Two-thousand and ten was quite a whirlwind year for me. I became part of this brilliant music blog, had a crash course in promoting shows and met some pretty special people along the way. It’s safe to say the music released this year all served as an applicable soundtrack as it felt like new albums came out faster than I could digest them.

If you’ve read most of my posts, it’s apparent that I enjoy reporting on international acts that I feel deserve American attention (and also since the rest of the Donewaiting staff do such a stellar job of keeping up on everything).

On top of national and international releases, Columbus’s scene has also kept quite busy this year. Without further ado, here’s my 2010 list:

1. Efterklang, Magic Chairs
Watch: Modern Drift

Reasons why Denmark rules: 1. Efterklang 2.Christiania 3. Legoland

2. Finders Keepers Compilation – Pomegranates
MP3:Zia: “Helelyos”

Who can resist some 60′s Persian Pop/Funk/Psych?

3. Cate Le Bon, Me Oh My
Watch: Shoeing the Bones

Honestly didn’t know much about Cate before interviewing her earlier this year, now I can’t stop listening to her. (Oh, and this video is really wonderfully weird.)

4. Jonsi, Go
Watch:Time Lapse of Entire Show

Hands down, top TWO shows I saw this year.

5. The Black Keys, Brothers
Watch: Your Touch

“Doin’ it and doin’ it and doin’ it well..” If you subtract the sexual innuendo and replace it with how good Brothers is, LL was DEFINITELY talking about The Black Keys.

6. Male Bonding, Nothing Hurts
Watch: Pirate Key

Best possible way to kill 29 minutes.

7. Beach House, Teen Dream
MP3: Norway

Victoria Legrand: All I see is hair. All I hear is magic.

8. Joanna Newsom, Have One On Me
MP3: Good Intentions Paving Co.

Wasn’t sure what to think of this epic release initially, but it made my list. And my favorite track is 7 minutes and 01 second long and has 27 letters in it’s title.

9. Wild Nothing, Gemini
Watch: Live In Dreams

Makes me feel like taking a Summer Holiday everyday.

10. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
Watch: All Day Day Light

I’m glad they grew up too fast.

Local Columbus, OH Favorites:
1. The Alwood Sisters – The Black Falcon and The Forest Spirit
2. Nick Toldford and Company – Extraordinary Love
3. Andrew Graham and The Swarming Branch – Andrew Graham’s Good Word
4. Old Hundred – Old Hundred
5. Phantods – Creature
6. The Black Swans – Words Are Stupid
7. Time and Temperature – Cream of the Low Tide
8. Way Yes – Herringbone
9. The Super Desserts – Twee As Folk
10. Saintseneca – Grey Cloud EP

More!

Robin Pecknold

When I consider the music of Joanna Newsom in the context of how it makes a listener feel, I’d describe something visceral, cerebral, and, maybe more importantly, imaginative. On one side of the page, I wish I knew nothing of her musical background and only had a mental image of the hours she may have spent icing her little fingers after long sessions spent glued to her harp.

It’s obvious that one so dedicated to an instrument such as the harp would do their damnedest to master such an undertaking. However, it’s refreshing to hear just how meticulously she has worked (and with whom she’s worked) to get where she is when so many musicians these days seem to be picking up an instrument one day, recording a Youtube video the next week and touring the country before you know it.

The Milk-Eyed Mender and Ys collectively have provided a key point on my musical spectrum of taste by creating impressive, lovely songs that showcase Newsom’s strengths as both a harpist and vocalist. I’ve purposely not listened to the entirety of the new record Have One on Me because I’m anticipating the show on Monday in the same way I would be anticipating a new acquaintance. There are those moments that you need to introduce yourself to new music like you would introduce yourself to another, and live, in-person is always the most conducive to developing a healthy relationship.

Come see Joanna play a Wexner Center show on Monday night with Robin Pecknold (of Fleet Foxes) at the Southern Theatre and appreciate.

MP3: Two Headed Boy

Fleet Foxes’ singer Robin Pecknold is opening the short but sweet Joanna Newsom tour, which includes a stop in Columbus.

On tour:

03-28 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
03-29 Columbus, OH – Southern Theatre
03-30 Cincinnati, OH – MusicNow Festival
03-31 Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theatre
04-02 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
04-03 Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre

Above is a live cover of Robin covering Neutral Milk Hotel for your downloading pleasure. More details about where the cover comes from here.

(Photo by Sound on the Sound)

2010 is the fifth anniversary of this festival founded by The National’s Bryce Dessner, who still serves as the artistic director. Pretty solid lineup this year. Here’s the details from the website:

The festival opens Tuesday, March 30th with arresting harpist and songwriter Joanna Newsom. Wednesday, March 31st, St. Vincent, led by composer, singer and guitar virtuoso Annie Clark, will present works from their widely acclaimed latest release, Actor, as well as new works venturing deeper into chamber arranging and composition. The same evening yMusic, will premiere the festival commission written by Clark. Inventive vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Justin Vernon, best known for his work with Bon Iver, presents a rare solo concert to close the festival April 1st. All concerts will be held at the beautiful and historic Memorial Hall. Tickets are on-sale now, via the web and by phone 1-800-838-3600. Single concert tickets are $20; a festival pass for all three concerts is $50.