100th! Post: Where My Binge-ing Has Led Me...

    Just as when I began this blog, I will throw out a few names for you to think about my overall experience, favorites (expanded to top 10--rightly so because of my expanded knowledge of the music scene), and perhaps some just on my radar, which you will most likely see/hear more of in the near future.
    First off, I have thoroughly enjoyed finding new music and expanding my horizons. About two or three years ago, I was fairly self-sheltered in terms of what I knew and what I allowed myself to listen to. Call it a fair amount of cynicism or stubbornness I guess--either apply. I mostly listened to Christian rock (i.e. Five Iron Frenzy, DC-Talk, Relient K, P.O.D., Jars of Clay, Supertones, selected Newsboys, and Earthsuit) or a few iconic bands my friend Dan L. or other people in college introduced me to (i.e. Steely Dan, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, Coldplay, and Muse). Not, to downplay the significance of these groups on not only my development as a critical listener, but scrolling through my iTunes now and I had not even heard of 95% of the bands I now more listen to on a regular basis. Furthermore, in college, I did start to lay the groundwork for "Music Binges" (if you don't remember what these are refer back to my original post, here) through mild exploration and referrals from people whose musical tastes I respected, as I in turn started influencing their listening habits by introducing them to the likes of The Mars Volta or MUTEMATH (who I discovered while at my undergrad just in time for their debut EP and album). For instance, I first heard and suddenly felt a light go off, like "woah", when I heard Coldplay for the first time in college. The song "Politik" was immersive and a fantastic listening experience with its balance between heavily pounding chords and softer lyrical sections. "Spies" was one of my absolute favorite songs at the time. Result: I delved heavily into Coldplay's albums A Rush of Blood to the Head and Parachutes. Sigur Rós's ( ) (or Untitled) was also a regular in my Walkman or Boombox (so nostalgic and retro!). Throughout my schooling, I began listening intensely to the likes of Radiohead, MUTEMATH, Muse, and The Mars Volta. Radiohead had obviously been around for a bit and I felt like Coldplay and Muse were the first original offshoots of British Alternative Rock since everyone started trying to sound like Radiohead. So, I was excited not only by the sounds of Radiohead's mixed meters, harmonic genius, electronic enhancements, and experimental song creation; but that there was a classically trained pianist in Muse, whose music was intense, thoughtful and hard enough to please while not reaching that disaster zone of hard rock or metal; plus, Coldplay's lyrical ingenuity and pursuit of perfection in  melodies.
    The last two years, however, have been a drastic change from the limited Binge-ing I experienced in college. It was as if a switch was hit and suddenly one summer day I spent hours downloading new music and just searching (note: I do not download anymore, I gave that up--in today's scene one hardly needs to download as there is almost always a legal stream somewhere). That was when I first discovered bands like Mice Parade, Thom Yorke (and his Spitting Feathers EP), The Autumns, Barcelona, Blonde Redhead, Days Away, Massive Attack and others. Since the early days, I have gone on to not only keep track of when the bands I already know have new material releasing, but have become acquainted with a myriad of new and existing acts. That being said, if you have followed my blog, you pretty much know the rest of the story.
    So, onto my top ten:

Favorites:
1) MUTEMATH -- These guys have taken top honors because of their 2011 album Odd Soul, which also easily vies for my favorite album of all time (thus far). They are ever evolving, but never losing their identity as  that band I originally heard in college and fell in love with. Most bands lose their creativity, this band I can safely say will only get better and better.
2) The Mars Volta -- Adding another great album to the mix, Noctourniquet, TMV is a stable go to for me. I finally owned my first album this year and subsequently bought their four earliest (only missing Octahedron). When I am in the mood for an extended playlist of tunes I can dig my ears into, I just put these guys on from start to finish of their discography. It's like a feast.
3) Radiohead -- Of course Radiohead hits the top three, and even though I do not listen to their older stuff as much because I do not own the albums (i.e. Kid A, Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief, OK Computer) they will forever rank highly in my mind. Plus, in rainbows is one of the greatest albums of all time and The King of Limbs, last years release, did not disappoint--growing even better with age.
4) Phoenix -- It is because of Phoenix that I currently am into French pop the likes of Housse de Racket. Frankly, their last two albums Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and It's Never Been Like That are perfect sets.
5) Röyksopp -- Throughout the past two years I have turned to Röyksopp numerous times, listening to Junior mostly, but also The Understanding and Melody A.M. They are energetic but subtle at times, with killer sounds.
6) Sufjan Stevens -- Yes, he is still here, though down a spot because I do not really listen to The Age of Adz much at all, but I frequently go back to his earlier records, Come On Feel The Illinoise! and Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State. I also enjoy The BQE and All Delighted People EP.
7) Sigur Rós -- The arrival of Valtari just this year definitely put Sigur Rós back on the map for me. For a while I was more into their more poppy stuff, We Play Endlessly being one of my favorites, along with Jónsi's Go (yes I know that is not actually Sigur Rós, but seriously it just about is!); but having realized through Valtari that I've lost touch with their more ambient work is a mistake.
8) Grizzly Bear -- I must pair this with Daniel Rossen, who just lately put out a solo EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile. It sounds exactly like Grizzy Bear and I believe was songs not used on their upcoming album, which I'm seriously excited about. Veckatimest has become one of my favorites and elevated Grizzly Bear to such a high status on its merits alone as I honestly do not know their earlier work much at all (I do not have listening access to it).
9) Vampire Weekend -- Even though I do not listen to them much anymore, as I do not own their albums, they opened me up to such great music as Hungry Kids of Hungary, Tokyo Police Club, Two Door Cinema Club. Though not necessarily related, the whole upbeat post-punk aspect is similar in my mind--they fill the same niche. Vampire Weekend, however, with its two albums Vampire Weekend and Contra are fantastic all by themselves and need no supporting act.
10) Scattered Trees -- Sympathy was a huge album for me, loved it through and through. They have a new one coming out this summer, which I have already pre-ordered and supported on PledgeMusic.com

    There you have it! I won't be doing a "Recent Finds" as I did in my original post, sorry, but you have hopefully kept up with my blog and therefore already know my recent finds. That being said, I do have a few groups I am looking forward to albums from this year (and I guess I'll throw you a bone): Bend Sinister (July 10), Grizzly Bear (September 18?), The Strokes, Muse (October?), Scattered Trees (August 13?), The Concept (I've heard their single on the radio and it reminds me exactly of Phoenix, so I'm in!), and Thom Yorke's group Atoms for Peace. Enjoy your summer, I'll be back around August/September!