Lou's Top 10 Releases of 2010
I started doing this as a member of the Tuesday Night Music Forum, and it just sort of stuck with me, so once again, here is my list of top releases of the year. Please note; I include EPs on my list, so they don't have to be full length albums. There's also tons of stuff I either haven't heard, or don't listen to; so my list may not have as much credibility as a music magazine might. Keep that in mind when reading!
Also, this list will be updated with myspace links or free downloads once I get a minute or two...
Honorable mentions: Lights - "Acoustic," As You Like Me - "Moving Forward," Arcade Fire - "the Suburbs," Wintersleep - "New Inheritors."
10) Lillix - Tigerlily
http://www.myspace.com/lillix
Norrowing this list down to 10 was hard, as there were a couple albums that I thought were Top-10 worthy, but ended up being cut. “Tigerlily” made the cut because it’s simply a great album to dance to (or in my case, “dance driving”). The lineup might be a bit depleted from what they had for their earlier albums, but the Evin sisters still know how to write a great tune.
9) Poema - Sing It Now
http://www.myspace.com/poemaofficial
Everyone has their guilty pleasures; songs or artists that kind of stick out in a collection. Poema may not be a guilty pleasure of mine, but they do stick out on this list because they’re essentially simple, straightforward very cute girl-pop. They’re songs about boys, first dates and sweaters. But it works. The innocence of the music is what makes it so charming; that coupled with the catchiness of the songs, and the fact that both the Puckett sisters have great singing voices.
8) Uplift - Making the Most
http://www.myspace.com/uplifttoronto
I always have one like this every year, where I almost don’t include a release it because it’s only a 3 or 4 song EP, so it’s really short. That being said, I felt the need to include Uplift’s “Making the Most” (and not only because most of the band are buddies of mine: P). But hardcore in general nowandays is incredibly generic, so it’s refreshing to hear a hardcore band do something different musically, and Uplift does that with the dueling vocals of James & Jordy. Furthermore, having real politically charged lyrics as a throwback to old 80s hardcore bands is absolutely stellar.
7) Coheed & Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
http://www.myspace.com/coheedandcambria
While C&C are one of the bands that rode the “emo” wave to popularity, they seem to have gone the same route that Brand New went, but coming out with simple straightforward alternative rock album, “Year of the Black Rainbow.” This album is incredibly progressive, with complex song structures and some great off-time rhythms, but kept a lot of the same vocal structures and harmonies. It really works.
6) Jimmy Eat World - Invented
http://www.myspace.com/jimmyeatworld
A lot of bands are held up to a standard of their “best” album, and every release they put out is compared to the album that made them successful (let’s refer to it henceforth as the “Pinkerton Syndrome”) following “Chase this Light,” Jimmy Eat World backtraced a tad with their newest endeavor, “Invented,” however, moreso towards their “Futures” album that has some great dynamics and some general heaviness, but not relinquishing the melodies and catchy riffs that made them popular in the first place. The standout on this one is definitely “Coffee and Cigarettes,” which as that cool dual-genered harmonies that JEW has done with Liz Phair in years past.
5) Late July - Side Swept
http://www.myspace.com/latejulymusic
An absolutely brilliant in what it accomplishes musically, “Side Swept” fuses a lot of different styles/song structures (from pop to waltz) with early-mid 90s indie rock reminicent of bands like Pavement, .that.dog. and Helium. Nicole Simone’s vocals have this very awesome feel where her voice is very musical and “pretty” sounding, but doesn’t show it off like some pop singers do; she makes the range and notation fit the emphasis of the song and it really works well. This is also a record where the production value is perfect for the music; it’s just grainy and dirty enough to give some rock undertone, but also clear and mixed very well so the pop-hooks and the general catchiness of it isn’t unnoticed.
4) Basia Bulat - A Heart of My Own
http://www.myspace.com/basiabulat
Basia has to be one of the best singer/songwriters in Canada right now, and her latest record, “A Heart of My Own,” reveals that. Her voice is distinct and incredibly soulful, and her take on melody is brilliant. The variety of instruments help build these very interesting progressions, however, the best song on the album is the almost cryptic “the Shore,” where it’s just one microphone, and Basia with her voice and a hammer dulcimer (a variation of an autoharp), where the song stands alone with very little post-production. On top of that, she says “heartstrings” in her song “Gold Rush.” That alone wins points!
3) You Call Yourselves Soldiers - Transparencies
FREE DOWNLOAD! - http://www.getsoldiers.bandcamp.com
I was so incredibly happy I could get this band to play my birthday party earlier this month, and the reason I wanted them was on the strength of their EP “Transparencies.” It’s a throwback to the post-punk/post-hardcore of the late 90s; maybe not as angsty or aggressive, but a hint of indie rock and pop-hooks that gives the music a bit more of a groove; something you want to move to. Terrific band, and I highly suggest you check out this record.
2) Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise
http://www.myspace.com/circasurvive
An excellent follow up to their last record, Circa Survive dishes out the familiar and reliable song structures in “Blue Sky Noise,” but with just enough changes to keep the material fresh. Anthony Green’s vocal delivery feels stronger than ever as he wails away over the music. His vocals, though strange, are very captivating. On top of everything else, this album is incredibly diverse, where the songs vary from each other dramatically in dynamics and feel.
1) The Album Leaf - A Chorus of Storytellers
http://www.myspace.com/thealbumleaf
Debatebly one of the best Album Leaf records to date, “A Chorus of Storytellers” wins easily as album of the year. It’s an amazing blend of musical soundscapes; a perflect blend of electronic and melodic. It’s also very cryptic and even downright haunting at some points, but that’s the emotion desired by Jimmy Lavalle & crew. His droning vocals are perfect for the ambient nature of the tunes that they mesh so well with the instruments being played. A 5 star record no doubt.
Also, this list will be updated with myspace links or free downloads once I get a minute or two...
Honorable mentions: Lights - "Acoustic," As You Like Me - "Moving Forward," Arcade Fire - "the Suburbs," Wintersleep - "New Inheritors."
10) Lillix - Tigerlily
http://www.myspace.com/lillix
Norrowing this list down to 10 was hard, as there were a couple albums that I thought were Top-10 worthy, but ended up being cut. “Tigerlily” made the cut because it’s simply a great album to dance to (or in my case, “dance driving”). The lineup might be a bit depleted from what they had for their earlier albums, but the Evin sisters still know how to write a great tune.
9) Poema - Sing It Now
http://www.myspace.com/poemaofficial
Everyone has their guilty pleasures; songs or artists that kind of stick out in a collection. Poema may not be a guilty pleasure of mine, but they do stick out on this list because they’re essentially simple, straightforward very cute girl-pop. They’re songs about boys, first dates and sweaters. But it works. The innocence of the music is what makes it so charming; that coupled with the catchiness of the songs, and the fact that both the Puckett sisters have great singing voices.
8) Uplift - Making the Most
http://www.myspace.com/uplifttoronto
I always have one like this every year, where I almost don’t include a release it because it’s only a 3 or 4 song EP, so it’s really short. That being said, I felt the need to include Uplift’s “Making the Most” (and not only because most of the band are buddies of mine: P). But hardcore in general nowandays is incredibly generic, so it’s refreshing to hear a hardcore band do something different musically, and Uplift does that with the dueling vocals of James & Jordy. Furthermore, having real politically charged lyrics as a throwback to old 80s hardcore bands is absolutely stellar.
7) Coheed & Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow
http://www.myspace.com/coheedandcambria
While C&C are one of the bands that rode the “emo” wave to popularity, they seem to have gone the same route that Brand New went, but coming out with simple straightforward alternative rock album, “Year of the Black Rainbow.” This album is incredibly progressive, with complex song structures and some great off-time rhythms, but kept a lot of the same vocal structures and harmonies. It really works.
6) Jimmy Eat World - Invented
http://www.myspace.com/jimmyeatworld
A lot of bands are held up to a standard of their “best” album, and every release they put out is compared to the album that made them successful (let’s refer to it henceforth as the “Pinkerton Syndrome”) following “Chase this Light,” Jimmy Eat World backtraced a tad with their newest endeavor, “Invented,” however, moreso towards their “Futures” album that has some great dynamics and some general heaviness, but not relinquishing the melodies and catchy riffs that made them popular in the first place. The standout on this one is definitely “Coffee and Cigarettes,” which as that cool dual-genered harmonies that JEW has done with Liz Phair in years past.
5) Late July - Side Swept
http://www.myspace.com/latejulymusic
An absolutely brilliant in what it accomplishes musically, “Side Swept” fuses a lot of different styles/song structures (from pop to waltz) with early-mid 90s indie rock reminicent of bands like Pavement, .that.dog. and Helium. Nicole Simone’s vocals have this very awesome feel where her voice is very musical and “pretty” sounding, but doesn’t show it off like some pop singers do; she makes the range and notation fit the emphasis of the song and it really works well. This is also a record where the production value is perfect for the music; it’s just grainy and dirty enough to give some rock undertone, but also clear and mixed very well so the pop-hooks and the general catchiness of it isn’t unnoticed.
4) Basia Bulat - A Heart of My Own
http://www.myspace.com/basiabulat
Basia has to be one of the best singer/songwriters in Canada right now, and her latest record, “A Heart of My Own,” reveals that. Her voice is distinct and incredibly soulful, and her take on melody is brilliant. The variety of instruments help build these very interesting progressions, however, the best song on the album is the almost cryptic “the Shore,” where it’s just one microphone, and Basia with her voice and a hammer dulcimer (a variation of an autoharp), where the song stands alone with very little post-production. On top of that, she says “heartstrings” in her song “Gold Rush.” That alone wins points!
3) You Call Yourselves Soldiers - Transparencies
FREE DOWNLOAD! - http://www.getsoldiers.bandcamp.com
I was so incredibly happy I could get this band to play my birthday party earlier this month, and the reason I wanted them was on the strength of their EP “Transparencies.” It’s a throwback to the post-punk/post-hardcore of the late 90s; maybe not as angsty or aggressive, but a hint of indie rock and pop-hooks that gives the music a bit more of a groove; something you want to move to. Terrific band, and I highly suggest you check out this record.
2) Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise
http://www.myspace.com/circasurvive
An excellent follow up to their last record, Circa Survive dishes out the familiar and reliable song structures in “Blue Sky Noise,” but with just enough changes to keep the material fresh. Anthony Green’s vocal delivery feels stronger than ever as he wails away over the music. His vocals, though strange, are very captivating. On top of everything else, this album is incredibly diverse, where the songs vary from each other dramatically in dynamics and feel.
1) The Album Leaf - A Chorus of Storytellers
http://www.myspace.com/thealbumleaf
Debatebly one of the best Album Leaf records to date, “A Chorus of Storytellers” wins easily as album of the year. It’s an amazing blend of musical soundscapes; a perflect blend of electronic and melodic. It’s also very cryptic and even downright haunting at some points, but that’s the emotion desired by Jimmy Lavalle & crew. His droning vocals are perfect for the ambient nature of the tunes that they mesh so well with the instruments being played. A 5 star record no doubt.