Below is a list of my favorite records released by artists from Baltimore in 2010. Before I began to ponder these albums, I had to decide whether or not to include work released through a local label that got started up this year, Friends Records.
I've never considered Bmore Musically Informed a proper form of journalism, but I still feel uneasy about endorsing records on this list that I have personally been involved with releasing (re: Height, Sri Aurobindo, Weekends, Celebration, and other friends). While I have chosen to leave them off this list, my affection for them is already pretty clear.
Again this year there was a long list of amazing releases to come out of Baltimore, churning in all kinds of diversity to invade your ear-space. Hear for yourself...
20. Holy Ghost Party - Prog Parents // Wtr Clr
19. Pfisters - Narcicity // Fan Death
18. Crazy Dreams Bands - War Dream // Holy Mountain
17. Lizz King - All Songs Go To Heaven // Ehse
16. Rapdragons - Featuring Baltimore // LTD Comp
15. Dead Drums - Fashion Defense // Self-released
14. Raindeer - Raindeer EP // Self-released
13. The Art Department - Paperwork / Birdwork // Gen Pop
12. Romantic States - Romantic States // Tater Junction
11. Do While - Do While // Wigflip
10. Mickey Free - Last of the Tight Wiggers // Self-released
9. Happy Family / Run DMT - Banana Split // Wigflip
8. Daniel Higgs - Say God // Thrill Jockey
7. Jason Urick - Fussing & Fighting // Thrill Jockey
Wye Oak - My Neighbor / My Creator // Merge
5. Double Dagger - Masks // Thrill Jockey
4. Beach House - Teen Dream // Sub Pop
3. Dustin Wong - Infinite Love // Thrill Jockey
2. Lower Dens - Twin Hand Movement // Gnomonosong
1. Future Islands - In Evening Air // Thrill Jockey
8 comments:
you should put some explanation for your ratings. I'd like to hear you thoughts and I'm completely mystified as to how Beach House was not #1 in a landslide.
While I'm guessing Teen Dream might have been the most successful Baltimore record in terms of sales and worldwide popularity, it's not my favorite Beach House record... and I know alot of folks who feel the same way. It's an amazing album from a great duo who are clearly growing with their sound, but when it came down to scoring these I knew I listened to those other three records that were ranked higher a whole lot more this year.
Fair enough, I won 3 of the top 4 records on your list, and I have probably listened to teen dream more than any other record this year, baltimore or otherwise. Difference of opinion on their changing sound I guess.
Yes! on the Do While.. does he even know how good he is?
And the Lower Dens record has been sleeping like a big fat cat endlessly on my stereo since I found it... also huge happy claps to Happy Family/Run DMT split, wigflip I been eyein' you since you first made my day.
k, also I never. heard the Mickey Free b4 but um.. holy shit. Record is hot like fire.
Your blog rulez/ thanks. keep it up.
<3 frum Canadianaaa..
Hey Brett,
you didn't mention Gerrit Welmers' solo effort as Moss of Aura while I think both "Still parade" and "March" are huge highlights in 2010...
@Hip-Nautiqu I'm pretty sure that Still Parade came out in 2009... I know I snagged it at the end of '09. Otherwise I would have definitely included it, still gets regular play for me.
Really glad to see Dustin Wong in the Top 5, definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. I see where you're coming from with Beach House, and a lot of my friends feel the same way. Stoked to see them do so well this year, but personally Devotion is still my favorite album.
Post a Comment