2010 has been quite a spectacular year for music so far. Though no significant trends, for me at least, have emerged in independent music, there have been a surprising number of excellent, groundbreaking-ish LPs. (One thing I've noticed is that I'm starting to get old-man taste in music. Most of my favorite releases are from established artists; very few of my 2010 favorites have been made by young, new groups.) Below, in alphabetical order by artist, are those favorites. (Bold indicates and album of the month.)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti--Before Today
Beach House--Teen Dream
Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang--The Wonder Show of The World
Caribou--Swim
Disappears--Lux
Emeralds--Does It Look Like I'm Here?
Erykah Badu--New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh
The Fall--Your Future Our Clutter
Flying Lotus--Cosmogramma
Gil Scott-Heron--I'm New Here
Gonjasufi--A Sufi and A Killer
Hot Chip--One Life Stand
Jack Rose--Luck In The Valley
Jamie Lidell--Compass
Janelle Monae--The ArchAndroid
Joanna Newsom--Have One On Me
LCD Soundsystem--This Is Happening
Liars--Sisterworld
Owen Pallett--Heartland
Pantha Du Prince--Black Noise
Sam Amidon--I See The Sign
Sun Araw--On Patrol
The Tallest Man On Earth--The Wild Hunt
These New Puritans--Hidden
Titus Andronicus--The Monitor
Now for my 50 favorite songs of 2010 so far (again in alphabetical order by artist, and again bold indicates a song of the month):
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti--Round and Round
Beach House--Walk In The Park
Beach House--Zebra
Big Boi--Shutterbugg
Bonnie "Prince" Billy & The Cairo Gang--That's What Our Love Is
C Joynes--Broad Church Traveling
Caribou--Odessa
Caribou--Bowls
ceo--come with me
Charlie Parr & Mike Gangloff--This World Is Not My Home
Chris Forsyth--(Now I'm A Pharmacist) Boogie
Crystal Castles--Celestica (Thurston Moore Rmx)
Cults--Go Outside
Cults--Most Wanted
Disappears--Gone Completely
Erykah Badu--Window Seat
Gil Scott-Heron--I'll Take Care of You
Gil Scott-Heron--New York Is Killing Me
Gonjasufi--Duet
Hot Chip--Slush
Hot Chip--Take It In
Jack Rose--Lick Mountain Ramble
James Blake--CMYK
Jamie Lidell--Compass
Janelle Monae--Cold War
Janelle Monae--Wondaland
Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi--Tightrope
Joanna Newsom--'81
Joanna Newsom--Good Intentions Paving Co.
Joy Orbison--The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow
Keepaway--Yellow Wings
Kelis--Acapella
The Knife--Colouring of Pigeons
LCD Soundsystem--Dance Yrself Clean
LCD Soundsystem--Home
LCD Soundsystem--I Can Change
Lindstrom & Christabelle--Lovesick
Michoacan--In The Dark of the Night
Nico Teen--Hungry For Love
Pantha Du Prince--Stick To My Side
Sade--Soldier of Love
Sam Amidon--How Come That Blood
Sam Amidon--Pretty Fair Damsel
Sam Amidon--You Better Mind
Shabazz Palaces--32 leaves dipped in blackness making clouds forming altered carbon
Soom T--Puff That Weed
These New Puritans--We Want War
Titus Andronicus--A More Perfect Union
Titus Andronicus--Four Score and Seven
World Unite/Lucifer Youth Foundation--Heavy Pop
And now for my five favorite new artists of 2010 (even though, as I said before, my taste is growing increasingly old man-esque and I'm not digging new artists as much):
Cults
Daniel Bjarnasson
James Blake
Janelle Monae
Michoacan
And, finally, the ten releases in 2010 that I'm most excited to hear. Some are already out and unheard by me, and some are coming out in the future.
Antony & The Johnsons--Swanlights (October 6)
The Arcade Fire--The Suburbs (August 3)
The Avalanches--TBA (TBA)
Battles--TBA (TBA)
Big Boi--Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Song of Chico Dusty (July 6)
The Books--The Way Out (July 20)
Devo--Something For Everybody (June 15)
Oneohtrix Point Never--Returnal (out)
Pocahaunted--Make It Real (out)
Rene Hell--Porcelain Opera (out)
There you have it. A hell of a first half for 2010, and here's to hoping the year isn't too top-heavy.
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