The Daily Times

Benny Smith

Benny is programming director and general manager, WUTK-FM 90.3 “The Rock.”

TOP 10 FUNK/R&B CDS of 2010: 2010 saw brought in a funk and soul revival mainly spearheaded by new bands with an old school funk or R&B sound. Props to Dap Tone records and Ubiquity Records for leading the charge! Here are my faves from 2010:

• Fitz and the Tantrums, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”
• Dam Funk, “Hood Pass Intact” EP
• Orgone, “Cali Fever” and “Killion Vaults”
• Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, “I Learned the Hard Way”
• Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band, “The World Is Going Up in Flames” single
• Budos Band, “The Budos Band III”
• Eric Krasno, “Reminisce”
• Various artists, “Groove Merchant 20”
• Stanton Moore, “Groove Alchemy”
• Galactic, “Ya-Ka-May”

Looking into 2011 �" The Pimps of Joytime, “Junxta Funk”

Russ Torbett

Russ is a musician and self-proclaimed/appointed music historian/snob, administrator of the music blog Saints Don’t Bother (http://www.saintsdontblother.blogspot.com) , http://twitter.com ).

2010 was a wonderful year for music, so it has been very hard to pick out THE (read: “MY”) Top 10...there might actually have been too much good music to fully digest, and I’m afraid that I have fallen victim to the circumstance. But, alas, it is my duty to pick 10, so here we go, in no particular order (which probably defeats the point of a “Top 10,” but everyone else has their top lists and ranked albums, so mine will now be known as a rough, working list that is subject to change at a moment’s notice. Besides, there are technically a couple more weeks in 2010 ...)

The Drive-By Truckers, “The Big To-Do” �" The Truckers returned to their hard rocking roots and their most raucous album since 2005’s “The Dirty South.” Several tracks that stick out to me: “Daddy Learned to Fly,” “This F------ Job,” “Birthday Boy” and the retelling of the non-fictional stories in “The Wig He Made Her Wear” and the rolling, circus-themed “Flying Wallendas.” Patterson Hood checks his facts and presents them as only the Truckers can. Be on the lookout for the new DBT record “Go-Go Boots” in February.

Justin Townes Earle, “Harlem River Blues” �" Justin Townes Earle is the modern king of the Old Time sound. His music emanates from the ’30s and ’40s folk-country blues/almost a western jazz-swing of a genre that is all but forgotten on a decent-sized scale, except by the likes of him and local Knoxville group Cristabel and the Jons. Suggested tracks are the bouncing “Move Over Mama” and the old-timey bluesy tune “Wandering.”

Marty Stuart, “Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions” �" Traditional country preservationist/revivalist/flag-waver heads to the famed RCA Studio B in Nashville to record his best record in years in the same studio that hosted Waylon, Willie, Dolly, Porter, Ernest Tubb, Roger Miller, some guy named Elvis and countless others over the years, beginning in 1957.

Danzig, “Deth Red Sabaoth” �" It’s Danzig. It’s his best record in 20 years. It’s hard. It rocks. And it moves. What else do you need to know? Check out “Ju Ju Bone.” I suggest getting it from the Disc Exchange in Knoxville on Chapman Highway, where he stopped in to do so some shopping before his show in November at The Valarium. Get Disc Exchange’s Andrew or Courtney to tell you the story and show you the picture.

Glossary, “Feral Fire” �" My favorite band from Middle Tennessee (Murfreesboro) that you’ve probably never heard of, but you should, and won’t be disappointed. This is their sixth full length. I would start at the beginning of their catalog and try to catch up quickly (http://www.glossary.us) . Each record has progressed and the songs seem to write themselves now. They are all different enough to stand alone, but close enough that you know what you’re gonna get from Glossary ... and you’re not disappointed, even after six albums. Plus, the co-ed vocal pairing of Joey and Kelly Kneiser can’t be beat, accompanied by some of the best steel pedal melodies and playing in “Your Heart to Haunt.” “Save Your Money for the Weekend” is a highlight, and is good advice, too, as Glossary seems to make it to Knoxville once or twice a year (when their steel pedal/guitarist/vocalist Todd Beene isn’t touring with Lucero), so be on the lookout.

Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs” �" I didn’t make it even halfway through this record before I knew it was something special ... but you already knew that, and probably already have it in your collection. If not, you know what to do.

Ryan Bingham, “Junky Star” �" The gruff and growl behind last year’s “Crazy Heart” soundtrack is a good lead up to his third full-length album. Bingham picks up right where he left off with his experiences, knowledge and pain that are well beyond his mere 29 years of seemingly hard living. Bingham and his band The Dead Horses fluctuate between “Crazy Heart”-like ballads, Southwestern swing and jangly Texas shuffles that beg to be heard in person down in a dive somewhere deep in the heart of Texas. Put the record on, grab a six pack and sit back for an hour.

Band of Horses, "Infinite Arms” �" Probably my favorite album of the year if I had to choose. Definitely the most played of this year’s collection. Head Horseman Ben Bridwell essentially assembled an entirely new band before recording this album. BoH kept their same character, texture and sound by keeping with the dreamy vocals and air-y guitars, but were able to keep it fresh with more ups and downs as well as their progression with more complex harmonies throughout the collection of songs. “Infinite Arms” is slightly more laid-back than their first two outings, but is no less admirable and aurally pleasing. Try out “Laredo.” “Blue Beard,” “Older” and “Dilly.”

Hank III, “Rebel Within” �" Shelton Hank Williams III is back with another honky-tonk hell raiser. This time, though, he branches out into other directions of his own hillbilly and hellbilly genres with several slow ballads (“Gone But Not Forgotten” and “Karmageddon”) that showcase and highlight his songwriting and self reflection more so than his previous albums. Don’t worry hardcore fans �" there’s plenty of honky tonkin’ with cuts like “Gettin’ Drunk & Fallin’ Down,” “Drinkin’ Over Momma” and a bit of East Tennessee folklore and legend with “Moonshiner’s Life,” a tribute to the late Popcorn Sutton.

Kings of Leon, “Come Around Sundown” �" I tried to not let this one in here, but it’s starting to get at me ... I at least knew what I was getting myself into now with U2 Junior here, but there’s more to this album than 2008’s “Only by the Night.” The KOL took up residence in New York to record this collection and subsequently added instrumentation more indigenous to their upbringing in Oklahoma and Nashville.

Honorable Mentions 

• Against Me!, “White Crosses” �" You know that old clichè about punk rock with pop sensibility? Yeah. Here’s a textbook example.
• American Bang, self-titled �" Nashville boys finally getting some national exposure after signing with major label. Good rocking album for a party or driving around your small town in.
• The Gaslight Anthem, “American Slang” �" See definition of clichè of punk rock with pop sensibility, too, along with Against Me!
• Jamey Johnson, “The Guitar Song” �" The only guy making old school sounding country music on a national scale and making headway with it ... and he’s the only one that is believable singing the songs he’s singing. More importantly, he’s writing them himself (mostly).
• Roger Alan Wade, “Deguello Motel” �" A Chattanooga native and kin to Johnny Knoxville, Roger Alan Wade has written some big songs for some big artists like Bocephus and Cash. This is his new album. Check him out and give him a shot. He’s just a good ol’ boy that writes songs and plays them every night for a living.
• The Band Perry, self-titled �" Just got this the other day, and I don’t do a whole lot of new “commercial country music”, but the harmonies and the vocals of Kimberly Perry and her brothers (all are from just up the road in Greeneville, Tennessee) are amazing. Songs aren’t bad either. And she’s easy on the ol’ eyes too. “If I Die Young” just hit No. 1 on Billboard Country ‚ not bad for more talented East Tennesseans hitting it big in country.

Best Live Shows of 2010 (I’m glad a save my ticket stubs in my trusty ticket stub book)

Kris Kristofferson at The Tennessee Theatre 1/31/10: A Legend perfoms. A Legends kills. A Legend shook my hand and took a picture with me. I’ll never forget. Look up the songs he’s written if you’re unfamiliar with his body of work. He even surprised me with a couple at the show.

Mastodon at The Valarium (5/21/10): I was surprised I had my head left after they tore it off, much less my ears. And their visuals projected on the screen behind them blew my mind just as quick as their audio assault did my ears.

Tift Merritt at The Square Room (6/23/10): An absolutely gorgeous sound and show. Check her out if you don’t know about her.

Weird Al Yankovic at The Tennessee Theatre (7/8/10): Say what you want ... the man puts on a hell of a show, and has more hits (and costume changes) than most of your favorite bands ... COMBINED.

Black Crowes at The Tennessee Theatre (9/15/10): I finally wasn’t disappointed, not even one bit, after seeing the Crowes for the umpteenth time. Solid show, start to finish.

Foothills Fall Festival in Maryville (10/8-10/10): Finally got to see Tracy Lawrence ... never saw him in the early ’90s, when he was big ... and I was 12. Good festival all the way around too. Fantastic people watchin’ too, if you’re in to that kind of thing ...

Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth at the Civic Coliseum (9/30/10): What bit of ears and a head for a metal show that I had left after the Mastodon show were completely blown away and blown off by three of the four heavyweights of thrash metal ... why couldn’t we get Metallica here to finish me off? Kerry King of Slayer might be the Devil himself.

Rogue Wave and Midlake at The Bijou Theatre (10/5/10): Took the fiancèe to see one of her faves, Rogue Wave, so it was just a nice time to see her enjoy a show, since she puts up with so many random shows of mine (as you can tell by this list). Both Rogue Wave and Midlake put on a great show. Midlake may be the best band with a flute since Marshall Tucker and Jethro Tull. Bonus points for Midlake since they had two flutists at one point. Midlake = winner of the flute-off.

Travis Tritt at Cotton Eyed Joe (10/7/10): ’90s country rocker gives a solo show at the Cotton Eyed Joe, and doesn’t disappoint a sold out crowd. Tritt played all the old favorites and the newer ones too. I spoke with TT for a moment and tried to convince him to do another project with Marty Stuart ... For what it’s worth, he just smiled and laughed, so I don’t really know.

Social Distortion with Lucero (and Frank Turner) at The Valarium (11/9/10): Best concert of the year by far ... of course Social D is my No. 1 favorite band of all time, and they were playing a show in Knoxville with another of my top ten bands Lucero. First time Social D had been here since ’92 at the Bijou I’m told, so it was a big deal to us fans. I had a big time, as did the rest of the crowd. I just wish I could remember the last half of the show ...

Derek Senter

Derek is co-host of “The Funhouse,” airing 8-10 p.m. every Friday on WUTK-FM.

• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, “Beat The Devil’s Tattoo”
• Band Of Horses, “Infinite Arms”
• Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, “The Brutalist Bricks”
• Mic Harrison and The High Score, “Great Commotion”
• The Whigs, “In The Dark”
• Cypress Hill, “Rise Up”
• Deftones, “Diamond Eyes”
• Black Cadillacs, “All Them Witches”
• Bad Religion, “Dissent Of Man”
• Tim Lee 3, “Raucus Americanus”
• The Dead Weather, “Sea Of Cowards”
• Lord T & Eloise, “Rapocalypse”
• The Black Keys, “Brothers”
• Superchunk, “Majesty Shredding”
• Butch Walker, “I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart”
• NOFX, “The Longest EP”
• Monster Magnet, “Mastermind”
• Serena-Maneesh, “#2: Abyss In B-Minor”
• Unmind, “A Solution For Modern Life”
• RATT, “Infestation”

BEST LIVE SHOWS of 2010:

Social Distortion at The Valarium ... Band Of Horses at The Tennessee Theatre ... Lord T and Eloise playing a “Funhouse Presents” show at Barley’s Taproom ... Meat Puppets (December 2009 “Funhouse Presents” show) at Barley’s ... comedian Daniel Tosh at The Tennessee Theatre ... comedian Bill Maher at The Tennessee Theatre ... Weezer, Stevie Wonder, The Flaming Lips and the Melvins at Bonnaroo ... Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears at a “Funhouse Presents” show at Barley’s

DVD: I know it was released in late ’09, but we lost one of my favorite comedians in 2010 and everyone should go pick up Greg Giraldo’s “Midlife Vices.” He was damn funny! R.I.P.

Rob Levering

Rob co-hosts “The Funhouse”

• Band of Horses, “Infinite Arms” �" Best BoH record to date. Ben Bridwell and gang hit a home run. The single “Laredo” is one of the best songs of the year.
• The Gaslight Anthem, “American Slang” �" Like a punk Springsteen, these Jersey boys are due to blow up.
• Sleigh Bells, “Treats” �" Hardcore guitarist meets school teacher, forms duo and releases one of the best discs of the year. You either love it or hate. Not much middle ground here.
• Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs” �" Win Butler rocks a little more on this much anticipated third album.
• Iron Maiden, "The Final Frontier” �" Epic songs about space, alchemy and Bruce Dickinson flying his plane. Classic Maiden and probably their best album in 2 decades.
• The Sword, “Warp Riders” �" The vocals improve dramatically on this record and you can hear their Texas roots coming through. A concept metal album influenced by ZZ Top.
• Titus Andronicus, “The Monitor” �" Jersey band releases a stellar disc loosely based on the Civil War and wins.
• Torche, “Songs For Singles” �" Basically an eight-song EP, but it’s huge, heavy and full of hooks.
• Monster Magnet, “Mastermind” �" Dave Wyndorf returns to classic form. I expected this to suck. It doesn’t.
• The Black Keys, “Brothers” �" These guys never disappoint and “Brothers” continues the soulful, bluesy evolution of The Black Keys. Over the year it has grown into my favorite BK album.
• My Ruin, “Ghosts & Good Stories” �" From start to finish, a Mick Murphy metal clinic.
• Superchunk, “Majesty Shredding” �" For their first record in almost 10 years, they have aged quite well. I was surprised at how much this sounds like classic Superchunk.

A few others: The Hold Steady, LCD Soundsystem, Ratt, Free Energy, Deftones, OK Go, The Roots, High on Fire, Jamey Johnson, BRMC

Local Releases: Tim Lee 3, “Raucous Americanus” ... The Dirty Guv’nahs, “Youth Is In Our Blood” ... The Black Cadillacs, “All Them Witches” ... Mic Harrison & The High Score, “Great Commotion” ... Todd Steed and Bob Deck, “Unmind”

BEST SHOWS OF 2010: Social Distortion with Lucero at The Valarium; Band of Horses at The Tennessee Theatre; Bonnaroo 2010 in Manchester; 30 Amp Fuse at Barley’s Taproom; Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax at the Civic Coliseum

Boone Vires

Member of AC Entertainment's marketing team

Here’s my top ten for the year �" thought you could use a metal perspective from AC!

• Torche, “Songs for Singles”
• Nachtmystium, “Addicts Black Meddle Pt II”
• The Sword, “Warp Riders”
• High on Fire, “Snakes of the Divine”
• Twilight, “Monument to End Time”
• Kylesa, “Spiral Shadow”
• Electric Wizard, “Black Masses”
• Deftones, “Diamond Eyes”
• Thou, “Summit”
• Bison B.C., “Dark Ages”

Lisa Cyr

Lisa is general manager of marketing/private events/promotion at The Square Room

Top 7 CDs of 2010 �" no particular order

• Ghostland Observatory, “Codename Rondo”
• Cee Lo Green, “The Lady Killer”
• Girl Talk, “All Day”
• Florence and The Machine, “Lungs” (I think this may have been out in late 2009 ...)
• Lil Wayne, “I Am Not a Human Being”
• The Black Keys, “Brothers”
• Vampire Weekend, “Contra”

Top 9 concerts I saw in 2010 �" no particular order

• Joanna Newsom at Big Ears 2010 (at The Bijou Theatre)
• Vampire Weekend at Big Ears 2010 (at Tennessee Theatre)
• The Dirty Projectors at Big Ears 2010 (at the Tennessee)
• Massive Attack at the Asheville Civic Center (moogfest)
• Band of Horses at The Tennessee Theatre
• Ghostland Observatory at The Valarium
• John Oates at The Square Room
• Crash Kings at The Square Room
• The Hold Steady with The Whigs with The Square Room

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