Broken Bells, the collaboration between Danger Mouse and The Shins’ frontman James Mercer, continues in 2011. There are no plans for a new full length yet, but they released an EP called “Meyrin Fields” earlier this week.
Here is a taste with the video for “Heartless Empire”
(if you missed it, check out their live performance on KCRW last year)

Former KCRW Music Director and current KCRW DJ Nic Harcourt thought he could get away with not making a top 10 list this year. In his defense, he’s always told me how much he hates doing it. However, LOTS of people starting asking him, including a bunch of folks who wrote in on the comments portion of KCRW’s Top 10 page. So, he finally gave in. And here it is:
Nic Harcourt’s Top 10 Albums of 2010
1. Broken Bells: Broken Bells: Sony
2. The Constellations: Southern Gothic: Virgin
3. The Black Angels: Phosphene …

We’re thrilled to see that ALL the Best Alternative Music Album Grammy nominees are KCRW alum. Not only did many of these albums make our KCRW DJs Top 10 Albums of the Year lists but all of them have performed here at the station – some as far back as 2005.
Links to their performances on Morning Becomes Eclectic are below!
Best Alternative Music Album
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
[Merge Records / Sonovox]
Infinite Arms
Band Of Horses
[Columbia Records/Brown/FatPossum]
Brothers
The Black Keys
[Nonesuch]
Broken Bells
Broken Bells
[Columbia Records]
Contra
Vampire Weekend
[XL Recordings]

All of our DJs have submitted their Top 10 Albums of 2010 and you can see their lists here. Below are all the albums that were listed as #1 in random order so you can see a compilation of the best of the best!
Most of these bands have performed at the station this year or have been features on KCRW’s Music Blog– click on their names to find performances and more in the archives.
RR
LCD Soundsystem — This Is Happening Virgin
The Black Keys — Brothers (Nonesuch)
Kid Cudi  – Man On The …

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 06/21/2010
1 MONAE, JANELLE == Archandroid >> [Bad Boy/wondaland]
2 CHEMICAL BROTHERS == Further >> [Astralwerks]
3 BROKEN BELLS == Broken Bells >> [Sony]
4 TAME IMPALA == Innerspeaker >> [Modular]
5 JORGE, SEU & ALMAZ == Seu Jorge & Almaz >> [Stones Throw]
6 BLACK KEYS == Brothers >> [Nonesuch]
7 VEROCAI, ARTHUR == Timeless >> [Mochilla]
8 LCD SOUNDSYSTEM == This Is Happening >> [Dfa/virgin]
9 FLYING LOTUS == Cosmogramma >> [Warp]
10 FORD, FRAZEY == Obadiah – Sampler >> [Nettwerk]
11 STARS == Five Ghosts >> [Vagrant]
12 GOTAN PROJECT == Tango 3.0 …

Broken Bells performed live  on Morning Becomes Eclectic today and treated us to some very special moments.
The band debuted a version of “Insane Lullaby” from Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse’s other project, “Dark Night of the Soul.” It is the first time Broken Bells has played the track live on the radio, though they have worked it into some of their live shows. “Dark Night of the Soul,” which was written with Sparklehorse, includes contributions from many top notch musicians and will finally see an official release next month.  Broken …

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY
Thursday, June 17, Brazilian folk and jazz composer Arthur Verocai makes a rare appearance in Los Angeles and stops by KCRW studios for a very special session on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Friday, June 18, James Mercer of The Shins and producer Danger Mouse team up as Broken Bells. They’ll talk about their collaborative project and offer a live session at 11:15am on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Monday, June 21, Athlete are among the UK’s finest songsmiths and we’ll be treated to …

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY
Monday, June 7, Denmark’s dynamic duo Quadron was on every KCRW DJ’s playlist last year and we’re pleased to finally get them in studio for their U.S. radio debut performance of their sexy electronic soul on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Tuesday, June 8, Local duo Jogger craft songs from sonic scraps with meticulous attention to detail. Experience their future-folk beats on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Wednesday, June 9, Tune in for an energetic set of rollicking rock from Long …

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 04/26/2010
1 OZOMATLI == Ozomatli Vs Kcrw Soundclash >> [Downtown]
2 FLYING LOTUS == Cosmogramma >> [Warp]
3 GORILLAZ == Plastic Beach >> [Virgin]
4 GOTAN PROJECT == Tango 3.0 >> [Ya Basta/xl]
5 CARIBOU == Swim >> [Merge]
6 BONOBO == Black Sands >> [Ninja Tune]
7 BROKEN BELLS == Broken Bells >> [Sony]
8 JONSI == Go >> [Xl]
9 BAND OF HORSES == Infinite Arms – Sampler >> [Brown/fat Possum/columbia]
10 UNKLE == Where Did The Night Fall >> [Surrender All]
11 MGMT == Congratulations >> [Columbia]
12 JAMES, JOSE == Blackmagic >> …

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 03/29/2010
1 BROKEN BELLS == Broken Bells >> [Sony]
2 GORILLAZ == Plastic Beach >> [Virgin]
3 BONOBO == Black Sands >> [Ninja Tune]
4 SHE & HIM == Volume 2 >> [Merge]
5 ROGUE WAVE == Permalight >> [Brushfire]
6 XX == Xx >> [Xl]
7 LOCAL NATIVES == Gorilla Manor >> [Frenchkiss]
8 SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA == Rising Sun >> [Strut Records]
9 GROOVE ARMADA == Black Light >> [Om]
10 LOW ANTHEM == Oh My God Charlie Darwin >> [Nonesuch]
11 GONJASUFI == Sufi & A Killer >> [Warp]
12 CODEINE VELVET CLUB == …