We are immersed in the New Year’s Holiday and perhaps the greatest part of it is the Twilight Zone marathon on SciFi or Syfy (they change the name of their channel often). I plan on sitting back and enjoying each episode all day long. Seriously, no episode of this the Twilight Zone is bad. Rod Serling, Binghamton native (by the way), was an absolute genius.
So, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful New Years. Your support is invaluable and I hope you have enjoyed the blog over the past year. I will strive to improve it even more over the upcoming year. There is always room for improvement, of course. I am happy to hear any suggestions or comments you have. Feel free to e-mail me at musiccourt@gmail.com.
I would also be honored to have you like the Music Court on Facebook. You can access the page through this link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Music-Court-Blog/174431312584846
Also, please follow me on twitter. My handle is “musiccourt”
Over the past few weeks I have put together a countdown honoring the best 11 songs of 2010. If you have missed any of the song reviews during the countdown, do not fret. Below, I will provide a short rundown of the countdown with links to each review. Enjoy some of the best songs of 2010 before you toast to a New Year!
Number 11
“Tighten Up” by The Black Keys
I Said:
Yes, Frank is infectious, but so is the opening whistle, catchy riff, excellent bass and drum portion (Pat Carney at his best). The song is excellently put together, clean, but rugged. The mini-solo that repeats throughout the song serves as a shaking breakdown (or Frank dance portion). Because, as we all know, Frank is a Funkasaurus Rex.”
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/the-best-songs-of-2010-sneak-peak-number-11-tighten-up-by-the-black-keys/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Number 10
“Excuses” by The Morning Benders
I Said:
This is a 5-minute work of genius. Notice how we immediately are introduced to a wacky string section that already hits us with the Grizzly Bear sound. And when they erupt into the acoustic chords and normal string section it is as if we have been sent back in time. The string coordination is beautiful. Chris Chu’s voice appears in the first verse and, just like an ocean wave, douses listeners with water infused with vocal goodness. The harmony prior to the chorus is so British harmonizing it is absolutely scary. The lyric is not shabby either.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/the-best-songs-of-2010-10-excuses-by-the-morning-benders/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Number 9
“Infinite Arms” by Band of Horses
I Said:
The band lives on vocal harmony. That is how they evoke their feelings. And, they have always done this well. But, by adding more instruments they have created an even more dynamic presence on stage. Now they pair more complex instrumentation with their harmonies. This provides a sound that hits you on multiple levels. This is why “Infinite Arms” works. The end of the song features the combination and it sounds like the puzzle pieces have been put together. It is form fitting. The song then fades beautifully.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/the-best-songs-of-2010-9-infinite-arms-by-band-of-horses/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Number 8
“Bloodbuzz Ohio” by The National
I Said:
The song is immediately depressing. The charcoal video is paired with Berninger’s gloomy voice, dark but level, and a solemn loneliness that immediately presents itself after the drummed opening. The squirming repetition is almost as uncomfortable as Berninger’s drunkenness throughout the video. But, please don’t take that the wrong way. Songs are occasionally supposed to move you out of your comfort song. If you listen to pure mainstream you never get the opportunity to experience different music. And this is exactly what “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is. It is representative of a band that may be slightly out of your normal listening zone. So expand it and taste something that nears on acerbic and austere, but still maintains a hook and melodic quality that draws you in.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/the-best-songs-of-2010-8-bloodbuzz-ohio-by-the-national/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Number 7
“Flash Delirium” by MGMT
I Said:
Then the pre-chorus hits you with a wall of sound that just comes out of nowhere. Suddenly you are being hit by an orchestral sound before the chorus (or what seems like the chorus) hits you with this Bowie-like “Ashes to Ashes” segment. Then a sing-a-long and a flute. You stop and think to yourself, what the hell is going on? And that is when I first realized that this is a good piece of psychedelic music.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/the-best-songs-of-2010-7-flash-delirium-by-mgmt/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Number 6
“Stylo” by Gorillaz
I Said:
Gorillaz often do an exceptional job combining visual and auditory stimulants that excite and please the listener. Like I implied above, listening to a Gorillaz song and watching any released visual material is like watching a short film. Art and music are combined effortlessly.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/24/the-best-songs-of-2010-6-stylo-by-gorillaz/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Number 5
“The High Road” by Broken Bells
I Said:
It successfully blends two different genres of music effortlessly. It is so impressive. It may have been hard to find, but Broken Bells found and mastered the high road.
Link to the full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/the-best-songs-of-2010-5-the-high-road-by-broken-bells/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Number 4
“Another New World” by Josh Ritter
I Said:
“Another New World” is the album’s chef d’oeuvre. It is a close to eight minute wonder. Seriously, the song is spectacle. Josh Ritter and his Royal City Band (his often forgotten tour/studio musicians) produce an epic.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/the-best-songs-of-2010-4-another-new-world-by-josh-ritter/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Song 3
“Fuck You” by Cee Lo Green
I Said:
“Fuck You” is a warped Motown song. Everything from the old-school video with the corny dance moves to the call and response to the soul swing and vocal. It’s funky and fun. Cee Lo Green displays his vocal range and at times even introduces humor into the song. It is bright Motown with a spiteful “Fuck You.”
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/the-best-songs-of-2010-3-fuck-you-by-cee-lo-green/
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Song 2
“Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
I Said:
The chorus is infectious. It’s like a disease. For days you are singing “let me come home.” And then the band adds an instrumental breakdown. The horns are matched with shouts of home and then a vocal end.
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/the-best-songs-of-2010-2-home-by-edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Song 1
“King of Spain” by The Tallest Man on Earth
I Said:
Before the song ends, Matsson holds out the word “the” in this vocal climax that is shattering. It is also a perfect way for me to end this countdown. There is an animation in Matsson’s croon that is warm, inviting and aggressive. This is a true strength in his music. He is a folk musician who can provide the erupting emotion that Spector’s “wall of sound” does, but with only himself and a guitar. He is a one-man-band who is significantly stronger then mostly all of his five or more band counterparts. That is an impressive feat. Heck, he might actually be the “King of Spain”
Link to full post: https://musiccourt.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/the-best-songs-of-2010-1-king-of-spain-by-the-tallest-man-on-earth/
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Well, there it is. I hope you enjoyed the countdown. And, to you and yours:
The Best Songs of 2010: Sneak Peak – Number 11: “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys
December 14, 2010 by Matt Coleman | Edit
Last year at around this time in December I was summing up a decade of music. Today premieres a preview of the top songs of 2010, a post category that will run from December 20 – December 30 (Skipping the Sunday in between). Each day will feature a different song in a running countdown to the best song of 2010. Please understand this disclaimer. All opinions expressed in this list (especially order of songs) are opinions. That’s right. So, if you have another song that you believe deserved a spot, post it in a comment and let’s talk. Also, be nice. It’s New Years and Christmas and overall merriment should be the pervasive thought during this season.
Anyway, before I travel home tomorrow (today marked the official end of Fall semester of my senior year at Binghamton University), I wanted to leave you with the #11 song on my 2010 countdown. The list is made up of 11 songs to mark our transition into 2011 and to hold true to the “one for good luck” axiom. I know. Aren’t I witty? Okay, not really. Let’s get to some music.
#11.) “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys
We kick off our list with a song about a dinosaur. Well, no, it’s not about a dinosaur, but Frank, the Black Keys’ puppet dinosaur, does star in the video for this catchy rock tune. Take a listen:
Yes, Frank is infectious, but so is the opening whistle, catchy riff, excellent bass and drum portion (Pat Carney at his best). The song is excellently put together, clean, but rugged. The mini-solo that repeats throughout the song serves as a shaking breakdown (or Frank dance portion). Because, as we all know, Frank is a Funkasaurus Rex.