New Yeasayer: "Henrietta" 
Review: Sigur Ros - Valtari 
Giveaway: Beach House's New Album "Bloom" 
Review: Beach House - Bloom 
Review: Best Coast - The Only Place 
Click on the turntable on the left to listen to a continuous stream of music featured on Pretty Much Amazing - updated every day. For more, you can check out the Best Songs of 2012, or our Best Songs and Albums of 2011.
05. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The Suburbs is perhaps the most coherent schizophrenic you will ever meet, for though the guidance offered in its songs may be contradictory, the subject matter is never under discussion. Maybe that’s the point – that no matter which direction we turn, there’s no escaping the onset of modern suburbia and all that it entails. “I wonder if the world’s so small that we can never get away from the sprawl, living in the sprawl. Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains.” It’s a desperate outlook from a band that gave us songs like “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” and “Wake Up.” By all counts, The Suburbs is Arcade Fire’s most somber album yet, dwelling on darkness, wasted hours, and endless, inescapable monotony. But don’t lose hope, oh suburban youth, because Arcade Fire wouldn’t have it any other way: “If I could have it back, all the time we wasted, you know I’d only waste it again.” esides, who knows? The Suburbs may someday inspire you to make a beautiful record. Full Review →
“Ready To Start”
04. Sleigh Bells - Treats
Treats more than just loud. The album has a pop sensibility that transcends the sheer visceral guts of the music. The building and breaking of beats and rhythms is impeccably timed to pick you up and then drop you from great heights. I dare you to sit still when you listen to these songs. I challenge you to find better situated blasts than those found on “Infinity Guitars” and “Crown on the Ground.” It’s hardcore you can dance to. It’s bubblegum pop that makes you want to head-bang. The confluence of genres and influences create a beautiful mess of music that goes far beyond amplification. Some have decried the album as simply trading on novel production techniques rather than musicianship. I reject that notion flat out – there’s a body beneath these clothes that would look just as good naked. Full Review →
“Riot Rhythm”
03. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Albums that are long in the making tend to be disappointments. Fair or not, it’s tough to live up to years of hype. And when the purported lead single for Sir Lucious Left Foot – which, I might add, leaked in 2008 – was barred from the final release, I did not have high hopes. Perhaps that’s what makes the success of Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty all the more satisfying. From Big Boi’s opening announcement that “It is on!” on “Daddy Fat Sax” through the end of “Back Up Plan”, which closes out the album, this is a comforting reminder that sometimes, just sometimes, good things come to those who wait. Full Review →
“Shutterbug”
02. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I feel like books could be written about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but this is not the medium for it. So I’ll stick with statements and leave you with the album. This album is a benchmark, a high water point for mainstream conceptual rap. It’s Kanye’s most complex and complete release and one of the most consistently impressive hip hop albums in recent years. It pushes the genre to new places. Surprise, surprise, Kanye West refuses to play by someone else’s rules, instead choosing to created his own set. Surprise, surprise, the result is phenomenally impressive. Full Review →
“Runaway”
01. The National - High Violet
The song titles of High Violet suggest a bleak existence, a world full of evil and malice. “Terrible Love” and “Little Faith.” “Afraid of Everyone” and “Runaway.” In the lyrics, Berninger hints at an apathy toward life, detachment described in lines like, “Living or dying in New York it means nothing to me.” In reality, though, this album proves the opposite – that there is beauty to be found even in the darkest times of our lives. These guys are sensitive, almost to a fault; are we supposed to believe that they really don’t care?
The National care about capturing life without its sugar-coated shell. They care about making music that is best enjoyed fully and slowly. They care about crafting complete songs that make complete albums that deserve second and fifth and tenth listens. After that many spins I still haven’t gotten a handle on all the minutiae that make High Violet special, but I do know this: Everyone keeps saying that this is a sad album. It’s not. It’s an honest album, a real album. And it’s breathtaking. Full Review →
“Afraid of Everyone”
CONTEST
Like last year, we are giving away our each album on our list on vinyl (or CD if vinyl not available) to one lucky reader. New this year, however, is the inclusion of a brand new turntable to play these records on. To enter, share this list on Facebook or Retweet it on Twitter, then head over to our Facebook page and tell us what your favorite album(s) of the year is. If you don’t “like” us on Facebook (why not?), you can Tweet @ us your favorite album(s) @pmablog. Make sure to include this link: http://t.co/g8BTx2O so I can find the tweet later on. Contest will end January 21st and is only open to US North American Residents. Apologies to the rest of you..
by on December 31, 2010 ‡ 584 reactions
Check Out: Icona Pop - "I Love It" (written by Charli XCX) 
Tracking 2012's Best Songs #10 
New Azealia Banks: "JUMANJI" MP3 
Spring Music Preview, Pt. 2 
Best Songs of 2012: Winter 
Wild Pitch: disco naïveté 
Rec'd MP3: Purity Ring - "Obedear" 
MP3: Major Lazer & Amber of Dirty Projectors - "Get Free" 
MP3: Theophilus London & A$AP Rocky - "Big Spender" 
Check Out: Kirin J Callinan: "WIIW (Way to War)" 
Check Out: MS MR - "Hurricane" 
Sleep Over - "Romantic Streams" (CFCF Remix) 
Download: Meek Mill - Dreamchasers 2 Mixtape 
New DIIV (formerly Dive): "Doused" 
Review: Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe 
Review: Lower Dens - Nootropics 
Review: Toro y Moi - June 2009 
Review: Death Grips - The Money Store 
Review: Jack White - Blunderbuss 
{ 169 comments… read them below or add one }
sleigh bells takes the cake. saw them the other night and it’s still blowing my mind. alexis and derek stole my heart on thursday <3
The National’s High Violet, Beach House’s Teen Dream and LCD’s This Is Happening are top 3 for me.
needs less noise/hipster babble and more queen kylie minogue.
“aphrodite” is prob the greatest pop album since britney’s ~blackout~ in ’07.
“best album since Britney’s blackout in 07″
yeah if the fame, the fame monster, katy perry’s one of the boys or music in general wasn’t released in the past 3 years.
but yeah i agree that it should be added.
katy perry and britney music is fake
there is no validity to your statement
@pmablog you forgot surfer blood. otherwise that’s a great list
@vittorioe lol i didn’t forget surfer blood. its just not there.
@pmablog ha! i loooove that record! i understand and respectfully disagree that you don’t. i see that contra has grown on you though
@vittorioe yes! yes it has
@pmablog GOOD
I agree with basically every album on this list. Especially Odd Blood. That album is pure gold.
I agree! I also tweeted about the contest. And I REALLY love that this is just in alphabetical form.
All I really don’t agree with is Broken Social Scene not being on the list — it should replace Joanna Newsom or jj jj in my opinion.
The most underrated album of the year…still discovering something new with each listen!
However, now that I think about it, what about Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club? That is probably the greatest debut album I’ve heard in a long, long time.
sleigh bells energy and creativity is just astonishing. My fave of the year for sure
This is probably the best list I’ve seen so far, and I like how it isn’t in ranking order. I pretty much agree with everything on here, but I noticed Fang Island wasn’t included. No big, just wonderin’.
my top 5 would be
local natives
Mumford and sons
sleigh bells
beach house
gorillaz
Hang on everyone, wasn’t Mumford & Sons 2009? (It made my list last year). Glaring omission = Foals’ Total Life Forever, imho. Also worth mentioning:
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
Delta Spirit – History from Below
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
Antony and the Johnsons – Swan
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs lights
Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
Blitzen Trapper – Destroyer of the Void
Eels – Tomorrow Morning
Maps & Atlases – Perch Patchwork
The Books – The Way Out
I agree. Halycon Digest has to make any top 10 list that I’ll respect.
I haven’t heard everything on the list, but I can agree with most of it. The only thing that seems questionable is Contra, which isn’t a bad album, but it’s far from great. I can’t think of anything to replace it here, though.
I must disagree with you on Contra, as I felt the band took everything that was good about the first album and improved upon the formula ten-fold. Don’t tell me you didn’t shit yourself the first time you heard the Horchata instrumental drop.
Yeasayer
Mumford & Sons
Vampire Weekend
Gorillaz
Broken Bells
Those are the ones I’ve heard and that I agree wholeheartedly (sp?) with. Especially the first two.
Mumford & Sons blow whale ass. Possibly the worst new artist of the past 5 years.
I have to say I agree with most of these, but where is Gaga?! The Fame Monster has to be one of the best and most consistent pop albums I’ve heard since Robyn’s 2005 breakthrough.
LOL the fame monster… plz… the fame monster is what abortions all over the world sound like.
The Fame Monster was released last November. It was in our Best of 2009 list. http://prettymuchamazing.com/music/pretty-much-amazings-best-albums-of-2009
I have to give my top off of this list to Mumford & Sons… not for any particular reason – but just because. Works for me. Should work for you, right?
I am not too in love with Contra. Horchata especially makes me want to throw my radio out the window. I’m also not sold on the National. I am loving Sharon Jones, Beach House, Morning Benders, Mumford and Sons, and Broken Bells. And there are definitely others on this list that I want to explore further.
I’ll also add Brothers, great album
great list! I can’t think of any glaring omissions.
I love Beach House. Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer and Broken Bells are amazing too.
Time is money because the outdated saying goes, and by reading this publish, I realized that I saved myself a lot of treasured time, which might have been in any other case spent on reading low consistency information all around the almighty web. Thanks for the straight to the point, helpful enter!
the morning benders. 100%. they are ~fabulous~
and let it be known that i don’t repost things on facebook. like, ever.
morning benders were fantastic live. Played with Freelance Whales at Hamilton College (where i go) in a very intimate concert.
This is Happening should be at the top of everyone’s list
Sleigh Bells blew my mind with Treats. Definitely my favorite album of the year so far.
Great List. I would have left off ratatat and Mumford and sons.
Owen Pallett?? Broken Social Scene?? These New Puritans???
http://twitter.com/KarrKarr/status/18314112032
I 100% agree with yeasayer as the #1, but ratatat being on the list not so sure.
Biggest omission for me would be either The Tallest Man on Earth’s “Wild Hunt” that album is just so beautiful, or The Radio Dept.’s “Clinging to A Scheme”
I also really like Tame Impala, Black Keys, Surfer Blood, Avi Buffalo, Tokyo Police Club, Free Energy, MGMT, Dirty Projectors + Björk, and Ariel Pink.
Great list though Luis!
I’m gonna have to finally check out Caribou now.
I second You on the Avi Buffalo. I believe this album was overlooked by many people but it is a great album from front to back.
It’s somehow frustrating that I know every album on this list. Am I getting too up to date or is this list too conventional? Pretty solid selection anyway!
Id love to win any of these Vinyls or cds! if not all of them! PLEASE PLEASE
I Blogged about this great list.
I agree Highly!
Mine:
The Morning Benders – Big Echo
Vampire Weekend – Contra
Steel Train – Steel Train
Gold Motel – Summer House
Yeasayer – Odd Blood
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Beach House – Teen Dream
Broken Bells – Broken Bells
Sleigh Bells – Treats
The Young Veins – Take A Vacation!
The Black Keys – Brothers
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
My Blog Post about this:
http://www.thelionsmansion.com/post/799823026/pretty-much-amazings-best-albums-of-2010-so-far
I’m with you on Yeasayer, Robyn, and Sleigh Bells. Vampire Weekend is pretty good. But Janelle Monae, Gorillaz, and LCD are a bit overrated. I’d add Kele, Two Door Cinema Club, and Outputmessage. And Devo for honorable mention!
I’m happy to see local natives on that list, Every song on that album is amazing.
jj’s album was definitely my favorite from the list!
Have One On Me, Sigh No More, Archandroid, and Gorilla Manor are my favorites of the year. Contra’s pretty great too, though. Great list. But what about Jonsi’s Go and Jamie Lidell’s Compass? Also fantastic records that seem to be absent from the list
Sleigh Bells and Robyn were astounding. They should def be on this list. Amazing.
pretty solid/agreeable list. i’m hoping that the new Panda Bear album meets expectations. for me so far the best of 2k10 is probably between Odd Blood and Treats, but who knows what could happen in the next six months haha
I’d say somewhere on this list you have to include History from Below by Delta Spirit. Not only their best album to date, but a number of solid tracks, best of them being Bushwick Blues which is at least somewhere on my list of best songs for 2k10.
Otherwise, fantastic list and it’s pretty tough to choose between any of them.
(Also P.S. i reposted and would very much like a vinyl of any of those albums.) Just saying.
is surfer blood gonna feature later..
great list. definitely agree on mumford & sons. i would also mention grace potter & the nocturnals and despite the hating i may get, B.o.B.’s album too. it was a surprise to me too.
Body Talk, P1 and ArchAndroid are my favorite
There is so much good music coming out right now, its very hard to pick favorites. Probably what I have listened to the most is Sleigh Bells, The National, Mumford & Sons, Delorean, and Vampire Weekend.
Love the yeasayer album. Saw them play at coachella and it blew my mind away.
Contra and Have One On Me are my favorites.
I agree with most of this list, but there is one huge omission in my eyes: Hot Chip’s “One Life Stand.” Excellent album. Still listen to it all the time.
We weren’t HUGE fans of the album (our review: http://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/albumreviews/hot-chip-one-life-stand-album-review)… but we showed love in our Best Songs of 2010 by putting “I Feel Better” in our Top 10!
@pmablog No Fang Island or Harlem? These New Puritans? My heart hurts.
@JustinTC i haven’t listened to those albums nearly enough to merit a position in my list
@pmablog Understandable. Still a very solid list regardless. I approve.
I love your list! I have 70% of the albums on it, and they are all my favourites. I can’t even decide which ones are the top 3 for me… maybe Odd Blood, TheArchAndroid and jj n°3. But then again…. Subiza is there too!! this is so tough!!!
Beach House, Local Natives, Mumford & Sons and Four Tet are three of my top favorites so far. Also on my list are Bonobo, Tokyo Police Club, Karen Elson and the Villagers.
That’s the most appealing looking list of albums I’ve seen in years. If I had to choose only one though (thank goodness I don’t!) Janelle Monae would be it, she blew me away this year – so refreshing!
Great list, i own and actually payed for most of these albums. Was wondering if you considered Gayngs”Relayetd”
Personally, I felt that while the GAYNGS album had some truly wonderful songs in it (“Faded High”, “Cry”, “The Gaudy Side of Town”, for example), it fell short for me as a whole album.
great list. somewhat surprised to see jj on here. felt their new album was too weak. wondering what you guys think of the new mia.
I’m loving Contra, Body Talk, Part 1, and Crystal Castles (II) right now. Really like this list. But “Cry When You Get Older” as the song from Body Talk? I think that album has better tracks.
I’d have to say the best album from this list is Odd Blood by Yeasayer. Seeing them live only increased my love for this band.
jj & Big Echo. Top 2
Top 3 from this list for me:
Sleigh Bells
The National
FlyLo
One that is missing:
The Black Keys – Brothers
Can’t argue with many on this list, although I’m not really feeling Crystal Castle (not because it’s bad, it just kinda makes me wanna die… hahah)
A few more that I’ve been loving:
Stars
The Radio Dept.
Baths
Foals
Delphic
Jonsi
Trentemoller
Scissor Sisters
Echospace
Scuba
Ost & Kjex
Onra
Mock & Toof
Ital Tek
I like morning benders the most
Where’s The Roots-How I Got Over, Reflection Eternal-RPM’s and Corrine Baily Rae-The Sea? Good list but those could replace a few on here very easily.
agreed about the roots, not seeing it on many 2010 lists at all and it deserves to be up there damn it!
I’ve got put the Hold Steady in my top 25, for sure.
Great list. Love this site — it’s the anti-Pitchfork.
Seriously? No Freelance Whales on this list?
Taking a trip from my gorilla manor in subiza down to the plastic beach for a relaxing afternoon of treats and teen dreams… if only I had my brothers with me…
My fav albums of 2010 to date include:
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Foals – Total Life Forever
The Chemical Brothers – Further
Freelance Whales – Weathervanes
The Beautiful Girls – Spooks
Ratatat – LP4
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Angus & Julia Stone – Down The Way
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (Not sure if this classifies as 2009 or 2010??)
Bring on the rest of 2010!!!
fine list – my favorites of this year in [very] approximate order:
Vampire Weekend// Contra
Janelle Monae // The ArchAndroid
Big Boi // Sir Lucious Left Foot… The Son of Chico Dusty
Menomena // Mines (i guess it ‘technically’ hasn’t been released yet tho)
Beach House // Teen Dream
The Tallest Man On Earth // The Wild Hunt
Ceo // White Magic
Surfer Blood // Astro Coast
MGMT // Congratulations
Fang Island // Fang Island
Big K.R.I.T. // Wuz Here
Avi Buffalo // Avi Buffalo
The National // High Violet
Wild Nothing // Gemini
jj // jj n3
My Favorite albums of the year so far:
Teen Dream, Beach House
High Violet, The National
Big Echo, The Morning benders
Broken Bells, Broken Bells
Forgiveness Rock Record, Broken Social Scene
the wolf parade new album expo 86 is a blast!!! definitly missing in this list
The National’s High Violet is my number one!!! Matt Berninger’s voice is like… warm honey… and heroin.
“What makes you think I’m enjoyin’ being left to the flood? We’ve got another thing comin’ undone… and it’s takin’ us over!”
I also have started to LOVE the Local Natives album over the past couple weeks. I can’t wait to check them out at Lollapalooza!!
1.Contra
2.Plastic Beach
3.Congratulations
4.This is Happening
but this is a great list!
Gonjasufi?
James Blake?
Pantha du Prince?
Wild Nothing?
The Knife?
Dirty Projectors/Bjork?
Radio Dept?
this list is way skewed for summer music
1. The Drums
2. Broken Bells
3. Plastic Beach
4. LP4
5. Contra
I’m still behind in listening to a lot of these, but based on what I’ve heard of each, we’re seeing about eye to eye. Needs more Maniac Meat and Innerspeaker though.
Everyone’s a critic.
Broken Bells has been a staple for me since it came out. Dr. Dog’s Shame, Shame album has not failed to amaze me as well this summer. Hot Chip’s One Life Stand gets better with each listen as well.
CONTRA CONTRA CONTRA!
Loved that album, that’s all i listened to for a month or so. Odd Blood def comes in second though, very good album.
also if i win give me a vinyl of contra!
I need these. So you can give them to me please. Thanks!
mumford & sons was released in 2009. it’s also formulaic. for more info:
http://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/albumreviews/mumford-sons-sigh-no-more-album-review
I really like sharon Jones!
VIVA Morning Benders!!
The National’s High Violet is definitely the top of the list for me, but I also agree that Broken Social Scene belongs on the list.
Local Natives, The National and Sleigh Bells would make my list – However so would The Lions Rampant, “It’s Fun To Do Bad Things” is a great album.
I’d love to say that LCD Soundsystem is the best of this year, but the second half of that album draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaags. The National have definitely made the best so far.
Yeah Plastic Beach! Good list guys!
Sleigh Bells – Treats by far, I’ve listened to it close to 20 times this week. Maybe more.
Great list, mumford & sons are a little overratted but you definitely need to either check out or reconsider Owen Pallett’s Heartland. Great Album.
i like your list but i think you should listen to The Black Keys, Brothers album. It Will end up on your list.
I agree with the list for the most part! My favorite albums of 2010 so far are definitely Janelle Monae’s and Local Natives, both on the list!
Personally I think Beach House’s album is the best on this list. But I’m actually enjoying Best Coast’s new album more.
Sign me up for all these albums! As for my list, here we go, enjoy.
Broken Bells
The Black Keys
Sharon Jones
Janelle Monae
Surfer Blood
Mumford and Sons
Pretty much an amazing prettymuchamazing list. So glad to see big boi and janelle monae in top mentions. Definitely looking forward to checking out the rest of this list.
Fav so far
1. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Leftfoot: the son Chico Dusty.
2. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid (… The chase was also a good album. Fav track had to be “Many Moons”)
3. LCD System – This is happening
4. Ratatat – LP4
5. Yesayer – Odd Blood
Gonna hit up amazon with some of these soon.
Big Boi, Yeasayer and Broken Bells are my top 3 through July. Looking forward to some promising releases during the rest of 2010.
My votes are currently for the releases from Crystal Castles, Sharon Jones and Ratatat. I have high hopes for Menomena, Yeaysayer and Caribou though I haven’t bought them yet.
As much as I love Sleigh Bells most of what I’ve heard sounds the same. And doesn’t the deliberately poor sound quality seem less clever and more gimmicky after repeated listens? May get the album anyhow.
I love your selection, but where are Massive Attack’s last album tracks ? Where is Paradise Circus and Splitting The Atom ?
Solid list, I must say i prefer it when numerical ranking is foregone with. It leads to a lot less shit-talking imo.
Nonetheless the only major quibble I have is the omission of BSS”s Foregiveness Rock Record, as a couple others have mentioned.
It’s a brilliant record, and I can’t recommend it enough.
You like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VuoC6qNozI
Whoever writes PRETTY MUCH AMAZING has the exact same taste in music that I do. Given that, it’s pretty broad. But it seems that emotion-charged indie, post-punk alternative, post-, almost always trumps in some way among your lists. It’s off the back of this observation that I desperately, desperately plead you not to neglect one of this years finest, finest albums. Not many blogs will know about it because it’s been an Australian local release, but MY GOD. It’s criminal if you don’t consider it among the top 5 of your albums. Because honestly, I’ve had to rate it higher than Broken Bells, higher than ‘This Is Happening’, higher than ‘Sigh No More’…
The album in question?
“Dear Darkly”
the 3rd album by Australian band
The Boat People.
Please do yourself the favour. Trust me it will be a gem among your list. It blew me away.
The most popular words in music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3HcGebnUcY
Great list. Would have replaced Robyn’s album with Congratulations by MGMT (it’s not my obsession with MGMT, it’s my burning hate for Robyn).
If Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More” isn’t the top Album for 2010, you should rename your website Pretty Much Wrong.
It is sweeping, epic, beautiful, crafted and well written. Inspiringly so. And it doesn’t get nearly enough talk on your site.
never have I agreed with something more in my life
Also,
The Black Keys-Brothers
Arcade Fire-The Suburbs
Matt & Kim-Sidewalks
gotta add those
My top 5:
High Violet – The National
Gorilla Manor – Local Natives
Contra – Vampire Weekend
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Treats – Sleigh Bells
I think Kanye should have been #2 for sure, but Arcade Fire should have been Number 1.
Great list….honorable mentions
mice parade – what it means to be left handed
gayngs – relayted
caribou – swim
Kanye, Gorillaz, The-Dream, Janelle Monae all made my top album of the year. But Favorite song has got to be “Christian Dior Denim Flow” by Kanye West (Feat. Pusha T, Ryan Leslie, Lloyd Banks, Kid Cudi, And John Legend)
Dude! Too bad that was left off the album, what a fucking shame.
It really is crazy how well PMA matches with my music tastes. Broken Bells, Gorilla Manor, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy are definitely my top three. Love this blog!
No Frightened Rabbit or Tallest Man on Earth??? Plus I really thing Local Natives deserves to be much much higher. Overall though a really good list for a great year of music.
To be honest, I don’t think i’ve ever seen PMA cover Frightened Rabbit for Tallest Man On Earth at all. Probably not their cup o tea
simply amazing
I’d say good call on most these albums and where they are on the list. Big Boi’s album is soo good, I feel like no one really checked that record out. There was like nothing really it about besides what blogs were saying.
sadly, too true.
Hard to argue with anyone one here. Great list.
Pretty much the only list that has all my favorite albums this year (although I may not agree with the order…I think Vampire Weekend and Sujan could’ve placed been higher). I’m pleased with the inclusions. Nice job again PMA!
PMA should really check out Frightened Rabbit
Oh, I’ve heard that one before (from pretty much all of my friends & colleagues).
I have checked them out, dug ‘em… just not my top favorite, that’s all.
Kanye’s new album My Dark Twisted Fantasy was my favorite this year, although Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem were close seconds.
like the list. 3 of my top 5 didn’t even make it though (black keys, menomena and suckers)
I’ll be first to admit that i completely slept on Menomena and Suckers this year.
Robyn – Body Talk
I think this list is incredibly complete and the merit of each album is undeniable. I’ve never been able to share your passion for The National, no matter how hard I try, so I’d definitely never put them as my number one (they’d probably not even appear on a list I made), but I understand your placing the album in the top spot. I do like that they bumped Kanye down a spot. He’s got a great album but it can’t be everyone’s favourite!
My tastes aren’t nearly as highbrow as yours, so while I recognise the strength of albums like Deerhunter’s, I have to say that I enjoyed Stars, High Places, Jaguar Love, !!!, Portugal. The Man, Groove Armada, The Beautiful Girls, and Maximum Balloon (big ups for the heads up!) more than, say, Broken Bells, Brian Eno, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, How to Dress Well, even LCD Soundsystem.
I guess I will just have to compile mine own list. But yours is awesome.
I have to agree with The National as my favorite cd of the year. The rest of the top 5 would include #2 Janelle Monae “Archandroid”, #3 The New Pronographers “Together”, #4 LCD Soundsystem “This Is Happening”. and 5 The Constellations “Southern Gothic”.
Great List… surprise to see The National beat out Kanye. Your review of MBDTF made it seem to be album of the year for sure.
- Greg
Good list, although I think I’m in the minority in saying I don’t get Sleigh Bells.
Check out my list, if you wish, at:
http://www.oldwaver.com/2010/12/top-30-albums-of-2010-10-1.html
Sleigh Bells at #4 and Arcade Fire at #5? Seriously?
sleigh bells have taken over my ipod since i first saw them in concert back in july…3 concerts later, i’m even more of a fan. they absolutely blew me away live and after meeting them, alexis is a charm and i still wear the sleigh bells crowns we made out and about. can’t wait for next year and their new album.
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2 words: FANG ISLAND
ANYONE? ANYONE?
In my own humble opinion…
1. Have One On Me – Joanna Newsom
2. Go – Jonsi
3. Teen Dream – Beach House
4. Gorilla Manor – Local Natives
5. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
6. All Delighted People EP – Sufjan Stevens
7. The Archandroid – Janelle Monae
8. Tourist History – Two Door Cinema Club
9. Volume Two – She & Him
10. Crazy For You – Best Coast
All I needed was to see that High Violet was number one to make sure that everything was in order.
Pretty good list, I’d say it’s the second best I’ve seen behind stereogum’s. I don’t really have a problem with the albums on the list, but I do with the order. The top 5 here includes 2/5 of my personal top 5.
Sleigh Bells’ ‘Treats’ is vastly overrated by this list and everybody in this thread. I can see “Best Live Act” but 4th best album? Seriously? I have REALLY nice headphones and this sounds like lo-fi trash. I’m not a fan of Wavves by any means, but his new album has so much more depth than than ‘Treats.’ I’m seeing Sleigh Bells tomorrow live to see what all the fuss is about. Seems like this list is influenced by live performances and not purely based on the music on each album. *shrugs*
The other problem I have with the list (and all other lists) is how low Gorillaz ranks on them. Worse than Taylor Swift? Nigga, please. ‘Plastic Beach’ Gorillaz’s best album to date: ‘On Melancholy Hill,’ ‘Some Kind of Nature’ & ‘Rhinestone Eyes’ are incredible tracks, and far more interesting than any song off of ‘Treats.’ Methinks it would have at least breached the top 20 if the creator of the list saw them live.
‘Contra’ is pretty overrated too. The best Ezra Koenig song of the year is not even off of ‘Contra’ but the bonus ‘I Could Be Wrong’ off of Chromeo’s new album.
Menomena’s MINES is my favorite record of the year and I haven’t seen it on many lists which makes me sad. Love that High Violet topped the list though.
(re-posted via facebook)
In my opinion, I think I have to go with Jonsi’s “Go” for #1 this year, followed by Arcade Fire, and then Beach House.
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What about sidewalks by Matt and Kim?
top 20:
1. The National – High Violet
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Beach House – Teen Dream
5. The Roots – How I Got Over
6. Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
7. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
8. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
9. Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz
10. Four Tet- There is Love In You
——————————-
11. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
12. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty
13. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
14. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
15. Foals – Total Life Forever
16. Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
17. Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo
18. of Montreal – False Priest
19. Baths – Cerulean
20. Freelance Whales – Weathervanes
iTunes informs me eyelid Movies is 2009- even though its terrifyingly awesome. should be on the list anyway
I’m still looking for blogs that appreciate that UK vibe of very deliberate and calculated genius: Phantogram, Massive attack, Foals…
I am SO glad at least ONE of my favorite music blogs put High Violet at #1! I just breathed a huge sigh of relief when I scrolled to the bottom of this page.
I feel your number one album of the year shouldn’t be based on your opinion of the content itself, but based on how many times you actually listened to the album… so based on that criteria, my top five are:
1. National “High Violet”
2. Dead Weather “Sea of Cowards”
3. Yeasayer “Odd Blood”
4. Black Keys “Brothers”
5. Big Boi “Sir Lucious Leftfoot…”
(although Das Racist “Sit Down, Man” might be edging out Big Boi as of the past month…)
Cheers guys. I thought you made a solid list! I’m gonna listen to Robyn now.
Hey LuisPMa, what dyou think of Cerulean by Baths? The only top10 that record features in is my personal one :p still, I think its greatly underrated
that list being:
Teen Dream // Treats // The Suburbs // Halcyon Digest // Cerulean // My… Fantasy // Forgiveness Rock Record // Odd Blood // High Violet // This Is Happening
Sleigh Bells – Treats has definitely been my favorite this year, although Yeasayer’s Odd Blood has been suiting me better for winter.
Where are the Black Keys? Did I miss it?
Otherwise, great list!
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and The Suburbs 100%
1. Four Tet (There is Love In You)
2. Beach House (Teen Dream)
3. Robyn (Body Talk series)
[4. Local Native (Gorilla Manor) - came out in 2009 in the UK but in 2010 here in the States. So while it doesn't count, this is where it would be in my list.]
4. Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)
5. Owen Pallett (Heartland)
6. Lissie (Catching a Tiger)
7. Jonsi (Go)
8. Sia (We Are Born)
9. The Living Sisters (Love to Live)
10. Broken Social Scene (Forgiveness Rock Record)
I definitely agree with this list except I didn’t see Local Natives, Surfer Blood, or These New Puritans, and they created great albums, but Beach House, LCD Soundsystem, Tame Impala, Sleigh Bells, and Arcade Fire all produced albums I couldn’t stop listening to! Great stuff this year.
Standouts for me were:
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Mark Ronson & the Business Intl. – Record Collection
Vampire Weekend – Contra
The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
jj – No.3
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles 2
20. Lazerbeak – Legend Recognize Legend
19. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
18. Future Islands – In Evening Air
17. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
16. Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
15. Elsinore – Yes Yes Yes
14. Warpaint – The Fool
13. The Roots – How I Got Over
12. Sun Airway – Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
11. Jonsi – Go
10. The Walkmen – Lisbon
9. Active Child – Curtis Lane EP
8. Gayngs – Relayted
7. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
6. The National – High Violet
5. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
2. Menomena – Mines
1. Beach House – Teen Dream
My top 10 list, for the contest: (don’t have a Facebook to share there, I’m too lazy to tweet something this long, but I’m @realjasonwalsh)
11. Harlem – Hippies
10. Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
9. Crystal Fighters – Star of Love
8. Robyn – Body Talk
7. Beach House – Teen Dream
6. Twin Shadow – Forget
5. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
3. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
2. Napoleon IIIrd – Christiania
1. Common Prayer – There Is A Mountain
My favorite EP was Curtis Lane by Active Child (he put on a pretty great live show, too) favourite mixtape was Sit Down, Man by Das Racist, and favourite song would have to be either Sprawl II or Fuck You.
I am REALLY glad to see that Broken Bells made this list. Great Record, AMAZING band. I am so stoked that they are nominated for a Grammy! I think the records on sale at amazon now for like 5 bucks, get it while you can if you don’t have it!
Doesn’t anyone ROCK anymore?
Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
Black Country Communion – Black Country Communion
Brandon Boyd – The Wild Trapeze
Black Keys – Brothers
Joe Bonamassa – Black Rock
Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
My Darkest Days – My Darkest Days
Slash – Slash
Roots – How I Got Over
Sevendust – Cold Day Memory
Three Days Grace -Life Starts Now
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights – Pardon Me
Brothers by The Black Keys must be on there!!!
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