My Top 5 Albums of 2010
It is that time of year again, time for my selections for the top albums of the year. I felt like I acquired a load more albums than I usually do and in a way it was a repeat of 2008 as we saw releases from Kanye West, Delta Spirit, Vampire Weekend, all of which cracked my top 5 that year. The following are my darlings of 2010, as always in no discernible order:
1) Delta Spirit - History From Below - I have been in love with this band from the moment I saw them at the Record Bar a few years back. History from Below is their Sophomore effort and it is amazing. I love this band and always will. The best track on the album is probably “911”, but I am most intrigued by the last track on the album that recounts the story of Vitaly Kaloyev whose family was killed in a plane crash, in which the air traffic controller was blamed.
2) Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame - Ironically I saw this band for the first time the night I saw Delta Spirit. This album I picked up on the merits of that show alone. I must say it has made a regular appearance in my headphones since it’s release. I love the song ‘Shadow People’ but really you can’t go wrong with this album as a whole. You should buy it immediately.
3) Rafter - Animal Feelings - I randomly downloaded this album on the web and fell in love with it. I don’t know a lot about the band (It is one guy I guess), but I do know that this album is whimsical and kinda makes me feel drunk when I listen to it. I suggest you start with the track “Love Makes You Happy (When It’s Not Making You Sad)”.
4) Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History - Adam turned me onto this band and I must admit that I let this album sit for a months before coming back around to it. This band gives me that Brit vibe, though I think they are from Ireland. “What You Know” is probably my favorite track, it starts with this great hook and doesn’t quit. I can see myself dancing to this song when I hear it.
5) Frightened Rabbits - The Winter of Mixed Drinks - This album just starts out so Epic, almost like listening to this album is the most important thing you could be doing at the moment. It builds to a litany of beats that just give you the sense that you have arrived. Scott Hutchison’s voice is so tortured, yet it makes you feel like you are accomplishing something, it makes me feel as if there are greater things for me out there. Weird I know! Listen to track one, “Things” and you might understand.
Honorable Mentions:
Kanye West - G.O.O.D. Fridays - This wasn’t really an album, but some of these weekly Free tracks from Mr. West ended up on his final album. One notable song is “Monster”, which introduced me to the effervescent Nicki Minaj.
Vampire Weekend - Contra - This is a really good album, a fine follow up for a band that simply dazzled with their first album. My stand out track still has to be the single, “Cousins”.
Tokyo Police Club - Champ - This is the second full length of a band whose EP I had been spinning for awhile. This is a fine effort and was very close to cracking the top 5. I especially love the tracks “Favourite Color” and “Breakneck Speed”.
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes - This is band that I learned about just this year through the Daytrotter Sessions. I put the song “Hannah” on a playlist for Cara and it stuck with me. This is a pretty cool album, I recommend listening to “Generator (1st Floor)” This is a more mellow band, so keep your razors at a distance.
Tumbledown - Empty Bottles - This is a solid effort by Mike Herrera and the Tumbledown guys. I think some of these tracks are even catchier than their first album, try out “She’s In Texas”.
