If I had to pick an album this year to just kick back with and jam for hours
on end, Innerspeaker would my top choice. I love the Beatles-esque
vocals and the arrangements are so wonderfully textured that it's hard not
to get lost in them. Consider this to be as accessible as psych rock
can get.
:Tame
Impala - Island Walking:
#04) Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
Where School Of Seven Bells released a slightly less appealing sophomore
effort, Phantogram came out of nowhere with a similar, but simplified sound
in the form of Eyelid Movies, which is just stuffed with cool
track after cool track. Headphones are definitely recommended!
:Phantogram
- Mouthful Of Diamonds:
#03) Sleigh Bells - Treats
Let's face it, this isn't an album that you expect to throw on for a quiet
evening at home. Treats is meant to be blasted as your prepare
yourself for some sort of dance-enthused adventure of epic proportions.
I think I'm still amazed that it managed to blowout the hype that preceded
its release.
:Sleigh
Bells - Riot Rhythm:
#02) The Mynabirds - What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood
Definitely a little more AAA radio than I tend to like, and yet there were
so many times this year where I'd hear one song off this and then
immediately have to listen to the entire album (... at least once).
This is for those of you who miss the warmth of albums from way back when.
:The
Mynabirds - Let The Record Go:
#01) Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
To be honest, I could probably make a case for any of the top five to be #1.
This, however, was not just the year's first great release, but my fallback
listen for every single time I tired of something else. Astro Coast
is a fantastic effort with a wealth of fuzzy pop gems, and you need it.
:Surfer
Blood - Swim:
More! By
the way, nothing below is any sort of particular order.
- 5
Other Records That I Fancied A Bit
1. Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
2. She And Him - Volume 2
3. The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream
4. School Of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire
5. Land Of Talk - Cloak And Cipher
-
5 Records That Seemingly Impacted Everyone But Me
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. The National - High Violet
3. Beach House - Zebra
4. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
5. Sufjan Stevens - The Age Of Adz
-
The 5 Best Shows I Attended In 2010
1. Joanna Newsom at the Paramount
2. Pavement at the Greek Theatre and at Stubb's
3. Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings at La Zona Rosa
4. White Denim at Antone's
5. The Budos Band at the Mohawk
-
Favorite Reissue
1. Chin Chin - Sound Of The Westway
-
Favorite Compilations
1. Mates Of State - Crushers (The Covers Mixtape)
2. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Soundtrack
3. Pavement - Quarantine The Past: The Best Of
Pavement
-
Three Local Releases You Should Seek Out
1.
Quiet Company - Song For Staying In
2. Dana Falconberry - Halletts
3. The Bandulus - Ska, Reggae And Soul
- John Laird -
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