So 2010 comes to an end. It was a fantastic year for music once again. On a personal level, I discovered a lot of acts that I hadn’t given a chance but blew me away in the end. This list reflects that as half the artists were new to me this year.
10.Thank Me Later- Drake
Aubrey Drake Graham, native of Toronto had an amazing year rising to the forefront of the hip-hop scene. His first studio album Thank Me Later is impressive and why not, it has contributions by some of the biggest names in business like Kanye West, Jay Z, Timbaland, Lil Wayne. The album is cohesive as a whole but has standout tracks like Over and Show Me a Good Time.
9.Odd Blood- Yeasayer
The Brooklyn act that was known for its middle-eastern psychedelic pop incorporated much more pop to their second album. Odd Blood had heavier pop inclinations, this in part of due to the departure of their original drummer Luke Fasano who has a background in world music. Needless to say, the departure is captivating and seems like a middle grounds for the group. Yeasayer is gonna be big and leaves me wondering where they will go from here.
8. One Life Stand- Hot Chip
London, Electro-pop group Hot Chip released their 4th full length album February 1st, 2010 and with it their single One Life Stand. The album continued with their infectious electro-pop and unparalleled originality. Absolutely fantastic album!
7. Team Dream- Beach House
Teen Dream was Beach House’s coming out party. When I heard the single Norway, I reacted by listening to it on repeat for a full week. Finally when I downloaded the rest of their music, I was absolutely amazed. The aforementioned track is my most listened to track according to my itunes for 2010. For that and the rest of their fantastic second album it makes my list for 2010.
6. Swim- Caribou
Another artist I discovered for myself in year 2010. His first album since winning the Canadian Polaris Prize in 2008 for his album Andorra, Caribou or Dan Snaith, is a complete masterpiece of Electronica. Swim is like the beginnings, I hope, of a organic Canadian electronic scene. The album received critical acclaim across the board and has received recognition in almost every top 50’s list for 2010. I can’t disagree!
5. Contra- Vampire Weekend
I wasn’t a big fan of Vampire Weekend until I saw them at Sasquatch in May. They impressed me enough so that I gave their whole Contra album a chance. Its hard to describe how ahead of the curb these guys are. Their music is entirely original and is a true amalgamation of Caribbean, indie-pop and world music. He’s like a reincarnation of Paul Simon. That’s a good thing. They got it, and if you don’t believe just listen to the first track on Contra, Horchata.
4. Plastic Beach- Gorillaz
Damon Albarn is one half of the founding member of the super-collective that is now Gorillaz. From the early days when the band was only a band of animated characters, his side project has become one of the world’s most popular acts. Plastic Beach is the third and may be the last we hear from Gorillaz, as Damon Albarn has hinted at the dissolution of the group. Lets hope not for fuck sake!
3.This is Happening- LCD Soundsystem
Absolutely best concert I’ve seen in my life was LCD at Sasquatch. I knew these guys were something special when I became addicted to them about a year ago. This is Happening is full of tracks that get up in the range of 8 or 9 minutes and that totally take you in. Absolutely the best electro-dance album and my third favorite for 2010.
2. Age of Adz- Sufjan Stevens
Just when you thought Sufjan Stevens was going to become the crazy man that would create an album for each American state, he moves to Brooklyn, forgets his nationalism for the electronic music from which he started. Forge that with some hip-hop influences and you get a liberated Sufjan Stevens who creates nothing paralleled to it for 2010.
1. My Dark Twisted Fantasy- Kanye West
It seemed like the world spent 2010 just waiting for Kanye’s 5th album. The single Power leaked in May to so much hype. Then came is Runaway performance in September and the release of his 35 minute film titled the same as the aforementioned Track. Kanye West’s empire is just continuing to grow. Finally, when the rough album leaked, it was like a veil being removed by something that one was awaiting for so long. This is by far my favorite album for the year, and by the looks of it, everyone elses. Cheers to Kanye, cheers to 2010.
#1 is too legit!
ReplyDeletei agree