Now in Stereo’s Top Albums of 2010
Another year of music has come and gone. Some of this list is to be expected I suppose, others not so much. I was constantly changing the order of the albums and there were some last minute subs but I’m pretty happy with it. All album titles are hyper linked to my favorite song from said album. Much Love.
For some reason or another this year has been big on the 80’s post-punk for me and The Drums do not disappoint in that department. The Drums’ swirl from catchy highs, to swirling lows, which I love no matter what my mood is.
The follow up to “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” did not disappoint, me at least. Spoon is one of the very few bands I can put on almost any day and not want to skip any tracks. Transference doesn’t stray too far from the signature “Spoon” groove, but this time around I believe that the songwriting is stronger.
Yet another 80’s inspired pop album on the list and we’re only 3 deep. The melancholy melodies throughout the album hit me the same way as the New Order or Joy Division would. The album seems almost effortless and that’s just another reason to love it.
17. The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
Clinging to a Scheme produced some of the best indie-pop this year. From the opening “Domestic Scene,” which steadily climbs right into “Heaven’s on Fire” shows that not only are the songs great but fit together like a glove.
16. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
As the needle drop gives way to the sun drenched “Excuses,” all is well. “Big Echo” deliver’s a few huge hooks and even though it dips in the middle I still make it through every listen feeling satisfied.
15. How to Dress Well – Love Remains
HTDW’s “Love Remains” is a sample heavy, looping clinic that lets you get lost in it’s wake. It took a while for this one to grow on me especially with all of the vocal distortion, but now it’s one of my favorite characteristics.
Lisbon has this strange way of making me feel like a sad bastard while shouting the lyrics back at the top of my lungs, in the same kind of way that I do when listening to The Pogues. It’s slow, but steady and always makes for a good listen.
13. Toro Y Moi – Causers of This
A heavy hitter in the “chill-wave” uprising, “Causers of This” is gorgeously mapped out production wise. Chazwick Bundick has a way to make any time you listen feel like summer, which is always a good thing.
12. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
Every year I always search for an indie-folk album for the fall and this year it’s “The Wild Hunt.” The emotion conveyed in the vocals, coupled with the instrumentation on the album works perfectly together.
To be honest I struggled with this one. One day it was on the list, the next it was off, then I realized it belonged. Although I still feel that the first album is much better, Vampire Weekend shows that they have grown quite a bit in going with a more synth-pop sound while keeping the ska/afro character too.
10. Baths – Cerulean
This album played a monumental role in my summer. With it’s multi-sampled vocals and chopped beats are much more hard hitting then other “chill-wavers” in a sense that the beats are much more aggressive. It’s still pretty chill though. Chill.
1/3rd of Bon Iver, Sean Carey’s “All We Grow” is perfect. Using only a piano, drums, guitar and harmonies likened to Brian Wilson’s “Smile,” Carey has crafted a gorgeous and complex album that never allows you to skip songs.
8. Jonsi – Go
Anyone who reads this already knows who Jonsi is. For someone who is mostly associated with Post-Rock instrumentals, “Go” is a slightly different direction. “Go” is a listening adventure. I absolutely love the vocal layers on almost all the songs and the production is second to none.
7. Wye Oak – My Neighbor/My Creator
Even though this is a 5 song EP, for me it had more impact then some on the LP’s on this list (evident of it’s positioning). “My Neighbor/My Creator” employs dynamics not like many others in a song-to-song sense, which just adds to the impact and listening experience.
6. Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz
To be honest, I wasn’t excited for the “Age of Adz”. I didn’t want this album to lose the sensibilities that “Illinois” had, but somehow it didn’t. Sufjan Steven’s has produced an amazing electro-pop album that never lets you get too comfortable.
My favorite thing about the Arcade Fire has always been the sing-along-ability of their albums. “The Suburbs” kept me singing from start to finish, and keeps pushing the pace throughout.
Every time I put on “Teen Dream” I get lost. It is one of the very few albums that when listened to, I feel like I’m experiencing things for the first time again and I love that. It’s subtle, gorgeous, innocent and everything that music should be.
3. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
There’s only one thing that kept this album from being my #1 this year, production. I absolutely love this album, start to finish (even “Chase Scene”) but it’s missing a key ingredient, which is David Newfeld’s drum sound. Maybe a shitty reason not to give it a higher position but they’re still my favorite band, if that counts for anything.
Twin Shadow had blogbuzz like many bands this year, but was one of the few that actually delivered. Heavily influenced by 80’s new wave “Forget” ebbs and flows with a sense of brooding sexuality.
“High Violet” delivers in a big way. Somber ballads, epic climaxing anthems, and some of the most well written lyrics of our time, The National prove themselves as indie-rock royalty.
