Visions of the Unexcused

episode 38 - Against the Light

1. Sore Eros - Make It Louder (Know Touching - 2010)
2. Young Man - Five (Boy - 2010)
3. Kurt Vile - I Know I Got Religion (Square Shells - 2010)
4. Catwalk - Please Don't Break Me (Please Don't Break Me - 2010)
5. Deerhunter - Desire Lines (Halcyon Digest - 2010)
6. Solar Bears - Neon Colony (Neon Colony -  2010)
7. Slow Animal - Sitting Here (Slow Animal - 2010)
8. Ghost Animal - Summertime In Heaven (Summertime In Heaven - 2010)
9. Sam Bisbee - Miracle Car (Miracle - 2001)
10. Best Coast - Our Deal (Crazy For You - 2010)
11. Warpaint - Shadows (The Fool - 2010)
12. Girls - Broken Dreams Club (Broken Dreams Club - 2010)

episode 37 - Top 21 Albums of 2010

This is always a fun mix to make, and like every year, it's a difficult one to piece together. After much deliberation, the below 21 albums are what made the cut, and they represent the albums I enjoyed the most in 2010, and from what I've seen from other lists thus far, I think this one may have some legs. Regardless, lemme know what I missed, or what you agree with, or what you never heard of until now, and may this serve as a soundtrack to close out your holiday season, as we wish the best for a prosperous 2011. Thanks for listening - Salud.

#21 Pantha du Prince - Black Noise (Song: A Nomads Retreat)
#20 Holy Fuck - Latin (Song: Silva & Grimes)
#19 The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever (Song: The Sweet Part of the City)
#18 The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack (Song: Pull Out)
#17 Sleigh Bells - Treats (Song: Riot Rhythm)
#16 Mystery Roar - Mystery Roar (Song: Mayhem)
#15 Let's Wrestle - In the Court of the Wrestling Let's (Song: Diana's Hair)
#14 Spoon - Transference (Song: Out Go the Lights)
#13 Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (Song: Exception)
#12 The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme (Song: David)
#11 Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy (Song: The Mermaid Parade)
#10 Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts (Song: Franklin)
#9  Surfer Blood - Astrocoast (Song: Floating Vibes)
#8  Woods - At Echo Lake (Song: Deep)
#7  Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo (Song: Five Little Sluts)
#6  Here We Go Magic - Pigeons (Song: Old World United)
#5  Harlem - Hippies (Song: Tila And I)
#4  Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today (Song: Bright Light Blue Skies)
#3  LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (Song: One Touch)
#2  Kurt Vile - Square Shells EP (Song: Hey, Now I'm Movin')
#1  Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (Song: Helicopter)

Review of Edan's Echo Party Screening

_{Video of Edan & Dagha performing last night at the Brattle.}

Edan's Echo Party Screening
Brattle Theater, Harvard Square, 11/30/10

"Keep an eye out for us, and - that's it, because there's not a lot people who like - try this hard. I mean, I'm not saying we're good, but we try really hard. Ya' know what I mean?" -Edan

Those were Edan's last words of the night, given to a lifted Brattle Theater crowd, seconds after spitting an inspired acapella rhyme that rung every bell in the room. And you know what, I couldn't agree more, Edan tries, he tries really hard - and it was evident in everything presented last night.

The evening began with a 30 minute screening of Edan's latest project, Echo Party, which is a psychedelic romp that weaves through found footage from Bollywood, 80's Hip-Hop scenes, and more, all edited over the masterful auditory production of Edan. Edan collaborated with Tom Fitzgerald for Echo Party, and they were a perfect match for each other. Both the video and audio complimented each other in a swirl of old-school beats and hyper edited footage that left your head bobbed and brain fuzzy. It was hard not to smile while being barraged with this mind-bending presentation, and I couldn't help but notice the intense work put into the project by both Fitzgerald and Edan. The whole film just dripped with a heavy brush that was wet with cool, and for me at least, it was a true inspiration. You can get a copy of the DVD for yourself over at his site, and can peep a snippet of the film below.

The cover of each DVD is completely unique and hand-made by Edan, going to further prove the hard work and attention to detail  Edan puts into everything he does. Like he said, he tries hard, and it shows in everything he gets behind.

After the screening of Echo Party there was a brief "intermission" - which provided just enough time to get another beer, before Edan took the stage with Dagha where they killed their live set, stalking about the stage in a blissful attack. First and foremost, what was most noticeable to me was again the work and time they both put into their routine. From their choreographed movements, back-and-forth rhyming, and instrument swapping, Dagha and Edan blended as seamlessly together as he did with Fitzgerald in Echo Party.

This was the first time I've seen Edan live, and I never realized how complete of a performer and artist he is. His DJ, MC, and production skills are top notch - and he's weird, talented, and fearless enough to do freakish things like switch from the decks and mic to an acoustic guitar and kazoo, all in the matter of seconds.

I hope Edan continues to try hard, because his effort sure as hell shows in all he does, and nights like the Echo Party screening don't come around too often. See below for audio from the last song he performed and to also hear his quote on "trying hard" - which he obviously does, man's a professional.