Best of 2010

#20 The Volebeats | Volebeats

Matthew Smith, Jeff Oakes & gang fuse their usual blend of psych-rock & country pop with sometimes mixed results.


#19  Marah | Life is A Problem
 
I consider myself a big fan of the band, devouring each new record, hoping anyone who'd listen would know how great they are. Life Is a Problem, their first without guitarist brother Serge, is an exalted, ramshackle, mess of a record that has grown on me over the year. I didn't like it much at first and found it rather disappointing, but the ensuing months revealed a few truths. It has a lot in common with The Basement Tapes, brother Serge needs to get his ass back in the band, and Within The Spirit Sagging is one of the best tracks of the year.     


#18   Smoke Fairies - Through The Light and Trees
 
Debut record from British female duo Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies. Haunting,  downbeat, sparse, folk/vocal harmonies that weave through filtered folk traditions and blues riffery. 
RIYL : Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, PJ Harvey & Espers.   


 #17  The Len Price 3 | Pictures
 
Complaining that this is 60's derivative guitar based pop is impertinent. The LP3 are writing catchy, cockney, upbeat songs that every beat combo has done since the days of The Kinks & The Beatles. What’s not to like?
 

#16  Teenage Fanclub | Shadows

Shadows, the Fannies eighth proper release in twenty years is a worthy addition to the legacy of a group that deserves a spot in the RnR hall of endurance. The dependable quality with which they have created music the last twenty years is astonishing. Yes, the days of loud guitars (Songs From Northern Britain) and sing-alongs (Sparky's Dream) are gone, only to be replaced by a more comfy landing-place, one still tied to their classicist pop leanings.


#15  The National | High Violet
 
Given the fact that I had issues with their other records, I consider this my first "real" exposure to the band. Bloodbuzz Ohio was the track that hooked me, and I still think of it as one of the best songs of the year. As for the rest of the record, cunning, cohesive, punchy and unwavering. Makes we wonder what they'd sound like without their drummer, cos he IS the straw that stirs the drink.. Vocalist, Matt Berninger seems comfortable staying within a particular vocal scale delivering his baritone melodies, and combined with his abstract lyrics, it seems to work.


#14   Pernice Brothers | Goodbye, Killer
 
At first, this short and very stripped down record felt like a lost Scud Mountain Boys record and a bit half baked when compared to older and lusher sounding affairs. The thing is, Joe writes brilliant songs with biting lyrics and after an initial ho-hum response I found myself playing the thing constantly. It might not be my favorite PB record, but it is yet another gem of a pop record by a guy that has yet to let me down.


#13  Mary Gauthier | The Foundling

My first exposure to this was a couple of weeks ago, but in that time, it's left a big impression.
Drawing upon her life, this autobiographical concept record is at times, painful to listen to. Rooted in her abandonment as a child, Mary delivers a musical tour de force that's both affecting and convincing. I'm sure this would have placed higher with more spins. Wow. 


#12  Bobby Bare Jr  |  A Storm, A Tree, A Mother's Head
 
How can you go wrong with My Morning Jacket as your backing band and your father co-writing a few of the tracks? This, Bobby's sixth release, finds him playful & profound, releasing his most personal to date, and, accordingly, one of his best, second only to the Young Criminals Starvation League.
 

#11  Sunrise Highway  | Sunrise Highway 

Upbeat and lush, this 70's take on a classic pop format would have been right at home on AM radio sandwiched between The Beach Boys and The Raspberries. Great melodies, hooks and production.


#10  Duncan Maitland  |  Lullabies For The 21st Century
 
On this, his debut, Lullabies for The 21st Century, Dublin native Duncan Maitland is joined by Colin Moulding (XTC) on the opening track and Barry O'Brien of Slumberjet/Pugwash on a few others. Intricate and complex, these arrangements are far more than ear candy, but a study in pop smarts. Every track is crammed with details that will have you going back for more. 
RIYL : Later day XTC, Beatles, Power Pop
 

#09   Title Tracks  |  It Was Easy

Power pop with all the typical influence, John Davis (Q and not U) has crafted an enthusiastic compact record full of friendly songs and good melodies that stays true to the album title.


#08  The Sadies | Darker Circles
 
Best absorbed and appraised as a whole. Darker Circles, the veteran roots rockers ninth official release is all about tone, atmosphere and vibe. If a Tele, B-bender, dread, sadness and something ominous is your bag, look no further.
RIYL: Clarence White era BYRDS.


#07  Elvyn | The Decline
 
Canadian pop never sounded so good. Imagine a slightly countrified Teenage Fanclub with stacked harmonies and songs.


#06  Twin Shadow | Forget
 
I could not have imagined a record of this ilk charting this high, but these songs continue to surprise with every listen. I'm hearing a subtle nod to post-glitter Roxy Music, Power, Corruption & Lies era New Order and a big salty salute to Japanese icons, Yellow Magic Orchestra. While other similar music is "style" focused, George Lewis Jr. puts the spotlight on song structure. This is one of those records where the listener is rewarded with repeated listens. 


#05  Free Energy | Stuck on Nothing
 
Infectious, cocksure, irony free, derivative, enthusiastic, lighthearted, corny, 70's style, charming, commonplace, fun,fun,fun, stadium rock. Nuff said. As an aside, I can't think of a record cover that stays truer to the music.
 
 
#04  Robert Pollard | We All Got Out of The Army
 
My love for the avuncular one from Dayton, OH, continues with this glam-pop, not too-rough around the edges, record. This was one of four released by Bob in 2010, and by far his most consistent. There is a part of me, actually a big part that wishes he would parse down all his releases to perhaps one or two a year. I guess part of the fun is weeding through all the muck to hit that Pollard sweet spot. Silk Rotor/I Can See = the best one/two punch to launch a record in Twentyten.
 

#03  Mike Stinson | The Jukebox of My Heart
 
Hands down, country rock, whatever you want to call it, record of the year.


#02  Spoon | Transference
 
I simply don't understand the hate levied against this record. The melodies are challenging, but rewarding. The instrumentation still shows off a sparse, strong versatility. While their experimental side is practically a no-show, the band regulates its rock vs rock-lite side with songs such as Got Nuffin and Goodnight Laura.  You might as well go ahead and add The Mystery Zone & Written in Reverse to those future best of Spoon Mixes, cos they're as good as anything they've ever done. Spoon continues their upward trajectory as a colossal band with considerable talent.


#01  The Silver Seas | Chateau Revenge
 
Harmony, Melody and great songs lead the way with this lavish, power pop, country rock, soft r&b (gulp) recording. Each track gives you something a little different held together by the musings of the most underrated songwriter on the planet, Daniel Tashian. Thinking it must be a fluke, I picked up 2007's High Society only to find, yep, no fluke. After an email exchange, I learned keyboardist/producer Jason Lehning is a major factor in the group, arranging most of the material. An indispensable record.
 
 
Close But No Cigar Subsidiary
 
junip | fields
outrageous cherry | seemingly solid reality
fistful of mercy | as i call you down
tobin sprout | the bluebird of happiness

damien jurado | saint bartlett

the men | four good men and true
tame impala  |  innerspeaker
the fresh & onlys  | play it strange
tallest man on earth  | the wild hunt
drive by truckers | the big to-do

Reissues
 
the blue shadows  | on the floor of heaven 
john cunningham | 1998-2002
 

Always interested in your takes, mcap. Some stuff to check out. I like that Stinson record, but I failed to hear the rock - it's a country record, a damn good one at that. I guess it's in the definition, but I consider Dwight Yoakam country, and this has more in common with D-Wight than it does with says early Wilco or what have you.

I've never heard of 1,5, 7, 9, 10 or 11. I totally forgot about Spoon (which in itself is kind weird) reeked, and I just don't hear whatever everyone else does with Free Energy.

Bring on Radcliffe's list and let's piss on 2010s grave.

Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of overlap with my list (Spoon, Silver Seas, Elvyn, Title Tracks, Sunrise Highway). I'm just gonna ignore Bob Pollard and all the cumtree stuff.

I guess I should give Marah another chance.

Nice list.

I love that Silver Seas record too. Like you, I backtracked to their previous albums and found them to be just as good.

To check out: Silver Seas

And I've never been as high on Marah as Mcap, Rads and Bloor. It has all the ingredients, but I just don't like their particular cumtini.

Agreed on Spoon. I had Transference at #3. Their best album since the early 00's.

As previously discussed, obviously agreed on the Sadies album. It's great from start to finish. Speaking of Clarence White, I need to go find a dnld of Nashville West and give it more spins (it was lost in my HD meltdown). How is Gene Clark with The Gosdin Bros that he played on?

Glad to see Silver Seas getting respect here. They're truly a local Nashville band made up of great session players and talented songwriters that will probably continue to fly under the radar making tuneful records.

Agreed. It's certainly more country than rock. Either way, good record. It's too bad there always has to be a genre or style affixed to recorded music. There is no bad music, just bad songs.

I expect no less.


Yep. You won't be sorry.

High Society might even be better than Chat Revenge.

Ahhh subjectivity. I listened to that Silver Seas record again this weekend after seeing it as your #1 to see if I missed something. It's a pleasant record but I just can't get past the Josh Rouse comparisons. It's all I hear when I listen to it. I feel like records like that are all about timing with the listener and what you're into at the time. I remember when Rouse put out "Nashville" I didn't just like it, I lurved it. I think I even had it as my #1 that year. This is probably just as good as that but for whatever reason, I'm just not feeling it this time around.


Still, always look forward to you list and will be delving into several of these. Thanks for posting them.

Oh and I'm in your camp on LP3 and Free Energy. Anyone who doesn't find "Bang Pop" a big fun poppy single isn't hearing the same band I am.

I really like it (made my list), but it is also VERY Rousesque. Songs like "Jane" are damn near a carbon copy.

Yeah.

Maybe I need to hear the Len Price 3. On paper it doesn't look like something I'd be into, but that's also true of Free Energy, Twin Shadow, and several other things I ended up liking from last year.

I downloaded Sunrise Highway over the weekend and enjoyed it quite a bit the first time through.

Truer words have never been spoken Derris.

Both you and Bob mention Josh Rouse and I can see how they use the same musical template, but I'm not hearing the same thing. Ironically I have 3-4 Rouse records as well. I could be wrong cos I don't have the discs in front of me, but I wonder if producer Brad Wood is the connection between the two?

It's funny how far wimpy AM radio "material" has come.

Stu - not sure if it's still working


I always thought most of it was played by Glen Campbell. I could be wrong though

I will definitely checking out a few of these so I can post in that Albums You Heard in 2010 thread.

How'd you hear about Elvyn, mcap? Just curious.

Not a ton of overlap in our lists this year. I haven't been feeling the pop/powerpop (which your list is pretty heavy on) nearly as much as in the past. Didn't care much for that Silver Seas based on my limited listens. I guess I should check out that Elvyn though and maybe give the Pernice Brothers a few more listens.

Radcliffe

PB was a grower, so give it a chance.
I should probably thank you for the Mary Gauthier. It would have placed higher with more listens, although I have played it a good 10 times already.

I always love Marc's year enders. Good love for the Sadies record..that was a great one.

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this album, start to finish. I'll be picking up a hard copy asap. Thank you sir.

Y'all got a link layin' around for this one?

I enjoyed this, to, me myself also, as well. Glad it popped up high enough on someone's list to make me take the time to listen.