Best of 2010 (Acumen)

(GOODNESS)

Staying true to form, I procrastinated on this post, but I'm sure you'll all enjoy catching up on all the goodness you may have missed out on.

I'm going to change up the format from last year, where I included best sets and best songs, for two very legitimate reasons. Some of the sets are a little foggy in my memory (I wonder why...), and to be honest I changed my view on going to shows in 2010. I tried to enjoy them for the moment rather than being constantly critical and listening for the big tracks I wanted to hear like I have in years past. As for not ranking the best songs; I haven't been staying up on my current hip hop with anywhere near the same gusto as I have for the most of my career as a music fan, and I don't think it would be fair to judge just the dubstep and drum'n'bass songs I've heard.

Even the mixes are going to be heavy on the early year goodies, but I will say that these are MY preferences and I haven't checked any other 'Best Of' posts on other blogs, knowing that I still had this post to put up. So, instead, I've broken it into 3 genres - Dubstep, Drum'n'Bass, and Funk/Hip Hop.

Let me repeat myself for maximum clarity - the only criteria is how much I liked listening these mixes over the course of the year. Technical skill, originality, name recognition, proper representation of big tracks, or even my own favorite tracks, are not taken into account.

First up - Funk and Hip Hop, and the runners up are:

DJ Ayres - Live at Home (pt. 26)
This is one really sick mix that probably got the most play out of any mix in 2010 for me. It was the soundtrack to my trip to Van City for the Olympics and has a special spot in my memory. A journey through the best of the ol' funky jams. Become a star in the ghetto...

DJ Y-Not - Lazy Afternoon
Following in a similar style to the mix above, but with a lot more hip hop sprinkled in throughout and some more turntable trickery, DJ Y-Not sets the mood for some premium chilling. A must have for any iPod.

Stickybuds - The Wookie Shuffle
Now this is the jambone! Deviating largely from the last two, Stickybuds jumps from uptempo hip hop to breaks to a little bit of DnB to close it out, and always keeps it exciting as is his unique party-rockin' style. Don't sleep.

Honorable Mention:
DJ Metawon - Take A Trip
If it weren't for the inherent bias of voting in my brother and blogmate, this would make the list. As it is, it falls in as my only honorable mention. Download, listen, and love folks...

In the next slot, we got the drum'n'bass heavy hitters, runner up number one:

Staypuft - Somethin' Special
So, directly after saying I can't big up my bro and blogmate I'm throwing in a vote for my friend Pete. I don't feel bad about this for a few reasons. For one thing, he narrowly beat out my other friend Logan's mix. For another, I jammed this on indiscriminant repeat for a solid week when he made it. For still another, it's awesome and it earned its way in. Enjoy.

Slovar - Liquid Dreams
Coming out of left field with a total shocker, this man knocked me on my ass with the crazy awesomeness of his mix. The Latvian sensation known to not nearly enough heads as Slovar created a mix with one of the best flows I've ever experienced. Get it in ya!

Halfpint - Liquid Love 7
Yet another random name that nobody's ever heard of, right? Well, get to knowing. This bass music connoiseur from New Zealand guides the listener on yet another journey through the funkiest and most soulful liquid sounds that you'll ever hear coming from out the Southern Hemsiphere.

Now for the real tough one, 2010 was a huge year for dubstep:

Honorable Mentions - Kokonaut Hondslawps
Canada stand up! Similar to the crazy random awesomeness that I found in Latvia and New Zealand above, these two little-known brothers from BC caught my interest in a post on the Shambhala forum. They say it's built for cruising. I say that while it does thump out the car audio something proper, this is a multi-purpose monster of a mix.

L-Wiz - Exclusive Mix for Fenchurch (right click and hit 'save as')
Hoooooo nelly, this still sounds like green budding leaves and Spring time happiness to me. I love this mix. It's all tracks from the talented duo from Stockholm know as L-Wiz, with one member (Clase Rosen) playing keys over top throughout. Must have mix.

Skream - Glastonbury Surprise Set
As if I could get away without having one major headliner of a name in these awards, and as if Skream wouldn't be the exact man to force his way in. This was the summer anthem of sorts for a lot of people in my crew. Really, this is how professionals do their work. If you haven't heard it yet, smack yourself on the nose and git to downloading!

And now, for the winners.....Funk/Hip Hop: DJ Ayres -Live at Home

Drum'n'Bass: Slovar - Liquid Dreams

Dubstep: L-Wiz - Fenchurch Exclusive

Happy Belated New Years readers!