Don't forget about I'm New Here.

Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here came out in February of last year. It is often easy to forget about a record when ten months pass before you start to think about the best music of the year. That's why I hope you didn't forget about I'm New Here. One of my favorite's of 2010, this collection of blues songs and spoken word performances makes up the first album in 16 years for Gil Scott-Heron. It is also a welcome departure from the stylized "indie" records that have become as prevalent as a 7.5 on Pitchfork. Scott-Heron offers sober reflections on society and self with a backdrop of bleak compositions and sinister beats. I'm New Here is real. Get it.

Here is the video for the title track (which is actually a Smog cover).


"The Crutch" might be my favorite track on the album.