Top 19 Albums of 2010!
Here it is, another year, another 19 incredible albums that served as the soundtrack to my year. Enjoy!
1) Speak Now - Taylor Swift
Speak Now
Top Tracks: Long Live, The Story of Us, Back to December, Enchanted, Haunted
With her third album Speak Now, Taylor Swift delivers another truly flawless collection of perfectly-crafted confessions - capturing the excitement, enchantment, obsession, heartbreak, and raw emotion of the 20 year old superstar who masterfully penned all fourteen tracks. Her sophomore record Fearless topped my list in 2008 and Speak Now continues in its predecessor’s brilliance and honesty. As expected, Swift’s songwriting is at its very best with this album; each song could be a single in its own right. Swift has an unremarkable talent of crafting songs that are about very specific, personal stories but can appeal to almost anyone when applied to their own lives (‘Long Live’ became my 2010 campaign anthem, much like Fearless’ ‘Change’ was my ’08 campaign anthem). Swift also does a superb job of keeping up the theme of the album (Speak Now, never hold what you feel back, say what you want see when you want to say it) though all fourteen tracks. I had the pleasure of seeing Swift live this year for the Fearless 2010 Tour and her passion clearly translates from the sound studio to the stage. I am so happy that I made the decision in 2008 to give Swift’s music a shot and have been a die-hard fan of her work since. Speak Now does not disappoint in any way and as only the third album in what I hope is a very long career, demonstrates her proficiency in the craft of songwriting is an incredibly inspiring masterpiece.
2) Kaleidoscope Heart - Sara Bareilles
Kaleidoscope Heart
Top Tracks: King of Anything, Uncharted, Machine Gun, Basket Case, Hold My Heart
Sara Bareilles delivers her most heart-wrenching, soulful work with the release of her second major-label album Kaleidoscope Heart. The lead single off the record ‘King of Anything’ was easily my favorite song of 2010 is one of the most brilliant pop songs of recent years; an empowering anthem about telling the sources of negativity in your life to f-off and deciding what to do with your life on your own. Much like the albums above and below this one on the list, Bareilles pours her heart and soul into every lyric she pens and is able to clearly evoke the exact emotion she felt in the listener in each song she wrote for this album. When I had the honor of seeing Bareilles live in D.C. when she toured this album, she said that she was surprised that songs about her being at her lowest of lows were the ones that her fans embraced the most. What I took from this is that everyone feels the way she’s felt when she writes- empowered, lonely, renewed, depressed, pissed off- but she states it in such a beautiful, perfect way that it instantly forms a bond with the listener. Her major label debut Little Voice was absolutely stellar and had a place in my list in 2007, but Kaleidoscope Heart absolutely raises the bar on Bareilles’ work and is an incredibly powerful album.
3) We Are Born - Sia
We Are Born
Top Tracks: Clap Your Hands, The Fight, You’ve Changed, Never Gonna Leave Me, I’m In Here
With We Are Born, Sia delivers the most whimsical, fun album on the list and still carries an incredible emotional punch that allows the listened to delve deeply into the songwriters’ trouble past while examining the same elements in their lives. On this album, Sia records some very upbeat, insanely addictive tracks but her lyrics cut deep into the psyche of a woman who has led a very unusual and at times unbearable life. For each downer track though, Sia compliments them with uplifting tracks about the happy things in life. 2007’s Some People Have REAL Problems was a hands-down hit for me, but this record hones in on the elements she explored on that record and executes them perfectly, resulting in a much more solid and powerful album (to insert a bad, but relevant, pun, she has changed, for the better). Getting to see her perform some of these songs live as she toured in anticipation of this record solidified my love for this work and this phenomenal artist.
4) Body Talk Pt. 2 - Robyn
Body Talk Pt. 2
Top Tracks: Criminal Intent, U Should Know Better, Hang With Me, In My Eyes
I decided to count Robyn’s Body Talk series, released as three parts over the course of the year, as three different albums because that is how she recorded them and how she intended them to be consumed (although she released a whole Body Talk compilation album after the release of Pt. 3 with the ‘greatest hits’ from each part, I feel this mix left out some of the best tracks in the series). Pt. 2 narrowly inches out the other two because it is an absolute powerhouse that opens up strong and keeps its intensity throughout the entire eight tracks. Robyn takes some big stylistic risks in this volume and it pays off immensely. ‘Criminal Intent’ is clearly the strongest song from this album, closely followed by the absolutely mind-blowing collaboration with Snoop Dogg ‘U Should Know Better’. Pt. 2 pulls ahead of Pt. 3 (and Pt. 1 for that matter) by a hair but the entire collection is near flawless and made for eight months of solid, addictive new music.
5) Body Talk Pt. 3 - Robyn
Body Talk Pt. 3
Top Tracks: Call Your Girlfriend, Get Myself Together, Indestructible, Time Machine
Pt.3 features the most dance-floor ready selections of the series, including a dance version of ‘Indestructible’, which does the impossible and does the flawless acoustic version of the track off Pt.2 justice. Lyrically, this album delivers stunning song-writing on each and every track and actually shows growth from the previous two installments. Pt. 3 captures the essence of Robyn perfectly; fun, in-your face music with incredibly honest lyrics and absolute killer beats.
6) Body Talk Pt. 1 - Robyn
Body Talk Pt. 1
Top Tracks: Dancing on My Own, Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do, Fembot, Dancehall Queen
Pt. 1 does an amazing job at preparing the listener for a trifecta of amazing dance albums released by the amazing Robyn. I had downloaded Robyn’s 2008 U.S. self-titled record but never listened to it, a foolish mistake in retrospect, and was familiar with her hit from the ‘90s ‘Show Me Love’, but didn’t pay much attention to this release when it came out even though gay DC was all about it. It wasn’t until I bought a ticket to see Robyn’s co-headlining tour with Kelis in DC (Kelis was the impetus for the purchase) that I started listening to her more and boy, was I in for a ride. Robyn is hands-down my artist of the year as I was awarded with three stellar new albums in one year, as well and my discovering all her older amazing work. Pt. 1 itself is the most diverse of the collection, trying various different styles and delivering a knockout with each track. From the very first ‘My drinking is killing me’ from the opening track ‘Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do’, Robyn unleashes track after track of pure bold power. This album contains the worldwide smash ‘Dancing on My Own’, one of my favorite songs of 2010 and probably my favorite song off the Body Talk series. Pt. 1 holds a special place in my heart since it is what ignited my intense love-fest with Robyn this year and I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of listening to her before.
7) Hands All Over - Maroon5
Hands All Over
Top Tracks: Runaway, How, Never Gonna Leave This Bed, Hands All Over, Misery
I was hesitant after my first few listens of Maroon 5’s third release Hands All Over, as the album didn’t have the instant likeability that their first two records had. But after more listens, I came to appreciate the amount of work they put into this fantastic album. Although this album still doesn’t quite capture the magic of their debut Songs About Jane (one of my favorite albums of all time), Hands All Over definitely demonstrates artistic growth and a strengthening ability to just kill it in the songwriting department from Adam Levine and the boys. Without abandoning the formula that made the songs on their last two albums so successful, they have shown a much more refined and mature approach at recording this album that results in a very polished and terrific album and definitely one of my favorites of this year.
8) Animal - Ke$ha
Animal
Top Tracks: Tik Tok, Your Love is My Drug, Party at a Rich Dude’s House, Animal
Released on January 3rd, Animal was the very first album of 2010 to make it onto the list and after just one listen, it is clear to see why. Given her music’s propensity to be about drinking, boys, and partying (and the ubiquitous dollar sign she spells her name with, a mark that she had intended to be satirical of the culture she herself ended up getting stereotyped as being a part of), Ke$ha has earned the reputation for not being a serious artist, but once you read up on her career and the amount of work she had put in up until the release of her smash-hit ‘Tik Tok’, you appreciate the challenges she’s faced and recognize that she is the real deal and puts great effort into her music (she writes of co-writes each song she releases). Animal itself is an absolutely stellar debut, with some of the most addictive, high-energy dance-around-all-crazy-to songs of the year. ‘Tik Tok’, ‘Your Love Is My Drug’, ‘Blah Blah Blah’, and ‘Take It Off’ all dominated the airwaves all year long and are each incredibly well-written and catchy tunes. What makes Animal’s tracks so great is that they don’t try to be anything more than they are- a song about a party at a rich dude’s house is just that (and features one of my favorite lyrics of all time: ‘Wake up in the front yard, We don’t care, wine stain on the sofa, We Don’t care, I threw up in the closet, but I don’t care, ‘cause we’re young and we’re broke and I can’t find my coat the sun is coming up and oh my god, I think I’m still drunk. Where’s my coat? Where?’) and Ke$ha never tries to be anything more than she is: a young girl who likes to party and have a good time. Animal is the perfect anthem for being young, independent, and enjoying life in a big city, so I am clearly drawn to it and everyone who jumps onto the hating Ke$ha bandwagon should give it a real critical listen before writing her off- she’s the real deal and this album is really good.
9) Sale El Sol - Shakira
Sale El Sol
Top Tracks: Lo Que Mas, Rabiosa, Islands, Antes de Las Seis
Shakira, who seems to have a permanent spot on my top albums list, delivers another incredible album in 2010 with the almost entirely Spanish Sale El Sol (The Sun Comes Out). Shakira absolutely shines in her native language and Sol features some of the best Spanish language songwriting of Shakira’s career. The album features some of her most ambitious musical leaps, each of which paid off each and every time. For the first time in her 20+ year career, Shakira includes a cover song on one of her full records, and she does justice to The xx’s already incredible song ‘Islands’ (the only fully English track on the album). ‘Lo Que Mas’ and ‘Ante de Las Seis’ shows off her incredible vocals and very deep Spanish songwriting. Sale El Sol will go down as one of Shakira’s most powerful albums and every non-Spanish speakers can find something to savor in it.
10) Crushes - The Covers Mixtape- Mates of State
Crushes: The Covers Mixtape
Top Tracks: True Love Will Find You in the End, Secondhand News, Laura, Love Letter
I’ve never included a cover album on my top albums list, but when Mates of State, my favorite non-twin musical duo ever, release one, I sure paid attention and Crushes: The Covers Mixtape is truly deserving of being named one of the top albums of 2010. Despite not being written by the duo themselves, the ten covers that make up this album are pure Mates of State goodness- they capture all the elements that have made their last half-dozen albums total hits. Covers are all about artist taking songs they love and adding their own style to them and this is clearly what Mates of State did. You can hear how much they love the original versions of the songs in the covers; the listener can tell how hard they are working to do their favorite songs justice. The magic of Mates of State has always been how Kori and Jason complemented each other, both lyrically and musically, and in The Covers Mixtape, their chemistry is on full display and results in a fantastic album.
11) Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
Teenage Dream
Top Tracks: Firework, The One That Got Away, Teenage Dream, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Katy Perry’s sophomore album Teenage Dream builds on the delectable ready-for-radio pop niche that Perry carved out perfectly for herself with her debut One of the Boys. Perry releases another slew of instantly infectious tracks, from the lead single ‘California Gurls’ which served as a perfect introduction to summer to the slower but just as catchy ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Firework’ which each dominated the music charts for the rest of 2010. With the exception of just one or two tracks, each song on this album is very well-written and well-performed by Perry, whose vocals are spot-on. Teenage Dream represents a step in the right direction for Perry as she tries to solidify herself in modern pop culture and is very effective at defining her style as an artist.
12) Endlessly - Duffy
Endlessly
Top Tracks: Well, Well, Well, Too Hurt To Dance, Endlessly, Breath Away
Duffy, whose 2008 debut Rockferry absolutely blew me away, delivers another extraordinary album with Endlessly. A bit slower and much richer and smoother (Duffy’s work deserves adjectives usually reserved for beers) than its predecessor, Endlessly shows tremendous growth for Duffy, as she tackles themes not covered on her previous works. The album contains emotionally-powerful songs and Duffy’s very unique and amazing voice delivers each one flawlessly (you can almost hear her heart breaking as she belts out ‘Too Hurt to Dance’). With Endlessly, Duffy proves that she wasn’t just a one-off fluke of the British female invasion of late last decade and has the musical chops to release album after album of truly phenomenal work.
13) Night Work - Scissor Sisters
Night Work
Top Tracks: Fire with Fire, Any Which Way, Night Work
With Night Work, Scissor Sisters continues their tradition of delivering high-quality dance music with equal caliber lyrics. Night Work is truly an experience; from the opening track to the very last one, the album builds theatrically, delivering act after act of pure electronic goodness. The songs are sexy and provocative and sound like they could have been written on a dance floor. The lead single ‘Fire with Fire’ was one of my favorite songs of the year (I related it a lot to the line of work I was doing while the song was out), but each track on the record offers a unique perspective into the madness and genius that is the Scissor Sisters.
14) I’m Having Fun Now - Jenny and Johnny
I'm Having Fun Now
Top Tracks: Scissor Runner, Big Wave, Just Like Zeus, The Highs and Lows of Being #1
In 2010, Jenny Lewis claims her reserved place on my chart (previously she’s been on here while fronting her band Rilo Kiley and her previous solo work) with her new side project, a duo with boyfriend singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice, and their debut album I’m Having Fun Now delivers everything that is amazing about Lewis and adds in Rice’s incredible talent. Jam-packed with introspective lyrics and acute social commentary, the tracks on I’m Having Fun Now work together to create an experience that is unique and unmatched by any other release of this year. Both long-time Lewis fans and new listeners will certainly find something to enjoy in this lovely release.
15) Tiger Suit - KT Tunstall
Tiger Suit
Top Tracks: Uummannaq Song, Fade Like A Shadow, (Still A) Weirdo, Difficulty
With Tiger Suit, K.T. Tunstall rebounds from her slumptacular sophomore attempt Drastic Fantastic (which in retrospect wasn’t TOO terrible but not at all what I expected quality-wise after her stellar debut Eye to the Telescope) and delivers her most brutally honest, well-written album to date. I’m a sucker for amazing one-liners on albums and Tunstall has a plethora of these on here (basically each track is replete with perfectly delivered lyrical goodies; it would take way too long to list them out, just get the album). Tunstall’s vocals are at her all-time best, making this album the complete package. To anyone who became a fan after her smash hits ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ and the perpetually overused ‘Suddenly I See’ should definitely revisit the artist on this album, you won’t be disappointed.
16) Flesh Tone - Kelis
Flesh Tone
Top Tracks: 4th of July (Fireworks), Acapella, Brave, Home
With Flesh Tone, you are definitely not getting your mom and dad’s Kelis. Kelis has all but abandoned her rap and hip-hop based music and put out one of the strongest pure dance records of 2010. Almost every track of this short but sweet album is destined to be a top hit on the dance floor, combining absolutely killer beats with powerful vocals and Kelis’ best and most personal lyrics to date. Kelis tackles heartbreak, motherhood, rebirth, and a slew of many other different emotions that led to some of the best-written hits of the year. Kelis proved her versatility as an artist with Flesh Tone and I hope we hear more like if from her in the future.
17) Streets of Gold - 3OH!3
Streets of Gold
Top Tracks: Touchin’ On My, House Party, I Know How to Say, Double Vision
Following their smash album Want, 3OH!3had a whole new slew of fans to impress with the follow-up, and despite what many critics say about Streets of Gold, I found this release to be a high-octane lyrically-solid work with some of the catchiest hooks and choruses of the year. Once you see past the clear pandering to the new fans with the single ‘My First Kiss’, you can see the hard work and growth that this band has put into this release. ‘House Party’ is a fun song that doesn’t try to be anything more than it is and comes off as one of the strongest tracks on the record. I saw the band play this album live as part of a Cobra Starship double-header and can attest that these two guys are the real deal and have delivered a solid, top-caliber album.
18) Contra - Vampire Weekend
Contra
Top Tracks: Run, Diplomat’s Son, Cousins
Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album Contra delivers everything we expect from the band following their debut and also shows them venturing into new territories and displaying a new mastery and confidence in each of their tracks. In just 36 short minutes, Vampire Weekend hits the ball out of the park and scores what is one of the most enjoyable listens of the year and one of the only albums of the ‘Spinner’ magazine-esque genre to land on this list.
19) Travelling Like the Light - V.V. Brown
Travelling Like the Light
Top Tracks: Crying Blood, Shark in the Water, LEAVE!, Bottles
VV Brown’s US debut Travelling Like the Light sets her apart from the dozens of other artist coming from across the pond and highlights one of the spunkiest, most-talented new voices to come from the UK in years. The singles ‘Crying Blood’ and ‘Shark in the Water’ are two of the most addictive songs of the year and can be listened to on repeat all day. Her vocals shine through on every track and her songwriting is very strong and packs an emotional punch on many tracks. People christening her the black Lily Allen aren’t far off because she has the same attitude and lyrical prowess that the original UK bad girl of the decade (alongside Ms. Winehouse, of course) possessed and this makes Brown’s debut and absolute delight to consume.