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Revision as of 13:54, 26 December 2013
| The Needle Drop Logo | |
Type of site | Music reviewing |
|---|---|
| Created by | Anthony Fantano |
| URL | theneedledrop |
The Needle Drop is a blog/vlog created and run by Anthony Fantano (born October 28, 1985), self-described as "the Internet's Busiest Music Nerd," in which he reviews "rock, pop, electronic, and experimental music of the independent persuasion," usually by the medium of video and audio reviews. Despite the blog's tagline, metal and hip hop have also been covered extensively along with certain major label artists. The blog started in the fall of 2007, with video reviews beginning in February 2009. The blog reviews albums, individual songs in a segment called "Track Reviews" (stylized as "TRKRVWZ"), and occasionally a "Question of the Week" or list based upon a theme relating to music or Anthony's favourite fruits (often melons). His reviews often contain brief skits, usually involving his musically oblivious roommate, Cal Chuchesta, (played by Fantano himself[citation needed]). Occasionally, Fantano will allow The Count to "review" an album, often as a gift to his fans.
The blog rates albums and tracks on a scale from 0 to 10, with an accompanying adjective, either "light," "decent," or "strong," for further specification to its score. The blog's site also includes a "loved list" section, featuring a list of albums and tracks which were scored 8/10 and above when they were reviewed.
In 2011, Anthony was interviewed at SXSW about the rise of music vlogging, along with Sami Jarroush of the Rock It Out! Blog, and Michael Roffman, president and editor-in-chief of Consequence of Sound.[1] In March he was featured in an article from The Guardian also about the rise of music vlogging.[2]
The Needle Drop is also an iTunes podcast [3] featuring artists and albums reviewed on The Needle Drop YouTube channel.
The Needle Drop's YouTube channel currently has over 200,000 subscribers, and more than 36 million upload views.[4] The channel was voted as September 2011's 'On The Rise' contest winner,[5] a program by YouTube. His competitors were Pineapple Boy Productions, The Uncut Sports Show and Simple Kids Crafts.[6] In October 2011, Fantano won the 'Beyond the Blog' award at the MTV O Music Awards.[7]
The first contemporary album to receive a 10/10 was Death Grips' major label debut The Money Store. Fantano had previously given classic albums such as Pink Flag by Wire, and Raw Power by The Stooges a perfect score.
Best albums per year
Every year since 2010, Fantano has counted down his top 50 favorite albums of the year. The top 10 albums on each list are below.
2009
Fantano did not make a list for 2009, but named Fever Ray by Fever Ray his "album of the year".
2010
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | This Is Happening | LCD Soundsystem |
| 2. | The Way Out | The Books |
| 3. | There Is Love in You | Four Tet |
| 4. | Marrow of the Spirit | Agalloch |
| 5. | Teen Dream | Beach House |
| 6. | Plastic Beach | Gorillaz |
| 7. | Public Strain | Women |
| 8. | A Sufi and a Killer | Gonjasufi |
| 9. | Ring | Glasser |
| 10. | Throat | Little Women |
2011
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Helplessness Blues | Fleet Foxes |
| 2. | Exmilitary | Death Grips |
| 3. | Gloss Drop | Battles |
| 4. | Black Up | Shabazz Palaces |
| 5. | Let England Shake | PJ Harvey |
| 6. | Returnof4eva | Big K.R.I.T. |
| 7. | Wildlife | La Dispute |
| 8. | Aesthethica | Liturgy |
| 9. | Space Is Only Noise | Nicolas Jaar |
| 10. | Section.80 | Kendrick Lamar |
2012
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Money Store | Death Grips |
| 2. | good kid, m.A.A.d city | Kendrick Lamar |
| 3. | Ondatrópica | Ondatrópica |
| 4. | Natural History | Dope Body |
| 5. | The Idler Wheel... | Fiona Apple |
| 6. | Portico Quartet | Portico Quartet |
| 7. | BBNG2 | BADBADNOTGOOD |
| 8. | Put Your Back N 2 It | Perfume Genius |
| 9. | 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! | Godspeed You! Black Emperor |
| 10. | Control System | Ab-Soul |
2013
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Virgins | Tim Hecker |
| 2. | Shaking the Habitual | The Knife |
| 3. | Teethed Glory and Injury | Altar of Plagues |
| 4. | ...Like Clockwork | Queens of the Stone Age |
| 5. | Fetch | Melt-Banana |
| 6. | Blood Donation | Mariam The Believer |
| 7. | Midcity | Clipping |
| 8. | You're Nothing | Iceage |
| 9. | The Night's Gambit | Ka |
| 10. | Crusher | Grave Babies |
Best singles per year
In addition to the album lists, he also counts his favorite singles and promotional tracks of the year, which he has also done since 2010. Just like with albums, he names 50, but the top 10 are listed below.
2009
Fantano did not make a list for 2009.
2010
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Can Change" | LCD Soundsystem |
| 2. | "Some Kind of Nature" | Gorillaz featuring Lou Reed |
| 3. | "Take Care" | Beach House |
| 4. | "Shutterbugg" | Big Boi featuring Cutty |
| 5. | "Holiday" | Vampire Weekend |
| 6. | "Love Cry" | Four Tet |
| 7. | "Kowboyz&Indians" | Gonjasufi |
| 8. | "Plumy Tale" | Dumbo Gets Mad |
| 9. | "Congratulations" | MGMT |
| 10. | "POWER" | Kanye West |
2011
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Helplessness Blues" | Fleet Foxes |
| 2. | "Takyon (Death Yon)" | Death Grips |
| 3. | "The Wilhelm Scream" | James Blake |
| 4. | "The Words That Maketh Murder" | PJ Harvey |
| 5. | "Swerve... The Reeping Of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding)" | Shabazz Palaces |
| 6. | "Do It Again" | Holy Ghost! |
| 7. | "Holocene" | Bon Iver |
| 8. | "Ice Cream" | Battles featuring Matias Aguayo |
| 9. | "Returner" | Liturgy |
| 10. | "Out in the Streets" | Africa Hitech |
2012
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Fever (Aye Aye)" | Death Grips |
| 2. | "Hey Jane" | Spiritualized |
| 3. | "DoYaThing" | Gorillaz, James Murphy, and André 3000 |
| 4. | "Big Beast" | Killer Mike featuring Bun B, T.I., and Trouble |
| 5. | "Bugg'n" | TNGHT |
| 6. | "Same Love" | Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert |
| 7. | "Punkero Sonidero" | Ondatrópica |
| 8. | "Every Single Night" | Fiona Apple |
| 9. | "Watch the Corners" | Dinosaur Jr. |
| 10. | "Pyramids" | Frank Ocean |
2013
| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Tooth for an Eye" | The Knife |
| 2. | "Numbers on the Boards" | Pusha T |
| 3. | "Hang On to Life" | Ariel Pink & Jorge Elbrecht |
| 4. | "Shut Up" | Savages |
| 5. | "My God Is the Sun" | Queens of the Stone Age |
| 6. | "Invisible Giving" | Mariam The Believer |
| 7. | "Reflektor" | Arcade Fire |
| 8. | "Ectasy" | Iceage |
| 9. | "The Wire" | Haim |
| 10. | "Invader Invader" | Kyary Pamyu Pamyu |
Classic albums
The following albums are considered "classic" music releases by The Needle Drop (and thus have received perfect scores):
- In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson (1969)
- Hot Rats by Frank Zappa (1969)
- Bitches Brew by Miles Davis (1970)
- What's Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971)
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie (1972)
- Raw Power by The Stooges (1973)
- Pink Flag by Wire (1977)
- The Wall by Pink Floyd (1979)
- Remain in Light by Talking Heads (1980)
- Plastic Surgery Disasters by Dead Kennedys (1982)
- Loveless by My Bloody Valentine (1991)
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
- Kid A by Radiohead (2000)
- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven by Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2000)
- Madvillainy by Madvillain (2004)
References
- ^ "Interview at SXSW".
- ^ Jonze, Tim (18 March 2011). "The Guardian article". London.
- ^ "The Needle Drop".
- ^ "Youtube channel".
- ^ "'Success!' Video".
- ^ Storbeck, Devon (September 15, 2011). "Introducing Your September 'On The Rise' Nominees post".
- ^ http://blog.omusicawards.com/2011/10/the-needle-drop-wins-oma/