50.Big Boi feat. Cutty –- Shutterbug
OUTKAST'S Big Boi produced one of 2010’s finest hip-hop albums in Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and
Shutterbug was arguably the highlight. Thick with an erogenous bass line,
Shutterbug is punchy, intelligent hip-hop that reverberates through the senses long after each listen.
Listen:
Big Boi feat Cutty -- Shutterbug
49. Daft Punk -- Derezzed
HOW long did we wait for new Daft Punk material? Five years or something? I was a shame it came in the form of their stench-ridden soundtrack to uber-flop Tron: Legacy but at least
Derezzed was a beacon of excitement, reminding us of just what we’ve been missing from the techno pioneers.
Listen:
Daft Punk -- Derezzed
48. Best Coast - Crazy For You
THIS time last year, Best Coast’s Beth Cosentino was a little known entity. Fast forward 12 months and she’s a pin-up for oestrogen-driven indie pop.
Crazy For You exhibits the songstress at full pining mode, yearning for her beau (I can’t do anything without you, I can’t do anything with you) over a scorching, summery backing track.
Listen:
Best Coast -- Crazy For You
47. Vampire Weekend -- Giving Up The Gun
As Luminous Plectrum reported in March,
Giving Up the Gun is Contra’s golden boy. It’s a supersonic beauty that mixes space age effects with a pummelling bass line. It showed Vampire Weekend are willing to dabble in varying soundscapes; eager to move forward and progress with every release.
Listen:
Vampire Weekend -- Giving Up The Gun
46. Les Savy Fav -- Dirty Knails
A TYPICALLY raucous track from the well-travelled behemoths complete with complimentary ace guitar riffage and gargantuan vocals from frontman Tim Harrington.
Listen: Les Savy Fav -- Dirty Knails
45. Foals -- Miami
FOALS followed up 2008’s dire Antidotes with this year’s surprise package Total Life Forever. The album’s first single
Miami is a stripped-cum-funk-filled effort that’s as hot as the beach-kissed city itself.
Listen:
Foals -- Miami
44. Cee-Lo Green -- Fuck You
OK, Cee-Lo released one of this year’s stand-out tracks – before it was cruelly over-played by all mainstream outlets from every angle. In fact, the ‘Forget You’ version is so overplayed it’s difficult to remember the original edit was an expletive-ridden joy. It’s hard not to hate it.
Listen:
Cee-Lo Green -- Fuck You
43. Phantogram -- When I'm Small
THE dark and brooding When I'm Small is definitely a favourite track from Phantogram’s acclaimed album Eyelid. You can immediately draw comparisons to Dangermouse's stripped down style (think the production on Beck's Modern Guilt) but it's Sarah Barthel's chilling vocals that propels it into something heartfelt.
Listen:
Phantogram -- When I'm Small
42. Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith -- I'm Not In Love
THE scorching remake of
I’m Not in Love, featuring the iconic vocals of Robert Smith, was thrust upon us towards the end of the year and rejuvenates the original. It’s a cataclysm of sounds created in Crystal Castle’s cathartic style.
Listen:
Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith -- I'm Not In Love
41. Diamond Rings -- Something Else
LUMINOUS Plectrum's song of 2009 was Diamond Rings’
All Yr Songs, so it’s understandable John O’Regan could feel aggrieved at finding his work placed at 41st this year (yeah, like he’d ever read this). But it’s been a solid year for the former D’Ubervilles front man with the release of his debut album Special Affections.
Something Else is a brooding, confident number backed by a basic drum machine beat, rising synths and palatable guitar riffs. O’Regan is one of the most interesting solo acts around at the moment.
Listen:
Diamond Rings -- Something Else
40. Doctor P -- Sweet Shop
DUBSTEP has transformed itself into radio-friendly material in 2010 and Doctor P’s
Sweet Shop musters together all the original ingredients of the genre.
Sweet Shop brings mid-90s house back to the fold thanks to its looped-piano riff and sickly vocals of "take me higher" before the doc submerges it in muddy bass and gritty beats.
Listen:
Doctor P -- Sweet Shop
39. Crocodiles -- Sleep Forever
SLEEP Forever is a grandiose shout out to British post-punk, blending together Jesus and the Mary Chain with a smattering of Stone Roses, sprinkled with Inspiral Carpets. Huge.
Listen:
Crocodiles -- Sleep Forever
38. Jokers of the Scene -- Revolting Joks
WITH a bass line so thick it’s like chocolate Frijj, Revolting Joks is a frantic underground club anthem that should blow dance mainstream players David Guetta and Tiesto away. It doesn’t but based on the strength of this track, Jokers of the Scene should be the dance act to watch in 2011.
Listen:
Jokers of the Scene -- Revolting Joks
37. The Walkmen -- Angela Surf City
HARD-WORKING Yanks The Walkmen remain as invigorating and engaging as they did when unleashing breakout single The Rat, but have matured into an malleable outfit capable of producing varied new material. Angela Surf City is a liquor-fuelled party with your closest friends; loud, proud and wild.
Listen:
The Walkmen -- Angela Surf City
36. MGMT -- I Found a Whistle
I FOUND a Whistle is, without a doubt, the band at its most emotional ebb. It’s a glorious heartbreaking, stomach churning epic that’s destined for the ending credits for the next chick-flick staring Robert Pattinson.
The duo sing: “I’ve got a pistol that’s aimed at your heart/and on dark nights when the moon is right/I could show you the head attached with a scarf/aerophane sorceress, at home obeying the fates/when it's gone, has it gone all the way?” – lyrics that manage to mix such bittersweet melancholy with surreality that only they could get away with.
Listen:
MGMT -- I Found a Whistle
35. No Age -- Depletion
DUO No Age wowed with their gritty sophomore release Everything in Between this year and Depletion is the pinnacle of their backs-to-the-wall punk ethics. Guitars and drums complement each other perfectly to conjure raw emotion that’ many have failed to capture this year. A dizzying effort.
Listen:
No Age -- Depletion
34. Janelle Monae -- Cold War
JANELLE Monae has had a stand-out year as she continues her ascent to mega stardom. Cold War is an energised and emotive delight that exhibits her every talent.
Listen:
Janelle Monae -- Cold War
33. Flying Lotus -- ...And The World Laughs With You
FEATURING the instantly recognisable vocals of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, …And the World Laughs With You is a psychotic mind-fuck, forcing the listener to duck and dive through a warzone of spaced-out effects and liberating bass.
Listen:
Flying Lotus -– And The World Laughs With You
32. Arcade Fire -- We Used to Wait
THE piano stabs introducing We Used to Wait were heard around the world earlier this year. Arcade Fire smothered this track all over its marketing campaign for The Suburbs, from the mouth-watering teasers to the quite wonderful video. We Used to Wait is The Suburbs’ crowning moment and did more than enough to whet the appetite with its massive bass drums and spine-tingling rising strings.
Listen:
Arcade Fire –- We Used to Wait
31. !!! -- Jamie, My Intentions Are
JAMIE, My Intentions Are Bass does exactly what it says on the tin, combining slick bass work with 70s liquid guitar strums.
Listen:
!!! – Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass
30. Interpol -- Barricade
INTERPOL have been critically panned this year but tension-filled Barricade is one of the best songs they’ve produced since Antics. Yeah, we originally slated it when first leaked but it soon grew on our souls like a wart. A wart in black shades.
Listen:
Interpol –- Barricade
29. Porcelain Raft -- Tip of Your Tongue
TIP of Your Tongue by Porcelain Raft, aka Mauro Remiddi, is a hazy, sun-drenched pop track spliced with soft, heart-felt vocals. Glorious.
Listen:
Porcelain Raft –- Tip of Your Tongue
28. Deerhunter -- Desire Lines
IT may start off a bit Arcade Fire-esque, but Deerhunter’s stomping Desire Lines touches on festival-closing status. Bradford Cox’s Deerhunter produced one of 2010’s melodic and sumptuous efforts; richly layered and emphatically blissful.
Listen:
Deerhunter -- Desire Lines
27. White Rose Movement -- Helsinki
THIS London post-punk collective have produced an electro banger with Helsinki. It's huge and is so close to a floor-filler remix. Forget about the Big Pink with all their haircuts and jeans, it's this sort of music that deserves success. They've been around a while and maybe it's Helsinki that can finally unleash them to the masses.
Listen:
White Rose Movement –- Helsinki
26. Matthew Dear -- Monkey
CLAUSTROPHOBIC electro from Matthew Dear, Monkey is rife with thick bass and Dear’s distorted vocals. Fab stuff.
Listen:
Matthew Dear -- Monkey
25. Dreamend -- Where You Belong
DREAMEND'S concept album So I Ate Myself Bite by Bite is a strange, but alluring, concept album that throws the listener into the mind of a warped murderer. Where You Belong is, oddly, a refreshing and upbeat tune that could easily find itself on the soundtrack of a film like 50 Days of Summer, or something like that. With fast paced acoustic guitar strums and a warm organ line, Where You Belong grows into a pulsating sing-a-long.
Listen:
Dreamend – Where You Belong
24. Japandroids -- Younger Us
2010 was the year Japandroids rubber-stamped their maturity as artists. Last year’s Post-Nothing album was an all-out, energetic punk fest from start to finish. No gimmicks, just pure musicianship. Younger Us is a triumphant return from the Vancouver two-piece and thrusts humungous drums and energetic and exciting guitar work from their live performances onto one uplifting record.
Listen:
Japandroids -- Younger Us
23. DJ Fresh -- Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion remix)
THE best remix Luminous Plectrum has heard all year.
A word of warning: please wear a fire proof mask before listening to this - the bass is face-meltingly off the scale!
Listen:
DJ Fresh -- Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion remix)
22. Villagers -- Becoming a Jackal
IT has been some year for Irishman Conor J O’Brien. Becoming a Jackal sold well and earned his band a slot on Jools Holland. Oh, and a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Becoming a Jackal, from their eponymous album, is a sumptuous shanty complete with O’Brien’s soft but enchanting vocals and whirring backing track. This kind of popular folk puts the horrid Mumford and Sons to shame.
Listen:
Villagers -- Becoming a Jackal
21. Male Bonding -- Year's Not Long
MALE Bonding sent our pulses racing with the release of Year’s Not Long in 2010. It’s a storming melange of barely audible vocals over a powerful punk and grunge melodies. What’s so great about Male Bonding is that they are British and not many acts from this fair isle have made it on to this list. Male Bonding capture their influences, early grunge and punk, to create a buzzing, heavily distorted, racket. And what a fucking beautiful racket it is.
Listen:
Male Bonding -– Year’s Not Long
20. Avey Tare -- Oliver Twist
ANIMAL Collective’s Avey Tare released one of the darkest albums of 2010 – a far cry from the work of his band mate Panda Bear. The breathtaking Oliver Twist bares the remarkably similar pristine production of Burial's genre-breaking Untrue, encapsulating a dusty, heart-racing dubstep drum beat and suffocating ambience to evoke a punishingly claustrophobic but superlative sound.
Listen:
Avey Tare -– Oliver Twist
19. Wavves -- Idiot
WAVVES doesn’t really care if you like him or not, but thank god LP loves him so. Idiot is a gargantuan work of buff surf rock pumped full of pig semen. In the ilk of tracks from Nirvana’s masterpiece In Utero, Idiot is a screaming success.
Listen:
Wavves -– Idiot
18. Cosmo Jarvis -- Gay Pirates
Check out my review of Cosmo Jarvis’ Gay Pirates here: http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/3058
Listen:
Cosmo Jarvis -- Gay Pirates
17. The National -- Anyone's Ghost
THE tunes were few and far between on The National’s surprisingly below-par High Violet but luckily the haunting Anyone’s Ghost manages to spew its genius ectoplasm. The dry, sombre vocals of Matt Berninger are a particular high-point, as ever, and the enchanting strings create the perfect soundtrack to a night in a spooky mansion.
Listen:
The National -– Anyone’s Ghost
16. The Drums –- It Will All End In Tears
IT Will All End In Tears exhibits the beauty of minimalist pop baring limitless potential. The Drums have had a huge year based on pop-tastic songs such as Let’s Go Surfing and Best Friend but it’s the 80s-tinged It Will All End in Tears that suggests the three-piece are anything but chart fodder. It won’t end in tears for Jonny Pierce and co. One of 2010’s best love songs.
Listen:
The Drums –- It Will All End In Tears
15. Yeasayer -- O.N.E
A MULTITUDE of instruments: check. Otherworldly sound effects: check. A bone-crunching bass line: check. Yeasayer’s O.N.E is what you’d expect a native tribe in the African outback to sound like if they were given instruments from another dimension.
Listen:
Yeasayer –- O.N.E
14. Keepaway –- Yellow Wings
ARE you Animal Collective in disguise? This Brooklyn three-piece would probably go pink in the face if they heard you say that but it’s no bad thing. Yellow Wings bares a resemblance to untouchable Feels-era AC but it’s a terrifically absorbing, bouncing orb that’s been crafted by switched-on minds.
Listen:
Keepaway -- Yellow Wings
13. Liars -- Scissor
LIARS have based their career on fucking with our heads. Listening to them is a bit like that black stuff Marmite. Some people love them, some people hate them. Admittedly, sometimes listening to Sisterworld can feel like doing a press up with a sumo wrestler on your back but with a little more persistence you'll reap the benefits (and a stronger backbone). Sisterworld is freaky, but that comes with the territory and Scissor is this year’s blockbuster thriller.
Listen:
Liars –- Scissor
12. Surfer Blood -- Swim
SWIM is a core piece of anthemic rock, doused in Californian sunshine. A perfect soundtrack to those adrenaline-fuelled stints trying to ride those huge crashing waves. Swim submerges you.
Listen:
Surfer Blood –- Swim
11. Sleigh Bells -- Infinity Guitars
SLEIGH Bells released their debut album called Treats this year – and what a fitting title that was. It was full of them and Infinity Guitars was the cherry on top of the cake. If Sleigh Bells, aka Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss, are the future of noise-pop, Infinity Guitars is their anthem – an ear-drum perforating anthem.
Listen:
Sleigh Bells –- Infinity Guitars
10. Rusko –- Hold On (Sub Focus remix)
SUB Focus’ head-thumping remix of 'Hold On' by Rusko is a dramatic, breathtaking scorcher with the fruitful tones of Amber Coffman. Dubstep at its finest.
Listen:
Rusko –- Hold On (Sub Focus remix)
9. Minks -- Funeal Song
RELEASED in June, Minks’ Funeral is a rustic, Cure-esque delight complete with dizzying synths and raw vocals. Yeah, it’s got a rather macabre title, but Funeral Song possess a buoyant summer sound that would brighten up any wake.
Listen:
Minks –- Funeral Song
8. Crystal Castles -- Baptism
THE cathartic Baptism portrays Crystal Castles at their anarchic best. Alice Glass inaudibly squeals “This is your baptism, and you can’t forgive them” over a Europop-esque melody that chops into abrasive distortion and reverb. This will change you.
Listen:
Crystal Castles –- Baptism
7. Spoon -- I Saw the Light
THE bluesy I Saw The Light kicks off with a laboured pace with Britt Daniel offering the devilish guitar-rifts before a huge key change midway through transforms it into a totally different track altogether. A forceful piano, Eno’s basic drum beat and a frantic guitar battle conclude one of Spoon’s most lavish efforts.
Listen:
Spoon -- I Saw the Light
6. Wolf Parade –- What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way)
WHY did it have to go this way? Last two weeks ago, one of the best acts of the 00s Wolf Parade placed themselves on permanent hiatus. Tears were shed but thanks for the memories. Wolf Parade’s apocalyptic What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way) is typically huge and enchanting. If they do decide to call it a day for good (which is likely), this is a fitting send off.
Chilling, huge, powerful guitars. Wide scale.
Listen:
Wolf Parade -- What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way)
5. CEO -- Come With Me
FORGET Robyn, this is Scandinavian pop perfection. Eric Berglund, one half of Swedish supremos The Tough Alliance, cast his spell on this abstract pop that dazzles the soul.
Listen:
CEO -- Come With Me
4. Restless People -- Don't Back Down
THIS is probably the most surprising entry of the entire list. The relatively unknown Restless People have treated us with this up-tempo melodic anthem, complete with “gaba gaba heys”. If there’s one song that is sure to stay with you long after this list, it’ll probably be this.
Listen:
Restless People –- Don’t Back Down
3. LCD Soundsystem -- All I Want
ALL I Want is This Is Happening’s piece du resistance, the song they’ve been threatening to make since the band’s inception.
It could be said that All I Want is another nod to David Bowie, this time paying tribute to his emotion-packed extravaganza Heroes.
It’s the addictive piano melody, which was evident in 2007’s classic All My Friends, and the guitar-bending riff that propels it a higher status.
Listen:
LCD Soundsystem –- All I Want
2. Kanye West -- Runaway
IT has been a tough year for our Kanye. From the Taylor Swift hijacking at the VMAs last year to the bizarre Twitter meltdown in the summer, it seemed as if the graduate was losing it. But he put that all behind him, treating us with the GOOD Friday releases in the weeks leading up to the release of this year’s, and possibly the entire decade’s, masterpiece – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Starting with a dead piano chime, Runaway evolves into a triumphant “middle-finger” to everyone whoever doubted him. Runaway is 9 minutes of sheer confidence; a track of unrivalled magnitude. He is 2010.
Listen:
Kanye West -– Runaway
1. Gauntlet Hair -- I Was Thinking
DESPITE gushing over Runaway, Kanye didn’t make it to the top spot. BBFs Gauntlet Hair, hailing from Colorado, have a huge future following the release of our song of 2010 – I Was Thinking. They unleashed this loud and jagged belter, full of distorted vocals and the tinniest of guitar melodies back in April. There may be only two of them but Gauntlet Hair manage to transform themselves into a tour-de-force of wonderful noise. This is a fantastically layered song that progresses into something huge.
Listen:
Gauntlet Hair -- I Was Thinking
50.Big Boi feat. Cutty –- Shutterbug
OUTKAST'S Big Boi produced one of 2010’s finest hip-hop albums in Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and Shutterbug was arguably the highlight. Thick with an erogenous bass line, Shutterbug is punchy, intelligent hip-hop that reverberates through the senses long after each listen.
Listen: Big Boi feat Cutty -- Shutterbug
49. Daft Punk -- Derezzed
HOW long did we wait for new Daft Punk material? Five years or something? I was a shame it came in the form of their stench-ridden soundtrack to uber-flop Tron: Legacy but at least Derezzed was a beacon of excitement, reminding us of just what we’ve been missing from the techno pioneers.
Listen: Daft Punk -- Derezzed
48. Best Coast - Crazy For You
THIS time last year, Best Coast’s Beth Cosentino was a little known entity. Fast forward 12 months and she’s a pin-up for oestrogen-driven indie pop. Crazy For You exhibits the songstress at full pining mode, yearning for her beau (I can’t do anything without you, I can’t do anything with you) over a scorching, summery backing track.
Listen: Best Coast -- Crazy For You
47. Vampire Weekend -- Giving Up The Gun
As Luminous Plectrum reported in March, Giving Up the Gun is Contra’s golden boy. It’s a supersonic beauty that mixes space age effects with a pummelling bass line. It showed Vampire Weekend are willing to dabble in varying soundscapes; eager to move forward and progress with every release.
Listen: Vampire Weekend -- Giving Up The Gun
46. Les Savy Fav -- Dirty Knails
A TYPICALLY raucous track from the well-travelled behemoths complete with complimentary ace guitar riffage and gargantuan vocals from frontman Tim Harrington.
Listen: Les Savy Fav -- Dirty Knails
45. Foals -- Miami
FOALS followed up 2008’s dire Antidotes with this year’s surprise package Total Life Forever. The album’s first single Miami is a stripped-cum-funk-filled effort that’s as hot as the beach-kissed city itself.
Listen: Foals -- Miami
44. Cee-Lo Green -- Fuck You
OK, Cee-Lo released one of this year’s stand-out tracks – before it was cruelly over-played by all mainstream outlets from every angle. In fact, the ‘Forget You’ version is so overplayed it’s difficult to remember the original edit was an expletive-ridden joy. It’s hard not to hate it.
Listen: Cee-Lo Green -- Fuck You
43. Phantogram -- When I'm Small
THE dark and brooding When I'm Small is definitely a favourite track from Phantogram’s acclaimed album Eyelid. You can immediately draw comparisons to Dangermouse's stripped down style (think the production on Beck's Modern Guilt) but it's Sarah Barthel's chilling vocals that propels it into something heartfelt.
Listen: Phantogram -- When I'm Small
42. Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith -- I'm Not In Love
THE scorching remake of I’m Not in Love, featuring the iconic vocals of Robert Smith, was thrust upon us towards the end of the year and rejuvenates the original. It’s a cataclysm of sounds created in Crystal Castle’s cathartic style.
Listen: Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith -- I'm Not In Love
41. Diamond Rings -- Something Else
LUMINOUS Plectrum's song of 2009 was Diamond Rings’ All Yr Songs, so it’s understandable John O’Regan could feel aggrieved at finding his work placed at 41st this year (yeah, like he’d ever read this). But it’s been a solid year for the former D’Ubervilles front man with the release of his debut album Special Affections. Something Else is a brooding, confident number backed by a basic drum machine beat, rising synths and palatable guitar riffs. O’Regan is one of the most interesting solo acts around at the moment.
Listen: Diamond Rings -- Something Else
40. Doctor P -- Sweet Shop
DUBSTEP has transformed itself into radio-friendly material in 2010 and Doctor P’s Sweet Shop musters together all the original ingredients of the genre. Sweet Shop brings mid-90s house back to the fold thanks to its looped-piano riff and sickly vocals of "take me higher" before the doc submerges it in muddy bass and gritty beats.
Listen: Doctor P -- Sweet Shop
39. Crocodiles -- Sleep Forever
SLEEP Forever is a grandiose shout out to British post-punk, blending together Jesus and the Mary Chain with a smattering of Stone Roses, sprinkled with Inspiral Carpets. Huge.
Listen: Crocodiles -- Sleep Forever
38. Jokers of the Scene -- Revolting Joks
WITH a bass line so thick it’s like chocolate Frijj, Revolting Joks is a frantic underground club anthem that should blow dance mainstream players David Guetta and Tiesto away. It doesn’t but based on the strength of this track, Jokers of the Scene should be the dance act to watch in 2011.
Listen: Jokers of the Scene -- Revolting Joks
37. The Walkmen -- Angela Surf City
HARD-WORKING Yanks The Walkmen remain as invigorating and engaging as they did when unleashing breakout single The Rat, but have matured into an malleable outfit capable of producing varied new material. Angela Surf City is a liquor-fuelled party with your closest friends; loud, proud and wild.
Listen: The Walkmen -- Angela Surf City
36. MGMT -- I Found a Whistle
I FOUND a Whistle is, without a doubt, the band at its most emotional ebb. It’s a glorious heartbreaking, stomach churning epic that’s destined for the ending credits for the next chick-flick staring Robert Pattinson.
The duo sing: “I’ve got a pistol that’s aimed at your heart/and on dark nights when the moon is right/I could show you the head attached with a scarf/aerophane sorceress, at home obeying the fates/when it's gone, has it gone all the way?” – lyrics that manage to mix such bittersweet melancholy with surreality that only they could get away with.
Listen: MGMT -- I Found a Whistle
35. No Age -- Depletion
DUO No Age wowed with their gritty sophomore release Everything in Between this year and Depletion is the pinnacle of their backs-to-the-wall punk ethics. Guitars and drums complement each other perfectly to conjure raw emotion that’ many have failed to capture this year. A dizzying effort.
Listen: No Age -- Depletion
34. Janelle Monae -- Cold War
JANELLE Monae has had a stand-out year as she continues her ascent to mega stardom. Cold War is an energised and emotive delight that exhibits her every talent.
Listen: Janelle Monae -- Cold War
33. Flying Lotus -- ...And The World Laughs With You
FEATURING the instantly recognisable vocals of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, …And the World Laughs With You is a psychotic mind-fuck, forcing the listener to duck and dive through a warzone of spaced-out effects and liberating bass.
Listen: Flying Lotus -– And The World Laughs With You
32. Arcade Fire -- We Used to Wait
THE piano stabs introducing We Used to Wait were heard around the world earlier this year. Arcade Fire smothered this track all over its marketing campaign for The Suburbs, from the mouth-watering teasers to the quite wonderful video. We Used to Wait is The Suburbs’ crowning moment and did more than enough to whet the appetite with its massive bass drums and spine-tingling rising strings.
Listen: Arcade Fire –- We Used to Wait
31. !!! -- Jamie, My Intentions Are
JAMIE, My Intentions Are Bass does exactly what it says on the tin, combining slick bass work with 70s liquid guitar strums.
Listen: !!! – Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass
30. Interpol -- Barricade
INTERPOL have been critically panned this year but tension-filled Barricade is one of the best songs they’ve produced since Antics. Yeah, we originally slated it when first leaked but it soon grew on our souls like a wart. A wart in black shades.
Listen: Interpol –- Barricade
29. Porcelain Raft -- Tip of Your Tongue
TIP of Your Tongue by Porcelain Raft, aka Mauro Remiddi, is a hazy, sun-drenched pop track spliced with soft, heart-felt vocals. Glorious.
Listen: Porcelain Raft –- Tip of Your Tongue
28. Deerhunter -- Desire Lines
IT may start off a bit Arcade Fire-esque, but Deerhunter’s stomping Desire Lines touches on festival-closing status. Bradford Cox’s Deerhunter produced one of 2010’s melodic and sumptuous efforts; richly layered and emphatically blissful.
Listen: Deerhunter -- Desire Lines
27. White Rose Movement -- Helsinki
THIS London post-punk collective have produced an electro banger with Helsinki. It's huge and is so close to a floor-filler remix. Forget about the Big Pink with all their haircuts and jeans, it's this sort of music that deserves success. They've been around a while and maybe it's Helsinki that can finally unleash them to the masses.
Listen: White Rose Movement –- Helsinki
26. Matthew Dear -- Monkey
CLAUSTROPHOBIC electro from Matthew Dear, Monkey is rife with thick bass and Dear’s distorted vocals. Fab stuff.
Listen: Matthew Dear -- Monkey
25. Dreamend -- Where You Belong
DREAMEND'S concept album So I Ate Myself Bite by Bite is a strange, but alluring, concept album that throws the listener into the mind of a warped murderer. Where You Belong is, oddly, a refreshing and upbeat tune that could easily find itself on the soundtrack of a film like 50 Days of Summer, or something like that. With fast paced acoustic guitar strums and a warm organ line, Where You Belong grows into a pulsating sing-a-long.
Listen: Dreamend – Where You Belong
24. Japandroids -- Younger Us
2010 was the year Japandroids rubber-stamped their maturity as artists. Last year’s Post-Nothing album was an all-out, energetic punk fest from start to finish. No gimmicks, just pure musicianship. Younger Us is a triumphant return from the Vancouver two-piece and thrusts humungous drums and energetic and exciting guitar work from their live performances onto one uplifting record.
Listen: Japandroids -- Younger Us
23. DJ Fresh -- Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion remix)
THE best remix Luminous Plectrum has heard all year.
A word of warning: please wear a fire proof mask before listening to this - the bass is face-meltingly off the scale!
Listen: DJ Fresh -- Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion remix)
22. Villagers -- Becoming a Jackal
IT has been some year for Irishman Conor J O’Brien. Becoming a Jackal sold well and earned his band a slot on Jools Holland. Oh, and a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Becoming a Jackal, from their eponymous album, is a sumptuous shanty complete with O’Brien’s soft but enchanting vocals and whirring backing track. This kind of popular folk puts the horrid Mumford and Sons to shame.
Listen: Villagers -- Becoming a Jackal
21. Male Bonding -- Year's Not Long
MALE Bonding sent our pulses racing with the release of Year’s Not Long in 2010. It’s a storming melange of barely audible vocals over a powerful punk and grunge melodies. What’s so great about Male Bonding is that they are British and not many acts from this fair isle have made it on to this list. Male Bonding capture their influences, early grunge and punk, to create a buzzing, heavily distorted, racket. And what a fucking beautiful racket it is.
Listen: Male Bonding -– Year’s Not Long
20. Avey Tare -- Oliver Twist
ANIMAL Collective’s Avey Tare released one of the darkest albums of 2010 – a far cry from the work of his band mate Panda Bear. The breathtaking Oliver Twist bares the remarkably similar pristine production of Burial's genre-breaking Untrue, encapsulating a dusty, heart-racing dubstep drum beat and suffocating ambience to evoke a punishingly claustrophobic but superlative sound.
Listen: Avey Tare -– Oliver Twist
19. Wavves -- Idiot
WAVVES doesn’t really care if you like him or not, but thank god LP loves him so. Idiot is a gargantuan work of buff surf rock pumped full of pig semen. In the ilk of tracks from Nirvana’s masterpiece In Utero, Idiot is a screaming success.
Listen: Wavves -– Idiot
18. Cosmo Jarvis -- Gay Pirates
Check out my review of Cosmo Jarvis’ Gay Pirates here: http://soundblab.com/content/content/view/id/3058
Listen: Cosmo Jarvis -- Gay Pirates
17. The National -- Anyone's Ghost
THE tunes were few and far between on The National’s surprisingly below-par High Violet but luckily the haunting Anyone’s Ghost manages to spew its genius ectoplasm. The dry, sombre vocals of Matt Berninger are a particular high-point, as ever, and the enchanting strings create the perfect soundtrack to a night in a spooky mansion.
Listen: The National -– Anyone’s Ghost
16. The Drums –- It Will All End In Tears
IT Will All End In Tears exhibits the beauty of minimalist pop baring limitless potential. The Drums have had a huge year based on pop-tastic songs such as Let’s Go Surfing and Best Friend but it’s the 80s-tinged It Will All End in Tears that suggests the three-piece are anything but chart fodder. It won’t end in tears for Jonny Pierce and co. One of 2010’s best love songs.
Listen: The Drums –- It Will All End In Tears
15. Yeasayer -- O.N.E
A MULTITUDE of instruments: check. Otherworldly sound effects: check. A bone-crunching bass line: check. Yeasayer’s O.N.E is what you’d expect a native tribe in the African outback to sound like if they were given instruments from another dimension.
Listen: Yeasayer –- O.N.E
14. Keepaway –- Yellow Wings
ARE you Animal Collective in disguise? This Brooklyn three-piece would probably go pink in the face if they heard you say that but it’s no bad thing. Yellow Wings bares a resemblance to untouchable Feels-era AC but it’s a terrifically absorbing, bouncing orb that’s been crafted by switched-on minds.
Listen: Keepaway -- Yellow Wings
13. Liars -- Scissor
LIARS have based their career on fucking with our heads. Listening to them is a bit like that black stuff Marmite. Some people love them, some people hate them. Admittedly, sometimes listening to Sisterworld can feel like doing a press up with a sumo wrestler on your back but with a little more persistence you'll reap the benefits (and a stronger backbone). Sisterworld is freaky, but that comes with the territory and Scissor is this year’s blockbuster thriller.
Listen: Liars –- Scissor
12. Surfer Blood -- Swim
SWIM is a core piece of anthemic rock, doused in Californian sunshine. A perfect soundtrack to those adrenaline-fuelled stints trying to ride those huge crashing waves. Swim submerges you.
Listen: Surfer Blood –- Swim
11. Sleigh Bells -- Infinity Guitars
SLEIGH Bells released their debut album called Treats this year – and what a fitting title that was. It was full of them and Infinity Guitars was the cherry on top of the cake. If Sleigh Bells, aka Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss, are the future of noise-pop, Infinity Guitars is their anthem – an ear-drum perforating anthem.
Listen: Sleigh Bells –- Infinity Guitars
10. Rusko –- Hold On (Sub Focus remix)
SUB Focus’ head-thumping remix of 'Hold On' by Rusko is a dramatic, breathtaking scorcher with the fruitful tones of Amber Coffman. Dubstep at its finest.
Listen: Rusko –- Hold On (Sub Focus remix)
9. Minks -- Funeal Song
RELEASED in June, Minks’ Funeral is a rustic, Cure-esque delight complete with dizzying synths and raw vocals. Yeah, it’s got a rather macabre title, but Funeral Song possess a buoyant summer sound that would brighten up any wake.
Listen: Minks –- Funeral Song
8. Crystal Castles -- Baptism
THE cathartic Baptism portrays Crystal Castles at their anarchic best. Alice Glass inaudibly squeals “This is your baptism, and you can’t forgive them” over a Europop-esque melody that chops into abrasive distortion and reverb. This will change you.
Listen: Crystal Castles –- Baptism
7. Spoon -- I Saw the Light
THE bluesy I Saw The Light kicks off with a laboured pace with Britt Daniel offering the devilish guitar-rifts before a huge key change midway through transforms it into a totally different track altogether. A forceful piano, Eno’s basic drum beat and a frantic guitar battle conclude one of Spoon’s most lavish efforts.
Listen: Spoon -- I Saw the Light
6. Wolf Parade –- What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way)
WHY did it have to go this way? Last two weeks ago, one of the best acts of the 00s Wolf Parade placed themselves on permanent hiatus. Tears were shed but thanks for the memories. Wolf Parade’s apocalyptic What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way) is typically huge and enchanting. If they do decide to call it a day for good (which is likely), this is a fitting send off.
Chilling, huge, powerful guitars. Wide scale.
Listen: Wolf Parade -- What Did My Lover Say? (Why Did It Have To Go This Way)
5. CEO -- Come With Me
FORGET Robyn, this is Scandinavian pop perfection. Eric Berglund, one half of Swedish supremos The Tough Alliance, cast his spell on this abstract pop that dazzles the soul.
Listen: CEO -- Come With Me
4. Restless People -- Don't Back Down
THIS is probably the most surprising entry of the entire list. The relatively unknown Restless People have treated us with this up-tempo melodic anthem, complete with “gaba gaba heys”. If there’s one song that is sure to stay with you long after this list, it’ll probably be this.
Listen: Restless People –- Don’t Back Down
3. LCD Soundsystem -- All I Want
ALL I Want is This Is Happening’s piece du resistance, the song they’ve been threatening to make since the band’s inception.
It could be said that All I Want is another nod to David Bowie, this time paying tribute to his emotion-packed extravaganza Heroes.
It’s the addictive piano melody, which was evident in 2007’s classic All My Friends, and the guitar-bending riff that propels it a higher status.
Listen: LCD Soundsystem –- All I Want
2. Kanye West -- Runaway
IT has been a tough year for our Kanye. From the Taylor Swift hijacking at the VMAs last year to the bizarre Twitter meltdown in the summer, it seemed as if the graduate was losing it. But he put that all behind him, treating us with the GOOD Friday releases in the weeks leading up to the release of this year’s, and possibly the entire decade’s, masterpiece – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Starting with a dead piano chime, Runaway evolves into a triumphant “middle-finger” to everyone whoever doubted him. Runaway is 9 minutes of sheer confidence; a track of unrivalled magnitude. He is 2010.
Listen: Kanye West -– Runaway
1. Gauntlet Hair -- I Was Thinking
DESPITE gushing over Runaway, Kanye didn’t make it to the top spot. BBFs Gauntlet Hair, hailing from Colorado, have a huge future following the release of our song of 2010 – I Was Thinking. They unleashed this loud and jagged belter, full of distorted vocals and the tinniest of guitar melodies back in April. There may be only two of them but Gauntlet Hair manage to transform themselves into a tour-de-force of wonderful noise. This is a fantastically layered song that progresses into something huge.
Listen: Gauntlet Hair -- I Was Thinking
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