Thursday, December 30, 2010

Best Heard/Read in 2010

So, EVERY music & book blog does a Year's Best list at the Nd of each yr? Mustn't mess w/ tradition, right?
Here's a list of the best stuff I heard or read during 2010. Note: This stuff isn't necessarily the best of the PAST YEAR, just the best stuff I stumbled over in the last 365 days. Summa these titles actually ARE fairly recent, which is practicly a 1st 4 me....
Best Rock-Related Novel: If by "the last year" I can B permitted 2 include the last few days of 2009, the best rock-related novel of the year is EZily Nick Hornby's JULIET NAKED (2009), which I'm currently re-reading. I think NE1 who posts their opinions about music on the Internet otta read this book -- it's warm & human & funny & complex, & Hornby has some good insights in2 the way men & women handle relationships & artistic pursuits & obsessions, + the attraction of mystery. I saw a bit of myself in this book -- & if U're reading this, U probly will C yrself 2. The best rock novel since Lewis Shiner's GLIMPSES.
Best Best-Of: Can's ANTHOLOGY (2007). A real ear-opener. Keep in mind I haven't gotten thru Caravan's THE WORLD IS YOURS or Camel's RAINBOW'S END best-of's yet (both 2010). But I already know them, so I don't Xpect NE real major suprises there. Can was completely new 2 me & ... wow....
Best Rock-Related Non-Fiction (tie): Bill Bruford's THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY (2009) is thotful & funny & a breeze 2 read, I wish it had been 2wice as long. Sid Smith's IN THE COURT OF KING CRIMSON (2001) is the best book on KC I ever Xpect 2 read until Robert Fripp writes his version of the story. Almost a complete up-2-date history, & it offers some diffrent perspectives on summa the same stories covered in Bruford's autobio.
Best General Non-Fiction: Paul Theroux's THE HAPPY ISLES OF OCEANIA (1992) ... even tho it took me 9 mo's 2 get thru it....
Best Non-Rock-Related Novel: Ian McDonald's CHAGA (1995, published in America as EVOLUTION'S SHORE). Disappointing Nding, but up til then very vivid & involving as a form of alien plantlife "eats" the continent of Africa. Haven't gotten in2 the sequel yet, tho....
Most Disappointing New-2-Me Album: Group 87's A CAREER IN DADA PROCESSING (1984). MayB 2 trax coulda fit in on their classic 1st album from 1980. OK background music, but that's it....
Best New-2-Me Album of the Year: I guess it's Van der Graaf Generator's PAWN HEARTS (1971), but it's not like I play it every day 4 lite Ntertainment....
Best New-2-Me Song of the Year: Happy the Man's "On Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs" (1977). Nostalgic, moving, gorgeous, great dramatic guitar.
Most Popular Post: That long list of "mainstream" pop albums I posted here a coupla wks back, "Goin' Mainstream," has had 76 views as of this aft, according 2 Blogger's stats. Ghod Knows why. MayB cos music fans like 2 C what's in other people's record collections...?
"Posthumous," that semi-fictionalized long grump of complaints w/ the ultra-fast pace of the Modern World, has had 68 viewings since Blogger 1st started tracking this stuff back in June or whenever -- again, Ghod Knows why. Only Ghod could Xplain what people were looking 4 when they tripped over it & what they thot when they got thru it -- if they did. What kinda Google search would bring that up?: "Dissatisfaction with Modern Life"?
Happy New Ear....

2 comments:

rastronomicals said...

I'm gonna have to read me some Hornby. The ONLY times I've ever read his name have been on this blog, but seems like you only have high praise for the guy, and your opinion is, shall we say, informed.

Can you recommend a good novel of his to start with?

And of course Here's to another goddamned new year, if you'll permit me to reference a post of my own. . . .

Take care Tad, well met, you know?

TAD said...

R: I'd go ahead & jump right in2 JULIET NAKED if I were you -- it's well worth it & it grabs you IMMEDIATELY. It's also hilarious. Hornby's HIGH FIDELITY is also pretty good & a lot of fun -- but I thot the ending was kinda disappointing. Some nice little touches in that novel 2, tho, & more insights about men & women, relationships, music & its importance, etc. Good luck.... -- TAD.