albums of 2010

2010 is over, it's a bank holiday weekend and i'm currently waiting to be able to move back home (although visiting the parents isn't without advantages). so i figured i'd write a bit about music i've liked in the last year. and so in no particular order, here goes:


arcade fire - the suburbs (alt rock)
any year arcade fire release an album, it's going to show up in the end of year lists. some (very uninformed/tasteless) people claimed to me that these aren't a worthy festival headline act. bullshit. live, they know exactly what each one is doing and they pull it off to perfection. their chemistry only gets stronger with each new release, the suburbs then carries the same tension and mystery as their previous works, but with a new found accessibility. must have.
preview: the suburbs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAitZuh4ueg


beach house - teen dream (dream pop)
i had the fortune of seeing these guys (with uk fashionstar Scarzy actually :D) quite early in the year. i had heard very little beforehand, only a couple of tracks from last.fm but i spent their entire set in a state of awe. infact amazing as teen dream is, i still believe it doesn't quite do their live act justice. if you have the opportunity to see these, do it. but yeah, it's catchy, it's lo-fi, it's ethereal, and it's very very pop.
preview: norway - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbtR8uO81M


broken social scene - forgiveness rock record (indie rock)
it could be because they headlined the best gig i've ever been to, it could be because johnny marr joined them on stage, or it could just be that they can't stop putting out amazing indie-rock records. post-rock rivaling crescendos meet catchy pop hooks and as always, they make it work
preview: texico bitches - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTfNTzuJTJU#t=0m25s


four tet - there is love in you (idm)
yet another who i managed to see this year and oh boy was it worth it. hebden's music works in many situations, whether bumming about at the computer, doing some work, cooking, throwing a party. i think the only thing i couldn't do to this album is sleep, but only because it is far too interesting
preview: sing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYXdeFm2jfc


gorillaz - plastic beach (alt/hip-hop)
one time baggiez seemed convinced he was hearing "boekelo, boekelo coming up too the boekelo", the rest of us were convinced he was retarded. either way stylo threw plastic beach in to the public consciousness not in a way dissimilar to how clint eastwood brought the entire world to gorillaz back in 2001. i can't actually think of another group that i've managed to consistently love for 9 years, even if they are imaginary. anyway, i doubt this album really needs an introduction, you should already have it
preview: rhinestone eyes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYDmaexVHic


los campesinos! - romance is boring (indie pop)
i don't really expect my words on this band to remain here without being tampered with but i'll give it a go. i didn't like this album at first, which is weird because i've spent more money on following this band than i have on anything else in music. now though i realise it's just different. they still have their typical emotionally charged heartbreak riddled lyrics but all of a sudden it's far less chaotic. i'm sure everyone here will hate them so i'll leave it at that.
preview: the sea is a good place... - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6booM03nKI


major lazer & la roux - lazerproof (dancehall, dub)
the collaboration between switch and diplo that gave us the by now ridiculously overplayed (but still ridiculously catchy) club hit "Pon de Floor" came up with the idea of throwing synth pop together with the reggae/dancehall formula they have going on. definitely not lacking in ambition then... replace heavy synth with haunting piano and strings and suddenly la roux doesn't sound as so self-assured. but it works.
preview: bulletproof - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItundPwCPw


pulled apart by horses - s/t ("post-hardcore"?)
this band (actually from my hometown) has been making waves in the uk with their loud and ridiculously energetic live performances. i wouldn't say this is my kind of music at all yet each time i see them i never leave disappointed. i'm not sure why i like it or why i feel so involved but for that it makes my 2010 list
preview: i punched a lion in the throat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd4rYB-yt7g


tame impala - innerspeaker (psychedelic rock)
a reasonably new aussie band but their latest record is garnering impressive acclaim. they're playing this year at a gig (which by the way i can't wait for) alongside foo fighters, biffy clyro and death cab for cutie so i can only assume it's going well for them. the album is pretty refreshing and i can't really think of anything to directly compare it to. poppy guitars run over the top of interesting grand electronic sounds with some surprisingly soothing vocals. it's very easy to lose yourself in this album and i can see these guys getting very big in 2011
preview: alter ego - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBSropdYqtY


and there you have it, also worth mentioning

biggest disappointments of 2010:
crystal castles - crystal castles II... alice glass is a waster
deadmau5 - live at play vol 3... boring
most surprisingly good album of 2010:
swedish house mafia - until one... i didn't really wanna write about this because well... most club music needs to stay "in the club" so to speak. i definitely don't need to hear taio cruz or katy perry during breakfast. HOWEVER, as an album, this is actually great.


well it's far from comprehensive but it's a few i have really liked. i'd also like some recommendations/to hear what others have liked this last year. name an album, it's genre and if you want a line or so of description and i'll give it a try =o).

ps: (two exceptions, no metal or cheese)

stay classy, crossfire xx