Terrible Chris' Fave Albums of 2010, Part the First

OK, now that the 2010 is behind us, and we have ALL the facts in front of us, here's my list of favorite CDs of the year past. As Megan will tell you, i'm not a huge fan of lists because, quite frankly, they're all just opinions. And as we all know, my opinion is superior to all others, so i just feel bad when i put out lists that so obviously trump all others. Oh well, it's my cross to bear.

And because i spent so damn long on this list, posting the links, etc., i'm breaking it up into a four parter. Be still your beating hearts, i know.

Now, part the first.

1. The Black Keys, Brothers--OK, i lied. This clearly was the best CD of 2010. Paraphrasing one of the better reviews i recall reading, the Keys didn't reinvent the wheel with this one, they just proved they could make it rounder, rubberier and added spokes.

mp3: Tighten Up (The Black Keys from Brothers)

2. Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra, Honker--Probably the best CD of the year by a guy of whom you've never heard. Hopefully, the future will change that, as he's quite possibly the wittiest lyricist out there today.

m4a: You Were Right & It's OK (Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra from Honker)

3. Reggie Watts, Why Shit So Crazy?--This is more of a comedy/performance piece, but Watts shows what a sense of humor, a loop machine and a strong sense of lyrics can do.

mp3: Thus Far (Alternate Version) (Reggie Watts from Why Shit So Crazy?)

4. Project: Mooncircle Artists, The Moon Comes Closer--Yes, i'm a Project: Mooncircle junkie, and this probably was my favorite offering from them in '10. The fact that it contains a huge chunk of their roster certainly didn't hurt.

mp3: The Moon Comes Closer Snippet (Project: Mooncircle Artists from The Moon Comes Closer)

5. Admiral Radley, I Heart California--i can't believe this wasn't on more "Best Of" lists. Critics and bloggers who are not me can be such maroons.

mp3: I Heart California (Admiral Radley from I Heart California)

Album Review: Honker by Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra

i first ran across Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra by way of the excellent The Late Greats (which i just found out today is back on Word Press since Blogger decided to shut him down a while back). At the time, they were hawking "Girl From the Renaissance Faire," a song which, to this day, remains a favorite at Chez Terrible. i think i even put the song's CD, Mr. Softy, in my Top 10 of the Year list at whatever music site i was writing for at the time (yes, your Uncle Terrible is a slut like that). It wasn't exactly the funniest song i ever heard, and maybe not the wittiest, but Lords of Light, it was the somethingest song i ever heard, and that was good enough for me. My interweb searches taught me that this talented group of assumed gentlemen were seemingly adamantly Brooklyn-based, so the likelihood of me seeing them anytime in the near future seemed unlikely.




So when i received an email from the fine PR folks representing Lipton and his newest CD, Honker, well, i was happier than, well, The Missus' best friend at a Ren Faire, i suppose (who loves ya', Lauren?). When i somehow finagled a copy to review, well, words fail me.


Fortunately, such a problem never seems to be the case for Lipton and his cohorts. While their style typically lands in the lounge arena of jazz, this is by no means a belittling of their talent. In fact, it's the exact opposite. Think the opposite of Richard Cheese and more English Major with a great backing band. You've got an extremely talented group of musicians here, and if not for the lyrics that often make one think, their songs, while arguably less memorable, could easily fit in with some of the better jazz orchestras out there today. Fortunately, Lipton is a master wordsmith, and he does not disappoint on Honker. The man is capable of eliciting damn near every emotional response imaginable over the course of the album. He is at times sweet and romantic (Wonderful), sarcastic (Poor Old Whitey), sympathetic (You Were Right + It's OK), sincere (I'm Sorry), educational (Wash Hands), humorous (My Pit Bull), and just "right" (Showing My Love). And that's not even half the CD.




Basically, we've got an extremely talented group of cats fronted by one of the best lyricists working today, making this ideal for music lovers and nerds alike. Essentially, a damn fine product no matter how you slice it.


Regretfully for those of us outside of the Brooklyn area, it looks like Ethan and the boys upcoming shows to promote the release are only going to be inside the Brooklyn area. However, if you find yourself in that neck of the woods, well then, there you go.


June 26 – 8:00pm – Two Sets, Barbes, 376 9th St, Brooklyn, NY
June 29 – 7:00pm – Two Sets,The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street, New York, NY

June 30 – 8:00pm – Two Sets,Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY

July 1 – 8:00pm – Two Sets, Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street, New York, NY


Now get out there and support these cats. A good time surely will be had by all. Just don't ask the guy to sign any contracts.

mp3: Girl from the Renaissance Faire (Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra from Mr. Softy)

mp3: When You Die (featuring Matt Berninger of The National, Cynthia Hopkins & Dryden Middle School students) (Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra from Honker)

mp3: You Were Right + It's OK (Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra from Honker)

Singles Club: Gift Basket

Historically, the last couple of weeks of the year are somewhat quiet around my office. Everything that needs to be wrapped up for the 09 books usually is by now, so folks start clocking out earlier and earlier as December drags on. Throw into the mix the fact that both Xmas and NYE both are causing long weekends, and it's damn surprising anybody is getting anything done at all these days.

And yet, for reasons i cannot begin to fathom, it's busier than all get out here at the Terrible Family Bidness. While trying to figure out what could possibly be the cause of this new madness, i was reminded of one of my all-time favorite holiday tunes, Gift Basket by Ethan Lipton.

Now, i've never seen Ethan live, but i've been addicted to his music since the good folks over at The Late Greats hipped me to his dulcet tones. Suffice to say, Mr. Lipton has a way with witty lyrics, plus a damn impressive horn blower on his roster, so it's pretty much all good any way you slice it.

Fortunately, Mr. Lipton has a couple of cold weather tracks for our listening pleasure, plus one of my top 25 (maybe higher) favorite songs of this decade. Enjoy.

mp3: Gift Basket (Ethan Lipton from Gift Basket)

mp3: Winter (Ethan Lipton from Mr. Softy)

mp3: Girl from the Renaissance Faire (Ethan Lipton from Mr. Softy)