My Top 10 Songs of 2010

So another year has come and gone, and what do we have to show for it?  Well besides an oil spill, Wikileaks, and Obama signing an appeal to a military law that was way over due for an appeal to begin with, we also have music!

Here's my top 10 songs below.  In order to not get repetitive with the artists featured (I've got more than just one song by each artist that I love), each of the 10 songs below will only feature the artist ONCE.  So for example:  I didn't pick "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem as one of my top tens because I thought another song off his stellar album "Recovery" deserved the recognition.  Doesn't mean I hate "Love the Way You Lie", cause I don't.  Just trying to be fair and get the most exposure for the artists.

Now on to the list:

10.
Ra Ra Riot "Too Dramatic"



This rich sounding band utilizes some great instrumentation to what could've been a carbon copy of Vampire Weekend or any other indie band on the scene right now.  Instead, whenever I hear Ra Ra Riot, I distinctly know it's them and not some clone of a band.  This song struck a chord with me in the lyrics and the pacing of the song.

9.
Sara Bareilles "King of Anything"



She had her first hit single be about love, or so you thought.  Now with her 2nd huge chart topping single, "King of Anything", Sara Bareilles proves once more that she can survive on her own and doesn't need the cliche "perfect boyfriend" there to protect her.  In fact, I love her sense of confidence in her song writing, it's very refreshing to hear in a female singer.

8.
Sleigh Bells "Rill Rill"



Where did this band come from?  Honestly, I don't know.  And yet when I went out on a limb and bought their album this past June, I was literally blown away.  No really, my car speakers almost blew the hell up.  This band is LOUD!  However, with all the noise and banging of reverb, you get a sense of art and style like never before from Sleigh Bells.  And this song, "Rill Rill", played on Alt Nation this past summer on Sirius XM radio.  Ever since then, it's been stuck in my head.

7.
Travie McCoy "Need You"



Katy Perry was the queen of 2010.  She had the song of the summer (though "Love the Way You Lie" had more depth IMO) and she has sustained herself through "Teenage Dream" and recently "Fireworks".  Hell, she has a freaking Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.  But what about her ex boyfriend?  Poor Travis...errr....Travie McCoy.  This song clearly seems to be about trying to get over their past relationship and start anew with another girl.  Sadly, it also lets the new girl know, he needs plenty of time to fully be ready to love again.  I love the theme and I love the lyrics to this song out of all of Travie's songs off "Lazarus".  Yes, I like "Billionare" but it just didn't seem worthy of being in my top 10.

6.
Vampire Weekend
"Giving Up the Gun"



I heard this song on their newest album, "Contra", before the music video was out.  Let me tell you, the music video only adds to the awesomeness of this song.  The lyrics are perfect, just flat out beautiful.  And the video.  Well just watch the video now.  Stop reading this.

5.
Motion City Soundtrack "So Long Farewell"



Their newest album, "My Dinosaur Life", is a step up from 2007's "Even If It Kills Me".  However, the ironic thing about their newest album happens to be that I keep listening to the B-sides.  "Sunny Day" is a B-side that should've NEVER been a B-side.  Find that song ASAP if you want a good time.  Yet, I had to choose "So Long Farewell" as my pick.  It's got beauty and depth toward the lyrics and a bone chilling guitar and piano hook.  It might be one of the best examples of how to do a slow, thought provoking song by MCS.  As opposed to something like...ohhh...."The Conversation".

4.
My Chemical Romance "Destroya"



The band that made the phenomenal "The Black Parade" is finally back making amazing music again!  Granted, their newest album "Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys", isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it gets the job done.  This song in particular strikes a major chord with me.  I love the energy, the fast metal sound, and the chorus begging to be screamed at the top of your lungs just makes for one damn good MCR song.

3.
Natasha Bedingfield "Strip Me"



While I've been a fan of some of her work, she's not really been on my radar.  And if it wasn't for the insane marketing of a little film called "Morning Glory", I doubt I would've known that she has a new album out this year.  The album itself wasn't the greatest thing I've heard, but this song is sure to get stuck in your head with a fantastic message for any and everyone.  I'm proud she's pushing boundaries and yet keeping her place in pop music at the moment.

2.
Taylor Swift "Mine"



Take away my man card, but please don't take Taylor off the air.  Sure, she writes her own songs and yet those songs are almost always about love and heartache, two things that haven't been considered original since Shakespeare's day and age.  Yet, Taylor Swift does something I'm always so impressed with:  She writes pitch perfect pop-rock-country songs that will reach millions upon millions of people with her lyrics and formulaic hooks.  And considering we had a song about owning a damn G6, liking it on the dance floor, and letting everyone know how much cooler a girl thinks she is than me, I say I'm ready for something with a little more creativity and heart.  Taylor always delivers.  "Mine" is probably her best single to date and certainly helped her sell over a million records of her "Speak Now" album.....in the first week.  Hate all you want, this girl is on fire.

1.
Eminem "Talking To Myself"



I've purposely posted the lyrics version of this song above.  Please read them.  This maybe my favorite Eminem song EVER.  It just kills "Love the Way You Lie", "Not Afraid", and even "No Love"....though "No Love" is by far the climax to "Recovery".  I can't get over how after having one of the worst albums of 2009, "Relapse", Eminem would come back and dominate rap in his own way.  This song should be a single and I'm praying he releases it as such.  The lyrics are haunting and 110% honest.  "I've turned into a hater, I've put up a false bravado" and

"So I pick up myself off the ground and fuckin swam before I drowned
Hit my bottom so hard I bounce twice suffice this time around
It's different them last two albums didn't count
Encore I was on drugs, Relapse I was flushing em out
I've come up to make it up to you no more fucking around
I've got something to prove to fans I feel like I let em down"

All fans needed to hear was this.  Once he did that and announced he's cutting the stupid accents, we got behind him again.  "Recovery" happens to also be my 2010 album of the year and with good reason.  Eminem put a lot of thought and heart into this album, and there's no shortage of it in any song presented.

The Best of the Year

2010 has become one of the best years for music.  Now I know most people are stuck in their ways, stating that the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's were the best of the musical time eras.  I'm not going to say that's false, because the music produced during the time was amazing.  However, I can't stand people who think that the music produced today isn't of any quality.  For every "Like a G6" there can be a brilliant song such as "Runaway" by Kanye West.  I'd like to highlight some of my favorite albums and favorite songs of the 2010, because it's getting to be the end of the year soon, and let's face it, these lists always tend to pop up.

Favorite Albums:

1. The Morning Of "The Way I Fell In"

This album is the definition of greatness if it's coming from a band whose first album was rather corny and over reaching in most areas.  Sure, I loved their debut, "The World As We Know It", because some of the songs were great by themselves.  But this new album demands that you listen to it straight through without interruptions. Some clear standouts include the first single, "The Ones That Fall Apart", "Tell Me I'm Wrong", "The Time It Takes to Grow", and "Like Yesterday".  The whole album feels like the band rejuvenated themselves and created a tighter knit sound that has maturity but at the same time freedom.


        2.  Eminem "Recovery"

Last year, in 2009, I had to put his "comeback" CD, "Relapse", on my list of worst CD's. My how things change in just a year. Honestly it was hard to be an Eminem fan when all he ever keeps doing is stupid horror core shock value songs that make fun of his mother, Kim, and other people that don't really need to be made fun of (Christopher Reeve jokes are SO last decade). Imagine my surprise when I popped in the "Recovery" CD in my car this summer and I couldn't stop listening to it.  Hell, it's still in my car.  Yes this CD is rap.  Yes, Eminem is vulgar.  But remind yourself this:  Eminem is one of the honest lyricists in the business and he will tell you like it is.  Which is never more present in "Talking To Myself", where he openly admits to being pathetic and depressed the last few years.  He needs to drop the accents ("Not Afraid"), admit his true feelings to Kim ("Going Through Changes"), and just have  a good time ("Cinderella Man").  This album showcases how clever Eminem can be through his lyrics and the punchlines just never stop coming (this time they're worth listening to).  It's not a perfect album, but damn it it's better than anything we've heard from him in the last decade or so.  And that really does amaze me.

          3. Jimmy Eat World "Invented"

Jimmy Eat World, for the most part, is able to craft amazing little albums.  I'm constantly saddened to hear people refer to them as the band that wrote "The Middle".  This band is SO much better than that, and it clearly shows on this album.  While "My Best Theory" is an alright single, it's songs such as "Movielike", "Higher Devotion", "Action Needs An Audience" that could easily be singles.  The lyrics seem to always hit a certain personal chord with me and the band can get inside your head with lyrics like "If you wanna hurt me baby, stop cause you have."  It's quick, honest, and direct, something that I love in bands.

          4. B.O.B. "B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray"

A rapper who can both rap well AND sing well?!  Forget about it.  Unless it's B.O.B. aka Bobby Ray.  This dude can carry a tune very well and then spit some deep and quick lyrics that sometimes feel like they come out of nowhere.  Sure, most of this album his based on his amazement that he's made it in the business (Eminem's on here, so congrats!) or it's about girls, but the dude can certainly can spit something fierce.  My personal favorites include: "Fame", "Lovelier Than You", "Magic", and of course "Airplanes Part 2".  Simply because Eminem makes that song amazing!  And let me not forget to mention that Weezer's frontman Rivers Cuomo takes the chorus in "Magic".  Who doesn't love when a rapper crosses genres like that?

        5. Kanye West "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

Notice which version of the album cover I used. ;)  This is Kanye's answer to Pink Floyd's artistic endeavors.  This album is Kanye's best album, but it's not perfect.  It's damn NEAR perfect.  In fact, to make this short and simple, the only wrong with this album is "Runaway"'s 9 minute running time.  It could've been shorted to around 6 minutes if Kanye didn't feel the need to repeat the whole song using a vocoder, which simply makes his voice sound like a guitar.  An inaudible guitar sound.  Luckily, the rest of the album is full of Kanye rapping about man's power struggles, living the life of a dochebag, and wanting the very best in what was promised to us long ago:  The American Dream.  It would've been perfect if only 3 minutes were shaved off of it. Oh, and "Monster" is just bloody fantastic!

Favorite Songs:

      1. "F**k" You" by Cee-Lo Green

I love the mo-town throwback to this song.  And Cee-Lo Green is just a vocal master in each and every song he's featured in.  His album I've heard, is just as amazing.

     2. "Stand Too Close" by Motion City Soundtrack

I didn't put their album "My Dinosaur Life" up on my favorite albums above (it is one of them regardless), but this is easily one of my favorite songs by them ever.  It's got some of my favorite lyrics by the band and it blends a great acoustic song with a hard rocking song toward the end.

     3. "Needing/Getting" by OK GO


Who knew OK GO would keep their musical structure intact after all those clever music videos?  I love the lyric "I've been hoping for months, hoping for years, hoping I might forget, Aw, but it don't get much dumber, it don't get much dumber, than trying to forget, a girl when you love her".  Perfect phrase right there!

    4. "I Should Have Known It" by Tom Petty


It's a new Tom Petty song with a new Tom Petty album.  And the album is called "Mojo".  What a pleasant surprise.  I have a challenge for you.  Find a bad Tom Petty song.  Good luck.  Cause even when he changes the style up to a more blues-type of rock song, he still nails it consistently.  It's getting hard out there for others to even compete with him.  Maybe that's because they can't.

     5. "Back to December" by Taylor Swift


I have a very soft spot for Taylor.  She's perfect in many people's eyes (however that's not true, just listen to "Mean" off her new album).  But this song speaks volumes to me personally and you can tell that Taylor feels sorry for what she's done to this poor boy.  And it's a first time that Taylor has actually said she's sorry in one of her songs, instead of blasting the poor boys to death.

Album Review: Weezer's Pinkerton Deluxe Edition

What makes Weezer so loved?  Well before you answer that, why don't you answer me why Weezer is so often hated now a days?  It could be because their last two albums were entitled "Hurley" and "Raditude". It could be because a newer song of theirs, "Can't Stop Partying", featured the likes of Lil Wayne rapping in between a verse and the chorus.  Or maybe the fact that for every CD the band tends to put out (what is it, 2 CDs every 6 months?) they still keep experimenting between sounds.  No matter how many songs they release they will always have a "Weezer-ish" sound going for them, but there had to be a reason why everyone loved them to begin with.

Weezer started their career in 1994 with their self-titled debut album, also known as "The Blue Album".  With their crazy style and grudge alt-rock sound, they shot up to the charts with songs like "Buddy Holly", "Undone the Sweater Song", and "Say It Ain't So".  After that the band quickly got back in the studio to begin work on what would surly be more of the same material, to continue a blue album-type formula for their entire career.

Or not.

There's plenty of back story to Pinkerton but I simply don't want to bore you with the details.  Of course if you're interested in purchasing the Deluxe Edition of this superior album, then I suppose you know a little bit of what you're getting yourself into.  Long story made short, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo went to Harvard after the success of "The Blue Album" and had a procedure done to his knee.  Turns out one knee was shorter than the other and hindered his ability to run and play his first love, soccer.  You can imagine Cuomo holed up in Harvard during the cold winter months of 1995, having crunches help him to classes when he needed them.

The worst part of going to Harvard, besides the fact that it's a rough school, was the fact that poor Rivers didn't get any recognition from any of the girls there.  I guess they never saw the amazing "Buddy Holly" music video or heard "Say It Ain't So" a thousand times on the radio that past summer.  Nobody cared about Rivers and he was to say the least, really freaken bummed.  What does depression and loneliness do to you?  It makes you write amazing deep, honest songs!

So in the spring of 1996, Rivers presented the songs he'd written to his band, to which they then prescribed him some Prozac and they all wrote "Island in the Sun" and became famous once again! Ok kidding, they wrote Pinkerton.  And this deluxe edition does not disappoint.  It's all here, the original album, re-mastered, from the first track "Tired of Sex" to the beautiful acoustic ending of "Butterfly".  Rivers and gang pours their hearts out on this album and it certainly shows.

"Getchoo" is probably my least favorite track on Pinkerton but that's just because the lyrics are slightly weak compared to the rest of the lyrical content here.  That might be because right after "Getchoo" is "No Other One" and "Why Bother?".  They're two quick and honest songs describing how Cuomo can't get over one particular person and yet he knows that at the end of all of this, he'll only get his heart broken by them.  "Maybe we can even get together, maybe you could break my heart next summer" is a fantastic line sung in "Why Bother?" that speaks volumes on how Cuomo feels towards relationships and the girls he picks.

The true highlight of the album and Weezer's career comes next, with "Across the Sea".  A Japanese fan letter reached Rivers in the late summer of 1995, requesting a song written for her.  Rivers was so touched by the nature of the letter and the fact that somebody actually knows him, that he writes a fantastic and kind of too-honest-to-be-shared song about her.  Lyrics like, "I wonder how you touch yourself at night" could of course freak people out, but the fact remains he's simply expressing his true feelings of frustration toward the opposite sex and how he can never seem to get love.  Whether it's because the girl lives in Japan or turns out to be a lesbian (as is the case in "Pink Triangle"), poor Rivers can't seem to catch a break in this album.

First single, "El Scorcho", is a standout track if only to let the listener realize how Rivers gets his feelings out on music.  "How stupid is it?  I can't talk about it.  I gotta sing about it, and make a record oh..." is some of my faovrite lyrics from Pinkerton.  He always seems to be self-aware of his situation and utitlizes that awareness to a great, honest, and poignant level. Just look at the last song on the record, "Butterfly" to see those qualities shine.  The second single, "The Good Life" (video below), was the only real catchy song that tried to show Rivers pain and frustration with some humor thrown in.



But enough about the original album, lets talk about the Deluxe Edition. Granted a lot of the orginal tracks have live versions from either reading festivals or radio performances, but they can be interesting some situations.  Personally, while I can't believe all of the editing used to create a "radio mix" of "The Good Life" or "El Scorcho", it's nice to have those versions in there for purists.  Still, if you do happen to listen to the 2 discs in order, you're going to hear some songs 5 times in different variations.  Which can certainly make you go a little crazy.

We get "You Won't Get With Me Tonight" to start off with.  This, like many of the B-sides, are from Cuomo's failed attempt at writing and releasing what would have been Weezer's 2nd album, Songs From the Black Hole.  It's a great little song that has the Jonas and Maria characters fully intact.  "Long Time Sunshine" was supposed to have closed the original album out but they opted for "Butterfly", which I think was a great choice, however "Sunshine" has enough steam and power to really sustain itself.  "Getting Up and Leaving" is really a lyrical powerhouse of talking about memories and getting back to what feels good.  It's just like Weezer's newest songs, "Memories"!  Yeah.......huge stretch eh?

But amoung all the extras we do get here, including a funny 90 second interview in which Rivers explains the differences between their 1st and 2nd albums, nothing compares to "Tragic Girl".  Without a doubt I am very pissed this track was recorded and then cast aside for 14 years.  What the hell was Weezer thinking?! I honestly believe this is the kind of song that could've easily fit and made Pinkerton an 11 track masterpiece (it already is, but hey, if you can add another track in there and not screw up the formula, more power to you).  I won't ruin the song for you, but lyrical content and the way Rivers sings is just the icing on the cake.  I simply adore this song and can't reccommend it any more.

Overall, this Deluxe version is for the fans.  The die hard fans that need a new Weezer song that doesn't just disappoint over and over will be thrilled for this release.  If you've never heard Pinkerton, this is a fantastic chance to get even more than you bargained for in a CD.  However I highly reccommend listening to the original album a few times before delving into the bonus tracks and alternative takes.  There's no reason not to get excited about one of the best albums of the 90's than to listen to it in all of it's glory, B-sides, interviews, and live tracks combined.

Our Kind of Music

I can hardly believe 2010 is coming closer and closer toward the end. We have been in a new decade for a year now and what do we have to show for it? Well apparently we have auto-tune club jams and crazy genre bending rock music that sounds just as spacey as a soundtrack to 2001: A Space Oddesy.

Every decade for the last 7 or 8 decades have had a rather significant sound in the musical landscape. Starting from the 1920's with tapping and swinging beats to the 1990's with its grunge rock and teeny bopper pop sounds. Most satelite radio channels have stations dedicated to each and every decade of musical styles. My personal favorite is the 90's but I know how people are with the "classic" stages of music, aka the 60's, 70's and 80's. Lord forbid anyone listen to anything past 1989. ;)

Despite all of these distinctions in the different musical styles, it appears that since the early 2000's, our culture is slowly fading away from these distinctions. What can we truly call the 2000's? What does a song from 2006 really sound like? Uh, good question! I can say that club jams and rap music certainly have advanced in the last decade, almost filtering into any genre imaginable. While I love crossing genres (it's impressive), it can also grow tiring when every song you listen to sounds the same.

Case in point: Every new Usher song sounds just like every Lady Ga Ga song mixed with the new form of Enrique Iglesias's songs. When I hear a song like "Like a G6" by the Far East Movement on radio today, I have no idea who that artist truly is. I half expect Pitbull, the pathetic 30 second spot rapper, to bust in and annoy me with pointless lyrics. I realize that we're only a year into the new decade but so far I see no one new coming in to really push the envelope and create a distinction between what we've heard and what we're going to hear from now on.

One of my favorite genres, alternative rock, had a huge climax in the middle of the last decade thanks in large part to Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and even Yellowcard for a while. The sound for each of those bands was distinct yet familiar and bridged a dynamic that people either loved or hated. But a dynamic that is slowly fading into nothing today. Two of those bands (P!ATD and Yellowcard) are set to return in 2011 with new albums and I'm interested to see if they'll keep their older sound or try to break ground on something new and unique. It's always a changing landscape in music but recently it seems to be changing into one central sound. And that sound is dull club beats or electronica rock.

Another grand example of a band trying to sound like themselves but switching to a more stylized, slick club-sound is Good Charlotte. They used to be a bit more punk and a whole lot less pop. Their transition started on their last album but if you've heard their newest single "Like It's Her Birthday" you can easily tell this band loves catchy choruses and high production values. Is that wrong? Of course not. It's them being apart of the culture of today, but it saddens me that few people today try and push toward something different.

It's not like all bands "conform" to what's popular today. Look at Radiohead. It would appear they don't conform but actually set the bar where it needs to be in regards to what is musical art these days. Their last album "In Rainbows" was something to behold and it was rather unique in 2007 compared to dumb techno beats that still surround the radio. I'm not saying this band is the key to saving music, hell no. But I am stating that Radiohead isn't afraid of trying something new on every album and sometimes I get the feeling in this next decade, the only thing new we'll be hearing is an increase in even more auto-tuned songs.

Rainy Day Music Videos

Recently we've been experiencing a massive amount of rain where I live.  Thanks to the flooding and the chilliness that is starting to set in, I can finally start to believe it's fall.  It also got me to thinking about music of course.  There are certain songs you tend to listen to while it's raining.  I seem to always get lucky with my song choices, since most of the time my iPod will randomly suffle to the perfect rainy day song.

Now I also happen to be a very visual person.  Not since MTV actually played music videos have probably met someone like me, who enjoys watching numerous music videos.  So here are my rainy day music video selections, to really get you in the mood for curling up on the couch and watching outside as mother nature does what she does best:

1. Dido "White Flag"


2. Linkin Park's "Numb"


3. Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"


4. Coldplay's "Yellow"

Coldplay - Yellow
Uploaded by EMI_Music. - See the latest featured music videos.

5. Matchbox Twenty's "Unwell"

Matchbox Twenty - Unwell
Uploaded by AtlanticRecords. - Explore more music videos.

What music videos or songs remind you of a blissfully rainy day?

September Albums Outlook

Every year we, the American public, have to hear those famous words: "Back to School!".  Well, we always get bombarded with that typical phrase, usually right after the grads and dads marketing campaign is through in late June.  But for me, the fall always brings forth a certain maturity toward another topic I love discussing: music. 

The fall music selections for this year are vast in nature, ranging from a plethora of genres and skill levels.  We have Brandon Flowers' first solo album debut, another Weezer record (already?), Jimmy Eat World's return, Maroon 5 breaking out once again, and a slew of other contenders that are all out to get your hard earned summer dollars.

To highlight the artists I'm most looking forward to hearing this fall, it may take a long while, simply because the selection is quiet impressive.  Going down the list, my most anticipated albums of the fall include:

                    1.  Sara Bareilles' "Kaleidoscope Heart"

What works well for this saucy, in-your-face girl is her powerful lyrics and poppy attitude.  She scored big in 2007 with her hit "Love Song" which had literally nothing to do about love.  And now she's got a hit single called "King of Anything" that is in the same vein as her major label debut.  Her CD dropped today and judging by the reviews, people are mixed about the singers ability to thwart off a sophomore slump.  But from the songs I've heard and the direction the album seems to be taking, I'm game for whatever this talented girl brings us.

           2.  Brandon Flowers' "Flamingo"

The Killers, this is not.  But Brandon Flowers honestly didn't want to go solo as much as you might think he did.  Most of the songs on his first solo debut album "Flamingo" are songs that he has been quoted as saying were meant for a future Killers record.  Let's be honest, The Killers is influenced by Flowers the most and Brandon has a knack for trying new things in the most mature and a little over-the-top fashion on the newer Killers records (see Sam's Town and Day & Age).  I've heard clips of the songs and of course the very heartwarming single "Crossfire" and must admit, I am ready for a little more charm from Flowers.

                 3.  Maroon 5's "Hands All Over"

Maroon 5 has been around for nearly a decade now.  And yet the band has been successful simply off of only releasing 2 albums thus far.  The stellar debut album "Songs About Jane" took 2 years to break out and thanks to the radio friendly singles, stood out for a long time.  But 2007 was the last time we got a Maroon 5 fix with "It Won't Be Soon Before Long".  Things have changed since that album dropped, and lead singer Adam Levine seems to be aware of what their 3rd album stands for.  The band left the country to record this album in Switzerland, allowing for them to creatively go where no band has gone before.  Oh am I kidding, Maroon 5 has a sound all their own that I highly doubt will change too much this time around.  But the band has been quoted as trying to revisit their roots and have a more funk/soul vibe on "Hands All Over".  If that's true, I can't help but be excited for the next chapter of radio hits and sexy music videos that are sure to come.

                4.  Kanye West TBA album

Oh sure, Kanye West has had a very rough few years personally.  His last album was an auto tuned poetry piece of heart break and depression (a very good one at that though!).  The Taylor Swift thing last year certainly didn't help his persona any more either.  But lucky for us, the man is back to doing the one thing he CAN do: Rap.  While the new Kanye West tracks that have leaked, including the lead single "Power", aren't impressing me as much as the older Kanye West, that doesn't mean I'm not excited.  He's still got the producing chops of a pro.  Listen to the leaked track "Monster" to understand his abilities as both a rapper and a collaborator toward other artists who haven't yet been heard.  Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z all on one track?!  See, that's the great thing about Kanye, he actually strives to be different.  It just sometimes doesn't always work out in his favor.

There are more albums I'd love to feature but that will be saved for later this fall.  Coming up soon, the fall albums we really didn't need to hear. ;)

Album Trends in 2010

Eminem and Rihanna in the "Love the Way You Lie" music video

The American consumer gets the privilege of having a plethora of unique music and bands to choose from. In 2010 alone we've seen some amazing bands come around to introduce us to a unique collection of sounds.  A few artists that come to mind:

1. Vampire Weekend
2. B.O.B.
3. Arcade Fire
4. Gorillaz
5. Eminem
6. Motion City Soundtrack
7. The Morning Of
8. The Dead Weather
9. OK GO
10. Ra Ra Riot

Clearly I have no problem crossing genres but then again, that's emphasized rather clearly on the main title of this page.  The real question I have for consumers is how does their decisions affect album sales?  It's amazing to see the 2010 album sales figures for some of the artists mentioned above.  Back in January, Vampire Weekend had their first #1 album with the release of their sophomore album Contra.  Being able to sell 124,000 copies in the dead of winter after a holiday rush of sales, shows the band had some great marketing ideas.  Whether the first single Cousins being run across music television channels that previous fall as well college campuses across the country helped or maybe it was the large fan base they gained with their first album.  Regardless, for a band to go from selling 28,000 copies on the first week for their debut album to selling 124,000 copies during their first week for their 2nd CD, it clearly states this band is maturing.

Arcade Fire

Another band mentioned above was Arcade Fire.  The band was recently able to have their first #1 album debut with their 3rd album The Suburbs.  Not only that, but the band was also able to finally break Eminem's reign on the Billboard Charts after a 4 week run at #1 with his album Recovery.  How did Arcade Fire achieve pinning Eminem down?  Well marketing can really take an effect on an albums sales if done right.  Eminem's marketing strategy of being rather quiet about his album and simply releasing a single and an underground freestyle to promote Recovery seems to have worked (currently he's back at the #1 spot).  But with Arcade Fire, they can't simply release a single and expect people to care about their band.  They want to attract people like me, who have heard about their band but have never truly given them a chance.  Look no further than Amazon's MP3 Store to help aid the band!  Thanks to putting their album on a $3.99 daily deal that turned into a weekly deal, people snatched up their album just to see what all the fuss was about. That includes me.  And it certainly helps that their album is great, which there in turn allows me to spread the deal to my friends via word of mouth, Twitter, Facebook, and just now, blogs.  Arcade Fire was able to get 156,000 copies sold the first week, very similar to Vampire Weekend's Contra first week album sales.

Vampire Weekend

The Amazon MP3 Store is actually the best kept secret on the internet if only because of their incredible deals they have each and every day.  Of the artists mentioned above, the following had their album on sale the day it came out on Amazon MP3:  OK GO, Arcade Fire, Ra Ra Riot, and Vampire Weekend.  So what happens when you're a band that doesn't want to offer your album for dirt cheap but still want to break out into the scene?  Simple.  First step is to make an excellent album.  Then of course you must go all old school and do the touring thing.  That's exactly what The Morning Of has done.  Their album The Way I Fell In is officially my favorite album of the year thus far and I bet you only a select few know of the band.  That's fine though, because the band is touring constantly with bands that are also breaking out onto the scene (The Dangerous Summer comes to mind).  That helped with strong word of mouth reviews and being featured on multiple news associations have helped people find out about bands like The Morning Of or even rappers like B.O.B., who had a list of hits already come out this year.

The Morning Of

B.O.B. aka Bobby Ray

So how has the album trends been this year thus far?  I would say the albums that have sold well this year have done so thanks in large part to marketing of the albums and the consumers willingness to find the music they want to hear.  Sure there are plenty of popular albums atop the charts, mostly club bangers, but 2010 has been filled with something a little more tailored toward the alternative choices club.  5 years ago I doubt anyone would have guessed Eminem would release another CD but have the CD mostly be filled with unique non-rap beats and Arcade Fire have a #1 album on a label that is out of Chapel Hill, NC instead of the usual New York City or LA scene.

Important Links:
Amazon MP3 Store
The Billboard 200