Recently I sat down with my good pal DJ Elly May to go over what we thought were some of the biggest let-downs of 2010. This is not to say that either of us hated any of the albums that we listed (although in some cases that was most certainly the case), rather, these are albums that we thought would deliver but sadly did not. Elly May and myself sat behind the mic and discussed in depth what let us down this year, and we have that conversation below. For those of you out there who just want to figure out the set of albums we were underwhelmed with, I have conveniently listed them below in no particular order. Stay tuned to our blog to see what Daytime deejays have thought of as the best albums of 2010 in the next weeks.

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DJ Elly May

1. Kate Nash- My Best Friend is You

2. Tunng- And Then We Saw Land

3. Rogue Wave- Permalight

4. Broken Bells- Broken Bells

5. Dead Weather- Sea of Cowards

6. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

DJ Ones

1. Marina and the Diamonds- The Family Jewels

2. The Drums- The Drums

3. M.I.A- /\/\/\Y/\

4. Klaxons- Surfing the Void

5. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms

6. Interpol- Interpol

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After an impossibly long week, I had hoped that last Saturday’s show at the Cat’s Cradle would be great. I was in no way prepared for the powerful emotional journey I would experience. Each band attempted impossibly, yet successfully, to up the ante of intensity by giving a more impassioned and stirring performance than the previous band. Incredibly, even with their considerable body of recorded material, all three groups performed better live than on their albums.

Peter Wolf Crier

Peter Wolf Crier took the stage first and stunned with their short and blistering set. Peter Pisano and drummer Brian Moen played with soulful, biting fervor. At times the duo’s dynamics recalled the consonance of the drums-and-guitar pair Dodos, but for most of the show, Pisano dominated the stage; the very air in the room became an extension of his body. Like a stationary one-man band, his myriad of amplifiers and effects pedals became a playground for his manic and maximalist compositions.

Double flutes...so intense

Crier’s performance would have been tough for any band to follow, but Midlake followed in stride. Appropriately, the band walked onstage just as Fairport Convention’s brilliant rendition of “Tam Lin” faded to a close over the venue’s speakers. A pastoral, electric folk ballad, “Tam Lin” is exactly the sort of song that underlies Midlake’s sound.

The seven musicians crowded the front of the stage in the best approximation of a democracy they could muster. Singer Tim Smith began the set crouched low in a folding chair, his presence subdued until the songs began to take shape. As guitar lines melded with flutes, close vocal harmonies and restrained drumming, the songs would weave and swell into evocatively textured sonic tapestries.

Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave

Rogue Wave took the stage without much fanfare. With their intentions clearly set on playing great songs, the band impressed with their joyous musicianship and their impeccable craft. Even after two great performances leading up to their set, Rogue Wave was the highlight of the night. Zach Rogue played with a fiery glint in his eye, and his bandmates deftly followed his every move. Fan favorites such as “Eyes” didn’t simply soar, they filled the room with their beauty.  As I drove home later that night, I realized something: this is why I go to concerts—to be moved.

Rogue Wave's setlist

WKNC is always working hard to bring you more ticket giveaways to great shows, and this week is no different! Tune into 88.1 FM for your chances to win tickets to these awesome shows:

Wednesday, March 3

Ex-Monkeys w/ Geometric Operetta, Cheezface, Wretched Martyr & MC Bingo Blower @ The Pour House

Ex-Monkeys

Friday, March 5

A Rooster For The Masses w/ Decoration Ghost & Free Electric State @ The Pour House

A Rooster For The Masses photo by Shane Richardson

Saturday, March 6

Rogue Wave w/ Avi Buffalo @ Cat’s Cradle

Rogue Wave

Sunday, March 7

Dropkick Murphys w/Larry and His Flask & Strung Out @ Fillmore Charlotte

Dropkick Murphys

Also, get excited about up coming giveaways for other sweet shows happening later this month including Phoenix @ Koka Booth and Black Lips @ Cat’s Cradle.

Don’t forget! You can always be sure to get a full schedule of local shows happening in your area by checking out WKNC’s Rock Report.

Rogue Wave courtesy Brushfire Records

This week has certainly been a strange one.  I decided earlier in the week that I’d haul all my Christmas stuff out of the garage and start putting it up.  In order to get in the real spirit, I broke out the eggnog, and one of my holiday comedy favorites, “Just Friends.”  Judge my movie tastes as you will, but Rogue Wave plays on the soundtrack and it jogged my memory.  I hadn’t heard them in awhile and forgot how much I liked them.  So, it struck me as particularly odd that this week should be the week Rogue Wave announces their tentative tour dates for 2010.  Serendipitous, indeed.  Even more interesting is that they’re currently slated to swing by the Triangle on March 6 at Cat’s Cradle.  Something to look forward to in the new year…

Interpol Courtesy of Rolling Stone

1. Interpol has announced its follow-up to the 2007 album, “Our Love’s to Admire,” will be released sometime next year. When asked about how the album will sound, drummer Sam Fogarino said, “The new record falls back towards the first.” Although no exact dates, track listing, or title have been released, it is described as being closer in the overall sound to their debut album. (via Paste)

2. Future Islands has signed to the label Thrill Jockey. Next year they will release their sophomore album “In Evening Air” on the label. Currently, the band is touring down the east coast and will play at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, November 21. (via Pitchfork)

3. Rogue Wave has announced its fourth album titled “Permalight” will be released next year. This is the first album since 2007′s “Asleep at Heaven’s Gate,” and they will follow-up the Spring release of their next album with a tour, including a stop at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. (via Pitchfork)

4. Iggy Pop and the Stooges are set to play its iconic 1973 album “Raw Power” at New York’s music festival, ATP. This is apart of the “Don’t Look Back” series, where bands play a classic album of theirs in its entirety. This news comes early, due to the fact that ATP won’t begin until Labor Day weekend, next year. (via Pitchfork)

5. The Cribs are set to have their first North American tour with guitarist Johnny Marr. The band will be touring their new album “Ignore the Ignorant” at 14 venues starting in January. (via NME)