2010 was the year of big sound for small bucks
By TIMOTHY FINN
The Kansas City Star
The year in music 2010 was local in many ways.
More Kansas City area bands are asserting themselves as worthwhile and less expensive alternatives to the big touring bands in the big venues charging the big bucks.
It used to be difficult to recommend more than five local albums. This year, there are almost two dozen to choose from. Likewise with local shows: It’s much easier to find a night where you can drop $5 or $7 to see three local or regional bands and get your money’s worth.
This is our annual orgy of end-of-year lists. We solicited dozens of music insiders, commentators and the musicians themselves for their lists of 10 favorites of 2010 — albums, songs, shows, moments. In keeping with the local theme, my list of favorite albums is topped by a gal from Kansas City, Kan., whose name appears on a lot of other lists, too.
top albums
Janelle Monae, “The ArchAndroid”
The Black Angels, “Phosphene Dream”
The National, “High Violet”
The Black Keys, “Brothers”
Titus Andronicus, “The Monitor”
Junip, “Fields”
Jonsi, “Go”
Thee Oh Sees, “Warm Slime”
Frightened Rabbit, “The Winter of Mixed Drinks”
Sleigh Bells, “Treats”
J. Roddy Watson and the Business, “J. Roddy Watson and the Business”
Dum Dum Girls, “I Will Be”
V.V. Brown, “Travelling Like the Light”
Wolf Parade, “Expo 86”
Cee Lo Green, “The Lady Killer”
Kanye West, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, “Before Today”
Clinic, “Bubblegum”
My Chemical Romance, “Danger Days”
Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs”
local albums you should buy
Grisly Hand, “Safe Hand”
The ACB’s, “Stona Rosa”
Soft Reeds, “Soft Reeds Are Bastards”
Sara Swenson, “All Things Big and Small”
Hearts of Darkness, “Hearts of Darkness”
The Caves, “Five Songs With the Caves”
Mikal Shapiro, “For Good”
John Velghe, “John Velghe”
Kristie Stremel & the 159ers, “The Color of Stars”
Kirsten Paludan, “All In”
Barclay Martin Ensemble, “Pools That Swell With the Rain”
Mark Lowrey, “Live at Jardine’s”
“The Oil Boiler” soundtrack
Cowboy Indian Bear, “Each Other All the Time”
Making Movies, “In Deo Speramus”
MBird, “Over the Bones”
Oriole Post, “Silver City”
Margo May, “Summer of”
Monta at Odds, “Fuoco Infernale”
Hidden Pictures, “Choosing Sides”
favorite local shows
Hearts of Darkness, Davey’s Uptown, Crosstown Station and the RecordBar
Pedaljets at the RecordBar
Latenight Callers at Crosstown Station
Grisly Hand at Crosstown Station
Bleach Bloodz with Howard Iceberg at Mercy Seat alley
Making Movies at the RecordBar
Dead Voices at Czar Bar
Atlantic Fadeout at Crosstown Station
Hammerlord at the RecordBar
Soft Reeds at the Riot Room
Barclay Martin Ensemble at Folly Theater
American Catastrophe at Midwest Music Co.
Three Water Moccasins at Czar Bar
String & Return at Crosstown Station
Sons of Great Dane at the RecordBar
Skybox at the Riot Room
favorite big shows
Paul McCartney at the Sprint Center
Roger Waters “The Wall Live” at the Sprint Center
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at the Midland
The Budos Band at the RecordBar
Pearl Jam at the Sprint Center
Flatlanders at Knuckleheads
AC/DC at the Sprint Center
Gregg Allman at the VooDoo Lounge
Levon Helm at Crossroads KC
The Sword at the RecordBar
The National at the Uptown
Raul Malo at Knuckleheads
Pixies at the Uptown
Mark Knopfler at the Midland
Steve Martin at the Midland
Link to article in Back to Rockville