In a town as seemingly small as Bloomington, the sheer volume of local musicians and amount of music released is highly impressive. This year was no exception. New releases came from artists of all genres, as well as those new to the scene and those who are ‘well-seasoned’. Here are ten of my favorite albums released by local artists in 2010.
Krista Detor: Chocolate Paper Suites
(CoraZong/Tightrope Records)
I received a ‘crash course’ in Krista Detor’s music this summer when I began working at Wandering Turtle. I had never heard her music, but quickly learned that she was not only a local favorite, but an incredibly talented songwriter with a certain ‘spark’ to her lyrical style. Chocolate Paper Suites, her third release with Tightrope/Corazong Records, is a masterpiece in itself; fifteen songs separated into five 3-song suites make the album like an endless narrative dream sequence. With songs about the imagination, fascination, and the curiosities of love, this album is a delightful treat for all who hear it. And her album release show at the Buskirk-Chumley was by far one of the most entertaining events that I attended this year.
Read my full review here
Listen to the album here
Aritst Website
husband&wife: Proud Flesh
(Crossroads of America Records)
Ever since the first time I saw husband&wife perform back in 2006, I’ve been a fan. I still remember feeling extremely moved by their music and I get that same feeling four years later. With Proud Flesh, the band’s fourth full-length release, they really showed us what they are made of. Proud Flesh is a ruthless album, digging deep and unleashing the powerful sound fans have been waiting for from the band. The songs are loud, the tempo is up, and the lyrics are as emotion felt as ever. We see old favorite like “Begone Long One” and “Class War” finally make to from the demo pile, and new classics like “6 Little Indians”, “Extendo Jam” and “I Have Been Made Huge” capturing a raw, new energy and powerful sound for the band. I don’t love their old stuff any less, but I’m glad to see journey that the band’s expressive sound has taken. Proud Flesh leaves fans old and new both highly satisfied and waiting for more.
Listen to the album here
Band Website
DM Stith: Heavy Ghost Appendices
(Asthmatic Kitty Records)
Critics tend to look down on counting remix albums as official ‘album releases’, but for the double-disc release of Heavy Ghost Appendices, I truly believe anyone in a right frame of mind would have to make an exception. As its title claims, Heavy Ghost Appendices was intended to be a sort of attachment to DM Stith’s 2008 debut release Heavy Ghost and in so many ways was a powerful release in itself. With disc one containing back-demos of songs that made it to the album, it could easily be stashed away as ‘nothing new’, but what makes the 12 songs featured more than a bootleg collection is the inclusion of newly-imagined alternative versions of album and ep songs, PLUS Stith’s own cover versions of songs by some of his favorite artists including Randy Newman, Diane Cluck, David Byrne, and even the Ronettes. Also, three of the tracks (“Pigs”, “Easy to Be Around”, and “Braid of Voices (Brass Version)” feature local musicians and arrangements.
The second disc features ten tracks of DM Stith songs remixed by other artists. These arrangements feature everything from digital reincarnations to jazz versions, but above all, do an excellent job of highlighting Stith’s eerie but beautiful voice and intriguing lyrical style.
*Note: Although David Stith moved back to his homestate of New York this summer, he was still residing in Bloomington at the time of this release, so it totally counts.
Eric Ayotte: Wavering
(Plan-It-X Records)
Often time the question arises, “Where are the meaningful songwriters of this generation?”. Many say that since the 60s, songs have lost their ability to inspire a revolution, but I say that music is still alive and well, and when I listen to Eric Ayotte, I know it’s true. Part of the DIY revolution, Ayotte is still related the DIY label Plan-It-X and makes music that makes me want to get up and change to world, or at least consider the first step I need to take to do it. What I truly enjoy about his music, is it isn’t a call to tell you what to do, instead his songs detail issues and ideas and leave the listener to come up with conclusions. Sure, obviously things need to change, the world isn’t perfect, but it’s up to you to figure out your place in making it better. Wavering is full of exactly that, passionate songs about the world we live in, and a few questions about how it could be better.
Read a review of this album here
Artist Website
It Happened Here
(St. Ives)
It Happened Here is probably one of the coolest things to happen to the Bloomington music scene. In honor of Record Store Day 2010 (April 17), our favorite local record store Landlocked Music went all out in collaboration with local recording studio Russian Recording, and local record label St. Ives to release It Happened Here, a special edition LP full of exactly what happens in Bloomington every year, great music. Not only does the album feature rare releases from local artists (Alexander the Great, the Delicious, Tremendous Fucking, Prizzy Prizzy Please, Whoa! Tiger (Indy)), but also live recordings by indie bands that toured through Bloomington in 2009. Those artists include Damien Jurado, Maps&Atlases, ROOMS, Phosphorescent, Magnolia Electric Co., Wovenhand, and The Entrance Band. All of that music was recorded at the newly renovated Russian Recording studio in 2009 and made up the We Just Call It Roulette Vol. III LP. The album was also complemented with a 7″ record featuring live recordings from Landlocked in-store performances by Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Lou Barlow.
The album artwork was a collaboration between local art groups incaseofemergencypress and David J. Woodruff & Sons. All around it was a great local collaborative project and an amazing opportunity to show off the talents Bloomington has in the areas of music, art, and community appreciation. Only 750 copies were made so hopefully you have one of them!
More information about the release here
Andy D: Songs in the Key of Magic
(Roaring Colonel Records)
Andy D. What can be said? His music is explosive, provocative, even teetering on the edge of perversion. And what is a better way to follow up to 2009′s Choose Your Perversion than a brand new batch of dance-friendly, dirty-thought provoking tracks? Songs in the Key of Magic is Andy D’s first release on brand new Roaring Colonel Records started by Indianapolis’ favorite indie music supporter and satellite radio host Craig “Dodge: Lile of My Old Kentucky Blog and LaundroMatinee fame. With tracks like “Alchemy of the D”, “Angels on the Dancefloor”, and “Ragnarock (Viking Lover)” this album will keep you laughing, dancing, and begging for more. Who knows, you may even decide to grow a rattail.
Memory Map: Holiday Band
(Self-Released)
2010 was a big year for Memory Map, I mean Holiday Band, wait…no, I mean Memory Map. The local supergroup (Mike Dixon [Homecomings, Prayer Breakfast, Rep Seki, long list], Mike Bridavsky [Push-Pull], Matt Tobey [Good Luck, Matty Pop Chart], Josh Morrow [Impure Jazz, TimeLove]) formerly known as Holiday Band got off to a great start in 2010 playing shows, building up a fanbase, and recording their first album. They often hinted at the thought of changing their name, even soliciting ideas from fans and friends, but in the end settled with Holiday Band. That is, until The Holiday Band seemed to feel this would lead to very non-romantic entanglements in the music industry world. Of course this was after the band’s album to be called Memory Map was already in production. Thus Memory Map became the band and Holiday Band became the album, although, all names aside, the music is what’s really important and trust me, it’s AMAZING!
Keeping up a strong run in 2010, Memory Map made their new name stick and rocked many stages including their own packed album release show. Any local 2010 list that doesn’t include them (in terms of band, album, and live shows) would be incomplete.
Listen to the album here
Band Website
Redbird: Redbird EP
(Self-Released)
Although this EP only includes 4 songs, it is an important part of local music for 2010. This EP marks that not only did we say goodbye to local band Redbird this year, we also said hello again, and received a present in return. Spring saw the band calling it quits as drummer Alex Kroh was moving across the country, but in the meantime the bandmembers reconsidered the dramatic choice and remembered that we live in the age of modern technology. Therefore, location is irrelevant, ‘let’s make music’. In November, the band camp back together for a reunion concert at the Bishop show us what they’d worked out, and thus the 4-song Redbird EP was released.
Listen to the EP here
Read BAM’s interview with Redbird’s Michael Bushman here
Band Website
Selfish Whales: Enjoy the Weather
(Self-Released)
The indie music scene is still alive and well here in Bloomington and nothing said ‘quirky, indie pop’ in 2010 quite like Selfish Whales. A delightful band of friends, Selfish Whales released their first full-length album in 2010. Enjoy The Weather features 12 tracks of seven friends having fun writing songs and making music together. The songs are refreshingly upbeat, often thought provoking, and always enjoyable. Enjoy The Weather did a great job of capturing this band at the height of their glory. Unfortunately, it also marked their last release before the band ‘hiatus’, which was pretty much code for break up as band members moved away to pursue other passions such as graduate school. Well, enjoy it!
Listen to select tracks here
Band Website
Mark Galup & Andy Hollinden: Lucky Hands in Trying Times
(Self-Released)
This album was a surprise for me. I had both Galup and Hollinden as teachers when I took the “History of the Blues” course at IU, of which Hollinden was the professor and Galup was the AI. I’d heard the solo work of each, Hollinden leaned toward the rock side, Galup toward the blues, but this album, seemed to be neither. It was more of a somewhat pop album, maybe adult contemporary. Twelve songs penned either by Galup, Hollinden, or both that really felt like a strong look at events taking place in both their lives. The album was honest, introspective, and highly enjoyable, and I definitely recommend giving it a close listen.
Listen to the album here
Andy Hollinden Website
Mark Galup Website
Honorable Mention:
Bobbie Lancaster Self Titled
A strong album from a local singer-songwriter favorite. Lancaster put together an all-star cast of musicians and vocalists to help bring out the myriad of musical influences and styles of this album. Above all, the album comes straight from the heart.
Smedley Jergins & His Orchestra: Two Sugar, One Salt Cassingle
A collaborative musical effort between the Delicious frontman David Woodruff and Busman’s Holiday’s Addison and Lewis Rogers, Smedley Jergins & His Orchestra features beautiful pop songs written by Woodruff. In this 3-song cassette (yes, really, it’s a cassette tape release), Woodruff and the Rogers Brothers perform ear pleasing vocals and harmonies to an old school style reminiscent of the Everly Brothers. There are only 110 ‘cassingles’ out there, hopefully you have one!
[...] 2010 saw the release of Heavy Ghost Appendices, a double disc collection of loose demos of tracks from Heavy Ghost, as well as fresh arrangements of previously recorded tracks and cover songs performed by Stith himself. The second disc contained remixes of Stith’s songs composed by other artists. It was a great example of collaboration and the creative process at work and one of my favorite albums of the year. [...]