Top Ten of 2010 - the Songs!

Lists, lists and more lists!  Everyone publishes year-end lists. Top tens, best of's, worst of's, likes, dislikes and so on... I want to play!

Here are my Top Ten songs of 2010.  The criteria is simple - I bought and/or downloaded the song and it was released in 2010 and it found itself in very heavy rotation on my iPod.

1. F*ck You - Cee Lo Green
Maybe the only time the "F-Word" sounds so happy and cheeky.  The Gnarls Barkley vocalist sings an ode to rejection and recovery.  The "clean" version was everywhere this summer and even covered by Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee!  Musically, it wouldn't be out of place in 1974.

2. How I Got Over - the Roots
The best live band in Hip-Hop and maybe in America, as well as Jimmy Fallon's house band.  Cool Philly soul, with a Rap breakdown in the bridge propels this contemporary urban protest song.

3. Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - My Chemical Romance
An ear-worm of the worst kind!  I challenge you to get this chorus out of your head. Bubblegum pop meets alt-rock meets post apocalyptic comic book adventure.  MCR comes roaring back from the Black Parade!

4. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
My Break Out artist of the year!  Grace Potter and her band the Nocturnals are just starting to get the national exposure they so richly deserve.  Featured on VH1's latest Diva concert, Grace stole the show and duetted with the Wilson sisters of Heart.

5. What We Do - Devo
Everyone's favorite De-Evolutionists from Akron Ohio are back.  Unmistakably Devo and catchy as hell!

6. This Too Shall Pass - OK GO!
Maybe the coolest video of the year, and an amazingly well crafted pop nugget.

7. American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
An E Street band for the 21st century?  The Gaslight Anthem lives up to the hype, if not that tag.  This is the song that the Boss would have recorded if he had fronted the Clash instead of that little combo from Asbury Park.

8. Hold On - All That Remains
Heavy metal continues to make inroads into the mainstream and this song from the Massachusetts metalcore outfit shows why.

9. Say You'll Haunt Me - Stone Sour
Stone Sour is the side project of Slipknot's lead singer.  Yeah, Slipknot - that scary, mask wearing band from Iowa.  Who imagined that a singer in a thrash band could have such a well developed pop sensibility and gift for melody?

10. Darling, It's True - Locksley
I discovered this power pop band from Madison Wisconsin while listening to Little Steven's Underground Garage.  The legacy of the British Invasion lives.

Honorable Mentions;
Zebra - Beach House
Hailing from Baltimore, Beach House's sound is a shimmering haze of soundscapes.

Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
You've heard this song... now you know who it is.  You're welcome.

Advent 2003 - revisited

The Mystical Nativity (Botticelli)

In 2003 I put together a mixed CD of Christmas music as a gift for friends and family.  In that same spirit, I offer it now as a playlist.  I wrote liner notes and included artwork in the packaging - it was a whole production.  So here it is, mostly without revision.
In America in the 21^st century, we celebrate three different Christmases. One is the Christian festival celebrating the birth of the Savior. Another is a popular holiday celebrating gift giving, family and friends. The third is some combination of the other two.

Too often we take an “either/or” approach to celebrating Christmas. I believe that in modern America, the truly Christian Christmas incorporates elements of both.

Our Christmas is truly a uniquely American celebration. Only Americans, it seems, can merge such disparate ideas as the humble birth of the Savior and the sometimes crass commercialization of the Holidays with little or no sense of irony. Such is the American gift, I think.

As Americans we are comfortable mixing the “sacred” and the “secular”, which explains the ease with which we plop Santa and his reindeer down next to the Nativity scene on the front lawn.

With that in mind, I have compiled this collection of Christmas tunes. What is more American than our Christmas, if not Rock n' Roll, Folk, Jazz, Country, Soul and R&B? Together these elements create a truly American sound of Christmas, don't they?

Some are sacred and reverent, some are not. Some are traditional, most are not. All are, I believe, great performances that capture the spirit of our American Christmas. So, enjoy and have a Happy Christmas and New Year!

I heard the Bells on Christmas Day – City on a Hill – It's Christmas Time

In religious art, the bell is an object that “calls the faithful to worship, is the voice of God” (G.Sill, A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art, Simon & Schuster (1996). p. 128

Christmas Time is Here – Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Poor Charlie Brown, he can't even get Christmas right. So here comes Linus to the rescue, with his reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. Without a doubt, the best of the Christmas TV specials. The addition of the jazz score by Vince Guaraldi doesn't hurt.

Little Saint Nick – the Beach Boys

Santa's sled is really a Hot Rod, who knew?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Russ Taff

I just love the feel of this track. You can almost hear the cold wind howl outside as the fire crackles nearby. A nice glass of Gluvine or eggnog and you're all set.

Blue Christmas – Brian Setzer Orchestra

There's something bittersweet about Christmas. We all have someone who cannot be with us, that's why the song strikes a chord with me.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2

Another song of longing for an absent love, except this one is all about the groove, not the lyrics. You can hear/feel Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. Originally recorded by Darlene Love.

I'll be Home for Christmas – Al Green

The greatest soul singer ever.

All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey

This song sounds like it could have been recorded in 1963. Thirty years later, the Wall of Sound and Motown are still impacting pop music. If your Christmas party has this much energy, you won't need a New Year's Eve party.

White Christmas – Last Train Home

Washington D.C. Legends Last Train Home take Irving Berlin to the Honky – Tonk.

Away in a Manger – Buddy & Julie Miller

Buddy & Julie Miller are Nashville's best kept secret. Christians who move freely in the CCM,

country and rock worlds, give a down home feel to this classic. Buddy is Emmylou Harris's guitar player.

Fruitcake from Hell – Terry Scott Taylor

Where else would a fruitcake be from? From Terry's EP, “Songs for the Day After Christmas”.

Merry Christmas, Baby – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

The Jersey Turnpike is snowed in, but out the boardwalk a solitary storefront is illuminated. The sound of raw rock n' roll is irresistible – Merry Christmas from Asbury Park!

The Little Drummer Boy – Jars of Clay

Christian rock stalwarts, Jars of Clay bring their trademark sound to this classic. I still think of the old stop motion animation in the original TV special. Loved that camel!

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – the Roches

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,1

From heaven's all-gracious King."

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Wow.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Margaret Becker

This is a somewhat dated arrangement, but a powerful performance nonetheless. This song is one of my favorite Christmas hymns. Heavy on the Old Testament imagery.

O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Christmas hymns rock opera style! TSO rocks!

O Holy Night – Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer); Michael Tait (DC Talk)

My favorite Christmas hymn. You just can't match it for it's pure poetry. Leigh Nash's harmonies are otherworldly.

What Child is This? - Roberta Flack

This is so beautiful, it will make you weep, unless you have a heart of stone. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Silent Night – Emmylou Harris

It is said that there exist over 300 translations of this song in the world. If angels can't sing like this, I don't want to hear them.

Holy Emmanuel – Terry Scott Taylor

Terry Scott Taylor is the patriarch of Christian modern rock. This track is featured on the City on a Hill – It's Christmas Time compilation.

Cry of a Tiny Babe – Bruce Cockburn

The best Christmas song you've never heard.

Playlist for a 60 mile walk...

Last week, I decided to undertake a fundraising walk that's grueling yet so rewarding: the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. As you've probably guessed, it goes for 3 days, covering 20 miles each day through different neighborhoods of each host city and its surrounding areas. Two years ago, I took part in the Seattle 3-Day. I trained for a grand total of two weeks before check-in day. The result? I walked 10 miles on Day 1 before being sidelined with an inflamed sciatic nerve (underwent treatment in the medic tent). On Day 2, I walked nearly 11 miles before the sciatic nerve attacked (underwent treatment in the medic tent). On Day 3, I resolved to walk the entire course of just under 20 miles. I did, with lots of help from the helpful medics in the medic tent, who made a cushion for a bone spur that sprang up in my heel and used an electronic zapper on my pesky sciatic nerve. By the time I hobbled across the finish line, I could not feel my anything below my ankles. But the cheers, hugs and high fives from the walkers who finished before me suddenly filled me with energy and for a moment (a very BRIEF moment), I felt as though I could walk another 60 miles.

I did not take part in the 3 Day last year because, frankly, I couldn't raise enough money. The 3-Day requires each walker to raise at least $2300 in order to walk. This year, I signed up early (the Seattle walk isn't until September) and in addition to starting my fundraising efforts early, I'm also training more intelligently. I still remember how crippled I felt for two months after the last walk.

Earlier this week, I asked friends for songs to add to my walking workout playlist. A few sent suggestions. Then, on my way to work yesterday, I did my usual "SHUFFLE ALL SONGS" on my Zune and ended up with a fine little playlist in the making.  Here's my list:

1. Chelsea Dagger (suggested by Twitter friend @freezethepuck)
2. We Will Rock You - Queen (suggested by Facebook friend Jen Harrington)
3. Good Life - One Republic (suggested by Twitter friend @palindrome713)
4. Aways Love - Nada Surf (suggested by Twitter friend @palindrome713)
(The rest are from yesterday's SAS list)
5. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
6. Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf (feat. Lil Wayne)
8. Broken - Bruce Dickinson
9. Get Your Kicks - Poets & Porn Stars
10. Take It Easy - Eagles
11. I Don't Know - Ozzy
12. Breakout - Foo Fighters
13. C'mon and Love Me - KISS
14. Gonna Make You Sweat - C+C Music Factory
15. New Moon On Monday - Duran Duran
16. Ace of Spades - Motorhead
17. Kill You - Eminem
18. The Battle - Fort Minor
19. Message of Love - The Pretenders
20. Antmusic - Adam Ant
21. What Comes Around - Beastie Boys
22. Hells Bells - AC/DC
23. Live at the Inferno - Raven
24. Shot in the Dark - Ozzy
25. Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
26. Blood Red Skies - Judas Priest
27. Moon Baby - Godsmack
28. Coming Home - Cinderella
29. Dance of Death - Iron Maiden
30. Careering - PiL
31. Hallowed Be Thy Name - Iron Maiden
32. Under the Influence - James Morrison
33. Panama - Van Halen
34. Lady of the Valley - White Lion
35. Gimme Gimme Gimme - Black Flag

So.... the playlist is a work in progress and I welcome your suggestions for songs that will keep me walking that extra mile.  Thanks!!!!