What a crazy night...If this was how the year began, I can't wait to see what other craziness its going to bring.
Well...I'm sure you've seen a million lists by critics proclaiming what they thought was the best of 2010, but I've decided that since I have my very own blog, I might as well give you my opinion. Heres the best albums of 2010 for me:
10. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I basically spend every moment of my life with my three roommates Ephraim, Alex, and Manuel, and as soon as this album came out they were playing it NON-STOP, which I am totally thankful for.
I saw these cats play at Purchase two semesters ago, and they killed it! They are without a doubt a band to look out for.
8. Vampire Weekend- Contra
Theres definitely a formula these guys have, but its a great one at that.
7. Titus Andronicus- the Monitor
I've always been a fan of underdog stories, and that seems to be all these guys sing about. For me they're a modern day E Street band. They're even from Jersey!
6.The Black Keys- Brothers
Over the summer these guys played two dates at the Central Park Summer stage. I didn't have any tickets but I sat outside and listened. On the second night I managed to sneak in for the end of their set, and I have to say these guys sound as good live as they do on the record.
(I don't watch much TV, but this has to be one of the best music videos of the year too.)
5. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
"Business men drink my blood, like the kids in art school said they would." So good!
4.the Gaslight Anthem- American Slang
They're just a great blue collar rock n roll band who blew up this year. And they deserve every bit of it.
3.the Biters- Biters, and, Its ok to like Biters
Rock n Roll is my life. Its what I live for. I've played tons of shows, and seen tons of bands, and no band blew me away more in 2010 than the Biters. I've seen these guys twice, and was lucky enough to share the stage with them the second time around. They look like a power pop band that time warped straight out of New York in the 70's. And they've got a real raw rock sound, that clearly pays homage to rock music at its best. I could sit and write all day about how damn awesome these guys are, if you ever get a chance to see them do it, or in the very least grab their albums.
2. Tokyo Police Club- Champ
If there was one album that defined my summer it was this one. It was the soundtrack to my life. It seemed that everything that was happening in my life was said on this record. Funny how music can do that.
1. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
I cheated on this one because the album's not out yet (1/18/11 to be exact) but the single "Machine Gun Blues" was out in November. If you know me, or have read my blog before, you know that these guys are my favorite band, and I'll rave about them till theres no tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier that Mike Ness and the gang are still going strong after 30 years.
Cheers to them!
So thats my list of music. I'm not even going to try ranking movies or books, because I'm too cheap to ever go to the movies, and sadly I don't usually have alot of time to sit down and read a book.
But I must say Inception was quite a thrill ride.
And Black Swan had me on the edge of my seat. It was honestly one of the craziest movies I've ever seen.
The one book I could not put down was Keith Richards memoirs "Life." This man has led a crazy life indeed, and if you've ever wondered what its like to live in excess, the fame, the drugs, the women, the rock n roll, this book will tell you.
Heres some of my favorite excerpts:
As he describes some english hecklers at a show: "And suddenly while I'm playing, this little redhead fucker flobs on me. So I move aside, and he follows me and flobs on me again and hits me in the face. So I stand in front of him again and he spits at me again and, with the stage, his head was just about near my shoe, like a penalty shot in football. I just went bang and knocked his fucking head off, with the grace of Beckham."
On partying, "The ultimate party, if its any good, you can't remember it."
On knife fighting, "The way it was explained to me, if you're going to use a blade, the winner is the one who can make a quick horizontal cut across the other's forehead. The blood will fall like a curtain, but you don't really hurt the cat that much, you just put an end to the fight because he can't see... The big rules in knife fighting are (a) do not try it at home, and (b) the whole point is never, ever use the blade. Its there to distract your opponent.While he stares at the gleaming steel, you kick his balls to kingdom come- he's all your. Just a tip!"
He is without a doubt one the coolest people to ever grace the face of this earth.
In Wyldlife news, we have been nominated by the public radio station in Abilene, Texas for
the Golden Fork Awards of 2010. Were up for best short album of 2010. It would mean the
world to us if you could take a second and send in the ballot below:
Thank you for those who voted!
We have also made it to round two of the Deli Magazine's best of 2010 list, so keep your fingers crossed for us!
2010 was a great year. I got to play a lot of cool shows, meet some great people, and travel to some interesting places. If I had to chose one thing that was my favorite part of the year, I'd have to say it was hearing Wyldlife being played on the radio. It was like that scene from "That thing you do" I was jumping up and down on my couch. Thanks Rich Russo!
Whats my new years resolution? Its simple: Have more fun.
love,
-Spencer
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