Favorites of 2010

I’m a music lover but by no means would I call myself a music connoisseur. I’m so deeply ingrained in the dance music and DJ world, I’m often late on new bands and LPs. On top of that I’m not like John Cusack in High Fidelity - the type to make “Best Of” lists, as my brain doesn’t sort things that way. That said, here are five albums that I had in constant rotation this year.

Favorite full length records

Wiz Khalifa - Kush and Orange Juice
I don’t smoke weed, and this record is filled with smoker’s references that should probably bore me, but Khalifa’s delivery has grown so confident that you catch yourself getting the munchies for more. Add some seriously solid beats to Wiz’s punchlines and you’ve got yourself the perfect soundtrack for touring.

Rick Ross - Teflon Don
If you’ve made it through the year without hearing at least three of the tracks from this record then I’m not sure where you’ve been. Nearly every line is quotable, nearly every beat is banging. A modern classic.

Starkey - Ear Drums and Black Holes
The first time I heard this album I immediately pulled it up and listened through it again. I feel like Starkey’s musical skills stand out the most on the more vocal and melodic tracks; he even lends his choir-boy skills to my favorite track on the album, “Alienstyles.” I’ve always thought Starkey was very underrated in the producer/DJ world, his style pre-dating the British “purple” dubstep movement of last year (Joker, Ginz, etc.) with an American, near-radio friendly flair. I’ve zoned out to this record on more than a few long flights.

Skream - Outside the Box
Honestly, before I heard this album I heard a lot of negative things about it. But after listening to it straight through on a flight from London to Berlin, I realized the people complaining about it wanted to hear big dubstep bangers. This album contains a couple of those, but shines melodic tracks like “Listenin to the Records On my Wall” and “How Real.” It’s not the perfect album but you can listen to it again and again and it shows Skream’s versatility as a producer.

The Dream - Love King
Straight-up pop, done humorously and almost flawlessly. The Dream is an incredible songwriter - I couldn’t stop bringing this one back over and over again. So catchy, so ridiculous. 




Other random favorite things of 2010:

Favorite live show

Darwin Deez: I played with Darwin on the Parklife tour in Australia. Unfortunately my set started in the middle of theirs on a different stage, so I never caught the entire set. No flashy tricks, just good fun, good music, and a LOT of dancing.




Best tour buddies

Jack Beats: I saw these guys more than anyone this year, literally… More than my own roommate. There wasn’t a country we didn’t eat sushi in together. Beni G and I spent countless hours annoying Plus One with our catchy airport song “Here Come the Bags.”

T&B Crew: My best friends and easiest people to travel with. I think we should just all move in together. On tour we make up about 17 inside jokes per minute. Someone needs to start documenting this.

Kill the Noise: All-round good guy, party bro AND deep thinker. This man will drop philosophical bomb after philosophical bomb on you, and then turn around and spray champagne onto a festival crowd.

Team Trouble: Jesse Rose, Chiddy Bang, Uffie, Jack Beats, and myself. Some kind of family dynamic quickly formed between us over weeks of touring. We were one f**ked up family! I love these people.




Favorite Drink
 
Manhattan with Maker’s Mark, perfect, on the rocks
Simple, classic, and delicious. Constantly scouring the world for the best one, and also started developing my own personal recipe. It’s become a bit of an obsession amongst me and a few friends.

Favorite TV Show
 
Boardwalk Empire: Beautifully shot prohibition era gangster series starring Steve Buscemi? Count me in!




Favorite gigs

Parklife Tour 2010 (Australia City Festival Tour)
Audiotistic (LA)
Trouble & Bass WMC Party (Miami)


Favorite Tune of 2010

Drop the Lime - “Sex Sax”
It gets the most intense reaction every time I cut over to the breakdown on this one. Incredible dancefloor tune.




Producers to watch next year

Zombies for Money
Flinch
Udachi