Mike’s Top Albums of 2010

It was disappointing to see the albums I loved in 2010 not make any lists, or ranked absurdly lower than they should have been. I would like to use this as a ladder to credit twenty astounding, meaningful records. Sorry, but there’s no “My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy” on this list!

Read “The High Violet Effect”

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

I never really understood everyone’s obsession with the Arcade Fire. But this year, I finally got why the band is so extraordinary. How exactly did The Suburbs captivate me? It’s a beautiful concept album, spanning 16 tracks that deal with suburban sprawl, the pain and confusion of growing up and the importance of where we came from. The concept sounds not so thrilling on paper but the way the music and lyrics are presented is beyond perfection. What separates The Suburbs from everything else released this year is that it plays as a visionary tale of our generation’s youth.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tattoo

“Here in the future, though, the sneering young dudes who once asked “Whatever Happened to My Rock’n'Roll” now bear all the telltale signs of a band desperately flailing to live up to the dangerousness of their band name.” This mocking quote from Pitchfork’s album review is just as far off mark as a bad comedian failing with a joke. BRMC is the most consistent rock band in modern times and Beat the Devil’s Tattoo reserves their spot among the rock greats. Fusing the sound of all previous work into a fierce ride of their musical strengths, this single rock opus sets records straight.

Beach House – Teen Dream

When I first listened to Teen Dream back when it was just released, I felt like I heard the album in a past life I once lived. It was unsettling and eerie but gorgeous. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally have composed an indie rock masterpiece with Beach House’s third installment, that can go head to head with the best of the last decade. The song arrangements are meant to be charming, but the hazy moments give it a wonderful edge. Is this the sound of a duo making their Teen Dream a reality? Oh, if only Katy Perry had changed the name of her album, the idea behind the title’s innuendo wouldn’t hold such a stigma.

Warpaint – The Fool

I hailed this “debut of the year” in my album review and even now, strongly stand by my synopsis and 4.5 out of 5 rating. The Fool is the voice of a confident young band that stand out from all else. From the start, it’s clear that Warpaint are taking you hostage until “Lissie’s Heart Murmur” closes the album. It’s seductive, and incredibly intense. It’s a mysterious vixen crouched over your bed, trying to feed off your oxygen. It’s not a record the average person would play before a Sunday stroll but it’s a sound I truly feel passionate about.

Abe Vigoda – Crush

Crush reminds me of doors that have been closed – of times consuming watered down cranberry vodkas with cloudy memories of hip to death ladies during all night benders at smoke filled bars – and the synth-wave genre. They open back up with this record, making me curious about the roots of darkwave and goth music. Crush will have you dancing and grabbing your heart. It’s packed with reeling synths, heavy reverb, effect ready guitars, and Michael Vidal’s Bowie-esque vocals. I can only hope for the band to continue on with this in the future.

Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)

Crystal Castles have caused trouble since arriving on the electronic music scene – accused of plagiarism, starting brawls during live gigs, and answering for the actions of the staggering mascot, Alice Glass. Somehow, the duo pushed all the bullshit to the side and made a fine electronic album. It’s a rock album without the roll, loud but flowing, hazardous yet heartfelt. Whoever said electronic music was soulless are eating their words now, just the way Crystal Castles wanted it.

Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

Broken Social Scene haven’t pushed their sound very much in the span of four albums. You Forget It In People is the band’s most beloved album, but I will boldly state that Forgiveness Rock Record is the collective’s most extensive album to date. On each song, they sound like they are trying to save us all from something. For three minutes and forty four seconds on “Meet Me In The Basement”, the difficulties of this amazing place called earth don’t seem so bad.

Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

Upon the release of Halcyon Digest, I read nothing pertaining to the band’s musical direction on the album. When I finally listened, I was taken back by the shiny accessible sound that infested the record, from start to finish. What I was expecting was a more noisy, chaotic sound that we have come to know Deerhunter for. I continued to listen, feeling like there was something I wasn’t grasping yet, and soon found love for delicate pop songs that I never expected to fall for in the first place. Unexpectedly, “Desire Lines” wins my vote for song of the year.

Land of Talk – Cloak and Chipper

There was a time when indie rock sounded simple and no non-sense genre names like chillwave or witch house existed. Land of Talk brings it back to basics with their alluring pop songs and straight forward lyrics – each an anthem for what could be the soundtrack to a horrible teen drama. For now, I’m glad that they are still mine.

Liars – Sisterworld

Liars have created the most intricate album of 2010. I only understood the music and concept when I focused and dove head first into their world. The three-piece relocated to the city of angles to record the album and ironically the dark side of L.A. inspired them without plan. What happened to all the failed actors and musicians? What about the junkie you’d see every day on Hollywood Blvd, that’s no longer there? Liars shed light on the answers but they aren’t pleasant ones.

Crocodiles – Sleep Forever

Crocodiles enjoy wearing their influences on their sleeve and when projected in the right manner, there is nothing wrong with doing so. Sleep Forever is brief and to the point with just the perfect amount of volume and pop. The haters can bash this album, but it’s refreshing to see new bands still keeping the soul of rock and psychedelic music alive.

The Love Language – Libraries

If Fleet Foxes were more intriguing, used electric guitars and turned their amps up, they would sound like Stuart McLamb’s love child. This as a result makes for a wonderfully dramatic but also sensible record about an intense relationship gone terribly astray. Close your eyes and you can imagine this being played in a cowboy-western-romantic-drama. And I have to ask, why wasn’t this album on any big end of the year list?

Foals – Total life Forever

Total Life Forever is far more challenging than their debut Antidotes. They don’t stray far off course from the outfit’s start but this time around, the band incorporates a more layered sound and even introduces horns on a few tracks. The highlight of the album is the excellent “Spanish Sahara” whose lyrics, “I’m the ghost in the back of your head…” depict how the album made me feel.

Klaxons – Surfing the Void

The London based foursome’s second effort was plagued with problems from the start. There were failed studio sessions with Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford, an entire albums worth of material scrapped, and rumors of label heads forcing them to write hits. This should have been the worst sophomore effort on record but what they came up with is a cluster fuck of sounds and one hell of a messy album. All things aside, it’s the most fun I have had all year with a record. I rocked out, I scratched my head, and I laughed hysterically. It’s like watching a sci-fi movie gone horribly wrong, but I still loved!

Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be

Dee Dee is the most fascinating and stunning woman in rock music today. But the music on I Will Be speaks for itself. It’s a blissed out affair with some of my favorite tunes of the year. It’s the perfect blend between doo-wop and punk rock. If Siouxsie fronted the Ronettes, this is the album they would have made.

Lower Dens – Twin Hand Movement

While immersed in this Lower Dens debut, I phased out like I was on cloud nine from the band’s dreamy soundscape. It’s fuzzy and the vocals are mysterious, yearning to peek through. The atmosphere builds from the ground up and once you’re in, you never want to leave.

The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream

On Phosphene Dream, The Black Angels shed some of the fuzz and psychedelics and relax with the jangles of 60’s California pop. On lead single “Telephone”, the lyrics are, “I try and call your phone, but you’re never home”. Unaware of technology, it seems. In this case, I’m glad they are stuck in a time warp.

The Drums – The Drums

“Wake up it’s a beautiful morning” was not how I felt until this sunny, feel-good hit rescued me from summer time lows. Led by Jonathan Pierce, The Drums pays homage to 80’s post punk mixed with a little Brian Wilson. Although it’s a seasonal romp, there are moments when the singing is piercing and the words raw. Even with the dark tone, it’s sure to cure the blues.

Grinderman – Grinderman 2

My obsession with post punk and goth continues with Nick Cave’s expansive musical catalog. Although I started my crash course backwards, Grinderman 2 is one hell of a way to start. It’s a sonic, brutal assault with Mr. Cave howling about his sexual frustrations and his thoughts about society through the eyes of the “old guy.” Growing old never sounded like so much fun to me!

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Tags: Abe Vigoda, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Broken Social Scene, Crocodiles, Crystal Castles, Deerhunter, Dum Dum Girls, Foals, Grinderman, Klaxons, Land of Talk, Liars, Lower Dens, The Black Angels, The Drums, The Love Language, Top Albums 2010, Top Albums 2010 List, Warpaint