Best Albums of 2010 So Far
66Some of the big names in indie music as well as some newcomers have made the first month of 2010 quite memorable. Here is a short list of the best things to happen to the music world so far in the new year.
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
A Little Beach Boys, A Lot Indie
Hailing from South Florida, Surfer Blood has brought back the heavy and minimalistic sound of indie rock of yor. Astro Cost not complicated, and it doesn't need to be, solid sound structure and a great sense of drama and composition has propelled Surfer Blood to the top of the new music charts. It's not what indie rock has become, it's an updated version of what made it possible. Instead of beautiful female voices over electronic beats, you've got a male singer behind distorted guitars, bouncing rhythms, and a good old fashion sense of pain in the content. Many will say that this is a Weezer doppelganger, many will say that it's a completely fresh throwback to 90's indie; they'd both be correct. Astro Coast is a breath of fresh air for fans of both new and old indie. Oh by the way, it was recorded in their University of Florida dorm room.
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast tracklist
1. Floating Vibes
2. Swim
3. Take It Easy
4. Harmonix
5. Neighbor Riffs
6. Twin Peaks
7. Fast Jabroni
8. Slow Jabroni
9. Anchorage
10. Catholic Pegasus
Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach the End)
Beach House - Teen Dream
Dreamy and Well Thought Out
The third release from Beach House fits their direction and stride perfectly. A surreal, sonic landscape, Teen Dream transports the minds of listeners to another dimension. The perfect mood album, the haunting and powerful vocals of Victoria Legrand are perfectly layered with the subdued and ambient guitar of bandmate Alex Scally. The album creates a dynamic and full sound leading one to believe it inconceivable, utterly impossible that there are only two people in the band. An album that simply washes over, embraces you from the inside, and delivers a real message with eerie reassurance.
Beach House - Teen Dream tracklist
1. Zebra
2. Silver Soul
3. Norway
4. Walk In The Park
5. Used To Be
6. Lover Of Mine
7. Better Times
8. 10 Mile Stereo
9. Real Love
10. Take Care
Beach House - Zebra
Four Tet - There Is Love in You
Glitchy Brilliance
As far as DJs go, U.K. born Kieran Hebden covers quite the spectrum of veins, mixing them perfectly into his music. Instead of taking each individual track in a different direction, the composure of There Is Love in You uses jazz, electronic, folk, and dance and blends them perfectly into a swirl of brilliance. Sort of a surreal slow dance, rich in its depth, incredibly in its arrangement, Four Tet, like Beach House takes you to another world, a different one. Beaty, empowering, not overly aggressive, There Is Love in You is the evolution of an artist that pushed the envelope of electronic music. If there is anyone who understands form and composition and is able to convey it to the listener, it's Kieran Hebden.
Four Tet - There Is Love in You tracklist
1. Angel Echoes
2. Love Cry
3. Circling
4. Pablo's Heart
5. Sing
6. This Unfolds
7. Reversing
8. Plastic People
9. She Just Likes To Fight
Four Tet - Circling
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Irm
Beauty, Reflection, Tragedy
After a severe skiing accident in 2007, actor/singer/songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg almost died. What was incredibly tragic became an absolutely heart wrenching source of inspiration for her latest album Irm. Visceral and catchy pop beats over a backdrop of pain and hope makes for the perfect emotional and intimate experience. Covering the entire spectrum of human emotions, the listener feels the ups and downs, the pain and pleasure, tragedy and triumph of a brilliant songwriter. Her voice is mesmeric, each word cutting deep into your mind, filling a void that only grounded, yet hopeful music can occupy.
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Irm tracklist
1. Master's Hands
2. IRM
3. Le Chat Du Cafe Des Artistes
4. In The End
5. Heaven Can Wait
6. Me And Jane Doe
7. Vanities
8. Time Of The Assassins
9. Trick Pony
10. Greenwich Mean Time
11. Dandelion
12. Voyage
13. The Collector
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait
Spoon - Transference
Classic Spoon Expanded
Transference is an album that likely will not blow you away - until you listen again. Finding what many believe is their true essence; a period of self realization, Spoon has established their voice in the indie rock world. Basic rock structure and razor sharp lyrics have not faded from their music, yet the experience is still fresh. The new album features Spoon branching out, using different instruments in their songs, keeping with their unique sound. This is not an album that will grab you by the throat and demand you like it, Transference will be subtle, patient, waiting for it's awesomness to be realized.
Spoon - Transference tracklist
1. Before Destruction
2. Is Love Forever?
3. The Mystery Zone
4.
Who Makes Your Money
5. Written in Reverse
6. I Saw the Light
7.
Trouble Comes Running
8. Goodnight Laura
9. Out Go the Lights
10.
Got Nuffin
11. Nobody Gets Me But You
Spoon - Nobody Gets Me But You
CommentsLoading...
you should check out Habits by Neon Trees
I'm counting the days until the new Divine Comedy album, Bang Goes the Knighthood. End of May, have pre-ordered my copy!
Where is Acolyte?
Spoon are incredible! I Can't believe I hadn't heard of them until Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.
The Black keys - Brothers
Vampire Weekend - Contra
Great list! Will you do an update soon? ;) I want more good music!
I'd include Fang Island. That album is pure magic to me. I can't help myself from breaking down everytime I hear it.
Great list. You should however note that Charlotte Gainbourg only co-wrote one of the songs on her albums, and the rest were written by Beck.
Beach House! great album! but where mgmt's new ablum?? thats an awsome record:)
I never get tired of Beach House's "Teen Dream". They truly do take you to a different dimension...well said! MGMT's "Congratulations" definitely deserves a spot high on the list. It's psychedelic and thoughtful and it's obvious the duo has matured a lot since "Oracular Spectacular".
cool, i'd only hear the surfer blood album, but the rest of the list are way cool too :)
personal favs for this year
1. Yes Giantess - Siren
deffs recomond you check this out, sounds like passion pit. very cool
2.Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
maddly in the new style of psychedelic indie, so uniquely their own work
3.LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
4.The National - High Violet
5. We Have Band - WHB
electronic, kind of a indie electropop
6. Dr. Dog - Shame, Shame
7. The Beautiful Girls - Spooks
8. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
9. New Young Pony Club - The Optimist
new-wave music, kinda electronic wth female vocals
10.Delphic - Acolyte
indie dance-punk
i've left some out, due to the fact i think most people here would have heard of the already (like yeasayer's album and We Are Scientists' new one)
but yeah, if its new check it out. ENJOY :)
(p.s. pay for it)
I like the way you move. Cool taste you have, be proud.
Where's Black Key's Brothers?
I'm pretty sure Arcade Fire's new one will join list soon.
Good List
I agree Tame Impalas innerspeaker right up there
Also love Washington i believe you liar her debut was worth the wait
The drums self titled pretty sweet if you like that kinda thing
Sia- We are born
And personal favourite Kate Nash my best friend is you
Love some good Brit music
Foals - total life forever
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles II
Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness rock record
These New Puritans- Hidden
Fuck Buttons - Tarot sport
Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
The Joy Formidable - A Balloon called moaning
Broken Bells- Broken Bells
Paul, awesome suggestions, I haven't heard new BSS or CC, but I'm sure they will be on the next list. I wasn't actually a big fan of the new Arcade Fire believe it or not!
wow thanks a lot and cam i get lady gaga fame monster album???
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
No Age - Everything In Between
MGMT - Congratulations
Crystal Castles - 2010
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti - Before Today
Jonsi - Go
Robyn - Body Talk 1 + 2
Warpaint - The Fool
Best Coast - Crazy For You
Wavves - King of the Beach
Avi Buffalo - st
Matthew Dear - Black City
Mount Kimbie - Crooks and Lovers
Actress -Splash
Wild Nothing - Gemini
The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth
Deerhunter- Halcyon Digest
Menomena- Mines
Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
Strand of Oaks- Pope Killdragon
Beach House- Teen Dream
Grinderman- Grinderman 2
The National- High Violet
The Walkmen- Lisbon
These New Puritans- Hidden
Liars- Sisterworld
Tough to pick top 10 this year, a few months to go yet too. Other honorable mentions:
Yeasayer- Odd Blood, LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening, How to Dress Well- Love Remains, Foals- Total Life Forever, Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record, The Radio Dept- Clinging to a Scheme, Charlottle Gainsbourg- IRM, The Drums- The Drums, Jonsi- Go, Family Band- Miller Path, Fang Island- Fang Island, Four Tet- There is Love in You, Free Energy- Stuck on Nothing, The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang, Local Natives- Gorilla Manor, The New Pornographers- Together, Owen Pallett- Heartland, Ray LaMontage- God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise, Spoon- Transference, Vampire Weekend- Contra, Stars- The Five Ghosts
Beach House - Teen Dream
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The National - High Violet
Adam Green - Minor Love
Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
Holy Fuck - Latin
Spoon - Transference
The Black Keys - Brothers
P.S: IRM is from the 2009.
Chiodos - Illuminaudio
1- titus andronicus - the monitor
2- abe vigoda - crush
3- the tallest man on earth - the wild hunt
4- women - public strain
5- best coast - crazy for you
6- no age - everything in between
7- sleigh bells - treats
8- fang island - fang island
9- el ten eleven - is still like a secret
10- the walkmen - lisbon
Personally I loved - Full Moon Fiasco - Cosmic Palms (Barrett like Pink Floyd), Street Chant- Means (All your Favourite 90's bands) and Rotate the Completors: Completed Rotations of the... (Weirdest stuff ever.) .All excellent artists from New Zealand. Internationally I really enjoyed the new Grinderman and Robert Plant albums.
Beach House is the deepest album of the year, you need to listen to it a few times and then it's Gold... forever not 5 days.
Great site! Great álbuns! :)
If you want, see my web site... http://www.musicaemstock.com
Thanks
Nuno Santos
An update considering your feedback. These albums are also incredible and should have been mentioned in a follow-up. A little late for that now though! Black Keys - Brothers, No Age - Everything In Between, The Walkmen - Lisbon, Best Coast - Crazy for You, Deerhunter - Hacylon Digest, Menomena - Mines, Titus Andronicus - The Monitor, Yeasayer - Odd Blood, LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening, Sleigh Bells - Treats, Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record, Stars - The Five Ghosts, Spoon - Transference, and a bunch more that I'm sure I am forgetting.
xWeekendWarsx 2 years ago
Ahh Beach House, they can do no wrong :)
xR