Once again, it's time for a look back at the year in music and waxings on which albums were best. This year's list includes recordings I obsessed over this year, those albums I played so much the songs are forever engrained in my grey matter and that I listened to so much, that I had to do a self-intervention so I didn't play them out completely...
10. Grecian Urns, Lovedream
The first local band to ever make my Top 10 is now calling it quits after putting out a rather lovely self-released self-recorded debut LP. Lovedream is full of the Grecian Urns' pretty heart-hugging folk pop, which is fresh and full of sunshine. The arrangements and lyricism are rather accomplished for musicians so relatively young (ages 19-23), with horns, strings and percussive textures, charming boy-girl harmonies, whistling and clapping and exuberant sing-shouting, and catchy refrains that trigger instant feel-good gooseflesh. Click here to read my summer story on the band. And check out the video for my favorite Urns song, "Muhammed Ali" below.
9. Here We Go Magic, Pigeons
Just plain appealing and surprisingly eclectic psyche/electro rock with definite krautrock overtones, and bright and bouncy Afro-pop flavor. Video for "The Collector" below.