Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a series of top ten lists from our music writers. These will continue daily, until culminating in an aggregated top twenty list from buzzlegoose.
You can read Victor Koressel’s here.
You can read Chris Franklin’s here.
You can read Alexandra Fletcher’s here.
You can read Aaron Hefelfinger’s here.
You can read Adam Shephard’s here.
You can read Samantha Hatfield’s here.
Enjoy!
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10. Halcyon Digest- Deerhunter
Deerhunter presents just enough down tempo ambiance to make my top 10 from 2010 list. It’s not like Deerhunter is some new extravagant band to surpass the rest with an unexpected favorite album. They’ve been around for a while, and this album was just what the band needed to further their cult status in the indie world. It’s just all around a well done album.
9. Forget- Twin Shadow
We’ve seen an influx in ambient, synth play this year in music, and it’s been hard to find artists who’ve really just done it all well. Twin Shadow nails the whole “I’m going to be ambient, and write an entire album focused on vocals, guitar, and synth work” thing down with Forget. The choruses are catchy, and his emotions are raw (contrasting w/the electronic mesh of sound as a backdrop.)
8. A Badly Broken Code- Dessa
In her first full length album (apart from Doomtree) Dessa sets a bar higher than that of any of her band members solo works (yes, even P.O.S.) A Badly Broken Code combines Dessa’s apparent rapping skill with a soulful voice and carefully constructed lyrics. She’s got a knack for finding that chorus that hits home, without overdoing the whole “Hey, I live in the ghetto” thing.
7. Heartland- Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett changed his stage name this year for legal reasons (oops, sorry Final Fantasy the videogame), and with that name change came an album full of minor changes. There’s more looping, more buildup, more Owen Pallett behind the scenes. I’ll never get over his musical talent. The album is simply ridiculously well orchestrated.
5. Shame, Shame- Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is just groovy. They’ve been jamming for over 10 years with this psychedelic 70’s, new age Beatles feel which, let’s face it, can get old quick. But with Dr. Dog, especially with this a little more finely tuned veteran album, it doesn’t die out. They’ve kept the spirit of the 70’s effervescent and new. Plus Shame, Shame almost lives up to their 2007 cult-following induced release, We All Belong. Fortunately, they can write one heck of a chorus, as well.
5. Go- Jónsi
For the first time, Sigur Rós front man, Jónsi, released an album in both English and Icelandic with both post rock and pop elements, and guess what..? It’s good. It’s really good, actually. Track “Kloniður” peaks in a true Sigur Rós fashion while tracks like “Grow Till Tall” explore Jónsi’s high range and pop style.
5. Have One on Me- Joanna Newsom
It’s hard for me to say anything negative about Joanna Newsom whatsoever, but I also can’t say that I wasn’t disappointed at all with Have One on Me. She loses a bit of her eccentricity evident on Ys which is a little sad, but this album is still amazing. Two hours of Joanna Newsom should content (and probably wear out… in the best sense of the word) any music enthusiast.
3. Contra- Vampire Weekend
Contra pushes the boundary set by Vampire Weekend’s previous recording, going further into hyper-bliss, which if you ask me, is grand. I know that a lot of people go around bashing them for their overexcited, manic drama and lack of serious, soul felt lyrics, but what more could you ask for from a pick-me-up band? Can you haters honestly listen to Contra without smiling? It’s well assembled, a bit superficial, catchy and fun. It’s great.
2. The Age of Adz- Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan shakes it up a bit with the release of The Age of Adz, and does nothing but disappoint. He goes from joyful whispering vocals on previous albums to an eccentric “bathing aliens type sound,” as a friend pointed out to me, with electronics and yelling on the new release. It explores more the depths of his mind, which is something I think that after 4 successful full length albums deserves attention.
1. High Violet- The National
I really thought that after Boxer, there was no where to go but down for The National. It was so carefully constructed and unique that I thought the band could never live up to future expectations. High Violet is written through the National’s characteristic style, though—with moments from real life, with real problems, and awesome usages of adjectives as verbs. I mean, who thinks of saying “I’ll go braving everything” like Berninger sings in baritone on “Runaway”. With the release of High Violet this year, The National easily earns the best album of 2010 award on my accord.
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