Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — March 7

Flowers

I am on vacation this weekend, so this week’s list will be short and won’t have descriptions under each item. I’m in Savannah, GA now and enjoying the beautiful weather and peerless 19th century architecture, as well as the walkability and general friendliness (not to mention the food).

Anyway, being here makes me think of warmer temperatures and spring ahead for Philadelphia as well and as such, this weekend marks the end of the annual, week long Flower show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Thus, here are 10 songs with flowers in the title.

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — February 28

Michael Toland’s Top Ten — February 21

Current listening outside of BT assignments

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — February 21

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — February 14

Jack Rabid’s Top Ten — February 7

Chuck Foster’s Top Ten — February 7

Catching Up

I was sick for a while, so I’ve fallen behind, but here’s the stuff I’ve been listening to lately.

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — February 7

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — January 31

Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — January 31

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.

Jack Rabid’s Top Ten — January 31

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — January 24

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — January 17

Jay Reatard tribute

I’ve been listening to SPIRITUALIZED and CAN a lot lately, so initially I planned this week’s list to be dedicated to one or the other group or both. However, JAY REATARD’s death this past Wednesday made me reevaluate those plans and what I’ve come up with is a tribute to him.

Unlike many others, I won’t speculate on the cause of death or say anything else of that nature partly because I didn’t know him personally and partly because that’s less important than the incredible music he made before he left this earth at the way too young age of 29. I will say that I’ve enjoyed his records and his live show immensely over the past few years, as anyone who knows me or who reads this blog can ascertain.

And with that, here’s this week’s list. This isn’t just a list of 10 records or songs or shows per se (though all of these are mentioned), bur rather 10 moments involving Jay that are memorable to me.

Matthew Berlyant’s Top Ten — January 10

Michael Toland’s Top Ten — January 10

10 Albums From the ‘Aughts

Rather than attempting to compile a list of the best albums of the past decade (who am I to decide such things, especially when I eschew so many of the artists, from ANIMAL COLLECTIVE to M.I.A., I’m “supposed’ to appreciate?), I decided to put together a list of albums released between 2000 and 2009 that had the most impact on me personally. This is by no means a list of every artist I discovered and fell in love with), nor is it a list of every artist who made an album that’s become a favorite. Instead these are the albums, listed alpha by artist, released in the last decade that opened my ears and my mind to new sounds, or previously undiscovered talents, or in some way have continued to influence my listening. Maybe they’ll affect readers the same way. In that spirit, I’d love to hear what aughties albums had a similar impact on you.