Yes yes, get as angry as you want, these are the ones I liked the best.
10. Death Cab for Cutie: The Open Door EP
C’mon. Maybe you like Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s or XX or Bat For Lashes. And I do too! But I REALLY like Death Cab. Maybe it’s one of those nostalgia things (I still don’t feel any album has reached the highs that is 2005’s “Plans”) but I dig it. Loyalty and all that! And the album is solid.
9. Imogen Heap- Ellipse
If you like Imogen Heap you will like this album. I know how stupid that sounds but it’s true. Imogen has a style and feel to the albums that you either dig… or you don’t. I love the dreamy synth that Imogen weaves together, and this album feels much is tone to the previous two. She definitely played it safe on this album, but the result was still a solid indie album worth of the top 10.
8. Matt and Kim- Grand
This album is fun. It a simple, high energy, indie pop synth album that makes you smile. If you want something engergetic and bright this album is perfect. My two favourite tracks are “Lessons Learned” which uses a really high energy drum cadence with a slower drawling chorus and the bubbily piano riff on “Daylight”.
7. Beirut- March Of The Zapotec / Holland
This two CD set from indie folk band Beirut literally made the list one second before posting. I was listening to acts assosiated to the Arcade Fire and this band came up, and no word of a lie, I was ready to post this when I heard their song, immediately bought the album and changed my mind (To be fair I was still fighting in my head over King Midas Sound, Atlas Sound or Harlem Shakes, with the latter taking the lead in the end) The first disc of the album is using elements of a latin vibe and folk music from the Balkans, whereas the second disk is more indie synth rock. A really interesting musical experience that sounds more like a movie soundtrack than a bands album, but if you like an orchestral feel to your music, this is it.
6. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
This album is very experimental, using various sounds with different melodies to make a weird sprawling FX heavy album… that works. If its the entrancing “Brother Sport” or the dreamy “Daily Routine” the album is really unique and interesting musically. Perfect if you are looking for something a little different.
5. The Antlers- Hospice
This album I can see being the most polarizing. Antlers made a non traditional album with sounds more derived to created a sort of aural landscape more-so than making singles. It was a neat experience to put on some 300$ headphones, close your eyes and spend a couple of hours with this album. They paint such interesting visuals with the audio… hard to explain, just listen to it.
4. Fanfarlo- Reservoir
This album is like Arcade Fire light. A very solid debut from the London indie band, Reservoir uses a really wide range of instruments to interesting effect. I actually stumbled upon this band because they were selling their album for $1.00 on their website, and I gotta say, it was the best dollar I ever spent. (note* Amazon was selling Rihanna’s Rated R for $1 as a promotion, and I regard that as the worst dollar I ever spent)
3. Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
The Scottich rock group Biffy Clyro isn’t what you expect. I was thinking something in the way of a hard accented raw sound with clanging symbols and heavily distorted guitar. What I found was a much more mainstream sound (this isn’t a bad thing) and is probably the album with the least barrier of entry to the indy rock scene. Most songs on this album could be a single, although I hope “Mountains” is the first. If you are mostly opposed to the dreamy synth of a lot indie music, this poppy rock style will probably a lot easier to digest.
2. Passion Pit
Sooooo Goooooood. Listen to “Sleepyhead” on repeat for a million years. I love this album, it just works for me on a lot of levels. The lead singer has a really interesting voice, the screetchy crazy pop synth sounds on the album flow together so nicely you hardly notice how abhorrent the actual sounds they are using are.
1. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
My fav indie album this year. From the poppy “1901” to the rolling tones of “Rome” I got hooked on this album quick. The album is divided in two by a couple instrumental tracks right in the middle. It makes the album diverse and unique and awesome, definitely worth the money.
What’s Next?
As far as I’m concerned there are going to be two GREAT albums of 2010. First off my friend Chelsea introduced me to a band called Sigur Rós a few years back, and I have been hooked ever since. They are an Icelandic post-rock group with a big underground following (underground in the states anyway). Their lead singer Jonsi is coming out with a solo album entitled “Go”. Beneath is the first single off the album. One listen and you will understand why it may be the best album of the year. A close contender? The new Arcade Fire album. It’s Arcade Fire.
Jónsi – Boy Lilikoi
Thanks so much for reading, if you agree, thank you, and if you don’t please go fuck yourself. Or email me at roflcast@gmail.com and tell me why I am wrong!!! It was a hell of a year for music, I hoped you enjoyed it as much as me!
Until Next Time I Remain… Achilles