Forget 2009. Mired with the responsibility of covering both the decade and year in music, most publications have forgotten about Animal Collective and directed their attentions on what’s coming up in 2010. Stereogum taps new efforts by The Magnetic Fields (Feb. 8th y’all!), Beach House and MGMT in their list of 25 must-hear 2010 records, while SPIN uncovers the facts behind forthcoming releases by 30 Seconds to Mars (really?), Motion City Soundtrack and Alicia Keys in their round up. Also: word is the new Hot Chip record will have a Paul McCartney cover. I’m three tracks into the new Snoop Dogg, and so far all he does is talk about smoking weed.
ELLIOT SMITH GETS DOCUMENTED
The late Elliot Smith gets the documentary treatment in the upcoming film Searching For Elliot Smith. Early reviews speculate that the film is cheapened by its attempt to clear girlfriend Jennifer Chiba of suspicions around Smith’s death, plus the fact that due to budget constraints, none of Smith’s music is actually featured in the documentary.
DOWNLOAD THIS: TERRIBLE RECORDS MIXTAPE
Recommended for those who want to show off to mix-CD recipients and pretend they sourced these songs on their own, Terrible Records offers a mix for free download that will truly impress, featuring our favourite tracks by Promise Ring, The Violent Femmes and the truly terrific “Wild Horses” by Prefab Sprout.
THE WORST SONGS OF THE '00S
Former Idolator scribes Maura Johnston and Totally Wired pal Christopher R. Weingarten have some hilarious blurbs online as they track the 50 worst tracks of the aughts. Among the low lights: 3 Doors Down’s “Kryptonite,” The Happy Mondays’ “Jelly Bean” and Heidi Montag’s “Higher,” plus much, much more to come! My vote goes to this abysmal piece of ear garbage.