Tuesday Bears: End of the year lists

It's almost the end of 2010, which means two things: Jesus stuff, and lots of lists. Right on time, Rolling Stone and SPIN Magazine released their annual best songs and best albums lists. I always like to bring these up before Bears and Bullets does its annual end of the year jawn. Ay ya go.

SPIN Magazine's Top Albums of 2010 (Top Ten):

10.) Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1
9.) Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
8.) M.I.A. - Maya
7.) Grinderman - Grinderman 2
6.) Janaelle Monae - The Archandroid
5.) Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
4.) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
3.) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
2.) Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
1.) Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy


Check the full SPIN list here.

Rolling Stone Top Albums of 2010 (Top Ten):

10.) LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
9.) Eminem - Recovery
8.) Robert Plant - Band of Joy
7.) Drake - Thank Me Later
6.) Vampire Weekend - Contra
5.) Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
4.) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
3.) Elton John and Leon Russell - The Union
2.) The Black Keys - Brothers
1.) Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy


Check the full list and Rolling Stone's 50 best songs of 2010 here, via Stereogum.

Thursday Bears: 2010-11 Grammy Nominees

Replace Clapton with Jeff Beck this year

Last night, the official list of the 2010-11 (I never get the time-frame right for this) Grammys was released. Now, I have no long-winded rant set in place, but lets see where this goes. You can download the entire pdf of nominees here.

Eminem topped all everyone this year with 10 nominations for Recovery, including Album of the Year, and Record and Song of the Year for "Love the Way You Lied (ft. Rihanna). Among the notables for Record and Song of the year, which are still two different categories for essentially the same thing, is Cee-Lo's (not Gwyneth Paltrow's) "Fuck You." We have a darkhorse.

Among the artists I perpetuate the idea of caring about, or legitimately do care about, Arcade Fire had a few significant nominations of their own for The Suburbs, including (gasp) Album of the Year. They stand a pretty long shot to actually win the award, but it's good to see that they at least got recognition for it. They were also nominated for two other awards, including Best Alternative Music Album, alongside Band of Horses, The Black Keys, Broken Bells, and Vampire Weekend. Surprisingly not nominated amongst them, Gorilliaz, for Plastic Beach. I'm not gonna get too worked up over the Grammys not nominating the right people every year though.

The Best New Artist Category, which sometimes sees a litany of indie acts (like MGMT last year), is a little flat this time around - something Bielebers will contest to. Aside from the Biebs, Drake, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons, and ... Esperanza Spalding were nominated. Because I don't know who Spalding is, or care not to know who she is (i.e. Zach Brown band last year), she'll likely win. Oh, I checked her out, the first photos on Google came up with her next to a jazz bass. This is done.

I won't share the butt-fuckin'-ton of details, but I will declare this: In the Best Rock Performance By a Duo with Group or Vocals category, Jeff Beck's and Joss Stone's cover of "I Put a Spell on You" is nominated alongside songs from Arcade Fire, Muse, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys. I'm guaranteeing a win for Beck and Stone. Guarantee.

It's just the way it is, and I've reluctantly accepted that the Grammys, despite being labeled as the most prestigious of music awards (if there is such a thing), will do less and less accurate justice as time goes by. I could be wrong, and see what I like (or hope) wins, but I know I won't be.