my top albums and tracks of 2010

albums

5. God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise by Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs

I’ve talked to some people who think Ray LaMontagne’s style is a bit overwrought, and I guess I can see how one might think that. But I try not to over-think these things too much. All I know is how I felt when I heard “Beg, Steal or Borrow” when it came on the radio during a drive from New Hampshire to Maine this summer. That was the highlight of the year.

4. Contra by Vampire Weekend

Ezra Koenig can sing. I don’t think people appreciate that guy’s voice enough. The songs are so good, their focus is elsewhere. My only complaint about Contra is that it was released in the dead of winter. This is a summertime album if there ever was one.

3. Brothers by The Black Keys

I had always liked albums from these guys, but until now they had all been too similar from song to song to be standout albums. “Brothers” is a bit different. I mean who could’ve pegged “Never Gonna Give You Up” as a Black Keys song on its own? (That song, incidentally, is amazing.)

2. Broken Bells by Broken Bells

Great songwriting and singing coupled with amazingly creative production. Not a bad song in the bunch.

1. Lisbon by The Walkmen

I feel like this album confirms that The Walkmen really found their sound with You & Me. They can still blow your ears out and leave you begging for more (a la “The Rat”) but they can also swagger along this subtle line between sounding boozy and sloppy and tight and pretty. They sound unlike anyone else out there, and it’s so damned good.

Thinking about it, the top three albums this year all had noticeably amazing sound. Guess that matters.

honorable mentions

Odd Blood by Yeasayer, The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man On Earth, The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

tracks

(spotify playlist)

10. “City With No Children” by Arcade Fire

9. “Bushwick Blues” by Delta Spirit

8. “Madder Red” by Yeasayer]

7. “Cold Blue Halo” by Jason Collett

6. “The Mall & Misery” by Broken Bells

5. “Ultraviolet Light” by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

4. “Juveniles” by The Walkmen

3. “Diplomat’s Son” by Vampire Weekend

2. “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem

1. “Beg, Steal or Borrow” by Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs

… and other good stuff from 2010

VIDEO  Justin Townes Earle playing “Slippin’ and Slidin’” from his good-but-not-great album Harlem River Blues:

VIDEO  The Walkmen playing an acoustic version of “Woe Is Me” in the New York Public Library. There are no words to describe how much I love this video.

CITY  New York. I moved here. It’s big. There are a lot of people. I like it.

BONUS SECTION!

2010′s most disappointing albums

5. “Goodbye, Killer” by The Pernice Brothers

4. “Jupiter” by Starfucker

3. “Transference” by Spoon

2. “Rat A Tat Tat” by Jason Collett

1. “Forgiveness Rock Record” by Broken Social Scene

Advertisement