sidewinder

As music nerds, I'm sure most of us are constantly discovering music from various decades and not focusing strictly on the current year. I'd venture so say I discover more from other years than the current one. I mean there's basically 5 decades worth of stuff to go through versus any year we happen to be in (I don't have much interest yet in anything older than the 60s). I think anyone who focuses entirely or mostly on the current year doesn't have as open a mind as they should - and that's fine, there are many youths here that are still developing their tastes. Hell even us old folks are still developing, we wouldn't still be addicted to music if we weren't.

Anyway enough of that! Tell me what non-2010 albums you discovered this year that blew you away!
I encourage you to include the artist and album name in text, the year of release, an image, and please say something about what you're posting.

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last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

Here are mine, listed alphabetically by artist.

Ambulance - The Curse of Vale Do Lobo (2003)
Incredible IDM album that really feels like a story - it's varied in style and mood and keeps you interested throughout, without feeling like it's a bunch of tracks by an artist trying to make a certain style. Wonderful for a walk in nature or elsewhere.



Architeq - Gold + Green (2009)
Not quite sure how to describe this one. IDM at its roots, but it tends to walk the line a little bit with glitch-hop. Similar to Kelpe, even though I'm sure that doesn't help as I haven't seen anyone here listen to him either. Very clean production, warm beats.



Datassette - Datassette (2008)
What to say about this one...IDM I guess. It doesn't remind me of any other artist in particular, but it's very good. There.



Eedl - Everse (2007)
Very nice melodic and chill IDM, most similar to Plaid and Ochre I'd say.



Jaga Jazzist - A Livingroom Hush (2002)
I'd known about these guys for a while, and finally checked them out with their 2010 album, which is quite great. So I dug a little into their backcatalog and really like this one. Sort of a mix of Nu-jazz and IDM.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

Karsten Pflum - Flugten fra år 2000 (2005)
I'm happy to have discovered this Dutch IDM artist. The first I heard was a 2010 release compilation of previous material, called Slaphead Faun. I heard some very Aphex Twin-like melodies in there...without sounding like a rip off at all. This guy is skilled. This album here has a more unique style I'd say. If you're a fan of Richard James, Autechre, and Plaid, check him out.



Lootpack - Soundpieces: Da Antidote (1999)
Early hip-hop group featuring Madlib and some other dudes. It's fucking awesome.



Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Pig Lib (2003)
This album really struck me when I listened to it earlier in the year. I'd put it on par with just about any Pavement album. Unfortunately the others haven't fared as well, though still enjoyable. This one is just awesome.



Man Man - Six Demon Bag (2006)
I'd heard of this band before this year, but was exposed to them when the song "Engwish Bwudd" was played at the end of a Weeds episode - and it totally fit. I found out who the band was and eventually got all of their albums. I like them all equally, but this was the first and features the song that got me into them.



MF DOOM - Operation: Doomsday (1999)
Finally I got around to listening to him. This sort of defines the kind of hip-hop I look for. Not all tracks are perfect, but when it's good I find myself saying "god DAMN I need more shit like this". Mm.. Food is just as good but I'm listing this one because I heard it first.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

The Morning Benders - Talking Through Tin Cans (2008)
At first I found this to be somewhat generic indie rock/pop, reminiscent of The Shins and similar acts. I enjoyed a few songs right away, but the rest were pretty average. Well it grew on me. I still have it rated only at 3.5 stars, but I played it quite a bit and it made an impression on me. Their latest is good but I prefer this one. It's more fun. Good summer album, great for walking about.



Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
This was pretty hyped and I saw many mentions of it on various forums since last year. I don't recall what prompted me to check it out, perhaps I heard a song I liked somewhere and realized it was them so I went for it. Turned out to be one of my favorite albums this summer, it really put me in a great mood. Once I was leaving work and it was just gorgeous out, I was waiting for the bus and it put me on a quest to take music less seriously and find other great fun summer albums - and take more chances with stuff I may think is uncool or too pop at first.



Pylon - Chomp (1983)
Great female-fronted post punk. I heard Gyrate first, but I think this one's more fun.



Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence (1966)
I had a rip of their greatest hits on my computer from my ex, but only listened to it when a song came up on shuffle. I finally decided to listen to the comp in its entirety and it prompted me to get their albums. I think I like the first 3 equally, but this is the one I've played the most.



Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope (1980)
I always liked a few singles (not from this album) so I thought I'd check out some albums. I don't have too much to say about this as it's been a while since I played it, but it's the one I've rated the highest so far.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
I finally got around to listening to more than just the occasional single from them this year. Again I got some releases from my ex, and Hatful of Hollow finally did it for me while spending the afternoon at the park alone this spring. I worked my way through all the albums and like them all quite a bit but this wins out by just a tad.



Sonic Youth - Dirty (1992)
I only started listening to them last year, and after having gone through a handful of albums I think this is the best so far - and it's the most recent I got. Some of the others will take more time to sink in while this one just kind of hits the spot without as much effort. Daydream Nation is very good (wouldn't put it here anyway since I discovered it last year) but feels a bit overlong compared to this one.



Swirlies - They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons (1996)
This one...god damn. It's like discovering a long-lost 90s indie/alternative rock classic or something. Well, literally it is. Say you're a fan of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, early Smashing Pumpkins - well I equate finding this to fans of The Beatles and The Kinks finally discovering The Zombies. Their debut, Blonder Tongue Audio Baton, is equally good. I haven't checked out any others yet as the ratings indicate I might be disappointed.



The The - Soul Mining (1983)
I think I've expressed enough how much I've enjoyed this album. A few songs struck me on first listen, while walking around the lake during lunch as has been the case so often over the last 4 years. Then it just grew, and grew and grew. A couple songs are still just ok but the rest is god-damn good.



These New Puritans - Pyramid (2008)
I heard of their 2010 release, Hidden, and decided to check it out. Pretty cool mix of electronic and post-punk. I've seen it end up on a few best of 2010 lists, but while some songs are great I feel it's a little inconsistent and I prefer this album.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

Paul White - The Strange Dreams of Paul White (2009)
Great instrumental hip-hop album. Not much else to say, clean production and good beats.



Why? - Alopecia (2008)
So this is pretty amazing and quite poppy. Great vocal harmonies. I'd heard Elephant Eyelash a few years ago and liked it but didn't really feel like checking out others. I guess I let a few years go by before checking this one out - finally caved in to all the good things I was hearing. It's very rewarding.



Wintersleep - Untitled (2005)
Basically I'd just call this alternative rock, with some indie and post-hardcore flavors but it's kind of sombre. Some vocals remind me of mewithoutYou which is good. Some of the music too. Closest to the material from their second and third albums, not their more aggressive/angry first one. Very good stuff.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

sidewinder

That is all.

__________________
last.fm | my collection on RYM | vinyl instagram @allthatyouseeandhear
I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

Charlemagne

This was a great year for me discovering non-2010 artists.

Ghost Mice- Debt Of The Dead (2004)

I really could have included every single album/split/ep that I got from them this year, but I'm just going to include this one, Chris Clavin is just one of the best storytellers I've ever heard.

Paul Baribeau- Grand Ledge (2007)

He just makes such earnest music that I can relate to. It's amazing how much this album means to me now after such a short time.

Heathers- Here. Not There. (2008)

I was hooked the first time I heard this album, played it on repeat for about 2 hours.

American Football- American Football (1999)

One of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. I can't really say anything more.

Your Heart Breaks- New Ocean Waves (2006)

This album never fails to make me happy, I love the vocals and the lyrics, it's just so wonderful.

I'll do more later

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Charlemagne had eyes like a lover, but last winter there was weather and his eyes they iced right over.

My Last.fm

npc210

Cool thread.

Death - For All The World To See (2009)
This was actually discovered last year, but still a great find: A black band doing punk in the mid-70s, and an album that wasn't released until 2009.



Tom Verlaine - Dreamtime (1981)
I've long loved Television, but never got into Verlaine's solo work until I bought his debut. This album is even better, IMO.



Any Trouble - Where Are All The Nice Girls (1980)
Witty/intelligent pop that was never properly marketed on Stiff Records and was partially a reason they never hit it big.

npc210

Like sidewinder, I finally went beyond greatest hits albums with a few artists and I'm glad I did.

Neil Young - On the Beach (1974)
Probably one of his darker albums and my favorite Young record at the moment.



The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
Great guitar work on this one.



Lou Christie - Paint America Love (1971)
A lost gem from the 70's and nothing like his earlier hits.



ABBA - Arrival (1976)
Pop perfection, and ABBA at its absolute peak.