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Archive for December, 2010

The Zimmermann Note’s Top 26 Albums For The Year

December 24th, 2010 No comments

The experts that were involved in creating the worlds most extensive and far-reaching list of great songs over the past year have outdone themselves with this additional listing of the best albums of the year. Settling on 26, these albums will not only define your mood but the t-shirts, wool sweaters, trousers and geeky glasses you wear as well.

When it came down to it, LCD Soundsystem took the cake as the best album of the year.  There were about 5 or 6 in the running but I think from start to finish this album was fun, experimental and yet accessible and is definitely something that you should spend your hard earned iTunes Gift Cards on.

Deerhunter is a strong second, continuing their progression into all things psychaedelic. And Caribou gets the bronze medal for an equally engaging electronic treat.

However, as the experts would say, all these albums staring you in the face in your iTunes library will make you fitter, happier and more productive.

Top 26 Albums

26.            CEO – White Magic

25.            Massive Attack – Heligioland

24.            Menomena – Mines

23.            Owen Pallett – Heartland

22.            Radio Dept. – Clinging to A Scheme

21.            Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM

20.            Wavves – King of the Beach

19.            The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night

18.            Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

17.            Crystal Castles – II

16.            Laetitia Sadier – The Trip

15.            Spoon – Transference

14.            No Age – Everything In Between

13.            Women – Public Strain

12.            Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

11.            Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

10.             Avey Tare – Before Today

9.            Arielle Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

8.            The Walkmen – Lisbon

7.            The National – High Violet

6.            Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

5.            Janelle Monae – The Archandroid

4.            Beach House – Teen Dream

3.            Caribou – Swim

2.            Deerhunter – Halycon Digest

1.             LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

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The Zimmermann Note’s Top 87 Songs of the year.

December 23rd, 2010 No comments

This list is a comprehensive list compiled by the “Who’s Who” of the Zimmermann Note.  I can only comment that the corporate-style board meetings discussing the merits of these as well as those songs left off were at times contentious.

Our dream team of experts thought this list of 87 represented 2010 perfectly.

A couple things . .  .

If your favorite band/song is not located here could be for several reasons:

  • They suck. – At some point someone should probably tell you that and better me than when you think you are all cool blaring it out the window.
  • Your favorite band’s music is not on Mediafire or similar location to get your music for free and/or your favorite band is not offering enough free music to it’s dream team of experts in order to encourage them to listen.

This handpicked group of musicians, music producers, industry insiders and Canadians have offered this list to you in hopes that you become a better person.

87.            Tame Impala – Solitude is Bliss

86.            Charlotte Gainsbourg – Master’s Hands

85.            Wavves  – Green Eyes

84.            Crystal Castles – Years of Silence

83.            Wavves – When Will You Come

82.            No Age – Glitter

81.            Spoon – The Mystery Zone

80.            Surfer Blood – Neighbor Riffs

79.            Panda Bear – Last Night At the Jetty

78.            Of Montreal – You Do Mutilate?

77.            Owen Pallett – Lewis Takes Off His Shirt

76.            The National – Afraid of Everyone

75.            Morning Benders – Wet Cement

74.            Laetitia Sadier – Ceci Est Le Coeur

73.            Besnard Lakes  – And This Is What We Call Progress

72.            Caribou – Sun (Altrice’s ‘Only What You Give Me’ Remix)

71.            Arielle Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Bright Lit Skies

70.            Tame Impala – Desire Be Desire Go

69.            Crystal Castles – Not in Love (Feat. Robert Smith)

68.            Beach House – Walk In the Park

67.            No Age – Fever Dreaming

66.            The Parting Gifts – Keep Walking

65.            Atlas Sound – Wild Love

64.            Fang Island –       Dream of Dreams/Careful Crossers

63.            Tame Impala – Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?

62.            Spoon – Trouble Comes Running

61.            No Age – Shred And Transcend

60            Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM

59.            Janelle Monae – Cold War

58            Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

57.            Massive Attack – Atlas Air

56.            No Age – Common Heat

55.            Panda Bear – Tomboy

54.            Peter Gabriel – The Book of Love

53.            Deerhunter – Don’t Cry

52.            Owen Pallett – E is For Estranged

51.            Arcade Fire – Half Light 11

50.            Sleigh Bells – Rachel

49.            Dum Dum Girls – Jail La La

48.            Janelle Monae – Come Alive

47.            Deerhunter – Memory Boy

46.            The Walkmen – Angela Surf City

45.            Massive Attack – Rush Minute

44.            Deerhunter – Fountain Stairs

43.            One Million Year Trip – Laetitia Sadier

42.            The National – Bloodbuzz, Ohio

41              Arielle Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Butt-House Blondies

40.            Deerhunter – Revival

39.            LCD Soundsystem – Drunk Girls

38             Peter Gabriel  – Flume

37             Broken Social Scene – Meet Me In The Basement

36.            Besnard Lakes – Like the Innocent Pt. 1 The Ocean/The Innocent

35.            Women – Heat Distraction

34.            Broken Social Scene  – Texico Bitches

33.            Laetitia Sadier – By The Sea

32.            Avey Tare – Lucky 1

31.            Tame Impala – Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?

30.            CEO – Illuminata

29            Tame Impala – Jeremy’s Storm

28.            Women – Narrow With The Hall

27            Menomena – Queen Black Acid

26            Titus Andronicus – A More Perfect Union

25.            Julian Lynch – Just Enough

24.            Spoon – Got Nuffin

23.            Of Montreal – Coquet Coquette

22.            The Radio Dept. – Domestic Scene

21.            Netherfriends – Nunya (Beeswax)

20.            Avey Tare – 3 Umbrellas

19.            Beach House – Norway

18.            Arielle Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Revolutions a Lie

17.            Panda Bear – Slow Motion

16.            Arcade Fire – Modern Man

15.            The National – Terrible Love

14.            Caribou – Odessa

13.            Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

12.            Titus Andronicus – No Future Pt. Three: Escape From No Future

11.            Crystal Castles – Celestica

10.            LCD Soundsystem – All I Want

9.            The Morning Benders – Excuses

8.            Walkmen – Torch Song

7.            Wavves – Mickey Mouse

6.            Desire Lines – Deerhunter

5.            Panda Bear – Alsatian Darn

4.            Beach House – Used To Be

3.            LCD Soundsystem – You Wanted A Hit

2.            Caribou – Sun

1.            Janelle Monae – Tightrope

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Favorite Shows of 2010

December 19th, 2010 No comments

Counting down some of the better shows or at least acts that I saw over the past year.

I still believe that for an outdoor venue you really cannot beat Pritzker here in the city. For a venue with such perfect sound overlooking the Chicago Skyline is one of the better spectacles to be seen.

I admit, even with this list, there were plenty of shows that I wished I could have made, if it weren’t for funds, schoolnights or other plans. I think the show that I wished I could have been present for was the LCD Soundsystem/Hot Chip performance at the Metro.  I saw James Murphy’s gang at P4K and was thoroughly impressed however, a smaller venue would have made quite an impression.

I might be getting too old for the Festival Experience as Pitchfork took everything out of me getting parched by the heat. I thought in retrospect it was the weakest of the P4Ks that I have been to and will have to rethink or maybe just go to the shows that truly appeal to me.

Listing the Favorite Shows of the Year

15.            John Spencer Blues Explosion – Pitchfork Music Festival

14.            Beach House – Pitchfork Music Festival

13.            Titus Andronicus – Pitchfork Music Festival

12.             Deerhunter /Spoon – Aragon Ballroom

11.            Woods/Netherfriends – Lincoln Hall

10.            Janelle Monae/Of Montreal – Riviera Theatre

9.            Dean and Britta perform Galaxie 500 – Lincoln Hall

8.            Mission of Burma – Double Door

7.            Massive Attack – Riviera Theatre

6.            Panda Bear – Pitchfork Music Festival

5.            Roger Waters – United Center

4.            Atoms For Peace/Flying Lotus – Riviera Theatre

3.            The National – Riviera Theatre

2.            LCD Soundsystem – Pitchfork Music Festival

1.            Caribou – Pritzker Auditorium

Favorite Outdoor Venue: Pritzker Music Auditorium

Favorite Indoor Venue: Lincoln Hall (Location of where the 3 Penny Theatre used to stand near Lincoln Ave. and Halsted).

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