It’s remarkable that every track on this album is a favorite song. The variety of the record proves again and again that their magic potion is potent. The ingredients are only beginning to be revealed.
2
The real deal. Now with a chick on board (Shapiro), no other band comes closer to perfecting modern day, lock-and-load rock & roll. Five raging stars!
3
Metric, watch out! Land of Talk has found a self-reliant, fully grown sound. The irresistible vocals are sexy, manic, and their goose bump inducing harmonies are almost too beautiful to handle. This album has a direction that stays true to the fundamentals of indie rock. “The Hate I Won’t Commit” is absolutely insane. It blows me away!
4
The magnificent layers of the album are difficult to explain after being played so much and so often. It has a way of hitting the core and brightening what’s inside. A go-to record, ideal for any mood and every occasion.
5
“Good-times” music with vintage sound – the equivalent to last year’s Edward Sharpe record, with more sophistication. Jolly,
6
This is some of the most breathtaking, heartbreaking material I’ve heard. The meticulous details speak intelligence and reflect stunning sounds. The album shares its title with a song that just so happens to be phenomenal.
7
THIS is the best hip hop album of 2010. Any one song kills Kanye, lyrically and conceptually. The extraordinary use of instrumentation can stand alone as a masterpiece. The pairing of Sage’s guts, truths, and wit just seals the deal.
8
The contrast of this duo is dynamic. Somewhere between waltz and folk, they put a new spin on duets of the 50’s and 60’s. Think Dean Martin + Bobby Darin meets Nancy Sinatra with hints of Johnny Cash. From the deepest pits of his soul, Lanegan’s voice talks while Campbell whispers mood and magic.
9
Bat for Lashes and Zola Jesus? No thanks. Mixing cinematic sounds with unpredictable vocal sequencing is a songstress finally worth the hype.
10
Beats backed by Bath’s unique spirit and technique makes this my pick for electronic/dance album. How something so synthy can feel organic, I don’t know. There’s something so feng shui about it – the music opens up and then flows freely.
11
Embodying that great American rock sound, this can be up there with the classic records. Melodies are key, fueling songs changes from catchy to epic. Their potential to be loved on a large scale is a sure thing, as long as what’s up their sleeve keeps coming.
12
The music’s new direction did not disappoint. The king of innovation made disorder strangely suiting and saga-long songs enthralling. But let’s be honest here, the material isn’t danceable. I was turned off by the live performance because it needed toning down – on top of the album’s already colorful personality, the visuals seemed tacky.
13
Indeed, it is. With the momentum of Cat Power, her voice is striking on top of gentle ballads that can’t get any sweeter. The humble charisma with which she plays acoustic guitar makes her singing-songwriting simply lovable.
14
Bigger than just a two-person band, these minimalists customize their noisemakers, using handcrafted instrument hybrids to create progressive thumps and bumps. What I love best about B&G is that they make music we don’t really hear much of. This Brooklyn-based duo plays with a So-Cal spirit that, even with female vocals, sounds like Incubus.
15
Mesmerizing neo-psychedlica is my kind of mood music. Singing through a sea siren or flower child, this girl group possesses spellbinding smoothness. And when commanding percussion kicks in, Denali fans come running.
16
Auerbach’s authentic voice and Carney’s heavy snare is sly as fuck together. The raspy vocals and sharp blues-rock makes me forget that I’m listening to something modern day and that two white dudes are responsible for so much soul. The looser they play, the better it gets.
17
With this pillowy release Blonde Redhead is in slowest, simplest form. The surprises are the little synthy notes a la Depeche Mode and Duran Duran that creep up from within the smoldering vocal levels. As the band ages, they master an exquisite sound – this time with audible passion – that’s made a track like “My Plants Are Dead” completely arresting.
18
Punk rock, rockabilly, blues, grunge, nineties, ballads and more – this group is one hell of a ride. Percussion paves the way for electronic and acoustic sounds that combine male/female harmony for the win. Where intense, also damn thrilling. Listen to “Roller Coaster” to begin your experience.
19
“Echoes” is the most sensational album opener all year! The Klaxons are more exciting than ever with the sharp turns of this album. Touching the brink of a cosmic explosion, borderline dissonance, and lustrous epiphany –
20
I listened to this album at the wrong time once and felt like it was going to induce a heart attack. Black Moth Super Rainbow sprinkles its crumbs here and there but the beats are rough, loud and aggressive. On top of that are vocals that can be unsettling and creepy. You know the score to Terminator? I think it could have been this dude. It’s brilliant though.
21
These guys will remind you of a younger version of someone else – for me, I hear The Strokes the most with glimmers of mostly
22
I get a great emotional response from the album. If you don’t find the charm at first, I urge you to give it a chance to grow. It’s not my favorite Band of Horses album but pretty, heartfelt, and thoughtful can do no wrong. This glowing country/folk-pop is for anyone needing a wind down record.
