Best of 2010

1) The Monitor – Titus Andronicus

Holy... Living... Fuck... The Monitor is my 2010 Album of the Year. Following up their solid debut (2009's The Airing of Grievances), Titus Andronicus' sophomore effort was creating a very ruckus and ambitious concept album about the Civil War; a concept about as crazy as making an album about Anne Frank. The former concept was made into one of the finest indie albums ever recorded and the latter... well, time will tell its place in history, but, fuck, if it isn't great right now. Using segments of speeches from Abe Lincoln, Walt Whitman, and references to the epic battle between the ironclads ("The Battle of Hampton Roads'), Titus Andronicus have created an utterly unique allegory about the perils and downtroddenness of living in New Jersey and moving to Boston. Despite all of its high-falutin' ideas, The Monitor cannot hide the fact that it is one kick-ass rock album, which is hard enough to accomplish in these days. To fully understand the epicness of The Monitor, listen to it at an extremely obscene volume, with drunken friends, and morally ambiguous amounts of whiskey. In other words, buy it now and thank me later.


2) When I Am Gone My Blood Will Be Free – Call Me Lightning

Do you like The Who? Do you Like Mission of Burma? The Minutemen? Good! Throw all of these bands together, mold them into three individuals with giant beards, plop them in Milwaukee, and you have Call Me Lightning. Now, some might say this is an awful description of their music, and I would agree, so let me elaborate. Call Me Lightning’s musical style sounds arena-rock-ready. The strong, thumping, rhythm section and Townshend-esque riffs will pound you into submission, then melt your face. Just listen to “Beyond the Beasts,” you’ll be picking up what I’m putting down.


3) Melted – Ty Segall

I walked in to Luna Music on Friday (greatest music store of all time) and was instantly struct by the song being blasted in the store. That song was "Girlfriend" from Ty Segall's album Melted. Add one part Beck, one part Strokes, one part late-Beatles era John Lennon, a shitload of distortion and feedback, add even more fuzz in the production process, and punk sensibilities and you have one of the best albums of the year. Needless to say I purchased it immediately. Melted holds up to its name because that is exactly what it does to your face. The only oddity on the album is a song called "Mike's Coke", in which Segall asks you to drink Coca-Cola with him. Over and over again. It is not bad, just really fucking. Other than that, this album is a slice of fried gold.


4) King of the Beach – Wavves

On Wavves third album, they create the modern beach-party-boogaloo album. Infectious melodies, jangly guitar, and enough distortion to keep everyone happy, this was a great summer album. If this is what The Beach Boys would have sounded like, I would be their biggest fan, but they don’t and I hate them. I can just see people standing on surf boards on the beach doing the twist while listening to this album. It is like the early 60’s without segregation. What makes this album especially good are Nathan William’s self-deprecating lyrics. In songs like “Take on the Word” where he says he’s disappointed in himself when his songs “drip like posture.” I like that line.


5) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

Mr. West is egotistical, narcissistic, and handsome-wait, no! In other words he has the perfect chemical composition to be a great rapper. Now, I do not listen to modern day rap (I stopped after the Chronic 2000), so for a rap album to make me take notice, it took an earth-shaking event like Pitchfork giving the album a 10.0! Well, it is worth the hype. It has everything that great rap albums should have, songs about Kayne’s awesomeness, plenty of “disses,” Jay Z rapping about how much money he has (apparently $30 mil is chump change), and having intercourse with “bitches” (verbal or otherwise). The standout for me (and there are several) is “Power.” Any song with a line like “they can kiss my whole ass/More specifically, they can kiss my asshole” is good in my book.


6) High Violet – The National

From my June 23, 2010, review:

I am a huge fan of the National. They first wow-ed me with Alligator and The Boxer is an unbelievable follow-up (even though it is a bit of a grower), so needless to say I was a little excited when High Violet was released. Snarky, downtrodden lyrics about fights, and the fear and nervousness about being a new father, High Violet runs the gamut of sadness. The National do this better than anybody in the industry and High Violet is no exception. My only knock (and not a big one) is that the album is, again a "grower". It took me three listens for the album to go from good to stellar. I do not need instant gratification from listening to an album, but it does not hurt. The real gem of High Violet is at the midway point of the album. "Bloodbuzz Ohio". A dense song that piles on a heavy, churning melody with driving keyboards, tight rhythm section, all overlain with Berninger's baritone voice, and you have not only the quintessential National song, but the makings of an indie epic.


7) This Is Happening – LCD Soundsystem

What may be LCD Soundsystem’s final album is definitely their best. This Is Happening plays out like a really good 80’s David Bowie album. Sharp synths, booty-shakin’ beats, with sharp, witty lyrics make this album very easy to listen to. This Is Happening would definitely be playing at a Tim Yates pajama-jammy-jam. This is about as close to dance music as I get.


8) Mines – Menomena

Call this the Year of Mellow. A lot of the bands this year released slower paced albums to great effect in 2010 and Menomena is no exception. The Portland trio follow-up my 2007 Album of the Year (Friend & Foe) with their fourth album. Mines may be a little mellower than previous efforts, but these guys are still musical geniuses; crafting melody shifts that turn on a dime really keep you on your toes. Mines, like all of their albums, provides very engaging listens and leave you salivating for their next release.


9) Go – Jónsi

The Sigur Rós front man released his solo debut this year and Go is something to behold. Take all of the theatricality of Sigur Rós, add it to his ethereal voice, and the fact that half of the album is sung in Icelandic, and you have an album that sounds like it was recorded by an elf or some other magical being. Between Björk, Jónsi, and Sam Amidon I think Iceland is completely colonized by fantasy creatures that live in volcanoes and produce awesome music.


10) Walk in the Park – Beach House

From my June 23, 2010, review:

I have to admit, I had not heard anything by Beach House before Teen Dream. I am now very embarrassed. Teen Dream is a near flawless album. I am not over-exaggerating when I say this. Teen Dream is all about establishing mood and atmosphere, and Beach House does it as well as anyone. "Walk in the Park" illustrates why Teen Dream works so well. This stand-out track is the dreamiest of the dreamy songs on this album. "Walk in the Park" has you floating through outer space with its tinkling synths and lush, yet distorted vocals. It is music robots would make out to. From the great opener "Zebra", to the warped synth of "Norway", Beach House has you experiencing love, outer space style; and it is a feeling I could really get to.


11) Expo 86 – Wolf Parade

Like LCD Soundsystem, this might very well be the last Wolf Parade album and they would definitely be going out with a bang. Expo 86 is in the same vein as their debut (Apologies to the Queen Mary), as both have an urgency that makes the relatively long album seem brief. The awesome synths, mixed with the great rhythm section (gotta love a good rhythm section), and churning guitar, Wolf Parade sounds tighter than ever. While I am sad that one of my favorite bands is splitting, I can still take comfort in knowing I can listen to one of Spencer Krug’s four side projects (most notably Sunset Rubdown) and Dan Boeckner’s solo project Handsome Furs.


12) The Winter of Mixed Drinks – Frightened Rabbit

It’s time for depression Scottish-style! If there is one thing Frightened Rabbit does well (and there are many), it is crafting songs that really make you know how difficult life and love are, and wondering what it really is to be a man. I am pretty sure a sweet beard is the answer to the second half. Frightened Rabbit have a more polished sound on this (their third) album, and while I missed the rawness of their debut (Sing the Greys) it does not have a negative impact to their sound; downtroddenness is downtroddenness no matter how it sounds, and it sounds great.


13) Nothing Fits – Tyvek

Nothing Fits is a classic garage punk album: very fast, lo-fi, with barking lyrics, and very brief. Like this review.


14) Lisbon – The Walkmen

Open mouth, insert foot. I listened to this album when it first came out and was bored beyond tears. I have always said The Walkmen are an amazing band live, but their records are generally a snooze. I popped the CD in about three to four weeks later to give it another shot and I had to wonder if it was the same album I had listened to. Lisbon sounds like it was recorded in a weekend while they were just goofing off, a very spontaneous feeling. Difficult to pull off, but fun to listen to, and I bet you anything these songs sound amazing live.


15) **** – The Greenhornes

**** (aka Four Stars) is the first Greenhornes album in eight years. The rhythm section of this Cincinnati trio has been utilized by Jack White in The Raconteurs and any other band in the greater Ohio area during that time. **** packs in everything you love about The Greenhornes and their early 70’s garage band sound. Heavy guitars, distortion, a lead singer who sounds like he drinks gravel, all combine into a no-frills rock album. This is a Greenhornes album. They rock. Enough said.


16) Destroyer of the Void – Blitzen Trapper

Destroyer of the Void has got to be one of the best album names of 2010. With an album name like that, you’d expect face shredding on the level of a Lightning Bolt album. That is not the case, as Destroyer of the Void is Blitzen Trapper’s mellowest, albeit most focused record to date. They still have some psychedelic nostalgia in the album, but they really harness their folky/Americana sound on this album. Destroyer of the Void is a very relaxing album. One you would like to listen to on the porch of your log cabin while drinking ice tea with a shotgun on your lap to keep the varmints from getting in your house, or whatever it is you do with your log cabin and a really good album that is more reasonable.


17) Lasted – Benoît Pioulard

Benoît Pioulard returns with another very fuzzy and amazing album. With building melodies and dark-folk feel, Lasted feel spooky at times for no discerning reason. Maybe it’s because I am a wuss, who knows? What I do know is Last is very good and you should listen to it. RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too much?


18) Champ – Tokyo Police Club

The quirky Torontonian quartet is back with another album full of sonic candy for your skull. I like that last sentence so much, I don’t think I should write another. I guess I should elaborate and say this is (yet again) the mellowest effort to date for Tokyo Police Club, that being said songs like “Breakneck Speed” still have the frantic energy that made me love this band upon my first listen. No songs about robots blowing people apart, though. Sad really.


19) Contra – Vampire Weekend

↑, ↑, ↓, ↓, ←, →, ←, →, B, A, Paul Simon-esque rock.


20) Brothers – The Black Keys

Brothers has a more R&B feel to it than the normal blues-rock feel every other album has (except Attack & Release). The duo from Akron definitely show they have the chops and sensibilities to pull off R&B almost as good as the blues, which they still show they have the chops for on stand-out “Tighten Up.” Gone may be the days of such rockers like “Girl is on My Mind,” but with soulful sounds like this I don’t mind.

Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Holy... Living... Fuck... If not the album of the year, The Monitor is definitely in the Top 5. Following up their solid debut (2009's The Airing of Grievances), Titus Andronicus' sophomore effort was creating a very ruckus, and ambitious concept album about the Civil War. A concept about as crazy as making an album about Anne Frank. The former concept was made into one of the finest indie albums ever recorded and the latter... well time will tell its place in history, but, fuck, if it isn't great right now. Using segments of speeches from Abe Lincoln, Walt Whitman, and references to the epic battle between the ironclads ("The Battle of Hampton Roads'), Titus Andronicus have created an utterly unique allegory about the perils and downtroddenness of living in New Jersey. Despite all of it's high-falutin' ideas, The Monitor cannot hide the fact that it is one kick ass rock album, which is hard enough to accomplish in these days. To fully understanding of the epicness of The Monitor, listen to it at an extremely obscene volume, with drunken friends, and morally ambiguous amounts of whiskey. In other words, buy it now and thank me later.

Grade: A

Owen Pallett

Owen Pallett - Heartland

Heartland is the first album Owen Pallett has released under his own name (he was previously Final Fantasy, until Squaresoft put the kibosh on that) has a reputation for his sonically complex live performances with just his violin, a loop pedal, and a really good singing voice. Think Andrew Bird without the whistling and a huge flare for dramatics. Anyways, Heartland sounds and plays like a mini-rock opera except really good. Utilizing the Czech Symphony Orchestra, as everyone seems to do these days, Pallett has outdone himself, composing wildly orchestrated songs that are engaging to listen to, but a little to over-the-top sometimes. Those moments are easy to roll your eyes at and move on, because when Heartland nails it, it is a thing of beauty.

Side note: I cannot wait to see Owen Pallett open up for the National in October! A post-show blog will follow.

Grade: B+

The National

The National - High Violet

I am a huge fan of the National. They first wow-ed me with Alligator and The Boxer is an unbelievable follow-up (even though it is a bit of a grower), so needless to say I was a little excited when High Violet was released. Snarky, downtrodden lyrics about fights, and the fear and nervousness about being a new father, High Violet runs the gamut of sadness. The National do this better than anybody in the industry and High Violet is no exception. My only knock (and not a big one) is that the album is, again a "grower". It took me three listens for the album to go from good to stellar. I do not need instant gratification from listening to an album, but it does not hurt. The real gem of High Violet is at the midway point of the album. "Bloodbuzz Ohio". A dense song that piles on a heavy, churning melody with driving keyboards, tight rhythm section, all overlain with Berninger's baritone voice, and you have not only the quintessential National song, but the makings of an indie epic.

Grade: A-

Ty Segall

Ty Segall - Melted

I walked in to Luna Music on Friday (greatest music store of all time) and was instantly struct by the song being blasted in the store. That song was "Girlfriend" from Ty Segall's album Melted. Add one part Beck, one part Strokes, one part late-Beatles era John Lennon, a shitload of distortion and feedback, add even more fuzz in the production process, and punk sensibilities and you have one of the best albums of the year, so far. Needless to say I purchased it immediately. Melted holds up to its name because that is exactly what it does to your face. The only oddity on the album is a song called "Mike's Coke", in which Segall asks you to drink Coca-Cola with him. Over and over again. It is not bad, just really fucking weird and only lasts a little over a minute. Other than that, this album is a slice of fried gold.

Grade: A

Beach House

Beach House - Teen Dream

I have to admit, I had not heard anything by Beach House before Teen Dream. I am now very embarrassed. Teen Dream is a near flawless album. I am not over-exaggerating when I say this. Teen Dream is all about establishing mood and atmosphere, and Beach House does it as well as anyone. "Walk in the Park" illustrates why Teen Dream works so well. This stand-out track is the dreamiest of the dreamy songs on this album. "Walk in the Park" has you floating through outer space with its tinkling synths and lush, yet distorted vocals. It is music robots would make out to. From the great opener "Zebra", to the warped synth of "Norway", Beach House has you experiencing love, outer space style; and it is a feeling I could really get to.

Grade: A

New Reviews

Bear with me people. I have a ton of new music to get through and will have new reviews for Joanna Newsom, Shearwater, Lightspeed Champion, Titus Andronicus, Owen Pallet, Surfer Blood, and Zeus (just to name a few). Hopefully, I can crank these out and let the masses know what goodness awaits.