Dane D. Lion's Music Den ##############

2011 Lists: Late to the Party (Overlooked Gems from the Oughties)

Since the advent of high-speed internet, I’ve taken way too much pride in being a music head.  I feel it in the way that I’m a little too happy to oblige my friends with their musical quandaries, or in the way that I have this blog.  While I appreciate the glow of authority when it is given to me, I’m never very comfortable with it because I’m well aware of my ignorance.  Nothing knocks me down a peg more than returning to a time that I thought I was fully musically conscious, only to find a song/album/band/genre that I overlooked.  This list runs through the songs/albums from 2000-2009 that I just came to love in 2011.  

1.  Lesser Matters - The Radio Dept.: I heard last year’s “Heaven’s on Fire” from these guys’ Clinging to the Scheme, but it never stuck with me.  Then, in February, the band released Passive Aggressive, a collection of singles and b-sides, which is how I was introduced to “Ewan” and “Where Damage isn’t Already Done”, two songs from 2003’s Lesser Matters.  The melodies and energetic arrangements that these Swedes cook up - less Balearic at this point - fully engage my indie rock performer imagination; I always vividly visualize myself playing the parts on all of the instruments in these tunes.  And, yes, that’s a good thing.
2. “Reckless with Your Love” - Azari & III:  The single for this track dropped in 2009, but I found out about it in January after sifting through FACT mag’s online list of the top tracks of 2010 and falling in love with its full-on early-90s remix by Tensnake.  These guys are BAD.  They seriously know their way around classic 80s Chicago house sounds and Robin S/CeCe Peniston/Crystal Waters diva jamz.  Can anyone not dance to this?  Watch out for other tracks from their full-length: “Manic” and “Hungry for the Power”.  
3. “Hold On” - Holy Ghost!: I really liked this band’s 2011 singles, so I went back to ‘07 and found this.  Whoa.  I wish ‘11 Dane could reach back to ‘07 Dane and hand him this jam.  That way, ‘08 Dane would have not been so absolutely mind-blown by Cut Copy; that way, ‘08 Dane could have played it cool for once.
4. “Reconstruction” - The New Year: Actually, as you’ll see in tomorrow’s list, I came across The New Year’s music after digging into Bedhead’s stuff.  Beautiful.  Thoughtful.  Meticulous.  
5. “Scared Straight”  - The Long Winters: More early 00’s indie rock.  Somehow, I missed this song when I cherry-picked John Roderick’s catalogue.  Love his voice, his sense of melody, and his arrangements.  If you ever loved a John Vanderslice song, you’ll definitely enjoy Roderick’s stuff.  Barsuk records 4-eva!
6. “95 North (Instro)” - Oddisee: Another tale of a great ‘11 release sending me back in time.  My go-to backing track for freestyle battles against myself on the way to pick up groceries in the car: Big Kaddy Dane vs. Dane Ah Dane.
7. “Midnight Request Line” - Skream: Respect the dubstep OG.
8. “Goodbye Girls” - Broadcast: Trish Keenan (1969-2011) RIP.
9. Every song James Blake put out in 2009.
10. “Anti-War Dub” - Digital Mystikz: More dubstep OG science.  How does Skrillex get huge and jawns like this get no love?  Seriously.   

Tomorrow: My list of the best pre-millennial songs that I heard for the first time in 2011.