AA's Top Ten of 2010

Let’s just get right into it. Here are my 10 favorite albums of 2010.

#10 Of Montreal – False Priest

The of Montreal gang is back and funkier than ever. They’ve infused their quirky sound with pure sex in a manner that only those arty rockers could do. I suppose hanging out with the Wondaland Arts Society and listening to a lot of Parliament was largely responsible for the new sound.



# 9 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

While sticking to their experimental dreamy sound, Halcyon Digest is the clearest indication that Deerhunter has solidifed their own unique sound. Gone are the aimless clouds of noise that obscured some of their last album, and instead a coherent haze of noise has emerged. More aptly their unique style of coherent chaotic soundscapes has emerged, and it’s damn good.



#8 Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

I’m a bit shocked that this hasn’t been on more people’s lists this year. I’ve always been a tremendous fan of Broken Social Scene, so I suppose it comes as no surprise that their new album made my list. Their sound is always incredibly expansive, intricate, and elaborate, although that’s hardly surprising considering the bevy of talented musicians that are in the band. The album hangs together well, and their tendency to wander and compact a million different ideas into one song has been further refined as they string together a series of cohesive songs.



#7 Beach House – Teen Dream

While much more accessible than their previous albums, Teen Dream still has all the abstract and moody elements that made me fall in love with Beach House initially. The dark sensuous vocals, the dreamy organs, and the swirling guitars make for some pretty soothing yet melancholy music.



#6 The Pass – Burst

As I mentioned in a recent post, The Pass makes some of the most fun and danceable music that I’ve heard in a long time. Throwing this album on always makes a spontaneous dance party wherever you are.



#5 NYC UFO's – Newer Stations

Raw garage rock with a New York sound that sounds like The Strokes from a bunch of up and coming youngsters dropping their first album. ‘Nuff said.



#4 The Morning Benders - Big Echo

Their march to ever greater musical stardom continues on unimpeded. Who would have thought that the sleepy hills of Berkeley would produce such awesomely inspired music. Big Echo is an amazing follow up to their first album that establishes the Morning Benders’ own unique sound, shows their increasing maturity, and puts them on the path to ever greater heights.



#3 Shout Out Louds - Work

There’s just something about these Swedes that I love. They have this infectious sound that always puts a massive smile on my face. What better reason for liking an album a lot?



#2 The Black Keys – Brothers

Few good bands have that vintage pure rock and roll sound these days, but album after album The Black Keys have managed to keep their edge. In large part, it’s due to the fact that they understand that rock n’ roll evolved from the blues. So I suppose it’s no surprise that on Brothers, they take their explorations of the underpinnings of rock even further by delving into Mo-Town soul and doo wop to find an even more inspired sound.



#1 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

While Arcade Fire’s new album being at the top of lists is getting to become a cliché, the hype is deserved. This was the album that I most eagerly looked forward to all year, and the album actually lived up to their inflated reputation.

Thoughtful, mature, and hauntingly good, they continue to grapple with serious issues moving beyond youthful angst and rebellion to a quiet understanding of their new lives. Moreover, their anthemic rock is absurdly catchy and always emotionally raw. The crack in Win Butler’s voice is no longer as melancholy as it once was, but it’s still equally as powerful and earnest.

I mean seriously, it’s pretty damn hard not to like such a genuinely nice band.

5 Songs to Help Hide Inside for the Winter

Here are five of my favorite songs that are the perfect soundtrack for winter hibernation.

Arcade Fire – Winter for a Year

From their demo, this gem has a great melancholy yet upbeat and whimsical feel to it. The meandering melody and light hearted drumming mix smoothly with Win Butler’s voice that is noticeably more adolescent and even contains a hint of Billy Corgan’s whine, at least to my ear.



Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel the Illinoise!

The opening bass lines from the piano make me think of a jollier version of Charlie Brown and nothing says Christmas like the oddly depressing Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Let’s also not forget the grand soundscapes and bright horns that really spread a holiday cheer.

Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel The Illinoise! by AriGold

Ra Ra Riot – Winter 05

The quiet sleigh bells in the background; the gorgeous melancholy lyrics; the explicit recognition of the inherent dreariness of winter; and of course the idea of curling up next to a loved one during those cold winter nights. If that doesn’t capture the essence of winter, I don’t know what can.



Young Galaxy – Outside the City

Something about this song, just makes me think of going on a grand snow-filled adventure. The booming drum and bass lines add a driving momentum to the song and when mixed with the lovely vocals, make the most pleasant combination to my ears.



The Rifles – Winter Calls

Lonely lyrics over guitar work that screams British rock by my favorite Brits, The Rifles – what’s not to love about that?



Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 Tunnels

Perhaps the greatest, most brilliant song about winter ever. I’m not sure any song could be better than Arcade Fire’s Neighborhood #1 to bury yourself for the winter. From the recurring fairy tale like melodies to Win Butler’s plaintive angst ridden wail, nothing evokes a magical winter wonderland than this song. It also helps that it’s written about a magical world with no parents that’s covered in snow and connected by tunnels.

Arcade Fire and Spike Jonze "The Suburbs" Video Release

Two of my two favorite things in the world have finally come together. Arcade Fire and Spike Jonze have teamed up for the music video for “The Suburbs.”

Spike Jonze has really outdone himself on this video, amplifying the raw emotions of the song. The opening shots feature a group of gangly adolescents in the glory of their youth, riding bikes, getting in trouble, and falling in love for the first time. It quickly devolves into the main themes of the record: boredom, an underlying angst, and a mysterious Suburban War replete with night raids, arrests, and M16 wielding troops. Bubbling beneath the surface of their carefree lives, is this widening war that eventually invades their lives forever scarring their youthful idealism.

What’s impressive is Spike Jonze’s ability to create so much emotion with simple glances and no dialogue. His ability to establish narratives, emotional bonds between characters, and wrench at your heart strings is truly impressive. I’m still trying to get over his last short, I’m Here.

On a side note, after watching the video, I now recognize the mysterious footage that was playing in the background during their Madison Square Garden show, shot by the legendary Terry Gilliam.

Watch for Win and Regine’s brief cameo about half way through as shot gun wielding cops. That huge goofy grin on Win’s face is priceless.

Enjoy.

First Listen: Arcade Fire's New Album Streaming Online!!!

Holy Crap! The moment I've been waiting for is finally here! The full length Arcade Fire album "Suburbs" is available to stream on NPR Music (major props to NPR). The album officially drops tomorrow, but listen to it now.

It's scary good.

Arcade Fire Concert Live Webstream on Youtube

Untitled from Arcade Fire on Vimeo.


As we creep ever closer to August 2nd, the release date of Arcade Fire’s new album Suburbs, we’re getting more and more snippets and sneak peaks. So far we’ve seen the release of the album’s 8 different covers, the announcement of the album’s 16 song track list, and the release of several tracks (click here to stream the latest two songs on the album from HypeMachine “Cold Wind” and “Cars and Telephones”).

Now we get an awesome video preview of “Rococo” to accompany the exciting news that Youtube will be live streaming their headlining concert from New York’s Madison Square Garden on August 5th.

BTW holy crap if you haven’t listened to “Cold Wind” and “Cars and Telephones” yet, do it now. They are seriously good.