Top Ten Music Releases of 2010
I fancy myself a little bit of a music aficionado and have in the past put together a couple best of lists. The last year saw me acquire another couple dozen albums and here is what I think were the highlights of the music that was releases in 2010. Want to hear the music, just click on the song link for the song to play over on Grooveshark.
1. The New Pornographers – Together
Neither new or pornographers, this is an all power-indie-psych-power pop-rock group which specializes in synth driven beats, ripping rock riffs and quirky grooves that make you want to move. Catchy as hell. Track to listen to: Your Hands (Together)
2. Awadi - Presidents d’Afrique
Sort of an oddball on my list, this Senegalese rap album blew me away despite being sung/rapped predominantly in French. It mixes speeches from African and African-American luminaries in with collaborations from rappers across the Diaspora – easy listening beats and a message that needs to be heard. Track to listen to: Dans Mon Reve (I Have a Dream)
3. Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Around
This man is folk gold. No jokes – The man to take up Dylan’s legacy. Each song is an intimate story and they take you on a trip across Americana. Ballads, acoustic guitar, shuffling rhythms, a little Dylan meets Tom Waits – what more do you want? Might not be quite as good as his The Animal Years, but it is very very good. Track to listen to: Folk Bloodbath
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Canadian rockers extraordinaire, this album was a bestseller and made most people’s top 10 lists for good reason. Alt rock with a little more than normal indie pop thrown in, some alt country, baroque rock – this is their best album yet and that is saying a lot. Track to listen to: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
5. The Acorn – No Ghost
This Ottawa based band made #1 spot on my best of 2008 list with their Glory Hope Mountain and their live performance was electrifying (two drum kits pounding out massive beats in a small venue will do that…) They’ve left their folksy past behind for a little more rock-driven album but it still pays homage to the funky, folksy, drums driven groove that made them a must-listen-to band for me. Track to listen to: No Ghost
6. Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void
Portland hippies meet alt-country southern rock with a generous dash of folk. This little piece has a sort of classic rock feel (almost Beatlesque at times) as well, stark and simple guitars, americana instrumentation. This group was new on my radar this year and this album has been in heavy rotation. Track to listen to: The Tree (feat. Alela Diane)
7. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
A first time collaboration project that was a real chill listen. A more reverb soaked Shins, a little less fluff pop and a little more edgy and dark thanks to Danger Mouse. On all the charts, what all the cool kids are listening to (or at least I think so, what does an old fart like me know?) Track to listen to: The High Road
8. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Critics call it an Afrobeat inspired tribal rhythm, I’m not sure if it is but it’s certainly along the lines of groups such as Vampire Weekend. Whatever inspires it, its funky beats and indie hipness will make you want to put on your skinny jeans, slick back your hair, grab your grandfather’s best knit sweater and DANCE! Track to listen to: Sun Hands
9. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
For my favorite artist of all time to release an album that only reaches #9 there must be something wrong. Nope. Nothing wrong, just a way different album that is perhaps the most complex and demanding that I’ve heard in a while. Orchestral pop and with a larger focus on electronica driven experimentation, all still blended with that charming indie folk vibe and whispery voice. This one has taken a while to grow on me but growing it is, I can imagine looking back on this year and ranking this album higher. Track to listen to: Vesuvius
10. The Black Keys – Brothers
It’s certainly not the crunchy, gritty blues from their previous releases (which I totally dig bytheway) but an easier, more accessible blues meets contemporary rock with a little funk thrown in. Still plenty bluesy but in a more subdued way, the kind of blues you’ll hear on a popular TV show episode or two. Track to listen to: She’s Long Gone
Honorable Mention to: Roots – How I Got Over, Forest City Lovers – Carriage, Tamikrest – Adagh
