Top Ten 2010
Lee Lodyga

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Too many great albums this year.  Yes, I’m an optimist.  But, I’m always right.  I know I missed more than a few good ones.  These lists are only as valid as they are the day they’re printed.  Who would have thought the label of the year would be Nonesuch? 

The Top 24 Albums Of The Year

  1. Foxy Shazam – Foxy Shazam (Sire): Freddie Mercury fronting the E Street Band on a record produced by Jim Steinman.  At least that’s what it sounds like to me.  A band I am DYING to see live.
  2. Punch Brothers – Antifogmatic (Nonesuch):  Prog-bluegrass.  Incredible playing.  Produced by Jon Brion. Fantastic.
  3. Fang Island – Fang Island (Sargent House): MORE PROG!  Isn’t it?  Don’t tell me it ain’t!  An ass kicker.
  4. The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme (Labrador):  Wow.  Just buy it.  Wow.  Seriously.
  5. Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL): Sophomore slump, my ass.  Better than the debut.
  6. Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz (Asthmatic Kitty): Seriously, is he incredible – or what?
  7. David Byrne & Fatboy Slim – Here Lies Love (Todomundo/Nonesuch): A  2 CD, disco song cycle about Imelda Marcos with different vocalists on each song.  Ambitious, yes?  A hell of a party, indeed.
  8. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening (DFA/Virgin): What a cool fucking (final?) record.  Thanks, Mr. Murphy.
  9. Field Music – Field Music [Measure] (Memphis Industries):  Math + XTC = Field Music.  A steallar double album.
  10. MGMT – Congratulations (Columbia): A triumph.  Totally listenable.  I’m sure there are other records below it that will mean more in the years to come, but right now it’s golden.
  11. Ra Ra Riot – The Orchard (Barsuk):  A tremendous record.  So melodic.  So transcendent.  O card, to boot.
  12. Mumford And Sons – Sigh No More (Glass Note):  Beauty.  And beer soaked.  Soaked. And beautiful.
  13. The Bird & The Bee – Interpreting The Masters Volume One: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates (Blue Note):  Do I just love Inara George (Lowell’s daughter) or is this fantastic?
  14. Laurie Anderson – Homeland (Nonesuch): Laurie Anderson.  That is all.
  15. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge):  Is probably a much better album than its ranking suggests.
  16. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast (Kanine):  Lo-Fi presentation made up for with stellar arrangements.
  17. The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter (Domino): Our past, our love.  What a strong record from that old fart Mark E. Smith.
  18. The Black Keys – Brothers (Nonesuch):  Hype believed.  F you, Jack White.  This is what it sounds like with a real drummer.
  19. Jonsi – Go (XL):  Sigur Ros frontman does pop music.  And succeeds.  And how.
  20. OK Go – Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky (Capitol): Best Flaming Lips album not by The Flaming Lips this year.  Sue me.  I’ve loved these guys since the EPs.
  21. Maps & Atlases – Perch Patchwork (Barsuk):  This one’s maybe too low on the list, too.  Maybe not.  I don’t know.  I just got out of the hospital.
  22. Codeine Velvet Club – Codeine Velvet Club (Dangerbird):  Yeah, it’s a shameless throwback.  But, the songs are so good!
  23. Tracey Thorn – Love And Its Opposite (Merge):  Lovely.  Lovely as hell.
  24. The Like – Release Me (Downtown): Yeah, it’s a shameless throwback.  But – wait a minute, didn’t I already say that?

The Top Box Sets Of The Year

  1. Bruce Springsteen  – The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story (Columbia)
  2. The Monkees – The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees/Head (Rhino Handmade)
  3. Big Star – Keep An Eye On The Sky (Rhino)
  4. The Who – Live At Leeds 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Geffen)
  5. Bob Dylan – The Complete Mono Recordings (Columbia)

The Top Reissues Of The Year

  1. XTC – Skylarking (APE)
  2. The Madness Catalog (Salvo/Virgin)
  3. Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run (Hear Music)
  4. The Devo Catalog (Warner Bros.)
  5. The Cure – Disintigration (Rhino/Elektra)
 

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