Mid-Year Makeshift Top 20

Every year, I keep a list of my favorite records, primarily so I can make a Top 20 of the year mix CD. This year, I've bought a slew of things and heard even more, thanks to my show on CHIRP Radio. But I've found that I've been getting more good stuff than great. Filling out a mid-year Top 20 was tough. After number 15, the rest were albums that I like but likely won't be considered at the end of the year. Or so I believe at this moment. Without further ado, here's my list:

1. Janelle Monae -- The Archarachnoid
2. Jason & The Scorchers -- Halcyon Times
3. Roky Erickson with Okkervil River -- True Love Cast Out All Evil
4. Judson Clairborne -- Time And Temperature
5. The National -- High Violet
6. LCD Soundsystem -- This Is Happening
7. Jason Moran -- Ten
8. Leatherface -- The Stormy Petrel
9. Johnny Cash -- American VI: Ain't No Grave
10. Christian Scott -- Yesterday You Said Tomorrow
11. Mose Allison -- Way Of The World
12. Shearwater -- Golden Archipelago
13. Archie Bronson Outfit -- Coconut
14. Hawksley Workman -- Meat
15. Beach House -- Teen Dream
16. The Besnard Lakes -- The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
17. Gil Scott-Heron -- I'm New Here
18. Ted Leo And The Pharmacists -- The Brutalist Bricks
19. The Soft Pack -- The Soft Pack
20. Horse Feathers -- Thistled Spring

Laurie Anderson -- Homeland

Laurie Anderson – Homeland (Nonesuch): Anderson's first studio album in eight years (her ninth overall) is a welcome return. The Glen Ellyn native has not changed her basic approach too much. She talk/sings through most of her material (sometimes accompanied by an electronic voice) with spare accompaniment. She allows for a lot of sonic space on her songs, and then finds interesting ways to fill it in, whether it's a new technique she uses for amplifying her violin to let you hear the tones she hears, bringing in some Tuvan throat singers, or simply letting keyboards provide warm, floating textures. The long layoff has left Anderson with a lot to say, from personal ruminations to striking political observations. This is very atmospheric music that is often beautiful. There is one of change of pace track, and it's a true highlight. "Only an Expert" is a catchy techno song, not quite beat heavy enough for dancing, with brilliantly cutting lyrics and keyboard assistance from Four Tet's Kieran Hebdan and Laurie's husband, Lou Reed, on guitar. (Lou also co-produces) Most of the songs are very quiet. “Dark Time in the Revolution” starts off very slowly, but builds into an ominous, percussive number. Fans of Laurie’s gigantic British hit “O Superman” might find “My Right Eye” to their liking. “Thinking of You” is a beautiful composition, with repetitive violin lines that are reminiscent of minimalist Phillip Glass. The centerpiece of the album is the long narrative "Another Day In America", which ties together the personal with social commentary, with plenty of irony and wit. A lot of great avant-garde musicians appear on this album, including saxophonist John Zorn on a couple of songs. The album is well sequenced and builds power with each listen. It stands up with the best of Anderson's work.

Pernice Brothers -- Goodbye, Killer

Pernice Brothers – Goodbye, Killer -- (Ashmont): The first Pernice Brothers album in four years (and sixth overall), comes running out of the gate with some of the spunkiest music the band has ever produced. It's certainly the happiest of their albums. The core Pernice sound is intact, with melodies inspired by '60s pop (such as The Zombies, Bee Gees and Left Banke) and '80s college radio favorites (like The Go-Betweens, R.E.M., etc.), while adding a few wrinkles. A few songs delve a bit into country, which will please fans of the Pernice predecessor band Scud Mountain Boys. And a few songs have some blues moves straight out of classic rock -- such as the Faces-like slide guitar part on the title cut. Meanwhile, there are some songs that sound like they could have come off of any Pernice album, winsome as all get out and highlighting Joe Pernice's lovely, precise lyrics. Overall, this is a relatively looser affair that feels more spontaneous than past albums. Drummer Ric Menck (of Velvet Crush) fits right in on his first outing with the Brothers, and new lead guitarist James Walbourne has a rawer and rootsier sound than the man he replaced, Peyton Pinkerton (of New Radiant Storm King). Highlights include "We Love the Stage", which starts off as a country song but has undercurrents of ragtime and jaunty music hall Brit pop. "Jacqueline Susann" is an upbeat jangle rocker that Joe Pernice sings with uncharacteristic vigor. "Great Depression" is a quintessential Pernice song, simple mid-tempo pop brilliance, while "The End of Faith" has a stately folk-country vibe. The Pernice Brothers (and there are two of them -- brother Bob stays in the background on guitar) have reached a point where they can be counted on for a solid album every time, with small variations in their approach. As long as Joe's lyrics stay strong, this is not a bad thing by any means.

June 26, 2010 CHIRP Playlist

Our computer library was down, so the majority of this show was from what I brought in. Next week, the show should have more variety -- Saturday, 9AM to Noon (CDT) at http://chirpradio.org.

11:57AM Gary Numan I Dream Of Wires from Telekon (Beggar's Banquet)

11:54AM Janelle Monae Cold War from The ArchAndroid (Bad Boy)

11:51AM Kaiser Chiefs Never Miss A Beat from Off With Their Heads (UniversalMotown)

11:46AM Deer Tick I Will Not Be Myself from The Black Dirt Sessions (Partisan)

11:42AM Beach Buggy Touch My Stuff (You Can Die) from Sport Fury (Poptunes)

11:39AM The Bar-Kays Shake Your Rump To The Funk from Too Hot To Stop (Mercury)

11:35AM Mass Shivers Pacific Ash from Ecstatic Eyes Grow Glossy (Sickroom)

11:32AM The Animatronics Bowie Doppleganger from 2000: The Year Of The Future (Morphius)

11:27AM Trentemoller ...Even Though You're With Another Girl from Into the Great Wide Yonder (In My Room)

11:23AM The Bongos Telephoto Lens from Drums Across The Hudson (Cooking Vinyl)

11:21AM Indian Jewelry Look Alive from Totaled (We Are Free)

11:17AM The Lee Harvey Oswald Band Junior's Farm from A Taste Of Prison (Touch And Go)

11:10AM Luscious Jackson Daughters Of The Kaos from In Search Of Manny (Grand Royal)

11:05AM Konono Nº1 Fula Fula from Assume Crash Position (Crammed)

11:02AM The Saints Know Your Product from Eternally Yours (Sire)

10:59AM Puerto Muerto Drumming For Pistols from Drumming For Pistols (Fire Records)

10:55AM Steve Wynn Annie & Me from Crossing Dragon Bridge (Rock Ridge Music)

10:52AM Woods Death Rattles from At Echo Lake (Woodsist)

10:48AM Beatnik Filmstars (Play That) Wonky Music (White Boy) from In Great Shape (555 Recordings)

10:45AM Kele Unholy Thoughts from The Boxer (Glassnote)

10:41AM Fools Face L5 from Tell America (Talk Records)

10:36AM The Oranges Scootering from Young Now! (Rabbit Record)

10:31AM Wolf Parade Little Golden Age from Expo 86 (Sub Pop)

10:27AM Idlewild Roseability from 100 Broken Windows (Capitol)

10:21AM The Sames Smaller Than Life from Compulation Volume One (Pox World Empire)

10:19AM Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes Why Is A Carrot More Orange Than A Orange from Loaded For Bear: The Best of Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes (Epic/Legacy)

10:15AM Stephen Paul Smoker My Summer's Waning Glow from Violent Sun/Violent Fun EP (Kilo)

10:09AM The Fatima Mansions You're A Rose from Viva Dead Ponies (Radioactive)

10:06AM Robyn Dancehall Queen from Body Talk Pt. 1 (Konichwa)

10:02AM Sparks Good Morning from Exotic Creatures Of The Deep (Lil' Beethoven)

9:58AM The Nines How Does It Feel? from Properties Of Sound (self-released)

9:54AM Ratatat Bob Gahndi from LP4 (XL)

9:51AM Tim Finn Unsinkable from Imaginary Kingdom (Parlophone)

9:47AM Chris Mills She's Got A Problem from Tell It Like It Isn't (Powerless Pop)

9:44AM k.d. lang and the reclines Pulling Back The Reins from Absolute Torch And Twang (Sire)

9:41AM Kurt Vile Ocean City from Square Shells EP (Matador)

9:36AM The Marmalade Judy Blue Eyes from BBC Sessions (Sanctuary)

9:33AM Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Daddy's Gone from Dark Night of the Soul (EMI)

9:28AM Ken Stringfellow Known Diamond from Soft Commands (Yep Roc)

9:23AM Nicole Atkins The Way It Is from Neptune City (Red Ink/Columbia)

9:20AM Tom Schrader To You, My Friend... from Once Lace, Now Cotton (Township)

9:15AM Ted Leo Six Months In A Leaky Boat from Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead (Plus Solo!) (Lookout)

9:10AM Randy Newman Louisiana 1927 from Good Old Boys (Rhino/Reprise)

9:07AM Admiral Radley The Thread from I Heart California (The Ship)

9:02AM Pulp Trees from We Love Life (Island)

June 19, 2010 CHIRP Radio Playlist

Gave away front row tickets for Pavement at Pritzker Pavilion on Sept. 13, hence, two Pavement tunes. Back on the air from 9AM to Noon (CDT), next Saturday.

11:57AM Was (Not Was) I Feel Better Than James Brown from Are You Okay? (Chrysalis)

11:55AM Toothpaste 2000 Party Girl from Catch-22 (Parasol)

11:52AM Teenage Fanclub Shock And Awe from Shadows (Merge)

11:46AM The Strokes On the Other Side from First Impressions of Earth (RCA)

11:41AM Canasta Mexico City from The Fakeout, The Tease And The Breather (RWIM Chicago)

11:39AM The Dukes Of Stratosphear Bike Ride To The Moon from 25 O'Clock (Ape)

11:33AM Apostle Of Hustle Cheap Like Sebastien from The National Anthem Of Nowhere (Arts & Crafts)

11:30AM Declaime One from Fonk (SomeOthaShip)

11:27AM Get Smart! To The Nines from Swimming With Sharks (Fever)

11:21AM Modest Mouse Ocean Breathes Salty from Good News For People Who Love Bad News (Epic )

11:17AM Jacques Dutronc Hippie Hippie Hourah from Et Moi Et Moi Et Moi 1966-1969 (RPM)

11:14AM Booka Shade Divine from More! (Get Physical/Co-op)

11:09AM The Bitter Tears Stumper from Jam Tarts In The Jakehouse (Carrot Top)

11:06AM The Joy Formidable Whirring from A Balloon Called Moaning (Black Bell)

11:02AM Brownsville Station Kings Of The Party from School Punks (Wounded Bird)

10:56AM Telex I Don't Like Music from Looney Tunes (Atlantic)

10:53AM Brilliant Corners Drive My Car from Revolution No. 9 (Pop God)

10:50AM The Gaslight Anthem Old Haunts from American Slang (Side One Dummy)

10:45AM Duvall Standing At The Door from Standing At The Door EP (Double Zero)

10:42AM Telegraph Canyon Quiet Assurance from The Tide and The Current (Velvet Blue)

10:34AM Lilys Leo Ryan (Our Pharoh's Slave) from "The 3 Way" (Sire)

10:29AM Pavement Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17 from Slanted & Enchanted (Matador)

10:26AM Eels Tiger In My Tank from Daisies of the Galaxy (Dreamworks)

10:23AM Blitzen Trapper Dragon's Song from Destroyer Of The Void (Sub Pop)

10:19AM The Creation Try and Stop Me from How Does It Feel To Feel (Edsel)

10:16AM Suckers Roman Candles from Wild Smile (Frenchkiss)

10:12AM The Bamboos Like Tears in the Rain from 4 (Tru Thoughts)

10:06AM Bibi Tanga & The Selenites Shine from Dunya (NatGeo)

10:03AM Devin Davis Transcendental Sports Anthem from Lonely People of the World, Unite! (Mousse)

9:58AM Andrea Perry Time to Say Hello from Two (Trust Issue)

9:55AM Band Of Horses Blue Beard from Infinite Arms (Columbia)

9:51AM Ferdinand Half The Laughter Twice The Tears from The Gene Pitney Story Retold (To M'Lou Music)

9:48AM Galaxie 500 Pictures from Today (Aurora)

9:45AM Bobby Welch Benashaw Glenn from Local Customs: Lone Star Lowlands (Numero Group)

9:42AM Jon Langford Salty Dog from Gold Brick (ROIR)

9:36AM Very Truly Yours Love Is Hard from Reminders (self-released)

9:33AM Peggy Sue I Read It In The Paper from Fossils and Other Phantoms (Yep Roc)

9:29AM Candi Staton Young Hearts Run Free from The Best of Candi Staton (Warner Archives)

9:24AM Brazilian Girls Berlin from New York City (Verve)

9:21AM Horizontal Brian Working In Pajamas from Vertical (Gold Mountain)

9:17AM Broken Social Scene Art House Director from Forgiveness Rock Record (Arts & Crafts)

9:11AM Tractor Kings Buried In The Sky from Gone To Heaven (Mud)

9:08AM Pernice Brothers We Love The Stage from Goodbye, Killer (Ashmont)

9:04AM Pavement Grounded from Wowee Zowee (Matador)

June 12, 2010 CHIRP Radio Playlist

This week, I did a two hour show, with trainee Scott McKenna handling the last hour. I included him on the playlist. I'll be back doing the full three hours from 9AM to Noon (CDT) at http://chirpradio.org.

11:55AM Tortoise Cornpone Brunch from Tortoise (Thrill Jockey)

11:51AM Suckers It Gets Your Body Movin' from Wild Smile (Frecnhkiss)

11:46AM Stephen Paul Smoker Sacrifice from Violent Sun (Kilo)

11:40AM Kitchens of Distinction Drive That Fast from Strange Free World (One Little Indian)

11:35AM The Cure Closedown from Disintegration (Elektra)

11:30AM New York Dolls Jet Boy from New York Dolls (Poly Gram)

11:27AM Woven Bones Guess You Already Knew from In and Out and Back Again (HoZac)

11:21AM MGMT Time to Pretend from Oracular Spectacular (Columbia)

11:16AM Lali Puna Our Inventions from Our Inventions (Morr Music)

11:14AM Julie London Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please from Sings the Choicest of Cole Porter (EMI)

11:10AM We Ragazzi Skinny Fingers from Suicide Sound System (My Pal God)

11:07AM CocoRosie Hopscotch from Grey Oceans (Sub Pop)

11:02AM Concrete Blonde Caroline from Bloodletting (I.R.S.)

SCOTT MCKENNA'S HOUR

10:58AM Beulah If We Can Land On the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart from When Your Heartstrings Break (Sugar Free)

10:54AM Andre Williams Tricks from That's All I Need (Bloodshot)

10:51AM White Flag He's A Whore from La 1a Internacional (Munster)

10:47AM Rabble Rabble Meso from Jailbait (EP) (Commune)

10:44AM Jyoti The Language Of The Flame from Ocotea (SomeOthaShip Connect)

10:41AM Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Nowadays a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man from Clear Spot (Reprise)

10:34AM Kool Keith Livin' Astro from Black Elvis/Lost in Space (Ruffhouse/Columbia)

10:32AM Sleigh Bells Run The Heart from Treats (Mom+Pop)

10:28AM Silver Apples I Have Known Love from Contact (Kapp)

10:21AM Earle Mankey Bigger Than Life from Earle Mankey (Frigdisk)

10:18AM Cosmic Rough Riders Revolution (In The Summertime) from Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine (Poptones)

10:14AM Janelle Monae Locked Inside from The Archandroid (Bad Boy)

10:09AM PJ Harvey Dress from Dry (Too Pure/Indigo)

10:04AM Crystal Castles Baptism from Crystal Castles II (Fiction)

10:01AM Big Hello Today Will Be Yesterday Tomorrow from Apple Album (Parasol)

9:56AM Sukilove Talking In The Dark from Talking In The Dark (Hidden Agenda)

9:52AM Deer Tick I Will Not Be Myself from The Black Dirt Sessions (Partisan)

9:50AM The Lovin' Spoonful Never Going Back from Greatest Hits (Buddha)

9:45AM Lasse Lindh Computerwelt from You Wake Up At Sea Tac (Hidden Agenda)

9:42AM Charlie Parker with Dizzy Gillespie Mohawk from Bird and Diz (Clef)

9:39AM Damien Jurado Harborview from Saint Bartlett (Secretly Canadian)

9:34AM Kurt Vile I Wanted Everything from Square Shells EP (Matador)

9:32AM The General Store Airport Breakfast from "Local Honey" (Not Lame)

9:27AM Marc Anthony Thompson So Fine from Marc Anthony Thompson (Warner Brothers)

9:21AM Grizzly Bear About Face from Veckatimest (Warp)

9:18AM Light Pollution Drunk Kids from Apparitions (Carpark)

9:14AM Poster Children Dream Small from rtfm (Reprise)

9:09AM Bill Fay Omega Day from Time of the Latest Persecution (Decca)

9:06AM Ty Segall Bees from Melted (Goner)

9:01AM Mark Eitzel More More More from Music For Courage & Confidence (New West)

June 5, 2010 CHIRP Radio Playlist

Trainee Scott McKenna sat in and did a couple of sets (the ones that started with The B-52's and Ultravox) and did a great job. I'll be back next Saturday, 9AM to Noon (CDT) at http://www.chirpradio.org.

11:57AM Talking Heads Cities from The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads (Sire)

11:54AM Papas Fritas Hey Hey You Say from Helioself (Minty Fresh)

11:49AM Sweet Talks Akampanye from The Kusum Beat (Soudnway)

11:46AM Michael Carpenter You Just May Be The One from Soop #1 (Big Radio)

11:40AM The Fall Chino from Your Future Our Clutter (Domino)

11:38AM Wolfmen Zombie Hop from The Violence Inherent In The System (NKVD)

11:32AM Trio Sunday You Need Love Monday Be Alone from Trio (Mercury)

11:29AM Peanut Butter Wolf Definition Of Ill from My Vinyl Weighs a Ton (Stones Throw)

11:26AM Foals Total Life Forever from Total Life Forever (Sub Pop)

11:22AM Mannequin Men Pigpen from Fresh Rot (Flameshovel)

11:18AM Superdrag Annetichrist from Head Trip In Every Key (Elektra)

11:16AM Dara Puspita A Go Go from Dara Puspita 1966-1968 (Sublime Frequencies)

11:12AM Tonio K. Life In The Foodchain from Life In The Foodchain (Gadfly)

11:08AM Actress Wrong Potion from Splazsh (Honest Jon's)

11:04AM Detholz! Dead Meat from Who Are the Detholz!? (Self-released)

11:02AM Air Miami World Cup Fever from Me Me Me (4AD)

10:57AM Delorean Come Wander from Subiza (True Panther Sounds)

10:54AM The Orgone Box Anaesthesia from The Orgone Box (Minus Zero)

10:51AM Jason & The Scorchers White Lies from Lost and Found (EMI)

10:45AM Paul McCartney I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra from Brand New Boots And Panties A Tribute To Ian Dury (Gold Circle)

10:43AM Best Coast Space Baby from Where The Boys Are EP (Blackest Rainbow)

10:39AM Liz Phair Jealousy from Whip-Smart (Matador)

10:36AM Otis Redding Johnny's Heartbreak from The Definitive Otis Redding (Rhino)

10:33AM Anibal Velasquez Y Su Conjunto Los Vecinos from Mambo Loco (Analog Africa)

10:29AM Ultravox Passing Strangers from Vienna (EMI)

10:23AM Caribou Sun from Swim (Merge)

10:18AM The Knife Marble House from Silent Shout (Rabid Records)

10:14AM The B-52's Quiche Lorraine from Wild Planet (Warner Brothers)

10:09AM Stubborn All-Stars Tin Spam from Open Season (Another Planet)

10:05AM Stephen Paul Smoker Violent Sun from Violent Fun EP (Kilo)

10:01AM Tilly and the Wall Sing Songs Along from Bottoms of Barrels (Team Love)

9:57AM A House I'm Afraid from I Am The Greatest (Radioactive)

9:54AM Lefty Frizzell Long Black Veil from The Best of Lefty Frizzell (Rhino)

9:51AM Young Rival At The Break Of Dawn from Invisible Republic (Sonic Unyon)

9:48AM Pernice Brothers Microscopic View from Live A Little (Ashmont)

9:43AM The Poison Control Center Start the Revolution from Sad Sour Future (Afternoon)

9:40AM Sharon Tandy Hurry Hurry Choo Choo from You Gotta Believe It's...Sharon Tandy (Big Beat)

9:37AM The Unicorns I Was Born (A Unicorn) from Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? (Alien8)

9:32AM The Loneliest Monk You Don't Have To Try from The Loneliest Monk (Kilo)

9:29AM Beny More Oh Vida from Cuban Originals (BMG U.S. - Latin)

9:25AM Martha and the Muffins Love Began With Eve from Delicate (Muffin Music)

9:21AM Andrew Bird Skin from Weather Systems (Grimsey)

9:17AM Sleepy Sun Rigamaroo from Fever (ATP)

9:14AM Brian Eno By This River from Before And After Science (Virgin)

9:10AM Club 8 My Pessimistic Heart from The People's Record (Labrador)

9:07AM Pop Art Four Long Days from A Perfect Mental Picture (Stonegarden)

9:03AM Ron Sexsmith One Grey Morning from Whereabouts (Interscope)