November 13th is the date for Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, the new album from Outkast legend Big Boi, a short wait compared to what we had to endure before hearing his excellent solo debut a couple years ago, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. Remember how awesome that album was? I surely do: “Shutterbug” was hands down my favorite track of 2010. And “Gossip,” the first leak from the new album, gives promising hints at a Dirty South-sized follow-up. Maybe we’ll see this player at the mother of all parties in November, Fun Fun Fun Fest? Don’t rule it out.
Dubstep and Southern rap were meant to be together, or at least they are when A-Trak’s behind the crossfader. His second foray into mixing the two genres is a dance party like no other; stand by for the ending highlight, a mashup of Joker and Yung L.A.
Nathan Williams’ 2009 and 2010 were completely different. The previous year, he was an up-and-comer that crashed and burned publicly; now he is a renewed creative spirit with a diverse, improved sound.
Believe the hype – Yeezy’s fifth album is quite probably his finest work yet. His rapping is smart and funny and his production is characteristically slick. If he keeps making gold, we will continue to put up with his hi-jinks, Internet, interview, or otherwise.
Perhaps the doom and gloom from One Wolf’s self-titled effort has disappeared, but in its place is diverse instrumentation, inescapable pop hooks, and sharp optimism. A sonic collage of indie, Americana, and even metal, this is one that just grows and grows on you.
Lubbock’s elder statesmen etch their place in historic alt-country with this, their fourth and finest album. Daniel Fluitt’s keen storytelling and unmistakable voice lead the listener on a gradual crescendo in under fifty minutes. Give it one listen and observe the injustice – Deer Tick should be opening for these guys by now.
Craig Finn, while less belligerent, is still plenty drunk and emotional and frank on Heaven Is Whenever, and the group delivers one of their poppiest efforts thus far. “Hurricane J” is a plea to a lost soul he may be care a little too much about, spoken plainly and perfectly alongside a perfect tropical storm metaphor. We’ve all known someone like the person Finn describes, and we’ve all said the exact same things.
This year I made the big move from Lubbock to Austin, and the transformation has done wonders for my live music fix. I should have been writing down all the awesome bands I saw this year (and the years before, for that matter) but alas, hindsight, she is 20/20 once again. I think this post covers the highlights more or less, however. There’s plenty of great live music I saw this year that I’m leaving out, but after the jump, in no particular order, are twelve of the best shows I witnessed in 2010, eleven of them right here in the Live Music Capital of the World.
And for the record, I wanted to put the Sleigh Bells show on here, as fun as it was once they finally started playing, but everyone who attended knows Beauty Bar is at fault for that show’s omission. What a disaster.
