Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — January 31 by Dave Heaton

Forward and Back

The best five 2010 albums I’ve heard so far, followed by my five favorite albums of 2009. All noted without comment.

Happy New Year by Dave Heaton

The song begins, to clapped hands, “Happy new year / my dear / it is time to face our fear”. That’s the line I kept singing, like a mantra. It’s a good alternate New Year’s theme, I think – welcome to a new, fearless year.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — August 2 by Dave Heaton

10 music-related observations from a trip to Asia

I returned recently from a nearly six-week trip to southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. While I heard plenty of the native music from those countries themselves, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the little bits of Western pop music, more familiar to me, that I noticed along the way. Here are 10 observations/memories.

Cats on Fire - Our Temperance Movement (Matinee) by Dave Heaton

New doesn’t have to be new, if that makes sense; or, familiar-sounding music is still new if you haven’t heard it before.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — April 26 by Dave Heaton

10 albums, without comment

Albums I’ve been listening to a lot lately, new or old.

Bubblegum Lemonade - Doubleplusgood (Matinee) by Dave Heaton

It’s a rush of noise around good-old-fashioned pop melody, and of course wrapped up at once with wishes, dreams, and hopes.

Jason Anderson - Life Sucks Love Sucks Dose Out (States Rights) by Dave Heaton

It’s Anderson’s Astral Weeks, not in sound but feeling, in the internal journey of it and the transcendence it reaches for.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — October 12 by Dave Heaton

My Favorite Albums of 2008, so far – updated for October

So much great music this year, as always. Here’s what I’m thinking right now are my favorite albums of the year.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — May 25 by Dave Heaton

My Favorite Albums of 2008, so far

We’re not quite halfway through the year, but there’s already been a ton of great music released. Here are my 10 favorites right this moment, though I’m always changing my mind, and always hearing more.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — April 27 by Dave Heaton

Currently listening to, etc.

Nada Surf - Lucky (Barsuk) by Dave Heaton

In a sense Lucky is an album of love songs. But refreshingly these are love songs that aren’t narrow in scope and don’t rely on clichés.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — April 13 by Dave Heaton

What I’m listening to in 2008 so far…

My favorite albums so far in 2008, more or less.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — February 24 by Dave Heaton

Currently on my mind…

Music I’ve been listening to or thinking about lately. Five albums, four songs, and one shameless plug.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — February 17 by Dave Heaton

Currently listening to…

Music I’ve been listening to or thinking about lately. Five albums and five songs.

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — February 3 by Dave Heaton

Currently listening to…

Music I’ve been listening to or thinking about lately. Five albums and five songs.