Top 30 albums of 2010

Again, I'm not including a blurb about why I liked this album, like in years before. I just don't have time. Here, though are my 30 favorite albums of 2010.

30. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
29. The Weepies - Be My Thrill
28. Brian McBride - The Effective Disconnect
27. Four Tet - There Is Love In You
26. jj - jj no3
25. Yeasayer - ODD BLOOD
24. Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
23. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
22. Jimmy Eat World - Invented
21. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
20. School of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire
19. Jonsi - Go
18. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
17. The Radio Dept. - Clinging To A Scheme
16. Tokyo Police Club - Champ
15. Sambassadeur - European
14. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
13. The New Pornographers - Together
12. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
11. Beach House - Teen Dream
10. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
9. Holy Fuck - Latin
8. Girl Talk - All Day
7. Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love
6. Laura Veirs - July Flame
5. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
4. Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
3. The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt/Sometimes the Blues Just a Passing Bird
2. The National - High Violet
1. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

Top albums of 2010: Honorable Mention

I don't really have time to go into too much detail with why and how I chose favorites like in previous years. This year I'm just going to list records and leave it at that. I've been a little underwhelmed with music this year, even though there's been some really good stuff. Not as much has been all that classic, though. OK, here are some albums that I liked but didn't quite make it into the top of the year list.

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Balmorhea - Constellations
Azure Ray - Drawing Down the Moon
Delorean - Subiza
Maserati - Pyramid of the Sun
Midlake - The Courage of Others
Carissa’s Wierd - They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003
The Morning Benders - Big Echo
She & Him - Volume Two
Allo Darlin’ - Allo Darlin’
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP
Stars - The Five Ghosts
The Books - The Way Out
CEO - white magic
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Shout Out Louds - Work
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Wild Nothing - Gemini

Top Songs of 2010

I know it's been a while since I last posted, but I honestly thought I'd be more active here. With the new job and the move, that's turned out not to be the case. Now that I've got some time in the holiday season, I'm able to post my annual top songs and albums posts. Here are some of my favorite songs of the year.

Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
The Tallest Man On Earth - Burden of Tomorrow
The Tallest Man On Earth - Like the Wheel
Vampire Weekend - Giving Up the Gun
Stars - Wasted Daylight
Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices
Local Natives - Who Knows Who Cares
Laura Veirs - I Can See Your Tracks
Kanye West - Runaway
Jonsi - Go do
Janelle Monae - Cold War
Hot Chip - I Feel Better
Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can’t See Land
Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside
Belle and Sebastian - I Want the World To Stop
Belle and Sebastian - I Didn’t See It Coming
Beach House - Norway
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round
Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Arcade Fire - Empty Room
The New Pornographers - Crash Years
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Say No to Love
The Radio Dept. - Heaven’s On Fire
Sambassadeur - Stranded
School of Seven Bells - Heart Is Strange
Shout OUt Louds - Fall Hard
Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
Tokyo Police Club - Breakneck Speed
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
Cee-Lo - Fuck You

My favorite album of the 2000s

I've been meaning to post my list of top albums of the 00s for a while now, but writing the dissertation got in the way. I'll just list my favorite album of the decade because for me it's a clear decision. Below that, it would take too much time and energy. Plus it's a bit late for that sort of thing right now anyways. So, here it is...my absolute favorite album of the 2000s.


Arcade Fire - Funeral

I could write for a while on this album, but the simple fact of the matter is that this record, for me, is a total masterpiece. Every song, every note, everything works together so well. It's well written, well executed, and it always manages to conjure in me a wealth of emotions with every listen. The sheer depth of this record is unmatched by 99% of other albums that I have heard.

Also, I may have mentioned this before, but if Arcade Fire comes near your town, go see them. There is nothing like hearing their already impressive songs played live.