The time is finally here where we announce our favorite albums of the year. Yes, it took a whole lot of thinking and a whole lot of relistening, but in the end we figured it out. Trust us, it was no easy task this year. Take a peek at what kept our interest in 2010.
1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Let It Sway”
This will forever be known as the album where SSLYBY fully matured. Working with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, the band produced a stunning record full of pop hooks and catchy lyrics. The result, Let It Sway (Polyvinyl), one of the greatest pieces of work our ears have heard by any indie band in a long time. We loved it so much we made a tribute video celebrating the record which you can watch below. Congrats SSLYBY!
2. Vampire Weekend – “Contra”
A nearly flawless album, the VW boys started off 2010 with a burst of energy that continued througout the year. Neck in neck with the Yeltsins, Contra (XL) also shared the tale of a too-good-to-be-true indie band growing up in the public eye.
3. The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”
Another record that was running with the big boys on this list, The Morning Benders released Big Echo (Kanine) early in the year and exploded like no one could ever have imagined. It’s ab out time. They deserve it. This is one of the catchiest albums we heard this year and it never gets old.
4. Of Montreal – “False Priest”
Of Montreal are always evolving. That is what we love most about the band. False Priest (Polyvinyl) takes them to a whole new level, dabbling in R&B and dueting with Solange Knowles. We may have been skeptical at first but it quickly won over our hearts and the dance floor.
5. Surfer Blood – “Astrocoast”
Everyone’s favorite “IT” band of the year produced a promising debut album called Astrocoast (Kanine). We followed the boys around CMJ 2009 and knew they were about to blew up huge. We were right, and now Surfer Blood has taken over the world.
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
A chilling record filled with reverb and haunting vocals proved to be just the thing for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Before Today (4AD) stunned the indie music world and makes us wonder what the next Ariel Pink chapter has to hold.
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Everything Under the Sun”
A thriving piano backed by a guitar and drums made an unexpected assault in the indie world this year. Everything Under the Sun (Yep Roc) dropped jaws quickly this year and had Jukebox the Ghost playing with big name bands and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman.
8. The Love Language – “Libraries”
Much different from their first record, The Love Language stunned us with a near perfect record, Libraries (Merge) this year. There was a lot of buzz about this album and as the tracks leaked, we could feel the greatness building up. We were right.
9. We Are Scientists – “Barbara”
Without a record label in the U.S., We Are Scientists broke through this year with Barbara. They haven’t changed too much since the last time we heard from them, which is a good thing. They still have their driving 80’s vibe, W.A.S. charm and brilliant tunes.
10. Magic Kids – “Memphis”
This was an unexpected treat this year that had us putting Magic Kids on repeat. Memphis (Goner/True Panther) often has a lo-fi and retro vibe, and that is what really makes it special.
The rest of the list….
11. Miniature Tigers – “Fortress”
12. Matt Pond PA – “The Dark Leaves”
13. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
14. Sufjan Stevens -“Age of the Adz”
15. Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”
16. Free Energy – “Stuck on Nothing”
17. Javelin – “No Mas”
18. Best Coast – “Crazy for You”
19. The Drums – “The Drums”
20. Tokyo Police Club – “Champ”
21. The New Pornographers – “Together”
22. Spoon – “Transference”
23. Hot Hot Heat – “Future Breeds”
24. Kids of 88 – “Sugar Pills”
25. MGMT – “Congratulations”
26. Harlem – “Hippies”
27. Broken Social Scene – “Forgiveness Rock Record”
Whether you call it Chill-wave, Beach Rock, or Surf Music, the influence of The Beach Boys continues to play a huge role in the world of Indie Rock. Not only do present day musicians have an incredible reverence for the tight harmonies and nostalgic feel of the era when The Beach Boys ruled the charts, Brian Wilson continues to provide a point of inspiration, as evidenced in his critically lauded 2004 album, Smile. In the time of a double-dip recession, government bailouts, global terrorism, and now the WikiLeaks meltdown, who can blame musicians for wanting to encapsulate a hazy and warm day at the beach into a four-minute pop song?
Teen Daze has done just that on his latest EP, Beach Dreams. A short collection of just four songs, spanning nearly 15 minutes in length, the Vancouver artist works to transport the listener out of his chilly December environment, making us long for the warm days of Summers past. The good news is that Teen Daze excels in creating this warm, sunny world—the bad news is that they don’t do it in a consistently interesting fashion.
Opening track “Let’s Fall Asleep Together” gets the album off to an animated start, using plenty of drums and bass to get the rhythm moving at an energetic speed. Vocal harmonies float above the motor, much like a surfer already in motion as they first come into view. The lyrics are precious, as the lead singer gently sings, “The sun was set in the sky, a fragment, a piece of a memory that you used to think about me.” A sense of nostalgia is woven right into the song itself; even as these characters are lying in the sun, their thoughts are turned to the past as well.
Unfortunately, the rest of the EP doesn’t always match the magic of the propulsive opening track. “Water” essentially captures the same rhythm as “Let’s Fall Asleep Together,” but the lyrics and harmonies above don’t have the same sense of sincerity involved. The amount of reverb applied to the vocals makes the fragmentary lyrics just that much harder to understand. “Cliff Jump Love Song” tries to resuscitate the energy, making more use of bright guitars and percussion. It’s a great effect, leaving the listener hoping there is a dance floor located somewhere close on the boardwalk. The closing title track does little to keep this momentum moving for the last minutes of the EP, once again using more languid and hazy material, which comes across with a certain level of sweetness, but without energetic interest.
Teen Daze is at his best when writing up-tempo numbers and these songs certainly make for the best use of points of inspiration he culled from the 1960s California rock scene. For only his second release, this artist is moving in the right direction, and growing as a songwriter. Only future music will be able to show whether or not Teen Daze can stand alongside groups like The Drums or The Shins when it comes to recreating the beach, even in the dead of winter.
On November 15th, Twin Shadow will release his debut album, Forget. In the meantime, Shadow, who Pitchfork recently featured in their Best New Music section, has unveiled two high profile remixes to tide over fans.
The first is a collaborative effort with Hooray For Earth, which sees the pair remixing “A Place We Like.” That can be downloaded HERE. The second, a remix of The Drums’ “Me and the Moon, can be downloaded HERE.
Twin Shadow is also headed out on the road, come November; a full list of dates can be found below.
US TOUR
Nov 10 Il Motore Montreal, QC
Nov 11 The Drake Hotel Toronto, ON
Nov 12 Crofoot Ballroom – Pike Room Pontiac, MI
Nov 13 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
Nov 15 Black Cat Backstage Washington, DC
Nov 16 The Southern Charlottesville, VA
Nov. 17th Johnny Brendas Philadelphia, Pa
Nov. 18th Middle East Downstairs Boston, Ma
Nov 19th Music Hall of Williamsburg New York, NY With Bear in Heaven
Modern Mystery 