Halfway Home Update / Top Ten Albums So Far

It's hard to believe it's the end of June already, and to say the least - it's been pretty hectic. There's been an ACL surgery, a move to Brooklyn, the sale of the music publisher I work for and a mysterious stomach ailment that dropped me 20 lbs...transforming me into this ghostly, zombie creature for about a month. Not to mention, I now live with this guy. With all that being said - I'm still here; and more importantly 52 Records is still here.

You may have seen a few changes over the past six months. I've changed the layout a couple times, there are many more helpful links in the posts and I've made a somewhat conscious effort to try and stay away from many of the mainstream releases. One thing that hasn't changed is the goal of this blog - to offer up reviews and insights on new and independent music. The caption under the title of 52 Records reads: "Watch me blow my paycheck on new music every week for a year," and I continue to stand by this as every review that I write comes from an album that I have personally bought.

There are a bunch of people that I would like to thank. First off, anybody that reads this - thank you. In all honesty - I could care less because I really only keep this site going for my personal use, but the fact that people out there do stumble across these blog posts and respond is pretty cool. Believe it or not, this blog is quickly approaching the 5,000+ hit mark! I'd like to thank a couple of other fellow bloggers for their comments, insight and helpful plugs over the past year(s).

Brittany White - http://yeartwentyfive.blogspot.com/

Caleb Hawley - http://calebhawley.com/category/blog/

*Jah - http://www.chatteringgem.com/

Jon Starring - http://theaudiosphere.wordpress.com/

Evan Rakowski - http://threewordchant.com/

I've also had the opportunity to get (very little) press from a couple of outlets as well as promotional items, albums and concert tickets as a result of this blog. This is something I never envisioned happening, but it is, and it's greatly appreciated.

Filter

Fader

The Aquarian Weekly

aside//worldwide

Tygereye Entertainment

GBH Events

One more note before I get to the music. I'm one of those people that still likes to go out and buy a physical album. I like the excitement of opening it and playing it for the first time with jacket in my hand. In the past year it's been getting much more difficult to find places that sell the albums I'm looking for, especially with both of the Virgin Megastores in NYC foreclosing. Since I've moved from Astoria to Greenpoint I've been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing music scene and consequently amazing music stores. For the past three months all of the albums that I have purchased for the blog (and countless other albums) have been bought at Sound Fix in Williamsburg. If you haven't been there you need to go. Sound Fix is the only store that always has exactly what I'm looking for, be it new releases, obscure albums, vinyl, etc. - and all at reasonable prices. So I'd be re-missed if I didn't give them a plug.

Sound Fix (N. 11th St, Between Berry St. & Wythe Ave.)

http://www.soundfixrecords.com/

And now for the music...

Here are the top ten albums I have purchased thus far in 2010. I still have one other album to review this June (Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today) but unfortunately it's not going to crack the top ten.

Starting with #10...

10.) Beach House - Teen Dream

Mixing aspects of folk, indie and dream-pop, Beach House floods their latest release 'Teen Dream,' with waves of sonic charm and storytelling. For the outsiders looking in, it's hard to really explain what Beach House sounds like - I guess it's some kind of cross between Fleetwood Mac and Grizzly Bear, filled with reverb. Whatever it is, it works - even though Beach House's polarity has been enigmatic at best over the last several years. It seems that anyone and everyone who hears Beach House has a definitive opinion on their sound, be it good or bad. 'Teen Dream' bridges the gap between the lovers and haters, becoming the group's most accessible and approachable record to date. Everything from the feel of the music to the honesty of the lyrics is entirely relatable. Looks like Beach House has finally opened up their gates and simply want us to press play.

9.) Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

Surfer Blood burst on to the scene in 2009, touring heavily and turning heads in the process. Hailed as one of the most anticipated albums of the year, 'Astro Coast' is finally here, and it's loud. Despite being drowned in fuzzy reverb and power chords, melodies and hooks are plentiful, swerving their way in and out of the background. The band itself is full of personality, life and energy. See for yourself. With a sound that draws influences from early Weezer and The Shins, Surfer Blood looks to be reinventing the indie-rock wheel for 2010.

8.) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

Being that this is my first venture into the world of LCD Soundsystem, I was a little skeptical. I know the hipsters love LCD, but the hipsters also love The National. I knew I would be slightly pre-conditioned to like this album though, do to the fact at his core, James Murphy is more of a weird-synth, dance guy. Essentially, "This is Happening" is a great success. It's fun, it's danceable, it's filled with waves of synth loops and weird lyrics that ironically make for a great summer album. The only downfall would be some of the tangents the record veers of into, often focusing in on spoken word vocals that sound like something from a bad Adam Green / 3OH!3 collaboration. But in it's entirety, the album does live up to it's potential and is definitely something worth checking out.

7.) Delta Spirit - History From Below

It's fun to root for the underdog. It's rewarding when you can see true talent flourish. Delta Spirit arguably have been one of the hardest working bands in America over the last few years. They've released two albums in two years, have toured relentlessly and even found time to get iced. On "History From Below" it appears all of that work has paid off, as Delta Spirit offers up a more refined, mature and evolved sound. Gone are the gimmicky riffs of the "Trashcan" days, as they have been replaced with more traditional compositions that provide a musical forum for the band to show off their San Diego rock roots. "History From Below" is beautifully balanced with anthemic indie rock tracks and elegantly composed, self-reflecting acoustic ballads, subtly informing their audience that they're no 'one-trick-pony.' This is one of those albums that will definitely grow on you...so I strongly advise you go pick it up now.

6.) MGMT - Congratulations

Along with Vampire Weekend's "Contra," MGMT's "Congratulations" was one of 2010's most anticipated releases. Whereas Vampire Weekend refined their sound from the band's hugely successful debut album into an even more quirky, yet commercially acceptable afro-pop sound, nobody really knew what direction "Congratulations" would take MGMT. Their first record, which was critically acclaimed, delved into alternative folk rock and experimental pop. On "Congratulations" the band seems to have come full circle, creating an album that will undoubtedly be listened to ten years from now. But unlike their debut, MGMT's second record is a progressive enigma that will require some time and patience for it's true genius to be appreciated.

5.) Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

It's remarkable how we discover new music. I first heard about Flying Lotus in 2008 from a friend of mine (Kristina Hedrick), as she thought I'd be into him after reading this article in the New Yorker. At that point in my life I had fully dove into the world of electronica and was really only listening to STS9 and Eliot Lipp. Kristina figured FlyLo would be right in my wheelhouse. And so it was. But there was something different about Steven Ellison's approach to production. It was pure expression and art, translated and fixed to a record. He wasn't just pushing buttons and making beats - he was on a different level. There were no definitions, no protocol...no patterns to follow. Rather it was beautiful, atmospheric wanderings that weaved in and out of hip-hop, electronica and jazz. 'Los Angeles' drew me in and now 'Cosmogramma' has solidified myself as a lifelong fan. Prepare to be dazzled.

4.) The Morning Benders - Big Echo

First off, The Morning Benders clearly have one of the better band names I've heard over the past few years. It can literally be interpreted in about 1,000 different ways. I have my own take on what exactly a "Morning Bender" is. But for those who don't have their heads in the gutter, The Morning Benders are definitely one of the better, feel good stories of the year. Here we have a great, young band fully coming into their own on just this, their sophomore effort. As the title "Big Echo" would suggest, this record is filled with big sounds, layers and, well...echo. Despite their youthfulness, The Morning Benders appear wise beyond their age combining sophisticated melodies that will have fans of everyone from Grizzly bear to old school Paul Anka, nodding their heads.

3.) Delorean - Subiza

It's about time. This was an amazing find and exactly the new band I was looking for. I had heard some buzz about Delorean after a couple of shows in NYC and decided to pop into Sound Fix to pick up the new album...I've been listening to it ever since. In my opinion, Delorean is what I always wanted Passion Pit to sound like. They simply are an indie dance-rock band that knows how to bring it. Passion Pit tends to work themselves in and out of great music and lack the consistency that 'Subiza' shows. Delorean finds a way to make every track on the album relevant - something that is incredible difficult to do. 'Subiza' is great in that, at any given point, any given song on the album could be my favorite. It's fresh, it's original and it's fun.

2.) Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Five months ago I asked a friend to give me some bands that nobody really knew about, but should. I got a list of three bands - Local Natives was at the top. At the time, they only had a couple songs out, but had been making a huge splash in Europe and in the underground music circuits of LA and NYC. Like most, I had the general idea that the band had the potential to create an amazing record, now I have the proof with "Gorilla Manor." Blended with harmonies, enthusiasm and a grassroots approach to rock music, Local Natives has accomplished everything their fan base had been anticipating with this album. "Gorilla Manor" marks a return to what music should sound like - youthful, celebratory and sincere.

1.) Toro y Moi - Causers of This

I went to see Neon Indian at Mercury Lounge three months ago and Toro y Moi was opening. We had no idea who he was, so of course we decided it would be better to just come later (after the openers) and get some pre-show drinks in our system. Idiots. The irony in this is that, in constantly looking for that great new band or great new sound, I spend a lot of time going to shows and researching up and coming acts. So it makes perfect sense that the one time I purposely show up late to a show, I miss the artist that may have just released the best album of 2010. 'Causers of This' is a complete amalgamation of the music I've been listening to over the last several months and is filled with relaxing grooves, hazy synths and chopped up samples. It's one of those records that, when you hit play for the first time, you know instantly that it's going to exceed your expectations.