Hated or Loved - My Favourite Singles of 2010

1. The Fresh & Onlys - Second One to Know / Hated or Loved (Woodsist), Vanishing Cream / Cloud 9 (Plastic Spoons), August in My Mind EP (Captured Tracks)


Ordinarily, I wouldn't go lumping a bunch of releases together by the same band, but the Fresh & Onlys, were so good, so consistent, and more importantly, so goddamn prolific this year, that it seemed unfair to consider each one separately. Besides these ten extraordinary songs, the band also released a full-length record this year, Play it Strange, on In the Red, which not only maintained the same level of quality and songcraft, but also positioned the F&Os as really, the most significant band of 2010.

Rather than pick apart these singles song-by-song, I think they are best digested together, in any order, as part of a larger body of work. The brainchild of San Francisco's Tim Cohen, the Fresh & Onlys seemed to burst forth fully-formed and ready to wow anyone within listening distance. These are not bits of high-treble abstract weirdness, or eccentric, impenetrable bedroom-fi, but they are unique, individual pieces of work that bear the marks of music that's been deeply constructed and poured over - so much so that the rapidity and consistency with which they are released to the public is nothing short of mind-boggling.

They say the hardest thing to do is write a catchy hit single. Lightning strikes so very rarely. The crazy thing here is that ALL of these songs are indelibly catchy, irresistible pop tunes bound for top-40 immortality (in a more clever alternate universe, mind) . My favourites of all these songs, "Second One To Know" and "August in My Mind" are stolen straight from the 1965 pop singles songbook, the former being a bouncy go-go number and the latter being the more introspective heart-breaker.

Everything the Fresh & Onlys did in 2010 was worth paying attention to, and a great deal of it was jaw-dropping. Do youself a favour and let their dreamy wizardry make your musical life a more comfortable place to be.

(I should also note that this band released three other singles that I've yet to catch up with at press time. I'm sure they're all wonderful too.)


2. Nothing People - Enemy With an Invitation / Reinstall (Permanent)

Speaking of consistency, Orland (?) California's favourite sons blessed us with more of their classic dark stuff this year, shuffling off this death-garage two-sider way back in January. I'll talk about the People in greater depth in my year-end albums wrap up, but let me say this: this is the most fun you'll have dreading getting out of bed all year.


3. Marvelous Darlings - Teenage Targets / Lagoons (Plastic Idol)

Toronto's best non-existent band continued their flurry of 7"ers this year with the final (?) of six slabs of life-affirming power pop. These two songs are two of their absolute best, recalling beer-fueled, basement jamz, and the ultimate elusive joy at singing along to a sing-along song at the top of one's lungs. Fist pumpers in one way and smooth swooners in another, this recalls the mighty Cheap Trick at their peak. These dudes need to put aside all their other side-projects, reform and please-please-please start playing shows again. They will rule the world.


4. Rot Shit - You're Welcome (Columbus Discount Records)

The best, closest thing to hardcore of 2010. These guys have been playing ultra-noisy, occasionally speedy, always intersting, often amusing, weird face-melting heavy gunk punk for about five years now, and the three songs on You're Welcome are their finest moment. "Dead I" is a fine pigfuck distorto ear-gouger - the kind of song that grabs you by the throat and shakes vigorously. The band moves into more hardcore territory of the B-side with "Hipster Grandma" and "Local Band Forever," and frankly do it better than anyone else out there. Go ahead, show me whatever hardcore you got, I'll put Rot Shit up against it and win every time.


5. Oblivians / Andre Ethier - Oblivion / Promising Rainbows AND Cheap Time / Bad Sports - Proper Introductions (Running Nowhere) / Would You Wait For Me To? (Scion Audio/Visual)

Not sure what the deal is with the sudden patronage of this mysterious car company (has anyone actually seen a Scion?) making the world safe for punk rock again, playing record label like the second-coming of Crypt and giving the venerable Oblivians a place to call home. Nevertheless, they can keep on keeping on as long as the stuff they're putting out remains this high quality.

The Oblivians song does come off a bit like a harder-edged Reigning Sound number, but the essence is definitely still there, and the boys tear through it like kids on Christmas. It's got that classic Obv's tom sound hat really drives the thing like a '69 Plymouth Roadrunner about to careen off a cliff into..... well, you know. Almost equally as impressive is the Ethier song, which is the Deadliest and Snakesiest thing to come out of the guy since.... well, you know.

Cheap Time's full-length this year was a pretty big disappointment, but their Scion contribution is a great return to form. Plenty of the classic snot-punk here that made their debut so compulsively listenable. Bad Sports turn in a classic here too - maybe the best of all four songs. The simply propulsive "Would You Wait For Me To?" graduates this band from the garage-punk glut into purveyors of potential classics.


6. Lamps - Niels Bohr (Dull Knife)

Oh Lord, what I wouldn't give to deliver a package like Monty Buckles. If I was his eye-ear-nose-and throat specialist I'd be worried cause it sure sounds like he's about to hack up a lung after every three minute slab of noise this criminal band delivers. He might lose his voice and hearing, but if he loses his vision he won't be able to make any more music videos. Won't someone help Monty Buckles!


7. Gentlemen Jesse and His Men - She's a Trap / I Won't Say Goodbye (Douchemaster)

Two totally unsurprising power pop classic from these absolute masters. "She's a Trap" would of course fit just fine like a missing puzzle piece along with the other classics on their debut of '08,and certainly leave one hankering for another LP of more of the same. The one that seals the deal here though is the heart-breaking B-side, which slides in nicely with the rest of the Jesse canon, but adds a particularly trenchant dose of melancholy that this band has only scratched the surface of thusfar. Yep, that means this band is quietly evolving, and more power to 'em.


8. Best Coast - Something in the Way (PPM)

This is probably the most melancholy Best Coast release, despite the bouncy beats and ooh-wah-oohs of the title track. Both tracks on the A are about being stuck in mediocre relationships. On "Something in the Way" Bethany's hopelessly attracted and attached to someone who treats her like shit, but has her running back with one small word ("something in the way you say my name"). "Wish He Was You" is the converse. Here she's hanging out with a nice guy who simply doesn't match up to the one that got away. It usually irks me when reviewers say that want to cuddle up some soul-bearing musician they don't even know, but she sounds so lost and confused here that when I saw her tiny little frame walking around at NXNE I kind of wanted to give her a hug and apologise on behalf of dudes everywhere for making her so miserable.

I think "The Road" is my fave track of the three, a dark-fuzz drenched minor-chord bummer that doesn't even pretend to be happy. It's seemingly more existential, more concerned with time, space, and being than her more pop stuff.

All told, this is quite the clever little niche that Ms. Consentino has carved out for herself, and while the album is remarkably solid, the best way to hear these songs are in the 7" format. This one is particularly moving.


9. Moon Duo - Escape EP (Woodsist)

And now for something a little different. The brother band of Wooden Shjips, Moon Duo are in fact a duo, that follow along the same heavy trip head nod lines The difference I suppose is the Duo are a bit more straightforward, what with being just a duo afterall. Finding a common, propulsive space rock groove is key with these four songs, yeah, just the two of them, bangin' away. Ripley and Sanae are their names. Crazy, right? What's that smell. Woah, it stopped playing. Heavy.


10. Wild Thing - Age Difference (Daggerman)

Wee-hah! What a classic way to end things off, with this fucking no-frills, no lollygagging around grimy, slimy piece of punk rock. This hits all the bases and covers all the angles from the Dead Boys onwards. "Age Difference" is the trash-punk anthem of 2010. FUN-FUN-FUN! Hey! Ho! Let's fuck!

Also great: The Chinese Restaurants - River of Shit EP (S-S), Cold Warps - Endless Bummer EP (Self-released), The Hex Dispensers - One Less Ghost / I'm a Ghost (Trouble in Mind), Mickey - s-t EP (FDH), Puffy Areolas - Rock N Roll Express (Stasi), Sex Church - 209 / Paralyse (HoZac), Wooden Shjips -What It Is / Buddy (Sick Thirst)

Complete list here.