Albums of the Year: #10-#6
It wouldn’t be a music blog without a top ten albums of the year, now, would it?
This year has seen an astonishingly high number of quality albums, and it’s been insanely difficult to come up with a viable top ten. But we’ve had a good ol’ bash at it.
The blog ate this post the last time I did it, so excuse laziness.
#10: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
A lot of reviewers didn’t take kindly to the Bangor trio’s debut. Probably mostly down to the laptop-driven tisstisstiss high-hats and the virtually constant tempo. But TDCC manage to encapsulate the feeling of a pure, feel-good summer hit on each and every song, and it’s that quality which pushes this album into our top ten.
Video: “Come Back Home”
#9: Delphic - Acolyte
Electronic music, let’s face it, was hardly a rarity in 2010. It seemed to flow from every musical orifice, new bands cropping up all over. One band, from the unassuming city of Manchester, surprised a lot of people with their January debut. Gloriously catchy dance-rock punctuated with singles like “Doubt” and “Halcyon” made for a stunning record.
Video: “Doubt”
#8: Jónsi - Go
While broadly criticised for not having as much emotional punch as his band, Sigur Rós’ work could muster, the lead vocalist’s solo effort was still an epic whirlwind of fantastic borderline pop alt-rock. He’s definitely better off with a band, but heartstring-grabbing tracks like “Kolniður” and insanely bouncy “Animal Arithmetic” make this a record to return to.
Listen: “Kolniður”
Kolniður by jordandalby#7: 65daysofstatic - We Were Exploding Anyway
Now, the word “post-rock” is used all over the shop to describe the sound of Sheffield-founded group 65daysofstatic, but I think they’re a whole lot more than what generally slots into that pigeonhole. There’s some astonishing use of glitchy technological trickery in this album, which, oddly, manages to harmonise well with the rock guitar to form a harsh landscape nothing could be expected to live in.
#6: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
We reckon you’re likely sick to the back teeth of everyone going on about the Canadian troupe by now. To be fair, they have been almost constantly in the media’s telescope all year, but there’s a very valid reason - this album. A love letter from the American suburbs, it has enough melodic wealth and lyrical ingenuity to connect to you wherever you happen to be in the world. A real gem of a record.
Listen: “We Used to Wait”
We Used To Wait by honeyyummytoast