semi-OT: Colt's Hipster Bull**** Awards Thread [FINISHED! ...maybe?]

This is a six part miniseries on how I feel music shaped up this year. You don't have to agree with any of it, but for those of you bored and looking for a second opinion on Pitchfork [or other music websites] recommendation, it's a good place to see what I was digging throughout 2010. This is going to be broken down into six parts most likely, though this is preliminary. 

Part 1: Accolades
Part 2/3: Top 20 Songs Of The Year
Part 4/5: Top 10 Albums Of The Year [plus top 40 overall]
Part 6: Artists To Look For in 2011

Without further ado....

Accolades:

Best New Artist: Wild Nothing

Jack Tatum's solo project Wild Nothing, took 2010 by the throat and never looked back. Beginning the year with one of the most intriguing albums in "Gemini," Tatum continued to build on his success with the Evertide, and Golden Haze EPs. Tatum, formerly of Jack and the Whale is a throwback artist of many sorts--lyrically, he's obsessed with the lustful 80s music of The Cure, The Smiths, and the Cocteau Twins but production wise, he couldn't be any closer to A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Teen Daze, and the current "chillwave/tweegaze" movement that has taken indie fans by storm. An obvious dream pop enthusiasts, Tatum has built up a fantastic year by not only being one of the best musicians of the year, but one of the most hardworking.

Golden Haze 

Honorable Mentions: Waka Flocka Flame [Flockavelli], Mount Kimbie [Crooks & Lovers], Delorean [Subiza], Teen Daze [Four More Years EP], Big KRIT [KRIT Wuz Here] 

Breakthrough Artist: She & Him

She & Him released their debut album only two years ago and though showered with bubble gum 50s girl pop the album proved to be one of the most charming releases of 2008. The appropriately titled "Volume Two" built on the simplicity of the first album, and gave listeners everything they received in the first album and more. Essentially "Volume One" on steroids, "Volume Two" featured better writing, stronger production, catchier hooks and less covers than their previous LP, all proving to make "Volume Two" one of the best albums of 2010.

Thieves 

Honorable Mentions: Julian Lynch [Mare], Wiz Khalifa [Kush & OJ], Crystal Castles [Crystal Castles ii], Geographer [Animal Shapes EP], Janelle Monae [The Archandroid]

Best Writer: Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is infamous for their concept albums, and "The Suburbs" is no different. The album takes us into familiar territory--the suburbs where the young grow old, the old grow older, and the ambitious leave for big cities, new territory, or other areas of suburbia. It's a familiar topic for most whom have lived there, and the nostalgia factor is strong with the subject matter as Win Butler talks about growing up with, and watching friends leave his suburban neighborhood as he waits to raise his own children in the land he was born. The album is as relatable as the latest breakup song, yet still as charming as re-watching old cartoons and its this sense of nostalgia and storytelling that makes this Arcade Fire's most cohesive album to date. 

Honorable Mentions: Titus Andronicus [The Monitor], Janelle Monae [The Archandroid], Webbie [Trill 4 Life], Deerhunter [Halycon Digest], Kanye West [My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]

Best Producer: Kanye West 

While it's no surprise that Kanye has been among the elite producers of the last ten years, Kanye's music took a sudden turn in the past year. Far removed [but not TOO far removed] from the soul samples that made him a prized talent on Jay-Z's "The Blueprint," Kanye has taken his production credits to another dimension with his latest album, rapping over everything from electropop, to jungle tinged African beats, to autotuned distortion. Kanye still finds time to create the soul sampled beats that made him famous but his music is grittier...it's more heartbreaking...it's more of Kanye's blood and guts put on wax, and as a listener you really can't ask for much more. 

note: Just to add insult to injury, Kanye produced the two best songs on the Drake album, and one of the best on the Rick Ross tape. Hell of a year for him. 

Honorable Mentions: Wild Nothing [Evertide/Golden Haze EP, Gemini], A Sunny Day In Glasgow [Nitetime Rainbows EP, Autumn Again], JUSTICE LEAGUE [Teflon Don, Trill O.G., The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted], Lex Luger [Flockavelli, Teflon Don, Tha Thug Show], Caribou [Swim], Flying Lotus [Cosmogramma, Pattern+Grid World EP] 

Most Disappointing Artists of 2010: The-Dream

"Love King," The-Dream's third album was the first Dream album to not feature extensive production from long time collaborator Tricky Stewart. Let's just say after listening to "Love King," it's obvious that Stewart has more to do with The-Dream's success than he does. "Love King" isn't awful...it's really just an artist going through too many things at one time to be focussed on making an album. Dream's recent divorce from R&B star Nivea, recent marriage to Christina Milian, and change in co-producers from Stewart to Los Da Mystro [whom, BTW, helped The-Dream create some of the weaker songs on his sophomore LP, Love Vs. Money--really we should have seen the suckage of this album coming from a mile away] probably contributed to the weakness of this album.

Maybe this is more of a hiccup, than a complete change in philosophy. Like I said it isn't awful...it's just not made by the same musician who inherently innovated the philosophy of the contemporary R&B genre with "Love-Hate."

Honorable Mentions: Duffy [Endlessly], Sufjan Stevens [The Age of Adz, All Delighted People EP], Gucci Mane [The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted], Dam-Funk [Adolescent Funk], J-Stalin [Prenuptial Agreement]  

Artist Of The Year: Kanye West

I have a hard time not giving this to Wild Nothing, but when you consider everything Kanye is, and was this year you have to give him the accolade. Not only did Kanye put out one of the five best albums this year [more on that later] but he produced the best album of the year, wrote the most intuitive and personal lyrics of his career [**** 808s & Hearbreaks], produced some of the best songs this year for other artists [Drake's "Find Your Love" and "Show Me A Good Time"; Rick Ross' "Live Fast, Die Young"] and STILL found time to put free music for his fans via the GOOD Fridays promotion. His hard work has paid off in more ways then one--not only is he creating a lot of music, but he's doing it at the highest quality of his career. Really, what isn't there to like about Kanye this year? He was by far the hardest working musician in the game, and it would be a travesty not to see him win this award.

Honorable Mentions: A Sunny Day In Glasgow [Nitetime Rainbows EP, Autumn Again], Flying Lotus [Cosmogramma, Pattern+Grid World EP], Rick Ross [Teflon Don], Wild Nothing [Gemini, Golden Haze/Evertide EP], Titus Andronicus [The Monitor]

Top 20 Songs Of The Year

Honorable Mentions: Antony & The Johnsons - "Christina's Farm"; Joanna Newsom - "Go Long!"; A Sunny Day In Glasgow - 100/0 (Snowdays Forever); Local Natives - "Warning Sign (Talking Heads Cover)"; Black C - "I'm Alive"; Drake - "Show Me A Good Time"; Rick Ross - "I"m Not A Star"; School Of Seven Bells - "Windstorm"; Deerhunter - "Sailing"; The Drums - "I'll Never Drop My Sword"; Sufjan Stevens - "I Want To Be Well"

20. Sleepy Sun - "Rigamaroo" 
Genre: Folk // Psychedelic Rock 
Album: Fever

Sleepy Sun's sophomore LP picks up right where the first left off with c|assic guitar riffs, and psychedelic solos that would make any rock enthusiast proud. While psychedelic rock is Sleepy Sun's bread and butter, it's underutilized Rachel Fannan that steals the show on the folky "Rigamaroo." While her voice is by far the highlight of this band, one can be assured that her departure earlier this year may be a blessing in disguise....especially if she signs on with someone for a solo career.

19. How To Dress Well - "Endless Rain"
Genre: Dream Pop // R&B
Album: Love Remains

On a relatively forgettable album, this almost unforgettable song sees singer Tom Krell channeling the R&B of the 90s on a beautiful song of endless despair. The keyboards are fantastic, the vocals are lush, and there's just enough bass to make this sound like anything but an interlude. Stringing in just over two minutes long, "Endless Rain" is a masterpiece of dream pop lush and contemporary R&B--the perfect mix of an unlikely combination.

18. Delorean - "Real Love"
Genre: Spanish Dance 
Album: Subiza 

Delorean's mix of electronic keyboards, chopped vocal riffs and drum machines really come together on their latest effort, "Subiza." None better then on "Real Love," though, a dance song on crack with some incredibly dope harmonizing, and one of the greatest climaxes of the year. Once the song's over one thing's for certain--you won't be disappointed.

17. Wiz Khalifa - "In The Cut"
Genre: Rap
Album: Kush & OJ

Wiz Khalifa is really good at talking about weed, and this may his magnum opus on the subject. Pot smoker anthem of the year "In The Cut," has only gotten better with age, and has proven to be a timeless track amongst my friends and I. Hopefully it's the same way with you guys.

16. Geographer - "Paris" [cool live version here!]
Genre: Synth Pop
Album: Animal Shapes EP

I've made this comparison before, but Geographer IS what Passion Pit was in 2008; a relatively unknown band getting very little buzz until releasing a great EP with an infectious single that turned heads at Pitchfork and other online magazines. That being said, "Paris," isn't nearly as good as "Sleepyhead" and [naturally] it hasn't had quite the same effect...but it's a damn good song, from a very underrated band. Maybe Geographer will continue to stay underwraps from the major indie publications, and for a fan like myself that's fine. They can be my secret, so long as they keep putting out dope music.

15. Kanye West - Runaway feat. Pusha T
Genre: Rap 
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Rap fans focus too much on technical prowess when judging if a song is good or not, lyrical or not, etc. What they tend to focus on is punchlines, rather than 'did so and so make a good song or not.' Something Kanye has improved on, especially with "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," is that he knows how to make a good song, even if it won't be considered a good "rap song." The atmosphere on "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is unparalleled, and deep subject matter of "Runaway" proves just how much Kanye has grown--as a writer, as a musician, and as a man who appreciates music. What makes the song so special is Kanye's struggle within--he doesn't love himself, and naturally he can't love others. His most personal song to date has one major flaw though...making many ask why the **** Pusha T is on this ****?!?!?! 

14. Arcade Fire - "Deep Blue" 

Genre: Baroque Pop
Album: The Suburbs 

The centerpiece to "The Suburbs" doesn't even really deal with suburban life. Rather, it talks about our significance to the coming century, now that computers have the ability to do tasks as well as humans. A beautiful introspective piece, the song is as haunting as it is beautiful.

13. Vampire Weekend - "White Sky" [cool LIVE version]
Genre: Worldbeat
Album: Contra

The clear highlight of Vampire Weekend's "Contra," White Sky is probably the most charming song this year. In storybook fashion, Ezra Koenig spends the duration of the song describing a walk through Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art. After an infectious chorus of yelps, and some of the best production this year the walk ends, and it leads me to wonder--if these guys could have fun like this all the time, they'd be a hell of a band to listen to. 

12. Mount Kimbie - "Mayor"
Genre: Electronic
Album: Crooks & Ladders

Though most of "Crooks & Ladders" features very few vocals, it's Mayor that really captures what the **** these guys are trying to accomplish. It's funky, catchy, melodic--electronic in the broadest sense, but you can still dance your ass off to it. It's all over the place with handclaps, keyboards and synths yet everything is completely in unison.

11. Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes" 
Genre: Indie Rock
Album: Astrocoast

Some songs have the ability to be so damn good, that after we hear them once we immediately want the album they're on. "Floating Vibes" had this effect on me immediately, and though it led me to a very forgettable debut, it still holds dear as one of my favorites songs from this year. Led by a strong guitar, beautiful harmonies, and a catchy melody, "Floating Vibes" is the perfect summer lust song. 

10. Titus Andronicus - "Four Score & Seven"

Genre: Punk
Album: The Monitor

"Four Score & Seven" is the centerpiece to Titus Androncus' sophomore LP and it incorporates everything that makes "The Monitor" great--lyrics based loosely on the Civil War without ever bordering preachy, and an incredible climax that leaves the listener more than satisfied. The song really dictates itself between opposition of the irrelevant vs the relevant...South vs. North; New Jersey vs. Massachusetts/New York; Nerd vs. Jock, and does a fabulous job at it while still staying true to the topic at hand. 

9. Raheem DeVaughn - "Lose Control"
Genre: Funk
Album: The Love & War Master Peace

On "Lose Control," Raheem DeVaughn channels his inner soul much better than Dam-Funk could ever do on the disappointing "Adolescent Funk" LP. "Lose Control," DeVaughn's eleven minute ode to the funk of Prince and James Brown, proves just how diverse DeVaughn's music can get. A funk ballad about rebellion in the first four minutes, the final seven minutes really kick the song into high gear moving to an elecro-dance funk machine. The song moves to a breakbeat with minimal adlibs from DeVaughn that could make even the stiffest get off their butt and dance. 

8. Caribou - "Odessa" (live version aye!)
Genre: Electronic // Dance
Album: Swim

Caribou's opener "Odessa," is filled with incredible instrumentation, ranging from bells and flutes to guitars and bass. It's real feel good, uplifting music, and though the lyrics are tired and true [woman is lied to by man, and is now leaving man] they prove to be just another away to tell a story that the instruments tell best. The thing about this song that really gets me is it's almost immediate appeal. It's not a difficult song to get into, but it's not shallow either. It's comparable to your first encounter with chocolate--you're not sure why you like it, but you know you do, and you know you need more.   

7. A Sunny Day In Glasgow - "Violet Mary Haunts Me OR Loss Of Forgetfulness on Renfrew Street" (ASDIG perform "Nitetime Rainbows LIVE)
 Genre: "Tweegaze"// Shoegaze // Dream Pop // Electronic
Album: Autumn, Again 

I've made it no secret that i'm a HUGE A Sunny Day In Glasgow fan, and I personally had a hard time not having at least two of their songs on this list. Much like Sufjan Stevens did after "Illinois," ASDIG didn't release a proper album this year; instead they released an album full of b-sides [Autumn, Again] and an EP, [Nitetime Rainbows EP] both of which, proved that this band is just oozing with quality music [so much so that their album of b-sides is more than passable for a quality album]. "Violet Mary..." is a b-side that was good enough to make their 2009 LP "Ashes Grammar" but I'd imagine just wasn't a fit for the ****of the album. 

6. Crystal Castles - Empathy (performing "Crimewave" live); (Crystal Castles performing live)
 Genre: Electronic
Album: Crystal Castles ii

I'm not sure what it is about this song that's so infectious--it could be the killer bass, the insane build up, or Alice Glass' beautiful voice. All I know is, when I first heard this song [and this album for that matter] I realized that Crystal Castles ain't ****ing around anymore. Pretty much, this is everything the electronic genre ever spit out on CRACK....brilliant song, from a brilliant band.    

5. She & Him - "Thieves" (snippet of "Thieves" live); (performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live)
 Genre: Indie Pop
Album: Volume Two

She & Him's 2nd single "Thieves" doesn't stray far from their usual formula. There's a catchy chorus, and a great tune composed by M. Ward, and Zooey Deschanel--a formula for success on their first LP. However, like most of their second LP, "Thieves," couldn't be any more different than their debut. The production is tighter, the music is dramatic, and the lyrics are among the most heartbreaking of this year. "I'm not a prophet, old love is in me/New love just seeps right in and, it makes me guilty" sings Zooey Deschanel. For me, this is the saddest song of the year; you can't help but hear the heartbreak in Zooey's voice, even if she's happily married.

4. Big KRIT, Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa - Glass House (live version)  
Genre: Rap
Album: Kush & OJ // KRIT Wuz Here

I feel like no matter how much of an elitist you are, or no matter where your allegiance lies...mainstream, backpack, whatever, you really can't deny this song. Rap fans have been divided for years as far as what "real hip hop" is, but this is just one of those songs that I feel everyone can agree on how dope it is. The beat is bumpin', the verses are tight and precise [Curren$y and Big KRIT in particular kill it], and all three of these emcees have always had dope flows. If anything, Wiz could have had a better verse but after KRIT brings it home, I really couldn't give a **** less. 

3. Wavves - "Linus Spacehead" (pretty dope live version)
Genre: Noise Punk
Album: King Of The Beach

Wavves experiment with a lot of different sounds on their 3rd LP, King Of The Beach--surf rock, lo fi, noise punk, pop, etc. No song on the album puts all of these together like "Linus Spacehead" does. There's the meldoic harmonizing, the distorted guitars and a really great climax where everything comes together. Wavves aren't going to turn any heads or break any new ground--this song is no different. It's just a lot of different things done very well, something the Wavves gives you multiple times on their third album.

2. The Morning Benders - "Excuses (Yours Truly Live Session)" (studio version here!) (another great LIVE version here)
Genre: Indie Pop
Album: Big Echo

I've gone back to The Morning Benders' "Big Echo" album about two thousand times this year. Well, low and behold...it sucks. But every time I listened to this song I'd think to myself there's just NO WAY these guys can make this good of a song, and never do it again. There are some decent songs on the album...but none compare to this 50s ****pop song. "Excuses" sounds very old, and that's a great thing. The lyrics aren't typical of the time period and the production is just too fantastic to be from such an old time, but the music is there, and that's all one really needs.

The Yours Truly Live version features about two dozen people performing the song, full on with violins, guitars, percussion, etc. Lead singer Chris Chu has a beautiful voice, and the background vocalists, and instrumentation really show how many beautiful layers this song has. It's really a fantastic song live, and the Youtube link is currently my most valuable bookmark.

1. Wild Nothing - "Chinatown" (dreamy live version)
Genre: Tweegaze // Shoegaze // Dream Pop // "Chillwave"
Album: Gemini

Complain if you will about Wild Nothing--the lyrics can get repetitive, and if you're not a fan of dream pop, you'll never understand their appeal from an instrumentation standpoint, but hats off to this song--it's bar none, my favorite song this year, and most played one. The thing about dream pop/shoegaze is that the lyrics don't matter--usually because you can't hear them anyways. They're used as in instrument just like the guitar, drums, and effects of the instruments to evoke just that--an effect, a feeling, an emotion. It's what made My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" or Slowdive's "Souvlaki" so damn good...these guys weren't supreme lyricists...they didn't talk about much...but they sure knew how to evoke emotion, and create an excellent tune.

Wild Nothing has simply perfected what old shoegaze/dream pop bands used to do, in the year 2010. The atmosphere of a song like "Chinatown" is simply unparalleled; it's like drifting off into space, getting lost in the clouds, and simply not giving a ****. "We're not happy 'till we're running away, clouds in your eyes/with nothing but the foggiest day" sings Jack Tatum, creating a juxtaposition of what's really going on as he does so often on "Gemini." It's that push and pull between haunting, and beautiful that makes Tatum so great, and makes Wild Nothing the most interesting band to come out this year.

 Top 40 Albums Of The Year

 40. Junip - "Fields"
Genre: Folk, Krautrock 

Always (official video)

Jose Gonzalez' new band Junip is an indie folk band that first received attention with their 2005 EP, Black Refuge. After a five year hiatus, Gonzalez and co. coupled a free EP, with their latest LP "Fields," an album filled with catchy choruses, solid writing, and Gonzalez' great voice, Junip may be a band to look for in the near future.

39. The Jacka & Lee Majors - "Gobots 2: D-Boy Era"
Genre: Rap

The Jacka sure has been a busy man this year, and this is his first appearance on this list. On The Jack's latest tape, he teams up with Lee Majors to put a new flavor on an old sty|e. Filled with D-Boy raps, and 80s sty|ed production "Gobots 2: D-Boy Era" proves to be a solid addition to both emcee's catalogs. 

38. Avey Tare - "Down There" 
Genre: Electronic, Experimental

Ghost Of Books

Avey Tare's solo debut doesn't stray too far from what makes Animal Collective so good, yet it covers enough ground to make this a clear cut Avey Tare album. Any fan of Animal Collective should peep this. 

37. Sleigh Bells - "Treats"
Genre: Noise Pop 

Riot Rhythm

Sleigh Bells is the unlikely combination of pop vocalist Alexis Krauss, and post-hardcore guitarist Derek Miller. What we get is an album filled with noisy, somewhat distorted, hip hop sty|ed production with a female pop vocalist which makes for an unusually solid combination. 

36. Radio Dept. - "Clinging To A Scheme"
Genre: Dream Pop 

Heaven's On Fire

The Radio Dept. is a Sweedish band that has received a lot of blog love in the states, but little fan fare in their own country. It's surprising really, considering just how damn catchy their riffs and choruses are. The instruments recall c|assics from that of Lush, or Cocteau Twins, but the music is about as progressive as the genre has ever sounded.

35. Foxes In Fiction - "Swung From Branches"
Genre: Dream Pop

Memory Pools

Foxes In Fiction is another dream pop band, that I'm absolutely infatuated with. Their debut LP, "Swung From Branches" is split into two sides--side A is all instrumentals, while side B is beautiful dream pop in the realm of Deerhunter's "Rainwater Exchange Cassette EP." Side A isn't easy to get into, but the closing songs make the album well worth the wait. 

34. Big KRIT - "KRIT Wuz Here" 
Genre: Rap 

Country ****


Big KRIT is a southern rapper with a ****load of potential. He reminds me of Pimp C a bit...except KRIT is just wildly inconsistent. Still this is a fine tape with a ton of laid back jams that will be in my rotation for years. 

33. Teen Daze - "Four More Years EP"
Genre: Chillwave, Electronic 

Around

These guys are absolutely perfect for summer....and kind of unnecessary for any other season. Teen Daze won't ever break new ground with their production [occasionally sounding overused, and well...basic]. Still, this is a solid electronic tape to just put on in and let play.  

32. Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma"
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop

Dance Of the Psuedo Nymph

The thing I really love about this album is that it's just all over the damn place, yet still sounds cohesive. There's hip hop, funk, electronic, jazz, harps, trumpets, saxophones, ping pong balls, running water...and that's just the tip of the iceberg.   

31.  Beach House - "Teen Dream"
Genre: Dream Pop

Used To Be

I was really loving this album earlier in the year; not so much now. While Beach House conquers an incredible level of musicianship, and technical craft, they seem to lack an ability to connect to the listener. That being said, I still enjoy the album, I just find myself sometimes bored with it.  

30. Black C - "70s Baby"
Genre: Rap 

I'm Alive

Black C's "70s Baby" has Blueprint-esque production without an emcee with the lyrical prowess of Jay-Z circa 2001. That's fine, because while Black C is never great on the mic, he's never awful either. 

29. Delorean - "Subiza"
Genre: Spanish Dance

Infinite Desert 

Delorean is a really a band you can get lost in, and they truly take a while to click. When they do however, their mix chopped vocals, lucious production, and upbeat production really proves a certain charm unmatched by most albums this year. 

28. Vampire Weekend - "Contra"
Genre: Worldbeat 

Diplomat's Son 

Vampire Weekend's sophomore LP is a fantastic display of a band putting in a lot of craftsmanship into one album. These guys have learned how to make their songs better, and the highlights on this LP far outway the highlights on their first LP. Consistency should be the focus for their third LP. 

27. Joanna Newsom - "Have One On Me"
Genre: Freak-Folk 

'81 

Joanna Newsom's two hour triple album is an interesting display of a woman putting together multiple worlds in one sitting. That being said, this album isn't for one sitting, and it's probably the most difficult album to get into on this list [as is to be expected of a 2-hour album from a harp player] but that shouldn't discourage anyone from giving this album a try. Once it clicks, the songs which reach 7+ minutes more often than you'd think turn into epics of love, anguish and uncertainty. 

26. Antony & The Johnsons - "Swanlights" 
Genre: Chamber Pop 

Christina's Farm 

Antony & The Johnsons wasted no time releasing their 3rd LP, and while it's not as good as their two previous LPs it's a welcome addition to a surprisingly solid catalog. One thing to note immediately is the production on this LP--it's not nearly as dark and eerie as previous tapes, which may turn some off. 

25. Caribou - "Swim"
Genre: Electronic 

Kaili

"Swim" is Caribou's move from 60's psych pop to dark, electro-dance and it's a damn good move. The music ranges from accessible groovy dance music that would fit in any club to the type of experimental **** that wouldn't last anywhere but in a hipster's headphones.  

24. Janelle Monae - "The ArchAndroid"
Genre: R&B, Pop

Dance Or Die  

P Diddy has always been focussed on hits, but it's Monae's hand prints that makes the most noise on her debut LP. Monae's debut is as eclectic as any Prince, or David Bowie discography. Assuming she improves some minor missteps, I can see her being the next Erykah Badu...if not better.

23. Mount Kimbie - "Crooks & Lovers"
Genre: Electronic, Dubstep

Before I Move Off

Mount Kimbie is an electronic duo intent on making electronic music that won't make it to your local clubs. Rather the music is simple, and anything but, focussed on bits and samples with drum patterns and funk slapped together to make an intricate collection of songs.

22. Waka Flocka Flame - "Flockavelli"
Genre: Rap

Karma 

I'm not going to sit here and tell you this album has some incredible depth--because it doesn't. Quite frankly, it gets me PUMPED, and there's a certain joy I get from the adrenaline rush this album provides. 

21. The Jacka & Ampichino - "Devilz Rejects 2: House Of The Dead"
Genre: Rap

Hustle In The Rain feat. T-Nutty, Husalah 

The Jacka's second appearance on my list sees him collaborate with Midwest emcee Ampichino on their second Devilz Rejects project. The album has an incredible level of atmosphere, due to some strong soul-based production, and all-star level set of guest appearances. 

20. The Drums - "The Drums"
Genre: Indie Pop

Down By The Water

One of my most anticipated LPs of the year, the Drums self-titled album had at least half of its songs leaked before 2010 even began. Certainly spoiled the album for me, but this tape doesn't disappoint and sports some of the catchiest songs tracks this year.

19. Sufjan Stevens - "Age Of Adz"
Genre: Folk, Electronic, Pop

I Want To Be Well

Some are going to be turned off by Sufjan going the electronic route on his latest LP, and rightfully so; the pop icon was the biggest thing in indie pop music just five years ago. Stevens is as ambitious as ever on this tape, and though his ambition often hurts this album, it's that need to expect more that gives his album a worthy spot in his discography.

18. Webbie & Lil' Phat - "Trill 4 Life"
Genre: Rap

If Lovin' U Is Wrong

Webbie & Lil' Phat team up for by far the most consistent rap tape of the year. Webbie, the star on this tape [though Lil' Phat doesn't slack] really solidifies his worth to the rap genre. When Webbie's voice is on a song, it's hard to not buck up and pay attention; a quality that few emcees have these days. 

17. Deerhunter - "Halycon Digest"
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze

Helicopter 

The new album from Deerhunter moves the band to a new, but not unexpected phase musically. Lyrically, Bradford Cox is as great as always, but it's the change in production that really stands out on this tape. The production is full of lush, dream pop melodies; smooth around the edges, and lacking the endless levels of noise that made "Cryptograms" and "Microcastle" so great.

16. Geographer - "Animal Shapes EP"
Genre: Synth Pop

Kites

Geographer is a synth pop band with a lot going for them; they create great pop rhythms, relay their music through lead singer Mike Deni's powerful voice, and they've got a fresh sty|e that still oozes with accessibility.

15. Black Milk - "Album Of The Year"
Genre: Rap

Distortion

OK, I know I'm going to get some heat for this but I really dug Black Milk's latest LP. It feels like a mixture of everything that made "Tronic" great, with everything that wasn't boring from "Popular Demand." The result is clearly Black's most consistent tape to date, both lyrically and musically.

14. Wild Nothing - "Gemini" 
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze

Our Composition Book 

Wild Nothing's debut LP isn't nearly as great as their "Golden Haze EP." The album just isn't as inviting or exciting as the EP, which is a shame because there are truly some gems on this album worth noting. Both tapes are similar musically, but "Gemini" is darker, minimal, and not nearly as catchy as their other release.

13. Dwele - "W.ants W.orld W.omen"
Genre: R&B

Detroit Sunrise 

I won't act like I was the biggest fan of this tape when it first came out, because I wasn't. But this socially conscious, R&B tape never falls to be one of the most powerful statements in R&B this year. This album is a true grower, broken down into 3 parts, and sounds more beautiful as the listens rack up in my iTunes. "Every woman want a friend....**** that, every woman want a man!"

12. Liars - "Sisterworld"
Genre: Experimental

Scarecrows On A Killer Slant

The Liars' latest LP is an eerie, pain-staken masterpiece about coping in a foreign area. It's violent, out of control, even psychotic at times...and yet the Liars seem to be the most at home in this state.

11. Rick Ross - "Teflon Don" 
Genre: Rap

I'm Not A Star 

don't be nominating Kanye for anything, when you STILL haven't listened to his album.  And you were disappointed by Sufjan's stuff?

 

don't be nominating Kanye for anything, when you STILL haven't listened to his album.  And you were disappointed by Sufjan's stuff?

Apocalypse33

kanye didnt produce devil in a new dressConstrobuz

Oh and as for Sufjan hell yeah I was disappointed. You don't follow up an incredible LP like "Illinois" up with an album like "Age of Adz"...it's a good album, it's in my top 20, but damn...and don't even get me started on the All Delighted People EP.

It was all good music, but for the type of hype he had behind him following Illinois/Michigan, he needed to put out a better record than he did. Deerhunter didn't live up to expectations either, but at least I didn't have to wait five years before I heard a proper follow up. 

Oh and as for Sufjan hell yeah I was disappointed. You don't follow up an incredible LP like "Illinois" up with an album like "Age of Adz"...it's a good album, it's in my top 20, but damn...and don't even get me started on the All Delighted People EP.

It was all good music, but for the type of hype he had behind him following Illinois/Michigan, he needed to put out a better record than he did. Deerhunter didn't live up to expectations either, but at least I didn't have to wait five years before I heard a proper follow up. 

Colt45fool

Oh and as for Sufjan hell yeah I was disappointed. You don't follow up an incredible LP like "Illinois" up with an album like "Age of Adz"...it's a good album, it's in my top 20, but damn...and don't even get me started on the All Delighted People EP.

It was all good music, but for the type of hype he had behind him following Illinois/Michigan, he needed to put out a better record than he did. Deerhunter didn't live up to expectations either, but at least I didn't have to wait five years before I heard a proper follow up. 

Colt45fool

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"]

Oh and as for Sufjan hell yeah I was disappointed. You don't follow up an incredible LP like "Illinois" up with an album like "Age of Adz"...it's a good album, it's in my top 20, but damn...and don't even get me started on the All Delighted People EP.

It was all good music, but for the type of hype he had behind him following Illinois/Michigan, he needed to put out a better record than he did. Deerhunter didn't live up to expectations either, but at least I didn't have to wait five years before I heard a proper follow up. 

DaDukies

Maybe we're both missing something. I mean, I enjoyed the Rainwater Exchange Cassette EP WAY more than the new LP. One thing I will say is that no matter how much I listen to it, Halycon Digest never gets old.

As for Sufjan, I listened to it plenty. I compare it to waiting for the Chronic 2001..,imagine waiting for that album for seven years, and it being good, but not close to a classic. That's how Sufjan's latest was for me...I was more disappointed with it than say, the Deerhunter tape, simply because they both were of about the same quality but I only had to wait a year as opposed to five years for new material.  

Part 2 is up, now posted in the 2nd post. I won't be updating this everyday, but I hope to finish part 3 before Christmas, and maybe part 6 as well. Part 4/5 should be done after Christmas.

Top 20 Songs Of The Year

Honorable Mentions: Antony & The Johnsons - "Christina's Farm"; Joanna Newsom - "Go Long!"; A Sunny Day In Glasgow - 100/0 (Snowdays Forever); Local Natives - "Warning Sign (Talking Heads Cover)"; Black C - "I'm Alive"; Drake - "Show Me A Good Time"; Rick Ross - "I"m Not A Star"; School Of Seven Bells - "Windstorm"; Deerhunter - "Sailing"; The Drums - "I'll Never Drop My Sword"; Sufjan Stevens - "I Want To Be Well"

20. Sleepy Sun - "Rigamaroo" 
Genre: Folk // Psychedelic Rock 
Album: Fever

Sleepy Sun's sophomore LP picks up right where the first left off with c|assic guitar riffs, and psychedelic solos that would make any rock enthusiast proud. While psychedelic rock is Sleepy Sun's bread and butter, it's underutilized Rachel Fannan that steals the show on the folky "Rigamaroo." While her voice is by far the highlight of this band, one can be assured that her departure earlier this year may be a blessing in disguise....especially if she signs on with someone for a solo career.

19. How To Dress Well - "Endless Rain"
Genre: Dream Pop // R&B
Album: Love Remains

On a relatively forgettable album, this almost unforgettable song sees singer Tom Krell channeling the R&B of the 90s on a beautiful song of endless despair. The keyboards are fantastic, the vocals are lush, and there's just enough bass to make this sound like anything but an interlude. Stringing in just over two minutes long, "Endless Rain" is a masterpiece of dream pop lush and contemporary R&B--the perfect mix of an unlikely combination.

18. Delorean - "Real Love"
Genre: Spanish Dance 
Album: Subiza 

Delorean's mix of electronic keyboards, chopped vocal riffs and drum machines really come together on their latest effort, "Subiza." None better then on "Real Love," though, a dance song on crack with some incredibly dope harmonizing, and one of the greatest climaxes of the year. Once the song's over one thing's for certain--you won't be disappointed.

17. Wiz Khalifa - "In The Cut"
Genre: Rap
Album: Kush & OJ

Wiz Khalifa is really good at talking about weed, and this may his magnum opus on the subject. Pot smoker anthem of the year "In The Cut," has only gotten better with age, and has proven to be a timeless track amongst my friends and I. Hopefully it's the same way with you guys.

16. Geographer - "Paris" [cool live version here!]
Genre: Synth Pop
Album: Animal Shapes EP

I've made this comparison before, but Geographer IS what Passion Pit was in 2008; a relatively unknown band getting very little buzz until releasing a great EP with an infectious single that turned heads at Pitchfork and other online magazines. That being said, "Paris," isn't nearly as good as "Sleepyhead" and [naturally] it hasn't had quite the same effect...but it's a damn good song, from a very underrated band. Maybe Geographer will continue to stay underwraps from the major indie publications, and for a fan like myself that's fine. They can be my secret, so long as they keep putting out dope music.

15. Kanye West - Runaway feat. Pusha T
Genre: Rap 
Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Rap fans focus too much on technical prowess when judging if a song is good or not, lyrical or not, etc. What they tend to focus on is punchlines, rather than 'did so and so make a good song or not.' Something Kanye has improved on, especially with "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," is that he knows how to make a good song, even if it won't be considered a good "rap song." The atmosphere on "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is unparalleled, and deep subject matter of "Runaway" proves just how much Kanye has grown--as a writer, as a musician, and as a man who appreciates music. What makes the song so special is Kanye's struggle within--he doesn't love himself, and naturally he can't love others. His most personal song to date has one major flaw though...making many ask why the **** Pusha T is on this ****?!?!?!

14. Arcade Fire - "Deep Blue" 
Genre: Baroque Pop
Album: The Suburbs 

The centerpiece to "The Suburbs" doesn't even really deal with suburban life. Rather, it talks about our significance to the coming century, now that computers have the ability to do tasks as well as humans. A beautiful introspective piece, the song is as haunting as it is beautiful.

13. Vampire Weekend - "White Sky" [cool LIVE version]
Genre: Worldbeat
Album: Contra

The clear highlight of Vampire Weekend's "Contra," White Sky is probably the most charming song this year. In storybook fashion, Ezra Koenig spends the duration of the song describing a walk through Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art. After an infectious chorus of yelps, and some of the best production this year the walk ends, and it leads me to wonder--if these guys could have fun like this all the time, they'd be a hell of a band to listen to.

12. Mount Kimbie - "Mayor"
Genre: Electronic
Album: Crooks & Ladders

Though most of "Crooks & Ladders" features very few vocals, it's Mayor that really captures what the **** these guys are trying to accomplish. It's funky, catchy, melodic--electronic in the broadest sense, but you can still dance your ass off to it. It's all over the place with handclaps, keyboards and synths yet everything is completely in unison.

11. Surfer Blood - "Floating Vibes" 
Genre: Indie Rock
Album: Astrocoast

Some songs have the ability to be so damn good, that after we hear them once we immediately want the album they're on. "Floating Vibes" had this effect on me immediately, and though it led me to a very forgettable debut, it still holds dear as one of my favorites songs from this year. Led by a strong guitar, beautiful harmonies, and a catchy melody, "Floating Vibes" is the perfect summer lust song.

Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsToriko42

[QUOTE="Toriko42"]Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsApocalypse33

Or me lol I can't stand Pusha T now.

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Toriko42"]Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsBlack-Demon

Or me lol I can't stand Pusha T now.

lol why?  He's been everywhere, but I tend to like his verses recently, especially the one on HFM2

Pusha T on Runaway ftw. :(Foolz3h

Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsToriko42

[QUOTE="Black-Demon"]

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Toriko42"]Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsApocalypse33

Or me lol I can't stand Pusha T now.

lol why?  He's been everywhere, but I tend to like his verses recently, especially the one on HFM2

He's straight up pure %100 theraflu when not on Neptunes production. Dude has no energy when he raps. At all.

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Black-Demon"]

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Toriko42"]Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsBlack-Demon

Or me lol I can't stand Pusha T now.

lol why?  He's been everywhere, but I tend to like his verses recently, especially the one on HFM2

He's straight up pure %100 when not on Neptunes production. Dude has no energy when he raps. At all.

[QUOTE="Black-Demon"][QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Black-Demon"]

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="Toriko42"]Yeah Pusha T's verse on Runaway ownsApocalypse33

Or me lol I can't stand Pusha T now.

lol why?  He's been everywhere, but I tend to like his verses recently, especially the one on HFM2

He's straight up pure %100 when not on Neptunes production. Dude has no energy when he raps. At all.

Banks beats are raw as hell and fit him though. Pusha T should be nowhere NEAR Kanye beats anymore,it reminds me of listening to Livin' Proof by Group Home.

Colt you really are becoming more and more like Pitchfork:POrlando_Magic

Pusha's verse on runaway is, by far, the worst thing about Kanye's albumfat_rob

I deleted that mess ... forgot it was even on the album :lol: 

 

 

I deleted that mess ... forgot it was even on the album :lol: 

fat_rob

Gil Scott-Heron >>> both of you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B6DVdCzwy0 

Gil Scott-Heron >>> both of you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B6DVdCzwy0 

Orlando_Magic

Gil Scott-Heron >>> both of you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B6DVdCzwy0 

Orlando_Magic

[QUOTE="Orlando_Magic"]

Gil Scott-Heron >>> both of you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B6DVdCzwy0 

Colt45fool

Great way to the end album IMO. 

10. Titus Andronicus - "Four Score & Seven"

Genre: Punk
Album: The Monitor

 

"Four Score & Seven" is the centerpiece to Titus Androncus' sophomore LP and it incorporates everything that makes "The Monitor" great--lyrics based loosely on the Civil War without ever bordering preachy, and an incredible climax that leaves the listener more than satisfied. The song really dictates itself between opposition of the irrelevant vs the relevant...South vs. North; New Jersey vs. Massachusetts/New York; Nerd vs. Jock, and does a fabulous job at it while still staying true to the topic at hand. 

9. Raheem DeVaughn - "Lose Control"
Genre: Funk
Album: The Love & War Master Peace

 

On "Lose Control," Raheem DeVaughn channels his inner soul much better than Dam-Funk could ever do on the disappointing "Adolescent Funk" LP. "Lose Control," DeVaughn's eleven minute ode to the funk of Prince and James Brown, proves just how diverse DeVaughn's music can get. A funk ballad about rebellion in the first four minutes, the final seven minutes really kick the song into high gear moving to an elecro-dance funk machine. The song moves to a breakbeat with minimal adlibs from DeVaughn that could make even the stiffest get off their butt and dance. 

8. Caribou - "Odessa" (live version aye!)
Genre: Electronic // Dance
Album: Swim

 

Caribou's opener "Odessa," is filled with incredible instrumentation, ranging from bells and flutes to guitars and bass. It's real feel good, uplifting music, and though the lyrics are tired and true [woman is lied to by man, and is now leaving man] they prove to be just another away to tell a story that the instruments tell best. The thing about this song that really gets me is it's almost immediate appeal. It's not a difficult song to get into, but it's not shallow either. It's comparable to your first encounter with chocolate--you're not sure why you like it, but you know you do, and you know you need more.   

7. A Sunny Day In Glasgow - "Violet Mary Haunts Me OR Loss Of Forgetfulness on Renfrew Street" (ASDIG perform "Nitetime Rainbows LIVE)
 Genre: "Tweegaze"// Shoegaze // Dream Pop // Electronic
Album: Autumn, Again 

 

I've made it no secret that i'm a HUGE A Sunny Day In Glasgow fan, and I personally had a hard time not having at least two of their songs on this list. Much like Sufjan Stevens did after "Illinois," ASDIG didn't release a proper album this year; instead they released an album full of b-sides [Autumn, Again] and an EP, [Nitetime Rainbows EP] both of which, proved that this band is just oozing with quality music [so much so that their album of b-sides is more than passable for a quality album]. . "Violet Mary..." is a b-side that was good enough to make their 2009 LP "Ashes Grammar" but I'd imagine just wasn't a fit for the ****of the album. 

6. Crystal Castles - Empathy (performing "Crimewave" live); (Crystal Castles performing live)
 Genre: Electronic
Album: Crystal Castles ii

I'm not sure what it is about this song that's so infectious--it could be the killer bass, the insane build up, or Alice Glass' beautiful voice. All I know is, when I first heard this song [and this album for that matter] I realized that Crystal Castles ain't ****ing around anymore. Pretty much, this is everything the electronic genre ever spit out on CRACK....brilliant song, from a brilliant band.    

5. She & Him - "Thieves" (snippet of "Thieves" live); (performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live)
 Genre: Indie Pop
Album: Volume Two

 

She & Him's 2nd single "Thieves" doesn't stray far from their usual formula. There's a catchy chorus, and a great tune composed by M. Ward, and Zooey Deschanel--a formula for success on their first LP. However, like most of their second LP, "Thieves," couldn't be any more different than their debut. The production is tighter, the music is dramatic, and the lyrics are among the most heartbreaking of this year. "I'm not a prophet, old love is in me/New love just seeps right in and, it makes me guilty" sings Zooey Deschanel. For me, this is the saddest song of the year; you can't help but hear the heartbreak in Zooey's voice, even if she's happily married.

4. Big KRIT, Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa - Glass House (live version)  
Genre: Rap
Album: Kush & OJ // KRIT Wuz Here

 

I feel like no matter how much of an elitist you are, or no matter where your allegiance lies...mainstream, backpack, whatever, you really can't deny this song. Rap fans have been divided for years as far as what "real hip hop" is, but this is just one of those songs that I feel everyone can agree on how dope it is. The beat is bumpin', the verses are tight and precise [Curren$y and Big KRIT in particular kill it], and all three of these emcees have always had dope flows. If anything, Wiz could have had a better verse but after KRIT brings it home, I really couldn't give a **** less. 

3. Wavves - "Linus Spacehead" (pretty dope live version)
Genre: Noise Punk
Album: King Of The Beach

 

Wavves experiment with a lot of different sounds on their 3rd LP, King Of The Beach--surf rock, lo fi, noise punk, pop, etc. No song on the album puts all of these together like "Linus Spacehead" does. There's the meldoic harmonizing, the distorted guitars and a really great climax where everything comes together. Wavves aren't going to turn any heads or break any new ground--this song is no different. It's just a lot of different things done very well, something the Wavves gives you multiple times on their third album.

2. The Morning Benders - "Excuses (Yours Truly Live Session)" (studio version here!) (another great LIVE version here)
Genre: Indie Pop
Album: Big Echo

 

I've gone back to The Morning Benders' "Big Echo" album about two thousand times this year. Well, low and behold...it sucks. But every time I listened to this song I'd think to myself there's just NO WAY these guys can make this good of a song, and never do it again. There are some decent songs on the album...but none compare to this 50s ****pop song. "Excuses" sounds very old, and that's a great thing. The lyrics aren't typical of the time period and the production is just too fantastic to be from such an old time, but the music is there, and that's all one really needs.

The Yours Truly Live version features about two dozen people performing the song, full on with violins, guitars, percussion, etc. Lead singer Chris Chu has a beautiful voice, and the background vocalists, and instrumentation really show how many beautiful layers this song has. It's really a fantastic song live, and the Youtube link is currently my most valuable bookmark.

 

1. Wild Nothing - "Chinatown" (dreamy live version)
Genre: Tweegaze // Shoegaze // Dream Pop // "Chillwave"
Album: Gemini

Complain if you will about Wild Nothing--the lyrics can get repetitive, and if you're not a fan of dream pop, you'll never understand their appeal from an instrumentation standpoint, but hats off to this song--it's bar none, my favorite song this year, and most played one. The thing about dream pop/shoegaze is that the lyrics don't matter--usually because you can't hear them anyways. They're used as in instrument just like the guitar, drums, and effects of the instruments to evoke just that--an effect, a feeling, an emotion. It's what made My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" or Slowdive's "Souvlaki" so damn good...these guys weren't supreme lyricists...they didn't talk about much...but they sure knew how to evoke emotion, and create an excellent tune.

Wild Nothing has simply perfected what old shoegaze/dream pop bands used to do, in the year 2010. The atmosphere of a song like "Chinatown" is simply unparalleled; it's like drifting off into space, getting lost in the clouds, and simply not giving a ****. "We're not happy 'till we're running away, clouds in your eyes/with nothing but the foggiest day" sings Jack Tatum, creating a juxtaposition of what's really going on as he does so often on "Gemini." It's that push and pull between haunting, and beautiful that makes Tatum so great, and makes Wild Nothing the most interesting band to come out this year.

 

 

Colt45fool

what album would you recommend i start with if you had to choose??KevinMartinOwns

Caribou - "Swim"
Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"
Geographer - "Animal Shapes EP"
The Drums - "The Drums"
Vampire Weekend - "Contra"
Big KRIT - "KRIT Wuz Here" 
Webbie & Lil Phat - "Trill 4 Life"
Radio Dept. - "Clinging To A Scheme"
Rick Ross - "Teflon Don"

At least I found those to be really accessible. 

Colt have you checked out the Black Keys "Brothers" album released earlier this year? It's a good album, definitely check it out  if you get the chance. There's a song called "Tighten Up" produced by Danger Mouse that's one of my favorite non rap songs of the year

 

Colt have you checked out the Black Keys "Brothers" album released earlier this year? It's a good album, definitely check it out  if you get the chance. There's a song called "Tighten Up" produced by Danger Mouse that's one of my favorite non rap songs of the year

andyboiii

[QUOTE="andyboiii"]

 

Colt have you checked out the Black Keys "Brothers" album released earlier this year? It's a good album, definitely check it out  if you get the chance. There's a song called "Tighten Up" produced by Danger Mouse that's one of my favorite non rap songs of the year

Colt45fool

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"][QUOTE="andyboiii"]

 

Colt have you checked out the Black Keys "Brothers" album released earlier this year? It's a good album, definitely check it out  if you get the chance. There's a song called "Tighten Up" produced by Danger Mouse that's one of my favorite non rap songs of the year

DaDukies

Top 40 Albums Of The Year

 40. Junip - "Fields"
Genre: Folk, Krautrock 

Always (official video)

Jose Gonzalez' new band Junip is an indie folk band that first received attention with their 2005 EP, Black Refuge. After a five year hiatus, Gonzalez and co. coupled a free EP, with their latest LP "Fields," an album filled with catchy choruses, solid writing, and Gonzalez' great voice, Junip may be a band to look for in the near future.

39. The Jacka & Lee Majors - "Gobots 2: D-Boy Era"
Genre: Rap

The Jacka sure has been a busy man this year, and this is his first appearance on this list. On The Jack's latest tape, he teams up with Lee Majors to put a new flavor on an old sty|e. Filled with D-Boy raps, and 80s sty|ed production "Gobots 2: D-Boy Era" proves to be a solid addition to both emcee's catalogs. 

38. Avey Tare - "Down There" 
Genre: Electronic, Experimental

Ghost Of Books

Avey Tare's solo debut doesn't stray too far from what makes Animal Collective so good, yet it covers enough ground to make this a clear cut Avey Tare album. Any fan of Animal Collective should peep this. 

37. Sleigh Bells - "Treats"
Genre: Noise Pop 

Riot Rhythm

Sleigh Bells is the unlikely combination of pop vocalist Alexis Krauss, and post-hardcore guitarist Derek Miller. What we get is an album filled with noisy, somewhat distorted, hip hop sty|ed production with a female pop vocalist which makes for an unusually solid combination. 

36. Radio Dept. - "Clinging To A Scheme"
Genre: Dream Pop 

Heaven's On Fire

The Radio Dept. is a Sweedish band that has received a lot of blog love in the states, but little fan fare in their own country. It's surprising really, considering just how damn catchy their riffs and choruses are. The instruments recall c|assics from that of Lush, or Cocteau Twins, but the music is about as progressive as the genre has ever sounded.

35. Foxes In Fiction - "Swung From Branches"
Genre: Dream Pop

Memory Pools

Foxes In Fiction is another dream pop band, that I'm absolutely infatuated with. Their debut LP, "Swung From Branches" is split into two sides--side A is all instrumentals, while side B is beautiful dream pop in the realm of Deerhunter's "Rainwater Exchange Cassette EP." Side A isn't easy to get into, but the closing songs make the album well worth the wait. 

34. Big KRIT - "KRIT Wuz Here" 
Genre: Rap 

Country ****


Big KRIT is a southern rapper with a ****load of potential. He reminds me of Pimp C a bit...except KRIT is just wildly inconsistent. Still this is a fine tape with a ton of laid back jams that will be in my rotation for years. 

33. Teen Daze - "Four More Years EP"
Genre: Chillwave, Electronic 

Around

These guys are absolutely perfect for summer....and kind of unnecessary for any other season. Teen Daze won't ever break new ground with their production [occasionally sounding overused, and well...basic]. Still, this is a solid electronic tape to just put on in and let play.  

32. Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma"
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop

Dance Of the Psuedo Nymph

The thing I really love about this album is that it's just all over the damn place, yet still sounds cohesive. There's hip hop, funk, electronic, jazz, harps, trumpets, saxophones, ping pong balls, running water...and that's just the tip of the iceberg.   

31.  Beach House - "Teen Dream"
Genre: Dream Pop

Used To Be

I was really loving this album earlier in the year; not so much now. While Beach House conquers an incredible level of musicianship, and technical craft, they seem to lack an ability to connect to the listener. That being said, I still enjoy the album, I just find myself sometimes bored with it.  

30. Black C - "70s Baby"
Genre: Rap 

I'm Alive

Black C's "70s Baby" has Blueprint-esque production without an emcee with the lyrical prowess of Jay-Z circa 2001. That's fine, because while Black C is never great on the mic, he's never awful either. 

29. Delorean - "Subiza"
Genre: Spanish Dance

Infinite Desert 

Delorean is a really a band you can get lost in, and they truly take a while to click. When they do however, their mix chopped vocals, lucious production, and upbeat production really proves a certain charm unmatched by most albums this year. 

28. Vampire Weekend - "Contra"
Genre: Worldbeat 

Diplomat's Son 

Vampire Weekend's sophomore LP is a fantastic display of a band putting in a lot of craftsmanship into one album. These guys have learned how to make their songs better, and the highlights on this LP far outway the highlights on their first LP. Consistency should be the focus for their third LP. 

27. Joanna Newsom - "Have One On Me"
Genre: Freak-Folk 

'81 

Joanna Newsom's two hour triple album is an interesting display of a woman putting together multiple worlds in one sitting. That being said, this album isn't for one sitting, and it's probably the most difficult album to get into on this list [as is to be expected of a 2-hour album from a harp player] but that shouldn't discourage anyone from giving this album a try. Once it clicks, the songs which reach 7+ minutes more often than you'd think turn into epics of love, anguish and uncertainty. 

26. Antony & The Johnsons - "Swanlights"
Genre: Chamber Pop 

Christina's Farm 

Antony & The Johnsons wasted no time releasing their 3rd LP, and while it's not as good as their two previous LPs it's a welcome addition to a surprisingly solid catalog. One thing to note immediately is the production on this LP--it's not nearly as dark and eerie as previous tapes, which may turn some off. 

25. Caribou - "Swim"
Genre: Electronic 

Kaili

"Swim" is Caribou's move from 60's psych pop to dark, electro-dance and it's a damn good move. The music ranges from accessible groovy dance music that would fit in any club to the type of experimental **** that wouldn't last anywhere but in a hipster's headphones.  

24. Janelle Monae - "The ArchAndroid"
Genre: R&B, Pop

Dance Or Die  

P Diddy has always been focussed on hits, but it's Monae's hand prints that makes the most noise on her debut LP. Monae's debut is as eclectic as any Prince, or David Bowie discography. Assuming she improves some minor missteps, I can see her being the next Erykah Badu...if not better.

23. Mount Kimbie - "Crooks & Lovers"
Genre: Electronic, Dubstep

Before I Move Off

Mount Kimbie is an electronic duo intent on making electronic music that won't make it to your local clubs. Rather the music is simple, and anything but, focussed on bits and samples with drum patterns and funk slapped together to make an intricate collection of songs.

22. Waka Flocka Flame - "Flockavelli"
Genre: Rap

Karma 

I'm not going to sit here and tell you this album has some incredible depth--because it doesn't. Quite frankly, it gets me PUMPED, and there's a certain joy I get from the adrenaline rush this album provides. 

21. The Jacka & Ampichino - "Devilz Rejects 2: House Of The Dead"
Genre: Rap

Hustle In The Rain feat. T-Nutty, Husalah 

The Jacka's second appearance on my list sees him collaborate with Midwest emcee Ampichino on their second Devilz Rejects project. The album has an incredible level of atmosphere, due to some strong soul-based production, and all-star level set of guest appearances. 

20. The Drums - "The Drums"
Genre: Indie Pop

Down By The Water

One of my most anticipated LPs of the year, the Drums self-titled album had at least half of its songs leaked before 2010 even began. Certainly spoiled the album for me, but this tape doesn't disappoint and sports some of the catchiest songs tracks this year.

19. Sufjan Stevens - "Age Of Adz"
Genre: Folk, Electronic, Pop

I Want To Be Well

Some are going to be turned off by Sufjan going the electronic route on his latest LP, and rightfully so; the pop icon was the biggest thing in indie pop music just five years ago. Stevens is as ambitious as ever on this tape, and though his ambition often hurts this album, it's that need to expect more that gives his album a worthy spot in his discography.

18. Webbie & Lil' Phat - "Trill 4 Life"
Genre: Rap

If Lovin' U Is Wrong

Webbie & Lil' Phat team up for by far the most consistent rap tape of the year. Webbie, the star on this tape [though Lil' Phat doesn't slack] really solidifies his worth to the rap genre. When Webbie's voice is on a song, it's hard to not buck up and pay attention; a quality that few emcees have these days. 

17. Deerhunter - "Halycon Digest"
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze

Helicopter 

The new album from Deerhunter moves the band to a new, but not unexpected phase musically. Lyrically, Bradford Cox is as great as always, but it's the change in production that really stands out on this tape. The production is full of lush, dream pop melodies; smooth around the edges, and lacking the endless levels of noise that made "Cryptograms" and "Microcastle" so great.

16. Geographer - "Animal Shapes EP"
Genre: Synth Pop

Kites

Geographer is a synth pop band with a lot going for them; they create great pop rhythms, relay their music through lead singer Mike Deni's powerful voice, and they've got a fresh sty|e that still oozes with accessibility.

15. Black Milk - "Album Of The Year"
Genre: Rap

Distortion

OK, I know I'm going to get some heat for this but I really dug Black Milk's latest LP. It feels like a mixture of everything that made "Tronic" great, with everything that wasn't boring from "Popular Demand." The result is clearly Black's most consistent tape to date, both lyrically and musically.

14. Wild Nothing - "Gemini" 
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze

Our Composition Book 

Wild Nothing's debut LP isn't nearly as great as their "Golden Haze EP." The album just isn't as inviting or exciting as the EP, which is a shame because there are truly some gems on this album worth noting. Both tapes are similar musically, but "Gemini" is darker, minimal, and not nearly as catchy as their other release.

13. Dwele - "W.ants W.orld W.omen"
Genre: R&B

Detroit Sunrise 

I won't act like I was the biggest fan of this tape when it first came out, because I wasn't. But this socially conscious, R&B tape never falls to be one of the most powerful statements in R&B this year. This album is a true grower, broken down into 3 parts, and sounds more beautiful as the listens rack up in my iTunes. "Every woman want a friend....**** that, every woman want a man!"

12. Liars - "Sisterworld"
Genre: Experimental

Scarecrows On A Killer Slant

The Liars' latest LP is an eerie, pain-staken masterpiece about coping in a foreign area. It's violent, out of control, even psychotic at times...and yet the Liars seem to be the most at home in this state.

11. Rick Ross - "Teflon Don" 
Genre: Rap

I'm Not A Star 

Rick Ross is consistently proving why he's one of the best rappers out there. Ross continues to put out a better product of the one he put out before--solid lyrics, incredible delivery and swagger, and the best production money can buy. I'll be damned if the next LP we see from him isn't a c|assic. 

damn, i gotta get up on that geographer and mount kimbie...havent heard their **** yet but your examples won me over right away good stuff so far colt, im interested to see 1-10DaDukies

damn, i gotta get up on that geographer and mount kimbie...havent heard their **** yet but your examples won me over right away good stuff so far colt, im interested to see 1-10DaDukies

Top 10 will probably be up by tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm probably going to really deck it out...three sample tracks, quotes, a few paragraphs per album...OK, maybe not all that, but you get the point. I want to post this on another site too before we get too far into 2011. 

That Sleigh Bells album gives me a headache almost every time I listen to it but for some reason I still love it. JML897

Top 10 Albums 

10. Wavves - "King Of The Beach"
Genre: Noise Punk, Noise Pop, Surf Rock

Super Soaker
Take On The World
King Of The Beach 

Wavves 3rd LP sees a move from the lo-fi experimentation of their first two LPs as they delve into a new era of their music. That is, one that sports fuller production, less distortion, and more emphasis on melody. Essentially, "King Of The Beach" is Wavves first two albums with a discouraging message for fans of lo-fi...clearly, they don't give a ****, and lead singer Nathan Williams says it more than once.

The album hosts a variety of genres, beefing up some old experiments from old albums. Previous tapes had a little bit of surf rock [Beach Goth],punk [Summer Goth] , and harmonizing pop elements [So Bored] but none had done it as obvious as "King Of The Beach" does. It's kind of the charm within the album--there's no beating around the bush, there's no introspective lyrics. It's just Nathan Williams being loud and obnoxious lyrically, musically, and [obviously] stylistically. "I'm not supposed to be a kid, but I'm an idiot/I'd say I'm sorry, but it wouldn't mean ****" says Williams on the chorus of "Idiot." This ****could get repetitive or tiresome for other bands, but for Wavves it's anything but--Williams is just too damn charming to hate, and too damn immature to get bored with. 

It's why there's just so much to love on this album. No matter how basic the lyrics get, or how stupid Williams comes off, he still has the ability to make you root for him and his music. The one drawback on this tape is how inconsistent it can be. Some songs are replaced with synthesizers instead of drums and it really takes the kick out of the songs. Otherwise, this is a great LP by a band with a ****load of talent.

9. She & Him - "Volume Two"
Genre: Folk, Pop, Country 

Don't Look Back
Ridin' In My Car (NRBQ)
Brand New Shoes 

She & Him is the duo of actress Zooey Deschanel and folk singer-songwriter M. Ward. The duo is as you'd expect it--Ward handles the production side of things, and occasionally lends vocals while Deschanel sprinkles her angelic voice on most of the songs. The two focus on genres that are mostly forgotten about in the music scene, ranging from 50's bubble gum girl pop, and country to more conventional folk and pop. 

"Volume Two" is by all means a continuation of their debut album "Volume One" but it really takes everything to the next level. The production is fuller, Deschanel's voice is better utilized, and the lyrics are better....****, just about everything on this LP is better than their first album. Remember when The-Dream promised to "give us more" of him on every LP, and failed to deliver? Well, Deschanel and Ward have decided to quietly release what all their fans wanted after "Volume One"...MORE of them on every LP. 

You can hear the improvements on album opener "Thieves." "We too are makers, just made this mess/Two broken hearts don't beat any less," sings Deschanel on what may be the saddest song I've heard in years. They don't stop there--"Lingering Still" features Beach Boys-esque surf production, "Don't Look Back" has some obvious Beatles homage, and album closer "If You Can't Sleep" turns Deschanel's hums into orchestral strings and harps. When the closer finally ends, the album is as satisfying as anything I've heard this year. If we can see their third LP taken to the next level, we'll be in for a real treat.

8. Wiz Khalifa - "Kush & Orange Juice"
Genre: Rap

Never Been
Good Dank
The Statement 

"Kush & Orange Juice" is Wiz Khalifa's breakthrough mixtape of 2010, and there's no guess on what the tape is about [hint: not Orange Juice.] Wiz talks a lot about weed, and makes no apologies about it. "Flick this weed and dro/grindin' paid its toll, now everywhere I go I fly" sings Khalifa on "Good Dank" an anthem about...well, smoking weed.

So I guess you're wondering what makes this mixtape any better than some other pot smokers LP. The thing is "Kush & Orange Juice" has everything your typical pot smokers LP needs--charisma, chilled beats, and the subject matter of weed. For me though, no one talks about weed the way Wiz talks about weed. He's full of charisma and charm; and not on some normal pot rapper level, but some Lil' Wayne I-Don't-Give-A-****-If-He's-Talking-About-Donkeys-And-Kimodo-Dragons-This-****-Is-PIFF charisma. He doesn't beat around the bush--if he's in the club, he's going to smoke [Good Dank]. if he's talking about love he's going to smoke, and if he's hallucinating in the air [Up] he's going to smoke. 

Much like Wavves "King Of The Beach" this tape is simply very blunt and honest about its subject matter, and its that level of charm that attracts me to an artist like Wiz, or Wavves. Wiz won't break new ground on his new mixtape, but if he can maintain the same level of charisma on his upcoming tapes, he should be around for a long time. 

7. Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"
Genre: Baroque Pop

We Used To Wait
Suburban War
Modern Man 

Arcade Fire is infamous for their concept albums and "The Suburbs" is no different. The album takes us into familiar territory--the suburbs where the young grow old, the old grow older, and the ambitious for big cities, new territory or other areas of suburbia. It's a familiar topic for most whom have lived there, and the nostalgia factor is strong with the subject matter as Win Butler talks about growing up with, and watching his friends leave his subrban neighborhood as he waits to raise his own children in the land he was born.

The album is as relatable as the latest breakup song, yet still as charming as re-watching old cartoon and its this sense of nostalgia and storytelling that makes this Arcade Fire's most cohesive albums to date. I know old fans will scream for "Funeral" but I never saw the big deal with that album. It's good, but not some Beethoven c|assical ****. 

My one big drawback on this tape is the inconsistency. Namely, there are a few songs that feature two parts, and the first parts [Sprawl, Half Light] just flat out suck. Otherwise this is some good pop music; never too ambitious, never too preachy [see: Neon Bible] but just the perfect album to let play in the background and sink your teeth into.

6. Julian Lynch - "Mare" 
Genre: Ambient, Psychedelic 

Ruth, My Sister
Travelers
Ears 

Julian Lynch's 2nd LP is one of those tapes that I can listen to for hours if I'm in the right mood. It's the perfect psychedelic summer tape, and before you start making your judgments let me forewarn you--this is nothing like it sounds. When I hear psychedelic I think Neon Indian, or MGMT...summer and I think something surfy like the Beach Boys. Make no mistake that Julian Lynch sounds like NONE of these bands whatsoever. This is the type of psychedellic summer tape that's so deep in its own convictions that I couldn't imagine another band with that label making something similar.

This isn't for the faint at heart--no, this is for the fans of Brian Eno. The ones that understood what David Bowie was trying to accomplish on "Low," and the people who know what krautrock is, but don't simply want to listen to krautrock. It's the tape you listen to when it's raining outside and you're watching the leaves, or what you listen to by a fireplace or in other peaceful moods. 

Getting to the music and just what the **** I'm talking about well...there's a lot of ambience and mood on this tape. Lynch has a way of encompassing wet sounds in a dry jar without the use of white noise, or distortion. The production is very clean cut, and there are vocals--mostly lo-fi, and only to be used as instrumentation, but never distorted. There's a vast amount of instrumentation throughout the tape, going from clarinets and organs to moracas and bells to tribal drums and guitar. There's also an abounding amount of craftsmanship here, which is what really sets Lynch apart from most--he's just so damn good at making a great song, and in this case album, despite technical prowess. 

5. A Sunny Day In Glasgow - "Autumn, Again"
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Tweegaze

How Does Somebody Say When Somebody Likes You?
Drink, Drank, Drunk

How do you follow up the best album of 2009? You don't. At least that's what A Sunny Day In Glasgow did. Instead, they decided to do something for the fans--release an EP of unreleased material and remixes [Nitetime Rainbows EP] and this, a free downloadable b-side to their critically acclaimed sophomore LP, "Ashes Grammar." Now I know what you're thinking--there's just no band that can release a b-side album and have it make my top 5 LPs of the year...there's no band that's THAT GOOD. Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but these guys are that good. In fact, they're better and the proof is in the music.

"Autumn, Again" is a different type of album than "Ashes Grammar." Stylistically, it's a lot softer; there's more dream pop here and less electronic. To be honest there's a lot more pop here in general, and that's not a bad thing, especially for people looking to get into these guys. For new fans, this is not your typical band--there's a lot of stress on the instrumentation, and the two female vocalists Jen Goma and Annie Fredrickson. The music is a war within itself as there's just so much going on. While there's blood, and guts all over the songs, there's hardly ever a casualty as everything these guys touch just sounds so perfectly suited for them.

Often times we'll see Goma, and Fredrickson go off on their own back and forth "call" music sty|e while the music intentionally pushes in and out, allowing the vocals to be both heard and distorted [see: "Drink, Drank Drunk"]. Other times the vocalists and music is in complete unison, without the constant war for dominance as on "Violet Mary Haunts me OR Loss Of Forgetfullness On Renfrew Street."And more likely than not, we'll see all of these **** mixed in with breaks where the music just takes over, and the vocals are completely forgotten [see: "How Does Somebody Say When Somebody Likes You?"] The juxtaposition between chaos and perfection is what still has me in awe, and as a result I'll always admire these guys music.

4. Kanye West - "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
Genre: Rap

All Of The Lights feat. Rihanna, Fergie, Kid Cudi, John Legend, The-Dream, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson 
Blame Game feat. John Legend, Chris Rock
Power 

Kanye used the last year to bask in his own media frenzy [chock filled with controversy--from autotune genre stretching, to a drunken VMA **** show] that could easily put Lady Gaga to shame. Kanye has finally pushed his own boundries and defied his own limits. That is, he's finally put out the album we all knew he could make, we just hadn't seen it yet.

Simply from a lyrical standpoint let me point out that Kanye has grown astronomically. He's far removed from "he can produce but he can't rap," criticisms that plagued his earlier albums. I'm going to set the record straight right here--Kanye's improved;, not just as a rapper, but in all categories. Speaking strictly from a lyrical standpoint, Kanye IS the best mainstream rapper out there, period. Lyrics, flow, delivery...dude is ****ting on the competition, and has no problem PROVING it all over this album. "I was looking at my resume, feeling real fresh today/They rewrite history, I don't believe in yesterday/And what's a Black Beatle anyway? A ****in' roach?" he says on "Gorgeous." Production wise, Kanye again is on another level. His production has gone from simple soul beats to orchestral atmospheric pieces that could tell stories whether Kanye's voice was on it or not.

My favorite thing about this album is just how introspective it is. Lyrically this album wouldn't mean nearly as much in 2003 as it does in 2010. It's Kanye looking into Kanye; criticizing Kanye, and loving Kanye just like we all do to ourselves. It's Kanye's battle within himself, and after the past seven years have shown us who Kanye is, writing/producing/creating an album like this just means that much more...both for Kanye, and his fans.