Best of 2010 - Music

[patrickgpe]

i just completed my top 10 album list for 88.9's website and know there is an annual music thread on this site, so i figured i'd share mine. I know there are a few like minded music nuts like me on this site and I'm always interested to see what others really liked

 

1. Janelle Monae "The Archandroid"

2. Mumford and Sons "Sign No More"

3. The National "High Violet"

4. The Arcade Fire "The Suburbs"

5. Cee Lo Green "The Lady Killer"

6. She and Him "Volume 2"

7. Girl Talk "All Day"

8. Kayne West "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

9. The New Pornographers "Together"

10 Fitz and the Tantrums "Pickin' Up the Pieces"

[Godspeed]

1. The National - High Violet

2. Black Keys - Brothers

3. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

4. Girl Talk - All Day

5. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

6. Spoon - Transference

7. The New Pornographers - Together

8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

9. Kings Go Forth - The Outsiders Are Back

10. Ratatat - LP4

 

Spoon and The NP are penalized here for their consistency, through no fault of their own. Had I just happened upon these in a vacuum, I'd probably be more impressed. But I like most of their previous works much more.

 

Sufjan Stevens went an entirely different direction and I find myself liking Age of Adz more every day. Could very well be my "revisionary best of 2010" 10 years from now, if I had the ambition to make such a list.

 

Arcade Fire confuses me. Funeral was just so good, it set a standard that they apparently can no longer reach. 'Suburbs' isn't bad by any means, it just isn't nearly as good as what it "should be" in my mind.

 

James Murphy never disappoints, and he's pretty much the only act that's successfully lured me to the Rave/Eagles Ballroom. If this is his last, he went out on a high note. I just like 'High Violet' and 'Brothers' that much more.

 

Kings Go Forth are a local soul-revival group that's signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop lable (and a group that 88.9 is obsessed with, by the way). "One Day", "I Don't Love You No More", and "Don't Take My Shadow" are awesome songs, but the rest of the album is like Al Green b-sides coupled with one terrible faux-reggae track. I love Al Green, but I hate reggae.

 

Most underwhelming release that I acquired in 2010: Band of Horses- Infinite Arms. Got it second-hand a few months back and haven't given it more than a few listens. A significant step back from their first 2.

[Schlitz001]

I didn't buy a lot of music this year. Here is a list of some albums I enjoyed....

 

Caribou - Swim

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

M.I.A. - Mya

LCD Soiundsystem - This is Happening

Wavves - King of the Beach

Sleigh Bells - Treats

Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

 

I can't number these because I don't feel very strongly about any of them. I'm a Sufjan Stevens fan, but do not like the new direction he took with Adz. Cee Lo Green and Janelle Monae are enjoyable listens, but I never progressed beyond their singles. Das Racist gets some honorable mention only because I can't take it too seriously and it's not really an album.

[jjkoestler]

Here's my top 10 in no particular order.

 

1: Titus Andronicus - Monitor

2: Various Artists - Dark was the Night

3: Das Racist - Sit Down, Man

4: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot... Son of Chico Dusty

5: Atmosphere - To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy

6: Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

7: The-Dream - Love King

8: Eminem - Recovery

9: Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

10: Local H - Local H's Awesome Mix Tape #1

 

I think Love King by The-Dream is probably my favorite album of 2010.

[And That]

2. Mumford and Sons "Sigh No More"

That was released towards the end of 2009.

 

For whatever reason, I just didn't buy that much new music this year. I loaded up on older stuff instead. Of the nine albums I bought that were released in 2010, the only three that really stood out to me were:

 

-The Black Angels: "Phosphene Dream"

-Arcade Fire: "The Suburbs"

-Broken Social Scene: "Forgiveness Rock Record"

 

I thought the new LCD Soundsystem album was their worst release by far, an unfortunate way to go out. The new releases by The National and Stars were both somewhat disappointing, too.

[bacon06]

Man Overboard - "Real talk"

 

After a bunch of EPs and splits, Man Overboard released their debut full length in 2010, and it did not disappoint. If you are into pop-punk at all, this album is a must listen, and this band is a must to get into.

[thebruce44]

1. The National - High Violet

2. Black Keys - Brothers

3. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

4. Girl Talk - All Day

5. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

6. Spoon - Transference

7. The New Pornographers - Together

8. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

9. Kings Go Forth - The Outsiders Are Back

10. Ratatat - LP4

 

Spoon and The NP are penalized here for their consistency, through no fault of their own. Had I just happened upon these in a vacuum, I'd probably be more impressed. But I like most of their previous works much more.

 

Sufjan Stevens went an entirely different direction and I find myself liking Age of Adz more every day. Could very well be my "revisionary best of 2010" 10 years from now, if I had the ambition to make such a list.

 

Arcade Fire confuses me. Funeral was just so good, it set a standard that they apparently can no longer reach. 'Suburbs' isn't bad by any means, it just isn't nearly as good as what it "should be" in my mind.

 

James Murphy never disappoints, and he's pretty much the only act that's successfully lured me to the Rave/Eagles Ballroom. If this is his last, he went out on a high note. I just like 'High Violet' and 'Brothers' that much more.

 

Kings Go Forth are a local soul-revival group that's signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop lable (and a group that 88.9 is obsessed with, by the way). "One Day", "I Don't Love You No More", and "Don't Take My Shadow" are awesome songs, but the rest of the album is like Al Green b-sides coupled with one terrible faux-reggae track. I love Al Green, but I hate reggae.

 

Most underwhelming release that I acquired in 2010: Band of Horses- Infinite Arms. Got it second-hand a few months back and haven't given it more than a few listens. A significant step back from their first 2.

 

 

Wow, our taste in music is so similar its a little scary. About the only objections I have to your list is I would have The National down towards the back end for the same reasons you noted on Spoon and New Pornos. Having not heard the rest of their albums, I would have thought this years effort rocked.

 

And I know I am in the minority, but I just don't get Arcade Fire. Its like nails on a chalk board.

 

I will also second people sticking with Age of Adz. I hated it at first, and now can't stop listening. I would have also included Seven's excelent EP, All Delighted People if for nothing else then the 17 minute song to his sister Djohariah, of which about 12 is just a guitar solo.

[jjkoestler]

Pitchfork gives this thread an 8.2.

[thebruce44]

Oh, how could I forget Broken Bells came out this year. Now that I have time, my top albums would be:

 

1. Black Keys - Brothers

2. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

 

Then in no particular order,

 

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Spoon - Transference

Das Racist - Sit Down, Man

The New Pornographers - Together

Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP

Atmosphere - To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy

The National - High Violet

Interpol - Interpol

 

Most disappointing - Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

[Hofbraunhaus]

The New Pornographers - Together

Arcade Fire - Suburbs

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (It was actually released in the U.S. in 2010)

Spoon - Transference

Rogue Wave - Permalight

Strand Of Oaks - Pope Kildragon

David Cross - Bigger And Blackerer (Obviously not music but still an awesome album)

 

This is just quickly off the top of my head and I'm sure there are some obvious ones I'm forgetting

[I Heart Brewers]

I second the Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Deerhunter, The National, and Broken Social Scene but I want to add Local Natives 'Gorilla Manor' to the top album list. I listened to that album a ton this spring and Sirius XMU just played one of their 'sessions' featuring them. It reminded me how great that album is. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Oh yeah, and Menomena's 'Mines'. I've been a fan since I heard Fun Blame Monster and they new album doesn't disappoint.

Edit: content

[thebruce44]

I just want to say I am finding a lot of new music from the past year that I didn't hear previously from this thread. Just a suggestion, but if you are going to talk about an album you think a lot of people might not know about, it would be helpful to say what kind of music it is, who they remind you of, or just describe it a little. Lots of new stuff for me, so it would be a huge time saver!

[I Heart Brewers]

Good idea thebruce. I would say that I would do a terrible job of describing Local Natives musical style but I would say they sort of resemble Fleet Foxes, a mellow almost delicate sounding rock record? They use harmonies quite a bit.

 

Menomena is a little more straight forward indie rock. There is some saxophone in what they do which differentiates their sound as well as Brent Knopf's vocals.

 

I apologize as I'm not so great with music descriptions.

 

Has anyone else noticed the amount of beachy type albums released this year? I listened to Surfer Blood's album 'Astro Coast' and Best Coast's 'Crazy For You' quite a bit this year which had a really great 60s summer vibe to them. Also, Real Estate's self titled album sounded similar to them as well. I would recommend all three of those albums. They are quick, carefree listens. When pining for summer during the long WI winters they might be nice to give a spin.

[bigredrobbo]

10. Chemical Brothers – Further. Over 15 years into a
career as “festival-headlining, dance pioneer boffins” Tom and Ed
continue to make albums as listenable and danceable as anyone. Track to download: Escape Velocity

9. Massive Attack – Heligoland.
Maybe they are on the back-end of a very tidy little career, but even a
less than great MA album is better than 90% of the rest of the charts.
Guy from Elbow, Tunde from TV on the Radio collaborations? C’mon! Track to download: Girl I Love You

8. Hot Chip – One Life Stand.
Three albums into the list and they are all non-chart dance acts?
Hmmm… Anyways, Hot Chip have always been better live than on record, in
my opinion. This, for me, was the first album they’ve done with beats
that are more beefy than anemic. Track to download: Take It In

7. Beach House – Teen Dream.
Okay, for the first couple times I listened to them, I thought
Nico-esque singer Victoria Legrand was a bloke! There, I admitted it.
This, their 3rd album, has been labelled by muso-types as Dream Pop,
for some reason. Alls I know is, it’s reverb-y and has a great 60s
vibe. Track to download: Zebra

6. David Gray – Foundling.
It kind of sneaked up on us, released a mere 11 months after 2009?s
Draw the Line, and it’s kind of a brave album. Very raw, stripped and
low-fi, it’s much more like his early, folky albums than the crisp
radio-friendly White Ladder. I’m guessing it didn’t create any new DG
fans, but made this one very pleasantly surprised. Track to download: We Could Fall In Love Again Tonight

5. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes – Up From Below.
Okay, okay, it came out in 2009, but never hit my radar until this
year, so I’m including it. My blog, my rules! This bunch that sound like
Arcade Fire crashing a Polyphonic Spree church festival, produced the
sunny summer hit of the year in Home, and Janglin’ which is currently
pimpin’ the Ford Fiesta. Track to Download: Desert Song

4. Band of Horses – Infinite Arms.
See the Heligoland clause above – even a slightly disappointing BoH
album is superb. Maybe Cease to Begin, from 2007 is just so good that
comparison is unfair, I dunno. Fewer anthemic tracks like Funeral or Is
There a Ghost and more alt-country type folk jaunts that brought out
all the tiresome Neil Young comparisons (I don’t hear it, really I
don’t!). Track to Download: On My Way Back Home

3. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening.
If James Murphy’s threat to split LCD is correct then he’s done that
rarest of things; had a band with 3 albums, each better than the last.
Flame out brightly, baby! Punk funk at its absolute best. Weird
white-people dance music sung by an often-reluctant sounding front man?
Who thought that would work? Track to Download: Home

2. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach.
Concept albums ahoy! An ode over an hour or so to the perils of
environmental neglect, Damon rounds up a bunch of great co-stars to
give the middle finger to all those moaning about how it’s not Demon
Days. It’s not – it’s better! Snoop, Lou Reed, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul,
Bobby Womack and most of the living members of the Clash – how could it
be bad? Track to Download: Superfast Jellyfish

1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs.
And the winner is……another concept album, this time to the titular
suburbs of the Texan upbringing Win Butler enjoyed as a kid. Maybe the
concept nature of the album helps, but I think it’s their most complete
set of tracks to date. Even the occasionally grating vocal stylings of
his missus (from previous albums, anyway) sound great here – go
figure! Track to Download: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

 

Bubbling nearby – 2010 offerings from Ray Lamontagne, OMD, The National, Jonsi, The Heavy, Sufjan Stevens, Scissor Sisters.

?

Reprinted from my new blog - http://scottishdj.wordpress.com/

[theavrock]

I Heart Brewers wrote:

 

Menomena is a little more straight forward indie rock. There is some saxophone in what they do which differentiates their sound as well as Brent Knopf's vocals.

I'll second the Menomena recommendation. Awesome band. Indie rock, but with some nuances that aren't over done.

Additionally

Chiddy Bang: the preview. If you are an indie kid that likes hip-hop you should check them out. Lots of samples but not obnoxious.

Track to download: Opposite of Adults

Free Energy: Stuck on Nothing. I saw these guys open up for Titus Andronicus. Super fun, bouncy pop rock. I have heard comparisons to AC/DC, big guitar riffs etc, but I just think they are fun bouncy rock.

Track to download: Young Hearts

Gaslight Anthem: American Slang. Not as good as The '59 Sound, but still in constant rotation on the iphone. Everyone compares them to Bruce Springsteen if Bruce was punk rock. A great comparison in my opinion. Heartfelt and anthemetic. Gaslight makes you want to crank the stereo to 11, roll the windows down and take a road trip.

Track to download: We Did It When We Were Young

Jimmy Eat World: Invented. I am biased because Jimmy has been my favorite band for well over a decade, but another solid effort. Guitar and hook heavy, but always unique. In my opinion it is their best release since Clarity. Its not another Clarity mind you, but it is more Futures than Static Prevails. But what do I know, I have Jimmy tattoo.

Track to download: You have to answer a question to get the right track. Is Clarity your favorite album of all time -----> Yes: then download Mixtape. Huh? -----> then download Coffee and Cigarettes

Stars: Five Ghosts. Absolutely love everything this band puts out. Dreamy, synth pop. Putting on Stars always transports me to a better place and drowns out everything out there.

Track to download: Changes