Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
After having such successful albums in Neon Bible & Funeral, the anticipation for their next release was probably higher than anyone I can remember in recent memory. Needless to say, they didn't disappoint. Every song on this album is really solid and then there a few flashes of brilliance with Sprawl II, The Suburbs, Ready to Start, and We Used To Wait. This album really gets going from the opening track and never lets you go nor does it ever let you down.
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
It seems as if some lists are trying too hard, they seem to want to put more obscure choices on their lists to get recognition from others. The problem when they do this is they leave off such great artists as Band of Horses. They fall into the same problem as Arcade Fire, in that they have had such success in the past with great albums, how could they ever live up to that billing? But in 2010 they definitely achieved another solid album to add to their discography. The highlight of this album was the title track, it's just one of those songs where you can close your eyes and put it on loop and completely loose yourself in the music.
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
I'm not sure if I ever put Deerhunter on here or not, and if I didn't then that is my mistake. Truly one of the best songs of the year in Helicopter, Deerhunter really blew me off the door with this album. On my first listen through the album my initial thought was how would Helicopter sound live? Then they performed on Conan a couple weeks ago and I was blown away by how much the live performance sounded like the studio version. When they can accomplish such a feat with a tech savvy song as Helicopter is, you know that Deerhunter are a very talented bunch.
Delta Spirit - History From Below
For some reason I haven't seen this on any of the aforementioned lists from the first paragraph of this post. It completely dumbfounds me that there are lists out there that are "Top 100 albums of the year" yet they don't have Delta Spirit's latest effort. It's just that good soulful rock and Vasquez's true grit vocals that turn Delta Spirit into such good music. This album actually contains my song of the year in Bushwick Blues. Some may say it's a very average song, but maybe it's the lyrics/story of the song that really hit home for me. I also love the progression of the vocals in how they are delivered ordinary in the first two chorus' and then in the final one he lets all of his emotions go on it. Delta Spirit's honesty in their music will allow them to create great albums for the foreseeable future.
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
After watching tons of videos of these guys perform on the NYC subways, I was waiting to see how they would translate their sound in a studio. There's something special and raw about watching a five piece band perform in the narrow walkway of a subway station. In one of their performances, can be found on youtube, the cops actually make them move because they are crowding the walkway. Talk about a real struggle to make it. The highlights of the album for me are Generator ^ First Floor, Broken Horse, and Generator ^ Second Floor. While the album versions are transitioned to well produced and finer sounding recordings, I still prefer the raw nature of their subway "shows". Until they decide to play a show within a hundred miles of me, Weathervanes will fill my need for banjos and xylophones.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I may receive some flack for putting this on here but anyone who appreciates music will find the beauty in this album. Kanye has taken the hip-hop genre and turned it into a realm where the ordinary is now epic. He has truly found a way to give his songs that epic feel in not just the beat but the progression of the track and the story he tells within each track. I also think this is evident in his vision of the Runaway music video, the 30+ minute version. He also used Bon Iver/Justin Vernon on a bunch of the tracks so that's an added bonus. Kanye even sampled one of Iver's songs Woods for his best song on the album in Lost in the World. To say Kanye made this album with the intention of saying that he's still on top, would be an understatement to his ego. But to say that this album says anything less, would be an understatement to the true beauty of the album.
The Morning Benders - Big Echo
On your first run through of this album, if you don't hear tones of The Beatles then you should probably take another listen. I had to check my iTunes a couple different times to make sure the Shuffle was unchecked and that I was still on Big Echo. This album is great by itself, but I can't help being underwhelmed by it when I see the live versions of its tracks. After listening to several live performances, you realize that Benders' front man Chris Chu has a beautiful voice. Unfortunately once you realize this through the live versions, you tend to realize that his voice is a little over produced on the album and it hides is amazing real voice. That would be my lone gripe with this album. With tracks like Excuses, Wet Cement, and Stitches it really diminishes the value of that gripe and allows the album to really shine.
Mystery Jets - Serotonin
I have been on the Mystery Jets bandwagon ever since I heard Dreaming of Another World. Unfortunately that meant I was a late to their party, but it didn't stop me from going out and getting their discography to brush up on them. With their latest effort, Serotonin, they really shined through with some great catchy hooks in the title track and the aforementioned Dreaming, but I think it's in Waiting On A Miracle where the album really hits its peak. Not to say that the rest of the album isn't that good, because this album really is great from the opening track, Alice Springs, to its closing one, Lorna Doone.
The National - High Violet
The National fall into the same trap as Arcade Fire & Band of Horses, in that they are already so well established in their previous efforts that there is a sense that their next album will never live up to its predecessors. Fortunately for all three, their latest efforts have lived up to and may have even exceeded their predecessors. High Violet is quickly becoming my favorite National album and with such efforts as Boxer and Alligator, that is quite the feat. I can't pinpoint one thing that makes me feel this way, it's just that with every run through of the album I find something new that makes me rethink where it ranks in their discography. Afraid of Everyone is my personal favorite off this album but Terrible Love and Conversation 16 are right behind it. I'm not sure how some of these bands top their previous efforts, but I guess that is why they are the elite of the elite in music.
The Roots - How I Got Over
How fitting is it that the arguably best hip hop group ever closes out a list of Best Albums? I'm not sure how to put the latest effort of The Roots into words, but in a word it would be expected. These guys are the building block for today's hip hop. They make records that push fellow artists to achieve their success. They set a new standard with every new album they make. They are just expected to produce greatness, and they never fail to live up to that billing. I am also extremely thankful to Jimmy Fallon for somehow getting them to be his house band. I'm not going to get into a debate on whether Fallon is funny or not but if you don't watch his show to just see The Roots every night, then you are doing it wrong. In a simple case of "talent recognizes talent", the Roots hooked up with Monsters of Folk (indie supergroup) on Dear God 2.0. The highlight of this album for me is Right On because it brings me back to the feeling of the early Roots Crew. Other highlights include The Fire, Walk Alone,and The Day to name a few.
Honorable Mentions for 2010:
Bad Books - Bad Books
Beach House - Teen Dream
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Geographer - Animal Shapes (would have been top 10 but it's an EP)
John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
Mt. Desolation - Mt. Desolation
Tunng - ....And Then We Saw Land
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