fame Monster
Elton John/Leon Russell – Union
XX – XX
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Irm
Ray LaMontagne – Till the Sun Turns Black (big year for Ray on our charts!)
Derek Trucks – Roadsongs
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Butterfield Blues Band (Blues blog)
They Might Be Giants – Here Comes the Science
Jenny & Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
White Stripes – Under Great White North
Eric Clapton – Clapton
Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
National – Boxer
Ratatat – LP4
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring
Mgmt. – Oracular Spectacular
Ozzy Osbourne – Scream (in-store autographs next door)
Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle
Jakob Dylan – Women and Country
Preservation: Album To Benefit Preservation Hall
Susan Boyle- Dreamed a Dream
Cee-Lo Green – F**k You (Record Store Day)
Weezer – Weezer Ratitude (Record Store Day)
Robert Plant/Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
Frank Zappa – Hot Rats
Grinderman – Grinderman 2
I’d add a bunch of cool graphics and things like that, but I’ve got to go type the Top LP list. Happy New Year. Thanks for the biz.
Country Music — Willie Nelson