Saturday, December 18, 2010

Favorite Albums of 2010

My favorite albums of 2010...

10. The Black Keys - Brothers



I have a few of The Black Keys earlier albums and liked them but never loved them. I was going to just skip this one but when I went to see a lecture manned by rock critic Tom Moon, he name dropped this new album as a "classic". I gave it a shot and it is, in my opinion, their best work yet.

09. Avey Tare - Down There



This is an album's album. The song progression and production progression (I know, what the hell is that?!) takes you through a trip from out of the southern swamps to an old cemetery to, alas, a sick sister who is fighting for her life. The saddest and most personal dance album I've ever heard. The production sounds, at times, like they had to purchase waterproof mixers.

08. Steve Mason - Boys Outside



Steve Mason was the lead singer of Beta Band. He has done a handful of projects since and this is the first under his given name. It is also the best songwriting he's done since his Beta days. A slow burner.

07. Matthew Dear - Black City



Matthew has been around for awhile but this is my first venture into his world. This album is like an early Peter Gabriel album made for the dance floor. Very dark and funky.

06. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening



LCD's third album is as strong as the others, assuming you like the others. James Murphy, their leader, describes his music as modern disco with punk roots. He also tends to turn the clock back to the 80's, a music period I usually do not like, but Murphy sucks out the melodrama and adds some balls to the often retread retro sound.

05. Spoon - Transference



Spoon is starting to get taken advantage of. They put out slim pop gems so consistently that it sometimes feels like the band's well is bottomless. We almost expect them, at this point, to put out another killer album. The funny thing is, they do.

04. Yeasayer - Odd Blood



This album is insane. Listen to Rome. The song sounds like an alien swing party. Each track is so ridiculous (but catchy), I thought the record might wreck their career. Even I still can't explain why their campy electric sound worked so well. But it does.

03. Vampire Weekend - Contra



These guys put out their version of "Graceland". This album is as tight and catchy as they come and it showed evolution in Vampire Weekend's sound that somehow made it more unique and universal at the same time.

02. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz



This song doesn't best represent how complex this album is. But if you take the time to listen to this whole tune, the last couple minutes will make you want to break things. Sufjan used to be a singer/songwriter guy with cute gimmics like doing an album for every state in America or a tribute album to the BQE. Suddenly, he puts out Age of Adz. Orchestral, electronic, epic. An MPC Beat Machine had dirty sex with the London Symphony Orchestra and had this bastard child. Literally a breakthrough in music, if you ask me.

01. Grinderman - Grinderman II



Funny, evil, strange, abrasive, loud, and my album of the year. I never listened to much Nick Cave. My friend Dale bought this album at AKA Records in Philly on Record Store Day 2010 and, when we got back to my place, we ripped each others albums. I threw this on my ipod expecting to take it off a few days later. Now, I listen to it religiously, I bought Grindermand I, and I started to purchase Nick Cave's amazingly vast back catalogue. Wow! Not as brave as Sufjan's album, but a classic that will be around for years to come.





HONORABLE MENTIONS

MIA - MAYA


Everyone dissed this album. I think it's good. Maybe even great. It's just too uneven to put in the top ten. Noisy sucker.

JAMIE LIDELL - COMPASS



Easily could have been in the top ten, but his last album (JIM) is one of my absolute favorite records and is nearly flawless, where as this one disappoints at times.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT - WINTER OF MIXED DRINKS



This album is excellent, but lacks the teeth they bared on their first two records. I appreciate it's beautiful sadness and thirst for life - I just miss that manic feeling their earlier work had in spades.

NO AGE - EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN


Some great songs on here, but starts to fall apart for me towards the end.

JUNIP - FIELDS


I listen to this one a lot, but it has a mellow mood that just won't break. Wish this one would channel some more emotions.

SLEIGH BELLS - TREATS


Same thing here. Sleigh Bells are loud and abrasive and will make your head nod. They just never break their one emotional plain.

OFF! First Four EPs


This probably should be in my top ten but I haven't heard it all yet because it is a Christmas present. Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag) leads a band that sounds just like Circle Jerks and Black Flag. The difference is it's been twenty years since those bands were at their height and no one has captured that type of energy since. In walks OFF!