2010 Year End List

The staff at KPSU asked me to fill out a year-end list, of my top 10 favorite records of 2010. I don't normally do lists like this; most of the music I buy is not new, most of the music I listen to is not new, and I think year-end lists are extremely misleading, often because there don't have context. But, since I had to fill one out, here's my context:

These are the albums I listened to in 2010, that were released in 2010. This isn't everything that I was a fan of, nor is it everything that I listened to in 2010. It is merely the honorable mentions that were released in the year 2010, that I listened to in 2010. I'll be the first to say that the list is subjective, missing a ton of things that you would rather see on the list, and in some spots, I cheat. But this is the closest accurate reflection you will get from me about how 2010 went down, musically speaking. Enjoy!

01.) Ke$ha - Animal
If, for no other reason, "Tik Tok" made this album all worth while. I kept coming back to it, even when I knew I shouldn't.

02.) Moment In Static - Demos
Local math-rockers are stellar, live and recorded. Check out one of their rare live shows, or their archived KPSU performance.

03.) The Oblik - Demos
Pop rock like they used to make, with equal-parts goth and glam. Hooks and then some, and rewarding upon multiple listens.

04.) Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
You need this album the way you need to hit the clubs on a Friday night, but this is better for the wee hours of the night, when you're feeling introspective.

05.) The Black Keys - Brothers
This is what rock and roll is all about. The hyper-color disc says it all: this band either polarizes you one way or the other. For me, I became a full-on convert.

06.) Grinderman - 2
The most anticipated record of the year, and well worth the wait. Nick Cave with a sense of humor is the best kind of Nick Cave to listen to, and this record is something to get genuinely creeped out about.

07.) No Age - Everything In Between
Get this album. Listen to it twice daily. Then try telling me I'm wrong about it. I dare you.

08.) Weekend - Sports
This album snuck in late for me, as I found only a week or so ago. But it is, without a doubt, the best album of 2010.

09.) Quasi / Pavement - Live!
A chance to see Pavement was the highlight of the year, and the show delivered everything I wanted and more. Quasi was great, too.

10.) kpsu.org
When all was said and done, I had my computer locked on kpsu.org. It had all of this, and more, 24 hours a day.

Live Music Blowout!

Not content to deliver our usual weekly blast of radio with some cleverly selected songs and concise talk breaks, this week Blasphuphmus Radio brings you something a little bit crazy, merely because we can. Prepare yourselves for a three-hour block of Live Music. Ob-soive!:

Episode 103: Live Live Live! w/ Hogwash!

(A three-hour presentation, hosted by Hogwash of Is This Music?, featuring live performances by Paco Jones, Spokane Belmont and Gender Roles!)

Hour 1: Paco Jones

Hour 2: Spokane Belmont

Hour 3: Gender Roles

This one slowly developed into the show it became. First, Gender Roles contacted me about a live in-studio, and very soon Spokane Belmont got added to the bill. But when Ricardo Wang came down ill this week, and he asked me to host Paco Jones as well, I called in the big guns and asked Hogwash to host the show for me while I ran sound. Hogwash is a radio genius, and his show is one of the best things on the dial these days (he also works over at KBOO, engineering twice a month on Mondays). Between his know-how, and my sound-tech skillz, this proved to be a fantastic three-hour block of radio that you can't deny.

Who knows what the future holds? Tune in, and find out.

See ya in seven.

It's Time For A Soul Explosion!

To start the New Year out right, Jaycation and I have teamed up to bring you a five hour SOUL EXPLOSION, and a one hour retrocast, all in the name of quality radio. It's not an easy job, but the hours are fantastic. Ob-soive:

First, start things off right with a little blast from the past, circa August of 2009.

Retrocast of "Vinyl Solution, Part I"

(Where I play a whole lot of records, and have fun doing it.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

This, I dive into a three hour block of soul that is continued afterward by fellow DJ and connoisseur, Jaycation.

Episode 102: Soul Explosion!

Hour 2: http://archive.kpsu.org/node/37152

Hour 3: http://archive.kpsu.org/node/37153

(Where I dig into my collection of Atlantic and Stax Records for a three hour blast of Soul Power!)

[Note: At this time, Hour 1 does not appear to have been recorded. We apologize for this inconvenience.]

Playlist & Footnotes.

Then, keep it locked as Jaycation takes over to deliver his own soul favorites.

Jaycation Hour 1

Jaycation Hour 2

What can I say? When you need soul, you need a lot of it.

Next week: A live performance by Gender Roles, and more!

See Ya in Seven.

Back In The Saddle Again

Well, we've had all manner of crazy shit go down in the last few months, and this show has not be as well documented, performed, posted, or heard because of that. But the wait is over, as we are back in business, and ready for action with five hours of downloads, including a special New Year's Day broadcast, some live electro-glitch, and actual profanity. Yeah, you know you want it. Here we go:

Episode 101: Some Changes For The New Year (Hour 1)

Episode 101: Some Changes For The New Year (Hour 2)

(Where I play a whole slew of songs about newness, beginnings, and chan

ge.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

(I should point out that I haven't had a chance to write a proper footnoted playlist in many moons, which is why this is a big deal.)

Also, I got to run sound for What's This Called? today, too. Ob-soive:

What's This Called? w/ Doug Theriault, LIVE!

(Featuring a live performance by local noise artist, Doug Theriault.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

Doug is a circuit bender, a noise artist, and a really wonderful and friendly guy. I had a great time meeting him today, and he is just as kind and considerate as his music is weird, noisy and wonderful. You should give it a listen.

Lastly:

For those of you who didn't already hear the gossip, Greg and Sarah from Funemployment Radio (dot com!) were kind enough to invite me as a guest on their show last Thursday. Here are the results:

Funemployment Radio #275 w/ Cody Austin Rich

(Featuring Greg Nibler, Sarah X Dylan, Kenny B, and special guest Cody Austin Rich.)

Greg and Sarah need no introduction, but a little known fact is that I was involved in Greg's tentative beginnings in radio at KPSU. Hear us shoot this shit about nothing in particular (with profanity!), all the while having a really, really good time. I was really excited to be a guest on their show, and I'm looking forward to where they end up next.

And that does it for this week. Now, there are 51 more shows I need to prepare for. Until then...

See ya in Seven.