i finally listened to the new cloud cult, "light chasers" and its really good, definitely has an early 00's flaming lips vibe to it.

1. Free Energy-Stuck on Nothing
2. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
3. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor

1. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Drake - Thank Me Later

Deftones
Devil Sold His Soul
Celeste

subject to change.

@PopTodd - you should really listen to this Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti record. I'm convinced you'd dig it. It has the "out" quality of Zé and The Residents.

I have been checking out this thread to see what I want and that has been a contender. Considering buying it with some of the $15 that I have to spend at iTunes.
Now listening to "Round and Round" on the YouTube that was posted in the "Best Songs of 2010" thread. Sounds good, but maybe a little too "background". Of this type of music, I must admit that I am a bigger fan of the Caribou stuff that I have heard (only Andorra, really).
Is it a grower?

EDIT: As the song plays on, it seems to suck me in a little more and a little more. Might become a purchase.

It's really nothing like Caribou.

Does Ariel Pink remind anyone else of Steely Dan? Not sure why I think that.

What I'm hearing is, I think, the retro pop influences of both (on what I've heard). Guess that's what I get for hearing nothing but one song of AP and one album of Caribou.
And, the more I am reading about Ariel Pink, the more intriguing he sounds.
Might be a sale.

EDIT:
Okay.
Sold. Purchased and downloading now.

it's awesome

I can see why you'd think that. It purposely has that 70s/80s production sheen to it. It almost crosses the line into pastiche, but there's some really interesting stuff going on that isn't just copping a style.

totally, and it impresses me to no end how well "before today" fits within his catalogue, given how notoriously "washed out" his previous releases are. i can't get enough of "worn copy" and "scared famous" in addition to this record.

It's grown on me a lot. And I hate Steely Dan.

Seeing Ariel Pink tonight and I will report whether or not they have porn and Fu Manchu moustaches ala Steely Dan.

I am playing them a lot, and the 70's early 80's vibe and influences are myriad (one song sounds like both The Spinners and Big County at the same time to me), but he's def got his own thing to say musically. I don't hear it as retro.

It actually reminds me a lot of the last few Belle & Sebastian albums with a smattering of Air circa 10, 000 Hz Legend.

Definetely not Caribou nor Air... like really not. Not Steely Dan. More like Marty Feldman channeling Iggy Pop. Better on record, but they (he) were (was) interesting.

Was Os Mutantes the opener? Did you catch their set? How long did they get to play for? They are playing in LA tonight. I've debated catching this but would probably only go if the Os Mutantes set was worth the effort and I've already seen them 3-4 times.

saw both bands in toronto. ariel was definitely not impressed with the toronto crowd, who typically just stood there and watched. he was visibly disturbed by it and acted like it too. band was super tight though, and i loved the show. it definitely made me more interested in him, though it's true i would have enjoyed it more if i and the rest of the audience fuckin' danced a little. i think pairing them with os mutantes was a bad call because it moves the show to a bigger venue, when really they would thrive alone in a more intimate space.

Okay, new list:
• Jenny and Johnny - Now I'm Having Fun
• Ty Segall - Melted
• Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Need a couple more listens:
Beach House
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

EDIT:
Just bought:
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

I've been buying/listening to a lot of non-2010 stuff this year but, off the top of my head:

Four Tet "There Is Love In You"
Grinderman 2
Kanye's MBDTF
Sleigh Bells "Treats"
LCD Soundsystem "This Is Happening"
Les Savy Fav "Root For Ruin"
Superchunk - Majesty Shredding

...are all pretty amazing, and will probably be top-10ers...

In my Top 10. Good record.

fug....this is almost impossible to pick.

1. beach house - teen dream
2. phantogram - eyelid movies
3. future islands - in evening air

hey, are we doing a shmoo poll this year?


I hope so

i was just starting to prepare my shmoo list.