BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 2010!

It’s here!  The best albums of 2010! But first…

What determines what albums make the list, and in what order?
I believe that repeat listenability factors in just as much as brilliance, both are important factors.  Specifically what I mean by that is that I think the Beatles Abbey Road is fantastic, one of the best albums ever made… however, I’m going to throw on The Beastie Boys’ Hello Nasty instead of Abbey Road 9 times out of 10 because it’s just more fun to listen to.  So in my eyes there is a sort of equality there.

So here they are, in descending order!

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#15

Eels – Tomorrow Morning
One of the best “traditional” Eels albums in years with fun songs and lyrics, catchy music, and a very polished production.  Not to mention, one of two Eels albums that came out this year.

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#14

Rogue Wave – Permalight
The best indie-pop album on the list… well, the only one.  It’s a great album, full of honest lyrics, great songwriting, and one of the best voices out there. –review–

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#13

Tobacco – Maniac Meat
Bizarre and intriguing electronica full of heavy bass, random noises, trippy beats and lyrics that make absolutely no sense.  It’s wonderful. –review–

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#12

Sade – Soldier Of Love
Did you just do a double-take?  I offer no apologies, this is a solid and soulful album as only Sade can do. –mini review–

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#11

Neil Young – Le Noise
I always thought the “Godfather of Grunge” moniker was BS, and I still do, heh.  But damn if this isn’t a grand album full of rock, reverb, feedback, and in general just really great songs. –mini review–

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#10

Eels – End Times
The second of two great Eels albums, why is this one ranked higher?  Because it’s darker, deeper, grittier, more intimate and, uh… dunno, just like this one more! –review–

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#9

M.I.A. – /\/\/\Y/\
M.I.A. got the shaft from the critics, but don’t listen to them this is her best album yet.  It could be a bit more cohesive, but it’s full of uniquely great and dark music. –review–

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#8

Ted Leo – The Brutalist Bricks
Ted releases an album that just makes me happy.  Politically charged lyrics with punk infused catchy songwriting and full of amazing energy. –review–

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#7

The Roots – How I Got Over
I picked this up on a whim a few weeks ago… and wow… this is album is is a fantastic, genre-busting work of art.  It climbed steadily up my list with each listen, highly recommended!

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#6

Salem – King Night
Tobacco had the strangest electronic album of the year, but this is the creepiest and most addictive.  If it had a little more depth it might be even higher on the list, that being said it’s probably the most listened to out of all. –review–

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#5

Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
This is my go to album for all occasions, there’s never a bad time to listen to it.  Indie electronica that keeps you interested from start to finish, each song is unique and dark fun. –review–

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#4

Corin Tucker Band – 1,000 Years
I love Corin’s rock tracks, I love her mellow tracks, I love it all.  It truly earns the #4 spot, and I’m very excited about this 2nd chapter of her musical career. –review–

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#3

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
I didn’t review this album because EVERYONE IN THE WORLD DID, this was the most hyped album of the year.  But you know what, it’s damn good, and one of the few albums in recent years to live up to the hype.

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#2

Bonobo – Black Sands
There is nothing with more deep beats on this list.  The only thing better than listening to this album is seeing Bonobo live. –review–

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#1

Caribou – Swim
I was unsure about this album the 1st few times I listened to it, but after something clicked in my brain about 6 months ago, Swim was #1 and it never looked back.  This album is infectious and embodies the best of electronica today.  The songwriting, electrionics, percussion and vocals are all perfection.  Caribou, has a well-deserved best album of 2010! –review–

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For the heck of it, here are a few other good listens that didn’t make the list.

!!! – Strange Weather Isn’t It? – Catchy dance music with a rock and disco flair
Bad Religion – Dissent of Man – Consistently intelligent punk
Chemical Brothers – Further – Dance and ambient groves from these veterans
Die Antwoord – $O$ – Bizarre electronica hip-hop from S. Africa
Killing Joke – Absolute Dissent – Angry, intelligent metal
Menomena – Mines – Great Portland indie-rock
Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers – Downtempo electonica and dubstep
Retribution Gospel Choir – 2 – An offshoot of the band Low, but one that rocks

And finally…
Why did the list come out 18 days after the end of 2010?
I never rush to determine the best albums of the year, and never really understand why all the “lists” and “countdowns” come out prior to the clock switching to 2011.  Albums ARE released in December ya know!  Plus, this year especially I needed all the extra time I could get because it was one of the best years in music in recent memory! (which for me is 2-3 years)

It was a brilliant year for music!  I look forward to that continuing in 2011!…

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REVIEW: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Brutalist Bricks (2010)

4.25/5

Yay Ted!  Did I already give away my enjoyment of this album?  I was scared of what ‘The Brutalist Bricks’ might behold, because 2 albums ago I fell in love with Ted Leo due to his album ‘Shake The Sheets’.  Then in 2007 he released ‘Living With The Living’ which I just couldn’t warm up to.  Whereas every song on ‘Shake The Sheets’ either had super catchy hooks or rocked the fuck out or both, ‘Living With The Living’ just kind of existed, kind of OK, nothing special.  Maybe overly-political too? (and I should say that I’m on his side)

This album is wonderful!… the catchy and fast indie-rock/punk rifts, smart lyrics, even the simplistic album art and name, it all goes together perfectly.  Please listen to a song, and I will continue below.

That’s good stuff.  Packed full of energy, great guitar work, vocals and lyric creation.  And what I love about Ted Leo’s songwriting is that you never know where the “bridge” is going to lead you, a chorus, or totally unknown direction?  Usually the latter.  He always catches me off-guard, and I like that.
This album is packed full of energy, angst, emotion and all-around catchy songs at about 3 minutes on average.  The politics are still here, they’re just a bit more subtle than the last album.  I have to say his singing is top notch, on many songs he’s reaching so high he’s almost falsetto, especially on tracks like “Woke Up Near Chelsea”.  Just fabulous.  However, at the same time ‘Tuberculoids Arrive In Hop’ surprised me because it sounded like a slow track from The Wrens’ ‘The Meadowlands’.  If you are looking to get into Ted Leo, this album or ‘Shake The Sheets’ is a great choice.  I can also say they put on a great live show, so don’t miss if they come to your town.

A side note, I bought this album in LP form directly from Matador with a digital download.  That my friends is the future.  4.25/5

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