I again had a great time listening to music this past year. It helped me to survive tough times and celebrate good ones. I myself am pretty tired of everyone's 2010 Top Ten, so I'm going to be very brief here:
10. Kaskade - Dynasty
Easily my favorite contemporary house producer, this record holds true to form and offers up some proper gems.
9. Reflection Eternal - RPMs
9. Reflection Eternal - RPMs
The reunion of Reflection Eternal is a really nice moment in hip-hop. This album, like most of Kweli's work, reveals new complexity upon repeated listening, making this an easy one to have in heavy rotation.
8 MC Frontalot - Zero Day
8 MC Frontalot - Zero Day
A masterpiece in the subgenre, "Zero Day" is funny, smart and very inviting. Front is a serious, hardworking artist, and it really shows on this album. Don't miss the live show if you get the chance.
7. Die Antwoord - EP
7. Die Antwoord - EP
The LP that Die Antwoord put out on interscope in 2010 was a watered-down version of what they had streaming on their website through most of 2009, and I found it disappointing in that form. The EP, however, is tight, energetic, and very professional. It's actually really easy to overplay. (I never thought I'd say this, but I'm honestly pretty tired of "Enter the Ninja...").
6. Bonobo - Black Sands
6. Bonobo - Black Sands
THE standout downtempo album of the year. This album makes me think of pleasant outdoor adventures, and was the only album on this list I could play for my in-laws.
5.David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love
Smart, pleasant and poppy, this concept album about the life of Imelda Marcos is really beautiful. It honestly wasn't what I expected from either of the two artists involved here, so I found this album to be quite refreshing.
4. Vampire Weekend - Contra
Probably my most-listened album on this list, this album is a songwriting tour de force. It's full of catchy hooks and evocative imagery, and is abstract enough to appeal to hipsters and pop-listeners alike.
3. Mark Ronson - Record Collection
Mark Ronson's got his pulse on pop music in a big way. As far as I'm concerned, he can do no wrong lately. This album is upbeat and well-visited by guest stars. It's an excellent nod to Ronson's new wave influences and also to the hip-hop artists who are still clearly inspiring him.
2. Robyn - The Body Talk Project
If this trio of releases turns out to be Robyn's maserpiece, we can consider hers a successful career. The 2 LPs and 1 EP she released this year are dance-pop for grownups. They recognize heartache and wisdom, but they also celebrate honesty and the healing power of music. Robyn is clearly at a creative high point, and these albums impressed me with their depth and elegance.
1. Sleigh Bells - Treats
There was a bunch of music I enjoyed in 2010, but it was easy to pick my favorite. I've never heard an album like "Treats" before, and I've never seen my friends react so positively to something so loud and messy. What we have here is serious dance music made by rock minimalists, and it's awesome. This is well constructed album with no filler and consistently high-energy rhythms.
5.David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Here Lies Love
Smart, pleasant and poppy, this concept album about the life of Imelda Marcos is really beautiful. It honestly wasn't what I expected from either of the two artists involved here, so I found this album to be quite refreshing.
4. Vampire Weekend - Contra
Probably my most-listened album on this list, this album is a songwriting tour de force. It's full of catchy hooks and evocative imagery, and is abstract enough to appeal to hipsters and pop-listeners alike.
3. Mark Ronson - Record Collection
Mark Ronson's got his pulse on pop music in a big way. As far as I'm concerned, he can do no wrong lately. This album is upbeat and well-visited by guest stars. It's an excellent nod to Ronson's new wave influences and also to the hip-hop artists who are still clearly inspiring him.
2. Robyn - The Body Talk Project
If this trio of releases turns out to be Robyn's maserpiece, we can consider hers a successful career. The 2 LPs and 1 EP she released this year are dance-pop for grownups. They recognize heartache and wisdom, but they also celebrate honesty and the healing power of music. Robyn is clearly at a creative high point, and these albums impressed me with their depth and elegance.
1. Sleigh Bells - Treats
There was a bunch of music I enjoyed in 2010, but it was easy to pick my favorite. I've never heard an album like "Treats" before, and I've never seen my friends react so positively to something so loud and messy. What we have here is serious dance music made by rock minimalists, and it's awesome. This is well constructed album with no filler and consistently high-energy rhythms.
