Very few of these actually came out in 2010. But they were new to me.
1. The Rakes - Klang (2009)
Heard and loved Capture / Release when it came out in 2005. Enjoyed it so much, in fact, that it took me until last November to move on to the other two albums. Klang is short, sparse, and as melodic as it is dissonant; the definitive statement from these white-collar workers / weekend wasters.
2. Serengeti - Dennehy (Lights, Camera, Action) (2008)
Took me until this year to properly get to the third member of the "MF Grimm, MF Doom, Serengeti trinity." This rerelease of 2006's Dennehy is a completely immersing, earnest and seriously funny record.
3. The Dudes - Brain Heart Guitar (2006)
This is one of the great Canadian rock records. It has made me break into a weird sort of dance-run on my end of the night walk home more times than I can count.
4. Wire - Pink Flag (1977)
This is the only Wire album I have, and the oldest on this list. You wouldn't know it to listen to it, though. It's a breakneck album, leaving some of its best changes and lines unrepeated. The only thing to do is to listen again.
5. tUnE-yArDs - BiRd BrAiNs (2010)
I have been kicking myself harder and harder for not seeing Merrill Garbus perform this summer. She sings tribal lullabies over beats that owe more to J Dilla than to the coffeehouse circut I imagine she would still kill it playing.
6. Mekons - Fear And Whiskey (1985)
This album bounces along more than it rocks, and took me a while to get into. It is a nearly flawless, semi-conceptual exploration of anarchic life on the British homefront. But the best thing that can be said about it doesn't involve any of those words. Did I mention there's violins?
7. P.O.S. - Never Better (2009)
10. Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown (2002)
An album which surprised me considerably. Especially for a debut, it's full of tremendously inventive and well-executed musical ideas. Great performances across the board, infectious energy. Inspiring.
11. Lifter Puller - Fiestas and Fiascos (2000)
This one gets an honourable mention as I'd heard it before but only came to fully appreciate it this year, once I'd worked my way through the Hold Steady's catalogue. I think it best exemplifies everything that I love about both bands. In 2011: I check out Half Dead and Dynamite.
1. The Rakes - Klang (2009)
Heard and loved Capture / Release when it came out in 2005. Enjoyed it so much, in fact, that it took me until last November to move on to the other two albums. Klang is short, sparse, and as melodic as it is dissonant; the definitive statement from these white-collar workers / weekend wasters.
2. Serengeti - Dennehy (Lights, Camera, Action) (2008)
Took me until this year to properly get to the third member of the "MF Grimm, MF Doom, Serengeti trinity." This rerelease of 2006's Dennehy is a completely immersing, earnest and seriously funny record.
3. The Dudes - Brain Heart Guitar (2006)
This is one of the great Canadian rock records. It has made me break into a weird sort of dance-run on my end of the night walk home more times than I can count.
4. Wire - Pink Flag (1977)
This is the only Wire album I have, and the oldest on this list. You wouldn't know it to listen to it, though. It's a breakneck album, leaving some of its best changes and lines unrepeated. The only thing to do is to listen again.
5. tUnE-yArDs - BiRd BrAiNs (2010)
I have been kicking myself harder and harder for not seeing Merrill Garbus perform this summer. She sings tribal lullabies over beats that owe more to J Dilla than to the coffeehouse circut I imagine she would still kill it playing.
6. Mekons - Fear And Whiskey (1985)
This album bounces along more than it rocks, and took me a while to get into. It is a nearly flawless, semi-conceptual exploration of anarchic life on the British homefront. But the best thing that can be said about it doesn't involve any of those words. Did I mention there's violins?
7. P.O.S. - Never Better (2009)
A native Minnesotan and Rhymesayer fusing punk and hip hop. This is a small album that sounds huge, with ideas to match. His passion and swagger reminds me of his labelmate Brother Ali, except instead of an albino "raised by black men," he's a black man raised by white men with mohawks.
8. Vampire Weekend - Contra (2010)
I intentionally missed the first album in some sort of misguided protest of their name, but Contra is a continuation of its aesthetic except this time the majority of the songs are intended to be singles. I don't care where they got those rhythms, as long as they keep playing them. One thing that surprised me is that it's just as good on a rainy day.
9. The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow (2003)
I had a couple singles since high school, but this year I listened to the whole albums, and this is definitely my favourite, probably because it's the least dissembling and delicate. And the melodies, oh, the melodies.
An album which surprised me considerably. Especially for a debut, it's full of tremendously inventive and well-executed musical ideas. Great performances across the board, infectious energy. Inspiring.
11. Lifter Puller - Fiestas and Fiascos (2000)
This one gets an honourable mention as I'd heard it before but only came to fully appreciate it this year, once I'd worked my way through the Hold Steady's catalogue. I think it best exemplifies everything that I love about both bands. In 2011: I check out Half Dead and Dynamite.
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