Life is complicated and busy. Did you notice? Keeping up with the music, movies and books that fed your youthful imagination and conversations is harder than ever, but even more important. Here's the good news: there's never been more great new stuff. The challenge is to find it.

So here are my highly opinionated views on sounds, sights and words that will help you keep it fresh and real, and links to the veins where the richest motherlodes can be found.

Feed your head.
- JumpingFlashJack

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Best Singles of 2010


At the corner bar in my mind, this is what was playing on the jukebox this year:

1.  Fuck You, Cee-lo – A gleefully profane, irresistible sing-a-long.  And you thought “Crazy” was fun.   




2.  Modern Man, Arcade Fire – “Maybe when you’re older you will understand.”  Not me. 






3.  Radio Daze, The Roots – Prince, Gil Scott-Heron and War all rolled into one. Groove of the year from the best band around.




4.  The Mystery Zone, Spoon – I hear the long echo of the Beatles and the Kinks in this oblique little gem. 




5.  The High Road, Broken Bells – A dreamy classic from the mashed-up marriage of the Shins and Danger Mouse.





6.  Bring Me Home, Sade – Pain and sadness never sounded so sweet.





7.  I Need a Dollar, Aloe Blacc – Top-notch neo-soul, complete with falsetto and horns. 





8.  Your’re Not Alone, Mavis Staples – Sounds like a two hundred year old spiritual in Mavis’ hands.   Beauty.




9.  Coffee Spoon, Cold War Kids – Is this a love song? Is a good thing to be a coffee spoon?  








10.  Teenage Lighting and Lonely Highways, Dean & Brita – Dean Wareham channeling the Velvet Underground.  A dark one for last call.





Seasonal Bonus:
 11.  Getting Ready for Christmas Day, Paul Simon – Paul sings a 2010 Christmas song with a Mississippi Hill Country feel.  Timeless. 











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