CHIRP DJ writesMatt Wenzel’s Best of 2010

Throughout December CHIRP Radio presents its members' top albums of 2010. The next list is from station station volunteer Matt Wenzel.
(Click here to get the complete list of CHIRP Radio members' picks.)

1. Bird Names – Metabolism: A Salute to the Energy of the Sun (Mosstapes)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   This band has the most creative approach to executing and recording pop music since the Beatles.
2. The Rebel – The Race Against Time Hots Up (Junior Aspirin)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Weirdo catchy melodies underlined by freakish sound collages and keyboard beats would not leave my head for weeks.
3. How To Dress Well – Love Remains (Lefse)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   This was quite possibly the most addicting album I’ve heard in a long time. Chicago Reader’s Miles Raymer put it quite nicely when he suggests that it sounds “like someone erased all the lead instruments from the multitrack recording of a big-budget pop song, leaving just atmospheric layers of textural overdubs, all drenched in reverb.”
4. We Shave – In The Flesh (Night People)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   A one-man orchestra experimenting with twisting pop, psychedelia, and drone tones to achieve a superb blend of syrupy goodness. On no other album does an artist totally own covers of Faust, Harry Nilsson, and Wagner.
5. Lazer Zeppelin – American Derivative (People In A Position to Know)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Don’t be fooled by the name. This basically sounds like a country-fried Velvet Underground jamming with The Fugs circa 1969. I was so tickled when they teased Brand New Key by Melanie!
6. Fielded – Terrageist (Catholic Tapes)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Nailing '80s dark wave to the floor of 2010. Haunts me.
7. RV Paintings – Samoa Highway (Helen Scarsdale Agency)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Northern California duo droning and collage-ing to the left of the dial. A masterpiece to write final papers by.
8. Daniel Higgs – Say God (Thrill Jockey)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Living legend/outsider folk artist Daniel Higgs gives his take on gospel music with a harmonium, banjo, and his unique vocal styling. The imagery created here is just beautiful and stunning. “Hoofprints on the Ceiling of Your Mind.”
9. Captain Ahab – The End of Irony (Deathbomb Arc)
   BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
   Imagine the sound designer for the newest Terminator movie making insane dance music while simultaneously commenting on the hilarity of dance culture. Because that’s exactly what this is.
10. Various Artists – Field Recordings From Alan Lomax’s “Southern Journey” 1959-1960 (Mississippi)
    BUY: Amazon / Insound / iTunes
    In my opinion, Mississippi Records can do no wrong. This 5 LP series showcases some of the best of Lomax’s quintessential work. The great thing about these records is the way the styles vary from song to song so that you don’t get overloaded with a whole album of fiddle music. I found the recordings of Baptist church congregations to be especially intriguing.