Best of 2010 - JP Version

2010 will go down as the year that music almost passed me by unnoticed. I eagerly anticipated the new albums from Interpol, Ray Lamontagne, and Kings of Leon, only to be achingly disappointed (Interpol), uninspired (Ray Lamontagne), and flat out disenchanted (Kings of Leon). As a result, I leaned heavily on my older favorites, added to my vinyl collection, and gave little attention to the radio. However, during the few times I sought out new flavors, I was pleasantly surprised to find an abundance of great music. So, without further ado, my top 10 of 2010:


10. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - "Up From Below- Deluxe Edition" (7/27/2010)

Yes, I know this album came out in 2009, but the "Deluxe" version was released in 2010, and therefore I'm grandfathering it in. Alex Ebert and his merry group of troubadour's created a free-spirited, eclectic, rustic-feeling record with "Up From Below". Each track is filled with quirky and meandering musical theatre that, at points, will have any listener singing along. The mix of country beats, melodic whistling, and transcendental lyrics create a unique composite that leaves me curious as to what they'll come up with next.

Suggested tracks: "Home", "40 Day Dream", "Janglin"


9. Broken Bells - "Broken Bells" (3/9/2010)

The collaboration of the The Shins' James Mercer and musician/producer/songwriter Danger Mouse has yielded an easy-listening gem. Yes, there may be nothing shocking or unexpected on this self-titled debut, but I don't think that's the point. Fusing Mercer's glossy vocals and guitar with Danger Mouse's production and synthesizer accents, "Broken Bells" is an aurally pleasing, relaxing, dream-like cruise through the day. And, despite my hard-rock leanings, sometimes a little graceful ambience is just what I need.

Suggested tracks: "The High Road", "October", "Trap Doors"


8. Deerhunter - "Halcyon Digest" (9/28/2010)

Underground music can often be difficult to qualify, and the Atlanta-based Deerhunter is no exception. On "Halcyon Digest", Deerhunter is at times ethereal and abtruse, yet the bulk of the album is up-tempo lo-fidelity indie rock. I found the general theme of "Halcyon Digest" to be an examination of a subject all of us face at some point in our lives: the endeavor of aging. It's the fantasy about the freedom and almost mandated irresponsibility of youth versus the realization that a care-free, selfish lifestyle is simply incompatible with the reality of having a career, family, etc. And, upon reflection, we inevitably see that lost youth is much safer left behind as rose-colored memories, and recapturing it would be a risky proposition. Despite the subject matter, "Halcyon Digest" is a rather uplifting record and solid throughout.

Suggested tracks: "Desire Lines", "Don't Cry", "Revival"


7. MGMT- "Congratulations" (4/13/2010)

The duo of Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew Van WynGarden continue to explore the outreaches of pyschedelic rock on 2010's "Congratulations". Though previous releases from MGMT may be more well-known for loud, almost anthematic electronica (see "Kids" and "Time to Pretend"), "Congratulations" comes off as a slightly more mellow work of art. This album features MGMTs unique ability to create chaotic amalgams of folk, trance, and new wave, and have the end results be orderly, captivating pop music. I've may never have taken hallucinogens, but I'd imagine the experience of listening to this disc in a dark room probably measures up.

Suggested tracks: "Flash Delirium", "It's Working", "I Found A Whistle"


6. Vampire Weekend - "Contra" (1/11/2010)

Vampire Weekend's 2nd album is a bit more electronically expansive than their 2008 debut, but also manages to stay true to their Afro-pop strengths. Still present are the up-tempo beats, marimbas, piano, and feather-light guitar riffs that give "Contra" a distinctive "island" feel. However, the highlight of the album is the prodding "Giving Up the Gun", a synthesizer-infused song that stylistically stands out from the rest of the record. Ezra Koenig's vocals are once again pitch-perfect, and "Contra" remains an easily digestible piece of pop music candy.

Suggested tracks: "Giving Up the Gun", "I Think Ur A Contra", "Horchata"


5. The National - "High Violet" (5/10/2010)

After hearing "Bloodbuzz Ohio" for the 9th or 10th time, it became stuck in my head to such a degree I found myself singing it at random times throughout the day. This trivial phenomenon lead me to purchase "High Violet", and it soon became one of my favorite discs. "High Violet" is essentially Matt Berninger's brooding baritone singing abstract stories of heartache and ill-fortune over an understated, appeasing instrumental foundation. Despite its relatively depressing content, "High Violet" makes an excellent background soundtrack to a quiet night with friends or an introspective drive down an wide-open road. This album is a dark, haunting beauty, and its most pleasing aspect is its soothing simplicity.

Suggested tracks: "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Lemonworld", "Sorrow"


4. Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs" (8/3/2010)

This year's offering from Montreal's 7-member Arcade Fire is somewhat dark compared to their previous two full-length albums, and I found it to be quietly inspirational. Though the subject matter invariably deals with actual suburbs themselves, the underlying message is often the struggle between the sad complacency of being alone versus the comforts it provides. One of the standouts is the track, "Ready to Start". Each successive verse incrementally builds and retreats, like a person trying to break down a door, progressively bending the lock and splintering the wood until it finally gives way in a satisfying aural release. "The Suburbs" has a certain driving rhythm and lyrical cadence that is both deeply personal and anhedonically nostalgic, which are its most endearing traits.

Suggested tracks: "Suburban War", "We Used to Wait", "Ready to Start"


3. The Black Keys - "Brothers" (5/18/2010)

These days finding a good rock song on the radio is an accomplishment that cannot be taken for granted. The last fifteen years of music are infected with a such a deluge of low-quality pop-rock artists, that the true definition of rock has essentially been lost on this generation. The Black Keys, however, are the real deal. Their bluesy guitar, impassioned vocals, and raw sound are a throwback to the very roots of rock and roll, and this disc actually has the refreshingly grainy sound of a vinyl record. "Brothers" reminds me of an evening in the winter of 2003 I spent in a relatively empty blues bar in Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle, and discovered how an amazing night can be had with just three ingredients: beer, bluesy rock music, and having nowhere else to be. I'd love to see the Black Keys in such an intimate venue someday; unfortunately, the popularity of "Brothers" will likely render that impossible.

Suggested tracks: "Next Girl", "Tighten Up", "Howlin' For You"


2. Fitz and the Tantrums - "Pickin' Up the Pieces" (8/24/2010)

The first full-length album from the Los Angeles-based Fitz and the Tantrums was my guilty pleasure of 2010. Led by founder Michael Fitzpatrick, Fitz and the Tantrums has a distinct Motown flavor and is a welcome change of pace to modern radio fare. The combination of stirring throwback vocals from Fitzpatrick and back-up vocalist Noelle Scaggs, endless base grooves, soulful saxophone and piano, and a snappy percussion beat throughout consistently challenges you to avoid tapping your feet to the music. In fact, listening to this album makes me feel like I should throw on a suit, sip on a high-ball, and find the nearest dance floor. "Pickin' Up the Pieces" is packed with pop and soul, and "Money Grabber" is one of the catchiest songs of the year.

Suggested tracks: "Breaking the Chains of Love", "Money Grabber", "News 4 U"


1. Mumford and Sons - "Sigh No More" (2/16/2010)

It's truly a rare occasion when I hear an artist for the first time and am instantly captivated by their music. However, this was the case after my first spin of "Sigh No More", the debut album from England's Mumford and Sons. This folk-rock record is a sophisticated tapestry of intricate lyrics, euphonious vocals, and a myriad of crescendos and decrescendos that continually bathe the listener's ears as spiritually as the tide against the shore. From the beautifully apologetic title track, to the ballad "White Blank Page", "Sigh No More" continually wrestles with the themes of loss, hope, and perseverance through difficult times. It will simultaneously have you contemplating past regrets and celebrating the unknown of the future. Missing their show in the Twin Cities in October of this year will go down as one of my top 10 regrets of 2010; hopefully they will provide me with a chance for redemption by returning in 2011.

Suggested tracks: "Sigh No More", "White Blank Page", "The Cave", "Little Lion Man"