Author Archives: acompleteunknown

The 11 Best Songs By Skrillex

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People say a lot crap about Skrillex.  He’s small and scrawny.  He’s a geek, a loser, and a poser.  His music sucks; it’s uncreative, derivative or just plain lame.  He’s been blasted for not being a “real” dubstep artist (a label given to him by the media – not self-inflicted). He’s been teased for originally being in a screamo band and now merely jumping on the EDM bandwagon to stay relevant.  Even with the deck stacked against him, Skrillex found a way to make some of the most captivating, compelling, and addictive music out there.  Like the Dayton Flyers or the Mercer Bears, who knocked aside Syracuse and Duke respectively, Skrillex doesn’t listen to those who say he “can’t” instead, he listens to nobody except himself, making the music he knows how to make, irregardless if it’s dubstep, brostep, EDM, pop, schlock, or Beethoven’s 5th.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Skrillex:

  1. Bangarang (Bangarang EP)
  2. Rock N Roll Will Take You To The Mountain (Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites)
  3. Right In (Bangarang EP)
  4. All I Ask Of You (Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites)
  5. Weekends!!! (My Name Is Skrillex)
  6. First of the Year – Equinox (More Monsters and Sprites)
  7. Summit (Bangarang EP)
  8. Kill EVERYBODY (Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites)
  9. Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites)
  10. With You, Friends Long Drive (Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites)
  11. My Name Is Skrillex (My Name Is Skrillex)

Buy Skrillex’s first full length album, Recess…now!

The 11 Best Songs By Metronomy

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Today should be a national holiday.  It’s the first day of March Madness. (Thank you Harvard for losing me 1 billion dollars!!!) It’s the first day of spring.  It’s World Happiness Day (because apparently the rest of the year the world is just a miserable asshole).  Fred Phelps, the leader of the First Baptist Church of Dickheads died today.  (If this is the first Baptist, does this mean there’s a Second Baptist Church that are bigger dicks than these guys?)  John & Yoko were married 45 years ago today. (Not really relevant to an America holiday) And most importantly for any music lover…the official release list for Record Store Day was unveiled.  Hundreds of amazing albums will arrive on vinyl just 29 days from now.  The list is so big…I haven’t even been able to read through the whole thing yet.  So, through the week-end as I watch my bracket get torn to shreds.  I’ll digest the list, talk about my favorites, and the albums to look for while catching up with my lists and commenting on the college world’s glorious madness.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Metronomy:

  1. The Bay (The English Riviera)
  2. Heartbreaker (Nights Out)
  3. Corinne (The English Riviera)
  4. A Thing For Me (Nights Out)
  5. The Look (The English Riviera)
  6. She Wants (The English Riviera)
  7. Do the Right Thing (Not Made For Love)
  8. Holiday (Nights Out)
  9. Everything Goes Way (The English Riviera)
  10. Back On The Motorway (Nights Out)
  11. Let’s Have A Party (Heartbraker Vs Holiday)

Buy Metronomy’s new album, Love Letters…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Drive-By Truckers

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The Drive By Truckers might be one of the hardest working, underrated bands spewing out music today.  This band is so prolific, I could have done a top 111 list and all the songs that were left over would still be world’s better than anything One Direction has ever done.  Yeah, I went there.  The Truckers may owe their fastidious nature to the ever-rotating list of singers that have graced the microphone.  Not since Fleetwood Mac has a band been so open to sharing lead vocals with such a cross-section of talent.  So far, there have been 5 lead vocalists on DBT tracks, including Mike Cooley, Patterson Hood, Rob Malone, Jason Isbell, and Shonna Tucker.  With that much creative juices flowing, it’s no wonder they produced the rich quality of material they have…and then some.

Currently the Truckers are back down to their core duo leads of Cooley and Patterson for the new album, but if history repeats, we’re sure to see (hear) the Truckers continue to evolve adding new voices to the spotlight…and maybe some old ones.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Drive-By Truckers:

  1. Used To Be A Cop (Go-Go Boots)
  2. My Sweet Annette (Decoration Day)
  3. Boys From Alabama (The Dirty South)
  4. The Day John Henry Died (The Dirty South)
  5. The Fourth Night Of My Drinking (The Big To Do)
  6. Two Daughters and A Beautiful Wife (Brighter Than Creation’s Dark)
  7. Ronnie And Neil (Southern Rock Opera)
  8. Birthday Boy (The Big To Do)
  9. The Sands of Iwo Jima (The Dirty South)
  10. Easy On Yourself (A Blessing And A Curse)
  11. Sink Hole (Decoration Day)

Buy The Drive By Truckers new album, English Oceans…now!

The 11 Best Songs By We Are Scientists

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In this digital age, releases follow no rules.  Last week, Kid Cudi dropped an album (Satellite Flight) without any warning.  Beyonce dropped an album out of the blue at the end of last year.  My Bloody Valentine left us hanging for 22 years before their new album appeared out of nowhere.  On the other hand, U2 and Tool spent all last week baiting us with the prospect of a new album only to swipe the rug out from under us for yet…another year.  As much as Axl Rose let us hang on…at least he leaked a song or two (or three) in the hiatus.

We Are Scientists may not have the same world-wide phenomenon status  as the other bands, but they are a diligent workingman’s band.  It’s been four years since the band’s last album and there’s been fewer updates in between their last release, Barbara, in 2010, than whatever JJ Abrams is currently working on.  News of their new album was a welcome surprise for a band that left the impression that they may never be coming back.  Lucky for us…they did.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By We Are Scientists:

  1. Cash Cow (With Love And Squalor)
  2. Lethal Enforcer (Brain Thrust Mastery)
  3. I Don’t Bite (Barbara)
  4. Worth The Wait (With Love And Squalor)
  5. That’s What Counts (Brain Thrust Mastery)
  6. Chick Lit (Brain Thrust Mastery)
  7. This Scene Is Dead (With Love And Squalor)
  8. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (With Love And Squalor)
  9. Jack & Ginger (Barbara)
  10. It’s A Hit (With Love And Squalor)
  11. The Great Escape (With Love And Squalor)

Buy We Are Scientists new album, TV En Francais…now!

 

The 11 Best Songs By Neneh Cherry

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Everybody loves a comeback.  And of all people, I don’t think anyone expected it out of Neneh Cherry.  For all intensive purposes, Cherry has been known to most of the world as a one-hit wonder.  Don’t get offended by the term…it’s really just a mainstream label of exclusion.  Pavement is a one-hit wonder by mainstream’s measure.  To Cherry’s fans, they knew she was more talented and creative than her pop radio status.  What has to be the most rewarding feeling is that Cherry’s return to music after 18 years is being welcomed with open arms.  Axl Rose didn’t even feel this much love on his 18-year hiatus.  As good as Buffalo Stance was, it wrongly pushed attention away from Cherry’s true style.  She tripped more than she hipped when she hopped.  Fair weather fans didn’t get that.  Massive Attack producer 3D figured that out on the song Manchild.

On the new album, Cherry has finally settled into her true groove and her audience may be finally ready to embrace her musical soul.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Neneh Cherry:

  1. Buffalo Stance (Raw Like Sushi)
  2. So Here I Come (Raw Like Sushi)
  3. Twisted (Homebrew)
  4. Heart (Raw Like Sushi)
  5. 7 Seconds (Man)
  6. Somedays (Homebrew)
  7. Manchild (Raw Like Sushi)
  8. Buddy X (Homebrew)
  9. Everything (Man)
  10. Trout (Homebrew)
  11. Kisses on The Wind (Raw Like Sushi)

Buy Neneh Cherry’s new album, The Blank Project…now!!


 

The Unknown: Beck – Six Years

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It’s been six years since a proper Beck release.  Although there hasn’t been an officially slated album, Beck has been rather busy over the past half decade putting out more material in just six years than he did in his previous 10 years.  Since 2008, Beck created his “Record Club” where he gave away five full length albums covering the likes of the Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen, INXS, Skip Spence, and the legendary Yanni all for free.  He produced three albums for iconic artists Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, and Charlotte Gainsbourg.  He also was the main songwriter behind Sex Bob-Omb, the fictional band from the cult classic film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.  That’s nine albums in six years.  But that’s not all.  Beck’s put out more than that.  He has soundtrack songs, B-sides, stand alone singles, duets, tributes, and compilation tracks, which come together to form a bonus never before heard album…Six Years.  In honor of Beck’s formal return, here’s a look back at what he’s been doing up until now.

Beck – Six Years

  1. Bad Blood
  2. Ramona
  3. I Won’t Be Long
  4. I Just Started Hating Some People Today
  5. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
  6. Defriended 
  7. Looking For A Sign
  8. Corrina, Corrina
  9. Let’s Get Lost
  10. Gimme
  11. Green Light
  12. Blue Randy
  13. Love

Buy Beck’s new album, Morning Phase…now!!!

 

 

 

 

The 11 Best Songs By William Fitzsimmons

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I’m getting a little sick of the new Facebook trend with everyone taking tests about what they really or where they really should be living.  I can pretty much give you the answer to every questionnaire you might take regarding what fictional character you are from any TV show, space movie, or book trilogy.  The answer…NONE of them.  You’re none of them because they are all fake made up characters with unrealistic features.  You’re not Harry Potter because he a wizard and wizards aren’t real.  You’re not Jennifer Aniston from Friends because she doesn’t have a job and can afford a $4000 a month apartment in NYC.  You’re not the 70s rock band Led zeppelin because they are a four person rock band and one of them is dead.  Stop trying to be someone else and just be proud of yourself.

You know who is proud of himself?  William Fitzsimmons.  He isn’t trying to look trendy.  In fact, if anything, he’s trying to look anything but.  Fitz is confident in himself and in his music.  He doesn’t need to wear Dudley Do Right’s hat or piss in a potted plant.  He just makes good, angelic, heart-felt music…and if that’s not good enough for you…then he doesn’t need you.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By William Fitzsimmons:

  1. The Tide Pulls From The Moon (Gold In The Shadow)
  2. Please Don’t Go (Goodnight)
  3. You Still Hurt Me (The Sparrow and The Crow)
  4. Funeral Dress (Until We Are Ghosts)
  5. Psychasthenia (Gold In The Shadow)
  6. Further From You (The Sparrow and The Crow)
  7. Leave Me by Myself (Goodnight)
  8. They’ll Never Take The Good Years (The Sparrow and The Crow)
  9. Fade and Then Return (Gold In The Shadow)
  10. Afterall (Goodnight)
  11. Heartless (Ministry of Sound Uncovered 2)

Buy William Fitzsimmons new album, Lions…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Phantogram

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There’s no better kick to a rock band’s music credibility than to be invited to guest on a hip hop album. Phantogram didn’t get ask to guest on one song, they were asked to guest on three…and not just by any street poet, they were asked to guest on an album by one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time, Big Boi of Outkast.  One of their duets, CPU, may easily be the best solo song that Big Boi has ever done.  Phantogram keeps getting better with every release; maturing, refining, and expanding with every song.  Soon, it will be Big Boi guesting on Phantogram’s album, giving him more music cred.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Phantogram:

  1. As Far As I Can See (Eyelid Movies)
  2. 16 Years (Night Life)
  3. You Are the Ocean (Eyelid Movies)
  4. Don’t Move (Night Life)
  5. Black Out Days (Phantogram EP)
  6. Turning Into Stone (Night Life)
  7. Never Going Home (Phantogram EP)
  8. Mouthful of Diamonds (Eyelid Movies)
  9. Bloody Palms (Eyelid Movies)
  10. The Day You Died (Night Life)
  11. Voices (Mouthful of Diamonds)

Buy Phantogram’s new album, Voices…now!!

 

 

The Unknown: Broken Bells

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It’s a stretch to call the Broken Bells an unknown act but with only one other album and a 4-song EP, there’s barely enough songs to do a top 11 list without it being purely comprised of the debut album’s tracklist.  This album has been on repeat in my car for the past month.  It’s fantastic even though it’s getting mediocre reviews.  I think the critics are just idiots…or basketball referees…same difference.  Since everyone knows who they are then I don’t need to explain to you why the lead singer of the Shins and Danger Mouse making music together is an all encompassing great duo.  Instead, I’m going to pimp myself out.  Currently, my book The 111 Best Music Lists of the 2000s is available on Kindle for 99 cents.  That’s less than a dollar (for all you readers who ditched math).  But it will only be 99 cents for another week before it goes back up to its normal $2.99.  So get it now, and always have something to read on your phone, or tablet, or laptop.

Buy The 111 Best Music Lists of The 2000s…now!!

Buy Broken Bells, After The Disco…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Cibo Matto

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In 1999, Cibo Matto released their spectacular sophomore album, Stereotype A.  It didn’t sound like anything else out there, which only elevated why it was so brilliant.  It was like Cibo Matto didn’t actually belong.  You didn’t really know where they came from and you didn’t really care.  They could funk like the Beastie Boys and zone out like Massive Attack.  What didn’t make sense together on paper sounded perfect bumping from our stereos.  That’s why when they broke up, it wasn’t too surprising since it was like they weren’t really supposed to exist in the first place.

One of the few bands I never thought would ever get back together, has returned with their first album of new material in 15 years.  Whereas before they sounded like they came out of nowhere, now they sound like they never left.  Cibo Matto has made a career out of making their own music, their own way, when they want, and wherever they decide to land.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Cibo Matto:

  1. Moonchild (Stereotype A)
  2. Spoon (Stereotype A)
  3. Sugar Water (Viva! La Woman)
  4. Aguas De Marco (Super Relax)
  5. King of Silence (Stereotype A)
  6. Beef Jerky (Viva! La Woman)
  7. Stone (Stereotype A)
  8. La Pain Perdu (Viva! La Woman)
  9. Speechless (Stereotype A) 
  10. Sci-Fi Wasabi (Stereotype A) 
  11. Birthday Cake (Viva! La Woman)

Buy Cibo Matto’s new album, Hotel Valentine…now!