#8. The "Real Estate" Boom

In these troubled times, Americans have been rocked by the realization that even that most reliable of economic redoubts - home ownership - can be as volatile as your Lehman Brothers mortgage-backed securities. Personally, I have built a foundation for long-term wealth on Blockbuster stock, a great tech company (Boo.com), and investments in the next big thing in home entertainment: "LaserDiscs." But regardless of the direction of the housing market, you can't fail with this hot tip: for hockey-stick growth potential, positive cash flows, and consistently excellent quarterly performances, stick with Real Estate in FY2011 and beyond.

Real Estate almost lost the chance to be on this Countdown, as their self-titled debut came out in late 2009. However, they took a break from a busy summer of touring to release a 7" single in October, which comes in at the #8 spot.

#8. Real Estate - Out of Tune



From the first few chords of this track, I could tell that the band hadn't strayed too far from the laid-back, chilled-out grooves that had made Real Estate one of the best albums of 2009. The bandmates come from New Jersey, where the beaches' lack of beauty is exceeded only by their lack of cleanliness. In spite of this, the simple guitar riffs and steady, increasingly persistent drumming (which occasionally snaps into double time) evoke the best days of summer, when the rhythm of the waves hitting the sand and the faded music blending with the sounds of the beach hypnotize you into thinking that maybe it could all go on forever.

Like a Hoodsie cup with that wooden stick for a spoon, "Out of Tune" is a simple summer treat that keeps you coming back for more. Only one album in, Real Estate have established themselves as a band with a timeless sound and a knack for transforming good vibes into good music. Stick some sand to the bottom of a sweaty Corona bottle, sit back, and enjoy.