Twyler(dot)com

This magical year of two thousand ten, the year of our Lord, is almost gone. *gasp* There has been a lot of really good music, a lot of really bad music, and a lot of crazy things have happened in the entertainment world. It’s time that I share my impressive and expansive knowledge of all the coolest music in “Twyler’s top ten (albums) of twenty-ten“.

Before I give you the best of, though, I thought I’d share my thoughts on some of the worst of the year, or the ‘not top ten’. Most of these bands were hugely successful this year, and I think they need to be taken down a notch, or twenty.

So enjoy, comment and debate as you wait for Twyler’s top ten.

Kings of Leon (No. 18 album of 2010 on Rolling Stone list)

Oh, they have Grammy's too.

I will admit that I haven’t heard anything from their new album, aside from whatever I may have accidentally caught on the radio (Burning Sex or something?). I have, however, read about their rockstar diva antics (see below), and I think it’s safe to say that the success has gotten to them. Call them tools, d-bags, sellouts, divas, whatever… I hate to use words like that about Oklahoma musicians, but there are eyewitness accounts from musicians and fans who haven’t suddenly become millionaires (thus not losing all sense of reality), so I don’t feel bad. Maybe their music is great, but I don’t support douchiness. Although if I had made the ‘arena rock record of the year’ (Rolling Stone) I bet I would be a drunken tool to a lot of people, and be loving every minute of it.

I’m not alone, either: KOL continue to prove they’re huge a$$-holes, KOL frontman ‘hates f**ing hipsters’ (although they have a clothing line of skinny jeans, bandanas and flannel), KOL are backstage bullies (this one just put me over the top, since it came from musicians who where there).

Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon II: the Legend of Mr. Rager

Great style, bad singing.

Maybe I just don’t get it. I think the real issue, though, is that I’m really intrigued by this guy’s style and brand of dark, rock-inspired hip hop, but he just doesn’t deliver. There are a few tracks I can dig, but for the most part this album fell flat and I just couldn’t listen to it more than a couple times. I think maybe he just needs more Weezy. Who doesn’t? Or maybe the Kid should focus less on thug-singing about drugs and more on writing actual lyrics. (“pretty green bud, all in my blood, Ohhh I need it, we can take off now, Ohh marijuana, yeahhh” – wow. Really clever.)

 (I like this song, especially that St. Vincent, a Tulsa native, is on it, but the album is not all it’s cracked up to be.) Also, the Roots make any artist better, and notice the iphone sound effects. Pretty sweet.

Vampire Weekend, Contra (No. 6 album of 2010 in RS)

Sorry hipsters. I can’t stand listening to this band anymore. I had the album and liked it a little bit. Kind of like an ‘oh, that’s cute’ kind of way. Or maybe just as background music. But not something I’d put on and really dig into. I’m not sure what it is about this band exactly, but Pandora seems to think I absolutely love them, and continually tries to get me to listen to them despite countless thumbs down. Sorry, maybe I need an Ivy League education. Or maybe more flannel?

Pretty, blonde, kinda country. I like that part.

Taylor Swift, Speak Now (No. 15 in RS)

Yes, I did actually listen to this album. Yes, I am embarrassed about it. I’ve heard a few of her older songs on the radio and actually enjoyed a couple, maybe one of them. At least as much as I could without being 13 and female. Maybe I was also blinded by the fact that she’s pretty, blonde and can write her own songs. I couldn’t get past the silly teen-pop high school sheen this time. I’m glad that she’s successful, I guess. But her music is obviously not for me… and I think Kanye was right after all. “Imma let you finish, but…”

Glee, whatever

I don’t care who you are. I don’t care how popular this show is or how obsessed you are with this cheesy disney-fied high school show. I don’t want any part of it. Here’s an idea: take some songs that are already popular, make them as cheesy as possible. THEN, throw in some teenage drama and hot-button issues and you have a show. THEN, record this fake glee club singing these songs and sell millions of albums. It’s almost worse than muzak to me. It makes me wonder about humanity when the record industry is dying but blatantly unoriginal stuff like this is selling like mad. They take stupid pop songs (and songs I actually like too…) and make them even more commercial, even more flat and mass-appealing. Even your grandma can enjoy it. But that’s the point. And that also makes my point. Right?

It’s unnaturally popular, mainstream to the max, and once again, it’s just not for me. But I also think Glee fans should take a hard look in the mirror. Are you buying what they’re selling?

The real top ten will drop in the next few days. Stay tuned! I promise (pinky-swear) to update this blog more. Seriously.