LISTEN: Esperanza Spalding's "Radio Music Society"

If anyone cared to remember when I used to post more, they'd remember that I'd occasionally freak out because the folks over at NPR: First Listen offered something really special. 

Well, it's been too darn long.

Back in 2010, I wrote briefly about Esperanza Spalding's sophomore effort Chamber Music Society. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or not, it's tough to deny that this 27 year-old woman is oozing talent. I was so taken aback by Chamber's odd and ghostly fusion of classical and jazz themes, that after only a few listens I stamped it on the top of my year-end list. 

MUSINGS: The Fire in The Suburbs: Indie Music's Victory at the Grammys (w/ Podcast)

By Jack Delano, November 1940 / via Library of Congress Flickr

Below is the article, which is followed by a short podcast at the bottom of this post.

The following are actual quotes from Twitter reacting to the winners of the 2011 Grammy Awards this past Sunday.

"How can this group get album of the year when they didn't even have as many top 10 as Gaga. Did this group even have a number 1 hit?" (source)

"@thegrammys Fuck you! WHO THE FUK IS ARCADE FIRE? STOP RIGGIN THIS SHIT.... U LOST MANY VIEWERS..LOOK AT THE REACTIONS U LOST ALOT" (source)

"The Grammy's [sic] are fixed, like straight up; how are all these nobodys [sic] winning? And why is everyone from Arcade Fire hideously ugly? #appalled" (source)

"Esperanza Spaulding's [sic] twitter account isnt even VERIFIED thats how much of a nobody she is!!11k followers, thats it, & she won a grammy??!" (source)

"The fact that Arcade Fire are winning over people who have actually made an impact on the music industry is really fucking annoying." (source)

All the above were collected and found on whoisarcadefire.tumblr.com.

The issues at hand here are so great in number that it's nearly impossible to approach them all without dragging on a long discussion: kids raised in the autotune/Twitter/Facebook/MySpace age, bias, close-mindedness, mainstream mass marketing, good vs. bad, opinion vs. fact, etc. As a result, I'll try to stick to just a few points here.

Simon P.'s Top Albums of 2010

Woohoo. What's better than ringing in the New Years with the grooviest, rocking-est, so-in-your-face-that-you-don't-even-know-it's-there records of the year. Believe you me, this has been a (lady) killer year in music, and I had some serious choices to make.

10. Spoon - Transference

Britt and the boys started off the year with a serious bang. Supposedly, Daniels commented that this album is a return to some simpler songs ("Underdog" had just a few too many). While many were put off by the at times abruptness of the record, Spoon ditched some of the fancy progressions and brought out some heavy rock winners like "The Mystery Zone", "Is Love Forever", and my personal favorite, "Written in Reverse". Toss in the subtle, yet beautiful and hidden presence of "Out Go the Lights" and you've got yourself a great record. Keep it up guys.

9. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs - God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise

This New England folk-rock singer/songwriter is sprouting wings and headed for some really serious musical territory. With every album his vocal talents are showcased more, while still beefing up the arrangements behind him. The Pariah Dogs, new to this record, provide a professional and incomparable backdrop for LaMontagne, who's voice is soulful and strong on this record. Album opener "Repo Man" is a groove-heavy sequel to Gossip in the Grain's funk tune "You are the Best Thing", followed by a solid body of tunes that are easy on the ears.