Ok, so it wasn't technically last night, but hey, I'm not going to abandon my traditional playlist title due to tardiness. Indulge me.
Last Thursday was the first ever REARVIEW 2010, a special DJ night at River Gods in Cambridge, MA where Ashley from Boston Band Crush and I played our favorite songs released in 2010. Ash focused on Boston-area music, while I did the national thing - although I sprinkled my fave local songs in my set as well.
So, in anticipation of my eventual favorite albums post (because I know you're all just dying for that one), here's my full playlist - the songs that soundtracked what was one of my worst years on this particular planet. The songs that got me through.
(scroll down for more related comments and links, and have a look here for Ashley's kick-ass local playlist)
There were a few songs I should mention that sadly got cut for time - Tim and Sam's - "Choices", Wye Oak's "My Neighbor", and School of Seven Bells' "Babelonia". Those cuts might not be listed above, but they're on my list o' faves.
Yeah, I began and ended with Standard Fare, as I simply couldn't bring myself to cut either of those tracks. Perfect bookends.
While most of the songs naturally came from full-lengths, there are a lot of teases that bode well for 2011: Both the Telekinesis and Wye Oak songs are from excellent Merge-released EPs that held us over until the imminent release of their new full-lengths. That Cuffs demo (one of three you can grab here) promises greatness to come from planned studio time, during which they'll lay down songs for an upcoming 7-inch. Speaking of 7-inches, the two cuts on the Girlfriends' "Gov't Seizure" vinyl simply weren't enough, and I'm anxiously awaiting the full-length that should happen this year. Definitely out soon is the new album from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart ("Belong" in March from Slumberland), with "Heart In Your Heartbreak" being the advance single. Lastly, fingers remain crossed that we will, at long last, see a full-lengther from Brian Sullivan's Dylan In The Movies this year, with "The Girl With The Black Tights" joining "Josephine, If You Only Knew" as assurances that it will be something truly special. Keep an eye on the American Laundromat site for the hopefully-sooner-rather-than-later album announcement.
The John Shade track I played was recorded early last year at a magical Somerville Armory show with the Neave Quartet, and you can find the non-strings version of it on his site, along with a strings-version of the non-album "Here I Am
On the way: My list of favorite long-players from 2010. This I do solemnly swear.
