Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo

Everybody Taste will be heading south for the holiday season in search of the mythical perfect wave. To keep you musically sated, here are a couple of items you might have missed:

• The Best Albums of 2010
• The Best Songs of 2010
• The Best EPs of 2010
• An interview with one of our favorite bands, Floating Action.
• A piece on French singer Francoise Hardy and her brief encounter with Bob Dylan.
• Everybody Taste's Matt Carr writes about the Walkmen for Malibu Magazine.
• Need Xmas music? Our favorite Portland bar has a funk and soul mixtape up for grabs here.
• You can also snag Vandaveer's two Xmas EPs here. 

As always, thanks for stopping by. See you in 2011.

Sincerely,
                 Everybody Taste

P.S. Here are a couple of our holiday favorites, both old and new:

William Bell - "Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday"
Beach House - "I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun"
My Morning Jacket - "Xmas Time Is Here Again"
Clarence Carter - "Back Door Santa"
The Dodos - "Winter"
Okkervil River - "Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas"

(photo via)

Portlandia: Portland, Dream of the 90s

Comedian Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and musician/writer Carrie Brownstein (All Songs Considered, Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag) are launching their six-part short-based comedy show Portlandia on IFC January 21st. If the above video is any indication, the series should be a hilarious and highly satirical look at the hipster-filled, coffee-loving, tattooed, bicycle-driven wonderland that is Portland.

Toro Y Moi - "Still Sound"

Toro Y Moi's sample-crazed debut Causers of This landed on ET's Best Albums of 2010 list, but with his follow up, Underneath The Pine—due out February 22nd—Chaz Bundick set out on a much different path. Forget the sampling, this is a disco album built on the legs of original and highly funky instrumentation.

Toro Y Moi - "Still Sound" (from Underneath The Pine)

The Music of Francoise Hardy, "The ideal woman"

Joe Strummer first introduced me to Francoise Hardy through his personally curated BBC radio program London Calling. A French model and singer, Hardy was perhaps known as much for her looks as her voice. But that doesn't mean the music isn't great. There's an intoxicating charm and subtlty to her songs—especially those from the late 1960s—that create an atmosphere in turns soothing, playful and melancholic. Although Hardy's voice does not have the androgynous quality of Nico's, there's nevertheless a certain similarity: songs dominated by a singular personality, simple vocal melodies that never force the singer to rise or fall out of their comfort zone, and gorgeous professionally-executed background instrumentation that can be vibrantly lush or delicate and sparse.

Interview: Floating Action's Seth Kauffman

"None of Seth's music feels like some reference or some attempt at a copy. It just feels like the natural extension of who he is as a person." — Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog

Floating Action is the moniker of North Carolina musician Seth Kauffman. Fusing elements of dub with rock, soul, country and the occasional splash of sitar, Kauffman has shaped a distinctively laid back and timeless sound that pops along like a needle on your favorite old groove: a whole-heartedly original, personally curated and unclassifiable vein of funk that's like medicine for the soul. His newest record, Desert Etiquette, is due out February 22nd via Park The Van.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I’m a huge fan. I think I was sold when I first heard “50 Lashes”—I love that high bass riff. And then “Marie Claire”… that whole Floating Action debut is classic.
Man, thank you!

Were you happy with the reception it got? I feel like it’s still making the rounds and being discovered. I know I didn’t stumble upon it until early this year.
No. I'm starting to realize there's a 3 to 4 year delay on people getting my records. Not trying to sound conceited, I feel it's a curse. I made that album Research in '06, and just now, people are clicking with it. It's terrible—causes me to have to psych myself out all the time. Trends that I think are already played out, won't actually be considered played out for a good year and a half.

So many bands these days come from either New York City or southern California. What’s it like making music away from that hubbub in Asheville and Black Mountain? Is it a pretty close musical community?
In my soul I know it's correct, but in my head I know I'm screwing myself success-wise. Black Mountain is so far off the grid. That's what makes it and breaks it. There's always this pull though, that it would be an easier battle if I moved to one of those areas. Can't do NYC, too swampy, no mountains. I could see relocating to Portland though sometime...love Portland...that'd be a good compromise, right?

Hugh Masekela - "Zuul and the Mexican"

Trumpet player Hugh Masekela made all sorts of important inroads with jazz in the 1960s and 70s, perhaps most importantly by fusing the rhythms and polyphonic voices of South African music with American jazz. He also helped blur the line between jazz and pop music with a few rock and roll crossovers, including a solo on the Byrds' hit "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" as well as appearances on Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album and Graceland tour. Try out this number from Grrr, and if you dig, please proceed to dig deeper.

Hugh Masekela - "Zuul and the Mexican" (from Grrr)

Jimmy Smith - "The Cat"

After weeks of digging through new albums and songs for my year-end roundups, I've officially burnt myself out on pop music. Which means it's time to go back to the classics. Last night it was the psychedelic blues of The Howlin' Wolf on surprisingly pristine vinyl (thanks Dad). Today it's Jimmy Smith's The Cat. Smith, one of the all-time great organ players, helped popularize the Hammond electric with his astounding improvisatory style. This is certainly jazz music, but it burns with the wily and dexterous fervor of great rock and roll.

Jimmy Smith - "The Cat" (from The Cat)

The Walkmen: Stuck On A Winning Streak

A feature on The Walkmen I wrote for Malibu Magazine:

“If I had known the graceful song I should know/To slow down all the madness/I would have sung,” laments Hamilton Leithauser, his nervy and emotive vocals intact and passionate as ever on The Walkmen’s sixth album, Lisbon. Torch songs technically deal with unrequited love, but this playfully titled “Torch Song” is about an elusive and lost song — one whose power is a respite from restless nights. “A whispered melody to calm you and keep you close,” he sings.

Driven by a 6/8 piano rhythm and an uncharacteristically soothing backdrop of barbershop and doo-wop inspired vocal harmony, this song about a song ironically reveals itself to be its own remedy and Lisbon its sparse and nuanced means of delivery: an 11-track, 41-minute elegiac lullaby that is The Walkmen’s most tuneful and rewarding album to date. Forget the myth of the suffering artist. These happily married 30-year-old musicians are making the most remarkable and relevant music of their careers.  Read More

Aunt Martha - "Bloodshot"

"I wanted to crash your party, but I couldn't find your house," sings Tim Noyes, all husky-voiced and bleary-eyed on the song "Bloodshot." It's a funny, intimate and relatable line that drew me into the earthy violin-laced sound of Aunt Martha. The band—a folk trio from New York with one album (Candymaker) under its belt—is now readying the release of their recently finished Bloodshot EP. This is acoustic guitar-driven storytelling, but it's richly shaped with furious drumming, crooning violin and Noyes' highly listenable voice.

Aunt Martha - "Bloodshot" (from Bloodshot EP)

Photo: Leroy Grannis

Soda Shop - "Farewell"

Androgynous lead vocals, a "Go Outside" worthy xylophone hook and a peppy clean-toned guitar lend a simple and sparse but highly tuneful construction to "Farewell"—the first song from Brooklyn duo Soda Shop. The band, comprised of Drew Driver and Maria Usback, will release their debut 7" January 18th via Shelflife.

Soda Shop - "Farewell"

The Best Albums of 2010 :: 15-1

Robyn - Body Talk
The culmination of the Body Talk series, this is mainstream pop music that anyone can get behind: smart lyrics, vibrant production, fast tempos and the charismatic personality of Robyn, who lends an intimate touch and relatability to each song.
Sample: "Call Your Girlfriend"

Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
Drenched in the blues, country, gospel and bluegrass, this son and namesake of legendary figures Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt records his move from the South to New York City with a slew of whip-smart songs about Brooklyn, the MTA and a baptism/suicide in the Harlem River.
Sample: "Harlem River Blues"

Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
One of the more consistent roots-inclined rock bands of the past decade, Dr. Dog seem to grow only stronger with each release, especially here on Shame, Shame—their first recording experience outside of their own home studio.
Sample: "Stranger" 

The National - High Violet
Intensely belabored over and carefully constructed, always strained and always subtle, this densely packed record takes time and repeated listens to unravel—but when it finally does it's nothing short of masterful.
Sample: "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

Bruce Springsteen - "Tougher Than The Rest"

During the documentary film The Promise: The Making of Darkness On The Edge of Town, Bruce Springsteen admits that at the time he was afraid of writing a love song. That's why he gift-wrapped "Because The Night" for Patti Smith—he was afraid to finish the song himself. But of course, Springsteen would write a love song or two. And like "Because The Night," they were mostly brilliant. One of his best is "Tougher Than The Rest," a tale of two lovers that have "been around a time or two." "If you’re rough enough for love," sings the Boss, "baby, I’m tougher than the rest."

Bruce Springsteen - "Tougher Than The Rest (Mike Vogel remix)" 
Camera Obscura - "Tougher Than The Rest"
Bruce Springsteen - "Because The Night"

The Best Albums of 2010 :: 30-16

Grass Widow - Past Time
Raw propulsive bass lines, angular guitars and near chaotic overlapping vocal harmony lend a discordant beauty to the follow-up from this all-girl San Francisco trio.
Sample: "Shadow"

Deer Tick - The Black Dirt Sessions
A dark brooding collection of songs that, with the exception of "When She Comes Home" and "Mange," feel more like a sobering John McCauley solo record than than the drunken poetry of Deer Tick—but poetry it still is.
Sample: "Twenty Miles"

Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
From the light tone of "Take It Easy" to the giant roaring swell of "Swim" and ferocious velocity of "Neighbor Riffs," this is simply one of the best guitar-driven rock records to come out in quite some time.
Sample: "Neighbor Riffs"

The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
This is pop music in its most charming, addictive, and sweepingly creative light—a near greatest hits quality collection of singles from this elusive Swedish band.
Sample: "Never Follow Suit"

White Hinterland - "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)"

White Hinterland, who topped our list of 2010's Best Songs with "Icarus," have released a companion piece of sorts to their superb Kairos with Eidolon—an EP that features three reworkings of previously released material and one stunning cover. "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)"—a 1995 hit from Monica's debut Miss Thang—shows off Casey Dienel and Shawn Creeden's ability to translate R&B into a more contemporary and futuristic setting. It's a talent that's defined the group's best moments, including the overlooked Kairos slow-burner "Cataract."

White Hinterland - "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (from Eidolon)

Teen Daze :: Beach Dreams

A cool ocean spray, the warm dry sand beneath your feet, the hot burning summer sun—Teen Daze capture that all in charismatically low fidelity bedroom and garage fashion on Beach Dreams. Despite the recent overabundance of all things "teen" and "beach" related in popular and indie music, this small batch of songs is able to capture the innocent spirit of youth and summertime without falling to a single cliche.

Pomegranates - "Skull Cakin'"

One of Us, the third LP from Cincinnati's Pomegranates, has a great room-filling tone to it with songs resonating, reverberating and pounding there way into your ear drum's every nook and cranny. "Skull Cakin'" is an especially voluptuous bit of raucous rhythm and bluesy rock howls. Grab the record in your format of choice now over at Afternoon Records.

Pomegranates - "Skull Cakin'" (from One of Us)

Mary Wells - "You Beat Me To The Punch"

Nothing comes close to the rich and dynamic sound of a band recording live in a studio. On the 1962 single "You Beat Me To The Punch," Motown singer Mary Wells was joined by the unequalled Funk Brothers and you can really hear every player weaving in and out of the front of the mix with the guitar and drums playing an especially loose and fun groove. The song was penned by Smokey Robinson, who composed many a Motown tune.

Mary Wells - "You Beat Me To The Punch"