We’re well into 2011 already but at least we waited until 2010 was completely over to release our best of the year. At least two of us agreed that Jose Gonzalez’s Junip, Sufjan Stevens, listenlisten and Kanye West put out some of the best music of the year. What are your favorites from 2010? Post them in the comments.
Paul Heck
(Producer of Dark Was The Night, Red Hot + Riot and No Alternative)
…in no particular order:
1 – Franco – Francophonic Vol 1:1953-1980
Reissue of classic Congolese electric rhumba from Franco. Lilting vocals, spiky guitars – heaven.
2- Junip – Fields
Jose Gonzalez and band! Hypnotic percolating krautrock style grooves and Jose’s voice. An easy record to put on and leave on all Fall and Winter..
3- Oh Mercy – Priviledged Woes
Australian guitar pop band’s debut. Every song is incredible. Perfect Summer album.
4- Just A Band - 82
The New sound of Nairobi?! Electro, housey pop hooks, DIY videos and vibes from these young Kenyan artists. What’s not to love? “BoogieDeeBweet” killer opening track
5 – Quadron – Quadron
Beguiling soul from Denmark. Sounds like the 60s…2060s!! Coco has one of those one listen voices – one listen and you’re hooked.
Dustin Reid
(Red Hot New Media Director)
…top songs or albums of 2010, in no REAL particular order:
1- Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
A great art record. The most complete record to be released last year.
2- Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Round and Round”
I got this album early on in the year but didn’t get around to listen to it until the Wayne Coyne iPhone video for “Round and Round” which I feel like is leaps and bounds the best track on the album and probably the best song of 2010.
3- Junip - Fields
I have the expanded 3 disc set. You have to check out the song “Loops,” on one of the expanded EP discs, after a long hard day of work. It will soothe you to sleep.
4- Javiera Mena – “Aca’ Entera”
Lucky find for me from the blog, Said the Gramophone. I know little about her but this song is the jam. Sung in a beautiful latin language.
5- Glasser – “Apply”
Layers of vocals on mountains of percussion. Try walking down broadway with this song on your headphones.
6- Sam Amidon – I See The Sign
Not quite as overwhelming as his previous, All Is Well, but still captivating all the way through it’s R. Kelly cover. Yes that’s right, R. Kelly. And nothing sets us straight like a looming judgment day tune like the one in “You Better Mind,” ‘you better mind how you talk… you’ve got to give an account at the judgement, you better mind!”
7- Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz / All Delighted People EP
Sufjan is crafting a songwriting legacy for our generation. Although he should cut out the dance routine.
8- Vampire Weekend – Contra
Top to bottom this is just another enjoyable record from Vampire Weekend.
9- Kanye West – “Power”
I must confess I don’t find My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as flawless as some have but “Power” is a song that makes you feel as if you could conquer anything. Reverse all evil.
10- James Blake – “I Only Know (What I Know Now)”
The conflation of warmth and outer space.
11- Sharon Van Etten - Epic
As long as she continues to write songs like “Love More” and “One Day,” Sharon will eventually get her due and find herself playing to a very very large devoted fan base.
12- Robyn – Body Talk
Best dance pop album. Best dance pop artist today.
13- Caribou – Swim
It’s a significant departure from Andorra with several songs you could potentially dance to.
14- Hot Chip – One Life Stand
“I Feel Better” when listening to “One Life Stand.”
15- Midlake – The Courage Of Others
Took a long time to get into. Trials was the same way for me. Though when it clicks you can’t move away until you’ve completely exhausted the record. Perhaps the most enjoyable show of 2010 was Midlake performing at the Bowery Ballroom. They’ve expanded their set to allow for a few more jam-like interludes and it worked.
16- Grizzly Bear – “Boy From School” (Hot Chip cover)
Better than the original. Grizzly Bear doing what they do best: harmonizing
17- Doug Burr – “Red, Red”
I played this song possibly more times than any other song in 2010. It fits so many moods.
18- listenlisten – dog
“I Rise,” “Try Like Hell,” and “Deaf Comes To Everyone” are the strongholds in yet another great album in consecutive years for the band. I’m lucky to be apart of it.
19- The National – “Sorrow”
The song gave me goosebumps the first time I listened to it on top of my girlfriends apartment building. Dad rock can still stir up emotions.
20- Das Racist – “hahahaha jk?”
I love these guys. So glad they’ve decided to take their music [somewhat] more seriously.
21- Traffique – Endless Weekend Mixtape
Great songs: “Wonderdrug” “Koala Hat” “Bright and Blue” ; Best cover: “Sunny”
22- El Guincho - “Bombay”
Have you seen the “Bombay” music video??
23- Sun Araw - Off Duty + Boat Trip
A regular trip might be enough while listening to this, a boat trip sounds like too much.
24- The War On Drugs – “Comin’ Through”
Although the album as a whole drifts through the spacey rock genre, this song is one that the alt country folks can find satisfying. Jeff Tweedy, your influence persists.
25- Miniature Tigers – F O R T R E S S
A surprise set opening for Neon Indian on Governor’s Island turned me onto these guys. They get a lot of flack for sounding like Animal Collective (and they do at times) but they have more to offer than tired retread.
R.I.P. – Captain Beefheart
Ben Hernandez
(Red Hot Web Developer)
…in a very particular order:
1- The Walkmen - Lisbon
2- LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
3- Menomena - Mines
4- listenlisten - dog
5- Sufjan Stevens - The Age Of Adz
6- Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
7- Sam Amidon - I See The Sign
8- Owen Pallett - Heartland
9- Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
10- The Black Keys – Brothers
80s rock.some earlier 90s,just some kinda stable kinda hard rock.Not too hard.do like clasical but just can’t pick itup too good.early counrty.