Tagged with Best 2010 …

Feb 03 2011
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Music We High Five

Best Albums 2010: #1 Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More

Mumford and Sons debut is more than extraordinary, it’s legendary. They have thought-provoking lyrics, excellent musicianship, and genius composition work. They do all of this and sound so very original at the same time. It’s not popular to construct songs that have smart lyrics and play in a hymn-like structure. But, Mumford and Sons do it. And they do it so well.

There are so many reasons why Mumford and Sons just stands out from the crowd. You could talk about the fact that they use a double bass as opposed to a regular electric bass. Or you could talk about the extremely complex strumming rhythms that Mumford plays and the fact that he is able to sing excellently over it. Or you could talk about the profoundly deep, poetic, visually-striking lyrics they have:

For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt
And my head told my heart let love grow
But my heart told my head, this time no
This time no
- Winter Winds

Look over your head and be still
The sky above shoots to kill
Rain down, rain dow
On me.

I will hold on.
I will hold on.
I will hold on hold.
-Thistle & Weeds

You can also told about the wonderfully constructed builds that they employ in songs like “Thistle & Weeds”, “Little Lion Man”, “Dust Bowl Man”. The list goes on and on.

The point is that this is not just an album that tops my list in 2010, but also breaks into my list of top ten albums of all time. It is so very refreshing to hear an album that doesn’t treat you mindlessly with music, but challenges you and pushes you to think. To think about the lyrics they sing, to think about musically why they construct and progress the way they do, and to just quite-frankly enjoy the songs on so many levels.

I forsee this album to be on repeat for quite some time.

Favorite songs from the album
All of them, but will put some embedded links later.

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Feb 02 2011
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Best Albums 2010: #2 Freelance Whales – Weathervanes

What can I really say about this album? I’ve had it for over 6 months and to this moment I still listen to tracks from the album. I was instantly in love with this band the moment I first heard them. They were the postal service meets folk album I’ve always been waiting for. Unlike many of the artists on this list, I have actually seen them perform live as well. I can tell you that they have a great live presence and are on their way to doing bigger things in their music career. You can tell that they love the music they play and they switch instruments every song like it was no big deal.

By far, maybe even more so that my top album pick of 2010, this is probably the most catchy album I’ve heard in 2010. I want to sing along to every track I hear in the album, even though I may not keep up with the speedy singing in “Hannah”. I’m excited to what new material Freelance Whales will bring to us in 2011.

Favorite songs from the album
Freelance Whales – Generator First Floor by al_debaran

Freelance Whales – The Great Estates by comfortadpole1

Freelance Whales – Hannah by Ragged Words

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Dec 22 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #3 Jónsi – Go

When I heard front-man Jónsi was going to release an album apart from Sigur Rós I was excited. I wondered what kind of sounds he would create. I remember first listening to the album in my car and not skipping a single track. I listened to the album straight through, which is not a typical thing for me to do. I like to identify the good songs on the album and then come back and listen to everything. Quite simply, all the songs are good on the album “Go”.

I remember being absolutely blown away by the opening track Go Do. It contains everything I like in music. Build-ups, big atmospheric sounds, acoustic instruments mixed with electric eclectic sounds. It’s not for everyone, but Jónsi’s falsetto-esque voice is something that suits his sound and music so well. He can also do more than just big crazy fun tracks; he shows us in songs like “Tornado” and “Kolniður” that he can do emotionally-driven ballad-type songs. What truely sets Jónsi apart is his use of instrumentation and lots of it. It’s like an orchestra is playing behind him at all times.

I was lucky to see him live this past November and I can say that he sounds just as good live as he does on recording. An amazing artist all-around.

Favorites songs from the album
Go Do by Jónsi

Tornado by Jónsi

Around Us by Jónsi

Boy Lilikoi’- Jónsi*** by Jackalexander

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Dec 21 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #4 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Here is an album that will grace the very top of many top 10 lists all over the web. With an 86% metacritic.com score and 3 grammy nominations for Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album, and Best Rock Performance, it’s easy to see why.

This album is unlike the bands past two albums. It has a feel of maturity to it and there is a stronger sound to it. The album flows naturally from one song to the next. According to the band, this album includes songs influenced from the suburbs of Chicago. Win, the lead singer from the band, says the album “is neither a love letter to, nor an indictment of the suburbs.” From the opening track, “The Suburbs” you are hit with a great piece of alternative rock music, which has a tad touch of classic rock to it. It feels old, yet it feels new at the same time. In fact, that’s how the whole album feels. It is bringing that classic rock sound up to the modern times, it immerses you in a feeling that you really are in the suburbs in the 80′s again. (Not that I really grew up in the burbs anyways).

The most enjoyable part of the album is how it flows so nicely from one song to the next. The song selection for this album is perfect. Even the fast and gritty “Month of May” doesn’t feel out of place at all. And the reprise of “The Suburbs” is an excellent closer to the album.

Favorite songs from the album
01 The Suburbs by Irene Rx

10 Month Of May by Irene Rx

13 We Used to Wait by Irene Rx

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Dec 20 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #6 Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

Sometimes I can have a song in my head for days. It can be a frustrating thing, say if you have the song “Teenage Dream” in your head. Completely annoying, but so catchy you can’t get it out. Two Door Cinema Club does that too you, except it’s enjoyable. I don’t mind having the Northern Ireland band’s catchy riffs pulsating through my head. I might even start bopping my head despite no one else hearing the music. You can make a bet that if I heard any Two Door Cimena Club song it will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

Tourist History is 10 tracks jam-packed with dancing drum beats, catchy melodic guitar riffs, and sing-a-long chorus’. It may not be the most ground-breaking music. It doesn’t even have the most thoughtful lyrics in some songs. But geez this album is so catchy, so happy, so much goodness in one package I couldn’t leave this off my top 10. If I need some happiness packaged in song-form, I just have to listen to some Two Door Cimena Club.

Favorite songs from the album
Two Door Cinema Club – Undercover Martyn by senorapf

Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know by Kreecher

Two Door Cinema Club – Kids by Ernestime

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Dec 16 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #7 Ólafur Arnalds – …And They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness

Ólafur Arnalds’ album “…and they escaped the weight of darkness.” is not an album you will find on many top 10 lists in the blog-o-sphere. His name isn’t quite as large yet (at least in Europe and America), but it may be more different in his home country Iceland. Additionally his music is not that of pop. It is far from it. But the music he makes is beautiful and it is pushing the boundaries of classical music.

Ólafur’s music is what I like to call neo-classical. It is modernizing the classical genre by injecting mild influences of electronica and rock. Regardless the emphasis is the classical portion. He is a skilled pianist and an intricate composer of quartet pieces. Ólafur even had a chance in 2010 to command a full orchestra with some of his excellent work in his album. The reason I like Ólafur’s music is because he is different and he is a breath of fresh air. When listening to music I feel like I can close my eyes and dream without a care in the world. He has lush piano lines, mellow electronic guitar riffs, and atmospheric violins that fill and flow intricately though-out each of his pieces. I’ve been a fan of his music for 2 years now and my goal is to see him live. My goal may come to realization as he is coming to San Francisco early 2011.

Favorites from the album
Ólafur Arnalds – Hægt, kemur ljósið by erasedtapes

Ólafur Arnalds – “Tunglið” by kaykanat

Olafur Arnalds – Þú ert sólin by nettwerksync

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Dec 15 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #8 Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

Local Natives is probably one of my most exciting new band discoveries in the year 2010. The band consists of high school friends Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, Ryan Hahn, Andy Hamm, and Matt Frazier. A couple things set Local Natives as a band apart from the rest of the bands out of there. First, the band composes and executes great harmonies in all of their tracks. Most of the time the harmonies are in three parts and it results in such an interesting sound. Second, the band’s drummer Matt Frazier is spaztastic to say the least. He has wild drum parts where it is least expected. The drum beats are complex and interesting — he provides way more tone to the drum than the usual band too. The drums almost sound like a choppy electronic experiment sometimes, but the drums are all real and live (at least thats what I think). Lastly, Local Natives has a great blend of genre/musical influences. Some tracks sound like a smooth, downbeat soul song with the rock/alternative touch. Others are an odd mix of Folk and Alternative. Whatever the case, it grabs my attention and I always enjoy the unexpected genre benders. Gorilla Manor is an amazing accomplishment of a debut album, and judging by critical reception, this band can expect big things.

Favorite songs from the album
World News by Local Natives

Who Knows Who Cares by Local Natives

Cards And Quarters by Local Natives

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Dec 14 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #9 Florence and The Machine – Lungs

Technically this album was not released in 2010. It was actually first released in the summer of last year in the UK. But I first discovered this amazing british singer and band in 2010 and it seems the year 2010 has been a significant one for Florence Welch (I mean, they did get covered by the Glee Cast. That’s like the 2010 standard of stardom.)

Anyways, this is a great album because it is like a collision of rock, pop, and soul. The rhythms and melodies are driving and Florence’s voice is simply divine — just listen to the opening track to the album “Dog Days Are Over”. Florence isn’t shy with her lyrics either.

broke your jaw once before spilt your blood upon the floor
you broke my leg in return
sit back and watch the bed burn
well love sticks sweat drips
break the lock if it don’t fit
a kick in the teeth is good for some
a kiss with a fist is better than none
a-woah a kiss woth a fist is better than none

-From “Kiss With a Fist”

She even turns that grittiness into describing the push and pull of relationships.

A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it’s left me blind

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat
I tried to find the sound
But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness,
So darkness I became

There isn’t a dull moment on Florence + The Machine’s album Lungs. It is highly deserving to be on this list even if it may not be released in 2010.

Favorites From The Album
Florence And The Machine – Cosmic Love by Ferzha

Drumming Song – Florence & The Machine by samuelcurtisward

Florence and the machine – Dog days are over by skatefun2

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Dec 13 2010
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Best Albums 2010: #10 – Hoodie Allen – Pep Rally

If you were to rewind to the beginning of 2010, I would have told you without a doubt in my mind that a hip hop album would probably not break into my top 10 list. It’s just my own personal bias to the genre. The mainstream portion of hip hop sounds uninspired and generic. And the lyrical content sounds so repeated and the same across the board.

Fast forward to this summer, I came across a track titled “You Are Not A Robot” by Hoodie Allen. I was hooked to the production quality of the track. It isn’t groundbreaking stuff, but he was sampling an interesting artist, Marina and The Diamonds. It was a fun track to listen to with lyrics just as fun also. I love the analogies and similes that Hoodie drops in his raps. But was this a one-hit wonder?

A month or so later, Hoodie drops another track called “Words of Wisdom”. It samples none other than Two Door Cinema Club. He had me at the heart strings once he sampled this band (by far one of my favorite new bands in 2010), but Hoodie pulls me in further with his lyrics with lines like:

I had a vision of us winning, now its gone again.
Got the world on my legs – Landon Donovan

Someone turn up the AC Slater, if not

I be peeping levels ahead, like a cheat code

A one-hit wonder? Not so much. A two-hit wonder? Nope. Soon after Hoodie drops a whole mixtape called “Pep Rally”. It is some of the best sampling in rap I’ve heard in a while. RJF digs deep into the indie sphere, sampling artists like Beach House, Death Cab For Cutie, Florence and The Machine, and even The Black Keys. His samplings are hugely refreshing in contrast to what you typically hear on the local hip hop radio station. Add Hoodies clever rhymes on top and you have the best pop rap album of 2010 – at least, in my opinion. The best thing about this album was that it was absolutely free for all fans to listen to.

Hello world, I am Corey Matthews

And when I go from deep I be like Stephan Curry.

I’m looking intently to what Hoodie has in store next.

Listen to the whole album free on soundcloud!

The Pep Rally Mixtape by HoodieAllen

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Dec 09 2010
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Best Albums 2010: Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks

Rewind three weeks ago – I’m at a Freelance Whales concert and two bands are opening: Pepper Rabbit and Miniature Tigers. My friend turns to me and asks why they all use animals in their names. Yes, it seems indie bands with animal names are all the rage right now. Or, at least that night it was. But this post isn’t about the bands I saw that night, but a band I discovered just a week ago – Frightened Rabbit. Had I discovered them earlier than that, they would have had a potential to break into the top 10.

Their album “The Winter of Mixed Drink” is happiness in my ears. The songs are fun, full, and loud. Hearing the opening track “Things”, which sounds like 4:26 long build-up to heightened musical bliss, you get a clue as to where Frightened Rabbit is going to take you on this album. They deliver. Their music is an interesting cross of Coldplay, Jonsi, and U2. Loud, Big sounds, with lots of Reverb. But somehow it still maintains that indie feel – it may be the lead singer, Selkik and the fact that he has a Scottish accent.

But it’s not all musicality with Frightened Rabbit, lyrics also matter too. The themes of each of their songs aren’t boring; It’s not your run-of-the-mill pop lyrics. Just hear the song “Living in Colour”. On first listen it’s just a catchy anthemic rock song – but really it’s an interesting imagery of having somebody fill your life full of color. Great song all around.

I forsee Frightened Rabbit making future lists on Collab High Five.

Favorite tracks off the album

Living In Colour by Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit – Things by Paper Trail

05-frightened rabbit-skip the youth by nofilla

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