News: a.k.a. The Strike for Three Loaves, Roky Erickson, Graphique Design

2/24 will mark the 97th anniversary of the Bread and Roses Strike, an event which sent Lawrence into a chaotic worker strike. Our RESD Dept. in collaboration with Lowell National Parks will be holding a discussion on Feb. 27, 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m. Lawrence Heritage State Park at 1 Jackson St., Lawrence. Itinerary includes a strike tour in Lawrence, excerpts from a documentary, refreshments, and more. For more information, visit www.masshumanities.org or contact Robert_Forrant@uml.edu.

Pollard Memorial Library is holding an Indie Film showing TONIGHT at 6:30. The movie is Storm and the vent is hosted Lowell Film Collaborative. Every month, LFC holds an indie night at Pollard.

On April 20th, rock/satanist legend Roky Erickson will be releasing an album with Okkervil River entitled True Cast Out All Evil. Album will be released on Anti- records.

Two on campus movies: Men Who Stare at Goats shown Friday 2/12 at O’Leary 222 , Sunday 2/14 at Fox Common , and Monday 2/15 in the ICC. Also, Orgasm Inc. will be coming Monday 3/1 at 7 p.m. in O'Leary 222.

Graphic Design alumni from the last decade will be returning on 2/22 to showcase thier work in the Dugan Gallery. Working Proof: Graphic Design Alumni Exhibition will last until 3/12 and runs weekdays 10a.m. till 5 p.m., a reception will be held Wednesday, 2/23 from 3p.m. till 5p.m. For more info contact: Karen_Roehr@uml.edu

In Brief:

• New Japandroids, coming live to Middle East Downstairs 3/31.
• Iggy Pop to release massive Raw Power deluxe ed.
• Hercules and Love Affair, sweet fucking Lady Gaga remixes.
• Sweet Buster Keaton Article (for geeks).
• Jazz, not for everyone.

Best Albums of the Decade

At the turn of the millennium, I was 10 years old, and thought that the Blink-182 were the best band I was ever going to hear. With this in mind, I am hardly fit to write a list on the best music of the decade. In fact, I don't believe I even come into real musical consciousness until the year 2003 and it was right at the forefront of those angsty high school years.

But to be fair, I have done a lot of catching up, filling my ears with as much music as I could get my hands on from all eras alike. I am a music connoisseur, this is what I do!

All the albums following have made some sort of impact in the past 10 years, whether they were simply personal or critically acclaimed. Here is my attempt to stay true to my roots, and give you what I believe are the greatest albums of the decade.

50. ...Is a Real Boy- Say Anything
49. Return to Cookie Mountain- TV on the Radio
48. The Execution of All Things- Rilo Kiley
47. 59’ Sound- the Gaslight Anthem
46. Take off Your Pants and Jacket- Blink 182
45. Some Kind of Cadwallader- Algernon Cadwallader
44. Red-Eyed Soul- World/Inferno Friendship Society
43. The EP- Owen
42. Designing a Nervous- The Anniversary
41. Push the Button- Chemical Brothers
40. The Photo Album- Death Cab for Cutie
39. 10 Songs- I Hate Myself
38. Strawberry Jam- Animal Collective
37. Shut Up I’m Dreaming- Sunset Rubdown
36. Dead Reckoning- Small Brown Bike
35. Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven- Godspeed! You Black Emperor
34. S/T- Crystal Castles
33. These are the Vistas- The Bad Plus
32. Silent Alarm- Bloc Party
31. Left and Leaving- The Weakerthans
30. The War on Erroism- NoFX
29. The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me- Brand New
28. Chutes Too Narrow- The Shins
27. Everything Goes Numb- Streetlight Manifesto
26. Deja Entendu- Brand New
25. From a Basement on the Hill- Elliott Smith
24. You Forgot it In People- Broken Social Scene
23. Reinventing Axl Rose- Against Me!
22. Merriweather Post Pavilion- Animal Collective
21. Hidden Arithmetic- Indian Summer
20. Discovery- Daft Punk
19. How I Spent my Summer Vacation- The Bouncing Souls
18. The Sound of Silver- LCD Soundsystem
17. The Ugly Organ- Cursive
16. Post-Nothing- Japandroids
15. The Glow Pt.2- The Microphones
14. The Greatest Story Ever Told- The Lawrence Arms
13. At Home With…-Owen
12. Dear You- Jawbreaker
11. For Emma Forever Ago- Bon Iver
10. The Lemon of Pink- The Books
9. Kid A- Radiohead
8. Fuck World Trade- Leftover Crack
7. Give Up- The Postal Service
6. The Argument- Fugazi

5. The Moon and Antarctica- Modest Mouse

The Moon and Antarctica is Modest Mouse's transition album from UP Records to Epic Records, and perhaps their best album to date. It maintains the messy, experimental sound of their old music and foreshadows their more accessible sound. Favorite tracks: 3rd Planet, The Stars are Projectors, Wild Pack of Family Dogs.

4. Relationship of Command- At the Drive-In

One of my favorite albums in my later years of high school, Relationship of Command bridges the gap between 90's emo, rock, and punk. This is the album that progressed emo music of the 00's. Emotive and heavy, try to not rock out while listening to this. Favorite tracks: One Armed Scissor, Sleepwalk Capsules, Cosmonaut.

3. I'm Wide Awake It's Morning- Bright Eyes

Probably the magnum opus of our friend Conner Oberst, this pop-folk album does not have one bad song on it. I suggest slipping it on whenever your driving early in the morning. There is nothing like the sun going up in the east and listening to this. Favorite tracks: Old Soul Song (For the New World Order), Land-Locked Blues, and Poison Oak.

2. Funeral- The Arcade Fire

This was Arcade Fire's first studio album on Merge Records. It was incredibly well received, and even had songs on the charts. In fact, you might say this was the album that changed indie-rock forever. This album covers a full spectrum, from marches to anthems. You'll be singing along, and you'll be smiling. Favorite tracks: Neighborhood #3, Rebellion (lies), Neighborhood #1

1. Come on Feel the IlliNOISE- Sufjan Stevens

One second you are in Grey, Indiana. The next, there is a bridge underneath you and the bright lights of Chicago are blinding you...you may as well be listening to Sufjan. Well researched, and chock full of inside jokes, "Illinois," is certainly the biggest masterpiece of the decade. I selected it for its music technicality, orchestration, dialog, and dynamics. Every song is about a tradition of Illinois. Never before has an artist so well captured a state within music. The musicality and the concept couldn't have been carried out any better. Favorite tracks: Decatur, Casmir Pulaski Day, and John Wayne Gacy Jr.

The Best Albums of 2009

Here is the moment we have all been waiting for: the very best albums of 2009! I sat stressing over the nuances of this list for a really long time before coming to the conclusion that all 49 of these albums are really great in their own way. If they made the list, they should make your itunes library for sure. The numbers really just represent the impact they had on me personally. Please feel free to discuss, comment, and share your own!

49. Atlas Sounds- Logos (Kranky/4AD)
48. My Heart to Joy- Seasons in Verse (Topshelf)
47. Fuck Buttons- Tarot Sport (ATP Recordings)
46. Sonic Youth- The Eternal (Matador)
45. Transit- Stay Home (Run for Cover)
44. The Lawrence Arms: Buttsweat and Tears (Fat Wreck Chords)
43. Bomb the Music Industry- Scrambles (Quote Unquote/ Asian Man Records)
42. Real Estate- S/T (Woodsist)
41. The Clean- Mister Pop (Merge/ Arch Hill)
40. The Drums- The Summertime EP (Moshi Moshi/Popfrenzy)
39. The Thermals- Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
38. The Loved Ones- Distractions (Fat Wreck Chords)
37. The Sidekicks: Weight of Air (Red Scare)
36. NoFX- Coaster (Fat Wreck Chords)
35. NoFX- Cokie the Clown (Fat Wreck Chords)
34. Nothington-Roads, Bridges and Ruins (BYO/Left off the Dial)
33. The Mountain Goats- The Life of the World to Come (4AD)
32. A Wilhelm Scream- S/T EP (Paper + Plastick)
31. Small Brown Bike- Composite, Volume One (No Idea Records)
30. Brand New- Daisy (Interscope)
29. No Age- Losing Feeling (Subpop)
28. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (V2)
27. Sufjan Stevens- The BQE (Asthmatic Kitty)
26. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- S/T (Slumberland)
25. Volcano Choir- Unmap (Jagjaguwar)
24. Title Fight- The Last Thing You Forget (Run for Cover)
23. Animal Collective- Fall Be Kind EP (Domino Records)
22.Do Make Say Think- Other Truths (Constillation)
21.Charles Spearin- The Happiness Project (Arts and Crafts)
20. Make Do and Mend- Bodies of Water EP (Panic Records)
19. Andrew Jackson Jihad- Can’t Maintain (Asian Man)
18. Polar Bear Club- Chasing Hamburg (Bridge Nine Records)
17. The Appleseed Cast- Sagramatha (The Militia Group)
16. Short Fuse Burning- Scream When You Burn (Self-Released)
15. Coalmine Canary- The Company we Keep (Polk-Records)
14. Lucero- 1372 Overton Park (Universal)
13. Algernon Cadwallader- Hot Green/Fun EP (Be Happy)
12. Matt and Kim- Grand (Fader Label)
11. Vacations- I was Bikini/Rain Afraid (Record Label)
10. Bon Iver- Blood Bank EP (Jagjaguwar)
9. Chuck Ragan- Gold Country (Side One Dummy)
8. Propaghandi- Supporting Caste (Welcoming Comittee Records)
7. Cymbals Eat Guitars- Why There are Mountains (Self-Released)
6. Old Canes- Feral Harmonic (Saddle Creek)

#1-5 Category Winners

The Twilight Sad- Forget the Night Ahead (Fat Cat)

Saddest Album
Reasons to love this album: Emotive, beautiful, indie-rock. Plus, singing in scottish accents could not sound cooler. I couldn't turn this one off for an entire month. Favorite tracks: I Became a Prostitute, 7 Years of Letters, and That Room.

Merriweather Post Pavilion- Animal Collective (Domino Records)

Best Hair
Animal Collective really came into their own with Merriweather Post Pavilion. This album combines their experimental electronic component with upbeat and catchy melodies. A must have for every collection (plus, the cover is a stereogram. Look Closely). Favorite tracks: Summertime Clothes, My Girls, and Brother Sport.

Japandroids- Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl)

Best Debut
This album is hands down incredible. Its simplistic, lo-fi, and melodic. Everyone song has 2 lines of lyrics tops, and those homey chord progressions that bring you back to simpler times. This is a scream-out-loud on a long car ride kind of album. Favorite tracks: Young Hearts Spark Fire, Wet Hair, Rockers East Vancouver

Owen- New Leaves (Polyvinyl)

Best Followup Album
New Leaves is Owen's (Mike Kinsella) first release since the critically acclaimed "At Home With.." (2006). I have to say, it does not disappoint. Although it is more heavily orchestrated then his works in the past, you can still here his twinkly guitar riffs. Its as innocent and pretty as ever. Favorite tracks: Good Friends, Bad Habits, Amnesia and Me, a Trenchant's Critique

Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans (Subpop)

Most Brutal
This is my go to album when I've had a bad day. Seriously its perfect: heavy, but artfully. Not drop-D-chug-a-lugging, but just some dudes who kind of sound like Jesus Lizard. This album rocks. Favorite Tracks: False Jessi pt 2, She is Science Fiction, Half Idiot.

25 Favorite Albums of '09

I'm sorry.

25. Polvo - In Prism
24. Crocodiles - Summer of Hate
23. The Big Pink - The Big Pink
22. YACHT - See Mystery Lights
21. Spectrals - Spectrals
20. Kurt Vile - Constant Hitmaker
19. Morrissey - Years of Refusal
18. Om - God is Good
17. Marked Men - Ghosts
16. Abe Vigoda - Reviver EP
15. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
14. HEALTH - Get Color
13. The Field - Yesterday and Today
12. Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
11. Real Estate - Real Estate

10. Mi Ami - Watersports - Experimental rock is a term that phases itself out the more it is used. Since the 80s there is a massive influx of already-been-dones coming out. Some thieving tendencies work, others don't, but those who can reinvent the genre better...or weirder can have thier day. Mi Ami throwback and reinvent.

9. Cass McCombs - Catacombs - Since 2003, Cass McCombs has been in the background of many folk out croppings, most notably Sufjan, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Beirut. Despite this, he is perhaps the most experimental album to album. 2005s PREfection on 4AD records was dripping with new wave, and on Dropping the Writ he sounded strikingly like Morrissey. Catacombs sounds like a return to more classic, extremely minimal folk like he did on A.

8. Cold Cave - Cremations - Reasons I love this album: I. Philadelphia II. Dreamy Dark Wave III. Minimalist Post Punk

7. Washed Out - Life of Leisure - For a while, Yo La Tengo's I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One has been my feel good album, now i have to make a playlist with Life of Liesure in there too. As winter rapidly approaches and I begin dreading the idea of 'layering up,' this surfy no-fi electronic album is something to listen for.

6. The Horrors - Primary Colours - Kevin Shields is a god. Loveless is one of my favorite albums, and many have tried to summit such a sonic peak before. None tastefully. However, the massive guitar lines on this album are only a fraction of the Horrors' sound. Vocally, they bring an air of Twee pop, contrasting dark daunting lyrics with an accent.

5. No Age - Losing Feeling EP - Along with #17, No Age represent a nice punk revival. Since Weirdo Rippers, they've crystallized their sound with Nouns. And the most exciting fact about the EP: they aren't changing their sound. Even Jarmusch is stoked!

4. Bear in Heaven - Beast Rest Fourth Mouth - Neo psychedelia...it's here and what will probably stay as the hip thing for a little bit. Animal Collective did it on Merriweather, but they had to change their sound. Bear in Heaven have their sound defined and this album is an experimental pop bull's eye.

3. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights - Having marked their territory very, very clearly, Brian and Brian continue to bring out the jams. In the Power of Milkshakes and Salad Gibson stated "were not classic rock" but Dave Auchenbach was partly right. In the realm of noise rock over which LB reigns, they are regular rock and roll, or were. Earthly Delights moves their sound over on the dial into avant-garde black metal.

2. Dan Deacon - Bromst - The party album came first, then Dan went new classical on us. Bromst was awesome and certainly one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Dan didn't compensate for the human element in his song writing, he still wrote blisteringly fast songs, but they are much more thoughtful. He's still throwing the Go Baltimore! party, just thinking about the theme, the appetizers, and the party favors a little bit more.

1. Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Just two people make the sounds you hear. Once you get over that fact, you realize the songs are really damn good still. Track after track of huge lo-fi played with reckless abandon. This album has something for everyone's alt rock taste. Because the songs are stripped down and garage-y, it also seems to have an ability to stand up over time. Drummer David Prowse relies on the beat, not the fill. Brian King's guitar work, using massive amps for parts of his sound, rather than one for himself, creates rhythm and lead all at once: a grunge record as much as it is a starry eyed dreampop/shoegaze. The only minor dismay might be the song lengths, which usually end up being very non-punk in structure, but we love listening to it, and they must love playing it.