Top 15 Albums of 2010

So here it is. Starting where it makes sense, with my favorite 15 of 2010. Five at a time, anyway. 

#15 The Morning Benders- Big Echo

A decade later, the importance of The Soft Bulletin cannot be overstated. Along with Radiohead, The Flaming Lips 1999 left-field (even for them) opus has changed the way a lot of young band think about music, and that includes The Morning Benders. The band’s first album, Talking Through Tin Cans was more of an acoustic indie-pop endeavor, but Big Echo pulls out all the stops.

 For Fans of: Flaming Lips, Shins

Listen to "Promises"

#14 Small Black- New Chain

The overlooked group in the chillwave onslaught, is maybe also the best, as this album attests. It has all the associations “required” of the (non)genre, tape loops, corroded shoegaze vocals and a sense that it was recorded in 1986 and unearthed in 2010. Unlike Neon Indian and Memory Tapes, though, Small Black seems to come from more of an indie rock perspective, often putting the guitars to the front of the mix.

 For Fans of: Broadcast’s Tender Buttons, Classic lineup GbV, Washed Out

Listen to "Photojournalist"

#13 Dom- Sun Bronzed Greek Gods

I think the band would admit they just released their demo as an EP, but that’s completely fine, in this case. All the garbage about the band’s “mysterious” background (lead man Dom has declined to give his full name because he claims he has people looking for him) aside, what’s going on here is not particularly complicated. Dom uses fuzzed out guitar hooks and sparkling keys to along with some of the most intentionally dumb lyrics to create a hazy, beachy, atmosphere that’s at least as reminiscent of Van Halen’s more pop-oriented songs as it is of Best Coast.

For Fans of: I Was a King, Def Leppard

Listen to "I Wonder"

#12 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti- Before Today

While AP’s previous work was, in a lot of respects, classic bedroom pop and scuzz, Before Today cleans up the sound (just enough) to glam things up and develop a vibe that makes it obvious he was born 30 years too late, as he would have been completely at home in front of the same fans as The Spiders from Mars and T. Rex. Before today is Ariel Pink getting on his David jones.

For Fans of: Bowie, Mott the Hoople

Listen to "Butthouse Blondies"

#11 Tokyo Police Club- Champ

  

Now four years removed from blog buzz ascendency, TPC continue to grind out some of the best indie rock around. 2008’s Elephant Shell was politely applauded by the blogs, but the feeling was that their time had already come and gone. TPC are one of the bands that is not making end of the year lists and that’s a shame. With luck, the band will continue to carry the flag for a long time.

For Fans of: Death Cab, The Horror The Horror, Pomegranates

Listen to "Favourite Food"