O Solitude- John Keats

One of my favoritest (yep, just made it a word) poems ever.


O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell,
Let it not be among the jumbled heap
Of murky buildings: climb with me the steep, - 
Nature's observatory -whence the dell,
In flowery slopes, its river's crystal swell,
May seem a span; let me thy vigils keep
'Mongst boughs pavilioned, where the deer's swift leap
Startles the wild bee from the foxglove bell.
But though I'll gladly trace these scenes with thee,
Yet the sweet converse of an innocent mind,
Whose words are images of thoughts refined,
Is my soul's pleasure; and it sure must be
Almost the highest bliss of human-kind,
When to thy haunts two kindred spirits flee.

My Top 5 From 2010

#5 -Local Natieves- Gorilla Manor
This album was a great breath of fresh air for me. With relatively uncomplicated lyrics and clear vocals the catchiness of most songs was instantaneous. They took everyday life and turned it into a beautiful, deep piece of art. One of the most distinct characteristics of this band is how each instrument maintains its integrity and doesn't get lost in the sound of another. Instruments were not the backdrop for vocals, but rather the perfect duo. This is widely apparent in who knows who cares where splashy drums cut loose and throw the basic components of the song into another dimension of beauty. Poignant undertones lace through the fabric of their music, but the overall tone of this album is energetic and almost upbeat for them. Overall, I can't wait to see what else this band will do.

#4- Colour Revolt- The Cradle
Honestly, I didn't give this band much attention aside from a few popular songs like Mattresses Underwater before this album. I immediately fell in love. Starting off the album with a punch in the gut, 8 years, that is sassy, bitter, and strangely addictive. This album wasn't saying we don't care anymore, it was saying we just care about music. The range of emotions you feel through this album is almost cathartic, where they start off with an almost angry tone, then dropping to deep, love and pain in everything is just the same, and back up almost in triumph in brought to life. The lyrics are deep, deliberate, and poetically ambiguous, to where only a certain amount of content can be directly interpreted. Vocals blow my mind. Perfect harmonizing should not be possible here, but I get week in the knees when I listen. I know a lot of you already have opinions on this album, this may not be what you got out of it, so don't worry if you think I'm wrong.

#3- Beach House-  Teen Dream
I can't even explain how much I love every song this artist has ever produced. Beach house is something else, and if you like them, you can't get enough. This album is amazing though. The best way I can describe their overall tone is haunting- lingering, dark, wanton beauty disguised in cleverly lovely ballads. They enhance aesthetics, evoke communion with nature, inspire imagination, and soothe the heart with relatively simple choruses like "I'll take care of you, if you ask me to" and  perfectly complimenting music. Their music is heavily romantic in a modest way. All you can do is sing along and dream you're getting lost in the woods. This would have been my number one, but musically I'm far more impressed with the next two.

#2- Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
Rarely can a band produce a more complete album. All together, I think its stunningly beautiful how well each song dives into the next, taking you from one scene, one reflection and solution in our Urban World to the next. Extremely dynamic will staying true to the distinct Arcade Fire sound, this album just passes all pre-conceived notions of this band. The mechanical genius of understanding their audience will most likely be playing their album in their cars, and attaching their atheistical settings to the music is commendable. Its uncannily connected, amazingly deep and cleverly complex, leaving the listener endlessly rapt. They did it. You're left speechless but you completely get it.

#1- Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
These guys have  been a long time favorite of mine. Having the reputation of being sarcastic, unpolished,   and bratty, this album is consistent with their nature as artists. Humbug was a huge let-down for most American fans, however. There were no cute, peppy, catchy love songs or upbeat break-up songs to be found. No, this band stumbled down into the darkness, and emerged void of all immaturity. They stopped caring about what anyone wanted and produced huge sound, wicked lyrics, with a new, grungy look. One of my favorite songs is pretty visitors where they actually make fun of their fans in concerts. Huge drums, great base, dark lyrics, classic Alex Turner voice everyone loves telling a different story- its  near perfect. The apparent inspiration deriving from the carnival scene actually impresses compared to notions most have about that type of music. This is one of the best transformations of a band I've seen, and is why I had to make it number one.

3rd Album

I'm a believer in the third album. (It actually can be like the fourth or fifth, but for the sake of catchiness, I'll leave it at that). Usually, what happens to musicians or bands that establish their name in the music kingdom and accumulate a devoted fan base, is they gain a little courage. The transformation into adulthood takes pace, and like a defiant, bratty 18yr old (Not Me ;)) they take the reins and go in a different direction. This almost always entices a great negative reaction. Critics disapprovingly remark on their lack of consistency or vision or abandonment of musical identity. Fans break-up the music love affair, upset that their love changed. After the initial shock and bitterness subsides, the smart ones will come back and realize something- their band just had a breakthrough. Its when musicians quit caring what everyone thinks and do what they want. They expirament, push limits, change their styles, and show what they're made of. I say if the "third album" doesn't generate such a reaction, or is exactly what you expected, they're doing something wrong.


Rock n' Roll!