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[SigmaChiCard]

Earliest this month I posted my Top 10 albums of the year, along with my Top 10 songs of the year, with links to the bands. Check them out.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by SigmaChiCard

Earliest this month I posted my Top 10 albums of the year, along with my Top 10 songs of the year, with links to the bands. Check them out.

I'm on par with Cory's list, only I would add the Spoon, White Stripes, You Say Party!We Say Die albums...maybe Rilo Kiley and Digitalism.

[KSig RC]

My top 10 (explanations here):

10- Okkervil River, The Stage Names
9 - Simian Mobile Disco, Attack Decay Sustain Release
8 - Spoon, Ga ga ga ga ga
7 - Blitzen Trapper, Wild Mountain Nation
6 - Panda Bear, Person Pitch
5 - MIA, Kala
4 - Burial, Untrue
3 - Justice, [Cross]
2 - Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
1 - LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver

Honorable mention to The Hood Internet mixtapes, which are sick

[SigmaChiCard]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

My top 10 (explanations here):

10- Okkervil River, The Stage Names
9 - Simian Mobile Disco, Attack Decay Sustain Release
8 - Spoon, Ga ga ga ga ga
7 - Blitzen Trapper, Wild Mountain Nation
6 - Panda Bear, Person Pitch
5 - MIA, Kala
4 - Burial, Untrue
3 - Justice, [Cross]
2 - Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
1 - LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver

Honorable mention to The Hood Internet mixtapes, which are sick

I agree that most of these are great, but honestly I believe Panda Bear is terrible...I feel that people like to think he's good more than anyone actually likes him...the same way most people are with Pere Ubu. SMD was a great one as was Burial.

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I'm on par with Cory's list, only I would add the Spoon, White Stripes, You Say Party!We Say Die albums...maybe Rilo Kiley and Digitalism.

YSP!WSD! is another of my favorite bands of the year though people give me shit for it. I did a little piece on them earlier this year when they were refused entry into the country for a tour.


There was a ton of great music this year....

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by SigmaChiCard

I agree that most of these are great, but honestly I believe Panda Bear is terrible...I feel that people like to think he's good more than anyone actually likes him...the same way most people are with Pere Ubu. SMD was a great one as was Burial.

Well, from your blog post, it seems like you're also down on Strawberry Jam and Let's Stay Friends, two albums that would have been in the 20-25 range on my list this year - it's likely a difference in taste more than anything, so there's really not going to be much in the way of discussion here.

However, I'll tell you that "Bros" isn't the singular work of genius Pitchfork et al. would have you believe - I personally don't find it to be the best song on the album, even. However, I find Person Pitch a remarkably rewarding listen, sort of a complex version of Brian Wilson's work with a sort of Brian Eno vibe. It's not like the lyrics would win a Pulitzer if written on the page, but I don't particularly care if the music works well.

It was kind of a grower for me, though - sort of the opposite of the SMD album, really, in that I like it a LOT more after many spins that I did at first blush (whereas SMD's early singles blew me away, and A/D/S/R was almost a letdown when finally released).

Finally, you may be right that Panda Bear benefits in the press from his Animal Collective ties, as I think AC is one of the most overrated bands out there in general (Strawberry Jam was their first album I actually really enjoy on any level, and Sung Tongs makes me wish I was just listening to Man Man and cutting out the middle man), but I can tell you from my point of view that Person Pitch is considerably better than any of the Animal Collective work, so I can't really chalk it up to nuthugging either. YMMV apparently.

[SigmaChiCard]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

My top 10 (explanations here):

10- Okkervil River, The Stage Names
9 - Simian Mobile Disco, Attack Decay Sustain Release
8 - Spoon, Ga ga ga ga ga
7 - Blitzen Trapper, Wild Mountain Nation
6 - Panda Bear, Person Pitch
5 - MIA, Kala
4 - Burial, Untrue
3 - Justice, [Cross]
2 - Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
1 - LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver

Honorable mention to The Hood Internet mixtapes, which are sick

This news publication in Louisville called Velocity recently published an article called "Top 10 Unlistenable Albums Lying Hipsters Put on Year-End Lists to Appear Cool" and he included LCD Soundsystem in that list. I took objection with most of his list (except the top 2 which you'll note), particularly the last 3 & CYHSY....and also Mark Ronson because who was putting that on a list to appear cool (guilty pleasure more like....A Smiths cover does not a hipster make), but only included LCD Soundsystem in my response since it directly addressed part of my own top 10.

The list included:

1. Panda Bear, “Person Pitch”
2. Animal Collective, “Strawberry Jam”
3. Deerhunter, “Cryptograms”
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, “Some Loud Thunder”
5. Mark Ronson, “Version”
6. Devendra Banhart, “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon"
7. Les Savy Fav, “Let’s Stay Friends”
8. Jens Lekman, “Night Falls Over Kortedala”
9. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, “Spirit If …”
10. LCD Soundsystem, “Sound of Silver”

[KatieKate1244]

I really liked Mark Ronson's CD. "Stop Me" is probably one of my favorite songs of the year. I actually didn't know it was a Smiths cover until about two weeks ago.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by SigmaChiCard

This news publication in Louisville called Velocity recently published an article called "Top 10 Unlistenable Albums Lying Hipsters Put on Year-End Lists to Appear Cool" and he included LCD Soundsystem in that list. I took objection with most of his list (except the top 2 which you'll note), particularly the last 3 & CYHSY....and also Mark Ronson because who was putting that on a list to appear cool (guilty pleasure more like....A Smiths cover does not a hipster make), but only included LCD Soundsystem in my response since it directly addressed part of my own top 10.

The list included:

1. Panda Bear, “Person Pitch”
2. Animal Collective, “Strawberry Jam”
3. Deerhunter, “Cryptograms”
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, “Some Loud Thunder”
5. Mark Ronson, “Version”
6. Devendra Banhart, “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon"
7. Les Savy Fav, “Let’s Stay Friends”
8. Jens Lekman, “Night Falls Over Kortedala”
9. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, “Spirit If …”
10. LCD Soundsystem, “Sound of Silver”

Yeah, I mean, I read your blog post - I assumed you linked it for a reason, so I followed it, and therein obtained most of this information.

That's why I responded the way I did - it's clear you agree with this guy about Panda Bear's album (and Animal Collective and Les Savy Fav), but not with Sound of Silver . . . I've told you why I think the Panda Bear album was great in my estimation, in no uncertain "lying hipster" terms. The Panda Bear album is the third most listened to in my collection from this year, behind LCD Soundsystem and Of Montreal.

Note that I also feel (and stated) that Animal Collective on the whole is laughably overrated, and with regard to this list, the Lekman and CYHSY albums were considerably less enjoyable for me than their previous albums, although I like and listen to both on occasion.

So now that we've recapped, I don't see your point - are you trying to convince me that Panda Bear sucks? Are you calling me a lying hipster? Seriously - I don't get it.

Also I've never listened to Pere Ubu in my life, so that particular touchstone/point of reference was completely lost on me. Whoops, losing my fake online hipster cred already.

[SigmaChiCard]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Yeah, I mean, I read your blog post - I assumed you linked it for a reason, so I followed it, and therein obtained most of this information.

That's why I responded the way I did - it's clear you agree with this guy about Panda Bear's album (and Animal Collective and Les Savy Fav), but not with Sound of Silver . . . I've told you why I think the Panda Bear album was great in my estimation, in no uncertain "lying hipster" terms. The Panda Bear album is the third most listened to in my collection from this year, behind LCD Soundsystem and Of Montreal.

Note that I also feel (and stated) that Animal Collective on the whole is laughably overrated, and with regard to this list, the Lekman and CYHSY albums were considerably less enjoyable for me than their previous albums, although I like and listen to both on occasion.

So now that we've recapped, I don't see your point - are you trying to convince me that Panda Bear sucks? Are you calling me a lying hipster? Seriously - I don't get it.

Also I've never listened to Pere Ubu in my life, so that particular touchstone/point of reference was completely lost on me. Whoops, losing my fake online hipster cred already.

Whoa....not sure how we got there. I wasn't just addressing you KSig....I knew you'd read the post (and responded thusly), so I was pointing to everyone else how incredibly ignorant this Velocity guy was for music he termed "unlistenable." I had said I mostly agreed with your list earlier so I was pointing out that both of us (collectively) would strongly disagree with his ridiculous statements. And not knowing Pere Ubu hardly makes anyone less hispter, just as someone not knowing Animal Collective in 20 years won't either

sorry if my quoting your post was misleading...i meant it as support for the guys ridiculous statements...

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by SigmaChiCard

Whoa....not sure how we got there. I wasn't just addressing you KSig....I knew you'd read the post (and responded thusly), so I was pointing to everyone else how incredibly ignorant this Velocity guy was for music he termed "unlistenable." I had said I mostly agreed with your list earlier so I was pointing out that both of us (collectively) would strongly disagree with his ridiculous statements. And not knowing Pere Ubu hardly makes anyone less hispter, just as someone not knowing Animal Collective in 20 years won't either

sorry if my quoting your post was misleading...i meant it as support for the guys ridiculous statements...

No worries, guy - it was quoting the post that made it seem like a response, since that's the general protocol I suppose. It does explain why I was confused, though - it didn't make sense in the context I took it, so no worries.

The guy's list is pretty awkward though, I'll agree - the most interesting part is that he's sort of committed meta-irony, since his list basically takes to task the "lying hipster" (who presumably only likes music because it fits an image, and not on its merit alone) by only referencing popular indie music, creating an image of distancing himself by hating the music based on its image or following, and not on its merit alone.

I guess the short version is, the dude is trying too hard - just like it's OK if you don't adore the Panda Bear album and don't find Animal Collective's noise worth the listen, it would be understandable if a few of the CDs hit the list. But to basically take the contents of most reputable music sites even beyond the "Pitchfork Sphere of Influence" and invert it is just a douchey move, meant to spur blog posts and smug smiles, to my mind.

[PiKA2001]