Rad Music of 2010

Much like what has been said about literature and the printed book (it's dead), music's fate has also been written (it's dead). Downloading will surpass going to the local record store and buying new music. No good music has been made since 19__. For some people, especially those younger than me, downloading might be/turn into the modus operandi. But I wholeheartedly believe, and I think other twentysomethings and older believe, that the record store, like the bookstore, will not die.

There is something wonderful about going to a record store, and browsing the shelves. While the touch of a record or CD might not be as pleasing as a book, there's the cover art. There are the lyrics (sometimes) or who-knows-what inside the album/CD booklet. There's the imported live recording of a concert not available at Best Buy. There's the local bands section.

There's probably some large overarching theoretical point here about reality and the difference of holding something in your hand, rather than waiting for a green bar to fill up and the words "download complete" to show up. I like the "real" of the record store, the browsing, unwrapping the CD. Music is not dead. Below are some albums I enjoyed this year.

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