The CD changer in my car is on the fritz and I've been too lazy to reload my ipod, so recently I've been rolling with a college mixtape — probably circa '92. In doing so, I've rekindled my love affair with The Ocean Blue.
Those Hershey, Pennsylvania boys wore their influences on their sleeves — and their influences were the same as mine: The Smiths, New Order and Echo & The Bunnymen. They were as close as we Americans came to truly emulating British new wave.
To this day, their self-titled debut and its follow-up, Cerulean, still hold up and are still sorely under appreciated. The chiming guitar of their first single, "Between Something And Nothing", brings you right back to 1989:
I've never been one for sax solos, but for some reason "Drifting, Falling" and Steve Lau's smooth jazz tones always do me right:
From Cerulean, enjoy the "artsy" video for "Ballerina Out Of Control":
And finally, my mixtape jam, "Mercury":
A quick check of the band's official website shows they're still active and plan to put out a new album — their first in more than 10 years — sometime in 2011. Welcome back, boys.
Everyone's favorite new romantics return next week with the release of All You Need Is Now. It's Duran Duran's first album since 2007's Red Carpet Massacre, and looks to be their most relevant since 1988's Big Thing — unless you were really into "Ordinary World".
Although the physical release of the new album isn't until February, you can get a digital copy a week from today exclusively on iTunes, which is currently offering a free download of the title track.
Produced by Mark Ronson, All You Need Is Now is billed as a return to form. Unabashedly pop with a rush of keyboards and hi-hats, it's certainly an improvement over their guitar-based sound of the 90's and their recent left turn into R&B.
Have a listen to some leaked tracks and judge for yourself. "Blame The Machines" has Simon Le Bon sounding like the fresh-faced disco cherub from "Girls On Film":
Another keeper is the paranoid and pulse-pounding "Being Followed":
And with the guitar stabs, slap bass and soaring synth of "Girl Panic" you'd swear you were listening to a Rio B-side:
With only a couple ballads, plus guest spots from Ana Matronic and Kelis, All You Need Is Now is pretty bereft of filler and delivers the goods Duran Duran fans have been missing. It seems Mark Ronson will succeed in restoring the tarnished legacy of "the prettiest boys in rock".
Hopefully you've enjoyed albums 30-21 and albums 20-11 of our year-end list. Look for the complete rundown of all 30 picks at the end of this post.
Now it's time for what we've all been waiting for... the unveiling of the top ten. Please forgive me if you're a huge fan of Kanye, Sufjan, Robyn, The National or Vampire Weekend. I wish them all the success in the world, I just don't wish them to be on my list.
That said, here's part three of Old Waver's Top 30 Albums of 2010:
10: Jonsi - Go
Sigor Ros on Mountain Dew and Mini Thins
2: Beach House - Teen Dream
This Baltimore twosome create some of the most enthralling, exhilarating dream pop
"Zebra"
1: LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
If James Murphy really is putting LCD on hiatus, he's going out with one of the most memorable albums of the last ten years
And as promised, here's the entire list for quick reference:
1.LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
2.Beach House – Teen Dream
3.Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
4.Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
5.Caribou – Swim
6.Wild Nothing – Gemini
7.The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme
8.Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
9.Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
10.Jonsi – Go
11.Twin Shadow – Forget
12.Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
13.Foals – Total Life Forever
14.Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
15.Yeasayer – Odd Blood
16.Wolf Parade – Expo 86
17.Girl Talk – All Day
18.Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
19.Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
20.School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire
21.Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
22.Adam Franklin & Bolts Of Melody – I Could Sleep For A Thousand Years
and its follow-up, Cerulean
, still hold up and are still sorely under appreciated. The chiming guitar of their first single, "Between Something And Nothing", brings you right back to 1989:
, and looks to be their most relevant since 1988's 
— unless you were really into 
.
B-side:
