A Quick One While He's At School

Things are a bit busy at the moment, but I wanted to provide those interested with a list of things I've been digging. 2010 is off to a good start so far, and I'm excited to see what the year brings. I'm working on a more extensive entry that has to do with the aesthetics of dance/electronic music, and the intellectualization of a genre that may have no business being intellectualized. If you have the time to check out any of these tunes, please let me know what you think. My thoughts go out to anyone out there with connections to/in Haiti.

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Artist: Ben Frost

Album: By The Throat

This is a glitchy, dark piece of experimental ambient music. It's definitely not for newcomers to ambient/sound collage, and I would most certainly describe it as unsettlingly beautiful. There are growling wolves on the album. If nothing else, please look up a picture of this guy and tell me you don't want to listen to what his music sounds like just based on how he looks. Creepy awesome.

Artist: Nunjabes & Fat Jon

Album: Departure

Thanks to Jordan for passing this along. Super, super chill DJ/electronica work. I've been listening to this almost non-stop over the past week. It's actually music from the original soundtrack to anime classic, Samurai Champloo. Worth checking out if you are remotely interested in some chill tunes.

Artist: NIghtmares On Wax

Album: Smoker's Delight

This is a classic I'd been trying to get my hands on for quite some time. I was just recently able to get a copy. I'm not sure there's an album of beats more chill than this. I feel like I can play it for any occasion and have it be the right choice. I think the title speaks for itself.

Artist: Lady GaGa

Album: The Fame Monster

Lady GaGa follows up her debut with this shorter collection of songs. Anyone who takes her stage name from a Queen song and tattoos Rainer Maria Rilke quotes on her arm is okay in my book. If you're not yet convinced of her brilliance, get over yourself and check out this album.

Artist: Delphic

Album: Acolyte

Manchester duo release their debut alternative/dance album. I can get on board with what they're doing. Single "Counterpoint" is awesome, and I recommend doing something active while listening to this album. I'm not a club going gentleman myself, but I imagine this will get a lot of play time on the dance floor this year, if not in clubs, then in hipster warehouses across the country.

Artist: Vampire Weekend

Album: Contra

It was tough for me to get behind Vampire Weekend's eponymous debut release, but at this point I'm a big fan and I can't deny how catchy that album is. That being said, I had high hopes for their second album, but I am so far unimpressed. There are a couple of standout tracks, but their debut remains champion. I'm curious to hear what you all think of this one.

Artist: Owen Pallett (previously Final Fantasy)

Album: Heartland

I only recently got a copy of Final Fantasy's earlier album, He Poos Clouds. This is actually the project of Canadian-born Owen Pallett, who is a violinist, composer, and singer. What I really appreciate about his music is the complexity he is able to create while still existing within some type of recognizable pop structure. If Andrew Bird were a gay Canadian who took his name after one of the greatest video game franchises of all time and leaned a bit more toward his classical tendencies, you'd have Owen Pallett. I definitely think this album will be on people's best of list at the end of 2010. It's quite an artistic accomplishment.

Artist: Leyland Kirby

Album: Sadly, The Future Is No Longer What It Was

This is an epic three part piece of sound collage/experimental music from British name-changer Leyland Kirby (apparently he has multiple aliases). If you are at all interested in music by The Album Leaf, Brian Eno, or any other ambient pioneers, please check this out. It's great for relaxing, or simply enjoying the beauty of incorporating organic sounds and space within musical composition.