2010 Music Recap

So, according to my iTunes play count, these were my favourite albums of 2010. I’ve gone the extra mile and divided these into 1) albums released in 2010; 2) albums not released in 2010 but albums that I (re)discovered in 2010; and 3) songs that creeped into my high play count…somehow. Probably happened when I loaned my iTunes library to someone totally lame.

Albums released in 2010 (in no particular order):

1) Penny Sparkle by Blonde Redhead

A surprise addition to the list, thanks to an absolutely fantastic live show that BR put on in Seattle. We happened to land there the same day they were playing. Catch ‘em live if you can. The album doesn’t do it justice, but is still excellent.

Worth the price of admission: “Oslo”

2) The Suburbs by The Arcade Fire

It took me a while to warm up to Funeral, but once I did, I was deeply into it. Same goes here. A couple immediately catchy tunes, but the goods required some deeper listening for me.

Worth the price of admission: “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”

3) Plastic Beach by Gorillaz

I will paraphrase Demitri: as soon as Snoop comes on, you know you have a winner. Probably the best front-to-back Gorillaz album yet, with a featured artist list to make you drool.

Worth the price of admission: “Stylo” (feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack)

4) The Deepest Dive by Tomothy Carroll

Go buy this album. Not because it’s awesome (which it is), but because Timothy Carroll is such a nice guy. While you’re at it, buy For Bread and Circuses too.

Worth the price of admission: supporting a fantastic artist.

5) Running on Air by Bliss N Eso

Following up Flying Colours is a tall order, but I think B&E succeeded…mostly. Time will tell if I keep returning to this album the way I did with FC. This is Aussie hip hop at it’s best.

Worth the price of admission: the between-track discussion of HGTTG.

6) The Rain Water EP by Citizen Cope

Deeply underrated and underappreciated, IMHO, Citizen Cope offers up another soulful and addictive album. The only diss: it’s way too short.

Worth the price of admission: “Healing Hands”

7) All Day by Girl Talk

This one just snuck in uder the 2010 wire. Another solid offering, though not as catchy as Night Ripper, I don’t think.

Worth the price of admission: picking out the ODB samples.

8) God Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise by Ray Lamontagne and the Pariah Dogs

With a voice like Ray’s, it’s hard to do wrong. But then again, Darius Rucker managed it, I suppose.

Worth the price of admission: the title track, on a summer cabin veranda somewhere.

9) Nice, Nice, Very Nice by Dan Mangan

Bridget’s best contribution of 2010, no doubt.

Worth the price of admission: listening to “Road Regrets” the next time you hit the highway.

10) So Runs The World Away by Josh Ritter

I have nothing to say except “go buy this album.”

Worth the price of admission: pick one.

11) Are You My Mother by Katherine Calder

This EP by the long-time New Pornographers member was one of Bridget’s contributions this year. While my first listen was underwhelming, I find myself constantly heading back to it and getting better with each listen.

Worth the price of admission: “Arrow” (best played loud)

12) xx by The xx

I was hooked into this debut album in the first 30 seconds. Hopefully this is the first of many solid offerings from the (offensively) young British trio. Seriously, are these guys even old enough to really know what a VCR is?

Worth the price of admission: being able to talk about “the ex ex”, which makes you sound super cool.

13) Ivory Tower by Chilly Gonzales

Like the xx, I found this late in the year, courtesy of Andrea and Demitri. Better than the album itself are the videos. While his conservatism about public support for the arts makes me squirm, I can’t fault the music one bit. The awkward but strangely catchy rap reminded me of hearing The Streets for the first time. At times it seems obscure for the sake of being obscure, but maybe I just don’t get “the art” of it all.

Worth the price of admission: stealing the album, just to give Chilly the middle finger about art having to survive on its own in a market economy.

A few more albums that I acquired late in the year that show promise to make next year’s list:

Here are a few albums that would have made the list for sure if I hadn’t picked them up so late in the year and if the xx and Josh Ritter hadn’t monopolised my iTunes.

1) Koonyum Sun by Xavier Rudd (2010)

2) Champ by Tokyo Police Club (2010)

3) Flood by Jeremy Fisher (2010)

4) Business Casual by Chromeo (2010)

5) Belle and Sebastian Write About Love by Belle and Sebastian (2010)

6) Together by The New Pornographers (2010)

7) Night Train by Keane (2010)

Albums that I (re)discovered in 2010:

1) Another Late Night by Kid Loco (2002)

2) Dog Problems by The Format (2006)

3) Genetic World by Telepopmusik (2001)

4) A Book Like This by Angus and Julia Stone (2007)

Songs that somehow made it into my frequently-played list of 2010:

1) “Family Affair” by Mary J Blige

2) “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol

3) “Youth Gone Wild” by Skid Row (This one I can blame on leading spin class…honest.)

4) "No Diggity" by Blackstreet (Surprised? Me neither.)

5) "Omaha" by Counting Crows (The greatest song by one of the greatest bands ever. No shame here.)

6) “Empire State of Mind (Broken Down)” by Alicia Keys (I have a crush on AK. Again, no shame.)

Some notables from 2008/2009 that didn’t get their due credit because I couldn’t be bothered to write a year-in-review last year:

This year, I can’t be bothered to write anything about them again, except that they’re all worth the ten bucks to buy on iTunes (and more than worth the ten minutes to illegally download).

1) Kings and Queens by Jamie.T

2) Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons

3) In Ghost Colours by Cut Copy

4) Fixin’ to Thrill by Dragonette

5) Fantasies by Metric

6) It’s Not Me, It’s You by Lily Allen

7) The Open Door EP by Death Cab For Cutie

8) Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix

9) Troubadour by K’Naan

11) State of the Art by Hilltop Hoods

Agree? Disagree? Did I miss something? Let me know.