2011 – doesn’t roll the same as 2010, but maybe that’s good: a new year is approaching.
Aside from the excitement of other possibilities this presents; drinking and camaraderie, pressure and pestering, love and learning; comes the one thing you are here for: music.
So here is an aggregated list of the albums I am most looking forward to in 2011. At a level set not too high, as to avoid disappointment (see New Years post). To create contagion of my elation, I’ve linked a few past favorites.
P.S. Remember that some of these may not make their way out for various reasons.
Cake – Showroom of Compassion (January 11)
Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean (January 25)
Cut Copy – Zonoscope (February 8 )
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys! (March 7)
Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch the Throne (TBA)
Death Cab For Cutie – TBA
Fleet Foxes – TBA
Coldplay – TBA
Radiohead – TBA
The Shins – TBA
Bon Iver – TBA
The Strokes – TBA
Gorillaz – TBA
New Years seems to embody the very exhibition of false spectacle. It is meant to be an occasion of pure fulfillment; a moment of pure rejoice – yet it is always a function of vacancy and disappointment.
It seems that when you build something up, in an attempt to solidify its worth, you just deprive that something of its true articulation of meaning. New years is no exception; as it never seems to fulfill you of your expectations.
It is presented as a momentous change in both the character of the world and character of you – when in reality, it is no different from the change of the day before. I would love to hear otherwise, but I don’t think I will… So set your expectations low and set your hopes high, for a New Years worth remembering.
This music isn’t anything new – but hopefully it is something exciting. Here are a few gems that will be played for my new years ball drop.
Hopefully you can find something of worth.
Stars – Dead Hearts (LightsoverLA remix):
Christoph Andersson – Capital:
Everything Everything – MY KZ, UR BF (Grum Remix):
Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves remix):
Aeroplane vs Friendly Fires vs Flight Facilities – I Crave Paris:
If you haven’t already, check out my best of 2010.
It’s time to head home for Christmas break – which means old friends and older family. For some the proposition sounds forlorn, invoking feelings dreary ardor; to an extent, I fall into this category (but to an extent I couldn’t be happier).
There is a certain ambivalence to going home – nothing beats the feeling of refuge the house you’ve grown up in provides, but sometimes the sense of belonging and comfort can be overshadowed by an inexplicable haunting state of lack. There seems to be a certain nostalgic constraint placed on your emotions when returning home, restricting your pleasure within a bubble; teasing you with an unreachable abode of completeness.
Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m just messed up, and maybe I’m wrong. Either way, I’m going, and I need some music to be my accompaniment.
Anyways, without further ado, here is (part of) my playlist for the train ride home:
