The 11 Best Supergroup Duos

Side projects and supergroups always draw amazing attention but usually end-up disappointing greatly.  It's hard for an artist to experiment with a new sound because of the expectations they bring with them.  A few artists manage to exceed expectations usually by throwing a big curve.  If it is too outside the box, it tends to scare listeners away...and if it's too inside the box...it leaves listeners wondering what the point was in the first place?  Billie Joe of Green Day and Norah Jones of pianos team-up today to play a collection of Everly Brother songs.  Which side of the box does this fall In?  Out?  Under? Over?  Ever?

Here are the 11 Best Supergroup Duos:

1. Electronic (Bernard Sumner of New Order & Johnny Marr of The Smiths)
2. She & Him (Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward)
3. Pinback (Zach Smith of Three Mile Pilot & Rob Crow of Heavy Vegetable and Thingy)
4. Felt (Murs & Slug of Atmosphere)
5. Quasi (Sam Coomes of Heatmiser and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney)
6. Discovery (Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend & Wesley Miles of Ra Ra Riot)
7. Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce Da 5'9")
8. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
9. Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
10. The Evens (Ian McKaye of Fugazi and Amy Farina of The Warmers)
11. WZRD (Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius)

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The Best Albums of 2012 (45-55):

Here it is.  My countdown of my favorite albums of 2012.  Though it's not a surprising #1 choice...my number one surprises me...because I don't love the album.  Anyway, you'll have to wait to see what that is...until then...it's time for your input.

Every year I ask you, my readers, to give me your twenty best/favorite albums.  The only rule...the album has to have been released in 2012.  That's it.

You don't need 20...if you only have 10...5...or even if you only like one release...that's fine!  Just post your top picks in the comment section.  Or email me.  And I'll add them all together and post the tally on January 1st (roughly).  Last year we had over 200 people vote...let's see if you we can top that this year.

The Best Albums of 2012 (45-55):

45.  Trust - TRST
46.  Calvin Harris - 18 Months
47.  Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten (Bonus Track)
48.  Mumford And Sons - Babel
49.  Rival Sons - Head Down
50.  Father John Misty - Fear Fun
51.  Fun. - Some Nights
52.  Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas
53.  Pinback - Information Retrieved
54.  Metric - Synthetica
55.   EL-P - Cancer For Cure

Buy Theses albums and more now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Pinback

The video for Gangnam Style has 430 million views on Youtube.  That's more views than all of Pinback's videos combined.  It makes me wonder if I could give Psy a run for his money with my own Youtube Channel.  From now on I'll be posting videos of the songs I find on Youtube.  Some will be straight up album tracks (usually hard to find B-sides) other tracks will be live tracks from obscure gigs or even big time shows.  I want to have fun on it.  So click, enjoy, and share.

That said...I will still include the random MP3 here and there...but more of a great thing is always a great thing.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Pinback:

1. No-Photo Blue (Summer in Abaddon)
2. From Nothing To Nowhere (Autumn of the Seraphs)
3. The Hatenaughts of Melancholy Wall (Autumn of the Seraphs)
4. Bloods on Fire (Summer in Abaddon)
5. Off By 50 (Autumn of the Seraphs)
6. Penelope (Blue Screen Life)
7. Manchuria (Some Voices)
8. Good To Sea (Autumn of the Seraphs)
9. Fortress (Summer in Abaddon)
10. Concrete Sounds (Blue Screen Life)
11. My Star (Too Many Shadows)

Buy Pinback's new album, Information Retrieved...now!! (only $3.99 for a limited time)