End of the Year Tribute: Greg Gibbs

As we move forward into 2011, I'd like to pay tribute to a friend.  I met Greg Gibbs back in 2001 - both of our bands at the time were doing a 9/11 tribute show and he had to drop off some flyers for me.  Shortly after that performance, my brother and I invited Greg to play some shows with Audra on bass guitar.  For one reason or another Greg stopped playing with us and then we reconnected in 2008.  One of my greatest memories of our time together is a show we did in Tampa, Florida back in August 2008.  That weekend was just out of control fun.

Greg Gibbs passed away on August 26, 2010.  He left behind his wife Maresa, a daughter, a huge family and a ton of friends.  At the time of his passing, Greg and I hadn't spoken in a while, but hardly a day goes by where I don't think of him.  I will never forget his sense of humor and incredibly generous spirit.

Greg and I on the way to Tampa

My brother Bart and Greg on the streets of Tampa

Tour van

If you'd like to see more photos, please visit the Audra Facebook page.

The 10 Best Movies I Watched on Netflix in 2010 (and the worst)

I was just looking at my movie history in Netflix - which goes back for several years now - and decided to submit a list here of the best movies (and TV shows) I rented thru Netflix in 2010.  They didn't all come out in 2010, but that's when I watched them. Please enjoy.

01.  The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters

If you have not seen this one, you need to get it right now. It's a documentary about some guys that are competing for the world's record in Donkey Kong.  Sound ridiculous?

02.  Jennifer's Body

Totally my kind of movie.  :)  I loved it so much that I bought it.

03.  Hard Candy

Wow.  This one is really disturbing.  I don't want to give too much away about it, so I won't say anything.  Definitely worth seeing.  Stars Ellen Paige from Juno.

04.  They Call Me Trinity

My Dad would rent the 2 Trinity movies when my brothers and I were kids back in Stone Park, Illinois.  We'd rent movies from the Dominick's store on the corner of Mannheim and Lake Street.  Anyways, it's a spoof of the Italian Western films of the 1960s.

05.  American Movie

My brother recommended this one to me for quite a while and I finally got around to watching it this year.  It's a documentary about a guy making a low budget movie called Coven.  This one's from 1999 and is really good.

06.  Suck

I watched this one in my Horror Film Marathon back in October.  Check out my review here.

07.  District 9

Worth it just to hear the sound of the alien Christopher Johnson's voice.  This is a unique story about the sad encampment of some sick aliens.  Really good.

08.  Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges is great as Bad Blake, a down-and-out country singer.  I like to describe this movie as a country version of The Wrestler.

09.  Zombieland

A zombie comedy starring Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Bill Murray and that guy from the Facebook movie.  I really enjoyed this one.

10.  The Hangover / Hot Tub Time Machine / Get Him To The Greek
Hilarious.  I loved all three of these.

The Six Best TV Shows I Watched in 2010

01.  Big Love:  Seasons 1-3

Who would've thought a show about polygamists would've been so captivating?  Can't wait for Season 4 to come out on January 4th.

02.  Heroes:  Seasons 1-4

I never saw a single show when it was on television, so on a whim I added it to the queue and got addicted.  Great show.

03.  Beverly Hills 90210: Season 9

Such a guilty pleasure.  I'm currently watching the final season right now.

04.  Nip/Tuck: Season 6

The final season.  Was sad to see it end, but it definitely ran its course.

05.  True Blood: Season 2

And to think I almost sent the the first season back after watching only 2 episodes.  Looking forward to the release of Season 3.

06.  Dexter: Season 4

Wow.  I really need to get Showtime & HBO, I'm a season behind on all of these great shows.

...and the WORST movie I watched this year...

Grand Theft Parsons

This was so horrible.  I knew it was going to be lame, so why did I move it to the top of my queue and open the envelope when it arrived?  Click on the link and you can own your very own copy for 87 cents!

Song Of The Day: Active Child - I'm In Your Church At Night

Over the past few days I've been checking out some of my friends' picks on the Best Albums of the Year Lists from a couple of days ago.  Today's Song Of The Day comes from a band on Sarah Quarrie's list called Active Child.  Check out the video below - it is glorious.  I just bought the Curtis Lane EP from which I'm In Your Church At Night appears.  Please enjoy.

The Best Music of 2010

After countless hours of listening and decisions, I present my picks for The Best Albums of 2010.  I was unable to listen to every album that was released during 2010, so out of the ones that I've heard, these are the best.  :)   I also enlisted the help of some of my friends to share their picks.  Be sure to leave your Best Of The Year Lists in the comments section all the way at the bottom.  Please enjoy.  Happy Holidays.  - Bret.

Bret Helm
Life On This Planet Blog Creator, Singer/Bassist of Audra


Top 15 Albums of 2010
15.  Grinderman - Grinderman 2
14.  Antony and the Johnsons - Swanlights
13.  Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
12.  Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
11.  Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave
10.  Current 93 - Baalstorm, Sing Omega
09.  Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
08.  Beach House - Teen Dream
07.  Best Coast - Crazy For You
06.  Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
05.  Of Montreal - False Priest
04.  Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
03.  Robyn - Body Talk
02.  The National - High Violet
01.  James - The Morning After The Night Before


Top 21 Songs of 2010
21.  The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
20.  Dakota Fanning - Cherry Bomb
19.  U2 - Mercy (from Wide Awake In Europe vinyl)
18.  Best Coast - When I'm With You
17.  Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
16.  Robert Plant - Silver Rider
15.  Brandon Flowers - Crossfire
14.  Smashing Pumpkins - Tom Tom
13.  Robyn - Fembot
12.  James - Porcupine
11.  The National - Terrible Love
10.  Eminem (featuring Rihanna) - Love The Way You Lie
09.  Brandon Flowers - Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas
08.  Crystal Castles - Celestica
07.  Of Montreal (featuring Solange Knowles) - Sex Karma
06.  Katy Perry - Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
05.  Les Savy Fav - Let's Get Out Of Here
04.  The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
03.  Crystal Castles (featuring Robert Smith) - Not In Love
02.  James - Tell Her I Said So
01.  Robyn - Dancing On My Own

J. DeWolfe
Music Enthusiast, Drummer of Audra


Top 10 Albums of 2010
10.  The Durutti Column - A Paean To Wilson
09.  Alcest - Ecailles De Lune
08.  Watain - Lawless Darkness
07.  Melechesh - The Epigenesis
06.  October File - Our Souls To You
05.  Backworld - Holy Fire
04.  Killing Joke - Absolute Dissent
03.  Torche - Songs For Singles
02.  Pale Sketcher - Jesu: Pale Sketches Demixed
01.  Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini


Honorable Mentions
Kylesa - Spiral Shadow
Current 93 - Baalstorm, Sing Omega
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra
High On Fire - Snakes For Divine

Jaymz Todd

Art Designer for Audra

Below is a list of my top, honorables and worst/letdown/overrated albums of 2010.  Though there may be some better/worse albums than the ones I mentioned. I have only chosen my list by those albums that I have hunted down and physically purchased through out the 2010 year (no MP3s and no Vampire Weekend). Enjoy!

Top 50 Best Albums of 2010
50.  R. Kelly - Love Letter
49.  The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?
48.  No Age - Everything In Between
47.  Toro Y Moi - Causers of This 
46.  Twin Shadow - Forget
45.  The National - High Violet (expanded)
44.  The Besnard Lakes - Are the Roaring Night
43.  Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
42.  The Black Keys - Brothers
41.  LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
40.  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
39.  Robyn - Body Talk
38.  Disappears - LUX
37.  Spoon - Transference
36.  Delorean - Subiza
35.  UNKLE - Where Did the Night Fall
34.  Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
33.  LIARS - Sisterworld
32.  Foetus - Hide
31.  Holland - I Blow Up
30.  Gayngs - Relayted
29.  Beach House - Teen Dream
28.  Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky
27.  Kenseth Thibideau - Repetition
26.  The Roots - How I Got Over
25.  Holly Miranda - The Magician's Private Library 
24.  Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday
23.  James - The Morning After The Night Before
22.  The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
21.  Lower Dens - Twin Hand Movement 
20.  Violens - Amoral
19.  Warpaint - The Fool
18.  School of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire
17.  Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin
16.  Glasser - Ring
15.  Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
14.  Wild Nothing - Gemini
13.  The Hundred in the hands - The Hundred in the Hands
12.  Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
11.  The Prids - Chronosynclastic
10.  Suuns - Zeroes QC
09.  Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot... the Son of Chico Dusty
08.  Wolf Parade - Expo 86
07.  The Drums - Summertime EP / The Drums
06.  Twin Tigers - Gray Waves
05.  The-Dream - Love King 
04.  Drake - Thank Me Later
03.  Suckers - Wild Smile
02.  Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
01.  Foals - Total Life Forever


10 Honorable Mentions for 2010 (no particular order)
Jamie Lidell - Compass
Murs & 9th Wonder - Fornever
Starflyer 59 - The Changing of the Guard
Chromeo - Business Casual
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Danzig - Deth Red Sabaoth
Aloe Blacc - Good Things
Gospel Claws - C-L-A-W-S
Damien Jurado - Saint Bartlett
Usher - Raymond vs Raymond


20 Worst / Most Overrated / Biggest Letdowns of 2010
20.  Hot Chip - One Life Stand (letdown)
19.  Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (overrated)
18.  N.E.R.D. - Nothing (letdown)
17.  Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself (letdown)
16.  Far - At Night We Live (letdown)
15.  Massive Attack - Heligoland (letdown)
14.  Gucci Mane - The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted (letdown)
13.  Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (worst/overrated)
12.  Kelis - Flesh Tone (worst/overrated)
11.  Menomena - Mines (letdown)
10.  JJ - No. 3 (overrated)
09.  Tricky - Mixed Race (letdown)
08.  Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (overrated)
07.  Serena-Maneesh - #2: Abyss in B Minor (worst)
06.  Yeasayer - Odd Blood (worst/overrated)
05.  Interpol - Interpol (worst/letdown)
04.  Die Antwoord - Die Antwoord (worst)
03.  Ciara - Basic Instinct (worst)
02.  The Pack - Wolfpack Party (worst)
01.  Hole - Nobody's Daughter (worst)

Anji Bee
of The Chillcast Podcast, Vocalist of Lovespirals


Favorite Singles/EPs
10.  Lovespirals - Love EP
09.  The Grooveblaster - Angie Dickinson
08.  Ernesto - Love Comes Round
07.  Florrie - Panic Attack (Fred Falke Club Mix)
06.  Flight Facilities - Crave You (feat. Giselle)
05.  Astrid Suryanto - Flexxx
04.  Ernesto - Wise
03.  Ernesto & Markus Z - Spin On
02.  Crystal Castles - Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith)
01.  Motorcitysoul - Deliver Me


Favorite Albums
10.  Lovespirals - Future Past
09.  7 Day Visa - Buenos Aires
08.  V/A - Organica Lounge
07.  V/A - Diamonds & Pearls Lounge Vol. 4
06.  Andy Compton - Kholofelo
05.  Walkner.Moestl - Structures
04.  Junip - Fields
03.  Sheryl Crow - 100 Miles From Memphis
02.  Andreya Triana - Lost Where I Belong
01.  Blue Six - Noesis

Ivan Rose
Singer/Guitarist of We Are Speaker


2010 Top Albums
10.  The Tamborines - Camera And Tremor
09.  Shooter Jennings - Black Ribbons
08.  Dead Meadow - Three Kings
07.  Beach House - Teen Dream
06.  Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul
05.  Grinderman - Grinderman 2
04.  Mono - Holy Ground
03.  Jason Simon - Jason Simon
02.  The National - High Violet
01.  The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream

Sarah Quarrie
Music Enthusiast, Honorary Helm Family Member


Top 15 Albums (in alphabetical order)
Active Child - Curtis Lane
CEO - White Magic
The Courteeners - Falcon
Delorean - Subiza
Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
Gayngs - Relayted
Girl Talk - All Day
Matthew Dear - Black City
The National - High Violet
Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
Robyn - Body Talk
These New Puritans - Hidden
Twin Shadow - Forget
Wild Nothing - Gemini
Yeasayer - Odd Blood

If you're a vinyl enthusiast, check out my feature on the Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine: