Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Best Albums of 2010

Here are my best albums of 2010. Later in the week, I'll release the best mixtapes and EPs. Cheers:

   1. The Chemical Brothers- Further


After two relatively unsuccessful albums, The Chemical Brothers threw away the dance album formula that they had stuck to for their whole career and instead crafted an album that takes electronic music further than ever before. The music in this album always feels like its going to explode, but never quite does, and instead it takes listeners on an audible journey. 
  Chemical Brothers - Another World by ImaCrea
  
   2. Kanye West- My Dark Twisted Fantasy


Kanye just kills it on almost every song of this album. He’s cocky, he’s pissed, he’s sad, he’s partying. The album has all the ups and downs of the superstar’s life and always finds the right words and the right beats to feat the moment.  It’s everything the title says it is and more. 
  Kanye West - Runaway (ft. Pusha T) by theearlynerd

   3.   The Roots- How I Got Over


         The best hip hop band out there delivers one of their best albums ever. It’s got soul, and dank hip hop flows about the problems with inner city life. How I Got Over never quits, just about every song is incredible and there are plenty featured artists such as John Legend and Monsters of Folk to keep the sound fresh. 
  The Roots - Walk Alone (feat. Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw) by Edere
4.       
4. Vampire Weekend- Contra


With their sophomore album, Vampire Weekend developed their sound and delivered. This album was my jam last winter. I tried Horchata for the first time because of this album. Like Horchata, it is sweet with just the right amount of depth; It is pop music at its very best.
  Vampire Weekend - Contra - Horchata by RowanSmith1

5.       Gorillaz- Plastic Beach


From the very beginning with Snoop Dog’s “Welcome to the world of the plastic beach,” to the end this album delivers uniquely surreal music that never sounds the same. A concept album with a thinly veiled enviromentalist message, it is The Gorrilaz’ most successful album to date. 
  Gorillaz: Stylo (feat Mos Def & Bobby Womack) by SUPMAG

6.       The Black Keys- Brothers

Just when you thought pure rock n roll was dead in 2010, the Black Keys release an album of such unadulterated rock with just enough soul and dynamic riffs to keep you wanting more throughout the entire album. 
  The Black Keys - Tighten Up by HighestCulture

7.       Broken Bells-Broken Bells

From The High Road at the start and on, this album delivers amazing pop-rock music. Dangermouse and James Mercer (The Shins) seem to be an almost perfect pairing. 

8.       Deadmau5- 4x4=12


Deadmau5 delivers dubstep, and moar great electronic music. Raise Your Weapon is probably the song of the year. Mau5 also wins for best stage setup of the year: the anamorphic cube will live in on in dance music history for a long time. 
  Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon (Dubstep) Thissongissick.com by Thissongissick.com

9.       Sleigh Bells- Treats

It’s noisy rock riffs with angelic pop vocals and it works. Treats is a real treat. Excuse the bad pun, but it really is. 
  Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill by marinak

10.   Skrillex- Scary Monster and Nice Sprites


The album is at once the battle between good and evil as it is the contrast between dance and dubstep. Skrillex’s scream-like womps may be offputting to the first time listener, but his music is brilliant. 

  Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites - Skrillex by Blokk
11.   Ratatat- LP4



With LP4 Ratatat explores some never before explored audio territory. Their sound varies much more in this album than it ever has before. From the bubbling of Neckbrace to the power-riffs of Drugs it is great music all around. 
  Ratatat - Neckbrace by apocalypseparty

12.   Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon II


It may be depressing hip hop and devoid of any chart toppers, but it’s definitely honest and  great music. Various features help him expand on his musical range.
  Kid Cudi - Rev Of Ev by diptnyc

13.   Magnetic Man- Magnetic Man


It’s got the dance anthem of the year: I Need Air. It’s got dubstep of just about every variety. It’s got moments of angelic beauty and moments of devilish womps. We should all look forward to what this dubstep supergroup comes out with next. 
  Fire - Magnetic Man by ninery

14.   Crystal Castles (2010)


Crystal Castles’ second title album has unlistenable moments of epilectic inducing screaming, moments of  rave-climaxing beats, and moments of haunting strangeness. Part punk, mostly electro, even though the lead singer is like the girl from The Ring on crack it’s pretty much awesome. 
  Crystal Castles - Baptism by sinasohrab

15.   MGMT- Congratulations


Though nothing like their first breakthrough album, MGMT new Sid Barret-esque sound on this album is worthy of recognition. 
  MGMT - Flash Delirium by Stayloose

16.   Damian Marley and Nas- Distant Relatives


Damian Marley and Nas are an almost dream-like pairing. You have your pissed off rapper and the chill rasta jams juxtaposed in the music. Although there are moments when Distant Relatives gets too preachy, it is a successful album. 
  Damian Marley & Nas - As We Enter by Romaino

17.   Matt and Kim- Sidewalks


This album is pretty much an expansion of the simple but catchy sound that brought these two fame with “Daylight,” but who said there was anything wrong with that?

  Matt & Kim - Cameras by AtothaA

18.   Arcade Fire- The Suburbs


Indie darlings Arcade Fire release an album to enchant people in suburbs everywhere. 
  Arcade Fire - The Suburbs by Fantastic Plastic Mag
19.   The New Pornographers- Together

Folk rock is rarely this unique and full of variety. 
  THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS- Your Hands (Together) by goripack


20.   Rusko- OMG


It has two of the most epic dubstep anthems of the years in Raver’s Special and Woo Boost. But, as many moments of epicness it has, it has just as many moments of selloutedness which is what is preventing it from reaching higher on the list. Note to DJs: don’t do songs with Gucci Mane!
  Rusko - Raver's Spesh by StevenFrank


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