Issue 510

2010 dB Music Favourites By Ryan Winter What can we surmise about the Australian music scene after 2010? Well, to begin, the pace of the scene has increased exponentially. Thinking about the amount of music released and the number of tours we've been treated to, it's difficult to identify one album or one band which managed to first capture, then hold the broader imagination for the entire year. 2010 didn't retain a truly definitive sound, which seems an adequate reflection of saturated state of music at the moment. However, amongst the endless sea of 'emerging' bands that continue to jostle for attention, there's one definitive trend which endures; that being tours and albums with more than just a mild flavouring of nostalgia. Past passions were reignited once more this year as we dug through our CD collections to reacquaint ourselves with old favourites, as the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, NOFX, Peter Hook, The Descendents, Guns N Roses, The Charlatans, Manic Street Preachers, Metallica and Brian Wilson toured, while Iron Maiden, Regurgitator, Bad Religion, Crow, The Cult, Belle & Sebastian, Paradise Motel, Massive Attack and Underworld all released new material for the first time in many years. But what else can we really discern from the last twelve months? There's been equal nods to both the US and UK as barometers of emerging music, with Laura Marling, Band Of Horses, The Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons and The National all leading the way as far as independent trend setters go. Australian music's big news has been the departure of Powderfinger, who leave a legacy of anthems which will continue to linger in the popular memory, regardless of whether you prescribed to their brand of music. Sia, Claire Bowditch, Washington, Sarah Blasko and Julia Stone have all flown the flag for female artists locally this year, while declining album sales continue to be a concern for the greater number of record companies and publicity agencies alike. If anything, the fickle elements of the music industry continue to threaten its ultimate demise, in whatever form that may take. But that sort of pessimism has no place at this time of year as we toast the successes and failures of another year gone. We'll return to those thoughts in January as we wonder once again with blind optimism what 2011 might hold... Here at dB, rather than pick just one release, one show or one festival to embody the last 12 months, we decided we'd keep our summary broad, looking towards significant moments which have shaped the year in music for our many contributors. There were some clear favourites, but ultimately the breadth of nominations reflects just how much has come and gone. So within our word count, here are some of dB's favourite moments from 2010: Favourite Album: Tame Impala- Inner Speaker (Contributors Choice), The Arcade Fire- The Suburbs, The National- High Violet, Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest, Jimmy Eat World- Invented, Jonsi- Go, Amity Affliction- Young Bloods, Flying Lotus- Cosmogramma, Harlem River Blues- Justin Townes Earle, Deftones- Diamond Eyes, Bliss Release- Cloud Control, Dillinger Escape Plan- Operation Paralysis, Kelley Stoltz- To Dreamers, Fireball Ministry- Fireball Ministry, Frightened Rabbit- The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, Kasey Chambers- Little Bird, Die Antwoord- SOS. Favourite Local Release: Fire! Santa Rosa Fire!- Sea Priest, Lowrider- Round The World, Son Of Dad- Straight Outta Brompton, Coerce/Robotosaurus Split EP, Friends- Friends, Steering By Stars- Cables, Paper Arms- Days Above Ground, The Keepsakes- Crocodile Onesie, The Yearlings- Sweet Runaway, Diesel Witch- From The Sea To The Swamp, Ben Solo- Ben Solo. Favourite Festival Line Up: Soundwave, by a huge margin. Laneway and Splendour In The Grass a distant second. Favourite Live Shows: Ska'd For Life II @ Squatters Arms, Black Rebel Motorcylcle Club @ Fowlers, Basement Birds @ Fowlers, The Swell Season @ Thebarton Theatre, Enter Shikari @ Fowlers, New Pornographers @ Fowlers, Chris Altmann @ The Grace Emily, Peter Hook @ Her Majesty's Theatre Vampire Weekend @ Entertainment Centre, Brand New @ HQ, Pink Martini @ Festival Centre, Foals @ The Gov and By The Dust @ Enigma. Biggest Disappointments: Flying Lotus, The Descendents, The National, The Drums and Mark Lanegan all snubbing Adelaide on their tours; Big Star closing down; Weezer trying again and failing again; the 2010 Aria Awards; dB's capitulation at the Music SA quiz night; hearing that The Troubadour in Brisbane had closed; and the passing of Ronnie James Dio. Here's to 2011. Ryan Winter, Music Editor.