B&C's Best of 2010 in Albums

[bono_212]

Blue October or Mumford and Sons?

Bonoz2012, they may not sound similar at all. Blue October were the first people I thought of when I heard his voice, and I am exceedingly opposed to them, so it could have been a knee jerk reaction to dislike them.

It's fine, I just am kind of surprised to see such outright hatred from them in here that's all. I mean, they've definitely become far bigger than they should have, but that doesn't mean they're awful. Oh well

Agreed. Are they just the British version of The Avett Brothers?

That's all well and good, mind you, but that's all I hear when I listen to them, or at least the big single.

But this is another comparison I don't get.

 

[bono_212]

Best Albums of 2010 according to Bonoz201212221222:

1.) Brandon Flowers - Flamingo (10)'

This is probably one of the most unpopular choices possible for #1, and I realize that. The fact is that I have loved this album since the day it came out, and I honestly believe it has nothing to do with my general fan-girl nature when it comes to The Killers, but perhaps I just can't get past the fact that I just wholeheartedly love those guys. Regardless, as you'll see with the points I gave out to the top five albums here, I couldn't really pick a number one, so it ended up going to the album I listened to the most, and spent the most time with, and that was Flamingo.

2.) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (10)
I've said it a lot lately, but if I were to write out what exactly I get out of The Suburbs it would take an age for you all to read it. That's because it would require me taking you through each step of my childhood and then, I could never exactly do those memories justice. It isn't that The Suburbs is this mind-blowing album that can transport you to another time and place (though, it can to an extent), it's more the discussions that the album provoked that began to build within me this nostalgic love for it. For me, it took me back to the neighborhood I grew up in, the one my father still lives in. It's still there, but it's not the same, it can't ever be the same to me again because I'm not the same person that I was, and the people I shared that part of my life with have mostly gone. But, when we were children, we used to have a curfew, my boundaries were to the fire hydrant at the end of the road, we'd stay out until dusk and play kick the can (I kid you not), we'd go back into the creek were we weren't allowed, we'd steal grapes from this one guy's vines he had growing on his fence, we'd play basketball at the park. Slowly, however, people moved away, my parents got divorced, and I ended up leaving myself, and eventually things changed. And now when I go back, like i said, it's still there, but I'm not, and it's nice to have something there, stirring those memories back up inside of me again.

3.) Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks (10)
4.) Stars - The Five Ghosts (10)
5.) The National - High Violet (10)
6.) Wild Nothing - Gemini (9)
7.) Phantogram - Eyelid Movies (7)
8.) Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago (7)
9.) Vampire Weekend - Contra (6)
10.) Yeasayer - Odd Blood (5)
11.) Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void (4)
12.) Fang Island - Fang Island (4)
13.) LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (3)
14.) Taylor Swift - Speak Now (3)
15.) Cee-Lo Green - The Ladykiller (2)

I was going to say more (anything) about each of the albums, but I'm glad I was able to get this list up at all, thanks to my damn computer problems. I spent a lot of time this year with this music, and it's meant a lot to me. I had a lot of fun, and I heard quite a lot. I just wish I could've had the opportunity to better share what it was I got out of the year.

And since I just don't feel up to it, here's a list of the songs I loved from this year in no particular order:

Skip the Youth – Frightened Rabbit
Ambling Alp – Yeasayer
Futuristic Casket – Phantogram
Lewis Takes off His Shirt – Owen Pallett
Evening Kitchen – Band of Horses
World Sick – BSS
Crossfire – Brandon Flowers
Dance Yrself Clean –LCD Soundsytem
Fall Hard – Shout Out Louds
Rocket – Goldfrapp
Terrible Love – The National
Something Good Coming – Tom Petty
Giving up the Gun – Vampire Weekend
Wasted Daylight - Stars
In Medias Res – Los Camp!
Suburban War – Arcade Fire
Hurricane J – The Hold Steady
Drifter – Wild Nothing
Castaways – Shearwater
Heaven’s No Place – Horse Feathers
Best Friend – The Drums
Laughing Lover – Blitzen Trapper
Moves – New Pornographers
Palaces of Montezuma – Grinderman
Angel Echoes – Four Tet
Daisy – Fang Island
Airplanes – Local Natives
Armistice – PRR
Our Riotous Defects – Of Montreal
Too Much, Too Much – Liars
Fuck You – CeeLo Green
The High Road – Broken Bells
Goodbye Sweet Dreams – Roky Erickson w/ Okkervil River
American Slang – Gaslight Anthem
All of the Lights – Kanye West
Sloan Shore – Kaki King
Miami – Foals

And the rest of what I heard this year:

Spoiler

1.Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
2. Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
3. God Is An Astronaut – Age of the Fifth Sun
4. The Drums – The Drums
5. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
6. Caribou - Swim
7. Four Tet - There is Love in You
8. Robyn – Body Talk
9. Of Montreal – False Priest
10. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
11. Hellogoodbye – Would It Kill You?
12. Blue Hawaii – Blooming Summer
13. Foals – Total Life Forever
14. Antony & The Johnsons – Swanlights
15. Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart
16. Sting - Symphonicities
17. Jonsi – Go
18. Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite
19. Spoon – Transference
20. Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do
21. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
22. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
23. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
24. John Mellencamp – No Better Than This
25. Roky Erickson – True Love Cast Out All Evil
26. Warpaint – The Fool
27. Los Campesinos! – Romance is Boring
28. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
29. Ratatat – LP4
30. Kaki King – Junior
31. Pure Reason Revolution – Hammer and Anvil
32. Grinderman – Grinderman 2
33. Liars – Sisterworld
34. Twin Shadow – Forget
35. Shout Out Louds – Work
36. Andy Bell – Non-Stop
37. Rogue Wave - Permalight
38. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
39. Bonobo – Black Sands
40. The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
41. Kele – The Boxer
42. Taio Cruz - Rokstarr
43. Black Eyed Peas – The Beginning
44. Rihanna - Loud
45. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
46. The New Pornographers – Together
47. Free Energy – Stuck on Nothing
48. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way
49. The-Dream – Love King
50. Girl Talk – All Day
51. Horse Feathers – Thistled Spring
52. Citay – Dream Get Together
53. Chromeo – Business Casual
54. Ryan Binghman and the Dead Horses – Junky Star
55. Tindersticks – Falling Down a Mountain
56. The Magnetic Fields – Realism
57. Goldfrapp – Head First
58. Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM
59. Emeralds – Does it Look Like I’m Here?
60. MGMT – Congratulations
61. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty
62. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mojo
63. Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back
64. Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
65. Owen Pallett – Heartland
66. Danger Mouse and Sparklehourse – Dark Night of the Soul
67. Janelle Monae – The Archandroid
68. Maroon 5 – Hand All Over
69. Delta Spirit – History From Below
70. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt*
71. Interpol - Interpol
72. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
73. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
74. Sun Kil Moon – Admiral Fell Promises
75. Motion City Soundtrack – My Dinosaur Life
76. Pantha du Prince – Black Noise
77. Crowded House – Intriguer
78. Slash – Slash
79. Massive Attack – Heligoland
80. Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown
81. Meat Loaf – Hang Cool Teddy Bear
82. Jenny & Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
83. Smile Smile – Truth on Tape
84. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
85. James Blackshaw – All is Falling
86. Royksopp - Senior
87. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
88. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
89. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
90. Neil Young – Le Noise
91. Aqualung – Magnetic North
92. Beach House – Teen Dream
93. Ke$ha – Animal
94. Wavves – King of the Beach
95. OMD – This is Modern
96. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)
97. Nelly – 5.0
98. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
99. Ok Go - Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
100. B.o.B – The Adventures of Bobby Ray
101. Jason Derulo – Jason Derulo
102. The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter
103. Usher – Raymond v. Raymond
104. Ozzy Osbourne - Scream
105. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream
106. Ke$ha – Cannibal (EP)
107. Ringo Starr – Y Not
108. Avey Tare – Down Here
109. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim – Here Lies Love
110. The Books – The Way Out
111. Lil Wayne – Rebirth
112. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days

Ignore the numbering there, obviously you'd have to add 15 to get the right numbers. (And the strange colors as well)

 

[u2popmofo]

It's fine, I just am kind of surprised to see such outright hatred from them in here that's all. I mean, they've definitely become far bigger than they should have, but that doesn't mean they're awful. Oh well

To be honest, I had no idea they were on the radio, or were popular. I'd never heard anything by them until a few days ago.

Thanks to everyone who actually wrote info (thoughts and such) out in their lists, by the way. I used to do that, but it would take me ages to complete, so I'm lucky if I can even get a basic list out now. I sorta miss it though, and wish it didn't stress me out so much. Regardless, I appreciate reading everyone else's thoughts and such.

Tons of good lists on here, by the way. I was going to start quoting or commending on everyone's lists I liked, but realized I'd pretty much respond to everyone, so it would be pointless.

 

[powerhour24]

I was enjoying the first half of Mumford & Sons album, but the second half was a big letdown.

 

[LemonMelon]

The major problem I have with their music is that every song has the exact same structure.

I'm gentle and brooding and then OH LOOK FUCKYEAH TIME TO ROCK AUGHH ok here's an acoustic break and OH YEAH TIME FOR ANOTHER CHORUS and then let's close with a single guitar strum. The end. Repeat 11 times and you have a new Mumford & Sons album.

 

[corianderstem]

But this is another comparison I don't get.

The big single (which I quite like) has that banjo-y Americana feel that makes me think of the Avett Brothers (and/or other bands dabbling in the Americana sound).

I don't think it's a bad thing.

 

[Jive Turkey]

Blue October or Mumford and Sons?

Mumford and Sons. I'd like to punch them all in the throat. I dont even know who Blue October is

 

[u2popmofo]

I dont even know who Blue October is

Lucky you.

 

[Jive Turkey]

Oh, and here is my top whatever albums of the year.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Beach House - Teen Dream (feels weird to include this. It seems so old)
The Walkmen - Lisbon
The National - High Violet
Black Keys - Brothers
LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening

 

[Jive Turkey]

Lucky you.

I just did myself the disservice of googling them. I do know who they are and I fucking hate them too. I remember that God awful song Hate Me from years ago. I'd completely wiped it from my memory. I'd rather listen to the sounds coming out of the Devil's asshole than have to listen to that song ever again. Why do people still know who they are? I'd like to punch them all in the throat

 

[IWasBored]

yeah, blue october were terrible. i think i vaguely might have liked one of their songs for a day or two, but i can't remember what it was.

 

[PhilsFan]

Thanks to the 14 of you that have contributed so far (Canadiens doesn't count, as much as I like the enthusiasm). To the rest of you who haven't posted lists, you suck! And that includes me. I suck!

 

[Jive Turkey]

Oh, I was supposed to include numbers... I'll redo it

 

[Jive Turkey]

Also, it seems that I'm going to a Twin Shadow concert. I've never listened to Twin Shadow. Should I be stoked?

 

[PhilsFan]

His album this year was very good.

 

[Jive Turkey]

His album this year was very good.

I am...sampling... it now

 

[U2inUtah]

1. The National - High Violet (13)
2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (11)
3. Shearwater - Golden Archipelago (10)
4. Midlake - The Courage Of Others (8)
5. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks (7)
6. Surfer Blood - Astrocoast (7)
7. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (7)
8. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty (7)
9. The Walkmen - Lisbon (6)
10. The Black Keys - Brothers (5)
11.Twin Shadow - Forget (5)
12.Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer (5)
13.Hot Chip - One Life Stand (3)
14.Broken Bells - Broken Bells (3)
15.Beach House - Teen Dream (3)

A few others that almost made the cut:

16.New Pornographers - Together
17.The Morning Benders - Big Echo
18.Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man
19.LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
20.Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

 

[u2popmofo]

18.Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man

Crap, I completely forgot they had another one come out! I never even heard a song from it!

Nice list, man.

 

[U2inUtah]

Thanks, yeah these lists are hard to come up with. Looking at it there's already a couple albums I forgot to mention...Four Tet, Massive Attack, BRMC, No Age, etc, etc.

My biggest disappointments of 2010 were:

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Spoon - Transference

I couldn't decide where to put Sufjan, and ended up just leaving it off. I liked the LP and EP for the most part, but they just don't seem on par with his earlier stuff. Whatever...it still may grow on me.

 

[PhilsFan]

Honorable Mentions:
25. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
24. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
23. Jonsi – Go
22. Pretty Lights – Glowing in the Darkest Night
21. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
20. The Roots – How I Got Over
19. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
18. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
17. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
16. Cee-Lo Green – The Lady Killer


Top Fifteen

15. Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring

For a while there I developed an involuntary distaste to Los Campesinos! solely because they canceled their gig at Penn State to play in New York instead. But when I returned to this album, it was still very strong. It’s definitely my favorite of theirs from front to back.

Best Tracks: The Sea Is a Good Place to Think of the Future // There Is a Flag. There Is No Wind

14. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

It looks like it should be too long but it’s surprisingly consistent. I’ve still not really explored Outkast, but I’m stunned that he’s the less famous of the two, because this is really solid.

Best Tracks: Shutterbugg // Shine Blockas

13. Sun Airway – Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier

I really only followed this recommendation from Impy because he said they were from Philly, but it was a good one. They take the same atmospheric approach Animal Collective took on Merriweather Post Pavilion but direct in a manner employed by dream pop acts. The combination is odd but the results are effective. If that makes sense, please tell me, because reading that back to myself makes me think I’m insane.

Best Tracks: American West // Shared Piano

12. Fang Island – Fang Island

Fast beats, guitars, and the most fun I had listening to a record all year.

Best Tracks: Sideswiper // Welcome Wagon

11. Twin Shadow – Forget

The bass and drum sounds remind me of Cut Copy, which is another thing that seems crazy to the outsider (in reference to my mind). The atmosphere in this album is fantastic and it still retains a catchiness.

Best Tracks: Yellow Balloon // Castles in the Snow

10. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

It’s apparently supposed to be a concept album, but the only way you’d notice that is by listening to snippets of speeches in at the beginnings of some of the tracks. The album rocks. THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE.

Best Tracks: A More Perfect Union // The Battle of Hampton Roads

9. Warpaint – The Fool

Great harmonies, an all girl band, catchy songs … why is this not GAF’s number one album of the year?

Best Tracks: Warpaint // Shadows

8. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid

Strikingly consist, this one is. I still can’t separate all the tracks, but that’s mostly due to the consistency of the album rather than a sameness.

Best Tracks: Locked Inside // Tightrope

7. The New Pornographers – Together

No “track of the year” candidates but about as consistent as any album this year. I’ve never heard a New Pornographers album before this but I think I need to look back at some of their older albums now. Because I’m feeling Byzantine, guys.

Best Tracks: Crash Years // Sweet Talk/Sweet Talk

6. Beach House – Teen Dream

My biggest music crush right now is Victoria Legrand.

Best Tracks: Zebra // Walk in the Park // 10 Mile Stereo

5. The Black Keys – Brothers

The White Stripes now have competition for my favorite bluesy rock band. What a set of songs this album is.

Best Tracks: Tighten Up // She’s Long Gone

4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

I’m not as big a fan of Win Butler’s lyrics as others, but it’s undeniable that this is still just a good album. If they cut a few tracks in the middle out, this might have been higher, that’s how good most of it is.

Best Tracks: The Suburbs // Ready to Start // Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

3. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

This is the best hip-hop album I’ve ever heard. Admittedly, that’s not a ton, but it’s enough to say that that statement means this album is phenomenal.

Best Tracks: Power // All of the Lights // So Appalled

2. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

The best LCD Soundsystem album from front to back. I’m convinced James Murphy can do no wrong.

Best Tracks: Dance Yrself Clean // I Can Change // Home

1. The National – High Violet

This isn’t even my favorite album by this band. They’re operating on a plane no other music act can compete on right now.


Point Distribution
1. The National - High Violet (14)
2. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (13)
3. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (11)
4. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (10)
5. The Black Keys - Brothers (9)
6. Beach House - Teen Dream (9)
7. The New Pornographers - Together (6)
8. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (5)
9. Warpaint - The Fool (5)
10. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor (5)
11. Twin Shadow - Forget (4)
12. Fang Island - Fang Island (3)
13. Sun Airway - Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier (2)
14. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2)
15. Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring (2)


Best Songs

• The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio
• Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
• LCD Soundsystem – Dance Yrself Clean
• Beach House – Walk in the Park
• The National – Terrible Love [Alternate Version]
• Cee-Lo Green – Bright Lights Bigger City
• Kanye West – All of the Lights
• LCD Soundsystem – Home
• Beach House – Zebra
• Kanye West (feat. Dwele) – Power
• Deerhunter – Desire Lines
• Titus Andronicus – A More Perfect Union
• Los Campesinos! – There Is a Flag. There Is No Wind
• The Black Keys – Tighten Up
• Big Boi (feat. Cutty) – Shutterbugg
• Beach House – 10 Mile Stereo
• The Morning Benders – All Day Day Light
• Fang Island – Sideswiper
• Titus Andronicus – The Battle of Hampton Roads
• LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change
• Beach House – Silver Soul
• The National – Afraid of Everyone
• Shearwater – Black Eyes
• Arcade Fire – Ready to Start
• The Roots (feat. John Legend) – The Fire

 

[cobl04]

Just on my #1 pick for best non-2010 album, Aquemini. It is very quickly becoming one of my favourite albums, like ever. Such an addictive, bewitching listen. Slump is incredible, hard to frown when that song is on. Lemel, if you have anything written up on it somewhere on the internet, I'd love to read it cos I'm not real good when it comes to writing about hip-hop.

 

[LemonMelon]

I’ve never heard a New Pornographers album before this but I think I need to look back at some of their older albums now.

Best pure pop band in indie right now, IMO.

YouTube - The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno

YouTube - Electric Version by New Pornographers (Snow Party)

Just on my #1 pick for best non-2010 album, Aquemini. It is very quickly becoming one of my favourite albums, like ever. Such an addictive, bewitching listen. Slump is incredible, hard to frown when that song is on. Lemel, if you have anything written up on it somewhere on the internet, I'd love to read it cos I'm not real good when it comes to writing about hip-hop.

I sadly do not, but I easily could. It IS my favorite hip-hop album of all time, and I'm glad to see you mention Slump. Criminally underrated track.

 

[cobl04]

Well when you do please let me know

 

[powerhour24]

Philly, you get also get a for the ArchAndroid selection. Oh, and for a solid overall list.

For some reason, blasphemous and jaded-hipster though it may be, now that The National are everywhere, I'm just not into them like I used to be. That said, I've always gone through periods with them of a lot of listening, and then none at all for an extended time, so no biggie. I really enjoyed Alligator, and then got really into them when Boxer came out, saw them 3 times. Since then they've taken everyone by storm with hyperbole in great supply and my National-attention span has lessened. But yeah, as solid as all their albums are (including High Violet, which has individual songs that probably best their entire back catalog), the substance is for me, but in music terms Boxer remains my favorite, those horns . OK I'm rambling and surely irritating their cult.

I'm getting closer to making my list, they'll be on it, somewhere in the middle, but man, now I'm hearing National tracks on network sitcoms, I'm glad they've found success and I'm not calling them sellouts or anything cliche like that, it's just that that seems kind of, you know out of place. They were esoteric for a decade, and their sound is low-key, not something you'd expect as montage-backing music on a happy-dappy sitcom. Ahhh, I rambled again.

Edit, on second thought, the reason for my periodic listening may be (beyond often swapping genres and artists) that I always think of their sound as autumnal, despite having first heard them in the summer, .

 

[bono_212]

I've mentioned before that I am BIG into The National in the summer, and then it tapers off in the fall until I barely listen to them at all in the winter. I have no idea why that happens. Can't think of any other band that happens for me with.

 

[PhilsFan]

I haven't stopped listening to The National at all since I first got recommended to them in summer 2009.

And I've never heard one of their songs on a TV show. Though I admittedly watch limited amounts of TV.

 

[powerhour24]

I couldn't tell you what show it was, something on ABC I think, it was just the other day, I was walking through the kitchen and someone had left the TV on and I heard one of their songs, a Boxer track, and I was shocked.

Also bono_212, how weird is it you have a similar situation?

 

[PhilsFan]

My perception of The National is not that they're popular, though. Among legitimate music fans? Absolutely. They're quite prevalent amongst people who follow new music. But they're completely unknown amongst the "general public," if you will. I can't imagine any band overexposing themselves to me unless they get to that stage. None of my friends have ever heard of The National beyond me referencing them.

 

[bono_212]

Also bono_212, how weird is it you have a similar situation?

More than anything makes me think I must not be alone on this one lol.

My perception of The National is not that they're popular, though. Among legitimate music fans? Absolutely. They're quite prevalent amongst people who follow new music. But they're completely unknown amongst the "general public," if you will. I can't imagine any band overexposing themselves to me unless they get to that stage. None of my friends have ever heard of The National beyond me referencing them.

The one and only time I ever had an opportunity to recommend them to someone, he'd already had a friend recommend them to him as well, and this is not a guy who, by any stretch of the imagination listens to what you'd consider "Legitimate" music.

 

[powerhour24]

Yeah obviously they aren't everywhere in the way U2 is (though that never bothered me, it's been that way my whole life, and I have a much deeper emotional connection with U2's music than I do any other artist), but everywhere in the indie music world, and I guess combined with the fact that High Violet didn't topple Boxer, or many other records I heard this year, I did gain a bit of cognitive dissonance towards them this year.

Funny though, they've been huge in the Boston music scene for a number of years now, you hear them in bars all the time, on campuses, people get really excited for their shows, etc. And this is going back awhile now. I'm not really sure why they've been known around here, I could understand if they were locals, but they aren't.