Best of 2010 – Ken Stringfellow’s Highlights

First of all, the year musically for me revolved around a big positive – the release of the Posies album, our first in 5 years, which I think is far and away our best work. All that came from this album, which earned high praise from Mojo, Uncut, the Washington Post, and more…well, that’s been amazing.

And abig downer – I couldn’t recap 2010 with a bunch of fluff about how great this record or that record was, without acknowledging that with the deaths of Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel, the amazing 2nd life of Big Star had come to an end. This has been a 17-year relationship for me (not counting my love for Big Star’s music long before my involvement with Alex & Jody in the revitalized band). When good records come out, yes, these are great things. But often, merely pleasantries. I’m more likely to have my life changed, these days, by an actual person than a record – I think that’s sane, and mature. Knowing and working with Alex and Jody changed my life, even more than those incredible, moving, heart-wringing Big Star records did when I first heard them in the 1980s. The loss is many faceted – not only will I no longer have Alex in my life, but, unfortunately, I can’t count on spending time with the very much alive Jody Stephens as much as I would if the band were still active. A loss felt well and truly.

I saw some great shows this year, I honestly didn’t have that much time to listen to music, I’m usually making it. So here’s a mix.

Khottal is a great band from Malaysia, that I opened for in Melaka, Malaysia in January. They have a great CD single based on ‘the Woo Song’ you can check out. A bit of Arcade Fire, a bit of I’m from Barcelona.

Billy & The Firm “Thoughts from the Lioness’ Lab” – I produced this album for this amazing, hard rocking Israeli band. Led by video artist/musician Billy Levy, the album has Sonic Youth-like white hot shredding anthems, and more contemplative, spacey moments. Hard to disagree with a nine minute anthem called “Women Wanna Kill”.

Hanggai – I had the pleasure to perform live and record with Hanggai, a mindblowing band from Beijing who play Mongolian folk music with modern rock dynamics. All the traditional elements are there – throat singing, horse head fiddle, the two or three string lutes they call ‘banjos’ but play more like minimal guitars. But the dynamics and power are fully 21st century. Their album “He Who Travels Far” is a masterpiece; check the Mongolian lullabyes and see if you aren’t crushed by the end.
Aqueduct – I’ve been a fan of this Seattle band for years and this year I had the distinct pleasure to tour with them, as they supported the Posies and Brendan Benson on all our US/Canada shows. I Sold Gold is an album I have listened to over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over to. Their live presentation was so good, the band and leader Dave Terry are so charming…well, if you can’t be conquered by this, you are in fact, in need of burial.

Star Anna – We had many guest singers appear with us on the Posies tour, replicating the parts on our album performed by Lisa Lobsinger and Kay Hanley. (Hugh Cornwell‘s distinctive vocalizing was so unique that only he could replicate it). We had so many great singers join us – so I won’t say that Star Anna, who joined us in Seattle, was the best because there are several contenders for ‘best’ over the course of the 3 month Posies tour. But she was brilliant, and she’s a northwest homey, and I believe in her, so…check her out.

OK, happy holidays to all

KS
Venice Beach