Remember the Mexican Lucha Libre Wrestler hotel room I got last October when I was in town for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival? No, well check it here.
It was at Hotel des Arts and of course I had to stay there again when I returned at the end of Feb for the Noise Pop Festival, albeit for just one night. This time I got the graffiti room. How dope is this shit?
Gorgeous art everywhere, too (most are available for purchase too!)
I also stayed a couple of nights at the fabulous Hotel Vertigo - which inspired me to do a mini-tour of my fav movie... Vertigo. Stay tuned!
This post is totally unrelated to the Foo Fighters. I just think they are awesome.
A quick update from yours truly here (how is THAT for fast posting, eh?):
To answer some questions coming off the last post - YES my books are going to be available in paperback form and all over the world through Amazon and hopefully a few other book sellers.
If you would like to review an advanced copy for your blog, please email me at foreverwanderlust "at" yahoo.com and I'll get one to you over the next month.
At the moment I am knee-deep in simultaneously editing/rewriting Darkhouse - can I talk about this for a moment? You know they say the blank page is the most terrifying thing a writer has to face? Well, that is true. But facing a page full of your words and thinking it's all SHIT is also equally terrifying. See, I've rewritten the novel a bunch but THIS time it's for good and the first time with the thought that HEY I don't have a publisher or editor who is going to go through this...it's all on me. And there is a LOT of stuff in there that needs to go. It's the difference between cleaning your apartment before your friends come over and cleaning your apartment before your boyfriend's parents come over.
But, it'll get done. Oh yes, it will get done.
I'm also knee-deep in my website. It's a lot of work but GOSH DARN IT I AM EXCITED!!!
Oh right, there was another reason for this blog post. I'm incorporating formspring technology or something - anyway I want to do a Q&A session for my website (would you believe I've never done one...least not since 2006!). If you would like to ask me an anonymous question (oh god, here we go), please go ahead and do so by visiting here:
In general, I find the concept of Formspring to be a bit icky, but I figured it was the easiest way to get some good questions out of the pile of garbage I know is coming.
Oh, and I should mention my boyfriend is moderating the Formspring account so, if you're trying to be mean or ICKY, just know he's going to see it. Not me. HA!
I'll collect the questions over the next few days, then close the account, so GET CRACKING, READERS! :D and thanks in advance.
That's a pretty lame blog title, I must admit. It's before 10AM though and my brain isn't working and I should just be happy I'm writing at all. Blog posts, that is.
A week ago I completed my third novel. It was a labour of love and... well, just a lot of love. Also resulted in some disturbing dreams and a few months of being anti-social (when I wasn't traveling). And a few months of neglecting this blog. Poor thing *pats it on head*
But, I'm done. The third book in the Experiment in Terror Series, "Dead Sky Morning" is complete (well, first draft anyway). At 102,000 words, 20 chapters, it took me about 2.5 months to do, writing almost every day (maybe every other day to round it out).
In comparison, the first book in the series, "Darkhouse", took me 6 weeks. Yeah, you all know the story, I was blogging more then (shame on me!), but that was a quickie. But that was my goal, right? October/November 2009 I had set a goal for myself to write every day for 30 days... just to see if I could do it. Earlier that summer I had a great idea for a book. I wanted to start a series, I wanted to do it from a female's POV and I wanted it to be about ghosts. NOT Vampires (never, ever Vampires), but ghosts. I am the old-fashioned supernatural lover and ghosts always get my goat. Or something.
The idea came to me in just the form of Perry Palomino. I knew her name, I knew I wanted to write scary stuff (I was born to scare people - but that's for another blog post), I knew she'd have a younger sister who was into fashion. And that was about it. I mulled on it, put the idea away promising myself "one day" I'll write a book. Just as I had done for 27 years.
Man. 27 sounds really young now compared to 29. Huh. ANYWAY.
Then I just decided to do it. Build a habit. I was kind of taking part in NANO, where you write a novel in a month. The min word count there was 50K and it took me six weeks to do 82K so I guess it did kind of count. Well, it got the job done. Waking up at 6AM and writing for an hour in the cold winter mornings, plus an hour at work, then an hour or two at night (EVERY DAY) and that's how it all came together.
So with Darkhouse's first draft coming in at 6 weeks, it was time for the second book. "Red Fox". It took... a year. Seriously. I wrote a bunch in January/February 2010. More in July (on the plane to Finland and back). And finished the rest up in the fall.
I never thought I'd write one book, let alone three. But I've found something that I love. These books mean everything to me, the characters are as real to me as the sun and the moon. I'm starting to go a bit nutty here as a result. They talk to each other in my head at night, so much that sometimes I have to get up and write it down. Just scenes, dialogue - it may belong to the next book, it may belong to book #7.
Yeah, there's seven books in this series. Possibly more, but seven so far. They have all been plotted out - least I know the main focus, location and events in each book. In a way, I am telling just one big story that is spread out, so each book digs up certain clues or milestones for my characters. There's a massive backstory here, and some of it actually springs up as I continue to write. The characters have come SO far from that first book. They write the books themselves now - I admit I am just the messenger (yeah, now I am really sounding like a loon). Sometimes they will do something I didn't expect that ties in with something I hinted at in an earlier book and then it's like BOOM! I discovered something about THEM. Weird, huh?
But with the third book done, it's time to look at what I am doing with them.
No, I have not sent out a single query letter to publishers or agents. I have declined to go that route (for now, of course) for several reasons.
A) I like to be in control. I like to DIY. I have an army of talented friends who can help me out with everything from copy-editing, cover design and artwork, websites, photography, filming (oh, you'll see where that is going), PR work, social media tools...whatever. I have these resources around me and I will use them. I LOVE being involved in everything I do. This is all up to me and who I choose to help me and there is no one else to blame if it all goes sour.
B) Though the books are really about the characters Dex and Perry, the subject matter (GHOSTS) is a timely one. Experiment in Terror (yes, I know it's a film...and a song...and no, titles are not copywritable), is a webcast run by a pair of amateur ghost hunters. Ghosts are in right now. Well, ghosts are always in, but seriously, there are ghosts everywhere these days. EVEN IN MY KITCHEN!
But the point is, if I was lucky enough to get a book deal TOMORROW, the first book would not come out until 2013. 2013!? We're all dead by then! But seriously, if I do it this way, the self-publishing way, the first book will come out sometime in May. 2011.
C) I'm not afraid of hard work and I have the time. Yes, this is hard-work. Yes, I have been working around the clock. I may not have a traditional "job" but I have a career. I write freelance for three websites (and get paid to do so), I have some other music-related writing work that comes in, I do background work for film when I can, and I write my novels. On average, I write for about 6-8 hours a day. That is nothing to sneeze at, all you sneezers out there.
I am FORTUNATE that I have a loan to help me with this process, that I don't have to have a 9-5 job, otherwise NO WAY - I could not self-publish. But this is my job now, and even when I'm up at 2AM researching publicists, or doing fact-checking, or coming up with a business name for incorporation, I'm actually working. I even said it to my BF last night...I have been working every day for months now and it just clued in lol. I finally get what self-employed people mean when they are like "another 12 hour day" - because when you look at the hours devoted to your career, that is WORK. It's just the fun work, not the work where you punch a clock. It's still work though.
Yes, my dream would be too have a publishing house approach me and sign me to a book deal. But I hate sitting around and waiting for that to happen. This isn't about money (money WOULD be nice though, at least enough to pay back my loan), it's about sharing something that has made me and about five other people (my brave, devoted, enthusiastic readers) very happy.
SO sorry for the long post but it was LONG overdue. Hope you are all caught up. Here are somethings on my horizon:
- Currently re-writing Darkhouse for the billionth time.
- Aiming to self-publish Darkhouse in May. The books will be available through E-download for $2.99 and paperback for around $10. If ANY bloggers want to review an advanced copy for free, drop me a line ASAP, I would LOVE it.
- Red Fox will follow shortly after, probably in June.
- I will have my website for these books up and running next month.
- There is going to be a huge interactive component here with Youtube videos and I am very excited about that. The video should launch before May...
- I am currently plotting out the fourth book, entitled "Lying Season" - I don't know if that book will get actually published this year, but it will get written at the very least. That's the thing... once the writer train is going, it's hard to stop. Each book has something I'm very excited about exploring and writing about - I literally had to hold myself back the other day from starting Lying Season. Right at this minute, I need to devote 90% of my time to self-publishing and the prep stage (let alone the marketing after the book launch!).
Anyway, this blog is going to be a major tool for me as the weeks go on, so keep your eyes peeled. And, as always, thanks for reading :)
I went to San Francisco the other week on an impromptu trip to see my friend Hadi/Bad Weather play Yoshi's jazz club, catch up with my numerous Bay Area friends and check out local boy Kid Koala (and east coast wonder, Jel) play as part of the Noise Pop Festival.
I had no expectations about this trip at all but when I left to board my plane back to Seattle on Tuesday, I was left speechless. Sometimes good things happen to good, hardworking people and even when you do deserve it, it's hard to fathom when it actually happens to you. I'll share more details of this wonderful turn of events as time goes on, but for now I'll show you some Polaroid (well, with the iPhone lol) shots of my favourite city by the bay, San Francisco.
I went to my first tweet-up the other day. Well, my first official tweet-up. There's actually been a ton of people I've met, in different parts of the world like San Francisco and Poland, that I met originally through Twitter... but I guess that's not really a tweet-up, is it?
Yeah, I had avoided tweet-ups in my own city because A) I thought they were lame and B) I felt like the totally uncool kid that never gets invited anywhere (and this is usually true, btw).
But it was an old high school friend of mine - SSDATED - who I hadn't seen in ages and who I know is pretty freakin' awesome, and it was her own tweet-up party, so I figured, why the hell not?
Night started off slowly (was held in the swanky Glowbal Afterglow Lounge in Yaletown which is a lot different from the gay bars on Davie St I am used to frequenting) but soon I was meeting tons of Tweeps I knew from my daily Twitter feed, and meeting more lovely people as well.
I don't want to post any pictures here because I'm afraid of accidentley outing someone who wants to remain anonymous *ahem* so I'll just post this pic. It's of me. You all know what I look like.
(For SSDATED - spreading the V pose everywhere)
ANYHOO - one of the things everyone was talking about that night was how they got started on Twitter, how they are trying to convince their friends to tweet, how some people just don't get it - and look, I was totally one of those people! I thought "uugh, just a bunch of status updates, laaaaaame" BUT IT'S TOTALLY NOT LIKE THAT.
Or, at least, it shouldn't be. And then I got thinking, how can people (especially those who are wary about it or not sure how to use it) get the most out of Twitter? Here are some tips:
1. Follow interesting people - this is key. Whether they are funny celebs, up-to-date news sources, or just off-the-wall people you've never met, having an interesting feed is what will keep you reading.
2. Talk to people - if you have interesting people in your feed, best thing you can do is converse with them. This is an online community, like a large public chat room. Just by talking to people, you'd be amazed at how much you have in common with many of them. If you find the right tweeps, your time on Twitter will be much more enjoyable. Lately, I've been laughing my ass off at what's been said by some of my more rowdy friends (Boobs and the Dude, you know who you are).
3. Unfollow boring people - or people who cheer for opposing hockey teams. Basically if anything makes your Twitter experience less enjoyable, there's no reason to follow them. Tweeters who make you angry or bore the shit out of you - cut 'em loose. Other people may find them enjoyable, they just aren't your cup of tea. Too bad Twitter doesn't have the Facebook "hide" option, for those that only annoy you on occasion (like during hockey games).
4. Don't take anything personally - if someone disagrees with something you said or *GASP* unfollows you, it is hard not to feel slighted or defensive. But remember the internet attracts different people, sarcasm can be VERY hard to read at times (especially if you don't know the person well) and people unfollow for many different reasons (see above). I know I can be opinionated and I tweet too much - whatever. People can, and do, unfollow me for those reasons and others. Different strokes for different folks.
5. Retweet the nasty stuff - occasionally you may find yourself under TWITTER ASSAULT which is far worse than someone unfollowing or disagreeing with you. People who are angry/miserable enough to engage in Twitter Assault are usually the type of people who delete their tweets after too. Retweeting it says "hey, I see what you did there - now everyone else sees too." Your lovely loyal tweeps will usually jump to your defense and you'll show the attacker, hey that's cool you think I'm a ____________. Celebrities do this all the time and I think it's pretty funny. Especially when Neil Hamburger does it.
6. Retweet the funny and interesting stuff - retweeting is sharing. Sharing is caring. You like something you've read? Retweet it - share it with others, plus you credit the original tweep who put it out there. Retweets are like kisses... or some other analogy.
7. Don't be afraid to promote yourself - Twitter is one of the greatest marketing tools out there. There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of the technology and using it to help yourself out. It's also a great platform for helping fellow friends, causes, events, etc. But... 8. Don't spam people - one or two tweets about something is perfect (per day). This blog post might get tweeted via me twice today, just because a lot of people aren't on Twitter all day long and might miss it - especially if they have a busy feed. But if you mention it a lot, all the time, and especially if it's the SAME tweet... ugh, that's just akin to spam. Speaking of...
9. Block Spammers - someone replied to you that you don't know and they have an egg for a picture or a "hot" girl and are wanting you to click on a link about whatever the hell you might have tweeted about moments earlier? DON'T DO IT. Report them for Spam immediately. It's been getting worse lately it seems (least for Vancouver Tweeps), so nip it in the bud and it will help stop the spammers... until they open a new account.
10. AND HAVE FUN - Why so serious? Twitter is a place to vent about your commute, to complain about Justin Bieber, to celebrate going for a run, for teasing Caddyshack and Bacon bots, sharing music, developing crushes, and for engaging in mindless/intense conversations... all for 140 characters or less.
For neglecting this blog lately. It's very important to me, believe it or not, but I've been busy writing so many other things... well anyway, that's not really a good excuse.
So I'm going to make it up to you guys - consider it my Valentine's Day gift to you, my lovely readers.
First of all, to spread the love and set you in the mood, here is some Lovage - hit play and keep reading. Or watch it. It's pretty sexy... well...Jennifer Charles is anyway, rest of the video is just plain budget (couldn't afford to give Mike Patton a tooth):
I'm totally against Valentine's Day. In fact, I think I hate it more when I'm actually in a relationship than when I'm single. At least when you are single, no one is asking you "what did you get? Where did you go?" and so on. People know you're not in relationship so they don't bug you - least they never bugged me when I was single. Also cuz I think it's kind of scary to ask singletons about Valentine's Day, some people get pretty testy about it (and rightfully so!).
But when you're in a relationship, then you get the questions and for some reason it gives other coupled people the free rein to brag. You know, "Oh, my boyfriend gave me this Tiffany necklace and then we went to this fancy restaurant, BLAH BLAH BLAH... so, what did you get?" "Uh, I got a handwritten note from my stuffed bear, Norman."
Now, I loved that note so much that I kept it. But, you tell someone else that and they're like, "what a cheapass boyfriend you have". To which you reply, "NO. He's not a cheap ass, we just both fucking hate this stupid fucking day, so lay off bitch!"
But then people accuse you of being all defensive and shtuffff.
So, the way I combat this problem is by avoiding social media on V-Day. Yeah, I know... not going to happen but the thought is there.
Also, I've changed Valentine's Day to LOVAGE DAY. Because there's nothing wrong with celebrating sexy music. And if you have no one to get busy with, put this on and get busy with yourself. And seriously... how can you not?
There was a second of all! I'll be offering a discount code for Overstock.com over the next couple of days. This will be exclusive for my readers. I think this is awesome because I used to buy MANY pairs of shoes from the store and always had a painless shopping experience. Shipping was easy (even to Canada) and the variety of shoes is amazing.ALSO they sell tons of over stuff... like... everything!
PS - My blog's FIVE YEAR anniversary was on February 2nd... or 4th. One of those days. I was going to do a big post about that, just as I was going to do a huge 2010 recap, cuz let's face it... 2010 was awesome for me! Would you guys still be interested in seeing that? Well, I may do it anyway HA.
PPS - my blog has been on my mind lately, especially last night as I was falling asleep, and this morning I got a lovely, out of the blue email from a reader who basically reinforced that I should write more. Serendipity at work again!
ADDENDUM - Since the publication of this post, I have decided that St. Patrick shouldn't get all the fun... let St. Valentine in on it too. So, along with copious amounts of Lovage, why not make Valentine's Day/Lovage Day an excuse to drink red beer (Rickards Red or what have you) until you're blindly staggering around town, throwing candy and cinnamon hearts at each other? This is what I'm doing tomorrow - I hope you will be too :)
I know I haven't blogged at all this month - I chalk it up to writing for CoS, my new job writing for GadflyDreams and writing my third novel (just getting started, anyway). Then there's the relentless job searching too. And of course, I'm lazy and unmotivated. I hate January.
So, in order to perk things up, I took a trip to Seattle to visit my friend Tami. I was going to go the week before but I was still feeling kind of sick. Plus I wanted to go on Thursday, and since we are big Patton appreciators (er, fanatics) and it was his 43rd birthday on that day, we thought it would be fun to catch up and celebrate it. Plus she's moving to LA very soon and won't be a three-hour drive away.
Thursday was great. Went out with her adorable son and had a fabulous dinner. Then got back to her house, put on some Mr. Bungle and other projects and literally stayed up talking music till 4AM.
I brought Tami a little Melvins man as a present - now he and Mini P are pals
We were a bit sleep deprived the next day but had no time to dwell on it as our friend Simone was also in Seattle that weekend and her friends were throwing her a shindig. So that was a fun time, especially when she commandeered the stereo and we played Mr. Bungle (not always the best party music but we didn't care). Tami and I also talked a lot about certain experiences, and what not and a lot of the time the conversation would keep coming back Mr. Bungle. That's nothing out of the ordinary since we often talk about musicians, but, anyway...you'll see.
Anyway, next day= still sleep deprived. Think we stayed up till 3AM listening to Secret Chiefs 3. I was supposed to go home that day but Simone randomly ran into Trevor Dunn at a restaurant in Seattle. This is kismet cuz A) they know each other B) neither are from Seattle. Turns out he was playing a show with the Nels Cline Singers that night. So, of course I stayed an extra night (and hoped that adage about houseguests and dead fish wasn't true). How could I pass that up since I was in the city and all?
The concert (which was part of a Is This Jazz? Fest) was held on the 4th floor of this school/church type place. Very unassuming set up, like being in an elaborate looking high school gymnasium. We were told standing room only but the people let us sit at the very front, at the "stage" and on the floor.
The first band was a local Seattle experimental jazz trio called the Triptet, who were actually very cool. The fretless guitar, sax and drums were all it took to create a range of noises, plus tons of other rattly stuff as well.
After Triptet came the Nels Cline Singers. Now, Nels Cline is the guitarist in Wilco and for some reason Tami and I were mistaken for Wilco fans when we bought our tickets. That couldn't be further from the truth - like a lot of bands, I just couldn't get into Wilco. We were there for Trevor.
But Nels Cline was pretty amazing himself. Watching him work the crazy amount of pedals and effects he has was dizzying. He could make his guitar sound like a horn section and then back to a guitar in seconds flat. He wasn't boring to watch either - he kept his fingers flying at an alarming rate and his tall frame would occasionally rock the fuck out. Mad respect for this guy, he's a guitar genius.
Cline was joined for half of the performance by his wife Yuka Honda who was in charge of the keys. Honda has a very subtle stage presence, but it was a lot of fun to see the quiet, charming looks exchanged by her and her husband while performing.
The drummer was Scott Amendola, who puzzled me for most of the show because I couldn't quite place where I knew him from. I kept thinking Elvis Costello... Hardly Strictly Bluegrass... and kept seeing a photo of him, that I took, in my head. Well, turned out he was the drummer for that fest's Mondo Cane performance. No wonder! Anyway Amendola was brilliant. Jazz drumming is something else and even though on some more straightforward songs like the rocking "Thurston County" he could just drum up a storm, on other songs he was creating these effects that were startling and imaginative.
Then of course there was Trevor Dunn, who alternated between a full-bodied stand-up bass (which was bigger than he was) and a beat-up bass that looked straight out of his high school Mr. Bungle years, battered, with faded butterfly stickers and all. Dunn was a joy to watch, not only because of the sheer talent that flew out of those fingers and forearms but because he would get so caught up in the music. Whether he was exchanging magnetic looks with Cline and Amendola, or brow furrowed in concentration at his own flurry of work, he was definitely in the moment. I always knew that Dunn was a fantastic bass player, but to see what he could do live, while switching between both those instruments, was awe-inspiring. And unfortunately just made me jones for more Fantomas and Mr. Bungle lol....ah that bass line in "Dead Goon".
We hung around for a bit afterward and talked to Dunn who was really great - and what a cutie. Hard to believe he's in his forties, really. We talked a bit about Mad Love... apparently he didn't really make money on his last your with his band. In fact he lost money. I mean, come on people. If he's in your area and Mad Love is playing, go see the show. Support the artists you love, or at least the record labels you love! It was disturbing to hear how someone so talented was losing money because people weren't interested. What a sad state the US music industry is in... makes me mad.
That said, because he is going to South America with Umlaut and Secret Chiefs 3 in August, and is going to play a few shows in Europe (Portugal for sure) this summer with John Zorn, so at least he's entering a market that's more than willing to accept some avant-garde and brilliant music.
Anyway after our little chat we decided to head home. I know Tami and I were sleep-deprived, and Trevor looked kinda tired too. Though you can't tell from this picture...
Seriously. I'm 14 years younger and I somehow look older lol. He says in does that look in all photos now, so maybe I ought to start trying it, heh heh.
Anyway, it was a fabulously random weekend and I couldn't have had more gracious hosts. I didn't know when I left Vancouver that I'd be getting a chance to gab with Trevor Dunn and see him perform as well, and considering we were talking about before he kind of "materialized", made me think it was some sort of serendipity. Who knows? Life works in mysterious ways ;)
I know Consequence of Sound (and many others) just did this (though they had 100 albums), but honestly I didn't listen to THAT much new music this year. I mean, I did, obviously as I have been reviewing shit, but not enough for me to recommend really more than 10-15 albums. Plus, you know I have my own musical inclinations which aren't usually included on most lists. I'm not much in the "indie" scene, I hate most pop music and my tastes can be loud and eclectic. But I digress...
Wanderlusting's Top 10 Albums of 2010
10. Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder
This was released this year, right? I feel like it's been slipping people's minds for some reason. Now, it's not the best Melvins album out there, but I find myself listening to it a lot more than Nude With Boots. It's still crunchy, greasy, distorted, grungey, sludgy, swampy, drowsy, angry, fuzzy and a slew of other adjectives. In other words, it's still classic Melvins but there's more of a cohesiveness to Murder. Maybe purists will say that this album is more "mainstream" or "poppy" than usual, but whatever. It works.
9. Kylie - Aphrodite
From Melvins to Kylie Minogue... yep. Hey, I'm allowed to have strange music tastes and I can't help it if Miss Minogue put out one terrific, catchy pop album this year. Of course, I do have a soft spot for her since I first was introduced to her back when I was traveling Australia in 2000-2001 but I can't deny that Aphrodite is pretty solid all the way through. As I said in my Consequence of Sound review, "Minogue isn’t about experimenting on Aphrodite, it’s about bringing back the club-primed beats and frisky phrasings that her fans expect from her and for the most part, it works beautifully." I recommend downloading the title track, "Aphrodite" - it's pure, infectious fun.
8. Bad Religion - Dissent of Man
Ah, my teenage love from 1996-2000. I saw Bad Religion a few times live, had all their albums, had their cross patch on my cargo pants. And though I would still listen to The Grey Race or Recipe for Hate, I hadn't really given Bad Religion all that much thought until I saw them live, again, at the Ilosaarirock Festival in Finland this past July. They were amazing. Just so much energy, and having been around for 30 years, you could tell how much they just love their music.
Naturally, my ears perked up when their new album, Dissent of Man, came up. I was fortunate enough to review it and you know, it's a great album. A lot of the time it does sound very classic BR. You know, quick drums, well-placed guitar solos, Greg Graffin's monotonous voice. But while some BR albums can sound a little too similar, this one had some nice changes, apparent in the songs "Cyanide" and "Wrong Way Kids." I think I'm going to go listen to it right now.
7. Massive Attack - Heligoland This album was left off of a lot of people's lists, and I'm not sure why. It's pretty freaking good and definitely one of those moody, MA albums that take a while to grow on you. I guess releasing it as an EP first may have taken the wind out of the Heligoland's sails but I digress: it's rad.
"Babel", "Splitting the Atom", "Atlas Air", "Girl I Love You" - these songs all have the drive, the beat, the atmosphere, the sparse electronics that Massive Attack is known for. For a heartfelt change of pace, there is "Saturday Come Slow" which features Damon Albarn. Frankly, it's the best track on the album. Full of yearning, Albarn's raw vocals express the kind of hopeless pain that so many of us have felt. When he sings "Do you love me?" you want to answer yes, if not to just put him out of his gorgeous misery.
6. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Speaking of Damon Albarn, the Gorillaz released their hotly-anticipated follow-up to Demon Days. I was one of those people who was obsessively checking their website to see what song teaser trailers were being released so when it finally came out, I was listening to this album on repeat.
It's hard now to think back on what my original thoughts were. I know some songs confused me, such as "Glitter Freeze" which I thought was too annoying, and "On Melancholy Hill" which I thought was too cheesey. But now, I adore "Melancholy" (helps that I had a "moment" while hearing this live at Coachella... I felt so united to all my fellow concertgoers and no, I wasn't on drugs). There really isn't a bad track on this album; the few so-so songs become great with each listen and the great songs, such as "Empire Ants" and "Rhinestone Eyes" become stupendously awesome.
5. The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
I don't like female-fronted rock bands. Fact. I just can't listen to them... maybe it has a lot to do with sugary vocals paired against hard music. It's too feminine to me and I just can't do it. Which might explain why I absolutely adore The Dead Weather and Allison Mosshart's gravely-voiced persona. Anyway, here's the excerpt I wrote for CoS when the album made #15 on the Top 100 of 2010 list:
The Dead Weather’s followup to their 2009 debut, Horehound, took Jack White and Allison Mosshart’s “Evil Twin” relationship and ramped it up a few notches. If they were a playful duo before, in Sea of Cowards they’re skirting the edges of madness together, egging each other on in a slinky showdown that’s dramatized by the album’s schizophrenic mix of blues, soul, and psychedelic rock. The album kicks off with the throbbing grooves and twang of “Blue Blood Blues”, while White sings “shake your hips like battleships”.
The album moves on to the dark and vibrating single “The Difference Between Us” and the disorienting thump of the psychotically-tinged “I’m Mad”, where Mosshart gets to show off her convincing cackle. The dizzying showdown culminates with the quickly rattled fuzz of “Jawbreaker” and the haunting “Old Mary”, a track that closes the album with a sense of unease and claustrophobia. At times during Cowards you can’t even tell which one of the two is singing (or yelping or snarling), which makes you wonder if they are indeed mirrors of each other or perhaps two people in one, battling to rise above the fury. If anyone walks away a winner though, it’s the listener, for having heard one of the most interesting and defiant rock albums of 2010.
4. Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R Re-issue
Is this cheating? I don't think so. I reviewed it after all, albeit it was hard not to be extremely biased about one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite bands EVER. But aside from having delicious-sounding remastered classics such as "Better Living Through Chemistry" (can there be a better song?), "Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" and the rolling, rumbling "Tension Head", you get a second disc full of live tracks and B-sides.
The live tracks, “Regular John”, “Avon”. and “You Can’t Quit Me Baby” are all from their self-titled album and a welcome addition to anyone’s QOTSA collection. Also making a live appearance is the muscling “Millionaire” which would later become the first track on their next album Songs for the Deaf as “You Think I Ain’t Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire”.
The B-sides are like Xmas - some juicy, "new" QOTSA tracks to sink your teeth into until their next album (in 2011): “Ode to Clarissa” is a rollicking, almost poppy beat with a “Yeah, yeah, yeah” chorus, pounding drums, and bassist Nick Oliveri on vocals. “You’re So Vague” is a clever spin on Carly Simon’s infamous song. It’s moody and dramatic with a strong build and stirring guitar riffs and reminiscent of darker QOTSA songs. It's sexy too - you might just take your pants off. ”Born to Hula” sounds like the quintessential QOTSA song – Josh Homme’s soothing voice carries the song over changing but always prominent drumming and wailing guitar solos.
There are covers too: “Never Say Never” is a cover of the 80’s post-punk band Romeo Void’s hit and definitely has that new wave feel as Homme sings “I might like you better if we slept together” over a bouncing bass beat. The Kinks’ 1965 hit “Who’ll Be the Next in Line” is also covered with a keyboard-backed California surf vibe.
This will tide me and other QOTSA fans till next year, and maybe win over some new ones.
3. Mini Mansions - Mini Mansions
I wanted to give this trio a 4.5 star rating when I reviewed the album but was shut down. I'm happy with the 4 stars it got, but the more I listen to this symphonic masterpiece, the more I wish that .5 had stuck. Whatever, what I am trying to say is that this album is awesome, and even more so as a debut.
Upon learning that I interviewed the band while I was in LA (here I am with Michael Shuman and Zach Dawes... you may recognize Shuman from being the bassist in that band I just wrote about in slot #4 ^^ QOTSA)
you might consider me biased. I'm not. I just really think this band is something special and deserves A LOT more attention. Here's a snippet of what I wrote in my song-by-song review:
Composed of Shuman and his longtime friends Tyler Parkford and Zach Dawes, the trio concocted here a winning mix of distortion, psychedelic modernism, and a dreamy shot of nostalgic pop music. The listener will immediately draw comparisons to the post-Revolver Beatles (you know, when they were doing drugs) or The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds (you know, when they were doing drugs) but the flagrant personal touches of Mini Mansions keep the sound rooted firmly in the present. The album is meant to be listened to as a whole, a journey through sounds and memories, visuals and feelings. It’s experimental, as the best drugs are, but has enough familiarity to keep you grounded throughout the ride.
I don't know. Just go to Ipecac or Rekords Records and buy the thing. Let's help keep Mike Patton and Josh Homme producing awesome bands like Mini Mansions. You won't regret it.
2. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Ah, my other high school love that competed for my attention when I was listening to Bad Religion. I was obsessed with Around The Fur when it came out in the mid-nineties, went to a few of their concerts as an underage rock chick, got sucked in a few moshpits and then went on to love the clean complexities of White Pony in 2000. Then something happened over the next ten years, I didn't even notice their self-titled or Saturday Night Wrist.
Then Diamond Eyes popped up and I was propelled back into my Deftones appreciation.
Here's what I wrote for their #22 position on CoS's Top 100 of 2010:
In 2008, the Deftones had been in the middle of writing Eros, their highly-anticipated follow-up to the underrated experimental album Saturday Night Wrist, when bassist Chi Cheng was involved in a tragic car accident. Eros was halted indefinitely while the band had the difficult decision of what to do next – disband in honor of the critically injured Cheng, or continue doing what they do best: making music.
The Deftones ended up soldiering on and recorded Diamond Eyes, and we’re glad they did. The result is one of the best rock albums of the year. From the crunchy, melodic waves of the opening title track and the angry, demanding ride of “Cmnd/Ctrl”, to the intense urgency of “Rocket Skates” and the beautifully written push and pull of “Risk”, there isn’t a weak track to be found. The haunting notes and Chino Moreno’s stirring vocals on the last track “This Place is Death” is the perfect closer to an emotional ride. This album is what the Deftones are all about. It may not be too brave in the sense of musical deviation, but the fact that the Deftones were able to put out such an undeniably solid album in the wake of tragedy shows the band’s braveness in a different way. Cheng would be proud.
1. Mike Patton - Mondo Cane
SURPRISE! I bet you didn't see this one coming in a million years.
OK, before you write this off, I've got to say that just because Mike Patton puts something out there, it doesn't mean I like it. In fact, I can probably name at least 5 projects of his that I've just said no way, can't do it, sorry (Adult Themes, Zorn, etc). That's OK. We have different tastes. I like weird... I'm a huge fan of General P and Patton/Kaada, but it doesn't mean I like everything.
Disclaimer aside: I love Mondo Cane.
It's gorgeously produced orchestral Italian pop music from the 50s/60s, sung in Italian by Mike Patton. It's just weird enough to be edgy, just heartfelt enough to be emotional, just loud enough to be Mike Patton. It's unique, different and beautiful. I really can't recommend it or sing it's praises enough so maybe I should just quote the Maestro and say it's for anyone "with a heart in their fucking chest."
That may or may not include you.
Top 5 Honorable Mentions:
The Slew - 100% (Kid Koala + Ex-Wolfmother Rhythm Section = bluesy, rocky, turntabley awesome) Guano Padano - Guano Padano (Technically this came out last year but I think you guys should read my review here for this intriguing album by Mondo Cane's guitarist)
LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening (catchy, dancey, I'm not ashamed to admit I like this) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (This made me stop hating Arcade Fire just a little bit. Still kinda hate them but this album is redeeming)
Alain Johannes - Spark (Pretty much reviewing this as I write this. It's gorgeous and exquisite but painfully short)
Now, remember I haven't listened to THAT many new albums this year, so I'm probably excluding a lot or whatever, but this was the best of what I've heard this year and it's pretty much guaranteed that I listen to these albums at least once a month.
