| 23 December 2010
Reflecting upon a year's worth of music can be an overwhelming task (this post was due last week). Thankfully, 2010 has been an enjoyable ride with plenty of great musical moments to choose from.
See: Russ' Top 20 for 2010
Love it or hate it, here's my list for Best Albums of 2010:
20. Champ - Tokyo Police Club
Remember Lesson In Crime and how spunky and youthful that was? In the two years to release that EP and their debut LP Elephant Shell, it took them another two to write Champ. Clearly, the guys of Tokyo Police Club have grown nostalgic, because there's a yearning energy that was lost somewhere in the middle. David Monks sings about childhood pleasures and running away, while the band plays with the same guitar-driven audacity. Their new care-free optimism works well for them, with songs that reignite their excitement from their early works.
19. Brothers - The Black Keys
With Motown melodies and constant funk groove, Brothers wears its American dirtiness on its sleeve with great effect. It's scintillating in all the right places and continually moves you along with its unique genre perspective.
18. Summer Heart - Blackbird Blackbird
I'm not the chillwave kind of guy, so I was surprised that I enjoyed this album as much as I did. Taken in a more polished and refined direction, Blackbird Blackbird's song paints a sunny, haze-drenched picture for you to soak in.
17. Together - The New Pornographers
Sometimes I find "supergroups" unbearable to listen to - like too many cooks in the kitchen. The New Pornographers elude that pitfall in Together, working with each member's strengths to produce a distinctive pop record that keeps fresh with a new sense of chemistry. I still do question its relevance/quality compared to its member's individual efforts though.
16. Odd Blood - Yeasayer
Odd Blood is a medley of noises specifically designed to have you immediately interested in deciphering the eclectic cacophony. It does seem to throw a little too much into the mix at times ("Rome", much of the second half) but there's no doubt that Yeasayer has a lot to say.
15. Big Echo - The Morning Benders
It's easy to dismiss The Morning Benders as another boilerplate surf album by the looks of their cover art. Upon listen, Big Echo's sound strays away from overtness and instead focuses on crafting out larger, orchestral melodies that have been softened out. The effort proves to be an elegant and sophisticated outing for those looking out for a cosy listen.
14. Hippies - Harlem
Who knew noisy, garage rock could be see light and fun? It helps that they keep the songs short and sweet - only 3 of 16 tracks clock past 3 minutes in length. Harlem manages to rise above the thick, static that sometimes drenches garage rock and applies heavy melody-driven hooks that'll have you bouncing around for forty minutes.
13. Astrocoast - Surfer Blood
An opening act to 2010's ongoing indie beach party, Surfer Blood's Astrocoast set the tone for many reverb-drenched, lo-fi, surf bands to follow. Its staying power probably lies in its ability to pick from the non-chiches of the genre and incorporate the best of 90's indie to form contagious riffs and effective melodies.
12. Fortress - Miniature Tigers
I know exactly what's wrong with album but I really don't care because I had so much fun listening to it this year. It bounces from Grizzly Bear-melodies, Vampire Weekend clean-cut hooks and Animal Collective electronic flourishes. Obviously, the album has an instant familiarity that makes it seem appropriate for all moods and occasions.
11. Mines - Menomena
Mines is a powerful and potent record that manages to balance a plethora of instrumentation into a very compelling listen. They seem to showcase everything they have into each and every song; the sound is built upon many many layers and their lyrics are tangled knots that hold everything in place. For such a tight listen, Mines gives you so much.
10. Swim - Caribou
There's something incredibly fluid about Swim; every pulsating beat, every yearning line from Dan Snaith washes over you - the music is textural and surprisingly intimate for something right at home on the dancefloor.
9. Halcyon Digest - Deerhunter
From the crystalline electronic soundscapes to the creative lyrics, there's an assured creativity in Halcyon Digest that never lets up. The scope that they expand upon never becomes overbearing or forced, it's wildly fun in the most precise, refined and distinct manner.
8. This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem
If the cover art is anything to go by, James Murphy has shrugged (or danced) off any mounting hysteria and made an album full of nonchalance and coolness. But the songs on This Is Happening aren't just cool on the surface; they unravel themselves further to reveal a heavy heart and a matured awareness of the dance floor scene.
7. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
It's like Kanye West himself is masturbating in my face and I'm really enjoying it.
6. High Violet - The National
The National have grown slowly and steadily, in popularity and in sound, over the past few years. A lot more people are paying attention to them but that doesn't seem to phase their melancholic demeanour. High Violet, in fact all National songs, read a little flat on the page but as a cohesive whole, they are a string of intricacies and nuances that repeated listens will reward.
5. Contra - Vampire Weekend
Not much has changed since Vampire Weekend's self titled debut; instead of the M79, you're taking a Taxi Cab and Californian English replaces Oxford Commas. It doesn't mean they've been sitting on their laurels though. Contra is full of dense composition, mixing up indie rock with their afro flourishes. It's bright, focused and a highly addictive listen.
4. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
I'm not afraid to say it: The Suburbs is my favourite Arcade Fire album. Its 16 songs weave tales of faded memories, adolescent yearnings and imaginative nostalgia, all personally hit a lot more closer to home than the fatalism of Funeral or Neon Bible's dystopia. Here, the suburbs is as strong as a concept as ever, but The Suburbs never falls into being a concept album in itself. The songs remain diverse and hypnotic that it's hard not to embrace.
3. Gorilla Manor - Local Natives
For a debut album, it's remarkably polished with a rhythmic dexterity that you expect from veterans. Most of the songs are steered with a driving percussion that never fails to leave an everlasting hook and the always-balanced vocal harmonies are a real delight to listen to.
2. Lisbon - The Walkmen
For their latest album, The Walkmen have taken their distinct anthems of dejection and applied some Lisbon sun. The songs are loose and surprisingly mellow, much thanks to the rolling instrumentation. In turn, Leithauser's vocals in songs such as "Angela Surf City" and "Victory" offer moments of sheer, exuberant fun. The album is actually full of gorgeous moments, and one that's not to be missed.
1. Teen Dream - Beach House
I first heard this album way back in December 2009 and it still manages to be exciting and engaging. Victoria Legrand's voice is booming yet fragile above Alex Scally's rippling guitar arrangements. While Teen Dream constantly reinforces its iconic dream-pop aesthetic, each song has its own allure. "Zebra" opens the album with intoxicating minimalism, "Norway" is a melting deluge of harmonies and "Real Love" strips it all down to a soul-drenched ballad. Look through the slow motion haze and you'll see an album with great emotional impact as well as a stunningly introverted pop atmosphere. Not only is it the most accessible Beach House album yet, it sees them at their most confident - and notably deserving of album of the year.
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