Rookie of the Year Award
Twin Shadow – Forget
I really like everything about this album. George Lewis Jr has a beautiful voice and write terrific songs. Forget features a thrilling production that recalls ENO’s early albums and 80’s Indie Rock. Let’s hope the next one is even better!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyO7P6LE7nA
Old-Timer Award
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Paul Weller is a dinosaur. He recorded his first album on a fucking pterodactyl. Nonetheless, Wake Up the Nation isn’t merely 2010’s best album from an elder-statesman of music, it’s one of the year’s best hands-down. Just listen to this gem, featuring production from My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0i6L1Q9kzU
Best Albums None of my Friends Enjoy
Bad Lieutenant – Never Cry Another Tear (Technically Released in 2009, US in 2010)
Most New Order fans will tell you the further back you go, the better the album. By the time 1993’s Republic rolled out, they had embraced a formula characterized by feel-goodery and an inoffensive blend of dance and pop-rock. The once trail-blazing band never really looked back and sporadically released a handful of albums in the same mold.
Bad Lieutenant, the new side-project by NO’s front-man Bernard Sumner, is almost indistinguishable from latter-day New Order. Make no mistake, nearly 20 years after Republic, Bernie isn’t changing a thing. Some may dismiss it as trite, bland and tired, but I unapologetically adore it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQxdkvkPSuY
Prefab Sprout – Let’s Change the World with Music (Technically Released in 2009, US in 2010)
While Pure Pop’s Breiner and Tanner would join me in defending Prefab Sprout, there aren’t a lot of young folks today extolling their virtues. Frankly, they make 21st-century New Order sound like G.G. Allin. Let’s Change the World With Music was recorded in 1993 but didn’t see the light of day for nearly 20 years. As if Prefab’s dated production and overwrought sentimentality weren’t enough to put off casual listeners, LCTWWM also is so laden with religious references it might as well be a gospel album and it’s literal, matter-of-fact tributes to Paddy McAloon’s musical influences are silly bordering on absurd. Why do I love it so much? Because it’s fucking great.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyW0-8ePDkc
Best Album That’s Great Despite Being Way Too Long with Its Fair Share of Mediocre Tracks
Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
This album is way too long and a good chunk of it is middling, but my god are the high points transcendent. High on my list of great-ideas-I-will-never-follow-through-on is editing this 70-minute beast down to a 35-minute perfect album. God bless Janelle Monae’s madness. (She’s also foxy as shit!)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LzIoqUfOBI
Best Old Band I Got into in 2010
The Wedding Present
Thank you Mike Crandall for inadvertently giving me yet another band to obsess over. The Wedding Present’s catalog is vast and rich. Start with Watsui, Seamonsters or George Best. To heck with 2010, these guys do it better.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpI4Zr_-3DQ
In No Particular Order, The Rest of the Best:
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
A vast improvement over their previous albums.
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Another highlight in Albarn’s distinguished career.
MGMT – Congratulations
I thought the first one was annoying. Didn’t expect to love this.
Chemical Brothers – Further
The CB’s reestablished themselves as one of electronic music’s greats.
Wild Nothing – Gemini
Solid, swirly Indie Rock.
Emeralds – Does it Look Like I’m Here
Warm, instrumental goodness.
Caribou – Swim
Not their best but a solid effort.
Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
Lyrically dense, musically rocking.
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Couple of clunkers don’t hold this one back too much.
Health – Disco 2
As always, Health remixed is better than Health. Go figure.