Bradley’s Almanac

[Last Night’s Playlist] REARVIEW 2010: My Fave Songs of the Year

Posted on January 18, 2011 at 11:40 am | No Comments

Ok, so it wasn’t technically last night, but hey, I’m not going to abandon my traditional playlist title due to tardiness. Indulge me.

Last Thursday was the first ever REARVIEW 2010, a special DJ night at River Gods in Cambridge, MA where Ashley from Boston Band Crush and I played our favorite songs released in 2010. Ash focused on Boston-area music, while I did the national thing – although I sprinkled my fave local songs in my set as well.

So, in anticipation of my eventual favorite albums post (because I know you’re all just dying for that one), here’s my full playlist – the songs that soundtracked what was one of my worst years on this particular planet. The songs that got me through.

(scroll down for more related comments and links, and have a look here for Ashley’s kick-ass local playlist)

01. Standard Fare – “A Night With A Friend
02. Land of Talk – “Quarry Hymns
03. Gregory & the Hawk – “For The Best
04. Kristin Hersh – “Flooding
05. John Shade & the Neave Quartet – “Lullaby” (live in Somerville)
06. Travels – “Smile
07. The Drums – “It Will All End In Tears
08. Beach Fossils– “Face It
09. The Radio Dept – “The Video Dept
10. Cuffs – “You Can Come True” (demo)
11. Chris Page – “Slideshows
12. Darren Hanlon – “Modern History
13. Dylan In The Movies – “The Girl With The Black Tights
14. Fauxbois – “Carry On
15. Versus – “Scientists
16. The New Pornographers – “What Turns Up In The Dark
17. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – “Bottled In Cork
18. David Bazan + his band – “Magazine” (live at EA))
19. Telekinesis – “Car Crash
20. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – “Heart In Your Heartbreak
21. Tokyo Police Club – “Breakneck Speed
22. Field Music – “Effortlessly
23. Sky Larkin – “Kaleide
24. Film School – “Still Might
25. Pomegranates – “50’s
26. Girlfriends – “Gov’t Seizure
27. Superchunk – “Learned To Surf
28. Serena Maneesh – “Reprobate!
29. Young Adults – “Impression
30. Blood Red Shoes – “Don’t Ask
31. Ghost Box Orchestra – “Oh, The Moon Hangs Low
32. Bottomless Pit – “38 Souls
33. Standard Fare – “Dancing

Some notes on my set…

  • There were a few songs I should mention that sadly got cut for time – Tim and Sam‘s – “Choices“, Wye Oak‘s “My Neighbor“, and School of Seven Bells‘ “Babelonia“. Those cuts might not be listed above, but they’re on my list o’ faves.
  • Yeah, I began and ended with Standard Fare, as I simply couldn’t bring myself to cut either of those tracks. Perfect bookends.
  • I’ve said this elsewhere, but 2010 was a banner year for Boston music. The Beantown-area bands above are John Shade (who has since defected to Brooklyn), Somerville duo Travels, Cuffs (carrying the Pants Yell! flame), Dylan In The Movies (ok, Brian’s in San Fran, but Tanya Donelly guests on that fantastic song), blistering garage-rockers Girlfriends, the mighty Ghost Box Orchestra, and powerful post-punk trio Young Adults.
  • While most of the songs naturally came from full-lengths, there are a lot of teases that bode well for 2011: Both the Telekinesis and Wye Oak songs are from excellent Merge-released EPs that held us over until the imminent release of their new full-lengths. That Cuffs demo (one of three you can grab here) promises greatness to come from planned studio time, during which they’ll lay down songs for an upcoming 7-inch. Speaking of 7-inches, the two cuts on the Girlfriends’ “Gov’t Seizure” vinyl simply weren’t enough, and I’m anxiously awaiting the full-length that should happen this year. Definitely out soon is the new album from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart (“Belong” in March from Slumberland), with “Heart In Your Heartbreak” being the advance single. Lastly, fingers remain crossed that we will, at long last, see a full-lengther from Brian Sullivan’s Dylan In The Movies this year, with “The Girl With The Black Tights” joining “Josephine, If You Only Knew” as assurances that it will be something truly special. Keep an eye on the American Laundromat site for the hopefully-sooner-rather-than-later album announcement.
  • The John Shade track I played was recorded early last year at a magical Somerville Armory show with the Neave Quartet, and you can find the non-strings version of it on his site, along with a strings-version of the non-album “Here I Am
  • On the way: My list of favorite long-players from 2010. This I do solemnly swear.

    Comments

    Leave a Reply





  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Thursday, January 22nd
    Sharp Pins
    Eli Winter
    Invisible Rays
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Thursday, January 22nd
    Bill Murray & his Blood Brothers
    @ the House of Blues

    Saturday, January 24th
    The Endorphins
    We Are Space Horses
    Honey Cassette
    Lunch Mother
    @ the Loft

    Tuesday, January 25th
    Racing Mount Pleasant
    Charlie Martin (of Hovvdy)
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 27th
    The Residents
    Eskimo Live! Tour
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, January 28th
    Wild Pink
    Dead Gowns
    Otis Shanty
    @ Warehouse XI

    Friday, January 28th
    Gene Love Jezebel
    Gossip Collar
    Silver Rein
    @ the Middle East Up

    Thursday, January 29th
    Dean Johnson
    Lily Seabird (solo)
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, January 29th
    Bad Bad Hats
    performing "Psychic Reader"
    Smut
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, January 30th
    Greg Freeman
    Golomb
    @ the Red Room at Cafe 939

    Saturday & Sunday
    January 31st & February 1st
    Something In The Way Fest 2026
    with Explosions In The Sky,
    Sunny Day Real Estate, Citizen,
    Tigers Jaw, The Hotelier, Momma,
    Angel Dust, February, First Day Back,
    Glitterer, Glixen, Gollylagging, Guv,
    Graham Hunt, Horse Jumper of Love,
    How Much Art, No Warning, Pelican,
    Park National, Pool Kids, Sheer Mag,
    Wicca Phase Springs Eternal,
    and Teen Suicide
    @ Roadrunner

    February 3rd
    Roddy Bottom
    (of Imperial Teen)
    presents his book
    "The Royal We"
    @ Porter Square Books, Cambridge

    Saturday, February 7th
    Twen
    @ the Rockwell

    Saturday, February 7th
    The Grownup Noise (album release!)
    Happy Little Clouds
    & comedian Josh Gondelman
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, February 7th
    Muck and the Mires
    White Dynomite
    Sonic Bomb
    The Humanoids
    We Own Land
    @ Sonia

    Wednesday, February 11th
    The EARFULL series
    writers reading,
    songwriters performing.
    with authors
    Thomas Beller & John Sayles
    and musicians
    The Lo-I & Chris Smither
    @ the Regattabar

    Thursday, February 12th
    Brandi Carlile
    The Head and the Heart
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, February 13th
    Nine Inch Nails
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    February 13th, 14th, & 15th
    Marcello Hernandez
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, February 15th
    The Black Heart Procession
    Chris Brokaw (solo electric)
    @ Sonia

    Tuesday, February 17th
    Which Side Are You On?:
    A Protest Music Teach Out
    This month's edition includes...
    Dennis Brennan, The Dogmatics,
    The Flying Vipers ft. Kellee Webb,
    Stephen Fredette, Dwayne Haggins,
    and Jim Infantino
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Friday, February 20th
    Marissa Nadler
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Saturday, February 21st
    Margo Price
    @ the Royale

    Sunday, February 22nd
    Tracy Bonham
    Spring Residency night 1
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Friday, February 27th
    Hilken & Melissa Band,
    Cujo with Jen Trynin,
    and Magen Tracy &
    the Missed Connections
    Early Show @ the Middle East Up

    Saturday, February 28th
    Minibeast
    Tell
    @ Thirsty First, Lowell

    Saturday, February 28th
    Ratboys
    Florry
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, March 3rd
    Spiritual Cramp
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, March 4th
    Cat Power
    "The Greatest 2026" tour
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, March 6th
    Michael Shannon,
    Jason Narducy,
    & friends play REM's
    "Life's Rich Pageant"
    with opener
    Eugene Mirman
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, March 10th
    Trace Mountains
    Coma Cinema
    Elvis Depressedly
    @ the Rockwell

    Friday, March 13th
    Quarters
    Paper Lady
    @ the Royale

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    March 13th, 14th, & 15th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, March 14th
    Some Velvet Sidewalk
    Minibeast
    Lupo Cittá
    @ Deep Cuts

    Tuesday, March 17th
    Dropkick Murphys
    @ House of Blues

    Thursday, March 19th
    Julianna Barwick
    & Mary Lattimore
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, March 20th
    The Hives
    The Chats
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, March 21st
    Cass McCombs
    Chris Cohen
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, March 21st
    Joyce Manor
    Militarie Gun
    Teen Mortgage
    Combat
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, March 22nd
    Maria Somerville
    @ the ICA Boston

    Sunday, March 22nd
    Tracy Bonham
    Spring Residency night 2
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Monday, March 23rd
    Westerman
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, March 26th
    The Format
    Piebald
    Adult Mom
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, March 27th Mike Gordon (Phish) & his band
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, March 27th
    Downtown Boys
    Whyte Lipstick
    @ Deep Cuts

    Friday, March 27th
    Old 97s
    Lizzie No
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, March 27th
    Slomosa
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, March 27th
    Gwar
    Soulfly
    King Parrot
    @ the House of Blues

    Sunday, March 29th
    Ladysmith Black Mambazo
    @ Sanders Theatre

    Wednesday, April 1st
    Wednesday (the band)
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, April 2nd
    On Cinema Live! with
    Tim Heidecker
    & Gregg Turkington
    @ the Wilbur

    Friday, April 3rd
    Patrick Watson
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday & Saturday
    April 3rd & 4th
    Hayley Williams
    Water From Your Eyes
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, April 4th
    Throwing Muses
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, April 4th
    The Dirty Three
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, April 4th
    Puscifer
    Dave Hill
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, April 8th
    The Wedding Present
    Mark Robinson
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, April 8th
    Mclusky
    Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, April 9th
    Circle Jerks
    Gorilla Biscuits
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, April 10th
    Band of Horses
    @ the Cabot in Beverly

    Sunday, April 12th
    Holy Fuck
    @ the Rockwell

    Sunday, April 12th
    Bush
    Mammoth
    James and the Cold Gun
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, April 14th
    The Chameleons
    The Veldt
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Tuesday, April 14th
    Fantastic Cat
    @ The Middle East Up

    Thursday, April 16th
    Rhiannon Giddens
    @ the Orpheum

    Friday, April 17th
    Snail Mail
    Swirlies
    Sharp Pins
    @ Big Night Live

    Saturday, April 18th
    The Last Dinner Party
    Florence Road
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, April 18th
    Nick Offerman
    "Big Woodchuck" tour
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Sunday, April 19th
    Heavenly
    Swansea Sound
    Jeanines
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, April 19th
    Tracy Bonham
    Spring Residency night 3
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Monday, April 20th
    The Antlers
    Tōth
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Tuesday, April 21st
    José González
    Abby Sage
    @ the Royale

    Monday, April 27th
    The Afghan Whigs
    Mercury Rev
    @ the Royale

    Monday, April 27th
    Fishbone
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, April 30th
    Oklou
    @ the Royale

    Friday, May 1st
    Tanya Donelly
    & Chris Brokaw
    @ First Church, Cambridge

    Monday, May 4th
    Yumi Zouma
    Ducks Ltd.
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, May 5th
    The Messthetics
    and James Brandon Lewis
    @ City Winery Boston

    Tuesday, May 5th
    Gladie
    Noun
    @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, May 9th
    Remember Sports
    Cusp
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Wednesday, May 13th
    Courtney Barnett
    Momma
    Truman Sinclair
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, May 14th
    Melody's Echo Chamber
    @ the Royale

    Friday, May 15th
    Nova One
    Bong Wish
    Winkler
    @ Deep Cuts

    Sunday, May 17th
    Tracy Bonham
    Spring Residency night 4
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    May 19th & 20th
    Belle and Sebastian
    play "Tigermilk" (19th) and
    "If You're Feeling Sinister" (20th)
    @ the Orpheum

    Saturday, May 23th
    Robber Robber
    @ Deep Cuts

    Sunday, May 24th
    David Lee Roth
    @ the House of Blues

    Saturday, May 30th
    Acid Bath, Naplam Death,
    Pig Destroyer, Primitive Man,
    and Final Gasp
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday & Saturday
    June 5th & 6th
    They Might Be Giants
    @ the House of Blues

    Wednesday, June 10th
    The Avett Brothers
    and Mike Patton
    present AVTT/PTTN
    @ the Wang

    Wednesday, June 10th
    Primus
    Les Claypool's Frog Brigade
    The Lennon Delirium
    @ the Pavilion

    Thursday, June 11th
    Echo & the Bunnymen
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, June 23rd
    Wolfmother
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, June 24th
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Wednesday, June 24th
    Sammy Hagar & his band
    Rick Springfield
    @ the Xfinity Center

    Tuesday, July 14th
    Joe Jackson
    @ the Chevalier

    Sunday, July 26th
    Men At Work
    Toad the Wet Sprocket
    Shonen Knife
    @ South Shore Music Circus

    Friday, June 27th
    The Human League
    Soft Cell
    Alison Moyet
    @ the Wang

    Friday, July 31st
    Tori Amos
    @ the Pavilion

    Friday, August 14th
    Blues Traveler
    Gin Blossoms
    Spin Doctors
    @ the Pavilion

    Friday, September 4th
    Peter Hook & the Light
    play New Order's "Get Ready"
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday, September 12th
    Rush
    @ TD Garden

    Monday, September 14th
    Aldous Harding
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, September 23rd
    Armand Hammer
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday & Saturday
    October 9th & 10th
    Superdrag
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, October 17th
    Sugar
    J. Robbins
    @ Roadrunner