THE TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2010
Albums
45 - 41 | 40 - 36 | 35
- 31 | 30 - 26 | 25 - 21
| 20 - 16 | 15 - 11 | 10
- 6 | 5 - 1
ALBUMS
50-46
50
Spoon - Transference
Spoon have graduated to that (somewhat) unfortunate level of... a
mediocre Spoon album is still better than many other bands' best records.
Transference is not their best work, but it's still got all the earmarks
of a great pop record; hooks, rhythm, catchy lyrics. Great, well worth
the listen, but not as likely to jump off my shelf as their previous
output.
Visit
Their Website
49
Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Cee-Lo has been working hard for years... since the Goodie Mob days,
he has released 2 solo records then got together with Danger Mouse
to create Gnarls Barkley, an unlikely super smash. Now, he's gone
back to the studio and done another solo record. Saddled, a little,
with the "novelty" of Fuck You (a brilliant song, and so
catchy), I fear the rest of the album's smooth R&B hooks were
overlooked. Do yourself a favour... don't. Check the rest of the record
out, it's as good as any of his other output - which is to say, fantastic.
Visit
His Website
48
Beach House - Teen Dream
I came a little late to the Beach House party - and it felt like walking
into a room where I, clearly, should have been hanging out all year.
Slightly fuzzy guitars, just the right amount of 'twee' (in the genre
sense) sprinkled throughout - and bloody catchy songs. I'm sure everyone
reading this is already on-board - but if not, do yourself a favour
and check them out.
Visit
Their Website
47
Goose - Synrise
Belgian electro-rock... how did I NOT know about them? A friend (thanks,
Patryk) turned me on to their music late this year (possibly why they
didn't finish higher, since I haven't spent as much time with the
record as I'd like). This, and their first record, are bloody brilliant.
Energetic danceable music, with the kind of 'oomph' usually found
in industrial (or the best kinds of crossover acts). I suspect they
are better known in Europe than here, but for anyone who likes their
electronic more song-based, this is definitely something you should
check out.
Visit
Their Website
46
Highspire - Aquatic
The first of this year's shoegaze offerings (you knew they were coming)
- Highspire released only their second record in about 10 years (their
first dropped in 1999). I found them a few years back, and assumed
they were a one-and-done kind of band, so consider my infinite pleasure
when they resurfaced with this brilliant record of droning, lush melodies
- in the vein of the best of the 'first wave' shoegazers. Hypnotic.
Visit
His Website
ALBUMS
45-41
45
Midlake - The Courage Of Others
Though leaving me lukewarm at first, the live show brought me back.
I've always loved the sound of Midlake frontman Tim Smith's voice,
but much like a band like The Decemberists, the overall "idea"
of Midlake sometimes threatens to swallow the band. Though flirting
with pastoral dirges, The Courage Of Others stays just this side of
overblown and remains another fine disc in their catalog.
Visit
Their Website
44
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
With the strangely high number of girl-group garage bands popping
up in recent years, it's harder for any one to stand out, especially
since a number of them share members and all have a similar Spector-indebted
sound - but Dum Dum Girls have managed to distinguish their sound.
Where many of their peers let the "garage" side take over,
and keep a sloppier overall sound - Dum Dum Girls run as a tighter
unit, and benefit from the overall cohesion in a more polished, directed,
and re-listenable record.
Visit Their Website
43
Crocodiles - Sleep Forever
When this first came out, I mistakenly assumed it was just an EP.
Without much pomp or circumstance, and not being a lot longer THAN
an EP, Sleep Forever is a welcome follow-up to last year's self-titled
debut. The sound hasn't changed much, and if you weren't won over
last year - not much here will change your mind - but if you like
your rock a little dirty, a little fuzzy and a little rough - this
is still the band for you.
Visit
Their Website
42 The Shout Out Louds
- Work
I find it hard to figure out how a band's albums can all be of near-equal
quality, but all finish in dramatically different slots on the Top
50 year to year. I can't quite put my finger on why Work doesn't ring
as soundly as Our Ill Wills did in terms of overall impression - but
don't let that fool you, this is still a stellar collection of indie
rock at its best.
Visit
Their Website
41 Deerhunter - Halcyon
Digest
Bradford Cox may actually be a force of nature. He certainly doesn't
look like someone who should be responsible for such a sizeable collection
of tragically beautiful and brooding music - and yet here we have
album number 4 (not counting EPs and side projects) of consistently
beautiful and fragile psych-tinged pop. And it's JUST as solid as
its predecessors, with its own broken, vulnerable, identity. Haunting.
Visit
Their Website
ALBUMS
40-36
40
Amusement Parks On Fire - Road Eyes
The sloppy little band I was lucky enough to catch in a tiny club
in London a couple years ago has further honed their craft and turned
their noisy shoegaze-influenced rock into something that sounds ready
for more epic locales... now, if only labels, fans, and others would
catch on. A great band destined for bigger things.
Visit
Their Website
39 Daft
Punk - Tron: Legacy
My initial reaction was lukewarm. I like Daft Punk, but if I was to
hand pick a band to follow on in the vein of the original Tron score
by Wendy Carlos, Air or Stereolab might have been a more reasonable
pick... then I saw the early footage. Then I heard Derezzed and the
overture... then I was sold. For a movie that plays a little like
a giant music video, few other bands would be as well equipped as
Daft Punk to score the ensuing result. A better body of music when
you've seen the movie, but most great scores work best in unison with
their visuals. Leaves me anticipating the rumoured orchestral tour...
Visit
The Tron Legacy Preview Website
38 Ra
Ra Riot - The Orchard
Though, admittedly, not quite as tight as Thr Rhumb Line - The Orchard
is still a great collection of solid indie pop. Like many bands -
you have years to write your debut, and months to write the follow
up... if THIS constitutes a sophomore slump, I cannot wait to hear
what album number 3 has in store...
Visit
Their Website
37 Tears
Run Rings - Distance
Working in 3 separate studios in 3 separate states, this is one of
those long distance bands that causes the exceptions to every rule
about that working method (disjointed and disaffected end results
often being the final product of working in this way). Lush melodies,
beautiful layered guitars, chiming vocals - reminiscent of classic
shoegaze like Slowdive, this band just keeps getting better.
Visit
Their Website
36 Peter
Gabriel - Scratch My Back
For those who know me, you may ask yourself why a Peter Gabriel album
would finish so low in the standings... and the answer is sadly simple,
this is probably Gabriel's weakest album yet. That being said, there
is certainly enough solid work here to warrant repeated listens and
a weak Peter Gabriel album still trumps 95% of the music released
anywhere else this year. A collection of covers arranged orchestrally,
the idea soars on some (the Magnetic Fields cover) and fails on others
(the Bowie cover) - with a whole lot of good in between. The resulting
"You Scratch Mine" singles that have also been released
are well worth tracking down - especially hearing legends like Paul
Simon cover Gabriel tracks... shivers.
Visit
Their Website
ALBUMS
35-31
35
She & Him - Volume 2
Proving Volume 1 wasn't just a fluke, Matt Ward and Zooey Deschenel
return with a second album of beautiful, fragile sounding AM-tinged
pop. Blending Ward's keen ear for songwriting and Deschenel's unique
(and gorgeous) voice, She & Him is the esception that proves the
rule: not a vanity project for her and not a side project for him.
Here's hoping Volume 3 is already in the works!
Visit Their
Website
34
Chromeo - Business Casual
Chromeo are a bit of a one trick pony... but I love the trick... vaguely
70s tinged pop with an 80s electro sheen. In an era where most music
has a dour expression or is drenched in *winkwinknudgenudge* irony
as an excuse to have fun, Chromeo have fun because it's what they
do best. Business Casual is actually (believe it or not) MORE polished
than previous outings, but in a VERY good way. Set your self-consciousness
aside and just enjoy music for the sake of itself!
Visit
Their Website
33 Vampire
Weekend - Contra
Oh gawd. I feel kind of dirty listing this. When their first album
dropped, I could NOT understand why everyone loved this band. They
sounded like a sub-par Police cover band. That record (the self-titled
Vampire Weekend) still sounds clunky to me, but Contra steps up the
game and (to my ears) fixes everything that didn't work on that debut.
From Cousins to Giving Up The Gun - even slightly cheesy lyrics (like
on album opener Horchata) don't detract too badly - Contra is a catchy,
hook-laden, pop record of the best (and most infectious) variety.
Visit
His Website
32
Ceremony - Rocket Fire
Still, sadly, probably best known as the "other half" of
Skywave... Ceremony are just as great a rough and jagged band as their
more critic-darling siblings. Ceremony are a garage-rock shoegaze
band with the volume at 11. Where they differ, and set themselves
apart, from other bands trying the same thing (and often failing -
it's a precarious balance) is in their overall urgency. Something
about the sheer determination in this band can be felt in every note,
every song, every album. Urgent, insistent, loud, rock. Should be
huge - catch up before they are!
Visit
Their Website
31 The
Coral - Butterfly House
I don't love 60s music - which is part of why I'm always surprised
by how much I love this band, and their 60s-influenced pop. The Coral
are the band Oasis always wished they could be - a genuine throwback
to an era where rock, pop, country, psychedelics... everything...
could be mixed together without needing six hyphens and a unique header
card in a record store. Loved in the UK, still somewhat misunderstood
in North America, The Coral are this generation's answer to The Byrds.
Butterfly House is as good as anything they've released yet. Sublime.
Visit
Their Website
ALBUMS
30-26
30
Darren Hayman (With The Secondary Modern) - Essex
Arms
Since disbanding Hefner, Darren Hayman has been a quietly VERY busy
man. Releasing an album with The French, a BBC compilation for Hefner
and a slew of EPs, LPs and singles in various configurations - all
the while, hinging on Darren's brilliant songwriting. Essex Arms continues
the concept started with Pram Town where Darren captures everyday
life in vignette form and turns out beautiful melancholy musich. With
a new album expected in 2011, and his "January Songs" project
(writing a new song every day in January) - don't be surprised to
see his name here again next year.
Visit His
Website
29 Janelle
Monae - The ArchAndroid Suites II & III
James Brown captured in the body of a 25 year old girl from Kansas.
I hate to trot out that all-too-common comparison, but it's so apt
- and hints at the spectacular quality of work on-hand here. So many
things about The ArchAndroid could fail: the odd concept of the album
(Monáe's alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather — becomes a messiah-esque
figure to the android community of Metropolis), the "Outkast"
factor, the strange art-collective background... and yet every single
things works so brilliantly. I suspect this album will be the next
Lauryn Hill... one of those things everyone owns and everyone can
agree on at parties.
Visit
Her Website
28
Thieves Like Us - Again And Again
Naming yourself after a New Order song is a dangerous prospect, to
be certain. When I first heard Thieves Like Us, I was non-plussed.
But, it was one of those infectious things... I'd catch myself humming
a tune, trying to remember where it came from and realizing it was
ANOTHER of their songs. For fans of bands like Zoot Woman, Thieves
Like Us live in the same poppy-dance-world... which is just fine by
me.
Visit
Their Website
27
The Domino State - Uneasy Lies The Crown
With a mid-summer single in 2009 that totally caught me off-guard,
I was anticipating this release all year - and was SO pleased with
the end result. Reminiscent of Catherine Wheel, to my ears, The Domino
State are one of those bands who are catching all sorts of attention
in the UK, but not much here. I don't anticipate the US latching onto
them, but if Canada's history with British bands not big in the States
holds true - they should be huge in the North.
Visit Their Website
26 Interpol
- Interpol
This was an album that gelled live for me... but, unlike previous
efforts, I actually think I like this album BETTER in its live formation
(the addition of Brandon Curtis on backing vocals and keyboards adds
a live depth that had been missing on previous outtings). I do, sadly,
feel Interpol have been weakening on post-Antics releases, but this
is significantly better than Our Love To Admire, and Barricade can
live with their best tracks quite easily. I'm rooting for them to
re-find their footing, and can easily see a late-career return to
form in their future... in the meantime, this is still a great album
- if you like Interpol. I don't see this bringing old fans back, but
current fans (like me) won't be let down.
Visit Their Website
ALBUMS
25-21
25
UNKLE - Where Did The Night Fall
Put a gun to my head and ask me why I'm an UNKLE fan, and I'd probably
have trouble telling you. From their turntable-meets-Britpop intro
to their current rock-meets-atmospheric-electronic formation, through
their various collaborations and lineup changes - SOMETHING about
this band continues to work. James Lavelle (the only constant) has
an ear for who to work with, and the end result is always great, even
if it's different every time.
Visit Their Website
24 Stars
- The Five Ghosts
More faint indie pop. More smart lyrics. More honest-to-goodness heart-on-sleeve
music. And it's still great. Though the band plays a little more with
electronics on this album, Stars are a band who can only sound like
Stars. The Five Ghosts is a Stars record through and through, and
I fall back in love with them every time they release a new record.
The Five Ghosts was no exception.
Visit Their Website
23
The Charlatans - Who We Touch
The Charlatans found their way back from Northern Soul to British
pop on their previous record (the great "You Cross My Path")
- and Who We Touch, released during the bands 20th anniversary year,
shows they haven't slowed down. In much the same way as James, The
Charlatans have continued along - sounding like themselves - for years...
tweaking the "hue" as they go along, but never losing themselves
in the process.
Visit
Their Website
22
Dean & Britta - 13 Most Beautiful: Songs
For Andy Warhol's Screen Tests
If I were taking odds on who I thought could carry on the sonic legacy
of the Velvet Underground - Dean & Britta would not have been
at the top of my list. Dean's old band Galaxie 500 certainly owed
a nod to Lou & Co. - but Dean & Britta have been a very different
entity. This album, stemming from live shows spent playing soundtracks
to 13 of Andy Warhols screen tests, creates a new sonic backdrop to
silent videos from the height of Warhol's Factory - and does so with
such beautiful accuracy (without sounding like rip offs), the overall
effect winds up being transformative. Such a brilliant album stemming
from what could have been an uncalculable mess.
Visit Their Website
21 Hot
Chip - One Life Stand
Their output thus far has been great - but I never bought into the
fervor surrounding them until One Life Stand. Adding a level of intimacy
to their hooky-laden dance music has created something akin to the
best New Order albums (note their collaboration with Bernard Sumner
for Converse... other people saw the connection too). A great record
that, for me, ups the stakes and blows away everything that came before
it.
Visit Their Website
ALBUMS
20-16
20 School Of Seven Bells
- Disconnect From Desire
SVIIB originally seemed to be a death knell for one of my favourite
bands (The Secret Machines), but has instead turned into a second
band equally as good as the original. Where Benjamin's guitar, in
TSM, was stretched and prog-like in many places, here it becomes a
shimmering texture amid layers and washes of sound. The duetting harmonies
of twins Alejandra and Claudia is mesmerizing. The departure of Claudia
midway through the current tour is perplexing (Benjamin and Alejandra
are carrying on as a duo) - but even if this wound up being the final
output from this band, it would be a spectacular note to go out on.
Visit Their
Website
19
Ash - A-Z (Vols. 1 & 2)
People credit Radiohead with taking a first salvo across the bow of
the music industry with the "pay what you want" model -
but I think, in retrospect, other bands deserve as much or more credit
for trying different things without the safety net of being one of
the biggest bands in the world. Ash are one of those bands. Releasing
a song every fortnight for a year would stop many bands. Many would
use filler live tracks and remixes to make it to the end... Ash, instead,
produced 26 fantastic songs (even the weaker ones are good enough
that you won't want to skip them on repeated listenings), 2 remix
EPs, some one-off remixes, an acoustic EP and a series of "b-sides"
resulting in somewhere closer to 50 songs within a year... all eminently
listenable, and some among the best work they've ever done. The collected
albums include EXTRA bonus tracks, and (if you can swing it) the Japanese
releases give you all the live tracks and a few exclusives on top...
impressive by any measure - more so since it's so good!
Visit Their Website
18
Warpaint - The Fool
My introduction to the band was as an opening act for SVIIB last year
and I was suitably impressed, but neglected to buy their EP at the
time. When I later checked it out, I couldn't believe they'd slipped
under my radar. In the meantime, they'd been working on their full
length which DID garner the attention it deserved. A little punky,
a little grungey, a little bit of a 90s vibe (in the best possible
way) - The Fool is one of those albums that starts great and STILL
gets better on repeated listens. Add to this a mesmerizing live show
- this is definitely a band to watch!
Visit Their Website
17
Engineers - In Praise Of More
One of the hardest working bands no one has heard. Loosely a "shoegaze"
act, this is a band more in line with ambient (vocal) electronic music.
With the addition of Daniel Land (of Daniel Land And The Modern Painters)
and Ulrich Schnauss to their permanent lineup, what seemed a fluke
when their second album came out last year (amid rumours of a breakup)
has instead turned into a breath of fresh air triggering 2 albums
in as many years. Atmospheric and lush, Engineers may never be huge
- but I will always look forward to their albums. Here's to many more!
Visit Their Website
16
Foals - Total Life Forever
With my love of all things "Sitek-related" I'm a little
surprised I didn't get into their band for their debut... that being
said, I'm certainly glad I didn't miss them now. Total Life Forever
is hard to categorize. A little dance-inflected, but heavy on guitars
- this sound is totally their own (they describe is as Tropical Prog
- but I have no idea where that comes from - so don't let is scare
you off). They would be at home with bands like Friendly Fires as
well as they could share a stage with original producer Sitek's parent
band TV On The Radio. And their live show is so good it actually improves
on already great music.
Visit Their
Website
ALBUMS
15-11
15 Robyn - Body
Talk
By now everyone should know Robyn's story (pop darling buys out her
own contract and starts her own label etc etc)... so it should come
as no surprise that Body Talk (and the 2 EPs that preceeded it and
from which 2/3 of this album derive) is another great dance record.
Smart, catchy, hook-laden dance music delivered by a strong, driven,
self-made woman. What every pop record SHOULD be. (And how many other
dance musicians can say they've been asked to play at the Nobel Prize
benefit... twice!)
Visit
Her Website
14
Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
God Help The Girl was a nice diversion, but I'm glad to see Stuart
back doing what he does best... helming Belle & Sebastian and
releasing navel gazing indie pop of the best possible variety! With
the long hiatus, I must admit I was slightly concerned that a new
Belle & Sebastian album either wouldn't come, or wouldn't live
up to their previous standard. I was happily wrong, and Write About
Love is definitely among the better albums the band has released and
sounds refreshed and renewed - a very pleasant surprise - and another
great album for their catalogue.
Visit
Their Website
13
Maximum Balloon - Maximum Balloon
Kyp Malone making a solo record last year - not a huge surprise. Dave
Sitek making a solo album? Giant surprise. The fact that it's a brilliant
post-millenial take on funk is, however, not a surprise. This sounds
like an album Sitek has been working towards for a while. His pedigree
is clearly not in question here, as every manner of guest has happily
signed up to work with him; from British MCs (Theophilus London) to
alt-rock legends (David Byrne) - Maximum Balloon has something for
everyone. I just hope it's not a one off...
Visit
His Website
12
James - The Morning After / The Night Before
Though released as a double album in North America, these 2 EPs were
separate in the UK. That being said, they actually dovetail nicely
and the idea of packaging them together feels very fitting for the
music. As for the music - this is James. The band who came back so
strong on Hey Ma continues that trend with these two stellar EPs.
Containing all the wit, intelligence and style of the best of James,
this "reunion" shows no signs of slowing down. This is one
band who haven't changed their sound, but if you aren't already a
fan - you should be. I won't say it won't convert anyone, because
any album in their fine discography should make you a fan. If you
are already - don't hesitate and grab this release... you won't be
sorry.
Visit
Their Website
11
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
After Neon Bible, I got a little concerned that The Arcade Fire were
a one-off anomaly (which would have been forgiveable, to a degree,
because that anomaly was so good). Thankfully, with The Suburbs, they
have proven not only that they aren't a one-trick band, but that their
"other tricks" might even be better than Funeral. Now -
I don't like The Suburbs better than that debut - but I do think the
idea of "tackling" suburban ennuie in a concept album is
such a bold approach that it deserves some credit just for succeeding
and not collapsing under it's own weight. I think this just proves
they know what they're doing, but shouldn't rush albums out. We'll
wait.
Visit Their
Website
ALBUMS
10-6
10 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
- Beat The Devil's Tattoo
I can't quite explain what it is about this band that I love so much...
but I do. Continuing their blending of muddy sound and American folk
that began on Baby 81, Beat The Devil's Tattoo tips the scales a little
more on the mellow side - and ends up with the flip side of the previous
album. Not that either is decidedly noisy or mellow, but Tattoo becomes
a great counterpoint to Baby 81. The addition of new drummer Leah
Singer (who had played with the band live and has previously done
a turn with The Raveonettes) seems to have reinvigorated the band,
and has produced another great album. In a year marked with highs
(this record, a live album) and lows (the death of producer and sound
engineer, as well as Robert's father - and former frontman for The
Call - Michael Been), 2010 is definitely a rollercoaster; oddly the
band managed to soundtrack this before they knew what was coming.
Visit
Their Website
9
Air Formation - Nothing To Wish For (Nothing
To Lose)
Still one of the best shoegaze bands... of any era... Air Formation
create sonic blankets. Cascades of sound that are both dissonant and
beautiful. The penultimate shoegaze band. It's hard to write about
a group like this - if you're a fan of the genre, you're undoubtedly
a fan of the band. If you're not a fan of the genre, this will clearly
be exactly what you hate about shoegaze in general. From my vantage,
in the "fan of" camp, this is a near perfect record.
Visit Their Website
8
Vile Evils - Vive Le Vile Evil
This is almost an unfair album to list here... since it doesn't technically
exist. Shortly before its release, Graham Crabb (he of PWEI) pulled
the plug on Vile Evils as a project, cancelled the album (this record)
and announced the return of the mighty Pop Will Eat Itself - with
himself as the only original member. Due to the late date, however,
digital retailers already had the record, and it took a couple days
to stop the release... by which time, of course, everyone who wanted
it could get it. Harkening back to the heyday of punky PWEI (think
Now For A Feast era), Vive Le Vile Evils is a brilliant record of
what SHOULD have been.
Visit Their
(somewhat out of date) Website
7
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Damon Albarn is a genius. There. I've said it. I think the man understands
music in ways few other artists do. From his excursions in Mali to
Blur to Gorillaz, Albarn is adept at making music in any genre that
feels "right" together. Mixing The Clash, Snoop Dogg and
Bobby Womack on the same album sounds downright absurd, but somehow
it works. And well. Plastic Beach is both the least "hip hop"
record Gorillaz have released (likely in part due to the lack of external
producers), but the sacrifice of the overall uptempo vibe has been
to aid the cohesion. The overall "story" of this record
holds together as a piece of work for repeated listens. And the brilliant
Jamie Hewlett artwork certainly doesn't hurt the overall vibe! (It
also says something when one of the best singles you've released this
year is a one off not included on the album... look for Doncamatic
ft. Daley... WOW)!
Visit
Their Website
6
Admiral Radley - I Heart California
The album that almost wasn't. Started as an EP amost 7 years ago,
originally the "Earlidaddy" project combined Aaron Espinoza
and Ariana Murray of Earlimart with Aaron Burtch and Jason Lytle of
Grandaddy. It was 4 songs (all of which eventually appeared here)
and it was never properly released. Flash forward to 2009, Jason has
gone solo and has some time - visits to "The Ship" (Espinoza's
studio) result in more songs - and the end result is I Heart California.
Initially I wasn't sure how I felt about the album - it was a little
"slight" in tone - but after repeated listens it really
grew on me. You can hear the rejuvenated approach Jason has to working
in the studio (something he claimed to be burned out on if working
with a band), and the general fun these 4 had for working together.
The ensuing tour was fantastic, and there are hints of another record.
Maybe sometime in 2017?
Visit
Their Website
ALBUMS
5-1
5 Insect Guide - Dark
Days & Nights
I kept bumping into the name Insect Guide on forums and articles about
musicians and styles I like, but for some reason (in my head) I associated
them more with indie rock than shoegaze. Colour me an idiot. Insect
Guide are one of the more unique sounding bands with their lush female
vocals and more jagged guitar sounds, they walk a line between Curve
and Lush that I didn't know existed. Their ability to have a sense
of humour (note free covers from the bands Bandcamp site; (Don't You)
Forget About Me, Paparazzi, Fuck You etc), create beautiful atmosphere,
dark textures, and jagged rock makes them a band with a little something
for everyone and a lot to love on every level.
Visit
Their Website
4 The
Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
Every release by The Radio Dept. has been stellar. There - clear bias
out of the way. I've had a number of Labrador Records bands finish
high on my Year End lists (Mary Onettes, Legends etc) - but few are
as maddeningly frustrating as The Radio Dept. When they had 3 songs
included on Sophia Coppola's Mary Antoinnette soundtrack, it was assumed
that momentum would carry into the next album and help bring them
some (much deserved) international attention. Instead they got quiet,
did a few shows, then delayed their album by over a year. Clearly
NOT a band who are willing to compromise their art. Sadly - there
is a long delay between albums. Happily - there is enough in each
of those albums to keep you busy until the next one arrives. This
band should be huge - hopefully their (albeit brief) 2011 jaunt through
North America will bring some much-deserved publicity.
Visit
Their Website
3
The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth
One of the abolsute musical lows of 2010 was finding out The Depreciation
Guild were breaking up. Also on the list? Their continuously crappy
reception when touring. Sadly, I fully understand why this happened.
As I wrote about their last album (unfairly counted in last year's
poll - go back and read it to see why), The Depreciation Guild first
caught my eye when opening for vocalist Kurt Feldman's other band,
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. I am less of a fan of TPOBPAH *BECAUSE*
The Depreciation Guild blew them off the stage in every way; songs,
presence, sound. Spirit Youth picks up on the ends of In Her Gentle
Jaws, but adds a level of polish honed from all the touring done behind
that first record. The sequencing, done with a Famicom, have been
polished and sound less gimicky and more integrated. Kurt's new project
Ice Choir have a MySpace and nothing more - here's hoping this is
not the last we've heard of him, or the rest of these talented musicians.
A band too off-centre to be huge, but too brilliant to have deserved
this.
Visit Their
(somewhat out of date) Website
2
Devo - Something For Everybody
I've always been a Devo fan - just not a fanatic... and let's be clear,
this is a band that spawns fanaticism. That being said, this is also
a band that was supposed to have been defunct since the early 90s
just doing the nostalgia trip. Last year, they launched what is easily
the best marketing campaign for an album I have ever seen. Part performance
art (see the mock-reality-show "Devo Create Something For Everybody"
available online), part corporate fuck you (see the album premiere,
played in the Warner studios to a room full of cats on an energy-dome-shaped
scratching post), and part heroic return to form (see their performance
at the Olympics). The band was primed to be exciting and vital - they
used market research and user testing to find a new energy dome colour,
they had someone reading crowds during TV performances... this was
theatre in the best possible way. The only way it could get better,
of course, was if they ALSO released a brilliant record. Welcome to
the best thing Devo has recorded in almost 30 years. For anyone who
has ever wanted to write them off, Something For Everybody (which
is probably more "something for every indie rock fan and old
school Devo fan who still enjoys their sound) proves these 60 year
olds can still kick out the jams.
Visit Their
Website
1
Underworld - Barking...
I doubt there's much I can say about Underworld that I haven't said
in past reviews. They make the best techno music on the planet. They
make some of the best art on the planet. They are brilliant designers.
Brilliant showmen. They are still great after all these years. After
a few albums of great, but more atmospheric, music; Barking... brings
the band back to dancefloor tracks. Giving each "raw" track
(available on the deluxe version of the album) to a different producer,
the end result did for this record was Darren Emerson did for their
early work; subtly pushed the dancier aspects to the fore. Nothing
here dramatically re-writes the band, but each track is nudged to
the dancier side (with a few exceptions - Underworld is still a brilliant
ambient band). With a score for Danny Boyle's Frankenstein in the
works, Karls' art show, Rick's recent ambient music collection...
this band looks to have another great year in 2011 and beyond.
Visit
Their Website
Curious
what shows I saw this year? Check the list...